Anastasia slowly opened her eyes, she found herself floating. She examines her surrounding, the sky was filled with stars. The sky wasn't blue but black and pink.
"Where am I?" Anastasia asked. A power gently pulled her to the ground. Anastasia's feets steps lightly on water, she could see her reflection.
"Welcome" An ancient voice echoed throughout the vast space. "Who are you?" Anastasia asked. "I should be asking you that question. Do you know who you are?" The voice asked.
The little dragon came out of the shadows. "What do you mean?" Anastasia asked in confusion. "You clearly don't remember your past life" "Past life?"
The dragon moved close to Anastasia and rested it's head on hers. Memories came flooding into Anastasia's head.
"I remember now. My name is Valerie Kay, I'm twenty six, I'm from New York. I lived with my father, stepmom and stepsister. They never like me.... They made me suffer countless times. I remember they beat me up so badly that I fainted, they thought I was dead.... I woke up but I found myself tied up and thrown into the water. I recall waking up as Anastasia when she was eight and then my suffering continued" Anastasia said.
"Is that all you remember?" The dragon asked. "I remember reading a novel in my father's library the night I was killed. The emperor's golden moon. It's about an emperor who hosts a competition for girls just to find his wife. Lot of girls died" Anastasia said.
"Including Anastasia" The dragon said. "I see... So no matter how I try to survive I'll still end up dead" Anastasia calmly said. "Well you were meant to die long ago but you've survived nevertheless. That doesn't mean you're safe.... You will surely die. If you aren't careful the emperor will kill you, if he finds out you lied to him he'll kill you too. If his enemies capture you, they'll kill you"
"How do I survive in this tacky novel?" Anastasia asked. "You have to try your best... I will help the little way I can but the rest is up to you" The dragon said.
Anastasia exhaled sharply. "I suffered in my past life and now I'm suffering now" Anastasia said. "Although I see a nice future for you but it depends on how you handle the present" The dragon said.
"Ironic... I have one question tho what are these marks on me?" Anastasia asked. "You have been marked by someone. You are now bound together" The dragon said as he sniffed the air.
"His powers flows inside you. This could cause you harm, enemies would try to kill you. He wouldn't let them harm you" The dragon said.
"Who is this person?" Anastasia asked. "I'm afraid I can't tell you that. From the smell of things this markings were a secret. All you have to know is that he would protect you with his last breath" The dragon said.
"That doesn't make me any safer" Anastasia said. "That doesn't matter. You carry my mother's energy.... Why have you been avoiding me?" The dragon asked.
"I didn't have a choice. I have caused a lot of damage to the people I hold dear. I wasn't able to save your mother, I murdered eight people. I couldn't take care of you.... I can't take care of you" Anastasia said.
"My mother chose you for a reason... And you are yet to give me a name" The dragon said. Anastasia ran her fingers across her hair. "I'm not good at naming... I named my rabbit snowflake" Anastasia laughs awkwardly.
Anastasia hesitates a little bit but she took a deep breath and relaxed. "Valerie" Anastasia said. "Valerie?" The dragon asked. "Yes, I was weak in my past life but I won't be weak now" Anastasia said.
"Valerie... I like it" Valerie said. "I'm not your real mother but I will take care of you like my own" Anastasia said.
"I need to take you back, I don't want you to exhaust yourself" Valerie said. "Alright" Anastasia said.
***Back in the castle***
"Where could she be?" Rose asked. "We could figure that out later but now the court request an audience with the emperor" Luke said.
Azriel went to the room where he met everyone seated waiting for his arrival. "What is this about" Azriel asked. Azriel now looks like a caged predator, his eyes now has this calculating and dangerous look.
Everyone in the room knows the emperor is a heartless and cold man, who kills babies for crying too loudly. Kills women and men without an explanation.
"The court has heard rumors concerning you having a wife already" Vivian said cautiously. Azriel's cold gaze moved across the room.
"With what proof" Azriel said it not in a question. "Your Majesty if I may..... A demon attacked the young ladies while they were in the middle of class. He said your wife was present among them" Elias one of the council members said.
Azriel gave a silent signal to a knight. Immediately Elias' head was cut off. "Who else would like to voice their concerns?" Azriel asked coldly but there was no answer.
"I thought so. I don't need anyone giving me suggestions, I am not your friend but your emperor. I don't want to return back to this topic again or you'll end up like him" Azriel said pointing at the headless body Infront of him.
No one made a single sound. "This meeting is over... I don't wish to attend such nonsense next time or else I'll have all your heads chopped off and send it to your family in a box" Azriel said.
There was a chill in the air, everyone present knew that wasn't an empty threat and the emperor is willing to do that in a heartbeat.
Azriel stood up and left. Rose followed him from behind maintaining a safe distance. Azriel went to his private study.
He punched a wall so hard that his fist left an imprint. "Azriel relax" Charles said from behind.
"How the fuck am I supposed to be calm? It feels like a part of me is dead.... Half my soul is missing. I don't know where she is, I don't know why it feels like this. I have never felt like this and it feels like I am losing my mind" Azriel said.
"We are going to find her" Rose said. "How? I can't keep my emotions in check. I don't even know why I feel this way" Azriel said. "Your soul knows it's part isn't close by. This shows how tight your bound is" Luke said.
"You still dare to speak... This is all your doing. Ask the ladies to stand Infront to the window just so the egg could hatch, now Guinevere is gone" Azriel said.
"I never knew she was the one with the dragons energy. You never told me she had a close encounter with the dragon" Luke said.
"This isn't the best time for this argument. We have a more urgent matters to attend too" Rose said. "I don't think I can control my anger till she's found" Azriel said.
"We would help you, I understand you don't have the method to handle this... I suggest you go to a place far from here" Charles said.