Hey Guys, here is the second chapter that I promised, hope it is okay! Please remember to VOTE for both chapters :) Thanks peeps! xox

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CIRCE

I had been here now for a little over a week and a half and even though my days were busy, he never left my thoughts. He was with me everywhere I went, I could hear his voice in my head, remarking sarcastically on whatever I was doing, I could see him in every shadowy corner, I could feel him breathing warm air against my neck as I lounged on the couch at night time, one of Arthurs many books balanced in my hands.

One such night I was concentrating on my reading less than usual, distraction was playing with my mind and I idly brought my hands through my short hair as I watched Alice feed Frank little fish from her red pail, his tentacles waving around happily as he gobbled up the tasty morsels.

Arthur was in the kitchen, making a pot of tea and I closed my eyes as I listened to him humming a random tune. I would have to leave this place soon, as much as I wanted to stay. I had explored around the village and knew from Arthur that there was a trail that I could follow that went inland. I wasn't sure yet what I would do exactly, but I hadn't let him know that. As much as I had quickly grown to like this lonely Father and his daughter, what we had lost could never be replaced and both of us only served as a reminder of that fact. I saw him staring over at his wife's chair daily and once in the middle of the night I had heard him talking and upon opening my door slightly saw him kneeling at the foot of the arm chair, his arms folded on the seat, hiding his face while his shoulders shook with loss.

I knew it was difficult for him to have me here, although he didn't show it, a true gentleman, and it was the least I could do to impose no further and move on from this quaint village.

I was mulling over when I should leave, (tomorrow or the next day?), the book drooping in my relaxed hand when suddenly a cry echoed out from the direction of the beach. I sat upright immediately my eyes growing wide.

Alice had paused in what she was doing, her little face staring out the window and in the kitchen Arthur had frozen in place, his eyes staring and his shoulders tense.

"What's going on?"

Another cry came, one of both anger and fear and it was soon joined by other shouting voices. A moment later there was a sound, a terrible sound, one that struck me in my heart with its familiarity.

Arthur had reached the door and placed his daughter to the side, commanding her to stay put. Without a glance in my direction he was gone into the night. I followed after him as though I was being pulled by an invisible rope, my book falling to the floor. I paused in the doorway and in the kitchen the kettle whistled shrilly. There were flicking lights coming through the trees and the yells were louder.

"Stay here." I said to Alice hurriedly. "Go to your room. If anything bad happens, hide okay? Your Father will be back soon." The little girl nodded and I ran out the door without further delay.

My bare feet thudded through the dirt as I ran down the trail that led to the beach, my heart thumping in my chest. All of a sudden the light swelled and I heard someone scream out in fear. I broke through the treeline gasping and took in the sight before me in horror.

The villagers were gathered around an animal that they had managed to trap in their fishing nets, they held torches and were yelling as they struggled to contain it, poking at it with fishing spears in an attempt to scare it into submission. But this beast would not be defeated. Its white head swivelled this way and that, large jaws with deadly teeth searching for flesh. It belched out a column of fire which caused the men to jump back and off to the side I saw a figure lying in the sand, still and unmoving. The creatures wings lifted feebly in an attempt to throw off the nets, but the weight on either side was too much for it.

"Grab a rope!" Someone was shouting "We need to bind its mouth shut."

"Stop," I croaked out, my voice weak with shock. "Don't hurt him!"

My protests were lost amongst the shouting of the men and the crashing of the waves but he heard me. His white eyes swivelled towards me and as they locked onto my face his struggle increased and he let out a heart wrenching roar of pain and desperation. I noticed then that Arthur was there too, holding a side of one of the nets, his face grim and determined.

"Stop!" I shouted, staggering forward. "Stop I said! Stop it! What are you doing? Don't you see that you're hurting him?!"

My words did not reach the ears of the men who were blinded by their fear and how could I blame them? I reached the group and tugged desperately at Arthurs arm but he threw me back. "Circe, you shouldn't be here! It's not safe!"

"You have to stop!"

"This is the creature responsible for terrorising all of those villages Circe!"

"No he isn't!"

Another fishing spear jabbed at Anthemin's side and he cried out in pain as it slipped between his armoured scales.

