She turned to me and stopped suddenly. Then she looked over at the rubble from where she utterly destroyed Blaine. Something had caught her attention. She walked over and squatted and picked something up almost lovingly.
I looked to see the shard of the Fire Stone that Blaine had had Mei steal for him in Myra's hand. She ran a finger along it then looked at me with excitement and wonder. “I can feel it now, it's alive ya know.” Then she made a coaxing motion and the color seemed to bleed out of it as a shimmering red ball of energy sat in her hand. It was moving like it was full of life.
She smiled at it. “There ya go wee one. You're free now. Now shoo, find yer body.”
The energy rose from her hand then shot off into the sky. Myra turned to me. “Trapped for so many centuries, now that dragon spirit can be reunited with his descendant and live again.”
I tilted my head. She almost sounded like a proud mother. Then I asked, “His?”
She winked at me. “Of course. Don't be silly now. All dragons are male except a queen.”
I chuckled and she hid her face in my shirt again, inhaling deeply. I don't know why but I love it when she does that. It gives her peace.
A group of soldiers came up to us. The man in front was looking a little sheepish. As he pulled off his shirt and handed it to Myra to cover her modesty. She looked bashful as she pulled it on. God she looked spectacular with those scales!
Then the man spoke. “I'm sorry ladies. Ummm... but we're supposed to bring you in with us. The FBI and a bunch of other official sounding letters are wanting to question you.”
I was about to say something when Myra spoke. “Well, feck them. If they want to be speakin' to me, they can find me at Denver General, checking on me friend.”
He looked nervous. “What am I supposed to tell them? That I let you go?”
I snorted and said to the big man, “Just tell them she hit you.” Everyone chuckled at that ages old joke.
He saluted us. “Yes ma'am. Can I offer you a ride to Denver General?” I nodded and he motioned to a man standing at a Humvee. “Get these two anywhere they want to go.”
The driver looked around. “But our orders...”
He was interrupted by his commander. “I don't give a God damn about our orders soldier. These two just saved the city and probably a whole lot more. Besides, do you want to try to argue with our dragon?” I could feel the waves of embarrassment rolling off of Myra when he said 'our' dragon. But I looked around, most of the men were in agreement. I grinned, I guess Myra IS our dragon.
Moments later we were in the Humvee with the driver navigating the rubble. The further from the capitol we got the better the roads were.
Every few seconds, Myra was putting her hands on me and I could feel injuries healing and new pain coming from her. I kept pushing her hands away. “Stop it!” She would nod, then just quickly take another wound on herself with a mischievous grin. “I said stop Myra!”
She nodded and said, “Ok.” Then the damn imp kissed me quickly and the deep gash on my cheek was gone and hers was now bleeding after I fought off the arousal. The stubborn red headed pixie was laughing at me on the inside! Grrr!
We crossed Cherry Creek and you couldn't see any evidence of what had transpired just blocks away as we pulled into the hospital parking lot. I nodded at the man as we dismounted. “Thanks Private.”
He nodded at us. “No problem... and ladies... thank you.” Then he drove off as Myra dragged me by the hand toward the hospital entrance.
Chapter 16 – Aftermath
I noticed another cut on the back of Quinn's neck as we went into the hospital. I reached up quickly with my hand and a moment later felt a new pain on the back of my neck where a phantom pain was earlier. “Myra!” She snapped.
I shrugged. “I'm sorry Quinn, but it is almost a compulsion. I can't bear to see you hurtin'.” She playfully just pushed me forward down the hall, shaking her head at me. We checked with the nurse's station and found out which room Henry was in. Everyone was just staring at me. I must be a sight, all barefoot in scales with naught but a shirt on.
I heard someone whisper as we walked along, “The dragon!” One doctor was urging us to be checked out, seeing all the blood. I waved him off, promising we would after we saw that Henry was ok. I was just now realizing how exhausted I was.
