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The Pearl

By: Thistlethorn



Edited by Wicked

This is a copyrighted work of fiction. All rights reserved.

*

The entire thing started with the pearl. It was set in a ring that I bought at a second hand store. It was a simple ring, just a band and setting for the pearl. The pearl itself was a bit large, which led me to believe it was a fake. That, and the price. But it was really nice looking, so I spent the ten bucks. I don't normally wear a lot of jewelry, especially rings. Just never struck me as a "guy thing." But I liked it, so I wore it. I was a student at that time, attending the local college. Living on a student budget, the area I was living in was less than great. Just above slum, actually. But the rent was cheap and it was on the bus line. Unfortunately, when the buses didn't run I had to walk and the quickest way I found was walking along the railroad tracks. I know that's the worst place to be walking, especially when it's late. It was the quickest way, though, and I figured that getting home faster was better. 

After the bars closed one night, I was walking home. I hadn't had too much to drink, so I figured a little walk would do me good. A river runs along the tracks, and I found the sound of the river to be soothing. I liked it. I'd had fun that night, and I thought a walk was just the thing to round it out.

I'm not certain how long they followed me, probably just long enough to block any retreat. I became aware of their presence when the brick shithouse blocked my path. What little buzz I had left me as I sized him up. He was about a half foot taller that my own 5' 8." As I stepped back I heard the others behind me. It was about this time that I realized just how stupid I'd been and began to suspect just how much I would regret my stupidity.

"Hey, was' up?" It was lame, but it was all I could think of to say.

The brick shithouse merely smiled a very unpleasant smile at me. Then he pulled out a lead pipe. Some snickering from the back did nothing to improve my feeling about the situation. 

"You know the drill," the guy in front of me said as he slapped the pipe into the palm of his hand. "Wallet, jewelry, and valuables. Now." 

I automatically reached for my wallet when I felt the pipe slam against my midriff. I went to my knees. 

"You," he said, motioning to someone behind me. "See what he was going for." 

I felt hands feeling around my front and back pockets. They found my wallet and took it. 

"Just his wallet."

There are times when a person should just shut up and let things happen. Unfortunately, I never think about it until it's too late. "Yeah, shit-for-brains, remember the wallet you asked for?" 

At least I didn't get the lead pipe across my face, but his fist felt almost as hard. I raised my hand to wipe the blood coming from my split lip. The hand with the pearl ring on it. 

He looked appraisingly at the ring and barked, "That too." 

I wasn't giving him the ring. Why I should risk my life over a ten-dollar piece of junk jewelry never occurred to me. I simply decided my wallet was enough, and they weren't getting the ring, too. As I paused to determine what to do next, I got a warning jab from the pipe. Not enough to hurt, just enough to let me know he was serious. 

"Ring. Now."

His vocabulary was really beginning to impress me. However, he had a way of making his point perfectly clear. 

"Right, ring, now," I said reaching for my right hand with my left. I tugged, but the ring wouldn't budge. Terrific. While I didn't want to give it to him, I had visions of the guy cutting off my finger to get at the ring. "It's stuck," I explained. 

"Get that ring off your finger or I'll do it for you." His tone implied that he didn't believe me, but at least he used more complex vocabulary. It also made me try harder. It wasn't coming. 

Finally, I put my finger my mouth, hoping saliva would maybe loosen the ring. It seemed to be working. Gripping the ring with my teeth, I pulled my finger out of my mouth. Then completely without thinking, I used my tongue to flip the ring to the back of my mouth and swallowed hard out of reflex. For a split second I thought, what the hell am I doing? Then the pain hit, not externally but internally. It felt like I was on fire. The ring burned all the way down and continued to burn when it hit my stomach. Then I felt the lead pipe hit me again. 

I fell forward in a heap. My foremost thought was to get some water. I tried to crawl to the river, but I was grabbed from behind. Brick shithouse was saying something, but I had no clue what. I felt myself pulled to my feet and held up. Three more times the lead pipe hit me in the stomach and I felt like I was going to retch, but I didn't. By that time the burning was so bad I stopped feeling anything else. The burning spread to my entire body, and along with it I began to feel pins and needles tingling everywhere. I was aware the tone of the muggers began to change but I couldn't focus on them. They suddenly let go and I fell back to the ground. 

Immediately, I began to crawl towards the river, still desperately wanting something to drink. Moving proved very difficult. The burning tingling pulled at my body, especially my neck and trunk. As I crawled it felt like the dimensions of my body were changing, that there was continually more of it. I tried to get my arms underneath me and push up. While I was briefly successful, my arms trembled, then collapsed under what felt like increasing weight. As I lay there a moment, panting with the pain, I started itching. It was light at first, easy to ignore with the amount of pain I felt. But as it spread across my body, it got harder to ignore. I tried to reach around to scratch, but I couldn't get my body to move right. 

I continued to make my way to the river, determined to at least try to cool the fire that raged within me, and the itching eased up as my skin felt like it was hardening. After an indeterminate amount of time, I reached the edge of the river. My face fell into the water and I drank. It wasn't the cleanest water in the world, but I didn't care. It was wet and cold and felt wonderful. Finally, the pain began to subside and I could think again. The first thing I realized, or more correctly remembered, was that at this point of the river there was about a five foot drop from the edge of the ground to the water. My head was in the water, but my body was still up on the bank. I jerked my head up and got the shock of my life. 

My head shot way into the air, still without moving my body. I realized I had a snout covered with scales. I cocked my head, trying to get a better look at it, but couldn't quite focus. Looking down, I completely forgot the snout. 

My neck was now about six feet long and serpentine. Twisting my head around I could see iridescent blue scales down the back of my neck, along with a silvery mane. Down the front of my neck, the scales were long and covered the width of the underside. Moving my neck I found it to be supple and sinuous.

Turning my neck around, I looked at the rest of my body. It sprawled out behind me an additional 12 feet or so, though I couldn't tell for sure. My back was covered with scales, the same as my neck, and the mane continued down my back. The snake-like qualities didn't apply to just my neck. My body was huge, but it was about the same circumference around for most of the length. The only un-snake like things I could see were that I still had arms and legs, sort of. But I had no idea how anything might work.

OK, get a grip, I thought. A grip on what I didn't know. Things had just radically changed, and I had no clue how or why. One thing at a time, I advised myself. First I pulled my arms underneath me and pushed up. About a quarter of my body length rose. Good, now the back. I did the same thing with my legs; the back length of my body and part of the tail left the ground. Part of the middle still dragged a little on the ground and so did the tail. Hell with it, let it drag, I thought. 

OK, now what? I thought for a moment, then pushed up with my arms and arched my back so that I was sitting up. My tail automatically looped around in front to compensate for the shift in balance. I eyed it dubiously, but left it where it lay. I examined my arms. They were scaled the same as the top of my body all the way around and were much thicker. I could see the muscles ripple underneath the scales. I still had recognizable hands with opposable thumbs, but now they ended in enormous claws, and instead of five fingers, there were now four. The elbow was still in the same place and moved the same way. However, there were thick tufts of silvery white fur similar to the mane sprouting from the joint. Located directly behind the shoulders where branch-like growths, almost like antlers. They lay against the body but would be useless for self-defense. There was too much space between the tines to afford much protection for the sides. Something for later, I decided. 

Looking underneath me it was much the same as the underside of the neck, the long pearly scales covering my chest and stomach. Running my hands over them, they felt smooth to the touch, as opposed to the rougher scales on my back and sides. My body was also sinuous and flexible; I could turn completely around from my midsection easily. I could also flex it up or down. I began to realized how not to drag my midsection. 

My tail was coiled around my legs, blocking them from view. As I slowly uncoiled it, I realized part of my body was easing forward to compensate for the moving tail. I froze, uncertain, and everything stopped moving. When I continued to uncoil the tail, I felt the muscles around the abdomen area move in response. Apparently, when one part of the body moved, another part automatically moved in sequence to keep balance. That was handy, even if I found it unnerving. When I completely unwound my tail, it was about the same length as my head and body. Like the neck and body, it was supple and completely controllable. As far as I could tell, it was prehensile. I dropped forward landing easily on my arms and examined my legs. They were almost exactly like my arms except they were slightly thicker and bigger, and also sported the curious antler growths. The legs were attached on either side of the body. I couldn't quite tell were the body ended and the tail began. It was as thick as the body and appeared to be an extension of it. It didn't start to taper until near the end, where a thick, long tuft of hair ran down the last quarter of it. My arms and legs divided my body neatly into thirds so that my neck, body, and tail were equal lengths. 

Sighing, I clumsily coiled up my body and laid down. I tried without much success to put things in some rational perspective. Problem was, nothing rational was going on here. Somehow, after getting mugged, I turned into a giant snake with legs. I spent some time trying to convince myself that this was really just a bad dream. That I was passed out drunk or drugged somewhere and this was not happening. It didn't wash. It was all just too damn real. 

All right, not a dream. I reviewed what happened in my mind again, looking for what caused this crazy event. I couldn't think of anything out of the ordinary in the bar. The mugging, though not an everyday experience, was still fairly commonplace. Guys jump out, beat you up, steal your stuff. My mugging followed the same procedure. Guys jumped out, hit me, took my wallet, wanted my ring....

The ring! The pain started when I swallowed the ring, and that's when things went seriously weird. Well, I had a starting point. But how could a junk store ring effect this kind of change? I thought back to what I could remember about the ring. There was the band and setting, both of which were fairly plain and basic. Then there was the pearl, which was fake. 

As I began to thing about the pearl, I became aware of its presence, a gentle warmth in my stomach. It had been there all along, I just hadn't noticed. When I concentrated on it, I felt it respond. Apparently, the pearl was.... whatever the hell it was. Logically, if the pearl did this, then removing it should undo it. I focused on willing the pearl out of me and I felt it move in response. Then I felt its warm pressure in my hand. I looked at my hand and still found a claw. I gazed at the pearl. It was much larger now than it had been in the ring. It also glowed with a light all its own. I placed it carefully on the ground. I was still a snake. I got up and moved away, but nothing changed. I waited. Still no change. Finally, the night faded back to gray, and in the predawn light I was still a snake. I moved back over to the pearl and picked it up. Sighing, I closed my claws around it and felt it re-enter my body. It was mine now, a complete part of me. 

I tried to figure out my next move. I hadn't thought about magic much before in my life, not really. I didn't read a lot of fairy tales as a kid, and I didn't get into fantasy as an adult. Now I was so far into the Twilight Zone I was waiting for Rod Serling to step out. He didn't. And on top of everything else, I was hungry. 

Well, I couldn't stay here. Eventually, somebody would come this way, and while I wasn't sure what would happen I didn't want to gamble and find out. I walked over toward the river. When I wasn't thinking about moving, I moved fluidly. I was over the embankment and in the river in no time. The river wasn't very deep at this point, maybe four feet, but I sank in as best I could. Hunger was beginning to gnaw fiercely at me. I knew I had to find something to eat. Unfortunately, my foraging skills consisted of either going down to the nearest fast food place or microwavable meals. Neither one seemed much of an option. 

As I half-swam, half-waded around in the water, I noticed movement in some bushes on the bank. No sooner had I decided to check it out than I was over at the bank and pinning something with my claw. As I pulled it out from the cover I saw that it was a cat, a big fluffy calico. At first it hissed and tried to bite me, but when it saw me its eyes glazed and it just stared. I looked the cat over, not really wanting to eat it. However, I didn't see much choice. 

"Sorry, kitty, but I've got to eat." As I lifted the cat towards my mouth, I noticed a tag on a collar that had been covered by its fur. I eased one of my claws under the tag and angled it so I could read. 

"Hi my name is Patches. If lost please return to 452 Mayfield Ave." I had visions of some child looking for their pet cat and not finding it. Now, for all I knew, nobody would care or miss the cat. The cat seemed well fed and cared for, though, and I couldn't shake the image. So I set the cat back on the bank. 

"Well, Patches, looks like you lucked out. God, I'm a wuss." 

I slunk back down the embankment into the river. My first challenge as a mighty hunter failed miserably. I pressed forward for a deeper section of the river as dawn started to break. I reached a deeper section where I could completely submerge by the time the sun was rising. With just the tip of my snout above the water so that I could breathe, I watched the sunrise. While I was enraptured with the break of day, I felt something brush against me. Again almost without thinking, my head darted towards the feeling and I grabbed something in my mouth. I lifted my head from the water and found I had caught a fish. I looked at it for a moment, then bit into it, chewed and swallowed. It went down well, and I was surprised how good a raw fish tasted. I rather quickly downed the rest of it. 

The fish was good, but it wasn't enough. I was still hungry. So I took a deep breath and set out to find more. The main problem was, when I tried to catch them, I missed. Obviously, I had a lot more to learn about my new body. Since I caught the first without thinking, I went on autopilot. However, I had scared most of the fish off in my previous frenzied attempts. I was still on autopilot when I realized I was eating rocks. 

I stopped myself mid-chew. I could feel several large pieces of rock in my mouth, and was fairly sure I had already swallowed several others. I slowly swallowed what was in my mouth. They didn't taste as good as the fish, but they went down as easily and felt strangely satisfying. Right, I ate fish and rocks. 

On the one hand, I was finally beginning to freak. On the other though, this all made perfect sense. And the other hand was dominant. I was no longer hungry, so I decided that now was the time to try to integrate rationality with instinct. Or at very least, introduce the two. I settled back into the river with my snout propped up out of the water. Then I closed my eyes to see what I could learn. 

I couldn't say exactly how long I was asleep. It seemed to be late afternoon. First thing I realized was that my head had slipped off the rock and fallen completely into the water. 

In a panic I broke the surface, and found my self snout-to-face with a man in a canoe. He backstroked furiously and started to scream. Suddenly, I knew what to do. I locked eyes with him and gazed calmly. Like the cat, he went glassy-eyed. Then I swam out of his way and settled myself. After a moment, he came back to himself and looked around. He looked directly at me, then through me. He seemed a bit confused, then shrugged it off and went on his way. 

While I was asleep, I made some realizations. There were certain things I could do instinctively, the hypnotism and disappearing act included. I also found that my diet gave "omnivore" all new meaning. I could eat just about anything organic, as well as stone and earth. There were other things, just outside my mental reach, that weren't instinctual, but I couldn't access them. It was frustrating, but there was little I could do. And I was hungry again. 

This was basically how I spent my days. I would hunt for fish or forage, and when I wasn't doing that I was resting or trying to access the other information. I also found, after several accidental dunkings, that I could breathe above and below water. After about a week of this self-exploration, I met Dakota. 

Late into the night, I heard the sounds of a struggle on the back, roughly around where I had been attacked. I eased up to the bank to see what was going on. A man was in the process of pinning a woman to the ground, straddling her. She struggled against him, but he outweighed her. When he produced a knife, she abruptly stopped struggling. Her shouts softened to whimpers as he prepared to cut her clothes off. A low growl started in my throat before I even realized it. 

"Leave her alone!" I howled as I lunged up the bank. My voice rang out like thunder, and quite frankly even scared me a little. 

As the attacker rolled off the woman, recognition dawned in his eyes. I remembered him also: brick shithouse from a week previous. What did this guy do, attack someone once a week at the river? Along with the recognition, I saw anger. Like this guy had some right to be angry with me. He pulled the woman over on top of him and put the knife to her throat. 

"All right, you bastard, I don't know what you are, or what happened, but I will kill this bitch." 

I really didn't like this guy. The young woman looked at me as though she wasn't sure which was worse, her attacker or I. Given that I was a big snake, I couldn't exactly blame her. A rapist she knows, me she has no idea about. 

I eased my head about, looked straight at her and said, "Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you." Almost instantly my head shot forward and I had his knife hand, as well as his whole arm, in my mouth. One sharp pull and the arm detached from his body at the shoulder amidst a spray of blood. With a fluid movement I tossed the limb, knife and all, to back of my throat and swallowed. I hadn't actually planned on the last part, but momentum carried me. That was one of the big problems trying to integrate instinct with reason. One tended to do things the other wouldn't, like eat somebody's arm. I was going to have to watch that. 


The Pearl Ch. 02



Edited by Wicked

This is a copyrighted work of fiction. All rights reserved.

*

I didn't have long to wait for my hopes to be fulfilled. Later that day as I slept in the river, I felt someone looking for me again. It woke me from sleep, and I stirred, letting the feeling guide me. I found Dakota at the same place we had spoken the night before. Once again, she was carrying a cardboard box. Judging from the sun, it was late afternoon. 

"I'm behind you," I warned. She still jumped. 

"God, I wish you wouldn't do that," she said softly as she walked over to me. 

"What's in the box?" I asked as I stuck my head in. I smelled Mexican, and there were also some books. She lightly slapped my snout. 

"Jeez, you're nosy. Why ask me if you're going to look for yourself?" 

"Three of everything?" 

"Of course." 

"You're going to go broke feeding me."

"I haven't gone through the money from last night yet. Besides, I won five hundred dollars on an instant ticket from the convenience store." 

I considered where we should talk. I was pretty certain I could block her from being seen, same as myself. I didn't want to have a conversation here, though, where people could be a distraction. 

"Here," I said as I arched my back to where she could get on it. She eyed it dubiously. "Come on, don't you trust me?" 

"Well, I guess I do," she said uncertainly as she placed the box on my back. "Just be careful." 

"You're faith in me is touching," I said jokingly.

Carefully, I eased myself into the river. Making sure that no water splashed up on Dakota or the box, I made my way to a small island I knew of in the river. It was barely big enough for me, but I could stay partially in the water. When I reached it, I let Dakota dismount and settle in, then I arranged myself around her. Most of my tail lolled back into the river. 

As I watched her, I got a better look at her. She was pretty, with longish blond hair that tended to fall into her blue-green eyes. She pushed it away so often it seemed an almost unconscious gesture. She had an athletic build, and I wondered if she was involved in any sports. 

"Why did you come back?" I asked as she unpacked the box.

"I have a soft spot for strays," she said, pushing the hair out of her face. "You know, stay cats, stray dogs, stray people...." 

"Stray dragons," I finished. "Doesn't this freak you out at all?" 

"Hell yes it does." She finished unpacking the box and sat down. "But I kept thinking about your story last night, and I felt, I don't know, bad for you I guess. I kept thinking about how lonely it must be. Besides, I owe you for saving me at least from rape, probably getting killed. And I believe you were genuinely sorry for killing that guy. So, what did you, um, do with the body?" She tried to make the last part sound nonchalant, but I could detect a note of apprehension. 

"I tore it up and sent it down river," I answered. I also tried to sound nonchalant, and I also failed. 

"You really feel bad about him, don't you?" 

I nodded, uncertain of what to say. 

"Why?" 

"I shouldn't have had to kill him. There were other options. I didn't think...." 

"What kind of options? You had some serious whup-ass going on this guy and he didn't back down. You're a dragon for Christ's sake, and you didn't frighten him. He wasn't exactly a candidate for the scared-straight program." 

"No, I couldn't scare him. When that didn't work I should have tried something else, though. If I could make some guy canoeing forget about me, I should have been able to make him forget about you." 

"You don't know that...."

"But I didn't even try, that's the point. I didn't even think about it." I flopped back onto the ground, feeling even more miserable than I did when he died. 

Dakota sat in silence. When she did speak, it was with careful deliberation. "You did the best you could do. You're going to drive yourself nuts second guessing what you should have or could have done." She grabbed my snout and looked earnestly into my face. "You understand that, don't you?" 

I didn't, not really. But given the death grip she had on my snout, I decided to lie. "Yeah, I guess I see what you're saying." 

She let go. "Good. Now eat your Toxic Taco before it gets cold." 

I began to remove my food. "What all did you bring?" I asked, trying desperately to change the subject. 

"Some books on dragons that I got from the library. I also brought my camera phone along." 

"Camera?" I asked, beginning to eat my meal. "Selling me out to the tabloids?" 

"Yep," she said, looking over the phone. "You'll be right on the cover with 'Elvis Clone Kidnapped By Aliens' or some such. Actually, I thought you might not have seen everything, so you might like some pictures. I'll delete them afterwards, or not take them at all; it's up to you." She placed the phone back in her bag.

I mulled it over. "It's a thought," I said. "Considering I still have no concrete idea what my head looks like. Let me think it over. What did you find out in the books?" 

"Oh, I think you'll find this interesting. All sorts of stuff on Oriental dragons." She set down her food and picked up a book, opening it to a marked section. "Check out this story...." I lowered my head to the open book. "Ah, I meant that figuratively," Dakota explained while leaning back out of my way.

"Oh, sorry," I said as I moved my head away from the book. 

"Now, according to this story, some guy in the Schezwan Provence of China had the same experience. Almost exactly." She proceeded to read the story, which did closely mirror my own. Guy finds pearl, really likes pearl, thieves try to steal pearl, guy swallows pearl to protect it, guy turns into dragon. However, there were some discrepancies, such as the pearl had magical powers beyond turning the guy into a dragon. Also, in the last lines of the story the dragon ascended into heaven. When Dakota reached that section, I looked around dubiously. 

"If this is heaven, I'm feeling a little gypped." 

"OK, it's not precisely what happened, but it's pretty damn close. You have to admit that. So apparently, what you have is a dragon's pearl." 

"You're right, it is really close. But how did a dragon's pearl get from China to here, in a ring no less, and given how old the pearl would have to be, why was I the first one to get the idea in my head to swallow it? In the story, the guy just finds the pearl in a meadow. Obviously, he was the first to find it after the dragon was done with it."

Dakota shrugged. "I don't know. None of these books answer any of those questions. The problem is, none of these stories really go into how dragons think." 

"I don't think any differently than I did before," I pointed out.

"No, but remember, you weren't always a dragon. The pearl could have come here with a dragon. We really have no clue how old it is. The question in how did it get into the ring." 

"Wait a minute, the pearl has to come from a dragon, right?" I asked. 

"Theoretically, yeah. I mean where else is it going to come from?" 

"We're just going to ignore where the dragons get them from...." 

"Actually," she said, reaching for another book, "I've got a theory on that...." 

"I'll get back to that," I cut in. Though I was curious, I wanted to tackle one mystery at a time. "And for the pearl to be recent, the dragon would have to be recent." 

"Well, yes," I could tell she was trying to follow where I was going. 

"There aren't any dragons," I explained. 

"Except for you," she pointed out. 

"Well, obviously, except for me. But I certainly didn't make the pearl." 

"No, but how are you so sure there aren't any other dragons?" 

When I thought about it, what she said made sense. If I could figure out how to hide, they probably have it mastered. "OK, point to the cute blond with the Toxic takeout. But if it is recent, then why haven't I ascended to heaven, or another dragon shown up?" 

Dakota, ignoring the blond remark, shrugged again. "I don't know. Like I said, these books only have so much information, and it's not a lot. I mean, for all we know the pearl is ancient and has been waiting all this time for you. Or maybe you're the first likely candidate to come along. I mean, what's the criteria for becoming a dragon, anyway? Chinese dragons were basically benevolent creatures. Could you imagine what brick shithouse would have done with just the raw strength?"

I had to admit, I didn't like those possibilities. 

"You said yourself, the way you think hasn't really changed. I assume it's changed some, or did you always eat people's arms?" 

"No," I replied, rolling my eyes. "But who I am has basically stayed the same." 

"My point. You may well have been the first likely candidate. When faced with going to a very unlikely candidate, the pearl chose you. Didn't you say that you couldn't quite understand why you were doing some of the things you were doing?" 

I nodded. "Good point. Are you suggesting the pearl has some sort of intelligence?" 

"Intelligence, no. I think you would have noticed by now if it did. But remember the line in the story." She picked up the book again. "'The pearl had a proper home as a new dragon was made.' According to the story, the pearl sought either a dragon or someone to make a dragon. I imagine it was only a matter of time before something happened to make this change." 

"Actually, that makes a lot of sense. Damn, you've put more thought into this than I have." I had to admit, I was quite impressed. 

"All I'm doing is reading from a book. I didn't think you'd be making it to the library anytime soon. So I thought I'd get some books and see what we could figure out." 

I finished my meal and settled in. "Read me a story," I said in as close to a child's voice as I could. 

Dakota looked at me and shook her head. Pushing her hair back out of her eyes with that habitual gesture I was coming to love, she picked up the first book. All told, she went through some five books. Apparently, according to the legends, I should be able to control the weather, the fertility of the land, shape shift, and bestow luck on those who pleased me. Chinese dragons were apart of the bureaucracy the Chinese saw heaven to be. They served the gods and were semi-divine in their own right. I didn't feel particularly god-like and told Dakota so. 

"You're not a god? Jeez, and here I am kissing up for nothing! Seriously, these are stories passed down from generation to generation. I imagine they've been changed over time. Or maybe you simply haven't come into your own yet." She smirked at me before adding, "If you do become a god, keep me in mind." 

I smiled back, responding, "We'll see. I guess it depends on how well you kiss up, now doesn't it?" 

"Humph. See if I read you any more stories," she said, slamming the book shut.

"Please, just a couple more? Pleasepleaseplease!" I whined the best I could as a dragon. 

"All right, if it will shut you up." She opened the book up again and, laying it in her lap, continued on. I laid my head down next to her, and she rested one of her arms on it while leaning back against my neck. 

Additionally, it was noted that Chinese dragons were made up of several different animals. We had the head of a camel, horns of a stag, eyes of a demon, neck of a snake, stomach of a clam, scales of a carp, claws of an eagle, pads of a tiger, and ears of a cow. I cocked my head so I was looking her in the face, not hard to do given the size of my head. 

"Seriously, do I look like all of that?" I asked. 

Dakota set the book aside and took a long and considering look at my head. "Kinda," she said with a nod. "Really?" I asked in disbelief while raising my head. 

Dakota laughed, a musical sound I found very attractive. "What, you're OK with the whole snake thing but freak at camel with horns?" 

"I don't know if 'all right' is exactly the right phrase. Still, I can't even begin to imagine the whole camel/snake/whatever the hell else combo." 

Smiling, she shook her head at me, causing her hair to fall back into her face. She pushed it out of the way while reaching for something in her bag. 

"It's not entirely like a camel's," she explained. "That's why I said kinda. The snout is still scaled, so are the ears, though there's fur on them, like the mane. And long whiskers off the snout." She pulled something out of her bag. I could see it was her cell phone. 

"If you're interested, I could show you." 

I contemplated her offer for a moment. Even though I hadn't known her for long, I trusted Dakota. Why, I couldn't say. I suppose it could have been that she was the only person I had to talk to. Besides, even if she did sell the pictures, nobody saw me that I didn't want to.

"OK, go for it," I responded, moving my head so she could get a good shot. 

She took a straight on shot, then a right and left side shot, then showed me the pictures. The face was somewhat broad, like a camel's, but was scaled with short, dangling whiskers, like a catfish. A thick ruff surrounded the sides of my face and followed my chin like a beard. The horns were somewhat antler-like, but not the large spreading rack I would associate with a deer. They were thinner, and the tines didn't spread out very far. 

"Carp's scales," I groused. "They're blue. Whoever heard of blue carp scales? And demonic eyes? I don't think so." 

"Well, I agree with you there. Though last night you were pretty damn frightening." 

Though I knew she didn't mean anything by it, the reminder of the night before unsettled me. I shifted slightly and Dakota noticed. She looked chagrined. 

"I'm sorry," she said quickly, placing her hand on my front leg. "I shouldn't have said that." 

"No, it's cool. And, I mean, you're right. I was pretty pissed, and I imagine it showed." I sighed. "I just need to be way more careful." 

Dakota moved from her seated position to a kneeling one by my snout. "Do we have to go over why you shouldn't be beating yourself up over this again?" 

In spite of myself, I smiled. "Are you going to grab my face again?" 

"If I have to." She laid her hands along my jaw without taking a grip. "In fact, I'll pull this fur right out, give you something else to think about. For your own good, of course." 

"Of course," I agreed. Actually, I would have agreed to just about anything at that moment. Predictably, that's when her cell phone went off. Damn it. 

Dakota removed her hands and turned away to answer her phone. In the short conversation she had, it was determined that she was late and would be somewhere shortly. She snapped the phone shut and gathered up her purse and the books. "I'm sorry," she said while gathering. "I totally lost track of time. I've got to run, but I'll try to be back tomorrow." 

"Back tomorrow?" I repeated in surprise. 

"Is that problem?" she asked in complete seriousness. 

I looked at her for a moment before replying, "I don't know, let me check my bulging social calendar." 

She slapped me lightly on the snout. "Seriously, is that a problem?" 

"Dakota," I explained slowly, "I don't do anything but wander around this river. I haven't gone to work or class since this happened. Clearly, my schedule is wide open. But I imagine you have a life outside of delivering me Mexican fast food." 

Dakota gave me the most wonderful smile. "Not really," she said. "So I'll be back tomorrow. Can you give me a lift back to where you picked me up? I have no idea where this is." ****

Later that night, a wicked storm blew up out of nowhere. Lightening struck the banks around where I was lying in the river, thunder rolled with such recurrence as to feel continuous, and rain lashed down in a deluge. As bad as is was to be outside and exposed in such a fury, the worst part was that I felt the storm. My body, and particularly the pearl, resonated with it. I was certain that somehow this storm was directed at me, and whatever it meant, it wasn't good. 

As I stared up into the wind torn sky, I saw something coming down through the center of the clouds. As it drew closer, I realized it was another dragon. He (and I instinctively knew the dragon was male) rode the tempest down until he hovered a mere few feet above me. He was immense and majestic, and as much as I wanted to look away, I couldn't. He began to bellow something at me, and though I could hear him perfectly over his attendant monsoon, I couldn't understand a word he was saying. 

"I'm sorry," I called up to him, "but I don't understand." I was terrified, and it was going to get much, much worse. He stopped speaking and looked down on me with such disdain that I wanted to crawl under a rock. He locked his eyes onto mine. They glowed with the fury of the storm itself, and I realized that the storm was a reflection of his anger. And it was directed at me. I was so screwed. Then in my mind I heard: 

Give me the pearl.

The words were "spoken" with a calmness that chilled me. I also couldn't refuse the command. Slowly, I willed the pearl into my claw and handed it to the angry dragon. 

"Please," I said. "I don't understand what I've done, or why you're so angry with me." 

He said nothing more, but took the pearl from my hand with his jaws and held it in his mouth. And I felt it. As the breathtaking but terrifying creature first held then rolled the pearl, my pearl, around his mouth, I could feel it on my own body. I soon realized he was doing something with the pearl. At first I was only vaguely aware of it, then I began to relive everything that had happened from the time I swallowed the pearl forward. As this was happening, the anger slowly drained from the dragon's face, replaced by a far gentler look and finally a smile. The storm abated almost as quickly as it began. I owe you an apology. It seems I have misjudged you, and I am sorry. You did not come to this situation by your own choice. 

I was seized by a sudden bout of homesickness. I could see in his eyes that the dragon felt it, too. "Can you help me go back to being human?" I asked, suddenly desperate. 

His eyes grew sad. No, I cannot do that for you, but I can assist with this. He swallowed the pearl. 

I felt it go down, as though I had been swallowed along with it. I was surrounded by his amazing energy, and though I could tell he meant me no harm, I felt terribly vulnerable. I did not like this feeling. 

"Um, will I be getting that back?" I asked. 

He nodded. Yes, it is yours. Though we have much to discuss, you and I. He was silent for a moment, apparently working on the pearl. I could tell he was doing something with it, but what I did not know. After a short time, he brought it back to his mouth. His eyes locked onto mine and again I was struck by how very majestic he was, how much stronger and more powerful a creature. He was everything the books wrote about, and beautiful, as well. 

With infinite care, he lowered his head to mine. Using his snout, he gently opened my jaw and placed the pearl back into my mouth. The act was strangely intimate, a kiss like no other I'd had before. I couldn't help it; I shuddered from the sensation. Then he blew softly into my mouth, sending the pearl back down my throat. I automatically swallowed. Though the jolt wasn't as bad as when I first swallowed the pearl and transformed, this time I was consuming his power, and the strength of it was immense and overwhelming. As the pearl settled back into my body, the magic spread. 

I stood speechless for a few moments before I managed to stammer out, "What was that?" I looked over to my visitor and saw that he had landed. He seemed pleased with his handiwork. 

"I simply strengthened your pearl. Time robbed it of much of its power." 

I took me a further moment to realize he was physically speaking to me. "How is it you can speak English now?" 




The Pearl Ch. 02



He chuckled lightly. "It isn't that I'm speaking differently, it's that you're hearing differently. You have many questions, and there is much to explain. Is there a place you wish to go?" 

The river was fairly long, running through several towns, and I managed to explore most of it in my time as a dragon. I knew of several secluded places. I took him to one, where a grassy part of the bank intruded into the river and made a very comfortable spot to lay. "First let me begin by saying you may call me Chang. I already know your name is Sebastian." 

"From the pearl?" I asked. 

"Precisely," Chang confirmed, nodding. "When you took the pearl in, it bonded to you. As I said earlier, it is yours." He paused for a moment, looking remorseful. "Which leads again to apologizing for my arrival. I made assumptions, and they were most untrue." 

"Yeah, I was wondering about that. Actually, I was terrified," I admitted. I figured he probably was already aware of that. "What did you think I'd done?" 

"I thought you intentionally misappropriated the pearl for you own ends," he responded, settling in. As he curled around and became comfortable, I made a longer inspection of him. He was much larger than I was, well more than double, or even triple, my length. Even relaxed, he held himself with a regal bearing. The scales on his body were a gray-black like angry storm clouds, which somehow flashed white when he turned just the right way. His eyes were golden and glowing. His neck was arched and his head was almost delicately poised. His antlers spread out farther than mine, his ruff, beard and mane were thick and full, and his whiskers hung about 3 to 4 feet down from his snout. His presence fairly oozed nobility and age, but all of this came off him naturally. None of it seemed put on or the least bit pretentious. 

"When you swallowed the pearl its primary magic was activated and I could sense that had happened," he continued. Although calm, his voice still carried the undertone of thunder. "I could not get a sense of where it was, however. Locating the pearl was first complicated by the fact that it was no longer in the Middle Kingdom, and was in a place I had never been and knew nothing about. Matters were further complicated by the fact that when you drank from this river, you bonded to it and the pearl was bonded to the river along with you. That should not have happened." 

"Then why did it, and what should have happened?" I asked, curious. Turning into a dragon isn't enough, apparently. But wait, there's more.... 

"The magic faded over time. You should have been taken immediately to the Middle Kingdom. The pearl was too weak to manage that. So instead you bonded to the first element you took in, this river." 

I was trying to assimilate what he was saying, but most of it was going right over my head. "Bonded to the river. What does that mean, exactly? And what is the 'Middle Kingdom'?" 

"What it means is that in time you will become the river's guardian and protector. In return, the river will provide you with shelter and sustenance. However, at this point the bond is very weak. The Middle Kingdom is what you would call China." 

"Well, how did the pearl get out of China and into the ring?" I asked. 

"In truth, I do not know." For a moment he looked very distant, as if trying to see something far away. Then he shook his head and looked back to me. "Which bewilders me to no end. Embarrassing, really, to lose track of it in that manner." 

"Were you in charge of it?" I asked.

He looked at me dumbfounded. "Of course I was," he replied as if I'd asked a ridiculous question. Before I could comment, he seemed to catch himself. "I'm sorry," he continued, waving his claw as if to dismiss what he'd just said. "I forget you don't understand how these things work. The pearl you carry is my creation, and as such, I am responsible for it, for what happens to it, and what happens because of it." 

The information from Dakota's books suddenly came back to me. The stomach of a clam, from which would come a pearl. My first reaction to the thought of swallowing something that came from another dragon's stomach was ewww, but it was only temporary. I imagined there were probably worse things. I just hoped I wasn't going to hear any before this conversation was over. 

"Well, why did you create the pearl?" He sighed. "That may take some explaining. You may not understand, being as humans are nothing if not extremely fertile. However, dragons are far less so. Sometimes our numbers dip alarmingly low. At these desperate times we sometimes resort to," he paused again, apparently searching for the word, "I suppose desperate measures would accurately describe it. You see, all dragons," he paused again, "all Chinese dragons," he amended. "All Chinese dragons, which obviously you are now numbered among, are born with pearls. The pearls are the centers of our, and your, power. However, we are also able to produce additional pearls. When these are fed to other creatures, they become dragons. In the past, when the breeding cycles have not been fruitful, we have resorted to these methods." 

I admit I was floored. Their breeding program had upended my life. My face must have shown it, because when Chang continued, it was with sadness. 

"I know, it seems unfair and unjust to you now. I assure you, there was a time when this was considered a blessing." He looked wistful and was silent for moment before continuing. "Within the last few centuries, this practice has largely been abandoned. When it was performed, it was done only with the human's consent." 

"How old is the pearl I've got?" 

"Centuries," he responded. "How many?" It was mind boggling that the pearl would wait that long. 

Chang looked thoughtful. "Hard to say, anymore. Time begins to blur after a bit, but I would say between seven to eight." 

My jaw dropped. "Seven to eight hundred years?" I stammered. 

"Yes, one hundred years is a century." 

"Fuck me," I said softly, for lack of anything else to express my awe. 

Chang looked askance at my statement. "I beg your pardon?" he asked, amused. I wondered if it came across as a verb, rather than an epithet. 

"Um, uh, it's just an expression. Or at least I was just using it as an expression. Seven or eight hundred years, huh? Wow, that's a really long time. Why didn't anything happen before now?" 

Chang looked far away again before answering with a shrug, "Again, I really don't know. That is an exceptionally long time, even among dragons. Still, the pearl made its choice, separate of anyone else's concern or consent." 

His voice trailed off and Chang gave me a long once over, and I could feel the intense scrutiny in my pearl. I fought not to squirm a little. He was quiet long enough that I was ready to say something just to break the silence. Then he sat up on his haunches and pulled out a glittering scale. He closed his front claws around it while bowing his head. When he opened his hands, a bird the same color as his scales flew out and climbed high into the sky before flying out of sight. 

"What was that?" I asked, amazed. 

"Just a messenger. Whatever else happens this night, I do not think I will be returning to my clan anytime soon." 

"Why not?" 

He smiled at me with something that seemed like genuine affection. "Because I will be staying with you." When I started to insist he didn't have to, he raised his front leg. I fell silent. Largely because, in all honesty, I was glad he was staying. 

"The arrangement made with heaven in regards to the making of pearls is that we would accept whoever was chosen. There are neither accidents nor coincidences, and if it took this long for the pearl to find you, all the better and I welcome you. However, as much as I am pleased to have another dragon in the world, I understand that this may not be the path you would have chosen. Therefore, I am offering you a choice. You may stay here and learn this path as a dragon. Or, we will travel in search of some means of changing you back, assuming one exists." 

"But you said you couldn't return me to human." 

"I cannot. But to say that I cannot do it is not the same as saying it cannot be done. That there may be a method is possible, though I can't guarantee that there will be one." 

He once again looked at me with a strange kind of endearment, almost like a parent uses when gazing at a child, or the way a true friend looks upon another for whom they would do anything. I felt a pang in my chest, because I didn't feel like I'd earned that look yet. I desperately wanted to deserve his love and approval for some reason, though, and that confused me, too.

"Either way," he continued, "I will be in your company for some time. You need not decide immediately. I know where you are now, and I will return upon the morrow to see what it is to be." With that, he stood up, rose back into the air, and flew off.



The Pearl Ch. 03



 © Edited by Wicked

This is a copyrighted work of fiction. All rights reserved.

* * * * *

I watched Chang fly off, uncertain of what to think. He was right; this isn't what I would have chosen as my life's goal. Still, I couldn't help thinking that worse things had happened to people. As I lay in the water, I became particularly aware of the sound of the river flowing past me. I was in a shallower section, so the water was running faster than in the deeper sections that I tended to favor. In fact, as I started to settle into contemplation of my next move, I could have sworn the sound of the river had some form of intent. I raised my head slightly and listened. 

stay

What the fuck? I shook my head sharply and listened again. This time I simply heard the water. I settled back in. As my mind again began to drift, the water once again sounded different. Instead of trying to figure something out, I remained as I was and listened. In the murmur of the water I detected something once more. 

stay 

I didn't move, but bided my time. I found the less I tried to listen for it, the clearer it sounded. I just wasn't sure where it was coming from, so I decided to try something. 

"Stay where?" I asked softly. 

here

Well, okay, that was kind of obvious. "Why?" I asked, still trying to ferret out the speaker. 

harbor 

Huh? There wasn't a harbor on the river. And even if there was, it was an awfully odd reason to stay. As I focused on puzzling over the answer, I lost the words again. So, I cleared my mind and blurred out my thoughts. Then I asked "Harbor?" 

I felt a distinct pull on the pearl and a fish smacked me in the face. 

harbor Then it occurred to me, what if it's the river talking? Chang said I bonded to the river. In having my pearl strengthened, was I more aware of that bond? Now, I never previously considered the cognizance of topographical features before, but then, I never considered turning into a dragon after consuming jewelry. So this made about as much sense as everything else occurring in my life. It also gave me an idea. I got up and traveled to a deeper, fast-moving area. I lay back down and completely submerged myself. My head was entirely under. I then relaxed and opened myself back up to what or whoever was communicating with me. I was struck full force by the need of the river. It had been without a guardian for a long time, was overjoyed at my arrival, and was now desperately afraid of my departure. The river needed a guardian, needed a source of otherworldly power, manna I guess, and was slowly dying without one. The impact of the contact threatened to overwhelm me. I felt like I was being drug deeper into the river, or more correctly, its experience. In a panic, I heaved myself upright out of the water, and bounded to a more shallow section. As I stood, panting, I heard, sorry, and felt the river's remorse. 

Still, I had a hard time falling asleep that night. 

****

I must have fallen asleep eventually, because someone searching for me awakened me. Dakota. I could still feel the river, though thankfully it was subdued. I glanced at the sky and realized it was morning, earlier than her previous visits. I hurried toward the feeling and couldn't wait to tell her what happened. As I reached the spot, I could see she was holding yet another cardboard box and was looking for me. I squelched the urge to startle her and simply headed over. She smiled broadly when she saw me. "Hey, you didn't sneak up on me this time." "I didn't sneak up the other times. You just need to pay more attention. Does Toxic Taco serve this early?" 

"Yep, thee of everything from their breakfast menu. Thought you might like a change." 

"That's very considerate," I said while arching my back. "Do you have your phone set for reminders so you won't be late this time?"

She balanced the box and then climbed on. "I'm good for a little bit, then I have class." I set off for the island again. Once we arrived, Dakota dismounted and we arranged ourselves. Over breakfast I told Dakota everything that happened the night before. She was way more sober about it than I thought she would be. Then she seemed to snap out of it. She asked me several questions about Chang and what he was like. I had to confess, I had a hard time putting his presence into words. 

