Chapter 10
Humans. So stupid and stubborn. Bruce could argue all he wanted but it would happen.
The pheromones between him and Nicky would eventually overcome any reluctance.
Although, I did have some concern about this abusive husband of Nicky’s.
While the olden days had been a terrible time for females, I’d been feeling somewhat optimistic by what I’d seen and heard thus far.
Women with equal rights to men. Females allowed to be independent without a husband or family.
Such great strides humanity had taken, but at the same time, some things never changed.
Males still thought they could rule with violence.
Some males.
Bruce didn’t seem to be the type. He might be burly and surly, however, I’d noticed his gentleness around the females and with me.
Even when he thought me a lizard, he never tried to do me any harm.
But he did need to work on his self-worth.
So what if he had scars? Scars were a sign of strength and victory because those who healed from strife had obviously prevailed.
Since Bruce proved resistant to the obvious, I’d have to work on the female who dared speak of leaving.
Unacceptable. Her cooking skills couldn’t be lost. I was already gaining weight.
If she kept feeding me well, I’d be molting again soon and hopefully getting my wings.
The nerve of the humans questioning my dragon heritage just because I’d yet to have them unfurl!
Nicky emerged from the bathing chamber with a smiling Zaza. For a little human, she wasn’t horrible. Although, she did have a rather tight grip. I tolerated it because building affection with humans while young tended to build a loyalty unmatched later on.
Zaza came tottering for me, hands outstretched, and I braced myself for the choke hold.
Nicky did admonish. “Not too tight, Zaza. You’ll hurt Percy.”
Hurt? Bah. As if I were so fragile. Although I did worry slightly, given the small human crushed me tight.
Nicky fetched some snacks which led to my freedom as the child reached for the treat.
A cookie for Zaza, several for me which barely filled the rumble in my belly but would have to do until the mealtime, which Nicky began to prepare.
Zaza amused herself playing with blocks and I chose to use that moment to begin my plot to retain my cook. The opportunity was perfect, seeing as how Bruce sulked upstairs. I sidled close to Nicky who stood at the kitchen counter cutting up food.
“I was serious before about you not being allowed to leave.” Might as well get straight to my main point.
Nicky glanced down at me. “I’m afraid I don’t have a choice, but if Bruce is amenable, I will come and visit.”
“I need you here,” I insisted. “Who will ensure my appetite is satisfied?”
She crouched. “You don’t need me for that. Bruce will feed you.”
“Not as well as you,” I pointed out.
Her lips curved. “I’m sure you’ll survive.”
“I don’t understand why you’d want to go. You have shelter here.”
“I do, but only because of Bruce’s kindness. Me and Zaza staying here was only ever temporary. Even Bruce will eventually leave.”
“What do you mean he’ll leave?”
“He doesn’t own the chalet. When he’s done just renting it, he’ll likely return to his home in America.”
My mind quickly filtered her statement. “America. Isn’t that the new country across the ocean?”
“New?” She laughed. “Only if you think a few centuries is recent. But yes, that’s where he lives.”
“What if I don’t want to go?”
“I guess that will be up to you and Bruce. I’m sure if you want to stay with him, he’ll find a way to bring you to America.”
Bring me to another continent? One that could already have a dragon. Never mind the fact Bruce seemed to think I was the only one. Us dragons could be wily. What if one hid there, a bigger and older dragon who would take offense at me entering its territory?
“I shall inform him we are remaining here.” And that was final.
“Oh, Percy, it’s not that simple.” Nicky shook her head before standing to cut the vegetables she’d pulled from the fridge. Ugh. So many icky vegetables. Why couldn’t she just chop meat with a helping of more meat?
“I don’t see what’s complicated about staying.”
“You can’t order people to rearrange their lives for you.”
“Why not?”
“Because we have free will. Choice.”
“That was before I took you into my service. Now you are to do as I command.” I injected my most imperious note.
And did it work?
No!
“Goodness. Are all dragons this bossy?” she asked with a laugh.
“Yes.”
“I’m afraid that you might have to temper that aspect of your personality as it will antagonize the people you want on your side.” She glanced down at me. “Not to mention, you should be discreet about who you speak to.”
“Why?”
