by Celeste Raye
Alone once more, Michelle pulled the covers over her head. She wanted the world to disappear. It was all too much to handle. Jackson had become a raving, violent, lunatic. Then, Kelan had admitted to being an alien. Her little corner of the universe had been turned upside down. Was this a nightmare she would laugh about in the morning? She wished she could believe that. But, she knew it was real. She was wide awake. Her pain wouldn't let her sleep.
She longed to forget the past twenty-four hours and sink into sweet oblivion. It wasn't to be. The nurse came to take her vitals and adjust the IV. Then, they brought in a liquid lunch, which she tried to sip through a straw. That was an agonizing experience. On the upside, she would lose those extra five pounds. Next, the doctor was there to check her progress. After that, the shift changed and the afternoon nurse repeated the vital and IV checks. Yet, everyone kept saying to get some rest. The worst thing was that they actually meant it.
Kelan
Kelan drove past Michelle's house. There was crime scene tape across her front door and surrounding the backyard. Two police cruisers were parked in front. He was glad he had taken the time to gather the remnants of his suit. He could imagine how confused the officers would be to see it shredded all over the ground. The grass had hopefully sprung back into position. If not, it could be explained away as happening during his scuffle with Jackson. Then, Kelan felt a jolt as he remembered his claws. They would have left big holes, too evenly spread out to be accidental. How could he explain that? His heart slowed as he realized there was no need for him to explain. If they asked about the holes, he could act as confused as everyone else. Why should he know what they were? He had just been there to save Michelle. Whatever else went on in her yard was none of his business.
Kelan had no desire to speak with his staff. He parked his car in an open spot on the street. If he took it to the parking garage, word would spread that he was back. He used the back entrance to the building that connected straight to the penthouse. He required a shower and food before he was forced to call the commander.
He turned on the news as he passed by the television. It would be best to be forewarned if the incident was brought to the attention of the reporters. Nothing about Jackson, Michelle, or himself was mentioned. Domestic disputes were too trivial to make an impression. Thank goodness for small favors.
Kelan allowed the water to rush over his sore body and soothe it. Between the transformation and the tension of worrying over Michelle, he ached all over. If he was able to make the change on a regular basis, it wouldn't hurt. But, he was no longer used to it, so each time was like the first. That wouldn't be a problem for much longer. There was no way the commander or the ruler would let him stay on Earth for another year. His identity wasn't a secret anymore. Even if Michelle kept it to herself, there was too much danger involved in someone knowing that dragons existed. Jackson was a wild card. He sounded crazy, was drunk and high, and in jail for domestic abuse. Yet, he would continue spouting off about seeing a dragon. Eventually, someone would look into the accusation or Jackson would find a way to prove it himself. It was a risk that Kelan couldn't take. Talonia's anonymity hung by a thread. He had to set things in order and go home as soon as possible.
With a towel around his waist and a slice of cold pizza in his hand, Kelan reluctantly turned on his communication device. At first, no one on Talonia answered. He had almost decided to give up when the commander came on the line. "How long have you been trying to reach us?"
Kelan replied, "About fifteen minutes or so. I was about to shut my communicator down. I don't want the transmission picked up. Why didn't anyone answer?"
"We've been a little busy today. The alien vessel sent out smaller ships that entered our atmosphere. They came too close for comfort. We've had to raise the shield over Talonia. There was a meeting to discuss the issue. I left one of the younger weredragons to answer the communicator, but it was a mistake. He got overly excited and transformed inside the room. I just got the mess cleaned up and the communicator back online. Sorry for the inconvenience. Is there a problem?” the commander inquired.
"It seems this is a bad day for weredragons. I had a small issue too. I think it's under control. However, I figured you should be informed. I got angry and transformed in my personal assistant's yard. She saw me, and so did her boyfriend,” Kelan answered.
