by J. S. Wilder
“Kohlxchijr!” his sister squeaked. “Where have you been? Father, Taurian and Symon have been out looking for you.”
“Call me Kohl, like Taurian does. I went to Earth.” He showed her his side with the nearly healed wound. The scales were discolored there, but in a month they would darken to the forest green like the rest of his scales.
She thumped her tail and her dragon eyes narrowed. “Why do you smell...different?”
“I was injured by a Tryn spear. Of course, I'm gonna have a different scent on me.” He couldn't let her, or anyone know that he had sex with a human. Even though his father had done so once, he refused to talk about it. Maybe this would change his mind on that as well too. His father would share what he knew about Earth and perhaps open up about Kohl's mother. Hope filled his chest.
“Kohl?” Taurian rounded the corner, his left wing trailing along the wall causing rubble to rain down. “We thought the bastards got ahold of you.”
“Sorry, I was wounded and took a bolt to Earth instead of letting them take me or lead them back here.” He kept the quasicrystal in his grip. His dad, as king, should be the first to see it and know about it.
His brother hugged him. “Good to have you back, runt.”
“Yeah,” Linhyenr, his other brother added coming down the hallway, his shadow darkening the cave floor and the lights overhead flickered. “Dad has been searching for you for hours. We had to force him to let us take shifts.”
“There wasn't time to leave a note. Sorry I worried you all, but I was ambushed and there were too many for me to lose them without passing out.” He bowed his head in toward his eldest brother. “And I'd rather die than have led them here to my family. My blood alone would’ve left a trail for them to follow.”
“I understand.” Linhyenr placed a claw on Kohl's bead signaling him the approval to rise. “But it isn't me you have to gain approval on your outing with. You know Father forbade any of us from traveling to Earth.”
“Since when do you obey everything Father orders?” Kohl wouldn't let his eldest brother intimidate him. “You who've gone from the Andromeda to the Zurikh galaxies over a dozen times.”
His brother laughed smacked his shoulder. “Triple that number.”
So, Kohl wasn't the only one who snuck out. Did their father know and ignore it or was he wrapped up in his own life that he failed to realize his family was disobeying him?
“Come. Father and Kilian just returned from hunting for you an hour ago,” Linhyenr said.
If it wasn't for the crystal pressed into Kohl's palm, his brother’s words would've worried him about what his father would do when he discovered Kohl had snuck to Earth again...much less mated with a human. Did Isabelle wonder where he was? Did she care or was it merely the night and indulgence of alcohol in her veins? Would she even remember his name?
Kohl crawled through the small opening, his wings scraping the sides of the cave walls into his father's chamber.
His dad slumbered on the floor with a half boulder as his pillow. Snores echoed around them.
“Look who I found, Father,” Linhyenr said pushing Kohl closer.
“You didn't find me.” Kohl snorted. “I came home once it was safe to do so.”
“Kohlxchijr?” His dad's eyes opened, their slanted pupils staring at him. “My son, you're alive!”
He nodded and opened his talons. “And I brought a gift from Earth. A quasicrystal.”
“Earth?” his father spat. “Traveling outside of Renjer is forbidden since the Tryn.”
“But they have the crystals we need for our weapons. We can fight our enemy and not cower in caves. Be free and fly—”
His father knocked the crystal out of his hand and it clattered against a rock, breaking off a piece. “No! It is too dangerous to leave our land for a handful of crystals.”
“Father,” his eldest brother inclined his head. “What would it hurt to try? Send some of us to Earth for more of these. A few weapons might swing battles. Then we can hunt for more crystals on Earth and other planets. Finally win this war.”
“No! I am king, and I have forbidden it.” His father stomped forward. “Time you remember your place as my youngest, half-human son!” He snatched up Kohl by the throat and shoved him out of the cave.
“Father, my king, listen—” Kohl scrambled to his feet, his tail thrashing.
