Chapter 8

Alya's Test

When we arrived at my house, there was no life to be seen. My mother was still in Paris, it appeared. We flopped down onto the couch, exhausted after flying for three hours straight. "So this is where you live?"

"Yeah. It's great to be home."

"It's really nice."

"Thanks. Would you like something to eat?"

"I could eat a horse right now."

"I don't think we have any horses, but I'll look for it."

He laughed and managed to lift his head off of the pillow. "I'll just have a sandwich. I don't care what kind."

"One liver and onion sandwich coming up." I made no motion to get up, not that I could.

"Whatever. You're the one that has to smell it." He smiled.

"I don't think so. Your room is on the other side of the house. So ha ha." I poked his chest with the final ha.

"Could we wait a few minutes before we move? I'm so tired and my back kills." I asked.

"I know. I'll put up the force field later."

"We'll do that now. We'll just have to combine our energy. I'll spend the next few days in bed though." I sighed.

"Sounds good to me."

"It would."

The phone rang, and we both jumped a mile. "Noone should know I'm home! Who could that possibly be?"

"Arishka, wondering how we are." He waved his hands at me, motioning me to get the phone.

"All right. I'll pick it up."

I walked over to the phone, and slowly lifted it off the base. "Hello?"

"Alya? What's wrong? You sound sick." It was Jewel.

"Yeah. That's why I haven't been in school. I have mono."

"The kissing disease?"

"Yeah, the kissing disease." I said, shooting a glance at Ky, who smiled.

"Aww. Only you Alya. How long will you be out?" I saw my opportunity and grasped it.

"Two more weeks. The doctor says it's an advanced stage."

"Are you back with Matt? He's been out recently too."

"No. I'm with someone new." I sat on Ky, who wrapped his arms around my waist.

"Oh. Who?"

"You don't know him. He's not from around here." He scoffed.

"Who's that?"

"My mom hired a butler for while I was sick. Someone who's not going to be here long if he isn't quiet while I'm on the phone." I jabbed Ky in the ribs, and he grinned.

"Be nice. I'm sure he's not bad."

"No, quite the opposite. He's the best." I smiled at him to let him know I was joking.

"Send him over here when you're done with him. Not that I can afford it."

"Okay. He eats like a Dragon though." He laughed.

"That's fine."

"I gotta go. The butler's in trouble."

"Fine. See you in two weeks."

"See ya."

I hung up the phone and looked at the "butler". He was grinning. "Why are you smiling? You're in trouble, remember?"

"That's why I'm smiling. I have the lower hand here."

"The expression is upper hand."

"I didn't mean it as an expression." Then, he smiled, and pinched me.

"Ow. Now you are definitely sleeping on the other side of the house. You're lucky you're not sleeping in the backyard at this point."

"Oh, you wouldn't do that."

"Watch me."

"You keep saying that, and I have yet to see you do anything."

I bit his ear. "Good night."

"Wait. Where's my room?"

"You go out the door with the broken window."

"Very funny. Alya?"

I was already in my room, and laughing quite hard, I might add.

What's so funny?

Oh, that is soo not fair. Now I can't ignore you.

That's why I did it this way.

Your room is down the hall to the right.

Okay.

He walked right through my door, and flopped down onto my bed, nearly pushing me off. "What are you doing here? I said to the right."

"I decided I like this room better."

"Then you're sleeping on the floor."

"I think I like the bed."

"I think you'll like the floor better."

"Fine. As long as I don't have to sleep on the other side of the house. Your dragon is insisting I sleep in here with you. For protection, you know." He shrugged.

I did not!

Shhh. You're ruining my cover. He obviously didn't know she projected the conversation to me.

I let it slide, covering my smile with my hand. "Fine. Here's a pillow." I threw one down at him, and hit him in the face.

"Thank you. Just what I need."

"You're welcome. Now shut up so I can sleep. I have mono, remember?"

"Good night, beautiful."

"Good night, Jeeves."

Good night, Dear one.

Good night.

✵

The next morning when I woke up, Ky was gone, and there was a letter and a rose on top of my night stand.

