Chp 1 Pt. 3 -The Dragon

“Uncle Gabriel and your father have a surprise for you.” I look at mom with a wide eyed expression and begin grilling her.

“What is it? It’s not my birthday. Is it a graduation present? What is it?” My mom laughs at me as I finish my last question.

“You’ll just have to wait and see when we get there. I’d hate to ruin the surprise,” says mom.

“You suck at keeping secrets. Spill it.”

“Not this time,” she laughs. I sit in the car in agony as I swear mom is driving so slow on purpose. I drum my fingers on the laptop bag and stare out the window. I am waiting to see the restaurant sign come into view. I decide to check my email as I am waiting for my test results to come in. I know I passed but it’ll be nice to have the final results. When I open up my mailbox I immediately see the email I have been waiting for and gasp in excitement.

“What is it Davina,” mom asks.

“It’s my test results.” Mom has the biggest grin.

“Well go on open it.” I open the email and begin reading. I squeal with excitement, “I passed, I passed!”

“That’s great sweetheart. Congratulations. Wait until your father and uncle hear. We now have a college student.” Mom is tearing up and reaches over to grab my hand.

“Don’t cry mom. I’m not leaving the area and I’ll always be your little girl,” I try to reassure her. She doesn’t like the idea of me moving into the apartment above the restaurant but knows it is better to be closer to my classes and I can still see them everyday. I’m not going to stop working at the restaurant. I love it there.

“I know sweetheart. I am just so proud of everything you have accomplished. I sometimes wish you would’ve taken the traditional route and finished high school like everyone else so I wouldn’t have to let go so soon. But you are so smart and are destined to do great things,” mom says with pride in her voice.

“I’m just studying business so I can take over the restaurant. It’s not that special.” I really didn’t think it was anything special for me to be studying business.

“You are more special than you know.” She always says things like this, like I am something special. I am just a typical american teenage girl. There isn’t anything special about me. But I never say that to mom. If she likes to think I am special  I won’t  ruin it and stay special for her. We pull up to the restaurant and park in our usual spot in the back. Dad and uncle Gabriel are waiting outside with Thierry. They all look like they are in a serious conversation but stop once they see us pull up and smile.  I jump out of the car as soon as mom parks and run to give uncle Gabriel a hug.

“Uncle Gabriel!” I yell as I literally smash into him for a hug. He is my favorite uncle. Okay he’s technically my only uncle.

“How’s my favorite niece doing,” uncle Gabriel asks, squeezing me back.

“I’m your only niece so I kind of win that by default,” I laugh.

“You may be my only niece but that doesn’t mean you’re not my favorite.” My uncle smiles at me and gives me a hug.

“Hey Thierry, long time no see.” I give him a quick hug before staring at all three of them.

“Hi Davina. How have you been?”

“Oh no, nice try. No stalling,” I say and Thierry laughs. I turn to dad.

“Okay spill it. Mom said you and uncle have a surprise for me. What is it? Where is it?” I begin grilling dad. Everyone laughs.

“First things first. Did you check your email,” asks Dad.

“Yes, yes and I passed. Quit stalling and spill it.” Dad laughs at me again. He loves surprises and if he can he will stall as long as he can.

“Look to your left.” I do as he says and see Thierry’s white Jeep Wrangler with a soft top. I had a confused look on my face. 

“All I see Thierry’s white Jeep. Is there something on the other side of the car?” I ask with confusion still on my face, Thierry looks at me with a wide grin.

He laughs and says, “No that’s not my car.” I look at Thierry and then at uncle Gabriel who also has a huge grin on his face and he looks at dad.

“Uh yeah that’s your Jeep Thierry. You’ve been coming here for years. I know what you drive.” Thierry shakes his head no and then it finally hit me. I begin jumping up and down.

“No you didn’t. It’s mine?”

