My body fell onto my bed, my heart bleeding, my head swooning, a cold sweat breaking on my brow, when my phone lit up again. ‘Jk…outside…hurry up.☺’
I rushed to my window and threw it open. “I hate you!” I screamed at her car.
Brooke waved from the driveway. I quickly changed, flew downstairs, where my Dad sat on the couch.
“Have fun.” He said.
“Not coming?”
“No. I’ve got something to think about. Do you need money?” He said.
I shook my head.
“Have fun.” He smiled.
“You too.” And ran outside.
Brooke’s smile didn’t alleviate my mood any. I piled into the back seat with Kaylene, Serina, who was another cheer, Kennah, and Alexa. Brooke was in the passenger side and Mr. Wasabi was driving.
“Hi, JJ.” Mr. Wasabi greeted me cheerfully.
“Hi, Mr. Wasabi. You have a very mean child.” My eyes burned holes in the back of Brooke’s head.
“It’s what Blue does. Just ignore her.” He assured me.
“You’d think she’d learn that by now.” Kennah agreed. “That was a very good scream though. Just like today, I heard.
“Shut up.” I growled.
“Oh, someone is in a bad mood.” Brooke chirped from the front.
I ignored her.
The girls talked away while I silently sat wondering why Gabe wasn’t in the car with us.
After we arrived at Cold Stone and piled out, I pulled Brooke aside.
“And?” I whispered.
“And what?” Brooke said confused.
“You know what.”
“Oh. Yeah, he’s still sick.” She apologized.
I was beside myself. “You said he’d be here.” We came to the door. She opened it.
“What can I tell you?” She shrugged.
Pissed, I stomped in and caught my breath as Gabe, Set, John, and Steve sat at one of the tables. He looked up at me and smiled. My heart melted, the world turned bright again, and I forgot why I was pissed at Brooke.
“You can thank me later.” She whispered.
Like a little girl walking towards something new and wonderful, Brooke guide me to the table where they sat. She set me in a chair next to Gabe, his caramel corn smell immediately washed over me sending me into heaven.
“Hi JJ.” His musical voice spoke to me like a god from heaven. I didn’t answer.
“JJ?” He said again.
“Yes.” I breathed.
“How are you?” He asked.
Pain shot up my arm. “Ow!”
“Show some restraint.” Brooke rolled her eyes.
The pain snapped me out of whatever trance I was in. “I’m good. Thank you. You?”
He smiled. “I’m better.” He turned to ask Steve something, but didn’t hear what he asked.
“How was practice?” Alexa asked John.
John was one of the defensemen and the only one that Brooke had any respect for.
“Tough. I don’t know what’s worse, Coach Winckler yelling at us or Brooke.” He said jokingly, but the truth of his statement could be heard.
Brooke smiled. “You know which is worse.” She winked.
John smiled.
“It won’t do you any good.” Set commented confidently.
Kennah and Serina were giving him their full attention, despite Kennah and Serina both having boyfriends.
“Don’t think I’m going to lie down and let you score a ton of points.” Brooke informed him. “You are the only thing they have.”
Set leaned back and placed his arms around Kennah and Serina. “That’s all they need.”
“We’ll see.” Brooke got up and went to the counter. Kaylene followed as did John and Steve. Set turned to Kennah and Serina, leaving me with Gabe.
“Is Mr. Wasabi coming in?” I asked.
“I believe he is meeting Mrs. Wasabi for some late dinner. Shall we?”
“Oh. Okay.” We rose and went to the counter.
“Shall we get something together?” He said looking up at the menu.
My heart leaped into my throat. “I…”
“Gabe. That’s not a good idea.” Brooke called from down the line.
“Oh…” He started but I interrupted him.
“No…that’s okay. I can’t…”
“No.” Brooke said emphatically.
Gabe nodded. “She’s right. I forgot. We’ll just get two smalls. What do you want?”
“Whatever.” I stared Brooke down who ignored me.
