Darkness or Light,

　　The Rubicon will fight.

　　He will succeed,

　　But a rider he needs.

　　Rider be brave and fierce,

　　strongest bond in all these years,

　　of Royal blood they be born;

　　Fate of Paegeia is forewarned.

　　I heard the words whispered above me and then a small ray of golden light seeped through.

　　That moment had happened sixteen years ago. Why I’d thought about it today, I still didn’t know. Those few words or prophecy were what had been spoken when my egg hatched.But they had been a lie. Why the words were still black in the Book of Shadows, none of usknew, but they had given me hope, hope that maybe, just maybe, my true rider existed somewhere. Those words were all I had to hold on to now. They were what my mother held on to. And Irene.

　　I remembered her words, ringing inside my skull as if they were spoken yesterday. I remembered them just like I could remember the temperature of my egg as my mother lay on it. Why she didn’t just trample on it and end all of this, I will never know. She knew what I was: a Rubicon. Only one was born every era. Two of us would annihilate this world, because we craved dominance. I’d been born almost a thousand years after Quitto, the last Rubicon, finally died.

　　We were just so different from the other dragon races, all ten dragons combined, or so they’d told me.

　　I had ten abilities, but I only knew of five. Or better said, only five had shown themselves to me. It was with these five abilities that I would fight the person who used to be my best friend later today. I had known him since I’d shed my first scales and he was in diapers. But the innocence of childhood never lasts.

　　It had all changed three summers ago, when the darkness started speaking to me. It didn’t use words like humans did. It had no language. It was a darkness that stirred and boiled inside my core. It had wants foreign to me. It awoke a monstrous beast that wanted to kill. Thoughts, dark thoughts, erupted in my mind incessantly. It would drive me insane until I did its deeds. Then the beast would go quiet and I could breathe again,fight again, but those dark deeds would haunt my soul.

　　No one could pull me from this. The beast that had awoken three summers ago was now too strong. Too strong for anyone but one person. A dark sorcerer trapped behind deadly snatchers. He was the only one who would be able to control me, to make me do things that would make every living soul fear him, and I would rejoice doing that. I would know that as every second ticked by, the beast would be growing stronger.

　　Lucian told me to fight it. That I was stronger than this. That I was good. But that was along time ago.

　　As I sat consumed in my own thoughts, a note landed on my table. I looked up and saw the Snow Dragon, Tabitha, a few tables away sitting next to the Green-Vapor and giving me her dashing smile. What does she want from me now?I’d thought my actions from a few weeks back would have made her back off, but some girls were pathetic. It was a known fact that Snow Dragons fell into that department. Still, her beauty somehow turned her cowardly streak into something I couldn’t put my finger on. I wasn’t in love with her;it wasn’t even lust. I was no longer capable of anything like that. Maybe I never was.

　　I opened the note.

　　Her handwriting was practically illegible, but I managed.

　　“Tell you what, meet me in the Colosseum’s changing room before your claim, and you can show me how sorry you are.”

　　How sorry I am?I wasn’t sorry about anything. My lips curled. Some girls would do anything not to be ignored.

　　Fine, whatever. It would fulfill one of the beast’s carnal needs and maybe, just maybe,Lucian wouldn’t die today.

　　Not many knew that the Prince of Tith and the Rubicon used to be best friends, except formy younger sister, Samantha Leaf, a Fire Tail and the biggest pain in the ass a brother could be cursed with. She would attend the Academy in two years and I was dreading it. She was also a Metallic—one of the good dragons who didn’t have to suffer beatings on a monthly basis to stay good. Those stung like hell, and I felt sorry for my father, as there would come a time when even he wouldn’t be able to tame my beast.

　　It was one of the things I feared, killing my loved ones. I knew when the time came I wouldn’t care anymore, as even this part of me would be completely dark too. But I feared for him now. Just like I feared for this afternoon when I was going to face my first claim with the Prince of Tith.

　　I’d had many claims, ever since I’d turned sixteen. Others had tried to claim me, but they’d failed. One almost died.