"Wow, I would really like to meet him, if I get a chance. Uh, when did he say you'll be leaving?" Again, there was a certain restraint in her voice I couldn't quite place. 

"He's supposed to come back sometime today. But I don't know when." 

"Well, I'll stop by later, see if you're still here," she said, looking away. She made a show of looking at the time, but it felt somehow put on.

"Is there something wrong, Dakota?" I asked, concerned. 

She looked over at me and smiled. Her face was still as beautiful as before, but the smile on it felt hollow. "No, I'm good. But I'm afraid I have to go." 

Dakota climbed up onto my back, but the return trip was awkward and silent. Something was definitely wrong. 

"Look, something's up. What is it?" 

"I..." she started, then looked away. "I would rather not say." 

That cut deep. "All right then." I tried to keep the hurt out of my voice, but I failed. When Dakota looked back up, I was surprised to see tears gathering in her eyes. 

"No, it's just...." Her voice trailed off and she paused again. "I feel so awful even saying this, because, you know... You've got to do what's right for you. It's just that..." She looked down again and I realized she was trying to compose herself. She walked over to me and cupped her hand under my jaw, running her fingers through the fur. God, it felt so good I had to fight the urge to purr. "It's that I've just met you, and barely had any time to get to know you. Now you're leaving and I suspect I'll never see you again. Still, I'm - I'm really glad I had the chance to meet you." She gently grasped my jaw with both hands and pulled my face close. She kissed the top of my head and her sweet scent swirled around me, enveloping me. "Thank you again. You know... for saving me that night. Take care of yourself." She pressed her lips to my head again and I wanted to drop down and beg her to keep going, to just keep kissing me, but I knew better. I knew that wasn't what this was about. She was saying goodbye to me! "I have several classes, but I'll stop back when I'm done." And with that, she turned and walked away.

As she moved out of sight I heard, she likes you.

"Yes I got that, thank you." I snapped. As if the river didn't complicate this decision enough already. I slunk back to the island. I curled up so that I was entirely on it. What seemed like a relative no-brainer decision was becoming more and more difficult. The simple truth was, I liked Dakota, too. Clearly, the whole dragon thing precluded certain aspects of a relationship. But as a friend, I was coming to depend on her. Apparently, she was becoming attached to me as well. Now what was I going to do? **** I was wallowing in a fairly full-blown funk when Chang arrived back. It was early afternoon, and I hadn't moved from the island. He regarded me with confusion and some concern. 

"What is the matter?" 

I sighed and told him everything that happened with the river and Dakota. He listened sympathetically. "I am very sorry you find yourself in this position. After merely two decades of life, you must now make a decision that will define the rest of it." He shook his head. "I imagine this is very difficult. What is it you want to do?" 

"I don't know," I answered miserably.

Chang was silent for a moment before asking, "What do you think you should do?" 

"I guess go back to being human." 

"Why?" 

"I had a life there I sort of left behind," I explained. "My parents, my school, teachers, friends. Though, classes here just started, so I didn't have any really close friends and I doubt any of the professors knew who I was yet. But back home, I had friends." 

"Is going back different from what you want to do?" Chang prompted. 

I thought for a moment. Honestly, it kind of was. I mean, I hated that time I was alone, figuring things out on my own. But the actual experience of being a dragon was a lot better than I would have thought. Then I stumbled onto an idea. 

"What if we, well, wait for a bit?" I asked. "Would that pose a problem?" 

"Whether that would complicate returning you to being human, I cannot say as I do not know what that might entail. But I do know the longer you stay with this river, the stronger the bond will become. At the present rate, it will not take very long at all for that to become permanent." 

"Oh." 

"But, perhaps there is a middle ground," he continued. 

I cocked my head at him and started to ask, "What do you mean?" but I stopped partway through as he stepped back from me. With a tinkling of scales, his form seemed to compress in on itself. The scaled coils wrapped tighter and tighter amongst themselves, and then he was human. An Asian man of indeterminate age looked up at me, dressed in contemporary clothing. Except for the golden eyes and the enigmatic smile, I would have never known he was Chang. 

"How did you do that?" I asked, dumbfounded. 

He looked at me with mock reproach. "Now, what was in those books Dakota so kindly read to you?" 

I thought for a moment. "That dragons can shape shift?"

"Precisely. I think we need to get started with your first lesson." I stood up and gave him my complete attention. 

"I would think the easiest and most obvious shape to start with is your previous form. Picture it in you mind, in minute detail." 

I closed my eyes and tried to picture my human self. 5 foot 8, long brown hair, pale skin tone that went straight to burn in the summer, slim build, blue eyes...surprisingly, it took a little bit of effort. I hadn't exactly forgotten, but I guess I was never that hung up on studying what I looked like. That and the dragon form had already begun to feel normal. But with some effort I managed to do it. 

"Okay, got it. Now what?" 

"Now distill the dragon into the human form," he said, as if this was a simple as pouring Kool-Aid. 

I opened my eyes and looked at him. "Come again?" 

He patiently explained again. "Take the dragon and put it into the human form." 

I looked at Chang for moment in disbelief before surveying my dimensions. "Chang, I'm, what, eighteen feet long? As a human I was less than six feet. That's like fifteen pounds of potatoes in a five-pound bag. That's just not gonna work." 

Chang simply looked up at me with what had to be infinite patience as I worked out the obvious. 

"Okay, obviously you just did it. Actually, you crammed even more than I have to into the human-sized suit. But I'm just having a hell of a time wrapping my mind around this." 

He shook his head at me, but was still smiling in amusement. "My, my, in just twenty years you have such a regimented way of thinking. How did your thinking become so narrow in such a short amount of time?" 

I shrugged. "Just a guess, but, living in a universe defined by the laws of physics." 

A look of surprised realization crossed Chang's face. "Of course, why hadn't I thought of that? THAT'S where we actually need to begin." 

"The laws of physics?" I asked.

"Precisely," Chang answered while sitting on a large rock on the bank, folding his hands on his lap. 

"What's wrong with the laws of physics?" I asked, lying back down. I suspected this might take a minute. 

"There's nothing wrong with them, in and of themselves. The problem comes from the assumption that they are complete, in and of themselves." 

I sighed. "I know this will be a shock, but I'm not following." 

"Of course not," he said, shaking his head. "For all that has happened to you, your thinking is still bound." 

"Well, Yoda, I don't know how to unbind it," I replied, getting frustrated. 

"And you're very well not going to if you don't let me finish," he countered, calm as ever. 

I managed to reign in the smart-ass comment that was on the edge of my tongue. "I'm sorry. Please, go on." 

"Thank you. The problem is that the laws of physics are an accounting of the universe based on an incomplete observation. They take in the universe as a clockwork, not as a spiritual experience." 

I thought I was catching on. "And it's both?" 

"Yes." Chang raised his hands and interlocked his fingers. "And as both are required, they are interwoven. If you concern yourself with one to the exclusion, or at the expense, of the other, there becomes an imbalance that is unhealthy. That imbalance will lead to disease and eventually death." He lowered his hands back to his lap. 

I thought back to the river. "That's why the river wants me so badly." 

He nodded sadly. "Unfortunately, in these later days, the spiritual is not as important in this world." 

While I hadn't been particularly religious, I knew plenty of folks who were and said as much. 

"While that is true," he paused, appearing to try to chose his words, "the predominate faiths are the desert religions. All three of them teach of the spiritual as elsewhere, not inherent to the world. They would look at this river and conclude that it has neither a spirit nor a requirement for that type of energy." 

"I'm sorry to interrupt on a phrase. But, what are the 'desert religions'?" 

"Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. All three arose from the desert, and all three are people of a book." 

I had trepidations about asking my next question, but was finally impelled by needing to know. "Are they wrong?"

"Of course not," he said. "A religion is merely a means to seek Deity, and it is never wrong to seek Deity in any way." He suddenly looked very sad. "Unfortunately, what is done in the name of Deity as spoken by men is quite another matter." 

I suspected Chang knew a great deal on this subject. While I was very curious in some of the things he would have to say, this was getting a bit out of my depth. Okay, a lot out of my depth. I decided to stick to things I had a hope of understanding, or at least things that were of immediate concern. I found I had a question percolating already. 

"Why didn't you tell me last night about the river? You only mentioned I was bonded and the bond was weak."

He again appeared to be choosing his words. "As I believe I said last night, you did not seek this. It was thrust upon you. I felt that the concerns of the river, while legitimate, were not your concerns. If you chose to make them so, that was certainly a laudable decision." 

I felt the pull of the river in the pearl. Here we were, back at decisions that would define my life. Still, if I could master the human form, I could conceivably maintain something of my old life. Clearly, my first responsibility would be to the river, and whatever else being a dragon entailed, but at least I wouldn't simply disappear from my family's life. I bounced my line of thinking off of Chang. His smile and demeanor took on a very pleased expression, and I could tell he was happy with my reasoning. I had to fight the urge to perk up and grin. My tail still did a happy flop in the water. 

"That is what I meant about middle ground. That is, I hope, an acceptable compromise?" I nodded. It was.

"Very good then. This will actually make the shape shifting that much easier. Open yourself and reach out for the river. When you feel it, try not to fight or fear it." 

I remembered what happened the previous evening, being pulled into the river. That made me apprehensive, and the apprehension made relaxing that much harder. Chang caught the resistance pretty quickly. 

"I understand your concern," he soothed. "But while there do need to be boundaries set, these things cannot be worked through if you do not grant the river access." 

I cocked an eye towards him. "Do you do something like this with the storms?" 

Again, he looked pleased with me. "Very good, I do exactly the same thing. Once you have completed this a few times, I would be willing to discuss this subject in more depth. However, I do not want to color your experience. I would prefer you find out how this works in your own way." 

I nodded. I could see what he was saying. So I closed my eyes and opened myself to the river. Reaching out really wasn't necessary. The river was waiting. 

It wasn't overwhelming this time; the river flowed in very gently. Once the river knew my decision was to stay, all of the desperation was gone and it was a much truer and complete contact. The essence of the river flowed through me, filling the pearl and completing the bond. I definitely knew this was irreversible, but I didn't mind. It was actually really nice, and sensual in a way to which I was completely unaccustomed. I began to lose myself in the feeling of the river, and the effect it had on the body of dragon I now lived within. 

Better than any swimming pool or hot tub, it was almost similar to lying on a waterbed. Every surface perfectly contoured to my tremendous body, supporting every limb and joint just right but without any sort barrier between the water and me. And because there was no barrier between the water and me, the river poured into me as well. The internal support felt even better than the external support. Rushing sleekly through my veins and arteries in fluid, scintillating floods of power, the river offered every cell in me strength, vigor, and nourishment. Wrapped in perfect warmth, filled with glowing effervescence, I felt the incredible potency of the river surge straight down into that part of me that was completely and totally male and the reaction was instantaneous.

Pleasure like nothing I'd ever felt before shot through me, rippling along my belly and the tingles of the first great wash of rapture raced up my spine and nailed me right in the back of my head. As it began to fade, I mindlessly reached for more, and happy to feed my needs, the river responded. Again it cascaded through me, and again I felt the amazing rush of ecstasy as it stroked all the best places inside and out on a body that I didn't even know how to pleasure yet in the flesh.

The more I savored this new experience, the more it fed the river, and the more the river poured in. I was well on my way to a mind-numbing climax before I even realized what was happening. Archly aware of both Chang and that there was supposed to be a shape shifting lesson going on here, I reigned my body in and pushed back on the river. For its part the river seemed confused about this abrupt change of direction, but acquiesced to what I wanted. My body shook from the effort the denial took, but in the end, I was successful. I looked over to Chang abashed, but he merely shrugged.

"That happens sometimes. You needn't worry about it," he said, his smile understanding. "Or me." 

"Yeah, shape shift?" I interjected, embarrassed as all get-out. 

Chang nodded, the incident apparently forgotten (I hoped). "Now that the bond is firmly established, use the element to assist in the shape shift."

"Could you break that down," I lifted my front leg and held the thumb and first claw apart about six inches, "just a little more?" 

"All dragons are of an elemental nature. Since you are bonded to the river, your element is water. Envision the ease with which water flows into a receptacle and use the human form as the said receptacle." 

Easier said than done, but after many failed attempts - one in which I almost completely became water - I did actually succeed. I found myself standing in the river in my human form, dressed in the same clothes from that night. 

"YES!" I shouted in triumph. "Very good," Chang responded. I paused for a moment as a scene from Men in Black came to me. "Just think what I'll know tomorrow," I whispered. 




The Pearl Ch. 03



Chang looked over with curiosity. "I'm sorry?" 

"Um, it's this quote from a movie I saw. I don't remember it exactly, but to paraphrase, 'One thousand years ago everybody knew the earth was the center of the universe. Five hundred years ago, everybody knew the world was flat.'" Here I stopped quoting the movie and changed it to fit my own experience. "Two weeks ago, I knew that dragons didn't exist, and five minutes ago I knew that I couldn't shape shift. Just think what I'll know tomorrow."

"I like that." 

I looked down at my human form. "Uh, where did the clothes come from?" I asked, considering that the actual outfit was shredded in my initial change. 

"You envisioned them, so they are there. Most likely they are formed from water." 

"So, if I lose focus, I'll be naked?"

"No, if you lose focus, you will be a dragon." 

"Good to know." 

Before we could go any further, the sensation I got when someone was searching for me swept over my body. I looked at the sun and realized it was late afternoon. We had been at this for awhile. Chang noticed the change in my attention and looked at me.

"Dakota is looking for me," I explained. 

"Ah, Miss Dakota. I look forward to meeting her." 

I nodded as I moved in that direction. Things went a bit blurry and then I was at the spot Dakota normally looked for me. It took me a moment to realize I had somehow teleported from where I was to this new spot, and that the river was somehow responsible. A feeling of self-satisfaction came from the river. 

If shit like this was going to happen, I wanted an owner's manual or something. I quickly ambled up the bank and Dakota was there, looking up and down the river. When she saw me, she stared intently, as if she knew me but was uncertain when or how we'd met.

"Hey, Dakota," I said. 

Her face lit up in recognition. "Sebastian?" she asked. 

When I nodded, she ran over and hugged me. I was startled for a moment, but then returned the hug. 

"What happened?" she asked into my ear while hugging me. 

"Remember what those books you read said about shape shifting?" I asked. 

Dakota stepped out of the hug but continued to hold my hands. "Yes." 

"Well, Chang showed me how to do it. Cool, huh?" 

She smiled. "Pretty spiffy." 

"Spiffy?" I asked. "Do people still say that?" 

"Would you prefer motherfucking spiffy?" 

"Well, it's edgier," I said, nodding sagely.

She released one of my hands to slap my shoulder. "What have you decided to do?" I could tell it was a question she practiced asking.

"I'll be staying." The relieved look on her face made me feel I had made the right decision. She hugged me again. We stood this way until I felt somebody staring. I looked over and saw Chang. I reluctantly pulled back from her embrace. I took Dakota by the hand and led her over to where Chang was on the bank. He was back in dragon form. 

"Dakota, this is Chang. Chang, this is Dakota." 

Dakota put her hands together and reverently bowed from the waist to Chang. Chang deeply lowered his head to her in response. 

"I'm very pleased to meet you," he rumbled, in English. "I have heard a great deal about you from Sebastian. You have been very kind to him these last few days." 

Dakota rose up out of the bow. "Thank you. It's been my pleasure. It's very nice to meet you, too." 

I leaned in close to Dakota. "I didn't know the Chinese bowed." 

She whispered back, "I don't know either; it just seemed the thing to do." 

Chang chuckled. "It was a gesture of respect and honor. I take it as such and return it as such," he explained with a nod of his head. 

Dakota jumped up suddenly. She looked at me with a tremendous smile on her face. "I almost forgot. I found this restaurant with a statue that looks almost exactly like you. Or, you when you're a dragon." She grabbed my hand and began dragging me off. "I've got to show you." She pulled up short and looked at Chang. "If that's all right?" 

Chang smiled and waved us on with his claw. "Certainly. Enjoy. Of course, if they have particularly good dumplings, please do bring some back." 

Dakota smiled brilliantly. "Will do," she responded and began to drag me off again. 

"Dakota," I protested, "I'm not human. I'm still a dragon. Remember... three of everything from Toxic Taco? I'm going to wipe you out at any sort of restaurant." 

Dakota looked over at me and dismissed my argument with a radiant smile. "Don't worry! It's a buffet." 

I couldn't help but laugh as I followed her back to the human world. 

To Be Continued...



The Pearl Ch. 04



 © Edited by Wicked

This is a copyrighted work of fiction. All rights reserved.

*

Dakota owned a very nice but practical car, the kind that got good fuel mileage and received high safety ratings from all the auto publications. It was clean, pale blue in color, with Mardi Gras beads over the rear view mirror and a few beanie babies lined up along the back window. She parked farther from the river than I expected, but the walk wasn't too bad. The more I moved in human form, the more I got reacquainted with it. I had become far more accustomed to the dragon form than I realized. Still, I was pretty sure I could hold this form for the evening at least. "You ever been to the Big Easy?" I asked, climbing in and indicating the beads.

"Yeah, I went down as a volunteer with the Red Cross after Katrina," she explained while starting the car. "Then I went down with some friends for the first Mardi Gras after Katrina." 

"They let you help with the hurricane relief? Weren't you too young?" 

"No, I was eighteen when Katrina hit; I was legal." She gave me a sidelong smile while pulling away from the curb. "Way to get my age, you sly dog." 

"Yeah, I'm clever that way." Watching her drive, I couldn't help but think, am I clever enough to get in her pants? After what happened with the river during my shape-shifting lesson, I wasn't really all that surprised to have my thoughts go there, but I quickly shut them down. Dragon and human, I told myself sternly, not going to work. Damn shame, though, that smaller, more persistent and generally stupider head south of my belt responded. I was broken from my reverie by her cell phone landing in my lap.

"What's this for?" I asked, picking it up. 

"Thought you might want to call some folks; let them know you're not dead." 

I flipped the phone open. "There you go again, thinking of what I clearly should have." 

While we drove to the restaurant I called my folks, who had been a little worried. They were relieved to hear from me and wanted to stay on the phone. I glossed over what was going on, school, work, and got off the line as quickly as possible. I also called my roommate who had been perhaps a little less worried. He stated he was planning to call the police if I hadn't shown up by the end of this week. Apparently, two weeks missing was his threshold for action. I asked when he would be around, since I had something to talk to him about. He said he would be around studying for that night. I muted the phone. 

"Dakota, I hate asking, but could you help me with a few errands?" 

"Sure, what do you need?" 

"Stop by my job to pick up what is no doubt my final paycheck, then run me by my old place. I'll have to sign the check over to my roommate while I explain that I won't be living there anymore." I was none too happy about screwing him over, but didn't really have any choice. Dakota made a sympathetic face. "Of course. Not a problem. Sorry." 

I let him know I would be there and hung up. We hit the restaurant where I worked prior to my assault at the river's edge. Predictably, they weren't very happy with my abrupt no call/no show resignation. I was coolly given my last check and shown the door. Stopping by my old apartment, I signed it over to my roommate while explaining something major came up, and I wasn't going to be staying there anymore. The check had some overtime, so he had my share of the next month's rent. Hopefully, he would be able find another roommate. The only things that were mine were some textbooks and clothes. I gathered them up and left. That part of my life was closed. 

I dumped my clothes and books in Dakota's back seat and sat down, crossing my arms, a deep sigh escaping me. Dakota looked over at me. "I'm sorry," she said, consolingly. 

"I made this choice. I'm not complaining. At least I got a chance to clear some stuff up. Thanks for letting me use your cell phone and running me around. Now, I believe there's this buffet somewhere?"

"Yeah!" she said, enthusiastically. As she pulled back into traffic, I felt one of her hands cover mine, the touch strangely electric. "And you're welcome," she said, her voice soft. It didn't take that long to get to the restaurant. The sign outside said, "The Dragon's Garden," and it was a really upscale place, with tremendous fish tanks in the waiting area and what looked to be a full service bar. It's main attraction was a buffet that wended along the back with everything from traditional Chinese staple menu items to sushi and a grill-to-order section. The dragon statue commanded the center of the restaurant, and everybody's attention, too. I began to wonder how much eating at this place must cost, but by that point it was early evening and I was starving.

We were seated with a view of the statue that we came to see. We quickly ordered our drinks and hit the buffet. It took a bit of concentration to retain the form with hunger gnawing at my insides, so I loaded my plate up, sat right back down and attacked the food as ferociously as I dared in public. Dakota, being a little more discerning in her food choices, joined me a few minutes later. 

"Are you okay?" she asked quietly. 

I looked up. "Yeah, why?" 

"You tore through the buffet in record time. I wasn't sure you even looked at what you were piling up on that plate." 

I scarfed a little more of the food down before responding. "Sorry, but when I get hungry, I get really hungry. That whole dragon thing: bigger body, need more energy to power it. Being so hungry was beginning to chip away at my concentration." 

"Oh, don't want that," she said. 

I simply nodded my agreement while finishing what was on my plate. After the second plate I wasn't anywhere near full, but was satiated enough to be a better conversationalist than merely inhaling my food. 

"Sorry about that," I said. 

"Don't be. That's the reality of the situation; I get it," she smiled warmly at me. Man, she was beautiful when she smiled like that. I grabbed my napkin and wiped my mouth to make sure I didn't have teriaki sauce dripping from my chin. "So, what did you think of the food?" she asked, her smile becoming a grin.

"Believe it or not, I did taste it. It was very good. I assume that's the statue?" I asked, gesturing. 

Dakota nodded, taking another delicate bite of her food. I got up and took a closer look while getting another plate. She was right; it did sort of look like me. The statue was a large piece, about five feet high, on a two-foot pedestal. The dragon pranced on one front leg with the other upraised. The body curled around and up with its back legs resting on the coils of the body. A gleaming, perfectly rounded pearl shone from its upraised claw.

"Impressive," I said, sitting back down. "Isn't it?" Dakota agreed. "This place has been here for a while, but I just came out today for the first time with some girls from one of my classes." 

As I prepared to continue my dinner at a more normal pace and ask Dakota about her classes, I felt my pearl lurch suddenly. I gasped and my hand went to my stomach as I tried to figure out what was going on. 

Dakota looked at me with concern. "Is everything all right?" 

"I'll let you know as soon as I do." I rubbed my stomach and tried to determine what might be the matter. My attention was drawn immediately to an Asian man sitting a few tables over, glaring daggers at us. Instinctively, I didn't stare or lock eyes, but I let my gaze move over him and continued a casual perusal of the rest of the area. I brought my attention back to Dakota. 

"Don't look, but there's a guy giving us the serious hairy eyeball," I explained. 

"That's what made you look like that?" she asked. "I thought you were going to be sick!"

I continued massaging the area where my pearl lived. "I felt it in my pearl, and it's not a pleasant feeling." 

Dakota continued working on her dinner, appearing nonchalant. I could sense her tension, though. "If you feel it in the pearl, could it be another dragon?" 

"That's exactly what I'm thinking." 

Dakota finished with her plate. She placed it on the edge of the table, then casually got back up for more. She arranged her path to pass directly in front of his table. I did my best not to watch. His intense stare never wavered. Dakota returned with a plate of food. 

"You're right; he's definitely staring at you. When and how did you jack off in his Cheerios?" 

"I wish I knew." 

Dakota looked thoughtful for a moment before asking, "Do you suppose it's a territory thing? That might explain the enormous dragon statue." 

Damn, but she had a way of coming up with things. Not just another pretty face and fantastic body, I realized with a rush of heat, but I forced myself to focus. "'Hey, look! I'm here!' It's possible. I really don't know if dragons are territorial or not, though." 

"Well, how do you feel about your spot on the river?" 

"It's not just one spot. It's the entire river, and I'm bonded to it." Even I could hear the faint pride in my voice. Huh.

"I remember you mentioning that. Did you find out more about it?"

"I did, but can we go into that later?"

She nodded. "Sorry. I was just wondering if the river was a territory thing in the 'Mutual of Omaha - Wild Kingdom' sense?"

I couldn't help it; I broke out laughing. "If Marlin Perkins comes within one hundred yards of me, I'm out of here." 

Dakota favored me with her musical laughter again. "No, no, it would be that poor camera man. He was always sent to investigate the local wildlife while Perkins was talking. You know, 'Let's observe while Jim goes down to film the lions hunting!'" 

"You know they had him heavily covered under Mutual of Omaha," I observed between gasping laughs. 

We were both laughing hysterically when a hand slammed down onto the table making the plates jump and the glasses jiggle, as well as forcing us both out of our shared moment of revelry. For a split second I thought the other dragon had come over for a confrontation. But when I looked up, a young man about my age was looming over the table. He had sandy brown hair, a handsome face and was fairly well built. The look of him said he was the kind of guy who knew it, too. Though he was smiling, there was a threatening undercurrent to it. I immediately went on guard, even more so than with the dragon. He turned his attention to Dakota. 

"Hey, honey, who's your new friend?" He asked the question with feigned disinterest, but the danger remained. Dakota noticed it, too. 

"Oh, hey Chad. This is my friend Sebastian." She motioned to me with her hand, but never took her eyes from Chad. "And I have a name. I assume you remember it?" 

His smile almost wavered. "Dakota," he said. 

"Oh, I wasn't sure. Since we only went out three times I wasn't sure if you committed it to memory." 

This time his smile did fall. "Yes, we were going out. And then I get a call saying you're out with another guy." 

"No, I didn't say we were going out. I said we went out. I wasn't aware we were exclusive." I could tell Dakota was getting peeved with this guy. I couldn't blame her. I didn't like the feeling I was getting from him at all. It set my metaphorical hackles up and threatened to bring some very real hackles out. I noticed the area around us go silent and could feel the others diners staring. Chad leaned in close to Dakota and grabbed her arm with one hand, bracing the other on the table. "I think we need to discuss this elsewhere." 

"Let go of me," she snapped. That was all I needed to hear. 

I slammed my hand down on his bracing arm, which abruptly bent at the elbow. He stumbled as his center of gravity suddenly shifted, but kept his balance. He looked down at my hand and then glared at me. I didn't move my hand. 

"She isn't going anywhere with you." My pearl was burning with an intensity I hadn't felt before, and I could feel the dragon move just under my skin, the way the top of a pond moves when fish swim close to the surface. I knew I was walking a razor's edge, but this guy just made me want to smack the shit out of him. 

The tension around us in the restaurant was practically palpable. It was like the diners wanted a little show to go with their chicken chow mein. I could feel the energy building around us from their hunger -- not for food, but for violence.

"And what're you going to do about it?" he asked threateningly. 

My pearl flared up and the charge ran throughout my body, but I held the human form. I could feel a growl building in my throat, and my voice sounded strange to my ears. "Heaven help you if you find out." 

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Dakota's expression turn to alarm. She shook his arm off of her and stood up. For a moment, I thought she might go with him, but she got between us instead. 

"Look, I'm having dinner with a friend. You're not invited. Deal with it. Or not, but if you don't get out of here, I'm calling the police." He glared again at Dakota. When he looked back to me, there was still malice and spite in his eyes. As I looked deeper, though, I saw something more - something akin to panic. I reached out with my dragon senses and pushed it hard. He backed away, glared one more time, then left. I watched him go, still wanting desperately to go after him and hand him his ass. 

Slowly, the excitement and tension sifted away. The kitchen staff brought out fresh trays of General Tso's chicken and beef with broccoli, and the heavy scents of Chinese peppers and tangy brown sauce became far more tempting than what was happening at our table. As the other conversations in the restaurant resumed, Dakota sat back down and got my attention. 

Before I could say anything she tersely whispered, "Your hair is changing color from brown to white." 

That snapped me back. I slumped down in my seat and focused on the human form and calming down. After a bit I grabbed some of my hair and pulled it in front of my face. It was brown. 

"Is it all back to brown?" I asked. 

She nodded, looking relieved. "I was afraid it wasn't going to stop there. What was that about?" 

I sighed deeply. "I'm not sure, but I think it may not have stopped if you hadn't got between us. Who was Cap'n Happy there, anyway?" 

"His name is Chad," Dakota said, looking in the direction he left with a mixture of anger and embarrassment. I suddenly wanted to see her smile again. 

"Oh, Cap'n Chad Happy. Chappy, perhaps?" I interjected. 

She smiled all too briefly. "Yeah, I met him at a mixer the first week of classes," she continued, her smile disappearing. "He seemed nice enough, and we went out a few times. But like I said to him, I didn't think we were exclusive." 

"He didn't get the memo." 

"Well, that's just it. I thought the memo went out when you became exclusive. Until then, the field's open." 

In my mind, the field became an awesome spring meadow, then abruptly shifted to her lying naked in a bed of little wild flowers in that awesome spring meadow. I shut that fantasy down before I got to what I wanted to do to Dakota-as-nymph in the meadow. Here she was, barely chasing off some chest-beating Neanderthal, and I'm running through positions to achieve deepest penetration in my head. I'm so not winning any sensitivity awards.

"I'm sorry that had to happen on your first night out as a human," she continued, giving me something else to focus on. 

"It's not your fault. I don't assume you texted him." Belatedly, I thought of the other dragon, but he vanished sometime during the altercation. "Looks like my other fan also left. Between Chappy and this other dragon, I'm just making new friends all over the place."

Dakota smiled again. "Just don't invite me to the play date, OK?" 

We finished dinner, Dakota's three plates to my eight, and settled up our bill. I saw the check and my jaw dropped. Yes, it was a buffet - a $25.00 per person buffet. Drinks not included. Then she placed a carry out order for three servings of dumplings for Chang ("Well, they are very good," she pointed out,) and left an extra large tip because she felt bad about the trouble with Chappy. 

"God, Dakota, I'm going to bankrupt you yet. Don't you know any cheap buffets?" I asked after we left. 

"Yeah, but not with big ol' dragon statues. Clearly, they have to pay for the amazing décor. Consider it a donation to his vanity," she suggested, climbing into her car. I chuckled as I climbed in on the passenger's side. 

"So, what do you think is going to happen with him?" she asked, driving back towards the river. 

"I don't know," I admitted. "But Chang's staying around, so I imagine he'll help with anything that might go down." 

"That's good, I think he could handle anything. In just that little bit of time I spent talking to him, I could understand what you meant when you said you couldn't explain him. He's completely unlike anyone I've ever met, but he feels like someone I've known for years. Like an uncle, in a way." She paused here for a moment. "A really big, powerful uncle." 

I could see that. "Don't forget scary," I added. 

"Well, I didn't find him scary. But then he wasn't angry with me." 

We both looked at each other as the same thought hit us. I said it first. 

"I wonder if that's what crawled up the other dragon's ass? The same thing Chang was pissed about." 

"But wasn't Chang the one who created the pearl?" she asked. I nodded. "Then he has a vested interest. What's this guy's hook?" 

"Again, I wish I knew. But hopefully, Chang can shed some light." 

We arrived at the river. I got out of the car and was surprised when Dakota did, too, carrying the take-out bag. Then I smiled. 

"What, walking me home?" I asked. 

"Sure," she said, coming over the stand beside me. "Heaven knows you can't go ten feet without getting into some kind of trouble." 

I took her arm. "Sad, but true," I conceded. Her touch had an immediate impact on me. I felt an almost electric thrill go through me, originating from the pearl and shooting outward. We started walking toward the river, and I focused on putting one foot in front of the other as I absorbed the sensation. Neither an unpleasant feeling nor an overwhelming one, it was actually quite the opposite. I started thinking how nice it was to have Dakota around. 

We were almost to the river when I realized we were being followed. I stopped and purposefully looked behind us. I wasn't surprised to see Chappy. While we were away from the road or sidewalk, we were at a more open section and there wasn't a lot of cover. He had nowhere to hide and stalked directly over to us. He glared down to where I had Dakota's arm hooked over mine. I didn't drop her arm, nor she, mine. Apparently the panic from earlier had subsided, and he seemed to have something to prove. "So what's this about?" he demanded. 

At this point Dakota did drop my arm to rest both of her hands on her hips. Though it was full dark, I could see her expression clearly, and she was not happy. I grabbed the take-out bag before Chang's very tasty, very expensive dumplings got turned into so much fertilizer. "It's exactly what I told you. I was having dinner with my friend Sebastian and now we're going for a walk along the river." 

"Just walking?" he asked meaningfully. 

Now she crossed her arms, looking all the more pissed. "Yes, because nothing gets me hotter than leaves, dirt, small rocks, and crayfish in my snatch. For heaven's sake, I have a house. Besides, what business is it of yours, exactly?" 

"We're not done from the restaurant. I want to know what's going on between you two." 

Dakota heaved her arms up in the air in frustration. "We're friends." Dakota moved a hand between the two of us. "He and I aren't dating." She then motioned between herself and him. "The same as you and I are not dating. Get it yet?" 




The Pearl Ch. 04



"Well, fine. Then I think it's time we started being exclusive." 

Dakota stared at him, incredulous. Then she snapped, "You accost me in a restaurant, stalk me outside of it, in general make an ass of yourself, then have the audacity to ask me out?" She shook her head. "Unbelievable." 

He looked over to me. "What about you? You seeing anybody?" 

"No," I said, all earnestness and a fetching smile. "Why, do you want to go out with me since you clearly blew your shot with her?" 

I was really going to have to start thinking these comments through before saying them. Maybe I should make a resolution or something. Homophobia is a particularly strong trait in the full-blooded American asshole, and this one was no different. He slugged me, hard.

The force of the blow knocked me off balance and I went down to a crouch. It didn't hurt, but it did cause my control to falter badly, much worse than in the restaurant. My body wanted to explode out into the dragon. I managed to keep the human form, but I was afraid that if I moved at all, I would lose control completely. Dakota dropped down next to me to check that I was all right. I simply nodded when she asked. Then she looked up to Chad. 

"Actually, there is a difference between you two," she said. "Sebastian is a friend of mine." 

"And?" he asked with disdain. 

"At this moment, you're not." 

He headed toward Dakota. "You're coming with me."

Briefly, I considered changing, but realized they were both too close to me. With my size and weight, one or both of them could get seriously hurt if I shifted right here. Dakota slowly stood up. "The. Hell. I. Am." 

Well, Dakota's stance was pretty clear. I risked a glance at Chappy. He seemed to be wrestling with something very dark. Then it passed and he looked down and away before quietly saying, "I'm sorry." When he looked back, his face was unreadable. "Maybe I should just go."

"I think you should," she said, and for the first time since I met her, Dakota's voice sounded totally cold. He turned and left. 

Dakota immediately dropped back down to my side. "Are you sure you're okay?" 

"Yes," I answered curtly. "Just please tell me when he's out of sight." 

Dakota straightened up slightly and watched. After what felt like an eternity she said, "He's gone." 

I stood shakily and stumbled as far away from Dakota as I could get before I let go, exhausted. The dragon form just sort of spilled out of the human form like an overturned drink, and I lay there, uncertain of what to say or do. Dakota sat down near my head. 

"I'm so sorry," she said softly. "I apparently attract really shithead men directly to you." 

I quickly looked up to see Dakota wiping tears away. That wouldn't do at all. 

"You can't hold yourself accountable for what that asshole said or did. When it came right down to it, you told him where to go and how to get there." I carefully cupped my claw under her chin. "Thank you, by the way." 

She snuffled slightly before asking, "For what?" "You said I was your friend and he wasn't." 

She smiled. "Well, it's true, but you're welcome anyway." 

I dropped my arm and hauled myself upright. "Well, shall we go the rest of the way?" 

Dakota nodded and gathered up the discarded take-out bag before standing up. She laid her free hand on my front shoulder. I liked that. But then again, I seemed to like everything she did. I would have to be careful; I could see myself falling hard for her. Too soon, we reached the river and Chang. "Waiting up for us?" I asked. 

"I was hoping for dumplings," he responded. 

Smiling, Dakota held out the bag as Chang shifted back to his human form. He did it with an ease and grace that I could only hope to master someday. 

"How was your dinner?" he asked while taking the bag. 

As Chang sat down and began eating his supper, Dakota and I took turns telling him what happened. She was embarrassed by what happened with Chappy, but she went into all of it anyway. Chang listened intently. When we were finished, he looked to Dakota.

"These were very good dumplings. Thank you for bringing them." 

Dakota looked a little dumbfounded, but answered, "You're welcome." 

"As to the problems at hand, this fellow who seems to have attempted to lay claim to you, Dakota," he began, gesturing to her. "I would recommend avoiding him. I think he will bring you much sorrow." He turned his attention back to me. "As to this strange dragon, I know none of my clan are here. But what other clans, or representatives, may be here I cannot say. I shall have to look into this further." 

"But why was he so peeved with me? It is a territory thing? Or is it because I have a pearl?" 

"It's entirely possible he saw you as impinging upon his territory. As for the pearl, it shouldn't be his concern. But, as I said, I will need to look into this." He rose up and walked over to stand in front of Dakota. 

"With your permission?" he said. 

Once more Dakota looked confused. So was I, for that matter. But just as I would have had Chang been standing in front of me, she agreed. Chang carefully traced something on her forehead with an upraised finger. I could sense the power involved, and could tell Dakota felt it, too. He then placed his hand on the back of her head and inclined it forward, brushing his lips in a very gentle kiss over the spot he marked. As I was watching so closely, I saw Dakota's eyelids flutter closed and the quick inhalation of her breath. Man, I had to learn more of the dragon mojo, and soon. "There," Chang said, a note of satisfaction in his voice as he leaned back and released Dakota's head. She opened her eyes and looked at him expectantly. "That will keep you safe for the night. But please, step lightly and walk cautiously." And with that, he disappeared. 

To Be Continued



The Pearl Ch. 05



Edited by Wicked

This is a copyrighted work of fiction. All rights reserved.

* 

Dakota left for the night shortly after Chang. I went to sleep, and spent most of my morning trying to explain boundaries to the river. I don't know if it's something common to all rivers or just a quirk of mine, but the river really didn't get boundaries. The river understood only inside the banks and outside of the banks. Anything outside of the banks it couldn't reach or affect, anything within the banks was fair game. The river considered me within the banks. I was trying to explain I was both within and outside of the banks when Chang arrived. Well, appeared anyway, at about midmorning the next day as a human. 

"How are you this morning?" he asked. 

I sighed deeply and smacked the river with my fore claw. "Just trying to establish boundaries with a river that has no freaking clue what I'm talking about." 

Chang nodded sympathetically. "It can be difficult. Where do you seem to be having problems?" 

I thought a moment, trying to verbalize what was largely an impression-based form of communication. "Well, the river seems to feel if it can get into somewhere, it should go everywhere within that space." 

Chang nodded. "That is the nature of water. Consider water in a vessel, or lake, or even reservoir. It completely covers and fills any receptacle. Water is also well known for wearing down barriers to go further." 

"But I'm the receptacle we're talking about, and I don't necessarily want the river everywhere inside me," I asserted. 

"A reasonable position, from a certain point of view," he conceded. 

"But not the river's point of view," I guessed. 

"Apparently not." 

I bit back a sarcastic response. Instead, I asked exactly what I was thinking. "Are these answers meant to teach me patience or something?" 

He shrugged, a smile tugging at his lips. "That's entirely possible." 

"Thanks," I replied, giving into the sarcasm. 

It didn't even phase him. "You're welcome. But, if you have a moment to spare, I have located the other dragon. It seems to me that now is as good a time as any to speak with him." 

I perked up, partially out of curiosity, and partially because I was glad to get away from the river. "Cool. What's his deal?" 

"We will discover that in time. First, I think this would be better accomplished in human guise." 

I closed my eyes and focused on being human. The shift and form came easier this time, but was still a bit of a challenge. "OK, now what?" 

Chang took my hand and the world lurched out from underneath me. Everything blurred, and then I was standing in a public commons. I grabbed onto Chang as a sudden wave of vertigo hit me. When it passed I looked at Chang and asked, "What the hell was that?" 

"Remember when you were moved by the river?" I nodded. "It was the same thing. It's a simple trick, really, but now isn't the time." 

Chang pointed across the commons and I recognized the dragon from the night before, still in human form. Of course, it would be damn silly to be a dragon amidst all these people. I became aware that people were walking around us, but didn't seem to be paying any attention. "Now is your chance to determine what is going on between you two." I felt Chang do something and the dragon was suddenly looking in our direction. 

"Um, what are you going to say?" I asked. 

"Nothing," he replied, "you are." Then he was gone again. Motherfuck, how does he do that? was about all I had time to think before the other dragon was in front of me. 

He was handsome, with typical Asian features. He wore his black hair a little longer than I've usually seen worn in that culture. Upon closer inspection, a ring of red-gold circled the brown of his eyes. But except for that, and the rolling somersaults my pearl felt like it was doing, I never would have guessed he was anything but human. A very angry human who looked like he was about to hand me my ass. 

"Um, I don't think we got off on the right foot last night-" I began. 

He appeared to cross over into whatever field was around me. People continued walking around us, paying no attention. He was glaring daggers again, and it was worse up close and personal.

"You have a lot of damn nerve," he snarled. 

"I'm sorry?" I asked. 

"How dare you show yourself!" 

He was building quite a head of steam. I thought it might be best to end this quickly. 

"Well, I'm sorry for whatever I've done to upset you," I said calmly but sincerely. "Tell me what do you want of me, and I'll be out of your hair." 

"Give me the pearl," he demanded. 

Unlike when Chang demanded my pearl, there was no accompanying compulsion to surrender it. "Come again?"

"The pearl, gweilo, give it to me," he repeated flatly. 

I didn't know what gweilo meant. The way he said it seemed to indicate it wasn't complimentary, though, and it certainly didn't make me any more inclined to give him what he wanted.

"No. Now, I'm open to figuring out some means of relatively peaceful co-existence, but-"

"What I want is the pearl, and I want it now," he snapped, interrupting me. "You have no right to it, gweilo." 

Again with that word. I was officially done. "Not just no," I said with almost equal disregard, "but hell no. If that's what it takes, I'm out of here. I'll stay out of your way, you stay out of mine. How's that work for you?" 

His expression turned as black as Chang's storm clouds. "It doesn't. Now give it to me or I'll take it." 

His words didn't appear to be an idle threat as he closed what little distance there was between us. I was unsure if he had a means to back his threat up or not, and was trying to come up with a counter plan when between one moment and the next Chang stood between us. The other dragon was forced to take a step back. At first it looked like he might attack Chang blindly. But when he got a good look at Chang, he immediately backed down. 

Chang stood ramrod straight and unflinching in what appeared to be almost archaic Chinese garments. His arms were crossed in front of him and his hands were in his sleeves. 

"What is the problem here?" he asked. 

