Halfblood

Chapter 3

"Ma'am, can you identify this creature?"

Opening my eyes, I nod. The picture in the officer's hand is most definitely Spectrum. "That is Spectrum. He's the ghost of a very powerful dragon on a mission to save his people."

The officer nods. "Would it be safe to say that he's also the creature we received a 911 call about?"

What should I say? On one hand, he was the creature, and lying would not only be a crime, but it would also send them on a wild goose chase.

But on the other hand, the thought of a creature of my creation being dragged away was more than I could bear. Especially if I could help said creation.

"Miss?" The officer's voice was kind yet impatient.

"First of all, I have a name. Secondly, I do not remember seeing the creature visible." That should satisfy them.

"So you can not provide a positive identification, miss..."

"Kaelie. And no, I cannot."

"Thank you for your time, miss Kaelie." The officer turned away, speaking into his radio as he walked back towards the door.

"You're welcome, Officer.." I strain to catch a look at his name tag. "Harolds."

The door slams shut behind his retreating back as a roar shakes the floor.

"Spectrum!" I jump to my feet and race for the door-- only to be ushered back into bed by a nurse.

"You lost a lot of blood fighting the monster. You'll need to stay put and rest for a couple more days."

A couple more days? "How long was I out?"

The nurse pulls a watch from her pocket. "Twenty-seven hours, forty-two minutes, and sixteen seconds."

That was exact. A bit too exact. And judging by the smile on her face when she pulled out a syringe of 'painkillers' I really didn't want to get any of whatever she was holding inside me.

"Please. Before you knock me out again, could I at least have the pleasure of knowing the name of the person treating me?"

"Certainly... my name is.. is.."

"It isn't Pythonia by any chance, is it?"

The 'nurse' did not respond. She froze stock still as her body began to change, growing taller. That was all I needed to see. Gathering up my wits as I bolted from bed, I ran to the window, fiddling with the shutters. Pythonia could not move. She could only scream at me as I threw open the shutters and jumped.

"Spectru-" oooooof.  

In case you've never leapt out of a fifth story window onto the back of a dragon you just hope is there, let me tell you... it really knocks the wind out of you.

And then when you get your breath back, you start sighing with relief because you managed to escape death twice... once by jumping out the window... and once by landing on the back of a seemingly nonexistent dragon...

The very same dragon who was trying to kill me earlier, but I'll overlook that for now.

"In case you're wondering why I just blindly jumped out the window and hoped to land on your back, it's because she's here. In this world. Possibly trying to kill me."

"And right behind us. HANG ON!" I barely have time to grab hold of the spike in front of me before I'm rocketing through the air, soaring high into the sky, all while moving faster than I've ever moved before.  (And considering that I've flown in a commercial jet before, that's fast.)

"WHERE ARE WE GOING?"

"I HAVE AS MUCH OF A CLUE AS YOU DO. I DON'T KNOW MY WAY AROUND THIS WORLD."

"THEN JUST DON'T STOP!" I glance over my shoulder, nearly getting a fireball in the face for my efforts" AND POSSIBLY SPEED UP!"

"CAN YOU STOP YELLING? I'M LITERALLY RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU!"

"Oh, yeah. Sorry." I squeeze the spike tighter. "But you might want to speed up unless you want a fireball for a tail."

That did it. I heard a muffled BOOM! as we shattered the sound barrier. We were definitely outspeeding her now, but there was a small yet very important detail I forgot to think about.

"Get lower!" I clench my hands around the spike as hard as possible. The wind is too strong at this speed, making it only a matter of time before I lose my grip. If I get out of this alive, I'll have to wear a parachute when I sleep just to keep my dreams on terra firma.

Unfortunately, I don't know where to acquire such a piece of equipment. A sports supplies store? An airport? "Amazon!"

"What did you say?"

"Nothing."

Daydream over, my eyes snap open. Only to immediately squeeze them shut again as they plowed through the clouds, heading straight for the ground.

"Pull up!"

"What? But I thought you said to get lower!"

"I changed my mind! Now pull up"

"Buuuuut.... That will make my wings sore."

"Better sore winged than dead. Now pull uuuuu-- NOOOOOO!"

The sudden change in direction was too much, and I could only watch in horror as my eyes seemingly unwillingly snapped open to see the clouds rapidly retreating as I plummeted towards the ground.

"Kaelie, NOOOOO!" The dragon's cry reached my ears and then my fall ceased. I was hanging by the back of my shirt from the talon of an angry dragon being chased by a mysterious enemy.

"Where should we go?" Why was he asking me? I didn't have a clue.

"Take me to safety."

The last thing I was expecting was for him to fold his wings.

"What are you doing? Are you nuts? WE'RE BOTH GOING TO DIIIIIEEEE!" I drummed my legs against his stomach, but he took no notice. The ground comes clearly into view beneath me, too fast. We're falling too fast.

"Trust me." Is all he says before the ground rushes up to meet us.