Dragon Freak- Book 1 of the Freaks Series (Complete)

Ten

Journal of Francesca DragonSpire

Dear Diary

For the rest of my life, I will never forget the pain of my transition, and if not for Zoric and Poppa, I do not think I could have lived through it. I feel different, whole for the first time in my life. I feel as though all the questions I sort; now had answers, and I am no longer afraid. Something is coming, something terrible. I do not yet know what it is we must face, but I know we died once to keep it locked away.

Frankie DS

Hunger woke me, closely followed by the feeling of someone staring at me. I opened my eyes slowly, expecting to see the ceiling of the Venturi house. Instead, I found that I was in my room at Grandma’s, my black and red lace canopy above me. Casper was sitting at the end of my bed.

“What’s wrong?” I asked groggily, frowning up at her. She rolled her eyes. I could feel that the sun was still up. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. What was she doing up so early I wondered?

“Grandma gave him guard duty. His heart woke me up; it beats very loudly and is akin to a dripping tap.” Casper replied unamused. What in the shades of hell was she harping on about!

“What are you waffling about?” I croaked confused. Casper pointed to the other side of the bed. Leon was sitting in a high-backed chair reading a book. He sent me a smile over the tops of his pages. I blinked shocked.

“Hello Leon, now she makes a little sense. In this instance, obviously.” I said dryly, surprised to see him sitting there.

“Miss Francesca, how do you feel; would you like me to send for anything?” I wiggled around a bit, testing all limbs. I yawned.

“I’m surprisingly good, but not up to warrior princess standard just yet. I am starving, but I think I will pass on anything right now, thanks. I am feeling a little nauseous.” I replied around another yawn. Leon grinned.

“Warrior princess standards will come with time. As for nausea, will you require a bucket?” He asked with a deep chuckle. I shook my head.

“Na, it’s not that bad thanks. What’s with the guard duty, did we try to eat someone?” I asked, eyeing him across the bed.

“Mrs DragonSpire threatened to spirit you away while everyone slept, so to be on the safe side Lady Monique asked me to put both of you in here and stand guard against her. Your Grandfather is asleep on the couch on the far side of the room.” 

“Dorian is in here!” Casper gasped spinning around to look.

“I have a couch?” I sat up, peering across the space. As said, Poppa was asleep on my couch. I did not even notice that I had a couch, how observant was I? Well, this was cool. If mum made it past Leon, she would find herself face to face with Poppa. That thought alone made me smile to myself. I turned back to Leon, who was perched in front of my desk.

“What rock are my parents hiding under?” I asked wincing in preparation for his reply.

“They are staying in a motel; they are to be granted a short visit to see that you are in good health before you both go off to school. Lady Monique informed them that they are not welcome here for any longer than that.”  I relaxed wondering what I had at school this rising. Casper grinned she tossed me my bag I groaned as it landed in my lap. I shot Casper a dirty look.

“Sorry.” She muttered as I opened my timetable. I had a double of business, yay with Magnus, then witchcraft, etiquette, Alchemy and music. Oh, crap, I have not learned another composition. Mm but lunch with Zoric would be nice. The girls are going to scream. I thought.

“Well!” Casper was impatient.

“Double of business, witchcraft, etiquette, Alchemy and music,” I answered.

“I have Biology when you have etiquette and Science while you have business. Kadina has Art.” Casper said, leaning back against one thick post at the end of my bed. Leon cleared his throat.

“If your grandmother has her way, I may have a triple of body dumping before lunch and a date with the plumber for the downstairs toilet.” He said with a mischievous smile, we groaned and then laughed.

“That was terrible.” I chuckled, shaking my head. The human was growing on me.

“I know, but one must try,” Leon answered with a wink. Casper laughed so hard at Leon’s unusual humour she fell off the bed. I cracked up, laughing all over again.

“Vampire overboard. Hey, spooky are you alright?” I asked breathlessly peering over the side. Casper sprawled on her back on the floor a stunning look of shocked horror, and mounting terror slowly spread across her face as she peered into the darkness under my bed.

“My gods, there’s a bloody demon under the bed!” Casper was almost screaming. Leon rushed to his feet, and I scrambled onto the floor to look too. Twin red eyes stared back at us.

“Bloody hell, what is that?” I whispered. I shoved Casper hard across the polished stone floor; she slid over six feet away. I growled low in my throat. My new fangs grew longer in my mouth; I bared them menacingly. The red eyes grew triumphant. I slowly backed away. The thing under the bed crept closer. It reached the edge of the bed frame; I crouched in front of Casper snarling. Wings tore through the ripped silk of the shirt I was still wearing. I heard Casper’s grunt when one wing flung her back further behind me. Leon launched across the room. The creature shot out from under the bed snarling and snapping; it knocked Leon onto the floor. It was Vane! Terror whipped through me.

