Featured New Story: The Dragon’s Birth by Jaimey Grant

I’ve known Jaimey Grant online for eons now. Always fast with a virtual smile or supportive saying, she’s awesome folk.

That’s why I’m honored to have her here today with not one but TWO songs that make her think of her newly released short story, The Dragon’s Birth.

Here’s Jaimey:

Crawl by Breaking Benjamin* brings my story to mind but only from Darok’s perspective (main protagonist). He’s a young king who hears a voice in his head. While wondering if he’s crazy, truly crazy, he’s trying to determine if the legends about dragon blood in his family are true. It doesn’t help that the voice in his head claims to be a dragon, a creature he’s been raised to believe is the epitome of evil, a monster.

A few of the lyrics that really stand out:

A shadow of a man, I am nothing less
I am holding on, still holding on
And every now and then life begins again
I am holding on, still holding on

I’m not like you, your faceless lies
Your weak dead heart, your black dead eyes
I’ll make it through, but not this time
You hope is gone and so is mine

Live, fight, crawl back inside
Sick, blind, love left behind
And I won’t live your weak wicked lie
You pull me in, I’m one step behind

…

I’m becoming a monster, just like you
After it all you’ll try to break me too
Falling forever, chasing dreams
I brought you to life so I could hear you scream

On the other hand, Lights Out by Breaking Benjamin* is just as appropriate but from Bental’s perspective (the main antagonist/dragon voice in Darok’s head). He’s a living being just like any other, but trapped in the head of little more than a child playing at king. He’s not a simple “evil” creature, but he is determined to escape Darok’s head, to become his own physical being, and he can’t be concerned with who gets hurt in the process.

The lyrics that really stand out to me:

I am done pretending
You have failed to find what’s left
I will suck you dry again
Some are not worth saving
You are such a pretty mess
I will choke the life within

Now you want to take me down
As if I even care
I am the monster in your head
And I thought you’d learn by now
It seems you haven’t yet
I am the venom in your skin
And now your life is broken

After the lights go out on you
After your worthless life is through
I will remember how you scream
I can’t afford to care
I can’t afford to care

*No copyright infringement intended. I am not in any way implying the endorsement of Breaking Benjamin. I’m just a fan. (Sorry, I felt the need to include that. One can never be too careful.)

For an excerpt of The Dragon’s Birth
The Dragon’s Birth on Smashwords
The Dragon’s Birth on Kindle

Okay, Susan’s going on the record here: I love Breaking Benjamin. Good picks, Jaimey!