LOGINShare
Hidden agendas
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56Taran holds my hand as we sit at the table across from Dave and Cindy. My parents sit at the ends of the table. In a soft voice, my mother says, “We all need to keep calm and discuss things like adults. Tru, I expect you to speak with respect. Dave, I expect you to listen to your sister and consider her feelings. We all need to come to an understanding. This tension cannot continue.”
Dave and I are silent. Neither of us want to say anything. Cindy is the first to say anything, “I don’t understand why you’re so cruel to me, Tru. I have done nothing but try to be your friend.” I suppress the need to scoff and roll my eyes. Keeping my face neutral, I try to imagine this is practice when I’m Taran’s queen, and we hold court. Cindy continues, “It’s hard being an outsider.” She looks over at Taran, “I’m sure it’s different for you since you’re dating the golden child.”
“Gold
Related chapters
The Dragon's Stone Volcanic Glass
TaranThe talk with Tru’s brother and Cindy went better than I expected. David didn’t seem to make any progress, but I convinced Bill that Cindy wanted to hurt Tru without a doubt. He slid his phone to me and asked if I would take a picture of Cindy’s face while he pretended to scold Tru.When Tru realized her father wasn’t upset with her, I felt the tension leave her body. I think she knew Cindy poisoned the relationship between her and David but didn’t expect that Cindy also wanted to ruin her relationship with her parents.Once we get back into Tru’s room to pack our things, I ask, “Do you have anything of significant value in your room? Jewels, family heirlooms, or anything that someone would want to steal?”Tru thinks for a moment, “No. I have my grandmother’s pink pearls, but they are in my mother’s safety deposit box. Outside of the necklace you made me, my other jewelry is only wort
The Dragon's Stone It's just a scratch
The room is pitch black. There is no light anywhere. I hear something creak, but I can’t look around or figure its direction. Footsteps shuffle closer, but I can’t tell where they are.Suddenly, I feel something pierce my chest. It’s painful. I try to scream, but nothing comes out when I open my mouth. I begin to feel cold and can’t move my body. It sounds like someone is crying, but I can’t hear them. Between the cold and pain, I can’t focus on anything else. It becomes difficult to breathe. I start gasping for air and struggle for the slightest bit of oxygen.My eyes pop open, and I try to catch my breath. I sit up in bed and pull the blanket tighter around me. Looking over at the clock, I find it is only one in the morning. I let out a sigh and lay back down in hopes of trying to fall back asleep.The lighting crystals on my nightstand are flashing red. Concerned, I pick them up, “What’s wrong?”One
The Dragon's Stone Secret Missions
TaranI add the lavender to the potion and watch as it changes the color into a glowing blue. I take a small vial and place it next to the others. They are all different healing remedies. I’m not sure which, if any, will help Alice. Nothing I found in the spellbooks or potion recipes sounds like her illness. So, I made different potions hoping a combination would work.I haven’t told Tru about trying to save her mother. Seeing her heartbreak when she heard about Alice hurt me in a way I’ve never felt before. Tru is close with her mother, and I want to give her more time with Alice. But I don’t want to give her false hope. I don’t want to make her believe there is a chance if this doesn’t work. Nothing I found matches what Alice needs, but I’m hoping the use of healing multiple parts cures her.I cross-checked everything to make sure the different medicines wouldn’t counter each other. Looking over at my gem, I ques
The Dragon's Stone Real or fake?
