Moonbreeze (The Dragonian Series Book 4) (57 page)

Blake ran back to us in his boxers again and took his pants from Charles. He pulled them on first, and then his shirt went over his head fast as they all started talking to him about his height and all the things he could do.

After a while we all went back to the house. Well, only the heads as Blake wanted me to go back and get King Helmut to start stationing troops this side. I didn’t like leaving him this side, not one bit.

But he was adamant like always, said they needed his help but I needed his help too, on the other side.

The deal was to take Annie back and go speak to the council, show them that we’d brought back a sign of life. That we’d made it through and it could be done. I needed to tell them that in the next few days more innocent people were going to come and we needed places for them to stay until permanent residences could be set up for them.

How on earth was I going to do all of this? How was I going to make them see? I was sure the Ancients would want a front seat in all of this. They feared Blake and would tell him yes, immediately.

I took a huge breath and remembered the words Blake had said to me. That courage and bravery could not come without fear.

I had to stand up to the Council, the Ancients, and show them that I was the Princess of Paegeia.

I would have an entire day with all of them, then tonight Annie and I were going to go back.

At eight in the morning our paths split and I helped again with picking grapes.

Charles was whistling an upbeat tune and this time Marcus joined in.

Spirits were definitely high again as Olivia started singing in the most beautiful voice to the tune they whistled.

We worked till five and then the wagons came to pick up all the baskets.

I was one of the first to enter the house and Gertrude’s cooking smelled delicious.

“You sure know how to make bread,” I grunted as I took in the smell of freshly baked bread.

She laughed. “I’m sure you are used to much finer.”

“No, this is the good kind, believe me.”

“Go wash up and come eat. Blake made sure that there was hot water flowing through.”

“I guess he does have his perks.”

She giggled and I rushed up to my room.

I poured a bath and it felt amazingly warm. I shifted the divider so that it sort of covered the entire bath and started to disrobe.

As I climbed in I couldn’t help thinking that this was perfect.

INSTILL HOPE, CHECK. Show them the big guy, check. Make them trust you, almost there, no check yet. Missing ingredient?

I sighed as I sat feeling extremely dirty and so good that I’d actually worked my ass off today, as the words from that day filled my head. The images that flew through my mind were already fading. I could only remember a field and walking toward the Castle in Etan. It looked nothing like I’d remembered. It used to be a majestic building, but what I saw was nothing like that. Half of the towers were destroyed.

Elena, dying
.

I blew out air. That could never happen.

“Blake?”

I jumped out of my thoughts. “Sorry, Gertrude.”

She laughed. “Are you going to wash up?”

“I think Elena is still taking her bath, I’ll wash up after her, thanks.”

She smiled. “Finally, someone that doesn’t think this universe revolves around teenage hormones.”

I laughed, if only she knew me better, she wouldn’t even think that, not to mention say it out loud.

“Hello bird.” I saw Seymour watching Elena as she bathed. I jumped up and rushed up the stairs.

I barged through the door but found nobody, just the divider and…she was asleep.

“Elena, wake up!” I yelled.

Annie was at my side.

“Just wake her up,” I begged and she rushed to Elena’s side.

The water splashed as Elena’s heart beat a thousand miles a minute, but I was glad that she’d found Annie.

“It’s just a dream, you okay?”

I could hear her sigh. “When is it going to stop?”

“It will eventually. She’s awake, Blake. She’s fine.”

“You okay?” I had to know for myself.

“Yes, sorry about that.”

“Don’t apologize, Elena.” I hated that dream and to voice the list of things that I wanted to do to that son of a bitch would make everyone think I’d gone dark again. The worst part of everything was that I was so close, but I’d promised to play nice for now. It sucked.

I walked back down.

Gertrude and Daisy, with Cassy on her hip, were waiting down by the stairs. All these people worried about her, that was evident.

“How did you know?” Daisy asked as I walked past her and back into the kitchen. August sat at the table, looking all spick and span.

