The Pearls

by Michelle Farrell

  “Why are we in the closet?”

  “Kaiden think about it, if we have excellent hearing wont they have it too?? But we are at the center of the house with everything blaring and the noise should muffle our whispers a little bit if it is another Dragon.” Zoe explained

  Damn she is smart Kaiden thought “Ok so what do you think we should do? I would take you away right now, but I would also like to wait until Justine’s package arrives.”

  “Thank you for thinking of me Kaiden. I appreciate it, but I have always trusted Zoe’s instinct to run, and if it is screaming at her right now, well I am going to listen to it and run. But I am not leaving your sides.”

  “I think we need to leave here in all honesty, as much as I don’t want to, someone knows we are here. Kaiden you can call a moving company, I really do want to keep all this stuff. Have them start today or tomorrow if you can, but I want to be here during the day when they are packing this stuff up. I think we need to go to a hotel or something about an hour away from this town, and in the opposite direction from where we came.” Zoe explained to them completely freaked out.

  “Ok I will schedule that. I will also call Mr. Steinman. Tell him to call me when the package is in and that we will come to him. Do you mind if I call and get flights for us to my home, our home?” He asked

  “I think we need to wait on the flight, get as far from California as we can and then take a random last minute flight overseas, plus Zoe and I don’t have passports.” Justine said

  “Got it, pack what you girls brought and anything you want to keep with you that you don’t want the movers to pack and take.”

  They all left the closet and started to pack what they wanted to take with them. They only thing Zoe felt she needed to really take with her were all the journals. She found a bag in the closet that she thought would be big enough to hold them all and started shoving them in. Zoe then went to the closet and grabbed a shirt of her mother’s that called to her. She placed that in her bag with her other clothes and was ready to go.

  Zoe was standing in the hallway as Justine was coming out of the bedroom. They went to the living room and placed the bags on the floor. Kaiden was on the phone and they waited for him to finish. Once he was done they loaded his car with the bags.

  “I made the calls, the packers will be here in two hours so we have time to go grab some food and then meet them back here at the house.”

  “Sounds good, don’t make any reservations at a hotel though, I think we should just choose one at random and pay cash.” Zoe said

  “Well I am starved so how about we get moving?” Justine said to break the tension in the air. They were all on edge.

  They all got in the car and headed into town. The town itself was very quaint and small, but bustling with people. They found a cute little diner and parked the car right in front, where they could keep an eye on it. Kaiden got out of the car and was in front of Zoe’s door before she had a chance to open it. Kaiden opened her door and Justine’s at the same time, trying to be a gentleman to both women. The girls got out and took a look around at the people. Kaiden did the same and they were all looking for the same thing. The eyes would give another Dragon away and they were looking for red flecks.

  None of them noticed the man across the street in sunglasses and a baseball cap on his head, pretending to look at a book in the window. But who was really watching them. He also stood far enough away so they wouldn’t feel him.

  Once inside the diner they chose a window seat and looked over the menus. Zoe decided on the country fried steak and eggs, Justine wanted the pancakes and eggs, and Kaiden wanted bacon and eggs. They gave the small waitress their orders and sat there.

  Zoe was seated across from Kaiden and they stared at each other for a while. Justine sat next to Zoe, she was people watching. She felt something odd and out of place, she felt a slight pull, the pull that told her another Dragon was near.

  “Guys, do you feel what I feel?” Justine asked them.

  They were so busy staring at each other that Justine talking took them by surprise.

  “What do you feel Justine?” Kaiden asked

  “A pull.” she responded staring at them confused.

  “I don’t feel anything but you two.” Zoe said

  “Kaiden can you explain the differences in the pull to me?” Justine asked

  “Well with a full-blood the pull feels like what you feel towards me or Zoe. A half-blood is a lot weaker but still there, but your soul mate will have the strongest pull. Only you would be able to feel him from a distance and it would call to you if he was close enough. We would have to be near enough like within a mile. But once we are all turned the pull will be the same for full or half-bloods, especially for Zoe and I.” Kaiden explained as best he could remember from what his parents told him, but he knew without a doubt that the pull he felt for Zoe was stronger than any other pull he felt.

  “The day you showed up I felt a pull, stronger than I feel with Justine, I didn’t know what it was though. I was thought I was being watched.” She was glad this explained that night. That night she was so freaked out she barricaded herself in her room and practically ran to the diner. Now she knew why.

  “So the pull I feel right now, since you two don’t feel it, could mean that my soul mate is near?” Justine’s nerves were starting to set in. She wanted to meet him so bad but she was scared of losing herself.

  “Justine, are you ready for him right now?” Zoe asked concern lacing her words

  “I believe that I am. I know I haven’t really opened up to you Zoe, but I really do want it all. I want love, I want someone to love me, I want children, and I want the house the happy family. I want to know without a doubt I can trust my husband and give him all of me. I have been hiding all of it, but seeing you two together, I know he loves you, I can see it in his eyes and the way he would do anything for you. And Zoe I know I will be scared like you are, but I welcome it to be blunt.”