TaranI wake to find myself on the couch with Tru. Checking the time, it’s around four in the morning. I pick Tru up and take her to bed. The lighting crystal gets my attention. Picking them up, I ask, “What’s wrong?” To my surprise, they both flash red. Surprised, I ask, “Is Tru in danger?” They flash. “Was someone lurking around here?” The crystals flash twice.Okay, so no one is physically around trying to hurt Tru. “Is she cursed?” The crystals flash twice again. “Are the answers in my cove?” They flash once. I nod. It’s time for me to go and figure out what’s happening.I write Tru a note, telling her how much I love her and return tomorrow. Then I head towards the place I typically shift. The sun is just starting to rise, so I know that I must hurry. After shifting, I quickly flew towards the area of my second home, my hiding place.My mind races with questions about
The Dragon's Stone Familiar
I wake up and notice Taran is gone. Letting out a sigh, I slowly get out of bed. At least I didn’t have any nightmares.Not knowing what else to do, I begin looking through dragon folklore. Though Taran and I have gone over things many times, I can’t help feeling like we are missing something. My searching doesn’t uncover anything new, so I look at one of the books Taran brought when flying me home.The book has spells and summarizes who, why, and when about the spells. I look at the summaries and find a name that sounds familiar. “Lyse Galno”I search the name on my computer and find nothing that matches. The name feels so familiar like I heard it in a story or something as a child. Would my mother know?I call my mother and am surprised that my dad answers the phone, “Hey princess, your mom is getting her treatment. Is everything okay?”“Yeah, everything is fine. I was trying to remember a bedtime s
The Dragon's Stone Red Monster
TaranTru and I arrive at her parents. I do my best to seem present, but my mind is elsewhere. How do I reassure Tru that there is only her in my heart? If this girl does exist, I don’t know her or remember her. I never should’ve told Tru about what I found. I told Tru about the visions and journal because I feel there is a connection between someone knowing Lyse Galno and what I found. All the knowledge of the supernatural world is gone, yet someone knew of Lyse. The person spreading the stories of Lyse and the person behind what I found may be two different people, but I believe both will give me clues about what happened to the dragon stone.Tru and her dad go to organize something for Alice. I am sure Tru will take the time to ask her father about the stories of Lyse. I hope whatever she finds will help us find the stone and prove that the other girl doesn’t exist.“Taran?” Alice’s voice pulls me from my thou
The Dragon's Stone Blocked
I help my dad go through old boxes in the attic. Mostly it’s tubs of things my parents kept from when Mike, Dave, and I were children. As we go through the unlabeled boxes, my dad asks, “Tru, how does Taran treat you?”I smile as I think about Taran, “He’s very good to me, Dad.” My dad nods, but I see the hesitation on his face. “What’s wrong?”My dad sighs, “It’s just that the two of you are moving very quickly. Two months ago, you were dating Bryan, then immediately started dating Taran. Your mother and I tried to do some research on him, and we couldn’t find anything. We haired a private investigator, and they didn’t find anything on him. Nothing about his pilot's license, his title, or even his date of birth. How do you know he isn’t a criminal?”I take a deep breath, “Dad, I know you are trying to protect me, but there are things I can’t tell you. I know ev
The Dragon's Stone Caught
TaranSarge’s barking brings me out of sleep. I quickly race to Tru’s room and find her curled into a ball with Sarge whining at her. He looks at me and then back to her. I quickly grab Tru, “Tru, wake up.” I try to keep my voice calm. Tru doesn’t respond. With a little more force, I shake Tru and tell her to wake up again.Tru’s eyes open, and she clings to me. Holding her close, I try to soothe her as she trembles. “You’re safe. I wouldn’t let anyone hurt you.”“When you went into my mind, did you see my dreams?” Tru asks.I pause for a moment, “I didn’t. I saw your daydreams, your desires, and your plans for the future, but I didn’t see the memories of you and the doctor or what you dreamed.”“Is that typical?” Tru asks. She is still wrapped in my arms and finally stopped shaking.“I don’t know. Since you don’t rem
Latest chapter
The Dragon's Stone Heartache
