I stood and faced their nanny who was also a loving aunt, who had just lost her sister. The children had lost their mother. I knew this was hard, and I had to be kind. "Samantha, I'd like to meet these two on my own."
Her sharp gaze narrowed. "Are you sure? Night is almost here and they must be protected."
Nothing was in the house and it seemed more like a scare tactic she and Mrs. Adams had concocted. This wasn’t right. I chose my words carefully. "If it makes you feel better, then stay close. If something happens, we'll call for you." I preferred to make friends with Samantha, but Harper and Helen had to come first. I had to win them over if I had any chance with Robert in the future. "Is that okay?"
Samantha knelt down and hugged Harper who still stood beside her. With her hands wrapped around him, she signaled for Helen, who ran into her arms as well. Then as she hugged them both, she said, "It seems Daphne is kicking me out. Be good for her."
"Don't say that." I inhaled sharply. I didn't want to begin on a war cycle when I was trying to blend our families. This wasn't how I thought to win the children over.
Samantha ignored me and stood up. She pinched Harper's cheek. "I'll be close enough if either of you need me tonight. Now behave."
Helen wrapped her arms around Samantha's legs. "No, don't go."
She leaned down and tugged the girl into a hug, again. "I have to. Give me one last hug for the day."
Both of the children did as she asked as they said in unison, "We love you, Aunt Sam."
This time when she rose she nodded at me, letting me know with cues that she was the caretaker. "I love you both. Good night."
I stared at the door, unwilling to move until Samantha was gone. I'd find time to speak to the woman in private. I'd not further sabotage my relationship with Robert's family. Near the door of the playroom, she took her time with her scarf, hat and winter jacket, though it was only autumn still, but finally she slipped out the door. Once it clicked closed, I stared at both of the children.
The children stood united, like they wanted to run away from me. I pasted a huge smile on my face. "Do you both need to clean up before dinner?"
Harper took charge. He held his sister's hand and shook his head. "Madison will cook dinner and get our pajamas. Don't bother yourself."
Then he turned and took his sister out of the playroom and toward the stairs to their rooms.
Robert would value his children. Any man worthwhile would. I had to at least try to make these children my friends so I could be a good stepmother. I stopped on the step three below them. "Wait."
Harper and Helen turned around with identical glares. Harper again acted the spokesperson. "Why?"
Though they were young, they were still people. I bit my lip as I stared at both of them, willing them to see my heart and that I only wanted what was good for everyone. I wiped my eye. "I need your help."
Harper's left brow lifted reminding me of his father. "What for?"
My grandmother would say you “get more bees with honey than vinegar”. I swallowed. "I don't know where your dad's bedroom is and my bags are there. Can you help me?"
Harper and his sister shared an indecipherable look. Then he nodded at me. "Follow us."
"Thank you." We climbed the stairs slowly, giving me time to study the portraits on each wall. The images seemed pulled from my dreams. One battle scene at the top of the stairs made me flinch. A white-faced dead man punctured through by a dragon. The kids didn’t seem bothered by the art that surrounded them.
I covertly glanced at them. The present was more important and they both stole peeks at me. I prayed they weren’t scared of me. At the top step Harper faced me, though it was obvious whatever he was about to say came from Helen, who had been whispering in his ear. "Are you really our evil stepmother?"
I smiled. "I'm your stepmother but I don't want to be evil. Can I be good instead?"
Harper didn't smile back. He averted his gaze and started walking down a long hall. "I guess you can."
"If you’re a dragon, you're good." Helen spoke in a hushed voice.
"Be quiet,” Harper said. “She doesn't know anything."
A dragon? Even the kids think I don’t know anything. “Just because I’m not a writer and have never been a mom before, doesn’t mean I can’t care about you. You are clearly as creative as your dad. I want us all to be a family.”
Harper lowered his head and said, “I guess.”