　　The Prince of Tith, well, he’d just come of age and was keeping the promise he’d made three years ago.

　　The memory of that day was an ever-present flicker in the back of my mind.

　　It was right after a beating. We were both sitting on the stone wall back at the castle in Tith. It overlooked parts of Tith, and you could see the Creepers writhing in the distance.

　　The beating was horrible. I remembered the fatigue that came with it, my two weeks of silence. The beast inside me was raving mad, but I was in control. In pain, yes, but in control.

　　It was twilight. I gazed at a stellar sunset, colors of red, pink, and orange melting over a glow of purple. It was peaceful.

　　My back stung.

　　“If I were a dragon, I would give you my oath,” Lucian said.

　　“Oath for what, to stop my father whenever I needed a beating?”

　　“No, to find a way to claim you.”

　　I stared at him. Was he deranged?

　　He was grave. “I guess my promise will do.”

　　“Lucian, you don’t know what you’re saying. Nobody can take part in a claim before their sixteenth birthday.”

　　“Then I’ll wait.”

　　“You have no idea what I will be like three years from now.”

　　“Doesn’t matter. I know who you are now, and that is enough. I’m not going to lose youto darkness, Blake.”

　　He dangled his arm around me. “You’re like my brother. Brothers don’t give up on one another.”

　　That was then. We’d been tight like brothers. But that was before the light came. His light.

　　I’d had no choice but to push him away. That pure goodness inside him clashed with my darkness, a darkness that was slightly stronger than his light. It made me sick.

　　The best way to explain it was when someone eats too much salty and sweet at the same time. It was like that. A nauseating feeling that I couldn’t handle.

　　I had no choice but to stay as far as I could from him. Today I was going to face that inside the Colosseum. It was going to rile up the beast while I had to deal with the nauseated feeling and try my best to not let the beast rip his head off.

　　He had no idea what he was putting me through, and for what? A promise he’d made me that summer when that first glimpse of darkness had showed itself.

　　He was going to die in that ring. I just hoped it wasn’t going to be this afternoon.

　　The crowds were already cheering in the Colosseum, as I was busy feeding the beast. The Snow Dragon kept to her word. I found her wearing only her robe in my changing area whereI would exit into the ring.

　　It happened so fast. I wanted to fill a need, one of the beast’s needs. I kissed her fiercely. Her back connected hard with the wall as her legs curled around my waist.

　　Her body was sculpted to perfection. Her white skin brought to mind an ice queen. She reminded me of winter; she calmed my yearning, and her cold touch calmed my own stirringflame deep inside.

　　Her complaints filled my ears. It pleased the beast. When she begged for more, I gave her what she wanted.

　　Lust and satisfaction numbed both the beast and myself. When we reached climax, my braintemporarily exploded into fireworks, blinding the darkness.

　　Her laughter filled my ears, tired laughter. I could hear my name being called outside.

　　“Ru-bi-con, Ru-bi-con, Ru-bi-con.” I didn’t know how long it had been carrying on. It was time to go.

　　“Give him hell. Make him regret that he ever decided to try and claim you.” She touched my lips. The beast was calm. He was at peace. “You are untamable,” she said softly.

　　My lips curved. I kissed her on the lips and left.

　　The crowd was going insane. The Dragonians and the dragons. And of course the press.

　　My eyes snagged on King Helmut. There was a warning in them.

　　Don’t hurt my son. No, don’t kill my son.

　　Your son shouldn’t have done this.

　　Our gaze broke and I turned slowly around to see how packed the Colosseum was. Everyone was here because it was me and the Prince of Tith.

　　I wasn’t a show pony like some of the other dragons. I didn’t rile up the crowds or put on a show for them. I was the Rubicon. A mere lift of my arms made them go wild.

　　The song played.

　　It was something stupid Dragonians did. And the one Lucian had chosen only amped me up more. Whether it was too much base or the effect the electric guitar had on me. It rippled through my bones, clawed on my scales.

