I never knew you could faint in mid air. But the scare of jumping caused me to pass out. When I awoke I was once again in the clutches of the black dragon that had me yesterday. I could tell from the scar on his claw the same one I sliced. This time I wasn’t going to slice him. One, there weren’t any large flying creatures under us and two: in it’s own twisted way it did save me. We came to a large mountain and it flew strait into a large cave opening and went through the winding twists and turns of tunnels. There were bright green lights all around; my guess was they were will-o-wisps. At that point I really didn’t care. We entered a chamber of sorts and it tossed me onto a pile of pillows like a rag doll. It was such a hard throw that I banged into the wall nearby and was out cold again.
When I eventually woke, again, I found myself being watched. I propped myself up on my left hand and rubbed the back off my head. Then I looked up to see a guy with light tan skin sort of a caramel color, short uneven messy black hair, and blue eyes. He was wearing a black sleeveless body suit, black detached long sleeves, a black belt holding what looked like a tattered robe, and black leather boots. He was looking down at me in disgust and arrogance. I looked at him confused then hurriedly looked around.

“Hey! Where’s that dragon?”

“You’re looking at him,” the guy replied.

“You?” I was even more confused.

“What? You never heard of polymorph?”

“Well, yeah, but I didn’t think dragons could.”

“So much for what you know.” I seriously didn’t like the tone of his voice.

“What’s your problem?”

“What’s yours?”

I think my brain broke. “What are you talking about?”

“You attacked me on our first encounter.”

“You attacked me first!”

“I only snatched you up! It’s not attacking!”

“Well how the hell was I supposed to know? Huh? A dragon comes out of the blue and grabs you you’re first reaction is to get away and to fight if necessary!”

I had him there for he said nothing more. After a while I broke the silence. “So why did you save me?”

“Well despite it, you’re still a beautiful female even if you are of the most pathetic species.”

“Pathetic? Pathetic?!” I got to my feet and stood in front of him, “You’re the one who’s pathetic. You’re the one taking a human form!”

“Yes well, it’s kinda difficult to have sex with a human in dragon form. Not that it hasn’t been done, but now polymorphing makes it so much easier.”

“Wait? Sex? Hold up!”

“What? Do you think I brought you here to live with me? Be my love? Ha! You’re just another toy and when I grow tired of you I’ll toss you away and find a new toy.”

Before I could react he jumped me and we landed on one of the large pillows. He forced his lips on mine and pinned me down. Holding my wrists with one hand and using the other to lift my hooded shirt out of my shorts and then he started to grope my breast. I struggled, but naturally it was useless. He lifted his head and smiled smugly at me I was scared and pissed at the same time. I couldn’t let him win and when he reached for my belt we both heard a sound at a cave mouth a few feet above the ground over to our right. We turned to see what the sound was and there I saw a naked boy bruised and bleeding. One arm wrapped in the front as if trying to hold him up the other was barely propping him up against the cave wall.

“D-Dae-Daemon?” The boy then fell forward.

“SUKO!” Daemon, the one who had me pinned, got up and rushed over to the other and caught him before he hit the ground. “Suko! What happened?”

“Nelos and Caverance. They jumped me, something about giving them the human girl?”

Daemon growled then looked at me with anger, no more like hatred. “This is all your fault!” He then turned completely towards me.

I got up and walked over to him and stared at him in the eyes, and then I slapped him. I’ve been doing that a lot lately. “I didn’t ask you to save me. You did it on your own accord.” I then tucked in my shirt. I noticed Daemon was quite tall and even my platform tennis shoes didn’t make me taller than his shoulders.

I glanced over at the other boy. He was small, not short, he didn’t have a lot body mass. Almost frail looking. I noticed he had green eyes or eye for his left eye was covered by long bangs, but I figured both eyes were green. I almost assumed that the two might have been lovers, but then I remembered Daemon tried to rape me. Either that or Suko doesn’t know he’s not gay. But that idea went out the door when the two red dragon’s who chased me earlier strolled into the room. And everyone turned their attention to the cave entrance.

“So Daemon,” the larger dragon spoke, “how’d you like what we did to your little brother?”

“Nelos,” Daemon growled.

“We tried to blind his other eye so he’d have a matching pair, but the idiot somehow avoided it,” chuckled Caverance. Daemon was getting angrier, but he held onto his little brother.

