Hatchling

"There weren't always dragons in the Valley." Nix said in a low haunting voice. Liam's brown eyes grew wide as he leaned closer to his sister, hanging onto her every word. The rain pounded on the roof. Light danced through the room as the crackling fire roared. A mischievous smile crossed Nix's face. "That's right. They used to walk the streets, fly through the air…" she paused and leaned closer to her brother. "Devouring any little boy that didn't listen to his big sister."

CRACK!

A high-pitched scream filled the room. The loud strike of lightning even made Nix let out a gasp. Liam's lips quivered, and his hands trembled as he darted his head towards the window. Liam spoke in a weak frightened voice. "Nuh-uh. You're just trying to scare me. They couldn't eat me."

"What couldn't eat you?" Nix froze as the deep voice of their father reverberated through the room. Liam hopped up and ran to their father, clinging to his side.

"Dad, Nix says that dragons used to walk the streets. She said they flew through the air, and they would try to eat me." Liam said as he buried his face into their father’s side.

Nix's heart hastened its beat as she looked towards the wooden floor focusing on the grain of the wooden planks, avoiding the heavy gaze of her father.

"She is just trying to mess with you. All the dragons are in the Valley. That is where they have always been." Her father said to Liam in a soft voice. "Isn't that right, Nix?"

"Yes, they have always been in the Valley. I was just trying to scare you, Liam." Nix said as she rolled her eyes.

"Well, it didn't work." Liam said as he let go of their father's side. "I'm too smart to be scared. Even if a dragon tried to eat me, I would fight it off." Liam exclaimed as he swung his arms wildly, attempting to fight an invisible opponent. A deep chuckle came from their father.

"Any dragon would surely run after that display of ferocity." Their father said as he ruffled Liam's brown curls. "Any Hunter needs their rest, though. So how 'bout you head off to bed." Liam frowned.

"But I'm not tired. I want to stay up with you." Liam pleaded as he looked at their father with wide puppy dog eyes. Their father knelt down onto one knee and placed a heavy hand on Liam's bony shoulder.

"You want to grow up to be a Hunter like me one day, right?" Their father said softly. Liam slowly nodded. "Then off to bed. You need your sleep."

Liam sighed as he hugged their father and slowly walked towards the stairs. He hung his head in defeat as he mumbled incoherently. Liam placed a hand on the dark wooden banister and turned his head towards the center of the room. "Night, Nix." Liam said.

Nix turned her gaze from the floor and looked towards the stairs, averting her eyes from the piercing eyes of their father.

Forcing a small smile she sweetly said, "Night, Liam. I'll see you in the morning." He nodded enthusiastically and rushed up the stairs. Nix looked towards the floor tracing her eyes around a small knot in the wood. Anticipating the inevitable scolding from her father.

Tick…Tick…Tick.

The steady rhythm of the large clock filled the air. The tall wooden clock stood at the back of the room. Its silver pendulum swung back and forth as the ticking noise continued steadily on its endless loop never halting.

Tick…Tick…Tick

Each tick of the clock seemed louder and louder as her father said nothing. The fire crackled, rain pounded against the window, yet the consistent ticking of the clock filled Nix's ears as she breathed shallowly. Her father grunted as he slowly got back to his feet.

"I told you not to talk about dragons with him." Her father scolded her, breaking the long silence. "He's only six. He doesn't need to be afraid of them. They are being handled."

Nix clenched her teeth as her eyes raced up and down the grain of the wood. Her straight black hair hung around her face, shielding her eyes from her father's glare. "We shouldn't lie to him either." She said under her breath. I shouldn't be scolded for this. Liam's old enough to know the truth.

"Look at me Nix." Her father’s voice rumbled like thunder as he gave the command. Nix slowly looked up at the cold brown eyes of her father. His dark brown hair reached his shoulders as his brown beard framed his solemn face. The dancing light of the fire defining his angular features, building upon his already imposing glare. A clawed scar ran down the side of his face.

