Seed of the Dragon: A Paranormal Dragon Shifter Romance (16 page)

“I’ve never done those things!” I yelled back.

“It doesn’t matter,” Justin said, “because whatever I tell them, they believe.”

I felt the tears well up in my eyes. I needed to leave, I just wanted to curl up in bed and burrow away from this reality. I needed to get into Shawn’s arms and have him comfort me like he always has… but what if he does leave me? After all I can’t leave the underground city and he can. What if he does find someone better than me? What if I’m left all alone with nothing but loneliness to call familiar? What if my life will turn into nothing and mean nothing to no one?

I pushed Justin away from me and ran back through the front door, but there they were waiting for me, the ones who had followed me.

My eyes shot open as my breathing went full throttle.

“Rachel? Are you okay?” a voice asked.

I felt so disoriented and was unable to tell left from right. “Where am I?” I asked.

“You’re in our bedroom Rachel, calm down,” the voice said.

I attempted to slow down my breathing back to a normal rate. “Shawn?” I asked.

“Yes, it’s me, please calm down,” Shawn said.

I felt the tension evaporate from my body. I let out a huge sigh as reality came streaming back into my consciousness as the dream was pushed out.

“Did you have a nightmare?” Shawn asked.

“Yeah,” I answered, “it was very… surreal.”

“Did you want to talk about it?” he questioned.

I thought about what Justin had said in my dream. “Not right now, but later,” I said.

“Okay,” Shawn replied.

He held me close and I nuzzled my head into his chest. My worry bloomed like a weed in my chest but I knew it was unfounded. I just needed to keep telling myself that. Shawn would never lie to me, and he said that we were partners.

“Shawn”

Something seemed to be plaguing Rachel’s mind lately. I wanted to know what it was so I can help but I couldn’t force her to tell me. All I could do was hold her close and tell her that her nightmares aren’t real.

“You’d never lie to me, right?” Rachel asked.

“Never,” I replied.

“Good,” she said as she squeezed her hold around me.

I lay on my back while Rachel lay on my chest. Her arms wound around my torso tightly.  “I’m worried,” she admitted.

“About what?” I asked.

“About us, about this place,” Rachel said.

“What about it makes you worry?” I asked.

“I’m worried you might leave me for someone more suited for you like a shifter,” Rachel said.

“I won’t, ever,” I assured.

“How can you say that though? You don’t know about the future,” Rachel said.

“You’re right, but what I do know is that I don’t plan on leaving you ever,” I said.

“But I can’t leave this city!” Rachel said.

“And I won’t either,” I replied.

“No!” Rachel said as she sat up, “Don’t give that up for me! I just don’t know what exactly to do with my life anymore. I don’t know where it’s going or what to look forward to…”

I looked at Rachel from where I lay on the bed. “That’s understandable,” I replied. “You have a right to worry about this, but you can only live day to day. Perhaps something will come up eventually that inspires you and makes you want to do things, but we won’t know until the future.”

Rachel looked at me for a moment and sighed. “You’re right,” she said. “The fact that my career is over as a model has been really bringing me down lately.”

“Maybe there’s something that you can still do here that has to do with modeling,” I suggested. “I’m not sure what but they always need people with different talents everywhere.”

“Maybe…” Rachel trailed off.

“Listen, no matter what happens—“  I started.

“You’ll be with me all the way,” Rachel finished.

“Yeah,” I laughed.

We both smiled at each other.

“Rachel”

Mornings and nights came and went quick and painlessly. I was beginning to get used to the routine in this underground city. Shawn and I lived together in the apartment along with Michael who was now attending school and private lessons with Shawn.

I, on the other hand, was searching for a job since I couldn’t let Kathleen support us forever. I wanted to be able to buy our own groceries and buy our Michael his own toys. I had been just doing footwork, walking around through the marketplace and asking shop owners if they needed any help. The job I was most interested in  was in a dress boutique on the edge of the marketplace. They had the most adorable dresses and if I had any experience, it was in fashion. I knew what an A-line dress was and a sweetheart neckline. I could tell every fabric apart as well as pick out colors that matched.

“How did job search go today?” Shawn asked over the dinner table.

“It was alright, I found a shop that I’m actually really interested in working in so I hope they contact me back,” I said.

“What kind of shop?” Shawn asked.

“A dress shop,” I replied.

“That would suit you,” he said.

Shawn, Michael, and I were all sitting around the kitchen table in the apartment. Shawn had made dinner that day;  mashed potatoes and chicken breast. It was a little burned but at least I didn’t have to worry if it was undercooked.

