《Of Fangs And Daggers》 1 - The Party ¡°You little brat!¡± Mina was beautiful beyond comparison. Her voice, however, was raspy when she screamed for her stolen purse. Her silky golden brown hair swayed as she and I chased her boss¡¯ son down the arcade. Lucky for her, she had decided to wear a simple ocean blue dress that reached her knees, making running easier for her. Unfortunately for me, I had decided to wear a red sheath dress: A dress so tight on my legs that running was almost impossible for me. I usually didn¡¯t go to events. But Mina outright begged for me to come to the anniversary party of the company she currently worked for. I couldn¡¯t say ¡®No¡¯ to that wonderful face. The face that got me to date her in the first place. And now, clearly, things weren¡¯t going as well as we thought they would. We ran through game after game. Table after table. Wrecking things on the way. We bumped into games that people were currently playing and I had to apologize for ruining some of their gameplay. And we ran until Mina finally caught her culprit right in front of his own father at the arcade¡¯s bar. Mina¡¯s breathing became more rapid than usual. I could hear her lungs struggling for air. A mucus-like substance blocked her airway while she struggled to breathe. Her breathing only made my eyebrows furrow from worry. But she didn¡¯t notice it as she started yelling at the spoiled brat, her voice struggling to adjust to the sound she wanted to express. I could see the father¡¯s anger rise as he watched Mina yell at his son. He crossed his arms over his large stomach and tapped a finger on his forearm. ¡°What she means is-¡± I interrupted to give Mina¡¯s lungs a break as well as to try to calm the man¡¯s growing temper. I held out my hands over my chest with palms out facing the boy. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be taking other people¡¯s things. Especially if you¡¯re running around like that. People, including you, could get hurt. ¡± Before I could show him the slightest smile as a gentle gesture to the boy, the boy stuck his tongue out towards me. I didn¡¯t know whether or not I should be surprised by this kid¡¯s reaction. He had proven himself with one gesture that he was a spoiled brat. And his father¡¯s silence made me think he didn¡¯t care that his son just stole a woman¡¯s purse. The man¡¯s glare was simply focused on Mina. ¡°Will you stop yelling at my son?!¡± His deep voice was as loud as thunder. His face was clenched from anger and a side of his upper lip lifted to reveal his yellow teeth. My nose clenched followed by my baring my teeth in disgust at the man¡¯s words. But Mina let go of the boy, her face full of boredom with a tweak of irritation. And the kid slipped. He slipped onto his bottom and began whining. ¡°Dad!¡± I took a step back, now holding Mina close at my side with one arm. ¡°Kill her! Just kill her right now! She¡¯s being mean to me!!¡± Oh hell no! A single stomp forward from the man had me going back a single step. The stomp was as brutal as his current facial expression. I could¡¯ve sworn that the ground shook a bit. ¡°Gladly.¡± And his growl¡ªa tiger¡¯s growl¡ª sent my heart beating faster than it should be. Gladly?! The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. My eyes widened upon hearing the sound. The man¡¯s teeth growing sharp sent me into hyperventilation. Shit. Shit. Shit! I took another step back, keeping my eyes on the man and his now smirking son. Though the urge was there, it wasn¡¯t me, but Mina who said ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Her voice. Her poor voice was weak. And her heart. I could feel her heart from the pulse in her arm. It was slowing down. Her eyes and face completely lost their color at the sight of what was in front of us. I need to do something. Anything. I didn¡¯t know what I was thinking, but I made the stupid decision of reaching down my waist, feeling my hand just slip down my gown instead of into a pocket. My dagger was at home. And in the corner of my eye, I could see the people around us. They didn¡¯t see this. How. How could they not see this? The sharp teeth. Was I going crazy? Was I already crazy? Were they just ignoring us? The only eyes I could see on me¡ªother than those of Mina¡¯s boss and his son¡ª were a pair of crimson eyes that seemed to narrow at my staring at them. The man crept closer and I took another step back, my eyes focusing back on him. He was taunting us with those oh-so-slow steps. His eyes were now focused on me. If I landed a blow, would it even cause him any harm? I struggled to bring Mina with me another step. She had gone as still as death. I pulled her in front of me, now holding her with both hands. I had done it so quickly that her back slammed into my breasts and I flinched from the pain while hissing through my teeth. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± the creature that seemed to be Mina¡¯s boss opened his mouth. His lips twitched into a smirk, ¡°Surprised to see Meistec in this city?¡± My already fastened heartbeat became faster. Fast enough to make me feel dizzy. I definitely wasn¡¯t going to be able to overpower him. Not even close. So, I stayed silent to think about any other options I had here. No knife. I couldn¡¯t attack him. The crowd didn¡¯t seem to even see this. They weren¡¯t gonna be any help either. Meistec were faster than humans. Running wasn¡¯t an option either. Especially knowing Mina was as still as a trunk. Shit. Shit. Shit. ¡°Monsieur Darik?¡± The crimson eyes that seemed to have been watching me belonged to a tall man. I blinked myself out of my thoughts to get a glimpse of the man who seemed like he was going to save us. The man was dressed in a black-tailed suit, like a showman¡¯s or a butler¡¯s wear. His honey-colored skin flickered in slightly different hues under the arcade lights. His hair was an abyss black that was combed back but still let a few strands loose on his forehead. His leather black shoes seemed almost silent with each step he took towards Mina and me from behind her boss. A few more steps in, and he was tilting his upper body slightly. A couple more, and he was just a few feet in front of us. Of me and Mina. He swung his upper body forward and up straight again before stopping right in front of me, staring down at me with a calm, seemingly bored expression on his face. And with two fingers, he held my chin and tilted it to one side. Then the other, humming. I did nothing while he assessed me. After his assessment, he turned his head to half-face Mina¡¯s boss. ¡°You know, Monsieur Darik?¡± Mina¡¯s boss. ¡°It is not polite to stun a woman like this.¡± Through that calm facial expression, his voice was as cold as ice. Darik barked a laugh and unsurprisingly enough, so did his son. His wide stomach bounced once or twice and it almost made me let loose a laugh. If I wasn¡¯t so paralyzed by the situation. ¡°I don¡¯t give a shit about being polite if these girls harassed my son!¡± Darik¡¯s tone was cruel. I would¡¯ve punched that smile off his face if I stood a chance against him. Unimpressed. That¡¯s how I¡¯d describe the new facial expression on the man saving us. The only person who seemed to notice our panic. My panic. As he was the only one staring at me since this whole thing with Darik started. ¡°Close your eyes¡± the crimson-eyed man whispered to both of us as a soft command. His soft voice made my face redd ever so slightly. Not that I didn¡¯t love Mina with all my heart, but I had to admit: He was hot. It made me guilty just thinking about it. I squeezed my eyes shut after Mina closed hers. And all I could hear after that was screaming. 