That was seventy-five years as a dragon. I was twenty-seven. I fell into the 'so' category. "My parents died in a car crash... my grandmother said her flight had ended. But she lived to be a hundred."
He nodded. "She extended her time to protect you. Sometimes dragons extend their time because they simply enjoy their human life, but at the end, the call of the flight is part of our soul."
Some part of my brain accepted his words. My fists clenched in my lap. "How could I not know?"
"In every flight of twelve, some of us are born with the knowledge of what we are. The rest of the flight experiences human life so we know how it feels to be human. My brothers, Grayson and Logan, and I were like you—though we discovered our powers earlier, when the vampires came for our parents and us. "
Either we were both crazy or this was the strangest dream I’d ever had. "Where are your parents? I thought that your father was in Hollywood and that your mother abandoned you? It was what you said. Did you lie about that?"
“No, my brothers and I were adopted. I told you what happened to my adopted family. Mrs. Adams brought us to them as she wanted to protect us.”
I inhaled. I had everything so wrong about her then. “Mrs. Adams? Your housekeeper?”
“Yes. I didn’t want to lie to you, Daphne. I just couldn’t tell you about what I truly am, what we truly are, until I brought you here.”
Fair enough. This was a lot of information. My brain felt like it throbbed as I digested what he said, but I had to push forward. “What happened to your real parents then?”
"A vampire killed my father in front of us. Mother flew us away to protect us here."
I wouldn’t call this house protected. “Why here?”
“We can survive on the harsh coast and at the end of our lives, we return to the caverns below.”
“What caverns?”
“I’ll show you. You’ll get to see your grandmother there.”
This cavern sounded like a mystical place. I pushed my hair out of my face and adjusted my seat on the silk blue couch. "Why would we be born human at all when we're not?"
"So we understand and feel as those we must protect from the others. The old ones decreed this was our way."
Old ones made me think about ancient dragons who lived on some sort of Mount Olympus somewhere. The stories my grandmother read to me about dangerous magic floated in my head. “If we’re to be connected to humanity, why had my grandmother lived in the middle of nowhere? She “died” happy to join her flight again."
“It must be because of your parents. She hid you so that your life wasn’t revealed before it was your time. I hope you ask her when you see her.”
Fair enough, whenever that was, though it had to be soon. I had other questions. Robert had known I was a dragon, before I knew. Was I simply required of him to carry on his family or did he care about me? Love me? I prayed my voice didn't shake as I asked, "Why did you marry another and not come find me years ago?"
"I told you, I thought you were dead, that you had died in the car accident with your parents.” He curled the golden streak in my hair around his finger. “After my parents died, I lost hope too, until I heard the call.”
I snuggled back against the pillows. “How did you know about me, when I didn’t know?”
"I felt in my veins that I needed to go to Italy when I did, but I wasn’t sure why. I didn’t know who you were, Daphne, not your name or what you looked like. And then, at the top of the bell tower, just as I was getting ready to fly across Florence, you appeared like an apparition."
At least it wasn't suicide as I had originally suspected. Then the puzzle pieces of our conversation kept connecting. "Then how did you know in Pisa?”
"I suspected it was you from the emotional connection I felt right then, but then I didn’t know what to do when I realized how innocent you were.”
I’d had an emotional pull toward him the moment we met too. “Okay, you put off a few of my questions by suggesting I ask my grandmother. How can I do that?”
"With practice you will be able to communicate with all your family who are in the cavern that protects us until we are reborn."
Past lives too? No wonder I dreamed of knights trying to slay me. I stood up and paced. The clothes on my back and how they transformed was one. So many questions about my parents surged forward, but I stayed on this topic first. “Reborn? Do we always have the same spiritual mate?”
“Yes.”
Right now I needed to understand the more immediate danger. And after that, if my husband might ever love me. I didn’t want to be married simply because I'm a dragon, and he’s a dragon. Love mattered.
"I don't grasp all of this, but I’m trying. Why would vampires attack dragons? We can kill them with our fire if they approach."
"Yes." His eyes flashed as he brought me into his memory. I could see in my own mind how he and his brothers were in the back of an SUV. Their mother sat in the passenger seat. The car was parked. Waiting. Through Robert’s eyes, I saw their father come out of the grocery store, bags in his hands. White faces suddenly surrounded him. His father dropped the groceries and transformed, but the vampire attacked his weak spot, killing him. Their mother jumped from the car and transformed, picking up the SUV with her talons to fly her children away. Robert stared out the back window as his father was eaten. The memory hit me hard, like it was my own.
The second I could breathe again, I cupped Robert’s face. “I’m so sorry.”
"Dragon's blood can transform vampires back into humans. We are easier targets as single dragons, before we come together as a flight."
“How do we still have clothes when we transform back into humans? In monster movies, the transformation often rips the guy’s clothes off?”
“Our bodies absorb the material inside our scales. Once we return, the clothes are returned into their energy form that they were. If you were holding a gun or a plate, that would go with you too. All physical matter is energy.”
“I guess I understand.” My heart ached for him, because Robert too had a weakness. "You lost a scale. Did a vampire do that?"
"Yes. I was trying to protect Serena. And failed."
