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The Dragon
folder
Erotica › General
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
8
Views:
20,853
Reviews:
81
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Category:
Erotica › General
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
8
Views:
20,853
Reviews:
81
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.
Part One
THE DRAGON
Thank you so much for your reviews, everyone! We've gotten off to a really good start. By the way, I still can't figure out how to indent my paragraphs! Someone help, please; if you leave a review, please post it there if you know how. Thanks, and happy reading.
Part One
She was a sacrifice.
Her teeth gritted, Darque pulled at her constraints with all of her strength, trying in vain to free herself. She had collected ochre vines to make rope since she was a little girl-their strength was such that the lengths of twine made in her village had, on more than one occasion, been sold to the royal city.
Never had she imagined that they would be used on her.
Biting her lip, she tugged sharply, then winced as the rough material burned her wrists.
Damnation.
With a low exhalation of defeat, she sagged in her bonds, her arms stretched painfully above her, her back drawn taut against the wooden stake she’d been tied to. Morosely, she wiggled her toes, which had fallen asleep at the tightness with which her legs had been strapped.
This was barbaric.
She’d never participated before when villagers had insisted that it was their inherent duty to appease the dragon, less he destroy their village like so many others that had fallen prey. She had always shut her ears when some screaming virgin girl was picked to be the sacrifice and was dragged, crying and begging, to the cave in the ridges to be bound and left for dead.
It was a tradition she had hated since she was a small girl.
A drop in female birth rate had afforded her generation surprisingly few young women already, and every year spent in adolescence was one that a girl could fear sacrifice. Most chose to lay with even the most ruthless of men rather than be sacrificed to the dragon.
Darque had simply chosen to believe that she would never be selected.
It had been like watching a nightmare. When spring festival had drawn near, the ritual time for sacrifice, Bernadette had been killed in a horrible fire. Anabelle and Rica had fled the village entirely and Petra had suddenly taken on a lover.
The villager councilman had suddenly decided that sixteen summers was too young for a girl to be taken and twenty too old, which had lessened the pickings considerably.
She was the only eligible girl.
Darque, however, knew that it was no fluke. She wasn’t popular in the village for her odd habits and reclusive ways. She would rather read than work the loom-the gift of words was one that her mother had taught her before she died-and was scolded for this particular hobby. In fact, she was scolded for almost everything. From wandering off to gather wildflowers for the small hut she’d been allowed to inhabit to bringing back an unknown herb to analyze.
She was strange, she knew, and that was why she’d been singled out.
So, here she sat, awaiting her fate.
She was surprisingly unafraid, she supposed, knowing her death was inevitable. Her mother had died when she was very young-and there had been no fear in her eyes. Darque saw no reason to fear death. She only hoped that such a fearsome creature as the dragon would not chew her and only snap her up quickly.
She didn’t like pain.
A cool breeze drifted up the side of the mountain, blowing strands of her dark, curly hair into her face and she blew them away in agitation. Couldn’t she at least be comfortable in the last few moments of her life?
All at once, she stiffened. From far off, a sound reached her.
Rushing air. As if past wings.
The dragon.
She shivered involuntarily. Would it be terribly fearsome, this dragon? Breathing fire and brimstone and screaming its dominance? Would it roast her before eating her? Was it truly as gigantic as the King’s castle or even bigger still? Those who had seen the beast called it a monster of “unimaginable” proportions.
Darque’s imagination was running wild.
The sound of cycloning air came closer and closer until, finally, over the edge of the cliffs surrounding the cave, a huge, dark figure loomed, all claws, wings and glowing red eyes, with a snort of air that, even from hundreds of feet away, emitted a horrible heat and smelled of sulfur. The creature landed with a terrific crunch of rock and weight, settling on the large ledge outside with a rumbling growl. Smoke curled about its nostrils.
The young woman could only stare as the creature shook it’s elephantine bulk, wings rustling, then folded the great leathery appendages into itself to make its way towards her and into the cave.