“Oooo! The young dragon king is getting mad,” Nelos said in mocked horror.

“Heh heh,” Caverance laughed and in the same mocked horror, “Oooo, please don’t hurt us.” They were slowly getting closer.

“Just give us the human girl and we’ll leave you alone,” Nelos spoke though his laughter.

“You want the human girl?” I asked, “Fine.” I had pulled out my hybrid and tossed my bag down at some point. “Here I come!”

I charged them. I don’t exactly know why I was attacking. Though it could have been all the fear and anger I felt. I needed an outlet and they were it. I knew I was quick and I had taken gymnastics when I was younger and a few boxing classes, but I didn’t know how I was dodging so well. I hadn’t wounded either dragon yet. But I was standing next to Nelos my front facing the cave entrance and my hybrid was as large as a staff, and a bit heavy, but I didn’t care. The scythe part, unknown to Nelos, was under his lower jaw.

“Beg for Daemon’s forgiveness, and maybe I’ll spare you,” Okay, who’s talking? Is that me talking? Holly shit! Am I possessed? Wait; can you be possessed in the magic realm? All though in my head I was freaking out, my facial expression was calm, but hard.

Nelos laughed. “Beg? You have to be kidding me. Red dragons don’t beg, but when I get my hands on you you’ll be begging.”

“Ah, but I have the upper hand.”

“Oh do you now? Prove it.”

“Very well,” my weapon, which was held behind my back went up and sliced through his scaled jaw.

Nelos dropped and screamed. Blood leaked out onto the floor and he lay there twitching.  I think it was the shock that got him. Caverance was so scared that he barely was able to scream out Nelos’s name. He though didn’t move a muscle.

“Take your friend and never come back to this place. If I find you have harmed Daemon or anyone close to him, I will not be so merciful next time.” I spoke in a dangerous tone.

Caverance carried Nelos and hurried the best he could out of the cave. It seemed almost instant when I returned to normal. I turned to Daemon, who didn’t know at the time I was normal.

“What the hell is happening to me?” I asked a bit frantic. “I’ve never done that!”

Daemon was too stunned to talk for a while, then he spoke, “I-I don’t know. Sorry.”

I gasped, “Your brother!” I ran over to my bag and rummaged for my first aid kit. “We need to clean and bandage his wounds.”

Daemon nodded, “Follow me.”

We walked into a room near the cave entrance Suko fell from, this room really looked like a room. Like a living quarters; there was a large canopy bed, and on the right was a kitchen area. My guess was this was where Daemon’s human sex partners lived. I was still pissed about that, but Suko was my main priority.  Daemon and I carefully cleaned Suko’s wounds and to both boys’ displeasure I applied peroxide to the cuts. Suko cried out in agony and Daemon was getting upset.

“Must you use that stuff on him?!” Daemon demanded.

I glanced over and noticed his cut on his right hand and I poured some peroxide on the wound. “Yes. It cleans the wounds and helps prevent scaring.”

Daemon grabbed his hand and yelled. He growled at me, but I ignored him and was dressing some of Suko’s wounds.

“Are you just going to stand there and make noises or are you going to help me dress his wounds?”

Daemon still looked pissed, but he helped me and after he covered his younger brother in the black velvet blanket he told him to get some sleep. Then we quietly walked out. When we got about center of the large room I punched Daemon in his arm.
“Damn you’re violent!” He said rubbing his arm.

“Considering what you did to me. Or almost did.” I looked at him in such fury I think he could see my eyes tear up a little.

He turned away not putting his other arm down. “I’m sorry.”

“You think “Sorry” is going to fix everything?” I too turned away and whipped away the tears that had not yet fallen.

“No. Do you want to take my life for it?”

“Nah. I got to punch you and pour peroxide on your wound, I’m good.”

“Heh.” We never looked at each other. “I am really truly sorry.”

“It’s all right, I guess. I’m fine now,” I turned my face to him and smiled lightly.

Daemon turned to me smiled and nodded. “By the way we weren’t properly introduced. I’m Daemon, young king of the black dragons.”

“I’m Joslyn Wyvern Cross.”

“Interesting middle name.”

“Yeah go figure.”

“And you just met one of my younger brothers, Su-…Wait! Where’s Carlos?”

“Who’s Carlos?”

“Our baby brother.’

“You come in threes?”

