by M. D. Neu
“What happened?”
Her mom stands and hugs me. “Oh, Carmen, it happened so fast. One minute, she was fine, helping me make Christmas cookies, and the next, she passed out. Oh, honey.”
“The Master Dragon Trainer says that the bond with Gary is breaking down. We knew this could happen, there would always be a chance of their bond deteriorating, but she’s been healthy for so long, we never thought there would be a relapse, not like this,” her father says. “We’ve been trying all these new dragon-bonding charms, but nothing seems to be working.”
It’s like Jasper all over again. Even with Gary still here. Mattie can’t die, not like Jasper did when we were teenagers.
“My dad is going to come up tomorrow. He and his students have been working on some new bonding charms.” I nod. “They’ll work. He’ll make sure that Mattie and Gary’s bond is strong again so they can fight off the curse together.”
“I hope so,” her mom says and steps back, glancing down at Mattie.
Her glasses are on the side table, and her pretty brown hair is a mess. I want to grab a brush and put her hair in a ponytail for her.
Later.
All the fights and drama fade from my memory. It was all so dumb and petty. It doesn’t matter that I haven’t seen her in half a year. I’m here now.
“Hi, Carmen,” Mattie whispers. Her blue eyes blink open, and a smile blooms across her lips. “I thought I heard your voice.”
I cross to the bed and take her hand. “You know I’d be here for you.”
“I’m glad. I was worried that I wouldn’t get to see you, before…”
“Hush now. Don’t think like that. They’re going to see what kind of curse is affecting you and why your bond with Gary is failing, and my dad and the Master Dragon Trainer are going to come up with the perfect charm. Your link with Gary will be stronger than ever.”
“You promise?”
“Of course. Rella told me so.” I give her hand a squeeze.
Mattie laughs, then starts to cough.
“I should have gone into magic like my dad wanted…” I rub Mattie’s hand. “I could have helped.”
“You sucked at magic and you know it,” Mattie says with the ghost of a snicker. “You’re going to be an amazing computer engineer, just like your mom.”
“But that can’t help you.”
“You being here helps me. I’ve missed you. I’ve been so busy with school and work I hardly have any time for anything these days.”
I want to kick myself for the stupid fight. Not talking for months and now here I am. Mattie’s curse has returned, her bond with Gary is in jeopardy, and I wasted all that time. Never again. I’m not going to waste any more time.
I get a flash of blue and green at the window, but with the snow, I don’t see it anymore. I hope Rella is giving Gary all kinds of hell for this. I know it’s not his fault. It’s the bond and the charms, but still. Gary has been with Mattie for eleven years, and bonds shouldn’t weaken after this long. I know they sometimes do, and it can happen, but I never thought it would happen to Mattie. Never. She was always the more resilient of the two of us. Even when I wanted to give up, she made me want to fight. Now I need to do that for her.
The door opens, and the facility’s Master Dragon Trainer walks in. She’s young with cocoa-colored skin and pretty full lips. I stand.
“MDT Simpson, this is Mattie’s girlfriend, Carmen,” Mattie’s father says.
“I’ve heard a lot about you, Carmen. I’m looking forward to meeting your father tomorrow. It’ll be good to have someone with his experience and talent around.”
“Thank you.” I wring my hands. I’m scared to ask, but I have to know. “You don’t think this happened because Rella and Gary haven’t seen each other in a while, do you?”
The Master Dragon Trainer smiles at me. “Of course not. That isn’t how these things work. Sometimes, over time the bonds and the charms break down. Or the body develops a resistance to the treatment. Unfortunately, it can be any number of things. Even with all the advances we’ve made, nothing is 100 percent.”
I nod. “I understand.” That is what happened to Jasper. The curse was too much for him, and with no dragon to help him fight, there wasn’t much of anything anyone could do. Even with the fancy expensive charms his parents tried.
“Now, Mattie, we’re going to run a few additional tests, but I don’t want you to worry. We’re going to take really good care of you. I can assure you we’ll be doing everything we can to get you healthy again.”
Mattie smiles.
I wink at her, trying to hide my fear and worry. I hope it works.
THE SNOW BLOWS outside the cabin window as I roll my cup of cocoa in my hands. It’s hard to believe today is the day.
