The Dragon's Queen

Karisma’s POV Running. Heavy breathing. Fear. That was all I was feeling as I ran for my life, running away from someone who was supposed to love and protect me forever. I looked around me and saw nothing but the dark woods. I could hear his heavy footsteps as he screamed horrible things at me over and over. “WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?! YOU LITTLE ABOMINATION!!” I heard him roar. I kept blinking away the tears that filled my eyes. I needed to see where I was going. I didn’t want him to catch me. “I WILL KILL YOU ONCE I FIND YOU!!” His deep voice echoed through the dark woods. It echoed so much that I thought he was everywhere. He sounded like he was all around me. My legs were burning... My lungs felt like I was drowning… like they were going to explode even though it felt like I could hardly breathe at the same time… but I had to keep pushing myself. I had to get away. I pushed my little body as fast as it could go. A six-year-old can only run so fast. I looked behind me when I heard his angry roar. He sounded so close, but I should have been watching where I was going… I soon found myself tripping over something. I think it was a tree root or a big rock, but it didn’t matter. I fell forward so fast and hard that I was forced to roll down a steep hill. I could feel every scratch and bruise happening as I tumbled down. I bit my lip so hard, so as not to whimper or yelp at the pain, that I felt my teeth cut into my lower lip. All the wind was knocked out of me when I came to a sudden stop as my back hit a large tree trunk. It felt like forever in the few seconds it took for me to catch my breath. Those few seconds were all HE needed to catch up to me. I saw his bright amber eyes glowing in the dark. I whimpered as I tried to stand and felt horrible pain rush through my left leg. I looked down to see that it was swollen badly. ‘I must have either twisted my ankle or broken my leg completely.’ I thought to myself. “You honestly thought you could get away from me, you filthy abomination?” His deep voice sent a shiver of fear down my spine. I turned my head to look at the figure behind me. “P-p-please d-d-d-daddy… I-I-I didn’t d-d-do anything w-w-wrong.” I whimpered out. He snarled at me as he grabbed me by the throat and slammed me against the tree again, his eyes filled with nothing but hatred and disgust. “Your whole existence is wrong. That filthy, lying b***h lied to me about you. You are no daughter of mine.” I gasped and struggled against his grip, my whole body wanting to shrink back and get away from him as far as possible, but he was standing above me with an iron grip on my throat and slowly cutting off the oxygen I needed in my lungs. “SOMETHING LIKE YOU SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN BORN IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!” He roared as he plunged a silver dagger into my right shoulder. I screamed as I jolted awake. I felt the sweat run down my face as my heart pounded like I had just run a marathon. The slight throbbing of my right shoulder tells me that I am still alive… and it was just the same nightmare I always have, that damn dream at random. Like the past never wants to let me go. I tried to take deep breaths to get control over the panic rising inside me. Then I heard a loud bang before I felt strong arms wrap around me. “Calm, little one. You are safe.” A strong, yet gentle, voice said in my ear. I could feel my body relaxing into the strong embrace. My breathing slowed down. ‘Papa.’ I called out in my mind as I breathed in his scent and clung to his large frame. The scent of oak and sandalwood filled my senses before a floral and citrus scent soon joined in. Once my breathing returned to normal, I snuggled into my papa’s strong embrace. As he was not only my adoptive father but my alpha, his aura and scent always calmed me the quickest. “There, there, little one. You are safe. Papa is here for you.” Papa said as he held me close to his big frame. “I have you, little one.” One of his giant hands combed over my head. With each caress from his gentle touch soothed away the fear inside. “That same nightmare again, huh?” Another low husky voice asked. I lift my head slightly to peek over Papa’s shoulder and see Jason Wright. He is the future alpha of the Starlight pack and my adoptive big brother. He stood beside my bed and peeked around Papa’s body to see me. Meeting his gaze, I nodded. He circles my bed and climbs in on the other side to hold me in a tight hug of his own… even though Papa refuses to release me. Jason has always cared for me, even though we are not blood-related siblings. His presence here calms me just like Papas does. My body started to come back to reality as I breathed in both of their familiar scents. Papa smelled of sandalwood and oak while Jason smelled like perfectly ripe oranges and apple blossoms. I notice my door has once again been knocked off its hinges. “Papa… mother is going to kill you for breaking my door again.” I said, trying to bring humor into this depressing moment. It was what I tried to do when things like this happened. I never wanted those around me to be sad because of me, but it does not always work. I try to make a bad situation funny, even if it is no laughing matter. Papa’s body vibrates as he chuckles. “Any scolding I get is worth it to make sure that my precious pup is alright.” He said as he pulled back enough to kiss my forehead gently. “Besides, we all know that your mother is the most protective of her children.” Jason and I looked at one another and laughed. He was not wrong. Mother is not a she-wolf that has a lot of physical strength like a warrior, but she would fight to the death to keep us safe. “I just wish there was a way to help keep those dam nightmares away.” Mother’s calm voice came from the broken doorway. She came in holding a mug of herbal tea. I accepted it with a small smile. I have had the same nightmare about the night when my life changed forever. It always comes when my birthday is close. “Only the Moon Goddess can help in the realm of dreams, Mother.” I said. Mother huffed as I drank the tea, allowing my breathing to return to normal. I looked over at the clock to see that it was 2 a.m. Mother and Papa both hugged me tightly before they left, letting me know that they would see me in the morning for breakfast. I nodded and gave them a grateful smile. Jason lay down on the other side of my bed and wrapped his arms around me. He always cuddled with me when I had nightmares, no matter what kind. “Just remember, Kari. I will always have your back. No matter what, we are family.” He says as he gives me his best toothiest smile. I gave him a big smile as I snuggled into his warm body. “I will. Thanks, big brother.” I say as I start to fall back asleep, cuddling up in my brother’s embrace. His warm embrace reminded me that I was not in that forest anymore. That I was in a family that truly loved me. Even if I were different… and just like clockwork, a soft voice started singing in my head. This voice has also always followed the nightmares, but this was something I kept to myself. Hearing voices in your mind that are not yours is never a good thing. Even in the magical world that makes up the supernatural.