Michael was happy here. He seemed to have made friends at school and no other incidences with his power had happened. He also seemed to have bonded quite a bit with Shawn, which all in all was a relief, considering our arrangement as partners.

“Hey, I was thinking we could go out tonight,” Shawn suggested.

“Out? Where to?” I asked.

“That would be a surprise. I already asked Missy if she could come and look after Michael,” Shawn said.

“What if I said no?” I asked with a laugh.

“Then I would be really disappointed,” Shawn replied.

We finished dinner just as the door buzzed. We let Missy in and told Michael we would be back soon. Before leaving, Shawn grabbed a large backpack that he had placed by the door. “We will be back!” I called to Missy as we left.

We walked hand in hand out of the apartment. The streetlights were dim and there was a draft running through the city, but it wasn’t cold. Shawn led me across the city until we came upon that plain we had visited on our first day.

“I thought we could have another picnic,” Shawn said.

“That's really sweet,” I commented.

He opened his backpack and pulled out a large blanket and set it on the grass. He straightened it out first before motioning for me to sit. As I did, he pulled out two wine glasses from his bag and a bottle of red wine.

“It’s like the first picnic all over again,” I said offhandedly.

“That’s the point,” Shawn replied.

I grabbed a wine glass while Shawn opened the bottle of red wine. He then poured it into my glass and then his own. Once he had put the bottle away and grabbed his glass, we toasted.

“To finally being settled,” I said.

“To us being together,” Shawn replied.

We both drank our wine and smiled at one another. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the weather. It wasn’t too hot or cold, and the draft bringing in fresh air was so refreshing. It was so calming. The stream, trees, and flowerbeds all looked so beautiful from where I sat. It was wonderful that I could still enjoy nature while in an underground city.

When I looked at Shawn he had put his glass down and was facing me. “Yes?” I asked.

“I wanted to ask you something,” Shawn replied, “If I may.”

“Of course,” I answered.

“Rachel?”

“Yes.”

“We are raising a kid together and are partners now for life; that we had already decided. So I wanted to know if you would like to tie the knot.” Shawn got onto one knee and grabbed a small box from his pocket. “Rachel, will you marry me?” Shawn asked.

I felt breathless. I couldn’t believe what was happening. My eyes began to water as my hands shook. “Yes!” I replied.

Shawn smiled largely while my tears fell. “Don’t cry!” he said.

“I’m just so happy that I can’t stop them,” I replied.

Shawn laughed. “I don’t want you to cry, though,” he said.

I laughed with him. “This is the best day of my life,” I said as I wept.

“Mine as well,” Shawn said. He began to wipe my tears away with his thumbs. Our eyes met and we stopped breathing for a moment. Shawn leaned in closer and I felt my eyes close out of habit.

We kissed, slow and sensual. It was about our joining rather than about heat or passion. It was about tying ourselves to one another rather than sexual attraction. Shawn’s hand went down from cradling my face to caressing my neck. I enjoyed the soft feeling of his lips on my own and the heat in my chest that meant I was secure and happy.

We parted and looked at each other through lidded eyes.

“I love you,” Shawn said for the second time ever.

“I love you too,” I replied for the first time.

We gazed at one another, enjoying the moment, feeling the breeze and each other’s heartbeats go from two to one. We sat together in that field for what might have been an eternity because the moment was so perfect that both of us refused to let go.

We sat in silence and watched the stream together. Shawn’s hand was in mine and his thumb caressed my skin. “I can’t wait to be with you,” Shawn said.

“We’ll always be together,” I said.

“Always,” Shawn agreed.

CHAPTER 15

“The Crow”

“Mistress?”

“Yes Crow?” she answered.

“We are all set,” I said.

“Good,” she cooed.  “I’ll make the call.” She giggled under her breath. That dragon shifter had a lot coming to him.

“Rachel”

As Shawn’s phone rang I felt that terrible feeling in my gut. The last time it had rung, we went and rescued Missy, but it would have nearly cost us Michael’s life had we not made a plan.

Shawn answered it. “Hello?” he said.

He remained silent as the person on the other end spoke.

“Let him go,” Shawn demanded in a dark tone.

I sat up and looked on with a heart full of worry. What was going on?

“Fine,” Shawn said after a moment and hung up angrily.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“It was the phoenix shifter, she’s taken Bartley hostage,” Shawn answered.

“Hostage?!” I exclaimed.

Shawn sighed. “I’ll deal with it.” Shawn stood and began to walk to the apartment door.

“Wait!” I said.

Shawn turned around with a questionable look on his face.

“Please be careful,” I requested.

“It’ll be fine,” he replied, “she probably just wants to fight and then that’ll be the end of it.”

