Homesick Book 2. The Secrets of Blackthorn Manor

Tea with Dragons

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Chapter Six

Tea with Dragons

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Adrian struggled to get through his day with his mind on his tasks. Today was the day he would finally be seeing the Iliescus's and hopefully, get some answers. His week had... not been fun.

His lawyer had stayed for not one, but three hours to go over that bloody contract along with a whole host of other documents that Adrian needed to sign in order to get clearance from the council. It had been a truly soul-sucking experience, but Addison wanted to make sure they did absolutely everything old school and to the letter. Every box they ticked was one extra hurdle the council would have to clear if they wanted to prevent Adrian from taking the job.

And try they did.

It couldn't have been more than a couple of hours after Addison left with the signed documents did Peters come in with an official council letter, magic residue still oozing off it. Apparently, he was of such great interest to them, that they had sent the letter via magic instead of waiting for the bloody postman to deliver it the normal way. He supposed he should feel special. The letter was an extra-long, extra dense, extra boring document that basically commanded Adrian to remain in his abode until they could confirm his application which would involve another meeting with his personal psychologist for a psychiatric evaluation.

Assholes.

They made him sound like a nuclear bomb that could go off at any minute. He couldn't decide what was worse, the constant harassment from the council, or the terrifying fact that he wasn't sure they were wrong. He didn't feel stable, not that he was stupid enough to admit that to anyone else. Hells, he didn't even like to admit that to himself in the silence of his own mind.

He was desperate for answers. About his family, about himself, hells, he didn't even really know much about what Owethu did when he disappeared. It was like being a child again but without all the fun of childhood naivety or the ability eat his bodyweight in chocolate without being sick.

'How was work?' Adrian said dully as Owethu walked in. The naga raised an eyebrow. The man wasn't one for small talk. If Adrian let him, Owethu could comfortably go an entire day barely speaking a full sentence. With no Daniel or Lyndall around, the huge house was left silent and soulless even with its current occupants. For Adrian, that was just too depressing. Not when he came from a family where his little sister was constantly singing, his father was often mumbling to himself with his nose in a book and his mother talking in a flow of language into her phone as she organised this donation or that local event. Blackthorn Manor had always been a place of sound and activity. Now it was just... existing. Like Adrian.

'It was adequate,' Owethu replied. It was adequate. Seriously, how was Adrian supposed to work with that?

'No one died then?' Adrian asked, only half joking. He knew firsthand that the humans that worked in the naga headquarters were paid handsomely and signed detailed contracts to cover the very real possibility of death on the premises.

'No.'

'Had many meetings?'

'Yes.'

Adrian sighed. 'Alright. I give up. Can you sort yourself out for dinner tonight? The Iliescus' will be here at seven.'

That got a reaction from the naga. A low, deadly hiss rumbled up from deep in the man's chest. 'The dragons are coming here?'

Adrian raised an eyebrow. 'Considering I might get arrested for leaving the property, yes. They are coming here. It would have been great to visit them at their home but that doesn't look like it's going to be possible.'