Silas

Jeweled paws quickly brushed over brilliantly red gems, creating true masterpieces with the red stones. His body was decorated with the same unmistakably red gems. Little drops and spots littered his glittering green scales. If blood or gems... who could actually say? The golden chains rattled slightly as he shifted his six wings, getting comfortable and looking down at the beautiful piece he had created tonight. The old Skydancer always made sure every one of his famous blood-crystals was unique and flawless. He wiped over his face, smearing the red liquid over his scales.

Silas scoffed at the fluid and turned away from his table. He took off the beautiful jewelry and stepped into the icy water in front of his den to clean himself from the messy work. He knew what he was doing was wrong and he should stop creating the crystals, but he was aware that he couldn't stop even if he tried. This was what he was destined to do. He chuckled and slipped his jewels back onto his body, carefully placing his smallest pair of wings underneath a masterfully crafted gem drape. The green dragon went into his workshop once more to create another gem, but as he came into his storage room he soon noticed the absence of vials. Silas sighed, he would have to harvest more resources to make the gems he loved so dearly.

The old Skydancer spread his four larger wings and took off, careful to keep the innermost pair of wings folded neatly underneath the blood-crystals that decorated the dark feathers. He flew over the lonely plains of Dragonhome for several hours before he spotted a young dragoness wandering alone below. Silas landed next to the beautiful Coatl and smiled at her. "What is a pretty young dragon like you doing out here all alone this late at night?" The older dragon asked and she simply scoffed, her head held high. "I don't see how that is any of your business," she shot back, Silas could see right through her facade. He knew she was acting, he could smell the fear underneath the perfume she wore.

"Well darling, there are some bad dragons out here in the wilderness. Have you not heard of the Fae called Umbra? She is said to live beneath the surface of Dragonhome, hidden deep in caves. She only comes out when she kills. Or the story of-" Silas began before being interrupted by the young Coatl. "Those are just stories! By the way, why would I be afraid of a Fae?" She laughed, but the older dragon scoffed at her rudeness. "There is also the story of the Blood-Jeweler? A dragon who creates the most perfectly crafted red jewelry out of the blood of young dragonesses like you?" Silas grinned slyly at the Coatl. Her eyes widened as she took a good look at the dragon in front of her.

She didn't even have the time to scream, he swiftly cut her throat with his jeweled claws and filled his vials with her crimson blood. He smiled at the deep red liquid, excited about creating more jewels from it, but the sound of a twig snapping beside him made the old dragon jump. He quickly put away his vials and turned towards the noise. A young Fae stood a few steps away from him, her purple eyes were wide with fear. Silas grinned at her and stepped forward. "Now, I know what this looks like, sweetheart, but I can assure you-" he stopped dead as he heard the sound of breathing from behind him. Silas swallowed thickly as he turned slowly. He came face to face with a large Pearlcatcher. Lilith. He had heard about her and had always stayed away. Now that she stood before him he could smell the rotten flesh and he could see every fiber of muscle that was exposed.

"And what do you think you're doing?" She asked, her voice wasn't like he expected it to sound, it was a nice voice. She sounded almost motherly and he could imagine how she must have looked like before she was cursed. "I was just leaving!" Silas explained, laughing nervously afterward. He turned on his heel and started sprinting. "Don't ever try to kill one of my own again! Also, say hello to your mate for me, she owes me!" He heard Lilith yell behind him. Fear led him into the caves he knew well after all the years he had come down there almost daily. He trotted down the long caverns blindly until he came into a large open space, illuminated slightly by glowing blue mushrooms. A small Fae sat in the middle of the room, facing away from the old Skydancer. "I was wondering when you'd come down here again, my love." She said and turned, her eyes covered by a piece of cloth and a small smile on her face.

"Lilith showed up, she said you owe her." He said quietly as he stepped closer to his mate. Umbra's smile turned into a frown quickly. "I hate that Pearlcatcher..." she sighed as she leaned into Silas, who had sat down next to her.