I smiled as we walked into the room. Henry was propped up on the bed watching the television. He glanced over at us and did a quick double take. “Myra?”
I grinned. “The one and only. How ya be feelin' boss? I was worried about you since the hotel.”
He was staring at me. Then he started smiling. “Stop calling me that. I'm fine, I'm just lucky I have such a hard head.” He showed the drain tube leading from his chest to a clear bag that was half filled with bloody looking fluid. “Unfortunately I can't say the same for my chest. But a few more days here and I'll be good to go.”
I was so relieved, and I sat next to him and went to lay a hand on his shoulder but I saw my scales and pulled back. At least the skin was slowly coming back in patches, but I didn't want to scare him. He saw that and his look softened. “It's fine Myra.” I smiled and laid my hand on his shoulder and gave a little squeeze.
Then he looked me up and down as the nurse walked into the room. Then he asked, “How long?” He left a pregnant silence.
I sighed and said, “Since the shard incident went and woke up me dragon spirit. We wanted to tell you but the less that knew the better.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “We?” He nudged his head toward Quinn.
I sighed and shook my head with an embarrassed smile. “Well ya, me other half there...” I paused. “And Mei and James.”
He chuckled. “God damn it, am I the last person to know?”
I returned his chuckle and tilted my head in thought. “Well, me parents don't know.”
Now he was chuckling in genuine amusement as he unmuted the television. “I'm not so sure about that anymore Myra.”
The news anchor was reporting, with footage of the last battle playing on the screen. “These were the final moment when our dragon, Doctor Myra O'Connell, showed those that would threaten harm on the innocent people of our city, that we are protected by the Dragon of Denver.”
I watched my dragon erupt from me and my roar with my wings swept wide and flames leapt into the heavens. “Oh, me lord! Is that what I look like?!” I was smiling.
Quinn leaned down and whispered into my ear, “You're so beautiful.” I felt her genuine feelings flowing into me to reinforce it. And something... more. Ok, I don't care how infuriating this woman is... this other piece of me, I wanted her.
I watched a report on the battle and the start of the cleanup and investigations. My entire body ached from my injuries. I heard a commotion in the hall and stood quickly, that was a mistake as I murmured to Quinn, “I'm sorry Quinn, I may have overdone things a wee bit.” as consciousness left me when Deputy Director Danes came bursting into the room.
- - - -
Caragh was sitting on a rock by our creek. She smiled at me then got up and hugged me as I approached. “You let the dragon free. Thank you for avenging our clan Queen Myra of the Eire.”
I blushed at the name and sat down with her with our feet in the water and said, “I'm just glad it is over.”
She giggled at that and turned to me. “What do you mean over? It has just begun. People again know that there is magic in the world. You must help guide them and protect them from the evils that have hidden for ages from Georgios. It is the calling of the Drakon to protect those who cannot stand for themselves. To be the champions of mankind.”
I stared at her, surely it is over. I sighed in defeat. “Oh, so no pressure then?”
She hugged me as she chuckled. “You will do fine child. Call to the others when in need and they will come. You are their queen. There are none as noble as Dragons of the Eire.”
She tilted her head. “But now, it is time for you to wake. Your soul bond ca
lls. You could not have chosen better with her.”
She kissed my forehead then sprang into the sky as he wings bloomed behind her and she flew away as I heard my protector's voice calling. “Come on Myra, you have to wake up sometime. Wakey wakey.”
My eyes fluttered open to see the beauty that was my soul bond. I could feel the warm welcome and relief rolling off her in waves. “I thought you were past this passing out stuff.” Her grin was impetuous.
I couldn't stop from smiling at how wonderful her amusement tasted. “Hey now, none of that now! In case you missed it. I went a wee bit overboard protectin' that tight little arse of yours ya know.” I leaned in and hovered my lips a millimeter from hers. I could feel her hot breath on me, it was divine. Then I smiled and pulled back just as she went to close the gap. I chuckled. “Or have ya forgotten already?”
