Endangered Ch. 03

Gingerly, Lillian reached over and lowered her useless hand into the few inches of chilled crimson, breathing a sigh as it provided some relief. In her other hand she held her fourth bag, sipping from it, the blood's rejuvenating effects somewhat countered by the onset of bloat from having recently glugged it down.

"Are you going to be alright?" Susan asked tentatively, leaning against a fridge door across the way. It had been downright terrifying to be so close to the vampire, while she had screamed for blood. Her intake had been voracious. What would happen if the fridge ran out?

Under normal circumstances, the smell of Susan's fear would excite her. Lillian, however, only sighed and burped; she must be a right mess, covered in blood. Glancing first around the kitchen, she then turned to look grimly over at the witch. "Yes, I'll be fine in a while. You don't have to worry about me biting you. I'm stuffed." A slight sense of euphoria had begun grow as her hand throbbed painfully. It had begun to heal, submerged in the pool of blood. "There had better be a damn good explanation for this," she added grimly.

"There isn't," Susan replied, "he's put an enchantment on her, somehow. I've never seen anything like it. I suspect he meant it to protect her. It must have lashed out when you touched her."

"How did that happen? You said he couldn't use magic," Lillian snapped, narrowing her eyes.

They were both in shock, she realized too late; she needed to maintain her discipline, remain calm.

"I said he hasn't used magic," Susan snapped back, "He's never cast a spell in his life until now." She snorted. "The first one he tries, almost wipes him out. It's the dragon. Chris wouldn't know how to place an enchantment like that."

"You talk about them like they're two different Beings." Lillian groaned under her breath from a fresh onset of sensations, as newly-regenerated muscles and ligaments began to knit together.

"One Being. Two sides," Susan clarified. "Just like you have a human side and a vampiric side. Sometimes you're talking to Chris, sometimes a dragon."

"You know I have to report this." Lillian pulled her hand out of the blood briefly to inspect the progress. The blackened layers of skin were gone. Raw nerves burned from within the fresh layer of sub-dermis, exposed to air without an outer protective layer of skin yet generated, to cover them.

Susan wasn't squeamish as a rule, but the vampire's healing hand looked unnaturally gruesome: myriad growing tissues writhed as they absorbed the blood. She had felt relief after it was once again submerged. Looking away, she noted the state of the kitchen. Spattered blood, ripped bags littered and dripped across the nearby counters and floor. She chuckled almost maniacally. What a mess. They hadn't even been here for a full day. The statement about making a report swam back into focus.... The vampire didn't grasp the situation at all.

"Report?" Susan exclaimed. "Every Being with any magical sensitivity within 200 miles of here felt that! The Synod will be having a fucking emergency phone conference as we speak. I should have known this wouldn't stay quiet. What's Lady Narlakis going to do now?"

"I can only guess," Lillian said honestly if still a bit sharply, despite attempts to infuse her voice with calm. "She wants him for herself, so she'll protect him. She'll be tempted; but I doubt she'll make a direct play to take him from you. You know how she is, no?"

"Yes, I know. Will you help me?" Susan had sensed the edge in Lillian's voice; nevertheless, she could really use a friend in this.

"I already am." Lillian attempted to smile, before wincing again as she tried moving her fingers. "I hate that elf more than you can imagine; but we have a blood pact, I'm bound to her."

"Really?" Blood pacts were a particularly powerful bond, very rare these days. "How?"

"I was young and greedy," Lillian admitted. "Stupid, too."

"How will you help us, then?" Susan pressed on. "Wait, what did she give you in return?"

Firmly, Lillian disciplined herself to become calm, to relax through the pain of her healing hand and the excitement of the last few minutes. "I'll run whatever diversions I can, while you get him on his feet. It won't be much, but anything to fuck with Reyla sounds great. In the end though, I do what she tells me." She flexed, grimaced, and continued. "Perhaps I'll just do exactly that. None of my own thinking or reporting helpful little insights." It might actually be enough to throw the Drow off a little. She looked at Susan with a serious, steady gaze. "Ultimately though, Susan, Reyla isn't your enemy. You just need to watch out for your dragon until he and the lady settle into their relationship."

