Part 1

Celina hesitantly stared at the balcony. There's only one in their entire cottage - it's small and cramped, but it's there. Its closer to where she slept, i.e. the living room. Her sisters had needed, so they took one room while her parents occupied the other one. She didn't have a choice.

No one stepped enough in their balcony; her mother said that every time she stepped out there, she thought it was going to crumble underneath her. Yeah, it is a bit rickety, but Celina was wise enough not to go and lean over the railing or anything. It's just she enjoyed the view it provided. Mostly green lands of grass and the small tiny cottages alongside and another road connecting them to the Main Street.

The eighteen-year-old just slid the door open and sat down, her legs splayed out in front. A shiver ran down her spine at the sudden onset of cold, a chill sneaking up through her nightgown and making her toes curl.

Peering across the street proved to be fruitless. It's too dark, and her eyes were too tired to see anything.

She ignored it, choosing instead to focus on the sky instead. The barest hints of lightness filtered across the dark greyish clouds. Only an hour for the sun to rise. Slumping she rested her head against the side of the sliding door, she exhaled loudly. Celina felt precisely like that sky, sluggish and dull waiting for the light to shine.

Just then she heard multiple soft footsteps from behind her. Turning over her shoulder, she smiled at her sisters. Anna and Cara. Identical twins. They were both fifteen years of age, although moody since these past few months.

Cara cleared her throat. "We want water."

Her twin nodded along, their arms crossed together.

"Okay. Get some from the kitchen."

"The pots are empty. Mother used them up last night to make soup."

Celina sighed, staring at the door before standing up. "Fine. I'll get some from well."

They both walked out from there. Not even a single, thank you. She let it slide.

***

To refill the supply of water meant going down to the well by the river. Celina didn't mind doing the chores though, helping out her mother made her happy. She found herself enjoying the way the birds were chirping as she lowered the bucket down to get some water.

She drew the bucket up from the well, smiling as he thought about her day. This time of year didn't require her presence back home, so she was free to spend her time around the village. Mostly that included her going to the library and spending time with her friends and reading. She loved reading, and that's why she had more books than clothes.

Also, her mother and father worked extra hard so that they restock the cottage with supplies. Usually, at the end of December, there's a blizzard, and they are trapped inside for most of the weeks. Celina learned to fish last year, so they didn't need the supplies as much as they once had.

Her thoughts were distracted from the sudden stillness in the air until it was too late. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up, and she froze. The birds had stopped chirping, and it unnerved the young woman. Quietly she managed to put the bucket down and tilted her head.

That had been a mistake.

A huge dark coloured creature, sufficiently larger than anything she had seen before was flying in the air. Rotund, muscled wings shaped arms sprouted out of the lithe aerodynamic body with a thick reptilian tail extending out the back. The tail was longer than the python. It soared through the sky, an enormous silhouette on the ground, a monstrous one.

Her throat felt dry all of a sudden, and she staggered back, her back hitting the wall. Colour drained her face and vision turned blurry. Blinking rapidly she tried to look at the sky again, but it's gone. The creature vanished in the thin air.

How is that possible? She thought.

Dragons are myths. They don't exist beyond the rusty books in the library. No one has ever seen them. Besides, it must be a strange bird she had never seen before. Yeah, that must be it. She concluded.

***

"You know Beverly met her soulmate, right?" Her friend, Nina whispered, eyes wide.

The words crashed into her ears, making Celina freeze in her spot. To forget about that earlier incident, she rushed to the library immediately. However, hearing the news about someone else being courted made her stomach clench.

Nina hummed to herself, flipping through Austen novel before she continued, "That's why I'm here today and not her. Beverly said she was sick, but she's out with that man, Grayson. I know it!"

Her ears buzzed and she swallowed, the sour taste of metal on her tongue. "She found someone already?" There are rocks in his stomach, weighing her down.

"Yeah, apparently he owns the butcher shop" Another one of her friends, Laura chipped. "How many people get to say they met their soulmate so young? What a lucky bitch, honestly."

Beverly's younger than them. Not yet, eighteen. Despite that, she found her soulmate already. Celina swallowed loudly at that. She put down the book she was holding, a barely noticeable quiver in her fingers.

"He's a very good looking gentleman. I saw two of them together yesterday. They look smitten already, I'm disgusted," Nina sniffed, slumping on the chair with an exasperated sigh.

They were all single, so it's justified to be jealous of their peer who's younger than them to have found a soul mate. Celina didn't even try to speak, lips chapped and heart shuddering, every bear feeling like a cry for help. Not yet, eighteen.

"And Mr and Mrs Anti are on cloud nine. They have one less daughter to worry about" Laura sighed.

"Good for them" Celina muttered, shifting to the other aisle. Her parents wanted the same thing for her as well. To find a well-settled gentleman and be courted by him. In their village, they refer to the person as "soulmate" the one who's destined for you.

And Celina's been waiting for that man since forever.

***

Celina was very confused when her father sent a message for her. She's asked to return to their cottage as soon as possible. That's very out of the blue. Waving her friends goodbye, the young womanheld her gown and rushed out of there. The afternoon sun was piercing her skin as she tried to duck and make her way.

Most of the times her parents let her roam around, thinking she's finding new ways to earn money. They never did that with her sisters, but then again she's elder to them.

The minute she stepped in the cottage, the hair on the back of her neck stood up. That feeling she had in the morning got intensified. Swallowing Celina dipped her head toward only to find her father talking in hushed whispers with his daughters. What can it be about? Anna and Cara had a grim expression on their faces, both staring at the floor.

"Papa" Celina interrupted, knocking on the door to signal her arrival.

Suddenly he jumped at her tone, turning around to give her a nervous smile. He ran a smooth hand down his trench coat, which looked new. It also seemed to be expensive. When did he get that? "Celina! My dear thank goodness! I have been waiting for you."

She licked her lips. "I heard. You send Arthur to the library, papa. Is everything alright?"

Thomas, her father, nervously laughed. "Why wouldn't it be? I called you back urgently because we have to go fetch your mother."

Her mother? She must be in the market at this time or in Mrs Peterson's parlour depending on her mood. There's no way of predicting it sadly. Also, why does she have to go with him? It didn't make sense to her.

"O-Okay."

Thomas nudged at his youngest daughters, pining them with a pointed look. "Say goodbye to your sister. Come on now"

Celina smothered her giggles at that. Why was that necessary? They were just going to the market and will be back by dawn. It was no use of making such a massive spectacle of it. She lifted her head to stare at her sisters, who had tears in their eyes.

"What's going on?"

"Nothing sweetheart."

She narrowed his eyes at him. It felt like he was hiding something from her. But why? That was so unlike her father. Her train of thoughts was interrupted when her sisters gathered in front of him. Before she could say a word, they both wrapped their arms around her and started sniffling softly.

Celina patted their backs, her lips twitching in amusement at that. They never hugged her like this before. She raised her brow towards her father, who shrugged as well. "Silly girls, you don't have to cry. I'll be back with our mother before you know it"

"Enough of that" Thomas cleared his throat, wiping his hands against his coat. "We need to move now."

***