Even though we weren’t on the best of terms right then, I didn’t like it when anyone spoke ill about Michael in my presence. “If I’ve learned anything so far, it’s that in this respect, all supernatural creatures are the same.” He didn’t like my answer either, but he accepted it gracefully enough.
“Ryoko, why are there no female dragons? Why do all the woman merely have a few scales in their faces?”
“Just because you haven’t seen any female dragons in here, doesn’t mean they don’t exist.”
“That’s true, but somehow I know. I just don’t know why.” Though I had the feeling that he was baffled, his body language remained neutral. “You’re right. Let me explain. We dragons made a lot of mistakes in the past. For a long time us and the Filguri were the mightiest creatures on this planet and this power made us arrogant. As I said, we made a lot of mistakes, and as a result, we and the Filguri are threatened with extinction. The Filguri are even worse off. There are only two left of them. We were lucky. We were able to mate with humans, but our half-human children are always male. They are like us; a little smaller, but full-fledged dragons. Their children are also always male. There has been no female offspring who is more than an eighth dragon. We follow our offspring for six or seven generations; after that their dragon parentage is no longer of interest to us.”
“What happens when a woman is an eighth dragon? Does she have a choice?”
“We’re not monsters. Once she is old enough, she is introduced to the dragons. If one of them desires her, it’s her choice whether to mate with him or not. We take no stock in forcing our women into anything they don’t want. They can choose without pressure. Of course our goal is to produce offspring with as much dragon blood as possible.”
Adlen appeared on the terrace. “So your blood is poisonous for vampires? That is so cool!” I stared at her with my mouth hanging open. Michael wouldn’t have told her that, so how did she know? Was this another trick?
“Michael told us,” she added with a triumphant grin.
“He had no right to do so.”
Ryoko was just as surprised as I was, but for a different reason. “So it’s true?” he asked, sounding astonished.
“Yes, but my blood is only toxic if I want it to be.”
Adlen had come outside because she was bored. She reported that Kadeijosch and Michael were about to get into a fight. I was cold in my thin dress and the coat. I shivered and told Ryoko that I’d like to go back inside. He nodded, but before we stepped inside, he said: “We don’t think it’s appropriate to see a human being as somebody else’s property.” I knew right away what he wanted to tell me. When Michael had introduced me as his girlfriend, he’d killed two birds with one stone, currying favor both with me and the dragons by not calling me his human. Ryoko was watching me with a smug expression. “I see that you got my drift.”
I had gotten more than that, more than he had foreseen: “They can’t camouflage conversations from you either.” He hadn’t meant to give me that piece of info.
He led me into the entrance hall, where we sat down on a brown couch. A short while later we were asked back into the ballroom. Michael had changed seats so I could sit between him and Kadeijosch, and he seemed miffed. Since I was still out of sorts with him, we studiously ignored each other. I was still cold and decided to keep my coat on. Kadeijosch wasn’t the type to beat around the bush: “Would you like to spend a semester in London? Studying abroad would certainly be a welcome addition to your CV.”
I beamed at the suggestion, but then I grew wary. “Where is the catch?”
“No catch. I’m a professor at the University of London and I think I could get you a stipend here. You could live here, like Adlen does, so you wouldn’t need that much money. The house is large enough; one more occupied room wouldn’t incommode anyone. You and Adlen could even study together.”
It was a dazzling opportunity, but what would it mean for my relationship with Michael? Unsure of what to say, I turned to Michael. “What do you think?”
“Think about what? I have no idea what you just talked about,” he replied, arms crossed in front of his chest.
Kadeijosch burst into mirthful laughter. “It comes so naturally to her. Not even Adlen and Rebekka were that quick to speak, and they’re one eighth dragon. Do you need still more proof?”
Once again Michael didn’t let on, but I could see that he was seething. His voice was strained: “That’s not proof. I still doubt it.”
