DRAGON'S GAP: Set Includes Stories 1-3 Plus Love's Catalyst

by L M Lacee

  Ella smiled. “I never had one, unless you count ugly, clumsy and stupid as nicknames.” She placed her hand over her mouth visibly upset as she said. “Oh my Goddess. I did not mean to say that!”

  Edith took Ella’s hand in hers and gently squeezed it. “No Ella, I call them mean nasty and spiteful names said by mean nasty spiteful people. Who will regret the day they meet me, if they ever do. Come one Ella! You have to know you are beautiful, graceful and nice.”

  Ella asked her faintly. “Am I?”

  “So I am guessing mother and sisters?”

  Ella nodded not looking at her. Half of her wanted to believe the things Edith said, but the other half was remembering the young Ella who could do nothing right. “They are my birth family. I just never seem to fit in.”

  Edith said casually. “I have heard it happens. Ella is a nickname so there, you always had one.”

  “Is it really?”

  “Yes and please if you don’t think it is too childish call me Edee.”

  Ella heard the plea in her voice and smiled. “It is not. I like it. It suits you Edee!”

  Edith rocked on her heels. “So cool, this day is getting better and better. I have a friend and tonight we have a party to go too.”

  “And you have a shadow!”

  “Oh yeah that too!” Edith agreed quietly.

  “It is alright Edee. I will try and explain what you need to know.”

  “And you will come tonight? I am inviting you.”

  “Yes I will come.” Ella gave in with a smile. Edith eyed her simple button up plain dress in pale apricot with her small white jacket and high heels. Her shiny hair was styled in a bun. She was so well put together, she looked like someone’s idea of an old maid or companion. She made Edith itch to mess her up, compared to what the lovely Ella was wearing. Edith looked like a delinquent, she had on her normal jeans with today’s tee shirt of choice, a green shirt that had a bear on the front. Her boots and a light leather jacket. A backpack and her hair hung loose, she shrugged her shoulders. There was just no comparison, where she looked relaxed and young, poor Ella looked up tight and old.

  “Good, so do you have jeans?”

  “Umm no! Why?”

  “Well okay so phone, jeans. We need June and Sage.”

  Again Ella asked. “Why?”

  Edith said softly. “I know I am pushy, but I am a bear. If it becomes too much just tell me. Social politeness is not for friends. We have friend politeness and that means we are honest with each other.”

  Ella asked and her voice was filled with wonder. “We do?”

  “Yep and the answer to your question is, you dress like an old maid, like what an auntie in the forties would wear to go to Sunday church. Nothing you are wearing screams Ella.”

  Ella looked down at her dress, frowned and could not help the defensive tone that entered her voice with the criticism. “But I always dress like this, it is feminine and sedate. It is discreet.”

  Edith said. “Bland, vanilla! Hide Ella so no one sees how absolutely gorgeous she is. So I ask, is this you or your sisters and mother idea of what Ella should wear?”

  Ella dipped her head. Oh I never thought of that!

  Her dragon snorted. Think! Now is the time. Ella narrowed her eyes and lifted her head. “We need to shop!”

  “There you are! So cool, shopping!” Cheered Edith. She then pulled her phone out and sent a quick message. Just as the car pulled up and a teenager got out and bowed as he opened the back door. “Your car ladies.”

  “Thank you.” Said Edith as she drew Ella down the last few steps. “I am Edith Kingsley...”

  Ella interrupted her to say. “Lady Edith Kingsley!”

  “Really?”

  “Yes that is how you are introduced, you may not like it but in this, we are not likely to change. It is one of those rules.” She whispered to Edith.

  Edith sighed resignedly. “Right, okay so Lady Edith Kingsley. And this is Healer Ella Field. Who are you?”

  He closed the door after they had entered and ran around to the driver’s seat and as he got in he said. “I am Clint Sorren, part time driver.”

  Edith asked. “Why part time?”

  “Where to Ma’am?”

