I nodded, trying hard not to laugh. He really didn’t look at all amused by the idea of a bird on his head, and I had to admit he looked absolutely ridiculous with it there.
“Get it off,” Raikidan ordered. I couldn’t help but laugh now. Not only did he look stupid with it there, but he refused to remove it himself. “Eira, I’ll kill it if I try, and I don’t think you want that.”
I sighed. He was a stick in the mud.
Getting up, I moved over to him and attempted to convince the bird to hop back on my finger. The little bird puffed out and moved around on his head, attempting to dodge my hand. I narrowed my eyes and whistled to it. The bird didn’t respond.
Raikidan growled. “Get it off now!”
Startled by Raikidan’s anger, the bird flew off his head and flew into the kitchen.
“Nice job, Raikidan,” I muttered before going into the kitchen.
The tiny bird sat in a far corner, its flight instinct in full control. I whistled to the little creature several times, but it remained unresponsive to my coaxing. Thinking of another strategy, I reached within myself, finding a warm pulsating sensation.
“Why do something like this for a silly little bird?” the voice hissed. “It’s just a stupid bird.”
Whenever I reached for this energy, the voice always had something to say. I didn’t care what it thought of the bird.
I whistled again, but this time laced a little spiritual energy into the sound. That should get it to calm down.
The enhanced sound traveled and twisted its way around the tiny creature, calming it. I approached and coaxed the tranquil animal onto my hand, where it chose to go about preening itself.
Genesis beamed a smile at me when I exited the kitchen for the windowsill again. I ignored Raikidan’s gaze and sat back down. Genesis leaned on my leg to watch the cute creature in my hand.
Once the bird was satisfied with its preening job, it chirped once and then flew out the window.
Genesis pouted. “Aw, bye birdie.”
The two of us gazed out the window, watching the tiny bird disappear into the distance. She then ran off suddenly, making a dash for my room. My brow furrowed. What is she up to?
Today had been a bit difficult for her. She was having one of her “child” moments, where she struggled to act more than her perceived body age. It happened quite often in the past, and I was a bit disappointed they still hadn’t figured out how to prevent it at this point.
Genesis returned, a small oak box in her hands.
“What did you take from my room?” I asked.
She shoved the box into my hands and then pulled her hands behind her back, looking away as if embarrassed. Brow raised, I focused on the wooden container, running my fingers over it. It was beautifully crafted, and the gloss coating barely existed now, showing its age. I ran my fingers over the symbols engraved on the curved lid and flat face of the body. I didn’t know what they said, but they looked nice. They remind me a lot of the special code Jasmine developed for me to use…
I opened the box. It was lined with violet silk, and inside rested an object wrapped in more silk. Reaching in, I pulled out the object and removed the cloth. In my hands I held a beautifully crafted pan flute with symbols carved into it similar to the ones on the box.
I looked at Genesis. “Why did you dig this up?”
She looked at her feet, digging her toes into the floor. “I want you to play it. You only play it when you’re in a good mood, and I thought the bird put you in a good enough mood to play a song.” She looked up at me with big pleading eyes. “Please?”
I smiled, unable to refuse. “Okay.”
Closing the lid, I placed the box on the floor and held the flute up to my lips. Exhaling slowly into the pipes, I began playing a tune.
At first the notes were random as I tried to recall how to play. As I remembered, the notes changed into a melody. Argus and Rylan put down their guitars and sat back in their seats on the couch to listen while Genesis sat down happily under the sill and looked up at me to watch. I closed my eyes as small bits of my memories flooded to the front of my mind. As they did, the tune of my playing matched the memories. The song was about my life. It was about all the hardships and trials I had gone through. It was about the good times with my comrades and the bad times with blood staining my hands.
It was the only thing I could think of to play. I didn’t mind much. Although I hated my memories, I knew bottling them up was killing me more than actually remembering them. Playing them on this pan flute allowed me to tell others without verbally telling them. I didn’t have to worry about their responses or whether I’d be ridiculed. I didn’t have to worry because most didn’t know what the song meant.
