Chapter Nine: The Library

A/N: Yes, another chapter from Alina's POV. Couldn't resist, she is my favorite character and all. Plus what goes on in this chapter concerns her.

Alina: When Jonathan and I finally got to the library, I asked Javis to land somewhere nearby, but not to close. I didn't want anyone to see me appear out of thin air. That would cause unnecessary questions.

Of course, Javis chuckled. I understand completely. She went off to a nearby open area to play with Trahern, and I followed Jonathan inside the library.

I walked through the doors and breathed deeply, inhaling the wonderful scent of all those books. Ink, paper, they both smelled good to me, probably because to me, there was nothing better than a good book.

"Alina, look!" Jonathan whispered, pointing to a poster. It said "Dragon Film tonight," and had a picture of what was supposed to be a dragon. It looked nothing like one. The film-makers had obviously never seen a dragon, which was understandable. After all, they only made movies and most likely didn't believe in dragons themselves.

I shrugged. "Looks nothing like Javis, but come on. We're not here to look at posters, we're here to get books!" I immediately went into the young adult section, despite the fact that I'd read every good book worth reading there. I wasn't quite brave enough to try the adult section yet. One book had been all it took to scare me sufficiently enough to make me want to stay out of it.

Jonathan looked through the computer games, then the movies. I couldn't figure out why, since he wasn't able to get movies out without a parent (or adult over eighteen). For some reason, our library had a rule that you had to be over eighteen to get out movies. And you had to be over twenty-one to get out R rated movies, which I understood.

Why anyone would want to get out an R rated movie, though, was beyond me. I only really wanted to see one, The Last of the Mohican's. I had read the book and hated the ending, and was curious to see if they stayed true to it.

I gathered my courage, and, taking a deep breath, walked into the adult section. I was looking for a book for my mother. She'd requested some fiction book that was a sequel to a book she had really liked, so I was getting it for her.

I found the book as quickly as I could and started to leave, but then a book shoved between two others caught my eye.

"To Ride a Dragon," was the title, and it had a fairly accurate picture of a flying dragon on the front. Of course, where the little figure riding sat was completely wrong, but not many people had seen dragons. You never, ever, sit between their wings. You always sit on the base of their neck, right where their body stops and their neck begins.

Out of curiosity, I grabbed the book and added it to the pile of books that I was already getting. Over half of them I had read at least twice, and most of them more than three.

Jonathan was standing near the row of computers, his arms full of books about engines and old airplanes and stuff like that, obviously looking for me. "Ready to go, Alina?" He asked.

I smiled at him. "Yep. Just let me dig out my library card." I set my pile of books on the edge of a table, where they balanced precariously, and opened my purse. I got out my card and picked my books up again, just before they fell off the table. I headed for the check-out desk and set the pile on the counter. I handed the librarian my card as Jonathan set his books beside mine.

"Oho, we've got a couple of readers," The librarian remarked as she scanned my card, handed it back and started on my books. She held up the one I'd gotten for my mother. "Are you sure your mom would let you read this?"

I nodded, expecting the question. "Yes, ma'am, I'm getting it for her." The librarian nodded, satisfied with my answer, and finished the last of my books. Handing them to me, she started on Jonathan's.

A few minutes later, our arms full of books of different sizes, shapes and colors, we walked out of the library. I was pleased with todays crop, and no doubt I would be returning most of them before the week was out.

I called Javis with a whistle, meeting her halfway, and deposited my books into the backpack hanging from the biggest of her spikes.

Have fun, Alina? Javis asked in an amused tone. You certainly got a lot of books. She looked at the one I'd gotten for my mom. You got that for your mother, correct?

I sighed heavily. Why does everyone assume I got that for me? Of course it's for my mom, I would never read anything with a title like "Blessed Nights." Ick, ick, ick.

Jonathan laughed. "Trahern says that you'd better not or he'd tell dad." I made a face at Trahern, but laughed as well.

"How did he hear me?" I asked.

