All About Control

Weimin quickly catches up to me, grabbing my arm. I try to pull away from him, but he tightens his grip and asks, "What did you and the Queen really speak about?" I still fight against his grip but he's entirely too strong.

I grit my teeth and say, "Let go of me, now!" He glares at me before pulling me, half dragging me in a direction I've never been in before. The farther we go, the emptier it becomes. An unsettling feeling bubbles up from within me the further we go but when we reach an old empty-looking building, I dig my heels into the ground.

I thrash, ripping my arm from him and taking several steps away. He grabs me again, trying to pull me back. I spin, trying to punch him but I'm so much slower without my magic. He blocks it with ease, pushing my arm away and crouching.

He grabs me around my thighs, picks me up, and throws me over his shoulder! I lift my hand, about to punch him in the side of his neck when he suddenly releases his power. I suck in, tensing at the pain as every muscle in my body feels as if it's being attacked.

His voice is cold as he says, "You should know by now that fighting only makes things worse for you. I told you to behave." As soon as he pulls his power back, I slump over his shoulder like a rag doll.

My heart thumps painfully against my chest as sweat beads on my forehead. It felt like I was tased but with something much stronger than a regular taser. It felt like every nerve ending in my body was attacked! I pant, trying to keep from passing out as he brings me into the old building.

After a few turns, he slides me off his shoulder and places me on the floor. I look around and notice chains on the floor as well as a knife and bowl. My frown deepens but when my poor riddled brain catches up, I quickly try to stand and leave.

This crazy bastard!! He was trying to carve the dark rune in my skin again! My legs want to turn to jelly but I fight against the urge and take several steps away when suddenly the chains on the floor come to life!

They snake up after me, instantly wrapping themselves around my ankle! It pulls, knocking me over! I fall face first but catch myself with my hands. The other chains start wrapping themselves around my other ankle and wrists, pulling me back to the center of the room.

"Weimin!! You crazy ass bastard! Stop!" I yell out, trying to fight the chains with everything I have but it was hopeless. He cleans the blade as he says, "You will come to understand with time, Lyra. Until then, you need to be taught."

I pull against the chains so hard; I feel like I'm going to break my bones as I grit out, "If you do this again, I will kill you! I'm not playing Weimin, this will only make me hate you even more!" He walks over and squats in front of me, reaching out to push my hair back as he says, "Love and hate are very similar. You will come to love me as much as I love you. You just need time to see that."

I try to pull away from him, panicking but I couldn't move at all. In desperation, I say, "Aren't you all about justice and being a hero!? This isn't what heroes do! This isn't right, Weimin, please." His eyes soften as he touches my cheek and says, "Heroes have to do a lot of unsavory things in order to do what's right in the end. Trust me, this is for the best."

He's insane... one hundred percent insane! There was no way I could reach a common ground with him or try to talk sense into him. He was truly off his rocker. I stare at him with tears burning in my eyes, no longer able to say a word.

The chains move so that my arms are stretched up over my head and I'm left hanging. My toes barely touch the ground as I struggle to keep my calm. Abell suddenly says, [Come with me little Witch, stay within here with me until it's over.]

I don't know what she means until I feel as if I'm pulled away from my body, watching everything from a distance. Tears fall from my eyes as Weimin cuts the back of my dress open. He lifts the blade and starts cutting me but thanks to Abell, I can only feel a dull pain.

Abell wraps her magic around me, keeping me safe within my own mind as Weimin cuts into my skin with dark eyes. I bury myself within Abell's magic, seeking shelter from everything and enjoying the solace that she's offered.

When it was done, Abell pulled her magic back making me want to cry. Pain crashes over me as Weimin slowly lowers the chains. I crumble to the ground as my whole body shivers from the pain. Silent tears fall from my eyes as I softly close them, passing out.

When I open my eyes, I'm standing at the edge of a cliff. A strong wind whips around me, blowing my hair all around me as I look out over the vast and open fields. I look up and see hundreds of dragons flying in the bright sky looking majestic.

Abell steps up behind me, her large body easily overshadowing me as she says, [I wanted to show you the past. I wanted to share my dream with you, little witch. We used to fly in the skies like the mighty and majestic beings we were but...]

I feel my heart ache as I turn back to look at the dragons again. It really was magical.

She steps up and lowers her head before saying, [Come, let us fly with the legends of the past.] My heart skips a beat as I reach out asking, "Are you sure?" She gives me a knowing smile and says, [Let's fly and play within the clouds of freedom]

I climb up on her back with shaking hands, marveling at how soft and smooth her scales were. I thought they'd be rough, but I was wrong! Her large powerful wings flap, pushing the air all around us before she walks over to the edge of the cliff.

My legs tighten in fear causing her to chuckle. She calls out, [Better hold on little witch.] She steps off the edge and we fall! My stomach flips as the ground below us comes rushes up but just when I think something's wrong, her large wings spread, and we take off!

She soars through the air with ease, lifting higher and higher! My eyes widen with wonder as she flies up through the clouds! She loops up in a high arch over another dragon before spinning around and coming next to it!

The large dragon was even bigger than her! It was grey with blue eyes, looking mighty and calm. Its blue eyes glance over to me before giving me a smile. Shock flickers through me for several different reasons.

Wasn't this Abell's dream? How did it feel so real?

The cold air prickles at my skin, making my cheeks flush and my eyes water with excitement. Abell's voice interrupts my thoughts as she asks, [Well, little witch? What do you think?] My smile is so large, I'm sure it's taken over my entire face!

I slowly stretch my arms out, lifting my chin and closing my eyes as I say, "It's magical! It's so perfect!" Abell chuckles as several other dragons in all different colors and sizes join us! Abell and the others start flying in and out of the clouds, playing like dolphins in the sea.

As another dragon flies over us, I lift my hand out, lightly touching its soft and cool underside. I giggle in excitement and quickly grab onto Abell as she leans to the side and spirals down! Something within me burns with an unknown fire as I fly with these magical creatures.

Abell can't be the last, she can't.