Dragon's Quest (Dragon Princes Book 1)

by Cyci Cade

  After breakfast, Kate took some paper and colored pencils and started to design the dress she had worn in her dream while it was fresh in her memory; she then designed Liu´s suit closer to matching the dress. They were a perfect, amazing couple, members of royalty. She laughed and vivid snapshots lit her memory. They could be who they wished in their dreams; the dreams existed for that reason, to turn impossible thoughts into reality.

  She glued the paper on her room´s wall and glided her fingers around the picture. Maybe one day Hannah could sew it; she was an excellent dressmaker, but she´d think Kate was insane because she had never liked these kinds of dresses. That was before, when Kate was a kid, now she was a woman and she had to behave like one.

  Kate read her mother´s instructions for that day: to clean the house, wash the dishes and clothes, do the ironing. She´d be at home for hours. She snorted, left the instructions on the table and started her duties.

  Without wasting time, she made the beds, first her parent´s, then hers; she took the broom and swept the house putting the dust in the garbage. She checked the hamper and snorted, it was full; grabbing the clothes, she washed them, arranged them on the clothesline, and ironed the ones which were already dry.

  It was lunchtime when she got around to the kitchen; the breakfast dishes remained on the table, and the strong coffee aroma caused nausea due to her empty stomach. She cleaned the table, poured the coffee down the sink and peeped at the saucepan to check what her mother had cooked. She licked her lips, smelling the aroma of stew and rice.

  Kate grasped a plate, filled it with spoonfuls of rice and stew, sliced the bread and ate the meal. Full and tired she then washed the dishes and cleaned the floor. It was 2 p.m. when she finished her jobs and a silk voice called to her in her mind.

  “I´m waiting for you, come to the lake. Rush!”

  She shook her head trying to block the voice.

  Kate took a shower, combed her long blonde hair and collected the bow and the arrows, perhaps she could practice with Phillip, like always. That was her intention when she left her house in the direction of Phillip´s place ignoring the voice, pretending that it was a boring bird singing in her ears.

  She tied her hair in a ponytail and panicked when she saw Phillip walking to his house. Kate crouched down and hid behind the bush. “Congratulations, brave warrior,” she whispered sarcastically.

  Kate kept hidden; she watched Phillip leave the house and go to the corn field. She couldn´t face him even to invite him to practice. How would she tell Phillip about her new flirt? Idiot, big, fool girl. Who was she trying to deceive?

  “Kate!”

  The snarl was so loud that Kate fell down on the ground.

  “Come to the lake, now!” the voice demanded.

  “Okay!” she blurted. “I´m coming.” She got up and rushed to the forest before anyone could stop her.

  She didn´t understand why, but she couldn´t disobey that command. The urge was stronger than her. She searched for explanations to that unusual behavior in her mind. If there was one, it was murky. Or maybe she didn´t wish to recognize it or it just didn´t exist, no details to reveal, only her intense desire to see Liu once more.

  Kate left the bow and arrows on the sand when she arrived at the lake and walked slowly to the edge. Her heart thumped fast, her breath became uncontrolled. Liu was shirtless; water dripped from his long black hair and ran through his muscled body making his chest´s muscles bigger and brighter. How could a girl keep calm facing that situation? Impossible.

  He paced toward her with a lopsided yet satisfied smile; she had obeyed his command. He summoned her, and she quickly came to him like a puppy shaking its tail. Liu stopped near her, too near; it was a harsh task to be reasonable smelling that scent.

  “I just came to say that I won´t come.” She swallowed dry as a prey facing its predator.

  He pressed his fingers against her bare arms. “You are here now.” He lifted an eyebrow. “So, don´t waste time.” He caught her by surprise and stole a kiss.

  Kate tapped his arms, but he held her firmly until she surrendered to his fondles, stopped fighting, and returned the kisses. He knew how to seduce a woman; he was very good at that, and she, a weak girl unable to keep her mind working properly when she was near him.

