Ilias: A Paranormal Shifter Romance (Stratham Dragons Book 2)

by Sarah J. Stone

  Today, however, there was a new spring in her step as she headed back to the small apartment she paid for with student loans. Her parents had been nervous about her moving out by herself, especially when her disease caused frequent medical attacks. But she had to have independence; she had to have a life. Her apartment was ten minutes from the school, but just two streets down from the hospital, of which she was a frequent visitor.

  She had put the scroll under her bed, unsure of what to make of it at the time. But now home with a new-found curiosity, she slowly unrolled it.

  It was authentic. She could tell as soon as she cracked it open. There was the familiar smell of antiques, of dust, and the musky past.

  The ink was half faded but well preserved, scrawled across the page with a practiced hand.

  She had never seen writing like this before. Ancient script was harder than modern script of a different language for many reasons. Some letters or words had long since died out, and there was no globalization. Today, it seemed like all major languages shared some similarities. But back then, things could have nothing in common due to the lack of communication between cultures.

  She had no idea where to begin. None of the symbols looked familiar to her. Nothing jumped out.

  Part of her agreement was that she would do it by herself. Enya was tempted to go into school to ask her professor, but she remembered the results of the blood test. He had been telling the truth. He could make her better.

  And so, she hunched over the text, took out a blank notepad, and began working.

  It was somewhere around midnight when the pain started. She tried to ignore it at first, hoping that it was just a spasm. She was so focused on the text and on trying to match the letters to one of her many translation textbooks that she had on hand. She was glad she never really got around to selling them.

  The pain began to radiate up her abdomen, causing her to gasp and grit her teeth.

  She was onto something. Some of the symbols possibly looked like Aramaic, a long dead language. There was certainly no one alive who spoke Aramaic anymore.

  She sketched a few of the symbols as nausea rolled through her body.

  E. She was positive that the odd looking one that appeared the most frequently was E. It had to be. It was one of the most basic rules of translation – E was the most common letter of the alphabet.

  Enya was top of her class and she always had been. When things weren't so bad, she had dreamed of working for the UN as a translator. She would earn a good salary and help her parents get out of the medical debt that she put them in.

  She supposed, in a way, that a cure was the highest paid salary of all.

  She was just filling in E to the copy she had drawn of the scroll when the pain she had been feeling became too much to ignore.

  A spasm hit and she felt her stomach turn over. She cried out in pain, leaning to the side of the bed. She knew that it was going to be bad, because she could see the edges of her vision go black.

  "Ah!" she managed to move away from the scroll just in time before heaving into the nearby garbage can.

  She hadn't eaten very much that day, but her stomach never failed to surprise her.

  "Oh, God, oh God," she clutched her blanket as she broke out into a cold sweat.

  But suddenly, she felt a hand on her arm, and everything came back into focus.

  The heaving had made her eyes watery. As she glanced at what appeared to be Cole, she was sure that she saw a halo above his head.

  "Gross," he said. "Do you humans have no dignity?"

  Enya was simply grateful that she wasn't going to pass out in a pile of vomit. No wonder she didn't have a boyfriend.

  Gingerly, she wiped her mouth.

  "Because you've never been sick."

  He smirked, letting go of her arm.

  "No," he said. "We do not entertain such notions anymore."

  She leaned back against the pillows, grateful she had at least hit the garbage can. And then, logic returned to her brain.

  "How did you get in here?"

  She should have been afraid. She should have feared for her life, her possessions. But as she watched his yellow-tinted eyes and his usual smirk, she knew she had nothing to fear. So long as she upheld her end of the bargain, that is.

  He was handsome in the way that images normally stared back at her from 15th century historical paintings. He didn't look quite right in modern day as if he was holding himself to different standards.

  "I can cure you, and yet you wonder if a half-locked door can stop me?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

  "Stupid questions get stupid answers, I guess," she leaned forward. "Sorry you had to see that. It was not the most attractive thing, by far."

  "Because I care about how attractive you look," he replied. "Have you cracked the code yet?"

  "I got one letter," she replied. "At least, I think I got one letter. I did tell you it would take a while."

  "One letter has taken you a week?" he asked, in disbelief.

  "Is there a deadline I don't know about?" she answered. "Besides me expiring?"

  His face changed.

  "The deadline is as soon as possible. Does that ring true in your ears?"

  "There has to be a reason," she answered. "You wouldn't be so desperate to have it otherwise."

  He rolled his eyes.

  "Is it a strange concept to you?" he asked. "To want to do something because someone told you that you couldn't?"

  "Not at all," she replied. "People tell me I can't do things all the time. If anything, it inspires me to do them even more."

  "There we go then, we have a common understanding," he replied. "So, spend less time emptying your stomach and more time working on the scroll. May I remind you that your life hangs in the balance?"

  "My life hung in the balance long before you came into the picture," she answered, defensively. She didn’t like being kept in the dark. "You should tell me why you want it. It might help me solve it faster if I know the reason behind it. Common sense is a huge part of language."

  He gave her a look.

  "Are you telling the truth?"

  "Yes," she said. "I have no reason not to."

