Chapter Text
There are three things I remember before being fully brought into this world. The first thing was warmth. The second thing was singing. I don’t remember the words but what I do know is that the song was old and full of love. The third thing I remember was an overwhelming cold. This lasted a good long while before I was warm again.
Their faces were the first ones I saw. I can identify now that they were fascinated by the sight of me and a little surprised. Whether it was fate or some biological need, I felt safe with them.
Soon after I was hatched I was fed and cleaned. I did not enjoy the cleaning but the food was good. They spoke to me with words I couldn’t imitate or understand but I tried anyway and I think they enjoyed that. The more time I spent with them I realized I was different from them. I would walk on four legs, while they only walked on two. My body was covered in smooth scales when they were covered in soft smooth skin.
I had an image of myself that looked like them and something far back in my mind said that it was true. Then ,one day I woke up and I was different. The world felt a little quieter than it had been before and the world looked different as well. I was only lucky that things smelled right, or I would not have recognized the two that I first saw.
There was that look of surprise and fascination again when she saw me. I smiled at her, like I had done every time she came to see me and I said the words that I had tried to imitate , but this time they sounded different. The feeling of speaking was new in this body along with how everything felt and when I looked down at myself and I was different.
That was the day I first shifted. I would only learn years later that I was put in that egg to protect me from something. My species, dragons, are normally born in human form.
After that I got to really see the first one’s I had seen. There was one with blonde curly hair who told me to call her Helen and the other one was named John. I would later call them mother and father. It felt right.
I was introduced to another man as well. He was Helen’s father and had been the one who had found my egg. He had always been kind to me and even in this new form he was as well.
In human form I was a 5 year old at that time and I learned quickly how to speak and read the language. I even imitated their accent. Reading and learning was something that I grew to love and Mother encouraged me to learn anything I wanted. I even asked questions whenever I could and Helen was very patient with me, answering all of them. The next 6 years were very calm and I learned to enjoy this new form. But things are always changing and nothing can be perfect forever.
….
The girl knew that she wasn’t supposed to be out late at night but she couldn’t help it. She stood on the roof of the sanctuary ,the cloth of her night gown blew in the wind and sent a chill up her back. She watched the quiet streets from above and breathed in the cool night air.
Her attention was then drawn to the sky where she viewed specks of light that broke through the darkness. The girl then reached her arm out towards that night sky, reaching for something that she couldn’t understand, but she knew she wanted it.
“You’re going to catch a cold out here my dear.” A voice said from behind her. She had smelt him coming but she wanted to search the sky a little longer. The girl slowly lowered her hand and looked back.
She smiled sheepishly and stepped down from the edge. “How did you know I was up here?” She asked.
“I saw you come up here.” He replied
“How much trouble do you think I’m going to be in?” She asked and clasped her hands behind her back.
“ Much if she finds out.” The tall man with long shaggy brown hair said.
The girl then crossed her arms over her chest. “You’re not going to tell her?” She asked and raised her eyebrow at him.
“Our little secret.” He said with a smile.
The girl smiled and ran over and hugged him. He wrapped his arms around her and returned her hug and placed a kiss on her head.
“I’ve missed you. You haven’t come to visit me in a while.” She said and looked up at him.
He let her go and kneeled down to meet her eyes. “I’m sorry little one.” He said. “But I’m here now and I would love to know everything you’ve been up to.”
She grinned. “Well I’ve been helping Doctor Magnus with cataloging some of the things he brought back from his last trip. He found the skeleton of this large feline with two tails. It was remarkable." The girl said quite quickly and with excitement.
The man listened with a smile as she spoke.
“Oh and one of my fangs that I lost grew back. I was really happy about that and I have been practicing doing my hair. It took me an hour to braid it. My arms were so tired after.” The girl continued and pointed at the cornrows that she had done with her hair.
“ They look beautiful, Levina. And I'm pleased that you’ve been helpful.” He said.
