The Dragon of Croatia

by Valerie Everhart

  She didn't want it to end. Yet, she couldn't bring herself to ask if he would be back and wondered if keeping the tablet would tie him to her. She would despise herself for begging him to stay. Her thoughts must have shown in her eyes.

  He chuckled. “You are mine. You could never be anything but real to me. This was not a dream. I thank you for releasing the dragon. The tablet serves no purpose any longer."

  "What does the tablet say? I don't understand about this dragon business."

  "Leave it be, sweetie. I will see it taken care of. You need to enjoy the rest of your vacation. The dragon's time is limited, and I must see that the village's problems are reduced."

  "You talk in riddles."

  "Be safe is all I ask."

  He was leaving, and not coming back. They were strangers. She wondered if they could share love, except that it wasn't love, not for him, at least.

  "I still would like to know what you said to me in your other language."

  He stiffened at her request, and she thought he wasn't going to answer her. Calie turned her head away, not wishing him to see her embarrassment.

  "The tablet has no meaning. The symbols are unclear. And I shouldn't have spoken such."

  She didn't believe him. Anger surged through her at his callus lack of feeling after what they had shared.

  "Fine.” She eased off the bed, away from him. “I've work to do here, anyway.” She felt his eyes on her, following as she opened a drawer to find a T-shirt to put on.

  "What work? You are here on vacation.” He spoke sharply.

  She raised her eyebrows at him. “Says you. I'm taking a shower.” She stalked to the bathroom, closed and locked the door. She looked down to see if her heart was bleeding all over the floor.

  Mechanically she showered, and as she suspected, he wasn't there when she came back into the bedroom. The sheets were wadded at the foot of the bed, and slipping off. She shook them out and flapped them carelessly over the bed, trying not to think.

  A knock on the door startled her.

  "Miss Calie. Do you wish to come for dinner?” Annah called from the other side.

  She looked around her room, under the bed, but the stone tablet was missing. She wasn't surprised.

  "Miss?” Anna called again as she knocked louder this time.

  Calie called through the door. “Thanks Anna. I'll be down shortly for dinner. Thanks for waking me in time."

  Who was the stranger that she just made love with? She probably just did the stupidest thing in whole life.

  Chapter Three

  How she made it through the meal with Petar and Annah, she'd never know, nor want to remember. Afterwards, she went back to her room, wanting something, maybe to just be alone. Halsten made that impossible. He stood looking out her sliding glass door—probably because her bed was still a mess. He didn't bother to turn when she entered the room, but spoke, “So, who's the new stud?"

  "Leave him out of this, Halsten."

  "You know, it's not good to get involved with the locals when we're working."

  "I'm not working. I'm on vacation."

  "Right. That's why you went caving today, isn't it?” He walked to the door to leave, but turned back. “I haven't been told when it will go down. Just be ready. And don't trust this stud."

  "I never do. You taught me well ... Brother."

  Halsten walked out of the door. She supposed he was angry with her. That made two of them.

  At some point and time, she was going to have to think about what had happened with the dragon, and the man. That meant facing the fact that she had slept with him, without really knowing him. She might be a field agent to uncover smugglers, but she was no James Bond, secret agent. She certainly knew better than to sleep around. Evidently something she ate induced delusions of grandeur that she was on vacation and could let all her morals loose ... and she was an easy mark for the next available man. That's all it was. So, why had she been the one to release the dragon, and what was his real purpose with the smugglers?

  She wondered how hard it would be to get chocolate. Any kind and lots of it ... she was such a fool.

  So, what was next on her agenda ... no way was she going back to the dragon caves. Further spelunking could wait until she returned to Virginia. Sun bathing didn't sound exciting—too much time to sit and think. There was scuba diving, sailing or hiking. Nothing really appealed to her.

  Possibly, she could take in a museum. She went up to her room and changed into comfortable walking shoes, came back down and looked for Annah.