"You know that the existence of dragons needs to be kept secret. People need to believe that all the dragons are in the Valley." Her father said. Nix narrowed her eyes as she stared at her father. A fire burned within her as she pushed herself to her feet, not taking her eyes away from him.

"People should know that the threat still exists." She said through clenched teeth. He's wrong. I'll prove it to him.

"If we knew, maybe mom would still be with us!” Nix shouted. “Maybe Liam wouldn't have to grow up with no memories of mom! Maybe, just maybe you could have saved her!" She shouted as she jabbed a shaking finger into his sturdy chest. A tear rolled down her cheek as she stood, staring into her father's cold eyes.

Her father looked at her, his brow relaxed as his cold eyes gained warmth. No longer narrow, they were wide as he fought back his own tears. Nix stepped back and quickly turned her head. Looking towards the empty rocking chair that sat by the stone fireplace, her mother's purple shawl hung from the back. Nix felt tears sting her eyes. I shouldn't have said that.

"Nix." Her father said softly. She felt a calloused hand touch her face wiping the tear off her cheek. "Even if we knew the truth, nothing could have saved her. Even if I knew that the plague wasn't under control. I…I still couldn't have saved her" He blinked rapidly as his voice cracked.

Nix closed her eyes as she took in a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. I just..." Nix said as she struggled to fight through sobs. It had been a little over four years since their eyes were opened to the truth. Since her father and her discovered that Dracosis wasn't under control. Four years since their lives were changed forever, yet the stinging pain of loss never healed. It feels like so long ago.

Her father wrapped his strong arms around Nix. "I do what I can to help others so that they don't need to know the truth. Someday soon, you will join me. One day Liam will too. Together, we will avenge your mother and protect our friends." He said softly. He continued holding her as thunder rumbled outside. Nix buried her head into her father’s chest, feeling comforted by the protection that his hulking figure gave. While in his arms she knew that nothing could hurt her, no matter how damaged and broken the world may seem. She wept, letting her tears soak into his shirt.

Tick…Tick…Tick.

The clock’s continuous beat matched harmoniously with the steady rhythm of her father’s heart. The warmth of his embrace brought back fond memories to Nix. Her mother’s sweet voice singing stories of adventure and heros, her father’s twinkling eyes as he played the violin, and the laughter that used to fill their small home. Why…Why did everything have to change?

"Can I join you tonight?" Nix said with her head buried into his shoulder.

Her father released his embrace and looked her in the eyes. “Not tonight, but soon. I almost have the others convinced to let you take the test. They feel that fifteen is too young, but I almost have them convinced."

Nix stepped back as she looked up to his eyes. She pushed her tongue against her cheek as her foot started to tap in time with the clock. "But…"

Her father shook his head and bent down putting his eyes level with hers, and grasped her shoulders with his strong hands. "It's dangerous, and there are rules. You are close. Just give me some more time." Nix let out a sigh and looked past him towards the roaring flames in the stone fireplace. He always says the same thing. Always soon. He’s never going to let me go with him.

Nix's head was pulled away from the fire as a strong grip grasped her jaw. Her father's eyes were studying her face as a deep frown crossed his face. His hand forced her head in different directions. Nix tried to pull away, but her father's grip was too strong. He finally let go as she raised her left hand, rubbing her jaw. "Nix, do you have a strange rash anywhere?" He questioned quickly as his dark eyes glared at her.

Nix froze, her heart pounding. How does he know about that? A few days ago, the back of her right hand started itching fiercely due to a small red bump on her pale skin. At first she thought it was nothing more than a bite from a night bug. However, each day the rash seemed to grow in size. The rash was now about the size of a coin. Most concerning was that the dry red skin was starting to become flaky, and it was beginning to peel away. That just has to be part of the healing process. "What do you mean by a rash?" Nix asked, her voice cracking.

Her father’s frown softened as he stared at her eyes. He rubbed his eyes. "It must have been a trick from the fire's light." He mumbled as he massaged his temple in thought. "I'm just being paranoid."

Nix tugged at her right sleeve, trying to pull it over her hand, hoping her father wouldn't notice the rash.