Steve ordered, paid and sat back down. My laser beam eyes burned holes in the back of Brooke’s head and was melting her brain as she ordered.
“It would have been interesting to see.” Set mused from the table.
“No, it wouldn’t have.” Brooke told him.
“What are you talking about?” Kennah asked.
My attention turned away from the menu board as the store bell rung. Two young men, probably in their early twenties walked in. My eyes narrowed. An unpleasant smell wafted over me, which made me scrunched up my nose in disgust. The two men surveyed the scene. They were in dark cloths and steel tipped toe guards sparkled in the shop light. One of the men nudged the other as his gaze fell upon Set.
Set was about to kiss Kennah while her eyes rolled back in her head, lips puckered forward, and limp in his arm, when one of the men’s hand flashed forward. It was a blur of a motion just as Set’s hand was coming up. Set caught the knife blade mere inches from his left cheek. Annoyed, Set turned his lips way from Kennah, who appeared to have fallen asleep in her chair, and set black eyes upon his would be attacker.
“Gabe?” I said confused.
“What?” Gabe answered.
I pointed at the two men and then at Set.
Gabe’s eyes widened in concern. “Brooke!”
Brooke turned from the counter. “Somnus!”
Suddenly, the worst fatigue overcame me. I staggered to a table next to me and fumbled with the seat. Strong hands helped me into the chair as I tried to keep my head up. My vision began to blur. Kennah, Steve and Serina were asleep at our table. I swiveled my head and Kaylene, John and Alexa were asleep at Brooke’s feet. Brooke cautiously knelt down in front of them like a shield. The store clerk couldn’t be seen and I surmised she must have fallen asleep behind the counter.
One of the men moved forward. His eyes turn red like a stop light and leaped towards Set.
“Going to kill you Draco. Kill all your kind.” With one smooth motion he pulled a long jagged knife from behind him.
Set easily sidestepped him and in one gesture with his arm, set the man flying across the store.
“Seriously.” Set turned to the other man clearly upset. “I was about to get some.”
Gabe moved in front of me like a shield and placed his hand on my shoulder. I leaned into him.
“Set.” Brooke moved back.
I couldn’t see the two men now because Gabe continued to be in my way. His caramel sent was beginning to make me even drowsier. My eyelids were beginning to droop as my head rolled forward and back as I tried to stay awake.
“I’m going to hurt you, man.” The other man yelled.
My head rolled to the side and I saw the other man pull a gun.
“You have no idea what trouble you have gotten yourself into, punk!” Set smiled. “I’m glad I’m going to get to send you to the hospital or whatever hell hole you crawled out of. Your choice if you and your friend want to go alive or dead back to your master.”
“Set.” Brooke cautioned.
Why isn’t she asleep? Why is Set acting this way. Just let them rob the place and let them go.
Set looked at me like he had read my mind. His disgust etched his face like the carving of a stone.
My eye sight began to blur. Set moved forward. Gun shots rang out. A scream. Set’s shoulder flinched back. Then his other one. Like makeup being scrapped away to reveal the blemish underneath, black skin appeared w
here the bullets hit him. A scream lodged in my throat. Brooke turned and looked at me; her eyes widened. A motion caught my attention, Set laughed but it sounded like it was coming through water. His eyes turned black and he moved with inhuman speed disappearing from my view because Gabe continued to block the scene. Another scream rang out, and another, each deep and frightened. Then silence. I pushed myself away from Gabe. He turned and as his eyes focused on mine, stars erupted in my vision and everything went black.
I was cold when I woke. Air streamed in from the open window of Brooke’s car. My mind was foggy with the events of…I didn’t know what time it was. The phone in my hand read eleven thirty two p.m. I closed my eyes again trying to remember when we had arrived at the ice cream shop. Fuzziness continued to cloud my mind, while the foggy images of what had happened tried to assert themselves through the haze. The emptiness of the car crept upon me. I opened my eyes; Brooke sat in the front passenger seat, Gabe was driving and Set sat next to me.
My mind snapped.
