Chapter 1
The tattered shreds of Althea's once stunning ball gown now fluttered in the cold night air as she soared through the skies atop the massive, silver horned beast.
The dragon, or Arsalan she supposed, was a large but unnaturally agile creature as he glided effortlessly above the clouds and world below. The air around her was freezing, but the silver dragon she rode radiated a warmth that reminded Althea of the summertime sun as it beamed down on a clear day.
When there was a break in the snow clouds, Althea could see villages and the rolling, tumbling hills, the winding rivers and streams and snow covered trees far below. Everything was blanketed in a shimmering layer of white. It looked unreal, now so small she had to squint just to see as she gazed across the world. Althea wondered to herself if the people down below could see them as they soared through the moonlit sky. If they did, they would likely blink and then Althea and the silver dragon would be gone, moving through the sky quickly. She imagined if she had seen it herself she would have passed it off as exhaustion at this hour.
Althea turned her head, looking up now at the open gazing sky, twinkling with distant, dazzling stars. The moon was nearly full, and filled the otherwise dark sky with a warm white light. For the first time since she'd been lifted atop the enormous creature's back, Althea let go of the wide horns crowing his head. Flying up above the clouds, up above the world like this... it was liberating. Althea reached her hands to her hair, clenching the beast between her legs as she unclipped her brown curls, allowing them to flow through the icy wind around her. Those glowing silver slits stared back as the dragon gazed sidelong at her. She just closed her eyes, lifting her arms out to her sides. It was as if being in the sky came naturally to her. As the wind whipped around her in cold, hard, gusts, Althea felt as if she were finally exactly where she was meant to be. She opened her eyes again, staring back at the silver scaled face, it looked like an ancient painting beneath the moonlight.
"Thank you for saving me Arsalan," she breathed out in a whisper so low she wasn't sure he had even heard her. But when the dragon blew out a huffed breath, as if to say you're welcome she knew he had. The warmth of his sigh tickled her and wrapped her in a heated embrace that engulfed her with the familiar scent of him.
She didn't know how long they'd flown, but the air had slowly turned from an icy cold to a warm, humid sort of stickiness. They flew until the blazing oranges and yellows of the morning sun greeted them as it began its ascend from beyond the earth's horizon. The slow burn of it blazed through her as the sun's full light hit them. Arsalans scales shimmered and glistened brightly now. The sky was much clearer than it had been hours earlier and Althea was glad they hadn't been flying over any villages. In fact, as she peered at the world below them, there were only mountains and the natural essence of the world. Where were they?
Arsalan slowly began flying lower and lower until they soared only a short ways above the rocky peaked mountains and the rolling grassy fields below. As he descended... the sound of claws on rock and dirt pierced through the silence. Althea gripped onto the white horns as tightly as she could, as the beast's body shook to a slow stop.
Once the rough landing was over, the creature lowered its back, allowing Althea an easy exit. She kicked her leg over the dragons back and slid down the smooth scales until her bare feet felt the soft greenery beneath them. They had landed in a valley flourishing with life, from the soft green grass and the vibrant, fragrant flowers, to the insects that chirped and sang a tune so sweet Althea felt as though she could fall to the ground and weep. She gazed out at the rocky mountains and cliffs beyond them... they were so beautiful. The sun trickled its blazing light and morning heat over the tops of the mountains and onto the field where they stood.
A flutter sounded behind Althea and when she turned, the silver scaled dragon had disappeared, replaced by the dark haired man she had become so familiar with these past months.
"Arsalan," her voice was no more than a breath as she gazed at him. He was still dressed as he had been before he'd turned... she didn't know why this surprised her.
He looked... exhausted. Suddenly Althea's heart swelled as she studied the bags beneath those icy blue eyes, and the way his hair was almost entirely ripped from its tie at the top of his head. Even his posture was not of its normal tall, confident grace, but instead he stood, shoulders completely slumped.
Althea made it to him in three quick strides, just in time to help in his descent towards the ground as he plummeted into a sitting position. She didn't say anything as she held an arm around him, lowering him to lay. His chest rose and fell in deep laboured breaths. He had not only slowed time for who knew how long, but he'd also sent Zella through a portal that he'd made, and then flown through the entire night without stopping once. He had done it all... for her... and for her friend. Why? Why had he risked so much? He would likely be hunted at her side by the board for the rest of his life now... why had he assumed that risk?
