In the Arms of the Dragon Princes

by Jessica Miller

  “Look, Kelly and her friends have families and they need the protection more than I do. This Markus is going to keep coming no matter what we do, right. So let him come. I have half of an army for neighbors, not to mention Bret and Mack. Let him come for me. He won’t even get close and we can end this thing. I am serious Lisa. I am pissed and not going to put up with it any more. That fucking punk was just sitting there outside Kelly’s house and no one knew it! Everyone is in danger until he is caught, not just me. In fact aren’t you supposed to be at your sister’s?” Lisa narrowed her eyes at her. Just then a truck pulled up next to them as they walked. It was Bret.

  “You look a little pissed, Mrs. Talon,” he said. She half snarled and held up her hand with her forefinger and thumb a centimeter apart.

  “Want to go for some ice cream?” he asked out of nowhere. She stopped facing his truck as he stopped. She put her hands on her hips looking at him in his truck.

  “Are you kidding?” she asked startled. Her anger had slowed with this new strangeness.

  “Ice cream. It makes everybody feel better. Didn’t you know?” he asked with a devastatingly charming smile.

  “Good idea Mrs. Talon. You should go for ice cream,” said a woman’s voice behind them. Blossom turned. A black-haired lady was standing there.

  “Huh?” said Blossom.

  “Really, you need to calm down and ice cream will work. I have a car that will follow you and your neighbor. I also like your other idea,” she said.

  “Which one?” Blossom asked. Lisa was just looking back and forth between them in confusion.

  “I am Detective Granger,” said the black-haired woman. “I have been assigned to your case. If everything I hear is right, then you putting yourself out there as bait is bound to work. I was right behind you both when you left the other house. I heard your whole plan. I tried to get your attention but you were busy arguing.”

  Now Lisa and Blossom looked at each other, then back at the detective. Blossom could see the badge on her belt.

  “You think my idea is good?” she asked, surprised.

  “Yep. While you are at the ice cream place I would like to go through your house and get acquainted with the exits and layout. That sort of thing. Do you mind?” Blossom shook her head and tuned back to Bret.

  “I guess we are going for ice cream, Mr. Nichols. See you in a little bit Lisa. Hang tight, I will be back.”

  Lisa grumbled as Blossom got in Bret’s truck. As they pulled out she heard Lisa.

  “Get me a shake!” she shouted. That was the final straw and Blossom began laughing, then Bret did. Right after he leaned over and kissed her. She leaned back and sighed. Life was weird, she thought.

  ***

  Blossom Strikes

  Everything was set as the sun went down. Detective Granger had come up with a great plan. At least Blossom thought so. Well, Blossom, Bret and Mack did. Granger’s bosses were not wild about it and neither were the other MPs, but since no one had been able to catch Markus, it was allowed to proceed. Lisa had been particularly upset about it until she got to play a part. Then she was all in. So Blossom was waiting in her own house with Detective Granger drinking coffee.

  “I have to say you are a brave woman Mrs. Talon,” the detective told her.

  “No not really. I am just too angry to care anymore,” said Blossom.

  Granger smiled. “Same thing,” she said. “So your neighbor, Bret, is it? He seems fond of you.”

  Blossom was startled. Then again they could be waiting all night and they had to find something to talk about.

  “Maybe,” was her reply.

  “And you, are you fond of him?” she asked.

  “Maybe,” Blossom smiled.

  “I thought so. I am pretty good at reading people. He is a good-looking guy. He has an exemplary record. Something of a war hero. He could be a good catch,” she said. Blossom started laughing. After a second so did Granger.

  “Sorry, this one-on-one thing is not my field of expertise. I am better with bad guys,” she admitted.

  “Ok then, what do you think about this Markus punk?” Blossom asked her.

  “My personal opinion is that he is what you have been told except something worse,” she said simply.

  “Meaning?”

  Meaning that yes he is probably a sociopath, but he has gone down a dark road for his age. Did you hear about his school incidents?” Blossom shook her head.