I think back to Mattie in the training facility. Her road to recovery was a long one. Master Dragon Trainer Simpson and my dad had to work for months to test the new magical charms on Mattie. At least she didn’t lose her hair, and when they finished, the new charm worked. Mattie and Gary were in sync, and their bond was strong and stable. With Gary by her side, Mattie was able to fight off the curse again, and there haven’t been any signs of a return.
Once she was healthy again, she returned to school and finished off her degree. Seeing Mattie get her diploma was amazing. Part of me felt guilty because I was able to graduate sooner, but right now, it doesn’t matter.
A smile glides over my lips as I see a flash of color outside as Gary and Rella play in the snow.
Those two are crazy. It’s freezing out there.
When I told my folks what my plan was for this Christmas, they were both honestly thrilled for me. I suppose they weren’t surprised—no one really will be, well, except for Mattie. She might be.
I finish off my cocoa and get up, leaving my view of the white snow as it floats from the sky. I drop my half-full cup off in the sink and put together the breakfast I’ve made. Checking the tray, I pull the plate from the oven. On the red-and-green dish are all of Mattie’s favorites—eggs, bacon, and toast—I place it next to the cup of hot cocoa and make my way to the bedroom.
“Merry Christmas,” I say as I peek through the door and bring the tray over and place it on the side of the bed.
Mattie rolls over on her side and takes a pillow and covers her head of messy brown hair. “What time is it?”
“Time to wake up and have breakfast. I cooked.”
“Ugh…do I have to?”
I huff. “Well, if you don’t, then you don’t get your present.”
“That’s blackmail.”
“Possibly, but that’s how it works.”
Mattie tosses the pillow to the side and finally opens her eyes, blinks several times at me, then looks at the tray. “What’s going on?” Her gaze narrows on me.
“Nothing. I’m just basking in the glow that is Mattie.”
Mattie crosses her blue eyes, squishes her nose, and sticks out her tongue.
I chuckle.
Mattie sits up and takes the tray. “Looks good.” She sniffs it. “Smells good too.”
“Thank you.”
I sit on the bed and enjoy this quiet moment as Mattie eats her breakfast. The snow continues to fall outside the window. Everything is covered in a blanket of white. It’s hard to make out any of the trees or the mountains in the distance. If it keeps falling at this rate, we’re going to be snowed in. Which is fine with me. There is another flash of the dragons outside. I doubt they’ll mind either. I snatch a piece of Mattie’s bacon off her plate. I wasn’t able to eat earlier, but the bacon smells too good to pass up.
Mattie leans back, sipping her cocoa. “My compliments to the chief.” She wipes her mouth with the napkin.
I smile. Within one tick of the clock, my mouth is like a desert and my heart is pounding in my chest. I thought this would be a lot easier. I had this whole speech planned, and now I can barely speak. I glance around for a glass of water or something, but I left my cocoa in the kitchen and M
attie is drinking hers.
Ugh.
“What’s wrong? You’ve been acting strange this whole trip.”
I do my best to clear my throat and pull out a small box. “Merry Christmas.” My voice cracks, and I’m forced to clear my throat again.
“What’s this?”
I go to speak, but no words come. I nod at the box.
Mattie opens the gift, and a gentle gasp leaves her lips.
With great effort, words exit my mouth. “I’ve been waiting since I was eleven years old to ask you. There is no one I love more in this world than you, and there is no one I want to spend my life with more than you. Will you…ah…marry me?”
Mattie’s blue eyes sparkle with tears as she slips the ring out of the box. “You already know my answer.”
“HONEY, YOU NEED to stop pacing.”
Mom’s no help. She’s sitting in her chair, her right leg bouncing off the knee of her left leg like there’s no tomorrow. Her black hair is all pulled up off her face in a French braid. She had it colored to hide all the gray, and she looks beautiful. I can’t tell which one of us is more nervous, even though she’s trying to play it cool.
“I can’t help it.” I tug at my dress. I have blue and purple ribbons in my hair that are starting to annoy the hell out of me. I can’t believe I thought it was a cute idea.
The door opens to the dressing room. My dad walks in. His brown hair is now mostly gray, but he still has his dimples. I remember him being so tall, and now we’re almost eye to eye, especially when I wear heels. Like today.
He takes both my hands. “You look beautiful.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
He kisses my cheek. “Are you ready?”
I nod. “What about Rella and Gary?”
“They’re all settled,” my dad reassures me.
I take in the changing room. It’s small with just the basics. A few chairs, a full-length mirror, and a desk-table thing. My street clothes are hanging on a makeshift clothes rack. Makeup and brushes everywhere. It’s a mess, but I’m here. I’m finally here.
