“We can go sit in one of the study rooms” Carrie said. Setting her book aside, Carrie stood and led her parents to one of the study rooms off of the library.

When they were safely ensconced in a study room, Carrie turned to her parents. “What’s so important?”

Her parents looked at each other a moment before her mother nodded. Her father closed his eyes for a moment and some kind of invisible liquid rolled off his body. His legs changed, now resembling those of a dog or other such creature, wings sprouted from his back, his nails became claws and his eyes became cat like.

“I’m not entirely human” her father said as he looked down at her sitting on the window seat.

She looked at him in confusion.

“I’m part dragon” her father said.

“As are you” her mother added reaching for the necklace she’d worn around her neck for as long as she could remember. “This necklace hides your wings, claws and eyes from others.”

“I don’t understand” Carrie said.

“Because of me, you aren’t like other humans. Because your grandfather fell in love with a human, we are of mixed blood, which either gives us great power or none. The amount of power can vary from one generation to another. It’s because of your dragon blood that you can do magic. It’s also why your magic is so strong for being so young.”

“Why tell me this now?” Carrie asked. “Why tell me at all?”

“Because your master was concerned by the fact that your spells were so powerful at such a young age” her mother said.

“But why tell me?” Carrie asked.

“Your master said to. He wanted you to understand why your training would be increased. He’s concerned for you.”

“Is there anything else I should know?” she asked.

“I don’t know much about our dragon family” her father said. “Your master can and probably will tell you more if it is integral to your training.”

“I have to get back to work” Carrie said as she stood up. “I don’t know if Master Sky invited you to stay longer but I’ll see you later.”

Sky sat in his private garden staring up at the sky. His mind drifted aimlessly from one thing to another.

“Are you going to stand there all day, Kory?” Sky said suddenly, breaking the quiet of the garden.

“So she knows now?” the aging cook asked joining Sky on his bench.

“Her parents told her after I talked to them” Sky said. “She’s the first female of our kind I’ve ever come across in my years of searching for those of mixed blood.”

“Whose line is she from?” Kory asked.

“Her grandfather is Merc” Sky said. “The old lightning chaser went and found himself a human after he told me he wouldn’t.”

Kory laughed. After a moment, the cook sobered. “Isn’t Merc due for a visit sometime soon?”

“He’ll drop in within the next moon cycle” Sky said with a grin.

“Are you going to tell him that you’re training his granddaughter?”

“Not sure yet” Sky said. “I’m still trying to figure some things out.”

“You do that then” Kory said as he stood back up. “I have a meal to finish.”

“Make sure Carrie’s parents have some food for the road.”

“As you wish, Master” Kory said.

Sky ignored his former apprentice’s comment and returned to his thoughts. On towards dinner, he sent an apprentice to Carrie, requesting her presence in his study at her earliest convenience.

Carrie walked slower than usual as she went to answer Sky’s summon. Her mind was in turmoil over what she really was. After her parents had left the library, Carrie had gone back into the study room and removed her robes after locking the door. Standing in her pants and breast band, she’d done something she’d never done before. She took off her necklace.

The change happened quickly and almost unnoticeably. Her wings emerged and were a little stiff, but she could move them easily enough. Things in the room stood out a bit sharper than they had before. She’d looked down at her hands and for a moment wondered if they were even her hands.

Her skin was marbled grey and blue, her nails think sharp and black. With no water to see herself, Carrie had no idea what else had changed in her appearance. What little she could see scared her more then she wanted to admit. She quickly put her necklace back on and saw her skin return to normal. With a sigh, she put her robes back on and returned to her tasks in the library until Sky had summoned her.

She finally reached his study and knocked on the door. It was but a moment before she heard Sky bid her enter.

“You wished to see me, Master?” she asked, barely stepping into the room, keeping her back to the wall beside the door.

“Sit” Sky said absently as he continued his perusal of the tomb before him.

Carrie obeyed. She sat watching her master nervously, wondering what he needed her for.

“Something your father said puzzles me” Sky said after a moment looking up at Carrie who was perched on the edge of her seat. “The power of dragon magic weakens as it’s diluted. Yet your father has barely a drop of the power you command right now.”

Carrie looked at Sky in confusion.

“Take you necklace off” Sky said. It wasn’t a request.

Carrie stood and went to stand behind her high backed chair.

“Stand in front of the chair” Sky said. “You have nothing I haven’t seen before. And I’ll violate you in no way.” Or so he told himself. What he really wanted to do was lock the tow of them up in his tower bedroom for at least a week while he showed her his prowess in bed.

Not daring to disobey her master, Carrie stood in front of her chair and removed her robes for the second time that day. With a swift jerk, Carrie broke the knot tying her necklace. In the time it took her to toss the necklace onto Sky’s desk, she stood in her true form once more.

Only years of training kept Sky from betraying his shock at seeing Carrie in her true form and part of the truth about her blood as well. Sky muttered a curse in the dragon tongue and he took in her appearance.

Her skin was marbled blue and grey. Her eyes were a haunting violet. She stood a full head taller, though she seemed not to notice. Her hair was the only thing that stayed the same, although it now looked spiky, like some dragon manes were.

“What’s wrong, Master?” Carrie asked.

“Stay here” Sky said as he quickly stood. “I have to have another word with your parents.” He left her staring after him in confusion as he quickly headed for the quarters he had put Carrie’s parents in. Their stuff was already gone. He quickly headed for the courtyard where they were hopefully still loading their wagon.