Dragon Rider

Chapter 9

When Laria is due to arrive back at the school, I make my way to the transporter pad, so I can meet her. Arriving five minutes before papa said Laria would arrive, so I do not miss her when she arrives.

"Hello, Larken," River says after approaching me after boarding his Dragon. "Waiting for your sister?"

Nodding at him with a small smile; "Yeah, she should be here any minute now."

"That is cool," he smiles with a small nod. "See you in Instructional in the morning."

"You, too, Instructor Vincent," I softly reply before he moves off on his way to wherever he is heading.

"Larken?" papa's voice calls, snapping me from my thoughts of River's nice, shapely ass as he walks away from me.

"Papa, please do not take this the wrong way, but why are you and Afra here?" I ask in surprise that they are here with Laria.

"We came here to speak with you, to clear the air," papa answers with a teary smile.

"Papa," I start when Afra growls at me, making me look toward him with a deep frown, and a raised left eyebrow. "Do not fucking growl at me, Afra."

"I do not like the tone you are taking with Demitri," Afra growls back at me.

"How about I take a tone with you instead, Afra?" I snap with my eyebrows raised. "I had no tone with papa, but I sure as fuck will with you. Fuck you, and your fucking attitude toward me. All I was going to say to papa was that he and I are good. If you and I are going to be good with each other, it depends on you. I used this time here, I have decided to make amends with you, and try to make you proud of me like you are of Laria."

Papa looks at me proudly before his expression turns sour as he looks at Afra; "Why is he more mature at seventeen then you are? He took the time away from us to calm down, to think this over, and you could not do the same?"

Afra actually looks guilty and perhaps a little ashamed at papa's words. He chews on his lower lip as he nods his head slightly at papa.

"I am sorry, Demitri," he murmurs, shifting on his feet. "I did promise you I would try to make things right with Larken."

Afra turns his attention back to me; "I apologize for snapping at you, Larken. Perhaps the three of us should privately speak in your rest quarters?"

"That is fine," I reply with my frown still in place, and papa and Afra tell Laria that they love her, and that they will talk to her soon before the three of us head toward my quarters.

Laria looks nervous as we part ways, but we give her reassuring smiles, and once we arrive at my quarters, I let us inside with a soft sigh.

"Son, I just want to apologize for my words while you were home, and when we arrived here," Afra softly says once the door is closed, and he looks genuine. "My words are not true, and I deeply regret saying that to you. My words were not true, and I hope one day you can forgive me."

Swallowing thickly as I stare at him; "I appreciate your apology, and I accept this. I do apologize for my hurtful words toward you, too."

Afra accepts my apology, but I still feel uneasy, and I hope that one day soon this tension will go away sooner rather than later. Papa and Afra stay for another fifteen minutes before leaving to the transporter pad to head home. Grabbing my shower supplies and clean jammies. I head for the showers, and take a long, hot shower in hopes to relax my tense muscles. The hot water only relaxes my muscles slightly, so I hope I can sleep okay tonight.

"Hey Larken, can I speak with you for a moment?" Mercy requests as I leave the showers for my rest quarters.

"Sure, what is up?" I reply curiously as she walks next to me.

"Is everything alright with you and your parents?" she bluntly asks.

"We talked earlier when Laria arrived here earlier," I honestly reply. "I think over time, this will calm down, and as long as Afra stays true to his promise to me and papa."

She nods silently, and I appreciate that she does not comment further.

"Do you want to hangout after I place away my belongings?" I ask, trying to be friendly despite not wanting friends, but she will graduate this year.

"Really? You do not strike me as someone who hangs with others, or has friends?" Mercy replies.

Chuckling softly at her; "Yeah, you are right, but I figure why the hell not?"

"I do not understand you, but I will not push the subject," she answers as we reach my rest quarters, and she stays in the hallway as I place away my belongings.

"My reasoning is that I am here to learn, and not to have friendships," I answer, knowing that honesty is the best policy. "May be a horrible reason, but it is the truth."

"Understandable reasoning," she replies with a short nod. "That is actually a good reason, and not a bad idea. I do not have any friends here either."

"And I would wager that you do excellent in all your Instructionals, too?" I ask, thinking I know the answer already.

"You are correct," she replies with a nod of her head as I walk toward her, shutting the door behind me.

"Where to?" I ask her with a small smile, and she suggests we take our Dragons out for a ride together, and I agree to this.

We spend the next hour riding our Dragons together, and talking with each other. I can actually say it was a very enjoyable time with Mercy. I never thought I would actually enjoy spending time with someone instead of spending time alone.