"What have you done? This planet's inhabitants were counting on you to protect them. Now, their secret is out, and Talonia will be invaded. All will be lost. How could you lose control? Tell me you found a way to keep them from spreading the information! Did you destroy them?"
"You know I couldn't do that. It's forbidden. This is their world. I'm the intruder. Technically, I'm spying on them as well as stealing their technology. We aren't at war with Earth. But, all isn't lost. Michelle will keep my secret. I trust her implicitly. As for her boyfriend, he's a drunken, violent addict. No one believes him. They think he hallucinated or is crazy. He's in jail. It's his fault I transformed. He had beaten and tortured Michelle. When I found them, he was strangling her. You would have changed too if you had seen the condition she was in and heard his threats,” Kelan stated.
"No, I wouldn't have. What goes on between a human female and her lover isn't our business. If the woman had died, then it was meant to be. You interfered in something you shouldn't have and jeopardized your species. You've become too close to these humans. This woman is special to you or you could have maintained your human form. Stay away from her,” the commander demanded.
"I can't. She works for me, and I need to see that she's okay. My employees are my responsibility, the same way those under your command are to you. I made a mistake. It won't happen again. Talonia is safe,” Kelan vehemently declared.
"You can't swear to that. I know you say this Michelle will keep your secret, but you can't be sure. How much does she know? What if she's questioned by the authorities about her boyfriend's rantings? What if a reporter offers her a lot of money to tell her story? You have to convince her that what she saw isn't real and you must return to Talonia,” the commander replied.
"I already told her it was real. I explained exactly what I am and where I'm from. I had to. She was terrified of me after she saw me transform. She was on a lot of painkillers. It's possible she won't remember, but I'll tell her again if I need to. She won't give up the information no matter how much money she's offered and she certainly won't help Jackson. I trust her with my life. Michelle is not the kind to betray a friend, despite their origin. I'm going to get things settled with my company and have the weapon manufactured, then turn everything over to my manager. I'll return to Talonia very soon,” Kelan explained.
"You're not just trusting her with your life; you're trusting her with the lives of all our species. You better be correct in your assessment of the situation. The feelings you obviously have for her should not be allowed to taint your perception. Distance yourself from her and do it quickly. She'll be left behind anyway. You should not have told her about Talonia. There will be consequences for it when you get home. The court could consider it treason. I will do my best to keep that from occurring. Stay safe. Good travels."
The commander was right. Talonia's court could count his actions as treason. He had betrayed them not only by transforming but telling Michelle about the planet's existence. Was he too close to the humans? Had he allowed them to usurp the loyalty he owed his people? He did care about them, especially the ones who worked for him. He had let himself get closely involved with some of their problems. He gave money to their charities and spoke at schools about abuse. He sent flowers when an employee was ill or had a child. Before leaving on this quest, he had been told to keep the humans out of his heart. They had somehow found their way past the wall he had built around his heart and become his friends. Michelle was indeed special, and he did have feelings for her. Exactly what those feelings were, he wasn't sure. Distancing himself from her wouldn't be easy, maybe even impossible.
Chapter
7
Michelle
Morning came and with it some clarity. Michelle's head still ached, but the intense throbbing had subsided. She once again had the ability to think and reason. Yesterday was a nightmare that left shocking revelations behind. Jackson wasn't just an abuser. In his desperation to get money for his unsavory habits, he had come very close to murder. She had known he was cruel when he was drunk, yet it had never crossed her mind that he was capable of killing. Then there was Kelan, the man she looked up to, trusted, and worked in close proximity to, day after day. He was an alien! Not just your common, everyday variety either. He was a weredragon. They really existed. If her swollen eyes could be believed, he was the most beautiful dragon she had ever seen. Sure, all the ones she had seen before were in fantasy books or movies, but the emerald green and midnight blue one that Kelan had transformed into had put the others to shame. It was magnificent and frightening. How had she not known there was something different about Kelan? She spent endless hours working with him. Now that she knew his true nature, she realized his eyes had proclaimed it. They too were emerald green, much more intense than normal green eyes. She had assumed they were contacts. Boy, was she way off.