The words were spoken with the chilling calmness he used with me at our first meeting, and they once again carried the undercurrent of the storm. I could sense and smell ozone, like before a big thunderstorm hits. 

The other dragon sensed it, too. He was clearly uncertain how to proceed. After a short pause, he began speaking, pointing rather dramatically in my direction. 

"This gweilo," judging from Chang's look, it wasn't a complimentary word. The dragon immediately amended himself. "This...person clearly has a dragon's pearl. I was seeking it back."

"I am quite well aware of the item in his possession. The pearl was of my making several centuries past. The pearl chose him and by the laws of heaven he is a dragon: to be treated as such and given the accords as such." 

Even though Chang's tone did not invite rebuttal, the other dragon tried. "He is gwe... He is American." When this didn't seem to phase Chang, he switched tactics. "He came to my lair without invitation." 

"He is in his first century of learning. Therefore any error of etiquette is mine, not his. Tell me what harm he has done and I will set about fixing it." 

The dragon looked away, foiled, though still clearly angry. "None," he said tersely. 

"Very well then. I shall instruct him to avoid your den and there will be no further problems."

The other dragon said nothing, prompting Chang to repeat, "And there will be no further problems?" His tone indicated that there had better not be. 

"As you say," he replied. He then turned and walked away. 

Chang looked back to me. "I am sorry," he said. "I misinterpreted his concerns. Had I known what this was about, I would have dealt with him myself to begin with." 

"What was his malfunction?" I asked. 

"You are not the human he would have chosen." 

"Because I'm gwa...something?" I asked, mangling the word. 

"Gweilo," Chang corrected. "It means 'ghost man,' but it is used as a Chinese slur for Caucasian." He shook his head sadly. "Even amongst dragons this sort of foolishness exists. Still, he is barely over 200. They all think they know everything at that age. Hopefully, he will become wiser as he ages." He looked at me with an odd mix of stern amusement. "I should hope when you reach 200, you will be wise enough not to make these most particular mistakes." 

I smiled back, "These most particular mistakes? Are there other mistakes you think I will be making?" 

The stern expression disappeared, and he was merely amused. "Oh, you will make mistakes. We all do, born dragons and chosen. That's why there's a century to learn given to all youngsters. Mistakes born out of ignorance, or frustration, or simply misstepping I can accept. But anything born from hate, bigotry, or pure malice I will not accept." He paused for a moment while I thought about that. It wasn't surprising, really. Plainly spoken, it marked a clear boundary of behavior. Then he continued. "However, from what I've seen, these things are not in your nature. Nor do I think the pearl would have chosen you if they were. I was, however, surprised you kept a civil tongue as long as you did. I would have preferred that you maintained such throughout the entire conversation, but I suppose I must take what I can get." 

* * * *

On the Saturday that marked my first two weeks as a dragon, Dakota and I collected trash from the river. I was in dragon form. I tried to stay in human form, but it proved nearly impossible to hold the form at the river. Chang's recommendation had been that the river, then, would be the perfect place to practice. The logic had born out somewhat. But that day, after several failed attempts, I was simply tired of the practice. So I was in dragon form, trying to help pick stuff up. Fine dexterity eludes me as a dragon, so Dakota gathered the smaller pieces. When a bag was filled, she would hang it off my antlers. Dignified? Not in the least. But the trade off was that I got to see Dakota bend over a great deal, and that seemed well worth the sacrifice. 

Chang had not been around that day. He usually stopped by at least once a day, usually just for casual conversation and to answer any of my questions. I was surprised there wasn't a more formal teaching arrangement, considering he was my mentor as far as all things dragon. But he seemed content to let me set the pace of learning. I wasn't sure what he did when he wasn't around. When I asked, he said he'd never seen this country and was exploring. The image of Chang as a tourist amused me to no end. 

"Have you had any more trouble with Chad?" I asked. I almost said Chappy, but thought better of it, remembering Chang's statement about keeping a civil tongue. 

"No," she said. "I haven't even seen him around." Her expression was unreadable. 

Dakota was dressed in a T-shirt and sweat pants, which were pulled up to her knees in consideration of the current. It was the end of the first week of September, but the temperature was still pretty warm. I swore I could smell autumn on the air, though. Dakota stood up and wiped her brow. 

"Is that a good thing?" I asked. 

She crossed her arms and appeared to be considering. "I don't know," she said at last. "If I haven't seen him because he's left never to return, then, yeah, it's good. But if he's just biding his time for a while to pop back up like a bad penny, then no. I would rather have him out in the open." 

I could see her point. Unfortunately, there was no way of knowing. "I guess time will tell," I said. 

"Yeah, and that's the part I hate. The waiting." She bent back to work. 

"You know, I've been meaning to ask you, what is your major?" I asked.

She stood back up, ruining the magnificent view. Then she turned and gave me an even better one. "Library sciences," she said. 

"What, like a librarian?" I asked.

"Exactly." 

"I wasn't aware you had to go the college for that. I mean, you need a college course for the Dewey decimal system?" 

She shook her head at my obvious ignorance. She went back to picking up garbage while saying, "There's way more to it than that, and particularly, reference desk librarians need to know everything. Besides, with technology what it is, practically the only job that doesn't require some form of formal training is Wal-Mart greeter. What about you? What was your major?" 

"Wal-Mart greeter," I said without missing a beat. 

She stood and looked at me with a rather put-upon look. "Seriously." 

"Seriously, I was still undeclared. This would have been my second year, and I was going to try to figure it out this year." I looked down at myself. "Kind of a moot point now," I added. 

Dakota waved her hand in what appeared to be her standard form of dismissal. "Nonsense. I think you should go for an Asian Studies major. It would suit you way better than Wal-Mart greeter." 

"Hey, I'm a people person," I protested. 

"Yeah, until they annoy you," she said, picking up more trash. "Then it would be 'get your shit and get out.'"

"I'm sure I would be far more clever than that. Besides, they deserved it." 

"Oh, well, in that case then..." she trailed off, continuing to pick up trash. 

The river was relatively quite during the activities. I could tell it was gratified that we were seeing to it. I also suspected the river considered Dakota one of the main reasons I stayed and wasn't going to do anything to upset that arrangement. The river was more correct in its reasoning than I wanted to admit. 

But then out of the blue I felt a strong pull on my pearl along with an almost frenzied he is coming.

"Who's coming?" I asked. 

Dakota looked up, confused, and I realized she heard my response without having heard the river. 

"The river said somebody's coming," I explained. 

the other dragon

"Oh, fuck me," I muttered. 

"What, who is it?" Dakota asked. 

"That other dragon. I thought after the run in with Chang a couple of days ago we were done. Apparently not." 

She immediately placed the partially filled bag she was carrying on the bank and carefully but quickly untangled the full bags from my antlers. "OK, what are we going to do?" she asked. 

Sadly, I had no idea. "Which way is he coming?" 

against the current

"How far?" 

I received an image of where on the river he was traveling. About two miles down, coming slowly. He appeared to be looking for me. I thought for a moment about what I wanted to do, or what I could do for that matter. He was older, stronger, and knew a damn sight more about being a dragon than I did. Then it occurred to me; he was after the pearl. I could at least make his goal harder to obtain. I willed the pearl into my hand and gave it to Dakota. 

"Take this and run," I instructed. 

The precious stone that once fit on a ring was now a little smaller than a basketball. Dakota took it without hesitating, but then just stood there for a moment. "Run where?" she finally asked. 

"Anywhere." 

She stared at the pearl and then slipped it under her shirt. At least the shirt fit loosely on her. Even so, it was pretty clear something was under there. I nudged her with my snout. "Go."

She looked like she might say something further, but then she turned and ran. We were in a section that was heavily wooded and thankfully deserted. I knew that once she got away from me, she would be visible. Hopefully, she would be well away before the other dragon arrived. Though the pearl was an awkward hindrance, she seemed to be making good time. The girl could run. Was there anything this woman couldn't do?

"Where is he now?" I asked the river. I received another visionary flash. He appeared to have picked up my scent, or whatever he was tracking by, and was moving much more quickly in my direction. It occurred to me that if I intercepted him, it would put that much more distance between him and Dakota. I turned to face the way he was coming and prepared myself as best I could. I felt a disconcerting emptiness without the pearl, but I could feel the river trying to compensate. I let it in further, the irony of it filling the spaces I had so wanted to keep from it not lost on me. This was, however, my only means of defense. The water around my legs deepened and the current began to run much faster. 

"Let's do this thing," I said to the river with way more bravado than I felt. I took off in the direction of the other dragon. 

* * * *

I ran. I had been in track and tried a sprint to begin with, but the pearl was too much in the way, especially the way I was carrying it, with my arms holding it in place under my shirt. I tucked my shirt into my sweat pants and tied the cord tightly to try to hold it in place. Even with this adjustment, the terrain was still too wooded for a good sprint, so eventually I had to settle for a cross-country run. I lettered in cross-country in high school, so I easily fell into a pace that ate up the distance. Unfortunately, I had no idea where to go. 

My car was parked in the direction the nasty dragon was coming from, so that wasn't an option. I was pretty sure I knew where I was, and if I was correct, there was a shopping district on the other side of this little wooded area. I headed in that direction. If, God forbid, the dragon got past Sebastian, he would be hampered with what he could do in a crush of people. I hoped. Saturday on a nice day, the area would be packed. I would have to pick up a bag or something to put the pearl in, but I could think of several shops that would carry something I could use, that I might even get some use out of later.

As I ran, I felt the pearl move back and forth against my skin, bumping and rubbing. So warm and smooth, the feeling of it nudging my abdomen as I ran was surprisingly pleasant. I had to keep my attention focused on where I was running so that I didn't trip over a root or stone and twist or pull something in a fall. When I felt the pearl pushing against my stomach, I didn't think much of it. But when I felt it push into my torso, I almost went sprawling.

I stopped immediately but had to fight my shirt out of my tightly knotted waistband. By the time I got my shirt pulled out and yanked it up, I was just in time to watch the pearl somehow phase entirely into my body. Sheer panic slapped me but was quickly forgotten. A nauseating sensation rippled up through me in waves as the pearl made itself right at home inside of me. 

* * * *

I came to a halt and stood my ground as my adversary came in low. It took me a second to realize he was flying just slightly above the water. He looked fantastic shimmering against the water, gold-tinted red scales with gold underscales and a red-gold mane, antlers branching proudly above his head. He was clearly strong and healthy, and his coloring was magnificent. A real bummer he was here to kick my ass. 

The overpowering mass of red and gold immediately made me think of fire. Well, if fire was his element, maybe I could use the water to my advantage. I focused the energy of the river and pulled it into me, then forced it forward at the incoming dragon. A wave much larger than I would have believed possible rose up and struck the dragon, throwing him partway back the way he'd come. 

He stood, no longer airborne, sopping wet from the attack. His mane clung to his face and hung sloppily down. He looked like a oversized drowned rat. While I was unsure how much real damage I'd done, the hit to his majesty was certainly an ego boost. 

Then out of nowhere I felt surrounded by Dakota, and was completely distracted. The feeling was unnervingly similar to when Chang swallowed the pearl, but for the life of me I couldn't figure out how Dakota could have accomplished such a thing. Then the river wrenched my attention back to the matter at hand.




The Pearl Ch. 05



attention in front I was scolded. 

I was instantly aware of the other dragon bringing his claw down at my face and jerked out of the way. Some inner instinct informed me that giving ground was bad, so I curled back around and I went for his throat. The move was unexpected and the other dragon coiled upward to escape. He hadn't given ground, unfortunately, but was standing reared back and in an awkward position. I merged a little further with the river looking for some other unexpected line of attack. The river showed me the roots of the trees sunk deep into the water. Because they drew sustenance from the river, the river had flowed into them. I focused on them and they grabbed the upper half of the dragon's body, pulling him over backwards into the water.

Even though his upper body writhed against the tree roots, his lower body was still free. And I wasn't paying attention to it. His tail came up, smacked me hard against the head, and then hooked around while his back claws racked against my snout. I managed to catch part of his leg in my mouth and bit down, but the angle was too strained to inflict any damage. He managed to get the leg out, but had to release my head in the process. He then managed to shred the roots and we stood facing each other, both of us pretty wet, winded, and pretty damn unhappy. 

* * * *

I stared down at where the pearl entered. My abdomen was slightly distended as if I might be, say, four months pregnant, but there was no other outward manifestation. However, as soon I realized that there was no pain and I wasn't changing into a dragon, my panic began to subside. Actually, the pearl felt like Sebastian and when I considered what the pearl really was, that made sense. I not only held a piece of Sebastian within me, but the central, core piece. I pushed against the area and felt the pearl move inside of me. That sent a shudder up my spine and a pulse of heat through my groin. I'd had men get inside of me before, on pretty much every different level there is to interpret that quaint phrase, but this was something different. So much more intense. I rubbed slight bulge, sending the pearl rocking, and my hips began to move in rhythm. As the heat began to build, my panic disappeared and the desire, the need to masturbate moved under my skin like a living thing. My hand was at the tie of my waistband when I came to my senses and stopped myself. 

"Focus, Pinky, focus," I said out loud. "Battle, big mean dragon, gotta get out of here." Then I forced myself into a run. Of course, the running caused the pearl to roll around even more, further hindering my concentration. So I tried to do what I would do if I had minor pain during a meet; I focused on it and incorporated it into the rhythm of the run. It seemed to be working. It also caused me to focus on Sebastian and what I thought of him. 

Even though we only knew each other for a very short time, about a week, I was already quite fond of him. When it looked like he might be going, I was terribly upset by it, and equally overjoyed when he said he was staying. He was really a very sweet guy and I was making excuses to my friends to come see him. The local Toxic Taco loved me to no end. But, while his human form was kind of cute, I never considered a physical relationship. This little experience was beginning to make me think differently. Because, it seemed to me, if his pearl had this effect on me I most likely wanted him on some level to begin with. The more I examined my feelings, the more that conclusion became obvious. 

Of course, this wasn't my primary, or even secondary concern. Primarily, I had to keep the pearl from this other dragon. Well, this was certainly the most secure place I could think of at the moment. But, God, I hoped the other dragon didn't figure it out and try to take it from me. Which led to my secondary concern. How in God's name was the pearl coming out? Well, Sebastian should know... Right, what was I thinking? Chang should know at least something about that. I hoped. 

* * * *

We stood surveying each other. I could feel blood oozing down my snout. However, I could see something like rope burns from the tree roots on the other dragon and he was missing some scales. 

"Surprisingly well played, gweilo," he admitted begrudgingly. "Still, you're not a match for me. Give me the pearl, and you can go back to whatever passed for your previous life. It will be much worse for you if you fight me." 

"Wow, that's a really generous offer," I replied. "How to respond... How about 'piss off and die'? And 'oh hell no' is always good. I also like 'go fuck yourself.'" I smiled broadly. 

He did not appreciate my wit. He was practically trembling with rage. Good. Hopefully, he would make a mistake. 

"How dare you?" he seethed, lowering his head towards me. I watched carefully, not wanting to get caught off guard. "Don't you know your betters?" 

"Yeah, Chang is my better. Yours, too. You, however, just strike me as a piss-ant jackass." Not entirely true, but damn it, if I was going down, I was going down defiant. He lunged and I braced. 

He slammed against my chest and I slid several inches. But the river swelled against me, keeping me from moving further. I was winded, but still managed to snap my jaws on the back of his neck. I didn't pierce the scales, but he felt the bite. Realizing just how vulnerable his position was, he shook off my jaws and surged suddenly on top of me, pushing me down into the river. I wasn't going to drown, but it did put him on top, an overall bad thing. I lashed with my tail. I didn't have the control he did, but I did manage to smack him hard in the face. He stumbled slightly. He caught himself, but it was enough for me to get out from under him. 

We now stood side by side. Though the fight had been relatively even, I was beginning to tire. I was unaccustomed to this much exertion as a dragon. He wasn't, on either count. This wasn't going to end well. 

* * * *

I crossed over into the shopping area. As I hoped, it was crowded with weekend shoppers. I had to slow my pace to a fast walk. Fortunately, under my shirt you couldn't tell anything was amiss. I made my way through the crowd as quickly as I could. I figured I would start lapping the area and wait for some sort of indication of what to do next. Of course, I had no way of knowing the outcome of the fight, or how to get back in touch with Sebastian. I imagined he had to have a way of finding the pearl, and so maybe he could track me by that. 

Assuming he won. 

God, I hated not knowing. 

Suddenly, someone was in my path. I noticed too late to swerve and walked right into them. 

"Excuse me," I said, without looking at them. When they grabbed me by the arm, I started to round on this person. A golden-eyed Asian man regarded me with some concern. 

"Chang!" I shouted, throwing my arms around him. He stepped back a moment, surprised. I wondered briefly if I had broken some taboo. But then he hugged me hastily in return. 

Stepping out of the embrace he asked, "Dakota, what is happening?" He looked down to my abdomen. "And why are you carrying Sebastian's pearl?" 

I quickly told him the story of our morning. As he listened, his expression grew dark and very fierce. When I reached the end, he was clearly furious. I now understood what Sebastian meant about how frightening he was when angry. I swore I heard distant thunder. Despite his clear anger, he very gently took my hand. 

"Come this way please," he said, moving into the crowd. They seemed to almost unconsciously part to let us through. 

"Where are we going?" I asked deferentially. 

"Simply somewhere I can change with minimal fuss."

We quickly made our way through the crowd to a small sitting area. He looked around and within moments everybody there wandered away. He released my hand and shifted so that he was somewhat curved around me, his head facing me. He raised his claw and carefully ran it across my abdomen. The pearl slid out and landed in his palm. He placed it in his mouth while hunkering down and offering me his back. I climbed on. Even with the pearl gone, I felt a lingering ghost of Sebastian's presence still within me. Chang looked back at me with a mischievous grin, and I realized he could tell what I experienced. He moved the pearl over to his cheek. 

"It seems you and Sebastian have quite a bit to talk about," he said. Regardless of his sweet, if mischievous, smile, I still blushed all the way to the bone. 

He crouched to take off, and I clung tightly. He glanced back, saying, "Do not worry. I will not allow you to fall." 

* * * *

He snarled at me and leaped. I didn't really have much room to move and he slammed against me again. And I went down, again. The river surged around me, dumping what energy it could, but I had a much harder time squirming out from under him. I did manage to get back upright. His front half moved past me and was looking back in my direction. I realized too late that at his length, he effectively had me surrounded. His tail grabbed my head while his front claws drug my back half down. He crawled his front claws up my body while his tail pulled my head down. I struggled against him, but he had enough of his body in the fight that his weight and size advantage was really coming into play. When his front claws reached my middle he managed to get a loop of his body around my tail, effectively controlling it. As he worked his way up, he continued looping until he had me trapped in his coils like a snake. His tail released my head shortly before his front half reached it. By that point I was subdued. I took some pleasure in the fact that he was at least winded from this fight.

"Now, gweilo, this ends," he said, closing his eyes. He quietly began to chant, and the words reverberated in my head. I buried my head in the river to try to block it out, but it didn't work. He seemed to have reached the end, but nothing happened. He looked down at me confused, and started again. And again, nothing happened. He paused for a moment, appearing to be thinking. Then he became very, very pissed. Releasing my body, he hauled my head up towards his. 

"You hid it!" he roared at me.

"Just figured that out, did you?" I asked. 

He threw my head back down. I lay there, uncertain if I had the strength to continue fighting.

He glared down at me. "Where is it?" he hissed. 

"Like I would go through all this just to tell you that." 

He continued glaring at me, but then a snide, calculating smile crossed his face. 

"I'm sure I could use that pretty little favorite of yours to get at the answer."

I wasn't sure what he meant by favorite, but since Dakota was the only person he'd seen me with outside of Chang, it was a pretty quick elimination process. That got me going. 

I was about to lunge back at him when a sudden and very loud crack of thunder startled us both. Looking up at the sky, I could see storm clouds gathering. I dared to hope it meant what I thought it did. 

"You will do no such thing." With this surprisingly calm proclamation, Chang announced his presence. I thanked whatever Deity might be listening. 

The other dragon backed away from me quickly. I rolled somewhat upright and looked over to see Chang standing in the river with Dakota perched on his back. His black mane was blowing in the steadily increasing wind, his scales darkened to almost completely black making his gun metal gray underscales stand out all the more and the white flashes more prominent. In that moment, he was the embodiment of the furious majesty of a thunderstorm. I was struck once again by how awe-inspiring, terrifying, and overwhelming he could be. 

He lowered his jaw, revealing my pearl. Looking for this? Though it was directed to the other dragon, I heard it in my mind, too. Now, to me this pretty much said that the adult was in the room and that playtime was over. The other dragon, not so much. To my utter disbelief, he lunged for the pearl. I was absolutely floored he could be that dumb. 

Chang swallowed my pearl (I was never going to get used to that feeling) and snapped his jaws over the dragon's head. His entire head fit into Chang's mouth, with Chang's upper and lower fangs locking right where his neck began. His antlers were forced down against his neck and he was obliged to hold his head at a very strange angle. This didn't stop him from struggling. 

"Well jeez, Einstein, even I saw that coming down main street," I snarked. 

Predictably, he didn't want to hear smack talk from some wanna be, poser dragon. He redoubled his efforts. From the look Chang gave me, he didn't appreciate it either. Think then talk. I have to keep telling myself that. 

Chang sharply shook his head, cracking the other dragon like a whip. Summon your elder, he demanded. The other dragon fell still, but did nothing further. Thunder pealed ominously around us. I am not having sport with you, youngling. Summon your elder before I do something to cause him to come.

He was still maybe minute longer, than I felt something like a pulse. It registered the same way a deep bass does, as a vibration more than anything else. Chang waited a bit longer, then, seemingly satisfied with what had been done, released the dragon's head. He skulked back to where he had been standing. Chang looked at me and with a gesture of his head indicated I should come stand next to him. I complied only too gladly. I reached my head up to Dakota and nudged her in greeting. She ran her hands through my mane, smiling. There was something different about her, but I couldn't quite place it. 

"That bass trembly thing, that was the summons?" I asked softly as I arranged myself next to Chang. 

He nodded.

"Could you teach me that? 'Cause that would have been really useful today," I replied, still keeping my voice low. 

He nodded. "I can see that. My apologies, I underestimated his obsession. Speaking of which," he brought the pearl back into his mouth. This belongs to you. He lowered his head to mine and returned my pearl. 

I held it in my mouth for a split second as I pushed the river partially out. The river wasn't happy, as it had gotten much further in during the fight. And honestly, I felt a little shitty pushing the river back out after letting it in for the fight. It smacked of using the river. But I just wasn't comfortable with sustaining that level of contact. The river seemed to understand, and pulled back. Not as far as before the fight, the river had gained some ground, but far enough. Somehow, I suspected that in the long run I was on the losing end of this fight. I swallowed the pearl and felt Dakota. 

How I could say it was Dakota having never...felt...her, for lack of a better word, I don't know. But instantly, I knew I had some piece of her, essence I guess, and was dumbfounded by it. I looked immediately up to Dakota and she was looking back at me with something sublime in her expression. I looked to Chang. 

"Later," was all he would say. 

He reached around and nudged Dakota onto my back. I carried Dakota on my back before, but it felt all together different this time. Like a puzzle piece snapped into place. Something had happened, I could tell. I thought I might be able to figure it out, given time, but the elder arrived moving this concern firmly into the later category. 

A massive dragon, close in size to Chang, appeared next to my adversary. His scales were a stunning deep green color with gold shot throughout. His underscales were gold, and his mane and ruff were gold with green shot through. His antlers branched spectacularly above his head. I wondered what his element might be. Since Chang's was storm, I knew elements for the dragons went past the simple earth, air, fire, and water. I thought his might be somehow related to the earth, maybe forests. He carefully took in his surroundings. He nodded politely to Chang, and seemed to make note of me and Dakota. If he had a problem, it wasn't immediately obvious. He then looked at his younger dragon.

"Yes, Qiang?" 

He seemed reluctant to look directly at his elder. I stole a glance to Chang, and he had no such qualms. To be safe, I kept my eyes somewhat lowered. 

He finally said, "This elder of an unknown clan demanded I summon you." He indicated Chang with a gesture of his head. 

The stately dragon looked to Chang. 

"Yes?" he prompted. His tone was still level, but I could tell he was starting to get annoyed.

Chang dipped his head in greeting to this elder. "I am Chang, elder in the clan of the Moon's Favor," he intoned. "This youngling," Chang indicated Qiang, "has attacked my fledgling twice without any provocation that has been explained. He is in his first century, and any errors should be directed to me." 

He slowly looked back to Qiang. "How do you answer?" 

He looked away, but I could see his rising outrage. "Well, just look at him." 

He gave me a long, considering look. "He is a river dragon," he pronounced. "Newly brought to being a dragon. Well blessed by his river, with the pearl's generating elder. So what of him?" 

Inescapably, his anger came to the fore. "He's gweilo," he snapped, looking infuriated. 

The elder cocked his head at me, studying further. 

"So what if he was?" he asked mildly. "What he is now is a dragon." 

"But it's an offense, blasphemous in its implications," Qiang seethed.

The elder sighed. "I understand you were born in these later days. So I shall explain to you the law of Heaven on these matters. Once the pearl has chosen, it is interpreted as the will of Heaven. The individual, whoever or whatever they are or have been, is now a dragon. Period." 

"Obviously, there was some mistake." 

The elder raised his head and imperiously stared down at Qiang. Though he clearly still held his views, he cowered ever so slightly under the scrutiny. "I would not dare such things," he rumbled. "Furthermore, he is clearly accepted by the elder of the pearl, as well as this river. I do not presume an error on the part of Heaven, so it would seem Heaven has no problem with this arrangement. The only problem appears to be yours, and you have no say in any of this. It is not your concern." 

He began to turn back to Chang, Dakota, and I. Qiang, not believing his dismissal, started again. 

"But he is not worthy." 

The elder turned back. "It is not your concern." 

"But-"

The elder glared at Qiang until he looked down. "It is not your concern. I am wondering if perhaps you have been here, away from your clan and what it is to be a dragon, for too long. You sound as petty as the worst human." Qiang lowered himself physically to the ground, prostrating himself before the elder. He curved his neck so that the top of his head touched the ground. 

"I am sorry, elder. I have not forgotten. I beseech you, allow me to stay." 

The elder regarded him, but said nothing. He again turned to where we were standing, leaving Qiang as he was on the ground.

"I am Zongxian, elder in the clan of the Yellow River, and you have my apologies. This will not happen again." He indicated Qiang. "This is Qiang and he is my disappointing youngling. What would you have his punishment be?" 

I deferred to Chang. 

"A cessation of hostilities is all I seek. I have already instructed my fledgling to avoid the eatery your youngling is attached to." 

The elder looked at me. "You have eaten there?" he asked. 

"Yes, I have." 

"Did you like it?" 

"Uh, yeah, it was pretty good." 

"Qiang notwithstanding, would you eat there again?" 

I shrugged, a bit put-off by the sudden request for a restaurant review. "Yeah, sure." I looked back to Dakota. "What do you think? Would you want to go back?" 




The Pearl Ch. 05



"Yes. I thought the food was very good and the atmosphere was quite pleasant. The restrooms were a nice size too." 

OK, amongst her innumerable other skills, Dakota can give a restaurant review off the top of her head. When I looked back at the elder, he was giving me the damnedest odd smile. He looked over to Chang and something passed between them. Remember when you were a kid and adults talked about something you did? Yeah, it felt like that. 

"So be it," he continued, returning his attention back to me. "You may go there as you please. There is no reason that those whose livelihood centers on that restaurant should suffer. Do you wish him removed from your territory back to the Middle Kingdom?" 

I looked to Chang, who shrugged, leaving the decision to me. I saw he was still prostrated. Clearly, he wanted to stay. My biggest concern was basically that this be really over. Considering everybody was now on the same page, I decided it was. Besides, if this guy fucked up again, I didn't think there would be anything anybody could do or say to keep his sorry backside from going directly back to China. Do not pass go, do not collect 200 dollars. Or whatever dragons used as currency. 

"No, that's all right. As long as he leaves me alone, we're cool." 

The elder nodded. "They have shown you mercy, Qiang. Be thankful for it. More importantly, remember, if I have to come back I will not be leaving alone." 

He bowed respectfully to Chang. "Again, my apologies for this most unfortunate situation. You have my word, it will not happen again. If there is nothing further, we will take our leave." 

Chang dipped his head in response. "Apology accepted. Go in peace, and may there be ongoing peace between us." 

And then the two dragons were gone. 

To Be Continued... 



The Pearl Ch. 06



Edited by Wicked

This is a copyrighted work of fiction. All rights reserved.

All I could think of was The Wizard of Oz. "My, but people certainly do come and go quickly around here," I said. Dakota shifted on my back, bringing my attention back to the matter at hand. I lowered myself down so she could slide off. There was something between us, but damned if I could figure it out. That feeling I had of her was still there, centered around my pearl. It was persistent and, like Dakota, sweet, gracious, pleasurable, and entirely agreeable. The question plaguing me was how did it get there? 

"Yeah, um, thanks for taking my pearl. And getting Chang," I said, completely unsure of what else to say. 

Dakota walked over to my head and ran her fingers through my fur again. I loved it when she did it before, and it felt every bit as good this time. But the look in her eyes floored me. The easy and kind manner I had come to adore was still there, but just beneath it appeared to be a desire that was new. It spoke to that part of me that had been falling for her all along. I wanted her, without question. And I was beginning to suspect that if I wasn't already in love with her, it was quickly heading that way. However I was still trying to think rationally. This won't work, I told myself again. I was stern about it, too.

"Sebastian, we've got to talk about some things." 

Okay, that sent me into a full-blown panic. I jerked my head out of her hands, backed away, and blocked myself from her view. Effectively, I vanished right in front of her eyes. 

"Sebastian!" she yelled. I remained hidden. She looked around as though expecting me to reappear. When I didn't, she crossed her arms in front of herself as though she were giving herself a sad hug and walked away. 

Oh, I was getting so far away from the sensitivity award, it wasn't even funny. Even the river seemed shocked by my actions. I felt like crap. And I was about to feel even crappier.

"That was ill-done," Chang said. It was the first time he sounded disappointed in me. 

I turned to face him, and confirmed by looking at him what his voice already indicated. He was not pleased with me. 

"Well, what was I supposed to do?" I asked.

"While there are a number of suggestion I would make, running doesn't appear on the list."

"I didn't mean to..." I started, then stopped when I didn't have a finishing thought.

"Didn't mean to what?" Chang asked. 

I looked away. "Hurt her," I responded softly. 

"Well, that's what you did," Chang said, a little more mild. "But what I don't understand is this: part of the reason you stayed was for love of Dakota. Then, when she seems about to return your feelings, you flee. I don't understand." 

"I don't know if I would say love," I hedged. 

Chang was unimpressed and unconvinced. "I would," he said simply. "Further, dishonesty is one of things I do not tolerate well. To say you are uncertain of how to proceed, fine. That this is perhaps the first time that you've felt this way, understandable. Even that it frightens you. But do not deny the basic feeling itself." 

"I don't know anything about love. Or at least not grown up, commitment-style love." 

Chang shook his head. "Of course you don't. But that doesn't mean that's not what you're feeling." 

"Well, okay, I guess. But there's still this whole human-dragon thing. I mean, you've got to see that." 

In response, Chang merely went back to human form. 

" I see what you're saying..." I said, my voice trailing off.

Chang grasped his wrist with his other hand and calmly walked in front of me. "Do you, now?" he asked cryptically, while looking up at me. 

"Well, yeah. Okay, I can sort of turn human, assuming nothing disturbs my concentration. But, it'll never work. She would be better off if we didn't go there," I argued. 

Chang cocked his head in apparent agreement. "Perhaps you're correct that you're not right for her," he conceded. "I don't think Dakota would much care for someone who tried to make her decisions for her." 

I didn't even catch the slam at first. "Exact- What? Wait, I'm not trying to make her decisions."

"You certainly haven't consulted her regarding her thoughts on this subject," he pointed out.

I was quickly getting backed into a corner. "Well, no but-"

"But what?" he asked, still looking up at me. "And, if it's not too much of a bother, could you please shift? My neck is getting a crick." 

"All right." With my emotions going everywhere it was a terrible struggle, but eventually, I managed. 

"Thank you," he responded, looking at me levelly. "Now, then, the problem that you think is somehow unique to you is simply unique to your experience. Are you aware, Sebastian, that the Chinese Imperial line was descended from dragons?" he asked.  

I was taken aback by that. "What do you mean?" I asked, wanting to make sure I was following.

"I mean one progenitor was a human, and one was a dragon. Now, how do you suppose that was accomplished?" 

I could only see one way. "Dragon on human action?" I ventured.

"If by that you mean dragon and human copulation, then you would be correct. In fact, it wasn't just in the Imperial line. The human race is fascinating, vibrant, and very attractive. Why do you think it is that humans are chosen as pearl bearers to become dragons? Any creature a dragon pearl is fed to will become a dragon. Other creatures have been chosen with no ill effects. But time and again, we come back to humans as our creature of choice to bear our pearls. And be our lovers. Even though we mate and love amongst our own kind, there is something inescapably captivating and ephemeral about the human race." 

He paused here, perhaps remembering his own loves, human and dragon. In this moment he seemed so incredibly, well, human. I wanted to ask him about it, but he went on. "So you see, the issue is more in your mind than anywhere else." 

But I was still uncertain. Taking another look at it, though, my further hesitation had a more basic reason. 

"What if it doesn't work out?" I asked.

He looked reflective for a bit before answering, "Then it doesn't. The future doesn't come prewritten, or guaranteed. I cannot tell you where this path may end. But I can say, from my vantage point, it seems to be one well worth taking." 

I looked away, examining my own thoughts. He was right; there was no point in denying what I felt. And the look in her eyes certainly seemed to speak of mutual attraction. Still, I waffled. 

"But what if...." 

fool came with a thick feeling of exasperation. 

I glared at the river. "I wasn't asking you." 

Chang laid his hand on my shoulder. "Go to her," he said. "At least hear what she has to say. The heart can be haphazard and occasionally led astray, but it also possesses a great wisdom if considered carefully." 

"Go to her? Chang, I don't even know where she is." 

"You have a means of finding her. Dakota was carrying your pearl, on some level you had to know that." 

"Well, yeah, I gave it to her to keep it from what's-his-name." I assumed that Chang got that part of the story. 

"Qiang," Chang reminded me. "And that is not what I was referring to. When you gave your pearl to Dakota, it took refuge inside of her body."

I struck myself in the forehead. "So that's what that was!" I exclaimed. "But...how?" 

Chang shook his head. "The whys and wherefores will be explained in time. What is germane to the moment is when it returned to you, part of her essence clung to it and moved into you. I should hope you are aware of that." 

"Oh, that I got." 

"Good. Now you see, with that small piece, you can locate the source and go to it by the same method I transported you with," he explained. 

"And I assume you're going to teach me that?" I asked. 

He smiled. "Of course. While I normally would be against suddenly showing up in somebody's home without consent or invitation, I can see the argument that this is a most chimerical situation. Responses out of the rule might be expected." 

He was right; this whole thing was becoming unreal. Or even more unreal than usual. "What do I have to do?" I asked, before my courage faltered. 

"Focus on the piece you have, to the point where you are no longer aware of your surroundings. Then, let go of being here and let it guide you to its source point." 

I did as he said. Focusing on the feeling of Dakota was the easiest part; I wanted to do it anyway. It took a little bit of time and effort, but as I tightened my focus, the area around me started to blur and I began to feel disconnected. Then I let go. Briefly, the feeling pulled me. Then I was no longer at the river, but standing in an enclosed room. In front of me, sitting on a love seat with her knees pulled under her chin, was Dakota.

She stared at me in shock a few beats before saying, "Sebastian, how...?"

"Hey, Dakota, was' up?" Yeah, it was still lame.

"What's up? You appear, out of nowhere, in my living room, and ask me 'what's up'?" She dropped her feet to the floor as her voice rose an octave. I couldn't blame her. 

Now was the time to grow a backbone. "No, I came here to say I'm sorry, that I was being a jerk-off at the river, I never should have done that to you, and God I'm scared that you're going to tell me to take a hike after treating you that way." I blurted the whole thing out, afraid I wouldn't finish if I paused. "And I really hope you don't have a roommate who's home right now," I added. 

She crossed her arms and gave me a level, but unreadable, look. "I don't. Then why did you do it?" she asked simply. 

I shrugged. "Cause under all the scales and fur, I'm still a 20 year-old guy who doesn't have the first clue how to handle what's becoming a serious relationship. With a smart, beautiful, caring woman, no less." 

She mulled over my response. Then she smiled, and my heart soared. "Because who you are has basically stayed the same." 

I returned her smile. "For better and for worse." 

"Well, where do we stand?" 

"I don't know," I floundered. Man up, I told myself sternly. I took a deep breath before continuing. "I do know I care for you very much, maybe even love you. And, God, I want you. But there's this whole dragon thing that seems insurmountable to me. And I'm scared. Of hurting you, of getting hurt, and of lousing up what's becoming a really amazing friendship." 

There.

It was all out.

Dakota rose up from her seat and stood in front of me. She was maybe an inch or so shorter than me, but still managed to look me straight in the eye. "Fair enough. You are one of the sweetest guys I've ever met. You're funny, and caring, and I'm proud to be able to call you my friend. I don't want to ruin this friendship either. But I do think there's something here that's worth getting a little bruised for. And I can live with the occasional hurt that's bound to come from exploring this wonderful, if unpredictable, relationship." 

Then Dakota reached her arm up around my head and kissed me full on the lips. The taste of her was everything I thought it would be. Sweet, and tender, but still fierce enough to tell me she meant business. It also shattered my control. I had just enough time to push Dakota back down onto the love seat and stumble backwards before I shifted. Looking back, I knocked over some furniture, and my tail curved out the door and down a hall. But I didn't appear to have broken anything. 

"Goddamn it," I groaned. "I'm sorry about that. Maybe I should just go." 

I was about to focus on the river in preparation for going back when something hit my head, covering my eyes. I shook it off and discovered it was cloth. I looked up and realized it was Dakota's shirt. She was standing topless and was working on her bra. 

"Really?" she asked, removing the bra and tossing it at me. It got caught up on my antler. I managed to shake it off. "Because, I was thinking, I don't have anything to do tonight, and don't have any roommate at all." She removed her sweat pants and discarded them. Next, she shimmied out of her panties and shot them at me by the waistband. Completely naked and looking as stunning as any woman I had ever seen, she walked over to me. Draping her crossed arms over my snout, she slowly bent forward, and leaned on them.

"Sebastian, I love you," she explained. "You as a dragon or you as a human, or even you as a wombat. It's the same you."

Hearing her say she loved me made me just want to lay my head at her feet and weep for joy. Instead, I had to ask, "What's a wombat?" 

"An Australian marsupial; I saw it on Wild Kingdom." She ran her fingers through my fur and this time I purred. Dakota looked a bit startled, but then simply continued the stroking. 

With Dakota this close and completely naked, her scent overwhelmed me. I couldn't resist, after that kiss I had to have a further taste. As a dragon, my tongue was pretty long. I snaked my tongue out of my mouth and starting at the back of one knee licked to her upper thighs, across her sweet cheeks and back down to the back of the other knee. Dakota obligingly spread her legs a little farther for me. I ran my tongue back up her leg and along the outside of her cunny, then slowly slipped inside.  

Dakota crossed her arms back over my snout and using them for leverage hauled herself up, swinging her legs over my lower fangs. She situated herself so that she was seated on my lower jaw, giving my tongue complete access to all her most intimate, pink parts. As I continued my exploration, Dakota began to grind herself against my tongue and jaw. Her back arched and she was completely lost in the feeling. 

The biggest turn on? The trust. Oh, believe me, her nakedness was a turn on, her scent was a turn on, that small part of her that clung to my pearl was an unbelievable turn on. But I kept coming back to the trust, complete and absolute. Though an omnivore, my fangs are clearly meant to eat meat. And she had her legs slung over them, helping to hold her in place. I intended to reward that trust. 

I slowly worked my tongue to her pouting clitoris and back, first up one side then the other. I repeated this maneuver a few times before gently flicking just the tip of my tongue across her clit then retracting my tongue to concentrate again on her thighs and labia. I felt her shudder and shift positions. Once more, I worked my way up her vagina, slowly at first then increasing momentum. Dakota began to gyrate against my tongue, tightening her grip on my snout. With one tip of my forked tongue, I started to work her clit, while I used the other section to find her g-spot. Once there, I managed to rub against it. It took a bit of concentration to move my tongue this way, but I found it helped to think of moving it similarly to moving my body: everything in sync. If the sharp intake of breath on Dakota's part was any indication, I was doing something right. 

I continued working her until I felt her body stiffen. She pulled herself up with her arms as her legs straightened and her body shuddered with her orgasm. I raised my head slightly and used my tongue to siphon away as much of her juices as I could get. It wasn't enough, not by any stretch of the imagination. I could've stayed there lapping from her for days, but knew I needed to cool down. Regardless of Chang's admonition, my control was sadly lacking just yet. As she settled back down, I used my tongue to lick her clean, basking in the last few drops of her release.

She left her arms draped over my snout and rested her chin there. I had a clear view of her face and gazed deeply into her gorgeous blue-green eyes. She was radiant in the afterglow and in that moment, had to be the most beautiful woman I had ever known. I wanted to tell her that, but wasn't in a position to speak. 

God, you're beautiful, I thought. 

She started. Then reached her arm as far as she could, barely reaching where the mane started between my antlers. 

"Thank you," she said, tousling the mane. "You're not so bad yourself."

It was my turn to be startled. Focusing on her I thought, You heard that?

"Yes," she said, nodding. She crossed her arms over my snout and pulled herself up while lowering her legs. I dropped my jaw, letting her descend to the floor. 

As nice as it was to have her there, I was glad to be able to close my mouth. Where are you going? I asked. With her out of my mouth, I could talk again. But I was like a kid with a new toy and wanted to keep playing with it. 

"To get a towel," she explained while climbing over my tail. 

Is there any damage?

She came back, drying her butt and legs with the towel. "No, thankfully. And have you forgotten how to talk?" she asked, but her tone was playful.

No, but this is so much cooler.

She smiled and shook her head. She walked over to my head and began stroking the fur along my jaw line. I closed my eyes as a rumbling purr ran through me.

"Do you think you could roll onto your back without destroying my house?" she asked. 

I opened my eyes. Sure. I turned my neck, then twisted my shoulders and carefully worked the twist down my body until I completely flipped over without having changed where I was laying. She had a nice, thick carpet that felt really nice against my back. 

Why? I asked.

