the beggining

chapter 8

I couldn't help but let my jaw drop. Toby raised his eyebrows at me and I stared at him in shocked silence.

"That was the day I found out about night monsters. He shoved me behind him and exploded into a jaguar."

He paused laughing sadly,

"I didn't see that coming" he joked, I smiled. But his playful smile slowly disappeared as he continued.

"When the vampire had first saw me he stared at me like he was hungry, or I was some ancient gem or artefact. He was far away so we both were standing by the time we realised he was charging us..." his voice slowly got more solemn.

"I stepped closer to... Toby" he struggled with the name. "I tried to tell him to run. He gave me a loving look hugged me quickly then pushed me behind him and then he just... disappeared, a jaguar in his place.

I heard Toby's voice echoing in my mind 'I love you Drake, but now you need to run, never look back, remember our plan oka-' it had only taken those few seconds for the vampire to catch up when he jumped at Toby's neck. He roared in his jaguar form but I heard the panic in his voice telling me to run.

Through the pain I got up and ran as fast as I could away from the vampire, Toby, my home, everything. Never looking back like he told me". His eyes were focused on something in the distance, remembering the horrible story he was reciting.

I moved closer to Toby, the urge to hug and protect him was becoming almost unbearable, like how one might feel when they see a stray injured puppy; I forced it down with difficulty and carefully stroked his back making sure to avoid skin contact. I never liked seeing things in pain as stupid as it sounds. It was horrible, seeing Toby like this. He looked like he had just undergone some kind of mental torture, or was anticipating it. He was breathing heavily now. Not crying, but not about to either. He had shifted position so his cheek was resting on my collarbone. I gently placed my chin on top of his head my dark brown hair falling just over my shoulders and my bangs in my eyes, I blew them away impatiently. He laughed slightly and hugged me with gentle passion, breathing deeply through his nose

"you smell nice" he said

I laughed "thank you" I said smiling

"uh, If you don't mind me asking, do you wear perfume? what deodorant do you wear?"

"pardon?" I wanted to be less polite but I didn't want to be mean after what just happened

"oh sorry that's kinda private girl stuff right? Never mind". He said pulling away to sit up and face me

"Toby, its fine you can ask questions if you have them, here if you ask it means you're brave and intelligent. At least that how I see it'". I smiled at him.

He paused looking at me playfully

"so what kind do you wear? I mean I've never smelt anything like that before. It's like foresty, and minty. It reminds me of when I went camping in the woods and roasted marshmallows over a fire but Christmassy as well"

He looked at me puzzled "and something else..." clearly he was going to try to pinpoint it until he got it.

"I don't wear things like that" he cocked his head like a confused dog I laughed to myself.

"Never? But don't you...smell?"

"do you mean am I able to smell things or do I get body odour?"

It was his turn to laugh "body odour" he said

"Toby I'm a dragon, I don't sweat"

"but your still partly human right? Like you started as a girl and then went all... dragon?"

"well yes. I'm not fully sure how it works but, dragon shape shifters are different from regular ones. We have to get chosen because dragons are so powerful so only those who are chosen have the burden"

"why?"

"it's a long story"

"I have time" he said nicely.

I took a deep breath and started my long story "when I was first chosen to be a dragon I was ten years old. I made it through middle school and some of high school before it started to get to me. I kept it as a dark secret that no one could know about, I slipped up and almost told two different boys that I thought I would love forever. But each time I came to my senses and dropped the topic. Because I knew if they ever found out id have to kill them. If anyone ever found out they would need to die by my talons. I kept the secret from my family and friends only letting them know that I had a fascination with dragons. I always had anyway. I knew the supposed language and how the body worked and all that. I shared some secrets with my closest friends but only before I was one of them. I thought having them know the written language of dragons would be a fun secret language for note passing during school. The fact that they never bothered to learn it probably saved their lives. I never knew how much power I had until I unleashed it on someone".

"who?" he looked like the supposed small kid being read to by a grandparent. Hypothetically speaking he was on the edge of his seat with interest and suspense.

I struggled to continue to speak as the excrutiatingly painful memories came back to haunt and replay over and over in my mind. I felt the same empty void in my chest as it always did when I remembered what happened about a decade ago.

Tonby was still staring at me with interest. My eyes moved away from his to my bed sheets.

"my father" I said

hi guys thanks for reading my story :) i apreciate it a lot. let me know if you see any mistakes because i havent edited any of it really :/ anyway let me know what you think :) comment rate whatever and once again thanks for reading :)