Michelle had no idea where to go from here. Could she continue to work beside Kelan knowing what he was? She loved her job, and he had never done anything remotely scary in her presence. Now though, she would always be looking for something odd and feel a nervousness she hadn't before. What about her house? If she went back, would the memories of her ordeal haunt her in every room? Could she live there and not see herself tied to the kitchen chair or scrubbed to the point of raw skin in the shower? She would move. That was the simple solution. With Jackson locked away, probably for many years, she could use the money she had hidden for her escape to get a new place to live. She could buy furniture he had never touched and start over with a clean slate. It was an exciting prospect, but to maintain her lifestyle, she would have to keep her job with Kelan. She told herself to grow up and face her fears. It would be worth it.
Michelle had several visitors that morning. The police came to tell her they had found enough evidence in and around her house to keep Jackson in jail without bail. Even the lawyer he had been assigned didn't argue for his release. Jackson was now blaming the dragon for Michelle's injuries. They had discovered some fresh, oddly shaped holes in the yard that couldn't be explained. Those had no bearing on the case, so they had ignored them. The police said she might want to have her yard checked for small burrowing animals that could destroy her grass.
A parade of coworkers came through her doors, bringing flowers, cards, and boxes of candies. They winced at the sight of her face, gave her hugs, and promised to keep her work caught up so she wasn't swamped when she returned. They were kind and caring, sort of like a real family. They left her feeling emotional and guilty for ever considering leaving her job.
The doctor came to say she would be released within the hour. She was warned to take it easy for a while and continue with the ice packs to her face. She would make a full recovery, without scars, except for the cuts on her legs and the ones she already had on her back from the cigarette burns.
Kelan walked in as the doctor's last comment hung in the air. "What cigarette burns?” he roared.
The doctor took that as his cue to leave. Michelle was torn between her fear of the dragon, her shame of having him hear about the previous abuse, and her happiness at seeing her savior. She reminded herself of the pep talk she had run through her head earlier. She would face her fears. "I tried to leave Jackson once before. The cigarette burns were punishment for it and a reminder that I couldn't hide from him or his buddies."
Kelan trembled with anger. He stood still and breathed deeply to stop the emotions that could bring the transformation and more trouble his way. He managed to growl. "Why didn't you ask for my help? I could have gotten you out and kept you safe."
"The cigarette incident happened before I knew you well. Besides, it wasn't your responsibility or concern. I should have had the courage to try again on my own. I'm just a coward,” she replied.
"The woman I know isn't a coward. She's intelligent, strong, and resilient. Stop putting yourself down. I saw the house. He tortured you and yet you ran. That's courage,” Kelan stated.
"I ran because I didn't want to die. He tied me with the electrical cord and asked me questions. He didn't like my answers, thus the cuts on my legs. Before he knocked me out, he said we would talk in the morning. He would get the answers he wanted. I knew what that meant. He tossed me, unconscious, into the shower and scrubbed off as much evidence as possible, then he forced me to swallow sleeping pills so I couldn't leave. When I woke up, I was left with no choice, except to run. It wasn't courage. It was desperation,” she retorted.
"You fought back. You endured the abuse and went on with your life. You've done an excellent job as my assistant. Somehow, you've come to terms with what I am, and you're still talking to me. All of that is courage. You're stronger than you think."
Michelle scoffed at his assessment, "I'm sitting here shaking. I don't know whether to be afraid of you or thank you for saving me. I haven't any idea whether I'm coming back to work or not. I need to gather some belongings, but I can't seem to wrap my head around the thought of going into my house and seeing the results of my imprisonment."
Kelan argued, "Speaking to me is facing down one fear. That makes you strong. Take the rest one at a time and you'll be fine. I can help. You will be coming back to work. I need you there. Tell me what you want from the house, and I'll go get it when the police remove the restrictions."
