Chapter Two

"What the hell happened!" yelled one of the guards as they burst through my door.

"Wish I knew," both Archer and I said at the same time.

"My lady, are you okay?" Archer asked.

"Yeah I'm fine thanks." I walked over to the unconscious man on the ground and turned him over so he was on his back. I knelt down and put my hands on either side of his head and concentrated on him. All of his past and memories and thoughts came rushing into my head. I pulled away when I saw one memory. I sat there staring at the man, breathing very hard; it felt like someone had knocked all the air out of me. Sapphira and Archer rushed to my side. Sapphira was about to speak when my uncle burst through the doors and came straight to my side pushing Archer out of the way. He put his hands on either side of my face and looked me straight in the eye. I cringed away from him when he touched me. He looked hurt.

"Blaze, what did you see?" he asked. I tried to slow my breathing down but it wouldn't.

"I-I saw Sh-Shadrack. Shadrack s-sent h-him," I stammered. I also saw a lot of other things but I wasn't about to tell my uncle what I saw. I needed to get away from here, I needed to find Shadrack and kill him. I got up and started to walk out my door when my uncle spoke.

"Blaze you don't have to go if you don't want to," he said. I turned back to look at him.

"Yes I do uncle. If what I saw in that mans mind is true, then I have to stop Shadrack before he does anymore damage," I said as I turned on my heel.

"Well you're taking someone with you." I stopped dead in my tracks. What! Someone is coming with me. I can't have anyone with me. Not after what I saw.

"What! I'm Blaze Korsakov, I do my missions alone uncle, you should know that by now,' I said to him.

"Not this one, you're taking him with you." He nodded to someone behind me. I turned around and standing in front of me was the most beautiful man I had ever seen. He had silvery black hair with blue, almost silver, eyes. He was very tall and he looked about 24 years old. Strapped to his back was one of the biggest swords I had ever seen and the markings on it were amazing. When I looked back to his eyes I noticed he was looking at me too.

"Blaze this is Raiden Reynard," my uncle said.

"Reynard?" I asked the question to my uncle but I kept my eyes on Raiden.

"Yes, this is Shadrack's son." I spun around so fast and glared at my uncle.

"You must be out of your mind if you think I am traveling with him!" I yelled as I stormed out of my room with my bags and straight to the stables to get my horse, Bian.

When I got to the stables the stable boy, Lance, helped me get Bian ready. As I went to put my saddle on his back I sensed someone behind me. I didn't recognize his mind so I dropped my saddle and pulled my sword from my belt and pointed it at the stranger. I couldn't see their face but I knew who it was when I saw his sword strapped to his back. I flipped my sword in my hand and put it back on my belt.

"What do you want?" I growled at him while I turned back to my horse.

"Look, Blaze, I understand that you don't want me here but-"I cut him off.

"Your right, I don't want you here, so leave!" I snapped at him. He picked up my saddle and put it on Bian's back.

"I understand how you feel towards me at the moment, but we have the same motive you want Shadrack dead and so do I," he said to me. I thought about it for a moment.

"Fine. You can come with me but if you get hurt or killed it's your own fault," I snapped at him, "And this doesn't mean I trust you."

He sighed a sigh of relief, "Thank you, and don't worry you will learn to trust me," he said with a smirk.

"Don't hold your breath," I muttered. He chuckled at that.

I was waiting for Raiden outside the stables when someone came up behind me and grabbed me by the waist. I gave a little yelp before I realized who it was.

"Wow, I finally managed to sneak up on the famous Blaze Korsakov," said Archer in a victorious voice. I turned around to face him.

"Well enjoy it while you can, because it will be the first and last time that you ever get to do it," I said.

"Well then, can I enjoy this too?" he asked while he leaned closer to me. I knew where this was going and for some reason I couldn't say no to it. His lips came down to mine. I realized in that moment that I did love Archer. I started to kiss him back but we were interrupted, we jumped apart when someone cleared their throat. Raiden was standing there with his arms crossed over his chest like he disapproved of what he just witnessed.

"Are you ready to leave Blaze?" he asked. I nodded.

"Yes, but I have t-"

"Blaze Korsakov! Do you think you can just run off without taking me with you or saying goodbye!" yelled Sapphira. I turned around to see a very angry Sapphira Raksha walking towards me.

"Oh right, I knew I was missing something," I said. Archer and Raiden burst out laughing but when Sapphira glared at them, they stopped.

