The Dragon of Aldridge

Part 1

It happened the day I became a women. I was 13, and everything changed that day. It was just after dark and I felt extremely hot, like my insides were burning up. I told my mother I was going to the river behind our house. Before I could even get there a horrible pain erupted from my back. I fell to the ground and couldn't see anything because of the pain. Then all of a sudden it stopped. I tried sitting up but it felt off. I looked down, but instead of seeing hands I saw emerald scales. I managed to stand up, in a way, I could feel four legs and a tail, it was completely strange. I walked to the river to look at my reflection. Somehow I turned into this magnificently beautiful emerald dragon, everything about me was completely different, except my eyes. I kept my hazel eyes with specks of gold in them. No body would know it was me unless I changed in front of them. A sudden hunger took over, and the rest I can remember of that night was spreading my wings and flying through the air.

That was 5 years ago and every night since then I've turned into that beast, never knowing what I did until the next day when the village would wake up and see what had happened. Sometimes nothing happened for so long that the people would begin to relax, then, of course, Raine, my other self, would show up and ruin everything.

My mother knew about me, she wasn't scared of Raine. She would even sit with us on our calm nights. One day she told me I should embrace Raine, allow her to become apart of me. But there was no way I could ever let myself become one with the monster inside of me.

"Mariana, your studies cannot be ignored. Come out of your room and meet your new mentor." My mother was a stickler when it came to my studies even though I excelled at everything my old mentor taught me. I was, of course, taught all the things normal women were taught, however being a high ranking lady of Aldridge I had to learn how to read, write and how to manage all the work the wife of The Head of state does. Yes, my father was chosen by the king himself to oversee all the small problems of Aldridge. Whoever my father marries me to will become the next head of state. However, I know he took on an apprentice who will take over if I marry higher up. He plans to marry me to the prince but I heard he's picky with women.

I finish preparing myself for the day and walk to the study where my new mentor was waiting. "I am Calibri, your new mentor. I know you are well practiced in all your lessons, your etiquette, however, is terrible, and certainly not fit for someone of your status, so that is what I will be instructing you in."

After three hours of sitting through of boring do's and don'ts my first lesson is over. I decided I needed to stretch my legs. I had one of my maids bring me out to a delicious bakery in town, then to the fountain in the village square to relax. The fountain was very relaxing and beautiful. It was a gift from the king, our village lands are the most fertile in the kingdom, so we supply the king with most of his food. In return, he built this fountain and everything around it.

Walking around the different shops I hear a market vendor talking to a friend about something happening a couple towns over and it caught my attention. "Excuse me, but what is it you were just saying, sir?" I interrupted them, curiosity laced in my voice. "Oh, good morning Lady Mariana. We were just discussing the latest dragon attack. It was in Southwark, a day ride from here. I was saying how weird it was because the dragon normally attacks the surrounding villages, not ones from far away."

"I haven't heard about these new attacks, I will have to address this issue to my father at once. Excuse me."

Once I was home it was not my father who I rushed to talk to, but my mother. Because something was very wrong. You see I am the only dragon known to be alive. Dragons became extinct years ago. In fact, when I first turned into one everyone was shocked to see one alive. And I know I'm the only one alive because there haven't been any attacks other than mine, until now.