Serena. Mating with me was his destiny but his heart had been otherwise engaged. I lowered my hands but stayed in front of him. "What happened to your wife?"
"We married young. My mother had died of a broken heart after my father was killed." Another memory flashed, this time of Robert standing over a grave as a teenaged boy. "Harper was born before I knew I was a dragon, like my parents. Serena defied her pack to be with me. I thought being chosen by a werewolf made me special—we fought against the vampires together, I as a human and her as a wolf. Once I came of age and transformed into dragon, we realized we were doomed as a couple and that our children were in even more danger."
The memories of Serena were blocked. I had no access. He must have loved her hard, but what he said struck a chord with me. His children had thought their father hadn't loved them when it was so clear he did. I sat beside him again. "Why?"
"They have dragon blood without the dragon powers. They are wolves."
Mrs. Adams had called them pups, so had he. "They are young still. Don’t they have werewolf powers?”
"A dragon can only produce more of us with another dragon. Half-blooded dragons have some of our powers, but they will never shift into a dragon. Their blood will still cure a vampire."
He spoke the truth. I felt it. I caressed his shoulder. "That's why you left them to me."
"If I cannot protect them, I need to know that you will." Our bond needed love to grow and strengthen, but I wondered if his love was reserved for Serena, and he felt his duty for me.
Memories flooded into me like a wave that swelled and then went down and I suddenly knew that a black dragon could heal Robert, if there was one in our flight. “How many are in our flight that you know already?”
“I only know of my brothers and you now.”
We ne
eded to find the others. I’d found where I belonged. I massaged Robert's nape. "What did Grayson mean?"
"He wants to know if you know who his mate is."
“Why would I know, when I didn’t know who I was?” But I understood that we needed to find his dragon—only once we had our full flight would we be safe. I still had so many blank holes in my head. My hand went to my forehead.
"When anyone in our flight finds another, a friendship is usually felt. We were hatched to be one team."
"Hatched." I’d come from an egg? "That would explain why my grandmother never had any baby photos of me when I was born. There was no hospital for photos."
"So do you?"
My mind clearly wandered, as I had no idea what he meant. I’d always lived alone and isolated, until now. Then I remembered. We were talking about Grayson. I shook my head. "Know another dragon? I don't think so. I was pretty isolated, but I felt something for Aura. My great aunt… no wonder she put me with her."
“Ask that question tomorrow.” He shrugged. "We won’t give up searching—"
I stilled. "Did you love Serena?"
His hand went under my chin and gently lifted my face so that our eyes met. "Don't be jealous. I didn't know you existed or how I'd feel near you."
Feel was too vague. "How do you feel?"
"Alive." He kissed me and his lips made me feel free again. Then he released my chin. I reached out and held his hands to keep him. "Now, you must be hungry. I’ll go find Mrs. Adams."
I let go. My stomach growled. "Starving. Will you be right back?"
If he could read my mind then I sent a visual of us naked with our clothes off as he mounted me against the wall.
“Yes, later.” He laughed but didn’t say anything about the image. "I’ll order sandwiches and tell Samantha to put the children to bed. I hear them upstairs and they are probably worried."
I rose quickly and took a step to follow him but I mis-stepped and grabbed the table near me to hold myself straight. "No. Wait. I want to go with you."
He shook his head and pointed to the couch. "Next time. You're still weak."
"I don't feel weak." But I returned to the couch because it wasn’t quite true. The stairs meant expending energy that would take the wind from my lungs.
He saluted me as he walked out. "I will be right back."
"Okay. Hurry." I made him feel alive? Alive wasn't bad, but I needed to know how to protect my family now that I had one, find my place and figure out a way for Robert to fall in love with me.
14
I wondered what color and type of dragon Logan, Robert’s other brother, was as I tested my legs and stood. This time I shook less.
I walked back and forth toward the drapes and heard the wind rustle the pine trees.
Robert had gone to reassure his children, and who knew where Grayson had disappeared. I reclined on the couch, closed my eyes and tried to reason this out. Vampires were real and they wanted to kill us. Were there other predators as well? Genies were enslaved. Succubi and demons, I can’t even imagine. Somehow dragons and werewolves made an alliance, but I didn’t understand the details. Where were the angels and others?
Harper’s word “others” was easier.
A howl of pain sounded outside from the courtyard. Robert was upstairs, which meant I needed to help. I stood on shaky legs, grabbed one more glass of orange juice and decided it was time to go. Another deep howl echoed.
Adrenaline fueled me as I pushed forward. If I was a dragon and went right into the air, no vampire could catch me off guard. I raced to the door and flung it open, then closed. On the porch my heart beat so fast and then I did it. I became my golden self and flew just by thinking it.
The sky was dark still, and it took a few seconds for my eyes to adjust. Then I heard another scream. I dove in that direction and saw a vampire and a werewolf in battle. The wolf's leg was badly cut. I narrowed my gaze. If I shot fire, I'd hurt the werewolf.
I slashed down with my tail, breaking them apart. The vampire fell one way, the wolf another. I breathed fire.
Only my flame didn't work.
Now what? I picked up the werewolf with my claw and flew the animal out of the way.