Good Morning, Beautiful,

I went out to see your town and get used to the surroundings. Only worry if I'm not back by tonight. The force field is already up, and the only things that can get in are you and me, and the people we're touching. I took care of it this morning. Go ahead, throw a stick at it and test my work. Just stand back and be ready for fireworks. And you can always toast the stick if the field doesn't work. Both your cell phone and home phone rang this morning, and you didn't even flinch. Oh, and there was a hurricane, and you slept through that too. I'll see you tonight, and stay safe. I don't want to lose you already. It would show weakness on my part.

Love,

Jeeves

I laughed and walked downstairs, to where the couch was still ruffled from last night. After grabbing a sandwich for breakfast, I went out the back door and threw a stick at the house, to try out the force field. There was a small explosion and little pieces of bark scattered everywhere.

Remind me not to get on your bad side.

To my surprise, he answered my thought. Will do.

Good morning. What was with the note?

I wanted to make sure you weren't worried.

Why would I be? You can take care of yourself. Unless of course I decided to kick your ass. Then you may have to worry.

Duly noted and appreciated.

So, where are you? I can give you directions to the school if that's where you're going.

Well, you're too late. I'm already here. Do you know a girl with blonde hair, blue eyes, and a smile glued to her face?

That describes pretty much all the girls at my school.

Well, when I asked this one if she knew you, she got this really ugly sneer on her face.

Ugh, Anora.

I'm guessing the feelings mutual.

You got that right. She thinks her ex-boyfriend cheated on her with me.

Did you?

Ky, you know me better than that.

Well, she's been following me, and I can't shake her.

Well, you could fly off, but you'd have to be invisible.

I tried that. She caught up with me about an hour ago.

I cursed. Check your shoe. If there is a blinking piece of gum, she stuck you with a tracker.

He was silent for a second, then he cursed too. What do I do to get rid of it?

Stick it on a rabbit. She'll follow it around for hours before realizing it's not you.

He laughed. Okay. I'll see you tonight?

Bet on it.

Good morning, dear one.

Good morning. When are you coming back? I'm sure you're driving Ky crazy.

He can handle it.

I'm sure.

I'll be back once the egg is born. It may be dangerous for me until then.

Okay. I'll talk to you later. I'm standing outside, and I feel like I'm being watched.

Okay. Be careful. I love you, dear one.

I will be and I love you too.

I walked back into the house and flopped onto the already messed up couch. I flipped on the television, and sank deep into the couch. After about two hours, I looked out the window, and saw Amara coming up the front walk. But, it wasn't the Amara I knew. This Amara had platinum blonde hair in place of her curly, dirty blonde hair, and sapphire blue contacts. In a few short words, this Amara looked like Anora. I quickly cast an illusion spell over my stomach and teeth so they would look normal to her.

I walked out the door, and grabbed her hand. Even though she was now an Anora clone, she was still my best friend, and Ky did his job a little too well.

Once we were inside, she looked me over and frowned. "You've gotten thinner, Alya. Have you been eating since you've gotten sick?"

"Who told you I was sick?"

"Jewel, of course. She called to let me know you were under the weather."

"Oh."

"So, who's your mystery man? And apparently a new butler too. You should fire him, Alya. He hasn't even taken my coat yet."

"The butler is out getting food right now, and you're not wearing a coat. It's June."

"Right. So, who's your mystery guy? I've been dying to know!"

"You really don't know him. He's from out of town. He's out exploring the area right now."

"So where is he staying? Did you put him in a hotel when you have three guest bedrooms?"

"No, I didn't put him up at a hotel! He's staying here, in the Green Room."

"The one with the jade dragons on the mantel?"

"That's the one." I figured if I was making up something, I might as well make it somewhere he would like.

"But that's right across the hall from you."

"So?"

"So your mom isn't worried?"

"Not at all. She trusts me."

"Trust has nothing to do with it honey. I'm willing to bet she's watching you like a hawk."

"Maybe."

"I have to go. I don't want to catch anything."

"Wait. What's with the new look?"

"I really have to go."

"Amara."

"Bye." She reached for the knob, and I spelled it off and into my hand. "That really wasn't nice."

"Neither is you not telling me what is going on with you."