“I’ve got to go find him!” Daemon ran over to the cave entrance and before he could go any further a little boy came walking in.

The boy had bangs that hung around his face and all though his hair was tied back some strands where loose. He had large brown eyes, unlike his older brothers. Now that I think about it neither brother had the same colored eyes. His black tunic was untucked and the sleeves were torn off. His green breeches were torn and he was bare foot. He was covered in scraps, dirt, and bruises. And on his head was what looked like a little butterfly?

“Carlos!” Daemon snatched up the little boy and hugged him tightly.

“Aw! Daemon! Cut that out! It’s embarrassing.

“Where have you been? You look like a mess!” Daemon finally said after pulling back still holding the boy in his arms.

“Climbing!” The boy said with a huge grin on his face.

I guess the little bug thing said something to Daemon cause he blinked then said, “Oh hey there Izi. Still sitting on Carlos’s head I see.”

What is she? A parasite? I looked around and noticed a gold and black velvet throne, so I walked over to it and sat down sideways so my back leaned against one arm and my legs hung over the other. I wonder why these dragons like to walk around in human form? Daemon eventually put Carlos down hearing Suko’s voice and rushed over to the other brother. Carlos then came over to me.

“Hi! I’m Carlos! And this is my pet fairy Izi.”

Amazingly I could hear and see the child fairy. She was adorable. She had pink hair big blue eyes and blue and purple wings. She was dressed in a flower like dress and she too was bare foot. She sat perfectly happy on Carlos’s head.

Daemon soon walked out of the other room, “Carlos, Suko wants to see you. But be careful. He got jumped by the Nelos and Caverance. But he’s gonna be okay.”

Carlos said nothing, but ran over to the other room then yelled Suko’s name really loud. “Carlos, please not so loud,” I heard Suko say.

I laughed. “Carlos has a pet fairy? How does that work out?”

“He doesn’t want to admit he’s friends with a fairy so he calls her his pet.”

“Oh.” I replied after giggling a little. “ I never knew dragons to be a close nit group,”

“We are. Even if we are considered evil.”

“I never said…”

“No, black dragon’s are under the classification of evil dragons. Black, red, white, blue, and green are all descended from Tiamat, the queen of all dragons. Though through out the years, all dragons learned polymorph and as time went those of us under the classification of evil, have well mellowed a bit. Suko, Carlos and myself are direct sons of Tiamat. She and our father Aznal were mates, practically married. I’m afraid it’s not a tale I care to share with you right now.”

“I understand. Can you at least tell me why you three are mainly in human form and not dragon?”

“It’s good for us to practice. So in case there’s ever a moment we can’t transform into our true selves. Like when we’re staying in a human’s home. Or something to that effect it won’t strain us.”

“Makes sense.”

“Yeah especially since you humans like to cuddle after sex.”

I knew what he was getting at. “Forget it.”

“There’s nothing wrong with me you know. All parts are in the right place and are in good working order.”

I laughed, “I’m just not interested in you like that.”

He leaned over me, on hand on the arm of the chair and the other against the back of the chair his face almost touching mine. “Maybe you should give it a chance.”

I poked his forehead and pushed his head back. “You blew it with me before hand and anyways I’m not attracted to you.”

“Well I won’t give up.” He said straitening up.

“Lucky ducky me.”

Carlos soon came out and headed over to us. “Suko’s gonna get some sleep. So Shhhhhh!!!”

“Cute,” was what I said, Daemon ruffled his hair a little.

“Are you Daemon’s new girl?” Carlos asked me.

“No.” I said plainly.

“Good,” Carlos replied, “Cuz all that kissing is gross.” He made a disgusted face. “Girls have cooties anyways.”

I laughed to Daemon’s embarrassment. “What about your mother?”

“Mom’s not a girl, Silly. She’s Mom. Mom’s aren’t girls, duh.”

I laughed harder and Daemon sent him to get cleaned up and changed. “He’s so adorable.”

“Yeah. But he can be a handful.”

“I bet,” I heard a bell and turned and looked to what would be the right side of the throne and saw a clock on the wall. “Lunch time huh? YIKES!” I jumped up and climbed up the back of the chair. “I am not edible. I will give you food poisoning.”

Daemon laughed, “Why would I want to eat the girl I’m trying to sleep with?”

“Good point,” I settled down. “Guess I wasn’t thinking. Man, I better get going.”

