(Elira's POV)
The moment my brain screamed RUN, I didn't argue. I bolted. Straight into the forest like some horror movie victim who definitely should've chosen a better life decision five minutes ago. Branches slapped against my arms, leaves crunched under my boots, and the cold night air burned in my lungs as I pushed myself deeper and deeper between the trees.
Tree after tree blurred past me, shadows stretching like claws trying to grab me. My heartbeat thundered in my ears so loudly it almost drowned out everything else—almost. Because behind me…
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Heavy. Slow. Unhurried. Like whatever was chasing me already knew I couldn't escape.
"Yeah, no, that's not terrifying at all," I muttered breathlessly, nearly tripping over a root. "Not creepy. Not ominous. Totally normal night—run away from abusive house, celebrate freedom, almost get kidnapped by a dragon. Love that for me."
My legs burned, but I didn't stop. Didn't dare stop. Somehow, I was running faster than I ever had in my life. It didn't even feel human anymore. It felt like something inside me had snapped loose—like survival had kicked logic out of the window and said, we deal with consequences later.
"Faster," I whispered to myself, teeth clenched. "Come on, Elira, don't die on your first day of freedom. That would be so embarrassing."
Another step—
And suddenly—
The ground was gone.
For one horrifying second, I thought I had tripped. For another, I thought I was dying. Because I wasn't running anymore. I was flying.
My body lifted off the ground so abruptly my stomach dropped to my feet. Wind rushed past me, cold and violent, tearing a startled scream right out of my throat.
"What the—?!" I snapped my head up.
And there it was. A massive green snout. Sharp teeth. Golden eye glancing at me like I was an inconvenient package. The dragon had grabbed me by the back of my hoodie like I weighed nothing and was now casually flying through the sky like this was a completely normal Tuesday activity.
"…Oh hell no." I immediately grabbed onto its mouth, fingers slipping slightly against warm, rough scales as I struggled. "Put me down! Put me down right now, you oversized flying lizard!" I shouted, my voice half anger, half panic. "Do you have any idea how illegal this feels?!"
A drop of warm saliva slid down near my wrist. I froze. Then slowly looked at it.
"…Did you just drool on me?" I whispered in disgust. "Oh my God, that is so unhygienic. Do dragons not believe in basic hygiene or—"
"It wouldn't have happened if you didn't run," the woman's voice cut through the chaos, calm and annoyingly unbothered.
I twisted slightly to look. And there she was. Still sitting on the dragon's back like she was out for a casual evening ride instead of participating in my kidnapping.
"Excuse me?" I snapped, glaring at her. "You show up out of nowhere on a mythical creature, stare into my soul like you're auditioning for a fantasy movie, and I'm the problem because I ran? That's your logic?"
She didn't even blink. Didn't even flinch.
"If you hadn't run," she said smoothly, "we wouldn't have to do this the hard way."
"Oh, I'm sorry," I shot back, my grip tightening on the dragon's snout. "Next time a giant fire-breathing creature and a suspiciously gorgeous woman appear in front of me, I'll just stand there and offer tea, yeah?"
We were getting higher. Way higher. Clouds brushed past us like ghosts, and when I made the mistake of looking down—
My soul left my body.
"NOPE," I said immediately, snapping my eyes shut. "Absolutely not. I take back everything. I will cooperate. I am a very cooperative person. Just—PUT ME DOWN BEFORE I DIE."
"Alright," she said after a pause, like she was considering a business deal. "One condition."
I cracked one eye open. "…This feels like a scam, but go on."
"You stop struggling," she said, her tone firm now, "and you listen. No running. No screaming. No unnecessary drama."
I stared at her. Then at the sky. Then at the ground that was very, very far away.
"Done," I said instantly. "Agreed. Signed. Approved. Whatever you want. I'm not dying today."
And right at that exact moment—
My guitar slipped from my hand.
Time slowed. I watched it fall. Spinning. Falling. Dropping into darkness.
"…No," I whispered.
Then—
CRACK.
The sound echoed faintly from below. Something inside my chest tightened. For a second, I just stared down, even though I couldn't see it anymore.
"…Great," I muttered softly. "There goes my emotional support instrument."
But I swallowed it down. Not now. Not here. I clenched my jaw.
"Okay. I agreed. Now land this thing before I change my mind and jump myself."
The dragon shifted direction. Descending. Fast. The wind howled louder as the ground rushed closer, and I braced myself.
Then—
We were just a few inches above the ground when—
The dragon let go.
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME—?!" I dropped. But instinct kicked in. My body twisted mid-air, knees bending as I hit the ground and rolled slightly before landing on my feet. I straightened quickly, brushing dirt off my clothes.
"Okay," I muttered, breathing hard. "Still alive. Still in one piece. Miracles do exist."
Behind me, I heard a soft landing. I turned.
And for a moment…
Everything else faded.
Because now, standing in front of me—clearly, fully, undeniably—
Was her.
Her golden hair shimmered like liquid sunlight under the crimson glow, falling in soft waves around her shoulders. Her emerald eyes locked onto mine instantly, sharp and knowing, like she already had me figured out. She looked unreal. Too perfect. Too… powerful. Dressed entirely in black, her leather jacket catching streaks of red light, boots grounded firmly like she owned the earth beneath her feet.
And that smirk. That damn smirk.
"I know I'm beautiful," she said casually, tilting her head slightly, "but you don't have to stare like you're writing poetry in your head."
My brain short-circuited. I immediately looked away.
"Okay," I muttered under my breath, heat creeping up my neck. "Elira, control yourself. You escaped slavery, not your dignity. Stop staring like a damn creep."
When I risked a glance back—
She was still smirking. Of course she was.
"Now that you're done being adorably embarrassed," she said, crossing her arms, "shall we actually talk?"
I cleared my throat, forcing myself to stand straighter.
"Yes," I said, narrowing my eyes. "Let's. Starting with—who the hell are you, why do you have a dragon, and why does tonight feel like I accidentally walked into another dimension?"
She blinked. Then lightly smacked her forehead.
"Oh, how rude of me," she said, though her tone suggested she wasn't actually sorry at all. "I completely forgot introductions. That's usually considered important."
"Yeah," I deadpanned. "Basic social skills. Highly recommended."
She stepped forward slightly.
"My name is Maria Nevermore," she said smoothly. "And this magnificent creature beside me is Cain."
She gestured toward the dragon like she was introducing a pet. I stared at it. Then back at her.
"…You named it Cain?" I asked slowly. "Like the biblical Cain? The first murderer? That's… comforting."
Her smile widened just a little.
"And you are?" she asked.
I hesitated for a second. Then extended my hand.
"Elira," I said. "Just Elira."
She took my hand. Her grip was firm. Confident. "Nice to meet you, Elira Crimson," she said, bowing her head slightly.
And the dragon—
The dragon did the same.
I froze. My brows furrowed. "…Wait," I said slowly, pulling my hand back. "Crimson? That's not— I don't have a surname."
"Nice to meet you," a deep, majestic voice echoed.
My entire body stiffened.
Because the voice… Was not human.
I turned. The dragon's head was still lowered, eyes closed in what looked disturbingly like respect.
"Last heir of Crimson."
For a second—
Everything inside my head just… Stopped. Short-circuited. Glitched.
"What?" I said blankly.
Then louder—
"Wait—what?! Crimson? Heir? What the actual fuck are you talking about?!"