“You boys behave, I’m just running up the road to grab some food for dinner.”
“Yes, mum.” We all chorus before bursting out in laughter. It’s become a bit of a joke with us all, Derrin’s mum is the only real maternal figure in our lives. Remmie’s is so focused on her work that she’s hardly ever around and mine died over a year ago, it still hurts to think about her, so I look away, focusing on the game.
I pull myself forcefully out of the memory, I knew being here would bring up memories but I didn’t know they’d be so vivid. That day was one of the best of my life so far, but it was also one of the worst. It was the day we all realised that we liked the same girl. The very same girl who rejected Remmie in such a horrible way.
“This place brings back memories. Both good and bad.” Remmie says coming into the lounge area from the hallway. “We put Areyna in the main bedroom. We’ll have to figure out sleeping arrangements, there’s not enough beds for everyone.”
He’s not wrong, there’s only three bedrooms, including the one Areyna’s in.
“I’ll stay with Areyna. We’ve shared a bed before so she won’t freak out waking up with me beside her.” Jason says as he walks over to the breakfast bar and grabs a bottle of water off the counter.
“No fucking way.” Manny says, folding his arms across his chest. “I’ll stay with her. She’s my mate after all.”
“She doesn’t even know you.” I snap. “She should stay with someone though.” I mentally count off the people in the room, Rem, Derrin, me, Jason, Rourke and Manny. “Rourke and Manny can share the room across from Areyna’s. Derrin and I are in the other room, Jason takes the couch and Rem can bunk in with Areyna, she’s safer with him than any of the rest of us. Once she wakes up if she wants it any other way then she can tell us.”
“Why Remmie?” Jason asks, his voice filled with jealous anger.
“Because those two are dating.” I say deadpan.
“It’s true.” Derrin says, falling onto the couch in a slump. “I walked in on them making out and it wasn’t the first time.”
“And who says I even want to stay here?” All eyes turn to the doorway behind us. Areyna’s a vision, she looks like she’s been to a spa or something, every inch of exposed skin is practically glowing. Her stormy eyes look like they’ve got lightning bolts flashing throughout them and her lips, I can’t take my eyes off those ruby pillows. My mouth opens then closes, not a word passing my lips.
THIRTY-SIX
Areyna
They’reall staring at me. Why are they all staring at me?
I rub my hand over my face, smooth my hair as best I can then turn to look at the reflection of myself in the window beside the door.I don’t have anything on my face, nor do I look any different.
“Why are you all just staring?”
“Your eyes.” Remmie says in a shaky voice.
My entire body shudders like someone’s walked over my grave. “What-?” Nothing but a scream comes out of my mouth as my body convulses. It feels like something is trying to rip its way out of my flesh.
“Get her outside, now!” I think it’s Rourke who shouts, but I can’t be sure. Someone lifts me into their arms, then the brisk night air hits my heated flesh. I close my eyes, but it only serves to make my head spin. The darkness surrounding me is made scarier by the feeling of having ants beneath my skin. I have no idea what is going on but I can feel something shifting around inside my body. My bones don’t ache, but they don’t feel normal either, it’s like having a stretch and not getting any relief from the tightly bound muscles.
Every single inch of my skin itches and crawls like it’s stretching, changing. I need to make it stop. Nothing I’ve ever been through has made me as uncomfortable as this feeling. A snapping sound comes from my spine, but there’s no pain, just a hot flush that takes my breath away. I feel tears pooling in my eyes, making the darkness swirl in eerie shadows as the air in my lungs expands. Every beat of my heart heats my flesh further until I feel like I’m about to combust.
The fabric of my clothes feels constricting, far too tight to the point it becomes painful. I hear a ripping sound and hiccup a cry that sounds far more animal than human. Something uncurls from between my shoulder blades, stretching out to surround me completely. With every harsh breath I feel myself losing the battle to remain sane. Thoughts slip through my mind like air, there but untouchable.
“Areyna!” The voice is coming from somewhere below me; I tilt my head down, wondering how the person could be that much smaller than me. “Focus on my voice.” I shake my head, knocking my chin on something hard. With a cry of rage I swipe the offending object. The sound of wood and tiles clattering to the ground makes me rear back. My ass hits something behind me making me leap forward to avoid breaking it.
My arms windmill, trying to keep my balance but this only serves to lift me up. I glance at them and all thought leaves me.
The wind feels great beneath my wings. I swirl through the air, catching the warm updrafts and twist around, playing in the flow of air. I’ve never felt so free. A glow catches my eye in the distance and I rush towards it, beating at the air with my sensitive wings. The sun crests the horizon, warming my scales as I play beneath the clouds. The air up here is so pure, fresh and filled with so much promise that I never want to leave, but my stomach growls.
Far below I spot creatures milling around in a field. They’re odd-looking things with brown and black patches, but they look tasty. I curve my wings back, preparing my body for a dive. Claws outstretched as I swoop low enough to grab one of the creatures. It makes a strange mooing sound that hurts my ears, but after I squeeze the beast, it goes still and silent.
I let out a roar of joy as I throw the beast into the air and curl back on myself, catching the beast in my jaws. Two bites and it's gone. Cocking my head to the side, I repeat the motion until there’s only two creatures left in the field and my stomach is full.
My human mind is screaming at me that this is disgusting, but the animal inside me is loving every minute. I beg and plead with myself to shift back, but the dragon inside me has full control. I can’t get out and the more I try the less thoughts I have. It’s like I’m losing myself to the beast I’ve become.
After soaring through the clouds for a while, my wings start to feel heavy and slow. I spot a nice little body of water with a deep dark cave to my left, so I fly over and dip into the water. The splash I create is beautiful, like showering the world in diamonds that coat everything around me. Each sparkling drop makes me smile, my tongue lolling out of my mouth as I just lay here submerged in the cool water.
THIRTY-SEVEN