I DON'T OWN DRAGONHEART! (wow... this is getting regular...)
NEXT CHAPPIE! ^_^ enjoy!
Chapter Three: Kidnapped
Becca had gotten up early, she was hungry and didn't want to wake the other two so she changed into her wolf form. Deciding it was early enough for a nice drink, she trotted down to a cool river.
A light mist covered the glade where she found the river, she looked about and found some berries on a bush. Turning back into a human and picking a few of them off, swallowing them groggily she yawned and knelt by the river. She cupped her hands and brought the freezing water to her mouth, taking large gulps then splashing her face with it.
She was still to groggy to hear the footsteps behind her, too sleepy to notice them until it was too late. As she dried her face, Becca felt a rope around her throat and a firm hand on her mouth as she was kidnapped.
Becca wasn't without her own survival instincts, she bit the hand that covered her mouth and let out a wild scream as she struggled against her attacker. She kicked and bit, but whoever it was covered her mouth with a gag and hoisted her onto a saddle.
"Heh, what a strange peasant," said a cold voice, Becca was noticing her eyesight was dimming to a blur, what the hell was going on? "You'll be a very interesting thing to study back at the castle…" the voice sent shivers down Becca's spine. Before she blacked out, she saw Bowen's figure, far away on a hill, calling her name, she wanted to call back, to tell him that she was here, but the darkness overtook her, closing in as Becca finally lost consciousness.
Bowen heard the scream, but was too late by the time he saw the group of horsemen galloping away. Oh no… he thought. It was Einon, who had clearly been out on one of his daily, morning hunts. The king must have seen Becca transform, taken an interest in her and carried her off to his castle.
Dammit, he thought in frustration. He couldn't help her now, he knew her personality a little, and had a feeling she could fend for herself. She knew where their next town was, if she didn't manage to get away by then, he would go and rescue her. Give her a chance, said his conscience, she's stronger than she thinks…
Becca woke in a warm, dimly lit room made of stone. She wasn't bound or anything except for a thin chain winding from her ankle to the wall, but her weapons had been taken and locked in a cage-like thing on the other side of the room. She looked around, observing her surroundings before remembering her capture. Leaping to her feet she glared around, searching for a way out, and finding none.
"I see you're awake my princess…" came a chilling voice from the other side of the room. There was a tall man sitting in an ornately carved chair by a roaring fireplace. He wore a white and gold tunic and white pants, and lots of gold. He was clearly a noble. Becca glared at him like a wary animal, who the hell was this guy?
"Who are you? Why am I here?" she asked, her golden eyes fixed on him, like a wolf she didn't loose sight of her adversary. The man just laughed, propping his head on his hand and looking at her.
"You sure are interesting," he said, "I saw you change from a beast to a woman, so I'm not sure whether you are human or not," he gave her a sadistic looking grin. "You do seem harmless, you've slept for over a day now," he got up and knelt in front of her, just out of reach.
She looked at his cold, almost gray, blue eyes and was almost paralyzed. She couldn't move properly, her body wouldn't respond to her commands as he reached out a hand and tilted her chin. His touch made her shiver, his icy hands were as cold as the Atlantic ocean, his gaze even colder. As if all love had been drained, or sucked out of him and left this cruel-looking, strange man.
"I am Einon, the King of this land," he boasted, looking at Becca, who was still immobilized, "And you, my dear, are lovely…" he leaned closer to her. Becca, who hated having anyone touch her, finally got her movement back and leapt backward. She collided with the wall and stared in horror at him.
"Still a little wild animal aren't we?" the king asked, smiling brutally. Becca remembered Bowen's words, about a boy called Einon, and a dragon having poisoned his heart. From what she saw, it was he who had poisoned his own heart. He came closer to her, Becca had paid attention in history class, these times hadn't been kind on women, and if you fought back, you could be killed.
But this guy was completely invading her personal bubble, she felt her heart racing, pounding within her ribcage. Her wolfish eyes widened and she felt a growl rising in her throat, his lips were centimeters from hers, she wasn't going to let him steal her first kiss, HELL NO. She felt her body change as she transformed into a wolf and snarled at the King. Who noticed this and jumped back nimbly with a laugh.