When he opened his eyes again, looking up at her, a small smile fell over his dry, cracked lips. He was probably in desperate need of some water. She looked around them, glancing in every direction but there was no stream, or river or watering hole in sight.
"Don't worry," Arsalans words were a hoarse groan. He cleared his throat but it didn't make very much of a difference, "I'll be fine to continue on foot from here. I just need a moment."
She studied him, swallowing back the protests she wanted to spew. Instead she just breathed out a sigh and watched as his eyes fluttered closed.
"I'm going to look nearby for water," she said, still looking around the valley. She'd learned from her studies in geography that most valleys featured a stream or river where the fresh water from the mountains would fall. There had to be some kind of water source nearby.
She moved slightly to stand, when Arsalan's hand wrapped around her wrist. His skin was hot against hers.
"No... wait..." he let out a dry cough into his sleeve, "wait for me, I just need a moment."
Althea shook her head, "nonsense, you need water before you can move Arsalan. I am perfectly capable of finding my own way," she argued and to her dismay he just smiled at her.
"Oh believe me, I know you are..." he released her wrist and blew out a breath. "There's a stream, past the field, and into the tall banyan forest, if you keep straight you will find it, you can use the large leaves of the greenery that grow near the stream to carry it back here." Althea just blinked... how did he... this was clearly not his first time being here. No, it was evident he knew this place well.
Arsalan sat up and removed the thick tunic from over his head, revealing his ink covered chest and arms, "here, take this, and tear pieces of it to keep track of the way you came," he said, handing her the tan fabric. She furrowed her eyebrows.
"But won't you be needing it?" she asked, hesitating to take it from him.
He bellowed out a deep laugh, "no definitely not, I was beginning to overheat in it already."
It was rather warm, and only growing more so as the sun shined down over them now. She looked back up at the mountain peaks.
"Where are we?" Her question was laced with a curiosity to understand how he knew this land so well.
"Siam," he said back. Althea combed through her mind, the name sounded familiar to her, but she couldn't quite place it until she remembered a book she'd once read on south Asian religion... then she placed the area... they were just below the Chinese Empire. That meant...
"You flew us to... but how? How could you make it here in just a night?" she asked, her mouth agape.
"Even though it may not have felt like it, I was flying, very, very quickly, I wanted to get us out of human sight before the sun rose this morning," Arsalan shrugged.
Althea shook her head, trying to grasp how they were on an entirely different continent now. Overnight!
She just took the fabric from him and turned to walk away.
"Althea," his voice rang through the thick chirping air, all humour was absent from his tone now. She glanced over her shoulder to look at him again, "be safe okay?"
With a curt nod she went on her way. The landscape around her was unlike anything she'd ever seen both in Manchester and London. It almost didn't feel like the same world, especially since it was vastly warmer here than it had been in England.
As she walked, Althea hummed one of her favourite melodies. It was somewhat of a sombre tune, but it reminded her of her childhood, though she didn't know why. She didn't have any memory of her father ever singing it to her... nor her nursemaid... she began to ponder where she'd first heard the song. Althea would rather think of this than... with each blink the sight of last night's carnage flashed in her mind. Behind her lids was the face of Jasper as he leapt for her right before everything went black. She hadn't said this to Arsalan... it was hard enough for her to admit to herself, but there were holes in her memory from the night before. She remembered that distorted face of pure hatred... the one Jasper had flashed as he attempted to knock her unconscious. She had been trying to talk him down, make him realise that she did love him... because she did really love him. Even now, even after the way he'd betrayed her, it couldn't erase their shared moments, the way he'd comforted her... everything they had. A silent tear slid down Althea's cheek as she walked. She wiped it away quickly with Arsalans tunic.
What really haunted her about last night was that deep, dark, black, gaping hole in her memory. The last thing she remembered was that face... that horrible face he'd given her... and then? Then she had seemingly blinked and was holding the metal sconce which was torn from the wall... holding it over... Althea closed her eyes as her vision blurred past the point of seeing. Her cheeks were dampened by hot tears. The image of Jaspers still, lifeless body was the only thing she could see behind closed eyes. It had haunted her, tormented her as she'd flown all night with Arsalan, and now. She kept trying to think of anything, hum a melody, remember her childhood, her innocence, but no matter how she tried, her mind replayed the images and the feelings from last night. As she silently sobbed now, all she could do was dwell on that feeling that had plagued her the night before. Upon seeing Jasper, his head swelling with blood, she didn't feel sorry... she didn't even feel sad... no what Althea had felt upon seeing him, lying there dead at her hands, she felt pure, arrant, untouched power. And she had revelled in it.