"Fine. Anora asked me to be part of her posse. Apparently I have the 'look'. I just had to bleach my hair, and color my eyes."

"Then you didn't have the 'look'. Anora is just using you to get to me."

"She's really not as bad as you think. She treats me nicely, and she never tries to tell me what to do."

"Neither do I!"

"Yeah, but you are intimidating to be around for girls. You're beautiful and we shrink in comparison."

"I'm not that beautiful."

"Yes you are! And the worst part is that you're nice! You couldn't be beautiful and a bitch, could you? No, you have to be Little Miss Sunshine, and be perfect. You make it easy to like you, and I hate that. Now, would you please let me leave?" She was almost in tears. I stuck the doorknob back in, and she grabbed the knob.

"How long have you felt this way?"

"Since I met you. The truth is, I don't think we can be friends anymore. It's too hard to keep my sanity."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It isn't entirely your fault."

After she left, I cried for a long time. I didn't even realize what was happening to my friends. They were all so nice on the outside, and on the inside, they feel like they aren't beautiful. When Ky got home, I had stopped crying, but my eyes were still red, and my illusion spell was still active. I hadn't even thought about taking it off. He looked at me, smiled, and sat down beside me, one hand on my knee, the other rubbing my back.

"What happened to you? Did you do something insane while I was gone?"

I looked down at my seemingly flat stomach, looked at my teeth in the living room mirror, and chuckled. "No. Amara dropped by."

"I know. I've been waiting outside for two hours."

"That's not safe."

"I was inside the force field."

"So what do you think of my beautiful city?"

"I think it would be better if you explored it with me."

"You know that's not possible. What did people say about your teeth?"

"Nothing. Surprisingly, there were a great number of people with identical teeth that I know aren't Dragons."

"Yeah. They use an illusion spell so people will worship them."

"I'm thankful. The worshiping kind of messes up my chances of making friends."

"I'm sure it isn't a problem for a handsome guy like you."

"About as much as it is for a beautiful girl like you."

"It's not as easy as you may think."

"Could you walk around with me tomorrow? You could use that wonderful illusion spell of yours, even if I like you better with your pregnant stomach and curved teeth."

"Really? I think I look like a Christmas ornament with my belly button ring."

"Never a Christmas ornament. Maybe the tree topping angel."

I leaned my head against his shoulder. "What are we going to do, Ky? I can't carry the eggs around with me at school, and my locker isn't safe."

"I could carry ours, and you could carry the one that's attached to you. That way, ours won't kill itself, and neither will the other one. The more healthy eggs the better."

"You planning on carrying a purse? We can't bring backpacks to school. Drug precautions." He lifted me to sit on his lap, and I wrapped my hands around his shoulders.

"Have you seen how deep the pockets on your city's guys clothing are? I could fit three eggs in there."

"What if you got caught? You couldn't exactly say that you're the Green Dragon, and I'm the Blue one. The worshiping, remember?"

"So I won't."

"The penalty for egg stealing is losing both your hands. And that's for the surviving Dragon's eggs. Can you imagine what the penalty would be for the 'first' Blue-Green offspring, not to mention the 'last' Blue Dragon egg?"

"Want to make a guess?"

"Death? Emasculation?" He grimaced at the last one, but said nothing.

"I was kidding with the last one. Most likely death. Though I would make sure that you suffered before killing you."

"Thanks. Good to know you love me."

"I do. But I'm not the one killing you for stealing a Dragon egg. I would blow both our covers if it meant saving you."

"Thank you." He gently pushed me off of him, and walked toward the front door.

"Where are you going now?"

"I'm going to go try to find a place to rent. It's too rumor-savvy to sleep in the same house with you, let alone the same room."

"Don't go. It's really empty here, and I like having you around."

"I have to. People will start to get suspicious if I live here. There can't be rumors floating around about us. I have money, and I'll be within walking distance. I'll call when I find a place."

"Here. Take this." I threw him my cell phone. "You may need it."

"I will. Be careful, all right?"

"I'm the one with the force field. Don't you get hurt, or I'll kill you."

"That doesn't make much sense."

"It will if you get yourself hurt."