"You may be able to avoid me now, but not for long princess!" he chuckled and left the room, taking his cloak with him.
Becca snorted angrily after him, then lay down on the cool floor, her ears flat on her head. She looked through the window above her, feeling the moon's comforting, soft glow on her fur, giving her strength. That's when she noticed that the moon was nearing it's full phase, with a sly grin, she plotted her escape. She had to get back to Bowen and Draco, she had to tell the knight what she had discovered.
The night dragged on slowly for Becca, being nocturnal she couldn't sleep at night. The flames of the candles bored her to death, and she wanted so much to get out of the castle.
She heard the door creak and Einon entered, she gave him a low snarl, warning him to stay away.
"Oh come now, surely you want to take a walk hmmn?" he asked slyly, she cursed internally and allowed him to attach a chain leash to her collar. She got up and grumpily padded from the room next to him, her full height coming up to his waist. She didn't like him, he treated her with no respect, even though she knew that women had little rights in this time.
"You know, it would be easier if you were a girl, you wouldn't have to be on this leash like a common dog. Becca gave him a huff, not even giving him the privilege of her mind-link. She knew her superiority, and so did he. The young king knew that she could easily overtake him, he eyed her powerful shoulders and her strong muscles warily. Even if he was practically immortal, it would still hurt, a lot.
The king brought her into a large feast hall, leading her to a dais at the head of the room where he sat at the head of the table. He hooked the chain around the arm of his chair and offered her a leg of mutton. Becca promptly ignored it, preferring to hunt for herself, he left it there and offered her some bread, which she also turned her nose up at. Leaving it where the other was, he let her eat it in her own time.
Re-thinking the offer, Becca decided it would be a good idea, since she might not get another chance to eat again. Besides, the local hounds were inching ever closer to her food, they were curious at this new animal, wondering if she was dangerous or not. The minute the dogs were about a few centimeters from Becca, she immediately bared her wickedly sharp teeth at them. The hounds seemed slightly phased, but continued to inch forward, they were used to fights, and obviously found her not threatening.
Becca leapt forward, barking like a mad-dog, spittle flying from her lips as she snapped at the air. She didn't want to harm the dogs, just scare them a little. It seemed to work since the hounds retreated the farthest distance from her, tails in between their legs. Becca snorted and lay down next to her food eating slowly.
Einon gave her a wicked smile as he spoke to a burly man next to him. A woman sat on his left, dressed in a white veil on her head and a lovely cream-colored gown. She looked at Becca inquisitively, and Becca looked up at her with her human-like gaze. The former queen gasped quietly as she realized what Becca was. Becca gave her a sigh and kept eating quietly, noticing the hounds getting closer again, she snarled angrily, baring her teeth again, sending the dogs back to their masters feet.
"Your Majesty, that is quite a magnificent creature you've got there," said what Becca thought was a duke or something. "Where did you find him?" Becca snuffed at the notion that everyone thought her a male.
Einon chuckled, "I 'found' her somewhere secret, she is lovely isn't she not?" the king gave Becca a scratch in between her ears affectionately. Becca flattened her ears and growled at him.
The duke laughed, "She does not seem to like you very much your Majesty!" Einon laughed along with the duke.
"Have you ever thought of putting her to the ring your grace?" asked another man, "I am positive that she would make many a glorious victory,"
Becca heard Einon think for a moment, then he grinned cruelly, sending shivers through Becca despite her thick fur. "I think that would be a wonderful idea," he unhooked her chain and pulled her, getting out of his chair. Becca refused to get up, still lying stubbornly on the floor.
Hearing Einon's frustrated bark of, "Move!" didn't sway her. It was only until he decided to use force. The front of his foot connected with her side and she yelped loudly, being bowled over and into Aislinn's chair, the guests howled with laughter. The former queen flinched and stared at Becca in sorrow, urging her to do as the king wanted or she would be sorry.
Becca got up, a massive bruise already forming on her side. She walked over to the middle of the room as one of the men brought over a beastly looking mastiff. She felt fear cling to her heart for a moment, but then steeled her mind and allowed Einon to unclip her. She swished her tail, distinctly frustrated.
