Dragon Blood 1: Pliethin

by Avril Sabine

  “How long does it take to drive there?”

  “Nearly four hours.”

  “And that would make this easier for you?” Kade looked sceptical.

  Amber nodded. “I need to see someone.”

  “You can’t tell them what’s happened.”

  Amber shook her head. “I don’t want to.” Maybe if Crystal hadn’t dropped out of her life she would have wanted to, but now she only wanted to find out exactly what had happened. “I just need to see them.”

  “When?”

  “Now?”

  Kade shook his head. “It needs to be after dark. I don’t think you could manage the altitude I’d need to fly at in daylight to remain unseen.”

  “I’ll be ready and waiting for you at quarter past five.” Amber didn’t wait for an answer. Pulling her hands away from his relaxed ones, she strode towards the house, amazed at how far she’d run. She wasn’t a runner. She hated running. Well, she had, in her old life.

  She considered running back to the house, wanting to get away from Kade who walked silently at her side. But it wasn’t a good idea. Her stomach rumbled with hunger and she forced herself not to be distracted by the many warm bodies she could smell around her. Running might cause her to change and go hunting. That was the last thing she needed.

  Maira waited at the back door for them. “I put your clothes in the dryer last night.” She gestured towards the folded clothes on the bench near Amber’s mobile phone and bag.

  Amber nodded, gathered her gear and strode towards the bedroom. She wasn’t going to wear the leather clothes home. That’d cause a million questions she couldn’t answer. A light tap on the bedroom door just after she shut it had her glaring at it.

  “Amber, I don’t know what you plan to wear today, but I’ve got a pair of shorts here you might prefer.” Maira tapped on the door again when Amber remained silent.

  Amber finally opened the door and took the shorts. She tried to close the door, but Maira put her foot against the base. She was tempted to tell her to leave her alone. But she already knew how well Maira listened to what she thought when it went against her orders. Instead, she stared at a point past Maira’s shoulder.

  “When you’ve got the shorts on, give me a yell. You need to be measured for your own clothes.” Maira moved her foot.

  Amber locked the door as soon as she closed it and pulled off the long pants to replace them with the shorts. She stared at the door. A sigh escaped. Maira wouldn’t be put off. She might as well give in and at least appear to be choosing to be measured rather than forced. Swinging the door open, she was startled to see both Brann and Maira. When she stepped back, they entered the room. Brann held a dressmaker’s tape measure.

  Having her waist measured was bearable. Hip to ankle wasn’t too bad. When Brann tried to measure her inner leg, she stepped back.

  “Stay still,” Brann muttered as he tried to measure her again.

  “Problem?” Kade asked from the doorway.

  Amber’s head snapped up. She wondered how long Kade had been there. “Not at all.”

  Kade smiled. “Sure?”

  Amber glared at him while Brann continued to measure her. When he measured her chest, her glare intensified. Brann stepped back to scribble the last measurement in his notebook and Amber went to her bag she’d dropped on the bed. Even though the nights were cool, the days were still warm. So she’d brought a short-sleeved dress to wear.

  Pulling the dress from her bag, she turned to her audience. “If you don’t mind?” She shook the dress to let them know what she meant.

  “I’ll meet you out the front.” Kade started to turn away.

  “You’re not driving me home.”

  “Maira’s had hardly any sleep.” Kade stepped into the room.

  “Mum would freak if I returned with you when I left with Maira.”

  “I’ll manage.” Maira leaned against Brann who put his arm around her waist.

  Amber hesitated. Maira did look tired. But she didn’t want the drama that would erupt if Kade took her home.

  “We’ll all go. I’ll drive.” Kade turned and walked from the room. Decision made.

  Amber glared after him, wishing she could throw something at his retreating back. He glanced down the hallway towards her as he entered the lounge room and stepped out of her vision. Brann and Maira followed his example. Amber closed the door behind them, leaning against it. It was an effort to stay focused. She needed to eat. And soon. Her ears pricked as she heard a movement in the ceiling. Her nose twitched. Possum! She pushed away from the door and moved stealthily across the floor as she sniffed it out.