"I won't. I'll call you later." He started to leave and a sharp pain ran through my stomach. It was like the egg was trying to tell me something. I decided to go with it.

"Ky. Please don't go. I really need you here. I won't be able to sleep tonight without you here. You've been close by every night since I met you. Not to mention that you have my dragon. If you die, she dies."

"I have to." He sounded like he was weakening.

"No. You don't. There's a room straight across from mine. You'll be comfortable there. I'll even lock the door to my room if it will make you more at ease. Just don't go, or I'll go with you." I took off my still active illusion spell, and rubbed my throbbing stomach.

"I can't risk you following me, especially pregnant. I'll have to stay. Just please lock your door tonight. It'll make me feel better."

"I will. What is wrong with your child? It keeps sending me pains."

"Wait. Are they brief pains, like a kick, or shooting pains?"

"More in the shooting department, and how can an egg kick?"

"It was a metaphor, and I think you're having contractions. Why doesn't this surprise me? Your egg hatched early, and Ultimatra talked to you the first day. Now you are having a egg the third day of your pregnancy."

"What are you doing ranting? Get Tartea or Ultimatra to call Moonily and get Arishka's ass over here to tell me what to do!"

I'll do it, dear one.

Thank you.

"What do you want me to do?"

"Go get your room ready for tonight, though I have a feeling you aren't going to do much sleeping. If you have time, change my sheets. I don't need blood on my satin duvet."

What's wrong, Alya? Arishka's voice was comforting, even in my mind.

The egg is coming. I need you here.

What? You're only three days pregnant!

I know. I need you. Please.

I'll be there in a few minutes.

It took us three hours to fly here.

I can teleport, honey. Hang in there.

I have to, don't I? Can you find us?

I can track Dragons with scent. We all can.

Thanks.

No problem. Now I just have to wake Moku up so he doesn't worry about me.

He's asleep already?

Sweetie, its one in the morning.

There was another contraction, worse this time, and I screamed. Sorry, I didn't mean to scream in your mind. I was panting and quivering.

It's okay. You're really deep in labor. You shouldn't be screaming yet.

Yeah. Tell Moku to come with you. Ky's freaking out and keeps flickering from Dragon to human.

Will do. Don't make egg-laying history without us there.

Wouldn't dream of it. I broke the connection as I felt the next one come on and I screamed again. This time, Ky stopped pacing long enough to grab my hand and kneel by my side.

"Aren't you glad you didn't leave?" I managed to speak after the contraction stopped.

"I would have been really angry if you had gone into labor without me here."

"Well, Moku and Arishka are on their way. They'll be here any minute."

"They're here now. Ky, carry Alya up to her bedroom. Moku, boil water and get some rags ready. Alya, just keep breathing, sweetie. It'll be over soon." Arishka walked elegantly into the room, and the feel of the air turned somewhat more commanding.

Moku scurried off toward the kitchen and Ky just lifted me off of the couch, changing into his Dragon form as he did. "Ky, retract your claws. You're cutting into her skin!" Arishka yelled at him as I felt the blood trickle down my skin from the pin-points on my thighs.

He retracted his claws and basically flew up the stairs. With his tail, he laid my duvet on the floor far away from my bed. As he placed me down on my white sheets, he changed back to a worried man. I tried to calm him down by making him laugh. "Am I that heavy that you had to change to carry me?"

He chuckled half-heartedly and grabbed my hand. "You just concentrate on getting through this. I want both you and our child to be healthy when we get out of this."

"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. I'm a trooper remember?"

"Well, right now, you're a dolphin."

I looked down. "I am, aren't I? Well, maybe the rubbery skin will help with the delivery."

I changed back involuntarily. "Apparently not."

Arishka came into the room and shooed Ky out. "Moku's pacing outside. You can wear the floor out together."

"But-"

"No buts. I don't care if you're the father or the King of the Sea, you will leave this room now."

He squeezed my hand, and kissed my forehead. "Be careful. I will be very upset with you if you die on me."

"Don't get her worried. She isn't going to die. She's delivering an egg, not a whale."

He walked out the door, and I looked at Arishka. "I'm going to be okay, right?"

