Authors note: Okay a big thank you to all those who have read my story so far. In this chapter, alot comes to light. Why Gail and Sam are drawn together and a bit of a shock as well. Feel free to let others know of this story.

Once again. Big thank you

The Army Begins

I knew I was dreaming but I couldn't wake up at all. I was chained around the neck with a cold metal collar with two Valopters holding a chain attached to a side of the collar. One of them was Tessa. In front of me I couldn't believe what I was seeing. My parents in their dragon form, Dan, my friends and the love of my life – Sam. The growls that rose from my parents throat was the same as the last time I heard them, full of fright. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted the worst person of all – Travis. He had come for me.

"So this is the famous dragon. I really expected someone a bit older," he snarled. His back was twisting as he fell and grabbed the ground ripping large chunks of grass up in his hands, which now where long sharp claws. As his spine grew his legs cracked into the same shape as my legs did when I changed but there where spikes all the way down his. A tail grew from the base of his spine, getting thinner as it got longer. His back arched up and roared. So this was what a full Valopter looked like. He was like a Veloceraptor, but the history went that the Valopters where the descendants of them. He turned and looked at me with his burning red eyes and grinned, flashing his sharp teeth.

"Now watch all those you love die because after they are gone, you're next," then he lunged for my father first, tearing at his throat. I screamed and screamed for him to stop but he just kept going. Then he went for my mother. Their bodies lay in front of me. Was this what it was like that night all those years ago? He was about to go for Will when I woke up.

I bolted upright, clutching the covers to my bare chest gasping for breath.

"Gail. What is it? What's wrong?" I heard. I turned to see Sam. He reached out a hand and cupped my cheek, it was damp and I realised that tears where streaming down my face. I threw myself at Sam and buried my head into his chest.

"It's okay," he said soothingly. "Tell me what's wrong my love." I looked up at him. His face was full of concern.

"I'm sorry. I just had a really horrible nightmare," and I told him everything I saw. "I was so scared. I didn't want to see anymore. I know what happened to my parents couldn't be stopped but for you and everyone – I didn't want to see it happen."

"Oh, Gail. I know how you feel. If I lost you I don't know what would happen. I can't live without you."

Slowly he took me in his arms and hugged me. I felt so secure with him around. I was still sore from my transformation earlier. Looking at my alarm clock I realised it was almost time to get ready for school but I didn't have the strength in me to get up. I fell out of Sams arms and back into the pillows and winced as a pain shot up my back.

"Are you okay?" he asked hovering over me.

"I'm just sore. My transformation took quite a bit out of me. Just the thought of having to go to school like this is going to be agony."

"Well then don't go," he teased. He bent down and kissed my neck, "we can just stay here. I can call the school and say that you won't be in today and neither will I. You can spend the day resting while I look after you." I put my arms around his neck and pulled him to me for another kiss. His lips where so soft and he looked so good in the morning.

"You are too good to me but we do have one slight problem," I teased slipping my hand from around his neck and down his toned torso.

"And what would that be?"

"Dan starts work at the school today so I was supposed to meet him so he would know I was okay. But I could always call him."

He smiled in agreement. We decided to go back to sleep then, wrapped up in each others arms. I didn't know how long I was asleep for but when I woke up Sam was not beside me. Sitting up slowly I looked around the room. I could smell something like a cooked breakfast so I quickly got out of bed and went into my bathroom to have a shower. I still couldn't believe last night happened. It went from terror to love. I decided that since I was staying at home, Sam and I could practice our solo for Friday night. It was almost perfect; we just had to get the last part of the dance right.

Making my way down the stairs the aroma of cooked food was absolutely lovely but as I walked into the kitchen I was surprised. There was a huge bouquet of red roses and red tulips. Sam had set the table so nice it was a photograph moment.

"I hope you don't mind," his voice flowed to me, "but I thought you deserved to be treated properly this morning and don't worry, I called Dan and he understands. He said that he would be home after school finishes. Come and sit down," he gestured to the seat he was pulling out for me.

"Oh thank you so much for all this." I had totally forgotten to call Dan but I was glad Sam did. "Now all I have to do is think of a way to tell him about the new army," I had to laugh at that. Me leading an army was not something I was going to look forward to. "I think I'll get Rosie and everyone to come over tonight, right after school so it can all be over and done with," I looked at him as he brought over a plate of food. My tummy was growling now.

"I think that would be best. I'll ask my mum, dad and siblings to come over too. The more people the better. Here we go," he put the plate in front of me, "I hope you are hungry," and I was. I ate everything. After breakfast I sent the text to Rosie whilst Sam sent one to his dad and to Avery. All afternoon we practiced the song and dance routine. By four o'clock we had nailed it down and I had gotten a text from Rosie saying that everyone was on their way. Ten minutes later their cars came down the drive.