Just then Robert emerged from the house and breathed fire at the vampire.
The trees behind me caught fire as I heard Robert in my head. Go home.
What about the werewolf?
Get Mrs. Adams inside and tend to her leg. I will put out the fire.
Mrs. Adams? I forgot she was missing. My claw held her firmer.
If he burned the forest down, we'd have no home. I gently placed her on the front porch and then circled. I had to transform without Robert's guidance. I stared at the door and told myself to be calm.
As usual that didn't work.
I looked over my shoulder and saw Robert dive into the Atlantic Ocean, the forest red and orange with fire. How did he intend to douse the flames?
I had to believe he would. One day he'd say he loved me too.
I took a deep breath and then dove for the door, landing on the porch beside Mrs. Adams. This time I turned into myself, but I couldn't run.
I could hardly move, my energy wiped.
Grayson slipped out and picked up Mrs. Adams, offering me his shoulder. I hobbled to follow him. "Get orange juice for yourself, quickly. I'll find Samantha to help with Mrs. Adams."
"Thanks." I dragged myself into the living room and toward the orange juice. I didn't even pour a glass but drank it from the pitcher. The liquid in my throat was an elixir that practically offered new life. I gulped the entire bottle.
As I regained my strength in my legs, the door opened and Robert rushed inside. I looked down and realized I drank it all. Drat. "I'll get you more in the kitchen."
"I can't wait. My mouth is full of salt. Let's go."
Salt? The ocean dive must have reached his lungs. "How did you put out the flames?"
"I carried the water in my mouth. Come with me."
I took his hand and followed.
On our way we passed a sitting room. Mrs. Adams was lying on the couch as Samantha and Grayson tended to her. She kicked Samantha off her. Feisty still but why had Mrs. Adams been out there alone?
Grayson bandaged her leg. I almost left Robert to join them and offer my help, but he swayed at my side. They could wait.
The kitchen had an entire refrigerator full of orange juice. I took one of the bottles and grabbed a glass. Robert leaned against the marble counter with a firm frown on his face. He seemed upset I’d gone without him, but neither of us said a word. I poured the juice and handed it to him.
He drank it in one gulp. Once he put the glass down and swallowed, he said, "Thanks. Now, what were you thinking going out there alone?"
“I heard a cry of pain. Mrs. Adams.” Robert had to understand that I wanted to help.
"Next time, you need to come and get me."
Fire reflected in his gaze. I looked down and wiped a spot from the counter. "I didn't think there was time."
He put his hand on mine. "Vampires are smart. They were once human. That could have been a trap."
Traps weren't good, but neither is letting an old woman suffer when I had the power to help. "So I was to let Mrs. Adams die?"
"You should have called me."
I threw the sponge in the sink. "I'm sorry I didn't think. I responded because she needed me."
"Next time..." he placed his hand on the small of my back "Don't leave me now. We just married."
Leave him? What was he worried about? I married him and never said a word about divorce. Here, I’d learned who I truly was. "Robert, I don't want to ever leave you, but we ought to see if Mrs. Adams needs anything and why she went out there in the first place."
He let me go. "We will continue this conversation."
I dried my hands and offered one to him as we walked. He took it, warm and strong. In the hallway, I asked, "How are the children?"
He glanced at the stairs. At le
ast Harper and Helen hadn’t gone outside with Mrs. Adams. "In bed now. Every time I sleep I fear one of them might get taken."
Sleep. Finally, though now I understood why Samantha was keeping up their adrenaline. However, this house could benefit from a routine. Routine breeds strong children or at least my grandmother said so. I kept that thought to myself and squeezed Robert's hand. "Fear is natural, but you haven't let anything happen to them and we won't."
"Their mother died because the vampire wanted to kill me." He slowed down as we neared the door.
I placed my hand on his jaw and stepped closer to him. "I'm sorry. I know how much you loved Serena."
"Serena was loyal and sweet." He nodded and took my hands off his chin.
Jealousy wasn't a good quality, and I might have liked her. I'd have died protecting my family as well. "And beautiful."
He led me toward Mrs. Adams again. "Beauty is an outer shell that is judged person to person. Most people who have joy express that inner peace and that is what makes true beauty."
"You are poetic.” My Robert clearly thought a lot. Perhaps part of that thinking was why I was so drawn to him. I knocked on the wide-open door. "Mrs. Adams, do you need anything?"
She held her head high and then glanced at both Grayson and Samantha like they served her instead of the other way around. "Mrs. De Marco. I want to talk to you. Alone."
Fair enough. Last time we spoke she told me that she had no time for people who didn't know what they were doing or something like that. I understood now. "Sure. Go ahead, guys, go. We’ll be fine."
Samantha and Grayson filed past him and then Robert stared right at me. "We're in the next room, when you're done."
Whatever Mrs. Adams had to say, I would be here to hear it. "Thanks. I'll get you so someone can help Mrs. Adams to bed."
"I don't need help," she chimed in behind me. I should have expected no less.
Robert whispered in my head. Don't be afraid.
I'm a dragon. I'm stronger now.
Call of the Dragon: Flight of Dragons Page 10