"What would it matter if I had a rash?" Nix asked with trepidation as she glanced at the necklace that hung from her father's neck. At the end of the silver chain was a silver medallion with the image of a dragon head. Its eyes glowed with a strange green light. Three green swords glowing with the same odd green light pierced through its skull.

Her father started. "It might mean nothing, but it could also mean..." He closed his mouth as he glanced toward her hand, drawn by Nix's pulling on the sleeve. Nix quickly pulled her hand behind her back. "Nix, let me see your hand.” Her father said softly.

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

They both turned their heads towards the wooden door that shook as the pounding continued.

Nix started to walk towards the door, placing a hand on the hilt of the silver dagger that hung at her side. Her father raised a hand to stop her. "Stay here."

Like a cat stalking its prey, her father silently approached the wooden door. Nix held her breath amazed at how such a hulking figure could still be so nimble. Nix clutched the hilt of her dagger, waiting for anything as her father reached for the shaking handle. A guest at the door wouldn't have been any cause for concern in the past. However, things are different now. They knew that the kingdom was covering the truth, hiding the fact that Dracosis was still spreading, still infecting the innocent. Turning them into monsters. Nix’s heart pounded rapidly as lightning flashed through the window.

Her father swung the door open with a flurry of movement and stuck his hand out into the night. A boy's scream filled the air.

"Boy! What are you doing here! I should drag you to your family and let them know what you were up to." Nix's father roared.

"I'm sorry, sir. I need to talk to Nix. Please let me in." Nix felt her heart skip a beat as she heard the boy's voice. A smile crossed her lips, as she felt butterflies in her stomach. Her cheeks burned red. Tristan came to talk to me. He walked through the storm for me.

Nix rushed towards the doorway. "Dad. It's just Tristan. Let him in."

She halted as she looked at her father's back. He stood with his hand gripping the edge of the door. His massive body blocking the entire doorway. She tried looking past her father to see Tristan's face. She could only catch a glimpse of Tristan's wavy short black hair.

Her father stood unmoving, a sentinel blocking anyone from entering or leaving the house. "Please, sir, it's important that I talk to her." Tristan said as he raised his voice.

"I bet it is important." Her father said slowly. "However, you can't stay here, and it is dangerous to walk the streets alone at night. I will walk you home. You can talk to Nix tomorrow."

Nix ran towards her father, her smile fading. What is wrong with him? He knows Tristan. Tristan stayed here before without any problem. "Dad let him in. I want to talk with him."

"Nix, stay where you are." She halted as her father's voice boomed like thunder through the room. "I will take the boy home. You stay and protect the house while I am gone." Her father reached over with his free hand and grabbed his thick gray hooded cloak from the hook on the wall.

"Can I at least hear what he has to tell me? He walked all this way after all." Nix asked as she stood on her toes, trying to look over her father's shoulder at Tristan.

"Please…" Tristan pleaded. "I really need to speak with her. I don't know where else to go."

Her father stepped out the door and slammed it shut without a word. Nix rushed to the door pulling the door open. She stared into the dark street. Rain steadily poured as puddles formed on the cobblestone street. Lightning flashed, revealing the road to be empty. Where did they go?

A putrid sulfur smell filled the air, causing her to gag as she backed into the house and shut the door. She turned around and rested her back against the wooden door as she slowly slid to the ground resting her head to her knees. What did he want to tell me?

The itching feeling emanated from her hand. Nix started scratching at her hand, hoping to relieve the annoyance.

"What's going on?" A high-pitched voice said through a yawn. Nix continued scratching at the rash. “Nix, What’s going on?” Liam’s voice echoed down the stairs.

"I don't know." Nix said curtly. The annoying itch continued no matter how much she scratched at it. Nix continued scratching furiously as tears dripped from her eyes.

"Nix, You were lying earlier, right?" Liam asked as he took a step down the stairs. "Dragons have always been in the Valley. They have never walked the streets or flown through the air." He said as his lips shook and he held his blue blanket tightly. "They couldn't eat me, right?"

