Chapter 12
My humans returned quite giddy from their trip. Me? I’d eaten everything left for me and napped. Fatigue tugged at my limbs, indicating another molt would hit me soon.
It led to me feeling slightly out of sorts and vulnerable. Or at least that would have been my excuse if I’d been asked why I crawled into Bruce’s lap after he’d finished putting their purchases away.
Nicky placed her hand on my head. “I think Percy is sick. She didn’t ask for anything to eat.”
“She’s not running a fever. Feels cold, actually.”
“Should we take her to a veterinarian to have her checked out?” Nicky’s query held a note of concern.
I roused myself enough to mutter, “No doctor. Getting ready to shed.” Had to be, despite the oddity of running the opposite of a fever. Growth affected dragons differently.
“If you say so.” Nicky sounded doubtful. “I’ll be back in a moment. Zaza needs to go down for a nap.”
I’d almost fallen asleep by the time she returned.
“Hey, grab that bag by the door,” Bruce said. “I got you a few things. Clothes and toiletries that I thought you could use.”
“You shouldn’t have.”
“Bah. Have a peek. I had to guess at the sizing, though.”
I half listened as Nicky exclaimed over the things Bruce bought.
“Everything is perfect. You thought of everything.”
“Well, couldn’t have you starting your new job naked.”
I almost snorted. Humans and their clothes. So obsessed with fabric and fashion. Dragons never had to worry about such things. We had our lovely scales instead of flimsy skin to protect us from the elements.
The murmur of their voices lulled me to sleep. When I woke from my nap, it was mealtime, and it smelled delicious. Something called spaghetti Bolognese. Sauce. Pasta. Bread with garlic-infused oil. The only thing wrong with it? I had to share. But in good news, I got Zaza’s leftovers.
After the meal, Bruce stoked the potbellied stove using some of the last pieces of wood.
“We’ll be out by morning if don’t get some more,” he stated before slipping on his boots and coat.
“Need a hand?” Nicky offered from her spot on the couch where she read to Zaza.
“Only if you want to emasculate me,” he grumbled, but not in a mean way. He truly had softened around Nicky.
Invigorated by my meal and nap, I chose to join him. The heat in the chalet bothered me. Strange, I know. When I’d been born, I craved the warmth of the magma flows. Now? I emerged into the crisp evening air and breathed deep.
“Ah. It’s pleasant out here.”
Bruce glanced at me. “Only if you’re a polar bear.”
“Or a dragon, apparently. Although, my memories don’t usually have us liking the cold much.”
“Imagine that. You’re unique.”
“Was that sarcasm?” I asked as I trotted to keep pace with Bruce as he circled the chalet.
“Yes and no, but I meant it as a good thing. Would you want to be like every other dragon?”
“I’m also going to answer yes and no.” I took a half second to explain.
“My goals and desires are the same as the others of my kind. To grow strong. To accumulate treasure. To get my wings and develop my special power. But I’d also like to stand out.
To be recognized as more than just another dragon. ”
“Well, in that respect, I don’t think you need to worry about comparison, as you are the one and only.”
“That you’re aware of,” I pointed out.
“Pretty sure the world would know if another dragon existed.”
“Not if they’re stealthy about it.”
“Maybe back in the day that would be possible, but you know enough by now to realize the Earth is much more populated, not to mention people are very into taking pics and videos. If there was a dragon, we’d know. First time it flew it would be all over social media.”
“Unless they had it scrubbed.”
Bruce paused mid-bend to glance at me. “When did you learn about internet scrubbing?”
“Today while watching television. It was mentioned in respect to cybercrimes. It’s obvious that such a measure is most likely often used by those wishing to avoid discovery, such as dragons.”
“You’re a clever one, Percy.”
“I know.” No point in being coy.
As Bruce headed back to the chalet with an armful of wood, I cocked my head. “I hear a vehicle approaching.”
The big man paused in his tracks. “Probably nothing, but just in case, why don’t you duck inside and tell Nicky she and Zaza should stay out of sight?”
“You suspect trouble?”
