Creations of Melkor

[Tuor in Gondolin]

But Melkor had several means to gain "subjects", either
by subverting them ("Luke, you don't know the power
of the dark side" ) ,
such as Sauron and balrogs,
or warping rational creatures (orcs from either elves, men,
or ents, probably elves). And what about dragons. I believe some
have speculated they were corrupted maia.

[narfforc]

Page 50 1st Edition HB of The Silmarillion may help, and I quote: Yet this is held true by the wise of Eressea, that all those of the Quendi who came into the hands of Melkor, ere Utumno was broken, were put in prison, and by slow arts of cruelty were corrupted and enslaved; and thus did Melkor breed the hideous race of Orcs in envy and mockery of the Elves, of whom they were afterwards the bitterest of foes. For Orcs had life and multiplied after the manner of The Children of Iluvatar; and naught that had life of its own, nor semblance of life, could ever Melkor make since his rebellion in the Ainulindale before the Beginning: so say the wise.


P.S Edheldae, go to the back of The Silmarillion and read the last chapter first, there you will meet familiar characters and also new ones. You are not on your own to get stuck at the Beginning. Keep trying, it is a marvelous book, and will answer lots of your question, it does get easier on the mind.