(Feel free to point out errors!)
Chapter One
Garrett
“Jump Garrett!” my friends urged me
as they swam in the dark water below the rocks. I grinned and took a flying
leap off the rocks and into the cold water. I opened my eyes when the water
surrounded my body, bubbles tickling my face. Another splash hit the water and my
best friend Richard joined me under the water. Together we swam to the surface.
Water flew as I shook my hair,
spraying Richard and Richard’s younger brother Tom. Blinking rapidly, my third
eyelid slid sideways across my eyes, cleaning the salt from them.
Tom giggled, wiping the water from
his face, “Garrett show us your tricks again!”
I blushed, I felt embarrassed by my
‘talents’ as Tom liked to call them, “No, not now Tom. Why don’t you show us
your underwater somersault?” I urged Tom so I wouldn’t have to bring attention
to myself.
“Pleeease Garrett!” Tom begged, his
eyes widening into saucers, reminding me of the time he tried to convince his
mother to allow him to bring home a snake that was bigger than he was.
I sighed; I wasn’t going to get away
without doing a trick. “Ok, just this once.”
Tom squealed, and paddled forwards
in excitement. I sank down into the cold water, and searched for the fire in my
chest. The fire flared and hot air gathered in my lungs. I exhaled into the
water, steam rising from the bubbles like a hot spring erupting from the
ground.
Tom laughed and put his hands in the
heated water in front of him. Cupping them, he splashed Richard. Richard
shivered from the temperature change.
“Hey!” he shouted, splashing his
younger brother and then grabbing him and tickling his sides. They chased each
other around the lake, both laughing till their sides ached. To avoid the war
between the brothers, I dived down to the deep end of the lake.
Minnows darted and hid from my
shadow below rocks and plants while fish floated past slowly, as if analyzing
the possibility of danger.
I swam to the drop-off, the inky
blackness below me and the foam and waves above me. The drop-off had always
fascinated me and I had always wondered about its secrets. I thought I saw
something move in the depths, but I was running out of my air supply. I swam
quickly to the surface, exhaling as I went.
Tom and Richard had stopped their water war and were floating side by
side, breathing heavily. I smiled at the two and joined them, floating on my
back besides them. The water became calm and barely moved, only breaking when
touching our bodies. The sky was clear and bright blue, spotted with white
clouds. I shifted my body on the water because I was starting to sink when
something touched my leg.
Something scaly and reptilian.
I ducked my head under the surface and stared down around my legs. At
first I saw nothing. Then something moved and dived into the darkness. I took a
deep breath of air and sank down, down, down into the water. I peered closely
at the drop-off to find a pair of golden eyes staring at me. The eyes emerged
from the gloom, set in a massive head. White iridescent scales covered the face
and body from head to toe and a snout with massive teeth protruded from the
open jaws.
The body connected to the head was just as frightening as the face. The
body was thin but strong, with white scales covering the whole body ranging
from dull grey to pure white. The legs were thick and muscular ending with a
five clawed foot. A tail swished back and forth through the water, like a cat
ready to pounce. My eyes widened at the beast, astonished and scared.
The beast glared at me, as if scrutinizing me and then shot towards me.
Everything slowed down as the creature attacked. A sharp pain ran down my side
as I got buffeted away by the creature’s tail when it swam past me and attacked
Tom and Richard.
Fire enveloped me, coloring everything red.
~ ~ ~
“Ahh!” I screamed, sitting
up. Sweat glistened on my forehead and body, making my t-shirt stick to my
skin. My cat Scooter glared at me, as is scolding me for waking her. I glanced
at the glowing clock next to the bed and sighed when I realized it was only
four in the morning. I groaned and laid back down, kicking the blankets off my
body.... [read more of this chapter when I publish it :)]
Chapter Two
Zapporah
Zapporah hide in the darkness of the drop-off, hiding from the monster
that swam above her. Part man and part beast. Her arms swished back and forth
in the water, gently keeping her floating in one spot. She analyzed the
creature, watching his every move while he swam at the surface. He swam with humans. Anger flared in her chest.
Unintentionally her shape shifted, growing in size and length. Her scales
materialized on her skin and her head lengthened and widened. She felt spines
protruding from in front of her ears and framing her face and running down her
back; shortening as they trailed down to her tail.
Her wings pushed against her skin, trying to push through and unfurl but
she held them down so the water ran smoothly across her shoulders. Her arms and
legs thickened into solid but slender clawed feet.
The beast submerged and floated down to her, staring at the spot she was
in. Zapporah growled, showing her teeth. The creature threatened her people, an
abomination, a menace. He came closer; his blue eyes glowed with vertical
pupils and his hair gold like strands of the sun.
She sank farther into the darkness and his eyes locked on her.
He spotted her. His eyes widened in aggression and his lips opened. His
chest glowed with the energy in his lungs and black and blue fire blasted from
his mouth.
Zapporah attacked, slicing through the flames and attacking him with her
own white and blue flame. The beast’s fingers slimed into claws, slicing her
scales and scratching at her face. He cut her eyes, causing her vision to go
black.
~ ~ ~
Zapporah’s eyes snapped open. To find the inside of her hut was a relief
to her, it proved that what just happened was just a dream. She sat up from her
cot, and rubbed her eyes roughly; they were in perfect condition. She felt
foolish for thinking her dream was real, for she had had that exact dream many
times before.
© Copyright 2011, AK Alexander
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