Nix winced as she felt a stinging pain rise from the back of her hand. She glanced at her hand. A trickle of blood dripped from where she had been scratching. A small cut dug deep into her skin.

"Nix, are you ok?" Liam said, almost shouting.

Nix looked up and saw that her brother had now made it halfway down the stairs. She forced herself up and stood with her back against the door. "Yes, Liam, I am ok. What?" Nix said dismissively.

Liam nodded as he took another step down. "But you were lying, right?"

"Lying about what?" Nix asked as she looked at her brother.

Liam sighed as he stomped onto the next stair. "The dragons!” He whined. “You were lying earlier. They are all in the Valley, right Nix?"

"Oh…" Nix watched as Liam slowly made his way to the bottom of the stairs. His eyes were wide as he clutched his small blue blanket. Liam’s lips quivered as his legs were wobbling as he made his way down the stairs. Maybe dad was right. Perhaps he shouldn't know the truth.

"Come here," Nix said as she bent down to his level with her arms open. He ran into her open arms, burying his head into her shoulder as she embraced him, rubbing her hands on his back.

"I don't want to be eaten by a dragon." Liam said as he sobbed into her shoulder.

"Shh…Shh…the dragons are all in the Valley like they always have been. They can't leave there. I was cruel earlier. I shouldn't have said those things." Nix rubbed her hands on Liam's back. Nix sat there embracing her little brother as he quietly sobbed into her shoulder. "I'm sorry, Liam."

Tick…Tick…Tick.

The relentless itch pounded into Nix's mind as she comforted her brother. Nix turned her head towards the chair and smiled. “Liam, let's move closer to the fireplace.” She said softly.

Liam nodded his head and together they walked towards the fireplace. Nix motioned for him to sit down in front of the warm glow of the fire as she walked to the rocking chair and grabbed the purple shawl.

Nix sat down in front of him and wrapped their mother’s shawl around his shoulders. “When I was your age, and got scared mom would always wrap this around my shoulders.” Nix said in a sweet soft tone. Liam’s eyes widened as he looked at the purple fabric that rested on his shoulders. Nix continued, “Mom would say that as long as that shawl was on my shoulders nothing could hurt me because the shawl carried her spirit and as long as it was with me she too was with me protecting me from any danger.” Nix’s voice started to crack as tears welled up in her eyes.

A small smile rose on Liam’s lips as he sat looking at his big sister. “Nix, I love you.” He said.

Nix smiled and ruffled his hair. “I love you too.” She said as she leaned wrapping her arms around her little brother. Nix started to hum a song that her mother used to sing as she rocked Liam back and forth. She looked at the crackling fire as a tear rolled down her cheek. Mom, I miss you so much.

Tick…Tick…Tick.

The steady ticking on the large clock kept the beat as Nix continued humming. The warmth of fire, the purple shawl, and her brother in her arms, for this moment in time Nix felt calm. The threats of the world now felt small. Her humming rose and fell as the melody played out.

"Nix, what does dad hunt?" Liam quietly asked.

"Hmm?" Nix hummed as a bright flash rose from her hand. She looked down at her hand. Nix’s eyes widened as her humming halted. No. It can't be. It has to be a trick of the light.

"Why does dad leave at night? He is a Hunter, but what does he hunt?"

Nix’s hand trembled as she raised it closer to her eye’s. Turning it in different directions to get a better view. The cut on her hand no longer bled. It went deep into her skin, revealing the thing she dreaded most. The flickering light of the fire danced across her hand. Light piercing through the small cut in her hand. A shimmering purple scale was nestled under the rash waiting for the diseased skin to fall off. Nix wrapped her arms around her brother, squeezing him tightly as her breathing hastened and her heart raced.

Tick…Tick…Tick.

"Nix, are you ok?" Liam pleaded.

CRACK!

The house shook from the deafening sound of thunder. Liam yelped, Nix closed her eyes, holding her brother tightly.

Tick…Tick…Tick.

The itch continued to plague her mind, daring her to scratch the rash. A single thought echoed in her mind as her body trembled. Dracosis.