A Dragon's Heart: (Dragons of Paragon - Book 1)

by Jan Dockter

  At lunch, he ducked into the back hallway and called Winnie on his cell phone. He couldn’t risk being overheard by either Jerry or Greg.

  She picked up after far too many rings, but Peter felt immediately better upon hearing the old woman’s familiar voice.

  “Didn’t think you’d miss me so soon,” she said. Peter could hear the pleased smile in her voice. He imagined her in that dusty old shop of hers among cobwebs and rusty antiques.

  “Don’t flatter yourself,” he replied jokingly. “By the way, how’s my mirror doing?”

  “Still hasn’t sold. I’m starting to think I should have asked for cash for those earrings instead.”

  Peter recalled the ruby earrings he had given Ashe as a present last Christmas. He had traded an antique mirror for them, or at least for the favor of tracking them down. The earrings were well-known heirlooms of the oldest matriarch of Peter’s vampire clan, and though they belonged to his family they had been missing for quite some time until he had enlisted Winnie’s help in finding them. It was a shame Ashe couldn’t wear them now, but they couldn’t afford to advertise their affiliation with his clan. There was no telling who could be watching them.

  “But I’m guessing an old mirror isn’t why you called,” Winnie prompted.

  “No,” Peter replied. “I need to ask you about vampiric abilities. Specifically telepathic communication.”

  Winnie sighed. “It’s a complicated subject, but first tell me what got you asking about it.”

  Peter paced idly up and down the hallway as he explained the situation. He told Winnie of the way he and Ashe had communicated during the blizzard by using no more than thought alone. He also told her of the more recent development of his ability to read Ashe’s thoughts and emotions even when she wasn’t actively projecting them.

  “And this hasn’t happened with anyone else?” Winnie asked when he had finished.

  “Only Ashe,” Peter replied.

  There was silence on the other end. Peter could hear soft tapping like a pen against paper. Winnie must have been thinking. Finally she said, “I wouldn’t be so worried about the speed of your ability’s progression if I were you. Every once in a while, there’s a rare vampire that has special knack for the power they possess. You might just be a quick learner. Though powers progressing at this sort of speed tend to zap a vampire’s energy, making them ill. You might want to try feeding a bit more than you’re used to. Stave off those pesky hunger pangs before they start causing trouble.”

  This wasn’t what Peter wanted to hear. If his ability to read Ashe’s thoughts had been brought on by something external, there might have been a way to reverse it. However, if the ability was something he naturally possessed there would be no way to rid himself of it. He may be aware of Ashe’s thoughts and feelings forever. “Is there any way to stop it?” Peter asked.

  Winnie replied, “The power’s under your control. It’s up to you to stop it. It might be hard at first but eventually you’ll get the knack. In the meantime, I suggest telling Ashe about it. As a woman who’s lived for centuries and had my fair share of romantic attachments back in the day, the one thing I do know is that communication and honesty are vital. If you’re struggling with something, let her share the burden. If she truly loves you she’ll be glad that you asked.”

  Peter was reluctant to tell Ashe about the new aspects of his ability, but he also was aware of the wisdom in Winnie’s words. He decided he would tell Ashe everything tonight after work. She deserved to know the truth, and to share what he was going through. He would also start to work on controlling it for her sake as much as his own.

  “It’s a good thing I called you,” Peter said.

  As he moved to hang up, Winnie asked, “Where are you?”

  Her question gave him pause.

  Winnie seemed to notice, and added, “I like to keep tabs on my people, that’s all.”

  Peter relented. “It’s a small town called Morris. The population’s probably a few thousand people at most. It’s quiet and Ashe likes it here. But I don’t plan on staying here forever.”

  “Morris,” Winnie repeated. “Haven’t heard of it.”

  “I’d be surprised if you had.”

  Winnie said nothing further on the subject. They said their goodbyes and Peter hung up.

  Peter found himself standing at the door of the room he had encountered during his first visit to the theater. He hadn’t been back since that day, far too busy with construction in the main theater to even think of setting foot in the back rooms. Perhaps it was simply the memory of his last encounter with that door, but Peter could almost feel a harmful aura radiating out from the dark wood. He extended his hand slowly towards the doorknob, the sick feeling growing as his fingers neared the metal. At the last second he drew them back, cursing himself for being so silly. There was no monster behind that door. He turned away from the door and left the hallway. He would see what was in that room another day. There were more pressing matters to attend to at the moment.

  Peter came home from work with flowers tied up in a delicate white ribbon. They were wildflowers picked from the park on his way home. Ashe loved the irregular shapes and bursting colors of the blossoms. No two flowers were exactly alike. They smelled like the woods, a wild and entrancing smell that reminded Ashe of fairy tales from her childhood. Flowers from a shop never appealed to Ashe, but these ones were just perfect. Though Ashe had been feeling under the weather on and off for the past couple of weeks, the sight of the blossoms made her feel much better.

