Shared By The Dragon Clan: Part One (2 page)

CHAPTER FIVE

The path beyond the fence grew wider
as they moved through the bend. The trees were cut back a bit to either side of
them, revealing lime green patches of grass. The air Stacey breathed in was
warm and enticing, and whether it was real or not, she felt her surroundings
were blessed with enchantment. Her fears, while still at the forefront of her
mind, and slowly began to submit whatever fate awaited her. Her companion,
Zane, or Master as he preferred, seemed to be posturing his devilish charm –
but the answer as to what truth he was hiding, Stacey did not know.

“So, my
Blossom,” he said as they walked, “what talents do you possess?”

“Talents?”

“Yes,
talents. It’s not an obscure word is it? You understand what it means?”

“Yes,
Master.”

“So, what are
yours then?”

“Well …”
Stacey murmured. “I was studying to become a veterinarian before all this
happened.”

“Your powers
of healing would be of little use to us, I can assure you.”

“Oh.”

“I was more
interested in your artistic gifts.”

“Um… I never
really…”

“But you
shall now,” Zane interrupted. “Because as you take your husband here, you will
be expected to entertain him.”

“Husband?” Stacey
swallowed. “I’m only supposed to be here a year.”

Zane smiled.
“I see what you’re wondering. I see you’ve heard the stories. I see the fear in
you.”

“So…”

“So?”

“So will you
let me go, when it is my time?”

“Give me your
hand.”

Stacey
stopped walking a moment and then presented it to him. Zane removed his right
gauntlet and placed it underneath his left underarm. She looked at the hand he
was offering. It was white, like his face. But green veins ran through it.

Their fingers
interlocked.

“Do you feel that?”
Zane asked.

Of course she
felt him. Stacey nodded.

“Describe
what you’re feeling.”

“Your hand is
warm,” Stacey answered him. “It’s strong.”

“Does it feel
better to hold it, or not to hold it?”

Stacey
searched his eyes.

He abruptly
withdrew his hand, and put the gauntlet back on.

Stacey’s
whole body shuddered, trying to interpret the meaning behind this.

“Every
woman’s fate will be different here,” Zane said, as they resumed walking. “But
ultimately, it is always up to them, where the path leads.”

“I just … I
think I need to know that you’ll let me go. Even if you just said it, I would
feel so much better.”

“One year is
too long a time, for anything to be certain.”

Stacey bowed
her head. He wasn’t going to say it.

“But perhaps
should the time come that you have your freedom, it would be your choice to
stay here after all,” Zane mused.

“And why
would that be?”

“I don’t
know. Who am I to understand what a woman might feel?”

Stacey felt
she was about to find out.

CHAPTER SIX

By the time they reached the village
outpost, the sky was awash with orange and gold. Within an hour or two it would
be nightfall. As the path cleared out to reveal the clearing’s shape up ahead,
Stacey could see the outlines of dark figures moving about. She noticed herself
being drawn closer to Zane at the same time.

“Where is
this?” she asked.

“It’s just
one of a number of outposts our clan has situated here. It is also where I
currently reside. Do you see the green tower in the distance?”

Stacey
squinted. “Yes.”

“That’s my
personal quarters. No one is allowed there but myself, or whatever guests I
bring to it. My men are on the ground, living in the houses. I know each of
them personally, from here to the other outposts, to the centre stronghold
where the Dragon King’s palace is.”

“What is it
that you do?”

“Well,
obviously, we are situated where we are to defend against any prominent
attacks.”

“From … The
government…?”

“There are
all kinds of creatures who wish us harm,” Zane smiled. “In a world where
dragons exist, you can only imagine what other types of characters are lurking
in the shadows.”

“Do these
attacks happen often?”

“Of course
not. Our defense is solid.”

They were now
at the edge of the village. Several of the dragon knights emerged from a
building a few meters away, each carrying a large medieval weapon over his
shoulder. They saw Zane there with her, but did not approach.