Bryan’s mother gives the tailor a disapproving look, “Can’t you make her look a little more regal?”The tailor looks at her, “We can elongate the coat to make her seem taller and use a skirt instead of slacks, or we could try a dress?”“No, the straight dresses make her loose her shape. Her body is just so awkward. I’m not sure how to dress it. We need her to be seen as a wise and regal leader. No one will think that is she continues dressing like a broke college student.”The tailor nods and goes into the back to find more clothes. Looking at me, Bryan’s mother says, “Next, we need to work on your hair. It clearly doesn’t matter how often we go to the salon; you can’t style it yourself.”“Charlotte, I will never live by your standards. It doesn’t matter how many outfits you have, the pack makes me, or how many times you do my hair. I will always be this way.” I tell Bryan’s mom.She lets out a sigh, “I’m only trying to help how you are viewed.”“You’re trying to turn me into you,” I
The Dragon's Stone Worse than death
“Tru? Are you home?” I hear Bryan call.“I’m in the office!” I reply. I’m stacking small rocks that I turned from paper. It is about twelve rocks high when Bryan enters.“You ready to go….” Bryan looks around, “Tru, is there a little green guy helping you? Are you wearing him like a backpack?”My concentration breaks and the rocks fall. “Look if that were the case, I would go find the dragons and say, this isn’t the sorceress you’re looking for.”Bryan smiles, “You are fighting against an evil emperor.”I pause for a moment and think, “Is the Dragon King evil? You never talk about him, no one does. I heard he got rid of the hunters and most of the vampires. Doesn’t that make him good?”Bryan shrugs, “He killed a lot of my friends. Have you forgotten that they killed your family?”The truth is I had forgotten. It isn’t real to me that my family is dead. Somehow, I’m lying to myself about it. I missed everyone’s funeral and Bryan won’t take me to the cemetery, so I have nothing to prove
The Dragon's Stone Welcome home
Bryan and I head to a private elevator and take it up to the top floor. I notice Bryan looking slightly anxious, but he doesn’t say anything. As we reach our floor and step out, Bryan looks upset. I hear him mumble, “She better not do what I think she’s doing.”I am about to ask what he means as he opens the door to our home and a group of people yell surprise. I freeze and look around. None of these faces look familiar, yet all look happy to see me. A banner hangs reading, “Welcome home Luna”. Bryan’s mother suddenly appears, she hugs me tightly and welcomes me home. I am not sure what to say or do. Everything feels overwhelming. Who are these people? Why are they here? Why does nothing seem familiar?Bryan looks slightly annoyed at his mother, “I told you not to do this. Tru doesn’t remember anything. This is probably really overwhelming for her.”I squeeze his hand, thanking him for standing up for m
The Dragon's Stone Truth or Lies
Bryan still isn’t back when I finish in the bath. After drying off and wrapping a robe around me, I go to find some clothes. Walking to the closet, Bryan said was mine, I found some of my old clothes, but almost everything was new. The clothes look expensive and more of Bryan’s mother’s style, not mine.Why is everything her style? Nothing here looks like something I would pick. The furniture, the clothes, even the bedding. I find an old pair of leggings and a T-shirt, then walk to the room Bryan told me was my office. There are four spell books on the glass desk. I hate the look of the desk, it will show fingerprints. I pick up one of the books and start flipping through the pages. I find it strange that there are no notes or marked pages.I pick up the second book and am surprised that there are notes, but not in my hand. The handwriting is that of a man and seems old. Curiously, I follow the directions for the hand motions and see a pink smoke illu
The Dragon's Stone Somewhere new
“She’s waking up, someone go get the doctor! Tru, baby, are you there?” My eyes slowly open to a hospital room, and Bryan stands over me. “Tru, you’re finally awake,” he says with a smile.A doctor rushes in and asks me, “Luna, how are you feeling?” he shines a light in my eyes as he continues to speak, “Do you have any pain?”I blink a few times, then ask, “Where am I?”Bryan smiles at me, “You are at the pack hospital.”“I’m where?” I ask, confused.The doctor interrupts, “What is the last thing you remember?”I pause momentarily, “The last thing I remember is being on the fairy to Scotland.”Bryan looks at the doctor, “Will she get her memory back?”The doctor shakes his head, “I am not sure. We will run some tests.” With that, the doctor leaves.Bryan sits next to me, taking my hand. I notice a ring on my finger. Confused, I ask, “What happened?”Looking at me with concern, Bryan says, “You were in an accident. We weren’t sure if you were going to wake.”“Was anyone else hurt?” I