“Oh, that? I’m still connected to her dreams. It’s like whatever is shutting me out disappears when she falls asleep.”

“You could really hear her thoughts?”

I nodded and gave her a soft smile.

“Amazing,” she said.

“It’s broken now, thanks to my past.”

“Your past?”

“I was quite horrible to her, if not worse.” I sat back down on the chair opposite of August as Daisy and Gertrude sat down at the table too.

I looked back at the stairs, hearing if she was okay. Annie was speaking to her, about their dreams.

“What is it you guys go through when you Dent?”

I smiled again. “I’ll tell you, but then I’d have to kill you.”

Daisy lifted up her hands, “In that case, I don’t need to know.”

We all laughed.

“What happened to Elle?” August wanted to know.

“It doesn’t matter, she will get through this. I promise.”

“She’s got the barcode, doesn’t she?”

I nodded.

“They are fuckers.”

“August!” Both Daisy and Gertrude spoke in a scolding tone.

“Your language.”

“Sorry, Cas, don’t repeat what I just said.” He looked at her sitting on Daisy’s lap and shrugged at his sister.

Daisy just shook her head.

“Max is probably…”

“Don’t, please. Don’t think that, don’t hope that. How long has she been gone?”

“Bout two and a half weeks.”

“I will find her, August. That is a promise.”

He gave me a soft smile just as Charles and the rest entered the kitchen. The two women got up to start getting plates ready and the men took their seats.

“You did an amazing job on the shed, Blake. Thanks,” Marcus said.

“What can I say, I’m a dragon of many talents.”

“That you are. How does Elena ride you?”

I laughed. It didn’t come out exactly as he’d meant, but okay. “We haven’t tried it yet, I always carry her.”

“I bet it’s a ride of a lifetime.”

“You’ve never been on a dragon?”

“Nope, not born with the mark. But my father told me that it is an amazing feeling. I can only imagine.”

“The mark only limits you, Marcus. King Albert didn’t have the mark and he claimed a Night Villain.”

“You comparing me now to the Greatest King that ever lived?”

We laughed again.

“How is your father, and the Dragon League?”

“Not around anymore. It was one of the first things that disappeared on the other side. Without my father.” I shook my head. “He is a mess. Hardly the dragon he used to be. I don’t want to know what this news is going to do to him. Instill hope, lunacy, I can’t think of it.”

“Then keep his existence quiet for now Blake.”

“You don’t understand. The rest of Paegeia isn’t as together as it used to be. King Albert was the glue that held them together. Areeth,” I huffed. “Let’s just say everyone was affected by losing him. Not just my father.”

“You need Areeth to fight,” Charles said. “From what I can remember, Areeth and Etan had the best soldiers.”

“Yeah, but they are not Elena’s biggest fans. Caleb has tried everything to disown her from her title. Helmut is the only one that is standing by her side, but he’s not enough. He’s lost both his children.”

“What?” all of them said.

“Dezi died when Wyverns tried to form an alliance about eleven years ago. They never wanted it. It was a trick, and Lucian, well Lucian was killed by another, a year ago claiming to be Elle’s dragon.” I couldn’t believe I was calling her this name too.

“I don’t understand,” Charles said. “You are her dragon.”

“She never knew that I was, and let’s just say the dark in me then, didn’t believe the Rubicon needed a dragon so I let her believe that he was her dragon and my best friend died because of it.”

“I’m so sorry, Blake.”

“Please don’t. I meant it when I said that half of this, I really don’t deserve. Especially that girl upstairs.”

“Nonsense. We might not have known your dark side, but you clearly are not dark anymore. She knows that.”

“I hope so. She is a very stubborn girl when she wants to be.”

They all laughed.

Elena came down, her hair was still wet and she smiled.

Gertrude just smiled at her as Annie took the chair opposite me.

Elena took the one next to her.

“Guess it’s my time to go and bathe now.” I clapped my hands together and got up.

“Yeah, please do,” Elena said. “You smell horrible.”