“No, but given Nicky’s situation, I’d prefer to be cautious.” Bruce dumped the wood by the door and opened it for me to slip inside just in time. Twin beams flashed as a vehicle turned into the chalet’s driveway.
I shut the door and Nicky glanced at me over Zaza’s head. “Hey, Percy. That was a quick outing.”
“Shh. Visitors. Hide,” I hissed, ruining Nicky’s smile of welcome.
Her face went pale, and she clutched a protesting Zaza tight to her torso as she ran for the bedroom.
Well, at least she knew how to listen to orders.
Me? I only partially obeyed Bruce. I didn’t peer through the window by the door.
I did, however, press my ear to it for a listen.
The thick insulation muffled sound. Add in the car engine still rumbling and I only caught the murmur of a voice, nothing distinct.
Bruce didn’t converse with the visitor long, seeing as how a car door slammed, and the noise of the motor receded.
Only when it was quiet did Bruce come inside. “It’s safe to come out,” he called, not for me, obviously, since I stood waiting for his report.
A pale Nicky emerged with Zaza in her arms. “Who was it?”
“A couple who got lost. They missed the turn-off for their cabin so I sent them back down the mountain.”
Her shoulders relaxed. “Oh, thank goodness. For a second, I thought Joseph found us.”
Bruce tensed. “Do you have a picture of your husband?”
“Why?”
“I just want to make sure.”
She bit her lip. “I left without my phone and didn’t keep any images of him. Did the man you spoke to have a slight scar above his right eyebrow?”
“No, but that said, rest assured if your husband should happen to show up, I won’t say a word about you being here.”
“He has ways of making people talk,” was her curt reply.
Bruce snorted. “He’d find it hard to bully me.”
“Alone maybe, but Joseph rarely goes anywhere without his posse to do his dirty work.” Her lips clamped shut.
“You make him sound like some kind of mobster.”
“Because he is,” was her soft admission. “Joseph ‘Iceman’ Palumbo is not someone you should antagonize.”
“Some would say the same about me.”
“Joseph wouldn’t hesitate to have you killed.”
“Wouldn’t be the first to try, and look at that, I’m still here.” Bruce’s expression turned hard and cold. “But they aren’t.”
Ooh. I liked this darker side of my servant.
“I should leave in the morning,” Nicky stated, her voice trembling.
“To go where?”
“I don’t know. Initially, when I left my home, I planned to leave the country but I don’t have a passport.”
“I have contacts who can help with that, but at the same time I will add, running won’t solve the problem.
You might escape for now, but one day, when you’ve let your guard down, you’ll be most vulnerable to discovery.
If this Joseph is the type of man I think he is then he won’t stop hunting you until the day he dies. ”
“He’ll never stop looking, but what am I supposed to do? I already tried killing him and failed.” She uttered a bitter laugh. “Never even scratched him with the kitchen knife before he took it from me and gave me this. She pulled back her sleeve to show a white weal marring her forearm.
Bruce drew in a hissing breath. “That bastard.”
“That’s only one of a few he gave me over the years.” Her lips turned down. “The others are in spots more easily concealed.”
“He didn’t care about hiding the fact he gave you a black eye,” Bruce growled.
“Because he wanted his people to see he’d put me in my place. I told you, among his associates, his behavior is considered normal.”
“Like fuck it is.” Bruce swore, only to glance at Zaza who clung to Nicky’s leg, sucking her thumb. “Sorry. The thought of someone hitting you riles me up something fierce.”
“Why do you care? It happened before we met, and despite the last few days, you barely know me.”
“I care because it’s wrong.”
She might have replied only Zaza chose that moment to throw up. Projectile vomited all her dinner. What a waste of food.
While Nicky handled the child, and Bruce insisted on doing the cleanup, I wandered to the window and glanced outside.
Would this Joseph dare to show his face? I hoped so, because the fear in Nicky bothered me. The knowledge she’d been hurt angered me. In my world, domestic violence would cease to exist because I’d have a simple method for dealing with abusers.
I’d eat them.