I did my usual rounds of turning lights on, unlocking doors, and flipping a few signs around. It wasn’t so bad, owning a non-for profit museum. It didn’t have the same kind of funding as larger government owned museums, but I think we held our own pretty well. The Council provided us the funds we needed to stay afloat, and even pay not just me but the other two employees. Everything else from visit fees to gift shop sales helped maintain the place. I never would have been able to buy some of the fossils we have on display without those funds, especially the velociraptor.

I set down my bag in my office, pushing the chair aside as I quickly open up my computer and check my email. There’s plenty of the usual stuff in my work email, from online science magazines to various advertisements. Nothing new of note really. I flip to my Dragon Society email, finding that it unfortunately does not suffer the same fate of perpetual spam. No, what I find is another message from the Council, the subject simply titled ‘The Specimen.’ I open it up and read it, pulling my chair over so I can do so comfortably.

I read the email slowly and thoroughly. I read it again, as if to make sure what I read was real. I even go so far as to skim it a third time, my heart picking up a notch. It was simply unbelievable sometimes, the things dragons did just to survive.

In the email were detailed instructions on what to do to prepare for the construction crew. That part was not crazy, it was to be expected really. Move this, hide that, destroy if absolutely necessary. The usual if you were a secret species trying to hide from and live with the world you were born in. No, what was unbelievable was what came next.

I had been given clear and direct orders that broke down every little aspect of what I was to do with the frozen mummy. I had to collect DNA from several points, scan the entire body multiple times from different angles, and even open it up to examine it’s innards. I knew to prepare for an autopsy of sorts, the kind that was done on long dead mummies anyway, but the Council wanted everything. They stressed that the most important part was the genetic material, especially if any blood were present. I imagine they were going to attempt to clone the thing, but their desperation is thinly veiled at this point. Cloning a long dead mummy and breeding a hybrid? Maybe times really were hard…

But I couldn’t worry about that right now, I had a field trip to prepare for. I close out both of my emails and head back out to the museum proper. I arrive just in time to see Beth coming in, wearing her cheery expression as usual.

“Good morning!” Beth called out, even though I was only a few feet away from the front door. “How was your um, date? Last night?” Beth with the heavy hitters, as usual. I make a derisive snort before responding.

“He is not my date,” I clarify. “Our relationship is strictly business.” Beth quirks and eyebrow at me, and I’m not sure she believes me. “Really,” I start. “It’s not unusual for dragons to have a one-off, the whole ‘mating for life’ thing became impractical a long while ago.” I’ve never really explained as much to her, seeing as I never had to. Dragons used to take after many animal species in that they would find ‘the one’ and stay together, forever. But when the Hunters came along? Species survival took a hard shift to the left after that. Dragons only became mates now when the magic calls to them, and that doesn’t happen very often anymore. I explain as much to Beth, though maybe leaving a few things out, as we finish opening up the museum for the day.

“Alright, alright. So he’s not even a little bit your date.” Beth says in concession. “But that doesn’t answer my question! How was it?” She’s clearly excited, though I don’t fail to miss the hint of concern that lingers beneath her eyes. I hope it’s concern for me, though I can’t blame her if she’s also concerned for herself. She’s on the list for prospects to become a Turned Dragon, and if the Council is desperate enough they’ll move up the date.

“It was fine.” I shrug. “It’s nothing new to me.” I keep telling myself this, and maybe eventually it’ll come true. The truth is, it scares me. I don’t want a repeat of last time, which was an utter embarrassment and an insult, but I’d also prefer to stay away from what happened the first time. I don’t voice this though, it wouldn’t be right to scare Beth off with my experiences. I’m sure plenty of dragons have kids and move on just like any other person - or animal - would. Beth rolled her eyes.

“Okay, I’m gonna need something more than that.” I can tell she’s teasing, despite how exasperated she sounds. “What was he like? You know, did he treat you well?” She asked, and for a moment I wasn’t sure if she was talking about dinner or something else.

“Well enough, he bought dinner.” I tell her. She only rolls her eyes again.

“Adelaide!”

“What?”

“Was he good in bed?” She asked, almost straightforward now. Sometimes I couldn’t help myself, I knew how she would react if I kept pushing it. I smiled broadly.

“Ah,” I say knowingly. “I wouldn’t know, he slept in my spare bedroom.” I keep up the pretense that I’m not picking up on her hints. She gives me a scowl before replying.

“You mean to tell me you didn’t have sex last night?” She asked, and by the look she gives me I know my game is up.

“Nope,” I shrug. “It just wasn’t time yet.” She looks surprised to hear this. I’ve already explained to her how a dragon’s heat works, it being one of the first things I warned her about.

“But I thought…” Beth trailed off. She shook her head. “Never mind that. If he stayed over,” Beth continued, clearly switching the topic just enough to avoid the awkwardness. “Then what is he like, just as a person?” She clarified, not wishing to play my game again. I smiled at that.

“Fine I suppose. A little odd.” I say.

“How so?” She tips her head in a questioning look.