  “What’s the occasion?” Ashe asked taking the flowers from Peter’s outstretched hand.

  Peter rarely gave her flowers so this was a pleasant surprise. Her thoughts still lingered on the day he had kissed her so passionately in the living room. She had really thought that was going to be her first time. Peter’s touch had been so insistent, so aggressive in a way it had never been before. Ashe been ready for the next step in their relationship, but Peter had pulled away without explanation. He had made no attempt to explain himself since then.

  Peter looked nervous. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

  “Then tell me,” Ashe said, the flowers suddenly feeling heavy in her hands. Was he about to break up with her? If so, then why the flowers?

  “I’m not going to break up with you,” Peter replied.

  “Then what is it?” Ashe asked with unease. It was as if Peter could hear her thoughts.

  “I can,” he said.

  Ashe was confused. “You can what?”

  “I can hear your thoughts.”

  It took a moment for Ashe to fit the pieces together. It couldn’t be true. Peter had assured her that was not how his ability worked. Ashe dropped the flowers and they tumbled to the floor forgotten.

  “You told me you couldn’t,” Ashe accused. How long had he kept this hidden from her?

  Peter made a move towards her but Ashe backed away. “I couldn’t before,” he said. “Not until a few weeks ago. I should have told you then, but I was stupid and selfish. I thought it would go away on its own, but it hasn’t.”

  They could only talk to each other, Ashe told herself, not steal things from one another’s minds. Peter had been present in her private thoughts and feelings without her knowledge for weeks. In theory, it had not seemed like such a bad thing, but in reality it was terrifying. Ashe felt violated.

  “You’re reading my thoughts right now, aren’t you?” she asked.

  Peter hung his head. “I’m sorry. I can’t control it yet, but I’m trying. All I can do for now is let you know when I’m doing it. It’s not fair, but it’s the best I can do.” He genuinely looked ashamed. Ashe could only imagine how hard it was on him to possess this power that, by its nature, broke the foundation of trust between them. She would have to take it on faith that he was being honest with her.

  Ashe asked, “Is it just me, or is it others too?”

  If Peter could read the thoughts of those around them it cou
ld keep them safe from Landon’s clan and others who would do them harm.

  “No,” Peter shook his head. “It’s only you.”

  He knelt down to pick up the dropped flowers and held them out to her. “You have to give me some time to work things out.”

  For the first time since Peter had told her about his mind-reading, Ashe found the courage to fully meet his gaze. What she saw there was fear and guilt, and she could tell that this was as hard for him as it was for her. She reached the flowers.

  “We’ll get through this together,” she said, though she still felt uneasy. She had to believe that he was trying his best.

  He gave her a tender kiss, their hands still clasped together around the bouquet. Ashe let her love for him well up from the depths of her being and fill her body. She hoped that he could feel it and was comforted by its strength. They would both need the strength of love to get through this together.

  Ashe was in the back of the library searching for a match to the insignia Peter had found on the flyer in the theater. It was more of an idle curiosity than anything else. Peter had told her some tragedy had occurred at the theater decades ago that had caused its closure and subsequent abandonment. She had tried asking the people of the town but no one seemed willing to talk about it, not even Will who was usually quite talkative on any subject regarding the town. It turned out that his family, the Morrises, were the ones who had founded the town that took their name. Will seemed to know everything about the town, except for the meaning of the insignia.

  Ashe’s arms ached as she took down books from the higher shelves. She wondered if she was coming down with the flu. Lately she had been tired all the time, and the stress headaches she had associated with college life had come back with a vengeance. She told herself she would sleep it off on the weekend. For now she had work to do.

  She was deep in the stacks when a voice called her name. Will was coming towards her from the door leading to the town archives. Ashe looked up and smiled. “You aren’t coming over to let me take a crack at the town archives, are you?” she said.

  Will laughed. “Not a chance. I don’t want to lose my job. If you need any information you can make a formal request like everyone else.”

  Ashe pouted exaggeratedly. “You’re no fun.”

  “Chin up,” Will said, brushing her chin with his finger. Ashe smiled. It was easy being around Will. He was human, simple. He said what he thought and never hid anything from her. Best of all, he couldn’t read her thoughts. He reminded her of the old Peter, the laid-back, confident man she had first fallen in love with. Though she still loved Peter more than anything, sometimes she wanted to escape from the vampire world back into the world of the living. Will afforded that escape, if nothing else.

  Will crossed his thick arms across his chest and leaned back against the bookshelf. “There’s a town meeting of sorts tonight after work and I’d like you to come along. You’ve been here for a while and it’s about time to involve you in some of the town’s activities.”

  “Sounds boring,” Ashe said, though in truth she wasn’t feeling up to attending the meeting. She wanted to stay in bed with the curtains drawn, not socialize with members of the town. Her headache was getting worse.

  “I’ll be there,” Will replied, raising an eyebrow.

  “I’ll pass.”