  “Why are you so resistant? Do you not see? You belong to me, you want me,” Liu said while their lips connected, then he kissed her again. He explored and tested her lips, stopped for short moments and moved again without waiting for her response, but he knew she´d react agreeably. She acted as he wanted, responding to his kisses and strokes.

  Kate squeezed his arms; her hands explored his naked chest, his face, his hair, and felt his entire body´s heat. They continued where they had stopped that morning in their dream. Her mouth moved fast and hard against his, she was in haste, she had lost hours denying her wishes, and she had to recover the lost time. Wow, he is hot!

  Then, she pulled his body against hers, it was impossible to be closer. Her body asked more from him, and he seemed ready to correspond to her desires. Liu´s lips were delicious, smooth, yet at the same time strong and sturdy. His scent was so good and irresistible.

  Why did I take so long to meet him?

  He was there, eager, calling her. Stupid girl; she could stay in his arms all day and it might be insufficient.

  Liu interrupted the kiss; he put his hands on her waist, pushed her separating their bodies, and thought out loud, eyes still closed. “Now I am certain, I know your feelings pretty girl.” He smiled gladly and walked away. “Come earlier tomorrow, and don´t forget I love you too.” He laughed.

  “What?” She protested. How could he leave her yearning for his love? “You’re such…” She wanted to say some insults, but he was so far away and she continued to hear his laugher.

  Her good feeling blew away and made way for another one, anger. Annoying, stupid, arrogant, presumptuous… Who said that she loved him? What was wrong with her to decry the stranger that way, like a… She didn´t dare to finish that thought, it was too humiliating and shameful.

  Liu

  Liu shook his head and laughed; even from a distance he heard Kate´s complaints, she was upset.

  “That mulish girl loves me.” He giggled. “Did she remember our dream? I wanted to ask what was so important that she tried to tell me during the dreams, but she makes me mad.” Liu plunged in the lake and swam in the cold water.

  The wild girl fascinated him, he´d like to tame her. Emotions rushed through him, he yearned for her love, he wished to say ‘I missed you,’ ‘I´ve waited for you for hours,’ ‘I couldn´t wait to meet you after our last night,’ and she changed his mind saying rudely that she wouldn´t come.

  Women… always the same, they want and then they don´t want. Who on earth could understand them? As his father used to say, ‘Women were made to admire their beauty, not to understand them’; he was right because Liu couldn´t comprehend his mother either, sometimes she said things that didn´t make any sense.

  “Women are difficult to live with, impossible to live without,” he pondered. “Everything in the world changes, but women remain the same. How is it possible? Doesn´t matter, I will enjoy wining her over.”

  She could have just ignored his call, she chose to come to him, it was really important. Tomorrow things would be different; he hoped so.

  What if she was furious with him? What could he do to fix it? It was better if he hadn´t forced her in that way. They were still getting to know each other, even though it seemed they had spent an eternity together. Did she have the same feelings? There was too much to say, ask, and know. He might enjoy visiting her village, meeting her parents, friends, and… that guy leaving her house last night. Who was he? Was he Kate´s boyfriend? No. She loved him, didn’t she? It was unacceptable.

  Those thoughts interrupted his peace; they came with no invitation and took a place in his mind. She was a beautiful girl. Why should she be alone? Of course there were other me
n fancying her, but she came to him, kissed him in such an intense way.

  He didn´t see her kissing that guy. She couldn´t kiss him, never, Liu wouldn´t permit it. He needed to talk to her seriously; she had to know that she was his girl, not of another man.

  It was dark when Liu left the lake, even the cold weather was unable to refresh his head, those ideas rooted in his brain. His mother made a good job planting seeds of insecurity. He had never fallen in love with any woman, and to keep his confidence became hard when everything ran against its natural course. He wouldn´t give up.

  Kate

  Seven days later.

  Kate tried to resist Liu´s call, realizing that it was impossible. During the last days they had met, she was in love with him. Kate made a tremendous effort to deny her feelings and hold onto her instincts. She kept her distance as much she was able to; she had tried to avoid him, in vain.

