Black as Blood (Part Two)

Daemon turns into a Frozen Grape

                           Early that same day Daemon was having a very different problem. “How many of these do I have to sign?” Fraylon asked. He tried to make a brave face as he eyed a huge stack of blank parchment.

                           “All of them. Remember, you’re doing something very important. It’s going to help me out a lot. Can you do this?” Daemon smiled.

                           “Yes. Of course I can,” Fraylon said, dipping his quill in the ink like Daemon had taught him to do. “You’re going to stay with me right?” he looked up for a second.

                          “Yes. I’ll be right here,” Daemon replied, getting behind his desk and starting on some real paperwork. He had gotten his dragon busy so he could work in peace. It’s amazing how much work it took to come back from the dead.

                          He didn’t expect to see his father for a couple hours. He was never a morning person. But his mother came in once to wish him a good morning and give him an embarrassing hug. “Mum, I’m not ten anymore,” he complained as she gathered him up in her arms, “I’ll be twenty four in a couple months.”

                        His mother just smiled and said what all mothers do, “You’ll always be my little boy Dae!” Then she kissed him on the cheek before realizing Fraylon was in there too, pausing in his work to watch them. She swept over to the dragon. “Good morning Fraylon. I bet you’re starving. Look at you!” she pinched his shoulder, “You’re just wasting away! What will you boys like for breakfast?”

                       “Some fish would be nice,” Fraylon beamed.

                      “Fish for breakfast?” Daemon’s mother thought about it. She shrugged, “Sounds good to me. Fish it is!”

                      She left, humming her favorite tune.

                Daemon rolled his eyes and turned back to his mass of paperwork. “Your mother seems really nice,” Fraylon said behind him, “Why didn’t you tell me about her before?”

                      Daemon cringed. “Because… she’s just… it’s complicated.”

                      A frantic knock on the door.

                    Daemon stood up and called, “Come in!” Following his lead, Fraylon got to his feet, readying himself for anything.

                    In stumbled a guard in icy blue armor. He looked like he had run some ways and was breathing heavily. “What’s wrong?” Daemon demanded.

                    The man leaned against the wall, gasping out, “Big… dragon. Approaching Grunde.”

                     Daemon’s heart seemed to be lodged in his throat. He swore very loudly in English before reverting back to Grundian. “Where?”

                     “The east, it comes. Swifter than a hippogriff,” the man spat.

                     Daemon dashed out of there before he could say another word. He forgot to even grab for a coat. As he busted into the frigid morning air, he didn’t notice the bite of the wind or his skin starting to freeze. Fraylon trailed him although he was still not comfortable enough in his human form to run. Scanning the area to make sure that most people were in the confines of their toasty houses, Daemon decided to make a run for it. His legs flew over the snow as he tapped into his Rider strength and agility. House in the way? No problem. With a running jump, he could crawl up the side of the roof as easily as if he had been walking up the stairs. Snow caught in his eyelashes and gathered in his hair to make a cold, woolen cap as he judged the distance between the house and the huge walls blocking the view of the mountain. With a deep breath he shot off the roof and landed smoothly on the wall.