Dragon Blood 1: Pliethin (9 page)

Late the next morning, Amber glared at Justin where he sat on the edge of her desk. She was beginning to wonder if he’d been to any of his own classes. Justin turned seventeen at the beginning of the year, his sister at the end. There was nearly twelve months between them. Although they were both in her year, she couldn’t recall seeing them in any of her classes. Well, before today that was.

“I need to open my book.” Amber kept up her glare.

“Then where will I sit?”

“How about in your own classroom?”

Justin grinned. “You’ve got such a good sense of humour.”

Amber’s hands gripped the edge of her desk as she tried to control herself. Her senses sharpened. Under the mix of smells that included soap, shampoo and deodorant, Amber could smell warm, sluggish prey.

“Amber!”

“I’m doing the best I can. Do you know how hard this is? I need something to eat and I’ve still got to get through this class before lunch. Why’d you have to land on my balcony that night?”
She wished she had the ability to turn her fingernails into claws so she could dig them into Justin to get him moving.

“There’s a party this Saturday night. Are you interested in going?” Justin rose to stand beside her desk. He leaned forward, one hand resting on the back of her chair.

“If you don’t do something about this idiot, I swear I’ll do something drastic, Kade.”

“I’m nearly there. Hold on.”

Amber opened her maths book. “Not interested.” She glanced up as the classroom door opened. Hoping it was the teacher, she smiled when she saw it was Kade. Even better.

Justin turned to see who had entered. “What’s he doing here?”

Amber slid from her chair and was in front of her desk by the time Kade reached her. He wrapped his arms around her and their lips met. The classroom receded. Her annoyance at Justin evaporated. She smiled up at Kade as he pulled back slightly.

“Is that what you were looking for?” Kade whispered.

Amber grinned. “Perfect.”

“I’ll see you at lunch. This might help until then.” Kade pressed a chocolate bar into her hand before he lightly kissed her then strode from the classroom.

Amber opened the wrapper as she turned back to face Justin. He stared at her with an expression that could only be amazement. “As I’ve said a million times. I’m not interested.” She took a bite of her chocolate.

“You didn’t say you and Kade were seeing each other.”

“It doesn’t matter the reason. I’m not interested.” She pushed past him to sit in her seat. The classroom door opened. This time it was the teacher.

Without another word, Justin left the room. Amber smiled as she leaned back in her seat and had another mouthful of chocolate. Her feet crossed at her ankles and her eyes met those of her teacher, Mr Carlton. He didn’t look happy.

“Is this a classroom or a café?” Mr Carlton’s hands went behind his back as he slowly walked towards her. The class fell silent.

Amber crammed the last piece of chocolate in her mouth and shrugged.

“I don’t want to see you eating in my class again. Understand?”

Amber swallowed the chocolate and wished she had a drink to wash it down. “Sure.” She bet he wouldn’t still feel the same way if she turned into a panther and fed on his students.

Mr Carlton continued to stare at her a moment longer before he turned and walked towards the front of the classroom, hands still clasped behind his back. “Homework out. Hand it forward. Then go on with the pages written up on the board.”

Amber wasn’t the only one who groaned when they read the pages listed on the board.

Amber dropped her schoolbag just inside her bedroom. Kicking off her shoes, she locked the bedroom door and dropped onto her bed. The week had been far too long. She was glad it was Friday. Two blissful, school free days. Two days without idiots hanging out with her because she was with Kade. Two days without turning a corridor and finding yet another female with a hairstyle identical to hers, right down to the colour. What did they think? Becoming her clone would be the way to catch Kade’s attention? Idiots!

She rose and restlessly paced. She had to get out of this town. Amber dropped onto the seat at her desk and turned on her laptop. Her head jerked up and she scented the air. A slight smile curved her lips.

“It’s unlocked.” She grinned as Kade entered the French doors. “Someone’s going to notice you coming through my balcony doors one day.”