She simply gave me a flirtatious smile and laid her hand on my underscales. Starting at my chest, she slowly ran her hand down until she reached where the pearl rested, which was just below my stomach. 

"Is this where your pearl is?" she asked, her smile growing downright seductive. 

Yes, I responded, nodding. Anticipation of what she was going to do steadily mounted inside of me. A tingling started inside me the moment she laid her hand on my chest and was growing into a considerable urge. One I was really hoping she would be able to fill. How, I wasn't certain, but I could hardly wait to see what happened next. 

Dakota straddled my body just below the pearl, practically sitting between my rear legs. She very tenderly kissed the area, then rubbed her abdomen and pussy across it. The tingling turned into an erotic jolt that ran up my spine and down my tail. A full-body shudder ran through me and my tail did a roll in the hallway. 

She pulled herself back upright and started to delicately but thoroughly rub and massage the area. And, oh, how my pearl responded! The wave of pleasure that ripped through me was immense, incredibly similar to the experience with the river, but much more compelling as she appeared to be focused on the pearl directly. I had never considered that to be an erogenous zone, but clearly I was mistaken. As she continued working my body writhed and my tail in particular was twisting and rolling in the hall. I tried to speak mentally, but couldn't focus my thoughts enough to manage it. Finally, I had to open my mouth and say what I was thinking. 

"I'm not...responsible...for anything my...my...my tail...does while you're doing that," I gasped out.

"As long as you don't take out a wall, I'm sure I can replace anything you might damage." 

I may have nodded, I'm not entirely sure. By that point I was completely lost in the feeling. One of the traits dragons, or at least Chinese dragons, share with snakes is undescended sex organs. I felt my cock press urgently against the scales, then slide out. Where Dakota was sitting, it brushed up against her. God, that felt good, too. 

Dakota felt it come out. She slid off from where she was and mounted back up behind my rising erection. Now, my shaft is proportionate to my body size and there was no way Dakota, or any other human woman, was taking it without hurting herself. As much as I wanted Dakota, I didn't want her hurt.




The Pearl Ch. 06



She was aware of her limitations. She took the tip into her mouth and began working it. Surprisingly, it wasn't as intense as working the pearl but it still felt wonderful. I continued writhing under her. Amazingly, she managed to stay on. My dragon's cock isn't too dissimilar in shape from what I had before, and clearly she knew her way around a male's equipment. She couldn't take me in very far, but what she could manage she handled expertly. Her tongue circled the tip and worked into the folds. She released the head and ran her tongue repeatedly along the shaft until I was as hard as granite.

She returned to the tip and studiously worked it as she pushed her breasts to the section she couldn't mouth. Slowly, she arched her back running her breasts along my shaft. I promptly became one hundred percent, irrevocably, in all ways, hers. 

In what felt like no time at all, and certainly much sooner than I would have liked, I felt my climax roar up. There was no chance of holding it off, no hope of making things last any longer. I was simply too young, too inexperienced and she felt way too amazing. It began in the pearl and shot its way up the shaft, causing my back legs to buck. Dakota read the signs, and pulled back right as I came. The roar that exploded out of me rattled the windows and my claws drug furrows in her carpeting as my tail wildly banged between the walls of the hallway. As I came back down, I laid my head and neck back against her love seat. The first thought I was able to form was I have got to master human form.



Dakota slid off me and left the room. When she returned, it was with a wash cloth. She picked up the towel she had used earlier and washed down my sperm-splattered scales and shaft. Though this was obviously the closing act, it was as sensual as everything else. When she was done, she wrapped the wash cloth into the towel and discarded both. She climbed back onto my stomach and lay down. Propping her head up on her hands, she smiled up at me. 

"Was it good for you?" she asked, with a mischievous little smirk. 

I surveyed the damage to the rug. "I think I owe you your security deposit. Or a new rug." 

She looked over at the damage. "Yeah," she conceded. "But I'll worry about that later." 

As great as all of this felt, the nagging doubts scuttled back threatening to crash my high. Total buzz kill, but still I asked, "Now what?" 

"What do you mean?" she asked. 

"Now what, between us, after, you know, all of this?" 

Dakota sat upright and began to enumerate on her fingers. "Well, you can roll over and fall asleep. You can take my number and pretend to enter it in your cell, only to get it wrong. You can go out for pizza and I never see you again. Any of those sound good?"

"Dakota, I'm being serious," I chided her. "But pizza does sound good," I added after a moment's consideration.

She laughed and pushed off of me. She threw on her clothes from earlier and grabbed her phone, wallet, and phone book. I rolled over and carefully laid my paw over her hand before she could call.

"I'm being serious," I repeated. 

"I know you are. But nothing has changed from what I said earlier. We're friends, but there's something more. Friends with benefits; how's that grab you?" 

The benefits were first rate that was for damn sure. "Oh, it grabs me," I agreed. "Okay, friends with benefits." 

She gave me another one of those smiles that melt me. "Good. Now that all that's settled, what do you want on your pizza? And how many, for that matter?" 

"We can just split one," I answered. 

"My ass we can. That's what, a warm up? If you want, you can try to raid my fridge, but," she gave me a long once over, "I don't think you're getting in the kitchen that way. Besides, I don't think I'd have anything left afterward." 

She was right. The two biggest transition challenges between dragon and human were the appetite and maintaining the human form. Still, I felt bad that she always paid. 

"I'll make it up to you," I promised. 

"You already have," she responded with the sweetest smile imaginable. "And when you work out with the river what you're getting paid for being a guardian, let me know." 

I smiled at her joke, then considered how many pizzas I wanted. I already decided I wanted everything on them, the "supreme" version. I finally arrived at five, extra large. Dakota phoned in the order, adding a couple of two liters and a small pizza for herself. 

After she hung up, she looked at me. "I don't mind how you hang out, but I can't help thinking that is not the most comfortable form for the house."

"I've tried," I confessed. "But my body's still coming down from those wonderful things you did. I don't think I'm shifting anytime soon. Hope you don't mind." 

She stood up and casually stroked my fur. "Of course not," she said. She walked over to a small beat box-style stereo. "Any particular kind of music you like?" she asked. 

I was a Top 40/pop kind of guy, but was really curious about what she liked. "Anything really," I said. "Whatever you like." 

As Dakota perused her music collection, I took a belated look around what I assumed to be her living room. The architecture was very simple with clean lines. There were two outside walls, one of which was dominated by a huge picture window with the drapes closed (thank God) and the front door. The other wall, which had her love seat pushed up against it, had a smaller window. The love seat was centered between two wall lamps, and end tables rested to either side. The wall connected to that one had a small chair tucked in the corner and a long couch running almost the length of it. The doorway to the hallway that my tail was still running through was in this wall. Built-in bookcases stretching from the floor to the ceiling that were crammed with books dominated the last wall. The stereo was tucked on a shelf with some accompanying CDs, but no television. A few knick-knacks lay scattered here and there, and some really pretty pictures that looked like illustrations from old books decorated the walls. But to judge from the bookcases, her primary love was books. No wonder she was becoming a librarian; she had already started her own home branch. 

The strains of something I had never heard before came from the stereo. It had something of a rock beat, but with none of the instruments I would have expected. I couldn't recognize some of them. 

"What's that?" I asked as she sat down next to me. 

"Abney Park." 

"Never heard of them."

"Not a lot of people have. One of the women I work with turned me on to them." 

"Cool." 

She lay against my side, just behind my front leg. I lowered my head to hers and she kissed me on the edge of my snout. I smiled and licked her up the side of the face. She wiped the excess slobber from her face with her shirt. 

"Thanks," she said. 

"Just returning the favor. Speaking of which, how did you know to do that with the pearl?" I asked. 

I was surprised when she blushed slightly. "Did Chang fill you in on what happened with your pearl?" 

I nodded. "Yeah, but just basics." 

"Well, when it umm, entered, it felt really, really, good." She ran her hand through her hair and fidgeted slightly. "So I figured if it felt that good for me, it had to feel pretty good for you, too." 

"Oh, it did," I confirmed. A thought struck me. "Do you still feel it? The pearl, I mean." 

Her hand went to her stomach. "Yes." 

I wasn't sure how I felt about that. On the one hand, I still felt that piece of her and I liked it. On the flip side, neither of us expected this and it was another level of being entwined, a further complication to what was already a fairly complex situation. I expressed this to Dakota.

"I know," she said. "I'm kind of in the same place. When I think about it, it's a serious freak out. But it feels nice." She ran her hand lightly across her stomach. I was kinda glad I didn't feel it. "It feels like you and I like that." She fell silent briefly. "So, I don't know what I think or what to think either." 

"This is such a fucked up place to be," I said. 

Dakota nodded. "But at least we can blame Qiang for the situation." 

I laughed. "You're right, it's all his fault. I'll be sure to send a strongly worded letter."  

"That he'll promptly ignore." 

"Most likely." 

At this point, the pizza guy arrived. Dakota gave me a moment to concentrate on blocking myself. When she couldn't see me, she answered the door. The driver seemed a little surprised no one else was there. Dakota tipped the driver, and took the six pizza boxes explaining she lived for cold pizza. I almost laughed. Dakota shut the door and listened as the car drove away. 

"Okay, want to come back before I trip over you?" 

I unblocked myself from her. She set my pizzas and soda in front of me. I tried again to shift back, but no dice. I remembered that Chang had said that dragons mated with humans, I could only assume that they were just way better at shifting than I was. I ate my pizzas, and managed my two liter by first piercing it with my teeth, then using the teeth to hold it in place as it drained down my throat. Then I finished what Dakota didn't of her meal. After dinner we just fell to talking... about our families, school, work, just small stuff. Turned out Dakota worked at the campus library. Shocking, I know. Eventually, it became pretty late. 

"What do you want to do?" she asked. 

I hadn't given it much thought. Actually, I figured I would go back to the river. But if staying here was an option, I wasn't going to turn it down. "I don't know," I dodged. "What would you like?" 

"I've never spooned with a dragon, but I'm open to new experiences. Can you stay or do you have to go back to the river?" 

I didn't feel any sort of compulsion to go back. But since I hadn't been away from the river for any significant length of time since I became a dragon, I really had no idea. 

"Give me a sec," I requested. "And if I disappear, it's not my fault. It's the river." I closed my eyes. 

"Now that's one I've never heard before. Points for originality." 

I opened one eye. "Hush," I said closing it again. I reached out for the river and contacted it easily. Privately, I expected maybe a little bit of jealousy. Instead, the river was overjoyed. You would've thought the river had gotten laid, or seen to at any rate. As far as the river was concerned, whatever Dakota wanted was good. I was going to have to ask Chang about that. 

I opened my eyes. "Well, my watery chaperon has okayed the sleepover." 

Dakota got up and went out into the hallway, climbing over my tail. From a back room she returned with blankets and pillows. 

"Do you need a blanket?" she asked. "I know I don't have a single one large enough, but I think several might to the job." 

"No, I'm good."

Dakota laid a blanket on my side. Lying down, she propped up a pillow while covering herself with another blanket. I carefully eased my tail into the room and curled myself around her. I could tell by her breathing, she fell asleep quickly. I watched her sleep. I didn't think I would fall asleep, so many thoughts and feelings spun around in my head. But after a few minutes listening to her breathe, I dropped off myself.  

* * * *

I awoke during the night. I could tell I was lying on blankets, but in my sleep befuddled mind I couldn't quite remember where I was. I reached out a hand and laid it on a rough patch of scales. Memory swiftly filled in. I smiled and snuggled against him, leaving my hand where it lay. Even in the darkness of the room, when I looked I could see the coils of his body curled around me. As he breathed, I could feel the slight movement of his body through the down comforter I was laying on. It was comforting, like lying in a lover's arms while listening to their heart beat.

Still, I certainly never expected to use the term "coils" in regards to a lover, or a friend with benefits as we decided upon. It wasn't a bad thing; he certainly couldn't help what he was, but it was strange, and a little off-putting to say the very least. I was the one who initiated everything, though, and I couldn't say I didn't know exactly what he was from the moment I touched him.

I also couldn't say I didn't enjoy it. He wasn't the first guy to eat me out, but oh, that tongue! He did things with it I'd never known were possible. Just the thought of it up inside me made me shudder. Some of that was to be expected; his tongue was long, thick, and textured somewhat like a cat's in the most delightful way. But more that that, Sebastian was a very considerate lover. I've had a few guys attempt oral sex, and to describe their efforts as perfunctory would be complementary. But Sebastian took his time, thoroughly working my sex, finding every hot spot I had and working those, too. Additionally, his attentions stirred up those traces of him that were still within me and the feeling was like being spit-roasted - a slow, erotic burn. It was no wonder I came so quickly. 

Of course, I had to show him just how great that felt.

Working the pearl was an impish urge, I'll admit, but it worked so very well. He clearly didn't see it coming, so to speak. And when his package showed, it was my turn to be surprised. I shouldn't have been; he's fairly big. Perhaps not in comparison to the other dragons, not that I've spent much time ogling dragons, but Sebastian was more than enough dragon to me. 

Mouthing his cock was completely intimidating, and as everything else seemed to be with Sebastian, totally worth the risk. The feeling of him on my tongue was like nothing I'd experienced before, and the taste was surprising. Sweet and complex, and definitely something I would like to savor again. He was the first guy I had ever been with who was so large I had to augment my mouth with my breasts to properly fellate him, but he didn't seem to mind. Neither did I, actually. My sexuality this night had been marked all over, from throwing my clothes at him to foreplay with his pearl, with wild abandon. That was the crux of my situation. 

There was a part of me that craved order and stability. Predictability could be my watchword. And yet, here I was, curled in the coils of a dragon who I not only professed my love to but practically seduced. My body warmed at those memories and the ghost feeling of his pearl flared briefly. I couldn't remember ever being so forward with a man before. There was something about him that brought out a wonderful spontaneity in me. 

At our first meeting, I found him terrifying, some creature out of legend I couldn't possibly comprehend. But then I actually brought this creature who by all accounts doesn't exist three of everything from a fast food place. I almost didn't go back. Almost. But after the second visit I knew I wasn't going to stay away, regardless of how much it rattled me. There was something about him that called to me. Something in his spirit was sweet and gentle. It was separate of the dragon, but I think it was the reason he was chosen to become a dragon. 

So while that rational part of me found this whole situation a freak out and railed against the riotous disorder Sebastian was innocently making of my life and my carpet, I knew I was committed. I knew I was in over my head, but I loved him and that was pretty much all there was to it. I also knew I might get burned. I didn't know dragon culture. I didn't know if what we were doing would be accepted or condoned. Judging from Chang's expression upon taking Sebastian's pearl, he didn't seem to have a problem. That gave me hope. But from reading the books, I didn't get the impression one dragon was the sole arbiter of behavior and morality. While the books did indicate that dragons got involved with humans, they were always emperors or princes, princesses and the like. I was pretty sure there wasn't any royalty in my family tree. There was a distinct chance the odds were against this. But I had said I was willing to get bruised, and that hadn't changed. Whatever happened, for worse or for better, there was no turning back now. I would see this through to the end and would live with the consequences. Even if I had to explain my actions to Chang himself. 

Que-sera-sera, whatever will be, will be. As I drifted back to sleep, I took comfort in the peace of the moment. I would never lose what had already passed between us. 

I would never regret it either.  

To Be Continued...



The Pearl Ch. 07



Edited by PennLady

This is a copyrighted work of fiction. All rights reserved. 

*

 Sebastian, wake up please. 

If there's a more disorienting way to be woken up than by somebody speaking directly into your head, I don't want to know what it is. I raised my head and shook it, trying to drive the cob webs from my mind. 

"Huh, what?" I asked.

The movement and sound woke up Dakota. She looked up at me, blinking away sleep. 

"What?" She was as drowsy as I was. 

"Um, it's Chang, I think," I replied, pointing my claw to my head while trying to focus my thoughts. "Give me a second." 

I closed my eyes and concentrated on Chang through the indistinct sense I had of him in my mind. 

Chang?

 Yes, very good. Could you please ask Dakota if she would be so gracious as to allow me in her home?

Yeah, sure. "Dakota, Chang wants to know if you mind if he comes over." 

"Yeah, that's fine." She was awake and getting out from under the blanket. 

It's cool, I let him know. 

"I'll grab a shower while he's on his way." She climbed out of my coiled body and headed out of the room. 

"Uh, Dakota, I don't think it's going to take that long for him to get here." 

"It won't," he said from behind me. 

I swiveled my head around to find Chang standing by the closed picture window. 

"Hey, Chang," I said. Chang's here, I let Dakota know. I heard her shout, "Thanks." 

He gave me the biggest shit-eating grin I think I've ever seen. "Good morning. Looks like you had quite a night." 

"Uh, yeah," I stammered. "I...I_um, I_did." Having nothing further to add, I repeated; "Yeah." 

"I see." He looked me over before asking, "Do you enjoy cramming yourself into a space that doesn't fit you?" 

I looked around myself. "It's not that bad, but no, this isn't entirely comfortable. But after last night...I mean...damn, but I can't seem to focus on anything else." 

He chuckled at my predicament before heading over to me. 

"I believe I can assist." He placed his hand on the top of my head. "Please concentrate on your human form." 

I did. The next thing I knew, I was again in human form standing in the living room. Chang looked down at the carpet. 

"That was you, I assume?" 

I looked down. Upon closer inspection, the damage looked even worse. The furrows went into the floor boards themselves and bits of the carpet were strewn everywhere.

"Yeah, it was." I was embarrassed. "And I'm not sure what I can do to fix it." I looked back up at Chang and gestured to myself. "You could do this at any time?"

"All I did was assist in the shift. Normally, I don't believe in doing for others what they can do for themselves. But, considering the circumstances, I don't object to helping." 

I dropped myself down on the couch. "Well, thanks. I didn't think I was ever going to be able to shift again. How do you guys manage it?" 

Chang sat down on the love seat. "Well, first you should be aware that most dragons do not take favorites until well after their first hundred years. You're just out of your first two weeks." 

Something he said caught my attention. "Favorite," I repeated. "That dragon; Qiang, I think?" 

Chang nodded. 

"Yeah, he said something about my pretty little favorite. What's that mean?" 

"There are many things that need to be explained," Chang said. "And I intend to explain it to you both. Would you like breakfast?" 

"Yeah, actually, that would be good." 

"What do you think of the Dragon's Garden?" Chang was nonchalant. 

"Are you kidding?" I was chalant, or whatever the opposite of nonchalant is. "No, no, no, no. That's Qiang's place." 

"Which his elder indicated you should go to whenever you like," he reminded me. 

"Well, yeah. But isn't the next day a little, I don't know, salt-in-the-wound-ish?" 

"You're going to have to deal with him at some point." 

"I think I would rather go the rest of my life without seeing him." 

"Given the potential life-spans we're speaking of here, that could be a very long time." 

"Ugh," I groaned. I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my hand over my eyes before running it through my hair. 

"I appreciate your concern." He smile and his voice was soothing. "But it has been arranged, and you shouldn't be worried." 

"What's been arranged?" Dakota came into the room while drying her hair. She was dressed in a light sweater and jeans. 

Chang rose and bowed to her. Dakota bowed in return then sat down beside me, laying her hand on my leg. Chang returned to his seat. 

"I was telling Sebastian that brunch has been arranged at the Dragon's Garden and if neither of you had previous plans, I would like to treat you to the meal while explaining the possible ramifications of your situation." 

Dakota looked uncertain. "That's very kind of you. I don't have previous plans, and would like very much to ask some questions. But won't the other dragon be somewhat put off?" 

Chang smiled at Dakota. "As I was explaining to Sebastian, it has been arranged. A private place where we may speak freely is a necessity." 

"Well, we can talk here," Dakota offered. 

"You are very gracious, but I feel we have leaned too heavily on your generosity and good nature." Chang looked to the floor. "I would very much like to arrange for this meal. At the very least." 

"Well, if you're sure it will be OK," Dakota said. 

"You have my word." Chang nodded.

"It's good with me, then. Sebastian?" She turned her blue-green eyes to me. 

"Who am I to blow against the wind?" I sighed in resignation. "I'm guessing this is going to be one more thing Qiang will hold against me." 

"Going to the restaurant or your choice of favorite?" Chang asked. 

"Both." 

"As for the restaurant, it's no longer his say. As to favorites, I can only hope even he isn't so crass as to compare them." He stood. "Dakota, do you mind taking us in your vehicle?" 

"Not at all. Let me run a comb through my hair and I'll be ready." She rose and left the room. 

"What do you mean, compare?" I asked, a little confused. Which seemed to be my standard setting these days. 

"The eldest daughter of the family that works his restaurant is his favorite," he explained. 

"Like his lover? Are you kidding?" 

"I couldn't attest to his feelings for her, but yes, they're together." 

Dakota came back into the room, slipped on her shoes, grabbed her keys and we were out the door. Looking around her neighborhood, I noticed it was quiet and unassuming. Not the 'burbs, but not urban either. Kind of working class, on the whole, with not much stirring on a Sunday morning. 

Chang was seriously tripping on the car. He walked around it with a bemused look on his face, ran his hand along the side and tapped the glass. He was straight up taken with it. As we got in, I had to ask. 

"Haven't you ever ridden in a car? I'm pretty sure they have them in China." 

"Of course they do," he said, as he looked around the interior. "But I can't say I've had day-to-day interaction with humans for quite some time. I've missed a great deal." 

I could detect sadness in his voice. I remembered what he'd said the night before about humans being fascinating. As Dakota pulled out of the driveway, I asked him what had happened. 

He settled into the back seat and looked out the window, lost in thought. After a few moments he said, "Belief in dragons hasn't been what might be called mainstream in China for a while. Oh, there are still those that believe, certainly, and may they be blessed and increase. But I fear they are becoming fewer and fewer. It would be easy, I suppose, to blame it all on the revolution. But that would be disingenuous. Despite their many commendable qualities, humans can be terribly fickle with their belief." He paused before adding, "Present company excluded, of course." He nodded to Dakota. 

"Well, OK." I tried to think of a way of asking my next question without sounding snarky, or argumentative. "But it's not like you don't exist. Obviously." I paused. "I mean, Dakota believes because she saw. I believe because of what happened to me. I can honestly say if I hadn't been turned into a dragon, I wouldn't believe." 

Chang nodded. "I'm aware of that. And I believe that would be a mutual loss. For both of you and the dragons." 

"That's cool of you to say, thanks. But I guess my point would be, if you want people to believe, why don't you show them?" I asked as respectfully as I could.

Chang once again smiled, but there was such melancholy to it that it was heartbreaking. "You are far too young to understand this, but I will try to explain anyway. It has to do with the will of heaven, free will, and faith. You see, everybody has the right to decide for themselves what to believe, what to have faith in. In the past, there was more interaction. And some of that was because the people believed and sought us out. But as they pulled back, so did we. I suppose some grew past it. Why this came to pass, I cannot say. There are times when even I don't necessarily agree with the will of heaven, but I must keep it." 

"But 'grew past it'? This isn't growing out of believing in Santa Clause Dragons are real." I paused as a thought struck me. "Unless of course Santa actually exists, at which point I'm going to really feel silly." 

This time both Chang and Dakota chuckled. "To my knowledge, Santa Clause does not exist," Chang confirmed. "As for the rest...." He hesitated. "It is as it has been decreed. I'm afraid I have no better answer for you. When people doubt, we let them doubt. Some things must be sought to be found or seen. It is up to the individual to decide to seek, doubt, or disbelieve entirely." 

I had nothing further to add, and felt bad for Chang. There was a somberness in the car that wouldn't let up. 

"What about Jack Skellington?" Dakota spoke up. "Jack Skellington totally has to exist." 

Chang was caught off guard. "Who is Jack Skellington?"

So, for the rest of the car ride, Dakota explained "The Nightmare Before Christmas" to Chang. He understood most of the references, and wanted to see the movie. We were going to get him hooked on pop culture. That was so cool. 

We arrived at the restaurant. By Dakota's dashboard clock it was 10:30. I wasn't sure what time the place opened, but couldn't imagine it would be much before 11:00. Per the hours on the door, that's when they opened. Since Chang pulled open the door I gathered they were expecting us. I was mortified at the idea that they opened early just for us. Even if Qiang had been an ass, this seemed to me to be kind of petty in return. I stole a glance over to Dakota, who also looked concerned. Only Chang didn't appear to have a problem. He politely greeted the wait staff, and went where they lead. I did my best to follow his lead and hide my discomfort. 

We were taken to the back, where there was a private banquet room. The two back walls were hardwood with decorative wall hangings suspended on them. Some had what I assumed to be Chinese writing, but most were illustrations, many featuring dragons. The two walls facing the dining room section of the restaurant were frosted glass. There was a long table against the back wall with two large and gorgeous dragon statues situated in such a way that they appeared to be standing guard at either end of the table. Both had their bodies curled around themselves, one was leaping upwards; the other was more facing downwards, as if landing. They were brightly colored cloisonné. 

The table itself was draped with a beautiful red silk cloth embroidered with gold. It was positively laden with food and had flower arrangements set amongst the plates. Some of it I could recognize, like dumplings, egg rolls, dim sum, fried won-ton, and ribs. There were also several rice dishes, sweet and sour with different kinds of meat, egg foo young, and fried rice, as well as noodle dishes, such as lo-mein, and several soups. Those were just the foods I recognized. There were more that I couldn't, but all of it smelled great. 

We were shown to a table with pitchers of both soda and water, and pots of tea. The place settings included chop sticks and silverware. The host turned to us.

"If there is anything else that is required, please let us know. We will be placing additional items on the buffet very shortly, so please partake of that also." He gave a small bow that Chang returned, and Dakota and I followed suit. He left, and closed the doors behind him. 

Chang went to the food table and made himself a plate. Dakota looked at me, I just shrugged, planning once again to follow suit. I smiled at Dakota, and gestured for her to go ahead of me. Working towards that sensitivity award. 

Once we filled our plates we took our seats at the table; Dakota and I facing each other, Chang at the head. While drinks were poured into the glasses Chang remarked on my discomfort, which I though I'd been hiding pretty well. 

"You are uncomfortable." He deftly used his chopsticks to take a bite of his food. "Why?" 

I fidgeted a bit before answering. "I guess this is kinda conspicuous. Regardless of what I may think of Qiang, I don't want to yank the guy's chain. I get that this was arranged, and I'm guessing he's got to be aware of it. But I don't want to come off as the asshole he seems to think I am." Have you ever realized how bad something you said sounds the second after you say it? I have that all the time. I did a face-palm over my eyes and leaned my head back. "Not that I'm saying you're an asshole for arranging this, or even thinking it until I heard myself say it." 

Chang laughed. "Are you sure English is your first language?" he asked, gently teasing. 

I looked over to him. "Yes, it is. But making sense in English continually eludes me." 

"I can attest to that." Dakota smiled at me. I stuck my tongue out. 

"I'm sure you can," Chang agreed, taking another bite. "Which brings me to why we are here. The situation you find yourselves in was, to be honest, not unanticipated by me. The swiftness of it, however, took me by surprise." 

I began eating as he talked. I considered using the chopsticks, but decided to admit I couldn't by using the silverware. I dropped my fork when I heard what he had to say. "You knew this was coming?" 

Chang shrugged. "'Knew' is not the correct word. No one knows the future," he explained, then clarified. "Certain sign posts were in place indicating a possible future. When I examined your pearl, and consequently you, I realized Dakota was very important to you." He turned his attention to Dakota. "And when I met you, Dakota, I realized there was a distinct possibility of you two coming together. Hoped it, rather, as a friend on unknown paths can be invaluable. As I'm sure you're both aware." He paused as he took another bite of food. Dakota and I hung on his words. 

"But, it has been my experience that hearts take time to discover what they're feeling. While it was clear you were friends, I was thinking it would take several months or a year to really determine how far this might go. Not a week." He gave us a droll smile. Actually, the smile looked a lot like the one the other elder, Zongxian, gave me. 

"The other elder figured it out too, didn't he? That's what that smile meant," I said. 

Chang nodded. "He did, as did Qiang. He actually used the term favorite, as you pointed out. But that's not terribly surprising. I have also found that the people in the situation are usually the last to discover it." 

"Favorite." I swallowed the bite I had taken. "What, exactly, does that mean?" 

"That is the term used by dragons for a human lover. It wasn't entirely applicable, until last night. But the events of the day precipitated that." 

Dakota jumped in at this point, setting down her fork. "What exactly did happen? Or how?" 

Chang took a long sip of his tea before speaking. "As is obvious, a pearl is a vital, but separable, part of a dragon. It is not very commonly done because it is vulnerable outside the dragon. In this most particular situation it was a desperate but well-played gambit. One Qiang never considered. However, the pearl is normally kept within the dragon, brought out under only certain circumstances. Impending battle isn't one of them. The pearl sought refuge. And as you are trusted implicitly by Sebastian, it took refuge within you." He paused again, thinking over his words as he twisted the tea cup in his hands. "It is considered a complement, though I would understand finding that a bit intrusive." 

"Yeah." She kept her eyes on the tablecloth as she digested his words. "That's one word for it. But to be honest, it's not entirely the correct word."

Chang regarded her with something that struck me as optimistic curiosity. "If I may be so bold, what would be more correct?" 

Dakota gathered her thoughts while pushing the food around on her plate. "It was a shock, certainly, but after that faded, it was...well...." She trailed off and it was her turn to fidget in her chair. I remembered what she had said the night before, and realized she might feel a little put on the spot to explain some of it to Chang. "Really not bad. Kind of nice, actually."

Chang's smile indicated he understood her position. "Good," he said. "I'm glad you weren't further troubled." 

"I do have a question." She looked up and met his eyes.

"Please." He gestured for her to continue. 

"I still feel a faint echo of Sebastian's pearl in me. What does that mean?" 

Chang looked to me. "You also?" he asked, though I suspected he already knew the answer. I nodded. He poured another cup of tea before continuing. 

"Not surprising. Encasement in flesh gives the illusion of self-containment. But it is only that, an illusion. We leave parts of ourselves, and our influences, in everything we touch. Normally, it only becomes noticeable with time and passing encounters leave little impact. But sometimes, due to the nature of the contact, the impact of even passing encounters can be much more obvious," he took another sip of his tea. "Such is the case here. When the pearl was removed from you, Dakota, it took a piece of you with it and left a piece of Sebastian behind. When Sebastian took his pearl back in, the piece of you entered with it." He paused, letting us absorb what he'd just said. "Now, this bond is quite weak. Left untended, it will fade and in time be as if it were never there. But if it is nurtured, it will strengthen over time." 

Dakota fell silent and both Chang and I waited to see what else she might say. She appeared to be gathering her courage. "What happens now?" she asked. 

Chang was surprised by her question. "Whatever you two chose. Two weeks is a little soon to be taking a favorite, but it is not unheard of when the dragon had been human. Some of those that had been chosen to be dragons already had lovers or spouses. These things are to be allowed for. You may continue on the way you are. However, sometimes the passions of the night can feel unseemly by the light of day. That is perfectly legitimate, also. However you two chose to proceed should be acceptable." He looked archly at me, my reluctance of the night before clearly not forgotten. "As long as no one is intentionally hurt." 

I briefly considered arguing that I never intended to hurt Dakota, but decided the point would be academic at best. Chang was right. I had wussed out that night and I had hurt her. I promised myself then and there I would be as honest as I could with Dakota.

Chang pardoned himself and rose to fill another plate. I took this lull to do the same. Dakota was still working on her first plate. I was secretly, and maybe a little shallowly, pleased Dakota wasn't using chopsticks. At least there was something she couldn't do. OK, it wasn't very nice of me, but I couldn't help myself. Once returning to the table, Chang opened the floor to any other questions we might have. I blurted out my question before thinking. Yeah, like I haven't done that before. 




The Pearl Ch. 07



"Have you ever had a favorite?" I asked. 

He was silent for a moment, and his smile became bittersweet. "Of course I have" He looked at the both of us and made a grand, sweeping gesture. "I have had among my favorites high court ladies and goat herders. I even one time took my pleasures with a chângjì." He used what I assumed was a Chinese word, which he was occasionally given to do. When both Dakota and I looked blankly at it he translated. "It means prostitute. She was sold into that life by her family. Jiao was her name, a very sweet woman. I felt very bad for her. While the Middle Kingdom is my home, I would be remiss if I didn't see it's shortcomings, such as it's treatment of women. I was with her for many years." 

He trailed off here, looking far away as he often did when remembering the past. He quickly came back to himself. "And that's not even counting the pleasures I've taken among the dragons," he added with a wicked, conspiratorial grin. "But we are here neither to discuss my past nor my future. It is rather your's and Dakota's futures we are discussing. But I will surely share some of these stories with you both at a more appropriate time. So, are there any further questions on the matter at hand?" 

For a bit the only sound was the clink of silverware, or chopsticks, on plates. I mulled over my thoughts. There was something nagging at me. "Is there anything else I should be expecting?" I asked. 

"Expecting?" Chang looked at me, puzzled. 

"Well, this favorite thing appeared to come out of nowhere, at least to me. Are there any other surprises on the horizon I need to worry about?" 

"Ah, I see what you mean." He leaned back in his seat. "Well, that's a little tricky to answer." 

"How so?" 

"There are many things you do not yet know." Chang excused himself to get another plate. When he sat back down, he continued. "Flying for instance."

"But I can't fly," I protested. 

"You make my point," he answered. 

"Look, I get how you can fly," I explained, gesturing about with my fork. "Storm dragon, air, sky, flying." I pointed to myself with my fork. "But river dragon, water, ground, not so flying." 

"Your logic is sound," Chang acknowledged with a nod. "Ultimately incorrect, but well-reasoned." 

"OK, so when does the flying start?" 

"When the sky calls to you. You will know when that is." He took another sip of tea and continued. "At the moment, I suspect it's being overshadowed by the call of the river. There is a reason there are a hundred years accorded to learning. There is that much to be learned."

"Um, really quick," I interjected as a thought occurred to me. "When you talked to the other elder, you referred to me as fledgling. Do you mean as in baby bird?" 

"No," he said innocently, which was completely at odds with his smile. "I meant fledgling as in baby dragon." 

Dakota giggled. "How cute!" 

"Oh, dude," I exclaimed, "I'm twenty years old." 

Chang cocked his head. "And I am twenty one hundred years old. But that has nothing to do with whether or not you're a fledgling." 

Though his tone was that of a teacher, I could tell he found this amusing. He and Dakota both. While I was definitely impressed by his age, I wasn't done grousing about my sudden demotion back to the nursery. 

"Ah, man, I just got to adulthood and now you're telling me I'm back to childhood." 

Chang shrugged, and his tone became a bit more serious. "In terms of what you know about being a dragon, you are an infant." 

When he said it that way, I couldn't argue. "I guess I can see your point. And certainly compared to you I am. I can't even begin to imagine someone over two thousand years old." 

"In time it will assimilate. Which simply goes back to what I was saying about how much there is to learn, and how best to teach it. If I were to try to teach all of that in a more linear way, it would swiftly become overwhelming. But if you are allowed to experience it first, then there is a context in which to further teach. I concede that this method can be chaotic, but in my experience it allows for a smoother integration. I apologize in advance to you both for whatever inconveniences this may cause." 

Dakota and I looked at each other. Then Dakota started laughing. 

"I guess we'll be living in interesting times," she said. 

Chang nodded, smiling. "I suppose we will at that."

I couldn't have agreed more.

Early that next week, one of Dakota's co-workers came down with the flu, and Dakota had to cover some of the shifts. This kept her away for a few days. I resisted the urge to contact her mentally, as it struck me as a little intrusive. And kind of stalker-esque. You know, something Lifetime would do a movie on if they were owned by SyFy. Or maybe not. 

There are five dams that are set up on the river. I haven't the faintest idea why they're there, or for how long, and getting an explanation from the river is close to impossible. The river doesn't seem to understand why people do the things they do. Furthermore, the river doesn't understand my definition of time. And I haven't experienced enough of the river's existence to completely understand the river's perspective. The river seems prosaic about the whole thing, though. From what I could tell, as far as the river was concerned, yesterday is not today and today is not tomorrow. The dams will come down in due time, and until then they would be endured. 

In the present though, the water reservoir behind the particular dam I was at was fairly deep and made for very good fishing, with the occasional frog for variety. Though frogs are better tasting then rocks, on the whole I don't understand the gourmet appeal. Especially for just the legs. 

I tried not to forage too much from any one area, so as not to deplete any one area of wildlife. Doesn't make much sense as some sort of guardian to do more harm than good. I had noticed it took less food when I foraged from the river than when I had, say, Chinese or fast food. This probably meant something important and profound. When frogs and fish started tasting better than the buffet or carry out, I would acknowledge it.

Now, what to do with the rest of my morning? 

It was late morning and the sun was bright and strong. We were well into September, but it was still quite warm. I made my way to the edge of the dam and looked over into the spillway. The water cascaded over the side to be broken up at the bottom by spaced concrete blocks. The base of the spillway made a great place to lay in the sun. The dam was pretty tall, two, maybe three of my body lengths. With a wide grin I surged over the damn with the water and slid down the face, coming to rest by the pilings. I then stretched out along the base on my front so that the spray could sweep around me and the sun could hit my back. 

I had never been much of a sun worshiper. I am of Irish descent on both sides and go straight to burnt lobster red in the sun. As a dragon I had come to love basking in the sun. The exquisite feeling of the balmy sun on my back and the cool water against my underscales was one of the more pleasant, and pleasurable, surprises of being a dragon. 

As I settled into position, I envisioned spending at least the rest of the morning like this. Possibly part of the afternoon as well. This of course meant the river would need my attention.

trees 

"Come again?" I asked, lifting my head a little. 

trees cry 

The trees are crying? I thought. Well, I was having a conversation with the river, so I suppose I shouldn't rule it out. "OK, I'll bite. Why are the trees crying?" 

in pain hurt 

Oh great, somebody is hurting the trees. "Well, I'm sorry the trees are being hurt. But who am I, the Lorax?" 

TREES

The force of the communication jarred me. I jerked upright. "All right, I'll go see to the trees. Jeez. I wasn't aware you were contracting out my services." 

I followed along where the river lead. We were heading down-stream. This section of the river was surrounded by park land. If some kids or something were messing around I could probably convince them to leave with threatening to get a park ranger. Some of the woods extended past the park itself. If some hunk of land was being developed, I wasn't sure what I could do. While I couldn't see any way I could be brought up on some kind of eco-terrorism charge, that didn't make it exactly a choice move. As I was walking along, I muttered the Dr Seuss rhyme under my breath. 

"I am the Lorax, I speak for the trees. 

For the trees have no voice, no voice save for me." 

Soon, we moved past the park and were entering something like a no man's land. I was unsure who owned this land, but knew it wasn't a part of the park. I could hear a terrible racket, but couldn't smell any machinery exhaust. I could also feel the trees' pain and fear filtered through the river . It made my skin crawl. Whatever was going on, I had to stop it. Well, eco-terrorism it was. 

I climbed out of the river and made my way through the woods. There were no paths here, and my bulk made it slow going. I contemplated taking human form, but then caught a glimpse of red-gold scales through a break in the trees. Terrific, the only thing that would make me prefer a construction site. I picked my way closer and confirmed my suspicions. Qiang. Standing amidst a small but growing pile of uprooted trees while ripping at the trees that remained upright. 

"YO!" I shouted above the noise he was making. "QIANG!" 

He stopped and looked around at me. The look on his face was no more pleasant then the previous times we'd met. I casually wondered if he ever smiled. 

"What do you want?" he snarled at me. 

"The trees say stop it." 

He looked at me baffled. "What?" 

"The trees." I raised my front claw and gestured around us. "They say 'stop it'. You see, your little deconstruction project here is upsetting them." I saw the look on his face turn to one of disbelief. Before he could start arguing with me, I continued. "The trees told the river, and the river insisted I do something about it. So stop it." 

"The river," he began, getting indignant. 

I cut him off again. God, I hoped he wasn't going to get peeved. Or more peeved. "The river isn't thirty feet from here." I gestured with my head back the way I came. 

He glared at me for several minutes, and I thought he might pick up our earlier fight were it had left off. Instead, he took a deep breath and shook his head, as if clearing it. 

"You are correct. I had forgotten how close the river is here. This territory was ceded to you. I am trespassing, and apologize. I shall go elsewhere." With that, he turned to go. 

I was tempted to just let him go. But I could still feel the wounds he'd left on these trees, and somehow doubted whatever pissy mood he was in had passed. 

"You know, unless you know where there's a copse of masochistic trees, I don't think any of them are going to appreciate being uprooted and tossed around like pick up sticks." 

He gave me a withering look, but said nothing. 

"Look, if some thing's wrong, why don't you talk to me about it instead of ripping up the landscape?" 

He snorted derisively. "And why would I do that?" 

I didn't rise to the bait. "Because it's better than destroying what little forest there is here and upsetting the trees." 

He gave me a long once over. "How do I know you won't intentionally give me bad advice just to beleaguer me?" 

This time I did rise to the bait. "Look, I get that you think that since I was born Caucasian, I effectively have the sense God gave a kumquat and I am missing some basic reasoning skills. At minimum. However, I am smart enough to know that if I were to intentionally yank your chain or fuck with you in some way Chang would be all over me for it. You may not trust the fact that I have a brain in my head, but trust I have enough of a survival instinct to not want to piss off Chang. Or any other dragon, for that matter." 

He raised his head and looked down his snout at me. "Your tongue is very sharp." 

"And your bigotry is very blunt. Looks like neither of us are ascending off this plane anytime soon. Now, do you want my help or not?" I paused for a moment, as a potential reason for Qiang to be angry struck me. "And it was not my idea to go to your place on Sunday." 

He seemed to relent, at least a little. "No, I know it wasn't your idea or your elder's idea either. It was Zongxian. He is quite displeased with me and I can expect ongoing chastisements for at least the next decade." 

"So what's this all about?" I asked. 

He once again gave me the once over, but he seemed to be considering something. 

"Is Dakota your favorite or your lover?" he asked. 

My first impulse was to snap "None of your business," but I thought better of it. I suspected this was a test to see how willing I was to talk to him. I could play this game. 

"Between those two, I would have to say lovers." I didn't think Qiang would get "friends with benefits." Not that in retrospect it was entirely accurate. Lovers was probably much closer. 

"Why?" His face was like stone. 

"Why?" I was taken aback by the question. I paused, considering my answer. "Well, it's like this," I explained. "Zombie Apocalypse 3 is my favorite video game. Blue raspberry is my favorite slushy flavor. When I could wear jeans, I had a favorite pair. And a favorite pair of boxers, too." 

Qiang looked at me. 