The closer it came, the more she saw.
It’s skin, from far away, had seemed the purest black. She now gathered that it was a myriad of dark blues and reds blending together in a purplish hue that glistened with the beast’s every movement. It’s claws were an ivory hue and were razor sharp, making grooves in the rock where it stepped, digging deep. Startlingly black slits bisected each huge, glowing red eye, from which seemed to emanate a heat themselves from above a long snout studded with wicked looking teeth.
Darque blinked.
The dragon was terrifying yes, but it was also very beautiful.
It paused only feet before her, it’s immense bulk dwarfing she, who had always thought herself a head taller than the commonplace woman. Easily 9 or 10 men-lengths in length and at least 3 in width, it filled the entire cave with little room to move. Not that it needed to. One snap of its massive jaws would serve, she imagined.
Crimson eyes narrowed and a jet of steam that singed her eyelids met Darque and she exhaled a shuddering breath, transfixed.
Any last words, human?
She jerked. The beast could speak!
Its mouth didn’t move, but there was a low, rumbling growl in her consciousness that was decidedly male-and decidedly hungry. It would be male. She was to be devoured by a man-how typical.
Though this animal was leagues more lovely than any male she’d ever come across-and she decided that would be a fine last thing to say. Nothing better.
“You’re a breathtaking creature.” She exhaled softly, closing her eyes slowly before taking a last breath. The dragon even had an interesting smell-spicy and warm in and of itself. “I am ready.”
For a moment, there was silence.
It was enough to make her uncomfortable. The soundlessness dragged on and on until, finally, she opened her eyes, hoping not to meet the gargantuan jaws of her fate.
The creature was simply staring at her-now it was decidedly closer, one glowing eye mere inches from her face so she gasped. It seemed to assess her, its pupil moving over her decidedly smaller form. And then…
A soft emission of sound came, growing gradually louder. It was a rough, grating series of grunts unlike anything Darque had ever heard before, rocking the cave so that the very rock trembled with the force of it.
The young woman’s eyes widened when she realized what was happening.
It was laughing.
Something seemed to amuse the beast.
Short puffs of smoke that made her cough and her eyes water emitted with each “chuckle” until she gasped for air. After what seemed like forever, the strange sounds died out and she was once again met with the being’s piercing gaze.
Very amusing, human. It bought you perhaps a moments reprieve. Do not, however, think your feigned courage will save you from my digestive tract.
Darque gaped.
Feigned courage?
What on earth did this thing she was trying to accomplish? She’d been prepared for her death, ready to be with her mother and the gods; sweet lord, she’d almost wanted it and now she was to be mocked for her feelings again? Some dragon!
It was no better than the villagers that had spurned her.
Her anger may not have had as much heat as the creature before her, but she saw red.
“Do you often mock your prey or do you roast them first?” She demanded hotly, eyes narrow.
The beast flexed a thick brow bone in surprise at her outburst; however, Darque wasn’t finished. “It’s very rude of you, you know. All I wanted was to die with more decency than I lived and you can’t even just chomp on me! You must mock me first! They all mock me! I can’t even find dignity in death!” Embarassingly, she found her eyes filling with tears.
She hadn’t cried since she’d been very young. She’d hardened herself to the difficulties the world dealt her and now, to have such an easy solution so horribly taken from her was more than she could bear. “You wretched beast! You’re as terrible as they say indeed-”
SILENCE!
The girl was immediately cowed into quiet. The being had obviously gotten over its initial surprise; now it’s eyes were narrowed in a mixture of fury and confusion. For the first time, Darque was afraid. Perhaps it would make her suffer now-she had spoken so sorely out of turn…
Who are you, little vermin, that you speak to me so!?
She trembled at the heat of its anger.
“I’m n-nobody-”
What are you called? The demand was impossible to refuse.
“Darque!” She managed, cringing as she walls shuddered at the force of the creature’s strange speech.