The girl smiled at his praise. “I’ve also been getting better at Italian.” She added.
“That’s very good.” He said.
Levina smiled again before pulling him to come sit on the raised edge with her. He followed and sat down beside her.
“How have you been? Are you working on anything interesting?” Levina asked, swinging her legs back and forth in a childish way.
“If Helen wanted you to know what we were working on you wouldn’t have to ask.” John replied knowing what the girl was really asking.
The girl sighed. “Please!” She whined. “No one will tell me. I can’t even get Mr. Tesla to tell me and I can usually get him talking.” She said and crossed her arms pouting.
“Be patient, little one. Once the experiment is done we will give you all the information.” The man reassured her.
The girl rolled her eyes. “Fine.” She sighed.
John placed his arm around her and gave her a side hug. “Thank you Levina. Now shall we return inside? I’m getting a little cold.” He said
Levina nodded and stood up with him. The two went back inside and John took her to her room and tucked her in for the night.
“Goodnight, sleep well little one.” He said.
“Goodnight.” she replied and watched him leave the room and close the door.
…
A few weeks after the Source blood experiment. (1888)
How do you tell a child that their parent has done something bad? How do you tell them that because of this they won’t be seeing them anymore?
Levina had been introduced to the concept of death before. Helen had given her a goldfish and due to no fault of the childs it had died. The girl had been very upset but had Helen and John to comfort her. They had been constants in her life since she had been woken. Something that she could count on for the past 6 years.
He never seemed any different to any of them. None of them had known and least of all the child. But it was obvious there had been a change in the other adults around her and she had noticed that John had not come to visit her. She would often ask questions about where he was, but she was only met with sad looks that she couldn’t understand.
You couldn’t have blamed them for not telling her right away. They were all dealing with the loss of their friend, but this was starting to frustrate the young girl.
“Mother.” She called as she stood at the doorway of Helen’s laboratory.
The blonde woman and the short brown haired man, who the girl had known as uncle James , looked up at her. The two had been working on something.
“Mother, where is John? Has something happened? He is supposed to read my book with me tonight.” The girl said and held the hard cover book close to her chest.
The two adults gave each other a sad look before looking back at the child. “Come here Levina.” Helen said and gestured for the child to come.The girl walked in and went over to Helen. The woman made her sit on one of the stools.
"There is something I need to tell you about John." Helen said and cupped the girl's cheek gently.
"What is it?" The sweet girl asked. "Are you going to tell me why everyone has been so sad?" She said.
Helen glanced back at James before looking back at Levina.
“Yes darling and I’m afraid It has to do with John.” Helen said.
“Did something happen to John?” Levina asked and Helen could tell that she was worried.
Helen hesitated before she continued. “You see, John isn’t going to be coming to visit anymore-”
“Why? Is he sick? If he is sick then you can help him Mother.” Levina said, interrupting her. .
“Levina.” Helen scolded softly.
“Sorry.” The girl apologized and waited for her to continue
“Yes. You’re right. John is sick and he is not in his right mind. I tried to help him, but he wouldn't let me help him.” Helen tried to explain.
“Why would he do that? I want to see him, Mother. Maybe I can help him.” She said and tilted her head and looked at Helen, not fully understanding.
“I’m sorry but you can’t see him ,Levina. John has hurt some people because of the state that he is in. He is dangerous now. You can’t see him anymore. ” Helen said.
The girl’s face fell as Helen finished speaking. “No… Mother…” Tears started to form in Levina’s eyes and she looked away from Helen. “I don’t want him to be gone. He wouldn’t hurt me.”
Helen kneeled down and looked up at her. “I know this is hard, Levina but I need you to promise me that if you see him, you will run and come and find me." The woman said in a more serious tone.
Levina looked at her and nodded.
"Good girl." Helen said and opened her arms. Levina hopped down from the stool and hugged her mother. Helen held her and let the girl cry, slowly rubbing circles on her back.