"But you see, all of that is transitory. Zombie Apocalypse 3 would no doubt have been replaced by the latest BioShock game. If they don't have blue raspberry, lemon-lime will do. And eventually my favorite jeans will wear out and be replaced. There's no deeper meaning there, no depth of emotion. You can have a favorite anything. What I feel for Dakota isn't transitory. It's-" I found I didn't have the words to describe what I felt. "It's more than that. We're lovers because I love her." 

Qiang nodded and appeared lost in thought. 

"Not to pry, but don't you love the woman you're with?" I asked. 

"Mingzhu." He said the name with tenderness, then fell silent again. "How old do you think I am?" he asked when he did speak. 

"I couldn't say, but Chang put you around two hundred." 

"Two hundred and fifty, to be exact."

I nodded, uncertain where he might be going. 

"How long do you think Mingzhu will live?" he asked. 

Suddenly I saw where this was going and tried to back pedal. "Well, that depends on a lot of factors," I hedged. "You know diet and exercise, family history and the like." 

Qiang just looked at me, waiting. 

"OK," I conceded. "Nowhere near two hundred and fifty. But is that a reason to downgrade her importance, that you're going to spend less time with her in proportion to what she going to spend with you?"

He cocked his head at me. "In proportion?"

"Well, yeah. To you fifty or sixty years is a drop in the bucket, a pleasant diversion. To her it's her entire life. Kinda sucks for her to spend it with someone who can't bring themselves to love her."

I could see him grow defensive, but I was pretty sure it was because I struck a nerve. 

"You don't understand," he announced. 

"What, death? Sorry, but we humans live with death all the time. Just considering natural causes, there's a disturbingly large number of ways to lose a loved one. And when you factor in how well we can destroy each other, the chance a lover might pass before you is pretty sobering." 

His expression had changed. He was still as imperious as always, but underneath seemed to be almost pity. 

"What?" I asked. 

"But you're not human." He paused. "And you will outlive Dakota. By many centuries."

I pulled up short. He was right, of course. That hadn't entirely sunk in yet. "I know," I replied. "But it seems to me that since my time with her will be brief, I should make all I can of it. I mean, is it really going to feel better when I lose her that I was distant to her?" 

"Some would say so."

I had no immediate answer. Ultimately, all I had to say was: "You know, that may be. You gotta do what you gotta do. But I can't see distancing Dakota today for what will happen tomorrow. It's not fair to her." I thought about a Billy Joel song I always kind of liked, and quoted it. "'I won't hold back anything, and I'll walk away a fool or a king'." After a pause I added; "Maybe a little of both." 

He sneered. "I would say you are both already." 

"Could be, could be," I conceded. It was good to see him smile, even if was to be snarky to me. I considered what I was going to say next. It seemed to be dancing the edge of what would be acceptable, but it also seemed important. "And, you know, it's not fair to Mingzhu either. If you won't, or can't, love her completely, is it right to keep her from someone who can?" 

Oh, that was so not what he wanted to hear. But even though he snarled something fierce at me, the anger didn't seem to follow to his eyes. I couldn't say what I saw there, but it wasn't anger. He shook himself once again, and was back to the familiar imperious condescension. But at least it wasn't gut-me-where-I-stood fury. Yet. 

"When you became a dragon, why didn't you simply become your own kind of dragon?" he asked with some exasperation. 

"My own kind of dragon? What, am I somebody else's kind of dragon?"

He fixed me with a look that said I was below his contempt, but he would manage it anyway. After a minute, I put together what he meant. 

"Oh, you mean why didn't I become a European dragon instead of a Chinese dragon." 

"Obviously."

"Well, to begin with there wasn't exactly a check list presented to me when I changed. Secondly, I didn't get up that morning planning on turning into a dragon that night. Trust me, 'Oh boy think I'll turn into a dragon tonight' was nowhere in my mind." 

"How did you become a dragon?" 

"Swallowed a pearl." I shrugged. 

"Where did it come from?" 

It appeared he hadn't been paying attention when Chang went over this. Somehow, I wasn't surprised. 

"I purchased it set into a ring. But way back when, Chang created it."

"How did it get into a ring?" 

I think this may have been the longest he asked me non-sarcastic questions. 

"That no one knows." 

"And what precipitated you swallowing the pearl?" 

"I was being robbed and swallowing the ring seemed better than giving it to the thieves. Not that I exactly thought it through. It was more of an impulse." 

He nodded. "Not unexpected. From what you're saying, it may well have already chosen you." 

"Could be. And you don't like me? Trust me, the next guy in line was a serious rat-bastard. And a son-of-bitch, just to round it out." 

"I'm quite sure there are many people worse than you. I never said you were a bad person," he said dismissively. "Just that you don't deserve to be a dragon." 

"Why, thank you for clearing that up. I feel so much better about myself." 

He just looked at me and sighed. "While this has been a maddening distraction, there are things I must attend to." 

"It doesn't involve wholesale tree massacres, does it?" While I felt obliged to ask, he did seem much calmer than when we started. 

"No." His tone was dry. "I will not destroying any more trees today." He paused for a moment, looking me over. I was beginning to feel objectified. "I suppose I should wish you well. Farewell." He rose into the air, cleared the trees, and was gone. 

Well, hopefully this would be the beginning of a beautiful tolerance. 

**************

I was at the Dragon's Garden with some women I work with after our shift ended. It felt strange being there without Sebastian, but it had been a long shift and I didn't feel like cooking. So we sat there much longer than we should have, gossiping and giggling close to when the restaurant closed. When we received our checks, mine had small note tucked underneath it. 




The Pearl Ch. 07



Please stay. It read, in a neat but pretty handwriting. I told the ladies I would catch them tomorrow and remained in my chair as they departed. 

Shortly after they left, one of the waitresses came over with a pot of tea and two cups. She placed them in front of me and while bowing asked if she could please join me. I rose up and returned her bow, indicating she could. 

She sat and poured both of us a cup of tea from the pot. She then seemed to gather her thoughts before speaking. 

"I am Mingzhu," she started. Her voice was soft and pleasant, and she spoke perfect English. "I am Qiang's favorite. If I understand correctly, you are the favorite of the new dragon Sebastian. Do you mind if I ask you some questions?" 

"Not at all," I said. This entire time she had kept her head down. When I agreed to speak with her she looked up. She had a very sweet face, a perfect oval with almond shaped eyes, and flawless Asian skin tone. Her black hair was worn up in braids, and was lustrous as a raven's wing. She gave me a shy smile. "My name is Dakota," I added. 

"I am pleased to meet you." She bowed her head. "How did you come to meet him?" Her eyes brimmed with curiosity. "Did you know him before he was a dragon?" 

"No, actually, I didn't. We meet about a week after he'd been changed. He saved me from an attacker on his river." 

Mingzhu considered that for a moment. "That was very noble of him."

"Yes, it was." 

"But were you not frightened? Or did you know about dragons?"

"No, that was news to me. And yes, I was frightened," I confirmed.

"But you obviously got over it. How?" 

"Well, kind of on a spur of the moment thing I asked him if there was anything I could get for him. And he asked for food from a local Mexican fast food place. At this point I had no idea he'd been human. I thought it was the strangest thing, a Chinese dragon wanting Mexican food. And I almost didn't go back, you know. Because I was frightened. But I asked him what he wanted, and I thought the least I could do was follow through. And part of him seemed so gentle. I mean, he was all teeth and claws when dealing with my assailant. But afterward, he was just so quiet and benign that I went back. With the food. It was while we were talking over the food that I found out he'd been human and turned into a dragon." I paused to take a sip of my tea. Mingzhu was paying rapt attention. 

"After that, I couldn't stay away. The favorite thing, that's new. I don't know that much about it. What about you? How did you end up with Qiang?" 

"He and my ancestor came to America together. My family has been with him ever since," she explained. 

I was a bit taken aback by that, though I suppose I shouldn't have been. I thought I should clarify, just to be sure. "Is this an arranged marriage sort of thing?" I asked, managing to sound as though I was just curious. 

"Oh, no." She smiled. "We are together out of mutual choice, and will stay together only so long as we both chose." 

"Oh, that's cool." I didn't know what else to say. I felt relieved for her, but chagrined to feel that way at the same time. Who was I to judge? Still, I was glad she had a say in the matter. 

She smiled again, then looked down into her tea cup. She shifted in her seat and the smile slowly faded before a look of uncertainty. 

"Is everything all right?" I asked. 

She looked back up and smiled, but it was still uncertain. She looked around the restaurant, but we were the only ones in this section. She leaned in. 

"There are other things I would like to ask," she said in a surreptitious whisper. "But I do not want to appear unseemly asking what amounts to a stranger, or to presume on a possible but very limited acquaintanceship. But you are the only other person who is even remotely in the same situation I am." 

I gave her a reassuring smile. "I don't mind. What else would you like to know?" 

"You love him," she said. It was a statement, not a question. 

"Shows that badly, huh?" I asked. 

She nodded. "In your eyes when you talk about him. But it's not a bad thing." She returned my smile while patting my hand. "But my question is this, what is his love like?"

I was perplexed by the question. It must have shown on my face, because Mingzhu looked suddenly chagrined. 

"I am sorry," she said. 

"No, it's all right. I'm just not sure how to answer the question." I paused for a moment to gather my thoughts. "He's very sweet and gentle, and I feel safe with him." I stopped again, trying to put into words things I had barely thought about myself. "He went through this really strange situation that he was in no way prepared for. And instead of feeling sorry for himself, or getting angry and lashing out, he adjusted. So many people use any reason to be just horrible, it's nice to meet somebody who can look at a disruption in their life and say 'worse things have happened.'" 

Mingzhu was looking at me again. "So his love is sweet and gentle and safe." 

"That's part of it." I nodded. "But there's much more to it, but I don't have the words. What is it like with Qiang, if I may ask?" 

She ducked her head away, then looked back at me. "It would be wrong of my to ask you such personal questions and to not answer them myself. I do love him, but his love is like a thing apart. It is like loving a force of nature, majestic but unapproachable. I believe he loves me, but it always seems to come from afar, as though it travels a great distance to reach me and is exhausted by its journey." 

I felt bad for her. I wanted to reassure her, but didn't have a clue how. So I returned the pat on the hand. She laid her other hand on top of mine. There was a moment of wordless kindred between us. After all, we were both the only women we knew in our circumstance. 

Mingzhu looked down and noticed her watch. She looked at it in alarm. 

"Aiiee!" she exclaimed. "I didn't know it had gotten this late. The others must have been taking up my work." She looked at me apologetically. "I am sorry, I must go." 

"No problem," I said. 

As we both stood up I took, on impulse, both of her hands into mine. 

"You know," I said, looking at her earnestly. "We don't have to be strangers. I think we could be friends, allies even." 

"I would like that." She squeezed my hands in thanks. 

I released her hands and pulled out a note pad. I wrote out my number and gave it back to her. 

"Here is my cell phone number and my home number. Give me a call anytime you want to talk." 

She smiled as she tucked the paper into a pocket. I hurried out of the restaurant so they could close. As I walked to my car in the empty lot I reflected on the differences between Sebastian and Qiang. Some of them were because Sebastian was born human, and I couldn't help wondering in what ways he might change. I shook my head. Que-sera-sera. 

As I reached my car, I had the feeling I was being watched. I looked around and saw no one. I looked back to the restaurant and wondered if Qiang was watching. I suppose he might not appreciate my talking with Mingzhu. At that thought I stuck my tongue out at the restaurant, and felt a little silly. Not only was it not a terribly mature way to deal with our potential differences, it didn't solve anything. If a friendship developed, I would deal with Qiang. It's not like a boyfriend not liking his significant other's friends was somehow new or novel. 

God, I thought as I climbed into the car. I'm in a chick flick with dragons. Laughing, I drove away. 



The Pearl Ch. 08



By Thistlethorn ©
Edited by PennLady
This is a copyrighted work of fiction. All rights reserved. 



"Did you miss me?" Dakota asked as I came up to her at our usual meeting place on the bank.

"Oh, were you gone?" I teased as I lowered my head and nudged her in greeting. Instead of replying she ran her fingers through my mane. I started purring almost autonomously.  

"Miss me yet?" She worked her fingers in deeper.

"Oh, that is so unfair." 

I pressed my snout close to her waist and began to work my way in past the waistband of her jeans. It was a tight fit, but I got a little way in. Immediately, I plunged my tongue down. With a startled little laugh, Dakota jumped back and pushed my head away. 

"What?" I feigned innocence. "Nobody's going to see anything. And yeah, maybe I missed you." 

Dakota came close and wrapped her arms around my head, burying her face where the mane began between my antlers. She turned her face sideways and laid her head in the same spot. 

"I missed you, too," she said softly. 

I stood there, just drinking her in. I felt the river slowly intensify it's presence. I ignored it at first, but it grew insistent. Then it grew down-right rude when the river began to stoke me up. 

I pulled away from Dakota. "Would you excuse me? Stay right there, this will only take a second." 

I dropped down from the embankment to the river. "What?" I snarled. 

take her 

"Come again?" I asked, though I understood what the river wanted. I could feel the desire starting to course through me, causing a tingling from inside to the edges of my scales and tips of my fur. 

dakota conjoin with dakota

The river didn't use her name. It was more a feeling that I understood meant Dakota. A reflection of what I felt for her, but refracted through the river's lens. The river instilled the impression of us merging very deeply and the pearl started to simmer erotically within me. My tail did a slow roll in the water. The river was bent on getting this, and certainly knew how to go about it. 

"Problem," I whispered. "There's this size difference, you see. And my human form is kind of unreliable at the best of times. I think this combination might cause the experience to be unpleasant for Dakota. To say the least." 

done it before do it here

I realized the physical act wasn't the most important aspect to the river. I glanced up at Dakota. She watched me with a bit of confusion. She smiled at me. I felt another push from the river. Fine, I could ask. Considering what the river had going on inside me, I was amazed I could walk to her with as much control as I did. With the drop to the river, my head was level with hers. I looked into her eyes and felt that I could drown there happily. 

"Uh, Dakota," I fumbled, uncertain how to begin. "You know, I'm bonded to this river, and it makes some really strange requests sometimes...." I trailed off, struggling to find the words. 

"Like what?" She genuinely wanted to help. "You know I'll do what I can to help. Anything." 

The swell of the river came across as a jubilant YES. "Easy there," I muttered, looking back at the river. 

"Sebastian, what is it?" 

"The river wants us to do it right here," I blurted out. "You know, where you can get leaves and dirt and crayfish up your snatch," I added, looking crossly at the river. 

there will be no crayfish or any other water borne creature save yourself 

Oh, well, that made it all better. I looked uncertainly at Dakota. "I don't get it, I mean the why, but I can tell you the river wants it really badly and is making me want it really badly." I sighed. "It's got to be the weirdest fucking threesome I've ever heard of." 

Dakota examined the area around her. It consisted of hard packed dirt, assorted pieces of broken litter, no small amount of glass. The train tracks were maybe twenty feet away. Though rarely in use, the occasional train did pass by. 

"Well, this spot won't be my first choice." She walked to the edge and looked down. The embankment wasn't a sheer drop, but was steep. From the bottom there was maybe two feet to the water. "That doesn't look promising either. But I imagine you have to know of some better options." 

"You're really considering this?" I was amazed. 

She looked apprehensive, but replied, "Well, I'll admit the back-to-nature thing has never been a kink of mine. But I suppose I can't always expect to do it at my place, now can I? It's a nice day, and if we are going to do something like this, it had better be soon. The weather isn't going to permit this sort of thing for very long." 

She was right. It was a warm, sunny day, easily in the mid-70's. But it was the middle of September, and the weather would turn cool soon. The evenings were already starting to drop. I snuggled my head against her, in gratitude. She stroked my mane.

"Besides," she continued, with the impish look from before. Just that look got me going even more. "I probably shouldn't rule out doing it at your place without at least trying it first. And nobody's going to see anything, right?" 

I returned her smile and presented my back to her. She climbed on and the feeling of completion returned. I wondered if it would always be like that, or if it would fade in time. I knew what I wanted the answer to be, but wondered if it was what I should want the answer to be. I felt Dakota settle in and took off. I knew exactly where I wanted to go and made a bee-line there. I took her to the spot on the river where I has spoken with Chang that first night. The grass was a little overgrown, but wonderfully soft. I climbed part way up to let Dakota off. My lower body was still submerged in the river and I had the distinct impression the river was going to fight me to keep it there. But I had enough above surface to do what I wanted. 

"How's this?" I asked 

She slid off my back and settled into the grass. I could feel the river moving deeper into me as she ran her hands along grass and smiled up at me. 

"Oh, this is very nice." She laid back and stretched, arching her back and stiffening her legs. Then she languidly pushed herself up into a sitting position and began to oh-so-slowly pull off her shirt and bra. She laid them to the side, making sure to place them well above the water line. She laid back again and ran her hands along her breasts then down her stomach and into her pants. I moved my head over and ran my snout over her stomach, following the course of her hands. I had just the tip of my tongue out and it was largely the soft hairs around my snout that brushed against her. I could feel a tingle on her skin. She squirmed and giggled. 

"That tickles," she said, "but inside." She ran her hands back up and stroked the edge of my snout. 

It took me a second to realize it was the part of me she carried. Do you like that? I asked mentally. I wanted to make sure she did before continuing, but didn't want to move my snout, in case she did. 

"Oh yes," she said breathlessly, closing her eyes.

I'm glad. I continued nuzzling her stomach. 

The energy was on the edge of my perception, like a sound you can't quite hear, or a shiver for which you can't place the reason. I had a sense of how to influence it; it wasn't all that different from pushing the panic in Chad at the restaurant. It was easier, too; the energy gave me an in and Dakota was a willing participant. The river began to quicken within, seeming to enjoy what I was doing as much as Dakota 

Dakota continued to move in sync to what I was doing, as did the river. She stroked my fur a little more, then ran one of her hands back down her pants. It didn't take me long to figure out what she was doing. 

You know, if you would undo your pants I would happily see to that. 

She half opened her eyes, and eased her pants down. The scent of her sex enveloped me. I helped her remove her pants and tossed them over to where the rest of her clothes were. She was still wearing her shoes, but I didn't see the need to bother with them.  

I started at the very edge of her pussy and ran my tongue just along the surface of her outer lips. I worked my way up her lovely patch of hair and traced the surface of her stomach up to the gentle slope of her breasts. I ran my tongue around both of her pert breasts in turn, taking time to bring the nipples to attention. She gasped. 

I ran my tongue between her breasts and up her delicate throat, sensing as much as feeling her pulse beneath my tongue. Then I rubbed my snout up the side of her face and tickled her behind the ear. Qiang's admonition came back to me, but I dismissed it. I was already hers, and there was no backing away now. Words issued forth from somewhere within me. I drew my tongue across her eyes while repeating them to her. 

I belong neither to you nor you to me. We belong to each other and ever-so will be so long as each of us wishes it. It felt like a proclamation, like I was claiming her somehow. Or maybe announcing a claim that already existed. 

She looked up at me through her eyelashes. "That was nice. Where did it come from?"

I stared into her eyes. I don't know. It just sort of occurred to me. Sounds like you're stuck with me. 

She reached up and touched my face. "I could think of worse things." 

Yeah, so could I. 

I drifted back down to her pussy, again with just the tips of my tongue and my fur touching her skin. When I reached my destination, I gave her the attention she deserved. I pushed the edge of my snout right up against her and blew gently. I could feel the shudder run through her. I worked my tongue inside of her, undulating as I went. Dakota pulled up her legs so they were bent at the knee and arched her back, presenting more of herself to me. 

As I worked more of Dakota's vagina, the river again found those places in me that were male. I remembered how that felt at the first bonding with the river. That was clearly were the river was headed again. This time there was no lesson going on and I did nothing to stop it. The coolness of the river ran through me, tickling my stomach and pearl. I could feel my shaft pushing against my underscales, but it wasn't sliding out just yet. 

I slid my tongue back out and worked it back in. Given this different position, I was able to move my lips and the surrounding fur around her pussy. Dakota spread her legs as far apart as they would go and I had her entire pussy in my mouth. The fur on my upper lip was just brushing the bottom of her stomach and her buttocks rested on the edge in my lower jaw. I angled her to lay between my lower canines. I pulled my lower lip over the teeth between my canines so she was laying on the lip as opposed to the teeth. I could feel her breathing quicken. She was close. 

So was I, for that matter. I continued working Dakota's insides, and reveled in the knife's edge we were both on. I pulled my tongue out for a moment, working her up while trying to keep the orgasm from coming. Our tension built. The river ran through my stomach, groin, and pearl, working me from the inside. Then I snaked my tongue up to her clit and wrapped my tongue around. I had just started the massage when Dakota's body stiffened then shuddered with her orgasm. There was no place for it to go but down my throat. God, I loved that. Dakota's flavor was irresistible and as it ran down my throat, my orgasm blew through me. 

The river somehow kept my shaft from sliding out, caging the energy of the orgasm within me. The river absorbed it, but I could still feel the lingering effects. I resisted the urge to roar, but did inhale sharply, sucking more of her juices down my throat. That only added to the energy gathering within me. But instead of it raging through me it flowed gently, the river softened the effect. The flow was much like the river itself. I relaxed onto the bank and purred, as I finished cleaning Dakota with my tongue. 

Are you all right? This had been a markedly different experience from our previous love making, at least for me, and I wasn't sure what she might make of it. The river ebbed from me, contented. 

"Better than all right." Her voice was husky with pleasure. "I'm going to get spoiled." 

I smiled at her. I aim to please.

"Was it good for the river?" She sat up. 

Oh, yeah. I answered looking back. I felt her hand against my face and I let her guide my head back to facing her. She kissed me on the top of my head. 

"Do you mind going back to just talking?" she asked. 

"Not at all. I'm sorry, does the other way bother you?" I asked, concerned. 

"No, it's just that I also like the sound of your voice." Dakota got up and gathered her clothing. 

"Is it safe to get dressed again?" 

"Yeah, I think I can keep from ravishing you for at least the rest of the afternoon." 

"Oh, well that's good to know." Dakota put her clothes on and settled against me. "Do you mind my asking what the river wanted?" 

I shook my head. "No, but I don't really have a good answer. I can tell you what it felt like, though." I paused, gathering my thoughts. "It was like I was heading for orgasm, but when it hit the river just kind of took it. I still felt it, but instead of major high, it was kind of like a pleasant buzz." I looked at the river with a mock-scowl. "Killjoy," I said. 

A wave of contentment came from the river. 

"So, I'm afraid that's all I got for an explanation. What've you been up to?" 

"Work, study, eat, pass out. That's about it," she said. "But I think I might be on Qiang's shit list." 

"Oh really?" I was curious. "I understand there's really good company there, I can see why you would want to join up. Did you do something, or is it a 'just cause' thing?" 

"After work earlier this week, a bunch of us went to the buffet for dinner. Afterward, Mingzhu wanted to talk to me. She's Qiang's favorite. So we sat and had a really nice conversation. We've talked a couple of times since then on the phone. She's really sweet." 

"That's cool to hear. You think he's pissed about that?" 

"I don't know for sure, it's just this kind of feeling I have. Traditionally in Chinese culture, women didn't really have much contact with outsiders. And I'm a foreigner on top of it. Dealing with someone who doesn't seem overly fond of foreigners." 

"I can see that. So, what do you talk about? Girl stuff?" 

Dakota flashed me a "you did not just say that" expression before she opened her eyes wide and gave me the most saccharine smile I think I'd ever seen. "Why yes, we debate who the bestest Disney princess is. My favorite is Belle, but Mingzhu really likes Mulan." 

I rolled my eyes. "OK, maybe 'girl' wasn't the most progressive thing I could have said."

"You think? I'm two years older than you are, and I think Mingzhu is at least in her mid-twenties." 

"Sorry." I rolled my eyes again. "So what do you ladies talk about?" 

"Humph." She crossed her arms and turned her head. "And you'd better treat me like a lady if you expect to stay around." 

"OK, OK." I gave small laugh and held my front leg up in surrender. 

Dakota smiled back at me. "Just stuff, really. I don't think she has anybody to just BS with. And she really doesn't have anybody who can even begin to relate to her relationship situation." 

"Except you," I pointed out. 

"Not entirely. You're way different from Qiang. That's obvious just from the surface. But listening to her talk about him, the differences become even more obvious. Though there are some shared experiences between our situations, certainly." 

"You two can start a girlfriends of dragons support group," I said with a laugh. 

Dakota returned my laugh. "That would have to be the smallest support group around. Right now, it would be just me and Mingzhu." 

I nuzzled my head against her. "Think of it as exclusive," I suggested. "I know for me there's not another woman I would even consider half as good as you." 

Dakota leaned into me and ran her hand along my jaw. "That's very sweet of you to say." 

"Well," I replied, "after the 'girl' screw up, I had to do something." 

She pushed my head away. "Oh, you...." 

I slid my head down from her hand and curled it around in front of her so that she was between my neck and my shoulder. 

"Kidding," I said as I turned my head to face her from the other direction. 

"You better be. So what have you been up to?" 

"Coincidently, talking Qiang out of deforesting the country side." I laid my neck down in front of her. "He was on some kind of tear and was taking it out on the trees." 

"What was he pissed about?" She settled back against me. 

"I'm not really sure. We talked about the whole favorite thing and he went on his way. But he didn't try to kill me, so that was good." 

"Maybe he's coming around," Dakota suggested. 

"That would be nice," I agreed. "And then there's this thing with the moon...." 

"The moon?" 

"Yeah. The closer it's been getting to full, the more I've just been fascinated with it. For the last few nights, I've just watched it for hours. It's been getting fuller the past week, but I've only noticed it for a few days." 

"Waxing." I heard Chang say. 

I raised my head and looked in the direction of his voice. He was standing just up bank, in human form. 

"Oh, hey Chang." I nodded a greeting. "What was that?" 

He dipped his head to me and Dakota saying, "Greeting Sebastian, Dakota. It is very nice to see you again, Dakota." 

Dakota brought her hands together and bowed her head over them. "Hello, Chang. It is nice to see you also." 

He returned the gesture. Then turned to me. "Waxing. When the moon is getting full it is waxing," he explained. "When it is decreasing it is waning. It will be full tonight, which is what you have been sensing." 

"Oh," I said, for lack of anything more articulate. "I assume you'll be telling me why that's important." 

"Of course." He smiled and turned to Dakota. "Will you be joining us?" 

"I wish I could. I'm sure it's more interesting than the coursework I've got to do tonight, but I'm way behind as it is. I'm sorry." 

"I understand," he replied. "Scholarly work is always worth the effort, even when it takes away from things we'd rather be doing. When do you have to be going?" 

Dakota consulted her watch. "Right now, actually." She gave an apologetic sigh. "I'm really sorry to have to bail the minute you get here." 

"Not at all, there will be other times." 

I rolled upright into a standing position, offering Dakota my back. She smiled and climbed on. 

"Would you like to walk back with us?" she asked Chang as she arranged herself. 

"I would be delighted," he responded with an elegant nod of his head. As I climbed fully into the river, Chang shifted to dragon. He fell into step next to me. 

I noticed, for the first time, how it felt when Dakota rode on my back. The subtle shifting of her weight as she adjusted for my body's movements as I walked, the minute movements of her body against mine were transmitted through me and the puzzle piece feeling was intensified. I smiled as a contented purr ran through me. As Dakota first patted then ran her hand along the side of my back I could tell she sensed it too. 

"Your river is doing well," Chang commented. "It is good to see how well your energy is integrating with the river."  

"Yeah, there was this weird thing with the river earlier...." As I spoke I looked over at Chang. I trailed off, realizing from his pleased expression that he was probably more aware of what happened then I was. 

"You can tell what happened?" I asked. 

"The specifics elude me, though I think I could make an educated guess," he said, with a sideways glance and canny smile. "But what is clear to me is that before there was more of the river in you than you in the river. Now that is beginning to balance out, and that is a good thing." 




The Pearl Ch. 08



"More of me?" I wanted clarification. 

"More of your energy, your life force. Unless I am very mistaken, you and Dakota engaged in some form of love making at the spot I found you at." 

Not wanting to lick and tell, I glanced back at Dakota. She smiled and shook her head. Not in refusal, but in amusement at me. Then it hit me. By looking back I had confirmed his suspicion. Duh. 

Dakota patted my back. "It's cool," she said.

"Yeah, that's pretty much what happened," I confirmed. "But it was really strange."

"Yes?" Chang's expression indicated I should continue. 

"Well," I began, then stopped, unsure of the words. "It's like I was headed for the big pay off and the river just sort of took it. I kinda had the after effects but not the orgasm itself, you know?"

Chang nodded. "I think I understand what you're describing." 

"Oh, good. Can you explain it to me?" 

Chang laughed. "I believe I can. As has been discussed earlier, one of the things the river requires from it's guardian is energy, life essence. The act of lovemaking is exceedingly powerful, particularly when there are strong emotions involved. And that power can be very heady, as it is one of the cornerstones of life itself. The river partook of that energy to help bolster and sustain it's energy. In this way not only does your bond to this river become stronger, you strengthen the river." 

"Wow," I said. "And here I thought it was just casual sex." 

"You are far too fond of Dakota for sex to be casual. Nor do I think it would have been as nourishing to the river if it had been. Not that sex without emotion isn't powerful. It can be. But it's usually much more powerful with that connection." 

"Well, I guess that explains why the river was so insistent," Dakota said. She leaned over and looked into the river. "Glad to be of help," she called down with a smile. 

like dakota best you not to aggrieve her keep her happy 

It's not like this didn't mirror my actual plans, but getting romantic advice from something that's probably never been in a romantic relationship made my scales twitch. "Why thank you, Dr. Phil. I couldn't have figured that out on my own." 

thought not 

I sighed and shook my head. 

"What?" Dakota asked. 

I looked back to her. "The river likes you and is telling me I'd better not do anything to upset you." 

"Sounds like good advice," Chang added. 

I was getting double teamed, but at least Chang had been in relationships. 

We reached the spot where we'd met. I arched my back so Dakota could climb off, then brought my head around so I was facing her. 

"Again, sorry I have to bail," she said. 

I nudged my head against her and she kissed me between the antlers. 

"I'll be back as soon as I can, but I've got a half a ton of school work." 

"'S'okay," I said. "Can't wait to see you again." 

She looked past me to Chang. "It was lovely seeing you again," she said, bowing slightly over her hands. 

He dipped his head in response. "You also. Safe travels." 

Dakota walked away down the path, looking back once to wave goodbye. I watched until she was out of sight. I looked over to Chang to find him watching attentively. 

"If you are ready?" he said 

I remembered there was something coming about the moon. "Yeah, sorry." I gave him my full attention. 

Chang smiled. "No need to apologize. You are rather fond of her." Chang looked to the sky, studying the position of the sun. "I believe we have a few hours until night fall. We need a spot with a clear view of the sky, or the clearest available." 

I thought for a moment. "I think I have a spot." 

We walked down the center of the river together, with me leading through the spots where the river narrowed too much for us to walk abreast. We traveled in companionable silence. I wasn't used to that. I was used to noise and chatter. It was nice. 

We went past a few industrial areas that while they fit the description of having a clear view of the sky, I didn't like them. There was a feeling to them that unsettled me. Without thinking, I walked faster. 

"You do not like the engines of industry?" Chang asked as we hurried past about the third one. 

"No, not really." 

"Why not?" 

I shrugged. "Couldn't say." I hadn't been bothered by these types of areas before becoming a dragon, so it was new. I didn't have an explanation for it yet. 

Chang stopped where he was. I continued on a few steps before I realized, but then turned around. He looked patient and relaxed, but something in his stance told me I'd just given the wrong answer. 

"What?" 

"If something is wrong with these places, you should determine what it is." His tone was mild, but brooked no dissent. "Now, please go back there and tell me what is wrong." 

I went back with some trepidation. I understood his point. If something was wrong, I should find out what. However, the thought of opening myself up to that energy made me skittish. 

I eased back into the area. We hadn't gotten that far when Chang stopped so I didn't have far to go. The river was broader here, and there was concrete up the sides of the banks and buildings on either side. The air smelled unpleasant, though there weren't any factories I could see. I wasn't sure what this place was for. Sensing my discomfort the river tried to bolster me. With the river's moral support, I opened myself up. 

Desolate, that's what it was. The river and the woods, even the more inhabited sections of the river had such a feeling of being alive that the absence of it made me apprehensive. Also a little sick to my stomach, or maybe sick to my pearl is more accurate. I could still sense the living essence of the river, but the surrounding area felt stricken and wrong. Instinctively, I lowered my head and slunk backwards out of the area. I was so intent on the area that I backed into Chang. I jumped and gave a startled little squeak of a roar that embarrassed me. I looked back around to Chang and was surprised by the look of sympathy he gave me. 

"That bad is it?" he asked. 

I nodded, not trusting my voice. 

He nodded in commiseration, his golden eyes dimmed and grave. "It is like this, far too often. There are parts of the Chang Jiang river," he started, then caught himself. "Yangtze," he amended, "for which I weep, and I am not even a water dragon. But there is always hope, remember that. And mark these places, for they can shelter and breed all manner of vileness."

I nodded again, amazed by the thought that Chang and I could have a shared experience. I also filed away what he said, and planned on taking a tour of these places to get a better handle on them. Chang stepped aside and with a nod of his head indicated I should continue on. 

I walked past him, my gait a little shaky, and resumed the lead. Before long we were at the spot. It was a bend in the river that was wooded but with a break in the trees. The woods lined both sides of the bank until the bend, then the woods on the far side of the bend opened into a meadow and the woods on the inside of the bend continued on. 

"Yes," Chang said as he surveyed the view of the sky over the meadow. "This will do nicely." 

He arranged himself in the meadow next to the bank, coils curled around and settled into the soft grass. The faraway look that often accompanied lessons came to his face and I also settled in, partway on the bank with my legs and tail resting in the river. I gave him my full attention. 

He ruminated a few moments before speaking. "What does this resemble?" He raised his right front claw and with a luminescent shimmer, what I assumed to be his pearl appeared. It glowed softly and was nearly to large for him to hold one handed. 

"A...pearl?" 

He sighed. "Yes, that's what it is. But what does it look like?" 

I cocked my head and considered the glowing sphere. The light was soft and a sort of bluish-white, and the pearl itself looked perfectly round. An association was slowly built in my mind. 

"Well, I guess it kind of looks like the full moon." 

"Very good." The pearl disappeared as Chang lowered his leg. "Dragons are celestial creatures, no matter what our individual elements may be, linked to both the sun and moon. The sun shall be left to another time, tonight we shall discuss the moon. Where do pearls come from?" 

"The jewelry counter at high end-stores, like Tiffany's," I deadpanned. The look Chang gave me indicated that this was maybe not the time. "Oysters." 

"Precisely. Here is what I suspect you do not know. Oysters create pearls by distilling gathered moonlight that filters down to them into the solid form of the pearl." 

My jaw dropped. "Seriously?" 

Chang seemed a bit confused at my dubiousness. "Yes. I am serious. And by a similar mechanism dragons also utilize moonlight in our pearls. It is a gift from the moon." 

I knew Chang wasn't putting me on, but this was just too bizarre to me. "I'm sorry, but I've got a question." 

Chang read my look all too well and smiled. "Only one?" 

"For now. OK, the moon gives pearls to oysters and dragons, but just those two creatures. HUH? Isn't that a freaking huge difference on the evolutionary scale there? I mean, why do just oysters and dragons process moonlight like that?" 

Chang's expression became thoughtful as he considered what I said. "I had never thought about that," he conceded. "I suppose you can ask her yourself. She may give you an answer." 

"Ask the moon?" 

"Of course. Our clan is called the Moon's Favor for a reason, and I imagine she will be intrigued by a new addition." 

His description of the moon caught my attention. I considered my experience with the river, as well as the trees Qiang tore up and it lead me to my next question. 

"Does everything have a spirit?" 

"Yes." Chang smiled patiently at me and I began to suspect I was supposed to have gotten that a while ago. 

"Everything everything, or just certain things?" 

"I'm afraid I don't understand." 

"Well, clearly the river, and the trees, and apparently the moon and sun. But what about, say, soda cans, or candy wrappers, or clothing?" 

"I see what you're getting at. It has been my experience that all natural phenomenon have attendant spirits of some nature. Man-made objects don't usually, but some particularly well loved objects seem to develop something very similar." 

"So the velveteen rabbit could become a real bunny?" I was beginning to feel bad about all the stuffed toys I had discarded over time. 

"I can't speak to a particular case of that happening, but I suppose it could be possible. The Japanese have many stories of such things, but I am ill-acquainted with them. Perhaps someday you could ask a Japanese dragon about them." 

Visions of being attacked by my forlorn toys came to me. "I don't know that I really want to know."

Chang chuckled. "I suppose sometimes ignorance is bliss. But to the matter at hand, most all natural phenomenon have spirits. The power of the spirit does vary immensely. You're acquainted with the spirit of the river, and it is strikingly powerful, and with your connection it will become more so. But it is less powerful than some and more powerful than others. Do you follow?" 

"Yeah, that makes sense." 

"Good. Now the sun and the moon are arcana, mysteries of nature. They both have deities that represent them, throughout many cultures, but they are beyond those representations." 

"They're beyond God?" I was getting confused, again. 

"No, they are beyond the representations that the deities stand for. You see, the names and stories attributed to them are simply a manifestation of these powers and not the powers themselves. And what you will see tonight is also a manifestation. Though we as dragons are a part of the powers that arranged the universe, we are simply that. A part. We are not on the same level as those who created us." 

As Chang and I were speaking, dusk had settled and full night was coming on. When Chang was finished speaking he looked over my head and wordlessly indicated I should look in the same direction. I turned my head and saw the full moon rising above the horizon. As I gazed at the moon, it felt like it was the first time I had ever seen it. Her beauty was breathtaking. I was mesmerized.

*********************

I was home, with books spread out in front of me on the dining room table. Night had fallen, and I was wishing for perhaps the hundredth time I had stayed with Sebastian and Chang. But this was important coursework, and needed to be done. If I could focus on it, I could probably get it done quicker. I sighed. Then I heard a noise at the door. 

I started to get up to see what it was when the door came crashing in. Chad stood on the threshold, and the frenzied look on his face froze my blood. He stared at me, his expression seemed at once visceral and confused. I considered saying something, but he appeared well past reasoning. The moment hung between us as though neither of us were certain of what we wanted to do. I was the first to move. I ran for the phone. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see him dart after me. I reached the phone before he reached me. I managed to get three numbers dialed before he pulled me off. In his state he didn't think to hang up the receiver. Fortunately, he didn't hear the voice on the handset over my screams. 

"911, please state the nature of your emergency."  



The Pearl Ch. 09



Edited by PennLady

This is a copyrighted work of fiction. All rights reserved.

*

I watched spellbound as the moon rose. It seemed to me to rise faster then it should have. Before I knew it, she was riding high in the sky and her light was everywhere. I had been out in the full moon before, but the light seemed different to me. More mystical, and wonderful, and just more beautiful than I'd ever realized. The air seemed infused with the light and I wondered how I'd missed this beauty all my life. 

As I watched, lanky rabbits began to congregate in the meadow, all staring upward. It was one of the weirdest things I'd ever seen. I looked back to Chang and he indicated I should continue to watch. I turned back and saw that they were now all sitting up on their haunches, faces aimed at the sky. I felt something brush over me, causing a thrill that made my scales shudder. I could almost pass it off as a breeze, but I felt it in my pearl. Then things shifted. 

For a moment everything dimmed, like a filter was drawn across my senses. Before I could react everything was back and even though I appeared to be in the same place it was all very different. The light was different. My eye-sight as a dragon was better than as a human, but things were heightened. The interplay of light and shadows were softened as normally happens in moon light, but somehow the light itself seemed sharper and brighter. The sounds were clearer and more pleasant. The smell of the air was distinct, and with each breath I could smell and taste the magic of this place. Or this version of the spot, since where I was hadn't physically changed. It was the same spot on the river.

The feel of the grass and water against my body was more intense. The river's energy washed over me where my legs and tail were still in the water, and I could sense the energy of the grass as a tickle against my scales. I could feel the moonlight on my body. It was the most exquisite feeling, sublime and ineffable. The moonlight worked under my skin and scales, coursing throughout and settling in my pearl. And, oh yeah, I wanted more. 

I looked back again at Chang, and even he looked different. The moonlight glistened off his dark scales and his golden eyes took on a silvery sheen. But again, the biggest change was hard to quantify. Chang always had a natural majesty to him, even when he was relaxed or joking, but now it was more pronounced, and he was even more imposing. The air danced around him as if just waiting for his command. I could see the energy of the river interact with the moonlight where it reflected off the water. 

"Um, what just happened?" I managed to squeak out. 

"Reality has two sides to it, the physical and the spiritual. You have spent the entirety of your time in the physical. This is the spiritual." 

"And they are linked," I said, trying to get the rules straight in my head. "But if that's so, how can you be in one then in the other, like they're different places?" 

"They are interlinked and interwoven, flip sides of the same coin. But same as there is a width between the two sides of the coin, there is a very fine...." He paused here, searching for a word. "Barrier, I suppose, between them. Most stand on one side of the barrier or the other. However, though very few are aware of it anymore, most beings are capable of traveling through. Some are able to stand in both at once, but I find that experience gives me a headache." 

I was about to comment on being certain someone produces a pain medication for just that particular ailment, when Chang again indicated the field I had turned away from. He wore a knowing smile. 

"I believe she would like to speak with you." 

I turned back to the meadow and saw a figure that nearly stopped my heart. A woman stood perhaps a couple of yards away from me. She was statuesque and stunning, her pale skin was luminous and her silver-white hair fell in a radiant cascade down her back. Her clothes seemed to be made out of the moonlight and flowed gracefully around her. She had a gentleness to her, and a stillness that instantly put me at ease. She sat, though on what I couldn't see, and gestured for me to join her. The rabbits gathered at her feet. 

I hesitated a moment, overwhelmed. Then with an insistent GO the river forcibly pushed me towards her. It was the first time I could remember the river doing something like that. I walked over, feeling shy. 

When I reached her, the rabbits made room for me. Caught up in the peacefulness of her presence, I laid my head in her lap. There was a strange Wonderlandesque nature to the perspective. The rabbits seemed to be proportionate to me as a dragon, and to her as a human. But I was able to lay my head in her lap as though she were roughly the same size as me. I was beginning to see how this could give someone a headache. Not that it really mattered. She ran her hand through my mane and I sighed. 

"So you are Chang's newest fledgling and protégé." She smiled down at me. Her voice was lilting and pleasant. 

"It is very nice to meet you."

"It's very nice to meet you too, ma'am." I nodded.

She gave a delicate laugh. "You certainly are polite." 

I heard Chang's laughter. "Perhaps he is to you, my lady." 