Darque No-body, you dare raise that timid tinny of yours to me? Your executioner!? A claw raised to rest against her throat, easily the size of her head and more, the point just at her jugular.
The razor-sharp tip drew a trickle of blood and she cried out at the jagged pain that shot through her. “I’m sorry!” She wailed, trying not to shake and further the damage. “I’m very very sorry! My mouth runs away with me!”
You will be punished! The creature snarled, it’s burning breath leaving her dress smoking. Severely!
Sweet Gods, she was going to be dismembered bit by bit and eaten in pieces! She would die in a horrible, unbearable agony if she did not go mad first. Please, please, please, she prayed fervently, let me not be conscious for the worst. Please, please…
You come with me.
Before she had even registered what the beast had said, she shrieked as, with a flick of it’s claw, the dragon severed the wooden post from where it stood in the earth, causing her to fall over. The wind whistled past her ears and she prayed to be knocked unconscious, but, no such luck. The creature caught her in its massive jaws and held the wooden stake firmly. The heat was immense and she was sure one slip of the monster’s grip would sever a limb or that its saliva would burn her to death.
Soon, however, she had even more frightening things to dwell on. The dragon was backing from the cave into the free air, flapping its wings slowly. On no. It wasn’t going to fly, was it? Not with her in its mouth!? She feared being high up more than anything else in existence!
When the beast, with a final flap of it’s immense wings, dove off of the cliffs and hurtled toward the ground, she screamed as sharp rocks hurtled toward her face, then gasped and swooned as the creature spread it’s leathery gifts and glided up, up…
The screaming began anew.
Quiet, wench! The being snapped irately. Less I decide it would be prudent to watch your rebellious form splattered on the floor of the valley.
That did it.
With a wail, Darque fell into a deep faint, into the blessed darkness and silence.
Thanks again for reading, everyone. I love reviews, so if you feel so inclined, don't hesitate! I apologize for the lack of hot, lusty sex this chapter but I had to set things up; we have to know all about poor Darque and her predicament. Next chapter, however, I promise an improvement. Up within a day or two's time if I can wrangle it. :)
Thank you so much for your reviews, everyone! We've gotten off to a really good start. By the way, I still can't figure out how to indent my paragraphs! Someone help, please; if you leave a review, please post it there if you know how. Thanks, and happy reading.
Part One
She was a sacrifice.
Her teeth gritted, Darque pulled at her constraints with all of her strength, trying in vain to free herself. She had collected ochre vines to make rope since she was a little girl-their strength was such that the lengths of twine made in her village had, on more than one occasion, been sold to the royal city.
Never had she imagined that they would be used on her.
Biting her lip, she tugged sharply, then winced as the rough material burned her wrists.
Damnation.
With a low exhalation of defeat, she sagged in her bonds, her arms stretched painfully above her, her back drawn taut against the wooden stake she’d been tied to. Morosely, she wiggled her toes, which had fallen asleep at the tightness with which her legs had been strapped.
This was barbaric.
She’d never participated before when villagers had insisted that it was their inherent duty to appease the dragon, less he destroy their village like so many others that had fallen prey. She had always shut her ears when some screaming virgin girl was picked to be the sacrifice and was dragged, crying and begging, to the cave in the ridges to be bound and left for dead.
It was a tradition she had hated since she was a small girl.
A drop in female birth rate had afforded her generation surprisingly few young women already, and every year spent in adolescence was one that a girl could fear sacrifice. Most chose to lay with even the most ruthless of men rather than be sacrificed to the dragon.
Darque had simply chosen to believe that she would never be selected.
It had been like watching a nightmare. When spring festival had drawn near, the ritual time for sacrifice, Bernadette had been killed in a horrible fire. Anabelle and Rica had fled the village entirely and Petra had suddenly taken on a lover.
The villager councilman had suddenly decided that sixteen summers was too young for a girl to be taken and twenty too old, which had lessened the pickings considerably.
She was the only eligible girl.
