by K L Rymer
It seems dogs just love me on the other side...
The people of Edinburgh must have thought I was insane kneeling down to pet a ghost dog, but that’s my life now. Crazy Bryn who can see the spirits of animals...
Hopefully, he reunited with his owner on the other side.
I’m not sure if Gelert ever reunited with his. If so, I hope the prince gave him the biggest hug in the world and told him how sorry he was.
I’m just heading on my way back to the hotel. We’ve been meeting up in the bar every night to discuss war plans. So far our plan is to try and find all the dragon eggs before the Humphreys do.
Lord knows how many eggs there are. Brynmawr and Gwyneira reckon there are less than ten, which isn’t a lot. Could it be dragon intuition?
They think they knew the parents of each egg. Brynmawr and Gwyneira claim there were ten other dragon couples before them, but then one day they mysteriously vanished.
Brynmawr claims it was the humans that had driven his kind into extinction, yet unlike his white counterpart, he wanted to work with the human race. Gwyneira wanted to kill every last human.
In fact, I can see the disgust in the she-dragon every time we pass a human on the streets of Edinburgh. She still holds a serious grudge. It took her a while to warm to my grandparents and the people of Camelot, but since they were feeding her she saw the benefit of the symbiotic relationship. She won’t eat them if they promise to feed her.
I find everyone at the bar. Only Angelina and Thomas have bothered to leave the hotel and join me on my sight-seeing trips since they’re the only cultured ones among us, but the rest don’t care. Not even Nora, and Scotland is her home (but I think she’s just a little overwhelmed by all the changes since she last came to the capital).
Angelina keeps it together surprisingly and doesn’t go off on a blood frenzy, but I do notice she is ordering her steak extra rare these days. The hotel staff must think she’s a sicko or something.
I slip into a booth beside said vampire as she drinks a glass of red wine. I can’t help but notice how my housemates have taken to day-drinking recently.
I suppose there’s nothing better for us to do, but even Felicity is a little tipsy lately. I spot her now as she’s getting handsy with Damien again.
We’re not in Hell anymore, so I’m going to have to have a word with everyone.
I order a coke since I’m so sensible, and now we all huddle close to discuss further.
“So,” I say. “Any idea on the location of these eggs?”
I find those golden eyes of Brynmawr. He shrugs, swigging back a beer. I catch a few women eyeballing him then, but then Gwyneira throws them a death glare.
That’s her man after all. They better stop.
Brynmawr is ridiculously good-looking in human form. He even had a certain appeal in dragon form, so it’s no surprise he’s a hunk.
He has a square, chiseled jawline that could put Superman’s to shame, and he also has a dimple on his chin.
The dragon burps and the women giggle. Gwyneira rises to her feet, her eyes glowing bright blue. The Red Dragon drags her back into her seat, throwing an arm around her shoulder.
“It’s all right, Gwyn. You know you’re the only woman for me... Well, dragon...”
He takes a flower from a vase and tucks it into her white hair. The she-dragon doesn’t look too pleased. “Can we just hurry up and finish this discussion? I want to go back to the room.”
My dragon smiles, looking my way. “Who knows where those eggs are... They could be scattered around the country. Some could be buried as far as Spain.”
I sip my coke. “Well, I still have my pin. The others can teleport alone, but I still need to use a charmed object. I never did learn to teleport.”
Felicity claps her hands. “We could teach you, Bryn! While we’re searching for the dragon eggs, we can all teach you how to teleport without the use of a pin.”
“It’s about time too,” Zahara remarks, downing her beer. “It’s nearly been two years, what’s your excuse?”
I scowl at the Unseelie. “It’s hard for some people!”
Zahara rolls her eyes, helping herself to a handful of Thomas’s fries. The shifter curls his lips. The Unseelie thinks she’s his girlfriend now. It was just one kiss, but she’s still taking liberties.
“So, where should we go first? Where will we find the first egg?” I ask.
