The Dragon King's Servant

Chapter Thirteen: The Journal

It was a twenty five minute drive back to her house. Melanie liked how Lucian held her, it wasn't a hard or forced hold. He held her in a way that made her feel like she belonged to him. It hadn't even been a full day and for some reason she felt like she was gravitating toward him. Like she was a planet floating in space and he was a bright red sun, pulling her closer. She enjoyed the feeling.

Lucian looked at the buildings and forests that past by as they drove through the city. The architecture and layout was different from anything he had seen. The smells and sounds were different. As they pulled into the driveway and parked outside of the garage, Melanie stopped abruptly. 

"Is everything alright?" He asked.

"I...umm...yeah, kinda." She sighed, gesturing to the silver sedan that was parked off to the side. "My mother is home."

"Your mother? This is a wonderful opportunity then." He swung himself off the scooter and headed for the front door. Melanie kicked the kickstand into place before running after him. 

"Lucian. You don't know my mom, she is...a bit..."
Before she could finish her sentence, the door opened and her foster mother walked out.

Sally Rivers was a healthy looking woman with short brown hair that blended well with her sand colored uniform and green pants. A pair of patches at her shoulders read 'Clearwater forest park ranger' as did the badge on her chest.

"Oh my!" She shrieked when she noticed Lucian standing in her driveway. Beside him stood Melanie who had a worried expression on her face. 

"My word. You startled me. Sorry, didn't mean to shout like that." Sally said. 

"My apologies ma'am. I did not mean to startle you." Lucian replied. 

Sally was taller than Melanie but only by a few inches. She still had to look up to meet him in the eyes.

"Mel sweetie?" Sally asked. "Who is your friend?" 

"Mom, this is uh...Lucian. Lucian, meet my mom." 

"A pleasure to meet you Mrs. Rivers." Lucian outstretched his hand to which Sally slipped hers inside. "I have heard good things about you from your daughter." 

Sally looked up at him and smiled. 
"I sure hope it has been good things." 

"Only the very best, Mrs. Rivers"

"What are you doing home?" Melanie asked, still surprised that her mom was home at all considering it was nearly a forty-five minute drive to the ranger station.

"Oh, I left my belt and gear here this morning so I had to run and get it." She narrowed her eyes and smirked at Melanie. "What have you been doing all morning. Or should I be asking what will you be doing all morning?" 

"Mom!" Melanie blushed.

"I'm just teasing." Sally winked and stepped out of the doorway. "But seriously. Be careful and use pro-"
"Oh my God! Please!" 

Sally broke out laughing as she jumped into her car waving goodbye before she pulled out. Melanie watched her drive around the corner and then once she was out of sight, waited a few more seconds before going inside. 

"Your mother seemed nice." Lucian said as he walked in. 

"Oh she is very nice. She grew up in the north and her hospitality skills are through the roof. Almost too much."

Lucian looked over the main floor living room. It had a large brown sectional couch set on wheat colored carpet. A large television sat against the opposite wall upon an even larger entertainment center filled with movies. Across from that was an oak table with four chairs around it. Draped across the surface was a glossy green cloth. 

"C'mon. My room is up in the attac." Melanie said as she walked up thr stairs. 'Is this really happening?' She wondered to herself as she ascended the stairs. Glancing behind her she smiled, making sure that Lucian was still there as though if she didn't, he might disappear all together.

Lucian watched her beautifully shaped buttocks as it shifted with each step. He wanted to reach out and grab it but the gentleman inside him forbade such action. As they reached the landing, she walked up a set of stairs in between the rooms which opened out into a small room all of her own.

Lucian had not expected her living area to be as large as his but he had anticipated it being at least as spacious as the servant quarters in his palace. Walking up from the step he stood up hitting his head on the slanted ceiling. 

"Oh! Are you okay?" She giggled.

"I'm fine." He replied, rubbing his head and keeping low to avoid the top of the ceiling which was a few inches too low for him. Melanie hadn't noticed how short her ceiling was until Lucian had to bend to avoid scraping his scalp along the top. 

"H-Here, have a seat." She patted the bed. 

Lucian sat on the bed which was less than comfortable and far less conforming to the body than his was. As he stretched out his legs, his feet touched the dresser. Melanie furrowed her brows, noticing how short the space between the bed and dresser was. As she took a long look at her room, she paused.

"Lucian?" She asked. "Can you go sit in the chair over there? Please?" 

He got off the bed and walked hunched, as he went over to the table which took him all of five strides to do. Upon sitting in the chair, the hinges of the seat squeaked and protested his weight. Lucian stood back up, afraid that the chair might break beneath him if he sat in it fully.

Glancing over at Melanie he noticed a shocked expression on her face as though she had just realized something devastating.

"Ms. Rivers? Are you alright?" 

"I...uh...yeah, I just never really thought of my room as small." She sat down on her bed and looked around her room with fresh eyes. The ceiling looked sloped and short. The space from her bed to the wall was even shorter. It all seemed so much more when she had woken up that morning. 

"It does seem-" he looked around the room, "-a bit less than what I had anticipated."

"I'm sure your room is massive." She replied. 

"Well yes, but even the room of my staff is bigger than this."

"How much bigger?" She asked.

Lucian gave it a good thought before answering, "approximately the size of that first room we walked into."

Melanie's mouth fell open in surprise. 'His servant's rooms are the size of my living room? What the hell does his bedroom look like then?' She wondered. 

"So what did you want to show me?" He asked.

"Huh? Oh yes-" she reached down and snagged the first black notebook and set it on the edge of her bed. 'Even my bed is tiny' she realized as Lucian sat across from her. He picked up the book and opened the first page. He read through it fully, ensuring he captured each word.

Melanie sat anxiously as he read through her journal. Every page was personal thoughts that no one, not even Kelly had looked upon. 

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