“Silence,” his father roared and the ceiling above them shook, raining debris down on their heads. Grabbing Kohl by his arm, he dragged him to Kohl’s cave.
Kohl fought, scraping along the walls with his talons for purchase. “Don’t make me fight you, but I will to save our people, our planet.”
When his father didn’t stop dragging him, Kohl bit and kicked. His teeth sinking into the dragon scale to the flesh beneath.
His father howled and Linhyenr punched Kohl in the muzzle, ratting his teeth. Dizzy, Kohl was thrown against the wall.
“Chain him,’ his father said.
Both Taurian and Symon looked at each other. “Maybe he has a point,” Taurian said.
“Do as I command, or I’ll lock you both up beside him,” his father snarled.
At his father's words, his brothers fell silent.
“Why are you doing this when we can beat them?” Kohl strained against them as the metal shackle clanked shut on his forearms. The spikes pressing through his scales, piercing them and preventing him from shifting into his human form.
“Until you promise never to leave Renjer again, you will remain here,” his father spat. “Forever if necessary.”
Kohl cursed as his family left him chained to the wall inside his cave. Why was his father being so stubborn about this? Didn't he want to save his family and people? Kohl yelled, but no one came or answered him. It was like his father had given up already and was just buying time down here before they were discovered and wiped out. Kohl refused to become extinct. He just had to figure out how to escape.
Chapter Ten
Isabelle turned on the radio, then wiped off her kitchen counter. Both stray cats laid on the floor and purred with their bellies full. Eight days had passed since her amazing night with Kohl and there had been no text or phone calls. Did he not feel what she had that night?
Even if she could call him, she had no way of getting ahold of him. Besides, obviously he wasn't interested. He knew where she lived and could reach out to her if he wanted. Time to move on with her life and not pine after some guy she met in a bar.
Her cell rang and she jumped. “Hello?” she answered the unregistered call. Was it him?
“Hey, Isabelle, I’m up at work,” her sister Kate said. “Are you busy today?”
“Not another bar hopping contest between you and Beth. Last weekend I was hungover for days.” Must be my age. Lately, she'd been so tired all the time. She'd fall asleep as soon as the sun went down until sunrise and still wanted to sleep more.
“I wish it was something like that.” Her sister cleared her throat. “No, I've got a client, Billy from Billy's pub? He was robbed the other night and several witnesses say you were seen with the guy.”
Damn, so had Kohl been guilty? “Oh, I don't know him or how to get in touch with him.”
“This is just a head's up call because you're my sister, but the cops will come by sometime soon to question you.”
Isabelle broke out in a cold sweat. She wasn't guilty of anything except telling Kohl where Billy lived. “Thanks for the warning.”
“Listen, just tell the truth and everything will be fine,” Kate said. “I can't say anything else. I've already overstepped my bounds as a lawyer with my client. But Isabelle,” she paused, “don't get mixed up with this guy if he does come back around, okay?”
“Of course.” She ended the call and rolled her shoulders back. Doubtful that she'd have anything to do with a possible criminal.
Two days later, Principal Cooper waltzed into her classroom.
“Miss Givens, if you'll come with me.” His face flushed, b
ut a smug smile pushed up the corners of his mustache.
Unease crawled up her spine. What was he up to? “My class will be done with P.E. in fifteen minutes. How long will this take?” She stood not hurrying to follow him out the door. The guy could take her job, but she'd be damned if she let him take her pride. “What's this about?”
“Just come to my office and you'll see. Two visitors are here for you.”
She rounded the corner with her heart in her throat. Was it parents who were here to complain about her insisting the kids tried their best? Yesterday, one of her students had been caught cheating and she'd taken him aside to talk with him about it. Were his parents here now because they didn't like her disciplining him?
“Gentlemen, this is Miss Givens.” Cooper waved an arm her direction. “Please feel free to use my office as long as you need.”
Isabelle stopped short at the doorway. Two police officers stood up when they saw her.
