The den was hot and although the growl did not come from her, it seemed to vibrate through her veins, extend to the tip of her fingers, to her toenails, and the ends of the strands of her curly hair.
It was so consuming.
She looked around and found nothing but darkness. Despite the heat, she could feel a chilling breeze settle over her as goosebumps laced her skin.
It was unnatural.
This was unnatural.
Something was glimmering red a distance away, and her eyes followed the trail of the light.
The closer she got, the more she sensed that it was like a small red gem.
She walked further towards it, to discover that the gem was hanging in the space of darkness.
That had looked like Eli's ring.
But it seemed to be alone and in space, instead of around Eli's finger where it used to be.
The next thing she saw made her heart drop.
Dragon's eyes.
Pamela.
She stumbled backward only to find out that the dragon wasn't looking at her.
It hadn't even noticed her. It turned around and sent a blast of flames to the ring that was hovering in the air.
Only then did she realize with the aid of the light that the gem was in fact where it usually was, and Eli was stretching his hand forward, while he stayed on his knees.
The flames clashed against him, consuming him whole.
She could see the golden metal drip to the ground, his mask dissolving in the harsh flames.
Her scream came out choked but the fear that she felt when the dragon looked right at her felt more real than anything.
Even when she had opened her eyes from that dreadful nightmare, she could still see the beast staring at her.
From the minute she had opened her eyes, the fear stuck with her.
Her room brought her no comfort, and she had done her routine quicker than ever. In no time, she was down in the hall.
It was the third day already and what today would turn out to be would be the one to decide their fate.
This time around when Anok wanted to go to the den to check for the sign, she had followed him.
"It is just a dream." Lady Kestra had assured her when she had told her all about the nightmare. She had been terrified at first, dropping everything she was doing, before excusing herself and walking right out of the hall.
Anok had no belief in dreams and he had watched their reaction with an unfazed face, as she had also told him all about it.
When Lady Kestra had come back into the hall though, she wore a lips-splitting smile and her silver eyes had glimmered with so much hope that it instantly almost put Belladonna at complete ease.
Almost.
"I checked, and he is fine. You should get back to work, Pretty thing. The King will be very impressed when gets back and sees how much you have tried to help. To be a good Queen, one must also be a good servant and you are doing so well at the latter." She chuckled, pushing a bowl of bloody water to her. "Please, dispose of this."
Belladonna had gone to do that without even looking back into the bowl or thinking too much about what Lady Kestra had said.
She had other things to worry about than wonder if there had been any implied meaning in that statement that she should be angry about or if Lady Kestra hadn't meant it that way.
She tried to work hard to stop thinking about her dream and at a point she did.
She was back to helping in the hall.
Although it had only been three days, a lot of people have started knowing her on a personal basis, and although it had only been there days, she has started knowing some people too.
Like the beautiful Red haired lady.
She was a seamstress and she worked for her.
Surprisingly, she had been the one to bring the original idea of her extending her business, and the receptionist had acted like she was the one.
She should have credited her.
Belladonna would like to believe that it had slipped her mind, and when all this was over, she would reprimand the receptionist about this, apologies would be given and accepted and all this would be resolved smoothly.
"How are you feeling, Nadia?" She said with a smile as she approached the bed the red-haired lady was laying on.
She was most likely two years younger.
She had this innocence to her and with her brown eyes, she was mostly meek in her actions.
She reminded her of her sister, although Belladonna hoped that Nadia would be nothing like that.
"My Lady---" she tried to sit up but Belladonna made her stay in place, shaking her head to discourage the idea.
Nadia blushed, staying back in bed. Her fair skin not helping her hide her feeling as it reddened at the slightest apart of embarrassment.
"How are you feeling?"
"Better." She smiled. "So much better."
Unlike her gentle frame, Nadia's voice was a little hard.
"Thank you so much, My Lady."
"Has anyone come to see you yet?"
She shook her head.
"My grandmother doesn't live in the castle. I hope she doesn't even find out that I am hurt. Her heart can---" her voice trailed off as she looked at the person who had just joined them, her face becoming even redder.
Belladonna jumped up.
She never knew it was possible for someone to go so red like this.
Was she dying?!
"Nadi---"
"My Lady."
"Anok. What is it?"
There was a deep frown on his face and his green eyes did not promise good news.
"Nadia." She turned back to Nadia who, for some reason, now had her back turned to them.
"Uhn." She answered, her body still on the bed like if she moved ever so slightly, something really terrible would happen.
"I need to go. I will come and see you later."
"Uh-uh." She nodded vehemently and before Belladonna could say anything to that, Anok was pulling her out into the hallway by her wrist.
He shut the door behind her and pulled out that thing that she had been dreading to see.
Her breathing ceased and everything that held her heart in place wreaked at the sight.
She was nothing but flesh and bones standing in front of him with a force she couldn't even understand, a strength she was sure had left her immediately after she laid her sight on the object in his hand.
Tears burnt at her eyes and her breath was so hot she could feel it on her upper lip.
She blinked, hoping that she was just still in that dream she had this morning. That she hadn't woken up yet.
But it was a lie.
She was awake and there was their sign.
Eli"s mask.
One part melted away by dragon flames.
The other was marked with blood, and glittering red scale in the mix of the mess.
"I will sound the alarm. We must go underground."