Michelle shook her head. "I have to go. Otherwise, it will haunt me forever. I have to see it now that I'm fully aware of the world around me, not half conscious."
"Fine, I'll take you. Get dressed, and I'll call the police station to see if it's okay,” he replied.
Michelle looked around the room. A nervous giggle came from her. "I can't get dressed. The clothes I came in wearing have been taken for evidence. I have nothing else."
Kelan felt a stirring of compassion and sadness in his heart. Michelle looked like a lost child in that moment. "I'll ask the nurse for some scrubs. We can go shopping later or get some clothes from your house. It's going to be okay. I promise."
Dressed in ugly green scrubs, Michelle was wheeled out to Kelan's car. This one was a red, flashy sports model, designed to draw attention. She slid into the cool, leather interior and sank into the luxurious seat that enveloped every curve. Not even her bed felt this good. Kelan turned on the radio, blasting rock music. He put the car in gear and sped away from the hospital. He grinned at Michelle and said, "Let's forget our worries for the time being and party." He began to sing along with the radio and dance in his seat. Michelle laughed out loud for the first time in a long while and joined in.
Her joy came to an instant halt as the car stopped in front of her old house. From the front, it hadn't changed. Nothing of the terror within was evident. She froze in place, unable to move until Kelan opened her door and took her hand in his. Forgetting to be frightened of him, she clung tightly to his hand, using it as a lifeline. The crime scene tape was gone, but the door was locked. Michelle mechanically stated, "There's an extra key under the rock by the hedge. Jackson was always locking himself out of the house, so I put it there for him. Don't put it back."
Kelan peeled off her shaking hand, retrieved the key, and opened the door. Horrible smells assaulted their noses. Michelle backed away. Kelan put his hands gently on either side of her bruised face, looked directly into her swollen eyes and said, "Go sit in the car. I'll get some clothes; then we can hire someone to clean up this mess. You don't need to go in."
"Yes, I do. I want to be the one to clean it as well. I can use it like therapy. Please, help me do this. Drag me inside, if necessary,” she cried.
Kelan lifted her into his arms and carried her over the sticky entryway, that was still littered with broken glass. He walked all the
way down the hall, skipping the kitchen and the bathroom where the worst of her terrors had occurred. He put her down in the closet and ordered her to pick some clothes. While she was busy doing that, he went in search of cleaning supplies.
Michelle stared at her clothes. Everything reminded her of Jackson and her former life, good and bad. There was the t-shirt from the rock concert. He had bought it for her on a whim. It was a good day. There was the blouse he had ripped off her in a rage because she had spent money on it that he could have used for liquor. On and on, the memories assailed her. She didn't want any of this stuff. She wanted to start over. Looking over the bedroom, the only thing she really wanted was a picture. It had been taken years ago, before Jackson had entered her world. She was sitting on a snow-covered mountain, smiling. It spoke of the happy, free-spirited person she used to be and gave her hope of being that person again. Cradling it to her chest, she went to the kitchen for trash bags. Everything else had to be tossed.
Kelan had swept up the glass, straightened the chairs, and was now mopping up the stale beer. It was a strange sight. Michelle stared at him. It was the first time she had noticed he wasn't wearing a suit. Faded denims hugged his powerful thighs. A red t-shirt molded his upper body, emphasizing his muscles. His hair was mussed, instead of perfectly groomed. He took her breath away. She had read books that described men as sex on a stick, but she hadn't understood what it meant. Now, she did.
Kelan caught her staring and inquired, "Are you alright? What do you need?"
Michelle had a difficult time finding her voice and unscrambling her brain. Finally, she replied, "I came to get trash bags. This picture is all I want to keep. The rest is garbage that holds too many painful memories."
Kelan's smile brightened the gloomy space. "It sounds like a great idea. How about we turn on some music and dance this mess to the curb. If we break a few things to make us feel better, who cares? Come on, let's have fun. We'll go on a shopping spree tomorrow."