“Why?”

“Well I gotta find something to eat and a place to stay until I can find my own place. I’m not from this world, you know.”

“No I didn’t know. Why don’t you stay here? I promise nothing will happen to you.” Daemon sounded very sincere, and he had been behaving himself.

“Well…”

“Come now. I haven’t really tried anything since earlier. Consider it payment for helping my brother and for giving Nelos something to be afraid about.”

“Fine, but you better not ever try anything.”

“I won’t!” Daemon said defensively. “Sides,” he lowered his voice, “They don’t know anything about me being forceful like that. I don’t want them thinking badly about me. Please don’t say anything.”

I could see the fear in his eyes. His brothers really don’t know the darker side of him. In the back of my mind a voice wanted me to tell them, but my heart knew I should not be so cruel. So I nodded in agreement much to Daemon’s relief.

“By they way,” I started, “Why does Suko cover one eye with his hair?” Silly question, I knew people who did it, because they thought it was a cool style. But it just seemed weird for a dragon.

But Daemon looked sullen and he turned his head away from me and closed his eyes. “Keep in mind, we were just children. I loved my younger brother then too, but you know how children are. Sometimes they can be so cruel. I was no exception. Suko looked up to me then as he does now. Sometimes I wonder how can he still love me after what I did. We were very young; older than human children and yet still too young to learn how to polymorph. Suko loved to follow me everywhere I went. For a while, I enjoyed it, but then it got annoying and real tiresome. I was climbing up a rocky area outside the palace cave entrance and Suko came running up behind me wanting to tag along.”

(Daemon’s flashback)

“Where are we going Daemon?” a hatchling Suko asks.

“I’m going climbing. You’re going back to the palace.” A much younger Daemon says to his brother.

“But I wanna come with you,” whines Suko. “And Momma and Pappa say I can come with you.”

“Well I want to be alone for once,” Daemon pauses during his climb.

“Pleeeaaassee?” Suko beggs.

“No!”

Suko still starts to climb up behind his older brother, “I promise to be good. Let me come with.”

“I said no!” With that a very annoyed Daemon whips his tail across Suko’s left eye.

Suko then drops and screams and cries. Blood trickles down the scar. His screams are heard almost instantly by an adult dragon, which runs to the palace to alert King Aznal and Queen Tiamat. The two run outside and find the two young dragons. Daemon apologizing and crying, Suko screaming and crying.

“What happened?!” King Aznal roared.

Daemon looked up frantically at their father as their mother goes immediately to Suko trying to calm him down. Daemon tells their parents what happened and is yelled at. Four of Tiamat’s five heads are screaming while one is still trying to calm the wailing child. Aznal grabs Daemon with his jaws by the back of his neck and carries him inside for punishment. Tiamat’s red head licks Suko’s wound.

(Story returns to Daemon telling Joslyn the tale.)

Daemon’s eyes had teared up when he turned back to me, “The punishment was nothing compared to the news that Suko was blind in his left eye. I can never forgive myself; Suko, though forgave me. I cried worse and harder when I found out I made him blind in that eye then I did when father punished me. I’m supposed to protect my young brother and here I blinded him in one eye. And he still forgave me! Something I never deserved. Why doesn’t he hate me?”

I had no answer for him. Tears ran down Daemon’s cheeks. It was so weird seeing him like that. He never told me what the punishment was and I would never ask. But what could be worse punishment then finding out you blinded your own brother? After that moment, I saw and would see Daemon in a whole new light. All though I would never love him romantically I will eventually have love for him like I had for my friends. To my astonishment, Daemon leaned into the throne then laid his head on my breasts and he continued to cry for a while longer. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, and then I started to caress his hair. I laid my cheek on his head and closed my eyes; his crying had died down to sobs and we sat like that for a while.
I will have shared meals with the boys that day and for a few more days before finding my own place. But for now I was staying with them. I found out the area we were in was the boys’ club or play area. Over to the center of the mountain was a larger cave that led to the large palace. But there were tunnels in the play area that lead to the palace as well. The rooms in the palace were designed for dragon and human access and living quarters big enough for either. The bedrooms had a bed, dressers and other things for a human, but there was enough room for a dragon too. Though there were some bedrooms only for dragons and some only for humans. I slept in Daemon’s childhood room for Daemon had their parents’ room. It would be a long while before I ever found out what happened to their parents.