The Final Storm (Part 3)

Captured

The next morning the sun rose on both Rider and dragon. And while they slept the family, oblivious of their plans to leave, were making Ralem’s favorite breakfast food- Cinnamon rolls. “He’s going to be so happy!” Sarah exclaimed, dolloping some sugar on a cinnamon roll.

Tess had her fingers in her mouth, her eyes rolling back in pleasure at the rare treat. William was hopping in excitement beside her and Aidan sat at the table, his legs swinging impatiently.

Sarah wiped her hands on her apron. “Done,” she said approvingly, “William, sweetie. How about you go and wake them up, okay?”

William saluted, “Yes ma’am!” He skipped to Ralem’s room with Tess trailing him. Slowly opening the door so as to make hardly a noise, he crept in, putting a finger in front of his mouth to indicate Tess to be quiet. He stood on his tiptoes by Jaydon’s bed and cupped his hands around his mouth to create the best effect. “GOOD”- Ralem shot awake and the first thing he saw was William yelling by Jaydon’s bed. Oh no, he thought. Oh no, no, no, no… “MORN-”

Jaydon rocketed up in a twister of sheets and flying limbs. Tess screamed as he pounced on poor William, smashing him to the ground.

Taylor, alerted by the wild scream and loud thump, dashed to the room. His eyes widened when he saw the dragon breathing heavily over his son, one of his hands latched around the boy’s neck. His face was twisted into a wild, dragonish snarl and William gasped on the floor, too shocked to even scream.

Taylor did what any father would do. He sprung into action. Lashing out a booted foot, he caught Jaydon full in the face as the rest of the family gathered at the door. Jaydon hissed and let go of William as blood spewed from his broken nose. Taylor kicked him again, this time in the chest and he roared and crawled to the corner of the room on all fours. Taylor followed him, his jaw clenched and eyes hard. Another savage kick sent Jaydon’s head crashing into the wall.

Sarah covered the kids eyes, while she herself couldn’t tear her eyes from the scene, her mouth open and her hands shaking.

Suddenly Ralem jumped in between them, his hands out. “Don’t hurt him!”

Taylor tried to edge around him, “Ralem he almost killed my son! He almost killed William! You can’t deny it!”

“He was-”

“Playing?” Taylor spat, “Or perhaps just acting out one of your stories?”

Ralem was shocked by the mocking tone of his voice. He opened his mouth but nothing came out.

“You know what? I believe you now,” Taylor said hoarsely, “Last night, he almost convinced me that he was human, that he had feelings. But now I know. He is a dragon.” He pointed furiously at Jaydon, “He’s nothing but a talking animal.” Jaydon’s eyes lowered miserably.

Taylor seemed to swell at the statement, his eyes boring holes into the dragon, “A monster.” Jaydon cringed before dashing into Ralem’s bed and squiggling under the covers until he was a sad, shaking lump in the center.

“He’s not a monster. He just got scared,” Ralem protested, “He would never mean to hurt William. I promise.”

“Scared? Of William?” Taylor gestured to William who was crying shamelessly into his mother’s dress. “You’ve got to know when to tell your stories and when to tell the truth, Ralem. And regardless, he is a danger to both me and my children. I want him out of my house by the end of the hour.”

Ralem glanced at Taylor’s stony face and his hard blue eyes and knew there would be no arguing. Tess and William watched him with big eyes as they cried by their mother but Aidan just looked at him, shocked. Ralem couldn’t bear to see those faces. He looked away as Taylor shut the door.