Dragon Soul

Chapter 12

12

"Janet, are you listening to me at all?" Mum scolded.

"Sorry, could you please repeat yourself?" I cringed as I asked. She'd hate that I wasn't paying any attention to what she was saying but I genuinely had no idea what she was talking about.

She sighed in an over exaggerated manner.

"I asked you what kind of cake you wanted." I could hear her annoyance but there was nothing I could reasonably do about it at this stage. I couldn't turn back the clock on make it so I heard her.

"I don't need a cake," I responded. "Isn't having one going against tradition anyway?"

"It's the new fashion. You must have a cake, Janet. With pink flowers and butterflies. It'll be beautiful."

"Whatever cake you think will be best," I responded.

I didn't need a cake. Especially not whatever monstrosity Mum seemed to be planning. I wasn't a pink person.

"Fine." She harrumphed as if my answer didn't please her.

She fussed around with something, probably preparing our next green and smelly meal.

"Will you chop the carrots for me?"

"Yes," I muttered, making my way over to the fridge and pulling out the bag. I set about my task as if by rote, peeling, chopping, putting in the pan.

"What has gotten into you, Janet?" she demanded. I didn't need to look at her to know her hands were on her hips and a disapproving expression covered her face. Then again, the disapproving expression was just a normal thing when looking at me for her.

"Nothing."

"No, not nothing. I bet it's that ridiculous game. Keeping you up all night and teaching you all those violent ways. It isn't becoming of a wife. You should stop playing."

"It isn't Realms&Rebels," I muttered, unsure of what else to say.

"Really, Janet? I don't buy it. You're not going to play that game again. I won't have your new husband thinking we've let you be so frivolous. Or his family. Could you imagine it getting around that you play video games?" She shuddered as if the last words were too dirty for her to even say.

"Lots of dragons play it, Mum. It isn't shameful."

"Still, better safe than sorry. I want your computer down here please. If you need it, I can check in on what you're doing."

My stomach dropped like a stone. I wasn't even sure if I wanted to talk to Porter but now I definitely wouldn't be able to.

"What?"

"You heard me."

"Mum, I'm twenty-four. I'm old enough to know what I can and can't do on a computer."

"And you're old enough to know better than to spend all that time on fake quests. If you're going to fill your head with frivolity, read a book instead."

"I don't-"

"Or better yet, you could take up something worthwhile. Baking maybe? Or gardening? Though it's probably a little late to get you competent at either of those in the time we have left. But a start on your knowledge is a good thing. We really should have taken more care sooner."

"May I be excused?" I just about managed to hold back the hurt in my voice.

Mum sighed. "Fine. But computer outside your room."

"Okay."

I dropped the knife I was holding and almost ran from the room. The only thing stopping me was the knowledge if I did, she'd know just how much she'd gotten to me. It wasn't that I thought it would give her any pleasure to know she'd hurt me, more than she'd think that meant she was on to something.

My door clicked shut and I was about to flop down onto my bed when I realised I hadn't done as she asked. Indecision warred within me. I had less than a week left of living at home, what damage could she really do if I ignored her wishes. But I didn't want to find out. There were still plenty of ways to be shamed in our society, I couldn't subject my future husband to that. It wasn't his fault Mum was completely out of touch with the world.

I picked up my computer and put it outside my door, closing it tightly and shutting out the world.

Which was all very well but what did I do now? I pretty much did everything online and now I was without my lifeline. How pathetic was my generation that we were so dependent? Maybe Mum was right on some level.

Pushing those thoughts to the side, I pulled out an old notebook. I'd loved drawing as a child and still played about with it at times. If I couldn't play Realms&Rebels, then I'd turn to one of the other loves in my life.

I picked up a piece of charcoal and flipped to the first empty page. Lying down on my front, I began to sketch, not thinking about the end image and just focusing on the way it felt to get the lines out and on the page. It was liberating not to have any constraints.

Smooth scales and a long tail came to life on the page before me, one dragon taking shape before I started on the next one. Their tails began to entwine and the bigger of the two dragons lifted a wing over the slightly smaller one, protecting her from the world and the bad things that surrounded her.

The rocks around them formed next and when they were done, I started on the colour. A light green underbelly and a darker green back for the smaller dragon, and an almost brown-green for the bigger one. The picture came to life in front of me and I felt my shoulder relax slightly. This could be my escape.

I finished my picture and drew back, blowing across the top of it to rid it of any traces of broken pencil. It was only then that I realised what I'd drawn.

Two dragons. Entwined in the ceremony I'd go through after I got married.

I'd drawn two mated dragons. And more than that, the colour of the bigger one wasn't new to me either. I recognised it. I'd seen it just a couple of days ago when it rippled over an angry face.

Staring at the drawing for another couple of moments, taking it in and trying to work out why I'd drawn it.

A tear fell and hit the dragons, smudging the two of them slightly.

No. I would not cry over the situation. Porter wasn't for me, I shouldn't even let myself fantasise about it.

Without thinking twice, I ripped the sheet of paper from my notebook and scrunched it into a ball. Even in my emotional state, a sense of pride filled me when the paper ball hit the bin in a perfect shot.

But even I knew that getting rid of the image wouldn't be enough. Whether I liked it or not, Porter was in my head.

And more worryingly, in my heart.