  She swore as she realised what she was doing. There had to be a way to get rid of this. She couldn’t very well go hunting when she was at school tomorrow. She hurriedly dressed, grabbed her things and went outside to the front verandah. She didn’t want to be alone. That was when it was worse. It was easy to lose herself when there was no one around to remind her she was human. And she was human. She had to be.

  As soon as she was in the front seat of the car, she sent a text to let her mother know she was on the way. She didn’t think she could speak to her. She needed to calm herself first. Although she had no idea how she was going to manage that.

  The drive was quiet. Maira fell asleep in the backseat, her head against Brann’s shoulder. Amber kept her eyes mostly ahead after the single glance behind. When they pulled up in front of her grandmother’s house, she jumped out. They followed. She’d hoped they’d get the message and drive off. Amber looked at each of them. Maira yawned.

  They each wore the same long leather pants. Maira had put a blouse on over her vest. Brann and Kade wore light, long sleeved shirts. Brann maroon, Kade a green dark enough to almost be black. None of them smiled. There was a slight air of menace about them. Amber had serious misgivings about inviting them inside. Kade grinned and his whole demeanour seemed to change. Charismatic, everyone’s best friend. She forced herself not to answer his smile with one of her own. If he weren’t so gorgeous it’d be much easier to stay angry with him. She turned to open the front door.

  Her mother and grandmother were in the sewing room again. She guessed it was again and not still. The image of her grandmother keeping her mother working at the sewing machine all night caused a fleeting smile.

  “I’m home.” Amber knew she stated the obvious. But neither of them had looked up at her entrance. They did now. She pointed to each of her companions in turn. “You’ve met Maira. That’s her cousin Kade and that’s Brann.” Amber didn’t know whether to be annoyed or relieved when Donna and Helen returned the smiles aimed at them.

  Kade stepped forward, holding out his hand to Helen. “Nice to meet you.” He took Donna’s hand once Helen released him. His smile didn’t falter.

  Donna glanced at her watch. “No wonder I’m getting hungry. It’s after midday. Have you kids eaten yet? Do you want to stay for lunch?”

  “Thanks, but we’ve got plans for this afternoon. We just wanted to come in and say hello first,” Kade said.

  “I’m hungry.” Amber worried her mother wouldn’t bother to make lunch for her either. When Donna nodded, she said, “I’ll see them out to their car.”

  Amber closed the front door behind her so their words wouldn’t drift inside. She stepped close to Kade. “You better not be late.”

  “Make sure your doors are unlocked.” Kade strode to the car. Maira and Brann followed.

  Amber watched Kade drive away. A small part of her wished she was in the car with them. The part that wasn’t looking forward to the interrogation she’d have to endure from her mother. She frantically planned out what she’d say about the party as she walked back to the kitchen, trying to ignore the urge to hunt down the dog she could smell nearby.

  Chapter Ten

  Amber rose to her feet, then sat on the bed again. She was meant to be asleep with a headache. If she started to pace, her mother would knock on the door and demand to know what was wrong. She wo
re long leather pants and a light jacket over a matching vest. She’d debated wearing her boots. They were her favourite ones and had taken her months to save for. She didn’t want them to end up in tatters. They were all she had to wear, except the school shoes her mother had bought.

  Amber frowned as she thought of the ugly uniform she’d have to wear the next week. She’d liked being able to wear normal clothes to school while she’d waited for her size to come in. Someone had bought the last few uniforms in her size a couple of days before she’d arrived. It was good being an average size at times like that.

  Her head came up as the scents around her changed. Rising to her feet, she quietly crossed her room. The French doors opened before she reached them. Kade remained in the doorway, waiting for her. He wore a leather vest with his long pants and held out the jacket she’d left behind at the party. His eyes dropped to her feet.

  “Guess we’ll have to get you a pair of boots so you don’t ruin those ones.”

  “I like mine.” Amber wanted to take back the words the moment she’d spoken them. She did like hers. And she didn’t want them wrecked. She took her jacket from him and tossed it on the bed.

