Lunch couldn’t come sooner as Beth and I were growing bleary eyed from going through so many items and cataloging so many tags. We were both lost in our work by the time my alarm went off, and good thing that it did. I likely would have kept working the entire day away and would have easily forgotten to eat. It was an unfortunate habit of mine, which was why I set an alarm in the first place.

“Finally!” Beth exclaimed as I turned off the alarm from my phone. “I was beginning to think we would never eat!” I roll my eyes, though I admit I’ve also grown hungry at the mere mention of food.

“Let’s head on up stairs,” I say as I set aside the last fossil I was working on. “I’ll order some fast food, what place do you want to order from?” Beth tilts her head in thought for a moment, holding onto the fossil she had last picked up.

“I’m fine with whatever you get.” Beth tells me with a shrug. “As long as I can get a burger and fries I don’t really mind.” She finishes as she sets aside her last fossil. I smile and nod as we head over to the old stairs. I flick the lights off as we leave, making sure to lock the door behind me.

Beth continues to tell me about her opinions on fast food chains and their burgers, and I get the idea that she might actually care. She says they’re all practically the same, but with the way she talks about them I decide which one to choose from. Hopefully it will appease her, I think with a laughing grin. I don’t think she realizes just how silly she is sometimes, and I almost regret becoming her Sponsor.

A Sponsor in the secret world of dragon society is responsible for training a prospective human. While it’s certainly come a far way from when I was Turned, the whole idea of turning a human into a dragon was still dizzying. There were still days I woke up and felt every bit as human as the day I was born. Other days, not so much. The idea of doing something like that to Beth, someone so wholesome and fun to be around, felt like a punch to the gut. She stayed firm in her decision every other time I brought it up, so I refrain from doing so now. Instead, I open up my phone and begin to put in an online order for lunch.

“I’m going to do a pick up,” I say as I look up from my phone. “It’ll be cheaper, and probably won’t take so long.” I give Beth a wry smile with that statement. Last time we ordered lunch for delivery, the fast food was anything but fast. Beth laughs and nods her head.

“I’ll see you in a bit,” I pull my keys out as I head for the front door. “Make sure the door is locked.” I call over my shoulder before heading out. I hurriedly go down the stairs of the museum entrance, putting in the final specifications for my order when I look up and notice something odd. In the parking lot, parked between mine and Beth’s car, is Kenji’s car. It’s hard not to notice his car, it’s a borderline sport model. I mean, I know I’ve already commented on it but it just looks so out of place in a small town like this. It only passes because he could easily be one of the new mysterious investors that’s turning this place into a research and college town.

What’s even more odd is Kenji’s not there. A quick scan up and down the block shows he’s not anywhere in sight either. As I reach my own car, I take a quick look at my phone just in case. While data sometimes worked in the basement, I often went without any cell service and often missed calls or messages because of that. I don’t see any missed calls or texts, and a part of me just hopes it’s no big deal, but another part of me can’t shake how odd it is. I can push it aside though.

I let the growing fear settle like a rock into my stomach, forcing it down as I carry on with my day. The various fast food restaurants are all on the other side of town, so I spend the next ten minutes listening to the music in my car as I plan out the rest of the packing. Beth and I have made good progress so far, great even, and if we can continue at this rate we’ll be done by the end of the day. I use this thought to center myself, to give myself something to work towards as I grab our lunch. It feels like it’s been no time at all by the time I’m heading back to the museum. It seems like it was long enough though, because I spy Kenji returning to his car.

I pull in slowly, parking a safe distance away. I try to give him a polite smile as I hop out of my car, doing everything I can to hide that small voice in the back of my head. Why would he park here of all places and not say anything? What was he doing this whole time? How long has he been here? I squash these questions with a careful expression as I face the quiet male across from me.

“What a surprise seeing you here.” I try to laugh as I bundle up my food and drinks in one hand. My laugh dies quickly as he turns to face me, his expression lacking even a spark of emotion. This is different from schooled politeness, Kenji seems devoid of any feeling at all.

“Those men won’t be an issue anymore.” He tells me, though I’m not sure what he’s talking about at first. Honestly my brain is still stuck on introductions, far from being in the middle of a conversation.

“I’m sorry?” I ask, though it hits me then. I wouldn’t have noticed it had I not been a dragon. The slight tang of metal on the air, a scent unique to something specific and not necessarily metallic at all. Blood. I see it then, the faint spattering on his shirt, carefully hidden by his neat black jacket.

Realization crosses my face, filling my body with a stillness. Kenji nods before heading into his own car. Without another word, he leaves. So much has happened in so little time, the shock holding me in place momentarily. I should be used to that by now, being as old as I am, and yet it never goes away.

For whatever reason, the Council has deemed this place important enough to remove any risks from the area. If that meant killing suspected Dragon Hunters, then so be it. I knew my house was nice, but I couldn’t fathom anything beyond that being good enough to quite literally kill for. The dragon mummy could easily be sent somewhere else, so why here?

I shake my head clear of these thoughts as I head back into the museum. I’m not sure what I’ll tell Beth, best to leave it unsaid for now. I take my time going up the steps, giving myself just another moment to breathe and shake myself into my normal attitude. Beth opens the front door with a big smile, and I return it.

Whatever comes next, I will do anything to keep this girl safe. I don’t care if the Council will hate me for it, I don’t want Beth to risk her perfectly normal life for this. A life of fear and death.