Part 23

Rylan didn't know what was going on anymore. He'd given up trying to get involved in anything. He had decided to stick to the background rather than throw himself into the main line of action.

Enya and Zelda had tried to talk to him several times, but he had avoided them as best as he could. Leandra had sent Deanna and Miria to find out what the hell was going on with him. He avoided them as well.

He wasn't sure what the other weird new guy thought he was doing, particularly the way he hovered over Caprice. Plus, he was certain he was imagining things at first, but he was positive he had seen Ash Redfern. Rumour had it that he'd somehow found a human soulmate and it was supposed to have changed his personality completely.

Rylan found it almost laughable coming from someone with a reputation like Ash. Particularly on seeing him with Leandra. The snobby girl Sephra Redfern seemed to have become a part of their group as well. (He wasn't actually surprised about that).

When he'd seen the three of them, it had occurred to him he might want to listen in. He had known Ash was up to something. He had known all along there was something different about Caprice. But a *dragon*? If he let them take her, they would *hurt* her in the most extreme and unpleasant ways to wake her beast and power.

If Enya and the Daybreakers tried to get her, they'd just fill her head with a bunch of righteous bullshit. He couldn't see Thierry or any of the other Daybreak leaders accepting a dragon on their side. Even one who didn't know about her powers and history. There had to be something he could do save her.

"You got a minute?"

Rylan was about to turn and snap no. A Black Iris club was probably the stupidest place to try and hide. What had he been thinking? He was a little surprised to find it was Ross Hughes.

"What do you want?"

Ross sat down and ordered a beer. "It's to do with Caprice, Ash and this whole ridiculous dragon things."

"Okay, you have my attention." Rylan signalled to the bar girl for a top up of his vodka martini. "What do you know?"

Ross smiled without humour. "Let's get one thing straight. I despise Ash Redfern. I don't care what people say about him these days, he's an asshole. He's not one of the 'good' guys."

Rylan frowned. "What'd he do?"

"She meant nothing to him," Ross said softly. "But she did to me. She was my soulmate."

"He killed her, didn't he?"

Ross nodded.

Rylan didn't even want to think what that must be like, to loose a soulmate. Particularly to an infamous so-called villain like Ash Redfern. "What do you know about this whole dragon prophecy thing?" Rylan asked again.

"Everyone seems convinced that Caprice is the dragon. Apparently she has lumps on the back of her neck that are supposed to be horns - the seat of a dragon's power." Ross snorted in contempt. "Ash is supposed to be posing as a Night Worlder, he's meant to snatch her, when instead of taking her to the Council, he'll take her to Hannah and Thierry."

"But you don't agree with it?" Rylan was confused. If Ross had a point to make, he hadn't gotten it yet.

"I don't believe that the girl is the dragon. It's unfortunate that she's been classed a nobody, but from what I know it's her own choice. I don't...I don't know if I'm explaining this very well."

Rylan wondered if he had a crush on Caprice and just didn't want to admit it. After what had happened with his soulmate, Rylan couldn't blame him on the whole relationship issue. "I think I get it," he answered. "Why come to me?"

Ross shrugged. "I know you like her and protect her. I think that the Daybreakers will kill her, and the Night People will use her shamelessly. She shouldn't have to go through that."

Rylan agreed. He was supposed to be a Night Person himself, not a Daybreaker. Yet on this one, he was in perfect agreement with Ross.

"We need a plan. We can't exactly walk up to her and tell her," Ross said.

"Actually it's probably the best idea. Just tell her the truth. Then we can figure out what to do."

Ross eyed him like he was nuts. "Fine. You can be the one to tell her."

"Okay. I will." Rylan stood up and left some cash on the bar for the waitress. He headed over to Caprice's house. Even though he knew it was late, he had to tell her before anyone else got to her.

Caprice answered the door, not pleased too see him. She was wearing blue pyjamas with penguins on. "What do you want? Do you know what time it is?"

"Can I come in? There's something we need to talk about."

Caprice stood aside as he came in. They went into the lounge. "So what's so important that can't wait until tomorrow?"

Rylan looked at her, so normal and innocent in her penguin pyjamas. She *couldn't* be one of the world's most ancient, evil monsters. "I have something to tell you, you might not want to believe it, but..." He paused, but there wasn't any other way to say it... "oh fuck it. There's no other way. Um...everyone believes you're a dragon."

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