Part 3 (1/2)
Oh boy! There was definitely a story there. Prissy Lisa could deny it all she wanted but it was clear. She was hiding something. ”How were you abducted?”
”I was riding my prize, imported warmblood mare when...” She didn't say anything more.
”You were plucked up by a dragon s.h.i.+fter,” Candy added.
”I was taken by something resembling a dragon. My horse was so spooked. Poor Seraphina, her eyes actually rolled back in her head. She was completely terrified. If anything happened to her, I swear. I'll see these b.a.s.t.a.r.ds hang. They had no d.a.m.ned right to abduct me from my perfectly, wonderful life.”
Again, Julie got the impression that Lisa was trying too hard to convince them that everything was hunky dory. Maybe she was just trying to convince herself.
”The only negative thing that has happened to me recently was my fiance calling off the wedding. He got wind that I planned on breaking it off with him and beat me too it. b.a.s.t.a.r.d! My best friend was the one that tipped him off. It had to be Anne.” She sighed. ”Like help, decent friends are so hard to find.”
This woman sure was something.
The door opened and someone else was deposited into the room. Probably another woman. Aside from breathing, whoever it was didn't make a sound.
”Please, can you switch on a light or give us a torch? We need food and water.” Julie tried again. They couldn't see a thing. It was strange, it seemed that there were no lights on at all in this place. Not even behind the door that was currently open. The only way she knew it was open was because of a light breeze that blew in from it. Gooseb.u.mps broke out on her gooseb.u.mps. ”We're freezing our a.s.ses off in here.”
The bully laughed. ”Our males aren't interested in that particular part of your anatomy, so I wouldn't worry.”
”No, please.” Julie tried as the door creaked. It clicked shut. Males. Who spoke like that? It was bizarre.
What the h.e.l.l did these people want with them?
”Am I going crazy?” The new girl whispered. ”Was I just taken by a dragon?” Another whimper that spoke of terror.
Chapter 4.
Blaze paced within the chamber. Tension radiated off of him. ”The last of the females are secured. The hunt will begin tomorrow at noon. I hope you're ready?” He turned his bright green eyes on Coal.
No. Coal nodded once. ”As ready as I'll ever be.”
”Good. Nothing can go wrong. There are only five females. You have to win one of them.”
Coal had heard this about a hundred times. Blaze was nervous. His normally together brother was falling apart. It was that important to him and to the the kingdom that he succeed. All Coal felt was extreme reluctance. ”You said that if a female does not want a male that we are not to force them.”
”I also said that you are to succeed in capturing a female for the fire tribe and that you are to win her over at all costs.”
Coal made a noise of affirmation. He could catch one, sure, but to win one over. How the h.e.l.l did he go about doing that?
There was a knock at the door and Blaze's gaze snapped in that direction. ”It's about time,” his brother muttered. ”Enter,” he said, projecting his voice.
Scarlet walked in. She ignored Coal completely and curtsied to his brother, their king. ”Your majesty.” Her head was bowed. The female had been fire breathing mad when he'd informed her of the king's decision. Coal was not permitted to mate with her. Not only that, he was going to have to take a human female instead. Scarlet blamed Coal even though this was the last thing that he wanted.
”Are the humans safe?” Blaze skipped all small talk and got straight to business.
Scarlet looked up from under her lashes. ”Yes, my lord, they are secure in the moon room and will remain there for the night.”
Blaze's shoulders lost some of their tension. ”Is Ash with them now?”
Scarlet's eyes widened for a second, then she looked down at her feet. ”Um... no...” she shrugged. ”They're locked in.”
Blaze locked his jaw. ”They shouldn't be alone. They might try to escape and they might hurt themselves. Did you explain to them what is happening? I'm going to a.s.sume you have given them something to eat and drink.”
”No. I was told to ensure that they didn't escape. They cannot escape from the moon room so all is well.” The moon room was one of the only windowless rooms in the castle.
”You were also told to ensure that they didn't come to harm!” Blaze boomed. ”Those poor females must to scared to death.”
”They're fine,” Scarlet stammered. ”Perfectly fine.”
”Go back.” Blaze looked irritated. ”Explain to them what is happening. Give them food and drink and anything else that they might need. I am entrusting you with this because our males might scare them. I'm relying on you and Ash to keep them safe and calm until the hunt tomorrow.”
”They are not to be left alone. Not for a minute,” Blaze growled. ”If anything happens to any of them it's on you.”
Scarlet pursed her lips. It took a couple of seconds but she finally nodded. She cleared her throat. ”Yes, my lord. You will need to forgive me. I have no experience in dealing with humans. Maybe a male or one of the others would have been better.”
”I gave you the task and I expect it to be carried out. They are weaker, they don't have our vision, our hearing or healing capabilities. They cannot s.h.i.+ft.”
”Why then?” Her voice was filled with barely controlled anger. ”Why would you agree to allow such... inferior creatures to mate with us? Mix blood with us?” Her voice quivered with the emotion and her eyes shone.
Blaze rubbed a hand over his face. For the first time, Coal noticed how tired he looked. There was a few days' worth of stubble on his face, his eyes had dark smudges beneath them. He seemed to have lost a little weight. ”You know why,” he finally sighed.
”We're no better than those vampires with their breeding program. It's disgusting.” She seemed to realize that her outburst was unwelcome because she smoothed her dress. ”I guess there is no other choice,” she finally blurted.
All of the non-humans were in the same boat. They all had problems with procreation. The dragons were the worst afflicted. The vampires were taking human females. Their breeding program seemed to be a success. The wolf s.h.i.+fters had been taking human females for years. The elves were the least affected and preferred to stick to themselves. As much as Coal hated the idea of taking a human for himself, this idea had to work. For the good of his kind, this had to be a success.
”This is a trial run. We are hoping that it is a success.” Blaze said, almost to himself.
Scarlet's eyes darkened and her jaw tightened. ”Yes, my lord. With that in mind, I had better head back.”
It was probably Coal's imagination but it looked like she was smiling as she left the room.
”Nothing can go wrong.” Blaze sighed.
He was a male in his prime. A royal. A fire dragon. ”What can possibly go wrong?” The moment the words were out, he regretted them. Hundreds of males would a.s.semble at noon tomorrow all vying for a chance at a female. A human. Every muscle in his body tightened.
Blaze turned to him. ”Everything.”
Coal felt the weight of this responsibility come down on him. His shoulders slumped and his head bowed.
The next day...
The new girl's name was Joanne, Jo for short. She was quiet and the youngest of the group. She was a final year law student. Her mom had just thrown her out of the house because her new boyfriend felt that a twenty-two-year-old should be able to support herself. She had been on her way to crash at a friend's house when she had been taken. It looked as if she was going to have to drop out of school and get a job. She was hopeful that she would be able to finish her degree part time.
The bully ended up being a beautiful woman. Tall and slim with fiery red hair. She wore a lose fitting plain, cotton dress, no shoes and refused to answer any questions. Every now and then she would say something like, I'm so glad I'm not you or Come tomorrow, you'll wish you were dead. She also made it clear that if any of them tried to escape that they would regret it.
On the up side, she lit the fire in the two large fire places within the enormous room. The ceilings were high. There were a few pieces of furniture that all looked like they were from the previous century. The woman also gave them food and water. The bathroom was an eye opener, all marble and what looked like gold taps and finishes. It couldn't be though. Could it?