2 - Roland Bowey Opening my eyes was not as easy as I thought it was. Not after all Mina and I heard while having our eyes closed. Unending screams. And what I could only have guessed was a tiger¡¯s roar. Then, the sound of splashing blood, most likely staining the area around us. I hoped none of that got on Mina. With Mina being the best and possibly only partner I could ever have, I wouldn¡¯t want any of whatever was going on to stain her soul. Finally opening my eyes, the first thing I did was look at Mina. Her eyes were tightly shut. Her hands were clenched into fists in front of her. And her face was still pale from the shock of the situation. They were actual monsters. That man was taunting us. Taunting Mina. Anger only boiled inside my veins. I couldn¡¯t protect her. I couldn¡¯t do anything but back up and watch her boss¡¯s anger as he walked towards us. Watch his smirk grow, as he slowly stomped towards us. I hadn¡¯t noticed tears were running down my face until I felt a hand on my cheek. The black-suited man held my stare while using his thumb to wipe away my tears. He hadn¡¯t said a word since his command to us to close-¨C Shit. I must¡¯ve exposed too much of my shocked expression because a feline smile tugged at his smooth lips ¡°I had not yet told you to open your eyes, madame.¡± he spoke with such gentleness. My face reddened oh so slightly. Mainly because he was right. He didn¡¯t tell us to open our eyes. A soft chuckle hummed in his closed lips, that feline smile growing. ¡°Oh, do not blush on my account, my dear. I do not think your partner would appreciate you falling for another. Much less, for a man.¡± This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. I slapped him across the face, standing tall with my chin up so I could look him straight in the eyes. ¡°I would watch my wording if I were you,¡± I finally replied, trying to match his way of speaking. ¡°It is rude to assume someone¡¯s feelings based on just the expression on their face. Much more to assume someone¡¯s relationship with someone else.¡±. The crimson-eyed man¡¯s smile finally faded. Only to turn into a face full of boredom. His eyes now seemed heavy as they continued to stare at me with an intensity that I could not read. ¡°Interesting.¡± His lips twitched into a sly smile with his eyes remaining as they were ¡°You are right,¡± he bowed his head ¡°Apologies for making assumptions. And for offending you in any way. I truly did not mean to do so, madame.¡± I didn¡¯t want to reply. Not when the man in front of me spoke like an old man from the times in Amberlyt when men were more cruel. So I didn¡¯t. Instead, I tilted my head to look past him. To two bodies lying on the arcade floor behind him. The bodies were those of Darik and his son. I didn¡¯t dare move from my spot. I rested my hands on Mina¡¯s shoulders and silently made sure her eyes were still closed. I could feel her body shivering while listening to our conversation. Was she scared? Embarrassed? Angry? I couldn¡¯t tell at the moment. She didn¡¯t try to say anything yet. Not even after hearing my clear conversation with the crimson-eyed man. As a matter of fact. ¡°Who are you, anyway?¡± I said as I turned back to look at our possible savior. ¡°Possible¡± meaning he might¡¯ve been a monster too. It could only explain the swift disappearance of everyone in the arcade. And the bodies. No sign of bruises or injuries. Odd. They seemed dead from where I stood. But there was no sign that they were killed in any violent way, at least. They couldn¡¯t have been poisoned. There was no paleness in their skin. My father had taught me to be observant of these kinds of things since I was little. As a monster hunter, he also trained me to use the dagger in case I got attacked by the Meistec, knowing very well I wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against them. ¡°Bowey,¡± he replied ¡°Roland Bowey, madame¡±. He bowed to his waist with an arm over his stomach. It took me until he straightened to realize exactly who he was. But before I could say anything, Mina finally opened her eyes to say ¡°You¡¯re Roland Bowey. Son of Billionaire Gormond Bowey,¡± his nose wrinkled slightly at his father¡¯s name ¡°CEO of Bowey Enterprises.¡± Her voice was shaky and far too weak for my liking. I pulled her just a bit closer to me for safety reasons. Roland¡¯s smile was slightly grim as he said, ¡°The very one¡­¡± 3 - Invitation I couldn¡¯t believe it. The most powerful man in Semora was standing right in front of us. In the corner of my eye, I could see Mina¡¯s face. She wore the same gaping expression as I did, both of us so shocked at who saved us that I almost couldn¡¯t hear the next thing he said. ¡°Madame? It is only polite that you reveal your names after I have revealed mine.¡± his soft voice sent a shiver down my spine. Exactly how he was calm after killing 2 people? I didn¡¯t know. And what did he do with everyone else? Where were they? Behind Roland, there was no one. No one but the bodies of the two people he somehow killed. ¡°If we told you our names,¡± I managed to say, ¡°would you also tell us what you did to the people? Maybe also tell us what that man was?¡±. Like hell I would trust him after that. And I didn¡¯t forget about Mina¡¯s boss; I couldn¡¯t, with his sharp teeth and his son¡¯s mocking gesture towards us. Although, we could technically get some answers from him. As he was the one fighting the bastard. That feline smile returned on his face as he answered, ¡°With all due respect, my dear, for me to release such information, you would need to give me something a little more than just your name. Would it not seem unfair that I saved you, gave you my name, and asked nothing in return? And yet you dare to ask for more?¡±. He chuckled under those closed lips. My eyebrows furrowed, and my face heated from frustration. But, he was right. He had given without gaining anything, and yet I still asked for more. Fine. If he wanted to play like some kind of fae, then I should play this game with him. To get answers. However, noticing Mina¡¯s silence made me uneasy. I faced her now at my side with a slight smile on my face and mouthed ¡®Hang on, love.¡¯ Turning to look back up at Roland made my smile fade. I affected a look of boredom. ¡°Fair enough. I am Beatrice Lane. And This is my girlfriend, Mina Son. You talk like an old man, by the way.¡± Roland¡¯s eyebrows slightly lifted from surprise, either that or interest. I couldn¡¯t exactly tell. But at least I got that last thing out of the way. Then again, my last name was that of my father, a general in the monster hunter legion in the city¡¯s police force. He was sent to help hunt monsters down in a neighboring city, as this city had a ward to protect us from them. However, seeing Darik and his son made me think otherwise about this city. Maybe my father¡¯s last name was the thing that caught him off guard. A second later, a subtle smile tugged at Roland¡¯s lips. Though, it seemed as if he was struggling to keep a broader smile at bay. ¡°Charmed, my dear. Say. Are you a mind-reader, milady?¡± He scanned me from head to toe, and his lower lip briefly curled under his possibly white teeth. With one blink, he uncurled his lip and offered me another smile. My face remained straight, unbothered, and bored, ¡°It is rude to assess a lady,¡± I said flatly. I could almost smile seeing that it made him chuckle under his lips. ¡°Apologies, madame,¡± he continued with a subtle smile that didn¡¯t match his lazy eyes. ¡°You just paid me double what you owed, my dear. Therefore, I shall answer your questions. And a little extra one I am sure you will have after I answer your first one. And that will make us even.