"Hey yourself," he said, frowning at me. "Aren't you-?"
I panted as I reached him. "Yeah, last time you saw me I was running away from you; not toward. Look, I've got a problem. You're part of that whole thing with Eskal?"
"That whole thing with..." he cocked his head to the side as he realized what I was talking about. "Maybe. You change your mind about helping us?"
"No," I said, immediately. "Yes? I don't know. Look." I opened the flap I'd been keeping closed. The whelp's head shot out and chattered at me, scolding me for daring to keep him in.
"Oh, hello," he said, reaching out to stroke it.
The whelp snarled and snapped at his finger, sinking its tiny needle teeth in. I choked. "Nariti said he didn't think any of the local hospitals had antivenin for a baby dragon."
"It's not like he's venomous," he smiled, tugging the finger around in the whelp's mouth.
Of everything I'd tried, that seemed to entertain the whelp the fastest. I blinked. "The other guy said he was."
"He's just screwing with you. He's got a real flat sense of humor. You want me to take the kid off your hands?"
I paused, watching him play tug as he bled everywhere. Slowly, I drew the whelp back to my chest. I didn't think it was the best idea to leave him with a guy who was willing to get himself ripped open for the kid's amusement. "I just don't know what to do with him."
"You'd have to clear it with Eskal, anyway. And probably hang out with us for a little while so he gets used to us," he said.
"I don't even know your name."
He looked up at me and gave me a toothy grin. "Vadriq. You know the other guys?"
"Unfortunately."
The grin widened. "Come on. You don't have to be like that. If you gave us a chance, you'd probably like us. Heck, you might even want to give us a hand."
He put a little extra emphasis on the rest of it. I scowled at him and turned, marching back to my car with the whelp firmly in hand. I was not going to be entrapped by my own mistake to go along and make more mistakes with my... powers.
Ugh, that word. I scowled at my trunk, the whelp held tight, then I thumped my forehead against the back of my car and sighed. "Why can't my life be a normal, calm thing? Why does it have to be this?"
I didn't want to admit to myself that I'd enjoyed the rush of power when I'd brought the egg to life. I didn't want to talk about magic or the supernatural world; I didn't even want to acknowledge it existed. I wanted to enjoy digging in the dirt and using science to connect bits of pottery and bone to enormous civilizations and creatures that lived thousands of years ago; or maybe millions of years ago, depending on what we were digging up.
I wanted to be left alone, to just sit back and relax during my free time. Now, I had a baby dragon that was threatening the sanctity of my job. Hell, if I wasn't careful, I'd lose it today just because I was making myself impossible to find.
The whole situation was driving me crazy. I looked off toward the trailer and steeled myself. I knew what had to be done, but who the fuck likes to eat that much crow? If I gave in once, it didn't mean I had to fasten myself to the supernatural world again. It just meant that I needed this one-shot situation to completely sever with it.
Besides, the dragons had mentioned magic; hadn't they? If they were supernatural beings, they had their own powers. And maybe, if I was lucky, they could use their powers to get rid of mine after I'd helped them out.
I fastened the whelp's flap shut again, balled him up in my arms, and made the long walk across the scorching field to the trailer office. I climbed the stairs one at a time, dreading each one, until I could kick the door.
The handle rattled and Iyadre frowned down at me, confusion on his face. I didn't bother to ask him for permission to enter; I just walked past him and into the awaiting, dark building.
Eskal sat upon a swiveling chair, one leg crossed over the other. He was a king of old compared to the others, ready and willing to listen to someone who should have served him in times long passed. I glared at him, still rebellious to the bitter end, then put the whelp down in front of him; towel and all.
He considered it for a long, quiet moment as I sat down on the carpet, drawing my knees to my chest. Which was easier said than done, since my jeans were a little too tight for me. As time ticked on, I felt like I was in some sort of squeeze. As if he was waiting for me to ask for his help just so he could say no.
Had Nariti already been by to tell him that I was coming? I doubted Vadriq had, since the dragon was still at his motorcycle as far as I knew. Perhaps they had some kind of telepathic network between them that let them know when someone like me was close to giving in.
I didn't know. I didn't care. All I wanted to do was be done with the deal. Then I could go back to my miserable little life and-
I drew up suddenly, confused. Miserable? No. I enjoyed my life. It wasn't much, but it was more than my mother had ever made of herself. I tried to clear my mind, but things were murky. I was tired. So tired. And I just wanted to hand