  They walked holding hands and sat on the rock where Liu had kissed her that first day. He kissed her cheek, lifted her chin, and slid his lips onto hers; his hands squeezed her back. There was an exciting sensation when the cold air mixed with his warm body.

  Reluctantly, he left her lips. “I love you, Kate. You are the best thing that has happened in my life for centuries,” he whispered and held her in a tight hug.

  “You´re always saying odd sentences; it is funny but scares me.” She kept her eyes on his and waited. His expression became dark, serious, and sad; he remained silent. She spoke. “Where in the mountain do you live?”

  “The other side, it is a little complicated to get there, the way has a lot of dangers.” He smiled.

  Kate looked at the top of the mountain and felt guilty being happy while Samantha remained captive. She had promised herself to save her sister, ten years had passed and she still didn´t have a plan to release Sam.

  “What is wrong? I did something that hurt you?” He curled her hair in his finger and pulled it away from her face.

  “My sister Sam was taken by the dragons. I promised to rescue her, and I am here with you; ten years have passed. I should be practicing, not dating while she is the dragon´s slave, if she is still alive.” Kate gazed at Liu; he was pale, speechless, and wide-eyed; his color drained, and his hands froze in hers. “Liu?” she mumbled. “Are you feeling well?”

  Liu swallowed and cleared his throat. “Fine,” he uttered. “How do you intend to rescue your sister?” He broke eye contact.

  “I don´t know. Phillip has trained me. I´ve learned a number of fight techniques and how to manage some weapons, like bow and arrows. Actually, he doesn´t know my intention, I mean, he knows, but he doesn´t believe in it. You are the first person who I have talked to about this.” She sighed.

  “Who is Phillip? Is he your boyfriend?” Liu frowned, his breath became heavy and fog came from his nostrils.

  “He is, was, is…” Kate stammered. “We grew up together, he was Sam´s friend. When she was taken, we became close.” She shrugged and tried to change that topic of conversation because she didn´t know how to explain it, but Liu was interested.

  “He likes you, doesn´t he?” Liu got up and walked on the rocks.

  “Are you jealous?” Kate asked and got up too.

  “I don´t like to think that you have a close man friend, and if you didn´t reply to my question it is because the answer is yes. He likes you and you dated or do you still date him?” He pouted and crossed his arms.

  She bit her lips. “I don´t know what to say…”

  Liu interrupted her, “What about the truth?” He lifted an eyebrow. Liu was angry, very angry, his pale face turned red.

  “It isn´t what you think. I thought that Phillip and I would date, marry, and… I don´t know. He kissed me once, when I was sick…”

  “What kind of man takes advantage of a sick, defenseless girl?” He shouted and waved his arms.

  “Phillip didn´t take advantage of me, and I am not defenseless,” she replied.

  “Oh! Are you saying that you wanted the kiss? Do you still want it?” He held her arm firmly, his eyes shone furiously. The situation was uncontrolled. Liu became aggressive, jealous, and annoying.

  “You are hurting me!” She cried and gasped. Kate tried to escape from Liu´s ferocity, but she was too weak.

  “I am sorry.” He embraced her. “That night when we had those dreams I saw a man leaving your home, and when you spoke about Phillip I lost my mind. It won´t happen again. I trust you; I know you are my girl.” He kissed her, her heart thumped fast and hard as his hand stroked her.

  “I need to go, it is almost sundown.” She stepped away and forced a smile.

  “I´m going to wait for you tomorrow,” he beckoned.

  What a frightening situation. Liu resembled an animal ready to lunge. She wondered how violent he could be or if he was capable of hurting her. She needed to put an end to her relationship with Phillip.

  Kate wasn´t able to tell him that she had another boyfriend. She wasn´t cheating Liu because she hadn´t seen Phillip since she met him; even so, it was wrong. Phillip deserved to know that they wouldn´t date.

  Chapter 11

  Samantha

  Samantha woke up, astonished. Susan shook her body strongly and whispered, “Today is Helen´s birthday. Lindsay and I want do prepare a party. Are you in?”

