Sorry for the delay. I was updating my fanfics. :)
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Eliza unbuckled her seat belt, stepping out of the car in due time. She looked in shock, the moment Parker transformed into the red dragonoid she knew and cared about. How fascinating!
Parker grinned. "I thought you liked dragons!"
"I do," Eliza regained her composure. "But this is amazing!"
"Eh… did someone say 'amazing'?" a red dragonoid, older than Parker, approached the car. Eliza raised her eyebrows at the sight of the muscular dragonoid. Who was he?
"Eliza, this is my brother Adelram," Parker admitted, calmly.
"I'm the eldest brother of this family," Adelram said, approaching Eliza and shaking her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet such a fine young lady. It seems Parker made the right choice when he chose you to be his bride… I mean, his companion."
"Bride?" Eliza asked, stunned by these words.
"We'll discuss this later," Parker managed to say, sheepishly. "Surely, our guests would like to come into the mansion and meet the rest of the family." He said to his eldest brother.
"Yes, of course!" Adelram righted himself. "And did you say there would be more guests?" He gestured in confusion. "Who else is coming?"
"Eh… well, we had to bring him with us. I thought he'd be important!" Parker squealed. "Look, can't he stay? I would really like for him to stay. He's Eliza's brother!"
"Parker, who else did you invite to our world?" Adelram asked, suspicious. "Come on, spit it out! Whose here?"
The passenger doors opened up, allowing Turen to pop out from one side of the car, while the other side came Eliza's brother, gasping for air. Eliza approached Parker, letting him wrap his scaly, muscular arm around her while observing Darron's pained expression.
"Well, that was fun!" Turen smiled, joining Parker, Eliza, and Adelram.
"Turen, what did you do?" Parker asked, concerned.
"I couldn't breathe! You let one!" Darron squawked in annoyance.
"What? Can't stand a little dragonoid breath?" Turen asked, cheekily.
"I'll get you for this! Mark my words—" Darron stared at the group in vain, for he hadn't expected to see lizard-like men stand before him. Was he dreaming? "Oh, this is a nightmare! I've got to wake up! I must do so! Get me home!" He ran around, stunned by all the red dragonoids present in front of the mansion.
"Do you think we should help him?" Eliza asked the three dragonoid men, worried for her brother.
"Hmm." Turen grunted, facing Parker and Adelram, "Perhaps we should throw him back in the car. Let him get another whiff of my dragonoid smell. I really stunk up the car!"
"Come on. You can't be serious," Eliza said, annoyed. She turned to Parker, only to see his interested grin. "Parker!" She smacked Parker's arm, not too hard, but enough to make him relax and smile. She shook her head, hardly believing what she was seeing.
"Where am I?" Darron asked the dragonoids, hoping for some answers.
"Oh, well there, sir, you're at this fine establishment known as the Dooley Mansion!" an older, female red dragonoid announced, gesturing to the stone mansion itself. Darron breathed heavily, doing his best not to faint, and almost did until he sat down. This was not what he had in mind. "Are you alright? Perhaps we should get you some marmalade or some herbal tea!"
"I think I'm going to faint!" Darron saw colors. His vision swam. He remembered no more, collapsing on the ground. The older female dragonoid looked in shock. She didn't panic. Instead, she ordered another of Parker's brothers to take Darron into the house, so he could relax and recover.
She approached Parker and Eliza, asking them, "This is your doing!" She looked at Parker, tensely, "Parker, you know outsiders won't react well to seeing dragons like us. That's why we must disguise ourselves in human form, be it elves, dwarves, men, or hobbits. It's easy!"
"I know Mother," Parker said, softly. He introduced Eliza, "Mum, this is Eliza Bowler. Eliza, this is my mother, Cinthia Dooley."
"Oh, I've heard so much about you," Eliza shook Parker's mother's scaly hand in delight.
"Yes, well shall we go in?" Cinthia said, leading the group into the mansion. Eliza followed, unsure what was going on.
.
The second Eliza entered the estate, with its grand foyer, she was introduced to more of Parker's family. Although she couldn't get all the dragonoids' names down at first, she nevertheless was happy to meet them. After introductions were made, Eliza was whisked away into her own chamber, which had a grand four-poster bed, with red curtains, and a wardrobe with so many dresses, in all different colors and styles.
Okay. So, what was she wearing today? She was more than happy to get out of her 1940s dress and change into something more suitable. Right away, she chose a red dress with gold leaf embroidery sewn into the fabric. She looked at the dresser mirror, seeing how different her appearance was and how much she had grown. She matured over the past year. She sighed, knowing it was time to head out of her bedroom and meet Parker Dooley, who was probably waiting for her to come out.
However, she didn't count upon meeting Parker's youngest sister, who entered the room in high spirits.
"Tresh!" Eliza cried out in joy. "You have such a modern name!"
Tresh looked at her in shock. "Isn't Parker a modern name in your world?" She spoke again before Eliza had the chance to continue. "Huh! Hmm." She approached the window with candor. "I simply love it here. Of course, any dragonoid would, after being exiled to a world filled with only dragons and dragonoids. I mean, we're still allowed to travel to other worlds as often as we can. Even to the point where we can travel through time, affecting our futures." She grinned at the human girl's shocked expression. "I bet you didn't know that! Beleriand needs you again, Eliza. You and Parker. Don't forget it!"
"I won't," Eliza said, happily.
"You fancy my brother?" Tresh asked with a warm smile.
Eliza looked out the window, wondering what she did to have such fine company. She shrugged. "In some ways, this is like a dream. Other times, it makes me wonder if humans and dragonoids are meant to fall in love." She looked at Parker's youngest sister, who smiled at her. "Is it even possible?"
"Oh, that is something you'll have to ask my mother," Tresh said, heading towards the door. She looked back at Eliza with a giggle. "I'll meet you in the foyer. We're having dinner in thirty minutes. Mother was outside, tending to her garden before you got here."
"Thank you, but I just ate," Eliza said, curtly.
"Well, it'll please both my parents that you are here." She spoke last, "The food will go to waste, unless Turen eats it all," Tresh left the room, closing the door behind her.
Eliza looked around the room. Oh, what did she do to deserve this? She knew Parker was expecting her. He'd love to see her again. But after this time, she wondered if his feelings for her had changed. What if he was hiding a secret? Maybe Parker was married. Perhaps he had children! If he did have children and a wife who cared about him, then Eliza couldn't stand to be in their way. That was the last thing she wanted to do.
The doorknob turned and the door opened, revealing Parker, now dressed in a white tunic and a pair of brown trousers. He closed the door behind him, before advancing towards her. "Well, you look beautiful."
"Thank you." Eliza said, her breath heavy. She gazed into those yellow eyes, entranced by them.
"What?" Parker asked, softly. "You do look beautiful!"
"Thank you." Eliza sighed. "You look handsome." She stopped him before he kissed her. "Wait. Are you sure this is right? Your family is here. I wouldn't want to impose."
"I love you," Parker said, pressing his warm scaly hand against her face. "I always have." He leaned in and kissed her. His human form took over. The moment was tender, sweet. And then it was over. His fingers were laced through Eliza's. His heart beat next to hers. He didn't want this moment to stop, and yet it did stop. "Maybe we should start courting." He said, returning to his red dragonoid form. "What do you think?" He held her in his arms, not letting her go.
"We need to check on my brother," Eliza said, heading towards the door. Parker following closely behind her. She smiled as they neared the door, opened it, and left the room.