Suddenly Althea threw herself to the ground, heaving up air as her body attempted to empty its contents onto the grass. But nothing came up, her stomach was completely empty as she crouched there, the only thing spilling from her were the tears that still burnt her face. So many conflicting emotions tore through her that it was impossible for her to catch her breath. Althea couldn't allow herself to believe she had done something so heinous... so wicked and foul... and yet, deep in the pit of her heaving stomach, she knew. She knew she'd done it. She'd murdered the man she loved. But that revelry she'd felt afterwards, that was not her, she refused to believe she could ever take an ounce of pleasure from such treachery, no matter the betrayal that had ignited it. She had learned many things about herself these last months, gained many new attributes, but malevolence was not one of them, she would not allow it to be.
After a few moments, she finally settled. She knew she needed to continue, if not for her own sake, then for Arsalans. Just as he had said, Althea was met with a thick line of tall graceful trees, their trunks were so beautiful and strong. Unlike the trees she was accustomed to back home, the trunks of these trees appeared to be made up of a braided entanglement of trees to form one massive trunk, and their branches were so long and expansive they practically cut out all sunlight from the forest below. It was a bit eerie setting foot into the cloak of darkness after being by the bright, warm sun.
There were plenty of tropical plants and beautiful flowers despite the lack of sunshine. Once she had walked into the woods a few paces, Althea pulled the string from the collar of Arsalan's tunic and tied it around a low hanging branch.
It didn't take her long to reach the stream. Althea heard its heavenly flow of trickling music before she could see it. After pushing some plants to the side, the wide stream came into view. She may have called it a river due to its wide girth, if it weren't so shallow. Althea stepped down onto the smooth stones until she reached the running water. She filled her hands and funnelled the clear, icy liquid into her mouth. She hadn't realised how thirsty she'd been until now.
Once she'd replenished herself, Althea looked around for the large leaves Arsalan had referred to, and spotted one upon a plant a few yards away. She could see why Arsalan had suggested using them, as they were naturally cupped, making carrying liquid in them all the more easy.
Althea secured the water and began the short walk back the way she'd come, following the markers she'd left for herself from Arsalans tunic. She was nearly out of the trees when a gust of warm wind blew through the trees and lush greenery around her. As it combed through her brown locks, the hair on the back of her neck and the rest of her body stood. She had a sinking feeling that she was no longer alone... the songs of the birds and insects around her grew wholly quiet... as if they too sensed the presence of something larger and more terrifying within these woods.
She quickened her pace, wanting to feel that warm caress of the sun on her skin to calm her racing thoughts. She didn't move too hurried, to avoid spilling the water she'd collected for Arsalan, but something in the air was definitely amiss. She turned, looking behind her at the ancient looking trees. She felt as though something were within that tangled mess of tree stumps, staring out at her from the darkness within them.
Swallowing, she blinked slowly and turned her head back. As she did, however, she heard the distant essence of what she swore was a hissed whisper.
Althea nearly tripped over a tree root in front of her, but caught herself before she could spill any of the water from the leaf she clutched in both palms.
Her blood suddenly went cold as she heard it... first a twig snap and then the deep, seething hiss as whatever lurked behind her whispered, "Althea." Her name was long and drawn out. Haunting and yet as lilting as a song. "All must pay Althea. His spilled blood was owed to us." She wanted to run, she wanted to drop the water and run. But instead she closed her eyes and turned around, snarling and ready for whatever stood there behind her.
But as she turned... there was nothing. Her eyes narrowed as she studied the dark shadows of the forest around her. Clenching her jaw she turned and continued walking until she reached the bright light of the meadow. She breathed out a sigh she hadn't realised she'd been holding inside. Althea glanced back at the dark jungle and she could have swore she saw the glow of red eyes just beyond the tree line. But just as quickly as she'd thought they'd been there, they were gone.