I snapped.

The waves in the cove began to grow, washing further and further up the shore as the wind picked up, howling around the group and blowing out the torches. My hands trembled as the men cried out in fear, the water reaching their feet and sucking against their legs.

"I said stop it!!" I shrieked above the howling gale, the winds bending the trees and tugging with the waves at the feet of the men. Twisting my arms I summoned a power that had been dormant for a month and a half and in one huge blast blew everyone backwards away from Anthemin where they tumbled across the sand like rag dolls. The nets were thrown off also and the hungry waves ate them up in one huge swell of power.

Shaking, I stood still for a moment as the winds died down as quickly as they had come and the ocean slowly calmed. Heart beating, I raced across the sand to my Dragon, tears filling in my eyes as I wrapped my arms around his scaly neck and cried with relief and pain.

Vanima

His tender inner voice filled my mind and I welcomed it back with such relief that there were simply no words to describe it.

"Anthemin," I sobbed. "Are you okay? How did you find me?"

Later Vanima, now that I have found you I think it is time for us to leave.

I looked around to see the villagers rising to their feet. There was enough moonlight for me to see that their eyes were filled with fear. I found Arthur and was dismayed to see his expression was guarded and angry.

"But these people, I know them, I can't just leave, I need ... I need to say goodbye, I didn't expect-" I knew that I would have to leave, but I never imagined it would be like this. I faltered for a moment, unsure.

You may know them Vanima, but they don't know you. You have no place in this world, we must leave.

I looked at Arthur again and knew Anthemin was right, there was no familiarity left in his face and it shocked me to see how quickly it had changed, but after all he was only human. "Say goodbye to Alice for me," I called out hesitantly, hoping that he could hear the apology and regret in my voice. "And thank-you, for everything."

His expression did not change and I could see no promise there. I thought of Alice alone in her room, waiting for our return and then I realised. This was for the best. She was small and I had been in her life fleetingly. She would forget me with time.

I lifted myself through the air and onto Anthemin's back, clenching my fists as I tried to ignore the gasps and cries of fear and outrage.

"Witch!"

"Demon! They're demons!"

My eyes did not leave Arthurs but he had turned his face away from me and my heart was filled with sadness that it had had to end this way, so suddenly and on bad terms. We rose into the air quickly before anyone could stop us and soon the small lights from the houses were all that we could see.

My tears were still falling for the loss of the people who had given me shelter when I had needed it but at the same time I was so relieved to see Anthemin that I couldn't find the words to tell him how I felt, how lost I had been without him and how painful our separation had been. I had thought I would never see him again.

"How bad are your wounds? Are you sure you can fly?"

I will be fine Vanima.

I sank into his neck and wrapped my arms around him, feeling his pulse and drinking in his powerful presence. The burden of my loss became a little easier to bear and I felt as though a massive weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

"Where will we go?"

Away from here

*

ARTHUR

I watched them go with a feeling of disbelief. Everything had been normal one moment, Circe had been reading, I had been making a pot of tea and then suddenly my world had been flipped. I had heard the rumors of the beast, but I had never thought them to be true. To look upon that creature with my own eyes, to feel the heat from the fire it breathed, to know that it was real and not just a legend.

And now it was apparent that the girl, Circe was a part of the legend too. Had I been harboring a killer in my home? My fists clenched. No, she wouldn't have, she was too kind, too gentle. She could not be a part of whatever had attacked those villages. She knew that creature though; they had seemed to know each other. It was unsettling, the way she had run to it without fear.

I was aware of the looks that I was getting, it wasn't a secret who she was, this was a small village and Circe had gotten to know people quickly. However I didn't know what to say to tell them that I was as just in the dark as they were about this. I turned my back on them and began the walk up from the beach. Right now, I didn't feel like talking, I just wanted to make sure my daughter was safe.

The other men were muttering amongst themselves but soon they too began to disperse, some venturing out to retrieve the nets from where they had been thrown. It was an awkward situation, one moment we had thought our lives to be in danger and the next second it was out of our control.

It was with a weary hand that I pushed open the door to my house, the cries of night still echoing in my ears. I stood in the entrance for a moment, summoning my courage. Alice would ask where she was and I would have to reply, but what to say? That she wasn't who we thought she was? That Alice was best to forget her?