“What if she wants more than a fight?” I asked, that feeling in my gut agreeing with me.

“I doubt it,” Shawn said.

“Shawn”

I prepared myself for battle, stretching and lunging before heading out. Rachel kissed me on the lips and wished me good luck but there was a terribly worried look on her face. I wanted to get back to her as soon as possible.

I wondered how the phoenix had found my hiding place and who she worked for. What worried me most is that someone else might now know my location which was a big problem, however it seemed that she was doing this out of her own interests so there was a chance that she hadn’t  told anyone yet.

I walked to the entrance that Bartley protects. There, I stripped of everything except my boxers and exited topside. Outside it was dark, the stars were out and the wind was cold. I looked around me but no one was to be seen.

“Phoenix!” I called out. “I’m here, so give back Bartley!” I yelled.

I felt tired and just wanted to go back to Rachel. I couldn’t wait until this was all done so I could return to her.

Suddenly, a woman popped out from behind a large rock, and in her hand she held something the size of a lighter. The woman had red hair tied into a ponytail and striking green eyes. Freckles dusted her nose and cheekbones but her facial features were sharp enough to make me uneasy. The woman smiled at me and then pressed her thumb onto the button atop the lighter-like object.

The ground began to shake underneath me. I lost my footing and fell to my knees but my eyes stared at the woman in front of me.

“Hahahaha!” she laughed, “goodbye Sub-Dublin!” she exclaimed.

The object she was holding wasn’t a lighter, but a detonator to bombs! Reality crashed on me suddenly, almost drowning me in their powerful waves.

“No!” I yelled.

Rachel! Michael! Kathleen! Missy! They were all down there! What if the city had completely collapsed on itself, killing them?! The ground still shook and waves of tremors continued to shock its way through the ground. There was no way that the city wasn’t affected, and the main exit had collapsed in on itself!

I felt rage and sadness well up and explode inside me. It was a sudden crack of emotion and it tore my insides apart. I began to change into a dragon and I roared in mourning. How dare this woman do such an evil thing? How dare she attempt to take so many lives!

The woman laughed, her hands spread out at her sides. “Perfect,” she muttered, “Perfect!” She too began to change. Her hair turned to fire while her skin grew feathers. She grew and grew in size until she was the same as I. She opened her beak to speak.

“Do you want revenge for what I have done?” she asked.

“I do not just want, I will
get
,” I answered before pouncing atop of her.

We struggled. The fire of her feathers stung but my scales absorbed most of the heat. I wrestled her down to the ground but she tried to peck at my eyes with her beak, which forced me to retreat and jump off her large form.

She stood and stared at me. I hunched my shoulders to pounce and waited for her first move. We began to walk and circle each other, both wanting to get the better of the other. She cocked her head at me as if taunting. I felt rage build up inside me once again and against my better judgment, I pounced first. She jumped to the sky and landed on my back. Her beak clamped down painfully no my neck. I tried to use my wings to shake her off but she refused to budge. I then whipped my tail blindly towards my back, which caused her to lose balance and fall.

She fell to the ground and I pounced, grabbing whatever I could with my claws and slashing blindly. The heat of her feathers hurt but I felt nothing beyond the rage in my belly that fired my fighting intent. She kicked me off with her weak bird legs so I was able to recover quickly but by then she was up in the air.

I followed in suit and took off. I then breathed in heavily before letting out a scream of fire. The fire did not affect the phoenix at all; in fact, it seemed to make her burn brighter which frustrated me. I knew I needed to calm down and think properly and strategically but all I could think about was the people in the city whom were probably crushed to death. I felt that rage burn again inside my belly and against my better judgment I let out another beam of fire.

The phoenix laughed as her wings grew larger in size.

“You really are stupid!” she said. “Don’t you realize that you’re only making me stronger?”

I felt anger in my gut and fire in my throat but I refused to let another breath of it out. I had to think clearly for Rachel, for Michael, for Kathleen, for Missy. I was at a disadvantage in the skies; I needed to bring it back to the ground where I had some semblance of balance and ability to attack without fire. I barreled forward and tackled the phoenix, taking her to the ground. She struggled and tried to free herself by flapping her wings and using her beak to injure me but I refused to budge. I slashed at her with my claws and bit her neck.

The heat of her flesh burned my tongue but luckily it had some protection against fire since that was where I breathed it out. I bit harder and ignored the pain until I tasted blood. She then pecked at an already open wound on  my shoulder, which made me wince, which allowed her to be released from my hold. We began to circle each other on the ground once again. The landscape around us was ravaged by our large scale battle, there were indents in the ground where we had fallen and were tackled, bits of fire remained as the grass was scorched from both of our abilities.