“POPPA, its Vane! No, no, Leon, he will attack you.” I shrieked paralysed with my lifelong fear. Vane suddenly froze in mid-leap. The animal stopped snarling looking around and under itself in confusion as it hung there in the air. The door behind us opened by unseen hands, and Vane was unceremoniously thrown through, the wood slamming shut after him. I flopped onto the floor. Panting, I spied Poppa on the couch with his eyes open. Alert!

“Nice save, four points for the rebound.” I squeaked, breathing heavily. Leon stared at me, his mouth twitched.

“Francesca, you could have ripped that mutts head off with one swipe of your hand.” Poppa chuckled around a yawn.

“He’s scary, stupid demon dog. He’s attacked me before, I panicked.” I growled.  Casper breathed a sigh of relief. We slowly got to our feet. I felt my wings and fangs retract. Casper checked under the bed again. Just in case.

“Selene, only has the one mutt, right? How the hell did that oversized, demonic ball of fur get in your room?” She crawled up on to the bed, making sure that none of her body parts dangled over the sides of the mattress.

“I don’t know, but I am going to find out.” I snarled crossing the room. I flung open my wardrobe gabbed a uniform and made a hasty retreat to the bathroom. I closed the door with a sharp snap. Casper knocked on the door a few minutes later; I was tying my hair back in a high ponytail.

“How are you doing?” I asked, opening the door. She winced.

“Grandma is furious; I have never heard her yell like that. How did he get in?” Casper asked fully dressed following me down to breakfast. We were still a bit shaky but a vast improvement from last night.

“I don’t know, but ever since I was little, he has attacked me like that. Gods, I hate that dog.” I shuddered with the memory. We skidded to a halt at the top of the stairs. Selene and Vane were standing in the foyer, the shutters lifted. It was night! The dog lifted its lips in a silent snarl; my eyes clashed with his.

“You want to go again Vane; this time I am ready for you. I’ll tear your god’s damned fluffy head off and shove it up-,” I snarled taking the stairs at a run, two at a time.

“Francesca, you will leave Vane alone!” My father’s voice echoed across the room, cutting me off. I stilled never once dropping eye contact with Vane. The mutt was snarling crouched behind Selene.

“I swear Monique; I left him at the hotel!” Selene called across the room to her sister as she struggled to keep a grip on the dog as he geared himself up, ready to attack again. Casper was right on my heels.

“Your demon attacked us!” she spat, stepping down next to me.

“He did not; you are lying little brats! My Aunties baby would do nothing for the sorts.” Holly shrieked as Selene backed Vane into the closed door for protection.

“He did too! Dorian stopped him and threw him out the door.” Casper yelled back. She was shaking with fury.

“Prove it!” Benson challenged in a snarl hands on hips. I grinned seeing Poppa entering the foyer on silent feet. An audience, wonderful an angry teen's greatest wish fulfilled.

“I have had enough; I am going to eat her dog,” I called back to Casper. She nodded, knowing instinctually what I was doing, she began backing away quickly. Closing my eyes, I called on the creature I had felt the night before; the one crouched deep within. I pictured it in my mind, forcing my body to relax. I allowed the change to take me.  I expected my wings and fangs to come bursting out. Instead, my body shimmered; a bright flash of light lit the foyer. I could feel myself getting bigger, scales erupted from under my skin, my neck and legs elongated, and my body became serpentine. My hair changed into feathers on a wedge-shaped head. I looked down on Selene and Vane from my great height. Oh, my gods wow. I was a dragon! This was so cool. I lowered my black and red wedge-shaped head so that I could look my Great Aunt in the eye.

“Pretty hot huh, I was going for wings and fangs but damn this is so much cooler. There is nothing more epic than this. It’s a good thing Changelings are a figment of people’s imaginations. There is no way a breed vampire can turn animal without the use of witchcraft. I am relieved that you have set everyone straight on this purely fanciful subject; I must just be coming down with a cold. What do you think Casper?” I asked my cousin who had joined me embracing her change; her dragon eyes were wide with wonder.

“Yeah, got to be the flu. I thought we were going to eat Vane, not talk the old fanger to death.” The black and green dragon answered smartly bearing her razor-sharp teeth. I turned back to Selene, who was whimpering in fear and cowering on the floor.

“I do not know Casper, I am not a fan of junk food, and he fits the profile. He might poison us or worse he might become stuck in our throats. I have a better idea. If your demon attacks us or anyone else again, we are going to eat him, and I guarantee he will be very much alive when we start chewing.”

Selene’s face paled even further when the threat rumbled from the back of my extended throat. Vane was cowering and whimpering in fear behind her. I let go of the dragon, we returned to our original shapes with another bright flash, our school uniforms as immaculate as they had been minutes before. Casper linked elbows with me.