No. I couldn't do that.

"Daddy?"

"I am here sweetheart."

Alice ran over to me, her eyes round. "What happened? Where is Circe?"

I sighed and kneeling down to the floor, gathered her small hands up in my own and gently kissed her knuckles.

"Circe had to go pet."

Alice's bottom lip began to wobble. "Go? Go where?"

"Come now Alice, you are old enough to know the answer to that yourself. She couldn't stay forever."

"But she left without saying goodbye!"

I hesitated. "That's because someone came for her and she had to leave right away. She told me to tell you goodbye."

"Do you think we will ever see her again Daddy?"

I kissed her forehead gently. "I don't think so sweetheart. I think she is gone for good."

I pulled her in for a hug and it was then that the jungle in front of our house burst into flames.

*

Panic.

That's what I felt. I was frozen for a moment, my eyes disbelieving. Had the beast returned? No, but Circe would never ...

Alice was screaming but it was as though her cries were muffled and I couldn't seem to hear them properly above the ringing in my ears. All of a sudden the volume seemed to fix itself and suddenly everything was too loud. I could feel the heat coming from the burning fire outside and I wasted no more time as I scooped up Alice and ran with her out the back door, shielding her in my arms.

I could hear people screaming and I felt bodies rush through the jungle around me. I followed them, running blindly away from the beach. We were far enough away that I chanced a look back, just in time to see our house go up in flames. Alice was screaming that we had left Frank behind but all I could think of was the memories, all of the memories of Elise were in that house and now they were gone. It was all gone.

My feet started moving again of their own accord and before I knew it I was running as fast as I could away from the village. I heard someone calling to me from ahead and I followed the voice in desperation.

Behind us a roar of pure fury echoed out through the night sky. The guttural sound was similar to the beast from before but amplified ten-fold and it was a horrifying sound. My legs moved faster than they had ever done and it was a miracle that I managed to stay upright as I sprinted through the dark jungle.

The mansion came into view ahead and it was only then that I realised where the other escaped villagers were heading. There was a basement under the house, we knew from when we had raided it for medicine. It was a proper stronghold made from stone; it would protect us from the flames, even if the house above was reduced to ash.

I could feel the heat from the blazing village at my back as the fire began to give chase, leaping through the trees towards us. High above, silhouettes of fleeing birds flashed across the moon and the crackling of flames echoed through my ears. It took all of my will power not to turn around and go back to help those who had been caught in the inferno but I forced myself to think of my daughter, although the comfort of her safety was not enough to drown out the shrieks of the dying that resonated around the cove.

"This way, hurry!" A call through the night guided me as I reached the steps of the grand house and raced for the safety of the basement, turning back once to look down at the terrible sight below. Everything that I had known, engulfed in flames, the like of which I had never seen. And then I saw it fleetingly, for a split second I saw it against the light of the moon.

It was the shadow from the rumors, the shadow of death.

*

CIRCE

I wasn't sure what compelled me to look back. Perhaps the hand of fate grew bored of letting things play out and decided to intervene, reaching down to touch me at that precise moment.

All I knew was that as I turned around the first thing that I noticed was the strange light emitting from the place that we had left behind. And something twisted in my gut, reaching up to grab at my throat, choking me with fear.

"Anthemin, something isn't right."

What do you mean?

"Don't you feel it? Turn around, we must go back, turn around!"

Obligingly he turned and we paused for a moment in the sky, struggling to understand the cause of what we were seeing.

"I feel, I feel like something horrible is happening," I managed to choke out.

Anthemin's ears twitched this way and that. There is screaming.

"We have to go back!" I urged him. "I know you are reluctant after what they did to you but something isn't right about this."

I am reluctant but I agree Vanima, something is very wrong. If you insist, we will go.

I nodded and stroked his neck in thanks. "Hurry my friend; we might not have much time."

It didn't take us long to fly back and as we drew closer I could feel Anthemin becoming more and more agitated, his ears lying flat back against his skull.

We are at a disadvantage in the night-time Princess, I am easily spotted.

"We will be fine Anthemin," I whispered, straining to look ahead. The light was growing and as we swooped over the top of a cliff we were finally able to see down into the cove.

