Chapter 18 #2
“Where’s Kalypso?” I asked, noticing her usual spot was empty. When I got into the tattoo zone, I phased out everything else around me.
“Gone an hour ago. She didn’t want to disturb you and left the second the first snowflake fell.”
Smart. She didn’t have far to go but I knew for a fact her car did not like winter conditions.
“We can leave now if you want,” Leo offered.
“Actually, Maddox already said he’d give me a lift home.
He’s closing shop early because of the storm.
” I’d no sooner finished speaking when the lights went out.
Not just in our shop. A glance through the window showed the whole street had gone dark, making this a power failure and not a blown electrical switch.
“I really should get a generator installed,” Leo grumbled as he headed for the washroom to turn on a tap to make sure the pipes didn’t freeze. This wasn’t our first rodeo with a power failure during subzero temps.
As I began putting on my layers to join Maddox up the street, my phone beeped.
Sorry, babe. Doesn’t look like I’ll be able to leave anytime soon. According to the hydro outage map, shop might be out of juice until tomorrow. I’m gonna have to stick around and keep an eye on the genny.
Having chatted with him about the pet store business, I knew this had happened in the past where he’d had to monitor his generator to ensure the heat lamps kept running for the lizards.
While I would have loved to hang out with him, keeping his other lizard warm, I couldn’t leave Abaddon alone in this storm.
Although, I doubted my dragon would be too happy when I arrived without the promised pizza.
I couldn’t exactly grab any with the power out up and down the street.
It’s okay. Leo offered me a ride. I’ll text you when I get home.
K. Be careful. Luv u.
I blinked, but there it was. The L word. And he’d said it first.
Leo returned, grumbling. “We’d better not be out of power for days like the last time.”
“Guess it will depend on the storm,” I murmured, recovering from my shock as warmth spread through me. I debated firing back a text saying Love you too, but hesitated. What if he thought I only said it because he had?
“You ready to head out so I can lock up?” Leo asked.
“Yeah, but change of plans. Turns out I’ll be riding with you, after all. Maddox is stuck at the shop until the power’s back on.”
“That sucks. Will he be okay?”
“He’s got a genny but he’s got to keep an eye on it and his lizards.”
“Speaking of a generator, the barn doesn’t have one. I kept meaning to get it installed but then Frank died and well…” Leo shrugged. “If you lose power, you can stay at the house, which does have one.”
A great offer but for one thing. I couldn’t leave my dragon alone nor could I bring him to Leo’s place.
“I’m sure it will be fine. The barn has a fireplace to keep me warm. It will be like when Granny fired up our little woodstove.” Which heated the front of the trailer like crazy and had me sweating on the couch.
“Well, if it happens and you change your mind, give me a ding and I’ll grab you.”
“As if I’d make you drive and risk an accident.”
“Who said anything about driving the truck? I’ve got a new Polaris in the garage that I’ve been itching to try out.”
Ooh, a snowmobile. I hadn’t ridden one of those in years. The old Artic Cat I used to have died and I never replaced it.
We chatted about sledding during the drive, a perilous thing as the snow fell thick and furious. The wind made matters worse, whipping it across the road, forcing Leo at times to slow to a crawl as we lost sight of the road.
While early afternoon, the storm made it seem as if night had already fallen. The bright headlights made almost no difference. What usually took twenty minutes instead became a journey of almost an hour. When the ranch gates came into view, relief filled me until I noticed them gaping wide.
“What’s going on? Why’s the gate open?” I asked.
“Power must have gone out. When that happens, a safety feature opens the gate to ensure we can exit. There’s a built-in battery that stores just enough power to run the mechanism.”
I frowned. “I thought you had a generator.”
“I do, but it only runs the house. Didn’t see any point in extending it any further.”
The snow lay thick on the ground, but I could see ruts where vehicles had passed. “Guess you’re going to get to try out your new sled when you run me over to the barn,” I stated as Leo crept up the driveway, but he didn’t take the fork for the barn but rather headed for the house.
“As mentioned earlier, there’s no backup power for the barn. You’ll be more comfortable at my place.”
Me yes, but what of Abaddon? I couldn’t leave him alone in this frigid storm but how to turn down the offer without sounding nuts? “Appreciated, but I’ll be fine. I’ve weathered worse.”
“You’re worried about the dragon.”
At his statement, I went rigid. “Excuse me?”
Leo sighed. “You know, I’d really hoped you’d tell me about him yourself. I thought we were friends.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” A lie spoken through stiff lips.
“You don’t have to pretend, Pip. I know about the dragon that hatched after Tseax erupted.
Which was a surprise, I’ll admit. I mean, we suspected there was an egg in the cone.
When we managed to get the volcano to activate, we expected to see the critter shortly thereafter, only it didn’t appear.
Hence why we started searching to see if the egg got expelled.
What a task hunting for all the rocks that hurtled out of it.
My team collected every sample they could find and even questioned people to see if they’d sighted a lizard.
Imagine my shock when you told me you’d acquired one as a pet.
Right away I knew it had to be the dragon. ”
My mind digested everything Leo said and pieces began falling into place, leading to a shocking conclusion. “You sent those assholes to my trailer.”
Leo pulled up in front of his house and put the truck in park before replying. “Yes, and I do apologize for their less-than-amicable manner. Kyle and Brittany are kind of intense about their work.”
“What work? What the fuck is going on Leo?”
My boss, my friend, a guy I’d known for years, turned and smiled.
“I’ll explain everything inside. You know, I’ve been dying to talk to you about this.
I’m so glad we can finally be truthful. It’s been torture holding in my questions.
Even harder waiting to finally meet the hatchling in person, although he’s not really a baby anymore, is he? They grow so fast.”
With every revelation that spilled from Leo’s mouth—a man I thought I could trust—my panic grew.
I have to get to Abaddon.
I grabbed at the door handle, wanting to get away from Leo. Oh the irony that I’d brought Abaddon into the grasp of the very man who sought to capture him.
The door didn’t budge. A glance at Leo showed his hand resting on the master control switch.
“Unlock this door,” I demanded.
“In a moment. You really shouldn’t be running off in this storm. You might lose your way and freeze to death. We can’t have that. I need you, Pip. Your dragon does, too. He appears very attached to you.”
“You leave Abaddon alone,” I growled.
“I’m afraid that’s not possible. His existence is much too important, but at least now you don’t have to hide him anymore.
I’d hoped to have more time to prepare his new quarters but the storm forced my hand.
Fear not, the accommodations I had built should be adequate for the moment.
Oh, and before you worry, a team was dispatched to fetch the dragon as soon as the power went out.
Dragons don’t like the cold, you know. Especially the fire breathers. ”
He knew so much and every word out of his mouth only served to chill me further.
“Don’t you dare hurt him.”
“Never!” Leo huffed. “On the contrary, the dragon shall be treated like a king. The habitat I had designed offers plenty of space for a growing dragon and his servant. You’ll be glad to know I had my construction crew add some amenities for you.
After seeing your bond, it became obvious we should keep you together. ”
“You’re going to make us prisoners.” A dull realization.
“Temporarily. It’s only until you both realize that I, and those I partner with, have your best interests at heart. We want dragons to return. To flourish.”
Somehow, I doubted that, hence why I suddenly lunged and head-butted Leo, blinking back tears at the sharp pain as I scrabbled for the switch to unlock the doors.
Click. I pulled away from Leo and quickly exited the truck into the blizzard, immediately stung by the cold and snow. However, the extreme weather wasn’t what foiled my plan to flee.
That would be the guys in snow gear who suddenly appeared and sent my consciousness spiraling into darkness.