¡± This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. No, it didn¡¯t. But fine. ¡°Those two, my dear,¡± he continued while swinging himself sideways and waving his hand toward the two bodies on the ground. ¡°Were demons. I am sure your father told you about the tear in the city¡¯s shield. It has been like that for a while now and that tear is the reason those two, and most likely many other creatures, are in this city. In hiding. As for the rest of the party, I simply sent them away.¡± So, he knew my father. But demons? A tear? Other creatures in the city? This was bad. Very bad. With my father out there¡­ There was no way he would¡¯ve missed that information. And there was no way he would just hide that from me. My eyebrows furrowed at the thought of my father hiding something this dangerous from me. I did not care at the moment about how specifically Roland had persuaded everyone at the party to leave. Father had kept something big from me. Semora was a peaceful city without monsters or other mystic creatures to ruin it. A thriving land with lights and technology that did not match our neighboring monster-driven cities. Waters free of mermaids and sirens that would kill anyone who touched their waters. Skies free of harpies that would claw at you at any time they wanted. Free of vampires that could eat you up for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for days on end and keep you alive until they drained you of your blood. Vampires. I hated those creatures the most out of all the other Meistecs. Vampires drained my mother of her blood in front of my eyes when we still lived in a neighboring city filled with monsters. My father attacked that night until he lost an eye and later moved us to Semora to keep me safe. I could still remember my mother¡¯s wide eyes losing color as she stared at me while being drained by 3 vampires at once. Their fangs had sunk into her neck, her waist, and her leg, and I couldn¡¯t do so much as freeze from the shock. From the thought of vampires attacking her. And they had hissed in delight that very night. They had hissed and laughed after killing my mother. Laughed knowing a 5-year-old was watching. I was going to kill them all. ¡°I am sure you have many questions at the moment, milady, but I shall allow you one,¡± Roland snapped me out of my thoughts with that gentle voice, ¡°As sunrise is indeed arriving, and I would like to go home and get some sleep. Although, I do find you interesting,¡± his focus was solely on me as he talked, ¡°I would like to invite you to my estate. Say, tomorrow evening? As the sun begins to set?¡± ¡°Again. You speak like an old man.¡± I say flatly, staring at no one in particular. Thoughts ran across my mind again as if they never left. Though, that¡¯s how thoughts worked, after all. ¡°But,¡± I sighed the word out. ¡°it would be nice. For both of us to relax a bit, that is. Thank you.¡± my smile was grim. And I was sure the weakness of the smile was what made his smile fade, causing me to jump slightly on my toes. ¡°So,¡± I tried to continue. ¡°your address? So, we could go.¡± ¡°Ah. Yes,¡± His smile came back, wider this time but not enough to show his teeth. ¡°My address. That will be 314 East Mae Street, the estate closest to Idris¡¯ forest, sadly. I hope you do not mind.¡± he clapped his hands together and bowed his head as an apology. An isolated area. Typical. Mae Street was unfortunately the street closest to that forest, though it was still at a safe distance from the forest that happened to belong to a powerful dragon. A magic barrier also kept anyone from going in or any creature from getting out of that forest. Surprisingly enough, the barrier was strong enough to keep Idris from leaving the territory, unless the dragon had never tried to leave in the first place while finding the wall pathetic. The dragon was known to be wise but also very judgmental and cruel. As a reply, I finally gave Roland a more positive smile, a nod, and a goodbye on behalf of myself and Mina. She hadn¡¯t coughed the whole time Roland and I talked. She was still as pale and still as she was when the whole thing started. But before I turned us around to leave, I noticed Roland¡¯s eyes widen behind us. He clasped his hands over his mouth before he could open it wide enough for me to see his teeth. Was it excitement? Maybe. I didn¡¯t know, and at the moment, I wasn¡¯t sure I wanted to know. I was too tired and worried about Mina, my father, and that tear in the city to worry about this man¡¯s feelings. 4 - I Would Like To Introduce You To My Friend ROLAND I paced and paced in my room, my shoes thumping on the soft carpet. I ran my hand through my hair, my heart beating quicker than usual. My breathing deepened, but I noticed I was still breathing too quickly. I needed to slow my breathing to calm myself, and I was failing. I had such a hard time keeping my composure at that party. In front of her. Then, I felt¡­something. Something unknown. My blood was stinging my veins, and I wanted to bite my lip while staring at her body which tempted me to bite her. To claim everything she was. However, I had barely managed to keep from biting her right then and there. I had to. As much to not disturb her as it was to not show my fangs. I did not know why I was feeling this way. Why I was feeling anything after that encounter, really. Was I afraid? Afraid of her family name? No, it could not have been. Lane was a good monster hunter, but not the worst of his kind. Maybe I was developing a crush on her? No. A gentleman would never fall in love with someone with a partner. I should be better than that. I shall not allow myself to fall for anyone with a partner. Much less, a human. Maybe I was just craving her. Craving her daisy-scented blood. Maybe I wanted to feel her skin on my lips as I sunk my teeth into her neck¡ª. Maybe that was it. I was craving her blood. And I was going to get it. As she was to come to my lonely mansion. Lonely. I turned to face my large tinted windows filling a wall in my bedroom. Stepping closer, I felt the only sunlight I could get without turning to dust. Warm, yet still slightly cold as the dark grayish blue of the windows blocked out the sunlight. As the magic placed in the tint itself was not strong enough to let more sunlight in. To make more of it safe enough for me to feel. I stopped just a few steps away from the large windows and watched the city outside rushing to do their early-morning doings. Sometimes, I wondered what it would be like to be out there during the day, where all is alive. I caught myself yawning just thinking about it being morning already, waving my hand back and forth over my gaped mouth. I really needed some sleep, especially now knowing that I would have to wake up early to make the mansion look presentable for my guest. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Well, guests, if I wanted to count the girlfriend as well. But she did not truly matter to me. No. I was sure she was to die soon. I could smell it in her at the party. Her blood was rotten and failing with an odd, yet familiar, sickness that caught a grasp on her frail body. And I felt slightly sympathetic. Just slightly, as she was not the one that was currently on my mind. * Waking up was easy. I reckoned I had slept well this morning, dreams were as rare to me as Idris was to come out of his cave before we made our deal, and I would be lucky to have the lord of the Flame come over tonight to help with making my home look more presentable. This hundred-year-old mansion really needed something new. And who better to call than Idris? He was one of the very few friends I had, after all. Getting out of my too-comfortable bed to get ready for the night was slightly harder than waking up. But I did need to remember I had actual things to do tonight. After finally getting to my closet, I got something slightly different from what I wore last night¡ªactually, it was mostly the same, save for the tail on the jacket. As if he read my mind, I suddenly heard footsteps in the hallway near the entrance downstairs, the tapping of bare feet upon marble. It took me not even a second to step out of my room and out into the foyer, where Idris stood. ¡°Idris! What brings you here, old friend?¡± I started walking towards him. There was no overgrown lizard in front of me. No. But a broad-shouldered man with dark gold hair and eyes red like the most beautifully grown roses. His attire, though. My nose almost wrinkled at seeing his brown, long-sleeved baggy shirt tucked under some black pants that I knew people wore a little over 100 years ago. A silver bracelet constructed by my company¡¯s best, adorned with 3 small rubies, occupied his wrist. And there were no shoes to be found. ¡°My friend, please do not tell me that is all you got for clothing.¡± My purr was almost that of disgust. I did not blame Idris for his lack of fashion. He rarely came out of hiding. Not even in his new human form. My comment earned me a stern look from him. I supposed I deserved it. ¡°I did not come to play around, Roland,¡± he replied with a voice so deep that it nearly sent a shiver down my spine. ¡°I came to check on you.¡± I pointed at myself and pursed my lips, forming a smile. ¡°Do not dare give me that look! I am here to check on your progress with your curse,¡± his growl was that of a human. Meaning he was in a better mood than most days. Though his answer triggered a rare anger hidden within my veins, my smile became feline as I placed a finger over my lips. ¡°I would prefer that we talk about this later. Tomorrow, maybe? I have a guest arriving tonight.¡± He showed no expression other than a raised brow, as if he was saying, ¡®You¡¯re having guests?¡¯. So I continued by answering his silent question. ¡°Yes, my friend. I have a guest, and she will be coming any moment now. I was actually about to call you. I need your amazing decorating skills to help me make this place look more presentable,¡± my smile grew as I slammed my hands onto his shoulders. ¡°So do not think for a moment that I am not going to take advantage of you being here, my scaled friend.¡± An eye roll was his only reply. It made me grin as I said ¡°Let us begin.¡± 5 - Let Me help BEATRICE We were only about an hour from our visit to the most powerful man in the city. I spent the whole day calming Mina down. Her coughing worsened since we got home and I didn¡¯t know what to do about it. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine..¡± She finally said, her voice was as weak as a mouse. I could hear all the mucus-like substance in her lungs. The bags under her eyes were dark, opposite to her weakened skin. Tears started running down my eyes. I couldn¡¯t do anything to help her. Not back in the arcade. Not right now when she¡¯s been coughing for the past 3 hours after crying her eyes out over her Meistec boss trying to kill us. My heart stung until it reached my throat. My eyes so were filled with tears that I had to blink to look at Mina¡¯s beautiful face again. She was smiling. Barely. I tried to return her gesture, but I failed as I noticed her starting to cough again, her lungs struggling for air. I finally let the water filling my throat and heart loose. I couldn¡¯t help it. I couldn¡¯t help but cry over how weak I felt. At that. At seeing my sobbing, Mina hugged me as tight as she could, which didn¡¯t have the slightest amount of pressure. Her shaking arms tried to stay stable on my back as she rasped, ¡°Please. Be happy. Don¡¯t ever let me slow you down.¡± * I walked through the black iron gate that suddenly opened as I neared it. Stange. I began my steps on the long pebble pathway that led to a large mansion that looked like it was built over 100 years ago. I stopped a few steps in and looked back to see the whole path behind me leading toward the gate. It seemed Roland bought a magic path rock to transport anyone right to his doorstep if they stepped on the right pebble. They were a rare luxury. Before I could reach to knock on the dark oak door, it just opened up for me. How many magic items did this man own?! Right. I reminded myself that he owned a magic artifacts company. Walking inside, I saw a chandelier in the ceiling. It hovered over the space between two large spinning stairs that lead to the second floor, which was cut in half in front of the stairs, leaving me in the foyer to the ceiling of what would¡¯ve been the other half of the second floor. Fancy. The floor beneath me was a red carpet that I could swear would be made of the softest wool. I would lay down on it if it wasn¡¯t for the fact that this was the richest man in Semora and I was nothing but a guest to him ¡°I do not see why he has such interest in you.¡± Oh gods. I felt my heart skip a single beat hearing a deep voice near me. I lifted my head to look at the well-built man standing in front of me. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. My heart skipped another beat and I felt my chest tighten at the sight of him. He would definitely destroy me if he was a Meistec. I bit my lower lip with a shiver running down my spine at the thought. His reply to my reaction was crossing his thick arms over his tough chest. ¡°Apologies,¡± he continued with a slight frown on his face. ¡°I did not mean to startle you. My name is Idris.¡±. He placed a hand on the right side of his broad chest. ¡°I am a friend of Roland¡¯s.¡± Idris?! Another shiver crawled down my spine thinking of that name. ¡°I¡ª Idris?¡± the words didn¡¯t come out as I expected. ¡°Like the dragon Idris?¡± My hands couldn¡¯t stop shaking. Idris arched a brow and gave me a look that said, ¡°Are you stupid?¡± Despite his incredulous expression, Roland¡¯s home was the closest any building was to that dragon¡¯s forest. Gods. I had brought my dagger this time as a precaution. In case had a little unpleasant surprise waiting for me. But I didn¡¯t expect a damn dragon to be here. Much less, the dragon Idris. From what I heard, he was a destroyer of worlds. He had once incinerated an ancient prosperous civilization with a single exhale of his flames. Another time, he had broken the spine of the person that called him an iguana. Then, once he had isolated himself, he had killed anyone that trespassed into his newly claimed territory. My trembling only stopped when I felt Roland¡¯s hand on my cheek. ¡°Madame,¡± he softly called out. ¡°You are safe. I promise.¡± His voice was as subtle as his smile. My face flushed with what might¡¯ve been embarrassment or anger. I didn¡¯t know why it might¡¯ve been either of those emotions. I just knew it wasn¡¯t me getting a crush on a man who possibly murdered over 150 people in a matter of minutes. ¡®Sent them away¡¯ my ass. Besides, I had a girlfriend. I wasn¡¯t going to cheat on my partner. I blinked out of my daze to Roland looking past me, then assessing my purple purse, which was currently home to my dagger. The more unpredictable the spot, the less suspicious they are. Once his eyes were back on me, he finally said, ¡°You came alone.¡± Not exactly a question. I crossed my arms and raised a smooth brow, ¡°Yes, I did. Mina didn¡¯t feel well. She stayed at home.