Brynmawr and Gwyneira exchange a glance. My dragon smiles that handsome sneer of his. “Why, Wales, of course. The only true home of the dragons.”
My eyes widen. Shit. And just when I convinced myself it was best we stayed far away from the country. Now we have to go back.
But who cares. Let Mattie and his dad come at us. We’re going to do this; we’re going to find all those dragon eggs and create our own army.
I raise my coke and give a toast. “Well, here’s to the biggest egg hunt the world has ever seen.”
Brynmawr grabs his own drink, clanking his bottle against my glass, and now we both sip.
It’s just as well; I always did love a good egg hunt. A shame it’s not chocolate eggs we’re looking for though.
Chapter 6 - Bryn
We set off the next morning, and I was sad to leave Edinburgh and the world of normality behind. But we have a war to win. And an army to assemble.
It has crossed my mind that these dragons will start off as babies so won’t make the best of soldiers, but Brynmawr told me that dragon hatchlings grow super-fast. Within six months, they’re already teenagers at the average size of a horse, and they can breathe fire.
Plus, it isn’t very ethical to force them to fight in a war if they’ve only been hatched. They are just babies, and I hate to put pressure on them, but it’s a hell of a lot better than what Matthew Senior has in store for them. Knowing him, he will lock them in cages and break them until they are nothing but killing machines.
We will love and nurture them.
Our first point of call: Snowdonia. Where else? The mountain range was the main habitat in Britain for dragons once after all.
Brynmawr and Gwyneira return to dragon form and thank god I no longer have to look at that square jawline and dimpled chin of my dragon. It was giving me mixed feelings.
The rest of us teleported to the mountains all decked up in our own clothes and hiking gear. We’ve been wearing our school uniforms since we escaped the academy, so it’s about time we changed into something else.
We stand on wild grassland, and I realize it’s the same one where I had my field trip during my first week at Bangor. I spot the hill where I tripped and first met Shankfoot.
That was the start of this crazy adventure. That day, I never even knew that any of the people standing around me existed. I didn’t even know dragons existed though I always held onto hope.
Hey, if we have no luck with dragon eggs, we could always search for newts...
The dragons crash-land in the field beside us, causing a mini earthquake, and I try not to think of the time they had sex.
But it’s just good to have my dragon back. I rush to his side, throwing my arms around his scaly, red flank.
“Brynmawr! It’s so good to finally see you!”
He chuckles inside my head. “You’ve been with me the last few days...”
“Yeah, but still. I prefer you like this. You’re too good looking as a human. Stay a scary dragon.”
The dragon lowers his neck, inclining his head in the direction of Gwyneira. The she-dragon scowls at him.
“Careful now or Gwyn will get jealous and burn you alive.”
The White Dragon blows smoke from her nostrils. “I can hear you, you know. Besides... where’s my hug?”
I stare up into those icy blue eyes. Is she serious?
A small sneer forms across the dragon’s lips, and I see she’s just playing with me. “Ha, gotcha. We’re not that close yet, Bryn. Don’t worry.”
Brynmawr roars in laughter. “Isn’t she a hoot?”
/>
I raise my brows, moving off at last. “Yeah, I’m beside myself.”
The Red Dragon continues to chuckle as we tread through the field, wondering where to even start. It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack. I turn to Gwyneira.
“So, any idea on where we should begin? How did the Humphreys plan on finding the eggs?”
The she-dragon thinks back. “Well, I’m aware that one method they planned to use was a summoning spell, but that is very powerful magic that no one here is even capable of performing.”
Zahara shrugs. “Oh well. May as well crank out the beers.” She pulls out a bottle from her coat, bites off the cap with her teeth, then drinks.
I stare at her in disgust. She’s like an animal.
Brynmawr ponders now. “I have another suggestion. It’s a longshot, but may work.”
We watch him expectantly.
He arches his hooded brows. “All of you... channel your powers and connect them to the earth. There’s a good chance that...”
I step forward as he trails off. “A good chance of what?”