"Yes, I'm relying on Reyla to protect him. Well, I'm relying on you; I just don't want her claws in him this early. He needs to be independent." If only they could make her see past Chris's value as simply an item for her collection.... If Reyla befriended him, she would have his loyalty without his resentment. "Hey, what about your part of the blood pact?"

"Well, I can do this." Using her power, she lifted Susan slightly, suspending her a scant inch off of the ground.

"Oh! What's –? Put me down!" Weightlessness was a disconcerting feeling; Susan wanted none of it.

At the sound of her shriek, Lillian hastily released her. Once back on the ground Susan felt a bit embarrassed; she heard Lillian chuckle and waited a few seconds, regaining composure before continuing.

"You're telekinetic. That's very powerful for a vampire."

"Yeah, pretty cool huh?" was Lillian's slightly sarcastic rejoinder, wincing again during a particularly painful few seconds' healing.

"Not at your price. I appreciate your help though; I'll need all I can get, to keep him safe. If you're okay I'll go check on them again, just don't touch Annabel again until we know how this enchantment works."

"I'm almost done healing," Lillian looked up at Susan's retreating form. "And yeah, I'm not touching the girl with a broomstick; it would explode. Be careful, you can't heal like I do," she added, surprising herself with a sudden, almost sisterly twinge of concern for the witch. Just then her pocket started buzzing; it was her cellphone. Probably Reyla.

Susan had stopped and turned in the doorway to listen.

Lillian gave her an approving nod as she pulled out the phone. "Yes, Reyla," she answered. "You felt that? Yes, Susan said he put an enchantment on the girl.... I have no idea, I'm not a witch.... No, she's legally his familiar now.... No, I can't, I have my hand in a sink full of blood because it almost got burned off when I tried to touch her.... No, they both passed out.... Fine, I'll come see you in half an hour.... No, it's been quite a busy afternoon, my Lady.... Fine, I'll turn the bugs on before I leave.... No I'm not feeling rebellious, it's just my hand.... Yes.... Yes, I'll be fine.... Goodbye."

"So?"

"She felt it. I think she's actually a little scared. I have to go report to her soon and boot up the surveillance system before I go. She's pissed I didn't do it to begin with."

"What kind of system?"

"Video and sound in all the rooms. There's no getting around it, really. You should look for your own accommodations as soon as possible; although for the time being, this is very secure. I recommend you don't tell Chris and Annabel; they might accidentally give me away," Lillian reasoned.

"Thank you, it means a lot that you'll help me." Susan looked at the bloodstained vampire in a new, more friendly light.

"Eh," Lillian smiled, flashing fang. "This is the most exciting thing since that unicorn lost it and rampaged through half the magic district. Wish I could have avoided this, though," she flashed her a half-hearted grin, turning back to her healing hand in the sink.

***

Reyla observed the witch, Susan, via the now-activated window on her tablet's screen. Lillian had finally powered up the surveillance system a few minutes ago, just as Reyla had ended a lengthy phone conversation with the rather relieved Synod. They'd been quite perplexed, upon first receiving the field reports. That the newly discovered dragon had been the source of such a powerful spell, added more fuel to the proverbial gossip fire. Maginet was probably already abuzz with speculation about its significance. Reyla would have avoided such publicity at all costs; the more tongues wagged, the harder it would be to keep the dragon for her own purposes. Already, the Synod had put plans in motion to meet with Lord Guthrie face-to-face; they'd arranged for a jet to take Chris to Europe in a few days. Meanwhile, they would be 'advising' her on his care and education, 'checking in regularly'.

Usually quick to assess, judge, and devise a cunning plan, Reyla, was at a loss. In truth, she had no idea what to do with her unique, young Being.

"My Lady." Lillian interrupted Reyla's musing, entering quietly into her lavish, darkened office.

"You look a mess, Lillian." Reyla noted the blood smeared across the vampire's face, neck, and arms, matting her brown hair in places, and staining her top.

"Yes. I consumed quite a lot, used even more on my hand." She displayed it for Reyla's review, fleshed-out and covered with new pink skin.

"What of the dragon?"

"Can't you see for yourself?" Lillian gestured toward the tablet resting in Reyla's lap.

"He's just lying there. He's human again. The witch is watching him."

"Then you know as much as I do," said the vampire.