  "Miss, do you wish to go out in boat with my Petar, to catch the fish?"

  "Maybe later, Annah. I think I'll do some touristy things like take in a museum or a monastery."

  "Oriste? Take in?"

  "Visit."

  "Ahhhh. The Murvica Museum—there is much ancient Croatian history for one to view. Take in the ferry near the Murvica Café.” Annah grinned at using Calie's slang. “You will enjoy the view."

  Calie nodded. She had to repress a grin. That was one thing she noticed in this quaint village. Everything started with Murvica.

  She toured the Murvica museum. Studying the ancient artifacts and history, took her mind off her troubles. The museum was small and consisted mostly of bottle axes from the stone-age period, a soldier's war shield of Roman descent, and many coins.

  Growing bored, she left and walked down the street toward the Murvica Ferry. She found a café and was given a seat where she could look out the window at the wharf. She ordered an espresso and palacinkas, a popular Murvica desert, she was told. A thin crepe filled with ground walnuts and chocolate syrup. She asked for extra chocolate.

  She finally admitted to herself that she was searching for a man's face that was a stranger to her, but that she'd known intimately. She wanted to shake herself for doing so, but couldn't seem to stop.

  Her small table was next to the window, giving her a view of the ferry landing. She watched the wharf, empty of any ferries, as most tourists stopped, looked and moved on. Time passed and she grew better resolved to get on with her vacation.

  She was about to leave when she noticed a disruption, some of the locals began to gather at the landing, so she decided to stay and watch.

  The ferry drew closer, and it was interesting to see the commotion it caused where earlier the area had been empty and quiet. The day was turning to evening, the sun beginning to set, and the temperature to ease. The ferry docked and goods were dispersed to several of the locals, but many people just stood around, they didn't pick up anything. Evidently, this was a normal routine that livened their day, a chance to socialize. Soon the crowd began to disperse, and the crew prepared to leave the landing, when she noticed a male passenger board the ferry.

  She stood and walked to the doorway, never taking her eyes from the departing ferry. Her waiter stopped her at the sidewalk, and tugged at her arm, drawing her back into the building. She threw off his hand from her arm, and shook her head, but never stopped looking at the passenger.

  "Miss. Your bill. Me, I cannot allow you to leave. You must pay fifty Kunas. She handed him a fistful of bills, and motioned him away.

  She shook herself, took a deep breath, and wanted to hit the waiter for detaining her.

  She walked a few steps toward the landing. The passenger faced her, but he never moved. Not even to leave the ferry when he saw her. Her arms hung down limply at her side. Her handbag fell off her shoulder to plop on the ground at her feet. He watched her as she stared back at him, until he faded from sight.

  He was a stranger, a lover she would only dream about.

  Except he was very much real, and was here in the village. He could have come back to her, but didn't. She knew what that meant ... one night stand.

  Just for the heck of it, she could find out the ferry's destination. She walked to the landing, and found out it was headed across the canal to Rudine. However, that was the last pass for the day. They would resume in the morning.

  Po
ssibly Petar could be persuaded to take her in his boat this evening. She would have to think of some excuse for why she was desperate to go there. She headed back to the Lighthouse Inn.

  Calie stopped in the walkway. What was she possibly thinking? A few people walked around her, giving her curious looks for blocking the walk. He was a total stranger and would stay that way.

  She needed to get herself in hand—enjoy her vacation and forget about him. She felt much better, and if she kept saying that enough, at some point she would begin to believe it.

  She decided to return to the lighthouse and plan a sightseeing tour for tomorrow. Just as she turned, a man with a map stopped her.

  * * * *

  Gavriel Dimitrios had not wanted to leave her room. However, the time was not quite set. Her destiny intervened—had set things in motion with allowing the dragon his freedom. The tablet had to be returned to complete the mission.

  If he were careful, the Conte would never know of her existence until she would no longer be a threat to him. He went in search of the Zirac descendant.