  Edith nudged Ella, who said. “Madam Tessa’s please.”

  “I am in the last year of school, so earning money.” He answered like he had not interrupted the conversation.

  “What do you want to do?” Edith asked as she held Ella’s hand keeping the connection. It seemed to Edith that Ella had very little physical contact over her life and she and her bear liked Ella.

  Clint smiled. “I want to be a healer.”

  “Do you? Ella, did you hear that? He wants to be a healer.”

  The boy asked her shyly. “Are you qualified?”

  “Oh no!” Ella told him. “I am in the beginning of my fifth year. I will be qualified in two years.”

  “Wow training is for six years?” asked Edith.

  “It never use to be but now we have faeries and other magical beings coming to earth as well as the shifters and humans. Master Sharm sent me a message this morning to say he was extending the training for two more years, so we can learn about them. In principle I am qualified. I do not need an instructor looking over my shoulder as I once did.”

  Edith asked, “Are you happy with that?”

  “Well I suppose! I love to learn and there are so many new things to learn about with the differing species. I am hoping I will be able to study with the faeries.”

  Edith frowned. “But can’t you do that qualified. I don’t understand?”

  “It is what Master Sharm recommended.” Ella explained.

  “Oh well okay then.” Edith frowned as she thought, it sounded like a crazy reason to her but she was not a healer so she let it go. Maybe she would ask Sharm.

  Ella frowned as well, now she said it out loud she wondered. Was she really happy about the extra years of study? She had been so thankful to have finished her training and by rights she should have been qualified weeks ago. Yet she meekly agreed with Master Sharm’s plans. She asked herself now, was it really necessary? Her dragon remained silent on the subject, maybe because she was wondering if it was necessary as well. Ella did not know.

  Edith said. “Well good and you Clint are you happy with that?”

  “It is what it is! I cannot wait.”

  Ella said softly. “Have you applied for work at the center?”

  “Oh yes, but Donald he is my friend, he said there are no openings yet.”

  Ella frowned. “Well he obviously has not seen the updates. There are many positions waiting to be filled. Come and see me the day after tomorrow in the morning and I will help you fill in the forms and get you started.”

  He looked at her in the reversing mirror and eagerly asked. “Are you sure, he seemed pretty definite.”

  Ella pulled her lips into a straight line and then said firmly. “Yes. I do all the interviewing and hiring for the center. So come see me the day after tomorrow, just me.”

  “Yes Healer Ella, I have a few friends who would like to work as well.”

  “Bring them with you. We need people to fill the vacancies. Be there at nine o’clock?”

  “Thank you healer Ella.” Just then they pulled up in front of a lovely old house that had been converted very cleverly into tea rooms. Edith said. “Thanks Clint see you tonight.”

  “I will be there Lady Edith.”

  Ella also said. “Thank you.”

  Clint opened her door for her. Edith had already gotten out and was looking around. “Healer Ella I hope you have a good day.” He said shyly. Ella smile sweetly at him as she replied. “I am sure I will.”

  He drove off with a flourish leaving Ella standing just behind Edith. She saw Lady June and Lady Sage waving at them. Edith called out. “What kept you?”

  “We are not late, you just got here.” Sage called back as Molly wiggled in her mother’s arms when she saw Edith and st
arted to yell. “Edee! Edee, me here!”

  Edith grabbed her from Sage and kissed her soundly. “Hiya Molly what’s happening?”

  “Me shop, mama say.”

  “I know so exciting! Hi June, how are you?”

  “Fine! Need coffee.”

  “As we all do.” Edith replied, she asked Sage. “Where is baby Ava?”

  “Verity has her.”

  Edith asked. “You guys know Ella right?”

  “Yes of course.” June said as she nodded hello to the shy female.

  Sage said. “Hello Ella.”

  “Hello Dragon Lady. Liaison June.”

  “Molly, do you know healer Ella?” Edith asked Molly who ducked her head as she went shy and whispered to Edith.

  “Me like eala Ella.”