And once again they were trying to keep me in the dark. I would make it easy on them. I rose and left the room, headed back into the entrance hall and huddled on the couch. After a while Kadeijosch came and joined me. “Why did you leave?”
“Obviously you didn’t want me to know something you had been talking about. I made it easy on you. I don’t understand why I am the only person who mustn’t know what I am. I’m also realizing that everyone who meant something to me has been lying to me my entire life. What could be so horrific about my identity?”
“What are you talking about?”
I shook my head. I was finally no longer cold, so I took off my coat.
“Melanie, as soon as we know for sure, we will tell you everything. We don’t mean you harm.”
“I don’t mean to be rude, but sometimes I feel overwhelmed in your world.”
And then it was happening again; I sensed something coming and acted on instinct. I grabbed Kadeijosch’s arm, braced myself as I rose to my feet, and then whispered: “Someone’s coming.” I threw back my head and closed my eyes. My voice was barely audible: “Hugorio’s coming.” Kedeijosch had risen and was now watching me with a stunned expression. I recalled my last encounter with Hugorio, recalled how he’d penetrated my boundaries with his strange energy. It was the memory of his aura that had startled me. I tensed and pressed my lips together, and then I said: “I need to leave! He scares me.”
“He’s not here. Nobody’s here.”
Thanks to the glass front, the driveway was always in view. I stared at the bend of the path with an uneasy feeling. Kadeijosch’s eyes followed my gaze. The next moment, an Aston Martin in fire engine red came speeding up the driveway. A light breeze had sprung up. The car stopped, the front door was opened, and Hugorio got out. He was wearing another pair of fashionably torn jeans, obviously expensive and distressed by design, together with a blue sweater and an old aviator leather jacket. His clothing style was best described as casual. The wind was ruffling his hair. The whole scene was almost cheesy, like a TV spot: The perfect car pulls up, the perfect man gets out, the wind ruffles his hair, and he gives you a confident look. But I had met Hugorio before, so it wasn’t cheesy, it was downright frightening. He lithely jogged up the steps to the front door and entered the house. “Kadeijosch, old friend, forgive me for showing up without prior notice. I was in the area, so I thought it might be a good time to visit and old friend or two.”
“Hugorio. Of course you’re always welcome here.” They didn’t shake hands, but made like the gladiators in ancient Rome, with one hand on each other’s arm, and patting each other’s shoulders with the other hand. Then his gaze settled on me. “So we meet again.” He held out his hand, but I had hidden mine behind my back the moment he had stepped through the door.
Kadeijosch placed a heavy hand on my shoulder. “Melanie, we don’t want to be rude, do we?”
Hugorio opened his mouth as if to say ‘aha,’ but what came out was: “So the secret has been disclosed. Don’t you want to shake my hand?” I held out mine with a resigned expression, but I erected my mental shield before I did so. This time he didn’t give up so quickly. He tried to break through my barrier, but I held fast. His concentration made him squeeze harder, and I cried out in pain. He had broken at least one of the small bones in my hand. He immediately let go, and Kadeijosch went to stand between us. Hugorio raised both hands in a gesture of peace, palms out. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to do that. I’m not used to dealing with humans and thei
r frail bodies.”
Kadeijosch examined my injured hand. Michael and the others came storming into the front hall. When I looked into Hugorio’s eyes, my own were still blurry with tears of pain. “I don’t believe you. You would not make a mistake like that. You were trying to break my concentration by causing me pain.”
“I thought someone with your abilities wouldn’t have such a vulnerable body. Allow me to heal your injuries,” he answered magnanimously. He wanted to reach for my hand, but Kadeijosch blocked his way.
The pain was unbearable. If he could really heal me, I would let him. I walked around Kadeijosch and stood before Hugorio. “You’ll heal me and won’t try anything shady?”
He nodded. Then he gently took my hand between both of his. His touch felt warm, and was getting progressively warmer. The pain subsided with a strange tingle, and then it was gone. He ruffled my hair. “See, I’m not that bad.”
