Chapter Seven

The sound of heels clicking on the marble-tiled floor raised everyone's attention and they all bowed as she passed by. The guards at the entrance pushed the door open, without her breaking her stride and closed it when she entered.

"Lady Lilian" Porco greeted, "What an honor"

Lilian sat on the gold-embroidered sofa, "Councilman Porco, how are you doing?"

"Get a fresh drink for the Lady" Porco motioned to the nearby servant. " I am well and you took look great. So to what do, I owe this visit"

"We both know why I am here" she hissed

"About the Dragon queen, I know"

The servant came in with a glass of fresh blood and served both Lilian and Porco.

"You may leave" Porco ordered, the servant bowed and left.

"So what about her, has she gained her power?"

"No, not yet"

"Then why are you here then?"

"Why am I here? well Ravi knows she is still living"

Porco spat out his wine "How?". Lilian hissed at the mess he made. "Don't worry the servant will clean it later, so tell me how he knew?"

"Well he came over to my mansion and asked me, I denied but you know Ravi, he found I lied using his powers," she said rolling her eyes.

"And?"

"Asked me to deliver her" She concluded waving her hand.

"So, what next? how can we take what we want"

"That's why I came here, so we can discuss it"

"Are you even sure she is the Dragon princess?" Porco snorted

"Yes, the guard told me himself before I finished him off"

"But how did Ravi know to ask you? he could have asked anyone"

"I have thought over it too but haven't found an answer"

"Hmmm, this is suspicious but that's for a later day, we have to find a way to make her powers bloom quickly so we can extract them before it is late"

"Don't you think I know that? My mom wanted to kill her and give her powers to me, so I can rule over all the kingdoms but she died, so it is my mission to continue the quest"

"But your mission has proved difficult hasn't it?".

"Not for long"

"I am sure if it was her, she would have taken your powers a long time ago"

"What does that mean?" She asked with narrowed eyes, her fangs slipping out. The councilman shrugged and took a sip from his glass.

"Nothing, but even though you extract her powers, you will never be a true Dragon queen, you know?"

Lilian kept her cool even though she wanted to smash her glass at Porco, "I will still be proclaimed Queen, and then force Ravi to be my King, we will have strong heirs that will be superior to all creatures"

"And I will become the Vampire King" he laughed wickedly, "So when do you think it's right for the job?"

"A certain witch told me to be patient, that the time has come"

"This calls for a celebration" he mind linked a servant, who came in, "Pre..."

"That won't be necessary council man Porco, I don't celebrate before a victory, I will celebrate after the victory". She got up, "I must take my leave now, I look forward to our next meeting"

"Me too Lady Lilian", he got up and kissed her hand, "Let me walk you to your ride"

Lilian nodded and he put her hand on his arm, they reached her car and her guard opened the back door,

"Until then Porco". The councilman nodded and her door was shut.

What a fool, thinks he will be a Vampire King, Lilian thought to herself.

Back at Porco's home, he was sitting on his office chair, "What a foolish girl, she is about to learn a very important lesson, double-crossing" he sneered laughing wickedly.

******

Maya waited for Ravi's call which never came, it was already late and everywhere was still freezing, though the cold had subsided, there was still thick frost everywhere. She sighed, there was no need to wait for his call. She had to go home.

******

Meliora parked up the broken glasses, "Ouch". she rubbed the spot where the piece cut her.

"Be careful" her aunt cautioned.

She grunted her response and went to the kitchen to dispose of the piece in the dustbin. Surprisingly everywhere was freezing but she didn't feel an ounce of cold. She leaned on the marble counter, facing the door, and plucked a leaf from the small flower pot "Solid as ice" she muttered studying it, and then let go of the leaf which shattered like glass.

Later that night, she couldn't help but remember her aunt's words, which were really disturbing. In the last 5oo years, she and her aunt have been to all parts of the world, hiding, her aunt had changed bodies and names each time and she herself had been changing her name. "All I want is a normal life, devoid of any problems or creatures," she said burying her face in the pillow." What's wrong with me? why can't things be normal?" she screamed in her pillow.

Sleeping proved difficult and she tossed and turned in her bed till morning. Her aunt had replaced her alarm clock which was about to go off. Snoozing the alarm, she slipped on her coat and left for her aunt's room. Knock! Knock! she knocked at her aunt's door. She waited for a reply which didn't come. Knock! Knock! still no reply. Meliora pushed the handle and found it open. "Aunty".

Wendy was sitting on a carpet in the center of her room, there were candles around her and chalks which she used to draw the spells and symbols on the carpet. Meliora quietly sat down and watched her aunt perform her ritual.

After minutes, Wendy opened her eyes slowly and motioned to her niece to join her in the center of the candles. Meliora sat down and held her aunt's hand.

"Close your eyes, concentrate, feel the energy within and around you"

Meliora did as she was told, slowly closing her eyes, she placed every thought, every memory behind her and focused on what she felt. She soon felt too light and felt her aunt's hands slipping from her grip, she tried to grip it firmly but failed at every attempt. Opening her eyes, she found herself surrounded by thick blazing red fire, she called out to her aunt but got no response.

"My Queen" a scary female voice from the fire spoke to her

"Who are you?" She asked boldly.

"Look into the fire and you will see" the voice whispered back.

Meliora reluctantly looked into the fire and saw her reflection.

"Do you now see who I am?" the voice spoke again.

"You are me?" Meliora asked quizzically

"Yes!". Suddenly the flame grew hotter and long and a long golden beautiful dragon appeared in front of her. Meliora was awed by the creature in front of her, its eyes a golden red, its whisker long and laced with amber, and its massive wings large and sharp. This was how she will look when she transforms.

"Meliora, you finally have woken me up" the Dragon spoke.

"So do I finally get to transform?"

"Very soon. The time has come". The dragon roared and then entered her.

"AHHHHH" Meliora screamed in pain as the dragon merged with her, the pain sent her to both her knees. Clutching her chest hard, Meliora wished the pain away and her wish did come true. Placing both hands on the floor for balance, she gulped in deep breaths, her body shaking. Slowly getting up from the floor, she looked at her reflection in the fire, her iris had changed color, they were a deep golden red with silver specks, feeling a burning sensation in her chest, she opened her mouth and released huge super hot flames. The flames made a scary roaring noise, that could be heard from miles but Wendy had cast a barrier spell on the house to prevent magical auras from slipping out.

"You have done it" Wendy congratulated.

Meliora turned and found her aunt behind her with a smile on her face. Taking deep breaths she closed and opened her eyes. Sle looked around, they were still sitting on the carpet not standing as they were moments ago, her aunt was still holding her hand, and the floor wasn't burnt. Did she just imagine all that right now?

Wendy opend her eyes and found a confused expresson on her niece's face "It's how it works," she chuckled, "The things you experience are spiritual, the happen real but do not affect the physical world, for example, you felt your hand slipping but see..." she said raising their hands, "it's still joined"

"So I can finally transform?"

"I think"

Meliora got up, "Well that's good news"

Wendy gave her a half-smile, "So no training today, we have accomplished a very important part in your life"

Wendy watched Meliora leave the room, "Now to find a dragon master and there is only one way to do it!"