Althea made it back to Arsalan in time for the water to still be cool in the large floppy leaf. As she neared him, she could see the relief clear on his face. She wondered if he had known about whatever lurked in that forest. How had it known her name? How had it known... she shook the thought from her mind.
"Oh good, you made it back in one piece." He flashed her a crooked grin. Althea just rolled her eyes and handed him the leaf containing the water. He put it to his lips and drank deeply.
"You seem surprised. Did you think I wouldn't?" she retorted, flopping down onto the grass beside him. He pulled the leaf from his lips and shrugged, smirking as he said, "well, I had been hoping for a bit of peace and qui—" Althea smacked his arm, causing laughter to rise from him.
"Give me that," she snapped playfully and took the leaf from him, taking a drink as well, feeling the cool water burn her dry throat. Though the walk had been short, it was warm enough now that she'd nearly broken a sweat... not to mention the heat she'd felt from her scare in the woods.
When she handed it back to him she laid down, looking at the sky above them. The sun was still farther to the east, but it was approaching overhead. There were white fluffy clouds drifting past them now.
"So... you obviously know this place very well. I take it you've been here before?" Althea asked, turning her head to stare up at him now. She could see the defined muscles on his back... and that dragon tattoo that was traced in silver ink. The silver dragon is me, Arsalan had said all those months ago. Little did she know he'd meant that literally. He just nodded, taking another sip from the leaf.
"Yes... this place was my home once." Althea's eyes widened. She thought he was raised in Persia? And she knew he trained in Beijing... So when did he have the time to live here as well? She supposed he hadn't told her everything about himself... in fact there was likely more she didn't know about him than the latter, she realised.
"My mother... She was born here in Siam. She is the reason I am able to... well she was a shapeshifter as well," he looked down at her with those luminescent blue eyes.
His mother had been able to turn herself into another being? That would mean he likely got his time manipulation ability from his father.
"Was your mother also a dragon?" she asked but then followed the question quickly with, "or can you turn into multiple beings?"
He smiled slightly, shaking his head.
"No, your spirit animal is yours from birth... It chooses you based on the alignment of the stars and planets when you are born and will imprint itself onto you when you shift for the first time... hence the dragon at my back. I got it inked myself, but the silver... the silver outline formed into my skin when I first shifted," he furrowed his eyebrows as he studied her face. "It is only supposed to be visible to those who bear a mark of their own... which is why I was surprised that you could see it."
Althea studied the silver ink now... yeah, it was as plain to her as it had ever been. Could no one else really see it?
"I can see the silver ink now... and I definitely don't have an animal imprinted anywhere on me," she laughed lightly and shrugged.
"Odd indeed..." he muttered, looking away from her. "Anyway, I was raised in Persia, where my father was from, but I was brought here to live with my mothers family after my parents... well once they were gone," he said the last words quieter and looked at the blades of grass between his fingers, plucking one from the earth.
"Oh... so you lived here until you went to Beijing for training then?" she asked in an attempt to shift the subject away from his parents and he nodded.
"Yes, even though I share more traditions of my fathers culture, this is the place where I was brought up... this is where I went from being a child, to a man. And for that reason, this will always be the closest place to home for me."
Althea nodded at his honesty. She didn't know why, but she loved listening to him speak. Maybe it was just refreshing to think about someone else's life, rather than her own... or maybe she just wanted to know more about him... but whatever the case, she was happy to listen for as long as he would continue to talk openly with her. And she welcomed the distraction.
Arsalan handed her the remaining water, telling her to have the rest, for she would need it to prepare for their walk into the village where his family lived. He admitted, that it was a bit of a trek from here. Their village was nestled in the forest in a valley a bit higher up, so they would be travelling on upward sloped terrain.
Once Arsalan had rested enough for them to begin their voyage, they were on their way. Althea collected an assortment of wild flowers she'd found as they walked through the meadow. When she was younger, her governess had taught her how to make crowns out of flowers. So as they walked, Althea began weaving together the white, purple, pink, and yellow flowers into a crown.
"What on earth are you doing?" Arsalan prodded, watching her nimble fingers at work.
"Making a flower crown of course," she said with a chuckle. Honestly it was helping her pass the time, and allowing her to do something besides think of all that had happened the night before.
"A what?" He raised a confused brow at her.