I laughed as I exited and rushed up the stairs. At least she was talking to me again, like she used to on the mountains when Cara was still with her.

That was a beginning. A sign of hope.

HAT NIGHT I couldn’t fall asleep again. Charles’s alarm was set for one o’clock. Annie had only packed a backpack but we could go shopping on the other side. I was worried and dead tired all at the same time, but I just couldn’t fall asleep. I hugged my pillow as Blake’s snoring filled the room gently. Though it was hardly a snore, it was more like a soft vibration in his throat.

I kept staring at the moon and wondered just what the future held. To go back without him.

To not know if he was going to be safe.

That familiar feeling of not seeing him again filled my gut. I hated that feeling.

I tried to think about that for a long time. If he could do it, why couldn’t I? Was it an ability thing, or a dragon thing?

I finally fell asleep and it felt like ten minutes had passed before the buzzer went off again.

Blake got up first and I just lay there.

He tapped me softly. “Wake up, Elena.”

“I hardly slept,” I complained.

“You couldn’t sleep?” I heard the smile in his tone.

“Something I really struggle with this side.” I turned on my back and wiped my eyes. I opened them. “Something you don’t seem to have a problem with.”

He chuckled. “Did I snore?”

“I wouldn’t call it a snore,” I said and moved off the bed.

He stepped into his jeans, pulled them over his boxers and pulled on a sweater with a hoody over his shirt.

He took the rest of his clothes out but I couldn’t look as I was worried sick about leaving him this side. It wasn’t the right thing to do.

He left when he was done putting his clothes into one of the drawers and walked to the door. “Get dressed, Elena.”

I FOUND CHARLES, Marcus, Gertrude and Luke with Tom and Blake sitting in the kitchen as I entered with my backpack over my shoulder.

“Ready to go?” Charles smiled.

“No, not really, but I guess I have no choice.” Blake didn’t look at me as I said that. “Where is Annie?”

“She’s just saying goodbye to Daisy.” Gertrude’s tone was soft.

We waited for Annie for about five minutes and then we heard their final goodbye being spoken right in front of Daisy’s room.

“Don’t forget about us, please.”

“Never. You are like a sister to me. You and Cassy. I love you so much. I feel like a dog leaving you here.”

“Shhh, you know we have no choice. Just bring those people with those things that can change into us so we can get out of this hell hole.”

My eyes caught on Blake who was staring at the ceiling, he was listening too.

Annie rushed down the steps and all the men got up. We followed them out the door and the way we’d come through the cornfields back to the Creepers.

This walk felt so fast now.

“You can do this, Elena.”

“It’s not why I’m scared Blake.”

“Why then?” He squinted.

“You know why. This wasn’t part of the plan. You make me so furious. You should never have come.”

“Elena, I can take care of myself.”

“Yeah, whatever,” I grunted and walked faster to walk next to Annie.

“You and Plucky fighting again?”

“Yeah, well Plucky is as stubborn as an ox. He wasn’t even supposed to come with and now…” I didn’t want to talk about it. It was his choice. I shouldn’t even care.

“He’s the Rubicon, Elena.”

“Why do you think I’m worried, Annie? If Goran finds him...”

“Still here, Elena,” Blake said from the back.

“Then tune out.”

We reached the Creepers and they hardly moved, it was as if they were asleep.

Everyone kept their distance from them. Including me.

“You ready Jumble-Bean? Ready to see your mom?”

“No.” Annie smiled. “Not really but I can’t wait to live a normal life again.”

He hugged her again. “Just come back with us, please.”

“No, Annie. Elle needs to learn that I have other responsibilities too.”

“Dumb idiot, it’s not like that. You of all people should know that.” I sounded angry.

“Stop enjoying that.” I heard Annie punch him.

“Ow,” Blake said. “And I’m not enjoying that.”

“It doesn’t look like that.”

“Just take care, Annie.”

“See you soon.”

“Of course.”

She said goodbye to August and Tom next. Then Charles.