“Because there are some—make that many—who will see you as an asset to be exploited. Do you know how much some people would pay to say they own the only living dragon? Or how many scientists would love to capture and study you?”
“I am not something that can be owned or imprisoned.”
“You wouldn’t have a choice.” A flat reply and her voice emerged lower as she added, “When someone powerful has you in their grasp, it’s not easy to fight or escape.”
I wasn’t so dense as to not understand she spoke of her own situation. “You only say that because I’ve yet to achieve my true size. Once I’m big, none would dare attempt to cage me.”
“That will take time. Should the wrong people realize you exist before that happens…” She didn’t finish the sentence. Didn’t have to.
Until I matured and inherited my ability, I had no real defense. Nothing but an ornery human who may or may not protect me should hunters try and take me.
How had this conversation turned so sharply? I’d begun it with the intention of convincing Nicky to stay and now she had me worried about my own well-being. I didn’t appreciate it one bit. Hence why I took myself up the stairs to find Bruce, who tapped at his keyboard.
Ignoring me.
“We need to speak,” I said.
“Later,” he growled.
Impertinent, but I allowed it for the moment because it occurred to me that I was about to beg Bruce to protect me from harm.
A dragon pleading for the aid of a human?
A good thing no others of my kind were around to see my weakness.
Rather than abase myself, I’d plot. There had to be a way to get the humans to see sense—aka realize only my wishes counted.
As for the claim they had free will? To that I said, bah.
They’d soon learn only my desires mattered.
Using my claws to grip the blanket, I climbed to the bed and curled into a ball for a nap. The fatigue was a positive sign that I approached my next molting.
When I woke, it was to Bruce lightly stroking my head, murmuring, “Dinner’s ready and I didn’t figure you’d want to miss it.”
“About time,” I grumbled as I stretched and yawned.
“Want a ride down the stairs?”
I could walk, but why bother when my servant could carry me?
Bruce gently placed me on his shoulder, and all my doubts fled. He’d see reason and do as I asked, not to mention, I had faith this former soldier wouldn’t let me come to harm. He might grumble but deep—deep—inside, his sense of honor burned bright.
An honor so great that he ignored the smile Nicky bestowed when he complimented the dinner. Appeared oblivious to the way she kept glancing at him, a few times even blushing.
He sat apart from her when they put a movie on Zaza’s tablet, something ridiculous with a man called The Rock who looked nothing like a boulder.
A tablet that died for the second time not long after it finished.
Bruce promised to use his car to charge it again in the morning, right after he juiced his phone.
Although, how he planned to squeeze liquid out of that hard rectangle of plastic, metal, and glass eluded me.
The next day passed much the same, albeit with Bruce sitting in his car to work since his laptop died.
He kept the engine running and charging, getting out ever so often to breathe the fresh air to avoid something called carbon monoxide poisoning.
Late morning, he brought Zaza out to play.
At lunch, he pointedly kept his gaze on his plate, and while he replied when Nicky spoke, he kept his responses short, even curt.
But did that drive Nicky away? It might have, if the large human didn’t always have a kind word and smile for Zaza.
The man obviously didn’t realize that his plan to remain aloof failed every time he held the child on his lap.
Or read her a book. Or caught her and whirled her in the air to excited squeals.
Nicky noticed, and she liked what she saw.
She had one less button looped at dinner that evening.
Bruce noticed but averted his gaze.
So stubborn.
Another movie, this time a comedy called How to Train Your Dragon. Obvious fiction, and yet entertaining, nonetheless.
When it finished, Nicky said, “I’m going to put Zaza to bed. Wanna watch another movie?”
“We should probably preserve the battery for tomorrow in case the power is still out. The car’s down to half a tank and I don’t want to run out of fuel. I’m going to read in bed, I think.”
“Okay. Goodnight,” Nicky murmured while casting Bruce a lingering look.
The man just nodded and said, “See you in the morning.”
Sigh.
I had my work cut out for me if I was going to get these two to realize they wanted to be together, and very little time to do so because in the middle of the night, not only did the power finally return, but a rumbling noise indicated a big machine passed by.
In the morning, Bruce was only gone for a few minutes before he returned to say, “The road’s been plowed.”