“Tonight, is
a very special night,” Zane said.

“And why is
that?”

“We shall go
to the tower together. And we shall make love.”

A shiver ran
down Stacey’s spine.

“I will also
test you out in other ways,” Zane continued. “To unlock your hidden talents.
From there I will decide which of my men you would be most compatible with. And
then you will be passed along to wed him.”

“I need to
tell you something,” Stacey whispered. “But I’m not sure if now’s the right
time.”

“What is it
you wish to say, my Blossom?”

Stacey
swallowed. She worried if she wasn’t convincing enough she would never be given
this opportunity again.

“Do you know
about my conviction?”

Zane nodded.
“I read the transfer details.”

“Did you see
what I was convicted of?”

“You murdered
a friend or somebody…”

“My roommate.
Except … I didn’t kill her. I think she killed herself.”

Zane looked
at her carefully. “Why are you telling me this?”

She took his
hand. “You seem really nice. I was hoping that once you perhaps understood that
I don’t deserve to be imprisoned here, you wouldn’t force to do things like
that.”

“Like what?”

“Like … be
someone’s property…”

Zane’s head
tilted back and forth. Stacey had trouble looking him in the eyes.

“Guilty,”
Zane whispered. “Innocent. Whoever you were, are, or going to be. I am your
Master. You shall obey me.”

“Yes, I’m
sorry – I just –”

“The
expectation, that an unworthy, sniveling little human, should have the honor of
the company of a Dragon Knight – should be viewed, not as a punishment. But as
a great, magnificent, honor.”

Zane withdrew
his hand from her grasp.

“I’ll give
you some advice, my Blossom,” he said in a low voice. “And it will be the last
time I say it. If you are good to me… If you are good to the man I give you…
Then you shall be loved and cherished beyond your wildest dreams…”

He put a
metallic finger underneath her chin and pushed it upward.

“But if you
behave, as though we are ugly, and not worthy of your affections… Then I
promise you, your stay here, will be more terrifying than could imagine…”

“I’m sorry,
Master,” Stacey said. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

He stared at
her deeply. “I know that. But you weren’t thinking about my feelings when you
spoke.”

Zane let her
chin go and then she felt his arm around her.

They walked
on.

 
CHAPTER
SEVEN

Side by side they walked through the
village before them, without stopping to interact with their surroundings. The
knights looked on but they didn’t stare. If any individual knight was
interested in Stacey’s beauty, they refrained from letting it show. Stacey felt
this might have been more out of respect for their leader than anything else.
He hadn’t said it in so many words – but tonight she would belong to Zane – she
was his Blossom and he was her Master – and it would be rude to interfere with
that. Stacey was through and through, uncomfortable about what was going to
take place. Sure enough, Zane was a handsome Adonis – the physical realization
of her lifelong ideal man – but then what would she be to him? She didn’t feel
attractive because she wasn’t wearing make up, and her hair was still a
nightmare, and at the same time there would be the expectation that she would
have to please Zane in a specialized manner. Knowing that it would only be one
night – that he was not to be her true partner here – seemed to make it even
more terror inducing, as it was exciting. Back at home, Stacey had always been
a ‘good girl’, never sleeping around, and only had sexual experience from her
past two ex-boyfriends. This sex, if it was to take place, would be something
she had never experienced before, and she didn’t know if she was ready.

And on top of
all that – this man wasn’t even a man.

He was a
dragon!

“Don’t look
so alarmed, my Blossom,” Zane said as the tower drew near. “I’m not going to
force myself on you. We’ll take it as slow as we need to.”

Stacey’s face
flushed. “Thank you.”

She caught
Zane looking at her. “Thank you, Master,” she corrected.

Zane smiled.
“Try not to think about it. We have a whole evening ahead of us.”

“We do?”

“I’ll show
you around the tower. Get ourselves both relaxed. And then you will be my date
for dinner, and the entertainment.”

