Hanging by threads of palest silver I could have stayed that way forever Bad blood and ghosts wrapped tight around me Nothing could ever seem to touch me I lose what I love most Did you know I was lost until you found me? A stroke of luck or a gift from God? The hand of fate or devil's claws? From below or saints above?
You came to me Here comes the cold again I feel it closing in It's falling down and
All around me falling You say that you'll be there to catch me Or will you only try to trap me These are the rules I make Our chains were meant to break You'll never change me Here comes the cold again I feel it closing in You're falling down and
All around me falling Stroke of luck or a gift from God? Hand of fate or devil's claws? From below or saints above? You come to me now Don't ask me why
Don't even try A stroke of luck or a gift from God? The hand of fate or devil's claws?
From below or saints above? You came to me Here comes the cold again I feel it closing in It's falling down and All around me falling-" Stroke of Luck " Garbage

Chapter XIV: Positive Response

Closely Durza followed behind the two guards leading Silhouette into the dark chambers. The room which they entered had walls trickling with water, and a cool breeze flowing in from a little crack. Inside there was a low growl from the shadows. Guards let go of the blind young woman and back away slowly. Galabtorix placed his hand on Silhouette's shoulder. " If you are as special as Durza claims, then Shruikan will not kill you."

With that the king back up, Silhouette moved her head towards the growl 'What is this?' Her mind thought.

"Please be the one." Durza mouthed soundlessly watching with a worried glance.

Silhouette blindly stepped forward into the shadows. Greeted by the massive black dragon of Galabtorix, Shruikan. 'You're a brave one.' A demonic male voice entered Silhouette's mind.

Galabtorix turned his head towards the girl. He had heard his dragon's thoughts indeed. He wondered now if the girl's thoughts could hear Shruikan's.

" Thank you great one." Silhouette spoke out loud. " I would quite say brave."

"Impossible." Galabtorix muttered. The Shade on the other hand smiled.

' She understood you?' Galabtorix's mind asked his dragon.

' Yes, clearly, it is as if she herself has dragon in her blood.' Shruikan said.

' That's a little hard to believe, don't you think dragon? I am only a blind peasant woman.'

' Scorch her.' Galabtorix demanded.

Shruikan just ignored him and continued the conversation with this woman,' On the contrary, Silhouette you were but a baby when sorcerers placed a spell upon your body. You can hear the thoughts of every dragon if you wish it. '

' Oh, I….still do not understand, how….do you know all this?'

' I said kill her, Shruikan!' Galabtorix's mind continued to bark.

' Say, kind dragon could you place use your claws to cut me free?' Silhouette requested. The dragon entered into the light. Even Durza backed up a bit out of fear of Shruikan. The beast stopped right in front of the young blind woman. All the men in the room stared and waited for something to happen. Durza hoped whatever comes is not as bad as the others think.

All became shocked as the dragon lifted one of his talons and sliced through her bindings. Even Galabtorix was sent into being perplexed, the Shade smiled, the young girl actually reached up and stroked Shruikan's scales. Feeling the beast.

" My lord, a word." Durza requested.

" I told him to kill her, and he ignored my command." The king began in disbelief. Going with Durza outside the chambers." You were right about her. She'll make a powerful ally indeed. "

" Are you going to kill yourself?" Durza asked.

" I have not decided that yet, Durza. I need a couple days. Until then she is not an alley, nor an enemy. She will be a simple prisoner. "

" Yes, my king. But think of it though, if she has the gift that is yet to wake within her, then think of the domination, not just the kingdom with her help you could rule the entire realm." Durza explained.

" Two days, you will have my answer. Until then…." He paused and opened the door. All stared perplexed, even Durza and his king. There on the stone floor was the might feared black dragon, on his back, kicking his hind legs in the air, Silhouette rubbing his tummy.

Angrily, Galabtorix shouted," Seize her! Take her to an empty cell in the dungeon!"

Guards immediately did as told, grabbing her and dragging her out. Shruikan rolled to stand the right way on all fours and growled at Galabtorix,' I told you to kill her.' With that the king turned and walked out the room. Durza on the other hand walked quickly behind the guards.

Silhouette the whole time tried to struggle to get freed. A hard punch to the stomach was her reward for her efforts. She lost her footing and they drug her and tossed her into a cold empty cell. She hit the back of her head upon the back wall, one held her arms, the other chained her wrists to the wall. And by this time she was already sobbing.

Durza stood there in the doorway of the cell with his arms crossed over one another, and watched the guards leave her in the cell. He shook his head and entered the cell," Silhouette." He began in a soft voice.

"Go away! I need not your pity!" She said between sobs.

" Silhouette, please…." He started kneeling down upon the floor, he tried to cup her chin, she yanked it free. Durza stood up straight. And stared down at her, she continued to cry.

" Please leave me alone." Silhouette muttered.

Durza decided to just give up for the day and return to her in the morning. He sighed and backed, " As you wish milady." With that Durza left the cell, locking it behind him, then venturing to his chambers. Where he sat down upon his bed, and stared at nothingness for a while.

Putting his arm under his pillow, Durza leaned to lay back upon the bed, his hand felt the egg he had hidden. Lifting his eyebrow, he pulled it from under the pillow and examined it for a while. " You'd better hurry up and hatch," He muttered before sliding the egg back under the pillow.

END CHAPTER XIV