CHAPTER 8

            The vampyre got himself up and squinted at Simon through the door’s window.  Simon’s scream cut off out of pure fear.

            “I am so sorry!”  The vampyre looked apologetic through the window, seeing Simon’s petrified expression.  “Terribly inappropriate of me.  I didn’t mean to frighten you.  I’m so – so sorry.”  Looking absolutely mortified, the creature turned away, hobbling back across the street to retrieve his cane.

            “What does your father feed you,” someone wheezed behind him.  “You’re heavy.”

            “I’m a growing girl,” Sagacity huffed.

            “Growing into what?  A house?”

            “I’m a dragon,” she said proudly.

            Simon managed to turn his head slightly, curiosity thawing fear-frozen muscles.  They were in what looked to be a bar just opening up for the night.  A very large, broad-shouldered lumberjack was staring at Sagacity with dawning disbelief.  “… You shouldn’t advertise that, kid.”

            Simon’s manners crept back into his bones.  “Th-Thank you for the assistance.”

            The older man waved a large hand dismissively.  “Don’t worry about that.  What I want to know is – how are you so old?  And what are you doing with a baby dragon?”

            Simon bristled.  “I beg your pardon.  I am not old and she’s… adopted.”

            The man shook his head.  “You’re a bleating lamb leading a plump chicken into a den of wolves.  I will ask again.  How are you this old and still human?  What are you – twenty?”

            “Twenty-seven,” Simon said primly.

            The lumberjack’s flabbergasted expression deepened.  He groaned and covered his face with his hand, thinking.  “If you’d wandered anywhere else…”  He sighed and extended his hand.  “The name’s Joseph Gallo.  Alpha of the Greybridge wolf pack.”

            He was in an actual wolf den.  Simon warily shook the man’s hand.  “I’m Simon.  Simon Greyve.”

            Joseph gestured at Simon’s body.  “And this… is this a choice?  A kink?”

            “What’s a kink?”

            Joseph coughed to cover up his sudden discomfort.  “I meant to say – a kill wish.  A death wish.  My nose isn’t what it used to be.  That’s the only reason you’re still alive.  Humans turn at eleven for their own good.  The blood smells sweeter as you get older.  You reek like a fine, aged whiskey.  Smooth and smoky.  I call tell that even with this old nose.”

            Simon’s mind raced.  What trope could he use?  He had too much pride to employ the ‘amnesia’ excuse.  Too tacky.  Raised on a farm in the middle of nowhere?  He didn’t have a manual-labor bone in his body – in this life or his last.  “I… I… I had a medical condition.  I’ve only started to recover.  I couldn’t be turned in my condition…”

            Joseph looked instantly regretful of his harsh judgement.  “I’ve heard of that happening.  It’s a miracle you survived this long.  I’m sorry for assuming…”

            Simon’s panic was replaced with guilt.  Had he gone too far?  “I’m fully recovered now,” he assured the large man.

            Understanding entered Joseph’s expression.  “You must have been under a dragon’s protection to live this long.  They must have appointed you as her companion.  Where are your parents, little one?”  His voice was gentler now.

            Sagacity wasn’t looking at him anymore.  She took Simon’s hand.  “They’re in the Wood,” she said quietly.

            The man’s gaze softened.  “I am sorry, dragonet.”  He looked back up at Simon, looking more worried than judgmental now.  “She needs protection.  Are you on your way to court to appoint her a new dragon guardian?”

            “No!”

            They looked at Sagacity, who was vigorously shaking her head.  “Uncle Simon is my family now!  I don’t want to go back!”

            “You can’t stay with a human, darling.  You need protection until you get older to protect yourself,” he told her patiently.

            Sagacity squeezed Simon’s hand.  “Then don’t be human!”

            Joseph scratched his beard.  “That’s not a bad idea.  You’ll need to turn anyway.  But you’ll still need protection.  I don’t see you turning into bodyguard material whichever strain you choose – no offense.”

            Simon sighed.  “None taken.”  Mentally, he was freaking out.  He didn’t want to turn into anything.  He’d only just re-adjusted to being young again!  He had questions.  “Is it safe to talk here?”

            Joseph Gallo got up, towering over them like a flannel-clad giant.  He went to the door and flipped the sign from ‘open’ to ‘closed’.  He hesitated before going to the door in the back of the establishment.  “Leigh – I need you out here.”