“Afternoon, Miss Givens,” the closest policemen said. “I'm Officer Smithson and this is Officer O’Malley. We've a few questions for you if you don't mind.”
Kohl. This is what Nurse Kate warned me about. “Sure.” She took the empty visitor chair O’Malley offered. “How can I help you?”
“On September eighth, you were at Billy's pub, correct?” Smithson leaned against the desk.
“Yes. I was there with my two sisters.”
“And did you meet a young man that night? About six foot seven or nine?”
She folded her hands in her lap. Part of her wanted to tell them everything she knew about Kohl and what happened that night. Except she couldn't let on that her sister had told her about the case and she was leaving out the part about her and Kohl's fabulous one-night stand.
“Kohl. Yes, I met him that night, but haven't seen or heard from him since.”
“Do you have his last name?” O’Malley scribbled across a small notepad.
She shook her head. “Sorry no, I don't.”
“Would you be able to pick him out of a lineup?” Smithson asked.
“I guess. It was dark in the bar and I never saw him in the daylight or anything.”
“Can you think of anything that might help us find him?” O’Malley scratched his chin. “Any small distinction...tattoos or scars or the like?”
“No, like I said, it was pretty dark.” She paused remembering his accent and how she couldn't understand his name at first until he shortened it. “He had a foreign accent, but I couldn't place it. And Kohl was a nickname or something.”
Smithson took a step forward. “What was his name, then?”
“Sorry,” she frowned, “I couldn't even begin to spell or pronounce it. And it was loud in the bar.” Plus, she'd been very drunk. Later, they were too busy kissing and making love to talk. He’d driven her wild and any thoughts she might have had that night were under a haze of awesome sex. She squirmed in her chair, hoping they wouldn’t notice her deepening blush.
“Can you try? It would help us on the case.”
“Why are you after him, if I may ask?” She brushed her hair out of her eyes.
“He stole a rock from Billy's safe.”
Her insides quivered recalling the dirt in her purse from that night. Was it debris from the rock? She'd hoped that Kohl had been innocent, now she realized he must be guilty. But why a rock? “Wait, he broke into Billy's safe and took a stone? Nothing else?” Like money or jewelry or electronics?
“It was a meteor fragment, actually.” O’Malley nodded. “One Billy found in the mountains when he was on vacation a few years ago. Worth about a thousand dollars and it had sentimental value. Do you know if this Kohl had a grudge against Billy?”
She frowned. “I've no idea.” Why would he steal a meteor? “You're sure nothing else was missing?”
“Yes, ma’am.” O’Malley cleared his throat. “Billy verified that nothing else was taken.”
Had she interrupted the burglary when she raced upstairs to Billy's apartment that night? Is that why only the rock was taken?
“Did this Kohl say where he was from?”
“No, sorry. It didn’t come up.” If she hadn’t been drunk she might have thought to have a full conversation with him before rushing to bed with him. Her face heated.
“Here's my card.” Smithson dug into his pocket. “Call me or O’Malley if you remember anything else.”
“Sure. Thanks.” She took the business card and the policemen walked out of Cooper’s office with her. The bell rang and she shook Smithson, then O’Malley’s hand. “Sorry I couldn't be more help. Good luck in your investigation.”
They nodded and she spun to get back to her class before Cooper decided to mark her tardy and fire her. Earlier, she wanted Kohl to contact her, now she didn't know what to say to him. It was easier this way no matter how much she yearned to hear his deep voice and find out more about him. And what about the meteor? Was it a prank or dare? Kohl didn't seem the type to be swayed by anyone. So why had he done it?
Chapter Eleven
Kohl jerked at the cuffs holding his dragon arms and legs to the cave wall. The metal biting into his flesh. His wings tucked against his back and his dad had even chained his tail. Sweat rolled down his back at his exertion, but he continued to pry and pull at his confinements in order to find a weakness.