Kade shrugged and dropped down on her bed, lying with his hands behind his head. “Do you think you can stay with us this weekend? All weekend? Your bed’s far too small.”

“There’s always the floor,” Amber said absently as she noticed Crystal was online.

“Ask.”

“Hmm.” She clicked on Crystal’s name.

“Are you listening to me?”

“Not really.”

Amber says: Hey.

Crystal says: Come home!!!!

Amber says: I wish.

Crystal says: Party tomorrow night. Wish you were going too.

Amber says: So do I. There’s a lame one on here. Don’t think I want to go.

Crystal says: Come here then. Stay the weekend. Pleeeeeeeease.

Amber says: Got no way of getting there.

Crystal says: Catch a bus.

Kade leaned over her shoulder. “You can’t stay there on your own. Only if Maira can sleep there too.”

“Where would you be?” Amber looked up at him, their faces centimetres apart.

“About.”

“Would you be in Brisbane too?” When Kade nodded in answer, Amber frowned. “Where would you stay?”

“We’d get a room somewhere.”

“Why?”

“Because it isn’t safe for you to be wandering around on your own.”

“No, I meant why would you do that for me?” Amber ignored the beeps coming from her laptop.

“Would you normally go?”

“I’d try and convince my mum to let me go.”

“Tell her Maira can drive you.”

Amber smiled. “Thank you.” She turned back to the laptop.

Crystal says: You still there?

Crystal says: Hello???

Crystal says: I didn’t think it was that bad a suggestion.

Amber says: Sorry. Was talking to Kade. If Mum agrees to let me go can Maira sleep over too?

Crystal says: Shouldn’t be a problem. Mum’s fairly laid back about who I have over. Unless it’s a boy. Why?

Amber says: She can give me a lift.

Crystal says: She there too?

Amber says: brb.

Amber turned to Kade again and tugged a lock of her hair from his fingers. “We don’t have an audience.”

Kade grinned. “I’m not that nice.”

“Meaning?”

“Even to help you get the message through to Justin I wouldn’t kiss you if I wasn’t interested.”

Amber stared at him, trying to think what she could say. Her eyes were drawn to his lips. The last thing she needed was more complications in her life. Her heart leapt. Obviously it didn’t agree with her mind. She rose to her feet.

“Amber.”

Eyes met. Held. Amber’s lips parted, her mouth suddenly dry. Words failed. Her lips curved slightly. Words weren’t always necessary. Reaching for him, her eyes closed as her lips met his and she was lost in a swirl of emotions. When a sound like a purr rose from her throat, she pulled back, eyes wide.

Sight, sound and smell were all heightened. Her skin felt tight and she knew how to bring forth the panther. It would take seconds. She forced it back down. It wasn’t her. She was human.

“What’s wrong?”

“I know how to change. I don’t want to know that.” Amber stepped back. “I’m human!”

“Change.”

“What?”

“You need to know how to change. What if you accidentally change into a panther? You need to know how to change back at will. You also need to recognise the signs of when you’re going to change and how to stop it.”

Amber stared at him. “Change. Into a panther.”

“Unless you can manage a dragon, panther will do.” Kade smiled fleetingly.

“Fine!” She pulled off her uniform, standing in leather shorts and bikini top. She turned her back on Kade. His gaze was too distracting. She called forth the panther, feeling her skin tighten and senses heighten. She stretched out her arms and stared at her hands. She smiled as she recalled wanting to turn her fingernails into claws. She watched them change. She tried to hold it there. It was impossible. The changes continued, like a tremor through her body.

“Now talk to me.” Kade reached out and ran his hand along the fur on her back.

Amber growled in annoyance.

Kade shook his head.
“Talk to me.”

Seconds passed until they turned into minutes. Amber finally figured out how to control the animal mind that wanted to swamp the human one.
“Happy?”

“Try a sentence.”

“Just don’t expect me to recite Shakespeare.”

