WARNING: GRAPHIC STUFF BEGINS HERE (Slightly worse than A.G). By the way, Jackie's story is based off of a true event that happened to a pastor that I knew. You may have to read it more than once, but it has happened. You'll see...

Chapter 10: The Second Stages

Eragon stood proudly on his hind legs with his wings arched as he watched the sun set over the dark blue ocean. He and Saphira were standing next to each other on the sandy beach while the helicopter crews remained at their posts to take care of their equipment.

This is incredible, Eragon sighed to her. I never thought that I would witness something this spectacular.

Me either, Saphira replied softly. Eragon?

Yes?

So, since I experienced jealously of that kind, does that mean that we are in love now? Eragon shook his large head and snorted, as if it was a soft chuckle.

No, Saphira. You are beginning to feel it, but we are not prepared yet. She sighed and drooped her wings to where they touched the silky sand she was standing on.

Oh, she murmured. Is there anything that could speed this up?

Not really. He looked up at the sky and opened his mouth slightly in awe of the orange and purple colors that the setting sun had created. The best way is to spend all of our time together. She sighed again and inched closer to him. Without warning, she tipped over and leaned against Eragon's shoulder with her snout pointed firmly into his neck. Eragon did not complain, but he was feeling the urge to take advantage of her. She gently massaged his neck with the tip of her snout, causing Eragon to let out a subtle purring sound. Suddenly, he looked down to see that he was aroused tremendously and was rather disturbed at the way that it looked.

Saphira, Eragon whispered. Look what you did. She looked up at him with her bright sapphire eyes and then glanced down at his move vital part.

Oh, she said with a mischievous chuckle. Looks like I was wrong about your size, Eragon.

What? She remained still against him but craned her neck to look him in his eyes.

Do you not remember? Think back a little. If dragons could blush, Eragon would have been redder than Thorn's hide. It is nothing to be ashamed of Eragon. Personally, I find your…um…part rather attractive in…uh…both of your forms. Eragon looked down again and sighed.

Why does it look so different? She chuckled and licked his cheek.

You may be large in human form, but it is still not enough to please a wanting dragoness. She looked down at him again and laughed softly. Instead of it just…popping up, should I say, it remains tucked away in a flap. She crouched and Eragon suddenly found himself in quite a predicament with Saphira's mouth hovering just below his waistline. She opened her mouth and gently clamped down on a scaly flap that was hanging limply from his crotch. See? Eragon shook his thoughts from his head in an attempt to get a hold of himself, but it seemed to only make matters worse. Finally after moments of debating with himself, he managed to speak.

Are you doing this by instinct, Saphira?

Well…sort of, she replied nervously. Instinct played the part to get you ready, if you know what I mean. He watched as she moved aside so Eragon could get back on all fours. Why? He sighed and flopped to the ground to cover his excited area in the sand.

I…um…wanted you, he replied slowly, as if he feared that his very words were going to kill him.

I told you that I have my secrets, Eragon, she chuckled. There are several places that you can use on a male that can really get their attention. She looked down at him to see that he was showing slight signs of embarrassment because of his erection. Oh stop being silly, Eragon! When you are a dragon, it is only natural. Besides, do you really think that I am offended by it? If anything, I am pleased.

That is not why, Saphira, Eragon countered. I am embarrassed because I thought about…well…?

Come on, she said impatiently. What?

I thought about taking advantage of you, and that would have forced me to break the vow I made. She turned away and lowered her head.

Oh my, you are right. She looked at the palm trees that were dancing in the gentle breeze while the sun faded into its last moments of light. Eragon, I am the one to blame for it. If I would have had more control…?

No, Eragon said, climbing back up to his feet. He managed to keep his mind off of the subject long enough to retract the object that Saphira had wanted so badly and was very surprised to see that the flap had latched up on its own. Saphira, we are close to it, and you know that. I just do not want for us to get lost in instinct before my vow is completed.