The phoenix tried to fly back into the sky but I quickly grabbed a hold of one of her skinny legs and threw her to the ground. She yelped in pain as I attempted to break her leg with just my grip. I heard a crack under my hand as she cried out in pain. She staggered backwards away from me and fell onto her back. I lunged at her but she was able to roll out of my way. I heard another crack and I saw she had somehow fixed her leg by putting it back into place. I cursed her healing abilities.

She sneered at me. “You think you’re stronger than me?” She asked.

“Am I wrong to think so?” I replied.

“No one is stronger than me,” the phoenix yelled.

Her eyes dilated and I could see she was excited. This woman was getting high off  our fight. She was excited to have her life in peril. She killed all those people just to fight me? How desperate and deprived was this woman?

I thought of all the citizens of the underground city, all the days they wouldn’t be able to live because of this woman’s selfishness. I felt rage grow inside me. Anger pumped through my veins but I refused to let the adrenaline control me. I suddenly remembered that she had mentioned that she had taken Bartley hostage but I couldn’t see him anywhere in the vicinity. All I could see around me was the burning phoenix’s blinding feathers.

“Where’s Bartley,” I demanded in anger.

“Bartley?” the phoenix repeated. “The old fart?”

“What did you do with him?” I asked angrily.

“Tied him up and attached him to a bomb,” she replied.

I felt that anger bloom in my chest once again but I smothered it before it could ruin my judgment. I breathed and focused on simply that. I needed to win this battle, and I wouldn’t be able to if my fighting spirit relied only on anger and pain.

I thought of Rachel, of our dreams of being together, of the happiness on her face when I asked her to marry me. I thought of Michael and his favorite toy train that I was going to replace and his love for his mother. I thought of Kathleen and her kindness and ability to reach out to those in need. I thought of Missy and her loyalty to her friends and her way of simply battering through a problem. I felt warmth in my chest, a new confidence made itself known to me.

I could do this. Not for me, but for them. They wouldn’t want this woman to get away with the atrocity she had just committed, so I wouldn’t let her.

“What’s wrong? Someone
scared
?” the phoenix taunted.

I refused to let her words get underneath my skin. Instead, I simply stared at her wordlessly. She continued to yell taunts and obscenities at me but I refused to make the first move. Finally, she got fed up and impatient and lunged with her beak at me. I dodged easily and went for her neck, only this time I locked my jaw into place and refused to let go. I slashed at her body with my front claws and continued to clamp down with my jaw.

Finally, I heard an obscene crack and then she fell lifeless to the ground. Her fire feathers began to dampen and she slowly returned to being the human she once was. Her body was terribly mangled and she had huge gashes in her belly and a large bite mark on her neck. I stood triumphantly over the body but felt emptiness in my gut.

I heard the scuttling of another person so I called out to them, “Don’t move!”

A man with black hair was fleeing from the scene and stopped mid run as I yelled. I stayed in dragon form and sauntered up to the man. He was shivering and crying but stayed in place.

“Who was she?” I asked, “Who sent her?”

The man shivered. “Mistress has no n-n-name,” he stuttered, “she just wanted to fight powerful people.”

“Who is she working for?” I asked in anger.

“No one!” the man cried out.

“Liar!” I yelled.

I opened my mouth and breathed in heavily.

“Wait, wait, wait!” the man cried. “S-she did work for a man in New York for some time.”

“What was his name?” I asked.

“I d-d-don’t know,” the man replied. I believed him since at this point his pants were soaked in his own pee.

“Leave,” I demanded.

The man quickly shifted into a crow and flew off into the distance. I sighed and shifted back into my regular form. I looked around at the damage we had done to the area; it looked terrible. I walked back to where the entrance to the city was and opened up the door only to be greeted by a collapsed tunnel. I felt my heart burn. I never thought such a thing would happen. I wasn’t prepared for this much death and destruction after we had just figured everything out.

I felt tears begin to gather in my eyes. I willed myself not to cry but couldn’t help the overwhelming feeling of loss take over. I mourned. I wept. I sobbed. I fell to my knees and let the tears roll down my cheeks freely as I dreamed of what once was, of what things were to be.

I had been dreaming of the wedding Rachel and I would have, I was going to ask Kathleen for us to have it topside so that Auntie could come and celebrate with us. I was going to cry when I saw Rachel in her beautiful wedding gown with Michael in a tiny tuxedo carrying the wedding rings.

I felt loss overcome my rational thoughts. I mourned what could have been, what I had once upon a time, the possibilities that the future  had and now in the blink of an eye, they had turned into ash.