  “Of course you do, she is lovely. Ella come here, you cannot shop if you don’t mingle.”

  “Lady Edith I cannot, it is not...”

  Edith cut her off. “Do not say polite, we had this talk. It is Edee, Sage and June.

  “I am sorry I cannot… I just cannot!” Ella said as she shook her head in distress.

  Edith sighed and softly said. “Okay Ella, it is okay. We will work on that, you do what you know to be comfortable for you. Remember when I said I was pushy?”

  “Yes!” Ella answered as she felt her shoulders lower as relief flooded her.

  “Well this, my dear Ella is one of those times. I am sorry.”

  Sage took pity on the young dragon. “Come on Ella let us have tea and then you can tell me how you got dragged into the mad cow’s plans.” So surprised Ella burst out laughing along with June as Edith grumbled. “Hey I resent that.”

  But they had moved off, she watched and smiled as Ella looked like she was relaxing as Sage and June talked to her. Molly took Edith’s face in her hands. “Edee me want cake.”

  “Okay, I like cake. You want coffee?”

  “Edee me have cocolat.”

  “Okay let’s go.”

  CHAPTER SIX:

  T hey spent an hour at the tea house which was owned by Tessa who was a lovely half-panda. She gave them a big welcome and not just because Sage was the Dragon Lady. It seemed the staff and most of the patrons all knew Ella who was fussed over and catered to with pleasure and respect. More than one lady came and thanked her for her care of their young or even of themselves.

  Edith watched a surprised and pleased Ella greet each female or male with kindness and courtesy. The more that people came to thank her the more confident and happier Ella became. By the time they left, she had been wished well by just about every patron there. With many of them saying they hoped to see her at the evening’s festivity. Ella looked slightly dazed as they stepped out of the tea shop. June walked beside her and talked quietly and after a few feet she was nodding and smiling. Sage said. “June is good at calming people down.”

  “Well, liaison must be a good job for her then?” Edith said as she watched the two together.

  “I think so.”

  June turned with Ella and smiled as she asked. “Where to next?”

  “Ella needs a phone.” Edith replied.

  “Oh I know the perfect place.” June told them as she started to lead them down the street. Sage grinned as she said. “She means the only place.”

  All three of them, with Molly, followed June to the computer and phone shop. June, who apparently was a techno guru, explained all the operations of the phones for Ella who was a rapt student. They finally settled on one June thought would suit her.

  It seemed Dragon’s Gap had its own phone service and internet so therefore everyone’s old phones and computers would not work. June ended up showing not only Ella but Edith how to access the internet and make phone calls on the Gap’s phones. June input all their phone numbers into both devices.

  Edith frowned as she realized that explained why her phone was choppy and not always connected, just like her tablet. Now Edith felt bad about her tablet ending up stuck in her wall when it would not connect to the net. She growled that they should tell them about the internet and phones when they arrived. Sage replied it was the first thing they were told on the first day of orientation.

  Edith declined to discuss it with her having remembered she spent most of the first orientation day looking at the art in the center. So probably missed that part of the lectures about phones and tablets and stuff. Edith and Ella both brought a Gap laptop and tablet as well as signed up to the net.

  From there they went clothes shopping. Edith had stepped back and let Sage handle that and was thankful she did. As she watched Ella be transformed from a staid maiden aunt into a young female of this century. It was a toss-up, who loved the dresses and skirts more. Edith or Ella. Although they could all tell Ella loved the jeans she modeled for them.

  June and Molly would clap, and Edith would whistle much to Molly’s delight whenever Ella showed them something that suited her well. Ella ended up buying several dresses, tops and at least five pairs of jeans, a few pairs of dress trousers as well as a leather jacket and two coats.

  Then at June’s urging they moved on to shoes and boots and that took another hour, finally they went into a lingerie store. Edith and June both shopped quickly not lingering over their choices. Edith purchased several lingerie sets and one or two nighties but they were out done by Sage and Ella. It seemed once Ella got a taste for shopping there was no stopping her.