“Yes Davina. You have worked so hard to finish high school early with a perfect 4.0 GPA and got accepted into college. So we bought Thierry’s Jeep as a graduation present. It’s not brand new but we figured this way you could get around on your own without having to wait for us to be free. Thierry has kept the Jeep in excellent condition and we had help from your uncle,” dad replies. I give my parents and uncle a huge hug.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you” I say as I continue to squeeze them in the biggest hug I had ever given. I crush Thierry in a hug as well. “Thank you Thierry for selling us the Jeep.”

“No problem kiddo. You only told me a thousand times how much you like it. I took the hint and called your father,” laughs Thierry.

Uncle laughs too, “Your welcome. You deserve it. Now just don’t crash it”.

“Ha ha uncle Gabriel. Trust me I won’t crash it. I know y’all can’t get another one so I will treat this Jeep with special care. Can I take it for a drive?” I plead with my eyes and I know dad can’t resist.

“Of course sweetheart. Drive safe and stay off your phone,” dad says.

“I will I promise.”

“Seriously,” mom says.

“I mean it, no phone or I take the keys,” says dad. Uncle Gabriel gives me his stern serious look. I can tell he is trying not to smile. I try not to laugh.

“I promise, I promise.” I extend my hand for the keys. Dad pulls them out of his pocket and hands them to me. I hop into the driver’s seat. I turn the ignition and have a huge grin. I turn on the radio and  take off down the road. I don’t have a clue where I want to go but I can go anywhere. I look in the rear view mirror and see my parents wave me off. I really will be careful. I don’t know how they can afford the Jeep in the first place so I will be sure not to wreck it.

Daniel

I watch my daughter drive away. I am so proud of her and so scared for her at the same time.  We are not ready.

“So what’s going on. I haven’t heard you sound so concerned in fifteen years,” Thierry asks.

“Thierry, her mark is fading. I knew we wouldn’t be able to suppress her powers forever but I didn’t expect to happen so quickly. She’s not eighteen yet,” I reply.

“She must be more powerful than we had anticipated. As that mark fades and her powers begin to slip through, the rogues will be able to sense that and they will come for her,” Isla states. Isla is worried about Davina, she’s our only child. We have truly raised her as our own and we have feared the rogues would find us and kill her.

“I can start having warriors from the pack watch over her in shifts. I have been training specific warriors for just this sort of thing should it be needed. We’ll keep track of her without her ever knowing we are there,” Thierry replies. “I will begin training my son, Derek, to take over my company and the pack. I need to ensure the pack is still taken care of should things go south.” Thierry takes out his phone and begins texting someone. “I have Mark following her right now just in case.”

“Thierry are you sure you want to involve your children? This is our responsibility. We knew what we were getting ourselves into when we volunteered to take Davina and we know we will most likely lose our lives.”

“I promised Lux and Celestia to protect her to the best of my ability just like you. Derek is old enough to begin preparing to take over the pack. Keila is working on becoming a doctor and Mark has already proven himself a strong warrior. Mark will be among those watching over her. My kids know the story about the silver dragons and know about Davina. Plus she’s like a niece to me,” Thierry states.

“I can never thank you enough Thierry. I believe her memories are starting to come through. Did you notice how she had her hair today? I have never braided her hair like that before,” says Isla.

“She looks so much like her mother,” I reply. Davina truly looks like her mother with her hair braided in that fishtail braid. She has the same high cheek bones and hear shaped head. Her hair seems to be getting longer as well.

“She told me she dreamed of a woman this morning. From what she described she saw her mother. She doesn’t know that it’s her mother she saw but she is now dreaming about that day. She drew a picture. It’s definitely Celestia she saw,” informs Isla.

“Damn it. Did she say anything else about the dream,” asks Thierry.

“No. She caught on to my surprised expression so I didn’t ask. It’s happening isn’t it? They will start to come for her. Should we tell her,” Isla asks.

“Deep breath Isla. I don’t think we need to tell her anything yet. I think we still have time. Let her live her life a bit longer. The minute we know it is no longer safe for her we will tell her. For now let the staff know to be on high alert for anyone new in town,” I reply.

“Isla will you send me a picture of the drawing,” asks Thierry.

“Of course Thierry.”