7 Jimmy (1/2)

Ear-piercing squeal filled the sky. Like a sword, it ran through my head in a powerful single thrust. And I truthfully hoped that it could stab that dragon RIGHT NOW!

WTF! WTF! WTF!

WHAT THE FUUUUUUCK!!!!!!!

I screamed and ran across the meadow. But as my voice vibrated with the thudding of its wings, a very sensible thought caught meHey, maybe that dragon isn't following me after all? Maybe it's just passing by having a leisuring flight? Maybe if I scream or move too much I will annoy it?

I shut my mouth and whirled around at once facing the hideous creature. Stopping dead, I briefly wondered if I should play dead too, but play dead is with a bear! Okay, okay, let's play cursed into a stone!

Feeling the chill stinging on my skin, I stood still like a stone statue with sweat smells.

The creature was enormous! Its body was covered with thousands and thousands of brown scales which might be gold once, but time and dirt and grime and mosses had cooperated in dulling them. The spikes along its spine were sharp and crook. I did not think anybody could ride on those like in many movies. The thick tail, also with many of those sharp stalagmites, swooshed heavily in midair in accordance to the thudding wings. Its feet, if I looked very closely, was stained with dry blood and there was even a bone sticking in one of its claws. Whose bone it was I preferred to be kept in the dark about it.

I was taking in all of the detail of the dragon that I did not realize when it landed in front of mewait! In front of me?!

Bumped on the ground, the dragon roared the thunder-liked noise announcing its presence and shaking the vast land laid before it. The vibration rocked me up and down and made me want to throw up. Blood in my face evaporated into the air. The creature looked satisfied with the triumphant entrance before casting its red eyes down, coming back to its business which I thought --was me. Seriously?!

White smoke puffed through red hot nostrils heating the surroundings. Its fiery eyes could not set fire in my body. Frozen still, I panicked and, little by little, my conscious tried to flee. The big monster inched forward bringing together its musty odor. The dragon lowered its head, sniffed around me, and grunted with disapproval. I started to relax when it did not do anything more than that. But as ever--I was wrong.

Out of the blue, it roared--into my face.

Hot air steamed my flesh. I was convinced that it breathed fire for a moment and that I had already turned into Grilled-Leigh or Steamed-Leigh or even Burnt-Leigh. And I was not even talking about the horrible rotten meat smell.

Suddenly the sight of the dragon blurred and was replaced by pitch black curtains. I guessed I was already in the after-death because I found this place very cool and soothing. Warm beautiful melody floated faintly all around. I heard people talking to, but the pleasant voices were far in the distance so I could not make out words.

The peace did not last long. Earthquake came and I thought they were sending me to hell. I did not yell because I could not utter my voice. The shaking went on for a long while until I felt like my head was going to fall off. With that one last jerk, I was brought back to senses and the awareness that I was not dead and Dylan was holding onto my shoulders shaking me out of my shit, his black wings spread behind protecting us both from the dragon.

”Leigh! Leigh!” His voice started to sound rather irritated than melodious.

”Yes! Yes!” I replied adjusting to the reconnected senses.

Dylan blew a whistle, ”I thought that you'd already gone out of your mind seeing Jimmy.”

”Jimmy? Who's Jimmy?”

The demon raised his black hand pointing right at the hideous dragon. And it snorted back at him.

”This guy's Jimmy.” said Dylan ”Seth's dragon pet.”

”Dragon? Pet?” Okay, okay, slow down Leigh--”Can one have dragon as a pet?”

”Sure!” Dylan nodded vigorously.

”Where can you get them?” I knew this was not the time to ask but sorry it really bugged me.

”Well, you can ask Seth if you want one.”

So the guy's a dragon agent.

Jimmy roared again to get attention. His bone-breaking howl sent hairs on the back of my neck stood up straight and I shrieked, pressing both hands on both of my ears, and curled like a frying shrimp. Dylan faced the dragon trying to say something to it through the deafening noise. He then spread out his black beautiful wings and hurled them elegantly.

Fierce strong wind forced Jimmy to shut up and retreat. It was irritated and snarled at the demon viciously. In the little hot brain of him, no one was better than dragons, and sure, not this tiny no-name demon. He had met this folk somewhere before, yes, he had. But at the time it was so fast that he could not catch it. Not this time, though! This time he will catch and smash it! And master will touch his head!

Jimmy was very much encouraged by the thought of Seth's white and cold hand on his hot head. It opened its mouth as wide as it could, at the same time, huge column of flame blazed through air, right toward Dylan. There was some sort of blur and I felt the lift. I saw later that the demon was carrying me out of the fire path. He held me so tight and tighter even when the crazy dragon seemed to have fun breathing fire. Both black-feathered wings spread wide covered both of us as the orange flame broke out on them. For a second, I thought we were at the sun.

”A—are—are you—” I looked through the feather alarmingly watching the fire danced on his wings.

”Don't worry. This guy's fire's just a baby toy. Can't even heat my pinky.”

I did not know how to explain my feeling after hearing that. I was part scared, part relieved, part comfortable, part confuse. Most of all, I did not know when did I begin to be less scared of Dylan.