¡± His lips curved into a frown, ¡°I can help. I can cure her of her illness.¡± He offered me a hand and I could see a spark in Idris¡¯ eyes as he stared at his friend. No. He couldn¡¯t help. Mina¡¯s illness was too severe for even the best doctors to cure. Her illness has been bad for years, and it had gotten worse just last night. So no, he couldn¡¯t help. I wasn¡¯t going to let him help. I crossed my arms over my chest and raised a brow, ¡°How do you plan on helping, exactly? Not even magic has been able to help Mina. So, how do you plan on helping her?¡± Roland offered an apologetic smile ¡°Madame, I have a magic substance that will cure her.¡± ¡°With all due respect, Mister Roland, you can¡¯t. You¡¯re not a doctor. You don¡¯t know her symptoms. You don¡¯t know what she¡¯s been through. How do you even know you can cure her?¡± ¡°I have my ways. How about you tell me over some dinner what symptoms she¡¯s going through and I¡¯ll see if she can be cured.¡± Roland¡¯s hand still stood as an offer to me. My face heated for a moment until I realized that I was desperate for a cure for Mina¡¯s illness. There were so few options at the moment. I didn¡¯t want to let her fate fall into the wrong hands, but I wanted her to have even the slightest chance of living and being truly happy again like she used to. I guessed he did save us yesterday. Somehow. Maybe there really was the slightest chance we could dance under the moonlight again. I took Roland¡¯s hand, which turned out to be slightly colder than I expected, and followed him to the dining room to the left of the foyer. Looking at the door frame of the room, my eyes were drawn to the long gold chain hung delicately on it like it were just an ornament and not an expensive piece of jewelry meant to be worn on an expensive outfit. There was also an array of gold rings, necklaces, bracelets, and other exquisite pieces of jewelry not so elegantly scattered on the ground leading toward the entrance of the dining room. Entering the room, I opted for the seat at the end of the table. The centerpiece was a bowl of fruits, while the rest of the table had some more gold jewelry scattered for decoration. The chair, however, boasted a cushion so soft I almost wanted to sleep right here right now. Could Roland show off how rich he is any more than he already has? I adjusted a bit on my seat. Looking up from my thighs, I found Roland setting a plate of black goo of some sort in front of me, his gentle smile giving me a slight sense of discomfort. I raised my brows as I asked, ¡°Are you trying to poison me?¡± There was no humor in my voice, as I truly thought he was trying to poison me by feeding me this¡­thing. Idris, who had decided to sit on the opposite end of the table, cleared his throat and looked away while suppressing a grin so I wouldn¡¯t be able to see his face ¡°Excuse me.¡± he muttered, his voice as tight as a knot, betraying a hint of sustained laughter. I couldn¡¯t help but let a smile tug at my lips, ¡°So, the lizard does have a sense of humor.¡± Roland chuckled under his lips as he sat on the seat on my right, ¡°Apologies for my cooking, madame. You do not have to eat it if you do not want to.¡± He used a hand to pull his seat closer to me. Strong. His smile stayed as he asked, ¡°How about we get down to business?¡± 6 - Lets Get Down To Business BEATRICE My blood went cold thinking about how fast he went straight to the subject of Mina¡¯s symptoms. Idris¡¯ focus turned to me with face back to its usual serious expression. Was I just not ready to talk about it? Or did I not trust Roland? I definitely didn¡¯t trust him. I wasn¡¯t sure I was ready to talk about what Mina had been going through just yet. ¡°So, how did you and Idris meet? Besides you two being neighbors,¡± I suggested, aiming to steer the conversation in a different direction. Roland¡¯s eyebrows furrowed from worry as his eyes stayed on me, his grip tightened slightly on my hand, a different man from when I first met him. He knew what I was doing, but he didn¡¯t bother to point it out or push me back into the subject of Mina''s symptoms. However, he didn¡¯t bother opening his mouth to answer my question. The one who did was Idris. With crossed arms, he began, ¡°It is a bit of a long story. I was in my cave, my usual business, and this guy decided to break my barrier and walk uninvited through my woods.¡± ¡°Your barrier?¡± I asked, seeking clarification. ¡°Yes. The barrier around my forest is my doing. I aimed to keep everyone out. Your host here tore through it and walked into my cave to ask me for help. In return for my services, he would give me anything of my choosing.¡± A smirk teased his lips as if he knew exactly what he wanted to do to Roland, and it wasn''t going to be pretty. ¡°And I¡¯ve been stuck with him ever since,¡± he finished. Roland¡¯s face seemed to relax ever so slightly. He offered Idris a sly smile, ¡°I would hardly call it ¡®stuck¡¯, my friend. You enjoy my company. And you even helped me decorate my house for my guest here. A true friend¡¯s doing from your part.¡± Idris let out a growl that was lizard-like. But it wasn¡¯t that of a small lizard that was growling. No. It was the growl of a giant lizard; one with wings that could blow away, sharp teeth that could tear through skin with barely any pressure, and a breath that could turn someone to ash in an instant. I flinched and held onto the sides of my chair to stop myself from standing up and running back home as fast as I could. ¡°Remember that my gold is only borrowed, *my friend*.¡± he mocked the last two words. The jewelry was his doing, then. ¡°I expect them in whole when you return them.¡± I chuckle slipped my lips, ¡°Are all dragons like you when it comes to gold?¡± Roland¡¯s focus stayed on me, eyebrows remaining furrowed, as Idris replied, ¡°It¡¯s more of a hobby that some dragons tend to pick up. In a way, it is like what you humans tend to do with your currencies.¡± I guessed Roland had enough, because he finally said, ¡°If we do not progress, madame, we might not be able to save your lover.¡± His voice was serious, far different from when I first met him. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. He was right, though. If I kept stalling, even for a few more seconds, we might end up being too late. So I hesitantly told them. I recounted as many symptoms as I could; The mucus-like substance in her lungs that just wouldn¡¯t come out, the paleness in her skin, the blankness in her eyes, her weak body, her constant breathlessness. I told them that sometimes, she screamed for blood. Most people might¡¯ve assumed she was a Meistec for that last part, but I knew it was the sickness. Roland¡¯s eyes widened after I finished my explanation. Even Idris lifted his eyebrows in surprise. However, both expressions were gone as soon as they came out. Roland¡¯s sudden silence almost made me regret telling him this information. After a moment, he shot up and said, ¡°I will be honest with you, madame. My magic substance will not be able to cure your lover.¡± I stood up, and he landed his free hand on mine so that he was now holding both of my hands, ¡°But,¡± he took a shaky breath, ¡°My mother has the same illness, it seems. Though I have not found a cure yet, I will share it with you once I do.¡± I stepped back, and he pulled me to his chest ¡°Madame,¡± he continued, voice low and soft as he stared down at me with sparkling eyes, ¡°Give me a chance. Please. I truly want to help. You see, I have already found an ingredient to the cure.¡± Idris¡¯ brows lifted. ¡°I can do it.