I moved my fingers to test them. Everything seemed to work okay again. I didn’t want to make more uncomfortable memories, so I decided to excuse myself and hide in the guest room where Michael and I were staying. “If you don’t mind, I’ll retreat for the night.”
“Maybe you had better stay for a while longer. Friends, I heard you were able to break my father’s lock on the tower. I’m impressed. Who accomplished that feat?” Hugorio accompanied his question by a searching gaze around the room.
Michael moved to stand in front of me. “It was us, my staff and me.”
“Kadeijosch, is that true? I’ve heard a different story. It involved a bolt cutter,” he paused and his eyes lit on me, “and a little girl that was barely able to lift the heavy tool. Or rather, I had the pleasure of watching it in real time, thanks to your video cameras in the square. Quite amusing indeed. Melanie, I have to admit I’m impressed and also a little aggrieved. If I hadn’t emptied the chamber several centuries ago, I would be rather mad right now. By the way, it was no longer my father’s spell, but mine.”
Kadeijosch put his hand on my shoulder again. “Melanie, it’s getting late. You really should go to bed.”
“You’re right. Good night, everyone. Have a nice evening.”
“Melanie, I’m normally not a fan of festive attire, but this dress suits you really well.” Hugorio’s laugh made it clear that he meant to provoke me with his comment. When I turned to leave, I could hear him say: “You know what’s fascinating? I tried to find out more about your parents. As soon as I find out that they live in my domain, I decide to pay them a visit and what happens? They vanish without a trace. Poof, just like that!” I froze in place, my muscles tense.
“And the funniest part is that only a short while later, you’re officially an orphan.”
Kadeijosch nodded. “That is very interesting. Hugorio, if you have any further information on this matter, I’d be grateful to hear it.”
Michael pulled me into his arms and led me away to our room. His men followed us. Once we were all inside and the door was closed, he ordered: “Search the room for concealed magic. Now!” Then he turned to me. “How could you give away that you can hear the dragons speak, that you understand what they’re saying?”
“I didn’t. They were talking. How should I know that I wasn’t supposed to hear them?”
“If you were more careful, these things wouldn’t happen. How about you don’t speak anymore, unless you’re asked a direct question. And to make matters worse, you had to break the chain and pick the lock. It could have killed you. How many times have you been close to choking, because you manipulated unfamiliar magic? You keep acting like a fifty-year-old rookie. Grow up, will you!”
“Since I’m not even close to fifty, I must be surprisingly mature for my age.”
“This is not the time to get cocky!” He was getting louder and more impatient by the second.
I swallowed. I wasn’t afraid of him, but I was shaking nonetheless.
Stefan went to stand between us. “Father, she’s only twenty-three. You can’t expect her to act like one of your men.”
Michael took a step towards me and I backed off. He looked at me. “You’re cold.” He was at my side with one of his incredibly fast moves, wrapped the coat around my shoulders, squeezed me and whispered into my ear: “I’m sorry. Sometimes I simply forget how young you are. None of this is your fault. I should never have brought you.” I buried my face against his chest and held on to him. He put his hands in the pockets of my coat and pulled me closer. Something rustled. He pulled a folded sheet of paper from my pocket, unfolded it with a curious smile, and then suddenly swallowed hard. “What is that?”
I looked up and recognized my drawing. “That’s the caricature I drew of Andreas. Don’t you remember; Tanja told you about that.”
I had no idea why he found it so amusing, but he kept shaking his head and smiling. I took a step backwards and bumped into Nicky, who was in the midst of weaving a spell. Faster than I could blink, golden lines appeared on my hands and arms. Michael was still studying my drawing. I turned my hands this way and that, and discovered more golden lines. “Michael!”
The others had gathered around Michael and were all looking at my drawing. Since nobody had reacted the first time, I tried again, louder this time: “Michael, please, it’s important! What is happening to me?” He threw me a half-hearted glance from the corner of his eye, but then focused on the damn piece of paper again. Then he did a double take and his eyes widened.
