Finding The Red Dragon

A Mystery Man

"Tired?" Sal sat on the lounge chair next to Ella. "Yes. How are they all still going?" "You want me to answer that?" "No. I do want you to answer me on something else though." Ella turned in her chair to face him.

"What is that?" "That man you were talking to earlier, by the pool, who was he?" Sal tilted his head and looked at her, like he was thinking.

"Which guy?" Sal was clearly thinking. "He was tall, dark...you know what, I am tired of explaining him over and over." She stood up and walked over to the spot he was earlier.

"You were standing right here. He was standing right here. You both had champagne and were talking, it looked serious, then he looked up, saw me, and both of you disappeared by the time I got here." She put her hands on her hips.

"How much have you had to drink?" Sal stood and walked to her. "A lot, but not enough for you to lie to me." "I talked to a lot of people today Ella." "You know who I am talking about. The only one here that no one here seems to know. He has dark brown hair and it almost touches the collar on his black suit. He is taller than you and you told me earlier you did not know who he was." She was hot as she stood over him.

"Can I just say you are incredibly sexy when you are angry." "Solveig!" "Ok, yes, I know him. Why?" "Because..." She paused, wait, he knew him! "Because he keeps staring at me and I want to know why. I have seen him do it like eight times, but I can never find him. He just disappears!"

"He thinks you are beautiful." Sal shrugged as he pulled out another bottle of beer. "That's not why." "It is. He said that you are the most beautiful woman he has ever laid his eyes upon." "Do not tease me Sal, I will cut you." "I have no reason to tease you." "Then who is he?" "Someone I grew up with." "His name?" "Mark." "Mark?" "Yep." "Sal." She growled.

"How about we dance?" Sal put down the beer. "Only if you tell me about Mark." "Why do you want to know?" "Because it's in my bones to know everything." "And?" "Because...I do not want to tell you." "Tell me why, then I will tell you what I know." She gave him a look, then sighed. "Come on." She held out her hand and he took it.

"Why Tanwen, I would love to dance, thank you." Sal walked with her to the dancefloor. "I feel it when he is looking at me. And when our eyes meet, I get goosebumps. Earlier, he touched my lower back, and it was like...why are you grinning at me?" She growled at Sal.

"Because you are breathtaking." "Sal! Stop changing the subject." She groaned as he pulled her in closer to him and she started to fight, but he spoke softer.

"Go to the edge of the house. Do not turn around, just face the crowd." "What?" "You want to meet him?" "Yes." "Then do it." Sal let her go and disappeared through the crowd. She was going to need a vacation after today.

Standing at the corner of the house, darkness was staring to creep across the lawn and she felt the cool of the approaching shadows. Thankfully, Allan had bright lights set up too keep the party going into the night. It was crazy how many people were still here going strong.

Someone cleared their throat behind her, and she jumped. She knew it was him by the way the hair stood on the back of her neck. "I heard you wanted to meet me." The deep voice whispered. "I did. Figured I needed to meet the man that has been staring at me all day but has been too shy to approach me." She smiled.

"Not shy, unsure." "Of me?" "Yes." "Why?" "The center of two worlds, dragons and wolves, everyone is watching you." "Including you." "Yes. I am not ready to reveal myself to them." "Reveal? What are you Dracula?" "Vampires are not real." "Are you sure, because I just learned witches are, and that was the last straw, I believe everything."

"Not without proof. You are a researcher." His voice was so smooth, like silk. "You know that?" "I know everything." "About me?" "Yes." "How?" "I listen." "So, what you are saying is, you are a stalker?" "Hardly." "What is your name?" "You have already heard it." "Do you always talk in riddles?" "For now." She could hear his smile and it caused her to smile in return.