  Sage was in seventh heaven she had found a kindred spirit in the sweet Ella as they discussed the ins and outs of silk compared to satin. Within thirty minutes both Edith and June were bored, they ended up taking Molly to lunch and leaving the two females drooling over nighties.

  Edith and June decided to eat at a hamburger place that had only opened a few days ago. It was already the best place to eat lunch or so June told her. As they entered the courtyard the place they found the placed was busy, the food looked spectacular and abundant. The inside was filled so they were lucky enough to snag an outdoor table under an enormous yellow umbrella which Molly called a sunflower. Then after an intense debate, which Edith won with the bribe of fries. Molly allowed her little person to be placed in a high chair.

  Eventually, Sage and Ella found their way to where Edith and June were sitting. When Sage came to their table, she did a double take. “How did you manage that?” Molly was well known for her dislike of high chairs.

  Edith grinned. “My charm!”

  June snorted as she said. “She bribed her.”

  Ella said. “Oh Edee!” And they all bet she had not realized she had addressed her so.

  Edith grinned. “What? She was going to get them anyway, this way she did but as a reward for sitting in the high chair, win…win!”

  Sage grinned as she sat. “She is right and curse it, wish I had thought of it!”

  After they had all eaten the enormously tasty burgers accompanied with salad and fries and were drinking milkshakes. Except for Molly who had charmed the owner and was now digging into a large banana split. “Edee me as ceam and nanas an cheery.” Molly told her while waving her spoon around.

  Edith eyed the huge dessert and said. “So I see sweetie are you gonna share with Edee?”

  Molly frowned as she dipped her spoon back into the dessert and found the smallest chip of chocolate she could and gave it to Edith. “Edee me share.”

  The other three laughed at the look on Edith’s face as she solemnly took the offering. “Thank you Molly, glad you, could spare it!”

  Molly watched Edith who swore she saw her little bottom lip tremble when she went to place the tiny bit of chocolate in her mouth. Edith almost laughed out loud as she returned it back to Molly, who smiled like she had just been given jewels.

  “Mama Edee give me choclet.”

  Sage nodded as she said, laughter in her voice. “I see that sweet girl.” She told the adults. “She gets that from her father.”

  “Such a soft touch!” June mocked Edith, who scowled and said. “You take that bac
k, wolf!”

  Ella sat and listened while she watched Edith interact with the little girl and the Ladies. For the first time that she could remember she felt included, not excluded. To sit with females and not be made to feel inadequate because she had decided to order food she wanted to try. Or she was eating food that had been ordered for her with the incorrect fork or spoon. To be asked a question and listened to when she answered it, was all rather heady for someone like her. She had to keep pinching herself to be sure she was not dreaming.

  All three of them answered Edith’s questions when she finally got around to asking what she needed to know. They explained things she did not know that she needed to know. She found out she should, as a courtesy tell Henry she was leaving, she did not however have to explain where she was going.

  Yes, she could and should work and no she did not have to have young immediately. Ella said she would help with providing a pill that would stop her getting pregnant, as normal contraceptives did not work on preventing male dragons impregnating their shadows. She told them, they had found out even the shifter variety of contraceptive would not protect the females from conceiving.

  Edith was relieved and happy Ella would help her, she had not wanted to have that conversation with Sharm. Sage and June were shocked, they had no idea their contraceptive was inadequate. Ella said she would make sure shifters were informed at orientation from now on. Edith asked them to explain what the ‘other’ was, that was spoken about in Verity’s apartment when the Faeries had been there.

  Sage thought for a minute or two then said. “Imagine a place that resides beside us and beings who can access it. They can use it to travel from one place to another or if they want a place to hide for a period of time they can go there. Apparently it soothes them and sometimes I have heard they receive wisdom from just being there. I have never been, but I know others who have.”

  Edith asked. “But it is not real like this place?” She tapped the table to emphasize her point.