¡± I huffed a laugh at whatever he just said, letting my breath blow into his chest. I couldn¡¯t help it. I was here, having lost almost all hope of curing my partner. And here he was, determined to cure his mother and now, as it seemed, Mina. However, thinking again about that little hope that Mina would be cured, I said, ¡°I¡¯ll let you help. If you let me in on your plan to find whatever other ingredients the cure needs.¡± Roland¡¯s smile was feline as he asked, ¡°You do know what this implies, madame?¡± I did not like where this was going. ¡°It implies that you and your partner live with me for the time being. Until we find that cure, that is.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll agree to stay to help you out, but Mina does not have to be here.¡± I countered. Roland¡¯s eyes darkened, his smile having faded, ¡°I suggest that she stays as well, madame. I would not want her to get hurt while we are out searching for ingredients. I have a magic barrier around my house that will protect her while we are busy.¡± My eyes narrowed at the man. As much as I hated it, he was right. If I were to stay with him, I should keep Mina by my side. I had to remember that the man giving me such an offer was the most powerful man in Semora. CEO of Bowey Enterprises. His whole thing was magical artifacts. With them, it would make things much easier ¡ª Was that how he managed to get all those people at the party yesterday? No, it couldn¡¯t have been. Magic artifacts that didn¡¯t make sounds or showed no symptoms of magic were banned in Semora. For safety reasons. I didn¡¯t hear any sign of artifacts during our rescue. I blinked my anger away and offered Roland my hand, my face matching his, ¡°It¡¯s a deal.¡± Roland replied, with a wide smile on his face as he took my hand, ¡°Wonderful! I will be waiting for you tomorrow night. Use this time to pack your things and¡ª¡± ¡°Tomorrow night?!¡± I interrupted, ¡°So soon?!¡± ¡°The sooner we get things started, the sooner we can find the ingredients as well as any other ingredients needed for the cure. Apologies if it bothers you that your visit is cut short.¡± *Right*. I nodded, and he gently let go of my body, but not my hands. He held them gently as he led me to the front door, still facing me. He held my chin with two fingers and lifted my head so I could face him directly. My face flushed from the touch. His voice was soft when he said, ¡°I look forward to seeing you again, madame.¡± He had hope in his voice. And with that, he finally let go of my hand, and I was too shocked to say anything as I left. 7 - What Are You Up To? IDRIS ¡°What the fuck was that?!¡± My anger stormed through my body, almost as strong as the flames I wanted to burst from my throat toward the bastard vampire standing in front of me. The vampire was facing the door until he decided to turn his head to half-face me, and it was his feline grin that made my flames spark in a circle around me. The flames were small, as they were part of what little power I had left after what he had done, but they expressed enough to make Roland''s eyes widen for a split second. ¡°Where did you learn such language, my friend?¡± he asked with a voice soft yet threatening. I tried not to reflect my anger with my answer, ¡°As I am to be stuck here, I took some time to learn some of their culture and way of speaking. Do you like it?¡± A smirk tugged at my lips, my voice coming out the calm I had hoped for, yet the surrounding flames remained. His eyes drew from mine down to the sparks. His smile grew wider until a chuckle slipped his lips, his fangs sharp yet retracted, a sign of mockery as I saw it. My flames burned hotter in my veins. I hated being around others. Humans, much less. And this vampire, far less than humans. After he had entered my cave 50 years ago, Roland sought my help to help cure his mother of an illness. As I had shaken his hand with a claw, he clasped on a cursed bracelet that now adorned my wrist. The very one that turned me to this form, also refraining me from being able to use my magic and return to my home in the forest. I had been roaming this city ever since. Hiding but also learning whatever I could, though I learned very little considering my lack of knowing how to read and write in the human¡¯s language. Though, the little I learned currently proved useful in a way against my so-called friend. ¡°Apologies, friend. I am proud that you learned something about this city.¡± His words triggered an unexpected reaction from me: My eyebrows tensed. ¡°What seems to trouble you?¡± ¡°First off, you said you finally found an ingredient to the cure!¡± The fanged boy tsked with a shake of his too-crushable head, ¡°I said I found one, not that I had it. I still have to retrieve it from Amari¡¯s forest.¡± The Goddess of Nature. Her forest was three cities east of Semora. It was known for its protectors, or minions, as the vampire seemed to call them. The main one being my brother, who loved to eat his trespassing prey, and was also the dragon king''s right hand. I lifted a hand to rub my chin and let my other hand hang on the crease of its elbow with my head slightly tilted towards the ground, my preferred posture to think. ¡°It would take weeks by horse,¡± I said after a few strokes of my chin. The cities were big, but they were definitely not the size of average-sized island. What would make the trip longer were the mountains between Amari¡¯s forest, and its neighboring city, Elta. Besides that, I was not inclined to seeing my brother after all these years. I lifted my head to see that the vampire''s smile had turned into a conniving smirk. ¡°By horse, my friend. But by dragon, it will only take a few hours.¡± My face clenched from anger, and my surrounding flames grew in size. Not by much, but enough to show my anger toward the fool that knew how I felt about being ridden like some steed. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. ¡°I know what you are thinking. Remember, you are still to help me cure my mother. As part of our bargain.¡± after a small pause, he said, ¡°Please.¡± His smile was now apologetic, and his voice was softer than usual to seem sincere. ¡°Explain who that mortal was and why she was here, then I shall think about letting you fiends touch my scales.¡± I let my flames disappear to show that I was willing to listen to whatever bullshit, as the short-lived creatures said, he was to spit out. I also turned my face into a reflection of calm, though my anger remained inside. ¡°That was Beatrice Lane, daughter of Brode Lane.¡± He held his hand up, with palm facing me, at my growl, one of the few traits I had left of my trapped part of myself. ¡°I know. I know,¡± he frowned. ¡°I saved her and her girlfriend from Darik at his event last night.¡± I raised a brow. ¡°He was doing something that I was not very fond of. I offered to help her calm down here tonight,¡± his lips twitched into a half-smile ¡°but, as you could see, it turned out differently from what I had planned.¡± My eyes narrowed at the fanged boy. For one, I knew he was at Darik¡¯s event. I was not sure why, and I was not sure that I wanted to ask. And why he had decided to save that dragon killer¡¯s daughter? I was not sure if I wanted to know either. This man worked in mysterious ways. ¡°I would like us to leave for Amari¡¯s forest by tomorrow night after I get our sick guest settled in. The sooner we have a cure, the better.