August 4, Monday

All my life a certain darkness had stuck to my soul. It shaped me and made me. It controlled me. It devoured me day by miserable day. Every living creature despised me. They’ve tried destroying me, and as centuries passed by, I grew tired of this anguish.

But it was their fear that fed me. It was their fear that made me feel powerful, invincible even. Fear made me stronger and helped me survive this deadyl game of chess. Every step of this dance with death was controlled by darkness and the hunger, the desire, for fear.

It made me who I am.
Ryu.
The one of the shadows.

It was a lonely role. Never had I had a friend (or at least someone who I considered a friend). I had no siblings. No parents. No love. Truth be told, I did have parents. My earliest memory was of when my mother was in her human form. I remember her sweet laughter. She was beautiful and graceful. She moved like the wind, without care. She had cried for me, she had laughed for me, she had smiled for me, and she had died for me.

My father was a force not to be dealt with. Should anyone, even my mother, try to disobey him, he would not hesitate to bring upon us punishment. It was the sound of him growling that drove me insane each day. It was a memory, but it never faded. Just as the scene of him destroying my life by destroying my mother never faded. It was on that day, the day my mother left to who knows where dragons go to when they die, that I heard the horrid screams of a woman in deep despair, clutching her baby, trying to save him. ..

I was never one to cry. I was taught that tears were signs of weakness, but everytime I think of that day, the bloody tears of a dragon would escape from my usually cold eyes. Never would I kill a mother, I promised myself. Never would I make a create a monster out of a child by ripping apart the one person who would truly forever love him. It was a promise that I had never broken. And I never plan to.

Killing men was easier for me, though, I too am a man. I know if I did have a child, I would never hurt it. But those humans… Those ruthless humans… They never cared for others. Never will. Even their own children were victims of their cruelty. And that cruelty would affect the child. Soon, the child would become just a cruel, sometimes even more.

Humans are the downfall of this world.

I knew that from experience. I was here since the days of Darkness. It was a tragic period of time, nothing existed. Except, in a strangely confusing way, that Darkness, that nothingness, held everything. I remeber the bright flash of light that engulfed the Darkness. I remember the way it felt to be caressed by this light. It was comforting and full of kind hope.

Earth was created.
And then humans were created.
Dragons used to live by the thousands.
And then the humans came.
We used to rule everything.
And then the humans revolted.

Blood was spilled. Human weapons became much more advanced. Old tales were lost. Jormungand and many other creatures awaited the day dragons would rise again.  My nostrils flared. The green scales that covered my body became dry. I started pacing.

I could not wait any longer! He was supposed to be here hours ago! I opened my mouth, toxic chlorine gas came out and surrounded the cave. And then he came. His black scales gleamed. I bowed my head and stepped aside to allow him passage into my home. He laughed.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21205325@N05/2061511215

“So this is where you live! A little dry, don’t you think?”
I looked down and wondered if that was a joke or if he meant it. “Master, if you wish for my cave to resemble yours, I will not hesitate to make it be.” His black eyes stared at me. His face was blank. It scared me.
Suddenly, his expression changed. He smiled cruelly, his eyes sinister.

“No need for that, old friend. It is your home.” I nodded and hoped it would not take too long for him to leave. I hated when he came. His gaze turned icy and cold. “I’d much rather have you call me by my name instead of ‘master’.” I nodded once again and said in a whisper, “Of course, Lucius.”