  Sam rubbed her eyes and focused on Susan. “Yes. I am in; she deserves it. Helen gave me support on my eighteenth birthday. I was so sad that I thought I was walking to the end of my life. What do I have to do?”

  Susan looked at Helen who slept, then continued in a low voice, “It is a surprise; she cannot suspect anything.” Susan explained her plan step by step. “We are working in different places today. I saw that you are to clean the kitchen. I thought you´d be able to steal food, cake, candy, juice… whatever you find there. No one must know that you are stealing food or you´ll get problems. You put the groceries inside this bag.” Susan put a bag on Sam´s bed and continued to give her instructions, “Then hide them inside the bucket, later, you come here and hide the bag under your bed. Can you do this?”

  “Yes, but…” Sam considered some points. “Won´t the cook notice the foods disappearance? How will I explain if she asks me?

  “You will choose slices of cake, pie, or whatever you find there. It´s very important that you bring the bag here, if they ask anything you say that you don´t know. It´s simple, but you need to be careful. I did this before, and nobody noticed.” Sam only nodded while Susan moved back to her bed.

  Samantha glimpsed at Helen who slept without knowing of Susan´s plans for that night. Those girls were her family now; she couldn´t forget when she arrived and met them. Helen asked about her mother, Sam lied to her and hid that secret for ten years. It wasn´t fair, but Helen might not survive knowing that her mother died months after she had been taken; Sam certainly wouldn´t.

  Sam´s birthday was almost a month ago; did her family remember or celebrate the date? Improbable. Did she have other siblings? Maybe her parents had decided to have brothers or sisters to Kate. Her dear sister Kate. What was she doing now? Dating? Getting married? Having kids? Sam hoped that her first child was a boy, she wouldn´t wish to see Kate´s daughter working as a slave in that mansion.

  And her friend Phillip? They once were so close; sometimes she daydreamed of her future with him. Every time she saw her parents together she wondered if one day Phillip and she would have the same love. She thought about him because he was her friend, the only boy she knew at that time. Did he get married and have kids? Does it matter? She wouldn´t see them again, never more.

  After breakfast Sam went to the service room and checked her schedule; Susan was right, her work allocation was in the kitchen. She grabbed an extra bucket, hid the bag inside and put dusters over it. In another bucket she put cleaning products and floor cloths; she took a broom and rake and hurried across the corridor to the dining hall, some girls were late leaving.

  She checked the clock, in five minu
tes the cook would appear, clean the tables and save the leftovers. She put the buckets on the floor, grabbed the bag, walked to the tables, espied what she could grasp for Helen´s party and threw it into the bag. Samantha kept one eye on the tables and another on the door linking the kitchen with the dining hall. Her hands shook every time she held a slice of bread, cake, or a box of juice; the distance between the table and the bucket seemed endless.

  She strode around the tables with quick fingers and hands; she threw everything she knew Helen liked into the bag. Sam went to another table, the last one, before she could see what it had on it a noise made her run and hide the bag inside the bucket. She replaced the dust cloths over the bag and got up; when she turned to the side, a strong, somber woman with arms crossed in front of the chest stared at her. Sam grinned, but the cook didn´t change her expression.

  “What are you doing here?” the woman asked in a dry voice and tapped her foot on the floor.

  “It is my turn to clean the kitchen. I thought…” Sam breathed heavily. “I should start here.” For a slight moment she thought she would lose her senses and faint. All these years that woman never talked to her or looked at her, she chose just today of all days to do it. Just the day Samantha had a bag full of stolen food hidden in the bucket.

  The woman broke eye contact; she didn´t appear satisfied with Sam’s explanation, though, she went to the tables and cleaned them without a word. Sam copied her, and with a dust cloth she scrubbed the tables the cook had taken the dishes and the food from in a rushed tempo.

  The cook glanced at her once again and returned to the kitchen. Sam pretended not notice the cook´s eyes over her and kept scrubbing the tables. When Sam was certain that she was alone, she slumped on the chair and breathed normally again.