My heart, My love, My dragon

Chapter 11

"Her bracelet," Arin growled and pulled the bracelet away from Anya's wrist harshly, leaving a welt. "Her shoes..."

He tore away Anya's heels roughly away from her feet. Anya knew nothing could stop him now. He ripped away at her dress. Tearing away the fabric piece by piece as gasps filled the air. "I told you that you will never take Khaleesi's place no matter how alike the two of you are."

He continued to rip away the dress until only shredded pieces remained in his hands. He was breathing heavily- the heat and rage finally simmering down. Luthor fell to his knees beside Anya who was only left with her underdress. Anya's hair was messed terribly and covered her face but it didn't cover her defiant eyes.

She shook Luthor away and stood up at full height and stared at Arin straight in the eye, "Are you done now?"

"What?" he responded dumbly.

"I said, Are. You. Done?" 

He stared at his work and shredded fabric in his hands and on the ground before shouting, "Why was everyone celebrating?!"

Lucia, fearlessly spoke up, "Because today, September 23, is Anastasia's birthday. She turns fourteen."

"Today is your birthday?" Arin's head whipped toward Anya. Luthor was helping her stand up and placed a cloth on her bleeding scratches on her chest.

"Yes, it is....and you ruined it," Anya spat. "I hope you notice that you've destroyed Khaleesi's dress. The one she wore on her last birthday. All because you had a temper tantrum about a little celebration."

Anya walked away calmly but Luthor faced Arin disgustedly, "I don't know how Khaleesi could have fallen in love with a monster. A monster who hurts the person who wields the ability to make you happy. Your beloved. You've just wasted that chance."

*****

After Anya soaked in the healing warm water she threw her corset elsewhere and place on a smooth sundress. Her chest burned from the scratches but she had already placed rubbing alcohol and aloe vera on them. Her eyes were about to close when the door swung open.

"Rise and shine, Anya. Have you forgotten it's your birthday," Luthor cheerfully said.

Anya groaned, "I'm starting to doubt if you were at the Ball Room earlier. The lizard ruined my day."

"C'mon. Let's act like it never happened. Besides, I've got a cake," he proudly said.

"Cake? How did you get cake?" Anya perked.

"Birthday cake," Luther announced and Anya jumped to her feet, following him. 

When they exited her suite Anya mumbled, "Is the lizard still here?"

"Yep, he's speaking with Lucia and Hydreich. It's a heated conversation."

He leade her secretly to a secret trap door underneath a rug. They entered quickly and that's when Anya sawed how cozy this area was. Fluffy blankets were scattered everywhere and at the center, there was a small table with a round cake.

Luthor gave her a slice which she happily munched on. "I never had cake before," she said chewing on her cake.

"Don't talk with your mouth full. Have you ever had a birthday or celebrated one?" Luthor asked.

"Nope, not once. My brother and I were short on money and couldn't afford a cake because we had to pay the bills. Today would have been the first time I celebrated a birthday but...you know what happened. Alas, I'm cursed to never have a happy birthday."

"That is quite sad. Even I celebrated a birthday," he commented.

"Way to rub it in," Anya rolled her eyes and took another piece of cake.

"Oh, and I got you a present," Luthor pulled out a tiny box and handed it to Anya.

Anya opened the box and found a smartphone, "You guys have smartphones here?!"

Luthor frowned, "Yeah, we may be dragons but that doesn't mean we're not caught up with technology."

"Wow, this will be my first ever birthday present and it's a phone. How does it work?" Anya began to tap furiously at the black screen.

"That's the thing. It's outdated so it doesn't really work," Luthor shrugged.

"Doesn't matter. I'll just have to tell my kids that a boy named Luthor gave me an old present," Anya teased and placed the phone back in the tiny box.

Suddenly, they heard the latch above opening and a c***k of light was shown in. Arin came down....

"What are you doing here?!" Anya and Luthor said together. Arin eyed the two of them suspiciously.

"Can I talk to Anya in private," he told Luthor.

"I don't want to talk to you," Anya spat.

"I'm not asking."

Luthor left reluctantly as Anya helped herself to more cake. "Here to ruin another celebration?"

Arin's eyes landed on the various scratched on Anya's chest. "How are your scratches?"

"As they should be. Hurting. Some will leave scars," Anya added.

"And your wrist?" Arin pointed to the welt on Anya's wrist that she had not noticed.

"Stop acting like you care for me. Hypocrite," Anya grabbed more cake.

"I can't say that I care for you but I can't say that I don't care for you," he struggled.

"Great, you should go trademark that quote. I'm positive it'll gain fame in Hallmark. How 'bout you go now?" Anya urged so much because she wanted him to leave.

"Stop it. Stop trying to dodge everything."

"I'm not dodging anything. Did I dodge your temper tantrum? No. I had to deal with a toddler."

"You...I don't even know how to communicate with you. It's so difficult," he slouched against the wall.

"Then stop trying to communicate with me. I'm making it pretty clear that I don't want to talk to you," Anya had no more cake to distract her, plus she had something that was bugging her. "How did you even know I was here?"

"I followed you as I saw Luthor and you sneaking around suspiciously," he shrugged.

"So, for you that's okay?"

"With you, everything is more complicated..." he tugged at his locks.

"Here's why it's so complicated. You don't even say sorry. I'm mean like, who doesn't say sorry after you strip a girl and leaving cat scratches on her? Besides, all those mixed emotions are because you love Khaleesi and don't feel any bond between me."

"That's not it...I don't know if Khaleesi's in my heart anymore and it's frustrating me. But I know that I feel a bond with you," he grabbed one of her dark locks and curled it around his fingers.

Anya pulled away, "She will always be in your heart because she carried your daughter. You lost your beloved and a daughter. You can't ignore the daughter you had."

"How do you know about their...deaths..."

"You don't need to know how I know but one thing's certain..." Anya sharply inhaled. "I do not feel any sort of bond with you. So it's best to stop pursuing something you'll never get."