I answered the door to find Steven there with some flowers and chocolates,

"These are for you. To say sorry about what happened last night. I am sorry for what I did to you," he handed me the flowers and sweets.

"Oh thank you Steven. I forgive you." I turned to let everyone in. Just behind Mia, Avery, David, Nick, Jack and Jacinda walked in. I was given a hug by Avery, a high five by David and Nick whilst Jack patted my shoulder. Jacinda took my hand and there was a jolt. The same images went through my head like the first time. The dragon to Jacinda backwards and forwards. I dropped her hand and we all walked through the house to the back yard. I was in pieces over what was going to happen. Now I was out of time as I heard Dan's car come up the drive.

"I'll be right back and I'll bring him out slowly," I said to everyone. Sam pulled me into his arms and gave me a quick kiss before I had to run into the house.

"Gail. Are you home?" Dan's voice floated through.

"I'm here," I replied coming into the living room.

"Who do all those cars belong to?" he asked.

"Can you please come out side Dan? There's something you need to know," and I started to walk back out to the garden with him following just behind me. I held open the door and let him go in front of me. His eyes widened and he turned to look at me.

"Meet my army Dan. They all know," I turned to look at him. He looked disappointed so I moved away to stand next to Sam.

"How could you be so stupid Gail," he yelled. I winced at the sound of his harsh voice. "You know that you have to stay a secret and now there are twelve people who know what you are," his face was turning red with each word.

"Excuse me sir," Rosie jumped in, "but it was our fault. We thought she was a Valopter. We," she gestured to everyone beside her, "have been hunting those beasts for nearly six months now. We've caught two so far and handed them to our elders. Gail was changing and we jumped to the wrong conclusion. So its our fault. Please don't blame Gail for what has happened."

Dan had calmed down a bit so I moved to stand next to Sam lacing my fingers through his and looking into his eyes. I turned to look at Dan. He was staring at the two of us.

"Something has changed about you Gail."

"Well I changed my hair. That's all I …"

"No. Its something else," he butted in, "It's your aura and his. They are the same now." His face was full of bewilderment and then panic rushed through me. Then he gasped. He must have realised.

"You have lost your innocents. Haven't you!" he screamed. I started to move back behind Sam, afraid of what he would do.

"Its not up to you what I do," I whispered. Sam squeezed my hand in comfort. Dans face was getting redder by the moment so I started to pull Sam back.

"You stupid selfish girl! I have looked after you all these years and now you go and do this. Sleep with a monster who could easily kill you or betray you!" he screamed. The tears fell from my eyes. He was wrong and I was getting angry at him blaming me for making my own decisions.

"Well you wouldn't let me live my life!" I screamed back, "All I wanted to do was live a normal life before having to give it up to run an army. Well guess what Dan. The army has already started," I gestured all around me, raising my voice, "and I am happier now than I have ever been and it is all because of Sam." I couldn't believe it. Everything that I held in and never told him just poured out of me, I felt free now.

"You don't get it do you. You where supposed to be bonded to a guardian that would be able to protect you. I should have done this the moment you brought him home," he looked at me.

"Done what?" I asked but he just looked at me. It was a look I'd seen only once before when a Valopter had broken into our house. He then pulled out a dagger that grew till it was the full blown sword that was given to guardians by dragons.

"No!" I screamed. Then my body cracked. I fell to the ground on my hands, my fingers growing into talons and my legs bending into shape. The spikes appeared out of my back and my wings pushed out of my back causing yet another one of my tops to end up in shreds. I charged at him, trying to avoid the blade and it was like a game of cat and mouse. Dan grabbed at my wing and pulled me down. The pain was excruciating but I pulled through it. He lunged for Sam and his family so I took to flight. I'd only done it a couple of times but now I put all my will into it. Grabbing Dan by the shoulders I used my wings to pull him away, wrapping my tail around his waist to help along. Automatically his hand reached up to grab my hair and he pulled me over his shoulder, throwing me to the ground. I twisted my body around to get up and saw I was close to Jack. He had Sam and Jacinda behind his back, trying to hold Sam back. I decided I had enough. I took a defensive stand and let my growl roar at him. He knew fine well that when he heard that, everything was final. Only he didn't stop.

He kept charging towards us and I kept growling. He knew I meant it when I wanted him to stop. I came to my last resort. Going down deep inside myself, I felt the pull of a flame from my lungs and I released it onto the blade of the sword. He did stop but still held the blade until it had melted. I couldn't believe that my flame could do that. The blades where made by dragons but I never thought that I could melt it. Dan dropped the handle of his now ruined weapon.

