The ladder down was slippery. She was the monster hiding by monsters. The heart of the dragons drummed in her chest. She felt their welcoming.

Sasha listened for other adventures but heard no sound, neither of dragon nor of human. She bet the king’s men were pretty tired of searching the labyrinth for her. Instead, they were searching for Isaak. It left a foul taste in Sasha’s mouth. She wanted to protect her brother.

The second ladder was dryer, and her path down to the dragons was smooth. The area was surprisingly free from monsters.

“Welcome my lady”, the hiss of one of the snakes teased her chin.

Before she had been afraid of the big creatures. Now the dragons left her with pleasure and a dull ache to fight. She knew they would let her ride her, and inside her was an urge to fly the heavens and burn the soil. There was a connection with the big black thing in front of her.

“You have been awaiting me?”

“I could feel your movements in the earth above, miles before you reached down here. And besides, the queen has asked us to guide you to her.”

“Thanks”, Sasha said. “But before we go. I have an empty bottle here. I would like to fill it with the breath of dragons. May I ask for your help? Please?”

The snake hissed and cleared his throat.

“I am a youngster and not that good on fire yet. Please place the bottle away from you and I will make a try.”

Sasha put down the bottle and took a closer look at the enormous dragon. He was black in the skin, the scalar a greenish vibrancy. His head was the ones of a snake, but with wings behind the ears, and now he filled them up as he took in air. He looked like a big mean butterfly, and a tiny fire licked his tongue. Carefully he bent down towards the bottom of the tunnel and blew his fire inside Sasha's bottle.

“I am pretty satisfied with that one”, he boasted. “I got it under control this time.”

His blue eyes lit up, as he smiled towards her, and the complete skin started to crawl.

“What is happening?” Sasha asked.

“I am about to shift skin. As we grow older and more advanced in our magic, we decrease in size.”

“Congratulations”, Sasha said.

“Thanks. Now, if you follow me. The procedure will take a while, so I have time to walk you to the queen first.”

“I could make a lot of money on that skin”, Sasha said, putting her hand on the cold smooth surface and petting him. “Have any use of it when you are ready?”

“No, you can have it if you want to.”

“Thanks”

“Anything for the queen”, the snake said, turning left in a tunnel.

“The Queen”, Sasha said and bowed. “Here we are.”

“I will be waiting at the entrance”, the young dragon said, turning around.

“Thank you.”

“Give me a rub and we are even.”

Sasha went into the tunnel, casting an eye backward-looking at the young snake. He would make her rich.

The queen looked intently at her. Sasha smiled and bowed.

“Welcome”, the queen said and moved forward. She sniffed at Sasha, her head waving from side to side. Sasha felt almost hypnotized looking at the dancing movement of the dragon's head.

“Thanks. I met one of your youngest.”

“Yes. We have not much time. Anna is on her way down here.”

“Anna? The queen is coming?”

“Yes. And as of now, I don’t want the two of you to meet.”

“Of that, we agree.”

“I approve of the adventures you seek Sasha, but do remember this”, the queen moved forward, casting glances towards the tunnel behind her. “There might come a time when everything turns upside down, and you don’t know what to do. Come to me then.”

“I come to you now”, Sasha said. “Isaak is turning Ivy down to protect her. It will crush her.”

The dragon nodded, the smile in her eyes saying she already knew.

“The rouge will become the king”, she said. “And the king will become the villain.”

The dragon blew out a mist of hot air over Sasha. She could feel the tingling of magic brushing at her skin. It was the sweetest magic she had ever felt, it ingrained her soul as if she was finally a complete puzzle. Sasha felt her eyes getting wet, the warmth and love within her trying to explode. She hugged the queen, wanting to say something, but knew the queen understood.

“Go now, baby princess. Hurry”, the queen said.

Sasha heard the footsteps of someone wearing high heels in the tunnels. She moved towards the shadows. With soft steps, she went the same way as she came.

She would make the world turn upside down.