"You'll be fine. You may have to pay to have the circular ring in your floor repaired, but you'll be fine."

"Okay. Then let's get down to-" There was another contraction, and I gripped my bedpost with all the strength I had left.

There was about another two hours of labor before any visible progress. "Okay, sweetie. The egg is almost out. You just need to push once, and you'll be done."

I pushed, and it was all over. Arishka cleaned the egg off with one of the towels Moku had brought up. I removed the rag from my forehead, and took the egg into my hands. It was warm, but not body temperature. I dug into it with my mind as I had the other one. "Ky!"

He ran in, and stared at the egg in my hands. "Is that the egg we found in the cave or..."

"Come hold your daughter."

He walked over to me, and took the egg from my hands gently, as if it would break. Moku ran into the room, and looked at his wife. "How did it go?"

"See for yourself."

He walked over to me first, and grabbed my hand. "How are you feeling? Do you need something?"

"I'm feeling pretty good. Could you get me an extra pillow from the gold room down the hall? It's the last door on your right."

"Sure."

Ky handed me the egg, and I rested it on my now flat stomach. I stared at it in wonder.

How?

Consider it my baby shower gift.

Thank you, Menoly.

Good luck to you, sweetie. After all, we're family. And as family, I know that you'll need as much luck, and sanity, as you can get.

"Well, my work here is done. Can we stay here the night? I need to rest so I can teleport later."

"Sure. You can stay in the Red Room. It's down the hall to the right."

"Does your mother always decorate in solid colors?"

I looked around my room. The blues called out to me. "I actually decorated this house. Every room except my mothers. She made her's completely purple, though. I suppose it's a coincidence that the guest bedrooms are all your colors however. The basement is orange."

"Well, I'm glad that you did. I would feel more comfortable in an all red room than in a black and white one anyway. There's not enough color in it."

"Well, I'm staying in the Gold Room. It's totally me. You have a real talent for decorating, Alya." Moku said as he brought in the pillow I asked for. I laid the egg down onto the pillow with great care.

"So, how did you guys get in the force field without getting fried?"

"Only Dragons can enter Dragon force fields. You can specify which Dragons so the only ones that can enter are friends. I'm guessing Ky thought ahead to when you would need us for the birth. He's smart like that."

"Yeah, he is."

"When are you going back to school?"

"As soon as the egg hardens, so probably today. We will need to find somewhere to leave the eggs."

"Leave them with us here. We don't have to leave until around five anyway."

"Thank you. Stay hidden. If the Zarbor see you guys here, they'll guess where we are, and the school isn't protected. Preferably stay in the Gold Room. It doesn't have any windows."

"Will do."

"Okay guys. Good night."

"Good night, mom." She closed the door and I could hear her footsteps down the hallway.

I smiled and looked at Ky, who was still holding my hand. "You're amazing, you know that?"

"Yeah, it's a proven fact. Where are you sleeping tonight?"

"Right here, beside my daughter and her mother." He kissed me, and I put a hand on my little egg.

"It's strange that she's perfectly healthy even though she's been growing for only three days."

"She probably sensed her mom's desperation, and decided to grow faster."

"Maybe. Well, we have to wake up in two hours. Happy, happy, joy, joy. You realize you will have to sleep on the floor?"

"Yeah, I do. For right now, I'm just happy that it's over. Now we can relax a tiny bit and concentrate on explaining how we came into possession of two of the rarest eggs in the history of the world."

"Hell. If someone tries to take them, I'll kick their ass. After going through the birthing process, I know I can take on simple mortals."

"Well, keep that confidence. You're going to need it for tomorrow."

"Good night, Jeeves."

He chuckled. "Good night, beautiful."

The room went silent, and I made sure the egg was near my bed, and out of sight from the window. I checked that Ky had a pillow and blanket before calling out to my dragon.

Ultimatra? It's safe to come back now.

I felt her come back into my mind, and my body finally relaxed and felt whole after having her gone for two days. So?

You have a sister. Why don't you know this already?

She yawned. I was asleep, like you should be.

I'm going to sleep now. Good night, Ultimatra. I missed you.

Good night, dear one. I missed you too. Thank you for saving my family.