I played like this late into the night. My story was never ending, and so was my song.
I placed the box carefully into the drawer of my long dresser and ran my fingers over the engraving one last time just as my bedroom door slammed shut. Oh boy, what’s wrong with him now?
“Where did you get it?” Raikidan demanded.
I looked at him. “Get what?”
“You know what I’m talking about.”
My brow furrowed. “Are you talking about my flute?”
“Of course I am!”
My brow remained creased. “Why are you yelling?”
He looked taken aback by my question, hesitating before offering an answer.
I pursed my lips and then started rummaging through my dresser. “Are you still mad about the bird situation?”
“What? No—what is with you and that bird? It’s just a stupid bird.”
“Eira, why do you like birds so much?”
Xye’s words so many years ago came unbidden, like so many other memories did from time to time. But it was Raikidan’s words that halted my rummaging. “Birds aren’t stupid.”
“What?”
“They’re free.”
I resumed my aimless searching, but at a slower pace, dark emotions twisting in my chest. “They can fly where ever they want. They don’t have to listen to anyone. They don’t have to sit in some cage as a pet for another’s amusement. They’re free.” I closed the drawer and changed my clothes into something more sleep-oriented before I headed for my bed, not looking at him. “That makes them smart.”
“And animals in general are kinder than most other sentient beings.”
Raikidan remained silent, his intense gaze following me.
I jumped onto my bed and got comfortable. “Now, based on your silence, are you calm enough to tell me why you’re so uptight about my instrument?”
Raikidan’s brow furrowed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“That’s not what I asked from you.” I didn’t care for his “apology.” I didn’t believe it for one second. It’s not like he really understands how it feels to be caged.
Raikidan frowned at my rejection and then leaned against the door. “Those symbols written on the box are in my kind’s tongue.”
I leaned my hands over my knees, slightly interested, though trying not to be so obvious about it. “Okay, so that justifies getting angry at me?”
“I wasn’t…” He sighed. “I wasn’t angry. I’m sorry. I should have approached that better. Our language is predominantly spoken, so it’s not common to find items with our language on it.” He looked at me. “Would you please tell me how you got it? It’s important to me.”
“Eira, dear, I have something for you.”
“My mother gave it to me. She found it on some excursion. She thought I’d like it.”
“Mother, it’s lovely, but what is this written all over the box and flute?”
“Words, written in another language. They have a meaning. I wrote it down on a piece of paper. Let me find it…”
Raikidan nodded. “I see.”
“Can you tell me what it says?” I knew I shouldn’t engage in this conversation, but I couldn’t help myself.
“On the box is, ‘Lazmira
sa xruzk.’ On each pipe of that flue, ‘zity, gyexy, lgunum, ziaeza, lynyvuma, ziaeza, fulkis.’” Raikidan paused for a moment. “It translates to, ‘Lazmira, my child,’ meaning the box is for a female dragon as a gift from their parent. The flute words are ‘love, peace, spirit, loyalty, serenity, strength, wisdom.’ Single words that go together in some way I don’t understand at the moment.”
“This isn’t from you, then.”
“Your father sent it for you. He thought you’d like it. The language makes it an extra special find.”
I curled up. “Well, now you have your answer. It’s just a coincidence that I have it.”
Raikidan sighed and flipped the light switch, plunging us into darkness. I closed my eyes, a lingering memory haunting me before unconsciousness took me.
“Special, right. He couldn’t even have the common decency to have the box made in my name.”
“Dear, that’s not…”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Mine. I will protect what is mine. You are mine.
My eyes fluttered open. That dream… It had been such a long time ago. I thought I had forgotten about those types of memories. Why had I dreamt of that day?