Darque, however, knew that it was no fluke. She wasn’t popular in the village for her odd habits and reclusive ways. She would rather read than work the loom-the gift of words was one that her mother had taught her before she died-and was scolded for this particular hobby. In fact, she was scolded for almost everything. From wandering off to gather wildflowers for the small hut she’d been allowed to inhabit to bringing back an unknown herb to analyze.
She was strange, she knew, and that was why she’d been singled out.
So, here she sat, awaiting her fate.
She was surprisingly unafraid, she supposed, knowing her death was inevitable. Her mother had died when she was very young-and there had been no fear in her eyes. Darque saw no reason to fear death. She only hoped that such a fearsome creature as the dragon would not chew her and only snap her up quickly.
She didn’t like pain.
A cool breeze drifted up the side of the mountain, blowing strands of her dark, curly hair into her face and she blew them away in agitation. Couldn’t she at least be comfortable in the last few moments of her life?
All at once, she stiffened. From far off, a sound reached her.
Rushing air. As if past wings.
The dragon.
She shivered involuntarily. Would it be terribly fearsome, this dragon? Breathing fire and brimstone and screaming its dominance? Would it roast her before eating her? Was it truly as gigantic as the King’s castle or even bigger still? Those who had seen the beast called it a monster of “unimaginable” proportions.
Darque’s imagination was running wild.
The sound of cycloning air came closer and closer until, finally, over the edge of the cliffs surrounding the cave, a huge, dark figure loomed, all claws, wings and glowing red eyes, with a snort of air that, even from hundreds of feet away, emitted a horrible heat and smelled of sulfur. The creature landed with a terrific crunch of rock and weight, settling on the large ledge outside with a rumbling growl. Smoke curled about its nostrils.
The young woman could only stare as the creature shook it’s elephantine bulk, wings rustling, then folded the great leathery appendages into itself to make its way towards her and into the cave.
The closer it came, the more she saw.
It’s skin, from far away, had seemed the purest black. She now gathered that it was a myriad of dark blues and reds blending together in a purplish hue that glistened with the beast’s every movement. It’s claws were an ivory hue and were razor sharp, making grooves in the rock where it stepped, digging deep. Startlingly black slits bisected each huge, glowing red eye, from which seemed to emanate a heat themselves from above a long snout studded with wicked looking teeth.
Darque blinked.
The dragon was terrifying yes, but it was also very beautiful.
It paused only feet before her, it’s immense bulk dwarfing she, who had always thought herself a head taller than the commonplace woman. Easily 9 or 10 men-lengths in length and at least 3 in width, it filled the entire cave with little room to move. Not that it needed to. One snap of its massive jaws would serve, she imagined.
Crimson eyes narrowed and a jet of steam that singed her eyelids met Darque and she exhaled a shuddering breath, transfixed.
Any last words, human?
She jerked. The beast could speak!
Its mouth didn’t move, but there was a low, rumbling growl in her consciousness that was decidedly male-and decidedly hungry. It would be male. She was to be devoured by a man-how typical.
Though this animal was leagues more lovely than any male she’d ever come across-and she decided that would be a fine last thing to say. Nothing better.
“You’re a breathtaking creature.” She exhaled softly, closing her eyes slowly before taking a last breath. The dragon even had an interesting smell-spicy and warm in and of itself. “I am ready.”
For a moment, there was silence.
It was enough to make her uncomfortable. The soundlessness dragged on and on until, finally, she opened her eyes, hoping not to meet the gargantuan jaws of her fate.
The creature was simply staring at her-now it was decidedly closer, one glowing eye mere inches from her face so she gasped. It seemed to assess her, its pupil moving over her decidedly smaller form. And then…
A soft emission of sound came, growing gradually louder. It was a rough, grating series of grunts unlike anything Darque had ever heard before, rocking the cave so that the very rock trembled with the force of it.
The young woman’s eyes widened when she realized what was happening.
It was laughing.