She regarded my face as she continued stroking my fur. I soaked it up, her attention and her energy. "Oh, come, he can't be that bad." 

"As you say, my lady." I wasn't looking at Chang, but I could hear the smile in his voice. 

She continued studying me. She raised my head up and looked into my eyes. Her eyes were the night sky, and I became lost in their depths. I felt her look through me, into my soul.

"You have a very gentle nature, and a true heart. You will make a very fine addition to this clan." 

She arranged my head in her lap and traced something on my forehead with her finger. I trembled at her touch. When she was finished, I felt infused with the moonlight. There was an intense high as the energy flowed through my body. It was ethereal and felt like a breeze blowing inside. It also tickled a bit, like the river. While the sensations seemed contradictory they melded seamlessly. As the energy settled in my pearl, my head lolled in her lap and my body lazed bonelessly at her feet. The coalesced energy ensconced inside me felt like a piece of the moon itself and I couldn't have been happier to have her favor. 

She observed my state with quiet amusement. "I had originally planned on acquainting you with some of the lore regarding your clan. But looking at you, you are clearly a fledgling barely able to keep your eyes open." 

I wanted to dispute the statement, but she was right. I was coming down from the high fast. I was still carrying a comfortable buzz, but sleep was not very far away. "I'm afraid you may be right, ma'am," I slurred, then remembered what Chang called her. "My lady," I corrected. 

"Then I think I'll leave that instruction to Chang. Do you have any questions, Sebastian?" 

"Why do oysters make pearls from moonlight? And why are all these rabbits here?" I was allowed to ask the closest thing to a deity I've ever seen a question and what do I come up with? Rabbits and oysters. Oh, the banality of it all. 

I heard Chang chuckle. But to her credit, the moon took my questions seriously. 

"Oysters make pearls so that humans may have a bit of the moon at all times. The human race was meant to live with magic, and in earlier times the people made good use of it. It may now seem that people have moved past their need for magic, but they haven't. They have simply buried it under distractions. So these little reminders are still left to be found." 

I nodded and did my best to assimilate what she was saying, but sleep was closing in fast. 

"And these are not rabbits." She bent and picked one up. She laid it along her forearm with the animal's chest resting in her hand while stroking it's fur with the other hand. Up close I could see the build was longer than a rabbit, and the ears and legs were bigger. "They are hares, and they are sacred to me." 

"Right, bunnies are sacred. Don't hurt the bunnies or anything bunny-like," I muttered as sleep overtook me. 

When I started to wake up, it was daylight again. I could tell I was still in the spirit world. I was curled up in a loose spiral in the meadow with Chang curled around the outside edge. As I looked around and fully woke up I felt myself slide back to the physical world. Since the two looked exactly alike, the experience was watching Chang fade out as the light and sounds became duller. It was about mid-afternoon. I thought about trying to go back when I was seized by a sudden dread. Something was terribly wrong. The buzz from the previous night faded as a chill spread through me from my pearl. I bolted for the river, thrashing into it as the dread escalated to panic. 

"What happened?" I demanded. 

nothing has happened in or around the water 

"Are you sure?" 

yes 

That answer didn't jibe with what I was feeling. I ran quickly as I could for the closest bad section of the river. It didn't occur to me to call Chang, but he caught up with me there anyway. 

"Sebastian, what is the matter?" His confused tone only frustrated me more. 

I rested my front legs on the concrete bank and craned my neck trying to see if something was wrong. Nothing seemed out of place. 

"I don't know," I snapped and repeated my actions on the other side of the bank. Still nothing. I began to head further down river when I felt something pin my tail to the bottom of the river. I looked back to see Chang standing on my tail. 

"Calm yourself," he said gently. 

"But...." I protested. 

"Calm yourself," he repeated, a little more forcefully. 

"Chang...." I tried to pull my tail out from his grasp. 

"Sebastian." This time his voice was accompanied by thunder. I stopped what I was doing and looked at him, mouth agape. 

"Thank you." His tone was calm again. "Whatever has you so frenzied is not going to be well-met by you in this state. Now take a moment and calm yourself." 

My nerves were raw even though my panic hadn't lasted long, and the last thing I could imagine doing was calming down. Whatever this was, it demanded action. I returned to trying to tug my tail out from Chang, without success. 

"I don't have time." 

"Do you know what's wrong?" 

"No," I admitted, almost afraid to elaborate further. 

"So, if I let you go, what are you going to do?" He was reasonable, but I wasn't in the mood for reason. 

"Run down river and try to find what's wrong." Because it had to the river, damn it. It had to be. If it wasn't the river, there was only one other thing I could think of that would cause this feeling, and that made me feel worse.

"Did the river indicate there was a problem?" 

Again with the reason. 

"No it didn't," I snapped irritably. "But something's wrong." 

"And you think running haphazardly in a random direction to an unknown problem that may not even be on the river is the proper course of action?" 

I could understand the logic he was laying out, but this feeling, this sense of urgency, pushed me to act. 

"Well, what would you suggest?" 

"Calm yourself. I believe I may have mentioned that." 

I gave in and took several shuddering, ragged breaths. It didn't help much. 

"Now, then. What is going on?" 

I took another, deeper breath and tried to will my heart to stop thudding in my chest. "I don't know. I woke up over there then came back here and had this horrible feeling something was just wrong. Really, terribly wrong," I repeated for emphasis. 

"And the river gives no reason for concern?" Chang's queries continued to be calm, but I saw the worry enter his eyes. 

"The first thing I did was ask the river. The river said nothing had happened." 

"And do you have a reason for doubting the river's assessment?"

I looked down. "No." 

"I see." Chang lifted his leg from my tail. "I shall go check on Dakota." 

I looked up and started to protest. 

"Sebastian." He was still gentle, but firm. "I understand how much you love her, but that is what makes you a particularly bad choice. Control is not your strong suit, and in your agitated state you may do something you will come to regret." 

Apparently, Chang had reasonableness in bulk. However, an image of brick shit house lying dead under my claws came to mind and I looked back down. He was right, of course, no matter how much I hated it. 

Chang read my mood. He nudged me against my head and I looked up. There was no judgment in his eyes or words. "Sebastian, you mean well and I do not believe for a moment you would hurt anyone unprovoked. But you have a dragon's nature and when that is provoked, you will respond like a dragon. In time you will learn to integrate and control those responses, but until then it is better to avoid confrontation. You have my word, I will do everything in my power to assure her safety." 

His words both comforted and concerned me, and reminded me how much more I had to learn. I nodded. 

"I will let you know if she is in danger." And with that he was gone. 

I walked back to the meadow and curled up as the river offered what consolation it could. 

**************************

I sat in my living room, surrounded by things that usually comforted me but now only offered nothing. My comfort, my feeling of safety, had been shattered. I had always thought of my home as a sanctuary, but it had failed to keep the bad things away. I heard the sound of the door splintering off it's hinges seconds before it slammed into the wall. I jumped until I realized it was in my mind. 

I remember reading somewhere that humans invented time. I never believed it. Humans didn't invent the passage of the seasons, the inevitable progression of life to death, or even the passage of day to night. Now I realize what we invented was the perception of time. The phone had to be reached to be useful, and that took time. More time then I thought I might have. 

Even with the phone reached, it would take time for help to arrive. I felt phantom blows along with some very real pain on my bruised flesh. The knuckles I cut on his teeth when I punched him in the mouth throbbed, as did my tetanus shot. It seemed that time held it's breath, then stood still. 

All at once the police were there, pulling him off of me. Between my last look at the clock and this one maybe twenty minutes had passed. Barely any time at all. With that realization, time resumed it's flow. 

The police took my statement. I was taken to the hospital, and Chad was taken to jail. One of the police officers stayed with me and took me home when I was released. There was some bruising, a cut on my hand requiring a tetanus shot, and some pain pills. Fortunately there was nothing I needed to be kept for. On the ride home the officer advised I call a friend. She gave me a card for victims' assistance and confirmed with me I wanted to press charges. I did. 

When I got home, I wedged the back door shut and nailed a piece of wood across it. It wasn't a great fix, but would hold until I got the land-lord over. Then I straightened my kitchen and tried to go to bed. But time wasn't done playing it's games with me. The night dragged on. I didn't take the pain pills at first; when I'd taken them in the past they made me loopy. After the hours stretched for awhile, I took them just to have the release of passing out.

I knew Chad's time in jail was limited at best. Since we never lived together, the attack wasn't considered domestic violence. It was assault and the break in was aggravated trespass, both misdemeanors. As it was Chad's first offense, they wouldn't keep him very long. Maybe overnight, maybe a bit longer, then one of his friends would bail him out. I looked at the business card the police officer had given me and thought about the advice to call a friend. There was a friend I wanted to call. Badly. I was honestly kind of surprised he hadn't shown up yet, but I was also thankful. 

The look Sebastian had had at the restaurant haunted me. He would have taken on Chad there, had I let it go that far. I suspected...no, I knew this time was only different in the level of what was done. If Sebastian was willing to take Chad on for being a general ass in a restaurant, for this he would do much worse. If I told him. I chewed my lip as tears welled in my eyes, because, damn it, I wanted to tell him. A few words would be all it took, and Chad would know pain much worse than what he visited on me. 

Sebastian's power wasn't mine, but I could direct it. I knew what he could do, and in the end, I knew what he most likely would do. I also knew what he'd do to himself afterward. I'd seen it all before. I had the power to destroy Chad for what he'd done to me, and I wanted to. But in the process, I would also destroy part of Sebastian. The price was too fucking high. I had the power, but was helpless in the face of it. The tears turned to sobs as loneliness and rage crashed down on me.

A knock on my front door shook me from these thoughts. I went to the door wary, though it wasn't like Chad would knock. I looked out the window and was surprised to see Chang. I wiped away the tears and opened the door to let him in. The look of sorrow and sympathy that crossed his face as he looked me over nearly undid me. I looked away. 

"I am so very sorry this happened to you," he said in a soft voice. 

"How did you know something happened?" I asked, looking back to him. 

"Sebastian knew, but clearly not at a time when he could do something about it." 

"Does he know what happened?" 

"No." 

"Good," I replied as I turned away from him. 

"Are you afraid of what Sebastian will do?" His voice was still soft. 

"No. I'm afraid of what I want him to do." I could hear the hardness and rage in my voice, and was ashamed of it. I burst again into tears. I felt his hand on my shoulder and I let him turn me around. The expression on his face spoke only of concern for me, no judgment. I fell against him and sobbed as he gathered me into his arms.

We stood like that, for how long I couldn't say. After a while, I realized he was humming. It was a sweet, pretty sound that struck me as out of place with the rumbling thunder I associated with him. It was comforting. I pulled away as I again wiped tears from my face. 

"What is that?" I asked, my voice catching slightly. 

"Just a simple tune I learned long ago. I find music can be soothing." He guided me to one end of the couch and gestured for me to sit. He sat at the other end and folded his hands in his lap. 

"Can you tell me what happened?" 

I nodded as I took a moment to compose myself. "It was Chad." 

"I feared as much. Are you badly injured?" 

I shook my head. "No, just some bruising." I raised my hand. "And I cut my hand on his teeth. What have you told Sebastian?" 

"Only that you are not in any immediate danger, and that there are some things I need to sort out." 

"He accepted that?" 

"He didn't like it. I may be testing the strength of our relationship, and his faith in me, but I am telling him the immediate truth." He paused, giving me a pensive look. "What more of the truth he is told is at your discretion." 

I pulled my knees up to my chest. "What do you think?" 

"There are no simple answers. I do believe he has the right to know. But I also understand, and furthermore, agree with your concerns. What is being done about Chad at this time?" 

"He was arrested and I'm pressing charges." I sighed, my frustration coming through. "But it won't be long before somebody bails him out, I'm sure." 

A look of concern came to Chang's face. "Can you specify what 'not long' is?" 

"My guess, today or tomorrow." 

"I see." Chang looked speculative. 




The Pearl Ch. 09



"Is everything all right?" 

He cocked his head at me and I could see a ghost of his smile. "Well, you appear to have a former suitor who has decided to resort to violence as a means of expressing his displeasure. I don't believe that qualifies as 'all right'." His expression became serious, once again. "However, your safety is paramount in this situation. How is it you planned on handling him should he return?" 

I hated to admit I hadn't thought that far ahead. Before I could say anything, a loud pounding sounded at my kitchen door in the back of the house. My heart leaped up into my throat. Chang remained calm. 

"Perhaps we should see who that is." 

Chang rose, came over to where I was sitting, and extended his hand. I hesitantly took it and got up. Chang looked me in the eyes. 

"Do not be afraid. I will not allow anything to happen to you." 

I believed him. He was a two-thousand-year-old dragon, what was Chad really going to do to him? Even so, some illogical part of my brain was still afraid, for both him and me. I followed him from the living room into the kitchen just in time to see Chad kick in the door again. He appeared to be a little more in control tonight, but just how much was hard to tell. He was surprised to see Chang blocking his path, and stared dumbfounded for a moment. 

From my vantage point, I could see Chang's face and he seemed to be studying Chad. Then with a lightness that surprised me, he said, "Now that was just rude. And uncalled for. We were coming to get the door." 

This caused Chad to stare more, his expression turning from dumbfounded to incredulous. He took a step in, but it was cautious. 

"And who the hell are you?" Chad asked. I'm sure he meant for it to sound threatening, but it came off as almost timid. Like he knew to be afraid. 

Chang paused then answered him, "I am addressed as Chang." 

Chad snorted, his incredulity giving way to more aggressive feelings. He squared his shoulders and stood up straight, trying to intimidate. "You are addressed as Chang? Fine. Now get out of my way, Chang." 

"No." Without looking away from Chad he asked me, "Dakota, do you want this man to enter?" 

The question had a ritualized feeling to it, and I knew my part in the ritual. "No," I answered, my voice firm. 

"Very well." He returned to Chad. "There is nothing here for you, go on your way." 

Chad kept staring, and I could understand why. Most of the time Chang was not intimidating as a human, this time included. However, I knew that could change in an instant. Though he was about as tall as Chad, he carried himself with an ease that did not speak of hidden power. He didn't give an inch. My curiosity was getting the better of my fear as I wondered what Chang was doing, because all of this felt very deliberate. 

"Who are you, Mr. Miyagi?" Despite the situation, it took a lot of self control not to break out laughing at that. 

Chang cocked his head, as if trying to place the name. "No, I am Chang." 

"Look, I've had about enough of this...." Chad began. 

"As have I," Chang cut him off. "So I will tell you again. Your presence is not desired here. Dakota has told you to leave. I would recommend you spend some time in reflection on why it is she does not want your company and why you are so determined not to accept that. Perhaps upon meditation you will find the reasons and how to correct for them." 

I could tell Chang was doing something. I could feel the subtle brush of his power as it moved between him and Chad, similar to the time he worked on me. On some level, Chad could tell, too. 

I saw it in Chad's eyes before I saw him swing. I saw his eyes harden, then the visceral look from the day before displaced everything else. His fist raced toward Chang. Without seeming to move at all, Chang caught Chad's fist in his upraised hand. I shouldn't have been surprised, but I flinched. At first his expression stayed the same, then saddened as Chad futilely tried to pull his fist away. 

"I had hoped you would willingly accept my advice to reflect upon yourself and your actions. I am disappointed, but not surprised. Very well. If you will not take it upon yourself, I will give you the time and space to consider who you are and what you want to be." 

To my amazement, feathers began to sprout on the arm that Chang was holding. They traveled swiftly across his body. As they did so, his body compressed in on itself, his head taking a different shape. Chad continued to shrink and reform until standing in Chang's palm was a bird. He was a yellow bird with a black cap on the top of the head, and black and white wing and tail feathers. It's strange the things you think of when something unexpected happens. My first thought was, My car will never be clean again. 

The little bird puffed out his feathers and chirped away in a tone that can only be described as angry.

"Even has a bird you are cross." He paused as Chad continued to verbally assault him. "What right? Well, what right did you have to be here? It's all a question of perception." He paused again for a long stream of chirps. "Forever? Not even I have forever. But I can't say how long. It's entirely up to you." Another expressive volley from Chad. "You must determine that on your own." 

Chang cupped the Chad-bird in both of his hands and walked over to the door. He pushed against the screen door and tossed Chad into the air. He meticulously traced something in the air and closed the door. Watching Chang, an idea had worked it's way into my head, a delightful thought that I put aside before voicing. Now was not the time, but I told myself to be on the look out for the right time. 

Chang worked the main door back into place. He regarded it, checked the locks and the hardware, then announced, "This will need to be replaced." 

"It needed to be replaced after the last time he kicked it in." I stood silent for a moment. The events of the last two days caught up with me and I felt drained, but I thought I should say something. 

"Would you like some tea?" I asked. 

Chang's smile was sad, but at least it was a smile. "Yes, that would be lovely." 

I put the water kettle on the stove and poked around the cupboards for tea. Chang sat down in one of the kitchen chairs. 

"I have chamomile, mint, and lavender. Oh, and rose hip." 

"Lavender, please." 

"Cream and sugar?" I pulled the tea down and grabbed cups. 

"In tea?" Chang sounded intrigued. 

It occurred to me that was more of an English tea tradition than Chinese. 

"Uh, yeah. That's how my aunt always took her tea. I picked it up from her." 

"Certainly. I would like to try it that way." 

I set out the cups, as well as the half-n-half and sugar. I took a seat opposite Chang and waited for the kettle to whistle. Chang and I sat in silence. His appeared contemplative, mine was shock. 

"What just happened?" I asked when the silence became too much. 

"Something very complicated. And unexpected. I shall have to watch him very closely." 

"Sebastian or Chad?" 

"Both, actually. But I was referring to Sebastian." 

"He had something to do with all this?" I stood to get the kettle as it began to blow. I couldn't begin to see how Sebastian could have been involved.

"Not directly. But he did sow the seeds without realizing it." 

I poured the water over the teabags and set the kettle back on the stove. 

"How?"

Chang fiddled with his tea bag and I remembered that tea bags were also more English then Asian. He didn't seem to bothered by it, though. It appeared to give him something to do while he gathered his thoughts. 

"I have said previously that we leave parts of ourselves in the contact we have with others. You remember that, yes?" 

I nodded. 

"In the confrontation with Chad, Sebastian forced Chad to back away. He used his power as a dragon to dominate Chad into leaving. A preferable outcome to a brawl, certainly. But in so doing, he opened Chad." He added the cream and sugar to his tea. 

"Opened?" I wasn't following. 

"All people are more than they seem. And all people have a greater awareness of the supernatural around them. But they ignore it and go on their way. Chad's awareness may have been much closer to the surface. That touch began to awaken it, and the moon called it out. But there is a darkness in Chad, one that he both skirted and reveled in. I think he enjoyed the feeling of power it gave him, but he was careful how much he indulged. Unfortunately, in some the moon calls madness instead of ecstasy." Chang sighed. "It is up to him whether he controls that darkness or whether it controls him." He took a long sip of his tea. "This is very good." 

This was a lot to take in, and though I had questions, I was also very tired. "Which do you think he will chose?" 

"I wish I could say. But the choice, and the challenge, is for him to master himself. The spell will not break until he does." 

"Why give him any chance at all? Why not just leave him a bird?" It came out a lot nastier than I had meant for it to. Chang seemed to understand. 

"I would never ask for you to forgive or forget what Chad has done. His actions towards you were despicable. These things are not to be forgotten. But what is also to be remembered is that the ones on the edge need looking after too. He may remain a bird, it's not out of the question. But he may grow. I have faith in that possibility." He reached out his hand and laid it on top of mine. "Whatever will be, will be." 

I laid my other hand on top of his and gave him a faint smile. "I guess I'm just not that evolved." 

He returned my smile. "I only ask you to be who you are." A bemused look crossed Chang's face and he shook his head. 

"What is it?" I asked, thankful for a distraction. 

"Sebastian is rather insistent on joining us. However, the choice of company is entirely yours. If you wish, I will leave. I must say, I do not feel comfortable leaving you alone with your door so damaged." 

I nodded. "I understand. Actually, I think I would like company. Are you going to tell him what happened?" 

"I have to. He needs to know." 

"I can see that." 

Sebastian arrived in short order. The first thing he did was catch me in a fierce embrace. He held me so tightly I almost couldn't breathe. I was about to say something when I felt him trembling against me. I put my arms around him. 

"It's OK," I said softly. "I'm all right." 

"I know," he said. "But please, just let me make sure." 

So I let him hold me as long as he needed to. I had managed to keep him from being hurt in one way only to discover he was going to be hurt in another. Because once he realized what had happened with Chad, I was pretty certain he would blame himself for setting this in motion. By keeping me safe in one instance, he set the stage for me to be hurt in another. It wasn't his fault. But this situation was getting seriously fucked up. 



The Pearl Ch. 10



Edited by PennLady

This is a copyrighted work of fiction. All rights reserved.

Author's note: This begins the second part of The Pearl. I had to make the switch to third person narrative due to the needs of the story. The original idea had been to write this first person from Qiang's point of view, but too many important story points happed outside of his awareness. I'm sorry for any loss of quality or enjoyment. Also, at this point the story does start to get darker. Nothing yet in this chapter, but in future chapters. I hope that it is still enjoyable and that all of you will stay around to the end, but I felt I should give a warning. 

The pearl part 2: Whore Spider Chapter 10 

"Yeah, no, really, everything is going pretty good here, Mom." Sebastian sat in human form on the living room floor of Dakota's house. He leaned against the bottom of the couch with Dakota's cell phone pressed against his ear as he made his "whenever he got a chance" call home. 

"Classes? Maintaining a strong 'B'. My major? Um, yeah, ah, I'm looking at Asian Studies. Yeah." He grimaced as he heard Dakota's soft laughter from where she reclined on the couch. "Yeah, I know uncle Matt has a job lined up for me in his firm if I go for a law degree, but I don't know that that's, y'know, me. And besides, I though nepotism was bad." There was a short pause as he listened to the voice on the phone. "Ok, ok, I promise I'll give it more thought. Am I seeing anyone? Yeah, I met this really great girl...woman," he corrected as Dakota smacked him in the back of the head. "Woman, really great woman. Meet her?" Sebastian craned his neck back to look at Dakota. She looked thoughtful, then nodded. "Sure, I think I could arrange something, y'know, if we get serious. Right now, I'm just shaggin' her." 

"Sebastian!" came through the phone loud enough for Dakota to hear. She worked hard to contain her laughter. 

"Just kidding, Mom. Chill. I'll see what I can arrange. Thanksgiving? Ah..." Sebastian paused as he grappled with how to put this off. "Yeah, well, it could be a challenge. I mean, they only give us two days off, plus the weekend, and that's not a lot of time. And I've got a ton of classwork." He paused again. "Uh-huh, uh-huh, I know.... I know you don't hear from me much, and I'm sorry. It's just that things have been really, uh, busy lately. And at least I'm not calling for money." After another pause Sebastian dropped his head. "I know," he said with a sigh. "I'm sorry, I'll see what I can do. Yes, I love you too, Mom. Look, I gotta go, talk to you later. You too. Bye." Sebastian closed the cell phone and handed it back to Dakota, a dour look on his face. 

"That bad, huh?" Dakota asked as she took the phone and placed it on an end table. She picked up a remote and turned on some music. 

"I should be getting frequent flier miles from that guilt trip." 

"No one guilts like a mom, that's for sure. Law degree, huh?" Dakota laid forward and draped an arm over Sebastian's shoulder and down his chest. Sebastian took her hand and kissed it. 

"Yeah, my uncle thinks he can get me a job in the firm he works for. He probably could, but I was never interested in a law career. Even before the whole dragon thing." 

"Have you considered just telling your parents what happened?" 

Sebastian looked back at Dakota in disbelief. "'Mom, Dad, I'm a dragon.' That's a hell of a closet to come out of. And not only did I become a mythological creature," he continued, gesturing with his other hand, "I became a myth from somebody else's culture." He laid his head back and closed his eyes, trying to rein in some of his frustration.

Dakota ran the fingers of her free hand through his hair, as she would his mane. She smiled as Sebastian sighed and let his body relax at her touch. "I know it would be a major shock, but like you said to Chang, it's not like you can't prove it. Besides, this lying has got to stop. The story is always vague, you feel like crap afterwards, and eventually they may want to see some grades or something. What are you going to do, show them my paper work with the name changed?" 

Sebastian opened his eyes and peered back at her. "Would you take some law courses?" 

"Sebastian...."

"I know, I know. Maybe I'll tell them I joined a 2012 doomsday cult." "Oh, yes, because the thought of their son being in some wack-job cult is so much more comforting." 

Sebastian turned to face Dakota, looking put out. "Hey, sarcasm is my gimmick. Get your own." 

"Oh, so sorry. I wasn't aware you had exclusivity." Dakota's tone was dry.

"Good." Sebastian sat back against the couch. "Just remember that." 

"Have you thought about asking Chang? He may have some suggestions." 

"Considered it, but haven't mentioned it. I suppose I probably should." 

"Oh, you think?" 

"Now what did I just say about sarcasm?"

Dakota shook her head. She sat up, placed her legs to either side of Sebastian, and began to rub his shoulders. He leaned forward, giving her more access to his shoulders and upper back. A sound that started as a moan worked it's way into a purr. 

"I wasn't sure this would feel as good or if the musculature would be too different" she said. 

"It feels wonderful." 

Sebastian luxuriated in Dakota's attention. The music was only broken by Sebastian's contented sounds. After listening for a few minutes, a question occurred to him. 

"Dakota, is this song about some guy walling someone else up alive?" 

"Oh, yeah. It's the Alan Parsons Project. Their first album was a collection songs based on the works of Edgar Allen Poe. This one is 'The Cask of Amontillado,'" Dakota explained in a tone Sebastian found far too cheerful for the subject matter. "Their cover of 'The Raven' is really interesting, but I think I like the version I have of Christopher Walken reading it a little better." 

Sebastian turned around and faced Dakota. "So when you're just chillin' you listen to music about people being walled alive and demonic birds? That's kinda disturbing." 

"Oh, come on. Poe is a classic. Besides, October is just next week. Time for a little creepy, don't you think?" 

"Oookay," Sebastian said with the exaggerated expression and tone normally reserved for the dangerously insane. "If you say so."

"Fine." Dakota grabbed the remote and pressed a button. The overture to The Nightmare Before Christmas started. "Better?"

"Oh, no, really, I like listening to music to go mad by." 

Dakota tossed her head and crossed her arms as she leaned back on the couch. "Dissin' my music," she muttered. 

"Well, I'm sorry." Sebastian said as he climbed on the couch next to her. "However can I make it up to you?" He moved in close and brushed his hand across her face. He pulled up short when she winced. Though the bruising had faded in the days since the attack, the area was still tender. He wanted to kiss her, ached to, but the constant reminder of what happened continued to haunt him. He forced himself forward and kissed gently on the forehead. 

"I'm sorry." Tears gathered in her eyes. 

"Sorry for what?" Sebastian asked as he sat down on the couch next to her, just barely touching. "I'm the goof who forgot bruises hurt." He laid his hands in his lap and studied them. "I never wanted you to be hurt." 

Dakota turned so that her back was against the arm of the couch and sat cross-legged to the side of Sebastian. She grabbed both of his hands and turned him so he was facing her. 

"I'm not porcelain. I'll be all right. It'll heal in time." 

Sebastian raised his hand and ran it through her sandy blond hair. He then cupped his hand behind her head and gently pulled her against his shoulder. She laid her head against his shoulder. He held her for some time as tears silently traced their way down her cheeks. 

Outside the window, someone scrutinized the scene. A small bird, black and yellow, glowered at what he saw and cursed his impotence. 

Chad was at last beginning to understand some of what was going on. Both the jerk-off with Dakota and the freaky Asian guy who turned him into a bird were dragons. Dragons of all goddamned things. How the fuck did his woman get involved with dragons? He shook his head. He knew something was strange after the confrontation in the restaurant. Then after that meeting, the entire fucking world went cockeyed. As he had become aware of a world far larger than he'd ever imagined, he was frightened and maddened. He had to impose order on the outside world, so that he could impose order on the madness raging inside his head. Because the madness caused his hold on the darkness to falter. 

The darkness, the darker side of himself, had been his friend, and his power, growing up. Just indulge it a little and no one ever fucked with him. A memory rose up: Chad at eight standing over his older tormentor. The boy was bent before him, gasping and crying after Chad had done to the ten-year-old what Chad's own father had done to him. In that moment it had felt so good. He learned a valuable lesson that day about the nature of pain and its use in self preservation. Hurt them back and they leave you alone. Later came the lessons on its use in control. Hurt them first, and you can control them, and not get hurt to begin with. 

After the restaurant, it started to slip along with the rest of his world. The darkness still felt good, but it needed to happen only when he wanted it too. So he had to restore order, and he had to start with Dakota. 

Chad ruffled his feathers as an involuntary shiver ran through him. Yes, it felt good, but sometimes it scared him, just how quickly and completely he could be lost in it. Even before things went crazy, he sometimes saw himself going further down a path he wasn't sure he liked. He wasn't sure where it ended, but imagined it as engulfed in darkness. 

He adjusted his weight as the branch rocked and tried to put his thoughts in order. Sometimes, he conceived that the more he indulged his darkness the more it eclipsed any of the nobler aspects he might have. But for all of this, he never realized he was at war with himself. These questions of what he wanted versus what he should want that had plagued him before only became worse when all he had to do all day was look for seed. He considered making a pass by Dakota's car when a voice behind him froze him in place. 

"I should hope you realize this is not the most expedient route back to your human form." 

Chad recognized Chang's voice. He looked back, uncertain what to expect. He saw neither a human nor a dragon. Instead, a falcon gripped a branch slightly behind him with wickedly sharp claws. The keen eyes of a predator regarded him over a cruel curved beak. 

"Furthermore," the raptor continued in that oh-so-calm voice, "you should really pay much better attention to your surroundings or you will not survive long enough to find your way out of the spell." In an explosion of feathers and flapping, Chad was away from the branch. 

**********************************

Qiang lounged, sprawled out across the mosaic tile floor of his lair, curled amongst the many pillows strewn about. The constantly burning fires caused his red and gold scales to glitter and glimmer. Mingzhu straddled his back and tenderly worked the kinks out of the muscles that lay under his scales. The contented rumble that ran through him was strong enough to send vibrations through his favorite's legs and into her body. She was unclothed, as she often was given the heat of the place, and the feeling pleased her. She leaned forward and brushed her breasts against his back. 

"Is this to your liking, my love?" She gazed at him through half-closed eyes. 

Qiang raised his head and regarded the maiden poised on his back. Her eyes were nearly perfect almond, delicately slanted and brown as the good earth. Her long black hair cascaded down her back, highlighting the honeyed tones of her skin. He raised his tail and ran the soft fur of the end ruff along her back, eliciting a sensual stretch from Mingzhu that exposed her willowy body. To his liking? She was entirely to his liking. He curled his tail around and curved the tip of it under her chin. 

"Of course, my dear. As always." His smile turned mischievous as he ran his tail down her front, tickling her as he went. The sway of her petite breasts and curve of her body, nearly as lithe as a dragon, enchanted him. When he reached her sex he tickled her there also. He knew the effect his tail had when slipped up inside of her. The movements of her body in pleasure excited him. 

Mingzhu was not his first, of course. There had been others, and Qiang prided himself on his knowledge and technique, acquired over many years. He felt Mingzhu's body respond to his ministrations. She rocked on his tail, her eyes now closed, and ran her hands down along her stomach as the fur tickled its way further up inside of her. The smell that began to permeate the air caused stirrings deep within him. 

He pulled his body in on itself until he was about seven feet long. From experience, he knew this to be a good size. The hairs of the tail still brushed against her, but Mingzhu now straddled a much smaller girth. She smiled as Qiang rolled over onto his back underneath her and she settled back against his legs. His tail slid out, trailing liquid, only to be replaced by his growing shaft. Mingzhu worked herself around Qiang's penis as he entwined himself around her. He held her tenderly in his coils, reveling in the feeling of her flesh against his underscales. She wrapped her legs around his body as the muscles of her vagina clamped down on the shaft buried within her. What the teasing with the tail had started, Qiang finished as he twisted himself up inside her. She shook against him as her orgasm swamped her. 

Qiang uncoiled himself and held her against his body. She kissed him on the chest and draped her arms around him. He brought his head down and what started as a sensual lick across her shoulders and neck became a passionate kiss as the dragon form melted into a human. He knelt on the floor, Mingzhu's legs around his hips and his still erect penis in her. He laid her back on the floor and continued to thrust into her as his tongue teased her mouth. She tightened her grip on him and kissed him back. His orgasm blazed through them both. Mingzhu cried out as Qiang roared. As they recovered, they lounged against the pillows. 

She was silent, as she often was after lovemaking. Qiang ran his fingers through her hair where she laid her head against his chest.. She was attentive as a lover, and eager, but in many ways a child when compared to him. He hated to admit it, but her innocence was one of the things that attracted him. Though he had had favorites before her, and he had always been fond of them, Mingzhu was dancing dangerously close to love. Dangerously close for his comfort at any rate. He still mourned the loss of the friend he had come to America with, Mingzhu's great-great-great grandfather. 

He had not had a favorite in years prior to Mingzhu, and had never taken one from the family of his friend that still served him. But in what felt like the blink of an eye, he watched her grow from a child to a woman. He desired her, but he had desired others before and abstained. He gathered his strength around himself like a barrier. Then one day she looked at him with those perfect almond eyes that shone with both desire and innocence and said, "I love you." His every defense fell and he toppled like a mountain without foundation. He had prepared himself for battle and was defeated by her gentleness. 

Qiang gazed down at Mingzhu and smiled at himself. He would expect a gweilo fool of a dragon like Sebastian to fall in love with his favorite, but Qiang had considered himself wiser than that. As Mingzhu's soft breath on his skin stirred feelings deep within him, brushing close enough to his pearl to frighten him, Qiang was forced to consider that perhaps the fledging may yet have the last laugh in this matter. 

Mingzhu turned her face up to Qiang. "Is everything all right, my love?" 

"Of course, my dear." 

With her face turned up to him, Qiang once again contemplated just how lovely her lips tasted. Then he leaned down to see for himself. 

The next day, Qiang found himself with a most unusual visitor. In the office of the restaurant, he listened as a goldfinch told him of it's woes. Apparently, a previous suitor of Miss Dakota's had run afoul of Chang. Qiang remembered him well enough, even if he did wear a much different form then when he was last at the restaurant. Qiang's assessment at the time had been that he was rude, and something of a bully. An even worse form of gweilo than Sebastian. Still, that he had managed to figure out there was a true dragon attached to the restaurant was something. For this reason alone he entertained his diminutive, ensorceled guest. Chad reached the end of his diatribe. 

"I see." Qiang rested his check against his hand with his elbow on the desk. "Well, that is certainly an inconvenient place to find yourself, but I fail to see how I could be of assistance." 

He listened again as Chad chirped away. "Yes, I could possibly return you to human form. And your offer of handling Sebastian for me is rather....obvious. But there are two problems with your plan. One, age equates to power with dragons. Chang is significantly older than I am, hence significantly more powerful. My chances of safely undoing his spell are not very good at all. At best I would accomplish nothing but getting in the middle of his business. At worse...well let's just say if my talents were not up to the task there's no telling what the effect on you could be. And there are much worse things then being a bird. Secondly," Qiang removed his hand from his face and folded both arms on the desk. He leaned in close to Chad. "and equally important, you are being disingenuous with me. Sebastian is not you principle target." He raised his hand as Chad began to indignantly chirp. "Oh, I know --you would keep to whatever bargain you and I forged regarding Sebastian. But your true target is Dakota." 

Chad fell silent and stood, his beak gaping. 

"What, you think I don't know your mind?" Qiang laughed. "You were clever enough to find me, but you have much to learn. And while I have little kind to say about Sebastian, I'm not looking to harm him, either. And I have no issue what so ever with Dakota, nor can I think of a reason she deserves to have you in her life at this time."

Chad remained silent for a moment, then erupted in a long and expressive set of chirps. 

Qiang shook his head, exasperated. "There is a way out of you predicament, but it's not through me. You must find it for yourself." 

He listened for a few moments longer before he sat back in his chair and propped his elbows on the arms of the chair, fingers interlaced. 

"You know, you may want to take your leave before you find the end of my patience." 

The next volley of chirps gave no ground. 

Qiang leaned forward again, with his elbows on the desk, and rested his chin on his interlaced fingers. "Because songbirds are a delicacy and I haven't had lunch." 

Chad was gone in a yellow and black flurry. 

It appeared to be the day for unexpected guests, for later that afternoon Qiang was advised someone was there to see him. His surprise at finding Chang waiting at the bar was considerable. He crossed the seating area and lowered his head when he reached Chang. 

"You honor me with your presence," Qiang said. 

Chang smiled. "I do? How marvelous. Given our previous meetings, I was uncertain what my reception here would be." 

Qiang raised his head and kept his composure but inwardly winced at the reminder. "The circumstances of our previous meetings were indeed-- tense. I hope to in some way atone for my past improprieties." 




The Pearl Ch. 10



Chang nodded his head in acknowledgement. "It just so happens I am here to inquire for a favor. Is there a place we could talk?" 

Qiang cocked his head, again surprised as he couldn't imagine what Chang would need that he could provide. He nodded and gestured for Chang to follow him. Which he did. 

Qiang led his guest through the seating area to the back of the restaurant, then through the kitchen and into his office. After Chang entered through the office door, Qiang closed it behind him. Chang looked to Qiang and waited to be directed to a seat. 

The office was of a moderate size. Off to one side was a desk with a computer on it. There was a chair behind the desk and a few others placed around. The office was sparsely decorated, but a large tapestry hung on the wall across from the door. It was an abstract design in reds, yellows, golds, and oranges. When one gazed at it for too long, the colors seemed to move. Qiang walked over to the tapestry and laid his hand on it. The colors flared together into moving flames, then parted, revealing his lair. He bowed low and indicated for Chang to enter. 

There wasn't much that could astonish Chang, but Qiang had managed it. Before him stood Qiang's lair, his heart center, and he was freely giving Chang access. Chang crossed the office and stopped in front of Qiang before entering. 

"And now it is you that honor me. I neither expected nor required access to your lair." 

Qiang remained bowed. "It is the least I could offer, revered elder." 

Chang placed his hand and Qiang's shoulder and eased him upright. "I also do not require subservience. I have precious little use for it." 

Qiang dipped his head. "Sebastian is then very lucky." 

Chang smiled. "I believe he considers himself such." 

Qiang again motioned to Chang. "Please, enter." 

Chang crossed the threshold, followed closely by Qiang. The area was very warm, with a large burning brazier in the center of the room, and smaller ones in the corners. Pillows of various sized and shapes were scattered on the floor. Near the front, but off to one side, was a sitting area with a table and chairs, several large bookcases crammed with books, scrolls, boxes, apothecary cabinets, and other things. A large bed was farther down in that section. In the distance, wind chimes stirred in the rising heat. Most of the room was cavernous open space. Easily large enough to accommodate the two dragons. 

Chang inhaled deeply, scenting rich incense, burning wood, old paper, herbs, and ink. He could feel Qiang's magic. It wasn't only the elemental magic most dragons dealt in. The place was well warded, with a mix of the elemental dragon magic and the more arcane practices Qiang favored. It was complex, and impressive, for a dragon as young as Qiang. 

Chang looked back to Qiang, and waited to be directed. When Qiang shifted to the dragon form, Chang did likewise, and when Qiang settled himself on the floor, Chang coiled himself amidst the pillows. Qiang waited for Chang to begin. 

"Thank you again for you hospitality," he began. "I'm afraid I have been called back to the Middle Kingdom on clan business, and I beg your indulgence to look after Sebastian while I am gone." 

The announcement shocked Qiang. He remained speechless for a few moments before stating, "I am-- honored." 

Chang smiled. "I think surprised might be equally accurate." 

Qiang nodded. "That also. May I inquire on what business you are called back on? It must be important to pull you away from a fledgling." 

"I certainly hope it is," Chang responded, suddenly irritated. "The messenger had very few details. To a certain extent, it's my fault. I didn't leave a clear delineation of how power should be broken down in my absence. And now there are matters that others want me to weigh in on personally." 

Qiang was equally surprised at this revelation. "Forgive me, elder, if I am being impertinent, but why didn't you leave a line of succession, considering you would be gone for at least a hundred years."

Chang continued to reproach himself. "I had not anticipated staying that long. When the pearl was activated, I couldn't locate it at first. I had to search for it. I had assumed it was being usurped. The farthest thought was that I would find a new fledgling with a long-lost pearl." He shook his head. "I couldn't have been happier, of course. But I was ill-prepared. I sent a message home, but now my attention is required. Worry not. While I am there I will arrange things so that I will be able to completely attend my duties to Sebastian." 

"Have you considered taking him? At some point he will need to be presented to his clan, not to mention the higher courts." 

"This is true. His contact with the higher courts will be hampered by being bonded to a river here. But once the bond is suitably strong, he will be presented. That has not yet happened. It is far too early to remove him from the river." 

Qiang nodded his head, lost in thought. Chang's logic was clear and unassailable. But that left the question of a temporary guardian, as the river wouldn't be able to. He looked back to find Chang watching him. 

"Are you able to do this for me?" Chang asked. 

"You have placed a great deal of faith in me," Qiang hedged. "Especially considering my opinion on your fledgling is less than favorable." 

"This is true, and your past issues are not forgotten. But you are a dragon, as is he. You both have the mandate of Heaven, and I think you realize that. He is too young to answer to it, but you are not. If you agree to look after a fledgling and fail in your duty, you are aware of what you will lose. But the choice is yours. He is not of your clan, and these problems are only as much of your concern as you make them." 

Qiang nodded. He could say no. He would lose no face and there would be no repercussions. But he remained where he was only at Chang's sufferance. Debts were owed and Qiang did not find them easy to walk away from. Besides, even if he hated to admit it, Sebastian was a dragon and had an exceptionally strong connection to his river. It was strong enough to fend him off to the point where Qiang didn't even realize Sebastian was fighting without a pearl. With his pearl properly in place, he should be fine. What could go wrong? 

"I will accept this responsibility." 

Little did Qiang know he was about to live in interesting times. 

"Qiang?" Sebastian roared as his tail made a loud slap in the water. He suddenly felt a lot like Calvin left in the care of Rosalyn. 

"Yes, Qiang," Chang sighed. He was not surprised by Sebastian's reaction, but it was inconvenient. "I understand your concern, but I haven't any other options." 

Sebastian groaned, but offered up no further protest. Chang crossed his arms and fixed Sebastian with a look. 

"You, yourself said your last meeting with him went very well." 