  "Fine," he sighed. "I suppose that you'll be dead if you fail, so it doesn't make a difference. I'm a Prince, from a world far away. Or I was, until my father told me I was actually some bastard orphan. I thought I was of Royal Dragon blood, but it turns out I'm just some witch-dragon mutt. That throne is not mine for the taking, and that planet is lost to me. But this one, this one could be mine, if you activate that scroll."

  She sat there in silence for a little longer than he was comfortable with. Cole flexed his hand, causing sparks to warm up beneath his palm. He was ready to act. He didn't really want to kill her. He wasn't the monster people made him out to be. He was mischievous and he was hurt. But he would do it if he had to – if she lost her mind.

  He stood there staring at Enya, and her calm gaze slowly disarmed him.

  "Aren't you afraid?" he asked, confused.

  "No," she replied. "Every race has a reaping. Every creation story has an ending."

  "Is that what you think I am?" he asked. "The end?"

  "Or the beginning," she replied. "When you have come to terms with death, you learn what matters and what doesn't. I don't know if you are who you say you are, but I saw in my blood tests today what you can do. The rest doesn't matter."

  "I am a god compared to humans, " he said. "I am superior to you in every way."

  She shrugged.

  "And yet, you need me to help you with this. It's odd, isn't it?"

  He hadn't expected that response. His shoulders relaxed and he even chuckled a bit.

  "I suppose I do," he replied.

  "Good." She flipped the scroll towards him. "Now, do you want to see which one I think is E?"

  "Sure." He glanced at the scroll, but his mind was elsewhere. For a week, he had thought about nothing else but how he was going to take over this p
lanet. But now, he was distracted by thoughts of how she could answer the way she just had. How she was the only person who didn't see him as a monster, as a criminal, as a bastard who had lost his throne.

  Besides, it's not as if he had anywhere else to go. His world had rejected him; he was wanted for his crimes of destruction. His brothers had surely shunned him, or were too distracted to even notice he was gone. This place, with this girl, was all he had now.

  CHAPTER 3

  "Don't miss the Translators Ball which will be held next month. For those of you who are sitting in your seats right now thinking of not going, remember that you will be mixing and mingling with some of the top minds in translation. There will be games, puzzles, and food which usually draws the rest of you in like flies."

  That last statement caused Enya to look up from her notes, as it did for most students. However, it wasn't the food that enticed her, but the idea of multiple translators in one place. She could bring the scroll and pretend like it was a puzzle. This could give her the headway she needed.

  Secretly, Enya also wanted a chance to feel pretty and good about herself, something that she hadn't experienced in months. To put on a formal gown and dance the night away sounded wonderful.

  She blushed when she realized that Cole was on her arm in that image. With his dark hair and pale skin, he would be a sight to see.

  She shook the image from her head. This was not the way she was supposed to be thinking about him.

  As class was dismissed, she gathered up her books in a hurry. Her stomach had been growling, and she figured eating would distract her. Enya very rarely could eat when she was hungry; either her stomach disagreed, or her medication schedule didn’t allow for it. But these days, she could eat anything.

  Rushing out into the hallway, she bumped straight into Cole.

  He looked slightly out of place, standing in the middle of all the college students. If she were to compare him to humans, she would say that he was probably in his 30s. Even though he had chosen a more normal style of clothing today, she still thought he stood out somehow. His jeans were too expensive looking, and his gray shirt fit him too well.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked in shock. He raised his eyebrow, a slight smirk on his face.

  “Is that any way to greet me, love? Given what I'm doing for you.”

  Enya rolled her eyes, shifting her backpack to the other shoulder.

  “That's not what I meant. I meant what are you doing here, in my school, right now?”

  “I came to check on your progress, of course,” he answered. “And your library.”

  “Our library?” she said. “I've checked the library, and I've gotten all the books that could be of use.”

  “Ah well,” he said as his eyes twinkled, “two sets of eyes are better than one, aren’t they?”

  “Sure.” She felt slightly annoyed that he didn't trust her, but she supposed any help couldn’t hurt at this point. Her stomach suddenly let out a growl loud enough for Cole to hear. She didn't want to say anything because her time with Cole was precious and although she wasn't sure how she felt about him, she wanted to learn more who he was.

  She led the way to the large library containing stacks upon stacks of dusty books that no one ever looked at. Even Cole coughed as they made their way through them to the language books.

  “No one uses them,” she said. “Everything is online. It's –” she was about to explain, and then he laughed.

  “Do you think I don't know what online is?” he asked. “Our civilization is far more advanced than yours.”

  “I forgot,” she replied. “Everything about you seems so…old fashion.”

  “Does it?” he cocked an eyebrow. “You would be blown away by the things you would see on Umora.”

  “I…” she started, about to retort with a witty comeback. But then she felt a knot in her throat, a side effect of not eating. Her window of hunger had passed, and it had turned to nausea. She wavered slightly, and Cole’s gaze turned protective and concerned.

  “Are you alright?”

  “I'm fine.” She tried to waive it off, but it was clear that her body was fighting her. She reached out for the shelf and Cole quickly caught her before she fell. “It's fine. I just need to eat something.”

