11. Elora
11
ELORA
L unch had been left for me when I arrived back at my room, and I seat myself to eat in silence. Wishing I had taken a book or two from the library, I turn my attention to look out the window.
The garden below was also severely underkept, but the green bushes and colorful flowers brought an ease to my soul.
I wasn’t really sure how I was going to fill my time, and boredom was my biggest enemy.
From experience, boredom got me into trouble.
I pop another piece of apple into my mouth, chewing thoughtfully.
What could one do as a prisoner in a demon’s castle?
I smile, leaning back in my chair to fiddle with the food on my plate.
I wasn’t sure what Amon did most days, but something told me he wasn’t really the social type. I wonder what he would do if I showed up to pester him.
Nostalgia assaults me as I remember the days when I use to pester my brother. He would be busy tending to the horses or attending his studies and I would accompany him simply to get on his nerves.
I giggle to myself but shake the memory as its immediately accompanied by a wave of sadness.
No way could I let myself get upset about my decision now.
What was done was done. It couldn’t be changed.
Sighing, I set about finishing my lunch so I can go explore more.
I really needed to go see the garden.
Amon
My mind was infiltrated with thoughts of this human female that now invaded my space. I had caught her wandering earlier and had followed her for a little while, casting an easy glamour so that she couldn’t see nor sense me.
I was intrigued by her, and watching her peek behind doors and through archways was only slightly entertaining. A few times I risked getting close enough that I could inhale deep lungfuls of her scent.
When she had discovered the library, I was about to turn away and leave her to devices when she had screamed.
Every fiber in my body had moved to protect her before my mind had even registered she’d screamed. It was disconcerting.
Standing, I pace my study before walking to the window overlooking the garden.
I tilt my head when I see Elora below me, her skirt in hand, feet bare as she tiptoes into the grass from the stone walkway.
Her head falls back, her brow etching in a slight frown, and it sends a hot wave of desire through me.
I wonder if that’s what her face looks like while in the midst of-
Growling, I shake the thought from my head.
I pace, the frustration sizzling beneath my skin. I’ve never felt this out of control. It was as though I needed to be near her.
This wasn’t boding well.
Elora
The grass feels so amazing, and I end up finding a nice spot to lay down. I hadn’t realized I had fallen asleep and had awoken from the lack of sound.
The silence was deafening, and I missed the ambient sound of birds chirping, of insects and the breeze as it flowed through the trees.
Sighing, I turn to my side, reaching out and plucking a low hanging rose from the bush next to me. I hiss as the prick of a thorn stings my thumb and watch as a bright red bead of blood wells.
I stick my thumb between my lips, sucking the blood from my skin.
A chirruping sound startles me, and I sit up, looking around. I hear it again, and spin around to look behind me.
A soft gasp escapes me as I see a tiny, scaled creature walk out from beneath the brush warily.
It reminded me of a dragon, only it was a fraction of the size and had eyes way too big for such a tiny creature.
I watch as it sniffs at the air, approaching me warily. As it comes closer, I can see that the coloring on its scales gave it a blue hue.
“Well, hello there.” I say, slowly reaching my hand out to it.
It pauses, pulling back slightly, looking from me to my hand.
Just it starts to lean in to smell me, a deep voice rumbles from behind me.
“It’s attracted to the smell of your blood.”
I startle, and the small creature scurries away, back under the bush it came from. I drop the rose, spinning around to see Amon there.
Placing a hand to my chest I let out a heavy sigh.
“You’ve really got to stop sneaking up on me like that.” I say, looking up at him.
He chuckles, averting his gaze and sticking his hands in the pockets of his pants.
I watch as he meanders next to me before lowering himself to his haunches.
“I see you found a drakeling.”
I watch as Amon reaches his fist out. He emits a soft sound, and the tiny creature comes sneaking back out of the bush, turning its little head this way and that.
He opens his hand, palm up, and three small red berries roll around in the center.
I watch, enraptured, as the drakeling places a hesitant foot on his hand, stretching its neck to snag a berry before running off into the bush again.
I giggle, scooting myself closer to watch him.
Looking behind him, he pauses before taking a few hunched steps backwards. He sits next to me on the grass, looking down at me with an unreadable expression.
He reaches into my lap, grasping one of my hands in his.
I stiffen, but he turns my hand palm up and drops the berries into it.
I glance up at him uncertainly.