"No!" I gasped, my hands rising up to cover my mouth in horror. "No! It cannot be!"

The entire village was lit up with flames. Even from our high vantage point we could feel the heat rising up from the colossal fire. Memories of Obsidian, of my own skin burning leapt into the forefront of my mind and I cried out in pain, staring down at the devastation below.

"Who would do such a thing?!" I moaned. "What happened in the short time that we were gone?!"

Anthemin turned back around to land us on the top of the cliff that looked over the village and I fell to my knees at the edge, my fingers clutching at the ground.

"We have to do something!" My thoughts were instantly with Arthur and Alice but their house was swallowed up in a blaze of red and orange and I could only hope that they had escaped in time.

There is nothing to be done. Anthemin's voice was harsh. That is no ordinary flame; it burns too hot and too fast. It has to be-

A guttural roar echoed out through the night and our heads jerked up as we both searched for the source of the sound.

"What was that?" I whispered.

I don't-

The sound came again and Anthemin's head stretched forward to curl around me, his body lowering closer to the ground as his scales rattled. His lip pulled up to reveal his teeth and he growled lowly.

"What is it? What do you see?"

He didn't answer.

My eyes strained through the darkness but I could not see anything. "What do you see?!" I demanded.

I don't know, I'm not ... I'm not sure. His head rose up slightly. I think it's gone.

"Anthemin, what was it?" I could see that the young dragon was disturbed by whatever he thought he had seen.

It was a challenge. That roar, it was a challenge ... from a Dragon.

"A Dragon?" I recoiled. "Do you mean that Zalas is here? Or perhaps one of the others?"

No, the moon is full. We would have seen them easily. He shuddered, his scales rattling. This one, I had never felt a presence like it before. It was ... unnatural.

I clenched my fists with anger and frustration. "I don't understand, what does it mean?" I stood up suddenly with renewed determination. "You said it was gone right? Well then I have to go down there and help whoever is left. If there is any chance, I have to help."

I stepped off the edge of the cliff and flew down to the beach below and despite his protests felt Anthemin follow after me. My feet touched the sand and I threw a hand over my face in an attempt to shield myself from the heat of the jungle fire. Taking a few steps backwards into the water I once again summoned my power, moving my arms to push and pull the ocean, forcing it further and further up the beach towards the fire. Anthemin's head touched against my back as he leant me his energy and together we battled the flames, the waves growing bigger and bigger, parting around us as they swept back and forth in a rhythmic dance.

"Look, Anthemin its working!" I was breathing heavily as I concentrated on moving the colossal mass in the direction that I desired and we were so focused on the success of our task that we failed to notice the shadow swooping overhead until the very last second.

Vanima look out!

Anthemin suddenly shoved me to the side with his nose and I twisted slow motion through the air, watching in horror as his body was engulfed in golden flames. For a second I thought all was lost but then time sped up again and his wings flew out and up, casting off the fire as though it was nothing while his body spun around through the air and collided with another whose scales were as black as night.

My reflexes kicked in before I even touched the ground and my lips formed a snarl as I blasted the attacker with a powerful jet of air, successfully catching it unaware and sending it spiralling backwards and away from Anthemin.

I hit the ground running as fast as I could in the opposite direction. Feeling Anthemin close behind me, I launched myself up into the air and he caught me as he took off, his claws leaving deep furrows in the sand.

Gasping I looked behind us, noting distractedly that most of the fire had been extinguished although that now seemed to be the least of our worries. "That thing," I panted. "What was it?"

I don't know, but it is following us. Anthemin's wings strained as he pushed himself to fly faster and I stood up on his back, scouring the night sky with fear in my heart.

"It is? I don't see it."

Vanima get down!

I dropped down onto Anthemin's back just in time and gritted my teeth as I felt a gigantic body pass over top of us, missing me by mere centimetres. I was on my feet as soon as the pressure was gone, trying to spot it through the darkness.

"Anthemin what do we do?" I screamed desperately.

Out of nowhere, the golden flame came again and I yelled out with effort as I gathered a huge ball of air and sent it straight through the centre of the fire and exploding it out from within.

