Preface

SIYA

Siyas P.O.V.

I shivered as I felt the harsh cold breeze nip the skin of the tip of my nose, My nose being the only part of my body that had been not covered thickly as I trekked further, with the help of my stick, I panted, as my body protested, and my limbs burned in demand for rest, but I keep trekking higher, my partner being the howling of the wind, that constantly reminded me of the somehow soothing cold.

Ever since I have been a child, I would always go for trekking with my father, I would love the feeling I would get when I reached the top of the mountains, as I would gaze down at the mountains, I read documentaries of some of the greatest mountaineers, they would call the feeling of being on the top a victorious one, a accomplishment of some sort, and they would gaze down at the mountains below as barriers, obstacles, and I always frowned at that, feeling somewhat protective of the mountains.

But the feeling defined by the mountaineers was vastly different from the feeling I get.

I have always felt at home in the peaks, as if they had been calling out for me the whole of their life, as if I was supposed to be there for them, just like they had been, in my worst phases of life.

I still remembered that night as clear as day.

I kept running towards the mountains, cold hair harshly blowing on my face as the harsh nip reminded me of the tears flowing down my face, I rubbed them away with my bare left hand, mentally cursing myself for taking my gloves before running away from my mother and stepfather,

My dad died two years back, and it wasnt wrong to say that throughout my life, I had been closer to my dad. He had instilled in me the love for mountains, as we lived in the peaceful and quiet Iceland, I dont know why but just like my dad, I had always been in love with the winter, but my mother had always hated the weather of Iceland, calling it harsh and what not.

When Dad died, it was as if a piece of me died with him, and I couldnt help but remember him every time I see the mountains, with his beautiful unearthly sky blue eyes, that I inherited from him, shining with adoration and love as he would watch me standing on the peak, his warm smile that cheered me up all the time, his loving hand that would rub my back, as if telling me he was here, was gone, just like that.

I was shocked and somewhat saddened when my mom married another man, I was smart enough to know what she meant when she said he is her friend the first time she brought him home, just 6 months after dads death, and I felt sad that she would marry someone so fast, but I kept smiling like a good daughter throughout the ceremony, acting as her brides maid, at the end of the ceremony my face had hurt and so had my heels, but I kept on my façade.

David, my step father, was a really rich entrepreneur, and was really good looking, but not like my father, my father had a good 65ft height, with unearthly sky blue eyes, and blonde hair, I still dont know why I have fiery red hair because my mother is a typical black haired green eyed beauty, though my features were a match with my fathers I did gain a perfect hourglass figure from my mother.

David, never tried to be my father, and kept his boundaries with me, which I was thankful for since I dont know what I would have done if he had tried to take my fathers place.

I didnt want my mother being unhappy, because dad would have wanted mom to be happy, but today that mask shattered into pieces, when my mom announced that we would be moving away from the peace, quiet, cold and homely Iceland to California, since David was here to set up his business and now we needed to go with him to his place completely opposite to Iceland.

In Iceland its a famous saying, and not just a saying, but a fact, that when summers comes, some people commit suicide, because they go mad with the loud voices and the sudden absence of quiet.

And It was true, last to last summer mom insisted that we meet my maternal grandfather and grandmother in Italy, and I remember feeling on the edge all the time, the sticky hot feeling, and most importantly, the noise.

By the end of 10 days I had felt like I would loose my mind so father had taken me for camping in the mountains, and I went back to normal.

I remember us laughing and giggling at stupid jokes, the gnawing feeling made its way back in my chest, had I known it was our last camping together,

Just the thought it was enough for my glands to produce another batch of fresh tears, making me shake my head and run faster while clutching the cardigan tighter around me.

I didnt want to leave the quiet howls of the winds, I didnt want to loose this homely feeling as I gaze at the mountains, feeling as if my father is right here.

I felt my legs burning due the lack of oxygen as my knees buckled and hit the snow making me sigh in relief, I squeezed my eyes shut as I tried to memorize the feel of snow under my bare hands, I tilted my head up and gazed up at the moon, somewhat comforted by its presence as if it was watching over me.

As I felt my body going slack against the hill side, my eyes started closing on their own accord, my fathers warning, to never sleep under the snow ringing faintly in my ears as I curled against the hill side and fell into a dreamless slumber.

I had woken up to my mom crying, with my grandparents around me, their eyes shining with tears of relief as grandma had hugged me while grandpa had yelled at mother that if she can go if she wanted to but I will be staying with them, and I had agreed to my grandpas word,

Two days later my mom left without a word and that was the last I had seen or heard of her.

All I know is that night I had stayed in the mountains, and had weirdly survived, which was near to impossible, but the mountains had somehow protected me.

And since then I never left Iceland, my grandparent died of old age two years back, but I still remained here, I am 25 right now and I work as a secretary for the chief director of Rosemary corporation, it has been 6 years since I have talked to my mother, and sometimes, I miss her, but I dont know why, but the fact she left without saying goodbye stung, and I could never will myself to call her, oddly feeling betrayed that she didnt try to check up on me even once, throughout these years,

First few years, I would eagerly sit with my phone on Christmas or birthdays, hoping that she would call, but by time I lost my hope, and I understood the fact that my mother forgot about me, the moment she stepped out of Iceland.

I shook myself out of the memory as a fragile piece of land, comes in the way, making me frown and use my sticks to judge it.

I kept poking and prodding the area while staying at my place, satisfied I started taking small baby steps in the area feeling the land, satisfied it wont fall, I once again started to walk normally, though cautiously, nonetheless.

But the very next moment I screamed in panic as I felt the land under my legs vibrate and slip, causing me to fall inside a pit,

I cursed under my breath, for not paying attention and falling in a pit but I groaned in pain at the numbing pain caused by the rocks that collided with my back.

But I strangely felt at peace in here with my legs and arms wide apart as the cave shielded me from the winds.

I looked up at the dark night sky, as I watched the snowflakes flow with the wind, I could vaguely hear the sound of my blood thumping in my ears.

But a threatening growl made me freeze as my eyes widened.

I willed myself to look in the direction of the growl but it was as if I couldnt move.

Another growl, closer to me echoed in the cave like structure, making me audibly gulp and turn my head shakily towards the loud sound, my body frozen on the rocks.

Another louder and closer growl sounded that gave away the murderous intent easily, as in the patch of moonlight I spotted a giant silted red eye, surrounded by giant red scales, narrowed towards.

That was the last thing I saw before darkness engulfed me.

Third Persons P.O.V.

The red scaled dragon wanted to rip his head off when he was disturbed from his deep slumber, he heard a melodic yet painful groan making him rise without a word and growl at the intruder, he could smell his preys fear, loud and clear, making him smirk as he growled again louder this time as he saw a mane of fiery red hair sprawled across the floor cave, he inhaled deeply in the addictive aroma his prey was giving off and suddenly all he wanted was to look in the eye of his prey.

So he growled again, making his prey turn her beautiful sky blue eyes towards him, his breath hitched in recognition as his heart skipped a beat at the site of red haired blue eyed beauty in front of him,

He sent a mental picture of her to his brothers through his mind as his brothers yelled at him through the mindlink to send his location, and he did so, but with a jolt he realized that their beloved, was now unconscious, as he with shamefully realized that it was possibly due to the fear of seeing him in his Dragon form, he shuffled his large form towards her and carefully pulled her to his side, minding his sharp nails, as he wrapped his wings around her to shield her from the harsh winds while mentally preparing to explain his brothers how he stumbled upon his beloved for the second time.