　　The Dragonians hummed with the tune. The ground vibrated under my feet as they stomped in unison.

　　My gaze found Lucian’s.

　　He looked determined, with a rope wrapped around his arms and a shield in his hands. His eyes were narrow. Wearing his safety vest with combat boots reaching his calves, he looked more like a soldier who belonged in a futuristic story than a modern-day knight trying to tame a dragon. Especially a dragon who didn’t belong to him.

　　Why the hell are you doing this, you fool? You haven’t even ascended yet!

　　His light streamed out of him as he stared at me with so much compassion, it made me want to throw up. The beast was starting to reawaken.

　　The Snow Dragon hadn’t been enough.

　　I jumped into the air. The first part that broke out of my human flesh was my wings. The rest followed as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

　　Deep, dark red and purple scales replaced human skin.

　　A deadly tail.

　　Four paws with sharp talons replaced my limbs.

　　Rows and rows of pointy teeth and a mane of thick tendrils flapped with a shake of my head.

　　I roared.

　　Lucian stood his ground.

　　I tuned in and found his heartbeat. It was elevated but not from fear. From adrenaline, admiration, and anticipation. He was ready.

　　He steadied his shield in front of him and placed his free hand on the rope over his shoulder. “Let’s show them a claiming they will never forget!” he yelled in Latin.

　　I started to chuckle. The beast was taking over. Nothing I did would protect Lucian fromits wrath.

　　“There will never be a claiming. You are not the royal the Viden prophesied.”

　　I changed the scenery of the Colosseum to a swamp. I loved swamps; you could do and be so many things in a swamp. Set booby traps, drown enemies in mud, and they wouldn’t even see it coming. The beast was already clouding my mind.

　　Remember who that is. No killing him!I roared. The beast gave a roar back; it sent shivers down my spine and straight into my soul. It was letting me know who was in charge. Today was going to be a fight I could have never prepared myself for. The one inside myself.

　　Lucian looked dazed by the swamp that had suddenly appeared around us. Fresh terror lit his eyes.

　　I stayed still, concealed like a boulder right in front of him. Then the beast took over completely. I was in way over my head.

　　Don’t kill him. I’ll give you what you want. Just don’t kill him.

　　The fight was hard. Not just against Lucian, but against myself too.

　　I almost gave in. I hung on by a thread. Killing Lucian wasn’t an option.

　　I had to stay in control.

　　Lucian fought well.

　　The swamp didn’t last long. He was really good, the only one truly worthy of being inside this ring with me, If I was honest.

　　He finally lost his balance as I shook the ground stomping my feet.

　　It carried on like that for a long time. Like a stupid game. Lucian struggled to regain his balance and bounced hard against the floor.

　　The beast thought it was comical.

　　Enough!I put a stop to it.

　　The beast went for Lucian. Lucian rolled around; my paws just missed squashing him by inches.

　　I didn’t want to look, but I had no choice.

　　I was scared. Yet at the same time, I loved everything about it. I was getting angry as he slipped through my paws.

　　The battle raged.

　　Lucian refused to give up. Every tiny breadth of space he found, every second of reprieve, he used to gain the upper hand.

　　At one stage, I thought he had me. It was so intense. The way the crowd cheered. Their chants coursed through the ground and drilled into my scales.

　　And then he used his rope.

　　I didn’t even see him coming.

　　The bastard had just been on the ground, rolling to dodge my lethal paws, and then he wasgone, just like that.

　　I heard his scream from behind as he leaped onto my back.

　　I was too late to attack him with an ability. He landed on my spine hard. The rope looped around one of my horns. One that I couldn’t reach.

　　He’d done his homework. He swung from the rope.

　　I tried to squash him in the process of climbing off my back, but he was thumping and throwing my body in all directions. I only did exactly what he’d hoped.

　　I got myself tangled in the ropes, half-strangled.

　　He was bringing me down. “Yield, Blake, for the both of us! Just yield!”