  Outside of the lighthouse, he found the boy, Josip and rewarded him generously for seeing her safely back down the mountain. He hoped he would not have the need to displace the boy, then he located Petar.

  "Your son said there was blood shed over the tablet.” Gavriel spoke harsher than he meant to.

  Petar gave him a slight bow before responding, “Me, I but protected what was needed for our village, as do you."

  Gavriel shook his head. “Only as final means. I am grateful for your family's care to the continuation of my safety during the interim period of waiting. But never at the cost of your endangerment."

  "We but do as we see fit; as the dragon sees to the village, we see to the dragon. Josip has much to learn in the pride of being able to fight for our village. It is our right."

  It would be useless to argue. Josip would be a good protector.

  Once the tablet was safely restored to Draconja Spilja, Gavriel re-emerged in the village and spent time making sure the next step of the mission was complete.

  The smuggling runners would be cautious with the death of one of their major players, and it was Gavriel's responsibility to see no more mishaps happened, but to accomplish the mission and capture the smugglers.

  He hated that she would not understand. However, it was necessary to keep her safe. At all costs, he would see to her safety, even at the expense of abandoning the mission. She had become that important. Her ability to control the power of his fingers attested to that fact, along with his own desire to make her his. The words were spoken, even if she didn't understand their meaning. Now it was up to him to see what she was capable of.

  He found her at the museum, and kept watch, no one seemed to pay her any attention. Except for him, and his hungry gaze. She wasn't aware of him nearby.

  Even with the awesome lovemaking, watching her now, he wanted her again, wanted to feel her responsive, heated body beneath him. With thoughts like that, she would sense his presence. He continued to watch her. For the first time in his long existence, he wished this woman to belong to him. This one, he longed to stay with.

  He followed her to the café. Wondering if she had a purpose for being there, he stayed further away and waited to see her leave. It became apparent she was not leaving anytime soon, and it was time for the last ferry of the day. He hoped his luck would hold and he could slip by without her knowing. He needed to be on that ferry.

  For all his training, he could not leave without one last look. She stood at the top of the hill in the doorway of the café and watched the ferry pull out. He knew she watched him, and he let her. Regret washed through him, but she would be safe for the time being.

  She grew smaller as the distance widened.

  The ferry docked at Rudine. Gavriel leaped the last few feet across the water, not waiting for the men to completely secure the ferry to the pier. He lost no time in searching for a boat to go to Vrboska. She might be inclined to follow him to Rudine, but wouldn't know to go to Vrboska, at least, he hoped not. That she thought he'd abandoned her should keep her safe.

  It didn't take Gavriel long to locate exactly the one he needed. A BMB 29 was fast enough and not too large. He also needed to look like he was just a tourist, out enjoying a ride, even if it was night.

  * * * *

  The man had a map, except he didn't want directions, Calie learned. Suddenly, she was grabbed by the arm and pulled off the main walk and up against a low-roofed building. It happened so fast she was too startled but for a small squawk to leave her mouth.

  "Where is the tablet?” the man demanded. He held a knife at her throat. “Tell me now, and you will live."

  "I don't know.” Her voice quavered, convincingly scared since she was unprepared for the assault.

  "Do not lie. Quickly, before I slit your beautiful throat. One last time, where is the tablet."

  He talked like an old gangster movie, except she wasn't laughing. “Please. I don't have it. It was returned. I looked at it, is all. But I don't have it. I swear."

  Gavriel probably still had the tablet. She hated him. It was not love, but sex. Her mind flitted from one thought to the next as she tried to assimilate the best way to handle the situation. What was the connection between the stone tablet, the dragon and this man. She wondered if throwing up on the man's shoes would convince him she really was just a school teacher, and not an agent.

  Another voice spoke out of the darkness of the room. She jerked at the sound of a cultured European male voice. At first she thought it was Gavriel. They had the same accent, but it wasn't him. This man was dressed in a dark suit, but was much shorter. “Enough, Raul. You do not want her messing up your very new boots when you scare her enough to cast up her stomach."

