Finding The Red Dragon

Ragnar

Grabbing the edge of the table, Ella let out a shaky breath and stared at Allan. "A real live dragon?" She squeaked completely out of breath. Was that even impossible? Her mind was going a thousand miles a second.

"We..." Allan started, but she cut him off. "OH MY GOD! I want to see him!" Ella stood up, her body vibrating with excitement as she walked back and forth a few times.

"Ella, please sit." Allan said and she looked at the chair, then at him. "Allan, you just told me that you have a dragon, who is still alive...I cannot sit. Forgive me. Please, talk." She waived at him as she crossed and then uncrossed her arms.

"Ragnar, is very sick..." "RAGNOR! Like the Ragnar Sal was talking about?" She turned quickly. "You have talked to him? Do you speak dragon? Oh, God, what is it like?" Sal looked a little surprised, then blinked a few times, before smiling at her.

"Ella, please." Sal pointed to the chair. "Yes, I know Ragnar. He is one of my best friends." Sal gave her a soft smile. "Your best friend is a dragon? Mine is just a blond twit." Ella moved over and fell back into the chair breathing rapidly.

"All in due time my dear. To continue, Ragnar is very sick, and his time on this Earth is extremely limited, and I, we, want to help him. We have done all that we can do, and now, we are at a loss. I would very much like it if you could study him, and maybe help us out." Allan looked at her, waiting for an answer.

"Wouldn't a vet be a better choice? I mean I know nothing about dragons...Oh my God what am I saying! Of course, I will help. I would love to see him, study him, whatever you want. I swear I will help anywhere I can. Please, I want to meet him." She turned to Sal again.

"If he is your best friend, please introduce me to him. I can start work right away." She reached over and took Sal's hand, and he gave her a sweet smile. "Ella, there are risks." Sal started to say, but she smiled bigger.

"Sal, Allan, I have waited my entire life to uncover something amazing. I thought that bunch of bones, no offense, was something, but this...God, a dragon." She covered her mouth to suppress a scream.

"What's he like?" She asked Sal. "Ella, there are a few things we need to talk about." Allan's voice was serious, and it brought her back to the conversation, leaving her excitement at bay for a moment.

"Ok. Sorry. Please continue." Ella crossed her hands in her lap to keep them still. "First, there is a good chance this will not go as planned, if that is the case, well..." He looked to Sal, who dropped his eyes to the table, his entire body sagging with the weight of something unpleasant. This was not a good sign.

"What? Tell me. Why do you look so sad?" Ella looked between the two men. "Let me." Sal turned to Ella and took her hands in his. He was very solemn and it made the hair on the back of her neck stand. This was definitely not good. 

"Normally, if someone came in and found out about the dragon, we would...well...let's just say, you would not be going home. Ever." "Oh." She started to lean back, but Sal kept going, holding her hands tighter.

"We won't harm you Ella. I made Allan promise me. However, you can never leave here once you have seen this." "Ever?" Her voice caught. "No. You will have to stay out here for the rest of your life. That is the cost." Sal looked so sad. "Ok." She did not even hesitate and both men looked completely taken off guard.

"Ella, that means never going home." Allan confirmed. "Ok. For something like this, I am 100% on board. Besides, living with a bunch of hot men for the rest of my life, what could go wrong?" She teased, making Sal laugh.

"Fair enough. But there is also the risk that Ragnar, will, well, he has been...he is a little moody...and..." Sal looked up to Allan. "He could eat you." Allan laid it out there boldly. "But I won't let that happen." Sal said immediately.