            They heard footsteps and saw the door open a minute later.  A woman entered the bar.  She was tall and lithe, with a thick head of silver-streaked black hair.  Her body stiffened and her head slowly turned to stare at Simon.  She had a fixed, predator’s gaze.  Simon scrambled back, fear flooding his body once more.

            “LEIGH.  Control yourself,” Joseph ordered.

            She didn’t bare her teeth or lose herself like the vampyre from earlier.  She just stared, but it was somehow a more frightening sight than the vampyre.  Sagacity stood in front of Simon and glared.  “Simon is MINE.  No eating!”

            The absurdity of that statement reached the woman more than Joseph’s words.  She blinked at the fierce little girl.  “A dragonet?”

            Joseph filled her in while Sagacity comforted a shaking Simon.  “There, there.  You’ll be all right.”  She patted his hand.  “I’ll protect you.”

            He was being comforted by a five-year-old.  He should have been embarrassed, but all he could feel at this moment was relief.  He really didn’t like being looked at like a tasty steak.  If turning into a supernatural being would put a stop to the terrifying realization that everyone would see him as food, he would have to be fine with it.

            “… watch the bar.  It might take a while.  Drag Chris in if you need help.”

            “He’s ten, Seph.”

            “Old enough to wipe down tables.”  Joseph clapped his hands and faced the human and his dragon.  He took off his flannel and handed it to Simon.  “Wear this to mask your smell.  We should get moving before the streets get too busy.”

            Wrinkling his nose, Simon put on the wrinkled jacket.  The flannel smelled like leather and bourbon.

            Joseph cleared his throat and fixed his face, instantly transforming from a gentle lumberjack into a glowering, white-haired Viking.  He opened the door a little harder than necessary and stomped out.  Leigh gestured for them to follow him.

            Joseph Gallo was all the protection they needed.  The streetlights were brighter now, and more people were walking the streets.  Every other minute, the wind shifted and Simon’s irresistible scent was caught by a passer-by.  One look at Joseph, however, had them quickly retreating into the nearest alley or building.

            “You’re walking too fast,” Sagacity complained, panting after five minutes.

            Joseph didn’t slow down.  “We’re nearly there.  The vampyres are out in force tonight,” he grumbled under his breath so only Simon and Sagacity could hear.  “The succession rites have been problematic.  Tensions are high.”

            Simon grunted, as if in understanding.  The medical condition excuse could only go so far in hiding his ignorance.

            They finally reached what could only be described as a cathedral dedicated to shopping instead of religion.  It was shorter than most cathedrals, but it still had quite a few towers and large stained-glass windows.  ‘Darlene’s’ shone in neon yellow script above a grand arched door.  The security guard stationed in front of the building took one sniff of their party and stepped to block their entrance.  He was looking directly at Simon.

            Joseph Gallo was having none of that.  “Move,” he said simply.

            The guard took another slow, hungry look at Simon before reluctantly stepping aside.  “Take the service corridor,” he said gruffly, forcing himself to look away.

            Joseph nodded and led the way to a door on their immediate left once they stepped inside.  The service corridor was empty except for a janitor wheeling along a mop bucket.  She barely glanced their way, passing them bleary-eyed.

            They didn’t stop until they reached the very end of the long hallway.  Joseph had to duck his head as they entered through the door labeled ‘Department of Preternatural Assignment – Express Counter’.

            “It’s a looooonely niiiight,” a young voice trilled as they approached the front desk.  They saw a young man spinning around on a stool, eyes closed as he sang his heart out.  “Na-na-na-naaaaa… looooonely niiiight…. yeah….”

            Joseph cleared his throat.  The young man jumped and fell with the stool hard on the floor.  They all winced as he whimpered, scrambling to his feet.  He paled when he saw Joseph.  “S-Sir!  I-I’m sorry, I was…”

            Sagacity liked him instantly.  “You have a pretty voice,” she told him, suddenly shy.  Simon covered a smile.  Someone had a crush.

            The young man blushed.  “I… Thank you,” he said timidly.  Then he got a whiff of Simon.  “H-Human?!”

            Simon had had enough.  “Yes, yes.  I know.  I smell delicious.”

            The young man shook his head.  “Not to me.  I don’t like red meat.  I’m pescatarian.”