“He made breakfast, which was very nice.” I clarify, “but he states it was ‘very traditional.’ I look and it’s rice and eggs. Not bad, mind you. The odd part was when he said he wouldn’t feel bad if I had a more ‘contemporary’ breakfast.”

“What does that mean? Is he just old or something?” Beth asks, her nose crinkling at the thought. I laugh a little at the idea she gives me, the image of him being a wrinkly old man instead of your average adult.

“I mean, most dragons are a couple centuries old, so probably.” I tell her. “If you’re not into that, now’s your chance to leave.” I joke, and Beth shakes her head with a laugh.

“I’ve already made up my mind,” she tells me. “There’s no going back now.” I sober up a bit at this statement. She had the choice to be a dragon, and she still has the choice to back out. It was something I was never afforded.

“Really Beth, it’s okay to say no.” I say softly. I’ve never told her the extent of my experience, and I likely never will. It wasn’t something I shared with people, and yet I didn’t want her to risk going through the same thing I had. “When you Turn, a female almost always goes into heat in just a few days. I can’t say they won’t take advantage of that.” Beth considers this for a moment. Her usual spark dims as she becomes lost in thought. She slowly shakes her head before responding.

“I’m sure of it Addy.” She uses my nickname - one she made, though not totally far fetched. She looks at me with a renewed determination, and I can’t help the sinking feeling I have in my gut. This is her choice. Let her have it. I remind myself, pushing the feeling away. I nod my head.

“Okay.” I want to say more, though I’m not sure what else to say. Thankfully, Beth has more questions.

“So, was there anything else that makes him odd?” She asks, her cheery and upbeat tone returning to her voice. We’ve finished all of the opening chores by now. All the signs are turned around, the doors unlocked, and the lights are on. I had already done plenty when I first came in so now it was just the waiting game.

“I suppose it’s not odd, just kinda broody.” I say. Beth snorts at this and I can’t help but laugh a little. “He was just staring out the window, talking about the scenery. That sounds kind of normal,” I start before Beth can say anything. “But it’s just the way he did it, you know? The way he looked at me, mentioning tourists going far to see the sunrise or something, in that deep voice of his…” I pause, then clear my throat when Beth gives me a look that says and he’s pretty hot too, right?

“He had a troubled look about him too.” I nearly mumble. Beth chuckles at this.

“But otherwise he’s alright?” She asks me, amusement dancing in her eyes. It was my turn to roll my eyes at her.

“Yeah, I don’t really have any issues with him.” I tell her.

“But?” She draws out the word, anticipating my response.

“But what?” I shrug, trying to act like there wasn’t this nagging feeling at the back of my mind. Beth gives me a pointed look, and I sigh. “But it does seem odd, don’t you think? He’s and Island Dragon, and I’m a Plains Dragon. The Council has never been big on hybrids before. Why now?” The words tumble out of my mouth, and I was so glad that I had someone I could confide in. Mostly, anyway.

“You said so yourself,” Beth says with a shrug. “They’re desperate. They probably just picked the first two available candidates.” She points out, and I’m comforted to hear someone else say it. It’s one thing to tell yourself something, it’s another to hear someone else confirm it. I can practically feel my entire body loosen up just a little bit as that point of tension leaves me.

“Yeah,” I nod. “You’re right. Anyway,” I say, turning to face the ticket booth. “I’ll be having Derick at the counter today.” Beth makes a huff. She and I had a very similar opinion of Derek, but there was a reason he was employed as the ticket and sales guy. The ticket booth was stationed so that anyone coming from the gift shop could easily check out at the one side, and anyone coming in could purchase their entry fee at the other side. It was handy, until we got too busy. That was why I had the two of them work, though Derek wasn’t allowed to do some of the work that I had planned for Beth.

“He was supposed to be here by now, but that’s not the point.” I say with a heavy sigh. “The point is,” I say as I turn back to face her. “I need you to go and pack up all of the fossils downstairs.”

“All of them?” Beth exclaims.

“Yes, all of them. The construction crew will be here later this week, and I need the place cleared of anything dragon related.” I inform her. She sighs, looking tired already.

“That’s three whole shelves!” Beth complains, though she’s already heading towards the back where the stairs and elevator are located.

“There should be plenty of boxes already down there.” I say to her back. “And don’t use the elevator! I need to have the repair man look at it again!” I say this louder to make sure she knows it for sure, I don’t want to have to go through the process of pulling her out of a stuck elevator again.

I turn back to the front desk after Beth is far into the exhibits, heading for the sectioned off area that leads downstairs. There’s a locked door, and the elevator also has a key to operate it. Thankfully, we’ve never had a break in. It’s not like we hold a collection of exotic and extinct birds, but there’s always that fear in the back of my mind that someone will break in. Dragon Hunters could be ruthless, and a place like this would quickly be put to the torch if they ever found out.

Just then, I hear the distinct sound of a school bus breaking, it’s wheels squeaking and crunching against the pavement. The school field trip has arrived.