"Yes, in that he didn't try to kill me. But that doesn't mean I want to answer to him." 

"Nor will you be. He isn't in charge of you, he is meant to watch over you. While I certainly encourage you to continue exploring what you've learned, formal lessons will be suspended until my return." 

"Why do I need someone to 'watch over me' anyway? Can't I just chill till you get back?" 

"Because you are a fledgling, and will be for the next hundred years. I would be lax in my duties and obligations if I did not appoint someone as guardian. I am sorry for this, but it is unavoidable." 

Sebastian looked away and glowered. "Fine," he snarled without looking back. 

Chang took a moment to compose himself before responding. While he was pleased to have a new fledgling, over the years he had forgotten just how difficult one could be. He walked over and laid his hand on Sebastian's shoulder. Sebastian brought his head around a looked at Chang. 

"Do you trust me?" Chang asked. 

"Of course," Sebastian snapped, then caught himself and looked down. "Of course I do," he said in a quieter, more respectful tone. 

"Then trust that I would not leave you in the care of someone who would abuse the position. Your previous experience with him colors your view, and that is understandable. But you have to give him the room and opportunity to show you something more." 

Sebastian looked back over to Chang. "I suppose." 

"Besides, he was formally asked and formally accepted. He is bound by that pledge." 

"So if he fucks up he'll lose points or something?" 

"It depends on how you mean 'fuck up'. A simple mistake is forgivable. For a serious breach of his obligation he'll lose his mandate and very possibly his life. He is aware of this." 

"Mandate?" 

"Essentially, the blessing of Heaven. It is one of the things that makes a dragon a dragon. As a fledgling, you are too young to fall under the mandate. But at some point, you will have to answer to the mandate." 

"Oh joy, more stuff I don't know." 

Chang smiled and patted Sebastian on the leg. "Do not worry over much about it. Heaven does not chose pearl bearers or make dragons lightly. The pearl would not have gone to you if you didn't already meet the qualifications. Now, I am unsure how long I will be gone. I will make this as brief as possible and return. When you are more fully bonded to the river, I will present you to your clan and the courts. Is there anything further before I go?" 

"Yeah, bring me something back," Sebastian grinned. "Oh, and twitter me." 

"I will see what I can do." Chang smiled. "I could offer to twitter you everyday save that I have no idea what it is, and little desire to find out. However, perhaps I will bring you something back." Then he was gone. 

Sebastian flopped himself down in the river, taking some comfort in the feeling of the river against him. 

had to be him The river opined with disdain. 

"Yeah, tell me about it." Sebastian paused before asking, "so, how long do you think it will take before we're sufficiently bonded for me to leave?" 

not to even think about it 

"Yeah," Sebastian said with a smile, "I thought as much."



The Pearl Ch. 11



 Author's note. I have changed the naming of the chapters again. I am going back to the old style. For anybody who missed chapter 10, it is between chapters 1 and 2 at the beginning of the list, entitled The Pearl 2. Sorry for any confusion. Also, this is the section of the story where things start to get a little dark. 

The Pearl part 2: Whore Spider

Chapter 11 

Edited by PennLady

This is a copyrighted work of fiction. All rights reserved. 

Qiang stood as a human on the river bank and waited, forcing himself to be patient. As he surveyed the river for what felt like the hundredth time, he caught sight of Sebastian. He crossed his arms and watched, with eyebrows raised and jaw set, as Sebastian approached. 

"So kind of you to come," was Qiang's sardonic greeting. 

"Yeah, well, I knew it was you." 

"So you took your own sweet time?" 

"Something like that." Sebastian shrugged. 

"Fine," Qiang sighed. "How do you want to do this?" 

"Why are you asking me? You were the one left in charge." 

Qiang struggled to hide his irritation. He pinched the bridge of his nose and said, "Look, neither of us would have made the arrangement. But made it is. The question is: how do we survive it? I promised your elder I would watch you, and by Heaven, that's what I'm going to do." 

"Then do it," Sebastian grumbled. 

Qiang looked as if he might say something, but reigned it in with a visible effort, then recrossed his arms in front of himself and looked down to gather his thoughts. 

"But you see," Qiang began as he looked back up to Sebastian and took a step forward. "The how of it is open to interpretation. The most literal course would be for me to arrange for others to see to my current responsibilities and install myself here, twenty-four/seven, until Chang's return. In the absence of a reasonable suggestion from you on your preference, this will be my course of action." 

"WHAT?" 

"Yes." Qiang uncrossed his arms and shrugged. "That way most thoroughly and completely discharges my obligations." 

"Yeah, now, you see, I'm not really liking that." 

"Oh? So what is your suggestion?" 

"Chang would stop by like, once a day." 

Qiang gave Sebastian a baleful look. "I assure you he was well aware of anything that was happening in his absence." 

"He didn't know it when you showed up to kick my ass." Sebastian glared. 

"Oh, he did. And he went to the pearl. Which wasn't with you." 

"Oh yeah." Sebastian rolled his eyes. "There was that. Then why does he need you to look out for me?" 

Qiang brought his hands together in a gesture of frustration, then pointed to Sebastian. "He is going to the Middle Kingdom. To the spirit side. When crossed over, you're only aware of whichever side you're on. Being there," Qiang pointed off to one side, "he won't be aware of what's happening over here." Qiang pointed in front of Sebastian. "Understand?" 

Sebastian looked down, sheepish. "Yeah, I knew that. Sorry."

Qiang inhaled and let out a slow breath. "All right, now that that is cleared up, how are we proceeding? Stopping in once a day is not sufficient when I have no means of knowing if something else comes up." 

Sebastian shrugged. "I don't know. It's not like I can call your cell phone." 

Qiang reached into his jacket pocket. "It just so happens that I have this." He held up a silver chain, from which dangled a stone about the size of his palm. 

Sebastian leaned in close to examine it. The stone was oblong, though it's shape wasn't exact. The stone was bright red-orange, semi-transparent, and glistened in the light, throwing off flashes when the sun hit it just right. The silver chain looked delicate and filigreed. Sebastian could sense the magic. 

"What is it?" he asked. 

"A fire opal." Qiang twirled the gem, refracting more light. "But more importantly," he continued, "it's a talisman." He stopped the twirling stone so Sebastian could see the back. There was a small Chinese character inscribed there. "With this, you can contact me if you need my immediate attention." 

Sebastian cocked his head and regarded the stone. While it was large for a gem stone, it was small compared to Sebastian's dragon form. 

"Perhaps you've noticed I don't have pockets." 

Qiang snatched the side of Sebastian's head and pulled it close then hung the talisman off one of his antlers. As soon Qiang released his head, Sebastian jerked back. 

"You could have asked," he complained as he twisted his head to get a look. 

"I suppose I could have." Qiang stifled a smile.

"I can't see it." 

"It's on your antler, of course you can't see it." 

"What if it falls off?" 

"Can you sense it?" 

Sebastian stood a moment in contemplation. Qiang blessed the silence. 

"Yeah, actually, I can." Sebastian's tone was surprised, but pleased. 

"Well, if you stop sensing it, it's fallen off. At which point you should locate it and put it back. However, it's on there pretty snug so there shouldn't be a problem." 

Sebastian paused again as a thought hit him. "This was your plan from the beginning." He gave Qiang a suspicious look.

"Yes, it was," Qiang conceded with a smile. "But trust me, I am more than willing to implement my first plan and will do so, in a heartbeat, if this doesn't work."

Sebastian was none to pleased to be outmaneuvered by Qiang. Even though he wouldn't do it, Sebastian said, "so if I get into some kind of trouble, you'll have to answer for it?" 

Qiang continued to smile. "Yes, that's true. And if you intentionally do something with that goal in mind, Chang will know. I believe you've already covered yanking my chain?" 

Sebastian sighed. This was definitely turning into a Calvin/Rosalyn sort of situation. 

A few days, and dutiful Qiang check-ins, later, Sebastian sidled his way into one of the barren areas along the river. It had always given him the creeps, but the energy had somehow changed in the past day. Remembering Chang's admonition to keep these areas under close scrutiny, he was determined to ascertain the reason why.

unwise to do alone best to wait for chang

"I don't know when he'll be back and I don't know if this will hold until he is." Sebastian took a long and careful look around. He surveyed another industrial area that had been long-abandoned. Sebastian wondered at the fact that there were so many along the river. The river's length was considerable, about eighty-five miles, and some development would be expected. The areas that concerned him felt forsaken; as though someone had tried to do something, then left in a hurry. He shook himself. Maybe he would ask Dakota to check the river's history. 

The sound of the water took on the character Sebastian had come to recognize as the river thinking. After a moment the river came to the resigned if disagreeable suggestion, wait for qiang or summon him

"I'm not going to call him if this is the metaphysical equivalent of a dead woodchuck under the porch, unpleasant but not a big deal. I have his little token." Sebastian gave a shake of his head for emphasis. "If this goes south, I'll call him damn quick, I promise." 

Apprehensive, Sebastian climbed out of the river. He analyzed the feeling of the ground and took a deep breath as he sought out what had changed with this place. The ground was gritty under his feet. He lowered his head to his front leg, gathered dirt and let it run through his claws. The ground cover appeared made up of ground debris from whatever manufacturing occurred here. The air was bitter and left a sour taste in his mouth. But the elements of this place conspired to keep their secrets from him. He could discern nothing. He picked his way further in. 

He could have sworn he felt eyes upon him, but when he looked around he saw no one. Only spiders that clung to the tumbledown buildings. Damn if it didn't look like they were watching, he thought. Sebastian ducked his head into one of the buildings and paused to listen. He pricked up his ears to catch a faint sound. Sobbing. He listened a little longer, and determined it wasn't a trick of the wind. He shifted to human then checked for Qiang's talisman and found it tied into his hair. 

"Uh, hello?" he called tentatively. "Are you all right? I'm not going to hurt you." 

Sebastian made his way further into the rubble, guided by the sound. As he walked along, he felt something brush against him, like he was walking through strings, or webbing. He brushed himself and looked about, but saw nothing. He continued on. 

He felt the pull of the river, but hen it lessened, as though the volume had been turned down. Sebastian stopped as the strangeness of the place got to him, and turned to go back when the crying became louder and more insistent. He paused and considered what he should do. He made his way forward, toward the crying. 

After a few minutes of searching and passing through invisible cobwebs that made his skin crawl, Sebastian found a figure huddled in a corner. The sobbing softened as he drew near. The figure appeared female, though he couldn't be sure. She was curled into the corner, with her back to him and she was covered in ragged clothing. He sniffed the air around her, but caught no scent. That seemed odd, but the harder he tried to focus on why, the more the idea slipped away. 

"Um, ma'am, are you all right?" 

She looked over her shoulder at him. Her face was pretty, though sad. But underneath the display of emotion, the face seemed somehow contrived and predatory. As Sebastian focused on what was wrong with the face, his thoughts blurred and he brushed at what felt like webbing on his face. He shook his head and tried to gather his thoughts. Why was he here? Oh, the woman. 

"I'm sorry," he said, looking again at her. "Are you all right?" 

She looked into his face and nodded. She held out her hand and he helped her up. Her grip was surprisingly strong, and cold. Her fingers were long and oddly jointed. 

"I am better now, thank you." She rose up unsteadily, then faltered and fell against him. Sebastian reached out and caught her. He looked down into her pale, too-perfect face and became lost in her endless black eyes. She reached her hand up and drew it around his neck. Sebastian flinched as he felt a sharp sting. He started to reach around to brush it away, but she caught his hand. 

"You are so very kind, please let me repay you," she whispered, and pressed herself against him. 

Sebastian felt his body respond to her, but something in her manner caused his every instinct to flare in warning. He began to look back and pull away. 

"That's...that's all right. If you're OK... I'll just...go on my way." 

She tightened her grip on his hand and turned his head back to her. He felt chills begin to run through him as a cold sweat broke out on his body. Still, the urges her touch elicited were getting stronger. Stronger than his instinct to flee. 

"Please, stay with me. I am afraid and I need you." She shrugged just enough for the threadbare garment she wore to fall open, revealing the curve of her breast and the barest hint of her nipple. Sebastian wanted to taste it in the worse way. 

The river burst into Sebastian's awareness. He could discern no words, but the urge to bolt surged through him. Almost on its own accord, his body pushed the alluring stranger away and turned to run. He ran into a thick wall of webbing he hadn't seen before and was instantly tangled in it. 

The sense of the river and urge to escape dominated his awareness for a few moments more, then everything went numb. His legs gave out from underneath him and he fell to the floor as the webbing vanished. He laid there and tried to remember what he had been doing just a moment before. Something to do with the river. It seemed like it was fairly important...

He felt a cool and gentle touch on his back. He eased himself into a sitting position and looked to see the strange young woman kneeling down next to him. 

"Oh dear, you poor thing. Are you all right?" 

Sebastian regarded her. It seemed there was something he should be thinking about her, that was unrelated to her attractiveness. Something bad.... But she seemed so nice. 

"Yeah, I'm all right. Tripped over something I guess. Awfully clumsy of me." 

She smiled, shy and seductive at the same time, and slid closer to him. "I think you were very brave and kind to come in here and check on me." She ran a hand down his side. "I think such things should be rewarded, don't you?" 

Sebastian nodded. She enclosed him in her arms and kissed him as she pushed him over onto the floor. He offered no more resistance than a rag doll. Then her clothes were gone, as were his, though he had no memory of either of them undressing. It seemed to him there should be something strange about that.

Her body was pale, but dull, like ash. Her hair was long and black, like shadows that clung to her head and body. Her face and body were perfect, but there was something off in the perfection. Everything about her that was beautiful had an odd quality about it. 

She straddled him. Her pubic hair rubbed against him, stiff and wiry, and caused some irritation to the skin along his abdomen. She ran her hands down his chest. Her hands didn't feel right. Instead of fingers, it felt like little legs crawling over him. Spider legs. He shivered and his thoughts drifted to how much better Dakota was at this. He squirmed and tried to dislodge her. 

Dakota, this was not Dakota and that was wrong. The thought seemed to burn through some of the fog in his head and he tried to focus on it. The woman pushed him back down and kissed him again with more force; her tongue crawled into his mouth, probing. His struggles weakened as his mind was again filled with fog. 

"Now, isn't that so much better?" she murmured. "Nothing to worry about at all. I'll take good care of you." 

She trailed a long line of kisses down his chest, leaving behind little red welts. When she reached his penis she took it into her long-fingered hands and began to stroke and fondle it. Sebastian's body responded to her attention and she smiled. She knew her craft. 

"You're fate is sealed, little one," she whispered. "But that doesn't mean you should suffer." Once he was solid and erect, she settled on him. She twisted and weaved her body around him until she enveloped his shaft within her. Her movements remained slow, but gradually built momentum until his body surrendered itself to her. 

She shrilled her pleasure to the sky and the watching spiders as she milked his body for all the vitality she could plunder. As she came back down, she watched Sebastian's body as it shuddered. She was concerned for a moment, and reached down to his chest. She was relieved to find breath still moved and the heart still beat. 

"You had me worried for a moment," she confided to the spent Sebastian beneath her. "But then, you're not all you appear to be." 

She climbed off of him and moved his head into her lap. 

"Show me, my precious. Show me your true self." 

The human form melted into the dragon, still laying his head in her lap. He blinked and looked at her. He could tell he had shifted but didn't care. When she smiled at him, nothing else mattered 

"What a beautiful creature you are," she crooned. She noticed a stone hanging from one antler. She removed and examined it then twisted her features into a look of disdain. 

"Oh, we can't have this around, now can we?" She gestured and an enormous spider darted towards her. 

"Take this," she said. "And take it far from here." The little creature obeyed. 

She turned her attention back to Sebastian. "Yes, my fine young dragon, you shall make a very fine repast indeed." She turned and reached for a stringed instrument. The neck was short, and the body like a lute. It had four strings, and the woman began to draw a beautiful, haunting tune from it. Sebastian turned his head and watched her play. 

"What is that?" he asked, dazed. 

She smiled down at him. "It is a biwa," she explained. "It is an instrument traditionally played by my people. Do you like it?" 

He nodded. 

"Good. I think it is nice to have some civility in the world." She continued playing. 

The river raged, incensed by what had transpired. The water rose several inches and slapped against the shore and building. But even in its rage, there was nothing the river could do except knock a few straggling spiders into the water to drown. The building was sealed; the water could find no way inside It had no means to contact anyone, and its only conduit was trapped in spells. 

Unknown to the spiders and their mistress, or even the ensnared dragon or his river, a hidden observer shivered at what he saw below. His yellow feathers were dulled with dust and stray webbing. He merited no scrutiny from the forces around him. His attention was riveted on the spectacle, and his mind raced. 

The simplest thing, the darkness whispered, is do nothing. Let the spider have its prey and he will no longer be your concern. 

For a moment he considered taking flight, even started to open his wings. Yet he couldn't tear his eyes away from the creature that held sway over Sebastian. For even as he saw a beautiful woman, the other senses he was seeing the world with showed a far different picture.

The face still had some of the recognizable lines of the mask, but they were distorted by extra eyes, and mandibles formed a second mouth below the human one. The dark hair fell in sensual waves, but a multitude of spiders swarmed in the depths. The neck, shoulders, the arms playing the instrument, and the breasts could easily enough pass for human, in spite of the ashen hue. The enormous set of spider limbs curling forward from the where lower back blended into a mass behind her did not carry forth the illusion. 

Her stomach, abdomen, and cunt would all pass for human, except they were attached to the grotesque body of a gigantic spider that sprawled out behind her. With a sickening dread he realized the cunt synced up to where the mouth would be on the spider body. Sebastian was resting his head on a nest formed of the front two legs, which in the illusion appeared as a human lap. The other legs were curled up against the body as the creature rested. 

Chad was repulsed not only by the creature's appearance, but by what he sensed from it. Malevolence rolled off of it in noxious waves. It spread this malignancy around itself, seeking to destroy whatever it could. Chad was terrifyingly aware of how easily this creature could end his existence. 

All the more reason to run, confirmed the darkness, his darkness. 

But...but...but. 

He couldn't bring himself to flee. A thought was turning over in the corners of his mind. An association that, though it came unbidden, was all the stronger for it. There was another, deeper, reason he wanted to flee the scene below. He worried at the formless thought and tried to pull it forward into his consciousness. He puffed out his feathers and twitched his wings in frustration. There was something familiar in the abomination below. Something he couldn't quite fathom, and it made him uneasy. 

It's me. The realization broke over him with shattering simplicity. The bloated horror plucking its instrument below was not only a reflection of his own darker impulses, but also a shocking indication of things to come. 

This was the end game of his own darkness, for him to become nothing more than a hateful thing, preying on any foolish or unlucky enough to come within striking range. 

He sat stock still, the enormity of the realization weighing on him. Finally, he asked himself a simple question: 

Who am I? 

In the silence he knew perhaps not the answer, but what he wanted the answer to be. He took flight. 




The Pearl Ch. 11



Dakota tossed her book bag into the back of her car and slammed the door. The parking lot was three-quarters full, given it was just past one in the afternoon. She had just enough time to grab a quick bite before her next class, and then it was off to a shift at the library. 

She wanted to squeeze in a visit to Sebastian, but it was looking like a no-go at the moment. She sorely wanted to go, and was more than tempted to blow off her class, but she had done that a few times before and while it hadn't yet affected her grades, she knew it would if she kept it up. 

Still, there had been an uneasiness earlier that had crawled on the edge of her awareness, like a spider too quickly skittering across her skin. Then it was gone, and she had felt nothing more. In fact, she hadn't even thought about it until just now. She stood and attempted to analyze her feelings. It wasn't the uneasiness coming back. She was just suddenly thinking about it again. 

She leaned against the driver's side door, uncertain. She tapped the car door key against the door frame as she thought. She was pretty sure Sebastian would not be happy to be the cause of her grades dropping. Come to that, she wouldn't be too happy about her grades dropping either. So, lunch, class, work; decision made. She slid the key into the door lock, then paused. 

Go to him. The thought impressed itself upon her consciousness. 

"But I have things to do," she said aloud, though to who she didn't know. There was only herself in the parking lot. She thought about her schedule. She wouldn't be working too late. "After work. I'll go after work." 

NOW! GO TO HIM NOW! 

She jumped, and looked around. She saw no one there. She was still alone in the parking lot. She shivered for a moment, then ducked into her car and headed off. 

Perched on a lamp post, his body shaking from effort, Chad watched Dakota drive off. Once he felt able to, he flew off in the same direction. 

Dakota stood on the bank of the river. She had the strangest feeling the river was trying to tell her something. The water was moving much faster than she had ever seen, and she could almost pick out words in the sound of its rushing. The more she tried to focus, the more it faded away. With a growing sense of anxiety, Dakota called out to Sebastian. 

Back in her den, the spider was surprised when Sebastian raised his head. He blinked several times, then stared as if trying to focus or remember something. He heaved himself up and wandered back towards the river. 

"Where are you going?" She drew her hand along his tail as it moved past. 

He looked back at her. Though glassy-eyed, there was a look of elation. 

"To see Dakota." He walked towards the river. The spider frowned and set to weaving her spells. 

Dakota waited for what felt like much longer than the normal wait for Sebastian to appear. When she saw his familiar shape coming down river, she was relieved. It was short lived; his gait was all wrong. Normally he seemed to move with the river, as if a part of it. This time he seemed to be fighting his way through the current. With dread she also noted the water seemed to be driven away from him. When he stopped in front of her, his eyes where dull and empty. He smiled at her, but it was vacant. 

"Hey, Dakota, what's up?" He seemed to try to summon his normal enthusiasm at seeing her, but it fell flat. 

"Um, not a lot. Are you all right?" She reached out to touch him. The skin felt clammy, and she shuddered. 

"Yeah, I'm good. Why?" 

"Well, uh, I'm not sure." She swallowed in a dry throat. "You look a little, I don't know, peaked. And the river seems to be upset." 

He cocked his head and his smile brightened. "That's sweet of you, to be worried about me. But really, I'm cool." He nodded, then his head jerked around as if on a string. 

"I'm sorry, sweetie," he said without looking back. "I'm afraid I've got to go. See you around." Like an automaton, he turned and walked back the way he came with the same jerky gait.

"Sebastian!!" she called out after him. He kept walking away. 

Dakota drew in a ragged breath and let it out in a trembling sigh. Something was not right here. She looked around, as though she would find the answer in the river or on its banks. 

The river continued in its frenetic state. She knew there was a reason for it, a communication, but she couldn't figure it out. A flash of a wave caught her attention as it washed something into the water. As she continued to survey her surroundings, she realized dozens of spiders were gathered around. The ones by the river were scuttling away, but the rest were still. They were big spiders and more than she had ever seen congregating in one place. Weren't spiders solitary by nature? That was certainly weird. Not as weird as the sense that they were all watching her. And not in a good way. Dakota shook her head. 

OK, she thought. Something is obviously wrong here, but now I'm jumping at spiders. Get a grip. 

Dakota took a moment longer to reach a decision, then headed back to her car. Class would have to wait, and work, too. 

High on his perch, Chad also saw the spiders and he knew enough to know they were watching her. A sudden sense of dread worked its way up his spine as he realized he had inadvertently put Dakota, if not in the spider's web, at least on its radar. 

After a rush of broken speed limits and blown red lights, Dakota pulled into the parking lot of the Dragon's Garden. Fortunately, without a traffic ticket. She bolted out of her car and to the door of the restaurant. She entered and was greeted by a member of the wait staff that she didn't know. 

"I'm sorry, but may I speak with Mingzhu? It is very important."

The young woman looked at Dakota for a moment, then smiled and replied, "Of course." She walked back into the restaurant as Dakota waited impatiently in the front. The young woman returned with Mingzhu. As soon as Mingzhu saw Dakota's face, she rushed over, her concern evident. 

"What is the matter?" she asked. 

"Something is wrong with Sebastian. Is there any way I can speak with Qiang?" 

Mingzhu nodded and took Dakota's hand, leading her to the back. She caught the attention of her sister, Bao, and indicated with a gesture of her head where she and Dakota were heading. Her sister nodded in return. Mingzhu guided Dakota back through the kitchen and to an office door. Dakota received many questioning looks, but nobody said anything directly.

At the office door, Mingzhu knocked. 

"Enter," came Qiang's voice from the other side. 

Mingzhu opened the door and lead Dakota in. A look of surprise crossed Qiang's face. He rose to greet her, ducking his head in a brief bow while directing her to a seat. Dakota bowed in return and took the proffered chair. Qiang sat down as Mingzhu left the room. 

"What is the matter?" His voice was neutral, but not unkind. 

Now that she was here, Dakota was uncertain what to say. She looked down and twisted her fingers together as she gathered her thoughts. After a moment she raised her head and met Qiang's gaze. 

"Something is wrong with Sebastian." 

He leaned back in his chair. "All right. Can you tell me why you think this?" 

Dakota recounted her experiences of the day, from the uneasiness during class, to the sudden urge to visit him in the parking lot, and then the actual conversation with Sebastian on the river. During her explanation, Qiang rested his elbow on the arms of his office chair and interlaced his fingers with his index fingers pressed against his lips. He was attentive, but gave no indication of what he might be thinking. 

"I see," he said when she finished. "Was there anything else amiss? Anything around him that seemed, even if just slightly, out of place?"

Dakota thought of dozens of spider eyes appraising her with predatory inclinations. "Well, there was one thing, but I don't know if it means anything." 

"Every detail is important. Please, what did you observe?" 

"Well...there were spiders everywhere. On the bank, on the trees, just scattered around. But I don't know what normal spider population is." 

Qiang perked up. "Spiders? Were they large?" 

"Actually, now that you mention it, they did seem pretty big. A lot bigger than I remember seeing before. And it felt like they were watching me." 

"I see." Qiang rose from his chair, walked over to the office door and locked it. He then walked over to a brightly-colored tapestry hanging on the wall and gestured for Dakota to follow him. He laid his hand on the tapestry and Dakota jumped when it flared into life as moving flames. The flames parted, revealing his inner lair. He bowed slightly and indicated Dakota should enter. She hesitated, then stepped over. Qiang followed after and the doorway fell closed. 

The overwhelming heat of the place struck Dakota full force, and she removed her jacket. But she also sensed something else in this place. There was power here, but also a certain kind of beauty. It sent a small tremor through the piece of Sebastian that was becoming more ingrained in her. She rubbed absently at it and looked around in awe struck silence for some time before speaking. 

"This is beautiful."

"Thank you." Qiang looked at Dakota over the open book he had pulled out of the bookcase he stood in front off. "Needless to say, I don't bring many here. But time is of the essence, and I must trust you as you have trusted me." He went back to his book and flipped through it in silence a few moments longer. 

"Here it is." He went over to a table and laid the book open, indicating for Dakota to come join him. 

"Jorogumo," he said, as she approached. She looked over the book, which was hand-written in Chinese characters. There was a picture of some sort of spider-human hybrid on the page. 

Dakota looked over the image in disgust. "What's a Jorogumo?" 

"It means 'whore spider'. The Jorogumo hunts humans and other spiritual creatures and feeds off their life force not unlike a true spider feeds off the fluids of other insects. It does this primarily through sexual intercourse. It's a henge creature." He paused at Dakota's non-comprehending look. "A supernatural animal, essentially. The word is actually Japanese in derivation. Though the Japanese dragons will tell you Jorogumo came from China, the Chinese dragons will tell you they did in fact come from Japan." 

"Where do you think they came from?" 

A harsh look came to Qiang's face. "I say them came from Hell and their migratory patterns after that are not of my concern. In fact, my only concern with Jorogumo is sending them back to Hell." 

At the tone of his voice, the fires in the room flared up and Dakota jumped. When she looked at him again, Qiang was more relaxed, and the fires died down. 

"I am sorry," he said, his tone much calmer. "Though I have not dealt with a Jorogumo in at least forty years, the memories are still fresh. If a Jorogumo does have Sebastian in its web, and I think that is distinct possibility, it needs dealt with immediately and with finality." 

Dakota gathered herself. "OK, what do we need to do?" 

Qiang shook his head. "Not us, me. This is far too dangerous for you." Dakota was about to protest when Qiang continued. "This creature will not hesitate for a moment to kill you if it feels you are a threat to its hunt. And you are unquestioningly a threat to its hunt. I do not care to explain to either Sebastian or Chang upon his return that I allowed you to engage in this sort of operation."

"But..." 

"I am sorry, but no. Absolutely not." 

Dakota crossed her arms and was about to engage in the unstoppable force-immovable object portion of the discussion when it occurred to her this was wasting time. Yes, she wanted involved but Qiang clearly didn't think she should be. Whether it was due to sexist viewpoints or the simple fact he was far more powerful than her was immaterial. The argument could conceivably rage for hours and, whatever the outcome, precious time would be lost. 

"Fine. I'll head back home," she conceded. "But if there's anything I can do, let me know." 

"I will do so. I will arrange for Mingzhu to stay with you."



The Pearl Ch. 12



The Pearl part 2: Whore Spider

chapter 12

Edited by PennLady

This is a copyrighted work of fiction. All rights reserved. 

*

Qiang dismissed Mingzhu from the remainder of her shift and sent her home with Dakota. The move elicited some veiled looks from the staff. Though Qiang owned and managed the restaurant and could do what he wanted with the schedules, he tried very hard not to play favorites or change around the routine of the place. The larger portion of the work force had no idea who it was they worked for, and as it was found their employer to be inscrutable. Sometimes they found him down-right nonsensical. Qiang tried hard to keep the more draconic aspects of his life out of the restaurant. Seeing as this was his workplace, home, and lair, that proved exceedingly difficult. At his stern look people jumped back to their work stations. He knew this incident would be grist for the rumor mill, and it rankled him. 

Qiang stalked back to his office. Once inside, he locked the door and crossed through the tapestry to his lair. He had to locate the Jorogumo. The first step would be the opal talisman he left with Sebastian. He was aware there was a strong chance it had been removed, but it was the logical starting place. Qiang closed his eyes, stilled his mind, and reached out. 

Qiang arrived in a scrub grass field, confirming his fears. He looked around and his gaze fell on the opal. It was moving through the stunted grass. Puzzled, Qiang walked over to it. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was being carried by a spider. 

The body of the creature alone was the size of his human hand, he noted. Once it was aware of his presence, the spider slid the opal under itself and reared back on its hind legs in a classic threat posture. Qiang regarded the fierce guardian for a moment before walking off. 

The spider remained in posture until the vibrations of the threat creature's retreat were gone. The spider lowered its legs and preened in its victory. It had scared off the other creature and kept its cargo safe. The mistress would be so pleased. The spider beamed to itself about its prowess. A sudden and sharp pain in its side interrupted its self-congratulatory zeal. 

As the spider became air-borne, it reflected that perhaps the big creature was not as frightened as first assumed. When its arc reached the zenith and gravity drew it back to earth, the spider was forced to concede that the intruder hadn't been frightened at all. It didn't have much time for self-flagellation as it smacked the ground and ceased to think about anything at all. 

Qiang discarded his stick with a look of disgust and gathered up the talisman. He examined it for any trace of Sebastian, but the fledgling had worn it for too short a time to impress upon it. Qiang sighed and pocketed the opal. He then strode over the where the spider had fallen. He picked up its lifeless form and analyzed it; the spider reeked of the Jorogumo's energy. 

Excellent. Qiang thought. With luck, this little vile thing will show me the way to the large vile thing. 

Qiang sat at the table in his lair, spell paraphernalia spread out around him. Candles, some salt, a cord, incense, and books were arranged on the table. He lit the incense and candles, laid out a circle of salt and lifted the spider carcass. He held it in his hands and began to study the layers of energy that were still attached to the corrupt body. He found what he needed, and decided the moment he was done he would scrub his hands with bleach. He grabbed the cord and wrapped it around the spider. Setting aside his revulsion at the energy, he wove it into the cord. He set the wrapped body inside the circle of salt and laid the tail of the cord across the salt so that it trailed outside the circle. 

Qiang laid his arms on the table, outside of the salt and leaned over the spider. He closed his eyes and tracked the energy. In his mind he saw the thread as a thick strand of web with all manner of filth and rot interwoven. His instinct was to pull away, but he pressed on. In his mind he began to see an image of the creature. He was careful in his approach, but not careful enough and brushed against one of the strands of energy. He had an impression of being scrutinized, then the feeling of something striking his eyes. He flinched in his chair and raised his hand to his eyes. He only took a moment to clear them, but it was enough. The contact was gone. He waited, hoping for a counter attack, but the only thing to happen was the spider carcass and cord around it decayed. He snatched at it before it vanished and kept what was left, but the connection was severed. He looked again for the Jorogumo, but she was now well-hidden. 

"Damnation!" he spat. He slammed his hand down on the table in frustration. His eyes still stung. This was bad. He had gained perspective on his opponent, but at the cost of an important tool. The previous Jorogumo had been young and easy to goad into action. This one appeared more circumspect, leading Qiang to suspect it was both older and wiser. A bad combination in the game of Go that was developing with Sebastian as the prize. 

The Jorogumo hissed and cursed her foolishness. It had been too much to hope that a fledgling dragon would be orphaned and alone, she should have known better. Still, that it had taken this long for the other dragon to realize and act, and that it had had to use a round about conduit to locate her, spoke of an indirect connection at best. Perhaps a member of an allied clan. 

But what had alerted the dragon? She wondered. She stroked Sebastian's mane as he dozed and considered what may have happened. The more the Jorogumo pondered the question, the more obvious the answer became: the accursed female from earlier. She plastered a smile on her face and turned to Sebastian and ruffled his mane to wake him up. He blinked at her and smiled. 

"My precious," she said, keeping her tone mild, "who was the female you went to see?"

Even web-bound and partially drained, he beamed at her name. "Dakota." 

"Why yes, you had said that. But who is Dakota?" 

"Oh, uh, I guess she's my favorite. I really like her a lot." He smiled drunkenly. 

The Jorogumo smiled back at him. "Of course you do. Anyone can see that. I'm sorry to have bothered you, why don't you go back to sleep?" With a nod, his eyes drifted back closed. 

The Jorogumo crossed her arms and snarled, "What's the world coming to, fledglings taking favorites? Americans. They have no patience!" 

She rose up, paced, and worried at this newest problem. The first course of action she considered was to take the dragon for all the sustenance had right now and be on her way. However, haste made waste, and she wouldn't get nearly as much as if she continued to go slow. For now that still seemed the best option. But the female would have to be dealt with. She would have to be careful, however. Striking directly at the female might alert Sebastian and judging by what she'd seen, her sedate meal would turn on her quickly. Whether he was strong enough to harm her was immaterial. She would again lose quite a bit of the nourishment he could offer and that ran counter to her interests. How to remove the female without alerting Sebastian?

She wandered out of the building and stared at the river. She cast out for something she was certain she would find. Death. The Jorogumo had previously had cause to create killers, and found Bakemono, revenants whose angry deaths make them rise again, particularly well-suited to the task. People died often on rivers and bodies weren't always found. 

She located what she needed as an angry spirit answered her call within minutes. It was male, large and stoutly built, but missing an arm. With luck, it was just a death wound echo and she would be able to locate the appendage. If not, she would improvise. The spirit regarded her with open hostility. 

"What do you want?" Even though the words were whispers upon the wind, they carried the powerful rage of their speaker. The Jorogumo was pleased. 

"I will return you to your physical form and semblance of life. In return, you will serve me. Your first task will be the killing of a woman." 

Need and mistrust ran across the spirit's face. "What all is involved with this 'servitude' thing?" 

The Jorogumo shrugged. She had dealt with this manner of person before, who wanted to answer to none save themselves. She could extend a long leash when necessary. No matter its length, a leash was still a leash. "When I have need of your services, I will summon you. Until then, you are free to do as you please." 

The spirit contemplated for a little longer before agreeing. "Done," he barked. 

The Jorogumo smiled. She had yet to have an earth-bound spirit answer her call who didn't want another life. Or the closest it could get. 

She turned her attention to the river. She knew getting too close was dangerous, but she had to gather what she could of the spirit's remains to reanimate it. She wove a net of webbing and cast it out on the river. The river did try to pull her in by it, but she had expected it and braced herself. What was already an onerous task was made worse by the river fighting her, and dragged out the time it took to dredge for the body. When she started dragging back pieces, her frustration got worse. 

She looked over to the spirit who had said nothing while his body was being pulled up. He watched, the depth of his rage surprising even to her. 

"How did you die?" she asked. If the body was too torn up, it might be better to give up on this spirit and try again. Though his rage and power were impressive, she didn't have time to waste. 

His face twisted into a snarl. Without looking up, he responded, "A dragon killed me and tore up my body because I was taking this woman." The snarl turned into a predatory smile. "What a sweet piece of ass she was, too." 

"This dragon," the Jorogumo said as she continued to pull body parts out. "Was it blue and silver?" 

The spirit's head snapped up. "Yeah, how did you know?" 

"And the woman, was she yellow-haired with green cast eyes?" 

The spirit nodded, his eyes narrowed. "Yeah." 

The Jorogumo redoubled her efforts; this was just too perfect. It appealed to her sense of poetry. 

The greater portion of the afternoon and into the evening had been used to pull the body out. Unfortunately, the arm was not found. When she asked, the spirit informed her the dragon had eaten it. This surprised her, given how gentle he seemed, but confirmed how protective of the female he was. She knitted the body together with her own webbing and stuffed it with her own spiders. The spirit watched her work, his face twisted in disgust. 

"Is that really necessary?" he asked. 

"They will strengthen you," she explained without looking up from her work. "Do not worry, there will be no awareness but your own within this body." 

The spirit said nothing further. When she had the body together and stuffed, she set about to replacing the arm. She wove a limb out of webbing and attached it to the shoulder. She seized the spirit and crammed it into the body, holding it there as she sewed it into place. Then she stepped back and admired her work. 

As the bakemono rose unsteadily to his feet, the stitches and webbing vanished, leaving what could almost pass as human. Almost, except for the pale blue-white skin tone and the spider leg in place of an arm. The newly-embodied spirit looked himself over, a smile on his face until he came to his right arm. He stared at it, then frowned. 

"Hey, what's this?" he demanded, waving the limb around. 

The Jorogumo crossed her human arms. "Would you prefer no arm at all? I assure you, I am not sticking my arm down a dragon's throat. Besides, the limb is long gone, anyway." 

"It'll do." He twisted the arm around and got a feel for it. "Yes, I think this will do nicely." 

"Good, now remember, I do not care what you do to the female so long as she's dead by the end. I'll keep the dragon enspelled. And the dragon is mine. You surrender all rights to him by this agreement. Understand?" 

"Oh, I get it, I get it." He waved his spider arm in dismissal. Though he hid it well, she could read the lust her servant had for revenge on the dragon. If he kept it a fantasy, they would be fine. If he decided he was a match for his creator... well, he wouldn't be the first bakemono she had been forced to put down. 

"Do you still have her scent?" she asked. 

The rapacious smile from earlier returned. "Oh, yes." 

"Then have at her." 

Again, the Jorogumo's moves were watched without her knowledge. A goldfinch hopped carefully from branch to branch, changing position when it needed a better view and hiding amongst the bright fall foliage. He took in the entire scene below with mounting alarm. The whole situation was spiraling farther out of Chad's control, and it hadn't been in his control to begin with. He twittered to himself in frantic indecision. He knew he was no match for the Jorogumo or her new BFF. And neither was Dakota. 

He ran plan after plan through his mind. Going to the other dragon seemed like a singularly bad idea, considering their last meeting. Alerting Dakota the first time had been difficult and taxing. However, knowing this monstrosity was coming close behind gave him impetus to try again.

What could she do, even if she knew? Run, he supposed; a moving target was harder to hit. She seemed to be on good terms with the other dragon, to judge by her going to his restaurant.

Chad studied the creature. While he was fairly certain he couldn't rely on information gleaned from numerous zombie movies to judge how fast it could travel, he hoped he would still be able to outfly it, whatever he decided to do. He was about ready to take off when he heard the Jorogumo give the creature its orders to attack. 

Now's the time to go. 

He spread his wings, then stopped and stared dumbfounded. The creature stepped into the growing evening shadows, and while pulling them around itself, vanished from sight. 

"Mother pus bucket!!" Chad exclaimed, though it only came out as a loud burst of chirping. He silenced himself and looked down. If the Jorogumo had heard, she gave no indication. 

God-damned son of a mother-fucking bitch, he swore as he launched himself in the air. He headed towards the restaurant, his decision having been made for him. Why am I the only one who can't do that? 

Qiang poured over the books in his lair, desperate to find something to help him track the Jorogumo, or Sebastian. As the restaurant was essentially an extension of his lair, he was aware of what was happening. His office door was shut and locked, the signal that he wanted no interruptions. The crew he had was good, and could be trusted to run the place without constant oversight. The work through the dinner rush was like white noise to Qiang, a constant background sensation that he could ignore. Then chaos tore through the orderly energy, disrupting Qiang's concentration. 

He looked up from his book. What on Earth could they be carrying on about? He closed his eyes and calmed his mind. He reached out for the kitchen and an image formed in his mind. In his vision, he saw the staff chasing a small flying creature of some sort. A goldfinch. 

Qiang flew from his seat, stalked out of his lair and into the kitchen. 

"Quick, catch it," somebody was saying, chasing after it with a cardboard box. Several others were trying to corral the elusive little bird but without success. Qiang strode up behind the bird and caught it in his cupped hands, snatching it out of the air. 

"Nice catch, boss-man," beamed the worker with the cardboard box. At Qiang's look of annoyance, he blanched and regretted saying anything.

"Thank you," Qiang said, striving to keep his tone neutral. "I'll take this...outside." 

Qiang stalked out the back door and a little ways down the back wall. He verified he was alone, then cloaked himself before opening his hands. It was the same goldfinch as earlier, huddled and trembling in his cupped hand. 

"I thought I had made myself perfectly clear at our last meeting," he hissed. "Just what do you mean coming back here?" 

Chad exploded into a frenzy of chirping, and bounced around in emphasis of whatever point he was trying to make. 

"Calm yourself," Qiang snapped. "I can't understand a thing you're saying." 

Chad's stream of chirping came down a notch or two, still excited, but at least understandable. 

"Zombie?" Qiang asked, irked. "A zombie is an overused cliché of horror movies, and meaningless as a classification. Please describe what you're talking about." 

Chad laid out what he could of the creature, its origins and its plans. 

"Damn it. Do you know where Dakota lives?" 

Chad nodded. 

"Focus on it. I need you to picture it clearly in your mind." Qiang eased his way into Chad's mind and pulled the information. He was careful not to harm Chad, but didn't have time to go in without being sensed. At the unfamiliar sensation, Chad skittered in Qiang's hand. 

"Sorry." Qiang cupped his hands and tossed Chad into the air. 