I stretched a little and yawned. My eyes fluttered as I snuggled deeper into my pillow. As I reopened my eyes, something blue on my bed caught my attention. I let go of my pillow and reached out and grabbed it. Flipping on my back, I gazed at the stem of the pretty blue flower I now held. Where did these come from? As I thought about it, one being came to mind. It couldn’t be… could it?
“Human females like flowers, right?” I sat up and looked at Raikidan, who sat on the windowsill. “It makes them happy, right?”
I avoided his question. “Where did you get these?”
“So, I’m wrong? They don’t please you?”
There’s that weird ‘pleasing’ phrase again. I pursed my lips. “No, I never said that.”
“But you avoided my question.”
I regarded him for a moment. I don’t think he realizes he gave me forget-me-nots. I inhaled their sweet scent. “I like them.”
Raikidan looked at me hopefully. “But that doesn’t excuse your behavior last night.”
His expression dropped, and he looked at the floor. Interesting. As I studied him, it didn’t look as though my words were what disappointed him, but the actual rejection. Why do I care?
I crawled out of bed, changing my clothes into something comfortable and casual, and snatched up my hairclip before heading for the door.
“I’m sorry,” Raikidan said.
I continued on, ignoring him, until he made it so I couldn’t. He closed the distance between us and pushed me against the wall, resting his forehead on mine as he pinned me. His breath came slow and deep, and he kept eye contact with me. My heart pounded in my chest. “I said I’m sorry.”
“Raikidan, let me go.”
“Not until you listen to me.”
I gulped as a warm feeling began to rise up through my body. “I’m not kidding. This is pushing my personal space to a whole new level. Let me go.”
“I’m sorry,” he repeated, ignoring my demands. “I really am. I shouldn’t have yelled. I don’t even know why I did. There was no reason for me to. I wasn’t even mad. And I shouldn’t have insulted something you obviously took interest in, no matter your reasoning behind it.”
I closed my eyes and did my best to pretend I wasn’t in this situation—my heart thundering in my ears. “Please, Raikidan, let me go.”
Slowly Raikidan pulled away, allowing me to breathe. I didn’t open my eyes until my heart returned to a normal pace. When I did, I looked at Raikidan apprehensively. He was acting really weird. I didn’t like it.
I took another breath. “You can’t do that to people. That’s wrong on more levels than you understand. Don’t ever do that again.”
His shoulders sagged. “I just wanted you to stop and listen to me.”
“I did listen, I just didn’t acknowledge.”
“Why? Why is my apology not good enough?”
“Just because you apologize doesn’t mean I have to forgive you.” I placed the tips of my fingers on my chest. “I may have screwed-up emotions, but I do have some. And even if I didn’t have any, it doesn’t give you the right to be insensitive.”
He frowned. “I understand that. That’s why I’m trying to apologize. It’s a sincere apology.”
Raikidan reached out for me but I pulled away. I didn’t want him touching me. No connections. No close contact. No stupidity.
“Dragons touch to help reconcile after differences drive them apart. It doesn’t matter the scale of the issue or the sex of either dragon,” Raikidan said. “I don’t know how to reconcile with you if you won’t allow touch and won’t listen to words.”
I held my arms close to my body and avoided eye contact. Was I being too stubborn about this? Of course, I am… I was so concerned about keeping this professional and without any strings that I was being a jerk. More than a jerk…
I held out a hand to him, my eyes unable to meet his.
“You mean it?” he asked.
I nodded. At the very least, I could allow some standard body contact. His hand grazed mine, but then touched my forearm. My eyes widened when he yanked me forward and wrapped him arms tightly around me, keeping me close. My body tensed, and he rested his chin on my head.
What is he doing? What was I doing? My whole body stood rigid and all words stuck in my throat. It’s just a hug, Eira. Nothing wrong with a hug… right?
“Thank you…” he mumbled. “I know this wasn’t what you were initially offering, but I swear to you, this is a better way to reconcile.”
