Chapter Six
1538 Words
Bardik entered his room and set the book on his nightstand, "I'll get to you in a minute," he said to the book.
He made his way to his bathroom, grabbing a pair of shorts and a thick black towel. He turned on his shower, making the water as warm as he could. He was stressing all the things going on with Alev and Bodhi, he needed the warmth on his tired muscles. He let the hot water stream down his muscled back, washing the stress down the drain. As much as he wanted to stay in the shower and let the water take his troubles he knew he needed to get hold of Justin, letting him know what was going on and then packing for yet another mission.
He sighed and turned off the water, stepping onto the dark blue bath mat. He also had to get on to reading the book. He couldn't imagine that it had anything new in it that his parents hadn't read to him or his sisters when they were children, so he wasn't sure why his father wanted him to read it.
Stepping out of the bathroom, "First things first, gotta get hold of Justin," he said to himself as he picked up his cell phone. There was no way to mind link Justin he was human although once in a while Bardik thought he smelled something different on him. He just couldn't place it.
Justin answered on the third ring, "Hey man this better be good," Justin said, "I was getting ready to take Clara out for dinner."
"Sorry, Justin, just wanted to touch base with you," Bardik apologized. He knew how much Justin loved his wife, and would sometimes feel a twinge of jealousy over the fact that his human buddy had found the love of his life, but Bardik was still searching for the one that the moon goddess made for him.
Justin paused, he knew that his friend was single, but that he wanted a wife. He didn't understand it sometimes, but who was he to judge? He also knew that Bardik's father was waiting for him to give up being a firefighter and coming home to run their family businesses.
"So, what's up, boss?" Justin asked, trying to keep his tone casual.
"Well, we got Freya back but unfortunately our good friend, Aislinn has passed," Bardik said, giving his words pause to let Justin absorb what he had said.
"The lady that works with Freya's aunt in that little store?" Justin asked crestfallen.
"Yeah," was all Bardik said. "Listen, you're about to go out with your wife. We'll catch up at the station later," he said, "Go have a great time with Clara," Bardik said wistfully.
"Okay, man. You gonna be okay?" Justin asked.
"Sure am. Just thinking about," Bardik shook his head, "Never mind. Have a great night with Clara, give her my love," Bardik said.
With that, they hung up and Bardik turned to the book on the nightstand, "Guess I have been putting this off long enough," He said picking up the small novel the cover it a big black dragon guarding its treasure.
Bardik laid down on his bed, getting under the thick black and purple comforter. "It's gonna be a chilly night," he said to himself wishing he had his mate beside him to keep him warm.
'Once upon a time, in a land not so far away,' the story began. Bardik could almost hear the story in his mother's voice. 'During a time when most dragons lived in peace with the other magical beings. There was a dragon that was so protective over what was his that he stole away to a massive cave to keep his treasures safe.' Bardik settled into the book, continuing his reading until late into the night.
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Chusi was reading the book, she couldn't see yet what was so different from this version of the story than the one that she had read countless times. The cover was a little different, it had a big black dragon on it that was guarding its treasure instead of just a picture of a treasure chest.
Chusi couldn't help but feel drawn to the picture on this cover compared to the other version, but she was still skeptical that this was any different than the one she had read over and over again.
She buried herself deep in her bed, shivering slightly from the chill and wishing she had a mate to keep her warm, her thoughts traveling unwarranted to the handsome man she saw this morning. She shook her head, "Now is not the time, Chusi, " she said to herself, "You just got back home to your family and here you are wanting someone to help warm your bed," she scolded herself. "Makes you seem like a floozy," she mumbled as she opened the book to the second chapter.
'Alisar was searching for his mate. He knew that he would eventually find her and they would live happily together for the rest of their days. He would make sure of it.' Chusi smiled, she hoped that whomever her mate was that he would do everything in his power to make sure they were happy together. She could tell that her mother and father were still madly in love with each other, even though they had been through so very much.
'Alisar transformed into his huge black dragon, his wings unfurling and stretching. He easily lifted into the air. He loved the feeling of the wind flowing over his wings as he flew. He could watch his whole kingdom and fly over the neighboring lands watching all the other magical beings going about their daily lives. He had taken to instilling into the other dragons to only take what was theirs and leave others in peace. It was making everyone's lives so much better.'
Chusi was smiling, she knew this part by heart. It made her proud that this dragon was someone who watched over other people and protected what was theirs. Once she realized she was a dragon it made her happier that, her kind had made great strides in changing their ways.
Chusi continued her reading, 'Alisar was soaring high above the lands of the nearby werewolf pack when he noticed her. Her alabaster skin glowing in the sunlight. Her beauty was more than he could stand, he glided gently down to get a closer look at the woman. Her red hair glinting fiery in the light as she began to enter the river. He noticed when he got closer that she had been crying.'
Chusi didn't remember this from the first book. Where did this passage come from, she thought to herself.
'The young woman's tears were more than Alisar could bear. His mind and heart were filled with dread, what was she doing? He landed softly a little bit away from the crying beauty and transformed back into his human form.
"Young miss, what is the matter?" Alisar asked softly, afraid of frightening the woman.
The woman jumped, "Sir, you've frightened me," she said.
He tipped himself to her, "That was not my intention miss. I do apologize deeply, may I ask again, What is the matter?" He said again, walking towards the woman.
"My mate was with another, " she said, "As such, I no longer feel the need to walk this land," she said as the tears began to flow again.'
Chusi's heart broke for the woman in the story, she could only imagine the heartache she felt at the knowledge of her gift from the goddess not wanting her. She continued to read with interest, as this was most definitely not in the other version of this book.
Alisar couldn't bear the thought of the young lady ending her life. "May I have your name, lovely lady?" he asked, hoping to distract her from her thoughts.
"My name is Nova. What is yours?" she asked politely.
"Alisar, my lady," he said. He was coming closer to her, he wanted, no needed to be nearer her.
"And sir, may I ask, what pack are you from? "Nova asked she could feel her old mark disappearing from her neck and she was happy.
Chusi smiled, was this woman about to find a second chance?
"Beautiful, love, I am not from a pack, but a clan," he said softly coming ever so closer to the woman in front of him. He was desperate for her to live.
Nova looked slightly surprised at his revelation. "A clan? " she questioned.
"Yes, I am King Alisar Faluzure of the Midnight Dragon Clan."
At this point, Chusi was shocked. She knew that last name.
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Bardik was deep into the book, "This is a lot deeper than I remember," he said to himself. When he reached the bottom of the page he took notice of the name in the book. He knew that name, but this is a fairy tale. Isn't it?
- Writer
