Hidden Flame 57

**Avery**
The moment we pulled into the town limits of Blackbriar, I suddenly realized that everything I read was true. The history
of this place is a dark one. Pre-1600 it was originally sacred ground for rituals performed by Native Americans. In the late
1600s, European settlers arrived and there were witch trials where many witches and innocent souls burned. In the 1700s,
a mysterious epidemic breaks out, and the town is essentially now dead. Many think that the witches got their revenge. In
the 1810s, War of 1812 begins; Blackbriar becomes a penal colony, has a prison and a hospital where many soldiers were
tortured. Their bodies are buried in unmarked graves. In the 1830s, the Native American forced removal policy in North
America started and many died unnecessarily. In the1850s, a gem mine was found and the town revitalized. In the 1860s,
it housed a prison camp for Civil War POWs was built and then later used as a normal prison. In the 1890s: Native
Americans ended organized resistance; people all over disappeared. In the early 1900’s: Blackbriar became a tourist town
for those interested in the occult, the prison closes; however, covens formed and two practiced Draconian Wicca. In 1939,
there were “strange events” and bizarre sightings that happened at Black Lake. In 1963, the mayor died suddenly,
followed by the rest of his staff and that led to the banishment of certain types of magic and one was Draconian Wicca.
In 1976, a woman named Dahlia Gill enacted her ritual to summon Tiamat using human and dragon sacrifices. Dragons
from Naga and another tribe eradicated her coven.
Basically, Blackbriar holds some dark magic due to pissed-off spirits from Native American rituals combined with the
rituals performed by the coven trying to rebirth a god and create a paradise by destroying humanity and, in the cult’s
eyes, their pain and suffering as well. They hoped by absorbing Tiamat’s chaotic powers that they would become a god
and decide the fate of humans and dragons. Thankfully humans and dragons stopped them, but it appears that they are
at it again. And again they will fail because me and my mates will see to it!
“I really don’t like this place.”
“We don’t either and that’s why it was never absorbed into our territory,” Cassius says.
I feel so much despair and desperation. These people deserve a better existence than this. Did depression and the
yearning for a better life drive Draven to steal a dragon? Even so, what he did was wrong and he and those who aided
him need to be punished.
**Draven**
I thought once I got the dragon into my body that it would be easier to control. I can’t get him to do much besides fly
and eat. He won’t leave the town limits either. I assumed that once I got my dragon that I could leave this godforsaken
place and find my mate. Why Tiamat? Why do you keep letting my family down? All we have ever done is try to serve you
and rid this world of the undeserving.
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I have barely slept since the ritual worked because I needed to learn to control my dragon. But I can’t get the dragon to
reveal its name and I know it won’t lead me to its treasure either because it won’t leave here. I needed to recharge and to
do that I needed to venture to the town limits nearest The Naga Tribe. That is where I met my assistants. I gave them
tarragon and told them exactly what to do with it. They were supposed to end as many dragons as they could by forcing
their dragons to return to Tiamat’s plane, but that was before my ritual. I know that they didn’t do as they were told or
else there would have been many dragons for me to choose from. I should have known better than to trust a girl to do a man’s job.
As I am approaching the barrier, I see a car coming from The Naga side. They never come here, especially driving a sports
car. I moved further into the woods. From a distance I watched the car come to a stop. Men younger than me got out
and went to the passenger’s side door and opened. The slightly taller one extended his hand. I watched a dark-haired
beauty who oozed fire and ice emerge. Her body was curvaceous but it was her hair that first struck me. It was brown but
streaked with reds and blondes. In the afternoon fading light glows like a campfire. I find myself walking towards her and
not of my own volition.
However, the moment her gaze met mine I froze. Swirling violet eyes mixed with a myriad of other hues, stared at me. Her voice stern and commanding shook my bones as she said, “Draven, you will pay for what you have done!” Who is
she and how does she know my name? Who are the men with her? Why are they all here? Was one of them there when I
stole that black dragon? Do they know it?
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**Avery**
We had only just gotten into Blackbriar when Regina sensed him. The thief, Draven, was nearby. I asked her if she sensed
any others and she told me no. She said that she only sensed sadness, uneasiness, and disappointment. I had Cassius
stop driving because I had a brief vision of Draven walking along the road. However, once I looked I didn’t see him. Did we just miss him? Or is he hiding nearby?
After I told The Trio that I wanted to look around before we drove further into town, they reluctantly agreed, but they did
insist on getting out first. The moment Cassius gave me his hand, I sensed Draven. He’s in the woods. He was in there
deep too, but my gaze found him and he froze. I roared, “Draven, you will pay for what you have done!” I felt my mates’
eyes roam over me and their desire crescendo. I raise an eyebro
Cassius says, “Your dominant side is quite arousing to us and our dragons alike.”