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
In the late 15th century, a human stole the Dragon Stone from my people. For thousands of years, we lived alongside humans. We protected them from the dangers of this world: vampires, demons, werewolves, and other blood-thirsty creatures that would take too long to name.What did they do to thank us for our protection?They stole the source of our power and turned on us.Without the dragon stone, we lost the ability to transform, the ability to wield magic, and our ability to reproduce. The stone was a gift to the first dragon. The story is so old that it is unclear what the sorcerer's name was, but he cursed his former lover after she had an affair. He transformed her into a dragon. It said that she was so heartbroken that she jumped into the water, hoping to drown, but instead found peace in the water.Years later, she surfaced, desperate for human interaction, but found everyone feared her. After trying to kill herself, the sorcerer gifted her with a s
TrudyI decide to get a drink while the bus stops and debate on if I should get crackers or something. Pulling out my money, I feel someone behind me swipe their card. I don’t need to look to know who it is.Turning around, I hand Bryan the money I was going to give to the cashier. His golden eyes stare at me with heartache, “Please, can we just talk, Tru?” I roll my eyes and begin walking away, “Baby, please. I’m sorry. I don’t want to lose you. Please give me a chance to explain. I wasn’t in the right frame of mind last night. The guys were talking about us and how we only know each other. That I won’t have any stories of hooking up with random girls in Europe as they do. My drunk brain made a poor decision.”I pause and turn towards him. We haven’t spoken since this morning when I saw the girl leave. Bryan tried to talk to me, but I couldn’t. Speaking in public will test my ability to be ration
TrudyBritany and I walk down a boardwalk with a few pubs and a popular nightclub. One the way to the club, we pass a fortune-teller stand. “Tru, let’s get our palms read,” Britany tells me excitedly. I shake my head. “Oh, come on, it will be fun. What’s the worse that can happen?”“Look no offense to the teller, but there is no evidence that your palm has anything to do with the outcome of your life. Besides, you’re just inviting bad things to happen when you mess with trying to read the future.”Britany looks at me, surprised, “I didn’t know you were so superstitious.”“I’m not, but things like this give me the creeps.”She sighs, “At least come with me to get mine done. You don’t have to do it.”I nod, and we walk towards the woman’s stand. The sun is starting to set, and it looks like she is closing up the shop. “Hello
TrudyThe next couple of days, Bryan and I don’t leave each other’s sides. As we begin our Scotland tour, everything that happened in Ireland seems like it’s far in the past.“When we get back home, why don’t we find a place of our own?”I pull back and look up at him, surprised. “You want to move in together?”He nods, “Why not? It seems like the next step for us. The penthouse apartment will be available soon in the building my parents own. There are going to sign it over to me. It could be our place.” Bryan runs his nose up the crook of my neck before he begins kissing me.I breathlessly respond, “I don’t know Bryan. You enjoy having parties, and I always need to study.”“I’m done throwing parties. If I want to, I can go to someone else’s.” He whispers in my ear, “Besides, cleaning up takes too long. I’d much rather spend a Sa
TaranI feel a presence nearing me. I’m still in stone, but I can feel myself beginning to wake. The doors creak open, and I hear light footsteps in the room. I can't see, but I can hear and smell. The person who enters is a woman. She’s light on her feet and doesn’t seem to smell like fear, more of curiosity and wonder. Then I smell something else, a wolf. It isn’t her, but she’s close to one. Is she here as a spy? Maybe she knows it’s almost time for me to awaken and hopes to kill me.If that is her plan, she’s in for a surprise. I’m quick and can easily overpower one human before they even know it. My mother and the council turned me to stone to freeze me in time. Being stone should not affect me. I will be in the same shape I was before becoming stone.The woman trips and falls into me. I’m too heavy for her to knock over, but there was a moment I questioned if that is what she was trying to do. Then she
TrudyI find Taran attractive but a colossal jerk. His tone is always condescending. As a person, I don’t believe I like him. But something is telling me this isn’t the real him. When he first started talking, I thought all of this was a joke, but it would be a lot of effort to go this far. I realized at the stairs this was real. The basic world I knew isn’t real. There are doors that appear out of nowhere, walls you can walk through, crystals that work as lights, and a man that is outside nature's laws.Taran asks for my hands, and I reluctantly give them to him. He pushes them together, places the gem in my hands, then covers them with his. Closing my eyes, I begin to see things. I’m transported to another time.I see Tantallon castle in its prime. It’s full of music and laughter. People are dancing.“You cannot let go of my hand, but we can walk around the room, and I will explain everything.” Taran’s voi
TaranTru shows me what male clothes look like today. It’s surprising how much the world has changed in 500 years. I use the fae dust to cast a glamor spell allowing me to create clothes. I don’t like the look or feel of them, but they will do until I find something better.I turn to Tru. She’s dressed and waiting by the door. I grab some gold, my mother’s letter, and the lighting crystal. Tru seemed to be very interested in it, and I didn’t explain how they work yet.“Are you ready?” She nods, and I offer her my hand. We leave the temple. As we walk through the cave, I don’t let her hand go. I want to tell myself it’s that I don’t trust her. But it’s because I like touching her. Tru skin is soft and smooth. There is a tenderness in her touch that I’ve never experienced. I find myself wanting more.We make it back up to the castle grounds. Tru lets go of my hand when a girl with