“Oh my god!” I yelled.
The image of Set being shot crashed down upon my consciousness like a hammer smashing down upon a nail head. I grabbed Set, who appeared annoyed at such an aggressive move and shoved me back.
“Control your girlfriend.” Set scowled.
“We have to get you to the hospital!” Panic gripped me. I’d never seen anyone shot or had them die. “We gotta put pressure on those wounds!” I frantically searched around the car but nothing presented itself as a useful bandage.
“JJ.” Brooke calmly said from the front. “It’s okay.”
I stared at her like she was crazy. “No it’s not! He’s been shot!” My jacket easily slid off.
“Don’t do that.” Brooke insisted.
Set smiled. “I don’t mind.”
I ripped the sleeve off my shirt, leaped at Set, ripped his shirt open and stopped. The black spot that I had observed earlier was nearly closed over with normal skin color. I fell backwards.
“Don’t stop.” Set winked. “I told Gabe I’d get you before he did.” His laugh was filled with spiteful superiority.
“Enough, Set.” Brooke looked at me. “JJ. What do you remember from the ice cream shop?”
My mind tried to wrap itself around her question but it couldn’t grapple with the reality of what I’d just saw with Set.
“What are you?” The whisper was lost to the open window.
Set buttoned his shirt. “Nothing you’ve seen before or will again.” He laughed.
“Set!” Brooke yelled at him.
His eyes turned black again as they had in the ice cream shop. “I’m getting tired of you thinking you can boss me around, Blue. Secundarius are inferior. Don’t push your luck.”
My eyes were wide. “What are you!?”
“I’ll boss you around all I want if you choose to ignore the Law!” Brooke warned him. “Or should we take it before the Mage?”
Even with the state of his eyes being completely black, fear rush into them at the mention of the Mage.
Silence filled the car.
“I want out of the car.” I whispered.
“We are almost to your house.” Gabe said.
“Where is everyone else?” I put my coat back on. The anxiety inside me was beginning to grow at an inexplicable rate and threatened to overtake me. The car felt small. The air stuffy. My breath was coming in small gasps.
“My Dad took them home. They’re safe.” Brooke assured me.
My mind was having trouble focusing. “Let me out.”
“Not yet…”
“Now!” fumbling with the car door.
“Grab her Set.” Brooke ordered him.
He raised his hands. “This isn’t my concern.”
My hands were like a child’s dealing with unfamiliar objects while my brain raced at a hundred mile per hour without any coherent though. I was in an instinctive flight mode and just wanted to escape the car.
“Gabe, pull over.” Brooke grabbed my coat just as the door flew open. The white line of the road raced by my head. I’d have tumbled out if Brooke hadn’t had my coat. The car screeched to a halt and she let go. I rolled through the door out onto the pavement, scrapping my hands. I jumped up. The neighborhood was unfamiliar to me in the dark and in my current state of panic, I wasn’t sure I’d have recognized it anyway.
Gabe and Brooke both got out and tried to flank me on each side.
“Stay away from me!” I warned them.
Brooke looked quickly around at the lightless houses. “Shh. You want to wake up the neighborhood? You stupid, bitch.”
This brought me up short. “I’m a bitch!? You are the fucking bitch!” my voice screeched. “He’s supposed to be dead! I saw him get shot three times.” I stormed over to her and put up three fingers in her face. “Three times, Brooke! What the hell is he? Are you the same?” and turned to Gabe. “Is he!?”
That thought broke my heart in two. The mere thought of losing Gabe crushed my will and quickly dropped my anxiety to the bottom of a well. The ground rushed towards me as I swooned and felt every desire leave my body.
The familiar smell of caramel corn filled my nostrils as his strong arms enwrapped me gently catching me before hitting the ground.
“Oh my god! Can you be any more melodramatic? It’s not like Set is an alien or some kind of vampire or something.” Brooke sighed. “He’s just different.”
