From One Finch To Another
1423 Words
ASLAN
I went to help her get up from the sofa, she was still hurt.
"Thank you." She flashed a small smile at me, her beautiful eyes glossy with fear.
I frowned, glancing up at the twins. Why was she scared of going home with them? Did they abuse her? I swear, they better not be doing anything to her else, I'd engage them in a fight and take her away from them.
She wrapped me in a hug. "You're the best, Aslan."
Unable to help myself, I sniffed her hair much to mine and Tano's craving.
I thought I heard a growl from the doorway where the twins stood. I shifted my gaze to theirs, something sinister lurked in there but I wasn't afraid of them.
Maybe I'd keep a close watch on Heina, see what went on with her at home. Their home.
She hugged Irana.
"See you at school tomorrow, bestie." Irana hugged warmly.
It warmed me up see my sister getting along with the girl I liked. Of all my years on Earth, Heina was the first girl I'd actually taken a deep, sincere interest in.
It was just something about her. Like a weary bird who wouldn't let its broken wings stop it from surviving. She might appear weak but she had a tenacious spirit that even she couldn't see.
"I can't wait." She was reluctant to go, I could see that but she didn't have a choice.
She limped to the door and they watched her limp out without even giving a hand. Those arrogant jerks!
I moved forward. "Here, let me..." Ryso blocked my path, his eyes cold and mean on mine.
Heina paused to take in the scene, she was very nervous. "I-it's okay, Aslan. I-I can manage."
"Are you sure?" I asked, tearing my cold gaze away from the twin.
"We'll take it from here." I heard the warning. Subtle but serious.
I backed off not because I was scared, but for Heina's sake. She didn't deserve more drama than she'd already gone through.
They left.
When I turned to enter Irana's room, there was my mom and sister watching. A maid stopped before us just then, bowing to all three of us.
She came to inform us that my dad would like to see me and my sister.
We let her leave before we went to see him where we knew he'd be — his meeting room. It was where he discussed serious matters.
"What were you two thinking?!" He began, anger popping his veins.
Mom stood between him and us — a neutral point of view.
"To save our friend. My best friend." Irana was the first to speak while I took a seat at the long meeting table.
"Best friend? You're making friends with a demon dragon now?" Dad couldn't believe his ears right now and that infuriated him more.
"How do you know what she is, dad? How?" She argued.
"Because I've been here longer than you, Irana. That girl deserves to die. She doesn't need friends. She needs to be dead." He deadpanned.
My blood simmered. Low and steady. My anger was usually disastrous, it ruined a lot of things and for Heina, I wouldn't mind burning the tribe. I'd known her for a short time, that was true but feelings, which I didn't know I had, grew every moment I spent with her...even without her.
"Then I deserve to die as well." Irana deadpanned as well, meeting dad's gaze head on.
Everyone was astonished, including myself.
"Don't say that, Irana. Why would you say that?" Mom chided gently.
"Why would I not, mom?" She threw back in response. "You want to kill her because she's different from the rest of the dragon tribe. She has a demon dragon, right? Fine. I'm different too. So I deserve whatever fate you decide for her."
"You're not different." Frustration and anger clawed at dad, I could see it.
"How many nine hundred year olds in the dragon tribe haven't gotten their dragon?" She started. "I do not have a dragon and we all keep it secret because you, dad, know the shame it'll bring on our family. You told me yourself that the last dragon who didn't get her dragon at hundred years of age was deemed evil and unlucky. She was stoned to death. So if anything happens to Heina, I will make sure the tribe knows I do not have a dragon!" Tears were rolling down her face now.
I stood to go wrap her in a hug, glaring at my dad. She hugged me right back. I knew she felt very bad about her dragon-less state, and she dreaded the day people would find out.
We'd been able to keep it a secret because no one would dare question the second most powerful dragon family in Black Flame — the Finch family.
After the Clawthornes, we were next in strength and royalty, which was why we had the respect wherever we went.
Dad was the Royal Elder of the dragon tribe. More like second in command to the Clawthornes.
"You can not be serious, Irana. Exposing yourself because of that abomination?" Dad sounded disappointed, anger was still within reach.
"Dad, I feel bad everyday for not having my own dragon. Not being able to transmute like others." She wasn't challenging this time, not to say the defiance was totally out of her voice. It wasn't. "You are the second strongest, most respected dragon in Black Flame. And Aslan has a dragon as strong as yours. As big as yours. Mom possesses her own dragon as well. Me? Nothing. Do you think I do not fear every passing day when someone would find out and I'll be stoned to death as well?"
"If you think so, then why are you doing this?" Dad boomed, getting angrier by the second.
"Dad, she means a lot to me. To us."
"Aslan, are you a part of this? You should be the bigger person. You should be talking her out of this foolishness." Dad faced me suddenly.
"Aslan likes her." Irana blurted. She turned me to with sincere, apologetic teary eyes. "I'm sorry. I just..."
I shook my head. "It's okay. Sooner or later, he would have found out."
"Aslan, tell me she's joking." Desperation added to his list of obvious emotions.
He felt like his own children were betraying him and he could do nothing to stop it.
"What's wrong with liking her, dad? For over a thousand years, I've never liked anyone. I mean, not as much as I like her." I shrugged.
"What. In. The. Name. Of. Our. Creator. Is. Going. On?!" He rhetorically questioned in staccato, his wild, disbelieving eyes currently on mom who'd been quiet all this while. "What is wrong with these kids, Elzira?"
Mom could only let out a sigh and also sat on one of the chairs.
"I am the Royal Elder. The rest of the Elders look up to me, the tribe as well. What do I tell them? That my daughter is threatening to expose her no-dragon self if the demon dragon is killed? Or that my son harbors feelings for a demon dragon?"
"Stop calling her that, dad." My voice deepening as Tano lend his deep growling voice. He was also not pleased with dad's choice of words. "Her name is Heina."
"And what do you think Heina means, Aslan?" He growled as well.
I raised myself, my temper rising through the roof. "I do not f*****g care! Heina is a wonderful person, I like her and I will not allow any harm come to her."
"Is that a challenge or a warning, Aslan?" Dad's temper, just like mine, was deadly when ignited.
I could feel Tano trying to break through, and I was trying to control it. The air sizzled with power and tension. Father and son, ready to have a go.
"Take it however you want. But know this, whoever touches Heina in any harmful way will be on the receiving end of my anger. I have killed for her before, I will not hesitate to crush another bones for her."
Leaving it at that, I sped out of there, wanting to be anywhere but where my annoying father was. I needed to cool off...or maybe change as it may be too late to cool off in my human form.
"Aslan." Mom and Irana called after me.
But I was already hitting the ceiling as Tano finally took over.
- Writer