"Go down closer to the water!" I commanded and Anthemin changed course, dramatically diving down before pulling up at the very last second. "There!" The beast was revealed for a moment by the reflected moonlight as it swooped down to follow our movements.

Straining with the effort I pulled water up from the ocean and hardened it into ice before sending it flying backwards towards our attacker with a fling of my arm. Clenching my fists I twisted my arm upwards in a punching motion and huge sheets of ice rose up out of the water, blocking the creature's way forward.

"Leave, us, alone!" I roared out as we raced along the surface of the ocean, the calm water churning in our wake. Anthemin swerved upwards suddenly and I felt his worry in my mind.

We have company.

I was about to ask who but there was no need. A golden flame stretched out across the ocean to where we once were, but instead of hitting us, it hit a blue flame that had sprouted from the opposite direction. The massive white form was unmistakable and a deep frown formed on my brow. What was he doing here?

Did you bring him? I snarled at Anthemin. Did you lead him to me? My rage was overflowing and all thoughts concerning the mysterious Dragon were gone. He was here and I wanted his blood.

No Vanima, I didn't I swear-

My anger exploded and I would not hear any more excuses! I threw myself off Anthemin and used my own power to fly through the air towards Unabonan's unmistakable form. My scream of fury was ear splitting and the water around us was thrown into turmoil, massive waves rising up out of no-where, forcing Unabonan to fly higher up towards me.

"You!" I shrieked. "You dare to show your face to me?!" I stretched out my hand and locked Zalas in my sights. Wasting no time I caught him off guard, blasting him off Unabonan's back with a powerful shock of air. Unabonan roared and this time his blue fire was aimed at me, but I was too fast and the wave that rose in front of me extinguished the flame before stretching even higher and crashing down over top of the colossal dragon.

"Circe!"

I looked up and gritted my teeth. Zalas was hovering above and in front of me, his white hair whipping in the wind that had picked up.

"Stop this! We just saved your life!" He shouted, his hands clenched into fists.

I screamed with indignation. "From what exactly?!"

"From that thing, that thing that was chasing you!"

"Oh and I suppose you want me to thank you! Well I have news for you! We were doing just fine before you came!" I roared as I heaved a block of ice up out of the ocean and proceeded to slice sheets off it, sending them spinning through the air at Zalas with deadly precision. He dodged them all but the last one cut through his hair and I smiled grimly as I watched his expression change to rage.

He opened his mouth to say something but at that moment the golden flame appeared again and he realised at the last second, turning his body and extending his hands to cast the flame off to the side harmlessly. But he wasn't ready for the follow up. Huge clawed feet pushed through the flames and Zalas was so distracted that he had no time to get out of the way. The forced with which the creature hit him knocked him straight out of the air and into the side of one of the monstrous waves that swelled below.

It was the first time that I had seen the beast properly and there was no doubting now that it was a dragon. My mouth hung open as time seemed to come to a standstill and I watched its wings curl in and then extend out as it halted itself after its dive. It was huge. Bigger than I ever thought it could be, its size second only to Unabonan. Its head craned forward and its massive jaws opened in a bone chilling roar that seemed to vibrate through the air. A light lit up in the back of its throat and just as the fire was about to burst forth Unabonan rammed into its side.

The sound of the two colossal titan's armoured scales clashing was earth shattering and I instinctively brought my hands up to cover my ears. As they fought, their weight and size seemed as though it should be unable to be supported by the air. Their wings battered huge gusts of wind that stirred the seas more than I ever could and now I was frightened. I had to get away.

Princess!

Anthemin was under me before I had even realised he was there, taking my weight and carrying me swiftly away as massive billowing clouds of blue and golden flames sizzled through the air. Neither realised we were escaping and I fell to my knees on Anthemin's back, gasping for breath.

I couldn't see Zalas and I didn't care. What I cared about was that Dragon.

"That Dragon," I panted. "It's black." Memories flashed into my mind, Obsidian burning under a golden flame at the mercy of the black Dragon, Zarska. "She burned too though," I struggled with my feelings, with what my heart was telling me but my head refused to believe. "I don't, I don't understand."

Anthemin's voice was troubled. Neither do I Vanima, neither do I.

*