  “Only that there were some. I think the officer was trying to spare me,” she told her.

  “Okay. I think you are tough enough to know, and you deserve to know. Dead animals turned up in places he liked to frequent. Class gerbils. Neighbors cats and other assorted pets. None of it could be laid directly on him, it seems likely that those dead animals were dead because of him. He likes to kill, Blossom. He fits the profile, and I fear he is on the edge of becoming a serial killer.

  “It is rare to catch them this young. It is the only reason I would put you in danger. This is not some angry kid out for revenge. This kid needs to be stopped now because if he is not, years down the road, he could start killing people and like now, he won’t stop.”

  Blossom stared at Granger, thinking about what she had said.

  “You don’t seem very scared,” said Granger.

  Blossom shrugged.

  “Not much scares me anymore. I mean I am not stupid. I know how dangerous Markus could be and I guess there is some fear, I just don’t let it rule me.”

  They sat in silence for a while. Sipping coffee and listening to the jazz music Blossom had on low.

  “So, are you sure the others are safe?” she asked the detective. That was one fear she did have. Fear for others.

  “Yes of course. All of the possible targets, except you, are by now in another state. I don’t care how good he is, he cannot find them in less than a week. Nope, you are the dangling bait. By now he knows you are here and that Lisa is there. Like I said, you are the primary. You were the only one who has stopped him and you did it twice. Once on the playground and once at Kelly and her daughter’s house. You are what needs to go. In his twisted mind, once you are gone he can get the others. Why wouldn’t he think that way? The authorities have had no luck his whole life. Only you have stopped him.

  “That is why the press release said it is believed that he is dead or lost in the woods somewhere. We want him to think the hunt is going on out by Canyon Road. Actually one is going on out there right now, for appearances. He got away though. Between tonight or tomorrow he will show, I am sure of it.”

  Just then, Granger’s radio beeped. That meant Markus had been seen nearby. Blossom and Detective Granger looked at each other. They braced themselves and went to their positions.

  Blossom went out into her back yard. It was hot in the house. As she stepped out she heard a voice.

  “You are a dumb bitch, you know that right?” said the fifteen-year-old voice of Markus.

  “Markus McCoy,” she said to the thin youth. She reached over and turned on the patio light. His shadowy figure was now definable. Tall for his age, a hard uncaring face, and torn clothes. He had a bruise over one eye; an injury from the car crash most likely. But other than that he looked ready for action. Blossom had hoped he would be tired, not ready for their plan. Instead he looked eager and vicious. She sighed. She knew how much danger she was in, but had reached a point of sadness. Yes this kid was a nut job, but he was only fifteen. His chance of a decent life was gone for good. It had been for years and nobody had noticed.

  “So what will killing me prove Markus? Nothing to anyone but yourself.” Blossom had said exactly what Detective Granger had scripted. Get it out in the open, get him talking about what they were all sure he wanted to do.

  “I don’t have to prove anything to anyone. Proving stuff is a waste of energy. I do what I want and give people what they deserve. This is a messed-up world, I am merely playing my part. It is fun,” he said with a child-like manner. Like another child
might talk about the park, saying “it’s fun.” Blossom moved over to the right and he shifted positions to match. Markus was in the wrong position.

  “What is fun about killing, kid?” she asked. She moved a little further to the side; so did he.

  “It is the greatest mystery, death. I am fifteen years old and I have figured that out,” he scoffed.

  “You’re wrong, boy. I know a little something about death. I have seen and felt my share. It is not a mystery. You are here and then you are gone. There is a hole that is left where you used to be. Even you will leave a hole when you die. Not for many, but I am sure there are a few who might miss you. That is death. It is not a mystery,” Blossom actually meant what she said. Markus just snorted in obvious disbelief.

  “Why are you coming after me Markus? There are plenty of other targets,” she said. Changing the subject. Keep him off balance if you can, Granger had told her. She shifted further to her right, along the bushes that lined that side of her patio. She had to get into position for when he got tired of talking.

