The Dragon's mate

Vern King

Emily

“Look at your eyes. Why are they swollen?”

When Rita exclaimed at my pitiful condition, I could not blame her. I was asleep last night, but, my heart knew that my dream had exhausted me. It seemed as if, I had indeed travelled to some far off land. I was unable to remember the details of my dream even when, I tried very hard to. The only thing that, I could recollect was that, there was a woman whose face was hidden in a veil. She had wished me well.

“Where are you lost Emily?”

“Uh...”

“Are you well?”

“Just tired.”

Rita might have been my best friend but, I never felt like sharing everything with her. I was scared that, she might betray my trust someday. Ling, who hated me now, had been my best friend when, we were five years old. I really do not know what happened but, a couple of years later, she gradually started distancing herself from me. From being my best friend at five, she became my biggest enemy by the time we turned ten.

"Do you know that, Jake and Ling are inseparable now?"

"I am not bothered by other's affairs, Rita."

"But, he is the most handsome boy in class, Emily. When I first saw him I wanted us to be together."

I smiled at her words.

"You always smile when I talk about boys. Don't make fun of me."

"I'm not making fun. Choose better next time."

"You are seriously not affected."

"Why will I be affected?"

"You know..."

I had finished my daily routine and picked up my bag to leave for school. Rita followed and, by the time we reached class, I had had enough of her talks and analysis on Jake and Ling.

"Emily..."

"What?"

I followed her line of sight to see that one of Ling's sidekicks sitting on the seat next to mine. I dawdled for some time and went to my place when, I heard Mrs. James footsteps.

Lina, the sidekick, made a face at me when, I reached my seat.

Mrs. James entered followed by the new couple in our class.

Jake's eyes met mine but, I turned my face away. His mouth too, was pressed in a thin line. I had bruised his ego by rejecting his advances. I made a mental note to myself that, I had to be careful.

"Let us take our seats Jake."

I heard Ling speak softly.

"Emily, from now on Jake and Ling will sit next to each other."

"Yes, Mrs. James."

We opened our grammar books. We were studying clauses. Very soon I was engrossed in the lesson. Mrs. James explained well.

When the bell rang and she left, we had a ten minutes break before our Arithmetic lesson began. In those ten minutes we watched a good show.

"You are so generous Jake."

"Only for you."

As Jake kissed Ling she batted her eyelids in shyness. I cringed at their affectionate display in class. I returned to my text book to focus on a particularly difficult sum. Luckily, Mr. Jones arrived and our lesson began.

As expected, despite our protests he handed us a 'surprise' test paper.

"These tests will help you do better in exams."

When I looked at the questions, they seemed difficult. As I started solving them, my mind's cobwebs cleared, and I, was somehow, able to finish my paper.

"1 a

2 c

.....

30 d"

I could easily hear Ling dictating answers to Jake.

I was shocked that Mr. Jones turned a blind eye to the unfair practices in the class.

When the bell rang our papers were collected.

"How was it?"

"What?"

"The exam."

"It was a test.."

"Whatever."

"Fine."

"I found it to be quite difficult."

"Well, the questions were slightly different from what we have studied."

"All the students are expected to collect in the auditorium immediately."

The loudspeakers in the school corridors came to life. It was surprising as the principal himself had made the announcement.

"No gym.. yes."

Rita's joy was understandable. She always fared poorly in the gym lesson. Her fitness was sub-par. The entire school collected in the auditorium.

"Why did the principal call us?"

"What do yoou think?"

"Are you not surprised that, the Principal, made this announcement himself?"

The hall was abuzz with these and many more questions. Even I was curious. The teachers had a hard time in asking the students to maintain silence. It was only when, people saw the Principal coming that, the voices truly died down.

Everyone was scared of the Principal.

"I have called upon you all to welcome an important guest today. This person, though only twenty-one, has made remarkable achievements in the field of science and technology. He has also become the youngest billionaire in this world. I'd like to call upon Mr. King to come up and say a few words."

"Oh my God, It is such a lucky day."

The entire hall was, once more filled with murmurs when, Mr. King arrived. For some strange reason I felt that Jake, who was standing two spaces towards my right was extremely angry.

As I looked in his direction, I was not wrong. His eyes had turned a scary red. None of the other students seemed to have noticed this change. Ling, who was just next to him, was also unaware. I quickly turned to look in front before Jake discovered that, I had noticed some changes in him.

Shock coursed through my veins when I saw the person standing in front of me. I felt as if, I shared some bond with him.

"He is so handsome. Even Jake pales in comparison."

"Rita.."

"Fine. We'll talk once we leave."

"Well..."

Mr. King had begun speaking.

He paused for a brief second. I was sure that his eyes had found Jake. He too seemed to be irritated. Did these two know each other, I wondered. I did not have much time to ponder over this matter as, Mr. King started speaking.

"I've heard that not many in this school live without their parents. Some of you have, unfortunately lost them at an early age; while some, might be away from their parents for, reasons best left unsaid. Your warden has been struggling to send you all to school. As such, I intend to support you all by paying for your school expenses for this year."

Applause broke out unanimously in the hall. Even I, who had the habit of nitpicking was impressed.

"Wow..."

"Are my ears deceiving me?"

"Rita..."

"Emily, do you reallize that you just praised someone. It is as rare as the possibility of you falling in love with someone."

When I did not reply Rita stopped talking.

Mr. King waited for the applause to die down.

"Furthermore, I will sponsor the university education of the student who tops the National Entrance Examination from this school."

These words, for me, were akin to discovering water in a desert. It meant that, I had hope. It meant that, if I studied hard I might get a chance to study at a good university. From there on, my prospects could be better than those of being employed as a factory worker.

"That's all for now."

When he came down, all of us parted to allow him to pass through. When he was passing by, his hands, accidently brushed against mine. I felt as if, electric current had passed through me. Mr. King too stopped. It seemed as if. he had felt something as well. But, when he turned I bent down, to avoid being seen.

"Is there any problem Mr. King."

"No."

The Principal and he continued moving forward. When he left, I found out that his full name was Vern King. At a very young age he had, achieved a lot. And, yes, he was ruthless and he hated women.