Something seemed to amuse the beast.
Short puffs of smoke that made her cough and her eyes water emitted with each “chuckle” until she gasped for air. After what seemed like forever, the strange sounds died out and she was once again met with the being’s piercing gaze.
Very amusing, human. It bought you perhaps a moments reprieve. Do not, however, think your feigned courage will save you from my digestive tract.
Darque gaped.
Feigned courage?
What on earth did this thing she was trying to accomplish? She’d been prepared for her death, ready to be with her mother and the gods; sweet lord, she’d almost wanted it and now she was to be mocked for her feelings again? Some dragon!
It was no better than the villagers that had spurned her.
Her anger may not have had as much heat as the creature before her, but she saw red.
“Do you often mock your prey or do you roast them first?” She demanded hotly, eyes narrow.
The beast flexed a thick brow bone in surprise at her outburst; however, Darque wasn’t finished. “It’s very rude of you, you know. All I wanted was to die with more decency than I lived and you can’t even just chomp on me! You must mock me first! They all mock me! I can’t even find dignity in death!” Embarassingly, she found her eyes filling with tears.
She hadn’t cried since she’d been very young. She’d hardened herself to the difficulties the world dealt her and now, to have such an easy solution so horribly taken from her was more than she could bear. “You wretched beast! You’re as terrible as they say indeed-”
SILENCE!
The girl was immediately cowed into quiet. The being had obviously gotten over its initial surprise; now it’s eyes were narrowed in a mixture of fury and confusion. For the first time, Darque was afraid. Perhaps it would make her suffer now-she had spoken so sorely out of turn…
Who are you, little vermin, that you speak to me so!?
She trembled at the heat of its anger.
“I’m n-nobody-”
What are you called? The demand was impossible to refuse.
“Darque!” She managed, cringing as she walls shuddered at the force of the creature’s strange speech.
Darque No-body, you dare raise that timid tinny of yours to me? Your executioner!? A claw raised to rest against her throat, easily the size of her head and more, the point just at her jugular.
The razor-sharp tip drew a trickle of blood and she cried out at the jagged pain that shot through her. “I’m sorry!” She wailed, trying not to shake and further the damage. “I’m very very sorry! My mouth runs away with me!”
You will be punished! The creature snarled, it’s burning breath leaving her dress smoking. Severely!
Sweet Gods, she was going to be dismembered bit by bit and eaten in pieces! She would die in a horrible, unbearable agony if she did not go mad first. Please, please, please, she prayed fervently, let me not be conscious for the worst. Please, please…
You come with me.
Before she had even registered what the beast had said, she shrieked as, with a flick of it’s claw, the dragon severed the wooden post from where it stood in the earth, causing her to fall over. The wind whistled past her ears and she prayed to be knocked unconscious, but, no such luck. The creature caught her in its massive jaws and held the wooden stake firmly. The heat was immense and she was sure one slip of the monster’s grip would sever a limb or that its saliva would burn her to death.
Soon, however, she had even more frightening things to dwell on. The dragon was backing from the cave into the free air, flapping its wings slowly. On no. It wasn’t going to fly, was it? Not with her in its mouth!? She feared being high up more than anything else in existence!
When the beast, with a final flap of it’s immense wings, dove off of the cliffs and hurtled toward the ground, she screamed as sharp rocks hurtled toward her face, then gasped and swooned as the creature spread it’s leathery gifts and glided up, up…
The screaming began anew.
Quiet, wench! The being snapped irately. Less I decide it would be prudent to watch your rebellious form splattered on the floor of the valley.
That did it.
With a wail, Darque fell into a deep faint, into the blessed darkness and silence.
Thanks again for reading, everyone. I love reviews, so if you feel so inclined, don't hesitate! I apologize for the lack of hot, lusty sex this chapter but I had to set things up; we have to know all about poor Darque and her predicament. Next chapter, however, I promise an improvement. Up within a day or two's time if I can wrangle it. :)