¡± was the last thing he said before brushing past me toward the stairs. ¡°There is one thing you have not considered,¡± I said, my voice a warning. He stopped at the first step of the stairs and turned his head to half-face me, his eyes poised and relaxed. ¡°Firstly, you trapped me in this form. I cannot access my wings. And secondly, if you were to free me of this damned bracelet, are you not afraid I would run away? And if I did go with you, are you not afraid that I will be attacked from below?¡± He gave me a knowing smirk as he said, ¡°I have a plan. Now go get your rest. We have a long road ahead of us, my scaled friend.¡± And with a single step forward, he was gone. ---- I had spent all morning listening to a sleepy vampire ramble on about how he was going to get through each and every monster in Amari¡¯s forest, including my brother. He had wanted to go at destroying any creatures we came across in that forest without the dragon hunter¡¯s daughter finding out he was a Meistec. The vampire had hidden his entire non-human identity from the world for hundreds of years, changing his name every few years or so to make him seem less suspicious. I found myself stopping in front of a display window from a clothing store. I looked at mannequins posing in interesting ways as they showed off the most expensive men¡¯s clothes the shop had, the glass glinting at the sun having risen at its highest today. The reflection of it slightly bothering my eyes but bringing some warmth to my face. I did not understand why clothes had to be a certain way to be considered¡­ What was the word? Fashionable. ¡°Idris?!¡± A familiar voice shouted from my right. A little too loud for my liking, and I did not dare look, as I did not want to deal with the girl. It was embarrassing enough that she had almost made a laugh burst out of me at her pointing out the vampire¡¯s horrible cooking. I was not ready to have my pride plummet more than it already has. The closer she stepped, the more my flames wanted to burst out from inside me. But I did not falter from my relaxed expression, nor did I look down to the girl as she stepped right in front of me. I kept my focus on the mannequins on display. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± she asked, beside the fact I was trying to ignore her. I did not look to see the expression on her face. This was supposed to be my last day alone before a trip that would likely take days, or even weeks, and now I was stuck having to deal with the girl. She grimaced below me, a sign of irritation, I presumed, from the many times I''ve seen other humans do it as I watched from afar. That was not what finally brought my eyes down to her, though. It was the sound of paper being played with, of something being opened, releasing a sweet smell of dried meat. Something I have not had in quite some time. Finally tilting my head to look her in the eye, I noticed she had the face of having accomplished something. Well played, human. I thought as I narrowed my eyes. ¡°Do you want some?¡± she asked, holding the piece of dried meat up closer to me, making its sweet scent much stronger than I could handle. ¡°What is your price?¡± Though my heart began to ache for the meat, the expression on my face remained. Her smile grew after my question. It was as if she had just found something useful. I almost wanted to take my words back to not give her any ideas for my strict favor-for-a-favor moral. Almost. She was mortal, after all. I did not think she would make me do anything that would deplete my pride more than she already had. ¡°Can you help me get Mina to Roland¡¯s place? She''s too weak to walk now. If it isn''t too much trouble?¡± Her smile became one that did not meet her eyes, like that of a human girl I once knew before she passed. I had no interest in carrying a girl in public across the city, but I gave her a single nod nonetheless. 8 - Fly, Dragon, Fly! ** BEATRICE Idris had stayed silent on our way back to Roland¡¯s, holding Mina like a bride in his arms. People murmured around us while staring at Idris with narrowed eyes. My heart sank just slightly, seeing these people judge Idris as we passed by. I was with him, and Mina was clinging onto his shirt with face on his chest. Shouldn¡¯t that have told them something about what was going on here? I noticed Mina was holding onto his chest as tightly as she could, her eyes closed, which wasn¡¯t as tight as I thought she¡¯d cling to him. There were no wrinkles caused by her clenched hand on Idris¡¯ clothing. Her head was on his chest. If I thought I was worried enough, I had thought wrong. My heart pounded in agony. I gulped to try to keep tears from pouring down my face. One tear did manage to escape. Idris spun to face me and used the hand that held Mina¡¯s back to wipe the single tear away with his thumb, crouching slightly in the process. ¡°You care about her,¡± a statement, but his voice sincere. ¡°Will you be okay?¡± His thick brow lifted as he eyed me. It was the closest I would probably get to him acting nice around me. If it even was kindness. From what Father told me, dragons did not show their true emotions. If they sensed weakness, they would strike without hesitation. I wondered if Idris sensed anything in me that made him decide to help me. Or maybe the dried meat I gave him as a peace offering did the trick. I offered him a soft smile as I said, ¡°I¡¯ll be fine. Thank you.¡± ¡°So. Do dragons really sense weakness?¡± Both a legitimate question and a distraction from the topic that was to bloom centered around me. A corner of his lips quirked upward, ¡°No.¡± His eyes focused once again to the walkway in front of him. Suddenly, I wondered how many other things Father was wrong about. ¡°Where did you hear such a lie from?¡± My cheeks flushed instantly, ¡°My father¡­¡± I muttered. ¡°Your father? That is odd. I supposed the many years of absence in the field have gotten to him.¡± I rolled my eyes, then stared at him with bored eyes, ¡°Isolation really must¡¯ve gotten to you. My father still works. He¡¯s just been on the fields in Yesta.¡± One of many cities with no magical barrier around its borders, making bad Meistec and other monsters able to walk in freely and attack the people in that city. His eyes drifted to mine as we neared Roland¡¯s mansion. He opened his mouth to say something, then closed it and shook his head before shifting his focus ahead again. * I did not expect Roland to come down the stairs hovering a hand back and forth over his mouth as he yawned, as if he had just woken up. His slow steps, and his upper body swaying side to side, did not help his usual depiction of ¡®gentleman¡¯. His black cloak, that barely reached his black pants and shoes also showed his lack of formality. Roland¡¯s choice of attire made sense, at least. I had just chosen to wear black leathers with a white shirt under the jacket. Both were different from Idris¡¯ unchanged clothes. ¡°Are you ready for our trip, madame?¡± Roland¡¯s voice echoed softly through the roam. I nodded in reply, not knowing what exactly he was talking about. His eyes shifted from me to Idris, then to Mina as he stepped closer, his position having straightened after the final step down the stairs. He stopped in front of Idris, and I stiffened. He laid a hand on Mina¡¯s pale cheek, his lips curving into a frown. After a moment, he said, ¡°We will find the cure.¡± he turned to face me, his face now a reflection of seriousness, ¡°That. Is a promise.¡± * Two hours ago, we were in the house, getting Mina settled in a guest room filled with furniture that was filled to the brim with dust. The bed seemed like the only dusted piece of furniture in the room. Half an hour later, Roland explained what his plan was so far. Anger began rising in my veins. I should¡¯ve known he had no real plan to find the cure. I also should¡¯ve known what he truly meant when he said he had ¡°found an ingredient¡±. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Sneaky bastard. After that, Mina had wanted to speak with him. Alone. I jumped to my toes, feeling a hand on my shoulder. Before I could elbow whoever was behind me, Idris, who stood in front of me, grabbed my arm and gave me a look that told me not to do it. A low chuckle filled my ears, air huffing from his nose and onto my cheeks. ¡°Shall we go, then?¡± Roland¡¯s purring into my ear sent a shiver down my spine. I managed a nod in reply. Once Idris let go of my arm, his eyes were narrowed toward the man behind me. ¡°So. How are you going¡ª¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go outside first, my friend.¡± Roland interrupted. I could feel his conniving smile behind me. ¡°The backyard, that is. So no one can see you transform.¡± Idris tutted in response. I supposed that made sense. I followed them towards the open area between the stairs, where I turned my head to the right side at the top of the stairs, where the hallway to Mina¡¯s room stood. I clenched my shirt over my chest as if it would stop my heart from aching. ¡°Do not worry, madame,¡± Roland assured me as we stopped at the back door. ¡°My wards are strong enough to protect her from anything that tries to harm her. She will have everything she needs. An old friend of mine will check in on her thrice a day. I promise you. She will be fine.¡± Somehow, I didn¡¯t believe that. Maybe it was due to the fact that he had his back to me. Or his bored tone. Stepping outside, I immediately noticed how close Idris¡¯ forest was. The trees were large, and I could not see far into it, as thick trees grew more and more the deeper you tried to look. I felt my stomach knotting thinking about the overwhelming darkness of the forest. ¡°I like the darkness of the forest,¡± Idris slowly said behind me, ¡°There are fewer trees where I am, but the surrounding area is completely dark.¡± His voice sounded mournful. ¡°Anyone who tries to come near me will get lost or will become too terrified of the animal noises and the trees to go any further.¡± I gulped down the sorry feeling that tried to crawl up my throat, ¡°Ah.¡± Turning my head to face them, I saw Roland pluck out one of the rubies that adorned Idris¡¯ bracelet. At that signal, a chunk of cloud began to spin around Idris, growing and rising like a hurricane forming from the ground up instead of from the sky. I stepped back as the cloud seemed to grow far too big for my liking, the top of its cyclone reaching the roof of Roland¡¯s estate. I looked down to face Roland standing next to me, my brows furrowed as if asking, ¡®What did you do?¡¯. Roland replied with a conniving smile and only motioned his head towards the cloud, motioning me to look. And I did. The clouds finally vanished, revealing a dragon. One with scales golden brown, his eyes red like roses. Silver-brown horns poked out like a crooked wave from the back of his head. The fold points of his membranous wings were topped with curved talons. This¡­ Was Idris. Idris stood tall with chin, if that was what it was called, held high as he lowered his eyes toward us, ¡°If you are to ride me, I only have one rule. Do *not* fuck it up.¡± His voice echoed from his body, but his jaw was sealed shut. The bracelet had grown with him, glinting in the sunlight. Idris adjusted his body into what seemed like a cat¡¯s loaf ¡ªwith legs tucked in under his belly¡ª and laid his head on the ground. ¡°Goddess Amari, help me.¡± I mumbled with a gasp. I heard Roland bark a laugh from behind me. I was too in awe from the dragon, who¡¯s neck went so high that I would need to jump to get on him. Looking behind him toward his back, I knew I would have had a harder time to get on, as it looked like I was staring at a small mountain. A golden brown-scaled mountain that could incinerate me any second, and he could crush me with his dragon hands. I was but a toy to him. The thought made my breathing uneasy. I held a portion of my black jacket over my heart, thinking it would ease my racing heart as I stared up at his eye shifting on me. My heart skipped a beat from how fast the movement was. ¡°Get on. Before I change my mind.¡± His deep voice was like an echo inside an empty theater. Roland stepped out of the shadow of a tree where he had been standing, and walked toward me. He lifted his cloak hood over his head that now shadowed the top half of his face, leaving me to only admire his luscious lips after finally taking the last step off the shadow of the tree. ¡°Amari? Really? She is the god you are going for?¡± A corner of Roland¡¯s lip curved upward. I rolled my eyes. I jumped with my hands up, hoping to reach the back of the dragon¡¯s neck, and failed. I jumped again with a grunt. Only to be lifted by Roland from behind, his swoop making me feel as light as a feather. I wrapped my arms around one of Idris¡¯ horns, one under and one over the horn, as if it was the only source of safety on the dragon. And it was. My ass felt like it was sitting on a rock cushion instead of a cotton. Running a hand across the horn, I noted its feeling being identical to a nearly smoothened rock or a hill if a giant hand were to touch it. I felt a smile tease my lips at the feeling. Behind me, sat Roland, folding his arms around my waist. I turned my head over my shoulder, ¡°Where are the saddles?¡± I finally asked. Idris¡¯ growl rumbled through his body, making me and Roland shake frantically. I tightened my grip on Idris¡¯ horn to make sure I wouldn¡¯t slip off his neck. ¡°There¡¯s your answer,¡± Roland replied with a smile. Idris lifting his head felt like a slow tower ride at a festival. Except, I could feel the air trying hard to pull me down. It was then, that Roland pulled me to his chest, and my face reddened. ¡°Hang on,¡± he whispered into my ear, his warm breath sending goosebumps through my body. I did not hesitate to tighten my legs on the sides of Idris¡¯ neck, hoping to cling onto something with my legs. But his neck was nothing but scales. Oh gods oh gods oh gods OH GODS! With one mighty flap of his giant, yet partially torn wings, we were high enough in the air that I could see the tips of the trees in Idris¡¯ forest. The problem was that he only flapped once, so we then began descending with Idris¡¯ head to the ground. He adjusted his membranous wings, so the air lifted him upward with another flap. He flapped and flapped as he tipped himself to the side, tipping the rest of us with him. I could¡¯ve fallen if it wasn¡¯t for Idris¡¯ horns and Roland holding tightly onto me. Gravity squished me against the horn, making me begin to see black. After finishing his turn, Idris finally adjusted his body to fly forward, my guts hitting my ribs on the side from the movement. My stomach churned as my fuzzy brain cleared. I hadn¡¯t realized I was screaming until Roland whispered a shush into my ear. I obliged. Not because he said so, but because I knew we were now above the city and making noise would attract attention. I wanted to look down to see if anyone was looking up at us. If any cars honked, or if anyone was taking pictures, or recording the giant dragon flying above them. My fastened heart screamed for me not to, but my eyes betrayed me. Idris was casting no shadow over them. ¡°Invisibility spell,¡± Roland said into my ear to make sure I could hear over the loud winds trying to blast me off the dragon. My ass was already aching against the rocks that were Idris¡¯ scales. Badly. Gods, this is going to be a long ride.