Two
It’s a whole town burned to the ground, smoke coming from all of the ashes. There’s even a dead dragon laying on top of one of the burned buildings. A dragon really? What kind of a dream is this? I covered my nose as the smell is very intense now that I’m closer. I look around the burned town, trying to see if there’s any survivors. I then notice there was someone lying by a tree, and he had a few bruises and burns but he looks to be alive. I ran over to him and kneel next to him as I look him over. I saw his chest going up and down gently, and knew he’s alive. I let out a sigh of a relief, but sadly I have no idea how to help him. I then remembered the stream a little ways and could try and bring him back some water. Maybe try and clean his burns. I’ll just need something to wrap it up. I’ll also need something to put the water in. I look down at the burned town, and notice a small wooden bucket. It’s not in great condition, but it will do.
I grabbed the bucket, and ran back towards the stream. I filled up the bucket, but since it’s been in a fire there was some holes. So water was leaking out of it. I have to hurry. I ran back with the leaking bucket, and by the time I got back to the guy. I saw him standing and wiping away the ashes off of him. I blink confused. How in the hell is he standing up? I thought he was injured, is he actually okay? I stepped closer to him making him snap towards me. I froze in my tracks as his eyes are black. What in the world? I backed up as his mouth even went up in a snarl. A snarl really? What kind of fucking dream is this? I dropped the bucket of water as he went to charge at me, but stops suddenly when he saw the bucket of water spilling all over the ground. He looks at it before looking up at me with a raised eyebrow.
“What was that for?”
“Uh, the water? It was for you. I-I was gonna clean up your wounds.”
“For me? Pfft. You don’t know what I am do you mortal?”
“Um, I guess not?”
“Wow. I never thought I’ll meet an oblivious mortal.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I mean I’m a demon of course. Any stupid mortal with brains would’ve known that.”
“Are you the one who did this?”
“Do you not see the giant dead dragon over there? Are you blind as well?”
“Shut up.”
“Brave though. I’ll give you that.”
I crossed my arms as I glare at him, but it made me think. I glanced over at the dragon, wondering what exactly happened here. Then looked back up at the guy, or I guess the demon. He’s just adjusting himself as he continues to wipe away the ashes. He’s very tall and lean, olive skinned, black hair that’s pulled back into a ponytail, and his nails are slightly sharper than normal humans. I also noticed that his teeth are sharpen, to the point they could rip through anything, or anybody. A shiver went through me thinking of that, and that small shiver must’ve caught his attention because he turns towards me with his arms crossed over his chest.
“What do they call you mortal?”
“I’m Kiera. Uh, do you have a name?”
“I’m a demon, not some stupid rock. Of course I have a name. I’m Necra.”
“Um, can I just call you Ned?”
“What? Ned? What stupid name is that? No, you may not call me that. You may prefer me as my name or none at all.”
Fuck. I gotta figure out how to pronounce his name. I’ve never ever heard of his name before, then again this is some weird dream that seems to stretch longer by the minute. I hope I wake up soon. I don’t want to deal with burning buildings, dragons, more woods, and now demons. I’ve never had to deal with any of this before, and only watched other people deal with this on tv. Maybe that’s why I’m here, too much tv time.
“What part of Faelania are you even from?”
“Uh none. I don’t belong here at all.”
“What?”
“Well, how do I put this? I hate to say it but you and all of this is just part of my dream. None of this is real.”
Necra just stares at me before bursting out laughing. He points at me saying I made a good joke, then asked again what part of Faelania I’m from. I told him again that I’m not from here, and that I wasn’t kidding. That this really is a dream, and that I have proof.
“What’s your proof then?”
“My eyes. They are supposed to be brown, but they are slightly glowing a hazel color. So I’m dreaming, and besides none of this is real. Magic, dragons or demons I’m sorry to say. They aren’t real.”
“In your sad pathetic world maybe, but here in Faelania magic is the very essence of this world. The fact that your eyes changed colors is proof that this is all real.”
“What do you mean?”
“Only one other person I ever known who came from another world into ours. Their eyes changed into a glowing hazel as well. It just means you have a soul bound here, it’s rare in our world but it’s special.”
“How do you know all of this?”
“Pfft are you kidding? I live here stupid. I was only a fledgling demon when the first guy came over here, and that was about fifty years ago.”
“I don’t understand. If this is all real, then why did she bring me here?”
“She? Who brought you?”
“I don’t know! She just said she goes by many names, and that I had a destiny to be here. Dumped me in the middle of the woods and left me alone.”
“Pfft. Sounds like the prophet.”
“The who now?”
“You know, the prophet, the fate, the destiny, the seeker. Yada, yada. She goes by many names alright, and if she says you have a destiny here then she is certainly right. She sees the future after all.”
“What? But I don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing!”
Necra lets out an annoyed sigh before pinching the bridge of his nose. I don’t know why he’s so annoyed about. I’m the one who just found out everything was real, and now I have some destiny I got to fulfill. Why me? She couldn’t pick someone else? I can’t do anything right, and I’m not the best person to be count on. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do or what anyone expects of me. Why do I have to be the chosen one?
“First you need to calm down. Secondly, since you’re here because of Destiny, then I suggest looking for your bound mate. Also, I recommend talking to Destiny as well.”
“How do I talk to her? She was talking in my mind and then just stop.”
“Go to her lair.”
“I have no idea where that is.”
“Well, you better get a move on and get looking. It’s towards north. Have fun mortal.”
“Wait Ned! You can’t expect me to wander the woods by myself!”
“Don’t call me that, and I’m not helping a mortal.”
“Come on please. I have no idea where I am, and you’re the first person I met here. I need your help.”
“Did you forget that I’m a demon? We don’t help mortals.”
“I didn’t forget. The black eyes are hard to miss.”
“Good. I’m still not helping you.”
“Please! I’ll make you a trade, or uh a deal whatever you want!”
“A deal huh? What kind of deal?”
“Um, you help me get to the lair of Destiny in exchange of whatever you want.”
“Whatever I want? Are you sure that’s wise?”
“I don’t know anymore, Ned. I just want this nightmare to be over with.”
“Keep calling me Ned and I’ll show you what a real nightmare looks like.”
“I’m sorry. Do we have a deal?”
I stretch out my hand towards him, and he stares at it for a second before looking back up at me. He raises an eyebrow before smirking as he grabs my hand shaking it firmly. I just now noticed how cold his hand was, and I guess that’s to be expected since he’s a demon. I don’t really know all of that mythology crap. I didn’t care to learn it or pay attention to any of it. I was more interested in my own hobbies, and what I like to do. I just hope I didn’t just make a mistake, but I didn’t know what else to do. I have no idea where I am or where to go. There’s dragons in this world, so obviously this world is dangerous. I don’t wanna know what other creatures are in this world.
“You got yourself a deal mortal.”