  Kade shrugged. “Are you ready to go?” At Amber’s nod, Kade loosened one of the two belts at his waist and slid it up to sit under his arms. “When I change, this metal loop the belt threads through will be embedded in my scales so you can clip yourself to it.” He spun the belt so the loop was on his back. “It’s made from a metal that won’t change with me.” He undid the other belt he wore. It had a clip on the end of the long leather. “For you to wear. Dragon-leather in case you change.”

  Amber had made sure she’d eaten before retiring to her room. She wasn’t going to change, not if she had anything to say about it. As soon as her belt was on, Kade stepped onto the balcony.

  “This might be a little difficult. I can’t perch on the rails for long. Maybe you should hop on my back and hook yourself on before I change.”

  Amber looked over the rail to the ground. She turned to face Kade, who had a slight smile, and forced back the fear. She didn’t want to throw fireballs at anything. Ever. She eyed his broad shoulders and his muscular arms, hoping he wouldn’t drop her when he changed shape. “Okay.”

  Kade squatted so Amber could hook herself to the metal loop and wrap her arms and legs about him. He stood up. “Hold me lightly. I change quickly.”

  Amber had no sooner loosened her grip then he seemed to jump, change in midair and soar into the sky almost instantaneously. Her arms felt like they exploded with scales that scrapped against her body as she struggled to stay on. The leather belt tightened on her waist, but held. Kade levelled out and Amber’s struggle to hold on ceased. She breathed deeply when she realised she held her breath. Forcing herself to remain calm, she focused on her breathing, closing her eyes. She would not change. She’d stay even-tempered and control those traits that made her a freak.

  Partway through the journey, Amber began to grow bored. She’d sat up earlier, only her legs wrapped around him. Now she leaned forward, arms flung around Kade and her body pressed against his back, closing her eyes to rest. She didn’t plan to sleep. Not while they flew at a life ending height above ground. Her body had different plans.

  She was jarred awake as Kade landed in a well-treed park. Opening her eyes, she blinked. The thick shadows receded and she searched the area, trying to figure out where they were.

  “Hold on. I’m going to change.”

  Amber nearly ended up on the ground when Kade became human. She clung tighter, her legs wrapped around his waist. He knelt and she let go, standing shakily once she unhooked herself. Wrapping the tail of the belt around her waist, she hooked it on the metal loop that was used instead of a buckle. Kade faced her as he returned his belt to his waist and tightened it.

  “Shall we find a taxi?”

  Amber shook her head. “I don’t have that much money on me.”

  Kade shrugged. “I have. Come on.”

  They found a taxi and Amber gave Crystal’s address. When they were nearly there she began to worry Crystal might be out. Although after seven on a Sunday night, her parents usually expected her to be in her room doing homework. The taxi pulled up in front of Crystal’s home and Amber hopped out while Kade paid.

  “A dragon with a credit card?” Amber looked up at Kade as he came to stand beside her. The taxi pulled out onto the road, driving away.

  Kade grinned. “The modern equivalent of a hoard. You still can’t beat the feel of gold and jewels though.”

  Amber automatically returned his smile. “I guess not.” She frowned when she looked over to Crystal’s house. A deep breath and then she headed for the side gate. Kade followed silently. Amber made her way to Crystal’s window, thankful of her new ability to walk without noise as she passed the lounge room where Crystal’s parents watched the television. She stopped at Crystal’s window, staring at the light seeping out around the drawn curtain, worried about what Crystal might tell her.

  “Do you want me to stay with you or disappear?”

  It took Amber a minute to decide. “Disappear.” When Kade stepped back into the deeper shadows, she tapped lightly on Crystal’s window. Then she tapped a little harder.

  The curtain was drawn back and Crystal stared at her. She quickly opened the window and pulled the screen out. Throwing her leg over the sill, she clambered outside to stand in front of Amber. The two of them walked quietly to the garden seat hidden at the rear of the yard under a green arbour.