"You've never seen a flower crown?" she asked with more attitude than she'd intended. She supposed perhaps here and in Persia, people didn't make them like the girls did back home in England. In Manchester, many girls wore flower crowns made from their favourite flowers in the summertime.
Arsalan just shook his head, looking forward again. When she connected the two ends, it was too large to sit atop her own head. She eyed Arsalan from the side, a smirk spreading over her lips as she slowed slightly and reached as high as she could, setting the crown over his ebony head of hair.
"Huh..." he looked up, trying to see the object which sat on his head. "A flower crown for you!" Althea said, giddy and beaming up at him. He looked a bit hesitant, but rather than arguing it, he just sighed and kept walking. But there was a slight tug at the corner of his lips as if perhaps he secretly liked the idea of the pretty, colourful flowers on him.
She made one for herself as well, a smaller one this time. She'd just added the last flower when they reached the edge of the bright meadow. This line of trees was alike to the ones she'd been greeted with earlier. But they had not walked the same direction she'd taken to find the stream. She still couldn't overcome her feelings of apprehension though as they began walking into the dark, shaded underbrush of the forest.
They walked for hours. Althea's feet and ankles bled from the sticks and shards of sharp rock that she stepped on as they trekked through the humid jungle. Arsalan had ripped his thick trousers just above the knee, wrapping the fabric around her bloodied feet and ankles, but they still stung with each step she took. Arsalan, ahead of her, was riddled with scratches all over his bare chest, arms and legs. They weren't very deep and would likely heal within a few days, but she knew they must've hurt terribly, though he didn't show it. She was so thirsty, her mouth felt like a dry, cracked desert. She watched the glimmer of light shine over Arsalans damp, sweaty skin as it peaked through the trees. It must have been late in the day, as the sun was dancing in a golden hue. She had never felt a heat quite like this before. So humid, and shady, but suffocatingly hot. She felt like she was burning in hell. Perhaps she was. Perhaps her actions the night before had earned her a spot amongst the devil himself. Althea could feel her knees beginning to shake and tremble, she didn't have much strength left. Maybe it was better this way. She deserved to die in such slow miserable agony after what she'd done.
Suddenly her legs gave out beneath her, and the image of trees and golden sky spun as she hit the forest floor. The leaves felt soft beneath her as her vision blurred and her eyes closed shut.
"Althea!" There was a distant echo beyond her fading mind. She was tired... so, so tired.
"Althea!" Arsalan slapped her sweaty face, bringing her out of the dark void she'd been falling into. He was blurry, and as hard as she tried, she couldn't focus on him. Her stomach hurt so badly... it felt like someone had put on a corset meant for a doll and squeezed her into it.
"Althea, we are almost there okay?" Arsalan was holding her head in his hands as he spoke. "I need you to get up though."
She tried to swallow, but her mouth was so dry she coughed weakly instead.
Her eyes were starting to focus a bit more, and she could see the conflicted look on his features. Perhaps he was considering leaving her behind. In all honesty, she hoped he did. She didn't want the guilt, or the constant hurt, or the self hatred that she had been plagued with after what she'd done. At least if she died here, her misery would be over... until she awoke in whatever hellacious afterlife she'd be sent to that is.
"Althea listen to me, you need to do this, you need to get up and keep walking. I can't do it for you, I won't always be here to help you, this is something you need to do by yourself, for yourself." His words sounded like he was speaking to her from behind a stone wall. She could barely hear what he was telling her.
She closed her eyes once more and took a deep, staggering breath, through her nose. He was right, she knew he was... and although she wished he would just leave her, she knew from somewhere deep within herself, that he wouldn't. And so when she opened her eyes again, she stood slowly. She didn't do it for herself... but for him. She knew that if she hadn't forced herself up, he likely would have given in and carried her, and she didn't want that. Althea didn't want him to give any more of himself than he already had.
Arsalan took a step back, watching her rise to her feet. Her head still spun, and she was fighting off the urge to vomit the emptiness in her stomach, but she took one step, and then another. Arsalan resumed his place in front of her, walking slower now.
"We are almost there Althea," he turned to look back at her, those blue eyes twinkling, "and you will make it, because you are so much stronger than you realise."
She wasn't sure if he'd actually said the words, or if she'd merely imagined them, but either way, they gave her the motivation she needed to continue.
