My eyes burn, smoke fills my lungs, and everything feels hot. It feels like I am burning everywhere, not a place spared. I scream out in pain and wiggle only to realize I am bound tightly to a beam with rope.

I can’t break free…

I don’t know what’s happening.

I can’t use my magic either.

Why can’t I use my magic?!

There are so many voices murmuring in a crowd, too, some excited while others talk in hushed whispers.

I hear a snarky voice above the others, a voice belonging to the Dragon King, “Are you enjoying our wedding, Ice Princess?”

Is he burning me alive?

Is this what he had planned all along?

This is insane. I just want to go back home. I want to curl up against the cold stone floors of the tower and never leave.

I am scared of death. Death is something unknown; death is the end of life as we know it; there is nothing beyond death. Everything ends in one single moment.

I can only scream in response to what the Dragon King has asked, the pain too unbearable. Everything hurts.

“It appears like you’re enjoying it. I’m glad... I thought long and hard about how I wanted our wedding to go.” He laughs, other voices follow suit. The whispers soon die down.

“Please let me down! Please!” I beg in pain. “It hurts!! IT HURTS!! IT HURTS!” I finally scream, even my face is getting hot. My flesh feels as if it is melting. My voice is rough from the smoke.

“Now this is what I call a wedding!” he hollers evilly to his men, and before I know it, I somehow break free of the ropes because of my thrashing, and as I hit the ground, I am jolted awake.

I fling myself out of the bed, sweat dripping down my body. I can hear someone else in the room with me, not too far away.

I gasp, panicked, not used to anyone being near me as I sleep. I was never once caught off guard in the tower where everything had a routine. I am especially startled by my nightmare.

“Are you alright, My Lady?” a maid questions, her voice uncaring. The King, after all, assigned the maid to me last night. The very moment I met her, she led me to my room and left shortly after.

The maid appears very detached and cold, but that is to be expected. I don’t even get to learn her name, and neither is she interested in telling me. But that is to be expected as oil and water never mix. I am their mortal enemy. Then again, my people are nothing less. They will never accept a Dragon Queen had my father taken one. 

I breathe heavily and grab my chest. The room is unbearably hot, even my clothes feel like they are suffocating me. It must be the warmth of the room that has triggered my nightmare.

“I’m fine,” I reply even though I felt the complete opposite of fine. The frightening nightmare has knocked me out of my bed and landed me on the floor, my toes curling into the rug beside my bed.

“Good because we must prepare you for the day,” she says, walking toward me. She grabs my arm and pulls me forward.