It does make sense, she sighed. Damn, I was so close though.

Saphira!

Sorry, she lowered her head. Instinct.

If instinct causes this, I am doomed when love bites you. They both chuckled as they listened to the waves crash against the shore.

Eragon, Saphira sighed. I cannot wait to feel love…towards you. He turned to face her and showed his teeth.

Hopefully it will be soon, Eragon muttered. It is getting really hard to resist you now.

Well, she replied smugly, perhaps that would be because I am in heat. Eragon cocked his head and she nodded hers to show she was serious. Yes, Eragon. Tonight is the start of my season and my instinct will not rest until you please me.

Don't tease me, Saphira, Eragon replied with a laugh. She chuckled again and turned away, enjoying the gentle cawing of the seagulls as they settled in for the night. I do love you. She sighed as his words fluttered lazily through her mind. Can you not feel it? A burning sensation hit her heart a little harder than the last time, causing her to let out a pleasing moan.

Yes I can, she replied. It feels good, too.

Soon, you will feel the same as I do. She turned to face him, connecting her gaze with his.

Gods, I pray so.

Saphira?

Hmm.

How would you define love? She looked up into the star filled sky and let out a sigh. Eragon watched as she closed her eyes to let the soft starlight illuminate her sapphire scales.

Eragon, she spoke softly. Do you see all of these stars?

Yes I do, he replied. She inched closer to him and placed her head against his neck. What of them? She remained silent as the stars began to increase.

I always considered love as a form of loyalty, Eragon .I felt as if love could drive a dragon to fly upwards into the stars and pull one down from the heavens just because his mate asked for it.

Good definition, Eragon chuckled. She sighed again and took her breath as a shooting star whizzed past the sky, blaring through all of the known constellations.

It takes commitment and devotion to do that for another, Eragon. That is what I think love is. She looked up at him with her sparkling eyes. Eragon?

Yes?

Would you do that for me? He looked down into her shimmering sapphire eyes and showed his teeth.

I would bring it back while it is still cold. She snorted and shivered while Eragon draped his left wing over her.

What is the matter?

I never felt like that before, she murmured. I just had a chill the second your wing touched me. Eragon's mouth folded back into a sly smile. What?

You are getting into the second stages, my dear, Eragon said happily. We have made quite an improvement. Where did this chill start from?

It went from the top of my head all the way down to my tail. He chuckled as she looked at her own twitching tail, tossing nervously from side to side.

Ah, love bumps.

What?

Love bumps, Eragon repeated. It is a chill that you get when you are close to the one you love.

Has that happened to you yet? Eragon shook his head.

Nay, he replied. Why would it happen if I already am in love? Her eyes widened as Eragon pressed the top of his chin against her brow.

So, you do want to be my mate? Eragon nodded.

Yes, but we will not go any farther until you feel the same way I do. Suddenly, there was a loud rustle in the bushes behind them. Eragon turned around to see Jackie emerge in a black sweatshirt with the hood pulled over her head.

"Hey," she said plainly. "Is there enough room on the beach for one more?" Saphira let out a subtle sneer while Eragon shrugged his giant shoulders. "I have talked with the pilots."

What did they tell you? Eragon asked. Jackie stepped up closer to Eragon and placed her hand on his right shoulder. Saphira kneaded the sand with her claws and began swaying back and forth in an impatient matter.

Why is she touching you? Saphira growled. Get away! Eragon glared at Saphira and opened his mouth slightly, as if he were mouthing "knock it off."

"Well," Jackie started, rubbing in his scales as she spoke. "They plan to leave in another hour."

Great. Eragon looked down at her. Uh, you can stop touching me now. I am a dragon, not a horse. Jackie stepped back and turned to hear Saphira let out a sigh of relief.

"Sorry," Jackie muttered. "I dreamed of dragons for far too long, and here you two are! I still owe you two for saving our lives back there, and do not think that I will not keep my promise." Eragon cocked his head at the same time that Saphira did. "Well, we should get ready. Our flight leaves in a little while."

