Chapter 2: More Information
Father and son went downstairs to the main level
"Ben!"
Ben was crushed into a hug by his mother.
"Don't you EVER run off like that again young man!" Rose lectured "You are so lucky your Aunt and Uncle were on patrol and followed you!"
"Sorry for scaring you Mom" Ben apologized half-heartedly.
"You must have been just as frightened" Rose figured. "But I would have explained if you had just let me in"
"You should have seen her Ben!" the blond ten-year old said to her brother.
Flashback
"But…"
"This is something Mommy and Ben need to talk alone about" Rose said
Julie went to her room, but didn't close the door all the way. Instead, she left it open a crack and watched as Rose stretched a bit.
"Ben. This is your last chance. Either open the door, or step away from it" Rose instructed
Silence
"Okay. I'm coming in" Rose shouted as she kicked the door in "HIYA!"
Julie's jaw dropped as the door was knocked off its hinges
"Ben?" Rose asked as she entered the room looking worried "BEN?"
Hearing the worry in her mother's voice, Julie ran out of her room and into her brother's.
Rose was starring at the opened window.
"Benjamin Long." Rose said through gritted teeth before pulling out her cell phone and hit a speed-dial number. "Seth. It's Rose. Looks as if Ben came into his inheritance and I'm not expecting Jake back until later… how do you think he reacted? He ran off! Can you tell Haley to keep an eye out?... That would be great if you can talk them into it… I don't know, I haven't seen him today. He locked his door after he looked in the mirror…Thanks. Bye"
Rose hung up and buried her face in her hands as she sat on her son's bed
"We never should have thought them flooks" she declared
"Mom? What's wrong? Where did Ben go? Why did he leave?" Julie asked
Rose looked up at her confused and worried daughter. Gently she took Julie's hands in her owns and blue eyes met blue eyes.
"Julie…you know what I teach at Ben's school?"
"Mythology" Julie answered to show that she did know
"Well, everything I teach is real. There are mermaids, leprechauns, fairies, gnomes, trolls, and all sorts of magical creatures living all over the world"
"What about dragons?" Julie asked having always had a fascination with dragons which her parents found humorous.
"Oh yes. In fact, there's three…maybe four dragons living in New York City alone" Rose told her daughter. "In fact, some of these creatures…they can't fend for themselves and they need protection. Their protector is known as the American Dragon. Each country has a powerful dragon to protect the lesser creatures. And because America is so big, we have two. One who stays in New York and the other who goes off on long trips to help out others."
"Wow. But Mom? Why are you telling me this? And what does this have to do with Ben?"
Rose took a deep breath and squeezed her daughter's hands gently.
"Because I know the identity of the American Dragon." Rose admitted. "And so do you"
"I do?" Julie asked quietly.
"His name…is Jake Long"
Julie's eyes widened and her jaw dropped.
"Daddy's a dragon?" Julie gasped
Rose smiled and nodded.
"And whenever a dragon turns thirteen, he or she wakes up in their dragon form."
"So…Ben freaked out because he woke up as a dragon?" Julie figured
"That's right" Rose confirmed. "You see, both you and your brother showed one little episode of having the powers when you were babies. After that, nothing. Since it had skipped Grandma Susan's generation, we figured it might have skipped you and your brother so we dismissed the episodes as flooks. That's why we didn't tell you. Your father had planned to inform Ben last night, but he called and there was an issue with Big Foot. I know I probably could have warned Ben, but you know your brother. He'd need proof and last night was Karen's last day home before she had to go back to that boarding school"
"I understand Mom." Julie told her mother. "I just wish I could say the same for Ben"
"With any luck, your Aunt and your godparents will find him and explain everything."
RING RING
Rose jumped up and ran to the home phone and picked it up.
"Hello?" she asked. "Seth! Did you find him?... Thank goodness… I just told Julie the truth… We're on our way"
Rose hung up looking relieved
"Mom?"
"Your brother was found and your father's back in town early."
End Flashback
"You kicked down my door?" Ben exclaimed.
"It's almost like what's scarier:" Trixy pointed out. "a defensive American Dragon or an Overprotective Huntsgirl"
"We should have siced HER on the trolls" Spud said
"TROLLS!" Rose asked before turning to Ben. "Were you attacked by Trolls?"
"Dad beat them up before they could hurt me" Ben said
"That must have been so cool to watch!" Julie exclaimed
"Only lasted two minutes" Ben said before realizing something his godmother had said. "Why did you call Mom 'Huntsgirl,' Aunt Trixy?"
"You didn't tell your son how you met his mother?" Spud gasped at Jake
"I figured I'd let Rose here handle THAT conversation" Jake said
"Gee. Thanks" Rose said sarcastically.
"What's so bad about it?" Julie asked
Rose opened her mouth to speak, but a flush came from the bathroom. Everyone turned to see the Sharpe walk out on two feet holding a newspaper.
The kids blinked in confusion
"Uh…woof?" Fu asked
"you can cut the act Fu." Rose said. "The kids know. Ben got his dragon from this morning"
"Really? That's great Kid" Fu congratulated the Birthday boy. "By the way, Happy Birthday"
"Anything ELSE I should know about?" Ben asked his father CLEARLY stunned that his aunt's dog, which had once belonged to his great-grandfather, could talk
Jake turned to Rose who nodded the go-ahead
"When I met your mother, she was a dragon slayer" Jake said
TBC
Part of the reason why I've decided to wait is because I wanted to give previews. So, here's the preview for Chapter 3:
"I was WONDERING what happened to my birthmark" Seth said rubbing his arm just under his left shoulder where his birthmark had been
"What Aztec Skulls?" Julie asked