Dragon Soul

Chapter 2

2

“Janet! Time for dinner!”

Even my noise cancelling headphones couldn’t cancel out Mum. I growled softly and shot a quick goodbye to Pete. Luckily, he didn’t make a big deal out of it and promised to catch me at the tavern later tonight.

My feet thudded down the stairs and I followed the smell of Brussels sprouts into the dining room. Dad’s favourite. Yuck.

“Did you wash your hands?” Mum asked, just as she had for my whole twenty-four years of life.

“Yes, Mum.” I’m not a child. I added in my thoughts, but there was no need to point it out to her. I’d mentioned it many times before and she still did it.

“Hungry?” Dad asked, his grin stretched from ear to ear at the sight of the massive casserole of sprouts. Why did they love their greens so much? Was it purely because they were green in colour?

“What else are we having?” The chair shrieked as I took my place, begging internally we were having more than sprouts.

“Green beans, tossed kale, some lovely quinoa with pesto, and the freshest spring onions.”

“So, the usual then,” I muttered under my breath.

“What did you say?” Dad asked.

“Lovely as usual then,” I lied, not wanting to get into this argument again. Why were my parents so hellbent on being vegetarian? I wasn’t a rabbit. I wanted meat. The best thing about my arranged marriage would be moving out of here and hopefully, have a spouse that allowed animal products inside our home. If he was another damned vegetarian too, I’d just shoot myself between the eyes.

Mum shovelled the casserole onto my plate, piling it much higher than I'd have liked. I hated everything about meal times and the traditions which forced me here. If I left home before twenty-five, my parents could refuse to reveal who my mate was on my birthday. And that just wouldn't do. As little as I wanted to be married, I didn't want to be an official outcast. That wouldn't be fair to my mate either. Through no doing of their own, he or she would end up cast out of Earth Dragon society. I couldn't have that on my conscious.

"Thanks," I muttered as she set it down in front of me.

The smell unsettled my stomach, the sickness almost too much to ignore but I squashed down my disgust. I still needed to eat it, even if I didn't want to. The second the goop hit my tongue, I swallowed it down, trying my best not to let the taste linger any longer than it needed to. Safe to say I'd be glugging down some water once I was back in my room.

"Eat slower, Janet," Mum scolded.

"Sorry."

I took a tiny forkful and got myself a reproachful look for my trouble. I held back from rolling my eyes. Just. I wasn't being purposefully difficult, I just really hated sprouts.

"How was work?" Dad asked.

"Fine."

"Really? Just fine?"

"Nothing really happens worth reporting," I responded. This was a conversation we had five days a week, every single week.

"I'm sure there must be something," Mum tried.

"Not really. Customers call, I answer the phone, sort their problems, then they hang up." Call centre life was such a drag but our culture meant I could end up anywhere in the world in two weeks time. A career wasn't something I had the luxury of. If I got very unlucky, it wouldn't be something I ever had time for. If I ended up with an egg straight away...

I shuddered, ignoring the thought as much as I could and shovelling some more sprouts into my mouth. Even they were preferable to the torture of thinking about my future. I hated being in the dark. I liked things organised and with a defined path. I'd say it was a problem but really it was just good planning.

"Janet! Don't talk to us like that," Mum chided.

"Sorry."

And here we went again. They'd ask a question I didn't like, I'd give an answer they didn't like, I'd be told off and end up apologising. Almost like I wasn't twenty-four. I might not be at dragon maturity yet but I was still an adult.

"I've booked an appointment for your dress on Saturday," Mum said after a few moments of awkwardness.

"Thanks."

Nervous butterflies battered around my stomach at the mere mention of my dress. The last thing I wanted was a reminder of my upcoming marriage.

I ate another forkful of casserole.

Then again, bring on the marriage. Whoever I ended up with, it couldn't be as bad as this? Surely? I wouldn't get so unlucky twice in my life. At least, that was what I kept trying to tell myself.

"There was a change in the stock market today," Dad said.

"A good one?”

"I think so. The scale shining company we invested in looks to have gone up in price."

"Is it time to take the money out of them?" Mum replied, feigning interest better than I ever managed.

Dad nodded as he pointed his fork at me. “I think so. Our little Janet is getting married soon and we all know money doesn’t grow on trees.”

Ugh. There it was again. The unavoidable marriage. Why couldn’t they just shut up about it for just five seconds and let me eat my stinky Brussels sprouts in silence.

“I know, dear. Janet, say thank you to your father for paying the deposit of your new home.”

“Thank you, Dad,” I mumbled. I didn’t want to be ungrateful, but I didn’t like my parents planning my life for me. A new spouse, a new home, all handpicked by them and the Oracle. Yay for me.

“Speak up,” Mum tutted.

“Thank you, Dad. It’s really lovely.” That I don’t have to live under a bridge.

I shoved the last bite of casserole in my mouth and pushed my seat back. “May I be excused?”

Mum sighed. “Yes, of course. But once you’re married, I’m sure your new husband isn’t going to be so lenient with you and your... ways.”

“My ways? Realms&Rebels is a hobby, not a cult.” I pushed my plate away. “I’m done. Wait, did you just say husband?”

My parents exchanged a knowing look and I refrained from rolling my eyes. So, after all the mystery about my spouse, this was how they revealed something? An accidental slip?

Almost pained, Mum nodded. “Yes, your husband.”

“Right then.” I stood up, my thoughts caught in turmoil. “A husband.”