"Well. Go back and protect him," Reyla commanded imperiously. "Now that everyone knows there's a youngling dragon up for grabs, I would be surprised if someone didn't try something. Use that bear-man you like for extra muscle, if you require." She sniffed. "There will be a trip to London in a few days but you'll have Synod approval. No one will touch you there. In the meantime report to me daily. I don't want any more upsets, Lillian."

"Yes, my Lady," purred Lillian. She narrowed her eyes, calculating.... The elf seemed rattled. Time to push some buttons. "You have no idea what you're doing, do you?"

"Enough!" Reyla hissed, "I've had enough of your insolence. Get out."

"Sorry, my Lady," Lillian intoned insincerely, and turned to go.

Reyla's smiling riposte suddenly demanded her to attend. "Oh Lillian, how do you find him? Is his blood irresistible? Will you be able to control yourself?" Her tone of voice reflected Lillian's earlier insincerity. Touché.

"It's hard, my Lady." Lillian turned back, choosing to respond honestly this time, and gave her a smile to match, albeit a blood-spattered one. "But I'll manage. Perhaps, you should be more concerned about yourself. I know I am."

Filling her next words with arcane power, eyes flashing, Reyla barely contained her temper. "You will not taste him, you may not drink his blood, nor may you even touch him. I forbid it."

"I had no intent." The vampire smirked, quietly triumphant, "Perhaps you're projecting – "

"Out!" screeched the midnight elf.

Lillian spun around and strode out, hiding her amusement at having reached her ladyship's limit. She had just unwittingly made Lillian's life easier. Such an order, issued through their blood pact, would now make the dragon easier to resist.

Reyla resumed her gaze at the surveillance window on-screen. After only a short time had passed, however, she could barely keep from throwing it against the wall, so frustrated had she become by the inactivity. This could become one of her greatest moments, and yet it had equal potential to be her downfall. After a single meeting, she had him deeply secured under her skin; such a temptation. His power and innocence only added to his allure, calling to her darkest desires for control, manipulation, and even enslavement. Perhaps, she mused, she should just fuck him and be done with it. It was probably a bad idea though; she wouldn't be able to resist binding him once he had penetrated her, his powerful body locked within the grip of her arms and legs. No. The Synod wouldn't take kindly to that....

Besides, the magical wake of the dragon's spell was the largest since the recent update to Maginet security two years ago. And that had taken roughly 150 mages to create, working together. What exactly was this dragon capable of?

She reassessed: the political advantage alone was immense. She wouldn't waste it by enslaving him with trickery or magic. She wouldn't squander this opportunity. Instead, she would train him, nurture him, and develop him into a powerful instrument. It would likely take centuries.... But it would be worth it, and he would be grateful. Who knows? He might prove to be her equal, her match. Lurking beneath his timid, boyish nature, she'd glimpsed a dragon that might become one who would eventually tame her. There she went, daydreaming like she was only a few centuries old again. This dragon was already too dangerous.

***

Annabel's eyelids fluttered as she came around, sitting up suddenly. She remembering Chris almost crushing her, energy flowing around her, through her. He was lying on the couch next to her now, She found herself sitting on the couch at the other end, leaning against an armrest. He lay nearby, human again. No more wings, no more purple or creamy skin, no more claws. He looked slightly smaller.

"Please don't move, Annabel," Susan spoke softly from the opposite couch.

"Susan? What's going on? Is Chris sleeping?" Annabel whispered, not wanting to wake her boyfriend.

Susan sighed. She had watched her for the last hour as her son's spell continued its work, only just detectable beneath the surface of her aura, but definitely there. "He's passed out, Annabel. Look, I don't know what's going on, but just stay calm and don't touch anything. He somehow put an enchantment on you during the ceremony. It was really powerful; and now he's wiped out."

"What the hell.... What kind of enchantment? Wait, why can't I touch anything?"

"I'm sorry honey, but after it happened you were both unconscious. Lillian tried to check if you were okay and got a really bad burn when she touched you."

"What?! Is she okay? Why would it do that? " her voice had raised but it didn't seem to have any impact on Chris.

