Finding The Red Dragon

The Boys

"How is she settling in?" Allan asked as Sal joined him at the window in the conference room. "She seems to be doing well. Curious little thing though. She hiked all over the west side of the woods, wore me out." Sal looked out at the small woman sitting at the edge of the woods, still on the grass where he left her.

"She seems happy." Allan nodded. "Being outside is her favorite. And those damn lilies. I swear if she smelled ten, she smelled a hundred." Sal turned to see Allan watching him. "I know, she is not here for me." Sal exhaled. The truth was, he wished she were. Everything about her was amazing and the more time he spent with her, the more he liked her.

"He is going to like her." Sal admitted as he walked over to sit in the chair across the room, away from being able to look at her. "I do hope so. Things might go terribly wrong if he doesn't." Allan walked back to the table and slid over a sheet of paper, which Sal picked up. It was a script for the background of the bones.

"I plan to take her to the site tomorrow. Learn that." "Already?" Sal sat up in surprise. "Yes. I would like you to accompany us, along with Torsten, in case there is trouble." "Do you expect some?" Sal leaned back fully aware that there likely would be.

"Always expect." Allan nodded before sitting next to Sal. "Ragnar has been restless. Leif heard him tearing up trees last night. His anger is growing, and we need to move sooner than later." Allan turned to Sal, who knew what was coming next.

"You don't have to say it." Sal exhaled. "No, but I feel I should. If something goes wrong, you cannot intervene. She does not need to know all of our secrets." "What if..." Sal could not even say it.

"I know you feel something for the girl, it is clear on your face, but you know the Clan comes first. Period." "I know." Sal closed his eyes and leaned his head back. "I am fully aware what is at stake Allan. You can count on me to do what is necessary." "Alright. We will leave at dawn. Make sure the girl is ready."

Allan left the room and Sal went back to the window to see if she was still where he had left her. Ragnar was his elder, and this was his fate, but he hated knowing that sweet Ella might not make it more than a few more days. Her vibrancy was what this place needed. It was what he needed.

With a growl he decided to blow off some steam in the gym and stomped off to the first floor with a tornado of anger building inside him. Fate was a bitch. And for the first time in more years than he could count, he hated this entire place and all it stood for.

~

"Ella?" A voice called, making her take her eyes off the tiny mouse that had crept to the edge of the fallen leaves. "Sal asked me to bring you a sandwich." Ivan handed her the wrapped sandwich and a bottle of water. "Thank you. You did not have to deliver it." She smiled up at the sandy haired man. He seemed younger than the others.

"It was no bother. What are you doing out here?" He looked up at the trees. "Observing and studying my surroundings." She put down her notebook and unwrapped the sandwich. "Alone?" "Sal had to go do some work." Ella smiled up at Ivan wondering where this was going.

"You want some company?" He pushed a leaf with his foot. "I would love some." She watched as he sat gracefully next to her and took her camera. "Don't break that." She pointed. "I will be careful." He raised it to his face and snapped her picture as she watched.

"I don't want pictures of me." "Why not?" "Because I already know me. I don't need to study myself." "Maybe I do. You know a picture is a portal to the soul." Ivan chuckled. "I think that is your eyes." "Oh." He took another couple of pictures before putting the camera down.

"I never was good at all that mushy stuff." He laughed to cover his embarrassment and she thought it was adorable. "Secret, some of us girls are not into all that mushy stuff anyway." She winked and he laughed loudly. "What are you into? Besides photography and research?" "Discovering." She smiled and he shook his head.