“Okay.” I take a deep breath and reach out my hand to my mom. The three of us stand there, and I smile at them. “Thank you for everything. I know what it took for me to get here. You’re the best parents, and I’m sorry for all the trouble I caused you.”
My mom starts waving her hand in front of her face. “Don’t make me cry. The holographer and his assistant will kill me if I have puffy eyes.”
“I knew from the time we found out,” my dad says, “you would beat it.”
I chuckle. The thought of being a Dragon Keeper warms my heart.
“Now look at you. You finished college; you’re getting married; you’re doing all the things you ever wanted. You never gave up.” He kisses my cheek.
But I wanted to give up. When I was eleven, right before I got Rella, I wanted to give in to the curse. I didn’t want to fight anymore. Then when Mattie was cursed again, I didn’t want to go on without her. I know there were curses knocking at my door then, and I almost answered. Even Rella sensed I wanted to give up. But I didn’t. I fought. The dragons can only do so much. I had to do the rest. Magic would never be 100 percent.
“Let’s do this,” I say, and we head out.
I’M THE FIRST at the altar, which is fine with me. The sooner we get this over with, the faster we can get to the party and the wine, even though I’m not supposed to have wine. It reacts badly with my bonding charms. But both Mattie and I get to splurge today. The other reason I don’t mind being up here first is I get to watch Mattie walk down the aisle. I’ve waited eighteen years for this moment, and I don’t want to miss it.
The church is decorated in red and green for the Christmas holiday, and I’m happy that we get to have a Christmas wedding. This time of year means the most to me. So many milestones were reached. Mattie and I became friends during that first Christmas at the center. We had our first kiss the Christmas I was fourteen. We got engaged the Christmas we were up at her parents’ cabin in North Shore, the year after our scare with Mattie’s curse returning. We got snowed in, and it was perfect. Christmas was also when I got my dragon.
I peek over to where Rella and Gary are sitting. They are being so well-behaved, and they’re happy. Their tails are intertwined. We—no, I owe this moment to them.
The music begins, and Mattie crosses the entry with both her mother and father, then walks down the aisle. She’s beautiful in her gown. It’s not red and green but cream, and it hugs her curves perfectly. Her blue eyes sparkle in the light, and her brown hair is pinned up with simple braids.
I take a breath and face my folks. My dad holds up a small bag, one of his charms. I have the same one tucked into my dress. Ever since I almost lost Mattie, I’m never without my bonding charms, not even for a second. I can’t help but smile. I have to look away, or I’ll laugh.
I face Mattie. My Mattie, as she walks closer. She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I turn away because I don’t want to cry. Rella and Gary huff, and small puffs of smoke come out of their noses. They seem so small now, but they’re not. They are mighty dragons and always will be.
I’ve been a Dragon Keeper since I was eleven, and I will continue to be one. It won’t be easy, and some people, even after years and years, lose their dragons. That won’t happen to me. My family sacrificed too much. I went through too much to get here. I won’t allow it. And as long as I have Mattie, my beautiful Mattie, with me, I can do anything. We can do anything, together.
I take a deep breath, and I get a whiff of strawberries.
A hand slips into mine. It’s Mattie. She smiles at me and whispers, “I got my dragon for Christmas.”
About the Author
M.D. Neu is an LGBTQIA Fiction Writer with a love for writing and travel. Living in the heart of Silicon Valley (San Jose, California) and growing up around technology, he’s always been fascinated with what could be. Specifically drawn to science fiction and paranormal television and novels, M.D. Neu was inspired by the great Gene Roddenberry, George Lucas, Stephen King, Alfred Hitchcock, Harvey Fierstein, Anne Rice, and Kim Stanley Robinson. An odd combination, but one that has influenced his writing.
Growing up in an accepting family as a gay man, he always wondered why there were never stories reflecting who he was. Constantly surrounded by characters that only offered heterosexual society, M.D. Neu decided he wanted to change that. So, he took to writing, wanting to tell good stories that show our diverse world.
When M.D. Neu isn’t writing, he works for a nonprofit and travels with his biggest supporter and his harshest critic, Eric his husband of eighteen plus years.
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mdneuauthor
Twitter: @Writer_MDNeu
Website: www.mdneu.com
Other books by this author
The Reunion
The Calling (Coming January 2018)
Also Available from NineStar Press
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