I started counting the days being looked in this cell like a prisoner with no clue what I did wrong. Nor did I know if they...no, he found and harmed Kalinth and Alron. Thanks to the window in this cell, I was able to count each sunrise and and sunset. I found a piece of stone on the floor and used that to scrap marks on the wall. Six days. I've been in here for six days. Six miserable days and no word about my brothers or what Alyziran meant by asking if I knew what I am. God, I'm going insane. Everyday I get food and water. I get eggs and bread from breakfast. Ham and grapes from lunch and dinner. With each passing day, I began to refuse eating. Panic and worry filled my body. Each night when no guards are present, I try shaking the bars of the cell door to see if I can loosen it and break free. Each night I'm shivering from the cold with nothing to cover myself. I look at my clothes and it's in pieces of missing fabric. My new dress was barely recognizable as a dress. It looks like rags. Let's not even mention how much I stink. I watched as the sunlight slowly goes down and soon I'll be engulfed in darkness. They no longer brought torches for me. I guess I should attempt to get some sleep.

I awoke to my cell door opening but I was too tired to see who it was. They made no attempt to wake me or introduce themselves. They simply lifted me up and stripped me naked out of my rags. They put clothes on me then dragged me by my arms out of the cell and up the stairs. I was so out of energy and strength I could barely open my eyes. My eyes squinted as sunlight appeared. Was I outside? Slowly my senses came and I could hear people shouting and cheering. I was dropped onto the ground and something was tied on my wrists. Oh great, I was entertainment. I just laid there on the ground. What did they want with me? "Bring in the other prisoners." a voice shouted. No, it wasn't any voice, it was Alyziran. I could hear chains and footsteps. "Zalea?" my brother's voice said. My eyes snapped open. I looked as guards were chaining Kalinth and Alron to the ground. I tried to stand up but couldn't. I looked at my hands and saw I've also been chained to the ground. No no no. They were going to be executed in front of me. "What crime did we commit?!" I shouted through the crowd looking at Alyziran. He was sitting with the four riders from the festival.

All Alyziran did was lean forward in his seat with his chin resting on hands. My heart was pounding in my chest. What to do? What do I do? I was looking around, completely ignoring the crowd cheering. There was no escape. We were going to die and it was all my fault. I never should have touched that stupid crystal! I looked at Kalinth and Alron with tears running down my face. "I'm so sorry" I whispered. "Release the fire dragon" Alyziran spoke. Oh god...we were going to be burned alive. "Open the gate" a guard shouted. I watched as two guards were cranking a lever. From the darkness I saw glowing red eyes. A big red dragon stepped out of the darkness. I couldn't focus much on the dragon as my eyes drifted to my loved ones. They didn't look afraid. They have accepted their fate. The ground shook a bit as the dragon walked towards them. It did not acknowledge me. I stared at the footprint it left right in front of me. I focused on that. I couldn't bare to see them burning alive. Slowly I drowned out all the voices.

Fool. Use your power. Unleash it.

The voice again. I couldn't explain it but it was like my strength came back. I looked up in the direction of my brothers and the dragon. The dragon had its wings out to display itself as bigger. A defense for enemies to think twice before attacking. I watched as the dragon took in a deep inhaling breath. It was getting ready to unleash the fire. No. This was not going to happen.

"Stop it" a whisper from my lips. "Please".

No one heard my plead. I was running out of time. "I said STOP IT!" I shouted. I felt the same wave of energy inside me just like from the choosing. The ground shook violently, an earthquake. Everyone was silent as they watched. I stood up and looked at Alyziran and the four riders who were all standing and watching me. "I. Said. Stop. It." I threaten through my clenched teeth. The clouds grew dark and thunder echoed through the sky. I distant roar was heard that caused the five of them to look at the sky. As if they waited for a dragon to come crashing down to kill them. Alyziran raised his left hand up and the rider dressed in red armor whistled. The dragon stopped and turned around. The rider pointed to the door the dragon came from and it obeyed.

"It seems we have our answer" was all Alyziran said and signaled to the guards.