Kade laughed. “Okay. Change back now.”

It took nearly a minute before Amber could reverse the process. She stretched as she rose to stand on two feet. Her hands ran down her arms, surprisingly smooth after being covered by fur, fighting back an urge to do a victory dance. She didn’t want the ability to turn into a panther. It wasn’t like she could tell anyone. Turning into a dragon would have been more practical. Then she could’ve flown anywhere she wanted to go. She could have visited Cystal.

“How do you feel?” Kade took her hand in his.

“Only half human.”

Kade tugged her closer. “Join the club. Now, how about you get dressed and see what your mother has to say about going to the city for the weekend?”

Amber nodded, pulling her hand away. “Don’t hold your breath though. She’s not real happy with me.”

“What’d you do?”

“I got annoyed with my grandmother. Stupid old woman. She was hassling me. If they thought I was going to sit there and take it, they were kidding themselves.” She pulled a dress on over her head. “I’m not sure how long it’ll take me.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

It took Amber nearly half an hour. She returned to her room with a grin. Locking the door behind her, she lost her grin when she saw Kade was at her laptop typing. He looked up as she stalked across the room.

“Don’t worry, I told Crystal it was me. I was bored sitting here waiting for you. So was she.”

Amber scrolled up to skim through what he’d written. Nothing important. Mainly what classes he was in and where he lived. Basic information she already had. “I need my seat back.”

“I take it you can go?”

Amber nodded as she took Kade’s place in front of the laptop.

Amber says: I’m back. Can I stay for the weekend?

Crystal says: When do you get here?

Amber says: Tomorrow. Tried for tonight, but she expects me to get homework out of the way first
:(


Crystal says: Good thing you’re not here right now. Your ears would be bleeding from my scream of excitement!!!

Amber says: I’ll be there as soon as possible. Your parents okay with two extra bodies Saturday night?

Crystal says: Yep. Already checked with them. They wanted to know if Maira’s parents want to talk to them. Said to give them our number.

Amber says: That’s not an issue. They don’t live with their parents.

Crystal says: You never said that!!

Amber says: Sorry.

Crystal says: You’re not going to have time to sleep tomorrow night. I have a million questions to ask.

Amber says: Me too. I want to know everything that’s happened since I’ve been gone.

Crystal says: No problem.

Amber says: g2g. Need to get my homework done or I can’t come.

Crystal says: K. See you tomorrow. I can’t wait.

Amber says: Me too

Crystal says: Bibi.

Amber says: Later.

Amber turned to Kade. “Are you sure Maira will be able to go?”

Kade grinned. “Don’t tell me you’ve already forgotten she has to follow orders?”

“You mean you can tell her how to spend her free time? Even what parties to attend?”

“They don’t get free time. I guess you could say they’re always on call.”

“That’s barbaric.”

“I never claimed it wasn’t.”

Amber could only shake her head. “Don’t expect blind obedience from me.”

Kade laughed softly. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

The music vibrated around them. Amber couldn’t stop grinning. She was in her own city, amongst friends. She’d missed this. She glanced around. There wasn’t much space to dance in the press of bodies. Many couples were plastered against each other, like Maira and Brann were. Amber was dancing in a group that included Crystal, Kade and Angela.

A new scent entered the room and Amber met Kade’s eyes. His body was no longer relaxed. If she hadn’t spent so much time with him, she wouldn’t have noticed.
“Dragon, isn’t it?”

Kade nodded, stepping closer to her.
“We have to get out of here.”

“Why?”

Brann and Maira appeared at their side. “I’m starving. Let’s go get something to eat.” Maira smiled easily at the crowd. “And not the chips and stuff sitting in the other room. I want real food.”

Kade nodded. “Are you coming, Amber?”

She could see the order in Kade’s eyes. “Sure. I could eat a horse… or deer.”

“Aww, stay. You were going to spend every second of this weekend with me,” Crystal protested.

