As I coughed up dust the beast landed next to me. I looked at its dark-scaled body trying to guess what it is thinking or what it will do. Then I heard a voice behind me “Master… I thought you went for a girl…”

The dragon responded calmly “I have but this one offered himself instead.”

I turned around and saw the last thing I was expecting, a human. She looked at me confused “But you don't do trades.”

The dragon didn't respond just started to walk in the second tunnel. The cave was split into two long tunnels one which was lit up and the other dark as night.

Still in confusion about what is happening, I was about to grab my sword when the dragon finally replied “Special case this one, don't be rough with him though. He has a pure heart already.”

The girl nodded while I slowly gathered myself off the ground. I looked to the dark tunnel but the tail has disappeared already.

The girl smiled saying “I'm Beatrice but call me Belle. I hope you will enjoy your stay.” She bowed her head in a peace offering motion. She was wearing some form of a kimono. I was never a fashion buff but I could recognise that at least. Did I really go this far?

I frowned “With a dragon? I doubt it.”

She smiled pitifully at me. Which I found offensive, why would she pity me already? I can still fight.

She shook her head and said, “Please follow me.”

She was walking towards the light and I followed her holding the hilt of my sword in my hand, just in case.

Then the dragon voice said through the echo of the cave “How was it while I was away?” Although, as each word rolled off the sides of the rocks it sounded... gentler. Almost, human-like, and…

“Everything in peace, master,” Belle responded and stopped in front of an opening to another tunnel where I believed the dragon was. In front of the opening was a wooden free-standing wall where some clothes sat on top of it.

“Good, it gives me a peace of mind then.” He replied and the clothes disappeared. After a minute it walked from behind. Something I didn't believe possible, the dragon took a shape of a human and a woman at that. No wonder the voice sounded so pleasant. I stared in awe at the half-demonic and half human creature. She was wearing similar clothing to Belle, however, her's was slightly more revealing where it hung off her shoulder. Her hair dark just like her dragon scales from the other form, with a tinge of blue. Her hair was tied in a half knot and the front strands tied in two ropes sitting on her slim shoulders. Her face soft and slim, such delicate features would make me forget what she was. While her eyes stayed this gem-like jade colour. She was beautiful, but there were two problems which didn't make me forget what I was dealing with, one was that her eyes were slits, and except those black strands the rest of the eyes was coloured in jade. The other, more obvious, were her horns on her head. Still magnificent but nothing human.

Then she lifted her hand to lead “Welcome to my sanctuary.”

She started to walk away and I almost forgot how to walk. I shook my head trying to get myself out of the shock. A dragon that looks human was nowhere near what I could imagine and if it wasn't for those two details which reminded me - strongly - of the fact she was a dragon I would say she is one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen.

Although not even her beauty could make me forget she tried to kill Natalie, or at least take her away. Nothing would atone for that.

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