  “They aren’t around. Probably in protective custody, hah! Everyone is so scared of a kid they moved my targets out of state. I may get your friend Lisa too. Just for laughs. You stayed though and so I get to kill you first, then the others, one by one,” he said softly. He had tensed as he spoke and suddenly more lights flooded the backyard. Detective Granger was standing about fifteen feet behind the boy and Mack was about ten feet to her right. Both had weapons out and pointing at Markus.

  “Give it up Markus. You are completely surrounded,” Granger told him. He turned his head to look over his shoulder and laughed. It was a high pitched laugh, as though he was genuinely amused.

  “You are good, detective. I did not expect this. Then again that is the fun part!” he said and leaped at Blossom as a knife fell out of his sleeve into his hand. She cried out and stepped back. At the same time out, from out of nearby bushes, a towering man stepped out in front of her. He caught the boy’s wrist that had the knife before it could strike Blossom. He gave a quick jerk and Markus dropped the knife with a short cry and then Bret lifted him up with one arm and slammed him down on the patio table. He gripped his throat and bent over him. Everyone shouted for him to stop, but he stayed bent over the kid. Blossom could see Markus’s eyes. He was amused. Not an ounce of fear. She shuddered and she thought she saw Bret shudder too as he stood up and gestured for the Detective to take the Markus away.

  He backed up to stood next to Blossom. Everything worked and they were still alive!

  Two weeks later everything was back to normal. Almost, Blossom amended in her thoughts. She was now officially dating Bret, and everyone knew, so they did not have to hide it like they thought they might. They still liked going over the fence in the middle of the night for fun though.

  One night, she was relaxing naked in his arms, looking up at the stars.

  “You rock my world Bret, you know that?” she said.

  “Yep, you rock mine too, so I guess we are even then,” he replied. Blossom snuggled closer. He had saved her life so she was not sure they were even. She had no intention of arguing it though. She was far too happy.

  THE END

  Bonus Story 23/40

  Unbreakable SEAL

  Leslie ran her fingers through her curly brown hair as she sang in the shower happily. She did a little dance as she lathered the shampoo into her locks. She was excited, clearly. A very special person was coming to visit and she had been counting down the days and the day had finally arrived. This man was very important to her and she was determined to show him a great time.

  Robert Wolfe, her stepbrother, was a man that everyone adored. He was always standing up for others, and was strong and courageous. Not to mention he had killer looks. The ladies couldn’t get enough of his dark hair, bold golden eyes and strong jaw. The lady killer part Leslie wasn’t too pleased about, but what could she do? In any case, she loved Robert, and despite the distance between them he always supported her however he could.

  Leslie arranged to take the week off from work so that she could properly dedicate her time to him. Robert, who was in the Navy, was protecting their seas, and risking his life every day. The least she could do was take that week off to de-stress him. The decision to take so much time off was one that her fellow co-workers scratched their heads at. But what did they know? They didn’t understand how she felt about him and how he was a rock in her life.

  Leslie stepped out of the shower taking a towel to the curly madness that was her hair and then to her bare body. She glanced at the clock; she wouldn’t be picking up Robert until later that afternoon. She would be going to lunch with one of her co-workers, Max, who happened to also be a very good friend of hers. Leslie stepped out of the steamy bathroom and went to her closet to pick out her outfit. Meanwhile she texted Max letting him know that she would be on her way to the restaurant soon.

  Leslie stood in front of her large collection of clothes wondering what she would wear. This would be the first time Robert had seen her in four years and she wanted to look her best. Removing the towel from her curvy damp figure and throwing it to the floor, the fresh-scrubbed, naked lady sashayed around her walk in closet gravitating towards the back of it.

  “Hm, I’m thinking, dark blue,” she said as she whipped out a long, dark blue sundress. She was happy with the spring weather where the sun was out but not blazing and the air was fresh. This weather was perfect weather in her eyes.

  Stepping back into her room, Leslie slipped on her underwear before slipping on the soft fabric of the sundress. She proceeded to do a very natural look for her makeup and settled on black sandals. Finally, she regarded herself in her full body mirror, and silently gave herself a nod of approval.