“They can sense your intention. They may be tiny, but they still carry the intelligence of their ancestor.”
I smile softly at him before returning my gaze to the brush.
The little drakeling comes back out, seemingly not as wary this time. I glance over at Amon, and he nods once at me, gesturing towards the small creature.
I hold my hand out in front of me, palm up, the way he had.
The drakeling scurries towards me, running right up into my palm. I let out a small gasp of delight as its little claws tickle at the sensitive flesh of my fingers.
He scoops up another berry, chomping on it with its tiny mouth.
I look over at Amon, flashing him a giant smile. He smiles back, and the sight of it makes me weak in the knees.
I forget all about the drakeling for a moment, and startle when I feel it run up my arm. It crawls up to sit on my head, leaning itself over my forehead to look at me.
Amon chuckles, reaching up to grab it gently, placing it on my shoulder instead.
“Drakelings are loyal creatures. Once you befriend one, you have its friendship for life. It looks like this one is a female.”
I crane my neck to look at the tiny thing, and it tilts its head to look up at me.
“How can you tell?” I ask, reaching up to run a finger over the top of its head.
Amon reaches over, pointing the tip of a claw at its tail. “Males have barbs on the end of their tail.”
I laugh out loud as it reaches out and swipes at Amon’s claw, spitting a tiny spark.
“Can they emit fire like a full-sized dragon can?” I ask in curiosity. Amon nods.
“Yes, although they can’t emit as much nor as long.”
I reach up and grab the little thing off my shoulder, setting it in my lap. It twirls a few times before plopping down.
It sighs heavily, closing its eyes.
Looking over at Amon, I smile again, my eyes roving over his face.
“Thank you,” I start, looking into his amber depths. “For everything.”
Amon shifts uncomfortably before grunting a response. His demeanor hardens once more, but I don’t buy it. I reach out and place a hand on his forearm, and he stiffens.
He glances over at me quickly, his eyes darkening slightly.
Looking down at the little creature asleep in my lap, I decide to try to get him to open up to me.
“You know it’s always been just me.” I say after a moment. “Other than my handmaid of course. I’ve been alone most of my life.”
Amon tilts his head at me with a frown, so I continue.
“I was never able to do the things other kids my age did, so I spent a lot of time around books. I read, and learned, and studied everything I could get my hands on.”
I turn slightly, looking over my shoulder at him. He’s watching me with interest.
“Why weren’t you able to do what others did?” He asks gruffly.
“I was born broken. Brittle bones. I break too easily, so a lot of activities were unattainable for me.” I look down to fidget with my nails, and my hair falls into my face a bit.
I hear him shift, then feel the tip of a clawed finger brush my hair away from my face. Amon tilts his head down to look around my curtain of hair.
“Don’t hide.” He says.
Looking over at him, I tuck my hair around my ear, smiling off the tingling sensation that simple touch left on my skin.
“If you could do one thing, what would it be?” Amon asks, watching me closely.
I’m quiet as I contemplate his question. One thing?
“Honestly, I really wish I could learn how to use a bow.”
Amon’s eyebrows twitch in surprise.
“A bow? Out of everything?”
I nod, looking up at him. “Yeah. Does it sound silly?”
He shakes his head. “Not at all. It’s a good skill to have. I can teach you.” The words come out quickly, and he stops, frowning at the ground. Anticipation curls in my belly.
“Really?” I ask, my eyes widening.
He’s quiet for a moment before raising his eyes to mine again.
“If that’s something you want to learn, yes.”
Excitement overcomes me, and I reach out to throw my arms around him. The drakeling in my lap startles awake, running off into the brush.
Amon stiffens beneath my embrace, and I grin before releasing him.
We sit there for a moment, the awkward silence spanning too many heartbeats before he clears his throat.
“I’ll leave you to it.” He says as he rises from the ground effortlessly.
I look up at him, taking him in. I nod, smiling. “Ok.”
He lingers a moment longer before turning to stalk away.
I fall back against the grass, sighing. Excitement courses through me at the idea that I would finally learn how to use a bow. With Amon, nonetheless.
The knowledge that I would be spending more time with him sends a shiver down my spine.
I feel the little pin pricks of claws over my bodice as the little drakeling crawls up to lay on my chest.
Giggling, I sit up, wrapping her in my hands to place her on my shoulder as I stand and walk back towards the castle.