I followed behind Harper and Helen, who walked hand in hand. There was a white space where a portrait had once hung, but it was missing. "Why did you think I was evil?"
Harper pointed to a large door as if he’d just completed a distasteful mission. "Aren't stepmother's usually evil?"
"I wouldn't know. I never had one. When my mom died, I had to go live with my grandmother and she wasn’t evil. I've never been evil."
His mouth curved upward and I thought I saw an outline of a dimple. Helen's big doe eyes continued to stare at me—the mastermind even though she let her brother talk. Harper and she shared a look and then he said, "What do we call you?"
I looked to each of them. "Daphne or Stepmom are both fine.” Talking helped build relationships and I should talk about their interests. Helen had been asking about dragons, so if that was her interest, I’d start with that. “Helen, what do you know about dragons?"
Harper stepped between us. "She doesn't know anything, right."
I realized they were testing me. I grew up caring for the elderly and it seemed children were very similar. As these are Robert’s children, they must be imagining lots of adventures, and this house must fuel that fire in them. I curled my lower lip down as if I was sad. "Why? I think you both know a great deal about dragons. I see all the portraits in the house and the dragon fountain, so you and your dad must like dragons too. I'd like to hear the story from you."
Helen tugged on her brother's arm, but he shook his head in warning and said, "We're not dragons. We're like our mom. When you and dad have babies, yours will be like you."
I sighed. While I was not their mother naturally, I would never push them to the side. Helen still didn't say a word, but I nodded at Harper. "I don't want to take your father from you if that's what you think. I want us to be a family. I'll never cast you aside."
As I opened my bedroom door, Harper took his sister's hand and then pointed with his nose to an open window. “Why is the window open? They are supposed to be closed once the sun goes down.”
“Close it!” Helen cried.
Harper turned toward me like I’d opened it. "While you're here, make sure you lock all of the windows unless you want to invite the others inside.”
I slammed the window closed and locked it. Now that was a strange comment. "Why would I do that?"
Helen's voice sounded close to tears. "Mom forgot to close one. Then the others came. It's how she died."
Others came. I paused. They probably meant a stranger. I'd hug them both but they weren't ready for me to even offer. I stared at Harper again. "I didn't know that.”
“We're better off with our aunt."
“Oh, Harper. Don’t say that. Where does your dad work?"
He shook his head at me. "We're not allowed to go there."
I straightened, deciding that there was no need to push, we had time. I'd have to search for Robert myself, it seemed, but first I needed to make sure that this was my room so I had my bearings. I brushed my lap to free the wrinkles in my skirt. "Why not?"
Harper's chin stuck out. "Our father wishes we were different than what we are. I want Samantha."
If they wanted their aunt for comfort, they should be with her. I'd not force anything. Did Robert want them to be different? "No, I'm sure that's not true. Your father loves you."
He swiped his tears and Helen snuggled closer to her brother. "You don't know anything."
My knees were shaking. The draft in the hallways allowed the cold into the house. "Like what?"
Harper shook his head again and
led Helen down the hall, away from me. "Dad and my uncles always talk about finding their flight to leave us."
I spoke to the back of their heads. Helen's hair had a curl to it that bounced as she walked. "Whatever this flight is, I can assure you he won't leave you.”
Perhaps flight was the new way of saying death, but my grandmother had never been into new anything. Or maybe it was a really old way of talking about death. “My grandmother spoke about her flight and rejoining them the moment she died and she lived till she was almost a hundred."
Harper spun on his heels, clearly upset. "Mom said she never should have married our dad because he'd never understand us. Now that you're here, you'll join him and forget us. And we're not strong enough to defend ourselves yet."
"Absolutely not.” What kind of upbringing had these two experienced? Clearly Robert and Serena had issues if they were talking about leaving. “I won't let anything happen to either of you, ever. I swear it." I hugged my stomach, wishing I could hug them. "You seem like good children."
Harper's shoes dug into the floor. "We're not. We're wild sometimes."