"How could you?" he gawked at me. I tilted my head and tried to shift back into my normal skin. I didn't hurt this time.

"I did it because you have no right to hurt the ones I love. Everyone here has helped me live a life that I want in the short time I have known them. You where just about to kill Sam for no reason."

"You where to be bonded to a guardian next Friday. That is where I have been the last few days. Sorting out the arrangements so weather you like it or not, you will be bound to him and leave this place." I was shocked. There was no way he had the right to do this to me.

"I won't do it. You can't make me!" I yelled. I'd had enough of all this ruling.

"Actually Dan. She has made the better choice," came a voice. I turned around to see Jacinda walking towards me.

"Gail has chosen to stay with my son and there is something you should know," she turned to look at me and Sam put his arms around me, holding and supporting me.

"I was not born this way," she started, "you have seen what I was Gail. I know you have." I was bewildered. What did she mean? Then it hit me. The flashes between the image of her and the black dragon.

"You where a dragon!" I blurted out. "How did you become a vampire if…" I was speechless. I didn't know what to say.

"Yes I was. I was being hunted by Travis. He wanted me to use against the Eternal dragon, you. I couldn't do it and I ran away. That's when I found Jack. He already had David, Avery and Nick with him and he agreed to change me after I told him what was going to happen if I stayed like that. I was changed and became a part of Jacks coven and then became his wife. Then a miracle happened. I fell pregnant with you," she gestured to Sam. "You where our miracle baby and the day you where born we noticed a difference in you. We don't know when it will happen but you will turn into a dragon some day." It couldn't be possible. I turned to look at Sam. His face was full of shock and doubt.

"That must have been why I was so drawn to you," he said putting a hand on my cheek. He was right. It must have been why I couldn't stop thinking about him. Now there was hope in the world and it came in him.

"So you see Dan," Jacinda continued, "That is why she has made the right decision. Gail is the last fire breathing dragon and my son has a dragon in him. I'd rather see her bonded with him than away with someone else. It would destroy my son."

Dan wasn't having any of it. I had disgraced him in front of all these people.

"Tuff. Gail is going to be bonded to my friend and that's that." Like hell it was.

"Yeah right Dan!" I pointed out. "It will be on my decision. I'm staying with Sam and I will lead this army, no matter how small it is." I made the final stand, "I'm leaving tonight and living before I have to give everything up," and I started for the house, Dan grabbed my arm,

"And where do you think you will go," he pointed out. I didn't know where I would go. I could always stay at the lake but I won't let him know. "I don't know where I'll go but the only times you will see me is at the school. Until you learn that I am still a person who has a life, I will not set foot in there again," I pointed to the house. He started to squeeze my wrist so tight that I fisted my right hand, pulled it back and punched him right in the face with all the force I could bring up. Dan went flying back, hitting one of the trees in the garden and he didn't get back up. I had knocked him out cold.

Shocked by all that had happened in the last fifteen minutes I collapsed onto the ground and cried. I cried for my dead parents, for Dans betrayal and for the fact that I now had no where to go. Four sets of arms came around me and I looked up. Rosie, Claire, Mia and Avery where all hugging me trying to comfort me. Jack and Jacinda where over at Dan trying to make him comfortable. Nick and David had gone over to their brother who was still I shock of this latest news. I looked up at his eyes and he broke away from his brothers and ran in my direction. I ran to him and we locked ourselves together. I cried into his chest and he rubbed my back. I pulled my head back enough so I could look up at him and reach his lips.

"I can't stay here anymore," I said to him. He nodded and I ran into the house and up to my room. Pulling out my small case I started t throw clothes into it and everything I was sure to need. Claire had come up to the door.

"Where are you going to go Gail?" she asked.

"I honestly don't know Claire," I replied to her,

"I do," said Sam. "You are going to stay with me. I don't want to loose you or be apart from you. My mother is happy for us and I want you to stay with me," he lovingly said. I finished packing and grabbed my jewellery box and carried it out with me. Jack was carrying a still unconscious Dan into the living room.

"Mum," I heard Sam say. "I want Gail to stay with me," he simply said. There was a long silence and Jacinda nodded in agreement. I turned to Rosie, Adrian, Will, Claire, Steven and Mia.

"I'm so sorry for what you witnessed tonight. Lets just try to forget it and I will see you at school tomorrow,"

"Sure thing dragon girl," Steven said, earning a giggle from me and a couple of the girls. As Sam and I headed out the back door, I turned and looked back at the place I thought I would be safe and sighed. Sam wrapped his arms around me and led me out into the twilight and into the jeep that was sitting there. The tears never stopped and I let them fall. Now I was going somewhere I hoped would hold safety.