The Dragon's Stone Finding the Stone
Taran and I pull up to my father’s house. As we enter the house, I hear a voice, “Tru, come here. We can bring everything back the way it was!”I give Taran an odd look, “Do you recognize that voice?”Taran shakes his head, “No, but I hear its call.”“Whose call?” I ask, confused.Taran looks worried, “The stone. It is awake.”I feel a lump in my throat, “It wants us to bring everything back.”“Don’t Tru. We can convince it to keep things the way they are now,” Taran says in a plea.I shake my head, “It is too late. I brought everything back when my magic awoke. There is nothing we can do.”“I won’t lose you, Tru. You’re mine.”The same voice whispers, “I have a plan. We need all the dragons to restore the kingdom. I know how to keep them away from you.”Curious, I leave my room and get the stone out of its box. It is no longer black but glowing orange. Softly, I ask, “What is your plan?”“We hide you. I will block your memories of Taran. Then you can relearn your magic, then we out t
The Dragon's Stone Funeral
Taran squeezes my hand as we listen to the officiant speak. The room is full, and people are standing in the back. Some drove across the country to say their goodbyes. Looking at my mother in the casket gives me an odd feeling. It almost feels like I’ve gone numb. The woman lying there doesn’t even look like my mother.My brothers and I all decided to let Mike speak. We agreed on a story for him to tell while he gives her eulogy. I feel like it was the right decision for Mike to speak. I don’t think I can get words out now.As the officiant finishes, he asks if anyone would like to share stories about my mother. At least eight people share stories. Some of them were friends, some cousins, former co-workers, and the rest were from her support group. Cindy then stands and walks up to the stand. “Alice always gave the best advice. She felt more like my mother than my mother-in-law. Any time I had an issue, we would sit and talk. Alice gave me advice on everything from how to handle thing
The Dragon's Stone Farwell Mom
I sit on the edge of my mother’s hospital bed. They called her time of death two hours ago. My mother went on bypass yesterday afternoon. When the hospital asked us to leave because visiting hours had ended, my mother squeezed my hand when I told her goodbye. Then when we arrived this morning, I knew she was gone. I no longer felt her presence in the room.“Dove,” Taran’s gentle voice pulls me from my thoughts. I look at him and see another man standing behind him, “They need to take Alice downstairs.”I nod and stand. Taran quickly pulls me to him. We leave the room and join my dad and brothers in a lobby area. “Are you okay, Tru?” Dave asks when we sit down.I nod, “We knew this day was coming. I will miss her, but at least she isn’t sick anymore.”“We barely left her side the past two weeks,” Dave says lightly. “I’m not sure how to go back to day-to-day life.”“The house felt empty last night without mom there,” Mike says with tears, “I’m not sure how I will step foot in there agai
The Dragon's Stone Finally listening
I sit next to my mom, holding her hand. She fell asleep talking, and I hadn’t wanted to leave yet. Her fingers feel cold, and her skin feels thin.Taran stands in the doorway, “I made you some food. Please come eat. Your mother needs to rest.”I shake my head, “We were in the middle of a conversation. She was telling me about her childhood. I want to be here when she wakes up. Besides, I’m not hungry.”I can hear the desperation in Taran’s voice, “Tru, you haven’t eaten or slept in the past three days. Please, come eat. Your father won’t let me bring it here.”“What if she wakes up while I’m gone?” I tell him through tears.“Your mother will call if she wakes. Her phone is right next to her.” Seeing that I’m not moving, Taran offers, “I will stay with her if you want. Please go eat something.” Taran walks over and kneels beside me, “Tru, I’m worried about you. I don’t believe you are thinking clearly. Your mom is tired. She’s pushing herself while she is awake to speak with you. Look