My inhaled breath echoed in the hall. "It doesn't matter. You're Robert’s. Therefore you're mine now and I keep what's mine safe."
"If you can remember. Night is almost here." Harper's eyes misted like he hated the words he spoke. "Samantha will be waiting."
If they were wild kids they'd not cry. "You're both good children with caring hearts. I can see it."
Helen squeezed her brother's hand. Harper stared at her and then nodded. "Dad will come down those steps when it gets dark. He won't leave you alone."
If they were afraid, then I had to help them and yet they were concerned for me. I called after them as they walked down the darkened hall, "If you want anything, please come find me. I'm pretty lonely and have no friends here. I'd rather greet the night with the pair of you."
"We're staying with Samantha." They disappeared from my sight.
Alone again I opened the bedroom door. I saw my suitcase in the middle of the bed. Frigid air greeted me and I realized the window was open. I quickly closed it. My stomach had too many knots in it to be hungry. I needed to shower and change into my pajamas before it became too dark to even think about moving. I hustled to finish.
Robert would find me soon.
10
No eerie pictures from my dreams adorned the bedroom suite. The room was a light blue with white trim. Normal. The thought kept me sane as I finished cleaning up in the bathroom. Robert's rooms gave me more confidence. His walls were bare and it was clear nothing had ever hung on them. This was more like my own room growing up. Simple, though his was more elegant as the floors were mahogany.
Dragons, wolves, dogs, pups. Everyone here kept accusing me of forgetting, or not knowing, but my mind hummed with images of all of these things, always coming around to the white face of the dead man in the portrait.
As I left the bathroom, I stood by the massive window. Snow now fell outside and I was mesmerized for a few seconds. This was the fourth time I ever saw snow.
Then a thought raced through my mind that caused my pulse to quicken. Serena died from leaving a window open and someone had broken in or was that just something told to the children? If I’d made up a story for children, it wouldn’t be a break-in but more like a “moved to the farm” theme. At least nothing stirred in the twilight.
I pulled the curtains shut as I heard the door click and turned around to face Robert. His dimples stirred something inside me that made my lips part and my body temperature soar. He closed the door and crossed the room. My heart thumped as his strong arms wrapped around me. His lips briefly met mine, and I felt the world lift me up. "Daphne."
My body was lax as my hands reached out to hold his shoulders and keep him close. "You’re back."
He sighed and again showed me his sexy dimple. "I've not had the urge to write in almost a year. It was like I became me again, but I should have shown you around first."
The smell of the forest and the image of a cave protecting us overwhelmed me. "Robert, I'm just glad you're here."
He stepped away, but took my hands in his. "Are you hungry?"
My stomach growled. I hadn't eaten since the plane ride, and that wasn't a filling meal. "Yes."
"Good. You'll need your strength." He winked at me and took out his phone. "So let's go downstairs and get something."
He turned, and cold dread enveloped me. Night was almost here but I didn't want our moment to end. I had so many questions. I swallowed my pride. "Can we stay in the room instead? I want to talk."
His brow lifted. "I'll have Mrs. Adams bring dinner up."
Goosebumps at the woman's name went down my spine. I imagined her telling me to fetch my own meal. "Perfect, but don't take too long. I want to be with you."
His sexy stare made my stomach flip, then he dropped his phone on the bed and took my hands. "I texted her. Food should be here in twenty minutes."
So many questions flew through my mind. His children, his brother, and everyone’s active imagination. How to broach the topic? Dragon talk might make me sound crazy, but I had a sense this was the key to understanding. "Robert?"
His lips hovered near mine. My body trembled in anticipation. I closed my eyes as he answered, "Yes."
If I didn't ask, he'd kiss me. I could taste the delicious forest pine on my tongue. I turned my face toward the curtains that hid the window. "How did your wife die?"
He fixed my hair out of my eyes and his fingers trailed against my cheek. My entire body wanted him, though I kept myself under control. Eventually he said, "It was a car accident."