“If he’s not already dead, Brooke.” I began. “Then how can he be alive? I saw him get shot! Nobody just walks away from that. And how is it that his skin is different under his…..skin?! He’s an alien. You are an alien and you are…” I started to sob.
“Seriously? You think we are going to eat your brain now.” Brooke said disgusted. “I’ve known you for four years. You think if I had wanted to eat your brain I could have done it by now. Not that it would have helped me any.”
“Shut up, bitch. I’m 10th in our class. You aren’t even in the top twenty. So shut it.” And sobbed again.
“That is just sad, Blue.” Set commented from the side. “To let them think you are not superior is a disgrace even to your kind.”
My eyes popped open. “See…see…you are aliens.” My world was spinning out of control and I couldn’t get a grip.
“JJ. You are being ridiculous. We are not aliens.” She looked at me annoyed.
A light popped on.
My hand reached up to Gabe’s warm face. “You wouldn’t lie to me, right Gabe? You like me. You will tell me the truth.”
“Golds don’t lie.” He assured me.
“But they will stretch the truth.” Set interjected.
I ignored Set. “Tell…me. Are you an alien?” I sniffled. “Are you going to eat my brain or make hybrid babies with me?”
His warm smile spread across his face like the sun rising in the morning. “No, JJ. I’m not going to eat your brains or have a hybrid baby with you even if I wanted to.” He paused. “We are….dragons.”
“Half.” Set corrected him. “I’m a full.”
Dragons are People too
“You don’t want to have babies with me?” My life ended at that moment.
Gabe’s eyes popped open at the unexpected response; clearly that wasn’t what he thought I would ask. Set laughed and Brooke looked incredulous.
“That’s it? You don’t want to have babies with me? That’s all you have to say after the revelation he just told you?” Brooke was beside herself. “I can’t believe this. We finally tell you…and the only question you can ask is if he is going to take your virginity?” Brooke started walking around agitated.
“That isn’t what I meant.” My face burned with embarrassment. “And I didn’t say anything about my virginity, which seems to have been brought up a lot more than I’m comfortable with these last few days, thank you.”
I pushed myself from Gabe’s arms, wiped my face and rose. Okay. Let’s try and get a hold of yourself here. I don’t know what kind of alien Dragons ar
e, but they haven’t eaten my brain yet.
To buy me some time to think, I walked over to the car.
“I’ll take your virginity and make some babies with ya, if the Gold doesn’t want to.” Set smugly said.
I slapped him, hard. The excruciating pain traveling through my hand and up my arm stifled my yelp on my lips. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing the pain in my eyes, so the thought of moving over to the car presented itself and I took it. The car was cold as my limp hand laid upon the trunk. I think I broke my hand! Breathing in deep gulps of the night air, I fumbled with the door handle, and after some struggle, opened it and slid into the car.
They remained outside talking amongst themselves, well, Set and Gabe did little of the talking and Brooke did the majority. I couldn’t hear what was being said. They were talking in low tones, and my hand hurt so bad that I didn’t really hear anything outside of the pain that seemed to throb throughout my whole body. The clock on the dash said eleven thirty.
Brooke got on her phone. Talked very shortly, and hung up. A few more words were exchanged and then they all climbed back into the car. The clock on the dash read eleven thirty four before Brooke turned to me.
“We are going back to our house.” She informed me.
“I’d rather go home.” I told her.
“I don’t think that is a very smart idea.” She said.
My anger flared. “I don’t care what you think. I want to go home!”
“Listen. You have to realize the danger you are in now.” She insisted. “Now that you know, there will be others looking for you.”
My eyes widened. “There are more aliens!”
Brooke’s head hit the seatback in resignation. “Yes. More aliens. Bad aliens. That will try…”
“And eat my brain!” I gasped.
“You are impossible.” She turned around.
I felt an uncomfortable stare focused on me. Slowly turning, Set stared at me with his eyes as black as a new moon. “I…personally…like my human brains…pickled.” His gleaming white smile filled his face as he leaned towards me.
Dragon Amour (Dragon-Half Breed Book 1) Page 16