Three
1185 Words
Journal of Francesca DragonSpire
Dear Diary,
The sounds of water running and trees shifting, the scent of the earth filled my mind. A wondrous and cooling breeze moving around me, I loved the feeling of spring. Crickets and frogs called to one another across the expanse of a pond in the back yard. A giant red dragon lay silently staring down into the freshwater. The call of birds in the trees filled my ears; my beautiful dream continued. There were no nightmares, only the beauty of the cold spring nights and the contentment of that dragon.
Frankie DS
I woke to the sound of the shutters opening for the night. I winced, my teeth hurt this rising, causing me to wonder if I was grinding them in my sleep again. This was the third time it had happened. Gently rubbing my jaw, I peered around at the enormous room. A grin spread across my face. It wasn’t a dream; I was here. I was away from the parentals. I was with Grandma, and she had been glad to see me. A soft knock sounded on my door. Casper swung it open before I could move or speak. She looked as bad as I felt, and she was wearing a black and green tartan skirt: a black button-up fitted shirt with a bright bottle green crest on the right breast pocket.
“Get up; we have a bit over an hour before school. You overslept.” She said around a yawn. I pried my body from the mattress and got to my feet, carefully arranging my hair and dropping my chin, so she could not see the scar ringing my throat.
“Nice.” Casper grinned at the flying skulls on my pyjamas.
“Thanks. Poppa sent them for my birthday.” I crossed to my wardrobe. Caper bent down to tie her laces as I picked up a thick black velvet collar with a blood-red stone in the middle. I quickly fastened it around my neck, making sure it covered the puckered skin. I eyed my new clothes in the cupboard curiously.
“Your bloodline colours. The kids at school wear their family crests; it helps the teachers identify the students. Especially if something happens and parents have to be contacted.” She told me stifling another yawn.
“What kind of school is this? I’ve never heard of one with original uniforms.” I asked, pulling the black and red pleated tartan skirt up onto my hips. I quickly fastened the buttons on the black fitted shirt. The right pocket bore in red the DragonSpire coat of arms. There was a picture of a dragon holding a spire; lightning flashed in the background touching the point. I eyed myself critically in the full-length mirror on the back of my wardrobe door. I rolled my shoulders, trying to ease some of the built-up tension in my muscles.
“It’s a private school. Grandma said, your parents sending you to a public breed school was against everything in your bloodline. She reckons they are fools and they need a real kick in the pants for subjecting you to classes below your breed-line. The school should never have accepted you without checking with the matriarch or patriarch of your family line, as is the rule. I would not bring the subject up around Grandma if I were you. She is still a little touchy about it, and no one is brave enough to mention it to Dorian.” Casper rolled her shoulders a mirror image of the movement I performed.
“I see,” I muttered not paying attention. Casper shook her head suddenly exasperated.
“Grandma is a Montcastle and Montcastles are a very well respected and feared family. Add the fact that you’re also a DragonSpire and you are untouchable. My first day of school here was two weeks before the holidays. No one bullies or shoves me down a flight of stairs or anything. I walked in with this castle, and sword crest and the whole school nearly had a fit. People were bowing and scraping. I had vampires fighting to sit beside me in class, and they all wanted to be my friends.”
This got my attention. A grin broke onto my face to match the one spreading across my cousins.
“That will be a welcome change,” I muttered half under my breath.
“You’re a DragonSpire; I have no idea what the reaction will be to you.” My cousin murmured. Somewhere down the hall, a bell rang. Casper started guiltily casting a glance to her left.
“Move butts, Frankie, if Grandma comes up here and we’re not ready. We’re dead.” With that ominous warning, she turned and hurried across the hall, disappearing into her room. I was sitting on the floor, pulling on my shoes.
“Casper is right, my dear.”
“Godsdamnit all to hell, get a freaking bell Grandma!” I jumped clear through the roof. My head snapped towards the door, as I came to my feet in a swift movement. Grandma was there, smiling. I sagged visibly with relief, reaching up to rub the tension out of the back of my neck.
“Thanks, Grandma, I just aged thirty years.” I cursed.
“You’re welcome, darling.” She laughed softly. I shook my head. A small smile, playing at the corner of my mouth. I forced myself to relax. Casper came out of her room, looking guilty. Grandma held her hand out for the brush, Casper relinquished it gratefully. Grandma braided her hair with quick, nimble fingers. I was unable to stop the look of shock that no doubt left me looking like a stunned mullet. My mother never did my hair. I bent down quickly to smooth out my black socks that stopped just under my knees.
“The brush, my dear?” Grandma was waiting expectantly with one hand held out. I stood up and wrenched my comb off the dresser. I handed it to her before presenting her with my back and the fall of black and red loose spirals, falling to my waist. Grandma made short work of the braid. I sighed when she finished. It was so much easier to have someone do your hair for you.
“Cheers.” I murmured embarrassedly. Grandma pulled Casper and I to her in a tight hug before releasing us and stepping back; she once more folded her hands demurely before her.
“Breakfast, brush teeth, and off to school. Mark will be waiting to drive you.” School, but I did not have any books. I thought, a little dazed. Grandma must have seen the thoughts cross my face.
“Leon has your school bag, Francesca. I took the liberty of buying your school things as I knew your mother, would not even think of such a thing, without Selene’s permission.” She said, turning away. Wow, Grandma, meow! Someone had her claws out this rising. Who in hell was Leon? I thought, turning back to my draws to get my make-up bag. I figured I was going to need all the help I could get. My nerves were in a shamble, and I felt a little sick to my stomach. Turning on my heel, I strode into the bathroom to trowel on my mask and courage for the night ahead.
- Writer
