Heart of the Dragon

Chapter 3: Morning Start and an Adventure Begins

Thoughts

"Speech"

Adora passed the rest of the night reading books from her collection. Over time her collection had grown so large that her parents let her have the basement as her own personal library. The basement was huge given that her parents owned a very large home on the outskirts of Timberland City. The basement had gone unused since her parents had bought it before her birth seventeen years ago. Now the basement is home to her all of her collections, which included an impressive amount of books. She particularly enjoyed classic literature and loved to buy antique hardbacks which most of her collection is comprised of . By the time morning came around, Adora had halfway finished Bram Stoker's Dracula and had started to feel hungry. Deciding it was time to start her day, she placed the book in its proper spot and headed upstairs to get dressed.

Heading upstairs to her room Adora started to think of where she wanted to go for the day and what she should wear. Finally settling on a trip to the city library Adora was left wondering on what to wear. Once she made up her mind, she decided to dress for comfort. Adora pulled out a dark pair of jeans, her favorite grey shirt that had a white rose and red splatters, and her black high top converses. When she was done she picked up her purse and headed back down to the kitchen.

Lets see what's for breakfast. Thought Adora as she rummaged through the refrigerator. Deciding to take advantage of her parents being away she started pulling out the ingredients for breakfast done her way. Steak and eggs with a twist, the twist being the steak was still raw. Whenever Adora had gone through a shift she always found she felt starved for one thing, raw meat. This is something considered odd to most people so usually she ended up having to either go hunting in dragon form in the forest or waiting for her parents to leave. Taking a deep breath she found herself enjoying the smell of her meal. While animal blood smelled good to her human blood smelled absolutely repulsive. She could not for the life of her understand why so many tennagers had an obsession with vampires and becomming blood drinkers. Really, do people not smell how bad the odor is? Even if it is coming from a small scratch on someone's arm , it's just...ewww!

When she was done with her meal Adora cleaned the kitchen up and wondered if she should make a call to her boss to make sure he did not need her to come in before she headed out. Adora worked for the same man her parents did, Dr. John Renfield, owner and operator of Renfield Medical Research and Development Labs. Her parents are Dr. Renfield's top medical researchers and close friends, well family really. It was not odd for her to be left in the care of Dr. Renfield while her parents were away, which was often before she was old enough to look after herself. He is like a second father to Adora and he loves her as such, especially since he never married or had children of his own. Adora always found it strange that the man she calls "Uncle John" never married. He is a kind and very loving man who lacks a hateful bone in his body. He is a christian man and an advocate of mutant equality to boot.

Whenever her parents start arguing about how much trouble mutants are it always makes her tense and uneasy. If he was in the room he would always give them a kind word of rebuttal. Stating how all people are God's children and should be treated as such, mutant or not. As much as my parents claim to be christians they can really be haters sometimes. Afterwards, he would always find a reason for her to come to his office and help with something or other. While she was there he would always talk about how being a mutant did not make a person bad, only what they did with those powers could. How we should never judge someone based on their abilities or looks. He believes that God created everyone with a purpose and that some must need some special gifts to complete God's purpose.

At one time Adora would only tune her uncle out because she felt like some child receiving another lecture. Ever since she discovered her abilities, however, she started to take his ideas to heart. Now looking back it seems as if he was not lecturing her on mutants in general, but talking to her about her own abilities. Like he was looking right into her mind while he was speaking. That's impossible, I never told him or even hinted at being a mutant. Either that old man knows something or he is really big on making poetic speeches. No matter how bad a situation got, he alway made her feel safe and calm. He did not just have that effect on her, no matter who he came in contact with he would always be able to relate or diffuse a tense situation.

'

Picking up her phone she dialed her uncle's cellphone number. After three rings and kind voice answered. "Hello, Dr. John Renfield speaking" "Good morning Uncle John," Adora greeted with a cheerful voice of her own. "Benny! How are you this morning? Enjoying your time off?"

"Uncle John, do you always have to call me that?"

She half heartedly groaned at the man. "I am not three anymore, you know." John was the only person in the world who could get away with that pet name and not be given a black eye. Adora's middle name is Bennett, which means little blessed one, and was often a teasing point for the bullies at school. Her Uncle John adored it and always called her "Benny" for as far back as she could remember. "I know it but you will always be my little Benny no matter how old you get. Now you did not answer my question young lady. How is your vacation going?" Adora rolled her eyes at the 'young lady' bit then answered. "It's fine Uncle John. Are you sure you want me to take off this week? I know my parents are out of town but I can still come in and work the office and file room. I don't understand why you wanted me to take some of my vacation days now."

Hearing a sigh from the other end of the line Adora waited for her uncle's response. "Adora, I know you love your parents but I also know that you always seem tense when you are around them. I have noticed it more and more over the past couple of years and I don't know what caused it. If it was serious I know you would come talk to me about it so I just figured you could take some days off while they are gone and just relax and be yourself for a few days." Feeling a little remorse about questioning him when he was just looking out for her she apologizes to him.

" I'm sorry Uncle John, I didn't mean to sound ungrateful. I should know by now that you are always just looking out for me." "It's alright sweetheart, I know you do not like to be babied but I just thought you could use a break. Now what are your big plans for the day. Anything exciting planned?" Smiling, Adora knows what his response will be to her plans. "Well,I was thinking about heading out to the library if you did not need me to come in today. Then head out for coffee and scones afterwards."

Her plans were met with laughter. "Haha! Don't you ever get tired of reading? I thought you owned every book ever written anyway in that library of yours."

"No I do not own every book ever made! You will certainly not find a copy of the Twilight books in my library." Adora said laughing. "Besides, it beats staying in or working all day." Still chuckling, her uncle was thinking what she said over. "You know what? You are right, in fact I think I will join you!" "What? You can't ditch work Uncle John, you own the company!"

"Yep, right again. I own the company so I can bail if I want. Besides, the materials for my next project have not come in yet and I do not have any paperwork or anything else to do. It's all caught up because of the bossy young lady who does my filing and keeps me on schedule, so I will meet you at your house to pick you up in about an hour." Sighing halfheartedly Adora knows there is no talking him out of something once his mind is set. For a man that runs a multi-million dollar research and development company and make poetic speeches he sure can act like a child. "Ha. Ha very funny. See you in an hour Uncle John. I love you." "I love you too, Benny. See you soon." Hanging up her phone, Adora got herself ready to go. Completely unaware of the events that were about to take place. Events that would change her life and possibly bring new friends, allies and enemies as well.