I wondered what he thought after I ran out on him. Did Zara make up a lie or did he just think I disappeared? Would he be angry at me? Disappointed? Or was he relieved he didn’t have to spend more time with me?

Turmoil curled through me. I’d never be able to ask him how he reacted. I’d never know.

Unless…

I fished my pants from yesterday from the floor and turned the pockets inside out. A little golden business card fell out on the wooly carpet. I ran my thumb over the small numbers. Zara did say I could call, but who did that? Nobody just randomly called their friends, let alone strangers.

I twirled the card onto my pillow and reached for the notepad again. This time, I’d draw something else.

The coal scratched on the paper, the black lines taking new forms and shapes. A tree-covered mountain, a small outdoor chapel, the old priest from the commune. A female form, her sari draped beautifully around her figure as if it was made to fit. A man with broad shoulders, his hands strong, his suit dark. His face blank. My wedding scene.

I wouldn’t be able to put his features onto the paper until I was already married to him.

I ignored the urge to draw Porter’s face and threw the charcoal to the side. There was no use in putting those stupid thoughts on paper. Not after what he said. Not after what I did.

The drawing followed the other paper ball into the bin and I pushed the notepad away. My thoughts were too traitorous to let them roam free through the charcoal.

I reached for the golden card and reread Zara’s name. Maybe I could just call to say thanks. That was just good manners.

The keys beeped and I brought my phone to my ear before I lost my nerve.

“Marcus speaking.”

Ummm… That was a man. Did I dial the wrong number?

“Hello?”

I cleared my throat. “Hi… I’m looking for Zara?”

“Who’s calling?” The man asked.

“JJ. From the bar?”

“Just a moment.” There was a silence and a muffled sound, as if he was covering the speaker. Despite that, I heard him shout. “Zara! Someone’s on the phone for you!”

A female voice replied, one that I recognised as the bartender. “I’m on the toilet!”

“So, should I say you’re busy?” He called back.

I held back a chuckle. This Marcus was either her partner or her brother, but it was clearly an intimate relationship.

I heard Zara’s voice from the distance. “Who is it?”

“A JJ?” Marcus shouted back.

“Just a moment!”

The phone crackled again and Marcus returned. “She’ll be just a moment, JJ from the bar.”

“Thank you. Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“No problem. So, tell me… Are you calling to hit on my girl?”

I snorted. So not the brother then. “No, I’m not.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

Marcus hummed. “You got a boyfriend? Girlfriend?”

“No, I’m actually engaged.” First time my impending marriage came in handy.

“Really?” A pause. “What’s that like?”

I sighed. “I’m an earth dragon.”

“Cool.” Marcus clicked his tongue. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“Ummm… Earth dragon. Arranged marriages?” I frowned. Did other dragons really not know this about us? Then again, I knew next to nothing about the other traditions and ceremonies.

“Oh, right. I’m actually a vampire so that means nothing to me,” Marcus noted dryly, the humour flickering in his voice.

“Really?” Who’d have thought. Zara with a vampire? Now that was rebellious. I figured she wasn’t a stickler for convention, but being in a relationship with a different species? That was even wilder than I expected.

“I sure got the fangs for it.”

A female voice sounded in the background. “I’m back.”

“Oh, Zara is here. Bye JJ,” Marcus chimed.

“Hello? Zara speaking.”

“Hi, it’s JJ!” It was good to hear her, although Marcus sounded like a fun guy.

The bartender chuckled. “I’m glad you called.”

“Keep that up and Marcus will for sure think I called to hit on you.”

“He asked you that?” The phone crackled and I heard her muffled shout. “Marcus!”

“It’s okay, he was playing nice.” I didn’t want to get him into trouble. I hadn’t even met him and yet, I felt a certain fondness for him. Maybe it was cause of how genuine he sounded.

“Good then. So, how are you?”

“Meh… It’s a war zone at home.”

Zara laughed. “Marriage preparations?”

“So. Much. Planning,” I agreed. “Listen, thank you for yesterday. You didn’t have to help me out like that.”

“I did. Just doing my bartender duty. And us girls got to stick together.”

I smiled. I didn’t have many friends, at least, not in real life. All the girls my age were all obsessed with getting married, as if it was the greatest thing that could happen in their life.

I facepalmed. Why was I kidding myself? There was no escaping this marriage.

“You okay there? I heard a slap,” Zara asked.

“Yes, I’m fine. Anyway, I wanted to thank you for helping me.”

She hummed. “You already said that.”

“Right…” I paused, indecision warring through me. Did I really want to know what Porter did or said after I left? But then, if I didn’t know… Wouldn’t I forever wonder?

I sighed. Didn’t I owe it to myself to put this to rest?

“Hey, Zara?”

“Yes?”

“What did… How did… Was Porter… You know?”

“You want to know how your friend reacted when he found out you left?”

“Yes,” I admitted.

“I’m working tomorrow. Swing by Dragon Soul and I’ll tell you.”

“But—” Why couldn’t she just tell me right now?

“Round seven should work. See you then.”

“But—”

Zara chuckled. “See you there, JJ. Bye!”

The phone clicked and I stared at the device. Could I really go back to Dragon Soul? Mum was already besides herself that I’d been out late.

Then again… She already took my computer and was making me marry a random stranger. It couldn’t get much worse.