“She can’t come.”
Kade continued to stare at Amber.
“Deal with this. Quickly.”

“We’ll be back,” Amber said.

“Then I’m coming too.” Crystal linked her arm through Amber’s.

“Me too.” Angela took Amber’s other arm.

“There’s not room for six in the car.” Kade kept glancing behind Amber.

Amber wanted to check what he was looking at. She managed to stay focused on Crystal and Angela instead. “We won’t be long. You know I don’t take forever to eat.”

“There’s room for me,” Crystal said stubbornly.

Amber managed to bite back a sigh. She looked at Kade.
“She won’t budge. We’ll have to take her with us. We’ll be standing here arguing for ages if we don’t.”
He nodded slightly and turned away, pushing through the bodies in the room. “I’ll catch you later, Inge.” Amber hugged her friend before she turned back to Crystal. “Come on then. Let’s go eat.”

They were nearly out of the house when they ran into Josh and a handful of his mates. Anger surged through Amber. She felt her skin tighten and forced herself to relax. She couldn’t change into a panther in a room full of people. Especially since she knew most of them.
“Kade!”
She sent a picture of Josh blocking her way.

“Look who’s returned to Brisbane. Weren’t you moving permanently?”

“Get out of my way, Josh.” Amber glared at him.

“Is that any way to talk to your boyfriend?”

“You’ve been replaced.”

“I don’t see him anywhere.”

“Then how about you turn around and look.” Kade came through the crowd to stand behind Josh, who spun to face him.

Josh took a step back and to the side so he could see both of them. “You said you’d be gone two months. Your mother was telling her friends she wasn’t coming back this year. I don’t appreciate being lied to.”

Amber moved to stand beside Kade, Crystal’s arm still linked in hers. Kade draped his arm around her shoulders. “I never lied to you. I told you all the information I was given. But it doesn’t matter now. You should have talked to me first.” She started to move away.

“Amber.” Josh reached out for her.

Amber pushed his hand away. “Leave me alone. Are you blind? Can’t you see you’ve been replaced?”

“I wouldn’t have-” Josh began.

“You’re a complete bastard, Josh. And neither of us want anything to do with you,” Crystal interrupted him.

“Amber-”

“You heard Crystal. Now back off.” Amber took another few steps and was outside, Crystal and Kade still one on either side of her.

Josh followed, leaving his friends behind. “Or what? Your boyfriend will knock me out?”

“I don’t need anyone to fight my battles for me. You want someone to knock you out? Then come closer and let me have a go.” Amber shrugged Kade and Crystal off, stepping away from them.

Josh laughed. He stepped close and tapped the side of his chin. “Give it your best shot. You can’t even hit a ball with a cricket bat. Your threat’s empty.”

Amber felt her skin tighten. Adrenaline rushed through her. She could smell the other dragon coming closer. They had minutes to get out of here. Strength filled her limbs and she barely held the panther back. She wanted to pounce on him, rip him to shreds. Carve up the smirk on his face. Instead, she swung at him. She could feel the panther trying to crawl out, take over. Her fist connected with Josh’s chin, he landed on the ground and his mouth dropped open.

Kade’s arms wrapped around her and his mouth was near her ear. “Back down. You’re human Amber, and we’ve got to get out of here. Now.”

Amber struggled against the panther. Sweat broke out on her forehead. “Stay out of my way, Josh.” She turned away from him, walking beside Kade. She glanced at Crystal on her other side. Her friend looked dazed. Reaching out a hand, she squeezed Crystal’s, focusing on the humanness of her. The panther retreated. Amber relaxed slightly.

Maira had the car double parked in the street, the engine running. Brann was in the front with her. The three of them piled into the back, with Amber in the middle. She buckled up, pretending not to see the looks Crystal kept sending her way.

Maira let off the handbrake and put the car into gear. “Any suggestions before I die of starvation?”