  Zoe sat there in shock, she was unsure of what to say. Every day since finding out what they were Justine had shocked her with her words and her honesty. Zoe grabbed Justine in a hug and squeezed her. Zoe knew what she was about to say Kaiden would hear, but she didn’t’ care. “I am so happy for you Justine. To be honest I am ready and want all of it too and I couldn’t have found a better man. He is everything I have wanted and dreamed for. I am trying to let all my walls down, but that is easier said than done so I am just going with the flow.” She whispered in Justine’s ear.

  Kaiden couldn’t hold back the smile that came to his face when he heard Zoe’s words. Zoe sat back and blushed when she saw Kaiden’s smile. His smile lit up the whole room in her eyes and chipped away another layer of the wall she had built around her heart.

  Their food was brought out and they ate in silence. Justine’s eyes were everywhere but her plate. She was searching for the source of the pull she felt. Justine thought it was him she couldn’t shake the feeling that it must be him. Zoe and Kaiden were also watching everyone around them but were focused just as much on each other. When the check came Zoe snatched it up before Kaiden could and jumped up to go pay. Kaiden just laughed and shook his head.

  “Let her have her independence and you will do fine Kaiden” Justine whispered to him

  “So I can’t be old fashioned with her and pay for everything?”

  “Nope not with her, she needs to feel in charge of her life too, not just riding the coat tails.” Justine stared him down, she knew Zoe a lot better than him

  “I just want to make her happy. I was taught to be the man and usually the man pays for a meal. Just the way I was brought up.” Kaiden looked defensive.

  “I am not trying to tell you what to do or how to be with her. What I am telling you is, let her hold the reins every once in a while. When ya’ll are married you will share everything. For now let her pay for things when she wants to.”

  “Thank you for the advice, I will try to remember it.” Kaiden told Jus
tine just as Zoe came back to the table.

  The three of them got up and walked out the door. Kaiden made sure to leave a nice tip before he left the table. As soon as they got outside Justine felt the pull, but it was a lot stronger outside and her eyes were everywhere. She started to walk down the street where she felt he would be. Kaiden and Zoe walked as fast as they could to catch up her without drawing attention to themselves.

  “What are you doing Justine?” Zoe hissed

  “Don’t you feel it?”

  “Actually now I do feel it, it’s very faint to me though.” Zoe said

  “It is a full-blood. They aren’t close, but I know the difference in full-bloods and half-bloods.” Kaiden told them “But if he doesn’t want to be seen we aren’t going to see him yet Justine. If it is your soul mate, since you feel it so strong, let him come to you. He may not be ready yet and he may not know. Unless we bump into him and you know for sure it is him and trust me, you will know with the first eye contact you have.”

  “I am going to trust you for now Kaiden, but only because we have about twenty minutes to get back to the house to meet the moving company.” Justine looked at Kaiden with raw courage in her eyes.

  Walking back to the car Justine looked over her shoulder and saw a man staring at them, he was tall and lean but his facial features were covered with sunglasses. He had nice full lips and a strong chin, his nose was a little crooked and his hair was covered in a baseball cap. Justine was confused at the moment. The pull she felt was strong, but from what Kaiden told her if that was him the pull should be stronger. Justine went to tap Kaiden on the shoulder and she mouthed “Look” at him and then she looked back for the man. But he was gone and Kaiden never saw him.

  Chapter 16

  He watches her from afar. He knows who she is but couldn’t find her until he drove through northern California. He has been driving through every state for the last four years and saved the west coast for last. He started about three months ago in Southern California and was working his way up the state when he felt her pull.

  He found her about a week before a man arrived, he knew right away he was the King, and he was there for her roommate the Queen. He watched her pack up and get in the car with them and drive here to this small little mountain town. He rented a cabin close to the home she stayed at last night.

  He found out real quick that there are others watching them too. He caught one of them looking in her window last night. The guy looking in the window never saw him coming, he stayed in the shadows and hauled the guy off giving him a good beating. His hands are still bruised from the fight. Once the guy got up to run away he noticed his eyes and the red flecks in them. He concentrated on the pull then, he felt the three full-bloods in the house and the faint pull from this one. This one was a half-blood.

  His name is Gabriel Joseph Stein, Gabe to the ones he is closest too. He grew up in the country away from everyone. He was home schooled by Mary. His parents left him with Mary when he was five years old. Gabe knew he was a Dragon and who he needed to find to become a full Dragon like his mom and dad.

  They knew her name and her parents. Gabe is originally from Germany and he knew Justine was to be brought to America to be kept safe. Mary was a family friend, she was human there was no Dragon in her. But in a moment of desperation Gabe’s parents told her everything. They also left her everything they had. Her only instruction was to keep Gabe safe and out of the public eye. He was taught everything about Dragons and his heritage. Mary loved him like he was her child. But she had to let him go when he turned eighteen.

  Gabe’s parents knew who was hunting them all down and had told Gabe when he was a boy to not trust anyone with red in their eyes. Mary had a journal that Gabe was not allowed to see until he came back to her with his soul mate. Gabe was told by Mary not to hire anyone to find Justine. That he needed to just drive and drive until he felt her. That the pull of a soul mate is stronger that anything he would feel towards anyone else. And that the pull of Justine would guide him to her.

