Chapter 5 Viol
Viol
I couldn’t fucking sleep.
My thoughts wouldn’t calm the hell down and turn off, so I tossed and turned uselessly. All it did was agitate me. If I was the kind of guy who drank, I’d drink myself into a stupor, but I knew that’d only make me feel more like shit.
Finally, I threw off my blanket and stormed to the window. Hours had passed, but I was wide awake, same as when I crawled into bed.
I stared out across the island with bleary eyes.
What was going to happen in the morning?
What fuckery had Jade planned? If his scheme was to push Poppy and I together, he was shit out of luck.
I’d already screwed up my first interaction with him.
Hell, I’d screwed up a lot. It wasn’t going to get better.
Melancholy twisted my chest so hard it was physically painful. I leaned my elbow against the window, bracing my forehead against it.
This sucked.
I couldn’t walk up to Jade and order him to send Poppy home. He was already here, and worse, we’d already spoken. It would be hurtful and rude to turn him around as soon as he got here.
But what was the alternative? Let him stay, get his hopes up for nothing? I couldn’t do anything for him. I couldn’t be there for him. I’d already proved that over and over.
I gritted my teeth. Growling, I pushed away from the window, walking in irritated circles like a caged animal. I despised feeling powerless.
Maybe in the morning I’d make one last-ditch effort.
I’d plead my case to Jade and beg him to send Poppy home.
Or at least make it so that I didn’t have to talk to him.
Hell, I’d compromise. Poppy could stay on the island for as long as he damn well wanted.
It was probably better than whatever shithole human apartment he was living in.
I just wouldn’t look at him.
Or speak to him.
Or acknowledge his existence.
Maybe then he’d forget about me and move on with his life like I desperately wanted him to.
A snarl of frustration escaped me. I fell backwards onto the bed with a thump, then stared angrily at the ceiling.
Poppy had felt distant when I helped him to his room. He seemed wary, like he was afraid to get too close. After what I’d done, I didn’t fucking blame him. I was dangerous. It was for the best that he stood far apart from me.
Unless it was all in my head.
Was I overreacting, or underreacting? Was I crazy? I felt crazy. The difference between reality and imagined bullshit in my brain blurred together, distorting my perception.
I dragged my fingers across my eyes. Every part of my body ached with exhaustion. I wanted to pass out and be unconscious for a damned good while. But as the minutes crawled by, I saw the brightening tint of the sky.
Today was going to be a long fucking day.
In my dream, I stared at Cobalt’s door.
It seemed unusually large. But I wasn’t afraid. Cobalt was always so kind. And besides, I had my buddy clutched in my hand.
I pushed my shoulders back and took a deep breath, fired up with determination.
I’m gonna do it, I thought.
I knocked enthusiastically, and Cobalt called for me to enter. A smile tugged at his usually stoic mouth when he watched me prance inside.
“Good morning, Violet,” Cobalt said. His gaze fell to the plush toy dangling from my fist. “And Wolfy.”
I beamed. I loved when Cobalt greeted both of us.
“Hi, Cobalt,” I said. “I’ve got something to tell you.”
His expression brightened with amusement. “Oh? What’s that?”
“We decided to go on a big adventure together,” I announced, lifting Wolfy into the air. “I’m gonna explore the world and add to my hoard!”
Cobalt chuckled. “I see. That is a big adventure. And the two of you will be traveling alone?”
“We’re not alone. We have each other.”
My older brother nodded. “Well, you’re not a dragonet anymore. If you feel mature enough to fly out into the world, then you should do it, Violet. It will be a good learning experience.”
I broke into a wide grin. I knew I was ready. At seventeen, I was nearly an adult. And as a dragon, I was stronger and faster than any possible danger in my path. A single claw swipe or breath of fire was more than enough to protect myself.
“You’re not going far, are you?” Cobalt asked.
I hadn’t really thought about it. I figured I’d go where the winds took me. After all, it was a big wide world, wasn’t it? I might get intoxicated by adventure and fly all around the planet.
“Dunno yet,” I replied, shrugging.
Cobalt stood from his seat and clapped a hand on my shoulder. “I don’t want to discourage you, Violet, but since this is your first time leaving the island, I suggest you stay close. Enough to fly back home, anyway.”
I mulled that over, then nodded. His suggestion made sense. It would be nice to know my home was nearby.
“Okay,” I said.
“One more thing,” Cobalt continued. “Since you’re still young—”
“I’m not that young,” I argued with a scoff. “Thystle and the twins are way younger than me.”