Amber gave directions to the closest café, which also served meals, and then closed her eyes. They popped open and she looked upwards. She opened her mouth, forgetting this wasn’t something she could share with Crystal. Kade’s hand tightened on hers and she looked towards him. He shook his head slightly. Amber looked up again and then back at him.

Kade smiled at her.
“I know. But there’s not much we can do while your friend is with us. Relax for now. He’s only tracking us. He’s probably curious.”

“Has he tried to contact you?”

“Only tried to barge in. Keep your shields up. It’s the only reason I know he’s still up there. He keeps trying to find a way into my mind.”

Kade had spent the past week teaching her how to block people from reading her mind. She wasn’t perfect at it, but could hold out long enough until Kade could help shore up her defences.
“Okay.”
She started to ask Kade why she could sense the dragon above them even though he wasn’t trying to invade her mind, but Crystal spoke.

“What happened back there?”

Amber grinned. “Josh landed on his butt.”

Crystal laughed. “I know that part. And as much as I loved every second of it, you can’t hit a ball that’s thrown directly at a bat you’re holding. You hit him on the exact spot he tapped. What have you been doing?”

“Self defence classes with me,” Maira said.

“Really?” Crystal glanced between Maira and Amber.

“It’s boring going to things like that on my own. And it’s not like these two would be comfortable going to a women’s self defence class.” Maira grinned, meeting Crystal’s eyes in the rear view mirror.

“I wouldn’t have thought you’d learn something like that.” Crystal looked at Amber carefully. “And why didn’t you tell me?”

Amber could only shrug.
“Thanks, Maira. We know each other too well to be able to lie without the other picking up on it.”

“Promise me you’ll tell me everything in future?” Crystal rested her hand on Amber’s arm. “Please? I don’t want us to grow apart. I hate that your mum dragged you away.”

“I hope you’re not expecting her to tell you absolutely everything.” Kade ran his finger down Amber’s cheek. “I’d have to protest that promise.” He smiled. “I’d end up with performance anxiety.”

Maira laughed. “Yeah sure. Your ego wouldn’t allow it.”

“Ego! You act like that’s a bad thing,” Kade said.

“Nah, it couldn’t be.” Brann shook his head, a slight grin as he turned towards the backseat.

Maira rolled her eyes. “Men! I’m constantly surrounded by testosterone.”

Brann reached out to rest his hand on her thigh. “But you love it.”

“Not when there’s five of you at home.”

“Five!” Crystal exclaimed. She turned to Amber. “Didn’t you say you stayed at Maira’s place?”

Amber nodded, relieved the conversation topic had changed. “Yeah, but don’t mention to anyone that five guys live there too. Mum’d freak if she found out.”

“I can’t believe you pulled that one off. Sleeping over at a house with five guys in it!”

Amber grinned. “And no parents.”

“So unfair,” Crystal muttered.

Amber laughed. “Well, if you ever met Flinn, you probably wouldn’t be so excited by the idea. He’s worse than Josh. Someone needs to knock him to the ground.”

Maira burst into laughter.

“Who?” Amber demanded. When Maira stopped laughing abruptly, she could only think it was because Kade had ordered her to shut up. She turned to him. “Why?”

“Because he annoys me.”

Amber’s eyes narrowed. “Try again.”

“Shut up, Amber. Your friend’s listening to every word.”

“Tell me!”

“You aren’t part of our society. He shouldn’t have left you to face the wyvern.”
Kade smiled wryly. “Drop it. If you can.”

“Midnight snack time.” Maira parked the car. “Big, fat, juicy steak.”

Amber’s mouth watered. “Stop tormenting me.”

As they stepped into the café, Crystal lightly touched Amber on the arm to get her attention. “You’ve changed.”

Amber stopped, just inside the door. Kade hovered near her while Maira and Brann went to order food. “I’m still me.”