  Grateful to this man for having the knife removed from her throat, she walked toward him, and away from Raul. She shivered, even though she was sweating from the oppressive heat in the airless room.

  "Sir, she might tell us more."

  "Enough. We have what we need. We will take her with us to the meeting and use her to draw the dragon in, as he feels it will be his duty to interfere. He will be unable to resist. He remained far too long with her to be merely talking."

  Chapter Four

  Gavriel drove the boat to the inlet located before the town of Vrboska. He cautiously approached the pier, although it appeared deserted. It was several hours before the meeting would take place. He would be showing up as an uninvited guest. He could only assume, however, that they would be expecting him. Anticipation thrummed through him. A hunter's moon was in the sky, giving off enough light to make the night successful, with no need for additional light.

  He jumped across to the pier, knowing Maro would be back to pick him up at the prearranged time. After Maro drove off, he allowed the darkness to grow quiet again but for the insects, before he began his search, and located the deserted cabin as described. Gavriel scouted the area around the cabin, and found a suitable spot to wait.

  Soon, he heard the boats arriving. The first small yacht was tied off to the wharf before the two passengers came ashore. Gavriel recognized the two men from Petar Zirac's description, but they were unimportant to him. He waited for the next boat to arrive, and didn't have to wait long. This yacht was larger, quieter, and its passenger would direct the meeting and was the one Gavriel waited for. Nevertheless, he was surprised when three passengers walked down the pier, instead of the planned two. He waited. The dimness obscured his vision at first, from knowing the identity of the third person.

  He was further surprised when he noticed the third person to be a woman. They had never allowed a woman to carry out a mission for them in the past. He stilled, and felt his eyes widen. He recognized her. The dragon within roared.

  Calie. They were setting a trap, using her for bait. Dragon bait. He realized another important fact. The Conte was not with them. The man was dressed and had the same build as the Conte, but was an imposte
r, and expendable.

  He needed a new plan. With Calie involved, that raised the stakes. He allowed them to pass by and enter the cabin.

  Gavriel crept through the scraggly bushes. The ground was rocky and covered with loose twigs. He didn't bother with his usual silence. He slithered close to a man hidden behind a tree, but Gavriel was careful not to look that way. He paused, seemingly unsure, and waited. He felt the muzzle of a gun in his side, and was rewarded for his incompetence.

  "Gav. What game are you playing?"

  "Mratin. You not wearing your monk suit, and I didn't recognize you."

  "Allowing yourself to be surprised, I would not recognize you. What is your game?"

  "Just leave it to me."

  Gavriel stalked through the open door of the cabin with his hands clasped behind his head. Mratin and another man flanked him and watched his every move with guns pointed at him. The scene before him made his blood roar.

  A large lighted lantern cast a glow on Calie seated in the center of the dark room. Her hands were tied behind her, jutting her chest out. Her blouse was laid open, purposely, to allow everyone to view the full curves of her breasts barely covered with a lacy pink bra. Her legs were clamped tightly together. Her legs weren't tied to the chair—a positive sign, but they had removed her shorts and she sat in only her pink matching panties, he saw only the straps on the sides of her legs. He made the mistake of looking her in the face. Her hair was mussed, but she wouldn't meet his gaze. She shook uncontrollably.

  Outside, thunder rumbled in the distance.

  Revenge would be sweet. The lust to kill was strong in the dragon, as it roared to take control. There was a better way, a safer way, without worrying about burning down the cabin, and everyone in it.

  The man dressed like the Conte, walked up to her, straddled the chair, sexually dominating, and ran a hand over the top of her breast, caressing, then squeezed. Gavriel stomach lurched. He heard her gasp, her voice shaky.

  Lightening snapped and lit the room, sending ghoulish shadows, followed by a closer clap of thunder. Gavriel made a small growling sound in his throat.