"Where do you think you are going?" she asked me.

"My uncle wants me to do another mission," I said.

"Good, I need to get-" I cut her off.

"Sapphira I'm going alone," I said in a calm voice.

"What!" she exclaimed.

"I said I'm going alone, you can't come with me this time, it's going to be too dangerous," I said as I looked at my shoes.

"I don't care your not leaving me, we're a team." She's right I can't leave her but it will be very dangerous, and…

"Fine you can come but what I say goes, is that clear?" I looked her right in the eye.

"Crystal," she said. She turned and ran into the stable to get her horse.

"Well I better go, I have some things to take care of," sighed Archer. I turned back to face him. He pulled me into a big hug.

"Promise me something?" he asked.

"Anything," I said into his chest.

"Promise me you will bring her back alive," he said.

"I will."

"Good, and bring yourself back too." I laughed at that.

"Don't worry I'll come back, but I can't promise I will be breathing when I do." He pulled me away from him so we were looking at each other.

"You better be breathing Blaze Korsakov," he said firmly. I gave a little smile.

"I will." Sapphira walked out of the stables as Archer pulled me back into another hug.

"Oh my gosh, I knew it, I knew you two would fall in love!" she said happily.

"Well its time for us to go," I said as I gave Archer a quick kiss on the lips. We mounted our horses and started off towards the front gates. The only problem was that the front gates were on the other side of the city. Yay, that means we have to walk through the city with an escort.

A lot of people were talking when they saw us, they were saying things like,

"That's the princess…"

"Where could she be going now…?"

"Who is the man with her…?"

"That's Raiden Reynard…"

We finally reached the front gates and went through them with no more delays.

We had been traveling for two weeks now. We pasted through my Estate on the way to Shadow's Forest to get some supplies and some rest. While we have been travelling Raiden has been helping me develop my gifts. We've had a few encounters with bandits, but when they realized who I was they ran away. Ha no one dare's to mess with me, well except for Shadrack.

We had made our way to Shadow's cave after we couldn't find him in the forest. Shadow is Shadrack's dragon, the only still living of his kind. We dismounted the horses, tied them to trees near the creek and walked over the little hill to the cave. When we where outside the cave I stopped and turned to the others.

"Stay here," I ordered, I started to turn back to the entrance when Raiden spoke.

"No," he said. I was in front of him in the blink of an eye.

"What did you just say to me?" I growled.

"I said no."

"Well last time I checked, I'm the one in charge here, and I said stay!" my voice grew louder with every word and by the end of my sentence I was yelling. That's when we heard it, the big growl that came from inside the cave. Shadow.

"Great, now look what you made me do," I said as I backed away from the cave. I could hear his footsteps getting closer until he came into view. Now, I've seen a few dragons in my life but I have never seen one as big as him, I'm surprised he could even fit in the cave. Shadow had dark purple scales, yellow eyes and spikes going from the top of his head all the way down to the tip of his tail. He had very, very sharp claws and teeth. Nobody moved for a moment, Raiden Sapphira and I stood there staring at him and he stood there staring at…me, sensing me as the bigger threat.

Damn he's smarter than I thought. I thought to Raiden.

Then don't underestimate him. He thought back.

"Never do," I muttered.

"Blaze I'm serious," he growled.

I pulled my sword from my belt and pointed it straight at Shadow. He didn't like that so took a step towards me and let out a big roar.

"Show time." And the fight began. Shadow made the first move at me. Okay I take back what I said before about him being smart, he completely put all his attacks towards me and completely forgot about Raiden and Sapphira. Raiden came up from the side of him and tried to drive his sword through his heart but Shadow blocked him, the only problem was he blocked Raiden with me! As soon as he saw Raiden's sword coming towards him, he picked me up with his claws and put my in the way of Raiden's sword. Raiden didn't have enough time to stop his sword but I did. With my enhanced speed and strength I broke free from Shadow's grip and Raiden's sword went straight through his heart. The massive dragon fell to the ground dead.

"Blaze are you okay?" asked Sapphira.

"Yeah, why?" I asked.

"Umm…you head and arm, Blaze," said Raiden. I looked down at my arm. There was a big cut running from my bicep to my wrist. I also realized that there was something warm and sticky running down the side of my head.

"Oh." As soon as the words left my mouth I fainted.