Our? Saphira asked Eragon. Oh no, she cannot possibly come with us. Eragon turned to face Saphira and then shifted his gaze to the nineteen-year-old in front of him.

So you are coming as well? She nodded her head.

"I…um…was supposed to be with my uncle for a few weeks as…punishment." She drew a line in the sand with her foot as she looked away from Eragon's golden eyes. "I was not as good of a girl as I am now."

What do you mean? Saphira asked sternly. Eragon growled in warning to silence her.

"I mean to say that I have done some bad things in my life." Eragon looked on as she lowered her hood. He was amazed at the amount of scars that lined her face and was even more surprised that he did not notice them before. "I got all of these in a gang fight in the Bronx," she explained. "By the time I learned that the other girl had a box cutter on her, it was too late." Eragon and Saphira watched as she took off her sweatshirt to reveal a solid white tank top that she wore underneath. "Before I met God, my life was really in the crap hole. My father was killed when I was thirteen, and my mother was hooked on cocaine until she had her overdose when I was seventeen." She paused to let out a sigh while the dragons in front of her slid to their paws to listen in on her story. "With no parents, I had to take care of myself, and the only way to do that was to join a gang in Brooklyn. They claimed to take care of me, but it just got me in more trouble."

I cannot lie, Jackie, Eragon muttered. These terms that you use mean nothing to me.

Me either, Saphira replied. We can understand that times have been difficult.

"Difficult? Try Hell." She stepped towards Saphira and outstretched her hand to reach up and rub her snout. Unlike Eragon, she accepted the offer and let the teen massage her snout as she continued her story.

How come you were angry with me when she was giving me attention? Eragon asked. She showed her teeth and tossed a light plume of smoke into Jackie's face while she continued to rub her.

Females can do this to each other, but I want her nowhere near you. He shook his head and turned away.

"I got arrested for assault," Jackie continued. "Instead of placing me in prison, my uncle came by and told the judge that he would take care of me. That was when I had my encounter with the Lord."

The who? Eragon and Saphira both asked. She smiled and stopped rubbing Saphira.

"God," Jackie went on to explain. "He is the original creator, and his son Jesus Christ is the savior of the world."

Okay, you are moving too fast, Eragon muttered. She smiled again and turned to face him.

"In my darkest time, God came out and saved me. I was literally dead, Eragon, but God saw some plan to raise me back."

What?

"I actually have a death certificate," Jackie explained. "Three years ago, me and my former gang went to start a war with our rival gang called Katana. We had bats, clubs, and knives, but this group had guns…and plenty of them. I took three rounds to my chest and I died there in the hospital. Next thing I knew, I was awake on a steel table next to a white sheet and some toe-tags." Eragon turned to look at Saphira, who was in shock over this entire story.

Did you speak to this god?

"All the time," she replied. "He has kept me out of trouble…well at least until my last assault charge."

Well, what happened then with the boat?

"I really do not know," she sighed. "All I remember was being taken by my uncle. That is it." Saphira climbed to her feet and padded next to Jackie.

I am sorry for your past, youngling, Saphira said softly. You may find comfort in us, but if you touch my mate again, I will be forced to char you.

SAPHIRA! Eragon roared. That is no way to treat a friend.

"It is okay," Jackie muttered. "I just can't believe that dragons are in front of me. Well, the pilots say that you are going to D.C and that you have never been there before."

We haven't.

"That means that you need a guide." She smiled and slid her sweatshirt back over her head. "I went to D.C once with my high school for an Economics project. I figure I could show you a little bit before I head back home to Bronx."

Of course, Saphira said with a gentle voice. But you do know that we are not always in this form, yes?

"What?" Saphira sighed.

Eragon, I will change and show her.

I can…?

No, she cut him off. I do not want her to see what you have…down there.

Saphira, you are being ridiculous.