“Where’s that
happening?”

“I am the
Head Dragon Knight. I eat in the King’s palace. You shall dine with me there.”

“Alright…”

They were
almost at the tower now. Knowing that their lovemaking wasn’t going to happen
until after the evening’s festivities, made Stacey feel more relaxed. She
wondered what food would be served there. Did dragons eat normal food?

Zane stood in
front of the tower’s wooden door and held it open for Stacey to enter. Her feet
soon came into contact with a soft purple rug on the base of the floor.
Opposite her there was a glass door which led on to a living room of sorts.
There was another door which was open to the side, that led up to the winding
staircase above.

“You may go
through there,” Zane said indicating to the living area. “I’ll be with you in
one moment. Help yourself to fruit or wine.”

Stacey smiled
nervously, and Zane brushed past her in the direction of the stairs. She
continued on to the room opposite.

Through the
glass door Stacey’s eyes feasted on the lavish furniture beyond it. She didn’t
really know the textures and designs well enough to give an accurate
description of it – only to say that it looked futuristic and expensive. There
was clear marble around the sofa and arm chair’s edges, and the cushioning was
a brilliant green. Turning her direction to the wall opposite, there were a
series of large glass panels which offered a window into a greenhouse at the
back of the tower. She stared into it for a few minutes, watching various birds
flying about inside – their diverse colors almost eclipsing those of the
plants. She smiled, a genuine smile, and quickly put a hand to her mouth. She
knew that Zane wanted her to forget she was their captive, but to do that meant
giving up her identity, innocence, and freedom. She would be his for now, and
as he wanted her. But she would not give him everything that was inside.

Stacey turned
to the sofa and sat down on it, eyeing the bowl of fruit on the table. It was
comforting in a way to know that dragons ate something as pure as fruit. She
had a momentary vision of them tearing apart human flesh and bones – as though
they were monsters. And not mystical beings.

Zane appeared
through the glass door. He had taken off all his armor and was wearing a
shimmering green suit that’s glow vibrated across the room.

He smiled at
her.

His eyes were
seductive.

“We talked
about your artistic talents before,” he said moving towards the cabinet behind
her. “Perhaps you’ve had more time to think on that.”

“I’m really
not sure,” Stacey mumbled.

“Did you ever
do any drama when you were at school? Performing arts? Acting?”

“No,” Stacey
replied.

Zane returned
from the cabinet with a glass of white wine for each of them. He sat next to
her and they clinked glasses.

They drank.

“What about
painting? Or photography? Anything of a visual medium?”

Stacey shook
her head.

“Were you a
writer? A whimsical poet? Spinner of words and rhymes?”

“I’m sorry,”
Stacey said.

“Oh well.”
Zane put his glass down on the table. Stacey put hers down too.

He stared at
her intently.

“What are you
looking at?” she asked, trying not to laugh.

“Will you do
me a favor?”

Stacey
swallowed. “Okay.”

“I want you
to sing to me.”

Her eyes
bulged. “What?”

“We dragons,
we do as we please,” Zane said. “I can have you, or any other girl, as soon as
I desire. But in our power, there’s a deep loneliness. A lack of being able to
connect with one another. I have a heart, but through the day to day hardships,
it’s sometimes hard to remember what it is to use it. You see me looking at you
now. And I know you are so gorgeous and beautiful. But I can’t feel you. I
can’t feel anything. I’m so numb. So … Sing to me. Make me feel something…”

Stacey closed
her eyes. “What shall I sing?”

“Make
something up.”

Intellectually,
in her mind, she knew how easy it was to rationalize this was not something to
do. It was too hard. She had no practice in it.

But Zane
here, he was moving her. He was pushing aside her doubts and concerns. He was
reaching into her psyche, that her mental resistance all but fell away. She
didn’t know what words to give him that were inside her, but that wasn’t
important.

She knew that
now, because Zane had told her.

The words
were there.