Crystal shook her head. “I’m not sure how, but you’re different. It’s… I don’t know… like someone else has invaded your body.”

“Don’t be silly.”

“I don’t know how else to describe it. When you hit Josh, it was like you were someone else. And a few minutes ago when you were thinking of eating. What’s going on?”

Amber sighed. “I’m still me.”

“I thought we were best friends. That we shared everything.”

Kade took a step closer. Amber shook her head as she met his eyes. “Give us a minute.” She took Crystal’s hand, dragging her over to a table in the corner. They sat across from each other.

“Don’t you dare tell her,”
Kade warned.

“Back off. I’m not stupid. Order me a steak. Medium. And a salad for Crystal.”

“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” Crystal asked.

Amber shook her head. “I’m sorry, but I can’t. I’ve stumbled onto someone else’s secret and I’ve promised to keep it. I wish I could tell you. You know I would if it was possible.”

“Kade’s secret? Is that why you said something about being enemies sometimes? Is he… I don’t know… threatening you? Blackmailing you?”

“No! It isn’t like that. I didn’t want to know his secret and it was his fault I found out. An accident, but his fault all the same.”

“Should I be worried about you?”

Amber’s laugh was brittle. “I really don’t know. I’m not meant to know his secret. I guess you could call it a life and death one.”

“Amber-”

“Now can you understand why, even though I can’t, I also don’t want to share it with you? I don’t want to put you at risk too.”

“What can I do to help?”

“Nothing. Just stay my friend. Even if I can’t tell you everything anymore.”

“Always.”

“And don’t treat Kade like a leper. He’s doing the best he can.”

Crystal smiled. “You know me too well.” Her smile faded. “I thought you said the two of you were only friends. But, you really like him, don’t you?”

Amber glanced over to the table Kade, Maira and Brann sat at. He was watching her. Her lips slowly curved into a smile, which he answered with one of his own. She turned back to Crystal.

“You don’t need to answer. I can see you do.”

Even though she knew Kade could probably hear her, Crystal deserved some kind of answer. Particularly since there was so much else she couldn’t share with her. “Sometimes I feel like punching him like I did Josh. Other times I feel like dragging him off to the closest bedroom. He annoys the hell out of me, makes me laugh, drives me insane, makes me feel like I could fly to the moon and I miss him when he’s not with me.”

“You love him.”

Amber shrugged. “I thought I loved Josh. Look how that turned out.”

“He’s different from Josh. Dangerous. But I don’t think he’d ever hurt you. You know that movie we watched, the one with the sword fighting and I said a man like that would die for his woman?” Crystal waited for Amber to nod. “That’s who he makes me think of. A warrior.”

“That’s how I think of him too.”

Crystal glanced at the other table. “Do you think I could stay with you next weekend? I could catch a bus Friday afternoon. I looked into it.”

“I don’t know. I want you to, but I don’t want to risk you getting involved. I thought it’d be safe for me to see you here, but now I’m not so sure. I’ve got a bad feeling we brought some of the problems with us.”

“I don’t care. Friends face problems together.”

“Crystal-”

“Together.”

Amber sighed. “I’ll think about it. I’m not putting you in danger because I miss spending time with you.”

“How dangerous can Hicksville be?”

Amber smiled slightly when Crystal used her name for the town. “You’d be surprised.” She glanced over to Kade again. “Come on, let’s go and eat. The food’s arrived.”

“I didn’t order anything.” Crystal rose to her feet.

“There’s a salad over there with your name on it.”

Crystal linked her arm through Amber’s. “See. We know each other perfectly. We need to stick together. Who else is going to look out for you like I would?”

They reached the table and Amber sat in front of the large steak that was the same as those in front of the other three. Crystal stared at the food, looking from hers to Amber’s.

Amber met Crystal’s eyes. “Maybe not perfectly anymore. I’m sorry.”

Crystal looked at the steak that would normally have a salad on the side and only take up half the space it did. “So am I.”