“Keep a spot for us that side, Annie.”

“You bet I will.” She hugged him tighter.

Luke was last and then Annie walked over to me. “You are not going to say goodbye?”

“No, all the people I say goodbye to end up dead, so no goodbyes.”

“Then a see you later, Elena. You never know what…”

“See.” I looked at Blake. “This is why…” Tears started to well up in my eyes and I stopped and looked away. “Just forget it. Let’s go, Annie.” I grabbed her arm and started to walk toward the creepers. She was hesitant.

“Elena,” Blake called me and I could see the idiot walking over to us. We were not in reach yet.

Annie stopped, she refused to walk a step further and just nodded towards him.

“Fine, what?”

“You know it’s not like that. I’ll be fine, and you will see me again.”

“Will I? What if they come tomorrow Blake, unannounced? What if there isn’t a week? What then? I can’t free these people alone, I can’t kill the Saadedine alone. You are being an idiot and that is why I’m upset. I have so many things to carry, and you know what, I keep feeling that I will have to always carry them alone.”

“Elena…” He got what I was saying.

“Don’t. I just thought that maybe, just maybe things might finally be really different this time.” I looked away and grabbed Annie’s arm again. “Let’s go. Just try to stay out of trouble please.”

He didn’t say anything back and I pushed Annie in front of me as the Creepers started to move.

Her body started to tremble slightly.

“Keep your eyes closed, you’ll be fine.”

She must have done it, but her breathing was still loud and she was still scared.

I closed my eyes too as another Creeper ventured too close. I could hear the men gasp.

“They’ll be fine.” Blake spoke softly. He sounded disappointed. I didn’t care anymore. I was just so tired of showing up alone without my dragon. They were never going to see us as an alliance and they would never follow us into this thing if they believed that we couldn’t even get together on our own terms. Be a team.

The loud hissing started to fade and a small buzzing noise filled our ears. It was slightly warmer and I opened my eyes.

“Open your eyes, Annie.”

A gasp left her mouth. “Who would’ve known that inside something so deadly was this?”

“Tell me about it.”

“So I take it Plucky wasn’t over exaggerating when he said you two didn’t always get along.”

“Nope, we only recently made peace, that was how bad it was.”

“Elle, I don’t know what his dark side was like, but that, that is the dragon I remember.”

“It slightly differs from the one I knew, it’s hard to trust it.”

“What do you mean hard?”

“He despised me Annie, even after I discovered I was his rider. I could’ve sworn there were times he actually wanted to kill me. Kept begging me to set him free.”

“What?” There was pure horror in her tone.

“It doesn’t matter.” I sighed as I realized she was his cousin. She only remembered great things about him and that he’d healed her freaking eye. What kind of person did that?

“Was he really as dark as Quitto?”

“I didn’t know how dark Quitto really was. So I can’t tell you. But he was quite deep, almost took me with him.”

“You almost became dark?”

“Yes, it’s seriously freaky shit how we are connected to one another. There are even times when I miss his voice in my head, can you believe that? But,” I sighed. “It’s not like that between us, he has a girlfriend back at the academy.”

“What?” she asked.

I just giggled.

“It’s fine, he doesn’t want me like that. It’s like a brother and sisterhood bond we share.”

“I don’t believe that.”

“Are you blind, we keep on fighting over stupid stuff?”

“My mom and dad used to fight over stupid stuff too, Elena, it’s normal.”

“You’ll see what I mean. It’s not like that and I don’t think it will ever be.”

“Then he sure is an idiot. You are the best and bravest girl I’ve ever known.”

I giggled as the Creeper’s noises started to grow louder again and light started to seep through.

“It is really daylight on the other side, isn’t it?”

“Yeah,” I said.

“It’s a good thing,” she stated.

“I hope so,” I said. “Now close your eyes.”

She did and I walked into the opening and picked up my pace again as they hissed behind me.

There was yellow masking tape everywhere and small tents were set up. One was really big and it reminded me of a royal tent, the other two were not so large.