　　This was it. He was going to win. Whether he was the foretold royal or not. Lucian alwaysbelieved it didn’t matter what people said, that as long as you believed it with your heart and you confessed it with your mind, you could make anything happen. And this was it. The proof behind his faith.

　　But the beast in me refused to yield.

　　I wasn’t anyone’s lamb. I am the Rubicon! I cannot be tamed!

　　The strength that had waned a few minutes ago came back, amplified exponentially. My body shredded through the rope that had trapped me.

　　Lucian yelled out of frustration and ducked, diving again to escape my wrath.

　　I wasn’t thinking clearly anymore.

　　I didn’t remember our friendship and how close we’d been.

　　I spat my acid at him. The spots where my acid balls landed disintegrated. Rocks melted and shattered, giving him less and less hiding spaces. But the weasel still escaped me. My wrath became darker.

　　ENOUGH!

　　He rolled out from hiding, ready to jump again, but this time the beast was ready. Before I could control it, a flash of lightning left my mouth.

　　He wasn’t supposed to be here in the first place.

　　The lightning struck him.

　　He flew back and convulsed violently on the floor. He shook as volts of electricity ran through him.

　　Then it stopped.

　　Lucian’s body lay lifeless on the cold, unforgiving floor of the Colosseum. I wanted toattack him again. He would always come back if I didn’t finish him off and I couldn’t have that.

　　A Sun-Blast dragon flew in, followed by a Fin-Tail and a Copper-Horn. All of them were so fast.

　　I wanted to scorch their asses.

　　I growled and screeched. They ducked and dove, avoiding my lightning and acid.

　　One of them connected hard with me. I staggered a few feet, but kept my balance. They pummeled me. They came again and again.

　　I growled.

　　“Blake, calm down,” Professor Mia said as a Fin-Tail crashed into me this time.

　　“Remember who you are,” she commanded.

　　The Fin-Tail rammed the other side of my body.

　　It took four of them to make me remember who I truly was and the guy I’d almost killed.

　　I pulled back.

　　“He’s calming down,” she said. “Give him some room.”

　　The beast inside me still growled.

　　STOP IT! JUST STOP!the human part of me yelled as I disconnected from the hatred, the darkness, and the irrepressible drive to kill. The beast’s constant thirst for blood.

　　I morphed back into my human form and lay on the ground. Someone scurried up from the sidelines and covered me with a robe, then disappeared before I had a chance to attack.

　　I took huge breaths to calm my soul, my mind, and my heart, even though I couldn’t feel it beating. My entire being was on edge.

　　“Blake?” Mia asked. I looked up at her. She was in her human form too, draped hastily in a robe from somewhere, crouching next to me. I pushed myself up, resting with my elbows on my knees, just taking deep breaths, steadying myself.

　　“I thought we’d lost you for a second.”

　　I shook my head. “It’s getting stronger. I don’t know how much longer I can hold on, Mia.” And then it hit me. “Lucian!”

　　I jumped up from the floor and bolted to the one of the gates. The one that led to Lucian’s changing room. The gate was locked but I could see Constance working on his limp body.

　　“Lucian!”

　　“Blake, calm down.” One of the other professors said through the gate.

　　“Lucian!” Tears streamed down my cheeks. What have I done?

　　“Lucian!”

　　Mia got hold of me. “Let them do their job.”

　　“Get off me,” I said through gritted teeth. Hot, shameful tears rolled down my cheeks.“I did that to him, Mia. Me.”

　　“Calm down. Lucian knows the risks, Blake. He knows.”

　　“No, don’t.” I needed to get out of there. There was no escape. I looked at the sky.

　　“Lower the shield!” Mia yelled and pulled my chin down to look at her.

　　Our eyes met.

　　The shimmer started to soften and then the shield vanished.

　　“Just go.” Mia’s eyebrows knitted together, her eyes soft. I hated that look. Pity.

　　Thank you.I wanted to say it so badly, but the words just didn’t form in my mouth.

　　I shifted back into the beast and flapped my huge wings. I flew like I’d never flown before. Away from the atrocity I’d committed this day.