“What is that?” He came over and studied my face, then my hands, touching and tracing the golden lines.
“I think I bumped into Nicky while he was weaving a spell.”
“Nicky, what spell was that?” Michael asked, sounding reproachful.
“Just a standard spell to make hidden magic visible. Which means that those lines must have been there all along.”
Michael pulled at my dress collar to peek inside.
“You’re a never-ending adventure. We should go into the bedroom so I can look at the rest of your body.”
We closed the door behind us and I took off my coat, then my dress.
He examined me, his eyes wide and awestruck. “I have no idea what these symbols mean,” he whispered as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. I found a mirror and went to stand before it. The golden lines were everywhere on my body. And it wasn’t just lines; there were symbols, too. Lines from my fingertips across my knuckles to the back of my hand, where five became one. This in turn ran up my arms all the way to my shoulders, and the same thing on the insides of my hands and arms. Again, five lines from my fingertips to my palm, where they merged into one, which led up the inside of my arm. They lines were unbroken; my fingertips their meeting points. There was a V on my forehead, its tip right above the bridge of my nose. Both ends of the V sprouted rounded lines that led to my temples, down to my throat and further down, meeting those on the upper side of my arms at my collarbones. Further down and crossing between my breasts, forming another V. The crossed lines went to my back left and right, crossing again in its center, but at a flat angle, coming back around to my belly, going down on both sides of my belly button, down my legs all the way to the bridge of my feet, splitting into five again, which led to my toes. The tip of the V on my forehead sprouted a straight line upwards, across the top of my head and down its back. The lines from the undersides of my arms led to my back, intersected at my spine at shoulder height, where they were met by the single straight line that came down the back of my head. The intersected lines curved downwards and flowed together again at my sacral bone, forming another V. The tip of the V was the meeting point of the lines from the front of my body. From there the back lines led over my butt and down the backsides of my legs, over my heels and under my feet. They split into five and met those from the upper side at the tips of my toes. Thus the lines enveloped my entire body and everything was connected. A curlicue symbol was embedded in the V on my chest and back respectively. It didn’t meet any of the lines. There was another unconnected symbol
around my belly button.
The pattern of lines looked good on me, in some strange, disconcerting way. Michael circled me several times, examining each line, each symbol closely. Then he spoke a few words I didn’t understand, and the lines were gone again. He bit his lip and continued to look at me, before stating in a voice rife with longing: “It’s been far too long since we were alone.”
“Michael, it has only been two or three days.”
“Exactly. I have a hard time saying this, but I guess you should get dressed again. Come and join me and the other again when you’re done.”
21 LONDON
I was glad to be wearing a pair of jeans, a shirt, and a sweater again. When I entered the front room, the Peris all fell silent. “Alessandro, you know what to do,” Michael said quickly, and his grandson nodded. I wanted to know how much trouble I was in, or at least the reason for any of it. “Will you tell me why Kadeijosch is interested in me all of a sudden?”
“They think you’re a dragon,” Michael explained.
“But that’s bullshit! I would have noticed if my–” I froze. I had almost said out loud that my father was a supernatural creature. “What makes them think so?” I asked, trying to sound clueless.
Michael rolled his eyes. “You speak Terakon, the language of dragons. It’s a genetic trait, which means that allegedly, only dragons can speak it.”
“But I only spoke German the whole time. Oh! But the dragons follow their offspring for several generations. Ryoko told me that.”
“They believe you are less than a 128th dragon. That is also how they explain your weak body. Did you think dragons would behave that way with an ordinary human? They’re infamous for their arrogance. You and Alessandro will leave immediately. Your flight leaves in one hour. The dragons are distracted by Hugorio’s appearance – hence this is the ideal moment for you to disappear.”
“Why do I have to sneak out like a thief? The dragons wouldn’t force me to do anything I don’t want. It’s not their way of handling things.”
Peris Night: Terakon (Secret Language) Page 31