She closed her eyes and shook her head, I could feel her arousal and frustration. “You... are going to pay for that later.” I just grinned and buried my face in her shirt and inhaled deeply, letting the scent of safety envelop me.
I looked at my arms as I went to sit up, Quinn held me down from sitting up, shaking her head as she used the bed controls to raise me into a pseudo-sitting position. There were just a few patches of my shiny scales left and my skin was bruised and burnt in areas.
I looked around. There were three guards at the door and I was in a hospital gown. I had IVs hooked up to me. There were scales around the needle. I looked at Quinn at the humor that it brought into her mind. “What?”
She snorted. “Well, every time they tried to get the needle through your skin, more scales would grow and snap the needle. They finally had to bring in a drill with a diamond bit to get your IV hooked up.”
It was my turn to snort. Then I asked, “How long?”
She looked at her wrist at an imaginary watch. “About eighteen hours.” Then she got serious and I could feel the ghost of her worry. “You had second and third degree burns on almost all your skin as it re-emerged. That bastard really did a number on you. But you have already healed the worst of it. Just minor burns to go. They say that if you heal at a constant rate, by this time tomorrow you will be good as new.” I nodded, secretly relieved.
I glanced at the guards. “Where are they going to be locking me away? The Icebox?”
She was radiating amusement again. “Well, Danes was pushing to have both of us locked away and throw out the key. But it seems less and less likely that will be happening. Something... is making them rethink it.”
I cocked my head and she grinned, “Well after your parents arrived I figured out your dragon fury is nothing compared to your mother's.” Her grin got larger, most likely bordering on the shit eating category. I snorted imagining my mother laying into Danes. Then Quinn continued with mirth in her voice. “And your parents called every local, national, and international news station they could find and have been... well here...”
She grabbed a remote and turned the television on the wall on. She started flipping channels. I kept seeing the face of my Ma and clips of my dragon and my parents standing together with a reporter. She finally picked a channel. My Ma was in the middle of a tirade. “And those [*beep*]-ing federal bastards are wantin' ta spirit her away to some [*beep*]-ing dank dungeon somewhere. After she just saved all the people in the city. She risked it all for you people. She's a citizen of this [*beep*]-ing country! Now she's going to be rewarded by becomin' some grand [*beep*]-ing government experiment? She's your dragon! Each an' every one of ya! She's the Dragon of Denver! She swore to protect mankind and this is how the government is gonna treat her? Remember, she's your dragon! Are we going to allow this [*beep* *beep*] to happen? Hand to the heavens, there will be hell to pay if they take your dragon, your protector, MY daughter from you!”
The reporter cut to some footage of the dragon me standing before Blaine defiantly, lovingly wrapping Quinn in my flaming wings. The camera was jittering with the power of my voice, “You will not harm anyone else here! You will not harm someone precious to me! These are my people, the human race is under my protection, this ends here!”
She shut the television off. “So there you have it.”
I couldn't stop the giggle from escaping me. “That's me Ma.” Then I got serious. “But really Quinn, what's to become of me? To us?”
She shook her head. “I'm really not sure. Since Blaine's death, magic users and mythical creatures have been coming out of the woodwork worldwide. Most are bent on havoc, some aren't, but even those are being gunned down in the streets. It is chaos until order can be restored worldwide. The Vice President and Interpol are talking about us helping to maintain order until it can be determined how magic can coexist in a modern world.”
I scrunched up my face in disgust. “They want us to be the heavies?”
She smiled at me. “I told them you wouldn't like it. But I think they are convinced to come to a compromise with you. We would be free agents to help where you see fit, not them, we could turn down any assignment. It beats the Icebox.”
I nodded slowly. “What about the wholesale massacre of peaceful magic users and Drakon? I will do nothing if a single dragon is hunted down or restrained again. Or I may be comin' down on the wrong side of the line they are drawin' in the sand ya know.”
