I don't get it… this is one of my best pieces I've ever written and no ones reviewing besides IcySpark, which I thanks once again. J
EnigmaChapter 4
The darkness was all around her, branches tearing at her skin deep enough to bleed, yet not deep enough to pain San. Nothing could hurt her right here, right now, while the Dragon Guards were running after her into the woods, chasing and stumbling over their humongous talons that they never clip.
Sandrine knew she had to get away, knew that she had to get to that portal before midnight when it closed—it was her only hope to escaping this realm. She had to. There was no if, no need, or wants, but she had to. Her family relied on her escaping. Because once the Maiden Anj found out about her younger cousin speaking to a Thin Blood, she would torture her cousin with teases and killing the Thin Blood.
And without her, the legacy of the Silver Dragon ceased. The power would be nonexistent, like a candle's flame when extinguished. All that would be left would be smoke, the aftermath of what once existed. A memory in some peoples minds, but not many. For the child of the Silver Dragon was unknown, a secret to those even a Thick Blood or Noble. The prince was the only one who knew, and if San had her way, that was all who would know.
She was still running through a well walked path that trees surrounded. The Dragon flying in the air high above her could be heard, its wings flapping in the wind, stirring the leaves around San who was in her human form. A loud crash behind her made her assume that a clumsy Dragon had knocked over a tree with its monstrous tail.
Suddenly, her foot caught on a stray tree root in the middle of the path, and Sandrine fell, landing on her wrists and then the side of her face. Damp dirt smeared in her hair, and the wetness of the dirt seeped through her Human clothes. She was sure some of it was blood.
As quickly as she fell, she pushed herself back up and continued to run as quickly as she could, but more cautiously. A tree's branch was suddenly in her way and it left a long scratch on her right cheek, below her eye. Stinging shot through her face, but she kept on running.
And then she saw it: a door-like object glowing enigmatically, looking like one of those Human "special affects" San had seen on the movies she had snuck into the orphanage. Swirls of electric green and neon orange, twilight black and snow white, blood red and cobalt blue. Plus many more colors swirling like an exotic rainbow. It was no more than ten yards in front of San, dancing just out of reach as she heard the Guards approach more rapidly as fire built in San's muscles. Her heart beat miles per minute, faster than the speed of light.
I have to make it, she thought, and a sudden burst of energy shot through her body as her speed excelled. Nine yards… seven yards… closer and closer she went, to escaping the life of hell she had lived for the past eighteen years and entering a brand new, exciting life, or death. Five yards… another sprint and she was at three… she stumbled on the last step, rolling into the portal and hitting a wooden floor with a loud smack.
San was dazed for several moments as the portal snapped shut with a sound like a whip cracking in midair. She was home safe, now. She had gotten away from the world, free in the Human one where no one could touch or harm her. Except… she shook her head vigorously. No, the Maiden nor the Prince would come looking for her. There was no reason to. She was a simple Thin Blood that had gone through a portal that opened once a month, they would come searching next month, not risk losing the two leaders of the Dragon Realm in the Human one.
How could she think such a thing? The two Thickest Blood's there are, searching for a mere Thin Blood who had tricked them all. How ironic she was thinking this right then.
A loud BANG screeched through the room she was in, followed by two people standing side by side in front of her. One was Anj Tierlan, the other Red Chimera. They both looked deadly dangerous, with Thick Blood extraordinary beauty and Royal Blood combined. Pale skin, dark eyes, long, lean bodies both well built. They looked more brother-sisters than cousins did. Both wore Human clothes—Anj in skin-tight blue jeans and lilac tank top; Red in black baggy pants and black shirt, emphasizing his shoulders, and muscled body.
San stared, stunned. She couldn't move as shock swept through her body. Red slanted a small glance at his cousin before gazing down at the younger girl before him. He was about nineteen, three years younger than Anj.
"You ran from our realm," hissed the elder girl, eyes narrowed in anger. Her hands actually trembled, clenching and unclenching. "That's death, Sandrine Transinale. I hope you enjoyed your small look at the Human Realm." She beckoned to the room they were in, which was dusty and had old mahogany furniture. The window on one side had thick curtains drawn over it. Nothing looked as if it had been touched in months.
Finally able to make some movement, San whimpered and crawled backwards on her elbows.
"Come on, Anj, we can just bring her back to our realm and no one will know. The Guards are already dead," Red said, pushing his hands into his pockets and looking down at his cousin, head tilted. "There aren't any witnesses."
"What are you talking about, Raymond? She's Thin Blood, not even half of our stature. She left our realm without our permission. The penalty is death and nothing less," Anjasina snarled, white teeth glinting in the darkness, cat eyes narrowed.
"Yes, well, she is the Silver Dragon's only child. Don't you think we should keep her around for use of her power?" Red asked casually, eyes only showing the color of dried blood on the outside ring, hinting annoyance.
San's draw dropped open in shock, as did Anj's. "Bastard," San snarled as Anj screeched, "What?!"
Red glanced at the girl on the floor and shrugged, eyebrows raised as if to say "sorry." He looked back over at his cousin and said, "She's the only living relative of the Silver Dragon."
"How can she be the daughter of a well known, Thick Blood Dragon? She's Thin Blood, not one of us."
"She just is." Then Red smiled. "You don't need to know everything, Anjasina. That's my job."
San felt anger storm through her as he said the words, and she trembled with the strength of the emotion.
Anj threw her hands up in surrender and they faced Sandrine once more. "Come on, kid," Anj said, lilac eyes narrowing. "We need to get back to our world. If you come with us, right now, without a fight, I'll only break two legs…"
She couldn't hold back the anger anymore and there was only one thing she could do with it. San narrowed her eyes and struck out with her mind towards the Maiden. A long, four inch gash appeared on the girl's cheek, because the other girl had forgotten her shields to protect herself from other Dragon's power. A thick red substance poured from the wound and down her cheek.
Anjasina's eyes went wide with shock, the thin pupil narrowing to needle strips. "You—" but before any word—most likely one that would make parents eyes widen—Red said, "Anjasina."
The girl looked at her cousin. "Raymond, she's a peasant that just struck the Maiden."
"She isn't a peasant or Thin Blood. Her mother is the Silver Dragon."
"Her father is a Thin Blood, Red. That makes her Thin Blood, no matter what," Anj said, voice dripping with snake venom.
The Prince shook his head and smiled sadly. "I can't say who her father is, or I'm sure Sandrine would strike me."
Her jaw was open, moving as if she was about to say something.
Sandrine stood up and ran from the room.