"She'll be fine, she used blood to heal quickly. I think it's a protective enchantment, that's the only thing that makes sense, Annabel. Perhaps it sensed she was a vampire and lashed out at her. Do you feel any different? Did you feel anything strange before you fainted?"

"Yes!" Annabel exclaimed. "It felt like something went through me, like an electric shock. He was holding me so tightly I couldn't breathe, digging his claws in by my shoulder. Can you check if I need a BandAid, please?" She pulled down her dress's collar so Susan could see, twisting to look at her shoulder at the same time.

They both just gaped for several seconds. There was a dragon on her shoulder, straight out of a medieval tale or a story book, only purple. Such a beautiful tattoo. Susan got off the couch to have a closer look. The fine, indelible detail, so lifelike it could only have been done by magic, was etched into her skin atop her registration number; its tail twining around the last few digits. It looked about three inches long: a miniature purple dragon with wings and a flexible tail, tiny white spikes at the end, modelled after Chris's full dragon form.

"Is that what Chris will look like, when he goes all the way?" Annabel asked, she was pulling her left shoulder forward with her other hand, trying to get a better look.

"Yes. I think so," Susan replied, inching closer still. "Only bigger, but I think that's his full dragon form." It was probably just Annabel pulling her skin tighter, and yet Susan could have sworn she saw the tiny dragon's chest rising and falling gently.

"He's beautiful," cooed Annabel, happy Chris had taken the effort to make her ugly tattoo more personal to the two of them.

The tattoo dragon lifted its arrowhead-like snout on his flexible neck to look up at Annabel. The women screamed. Susan fell back onto the couch clutching her pounding chest, experiencing a fright worse than when Chris had showed her some shock site on the internet. Annabel kept screaming as the startled miniature dragon took off, galloping across her skin to find cover under her dress.

There was a warm, crawly tickle as it scuttled down her back, coming to a stop near her hip. This felt way too much like having a bug on her skin. "Get it off! Get it off! Get it off meeeee!" she wailed, frozen in place, hoping it would stop moving .

Susan was dumbstruck, trying to reconcile what she had seen while getting her breathing back under control.

"Susan!" Annabel pleaded, "I can feel it, get it off me!"

" Annabel, I ... I don't think I can. I've never seen anything like it." Susan tried to calm.

"What do you mean? What is it?" Annabel panicked.

"I mean I've never seen anything like it. Just hold still and see what does," she said as she approached again. "Where is it?"

"Down by my left hip. It's quivering, I can feel it! Oh my god what is it, Susan?" repeated Annabel.

"Honey, I think it's Chris's enchantment, the physical representation of it anyway. It looks like a moving tattoo, a cartoon on your skin. Can you lift up your dress so I can see?"

"Okay okay!" Annabel tried to gather courage before she slowly inched one side of her light blue dress up over her thighs, panties, and finally her tummy. "Can you see it?" She asked.

"Oh my ... yes, it's alive." Susan stared, enchanted by its lifelike beauty. "Annabel; he looks scared."

"It's scared?! What about me?" she hissed, "I'm the one it's crawling all over! We don't even know what it is."

"It's okay Annabel, he won't hurt you," Susan started to reach out to the dragon, intent on calming it but it took off up Annabel's chest, under her bra and up her neck. She screamed again, clawing after it as it moved, chasing it off her neck and down her arm. Cornering it. Annabel finally got a decent look at it as it made a stand on the back of her hand; nowhere else to run. They stared at each other for a full minute, mini cartoon dragon and young woman. Finally Annabel brought her other hand forward slowly, placing a single finger about an inch away from him. "What are you?" She breathed.

The dragon inched forward, skulking like a cat on all fours, his wings pressed against his back, and nuzzled her finger gently. A tingly warmth slowly spread from her finger, across her hand.

"Amazing," Susan breathed as Annabel grew bolder, lifting her finger to stroke down the tiny dragon's back.

"Oh my God, he's purring!" Annabel chirped, her outlook about the lively tattoo completely flipped as. The dragon arched and wiggled under her touch, clearly enjoying the attention. Her heart melted instantly. He looked so real, she tried to scoop him up with her other hand, as if he was more than a tattoo. But when she looked, there he lay, now on his back in the palm of her hand, creamy belly exposed as his legs kicked in the air. "He's beautiful, but Susan, how is this possible?"