A spark of awareness burst inside of me. I angled my head to gaze into his blue eyes. "Your son believes “others” came for her."
"Others sounds like a boyish imagination." His eyes narrowed and he shook his rumpled hair that he must have tugged at earlier. "Besides, vampires aren't real."
"I never said vampires." My imagination ruled me as I then wondered why Robert had chosen vampires. His horror novels had all sorts of creatures and I think a few were vampire novels. I planted my feet. "He said others, and I believe him."
Robert crossed his arms in a defensive manner. "Then he lied."
No. Robert couldn't shut down. We needed to talk. I lowered my palms to my sides. "Why would he do that? Maybe he was told a lie and he believes it."
He uncrossed his arms and massaged the top of his forehead as he closed his eyes. "What do you know about others?”
“I don’t know anything.”
“Do you ever have dreams about being a mythological creature?”
This must be a writing question. I nodded but lowered my lashes. "I told you before that I dream about flying. Specifically of being a dragon, but my grandmother told me never to tell anyone about it." My heart hammered. "Sometimes in my dreams I see men with swords trying to stab at me. Other times I see far worse. Just crazy dreams.” I glanced at him and changed the subject. “I met your children today. It was awkward without you there but they are good kids.”
"I should have introduced you. I’m sorry.”
“I muddled my way through. Perhaps once we spend time as a family they’ll open up more to me.”
His face flushed. I hadn’t noticed that he was embarrassed until now. I certainly didn’t want him to be uneasy, but it was the truth. "The pups are loyal and honest. Did your grandmother tell you to find your flight?"
"No, well kind of. She said I’d understand one day." I sat on the edge of the bed while I kept my gaze on him. "I don't know what any of this means, but as night deepens, I'm scared."
He ran his hands through his hair, his shoulders tense. "Don’t go out there, ever, not until you transform."
"Transform? I'm just me." I lowered my gaze. I wasn't sure what I believed, but transformation was just as improbable as the rest of my thoughts. "What's so scary about the night here?"
He shrugged. "Night is scary no matter where you are when
you are one of us. I choose to live in a place where I can defend myself rather than simply hope I blend in with the humans."
My hair stood straight on my arms. Grandma had always stressed fitting in. "Grandmother said my mom's flight made a grave error which caused them to crash. That wasn't an airplane, was it?"
He released a heavy sigh as if he hated the question. "The last flight…”
“I asked you about my parents.” I cut him off since I didn’t want a lecture. My skin was on pins and needles.
“They were in the last flight and no, it’s not an airplane.”
In the mirror from the open door of the bathroom, I swear I saw red wings shimmer behind him. I blinked and they were gone. My body ached. “Then what was it?”
“A flight is what we call the twelve dragons who come to earth and shift into being humans, and back again to dragons. Your parents were in the last group. Your grandmother was in the flight before that.”
Shape shifters? We were not in one of his horror stories or in the paintings that lined his hallway. I shook my head. “That’s insane. My parents weren’t dragons. They looked like me.”
“We shift into human form from our dragon form.”
“We?” He thought himself and the children were dragons?
“Yes. You don’t remember yet.”
Remember lunacy? It seemed I was the only sane one in the house, but I needed to understand. “Continue. The last flight…”
“The last flight chose to bring the battle into the daylight. Humanity wasn't ready. I won't make that mistake."
“Your parents were dragons?” He believed this with his whole heart. It was written in his expression.
“Yes.”
One simple word but it echoed in my heart. I glanced up though I had my knees to my chest. "Were your parents in that flight? With mine?"
He sat on the edge of the bed. As our gazes met, the heat in the air seemed to grow. "No. Usually half of the flight comes from the parents of the last one, like me and you. The rest return into the world without guidance.”
“They just show up?”
“There are often orphans and people with little family.”
Call of the Dragon: Flight of Dragons Page 7