**Erikthya is pronounced (Erik-Thigh-Uh)**

Come out, come out, I know you're here.

Adren's heart seemed to stop. Overwhelming fear filled her body and prepared it for flight or fight. Her mind began screaming to run, to go as far away as she could. To go back to her clan and remain to be hidden from the dragons who rule the world.

But Adren heart cried for something else. It cried for her to show herself and tell this beast just whom it was trifling with. She was Adren Far Star, the greatest and first female hunter in her clan. Adren Far Star, the daughter of Bano, brother of Hecate the Witch-Queen. Blood of power flowed through her veins. A power Adren tapped into every time she hunted and sought to let out now.

Human, if you come out now I'll let you have a merciful death. The dragon said to her.

Adren stepped out of the tree as she hurled a large fireball at the monster in response.

It ball struck the beast right in the snout. When it drew back in shock, Adren took the opportunity to run.

She ran away from the river and deeper into the thin woodlands. Branches and leaves clawed at her face and hair but Adren paid them no heed, only to the sound of dragon wings above her.

She blindly ran into a clearing not a minute later and before she could run back into the woods, the dragon snatched her up with one of its fierce claws then flew away.

The first thing Adren realized about the dragon was it emitted an odor of old leather and blood, a rather interesting scent. The other, despite one claw was sliced her arm, the beast was carrying her to their unknown destination with obvious care.

For what seemed like minutes, Adren noticed the scenery changed from caves and woodlands to a large village and farmland. Below, humans toiled over crops of carrots, lettuce, wheat, cotton and such.

An abundance of animals walked the streets. As the dragon drifted down to land Adren spotted a wolf carry off a child while the mother watched and did nothing. She spotted a group of panther cubs playing with a ball made of a pig's bladder.

Something drew her attention away from the animals and to a group of men the dragon seem to be headed toward. Maybe it was their dress: buckskin breeches with leather boots. Or the strange obsidian-like eyes they all shared. Almost like the eyes of…

Those four are dragons, Adren realized before the dragon landed and tossed her roughly to the men. A tall one with coppery hair caught her.

Suddenly everything got all pink and fuzzy. A jolt went through them both and Adren gasped while the only sign from the dragon was slightly widened eyes.

A feeling of unity enveloped Adren. She knew, all of a sudden, this man-creature was the other half of her, the one the Goddess placed and led to her. She knew his name: Erikthya. He was a dragon that couldn't change but developed strong magical abilities to make up for it. And right now he hated her.

Erikthya suddenly thrust her away from him, sending her to the ground, and turned to address the dragon as he changed into human form.

Scales fell off, wings and skin wavered and shriveled up and soon in the place of a dragon stood a dark hair man with dragon eyes who wore pants the color and texture of dragon hide. He also was sporting a burn cheekbone to cheekbone.

"She stinks." Adren's soulmate spat at the man and then noticed the burns. "What happened to you?"

"Witch burnt me." the man snapped as Adren was drug to her feet.

Erikthya laughed. "The mighty prince burnt by a little girl. How amusing."

The prince stormed away and Erikthya laughed again then turned towards Adren again. His expression turned dark.

"Now what to do with you. Hmm?" he said and the trio who held her began offering suggestions.

"Boil 'er alive then eat her eyes and liver and heart!"

"No, slowly break all of her. First her spirit then her bones."

"I always liked a good lashing." The third said, striping her with his eyes.

Adren sent the back of her head brutally into his face, spun quickly out of everyone's grasp as she heard a satisfying crunch of bone. Next she kicked the second dragon in the groin as the third dragon grasped his bloodied nose. Then Adren punched the first dragon as the second collapsed and began writhing in pain.

Before she could flee, Erikthya savagely struck Adren across the face, sending the girl to her knees before him. Blood leaked from the corner of her mouth as the first dragon kicked her in the stomach knocking her to her back. The second dragon limped up to his feet as the third creature booted Adren in the side, knocking the breath out of her.

"I say we do all three to the witch." Erikthya told his friends cheerfully as the second creature jerked Adren to her feet. "First take her then lash her then crush her bones and then burn her alive."

Erikthya griped her chin and jerked her head up to face him, ignoring the fire between them. "Won't you like that, witch?"

Beneath the curtain of black tangles, blood and dirt streaked face, emerald fire spat from Adren's eyes. She growled menacingly at her soulmate and snapped at his fingers.

He jerked his hand away quickly and laughed at her, motioning for her to be taken away. She will learn to fear me, Erikthya thought watching the four leave with a sinister smile. She will know pain for bewitching me.

Her every scream felt like knives being thrust into his heart. She begged aloud and telepathically for him to save her. And it only made Erikthya hate the woman-child more.

Her four torturers showed no mercy. Spared her nothing and gave only pain. Throughout it all, one thought saved her from falling into the abyss of madness: He is hurting too.

So it came to be that Adren endured six nights and five days of pain, passion, and hate in the arms of Erikthya.

The sixth day began as the five before, Erikthya pouring boiling hot water on her bruised and battered body to wake her.

She bit down on her tongue to keep from screaming, a sound Erikthya loved to hear. Adren glared up at him from the floor where she was tied to a stake, her green eyes fiery like never before.

Erikthya circled her nude form, taking in every scar, every burn and bruise. He knelt down and gently caressed her cheek, then ran his thumb over her lips. With infinite care, he traced their shape as Adren's eyes drifted shut. His fingers tangled into her sable locks as his head drifted close to her own and their lips touched in a bittersweet kiss.

How can I love you, Erikthya asked Adren inside their joined mind. You're human.

At the same time, Adren asked him, How could I love a dragon? A creature who caused so much pain? So much pain…

They slowly drifted apart and opened their eyes at the same moment as the other. So many words could have been said in the silence between them. So many words should have been said.

But none were said.

Erikthya stood, his expression hardening and his shields erected. He jerked Adren free of the stake, almost dislocating her shoulder and drug her to the square.

A great pyre was planned that day. Kindling surrounded one large pole where Adren was tied. Humans were herded around it while shapeshifters gathered around eagerly awaiting the blaze.

Hours later, a torch was lit. Adren watched in slow motion as her soulmate walked up to her and tossed the torch at her with an evil smile. Then there was only pain, flames, glowing eyes and her screams.

At one moment the flames seemed to go down and almost die. In that moment Adren's gaze locked with Erikthya's and she could see a demonic joy in them. It was then a lone tear fell from her eyes and Adren turned her power within.

"Great Goddess, hear my plea.

Let no man or beast lay

Their hands upon me!

By your word and deed

Let my soul ever

BE FREE!"

The flames rose up and Adren Far Star was gone.