Those giant, golden eyes gaze deep into my soul, and the hair rises up on the back of my neck. “There’s a good chance that one of you may be destined to find one of these eggs. And... ride the hatchling when it comes of age.”
We all gasp.
“W-what?” Felicity squeaks.
My heart races as I try to picture Felicity riding a scary dragon. I shake my head. “That’s preposterous. Only Mattie and I were destined to ride dragons. Myrddin never mentioned any other riders.”
“Yeah, because you’re so damn special...” Zahara scoffs, swigging her beer. I glare at her.
The Red Dragon flaps his wings. “It’s just a hunch, but worth a try.”
I sigh. “Fine. Everyone, you heard the dragon. Get to work.”
They don’t need to be told twice. Everyone is excited at the prospect of owning their very own dragon egg, which just isn’t fair.
I want a dragon baby...
“This is so exciting!” Nora peeps.
“My very own dragon...” Thomas mutters, channeling his wolf as he touches a rock.
I roll my eyes. Why would a wolf need a dragon?
Jack disappears and Damien and Felicity go off in another direction. Even Zahara puts a little heart into it.
The only one who stays is Angelina.
I fold my arms. “So, are you not going to go looking for dragon eggs?”
Her eyes burn bright blue. “I’m not really that eager to have a dragon. No offence.”
The vampire flicks her hair in the direction of the adult dragons. They both sneer down at her.
“None taken...” Brynmawr growls.
“No baby would want you for a rider anyway...” Gwyneira interjects.
I stare at Angelina so disappointed. How could she not want her own dragon? The weirdo.
Brynmawr and Gwyneira take to the skies, and now I join the others as I try to channel my magic to the earth.
I know nothing will come of it. After all, I already have a dragon. I can’t be lucky twice.
...
Hours pass, and we still have no luck.
It seems that this was going to be harder than I realized.
A shame. I was really looking forward to seeing who would find the first egg. It’s like a competition; I even saw Damien and Felicity getting a little competitive, and they’re supposed to be on the same team.
We meet up again after nightfall, and the stars make their appearance in the sky.
“So, any luck?” I ask no one in particular.
No one replies. They all look so worn out. Well, except for Angelina who sits like a princess to one side, filing her nails.
“No... we didn’t find anything,” Nora cries, hanging her head.
Thomas exhales, peering up at the stars. “I was really looking forward to having my own dragon.”
Zahara shrugs. “Yeah, me too. A baby version of Brynmawr would be nice.”
I glance at Damien and Felicity. They both look so morose. I’m surprised the demon wants a baby dragon. He doesn’t come across as the type. I would have thought he’d be like Angelina without a care in the world.
I don’t bother asking Jack since I know I will only get silence, but he, too, looks depressed.
“Well, what about you two?”
The demon and the pixie glance up now, meeting each other’s eyes.
“Nothing,” Damien replies.
Felicity sighs. “Yeah... Maybe there aren’t meant to be other dragon riders after all.”
A wry smirk appears on the demon’s face. “At least you have that pretty pink rock.”
The pixie eyes light up next, and now she pulls out a pretty sizable rock from her backpack. It’s bigger than her whole head. “Look what I found!”
My jaw pops loose. Wow... it really is something. It looks like treasure.
“Look how the light catches its crystals.” Felicity holds the rock up so we can all see.
I step closer to inspect, and that’s when I get the funny notion that Felicity’s pretty rock may not be a rock after all.
It’s too pink. Too sparkly...
Brynmawr produces a low rumble, and we all peer up. I narrow my eyes. “What’s so funny?”
That dragon sneer stretches his lips. “You want the good news or the bad news first?”
I shrug. “The bad news I guess.”
He sniffs the rock. “That is not a rock.”
Oh, well... bummer.
“So, what is it then?”
It’s Gwyneira’s turn to speak now. “Bryn... that is a dragon egg.”
My eyes bulge as they land back on the rock or ‘egg’. Felicity’s face is a picture. Even Damien looks flabbergasted.
