Chapter One Part Three
The guards shoved me into a cell and kick me in the ribs. It takes me awhile to be able to move. When I look around me I am alone the other prisoners are where the guards can grab them as the events change from one to the other. I look around my cell and see a window. I stand on an empty bucket to see outside.
I am in the cells of The Dragon Arena, why is it called the Dragon Arena. That is easy there are five massive dragon statues around the arena overlooking the audience and The Royal Family. Also there are two dragon statues at the entrance they tower over those who are coming in and if the rumors are true there is another statue at the exit and was created to look as if were about to strike. Even though it's only a statue it still strikes fear in people.
The Royal Family of Dragos rules by instilling fear in its citizens. One of the most terrifying jobs in Dragos is that of a servant in the Palace. If what people say is true some of the Princesses of the palace are pure evil. They kill whoever they want whenever they want and it doesn't matter if they do nothing wrong. I've heard that many of The Princes Concubine's fight and kill one another just to get a little attention from there Prince. New Concubine's are treated like trash and if they are pretty they are killed within a week surviving a month is a fight, especially if a princess becomes jealous of another girl for any reason.
I have never stepped into the Palace and I never will. I'll die today do I care not really my suffering will end. I am disappointed that I was unable to connect to my home before I die. I can still my Dragon blood running hot through my veins it wants me to fight to live however it is pointless to try and fight I refuse to fight for my life just so they can be entertained for a few minutes.
Something in the middle of the arena catches my eye. It's the statue of a dragon. That's a strange place for a statue is it for people to try to hide behind it in order to try and save their lives for a few extra minutes? The more I look at it the more I do not believe it is a true statue. I could swear I saw its eyes blink.
"Ladies and gentlemen welcome to The Dragon Arena" someone yelled.
Their voice was magnified by something that allowed everyone in the arena to hear him.
"Are you all ready to begin The Spring Festival?
The crowd cheered.
"Well we have a special opening for you this year your seventh prince, Sephiran will open this year's festival."
The crowd cheered so loud it hurt my ears.
"I want you all to join me in whishing Prince Sephiran a happy twentieth birthday.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRINCE SEPHIRAN" the crowd shouted.
"Now please welcome PRINCE SEPHIRAN" The man in the arena ran to the nearest exit and a man was carried in on a throne by slaves. The throne was placed next to the dragon statue. I watched as the slaves cowered before it. Now I'm certain the Dragon blinked.
The prince got off of the throne and walked down the three steps and bowed to the crowed which cheered some even began chanting the Princes name. The prince held up both of his hands in the air and the crowed went silent.
Prince Sephiran's POV
I stood there with my arms in the air looking over the crowed. Everyone had gone silent the moment I raised my hands. I like to entertain people and I'm good at it to. I don't have it as bad as five older brothers seem to. My father forced Kyresan, Kol, Novis, Embros and Lukirs to oversee cities near the boarders. Kol was the least unhappy about being forced into doing something he didn't want to do.
Kyresan spent the last nine years becoming a priest. My father frowned on it but He saw it through and now has a new title for his years of trouble he is now Prince Kieran Kyresan it means The Priest Prince although most people just call him Prince Kieran. Kol wasn't happy about the new title he can't see how Kyresan could become a priest when he only values the life of nobles or people he believes are important not the lives Aunties religion is based on. Her teachings mostly came from Wintervale when she spent five years there, now that same religion calls my brother a priest when he doesn't care for the lives of those who taught it to our Aunt in the first place. Kol is not the only one confused.
Kyresan quickly became one of my father's favorite children after that and just to spite him Kol enforced his new laws on the city he was forced to be in charge of so severally he refused to allow anyone to leave the city or enter. Then killed all the slave merchants when they refused to release the slaves they had. He enforced a heavy fine and prison sentence on those who were caught still owning and slaves. He quickly became feared by the nobles when he killed most of those who were supposed to help him run the city when he found out they were only interested in lining their own pockets with kiris (gold.)