Am I? She asked. Eragon, I am doing it, and that is final. Before Eragon could answer, Saphira shifted into her nude form and smiled as Jackie's face paled from shock.

"See?" Saphira asked. "I was a full dragon, and Eragon was a full human, but a spell caster managed to allow us to shift species to please each other in each other's forms." Jackie held her mouth open as Saphira walked over to place her hand exactly where Jackie's hand rested on Eragon's side earlier, almost as if marking her territory.

"Incredible," Jackie uttered. "So, have you…and him…done it yet?"

"It?" She cocked her head and let her blond hair bounce against her shoulders.

"You know, Saphira!" Jackie said with a hint of amusement. "S-e-x." She blushed deeper with every letter that she spelled out. "I take it as a no." Saphira lowered her head in shame, but was relieved when she heard Jackie let out a gentle laugh. "It isn't a bad thing, you know?"

"What do you mean?" Eragon stepped closer to listen in on the conversation.

"Most men actually enjoy virgins."

"How do you know that I am one?" Jackie snickered and pointed down at Saphira's crotch. "Blast!"

"Like I said, I wasn't always a good girl." Saphira turned to look at Eragon, who also had a smile plastered on his face.

My precious virgin, he joked mockingly. Ah, now I have something to use against you. He let out a choppy growl as he lowered his head to set it on his paws.

Keep laughing, Saphira replied harshly. With any luck, I will not remain so pure for so long. Besides, who would you rather have, a virgin like me, or a slattern like her? Eragon snickered again and looked up at her with an evil glint in his eye.

Both. Saphira growled and trudged forward, reaching her hand back to slap him across his scaled shoulder. I was fooling!

Well then the slap was well deserved. Eragon took his head off of his paws and glared at her.

Saphira, you know I would rather have you than any other creature, no matter how…experienced they are. He climbed to his feet and nuzzled her with his snout. She is right, it is rather comforting knowing that you are a virgin like me. Do not let it get to you.

I will not. She turned to face Jackie. "So we do not engage in mating, is that a problem?"

"Do you love him?"

"Well, he loves me…?"

"Answer my question." Saphira scratched the sand with her left foot.

"I have not felt love yet." Sensing her shame, Eragon stepped forward to block Saphira from Jackie's view.

That is enough, he said firmly. What happens in our lives will remain our own matters, Jackie. I will not stand by and let you pummel her with such humiliating questions.

"Okay," Jackie muttered. "Sorry, I suppose I got a little carried away."

"A little?" Saphira snapped. Eragon turned to face her.

It is over, Saphira. You can change back if you wish. He turned to face Jackie. How long will you be at this "D.C?"

"Well," she said in thought. "The pilot said that I will have a jet ready to fly me back to New York tomorrow night. That means I will only be with you for less than one day."

What will we do after you leave? Eragon asked. Jackie watched Saphira morph back into her original form and shook her head with wonder at such an awesome sight.

"I'm just going to give you a little tour," Jackie said. "After that, I guess you should get a hotel or something. I am sure that the president can help you out somehow." Saphira tapped Eragon on the back portion of his right wing.

How come she can fly on those helicopters and we must fly beside them? We are human as well.

We are also naked. Saphira shook her head.

"Well the choppers are ready to leave, guys. They said that we will skip the stop in Baltimore to save time. Turns out, we are already a few minutes behind schedule, go figure, huh?" She sighed and turned to face the trees. "Come on, we have to go." The two dragons watched as the teenager disappeared from view in the dark atmosphere.

Eragon? Saphira asked. He turned to face her. I did not thank you for what you did.

There is no need, he replied softly. My job as your mate is to keep you comfortable. Honestly, I thought see went too far before the questions came up.

Yes, she muttered, brushing her cheek against his. You are learning quickly on what it means to be my mate.

Yes I am, he replied proudly. Suddenly, he looked up at the stars. Now which one should I grab for you?

PEACE!