"Javis let him hear." After a few seconds of listening, he added, "Trahern also says that if that guy over there doesn't stop watching you, he'll go over and scare him."

I looked over my shoulder to see a middle-aged man staring at us. I hurriedly climbed onto Javis' neck and she took off.

Here we go! She said in a sing-song voice. She loved to fly, and so on the return trip, we took a round-about way to get home.

When we flew over Kenneth's house, Jonathan and I waved. Kenneth, who was helping his sister weed the garden, waved back. He nudged Kendra, who also waved, although we'd never met her. I resolved to change that soon.

When I dismounted, Javis told me she was going to go see Amaris and that she wouldn't be back until around dinner-time. I told her that was fine and she walked, or rather loped, off.

I went inside and sat down to read one of my favorite books about an Avian Shapeshifter. An hour later, Javis came back and I went outside to sit by her and finish my book. Suddenly, I looked up.

Amaris appeared in my line of vision, Kendra sitting on her back. They were flying. Amaris was very graceful, and Kendra had a determined look on her face. As Amaris did an aerial trick, Kendra dropped off. She fell like a stone, and I was getting up in a panic, when Amaris dove down and plucked her right out of the air.

I sighed in relief, and Kendra waved at me. She told Amaris something and they landed next to Javis and I.

"Hi!" Kendra said. "I'm Kenneth's sister, but then again he's probably already told you that." She offered her hand, which I shook.

"I'm Alina," I answered. "Your brother probably hasn't mentioned me. Did he tell you about my siblings? All six of them?"

Kendra laughed. "Actually, he did mention that you had six siblings. Three sets of twins and a little sister. Wow. And I thought I'd go crazy with only one brother. How do you do it?"

I grinned. "With lots of anger management practice, let me tell you. Half the time, the younger sets of twins and Amara, my littlest sister, argue and then it's like a battlefield inside the house. Usually I come out here to escape it all."

Kendra looked thoughtful. "Yes, I've seen you out here often. You usually sit on the roof and read, correct?"

I nodded. "Yes, the roof holds warmth. I'm kind of like a reptile, I guess, because I'm always cold unless I'm outside, letting the sun warm my skin."

Kendra looked surprised. "Really? Me too! Maybe it has something to do with being a teenager. How old are you?"

I had to think about that one. Can you believe I forgot my age? "Fifteen," I said at last. "I think."

Kendra stifled a laugh. "You forgot how old you were?"

I nodded, a little embarrassed. "Yes, I'm a forgetful person, I'm afraid." Javis made a noise, and Kendra and I both looked up in alarm before I realized that Javis and Amaris were exchanging compliments.

"I just turned seventeen," Kendra told me. "I'm younger than Kenneth, something he just has to rub in every chance he gets." She rolled her eyes at this, but was obviously fond of her brother.

I laughed. Kendra looked up at her mom called her, and then looked at me. "I gotta go. It was nice talking to you!" She said as she jogged off, Amaris following at a walk.

"Alina! Come inside, I have to talk to you about something really important," My mom yelled. I went inside, a small feeling of dread growing in my stomach. Was I in trouble? If so, what did I do?

Jonathan was already at the kitchen counter, sitting with dad. The younger sets of twins and Amara were nowhere to be seen, and I heard them playing upstairs.

"Alina, Jonathan," my father began, his voice grave, "I think you're old enough to handle what we're about to tell you."

Mom nodded, her voice also serious. "We'll tell the others when we think they're ready, or before, if necessary."

Mom and dad looked at each other, and dad took a deep breath. "Jonathan, Alina, we-well, what's the best way to put this, dear?" He asked, looking at mom.

Mom finished for him. "Guys, you and your dragons were brought together for a reason. We're really royalty from the planet Neptune, which is engulfed in a planet-wide war caused by aliens from Jupiter, which invaded about nineteen or twenty years ago. You were brought here to be kept safe until you and your dragons were old enough to return and save the planet."

A/N: So what happens now? Seems that Jonathan was right! Read and review, and maybe suggest ideas for future chapters. I'm slowly losing inspiration.