Could Kol have done it another way, yes? But he had already begun the moment he got there and he was so angry with our father he refused to follow the laws Father said were appropriate for the city and killed those who reported to father. A year later and Kol's city was beyond flourishing and due to the way he opened trade with Veilios. It's now a slave free city and brings in lots of revenue even though Kol refuses to give father any of it. Kol proved to father that Dragos could run without slaves and father really didn't like it. Slaves keep Dragos going, so he says anyway. However that city was so over run with slaves only the nobles and a few merchants had the ability to live the way they wanted.
I look at my father, he is glaring at me. He doesn't approve of the path I have chosen myself. I notice that Kol is not attending even though he was told he had to. My older brothers may have no choice but to follow my father's orders but I do not. I refused to continue my military training and refuse to serve in the army. I even left Dragos in order to prove a point to my father I will not resided in Dragos if I cannot live my life the way I want to. I look over at Gritt. He is as still as a statue. I can't help but feel like he likes to entertain people as well.
"Welcome Ladies and Gentleman. I am here for your entertainment and to begin the Arena events."
I wave to the guard in charge of releasing the beast and he releases an enormous brown bear. It's actually one of the biggest bears I have ever seen. Usually the slaves are supposed to be the ones who kill the opening beast but they all are usually slaughtered because they run and try to hide instead of fighting. The guards usually have to kill it and then the meat of the animal is served at the banquet this evening.
I notice too late that the guards never removed the slaves. The bear charges at them because they scream and run for their lives. That never made any sense to me because if you run the beast always chases because it sees you as a threat or food. I block the bear and draw its attention.
I move at the last second it strikes and it keeps on missing me. I move quickly and elegantly it's as if I am dancing with the bear not fighting it. The crowed always gasps when the bear gets close.
Gritt stunned the audience by moving. I do believe most thought he was just a statue because there are many around the arena what was one more in the middle to watch people try to hide under it. I am not one for slaughter and I will not allow Gritt to participate in it and I know Kol won't allow Shayde to either.
The bear nearly misses me. I move one way and it moves the same way and manages to scratch me. Brown scales cover the wound. Ok I have had enough I'm done playing with the bear. If I mess around too much he may end up getting the better of me instead of me slaying him.
I pull out my sword and when the bear charges at me again I swing my sword and with a single cut he falls to the ground as his head rolls away only to be gobbled up by Gritt a second later. The crowd cheers and I bow to them. Gritt opens his mouth and lets out a breath of fire which shocks the crowd and he fly's away.
I turn and head back inside. I walk through the entrance and tell the slave merchant to release the slaves. They did their job and they survived the beast. The Merchant was not happy as he was forced to unlock there collars and let them get passed him. I get the feeling he will hunt them down later and put the collars back on them. However I tell them to head to my aunt's temple where they will be safe.
It's usually not done but I am not like most of my siblings I actually care about the lives of other people even slaves. I go up the stairs and take my seat next to Lukris who rolls his eyes at me. I don't really though I will live my life the way I want to. I may be a Prince but I am not in line for the throne Vex is the named Heir I shouldn't be forced to do what I don't want to.
"Start The Culling" My father orders.
I frown at his words The Culling is the slaughter of slaves and only five of the oldest dragons are participating in it. The Culling is supposed to be away to get rid of older slaves who can't work anymore. But I have noticed that the slaves get younger and younger every year.
My brother's dragons land in the arena and wait.
I watch as guards start to drag out the slaves. I can hear the screams of a few of them. They claim they are from Wintervale. Those who say that are beaten to the ground. There isn't a single old slave among them actually one of them looks to be a child. I stand up.
"Sit down Sephiran" my father orders
"And if I don't."
"You don't want to know the answer. Now sit down I will not have two of my sons absent. I will deal with Kol later."
I sit down against my better judgement I shouldn't have come back to the Capital.
Authors note: I hope you are all enjoying Dragons Kiss so far. I know I am. If you are enjoying this story please let me know by leaving a like or comment. Also share this story with your friends. For more info about this story and my other ones go to my Facebook page Author Megan Hultz.