  “God damn it, woman, why didn't you say something?” he asked. “Where is there food on this sprawling metropolis?”

  It was Tuesday meaning that her tuition payment had come out of her account. If she had any hope of making it to next semester, or at least until her next loan payment, $5.99 specials were not in her future. “I'm alright.”

  “What, you don't eat on Tuesdays?”

  She would have laughed if it weren't so sad. Instead, she briefly leaned her head against his shoulder, trying to get her bearings.

  She knew he could kill her, but she had seen her blood tests. He could also save her, if he wanted.

  “God,” she managed, when the feeling had passed. “That was close.”

  “Close to what?” he raised an eyebrow.

  “Last time I was in here, I forgot lunch as well and ended up on the floor. It seems to be a trend around here.”

  “Enya,” he said. “I would appreciate you not dying before you solved my mystery.”

  “Sorry to inconvenience you,” she replied. “Dou think you can take me home?”

  “Aye,” he answered, although there was an unexpected note of sympathy in his voice.

  Lately, she noticed that he didn’t choose to flood her with magic, nor did he choose to cure her there and then. Had it been a one-time proposition? Was being a dragon shifter, a part witch, something that he made up? Something that could only be done at a certain time?

  She had to know. Once she was inside the confines of her tiny apartment, the questions came flooding out.

  “Can you show me?”

  “Show you what?” he asked, with raised eyebrows as he had barely finished shutting the door.

  “That you are a dragon? I know you have magic; I saw my blood tests. But you have to understand why this is all so hard for me to believe.”

  He said nothing as he leaned against the counter, and her heart plummeted.

  “You aren't, are you?” she asked. “God, I'm an idiot.”

  “I am,” he assured her, with a glare that could be described as icy. “But it's not as simple as that.”

  “What, it needs to be a full moon?” she taunted him. The lack of food was making her head pound, and she was feeling testy.

  “No,” he replied, “but it takes a higher level of magic to transform on Earth than on Umora. And I don't have an unlimited amount of magic here. So, if I show you to satisfy your curiosity, you better not need any relief for about a week. Is that clear?”

  She considered this, and then nodded.

  “Just toss me that banana and there's half a sandwich in the fridge. I'll be alright. My blood tests after the last time were good.”

  He sighed, clearly not a fan of this plan. But as powerful as he felt, he understood that she could refuse to help him. She was dying one way or another, and his threats didn't mean as much to her as they did to a healthy person.

  “Fine,” he said, as he retrieved the food. “Stand back. Don't move. This apartment is barely big enough to hold both of us, forget a dragon.”

  “Right,” she sat on her loveseat against the wall and crossed her legs, watching him intently.

  She wasn't sure what to expect, if anything at all. But when the gold magic started swirling around him, she knew that everything he told her was true.

  The magic began to engulf him, the gold burning her eyes. She reached up to shield her eyes, but she couldn't tear her gaze completely from him. Giant wings began to expand, and his head went from human to angular. Smoke came from his nose, and green and gold scales engulfed his body.

  In almost no time at all, a beautiful dragon was standing in her living room, his wing span going from wall to wall. He dipped his angular he
ad towards her, and she slowly unfolded herself from the couch, mesmerized.

  “Wow, “she said. “You weren't joking.”

  He met her eyes, lowering his head. With a smile, she reached up and her instinct of being an animal lover causing her to scratch his eye ridge

  His multi-lidded eyes closed in pleasure, just for a moment.

  “Are you in there?” she asked, softly. “Or is your brain all dragon now?”

  Obviously, he couldn't answer her. But he bumped his head against her hand, and his eyes flashed.

  “Yes, you are,” she grinned. “You are in there.”

  They stood in silence for a moment, and he sat back on his haunches. He had to duck his head to avoid hitting her ceiling, and she smiled.

  “Alright,” she said. “You proved it to me. I'm going to change. Maybe you should change, too.”

  He cocked his head, to indicate that he understood. She headed into her bedroom, shutting the door.

  It was only then that she covered her face with her hands, and took a deep breath.

  This was real. Everything she knew before him had been a lie. Dragons were real, witches were real, and despite what the doctors had told her, there was a cure for her. And the cure was standing in her living room.

  She took her time changing into sweatpants, pulling back her hair as she finished the banana in her hand. When she felt less shell shocked, she opened the door again.

  Cole was sitting on the loveseat as if nothing had ever happened. He looked tired, but satisfied.

  “Believe me now, do you?”

  “I believed you before,” she said, as she leaned on the counter. “I just needed to see it. I needed to see that my hope was real.”

  “Hope?” he asked, confused.

  “Hope,” she said. “For a cure.”

  “Oh,” he clearly hadn't thought of it that way. “Yes. That is real.”

  “Is it easier for you?” she asked. “To be a dragon? Or is it human that is easier?”

  “Easier?” that seemed to confuse him even more. “There isn't one form that's easier. On Umora, everyone takes the form that suits them at the time. The dragon is easier to be angry, to be strong, but a human form has it's advantages as well.”