What had his father been thinking? Without this chance at Earth for the crystals or some other planet, his people were doomed. Why couldn’t his father realize that? He needed to escape and get back to Earth. Kohl was certain there would be more meteorites with other humans or in what they called a museum. He and his brothers could swoop down and take the crystals...maybe even find some in the mountains across Earth.
His muscles shook and he closed his eyes briefly. The image of Isabelle popped into his mind with her dark curls spread across her pillow as she slept tucked into his side. What was she doing right now? Did she wonder where he was?
“Are you dreaming about food to have that smile on your face even though chained up?” Desmonda, one of his sisters, asked.
He opened his eyes and shrugged. “Maybe. Why, didn’t you bring me something to eat? I’m starving and haven’t had a meal since yesterday.”
“Yup, I brought you Trolx larva.” She held up the bowl of squirming Trolx.
“That’s my favorite.”
“I know.” She held the bowl while he ate. When he finished, she set the bowl down and squatted back on her hind legs. “So what’s Earth like?”
Taken aback by the question, he raised his eyebrows. “Why do you want to know? You could’ve visited there any time before Father put the ban on traveling.” Which he and most of his brothers ignored.
“Never thought to go there. Then the wars happened and I’ve not gone anywhere since the invasion.” She shifted making her wings flutter a moment. “I know you’re half-human even though Dad refuses to acknowledge it to the rest of us. But my cave is next to his. I hear him crying out her name at night sometimes. I think he still loves your mother.”
“Yeah, well she’s dead thanks to me.”
“Don’t say that.” Desmonda cocked her head. “I’m sure your mother is ecstatic that you were born regardless if it cost her life or not. And humans are one of the few species we can mate with and produce offspring.” She shivered and her pupils contracted. “Is it true that they have no scales and that the males have their testicles on the outside of their body rather than tucked up inside where they’d be safe?”
“I’m not talking to you about human male anatomy.” Next she’d want him to transform into his human form, if she knew he could, and having his half-sister examine him naked made bile burn his throat.
“Are the women pretty there?” She cocked her head to the side, watching him.
“Yes. But there are beautiful women everywhere.” He paused. If she prodded him too much, she might find out about Isabelle. What would his father do if he knew he had sex with a human? Shit, just going there and bringing back a
crystal threw his dad into a rage and got Kohl chained up for who knew how long. Having sex with a human would result in worse punishment.
“But there are gorgeous women everywhere. On Kurn the women have four breasts and—”
“We’re not talking about other planets.” She shook her head. “I’ve never been to Earth and I’m curious.”
“Save your curiosity for another time.” Their father dipped his head to enter the chamber. “Go and help Taurian with the day watch.”
“Yes, Father.” She dashed out of the room.
“Have you come to your senses yet?” his dad asked.
“Have you?” Kohl stared back at the dragon who was twice his size and strength. “Our people are dying. Our world is being destroyed before our eyes and yet you insist we hide and do nothing.” The chains on him rattled as he leaned forward. “We can turn the battles and win the war. Drive the enemy from our planet. Why won’t you listen to me?”
“Kohlxchijr, do you know how many of us have gone to Earth in the last century?” His father raised an eyebrow as he waited for Kohl to answer.
“At least one.” He wasn’t going to let his father give him a guilt trip for something he himself had done before Kohl was born.
“Zero since your mother died.” The dragon sat down heavily on all fours, his tail slashing across the ground behind him. “A century ago, it was deemed a backward and forbidden planet. And naturally, since I’m strong-willed and stubborn, I went to visit many times. I fell in love with your mother and was overjoyed when she became pregnant with you. I defied my father and ruler in order to see her again and again.”
Chapter Twelve
Isabelle rolled over and groaned. Her stomach heaved and she scrambled to the bathroom before vomiting. No way could she miss today...her class was doing a field trip to the zoo and all of her students were looking forward to it. Maybe it was the buffet she had last night with her friend and fellow teacher, Julia. Oh was she sick too?
