Dragon Tide Chronicles: Dawn Rising

Chapter 22: Homeland

Chapter Twenty Two:  Homeland

Drasmere’s face was really angry when I saw him. When he gets close, he looks like he’s about to rip my head off he’s so mad.

“Where on Aladoria have you been Danica Crown! You had me worried sick!” He yells at me. I open my mouth to say something in response, but he cuts me off and kisses me on the cheek. I stare at him in a daze.

“Well, at least what matters is that you’re safe. Tell me everything that’s happened. AFTER I make hot chocolate.” I roll my eyes, but I gladly come inside the house. Drasmere set up a band not too long ago, and the band became famous quickly. Once word spread that me and Drasmere were dating, it was over for peace and quiet. All the boys and girls fought over me and Drasmere, respectably. It’s a good thing we both know how to hold our own decently.

The band had obviously not been there today, as their room was not all messy. I took the liberty of sitting down on the couch while Drasmere whipped up a nice mug of hot chocolate. All the events that had happened this week were absolutely stunning to even begin to process. Finally, he finishes and walks over to me.

“So what happened when you went after Alexander?” He asks, concerned. I take a deep breath, and tell him the whole story. He is silent after I finish. I peer at him with curiosity.

“Umm… Drasmere?” I ask in a cautious voice.

“So what you’re saying is that you intend to help our enemy. Danica, you can’t just trust these guys to keep their word and not stab you in the back!” He yells at me. I sigh and give Drasmere a look.

“Don’t lecture me, Drasmere. If I didn’t help him, what does that do for our people’s image? It will just make them believe that we are backstabbers, and then what? Sit back until they get mad and attack us? That’s what’s going to happen if nothing ever gets done. Besides, I still have a score to settle with Alexander, and I won’t give up till I’ve settled it with him.” I glare at him again.

“Anything else you’d like to say Drasmere? I can’t wait until you get it out of the way so we can actually relax for a change.” He just keeps quiet.

“I’m sorry, ok Danica? It’s just that I don’t want you to get hurt. I care about you. I don’t want to lose you ok?” He says softly. I shake my head and sigh.

“It’s alright Drasmere. Let’s just enjoy ourselves while we can. Ughh… I just remembered the speech I’m going to have to give that will have to explain what’s been going on around here lately. That’s going to be a freaking nightmare.” I groan, dreading the thought of trying to explain it in a calm manner. The problem was, just that. The dragonlings were going to be a huge problem, and everyone I have met would not like the fact that they were alive and well this whole time.

I warily glance at the clock and realize I should head back, it would take some time to head home, by the time I got there it would be dark. Great. Mom would not be happy if I didn’t get home on time, so I decide to cut things short.

“Sorry Drasmere, I got to go…” He cuts me off with a kiss.

“I know. Come back soon ok?” He smirks at my off guard face. I manage a smile.

“I will. Bye Drasmere!” I walk out the door, and then teleport. When I arrive, I land in the palace garden, and I simply walk up to the doors. Two guards are standing at attention, and they part to let me in. I can hear my family laughing and chattering up a storm, the atmosphere that typically surrounds the dinner table.

When I walk into the dining room, I spy Grandpa Quin in his wheelchair at the far end of the table. Quin was overweight, mainly because he couldn’t get out of his chair AT ALL. He had grey, going white hair, green eyes, and looked far older then he was. You see, when Alexander had tried to kill grandpa, he stabbed him with a poison coated weapon and to this day, and the poison has not left Quin’s system.  He constantly is threatened with the danger of a heart attack pretty much everyday. All thanks to the poison, that is. It seems to build in his heart, and occasionally will violently seal a blood vessel off, and surgery has to be done to stop the poison from literally ripping a hole in his heart. I silently curse Alexander when I see what it’s done to him. I smile brightly at him, and he chuckles softly.

“So I take it, from what dear Elizabeth has told me, you ended up fighting with Alexander. Tell me, what was it like? It’s been a dreadful long time since I fought that dastardly fox.” I frown.

“Well, I would say he actually seemed to be toying with me, rather then seriously kill me. I mean, he could’ve killed me at any point, several times, and he didn’t seem to be going all out.” Quin furrows his eyebrows and closes his eyes.

“Well… that’s different…from last time.” I frown.

“Come again?” I was deeply confused by his words.

“When he attacked me, Danica, it was like a terrible and violent demon was set loose in his mind. He bore every intention to kill me. Even during the war, when we crossed paths, he took things carefree and almost as if he was toying around with me as if I was just a mere plaything that he could dispatch at any time, and he knew it. But after the Year of Storms… something about him changed Danica. I don’t know what, but I never noticed before hand. He tried to kill me, but not because he lost in the war. I think it was something…” Mother cuts him off.

“Let’s not talk about such things at the dinner table. Let’s just eat and be thankful we’re together again.” I nod, and sit down. We blessed our food, and dug in. After the long meal, I decided to hit the hay and sleep. The question grandpa asked was indeed curious. Alexander’s attack back then was different from all his other battles that grandpa had fought with him.

Something happened, something that was so terrible, that it violently changed Alexander, and made him want to kill everything in his path, his rage was so great. The question was, what caused it, and why did he take it out on grandfather?