Free Releasing the Dragon: Myths and Legends, Book One by Stacie Simpson Page A

ballet style dance
movements.
    I was amazed by how realistic the dragon and
its transformation had been. This was truly the most magical show I
had ever seen. I couldn't imagine how Solomon was able to conjure
forests, meadows and dragons out of thin air. Let alone how he made
the beast turn into a man right in front of our eyes.
    The meadow was replaced by a great hall
straight out of the middle ages. The stone walls were adorned by
tapestries and banners. The tapestries had detailed pictures of
dragons in flight high above a castle and its surrounding kingdom.
A fire breathing dragon with its wings spread had been artfully
stitched into each of the blood red banners. The couple, now
dressed in formal attire from that period, was joined by other
dancers who seemed to be guests at their wedding ceremony. It was
enchanting how the music and background changed to fit the story as
it played out. When the ceremony ended the crowd gave a loud cheer
before the scene dissolved into near darkness.
    The music took on a sensual feel as a
medieval bedchamber came into view. On a bed covered with thick
furs the man was on his knees with the woman laid out before him.
The medieval costumes of the previous scene were absent and they
appeared to be nude. He held her leg over his arm as he thrust his
lower body towards her in blatant sexual motions. If I didn't know
better, I would say they were actually having sex. The flickering
of firelight gave the scene a dreamlike quality. As the music built
to a crescendo so did the passion unfolding on the bed. When the
woman seemed to reach climax the man pulled her up from the bed to
hold her against his chest. He drove himself frantically into her
body until he too felt the shattering ecstasy of release.
    They held each other as they shuddered
through the sensations and gasped for breath. After a few moments a
strange glow slowly wrapped around their bodies like a serpent
twining around its victims. When the brightness of the glow
intensified into a blinding flash, the couple cried out, but not in
pain, more like the emotions they felt were too strong to
contain.
    As my eyes readjusted to the dim lighting I
saw an exotic tattoo of dragon scales covering the bodies of the
man and woman where the glow had been. As they moved from the bed I
could see that each of them had a complete tattoo that created one
flowing piece of artwork when they held each other as they had when
it was formed. Their sense of joy in that moment filled their faces
with a happiness I could scarcely imagine.
    I felt eyes on me from the side and turned my
head to see Dragon looking at me with a longing so deep my heart
ached to see it. I wanted to comfort him, help him find what his
soul was crying out for. I reached my hand up and placed it on his
cheek. He covered my hand with his and closed his eyes. When he
opened his eyes again, his gaze was peaceful as if somehow my touch
had helped. When Solomon's voice came from the shadows to narrate,
Dragon titled his head to the stage and we turned to watch the
stage transform for the second act.
    "Soon after the Dragon King claimed his mate
a prince was born to the royal couple. When the young prince was on
the verge of manhood, vampire hordes arrived from the south
decimating whole villages, running rampant as they gave in to
bloodlust. Darkness held unspeakable horrors, and only daylight
kept the monsters at bay. The Great War savaged the lands as good
and evil fought for supremacy."
    When the vampires came on stage attacking
everyone in sight I was shocked by how authentic they appeared. The
dancers moved so quickly they almost blurred at times. When the
vampires lifted their mouths from their victims it looked as though
blood actually dripped from their fangs. The scenes of massacre and
devastation left me feeling cold and frightened. The heart pounding
music only added to the sensations. I was thankful when Dragon
reached over to wrap his arm around my bare shoulders