  Well he has found her and now he knows she is being watched. That the blood Dragon is on their trail and he needs to make sure she stays safe.

  Gabe watches her walk out of the diner and his breath catches in his throat. He has seen glimpses of her but seeing her now in full and the way she walks. The way her long black hair flows behind her has him wanting to run to her. She is walking to the car, but he sees her stop, and she starts to walk in his direction, she must feel him. Right now he is about a mile away from her in a park. Gabe gets up and starts to walk toward her too and then hears what the man, the King is telling her.

  “But if he doesn’t want to be seen we aren’t going to see him yet Justine. If it is your soul mate, since you feel it so strong, let him come to you. He may not be ready yet and he may not know. Unless we bump into him and you know for sure it is him and trust me, you will know with the first eye contact you have.”

  This man knew what he was talking about and Gabe was glad she was in good hands. He saw the King and Queen walk her back to the car and she looked over her shoulder in his direction again. This time she wasn’t looking at him, but another man in a baseball cap. Gabe knew right away this was either the same man or another one from last night. Gabe ran up and grabbed this man as soon as Justine looked forward. When she looked back Gabe was still watching her, but had the man in a headlock out of sight of anyone.

  Gabe learned how to fight early. It is the one sport Mary let him indulge in. She hired trainers to drive the three hours to their house in the middle of nowhere. They would train him and were impressed by his stealth and ferocity. Gabe was told over and over by the trainers that he should compete, but Gabe always turned them down. He knew the risk in putting his name out there in the world.

  Once he had the half-blood taken care of he quickly jumped in his car and followed the pull of Justine. Gabe knew as long as he stayed far enough away she wouldn’t feel the pull as strong as she did today. Once he noticed they were headed back to the house he went to his cabin to nurse his hands. He was very thankful that so far the men were just half-bloods, for if they were full, one touch of theirs to his skin could be deadly.

  His cabin was on a hill with a view of the house they were staying in. Once inside the cabin Gabe went to the bathroom to get the first aid kit and cleaned then wrapped his hands. He then went to the kitchen and grabbed two bags of frozen peas and sat in the chair that faced the house. He set one bag on his left hand and then with his mouth placed the other on his right and then he stared at the house. Gabe saw that they were all still in the car, he found that odd, but then again they did notice something strange this morning and turned every faucet and electronic they had in the house on and on full blast blocking him from hearing their conversation.

  He knew they were about to make a run for it, they must have found something and figured out that the killings are not random that they are all being hunted. Gabe knew that once he found Justine and they made love for the first time he would have to be careful. Once the Dragon in them was set free here in America they would have to be very careful that first flight and any flight they took.

  After watching for about ten minutes Gabe noticed a van pull up to the house, it was a moving company. He knew right then they were leaving. He would have to make his move soon or follow them until he knew it was safe to reveal himself to Justine. Gabe wanted her so bad, but he did not want to risk her life by him coming into it.

  Chapter 17

  Kaiden, Zoe and Justine were all silent while they sat in the car waiting for the movers to get there. Justine couldn’t shake the feeling that the man she was waiting for was near, but that something was keeping him away from her. This feeling both confused her and pissed her off.

  Zoe was worried about the movers and losing her parents things so soon. Kaiden was being very watchful of everything; from what Justine had described to him her soul mate must be close.

  The moving van pulled up alongside Kaiden
’s car and an older plump man stepped out. Kaiden and Zoe got stepped out of the car to meet the man. The man was on the shorter side. He had a plump middle and was wearing overalls. He had no flecks in his eyes, and seemed a very cheerful man.

  “I presume you are Mr. Michaels?” The man looked at Kaiden

  “Yes sir, this here is Zoe, this is her house and her things inside.” Kaiden nodded towards Zoe as he spoke

  “Hello sir, how are you today?” Zoe asked

  “The name is Winston and I am well how about you?”

  “I am well also thank you for asking. Are you by yourself?

  “Well I am here to do an estimate first, seeing what you have and take an inventory. Also the inventory will help me guess about how many men I will need to pack you up and what size truck and all.”

  “Sounds good, I am not used to this I have always done my moving myself.” Zoe told him

  Zoe went to unlock the door and they all went inside. Winston went room to room and was jotting down stuff on his clipboard. Winston came back out to the living room once he was done and took a seat on the couch.

  “Well looks like it won’t take us but a day to pack up this house. Do you have any special instructions that you want put in here before I call some men to get started? I think we can get it all done today.” Winston said

  “Just please take care of everything.” Zoe looked to Winston with panic lacing her eyes

  “Miss we will take care of it as if it was our own and we provide insurance on it all.”

  “I will pay whatever the cost, but I want everything double wrapped and the fames and breakables wrapped in bubble wrap too. Also I don’t have a location for you so it will need to be held in storage until I have one. What I do know is it is all going overseas, if you want to ship it there and then storage it that is fine.” Kaiden told Winston

  “Anything we can do to make this experience as trouble-free as possible we will do.”