Well, it seems we found our first egg.
And Felicity calls dibs.
Chapter 7 - Bryn
Well, and here I was thinking that dragon eggs would look like... well, eggs. Which begs the question...
Which came first? The chicken or the egg?
Felicity was over the moon as she was the first one of us to find an egg in the end, and I can’t help but be warmed at the sight of her ecstatic (or should I say eggstatic) smile
This is a big win for her. She’s the underdog of our group after all. The little one that people step all over.
I wish I could say the same for my fellow housemates though. I’ve never seen everyone looking so green with envy. Nora, whose eyes are already green to begin with, couldn’t look more obvious as the pixie flaunted that pretty pink rock.
I thought the two of them were friends, both being Magnanimous girls and whatnot.
Zahara looked as if she was ready to snatch it out of the pixie’s tiny hands, and Thomas’s eyes were burning gold. Jack was his usual, silent self, but I did catch that flash in his brass eyes.
And Damien? You’d think as her one true love, he’d be happy for her, but his eyes were red. (I bet he wished that he picked up that pretty pink rock now.)
Angelina couldn’t give two shits. As she said, dragons are beneath her.
The pixie keeps the egg in her backpack, and she has already given it a name: Sparkle Hearts. How sweet.
Apparently, it’s a female embryo. The pixie claims she can feel it.
We found a cozy inn for the night, and now we all stand inside a tiny, single-bed room, staring at that pink dragon egg.
Brynmawr and Gwyneira are back in human form.
The inn didn’t have many rooms, so a few of us had to bunk together. The room we’re currently in belongs to Damien and Felicity. I had the honor of staying with Angelina again (on the couch while she gets the bed). Zahara and Nora stay together top and tail, and Jack and Thomas shared a room too. (Thomas lays curled up on the rug in wolf form while Jack takes the tiny bed.)
Brynmawr and Gwyneira get the only double-bed room. It’s called the Dragon Suite after all. Seemed fair in the end.
The sun catches the cr
ystals of the egg’s shell as we place it beside the window, and I try to make out the shape of a dragon embryo.
The egg is as hard as fossilized rock. I have no idea how we’re going to crack it open and find the baby inside.
My heart pumps again. I can’t believe it... a baby dragon.
“So, how do we crack it?” Thomas asks, looking up at Brynmawr.
The dragon shrugs those broad shoulders. “Well, you all watch fantasy TV shows. We put it in fire.”
Oh, so Felicity has to burn on a pyre like Dany did in Game of Thrones. Got it. Let’s just hope her clothes don’t burn off.
Brynmawr rolls his eyes. “No, Bryn. This is real life. It doesn’t have to be so dramatic.”
Felicity peers around at us, confused. “Why... what?”
Damien catches on. “Bryn Bryn wants to see you naked, Tinkerbell.”
The pixie stares at me wide-eyed, her hand on her heart. “Oh... Bryn... I’m... I’m flattered, but—”
I grind my teeth. “It was just a suggestion! Geez! But you do have the white hair... It’d be so awesome!”
Zahara growls. “Stop being a nerd, Bryn, and start thinking up reasonable ideas. No offence, but you watch way too much TV.”
I mutter to myself as I cast my eyes on that dragon egg again. I swear it moves a little, but that’s just my imagination.
“Tonight,” I say. “We will light a fire and put the egg inside.”
Felicity gasps, clutching the egg to her chest. “No! You can’t do that to poor Sparkle Hearts!”
“She’s a dragon. She won’t feel the burn, sweet Pixie,” Brynmawr assures her. “That’s how Gwyn and I were hatched too.”
I look to the dragon. “Is it really a girl?”
He smiles, then whispers. “I’m just humouring her...”
I nod. “Got it.”
Felicity holds the egg closer, tears pouring from her big eyes, and it breaks my heart. She’s already grown so attached, and it’s only been a day.
Damien pats her head. “There, there. If it makes you feel better, I’ll set the fire. Will demon fire work or does it have to come from dragon breath?”