  Will’s smile faded and was replaced by an intense look that made Ashe’s heart beat faster. She had seen that look before in Peter on the day he had pinned her against the living room wall. She couldn’t understand what had brought on the sudden change.

  “You know, the people here really care about you,” he said. “I think it will do you good to come to the meeting. There’s things about this town I want to be able to share with you, and this meeting’s a start. You’ll come to find out that this place is a lot more special than you might think.”

  Ashe had to admit that Will’s words had sparked her curiosity. What could possibly be so interesting about a town meeting? If her condition didn't get any worse in the next twenty-four hours she would consider it. For whatever reason, Will seemed to really want her there. His eyes held hers intently.

  “I’ll think about it,” Ashe replied.

  There was a pause, and then Will said, “You’re really beautiful, you know.”

  The comment took Ashe by utter surprise. She felt her cheeks flush. She should have known from his expression that something was up. She hoped he didn’t mean to try and make their friendship more than it was.

  Will suddenly leaned down to kiss her. Ashe was too shocked to react. His lips brushed her cheek as she turned away. Her breath heaved in her chest as she tried to process what had just happened.

  “I know. You have a boyfriend,” Will said. His voice was quiet.

  Ashe didn’t know what to say.

  “You love him. That’s good.”

  The look in Will’s eyes she had noticed before had gone leaving the Will she was used to seeing. Ashe couldn’t stand the awkward position Will had put her in, and she hated him for thinking he could kiss her like that. Especially after she had made it clear that her heart belonged to Peter.

  “You’re my friend,” Ashe said turning back to face him. “I thought you understood that.”

  Will looked embarrassed. “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.” He turned and walked away down the row of bookshelves as Ashe tried hard to understand what had come over Will all of a sudden.

  Will was warm and fun to talk to, and always greeted Ashe with a smile, but Ashe hadn’t expected him to feel so strongly about her in the few weeks she had known him. The kiss had been without warning too, like he had been possessed by something outside of himself. Ashe couldn’t shake the unexplainable feeling that Will was being manipulated in some way. The Will she knew would never have tried something like that.

  Ashe thought with dread about what Peter would think. He had been trying to control his mind-reading, but there was no guarantee that he was making any progress. If he saw what had happened, he wouldn’t understand. Ashe feared Peter’s reaction if he found out Will had tried to kiss her. She would have to avoid thinking about it around him. It was the only thing she could do.

  As Ashe made her way towards the back of the library, not wanting to run into Will again on his way out, she noticed that the door to the town archive room stood ajar. Will must have forgotten to close it all the way when he had come to talk to her. Now was her chance to get into the town archives and maybe dig something up about the theater, the insignia, and any other questions she might have about the town. Ashe looked over her shoulder and, seeing no sign of Will, slipped into the archive room and closed the door behind her.

  Immediately she noticed a difference between the archive room and the rest of the library. The air was almost too still, as if the place had not been visited by a living human in years. There was no dust to be seen but the room itself was dark and poorly maintained. Ashe couldn’t understand how Will could stand to work in such an environment.

  Not knowing how the place was organized, Ashe started at random on the bookshelf nearest the door. It seemed to hold birth and death records, the most recent where she was standing and going back through the years along the wall away from her. If a tragedy had struck the town, the death records might reflect it. Ashe didn’t know the exact year that the theater had closed, though what she had heard around town placed its closure about twenty years prior. Will would have been a small child then and not likely to remember much about the incident itself. Ashe pulled out a thick stack of files from the years she had estimated the theater’s closure to fall within and got to work. She was lucky the town had few residents. It made her work considerably easier.

  After a few minutes, Ashe found what she was looking for. There was a group of entries all dated the same day that indicated the causes of death to be a fire in the old theater. That was strange, Ashe thought, as Peter hadn’t mentioned any fire damage and the theater did not show any outward signs of su
ch damage either. Ashe noticed that one of the victims bore the same last name as Will. The man was thirty-five. Will’s father, perhaps. But if there was no fire, then how did these people really die? There must have been a reason why the town felt a need to lie about cause of death.

  Ashe replaced the files and moved to a different shelf containing blueprints and plans for public works. She wouldn’t find anything of use there. She moved to the next one and the next, but nothing seemed remotely useful. She started to pull out documents at random and scanning them, frustrated that she couldn’t find what she was looking for. Will could be back any minute. She had to get out of there fast.

  In the back corner of the archives the shelves ended in a small alcove. There was a small desk here and a leather book bag lying at its side. The desk had a lived-in feel to it that contrasted with the rest of the room. It must have been where Will did most of his work. Ashe went over the shelves making up the alcove. At first, she couldn't believe what she saw. They filled with personal journals and records, first-hand accounts of the history of the town dating back to when the town was first founded. Each one was written in a different hand. Reading through them, Ashe felt as thought the ghosts of the town were speaking to her all at once. She understood why Will liked his work and wished she had more time with the records. She quickly located one of the diaries corresponding with the year on the death certificates she had found and flipped through it.