The Story of the Dragon Keeper

Chapter 3

Ever since I was a child I felt I had a sort of power. I could feel what the dragons did, could do what they could do if I focused in on them. As I walked out of the school and into my car, I started to get a turning feeling in the pit of my stomach. That was the first sign of something wrong. I tried to ignore it but I did a little over the speed limit on my way home. I pulled into the driveway and heard a menacing roar, a roar that would only be used for warning off something else.

That was the second sign. But that sign scared me the most, the dragons never speak unless it's to play. It wasn't a playful roar. I ran through the house, tossing my things left to right and everything seemed to go in slow motion no matter how hard I tried to speed things up.

I felt like I was going to be sick, a gut wrenching feeling arose in the pit of my stomach again. Why couldn't I get there faster? I trampled down the steps, frantic and worried, like a mother without her child. That's what I was. We were family. After I made it to the ground, I pushed off on my dominate foot to sprint out into the woods.

Hopping and leaping over abandoned logs. My black and purple hair following behind me in a big gust. Finally, I made it to the stable doors and that's where I stopped, shocked.

I could smell the booze, that was a bad sign. He was here.. He never comes here. I head something topple over. "What the fuck! Goddamnit, Veronica! Where the fuck are you?!" I hear more stumbling. My heart skips a beat as I'm off again.

He can't hurt them, he can't hurt them.

I slam the doors open, "Daddy! I'm right here!" I try to slow my breathing so he thinks I was there the whole time. My face is flush as I run my fingers through my hair, finding it nappy and sweaty. My bright blue eyes flickered around the room with concern, looking to see anything amuck.

Fortunately, there was only a bunch of training equipment that had fallen. The dragons seemed fine as I walked, looking for my father. "You , bitch! Where were you?! After school you need to come straight fucking home! You hear me?!" He was approaching me, menacingly with a stomp.

"Yes, Daddy.. But I was only a few minutes late." My voice shook and I worriedly looked up at the 5'9 figure. Compared to my 5'3 height, he towered over me. His muscles shook from his anger.

I knew what was coming next, so I raised my chin and tried not to flinch. His arm outstretched to hit me across the cheek. I went down like a deer during hunting season. "A few minutes late. It doesn't matter how long, you were still LATE. You come home on time everyday, you hear me?!" I nodded but maybe he didn't see because he started to pound the lesson into me.

~~Lionel's POV~~

After a walk home, I step into the small abode that smells like cinnamon and it makes me smile. "Lionel? Sweetie? Is that you?" My mother must be in the kitchen. "I'm in the kitchen, baking cinnamon rolls. Come tell me how your first day was!" My feet don't hesitate to walk toward the familiarity of my mom.

"Hi, mom." I kiss her cheek as I walk behind her and get a bottle of water from the fridge. "Smells good, when is it done?" Mom points to the timer that says 5 more minutes and I groan.

"Sweetie, you can wait." She shoots me a loving smile then goes back to doing the dishes. "So, tell me about your day. Come on, I'm curious!"

I could tell mom was jumping for joy and I was just opening my mouth to tell her about Veronica when I hear my little brother bound down the steps. "Ionel!! Ionel!"

With a sigh, I stand and shed off my backpack to be ready with open arms at the bottom of the stairway. He jumped from a high step and into my arms. Thankfully, I caught him and spun him around. "Aargh, my man! How was your day at kinder care?"