“Evening all, it is a lovely night.” We called cheerfully to the parentals who were staring gobsmacked at us.

“Breakfast ladies, I believe there are bacon and eggs this rising. Cookie is serving in the breakfast nook?” Leon told us a sly twinkle in his eye.

“Thank you, Leon. We’re starving.” We chorused following him into the kitchen. When we were out of sight, we collapsed exhausted against one wall; perspiration beaded our skin. Leon handed us two cool, damp towels.

“Well done ladies, you were very impressive!” He praised patting our shoulders.

“Hello, girls. All transitioned, how wonderful, Leon told me. Oh, you’re growing up so fast.” Cookie clapped her hands, a grin of pure delight lighting her face. 

“Ha, you have no idea.” I chuckled. A shadow crossed over us; Grandma stood in the doorway. A stern look on her face. Poppa loomed behind her. Casper and I shared a tense glance. To our surprise, Grandma started laughing softly, the tingling sound slowly rose, getting louder and louder with genuine amusement. Tears ran down her cheeks, and she clapped her hands, giving us an ovation. Poppa joined in after a few minutes’ grandmas composed herself and wiped the tears from her cheeks with a napkin from the sideboard before she spoke.

“Selene and Vane left, they are returning home this rising and your rather dumbfounded parents are going with her, Francesca your mother fainted, and your father asked me to say goodbye for them”.

“As they were too terrified by my transformation to say goodbye in person, I will never understand them. Figures the cowards.” I said, saying what everyone was thinking. Our Grandparents nodded regretfully. I got up silently, Leon held out a chair at the table, in front sat a large white plate filled with bacon, eggs, toast and tomato. I ate but did not taste it; I could have been eating cardboard for all my taste buds knew.

 Mark dropped us off at school; no one waited for us on the stairs. I felt a little bereft at not seeing Zoric. I muttered a quick goodbye to Casper as I made my way to Business studies. I had my head down, and I did not hear my name called until I ran headfirst into a body. Two hands clamped down on my shoulders to stop me from falling back down the stairs. I looked up Magnus Venturi was grinning down at me.

“Frankie what a surprise you almost fell down the stairs. What is it with you and the upper floors? I am starting to wonder if you have a death wish or an inner ear problem.” He joked, leading me back away from the stairs. I poked out my tongue.

“I don’t know. I have never had a problem with heights before. How do you feel after the transition?” I asked changing the subject. Magnus screwed up his face.

“Like I’ve been dragged out behind the shed, backwards through a thorny hedge, beaten with a stout stick and tossed into a raging river inside a barrel.” He replied, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand.

“Hardcore, it’s good to know you’re feeling better,” I said sarcastically. Mag chuckled. We trudged over to our business classroom only to discover that we were late. Mrs Vapour was standing outside. She had a frown on her face.

“Well, you both certainly took your time,” she called a little irritated as we approached.

“Frankie and I transitioned last rising Miss; we still feel as if we have been beaten with stout trees instead of sticks, it was...Rough.” Magnus explained, slouching for added effect. 

“Yeah, we’re trying to cut back, too much of a good thing will spoil us,” I stated dryly. Mrs Vapour gasped.

“You poor dears, why don’t you go sit down? I’ll give you my notes to take home for the weekend.” Her voice softening with compassion. Magnus and I sunk into our chairs, resting our heads on our arms, thanking our lucky stars this was only a short lesson. After the gong sounded, Magnus and I groaned, we had two flights of stairs to trudge down before we got to witchcraft. Heaving myself out of my chair, I rolled my eyes at Magnus who was pretending to snore. I poked him with a pen, and he opened one eye.

“We have Witchcraft, live in hope, Miss Grimily is as understanding as Mrs Vapour.” I murmured as he got to his feet. I led the way out the door and down the stairs. Miss Grimily was standing in her doorway. Kadina, Casper, Zoric and Lucian were in front of her, and they were talking in hushed tones.

“Good evening, fellow masochists. Anyone else feeling like they have been beaten with a forest?” Magnus called attempting a smile; All four nodded slowly. Miss Grimily peered over at us as we approached.

“We all go through the transition guys, I know you’re tired, but I still expect full participation in my class, understood?” We nodded suppressing groans.

“Hope is a myth, Frankie. So much for understanding, I miss Mrs Vapour.” Magnus muttered sourly; this made me grin. I patted his shoulder. I stepped past our teacher, up to Zoric. He bent down, pressing his cheek to mine in greeting before I stepped back again. Miss Grimily watched curiously, as the other two couples mirrored the same action before filing into class. She shook her head.

“They are six very strange kids.” I heard her mutter as she closed the door.