She grinned. I could feel her approval of my fire and also that it... Oh my, Agent Trask! I gave her a quick peck on the lips and she blushed slightly and said. “Well, that's why this lot is here to discuss things with you. Now that your mother has the public and human rights agencies aware of your possible plight, I really don't think they would dare spirit us away.' Then she whispered in my ear, “Plus they still believe we would die if we were separated.”
I giggled at that. Then turned to the door as a bunch of suits made their way in. I sighed, this was not going to be fun, but I had my protector at my side... with her, I could do anything! I pushed my face into her shirt and took a deep, calming breath, surrendering to the safety it promised.
- - - -
It is hard to believe it was only three months ago that I started this new adventure in my life. I soared over the city, flying never failed to exhilarate me. It is almost funny to me how flying and heights used to terrify me so. The freedom is beyond description. It was almost as amazing as being with Quinn. She finally caved to her temptations one night, her arousal was overwhelming me, and she pulled me into her room in our new apartment and tamed the dragon. I am her Drakon and she is my protector and my love.
My keen eyes swept the night like it was daylight, patrolling and watching the streets for any that would seek to do my human's harm. I saw people on the streets looking up and waving, I would breathe short bursts of fire to acknowledge them. I landed on the spire they hastily constructed on the tallest building in the city for me to perch upon, the 'Dragon Spire'.
I smiled as I saw the water dragon, Francisco Dalton from Trinidad, flying toward his new home near Steamboat Springs. He was the first of three dragons that have made it to Denver to join my Eire Dragon Clan. They all looked to me as their queen.
Mei has started exhibiting signs of elemental fire ability. We believe our shared experiences caused the elemental rebirth that we read of in the scrolls. She is not Drakon, but she is not truly human now either. She and James got engaged, I look forward to their wedding in April, she asked me to be her maid of honor.
Ma and Da moved to Denver. Da got a position at the University of Denver and Ma started a bakery that she shamefully called The Denver Dragon Bakery to me own protests. She fights for mystical and human rights for any peaceful magic wielder or creature, people fear her temper more than mine.
As I swept the city with my gaze, I thought of all that is happening in the world. All the allied nations have made new laws and procedures pertaining to magic wielders. They were protected as long as they followed the laws of the countries they lived in. Or they would be apprehended like any other criminal and brought to justice. The wholesale slaughter of
killing anything different has for the most been abolished. On rare occasions, Quinn and I would be called to fly in and bring them to justice if wrongdoers couldn't be contained and too many innocents were at risk.
Interpol will be releasing the shards of the Fire Stone into my protection, as they are starting to go through the awakening and flying off one by one to find their bodies.
The one unfortunate side effect of all of this is that Denver is the hotbed of mystical and arcane activity because of the mystics and creatures that seek my protection as well as those who seek power for nefarious purposes that come to challenge the Dragon of Denver. I lifted my head to the heavens, spread my wings menacingly and let loose a roar that shook the city as I shot a pyre of flames into the sky as a challenge and warning to all that would threaten my people.
I felt my mate calling to me, I leapt with all my might into the air and started spiraling home to Quinn with a smile on my face.
I am Doctor Myra O'Connell, and I am Drakon!
Epilogue
I pulled myself with my one good arm to the entrance of the cave overlooking the city. My legs were all but useless, they were broken in so many places and not mending well. I looked down to see that bitch flying around the city below. She cannot get away with this, I'm Saint George! I've killed hundreds of dragons!
I hesitated, but she was so huge. None before her wielded power like that. Her heart with the others I had her in the sack beside me could make me whole again. Then I could start over, get the Fire Stone and seal my immortality again. Now I was done with hiding, the world knew of me now, I would rain down hell on Earth and shape it to my whims. I just needed her dead first.
I ducked down as the water dragon flew past. It was the one who lived up on the ridge by Steamboat Springs. Stupid to stay isolated from the clan. If I had the power, I'd add his heart to my bag tonight.
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