Dragon Hearts (Book 1 of the Dragon Series)

Chapter 4

Everett

She stopped talking when she realized what she was saying and looked around her. She saw my shirt had been ripped in half from my wings. Her eyes widened in surprise and she jumped off the couch away from me. The fear in her eyes cut me deep in my soul. I never wanted her to fear me.

“Oh my god, this is real!” She cried out. “You’re a dragon! I saw your wings and you-you breathed fire at that guy!”

She was shaking harder now and crumbled to her feet. I wanted to touch her, but I was afraid she’d pull away from me.

“Elle I’m so sorry! I never meant for you to find out this way,” I said my voice cracking a bit.

She was silent and stared at me. “But how? How is this real? This can’t be real it can’t!”

“Elle, I swear to you I’m not lying. This is real. And you’re in danger. We need to get you out of here and fast. I don’t know how long it will take Artemis to figure out who you are and try to find you, but we don’t have time. We need to get you someplace safe.”

“Who’s we?”

Elias came out of Elle’s room carrying a duffle bag stuff with clothes. His face was serious as he took in my appearance and then looked at Elle. Elle’s eyes flashed with anger again. She looked at her duffel bag and around her apartment.

“No!” She yelled realizing what was happening. “You can’t just come in here and take me away! I have school! I have a job! I have a life!”

“I’m so sorry Elle,” Elias said and took a step towards her. Elle immediately backed up and started shaking. I thought she was terrified but when I looked into her eyes, I saw pure rage. I felt bad for Elias at this moment having to face her.

“This is all your fault!” She shrieked at him and he flinched back. “You got me into this insane mess! How could you do this to me, Elias! I thought we were friends, wait! You’re one of them, aren’t you?”

Elias looked sad and scared of her. He opened his mouth to speak but he couldn’t form the words. He just nodded at her instead. She sat down where she was and began to sob uncontrollably. Elias moved toward her again as if wanting to comfort her, but she screeched at him to stop and leave her alone. Elias’s face fell again, and he hung his head.

“Elle,” I said quietly. “I understand this is a lot to take in in such a short amount of time. We need to get going to the airport”. Elle sobbed louder at my words and shook her head. “Elle, please. You trust me remember? I won’t let anything happen to you and it hurts so much knowing that you’re in danger because of me. Nobody knew this would happen. Not Elias. Not me. I know you are mad at us and I’m okay with that because even though it hurts to see you upset, you’re safe. Please let me keep you safe.”

Elle stopped sobbing during my speech. She sat quietly on the floor, tears streaming down her face and shoulders heaving as she breathed. Her brown hair was in her eyes and stuck to her tear-stained cheeks. She looked coldly at me and Elias then stood up on her feet.  She went into her bedroom and slammed the door. After a few anxious minutes, when I was considering checking to see if she was daring enough to exit a third-floor window, she flung her door open and stepped out wearing sweats and a long sleeve shirt. She walked to the bag on the floor that Elias had packed and picked it up. She struggled with its weight, but when Elias reached out to take it from her, she slapped his hand away.

“Don’t!” she snarled at him. “Don’t touch it. Don’t touch me. Don’t even look at me! I’m so angry with you Elias. I don’t want to you speak to me. As soon as this mess is cleared up, I’m coming back here to finish my life. In peace and dragon-less!”

With that she half dragged, and half carried her bag into the hallway. Elias stared after her dejectedly. He hadn’t said a word this entire time. I stood up and clasped his shoulder. He looked at me then walked away, following Elle through the door. This was going to be a long flight.

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~Elle~

I didn’t say a single solitary word to either Elias or Everett the entire flight. I had never felt so betrayed and destroyed and angry. I built myself a nice little life after years of suffering and pain. I was just making it perfect until those two dopes walked in. I didn’t have much to my name, but what I did have I got on my own with my own two hands. I had no family to rely on. It was always just me and as much as I tried to do better, something always knocked me back a step or two. But for six glorious years, I was drama and almost pain-free. I didn’t have a ton of friends, but Elias had really helped me the past two years.

I sighed to myself as looked up the plane aisle. Everett and Elias were sitting a few seats away from each other. Everett was on his phone again doing something. Elias was sitting silently and staring out the window. I’ve cooled down by now, but I wasn’t ready to forgive.

“We’re about to land,” Everett said out loud for everyone to hear. “Luckily, we aren’t far from the house now.”

I looked out the window, but it was too dark out. I wasn’t sure what time it was, but it was late, and I was tired. I had slept a few hours on the plane after my anger dissipated but it wasn’t very restful. I keep seeing the man’s glowing orange eyes in the dark and his green, yellow teeth when he smiled. The feeling of being pulled off the ground wrapped in Everett’s arms. The black leathery wings look soft as velvet beating against the night air, pulling me to safety. The heat from the jet of fire that came from Everett’s mouth that had been on mine merely minutes before.

And as terrifying as it was to see Everett with black wings and fire breath, I still fully completely trusted him with my life. I knew he was protecting me and saving me. I gazed at him from my backseat. He had changed his torn shirt and into comfy sweats. He was strong. Even stronger than I thought possible, but I guess that was the dragon inside him. I closed my eyes and imagined Everett standing in front of me bare-chested and black wings spread open behind him in the sunlight. It was a beautiful sight. And hadn’t I always wanted to be in a fairy tale? Yeah, it was scarier than I’ve ever imagined but I can’t deny the magic. There was so much more to learn. Everett said the legends he talked about were real. I sighed heavily. I guess if I were to be kidnapped by dragons, I supposed I couldn’t have picked better. But why did they get me involved in the first place? Did they single me out or was I just an innocent bystander at the wrong place at the wrong time?

“Elle?” Said a soft voice. It was Everett. “We landed. It's time to get off the plane now. We have a car here already that will take us to the house.”

I kept my eyes closed and my face smooth. I didn’t want him to know I was awake. I knew I would forgive him and Elias once I figured out exactly what’s happening. Gentle arms lifted me out of my chair and carried me gently against their warm chest. I knew Everett picked me up, but I kept my eyes closed and pretended to sleep. I could feel him looking at me, so I didn’t dare peek around. I heard car doors open and I was placed on a soft seat. More car doors opened and closed, and I felt my feet lift and then be placed on a very warm lap.