Sun and Blood

There weren't always dragons in the Valley. When the magic was lost the shifters walked among us, unable to change. That was so long ago that the memories of our abilities was all but myth and stories.

A solar storm whipped across Earth, from the sun to the outer solar system and the wards that had held the people of Earth captive were destroyed and millions of people the world over found themselves with powers that sprung free from within.

Ice caps melted under the heat and the oceans rose enough to push people off the coasts. In Australia, the heat was unbearable for the few days of the storm adding to the stress of what was happening.

Some people changed into dragons and flew into the sky, others shifted into a huge wolf form, or large black cats similar to a jaguar. There were other abilities too, wind, water, invisibility, speed, countless others.

I, myself, can muster a small flame in my hand. It looks pretty but isn't useful for much more than a bic lighter. In some ways, though, I'm a lucky one.

The problems and alignments of the world evaporated with the wards and within days the ten per cent of humanity who found themselves with powers they couldn't control were being hunted, captured, murdered, and studied.

Scientists have since discovered that the magic was part of our DNA and passed down through our genetics and though we were everywhere there was a higher population in Ireland.

We became known as the Fae.

A pheromone emitted by those with Fae DNA made it more likely that we would be attracted to one another so many families found the entire unit with powers.

I don't have a family. After spending my childhood in foster homes and my teenage years in a boarding school under a scholarship. I found myself, shortly after graduating school, in a share house, trying to find a job before I was to start university in the new year, thrown into a turbulent world of magic and non-magic people, riots on the streets, shifters being shot on sight even though they had no idea what was happening to them.

It was apparent that my little flame was going to get me into trouble if caught so I quickly figured out to keep my emotions in check and stay in my bedroom as much as possible.

The flame didn't burn my skin but I could feel the heat on my palm and if I felt anger, the warmth in my hand would begin before combusting into a flame the size of a candle light. I discovered it when, during that stifling hot week, when the heat had everyone on edge to start with, some one bumped into me at a shopping centre.

I said, "Oi! What the hell?" the older man turned around and told me to piss off and kept walking. I don't take well to being pushed around, I learnt early on to never give an inch but before I could let loose on the grey haired man a woman walking past squealed and I realised everyone was looking at me. I followed the direction of their stares and found the fire on my palm. I squeezed my fist shut and ran out.

I've kept to my room ever since. The little TV in my room has played the news twenty-four hours a day and I've seen the atrocities that happened to those who had changed. All over the world governments were cracking down on anyone who presented with an ability. Australia, while not as hard as places like China, still took all Fae in for 'questioning'. Some dragon and phoenix shifters had been shot and within a few days there was none in the sky.

Within two weeks all Fae had gone to ground.

My flat mates were worried about me and I knew they were beginning to realise that I didn't have Covid as the days wore on. I knew I needed to leave and find others like me but with no car or license and stuck in the outer suburbs of Brisbane it wasn't going to be easy.

I packed my meagre belongings in my backpack and when the house went still and quiet that night I snuck down the hall and out the front door and began walking along the quiet street. I walked the few kilometres to the local strip mall where I withdrew the small amount of savings I had accrued from my government payments.

All of a sudden I was gripped by panic. I had no idea what I was doing. Paranoia sat heavy in my stomach and I jogged to the back of the shops and hid in behind the large bin. A police car slowly went past shining a large light out of its window. I ducked back behind the bin.

I quickly split the money between my pockets, socks, bag and bra. While I had grown up under some tough circumstances and had the occasional scuffle, I was not a proficient fighter and going to a girls boarding school allowed me to keep my head down and study and steer clear of drama. If I was mugged, I knew I'd have no hope, but at least I could get away with some of my money... I hoped.

I didn't want to throw my phone away as it was the only thing of value I had. I'd saved for months to buy the iPhone outright with a small plan, relying on free Wi-Fi spots for data. Unsure what else to do, I turned it to flight mode and then off. I pulled a pair of nail cutters from my bag and tore a hole in the lining of my cheap fleecy hoodie and stowed my phone in the space.

I decided to head towards the city. Figuring I would have more options to travel from there. I continued walking knowing that the busses started from around 4:30am and caught a bus as the a few rays of sunlight began to crest the horizon.

I got off in Fortitude Valley and began to walk through the mall to the train station. I stopped at the convenience store and bought an ice coffee.

As I walked out of the store a hand grabbed me from the dark alcove where the doors were locked for the shopping centre next door. I squeaked and tried to pull away.

"Strange time for a pretty girl to be out," the man said pushing me against the shadowed roller door with a bang.

My mouth was dry and I couldn't speak.

"Especially on a week night," he grabbed the strap of my backpack that was only slung over one shoulder and started to yank it off me.

I felt like I was being gripped by a panic attack. My chest tightened, I couldn't breathe. I squeezed my eyes shut. I felt a moment of dizziness and lost my balance.

Opening my eyes, I stood a few metres away from the shocked mugger.

With a thwomp a man landed between us. He'd shifted from dragon to the jeans wearing man with long brown hair, in a swoop and landed on his feet.

The mugger ran.

The dragon shifter turned to me.

"Nice trick there."

"That… that’s never happened before," I stammered.

"Come," he said, striding off down the closed street.

Around the corner he opened a door with a keypad to a stairwell that smelt like pee.

He lead me up the stairs to another door and opened it to what was once an office space but now filled with beds and curtained off areas.

"I'm Arlo," he said holding out his hand.

"Mary," I replied.

"Welcome home, Mary."

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