  The familiarity of it startled Amber. How many times had she tapped on Crystal’s window so they could sit on the garden seat and chat when they were meant to be elsewhere. Like in bed asleep. But it was different. This time lacked the easy flow of words.

  Crystal clasped her hands tightly in her lap, staring down at them. “I couldn’t tell you sorry. I was stupid. That wasn’t forgivable.”

  “Why?”

  “It started as an innocent kiss. At least, I thought it did. I was sad you’d left. He was comforting me.”

  “You could have pushed him away.” Amber stopped the words that wanted to pour from her. She focused on releasing her anger. There was no way she wanted to let the panther escape.

  “I was shocked. He kissed me. Properly. That was the last thing I expected. I know how much you love him.”

  “Not anymore.”

  “Loved him. I wouldn’t hurt you. He’s been telling everyone we’re dating. I’ve been denying it. He’s been saying we don’t want it to get back to you. Everyone believes him. I was terrified you would too.”

  Amber threw her arms around Crystal. “You idiot. Of course I wouldn’t. I know you. I couldn’t understand why you didn’t tell me about this.”

  “I was confused. There are so many rumours flying about. The worst is that you’re not coming back. Tell me that’s not true.”

  “Crystal…” What could she say? She feared the same thing.

  Crystal pulled away, standing to face her. “It’s true, isn’t it? Why didn’t you tell me? Why’d you let me think it was only for a couple of months?”

  Amber rose. “Because Mum lied to me. And I don’t know for certain, but I think it might be true. Or it would be if I weren’t going to uni next year. She can’t keep me in Hicksville then.”

  Crystal giggled. “Hicksville?”

  Amber smiled. “Yep.”

  Crystal threw her arms around Amber. “I’ve missed you so much. In future I promise to talk to you no matter how stupid I’ve been.”

  “You better.”

  “How’d you get here?”

  “A friend gave me a lift.” Amber forced herself not to hesitate over the last word.

  “Friend?” Crystal’s voice was uncertain.

  “You have nothing to worry about. No one could take your place.” Amber turned to scan the yard. Her eyes locked on Kade. When she saw he watched her, she beckoned him forward.

  “Oh!” Crystal stared at Kade, speechles
s.

  “Kade, this is Crystal.”

  “Is this who you’ve replaced Josh with?”

  “How do you want me to play this, Amber?”

  She was tempted, but her friendship with Crystal was worth more than that. “No. We’re just… friends. Armed enemies sometimes, but mostly friends.”

  “A pity. That’d really burn Josh.” Crystal grinned.

  Amber couldn’t resist grinning back. “Very tempting.”

  “I could go and get my phone to take a pic.” Crystal glanced between them.

  Kade shrugged. “It doesn’t bother me.”

  “Wait right there.” Crystal dashed back to her room.

  “You don’t have to.” Amber turned to Kade.

  “I know.”

  “Why are you?”

  “I heard what you said. He’s not worth tears. Focusing on revenge is a better choice.”

  “Why do I get the feeling that revenge is your answer to a lot of things?”

  Kade grinned. “Survival of the fittest. That includes never showing weakness.”

  Crystal hurried towards them, phone held aloft. “I’ve got it. Get close.”

  Kade wrapped his arms around Amber, and pulled her against him so her back met his chest. He dipped his head so his mouth was close to her ear. “This is starting to become a habit.”

  Amber blinked at the bright flash. She turned her head slightly. “What is?”

  “You using me to annoy other boys in your life.”

  “Justin isn’t part of my life.”

  “He wanted to be.” The flash went again.

  “He wanted to win a bet.”

  “That was only a cover.”

  “How do you know for certain?”

  Kade laughed softly. “Most humans are an open book. It’s as simple as reading them.” The flash went again. “Their scent. The way they hold themselves, speak, act. Body language can be as clear as words.” Another flash.

  “Great. Thanks. Those photos will be perfect. I can’t wait to rub his nose in them. I can tell everyone he lied about us so that when they found out about you two he wasn’t left looking like the one dumped.” Crystal tucked her phone in her bra. “How long can you stay?”