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Worse than death
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
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 The Spirits of Old/School Trips
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
The Dragon's Stone Not letting go
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
The Dragon's Stone Fortune Teller
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
The Dragon's Stone Hidden Cave
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
The Dragon's Stone Waking up
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
The Dragon's Stone Details of the past
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
The Dragon's Stone My friend Tom
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
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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