The dog was set loose and charged her, Becca waited until it was close and stepped aside, it crashed into a stone wall and got up. It shook it's head and then charged at her, she did the same thing and stepped aside. But the hound wasn't going to be fooled again, and it swerved, catching her on the back. Her fur was too thick for the dog to get a proper hold and she shook him off. Snarling, she bared her teeth, telling the dog to leave her be, but the thing was too dumb and blind with rage that had been pounded into him since birth, to understand.
It spun around and bit her tail, Becca yipped in pain and saw Einon laughing in his seat, the others were all cheering the other dog. Becca felt the rage of the werewolf building within her. Her golden eyes turned a fluorescent yellow, sparking with electricity. NOW you've pissed me off! She gave a bark, spittle flying and latched onto the dog's throat. She was now blind, red clouded her vision and she bit down on the dog's soft throat, her powerful jaws locked and unbreakable. She could taste blood as she punctured the smaller dog's throat, getting closer and closer to the life-giving artery that she could practically hear, pulsing the red fluid through his body. The blood was warm, fueling her anger, the small animal struggled feebly against the superior.
A yip sounded in her mind, "Stop! Help me please!" she knew it was the dog. It cried out for it's master to help it, she saw the man, the one who was sitting next to Einon. But he made no move to help his slowly fading animal, Becca was disgusted. Although she could easily snuff out this dog's life, it didn't mean she had to.
"Stay calm…" she reassured the dog, "I am sorry for this…" her jaw relaxed as she let the poor creature fall from her mouth. With a howl of an enraged animal, Becca Leapt at the table where Einon sat, and gnashed her teeth in the dog's owner's face, who was completely taken aback by her attack. Becca saw in his mind, and could hear his name, Brock. She could smell his fear coming off him in waves, he was helpless to her.
She didn't see or hear Einon grasp his sword by the hilt and bring it down on her head. Knocking her out, he had the guards drag her to his chamber and cage her. The other dog was to be taken to the forest and left there, the poor thing would live, but Einon did not want a crippled dog.
It was cold, Becca felt her head and the sore lump there. She opened her eyes to find that she was in an iron cage, and human. She moaned to herself and sat up, a small headache just fading into the back of her head.
"You're one dangerous girl," came a voice, Becca looked groggily around to see Aislinn in front of her cage. She wore another beige dress and had her long, gold-red hair spilling over her shoulders.
"What? Oh… I don't know why I did that…sorry…" she said, embarrassed.
The woman shook her head, "Don't apologize, I know what you are and who you know," Becca felt fear strike her.
"What? Uh… I don't know what you're talking about…" she said, trying to act innocently. Aislinn grinned slightly.
"You know a dragon, the last one in the world," Becca listened to her, Oh crap… thought Becca. "I know you don't want to be here, I can't blame you, I wont let him hurt you like he did me," Aislinn produced a key and unlocked the cage, then unlocked Becca's weapons and gave them to her. "You know he's not the gentlest person, what is your name child?"
Becca crawled from the cage and dusted herself off, "Me? I'm Becca, and you?" The former queen smiled at the girl's friendliness.
"I am Aislinn, you should revert to your other form, it will make your escape easier," Becca nodded and changed. Aislinn watching in awe as the girl became a wolf.
"Thank you Aislinn, I owe you one," she said, nuzzling the woman's hand affectionately. The woman scratched her chin and in between her ears kindly. Then Becca followed her out a secret passage in the floor, a moving stone grated across a hidden staircase. The sound made her flatten her ears and whine, Aislinn patted her comfortingly and led the way down the staircase.
They made their way through a maze of tunnels and waterways, Aislinn showed her a grated tunnel. "This should lead you out of the castle and right under the bridge, be careful okay?" she knelt in front of the wolf, staring into her intelligent eyes. Becca nodded and nuzzled her cheek.
"Thank you! I will make it up to you," she flicked her tail and raced into the tunnel, the darkness swallowing her four legged form.
Well that was FUN... ^_^ hope it's a good story! Next Chapter up soon!