I swallowed and wiggled my arms free, wrapping them around him, though my grip wasn’t as tight as his.
“Thank you,” he repeated.
“You’re still a stupid dragon,” I muttered.
Raikidan’s grip tightened, which surprised me. “And you’re a silly human.”
I sighed and tried to pull away, but Raikidan’s grip stayed the same. “Raikidan, let go.”
Chuckling, he did as I asked. “I’m surprised you let me do that.”
My eyes darted away. “Don’t get used to it. It was a one-time deal.”
He smirked. “Sure it was.”
I rolled my eyes and reached for the door knob.
“Wait,” he said. I sighed and stopped. “Do the flowers actually please you?”
I turned and raised my eyebrow at him. “Why is that so important to you?”
“Just answer my question.”
I pursed my lips. “Yes, I like forget-me-nots. Yes, it was an interesting choice of a flower to give me as a way to tell me you were sorry. No, I won’t tell you of a flower that would have been a better choice. I’ll let you figure that out on your own.”
Raikidan gave me a confused look, making me laugh before I left the room. I needed to get out of there before any more weird things happened.
“Finally, you’re awake!” Genesis exclaimed. “I need to talk to you.”
“I already told you, she’s going to say no,” Rylan said.
“Hush!” Genesis hissed. “Let her hear me out first before you make assumptions.”
I didn’t like this. I looked as Genesis apprehensively. “I’m listening.”
“I need you and Rylan to reconnect your bond.”
I laughed dryly. “No way in hell.”
“Told you,” Rylan replied.
Genesis sighed. “Please? It could help us.”
“I said no!” She flinched at my sharpness. “Do you think I enjoy having some tiny sensation in the back of my head telling me what Rylan is feeling? Do you really think I enjoy feeling the same pain as him? I’ll pass, thanks.”
I jumped over the back of the couch and sat down next to Ryoko. She smiled at me, but refrained any comments. She knew better with Genesis bringing up this topic.
“I don’t see a problem with it,” Genesis said. “Besides
, it’s still there. It’s just broken down with the time you’ve been apart.”
“If you had to deal with it, you’d be glad it’s broken down,” I muttered. “Now lay off.”
“Laz.” I looked over at Seda, who sat in her meditation corner. “This is not just a request from Genesis. This is also a request from me.” I glared at her. “Yes, I know how much you hate it, but hear me out. I have been getting a bad feeling lately. It is the reason for my extra meditation. I cannot figure it out, but I feel as though we need to prepare for it, and strengthening your bond is one way to start. When this is all over, we can figure out how to sever it for good.”
I looked away from her.
“Laz, you know I would only ask this of you if it was the only thing I could think of.”
“Seda, we both know I’m not basing my decision on me. This is about Rylan. This bond was the reason our friendship was nearly ruined. It’s the reason he felt something more than what was really there. I can’t put him through that… I won’t hurt him again.”
“Laz, his heart has moved on. You know it has. You have felt it because of the bond. You saw it before you left us. I have watched him carefully since then on your behalf, and I can say bringing the bond back will not change anything. He will still feel the same about Ryoko no matter what.”
“And Ryoko? What is she supposed to think? She has a hard enough time believing me that there’s nothing between me and Rylan in the first place. How is she to feel when she knows I know how Rylan is feeling without trying? How is she to feel knowing the two of us have a type of closeness she can’t have with him?”
“She will be fine. I will make sure of it.”
“I can’t believe that right now.” I sighed. “This isn’t just my decision. Rylan has to agree to it. If he does, I’ll go along with it.”
Seda was quiet for some time. “He wants to talk to you in private.”
I looked over at Rylan and nodded. Both of us jumped over the back of the couch, and I followed him.
“Where are those two going?” Blaze asked, looking up from his magazine, but no one answered him.
I closed the door of his room and leaned against it. The two of us remained quiet for several moments.
Destiny (Experimental Heart Book 1) Page 40