  Leslie heard her phone ringing on the soft mattress and walked over it to answer the call.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey, I’m here. Where are you?”

  The man on the line was Max, Leslie pulled her phone away from her ear to look at the time on her phone. Her eyes widened realizing she had spent too much time getting ready and she was late. However she didn’t feel too bad, it was necessary she took her time. She wanted to look her best.

  “Sorry. I’m coming now.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” he said with a sigh as he ended the call.

  Leslie grabbed her purse and exited her apartment, giving her sleeping grey cat a quick pet before leaving. Luckily, the restaurant that Leslie had chosen was not far from her apartment.

  Leslie walked into the modest restaurant and looked around for her dark haired co-worker. She saw him at a corner table with his back turned to her.

  She cautiously approached the tall male, not 100% sure if that was indeed the man she was here to see. Leslie took a quick peek at his face erasing the doubt that it might not be him.

  “Max,” she said with a smile as she took a seat in front of the brown-eyed male.

  “Finally,” he said with an annoyed look in his eyes as he took a sip of his coffee.

  “Sorry,” Leslie said as she flashed her best apologetic look before flagging the waitress down. “I’m picking up Robert after this so I have to look my best,” she said with a small smile. Turning her attention to the waitress, Leslie ordered a pastry and small coffee before returning to her brunch date with Max.

  “So you’re very excited,” he said as he raised his eyebrow at her.

  “Of course I am, and I could do without your judging face,” Leslie said with a sigh as she checked her phone for any messages from Robert. None so far. She wondered what he was doing.

  “I’m just saying, you know those types of guys have mental issues being in the army and navy, they see a lot of messed up stuff.”

  “Well I would too if I had the pressure of protecting a whole country on my shoulders,” Leslie snapped back. These comments of Max were beginning to get under her skin. Max hadn’t seen a hard day in his life and he was judging someone else.

  “Look I’m not
trying to offend—”

  “That’s exactly what you’re doing Max, why are you so against me having him stay with me?”

  Leslie didn’t get it. Ever since she told Max that Robert was coming to visit and how excited she was, his mood had been sour. She couldn’t understand his distaste for a man whom he had never met and knew nothing about it. Meanwhile, Max lowered his eyes feeling bad about his attitude towards the visit. The truth was his feelings for Leslie had gone unnoticed for the 5 years he had known her. He couldn’t help the surge of jealousy that erupted in his body at her excitement about Robert’s visit. She even forgot that Max’s birthday would clash with Robert’s visit.

  “I’m sorry,” Max said after the uncomfortable silence between them.

  “Apology accepted, now can we please have a nice brunch?”

  Leslie dug into her pastry and refused to let Max’s insensitive words get to her. Even so she couldn’t ignore the nagging uneasiness in her heart.

  Would Robert be okay?

  *****

  Leslie sat in her car driving towards the train station to pick up Robert. During the silent ride she had questioned her friendship with Max. Sure she knew he was a judging person but not against her. His attitude had spoiled her mood somewhat. Even so she would have to try not to let his words get to her because in a matter of minutes she would be seeing Robert.

  Leslie pulled up to the train station parking lot and looked in the mirror in the sun visor to check her appearance. The nervousness began to rise in her stomach as she sat in the car alone with her thoughts. Would Robert be happy to see her? Would things be awkward? What would they even talk about? All these thoughts were making Leslie nervous for this week long visit.

  “Ah, what am I nervous for? I’ve know this man my whole life,” Leslie said to her own reflection, shaking her head. This was clearly normal jitters. She was thinking too much about things.

  Leslie stepped out of her car after a few minutes and checked her face and clothes one more time before heading towards the main area of the train station. She joined a few others who were excitedly waiting for the arrival of the train. Leslie stood next to the tracks and followed their path with her eyes. The cool breeze from the large mass of water on the other side of the tracks washed over her. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the salty air before the loud noise of a horn echoed in the air.