“This isn’t about Thystle and the twins,” Cobalt argued gently. “This is about you. You’ll always be my little brother.”
I groaned. “C’mon, Cobalt. As far as dragons go, I’m an adult.”
“Almost.”
“Fine,” I admitted, crossing my arms and tucking Wolfy into my elbow. “I won’t go far.”
“Not too long, either,” Cobalt went on, kind but firm. “I want you back home in two weeks. Does that sound fair?”
Two weeks was plenty of time to explore. Cobalt’s offer was more than fair. Plus, if I adhered to his rules, he’d be more willing to let me go a second time.
“Deal,” I said.
We shook on it, then I dashed to my room to pack a light bag.
I vibrated with excitement. It was fun on the island, but I wanted something new.
I had to know what was beyond the sea. I knew it was impossible, but it almost felt like a distant voice was calling out to me, a beckoning whisper in my ear.
I shoved my necessities in my bag, the most important of which was my ever-present companion, Wolfy.
He was an ancient, well-loved plushie Cobalt acquired for me ages ago.
His white fur had long since turned gray, and parts of his stitching had needed to be redone over the years.
My brother Crimson wasn’t the best at sewing, but he tried his best to fix the popped seams. The first time he fixed Wolfy, Crimson asked why I still carried the toy everywhere.
He thought it was childish. Well, I thought he was stupid.
Crimson hoarded suits, and he wore one constantly.
I hoarded plushies—didn’t it make sense that I always had my favorite with me?
I patted Wolfy’s head before tucking him safely inside the bag. I didn’t want him getting roughed up by the sharp wind when I took off at full flying speed.
“There. All ready,” I said to myself.
Slinging the bag over my shoulder, I dashed downstairs. I couldn’t leave without saying goodbye to my brothers. They’d miss me, after all.
By the time I reached the living room, Cobalt was already there explaining my trip to everybody. Jade and Crimson seemed proud, while Thystle and the twins looked on the verge of tears.
“You’re leaving?” Aurum blurted out the second I walked in.
“Without us?” Saffron added.
Thystle sat there pouting, his headphones perched on his shoulders. “I can’t believe you didn’t invite us, too,” he muttered.
“Sorry, guys,” I said. “I just wanted to go by myself, you know?”
The twins raised their identical brows like I’d said something insane. I figured they wouldn’t understand, being attached at the hip and all, but Thystle should’ve empathized with me. He loved spending time alone in his room listening to his favorite band.
“It’s not forever,” Jade pointed out, trying to calm the big babies. “Violet will return in two weeks’ time. You three can survive until then, can’t you?”
“Are you bringing Wolfy?” Crimson asked. “You’d better not pop the stitches I just fixed.”
I scoffed. “Obviously I am, and no, of course not. I don’t go around ruining my prized possession on purpose.”
Crimson smirked. “Then I see no reason why you shouldn’t go gallivanting on an adventure.”
“Did you bring food? You need food,” Aurum said, as if that was a good reason to stay.
“I brought snacks,” I told him. “Besides, I can hunt.”
Cobalt looked relieved at my resourcefulness. I’d already convinced him to let me go, but it was nice to know he believed in me. Jade and Crimson seemed proud, too. Only my youngest brothers were throwing a fit. It was sweet, in a way. I hadn’t even left yet and they already missed me.
“I’ll be back before you know it,” I promised. “So, don’t cry, okay?”
“Nobody said anything about crying,” Thystle grumbled, sinking into his TalonStorm hoodie. It was Thystle’s new favorite thing, an up-and-coming rock band composed of young shifters.
“Yeah, we’re not crying,” the twins announced defiantly.
I snorted. “Sure, if you say so. Anyway, I’m outta here. See you in two weeks.”
Everyone said their goodbyes and wished me well. When I neared the front door, Cobalt put his hand on my shoulder and gently pulled me aside.
“Be careful, all right?” he said.
“I will be. Don’t worry.”
He gave my shoulder a squeeze, then let go. Nobody had ever taken a long trip off the island, so I understood why Cobalt was a little nervous, but he’d always been a worrywart. Beneath my teenaged human skin, I was a dragon, just like him. I could handle myself.
I threw my arms around Cobalt in a firm hug. He relaxed as he returned the embrace. Then he pulled back, ready to release me into the world.
“Go on,” Cobalt encouraged.
With a final grin, I ran out of the castle and shifted, taking to the sky.
I woke with a start that nearly tossed me out of bed and onto my ass.
I felt dizzy. Grasping my forehead, I stared at my bed sheets without seeing them. The dream had dazed me.
Except it wasn’t a dream. It was a memory.