Chad recovered and caught himself in a few wing beats . Qiang shifted into his dragon form, but at a scaled-down size. He angled his head to catch Chad on his antler as the bird fluttered down. Chad settled on the antler roost and looked down at Qiang. 

"Stay there and don't move," Qiang said in a tone that brooked no argument. "Once I am done with this creature, you and I will be having a talk." 

Dakota sat curled up on her couch and Mingzhu sat on the love seat, eating Chinese delivery. Dakota was too worried to consider cooking. Mingzhu had offered, but Dakota adamantly refused. Both thought going out was unwise, so they ordered in. Between pizza and Chinese delivery, they both decided they preferred Chinese. Dakota insisted on paying. So the two women picked through their dinners, neither with much enthusiasm. But then, neither of them had done much of anything with enthusiasm since leaving the restaurant. 

"So, what do you think of it?" Dakota asked. 

"Really, it's not bad." Mingzhu studied her dinner. "Not as good as Qiang's, but not bad." 

Dakota seized on the conversation topic. "Really? I didn't know Qiang cooked." 

Mingzhu looked up and smiled. "Oh yes. He's actually very good. You really have to try it. He tried cooking for the buffet, but he's too much of a perfectionist. It took too long to meet the service demands. I think he misses cooking." 

"When did he learn to cook?" 

"I'm not exactly sure. He's been cooking for as long as I remember. I suspect it's something he learned before I was born." She paused before adding, "He doesn't talk much about his past." 

"I imagine two hundred and fifty years comes with a great deal of baggage." 

Mingzhu nodded. "That it does." She was silent again for a moment, then she brightened. "You and Sebastian must join us for Thanksgiving. If you don't already have other plans, of course. The restaurant will be closed and Qiang cooks this huge meal for whoever on the wait staff doesn't have someplace else to be." 

Dakota smiled, but said, "Maybe you should make sure Qiang doesn't mind our coming beforehand." 

Mingzhu sat up in her chair, set aside her dinner, and waved her hands excitedly. "No, I'm sure he'll be fine with it. I know he comes across as brusque, but he really can be very sweet. Oh, please tell me you'll be able to make it." 

Dakota grinned, but she wasn't sure what she found more amusing, Mingzhu's zeal or the thought of Qiang as "sweet." "I'll see what I can do." 

Before Dakota could say anything further, the front door crashed in. Dakota sighed as her first thought was, I just got the landlord to fix the back door. Then the smell of death rolled into room, gagging her and Mingzhu. Then the source of the smell sauntered in. 




The Pearl Ch. 12



Dakota froze in horror as she took in the intruder. His skin had a bluish tint, the hair was matted, and there was an enormous spider leg where the right arm should be. Nonetheless, she recognized him, and the look of hunger on his face. It was the same from that night. 

"Oh my God...." she whispered, terrified. 

Mingzhu started to rise. The movement got the attacker's attention, and quicker than Dakota could follow, he was on Mingzhu. That galvanized Dakota into action. She bolted from the couch, snatched the chair from its corner and brought it down on the horror with as much force as she could. He dropped an unconscious Mingzhu to the floor and turned to face Dakota, unfazed by her attack. He smiled his hungry smile at her. 

"Must be my luck day, I get a two-fer." He backhanded Dakota with the spider limb, and sent her sprawling onto the couch. 

"You're dead," she squeaked out. 

He pinned her down on the couch by straddling her. "Death isn't the set back it used to be." 

This close, the smell of him was overwhelming. The stink of death, rot, and stagnant water washed over her until she thought she might gag. He used the claw on the end of the spider limb to rip her shirt and bra off. She struggled under him and managed to push the foul limb away from her. He struck her hard in the stomach with the human limb. This time she did start to retch. He waited for her to stop. 

"Oh, no, you're not escaping by choking on your own puke. I've waited too long." He leaned in close and whispered, his breath hot and putrid on her face, "I've got plans for you." 

Dakota started to scream and he whipped the fore section of the spider limb across her throat, limiting her scream to a gasping wheeze.

He then worked the same limb down her pants as he pawed at her breasts with the human hand. Dakota felt the sharp edges of the claw start to cut the outside of her vagina. 

"Now I don't know how exactly this all works," he said. "But I definitely feel a hard on coming on. But at least you won't have to worry about pregnancy." He barked a harsh laugh before continuing.

"Of course, you wouldn't have to worry either way, really, since you're going to be dead at the end of this." 

As the bakemono considered Dakota's death, different appetites awoke in him. The jointing of the spider limb allowed him to twist it back on itself as he leaned in close again. He ran his tongue along Dakota's breast, then bit down hard. She cried out. Her pain and fear broke over him in waves, feeding his lust even as the blood ran down his throat. His hard on got even harder and he contemplated eating the breast while fucking her. Oh yes, that would be so sweet. A sudden thrill of energy ran through the room and he growled at the interruption.

He looked over and saw another dragon standing in the middle of Dakota's living room. He stared for moment, taking in the red and gold creature that stared him down imperiously. Their eyes met briefly, and the bakemono was the first to look away. He covered by talking to Dakota.

"What is it with you and dragons?" He looked back over, avoiding the eyes. "Still, this one is smaller than the last one. I don't think it'll be any problem at all." 

Qiang stood his ground while the bakemono casually got off of Dakota. He turned back to her and said with a blown kiss, "Don't worry, sweetie, I'll be back in no time." Before he had time to turn back around, he was grabbed and thrown with a great deal of force against the far wall, just missing the picture window. The bakemono rose up and saw that Qiang had maneuvered himself between the bakemono and Dakota. His baleful glare never seemed to waver. 

"My mistake," the bakemono conceded. "You don't fight like the other dragon." 

Qiang considered his delicate situation. Even at a smaller size he was still hampered in his movements. He also had the two women who were his responsibility and that could be turned against him. He took a risk. 

Dakota, can you stand? 

"Yes," she responded softly. 

Then get Mingzhu and climb on my back. You both will be easier to defend. I will cover you. 

Dakota rolled off the couch and moved across the floor to Mingzhu. The bakemono saw this and lunged for her. Qiang doubled over on himself to impose himself in the path. He landed in front of the bakemono and snapped at him. The bakemono raised the spider limb and brought it down in a slashing movement towards Qiang's eye. He ducked his head and the limb bounced of the ridge directly above the eye. Qiang slammed his lowered head into the bakemono's mid section, forcing him back a few feet. Qiang dare not remove his eyes from the bakemono, so he used his tail to track where Dakota was. She was moving. 

The bakemono made to charge, then feinted and went for Qiang's underside. The claw screeched over the scales as he dove. The skin wasn't broken, but some scales came off. The bakemono was also in line to grab for either Dakota or Mingzhu. Qiang's head shot down and his jaws snapped down on the bakemono's leg. He pulled the bakemono out from underneath himself. While the scales underneath the body were not weak, the area just under the throat was. The bakemono jabbed into the area with the claw and ran a deep gash down his neck. He then griped Qiang's mane with the human hand and jabbed again. 

Chad couldn't get a clear view of what was happening, but he thought he had a good idea from how Qiang was moving his head. Chad took off from his perch and flew in close to the bakemono. While both of his hands were occupied Chad lighted on the forehead. Before the bakemono could react Chad drove his small but sharp beak into the bakemono's eye with all his strength. The bakemono shrieked in pain and shock, and released his grip. Chad once again took to his perch. Qiang bit deeply into the leg, severing it. The bakemono and the leg fell to the floor. The bakemono curled onto himself, and rolled away. 

Qiang felt Dakota place Mingzhu on his back and pull herself up afterwards. Chad was again on his antler. Those under his protection were in the safest place he could arrange. His movements were hampered, but the bakemono was down at least a leg and was gripping his face around the eye. He grabbed the leg and scooted further away. Qiang gave Dakota moment to settle herself, but in that time the bakemono reattached the leg and stood upright. 

Enough of this, Qiang thought. "Hold tight," he addressed his passengers and dove towards the bakemono. He brought his front claws down in a vicious arc, breaking the skin of the chest and catching on the bone. This only slowed the downward thrust of his claws. The bones splintered under his claws and the claw continued its devastating way through the bakemono's chest and abdomen. Qiang brought his other claw up and with a swing removed the head from the shoulders. The body dropped, but it was a bloodless kill. 

The bakemono lay there, still conscious in spite of the damage. Then he felt his consciousness break down into the spider bodies stuffed into him. It took a moment to realign his awareness, then the spiders leaped from the ruined body and skittered in different directions. 

"Does this never end?" Qiang snarled. Chad found himself agreeing. He tried to track the myriad directions the spiders ran off to, but quickly lost track. He chirped his concerns to Qiang. 

"There's only one way to solve this. I am truly sorry, Dakota." The human body flared brightly in flame, which then spread to everyone of the spiders that were crawling all over Dakota's home. Dakota flinched. 

"Stay where you are and you will be safe," Qiang instructed. "This is my fire, and it won't harm any of us." 

"Can't you keep it form harming my house?" Dakota tried to stay calm, but as she watched her home and her possessions, her beloved books, catch fire, hysteria crept into her voice. 

Qiang turned his head around to face Dakota. There was deep regret and sorrow in his eyes. "If I try to block the house or your belongings, it will create a pocket one the spiders could get into. If even one of them lives, the bakemono can return." 

They stood by and watched as the fire raged. As Qiang had said, there was safety with him. Even the tremendous heat and smoke didn't seem to affect those huddled on him. Qiang could hear Dakota crying. 

"Can we go?" Dakota asked. 

Qiang shook his head. "There is one thing I need to see to, so as to ensure this person will not return." 

Slowly, a form began to take shape. It was human in shape, but still faint. The figure came into focus until the complete shape of the bakemono was developed. It was missing a right arm and seemed strangely insubstantial. He glared at Qiang with raw hate, his left hand balled into an impotent fist. 

Qiang regarded the specter. As much as he didn't want to, he knew he had to lower himself to addressing him. The word gweilo started to form, but he never said it. Even though it was an insult, he couldn't bring himself to place this filth on the same level as Sebastian, or even Chad. He had managed to find someone so corrupt, so vile, it defied even his low expectations. So Qiang didn't give him the dignity of being properly addressed at all. With a jerk of his head, he indicated the space behind the spirit. 

"That is the path you must take." 

"Killed by two different dragons at two different times. Must be some sort of record," the spirit said. 

Qiang said nothing. The spirit looked in the direction indicated. There was indeed a path leading off, though where it lead couldn't be seen. 

"Where does it go?" 

"To whatever the afterlife has for you. Your time on this earth has ended." 

The spirit glared at Qiang. "And what if I don't go?" 

Never breaking eye contact, Qiang lowered his head into the recalcitrant spirit's face. "If you do not go willingly, I will summon the guards and gate keepers of Hell to drag you off. I assure you leaving on your own is a considerably better experience. Or so I'm told." 

The spirit tried again to stare down Qiang, but knew its time was at an end. With a final angry look, the spirit walked down the path. Qiang watched it until it was faded from sight. He drew on the floor patterns with his claw, a simple spell to ensure the fire investigators found a plausible reason for the fire. Then he removed himself and his passengers from the scene.



The Pearl Ch. 13



The Pearl Part 2: Whore Spider

Chapter 13

Edited by PennLady

This is a copyrighted work of fiction. All rights reserved.

*

Qiang appeared in his lair, next to the bed. He looked back, checking Dakota and Mingzhu. Dakota looked to be in shock and Mingzhu was still unconscious. 

"Are you able to remove Mingzhu?" he asked Dakota. 

Dakota nodded in response, too dazed to even speak. She slid off his back and gingerly laid Mingzhu onto the floor. With a shake of his head to dislodge Chad, Qiang resumed human form. He gathered Mingzhu into his arms and laid her on the bed. He looked over to Dakota; she looked as though she might fall where she stood. 

"Perhaps you should lie down also." Qiang indicated a place on the bed next to Mingzhu. 

Dakota nodded and laid down in the offered spot. 

"Stay here, I'll be right back," Qiang said, but Dakota's eyelids had already fluttered closed. 

Qiang rubbed at his neck and came away with a bloody hand. He pulled a cloth from the bookcase and cleaned his neck as best as he could, then left the chamber with no further word. 

Chad regarded both women from his perch. He flitted closer and landed on the headboard, uncertain about what he thought and felt. Things were far from over. The spider thing was still out there and needed to be stopped, he was certain of that. In his first moment to breathe since he first saw the Jorogumo, it was the only thing of which he was certain. 

Conflicting feelings tore through him. He had just risked his life, as a goldfinch for fuck's sake, to save a woman he didn't even know, a dragon he owed nothing too, and a woman that not so long ago he wanted to beat into submission himself. A stab of shame trembled through him, causing him to wonder what was happening.

The seemingly eternal question of the moment came back to haunt him some more. Who are you? 

"I don't know." 

Who do you want to be? 

"I don't know. I thought I did, but who can I be, after all is said and done?" 

You can be me the darkness whispered. I will always be here for you. It was still his voice, but it reminded him of the Jorogumo and even the bakemono. He shuddered. There was a comfort there, he couldn't deny that. The comfort of expected norms, a way to be he understood, behaviors he'd spent his entire life perfecting. Then he considered the cost of the comfort, the horror of his future, and ran again into the wall of his indecision. Who was he, indeed. 

He cocked his head, watching the women sleep. Is there hope of escape from the darkness? he wondered. Of redemption? Must things stay as they are, or can I make them right? 

Chad's body seemed to pulse for a moment, then between one breath and the next he was again human, leaning against the headboard. He stood for a moment, adjusting to the sudden change. He shook his head. 

I may not know exactly who I am, he decided. But I know who I don't want to be. I will become who I'm going to be. There are parts of myself I may keep, but the parts of the darkness, I will release.

When Qiang returned, he was carrying a large bowl of water and towels. He spared a glance to where Chad leaned against the headboard of the bed, watching the women. His face showed no reaction, but for a moment he was surprised. When Qiang considered how helpful Chad's presence had been, unexpectedly so, he conceded a certain wisdom to it. He handed the bowl of water and towels to Chad. 

"Here, hold these." 

Chad took them without response. Qiang went to his apothecary drawers and pulled out several bottles and bandages. He went back over to the bed, laid the items he brought on the bed, and took the water bowl from Chad with a "Thank you." Chad nodded but said nothing. 

Qiang sat on the bed and set to cleaning the bite wound on Dakota. It was deep, but he decided it didn't require stitches. He noticed the blood on her pants and carefully removed them. The cuts on her vagina where superficial and only required cleaning. After drying off the areas he applied salve and bandages. He proceeded to check her over for any additional injuries. Her stomach was bruised, but he couldn't detect any serious injury. He covered Dakota with a blanket and moved over to Mingzhu. As he did so, he glanced up at Chad, and was concerned to see a thousand yard stare already settling into the boy's eyes. 

"When did you find out about the Jorogumo?" Qiang asked as he started to look over Mingzhu. Her injuries were fewer than Dakota's. There was a hand-shaped bruise around her neck and a large, dark bruise with a goose egg of a knot in its center on the side of her head. He sensed no concussion and and sighed in relief. 

"The what?"

Chad's confusion caught Qiang by surprise for a moment. Then he realized Chad had most likely never heard the creature's name before. 

"The spider thing," he clarified. 

"Oh. Ah, I guess when it took Sebastian." 

Qiang looked up from applying salve to Mingzhu. "You were there when it first struck?" 

Chad shrugged. "Yeah. I was out there, up to no good. As if I could do anything anyway. But then he goes into this building and wham! Spider bitch puts the moves on him and she's on him like stink on shit. And he just kind of let her. He did try to get away, but eventually just gave over to her. But he went through a lot of the webbing, and I think that's part of how she does her mojo. That's some scary-ass shit, I'll tell you." At the memory, his stare became all the more distant. 

Qiang was impressed that the boy had realized the Jorogumo used the webs for her magic. Then again, Chad had realized there was a true dragon at the restaurant. It seemed there was more to him than met the eye. A thought struck Qiang. 

"Was it from you that Dakota got the idea to visit Sebastian?" 

He nodded. "I couldn't tell you how I did it," he replied as he looked down. "But yeah, I got her to go." 

Qiang sighed. He finished applying the medicine to Mingzhu then looked up. 

"So you sent the person with the least ability to stop the Jorogumo to help Sebastian?" 

Chad looked back up. His face reddened as he said, "Well I didn't think she could stop the thing. I thought she could just, I don't know, get him to leave." His jaw set, his eyes hardened, and his voice took on a recriminatory tone. "Yeah, I know, I put her on that thing's radar. If I hadn't sent her, we wouldn't have had Night of the Living Dead the home game." 

Qiang considered what to say next. He was frustrated with the course of events, but also realized the boy felt some remorse. 

"You could have come here," he said. 

"You threatened to kill me." 

"Look up hyperbole when you get a chance." Qiang's patience began to fray.

"At five inches high, that's a hell of risk to take." 

"Fair enough," Qiang conceded. "But for future reference, I don't tend to kill people bringing me vital information. Now please concentrate on where you saw the Jorogumo's den. With good fortune, she hasn't moved it." 

Chad drew back. "You're not going to get into my head again, are you?" 

"Well I'm certainly not going to find it on Map-Quest, now am I?" 

"OK, do it." 

Qiang obtained what he needed. "Thank you for your assistance, it is greatly appreciated. Congratulations on breaking the spell. Perhaps I'll see you around some time." 

Chad looked startled. "What?" 

Qiang gathered the first-aid supplies from the bed and put them away as he spoke. "Well, what else is there? You found you're way out of the spell. I don't imagine you would have done so if you were still seeking revenge, so there's nothing you need from me. Chang is unfortunately not around at this time, but upon his return I'll be sure to let him know what happened." 

Chad remained silent, looking a bit lost. When the silence dragged on, Qiang said, "Is there someplace I can send you? Or, if you'd prefer, you can simply walk out. The staff will no doubt stare and whisper, but just ignore them. No one will stop you." 

Chad looked down and mumbled, "I want to see this through." 

Though Qiang understood what he'd said well enough, he wasn't certain he believed it.

"What was that?" 

Chad looked up and met Qiang's gaze straight on. His tone picked up steel. "I want to see this through. I want to see the Jorogumo dead. I have to see it dead." 

Qiang shook his head. "I'd like to accommodate you, hero, but I haven't the time. I need to finish this as soon as possible. I will be bringing Dakota around and I think the last thing she needs after being assaulted by the bakemono is seeing the other person who recently assaulted her." 

Chad's face reddened, and although his eyes showed shame at what was said they never wavered. He continued to meet Qiang's gaze and stood his ground in silence. 

Qiang threw up his hands. "Fine. I haven't time to argue with you. But you're not staying around in that form."

"Does it have to be a goldfinch?" 

Qiang frustrated expression slowly softened. "No, I don't suppose it would. Would you prefer another type of animal?" 

Chad shook his head. "No, at least I know how to operate as a bird. Just something a little less squishable. Maybe an eagle?" 

"Not very common to the area." Qiang paused for a moment as he thought about the larger birds of the area. "What about a hawk?" 

Chad nodded in assent. A blink later, he was a hawk perched upon the headboard. Qiang returned his attention to Dakota. Though he was loathe to awaken her, he knew he needed her help. Even knowing the location of the Jorogumo's den wasn't quite enough. He doubted he could lure Sebastian out and fighting the Jorogumo where Sebastian could become a liability struck Qiang to be as dangerous as leaving him with the Jorogumo alone. 

He eased his energy around Dakota and roused her as gently as he could. He could feel her consciousness rise up from the depths it had retreated to. Slowly, he brought her fully back. At first she resisted, fighting the force that sought to bring her back. Then she was fully awake and sat bolt upright. Her eyes were open wide and her breathing grew panicked.

Qiang took hold of her shoulders and soothed her. "It's all right, Dakota. You're safe here." 

She looked over to Qiang, and for a moment seemed to not recognize him. Then it all came back and she buried her face in her hands. Qiang gave her time to compose herself. When she'd calmed down, she returned her gaze to him. 

"Now what?" 

Qiang sighed. "Now we try to get Sebastian's river to show us its heart." 

In her lair, the Jorogumo reeled. The bakemono, destroyed. The energy she invested, wasted. The girl still lived and the dragon was helping her. Curse them both!! She seethed. 

She regarded Sebastian. She needed to feed, and perhaps in the process take her mind off her losses. As much as she might regret it, she considered draining him in this feeding. Under normal circumstances she could extend a meal like this for days, even a week. As she had no idea of her adversaries' plans, however, she would need all her strength to run as far and as fast as she could.

She eased her herself over to him and caressed his snout. He blinked and looked at her, his eyes unfocused. Her hair billowed out around her as she coaxed him on his back. He rolled over and smiled. She smiled back and scuttled on top of him. 

"You are such a magnificent beast," she complimented, running her hands along his underscales. 

"Thank you," he murmured in return. 

Her hair curled around him, loosely tangling him. If this was her last meal from him, she would savor it. She stroked and teased him until his shaft slid out, then she mounted him and set to milking him. 

She leaned forward and licked at the scales where the pearl was, sensing the delicious power there. She traced the area with her tongue and could taste the faintest bit of the pearl. Her vagina clamped down and she shuddered in the ecstasy of feeding. His semen flowed into her, and with it his life force. Sweet as it was, it didn't compare to what she felt and tasted from the pearl. She contemplated cutting it out whole, but that ran the risk of alerting him to the danger he was in. Eventually, the pearl itself would break down to bolster his life force and when it did, she would have that too. She would lose some of the vitality in the rush, but when she added the power of even a fledgling dragon to her own she would be one of the most powerful, and satiated, Jorogumo around. 

Night had settled. In the dark, the three of them--Qiang in his dragon, Dakota, and Chad as a hawk--stood on the river bank, with Chad perched on a sturdy tree branch. It had been decided that Mingzhu would stay back at the lair. Decreed by Qiang was more correct, but no one had the strength to argue. He'd also made it perfectly clear his preference was to leave Dakota behind. But since he needed her to lure out Sebastian, he had to bring her along. Once her part was completed, he expected her to stay out of the rest. For her part, Dakota hadn't yet decided how that would play. 

Qiang glared at the river and snarled. It wasn't giving him what he wanted. Dakota fought the punch-drunk urge to laugh. He'd arranged everything else, but the river wasn't going to go along with him. He needed to find the river's heart or center. The spot where its essence was strongest. 

"Listen, you blasted river, I'm doing this for your dragon. A little assistance isn't much to ask." 

The river appeared to pick up momentum and Qiang glowered harder. 

"You are not making this situation one whit easier," Qiang argued. 

"Qiang." Dakota laid her arm on the shoulder of his front leg. "Let me try." 

He swung around his head and looked at Dakota for a moment, as though he had forgotten she was there. Then he stepped aside, giving her access to the river. 

Dakota walked to the edge of the bank, knelt down, and drew her hand through the water. It could have been her imagination, but she thought the river swelled around her hand. She felt the piece of Sebastian tingle faintly. 

"I understand you don't entirely trust Qiang," she started. 

don't trust at all

She jumped and fell backward. Qiang had started to growl, but stopped, observing Dakota. 

"Did you hear that?" he asked. 

Dakota, wide-eyed in shock, just nodded. Qiang lowered his head and with his snout pushed her towards the river. "Still your mind and try again." 

Dakota gave Qiang an uncertain look over her shoulder, but knelt again at the river's edge and focused on quieting her mind. When that failed, she focused on the river and laid her hand in the water. She was certain of it, this time. The water was collecting around her hand. She tightened her focus on the water around her hand. She could feel the energy of the river, cool and inviting.

"Please," she began again. "Qiang only wants to help here. Show him what he needs, I'll vouch for him. You have to realize I only want what's best for Sebastian." 

There was a moment's pause as the river continued to trundle by, still collecting around her hand. Then she heard, 

show you 

"Thank you," Dakota said with reverence and relief. She turned her head around to Qiang. "The river agreed to show me." 

Qiang nodded. "Good. What do you need to do for it to show you?" 

"Oh, I, um, don't know." She turned her attention back to the river. Before she could ask she heard,

drink

"You mean the river water?" she asked, thoughts of any number of contaminants coming to mind. She heard no further words, but the direction remained. Qiang brought his head next to Dakota's. 

"Gather up some water in your hands," he instructed. 

Dakota gathered up water in her cupped hands and looked at Qiang. He delicately drew a single claw across the surface of the water, but Dakota felt the tremor of power run through. So, it appeared, did the river. The sound of its passing increased. 

Qiang raised his head and gave a cross look to the river. "Oh, please, I didn't do anything but purify it. Your intent is still intact." He returned his attention to Dakota. "Drink, it's safe." 

Dakota raised her hands to her mouth and swallowed down the water. She gasped. Quicksilver cool, the water moved through her, almost as if it was alive. Belatedly she realized in a way it was. It wasn't just water, it was part of the river and it was inside of her. She remembered some of the things Sebastian had said about his experiences with the river, and now better understood them. She rose unsteadily to her feet. Qiang hovered close by. 

"Are you all right?" he asked, concern in his voice. 

Dakota nodded. "Yeah, I think so. It just feels really weird." 

He nodded in sympathy. "I imagine it does. This river is particularly..." he glanced at the river with some annoyance, "spirited."

Dakota managed to muster a smile in agreement as the water continued to move within her. "You can say that again. How long is this going to last?" 

"Until your body processes and passes the water. It wasn't much water, it shouldn't take long. Another reason we should get moving. If you feel you are ready," he looked first in one direction then the other, "which way should we go?" 

"Oh, of course, just a second." Dakota pushed the disconcerting portion of the river's presence out of her mind and instead centered her attention on what it was trying to do. She felt a pull to go to the right. 

"This way." She pointed in the direction and headed off. They walked in silence, Dakota concentrating on the river, and Qiang with his own thoughts. They walked for maybe fifteen minutes before Qiang became frustrated. He moved himself in front of Dakota and presented his back. 

"Get on and tell me where to stop." 

Dakota climbed onto his back. Qiang rose a few feet above the ground and flew along the river. It wasn't long before Dakota felt an urgent pull form the river. 

"Here!" She shouted. 

Qiang overshot by a little and curved back around. He landed in the river and looked at Dakota. 

"This is it, you're sure?" 

Dakota looked around and nodded. The grass on the bank extended in the water and the trees grew thick and strong around the area. The water was deep, though perhaps not the deepest spot. She recognized where she was at. It was where Sebastian had brought her when the river wanted them to have sex. She wondered if he knew this place's significance. She felt the river's power pulse through her, causing the water within her to dance. 

"Yes, I'm sure of it." 

"Good. Call him. If he should come, so much the better. If not, we go to him." Qiang's voice was hard. 

Dakota nodded and closed her eyes. She had never thought before about what it was she did to call Sebastian. She just wanted him there and he would show up. She suspected it would be much different this time, and much harder. She focused on Sebastian and asked him to come. 

Sebastian jerked beneath the Jorogumo and raised his head, his bleary eyes clearing. "What is it, my sweet?" the Jorogumo asked, though she was sure she knew the answer. "Dakota is looking for me. I have to go." He started to roll over when the Jorogumo tightened her web. He strained for a moment, then laid back down. 

Dakota felt something go wrong. She took a deep breath and tried again. Still, something was keeping him from her. The Jorogumo. She sighed and slumped on Qiang's back. 

Qiang attention was still focused on Dakota. He didn't like what he saw at all. 

"Do we need to go to him?" 

Dakota shuddered at the thought. She straightened her back and sat upright. "No," she said, though were the strength of her conviction came from she didn't know. Maybe the river. "I'm not beaten yet." She worked her hands into Qiang's mane, gripping it to give herself strength. She reached into herself, to the piece of Sebastian, and pulled it into her being. Her breath skipped, as did her heart, and then she doubled down on the energy, calling Sebastian to her with all her will. 




The Pearl Ch. 13



In the Jorogumo's lair, Sebastian rolled upright. The Jorogumo released her hold on his member and scuttled around to his back. Her hair was still wrapped around him and she was weaving webs to entrap him as fast as she could. She worked her magic hard, but even she could feel the force of the girl's call. She tapped into it. 

"Leave him. He's mine!" she shouted to the wind, knowing the girl would hear it. 

Dakota did hear. She shifted position and gripped Qiang's mane even more tightly. "No, I will not." 

The Jorogumo hissed and tightened her web. "He's mine, I tell you. I've claimed him!" 

"As have I. But what you've taken by theft I was given. And you are nothing to me. So let us test who is right, of thine or mine, in most righteous Helena." Her voice rose in volume and strength until she shouted the last part. She wasn't certain if she had gotten the quote right, but felt the sentiment would carry. 

They battled, the Jorogumo with spells to hold Sebastian there and Dakota with whatever power she could muster to call him to her. The river sang within her, ecstatic to have a new conduit for however brief a time. 

Sebastian made his laborious way to the river. Every movement he made against the Jorogumo's wishes was a challenge, but he felt the call, deep inside, and he had to answer it. He had to. Once he reached the river the Jorogumo released him, not wanting to be taken along. As she watched him go, she had a decision to make. Spend more energy in combat to retain him, or cut and run with what she had. She drew one last sigil, then scrambled back to her lair. 

Sebastian stumbled into the river. He shook his head, trying to gather his thoughts. His mind seemed filled with cobwebs. He lost footing and fell into the water, and the river seized him. There was a dizzying, and nauseating, sense of dislocation, and then he was at a different spot of the river entirely. He looked around and couldn't see the lady he'd been with. Out of nowhere a rage crashed about in his mind. She was gone! They had chased her off. He growled, low and dangerous, as he rose to his feet. 

Qiang recognized the problem. He cursed the Jorogumo again, for what seemed to be the hundredth time. He felt Dakota teeter on his back and curled his tail around her and moved her to the bank. 

"Qiang," she cried. "What are you doing? What's going on?" 

As he deposited her on the bank, his voice spoke in her mind. You've done your part, and done it well. He is still enspelled by the Jorogumo. I will handle this part.

Dakota considered her next move, but as soon as Qiang's tail released her, her legs gave out and she sat down hard on the bank. Exhaustion was beginning to take its toll. 

Qiang wasn't doing much better, although, he was still doing better than Sebastian. The fledgling looked emaciated, and webs hung off of him, worsening the effect. The Jorogumo's poison still coursed through him, Qiang could tell, doing its job with ruthless efficiency. Sebastian was standing straight enough, but his scales and mane were dull and missing in places. Even as he stood there, more of the mane and scales were falling into the water. Qiang would have to act quickly. 

Sebastian telegraphed his move. He rushed Qiang and slammed into his chest, but he was far too weak to inflict any damage, or even move Qiang from where he was. Qiang reared up and knocked Sebastian into the water on his back. Pinning Sebastian into the river wasn't difficult at all. Even when Sebastian was at full strength, Qiang had a size advantage. Now, spider-bit and weakened, they weren't a match at all. 

He spread his body across Sebastian, taking pains to hold him in place but not hurt him. He ran his claw over where the pearl was and began chanting. Sebastian was too far gone to recognize it from the first time they fought. It was an old piece of magic, and this time the spell caught hold of the pearl and brought it out of Sebastian. Sebastian spasmed at the pearl's removal, but was unable to do much more. Qiang looked it over in disgust. It was covered in thick, black sludge, and was smaller than it should have been. Qiang dropped the pearl into the river and removed himself from Sebastian. He climbed the bank next to Dakota and waited for the river to do its work. Sebastian laid in the river and didn't move. The rise and fall of his chest the only indication he was alive. Then he rose up and proceeded to heave and wretch into the river. He coughed up a foul black sludge, similar to what had been on the pearl. After about five minutes of this, he collapsed back into the river, shuddering. 

Dakota rose up to go to him, but was stopped by Qiang. 

"I will check on him," he said as he eased his way into the water. He nudged Sebastian and waited for a response. Sebastian slowly raised his head. 

"I feel like crap," he announced. 

Qiang smiled in relief. "That is to be expected. In any case, it's better than being dead."



The Pearl Ch. 14



The Pearl Part 2: Whore Spider

Chapter Fourteen 

Edited by PennLady

This is a copyrighted work of fiction. All rights reserved. 

The moment Sebastian appeared, Chad launched himself in the air. The experience cemented a conclusion he'd been coming to for awhile. Hawks, being diurnal, made piss poor forms for night flying. He could make out enough to fly fairly straight and that was about it. Fortunately, he didn't need to see the Jorogumo to find her. He could sense her, like a foul blight, and that guided his flight. 

Chad could feel the air currents across his wing feathers and adjusted for them without thinking. Except for the eyesight issue, he found flying enjoyable. The differences between being a goldfinch and being a hawk were staggering. For one thing, he knew he wasn't trapped in this form indefinitely; for another, the sense of strength and freedom he had now were nothing like his experience as a little songbird. Too soon he came upon the Jorogumo's lair and the import of what he was doing weighed on him, tempering his new-found joy.

He circled over the building then took a fly through. She had fled. He thought he caught the movement of the spiders, but couldn't be sure in the shadowed darkness of the place. However, he was certain she was no longer there. He wasn't surprised; whatever else she might be, she wasn't dumb.

He picked up her trail and continued following. Before long, he was riding the winds above her. She hurried to a small grove of stunted trees and over-growth. She secreted herself in the underbrush and appeared to be weaving something out of her webbing. Chad couldn't make out what. He landed in the nearest tree he could and settled in to wait. He couldn't see the building from where he was, but hoped he would see Qiang when he came. He wondered if Qiang would allow him to be a hawk--temporarily of course-- at some point when he could more enjoy the experience. 

Once she received Qiang's all clear, Dakota made her way over to Sebastian. He responded to her immediately. He perked up and smiled, although when he lifted his head out of the water, it was an effort 

"Dakota," he said happily. "I'm so happy to see you." 

Seeing him strain, Dakota sat down on the bank and patted the area next to her. He laid his head next to her and Dakota stretched herself out on his head. Her legs were still on the bank, her butt and torso across his snout and her head rested between his antlers. She pillowed one arm under her head as the other hand stroked his mane. Sebastian began to purr weakly. 

He was aware something had happened, but didn't know what. He had nebulous memories of the past day. It had all seemed much clearer until Qiang took his pearl and dropped it into the river. Why had he done that, anyway? Given how hard he'd tried to get it before, handing it off to the river, which would just give it back, made no sense. 

And Dakota felt...different. He could sense the river in her, and had to wonder just how that came about, but that wasn't all of it. She seemed more vibrant, though she looked as exhausted as he felt. But that wasn't quite right either. He felt far more aware of her than before. Maybe that was it. He could sense her better, the puzzle piece at last making a whole picture. The sense of her laying against him filled him with more contentment than he'd ever imagined possible. He brought the ruff of his tail around, shook the water from it, and laid it across her back. 

Qiang watched the two of them, immersed in their own world, and said nothing. Let the young lovers have their moment, even if it kept him from the Jorogumo for that moment longer. He studied them both. Sebastian was free of the Jorogumo's poison and bile, though still weakened. As he looked over Dakota, he could see she had somehow claimed a piece of Sebastian into herself, perhaps in the calling. So be it. 

While Sebastian was foolish enough to fall in love with his favorite, at least he showed wisdom in his choice of favorite. She was resourceful and brave, and on the whole probably the cleverer of the two. Qiang had to admit, they made a good match. 

The pearl bobbed up in the water next to Sebastian. He reached out with his claw and grabbed it, absorbing it back into his body. With a wild joyousness the river crashed into him. He had to smile, though he was a bit confused by the river's elation at his being there. More and more, he was coming to the conclusion he had missed something vital. 

As Qiang finished his examination he said, "Things appear stable here. I must finish this matter, I've waited too long already." At Sebastian's confused expression Qiang added, "Dakota will explain."

"Be careful," Dakota said, her worry evident. 

"I will be." He then rose into the air and disappeared over the trees. 

So, what did I miss?

"Are you sure you're strong enough to do that?" 

Actually, it's kinda coming easier. 'Sides, I think it might be a bit of a challenge, talking with how you're sitting. 

"Well, I can move, you goof." Dakota started to push herself upright when she felt Sebastian's tail gently push her down. 

No, please stay. This really is nice. It's like having you here proves to me I'm still alive. I've missed you, but I don't know why. I can't remember you being gone or anything. 

With a deep breath Dakota related the story, as far as she knew it, of what happened. She omitted the part with the bakemono and her house burning down. She knew he'd have to be told, but it didn't seem like the right time. It could wait until later. 

Sebastian was still for a moment. Wow. I'm sorry you guys had to go through all that. I really am.

Dakota continued to stroke his mane. "Don't worry about it," she said softly. "I'd do it all again." 

Though the sense of the river was fading she felt a tickle as it shifted inside of her, gladdened by her remark and Sebastian's purr deepened. She felt the rumble all the way to her core and smiled. When the river jiggled and shimmered to the vibration, she giggled. It felt as though the river were playing. 

What? She felt Sebastian's curiosity as much as she heard the question. 

"The river. It's fading, but it's still pretty active. Almost like it's playing before it goes." 

When Sebastian focused, he could feel the river's movements and its delight. She was right, there was something playful about it. The river was quite pleased with itself. 

The river likes it there.

Dakota's free hand went to her abdomen after a particularly forceful spike of the river. "It's a little disconcerting that the river is playing in me. And enjoying it." 

Welcome to my world. Sebastian chuckled. It's the river's nature, it wants to get into things. And you, obviously. But the hold is fading, I can tell. Though I'll tell you now, the river would love to get back in. 

Dakota wasn't surprised by what Sebastian had said. She could sense some of that herself. It was a question for another time, however. She was far too spent to give anything serious consideration. The fact that she didn't automatically reject the notion caused the river to gambol about some more. Sebastian felt Dakota squirm and chuckled again.

Yep, definitely likes it there a lot. Not that I can blame it. I like it there, too. Sebastian reached out for the piece of his energy and found it completely interwoven into Dakota. He could still find it, still sense it, but it was fully a part of Dakota now. Then it hit him, that was what had changed. That was why Dakota seemed so much more in focus and why the communication was coming so much easier. He had a direct connection to Dakota. He was dumbfounded for a moment. Dakota could sense him searching and thought she could guess at his sudden stupor. 

"I'm sorry. It was what I had to do to pull you away from the Jorogumo. Nothing else seemed to work." 

Why are you apologizing? You saved my life. Well, OK, you and Qiang, as odd as that is to say. Sebastian felt a jab from the river, reminding him of its part. And the river. All right, it was a group effort. The point being, you're apologizing for saving me. It's me who should be apologizing to you for putting you in that situation. 

"It's all right. It's not like Chang didn't warn us this could happen. I just wish it hadn't been so haphazardly done. But needs must when the devil drives." 

Huh? 

Dakota smiled. "It's an old expression. It means the needs of the moment drove the actions. Or at least, that's how I was using it." 

Sebastian started to nod his head, then stopped. I can see that. But really, I don't think it's a bad thing. He paused again, uncertain he wanted to ask the next question, but really wanting to know the answer. Do you? 

"No. Like I said, I would do it all over again. I just wish we'd been able to plan a little better." 

Sebastian released his held breath in relieved sigh. I'm glad. There was still the question of the companion piece of her, but that was also a question for another time. As Dakota resumed stroking Sebastian's mane and the river enjoyed its remaining time with Dakota, Sebastian curled the ruff of his tail tighter around Dakota and basked in the tenderness of the moment. 

Qiang arrived at the location he pulled from Chad's mind. The building was web-draped and appeared empty. He landed and entered cautiously. He could smell the Jorogumo's magic, depraved and corrupt. He took a few steps in and felt his hide writhe as the foul webbing slid across him. He snarled and the webbing flared up in flames. In the sudden illumination he saw hundreds of spiders, their attention focused solely on him with hateful malice in their multi-eyed gaze. 

Well, this isn't good, he thought as the surrounding area was plunged back into darkness. He felt hundreds of legs crawl over him, and as his eyes adjusted he saw the mass of spiders moving as a solid wave to crash over and drown him in their raw numbers. He could feel pin prick bites, but only a few pierced his scales. Their poison was weak, but their ability to do even that small amount of harm marked them as future Jorogumo. They had to be destroyed. His fury stoked by the obscenity of the place, he tightened his focus to the flame he carried inside and released it. Flames roiled over his body, incinerating the spiders closest to his scales and spreading the purification through the mass. 

He saw the spiders on the far end of the wave reverse direction and break apart to scurry and hide in the myriad nooks and bolt holes the place afforded. He growled so deeply the floor shook with it. The building was masonry, so the flame had little purchase, and unlike the spiders in Dakota's home, these spiders had a different common link. 

The spiders that escaped from the bakemono had been linked by it. When Qiang destroyed the husk, he was able to connect the fire to the spiders that escaped it. These spiders were linked by the Jorogumo and would use themselves to keep him from her; hence he had to burn out every single spider. The smoke and acrid smell of burnt flesh and fur hung thick in the air. It took time, but he was fairly certain none escaped. Unfortunately he didn't have a signal, as he had in the bakemono's spirit, to judge if all of them were destroyed. That and the fact that the Jorogumo was nowhere to be found fueled his frustration. He loosed an infuriated, deafening roar to the Heavens as a fire ball exploded into the sky. 

He shook his head, annoyed with himself. He was only wasting energy; something the Jorogumo was too good at getting him to do. He centered himself with deep breaths and felt his rage subside. It was part of the downside of fire as an element; it sometimes controlled him as much as he controlled it. 

In the calm he heard a noise. He concentrated and listened to see if it repeated. It did; once again he heard the shrill screaming cry of a red tail hawk. She's here.

Qiang smiled. Heaven bless you, boy. You are thorough. 

Chad had watched while waiting for Qiang's return, his eyes at least somewhat adjusted to the darkness. The Jorogumo continued with whatever it was doing. Chad could sense the magic in the place as a discomforting sensation running along the edge of his feathers. It made him want to take flight, but he maintained his post. Then he thought he saw the faint glow of fire in the distance. He couldn't be sure until Qiang's roar tore through the night. Chad felt the force of the roar as much as he heard it. The enormous fireball indicated just how angry Qiang was. 

Chad heard the soft, tittering laughter of the Jorogumo below him. It was surprisingly feminine, almost pleasant. He looked down and couldn't see her at first. She had managed to hide herself well. He cocked his head and studied the area. With a combination of the hawk's sharp-eyed vision and his own innate senses he located the Jorogumo. He had an almost overwhelming urge to dive for her with claws extended, to hunt as the hawk, but managed to stop himself. The screeching call rose out of him before he realized it. Then he dumped as much strength and volume into it as he could.

The Jorogumo was aware of Qiang's rampage through her abandoned den. She could feel it as he destroyed her precious spiderlings. However, there wasn't much she could do about it. If they weren't smart enough to get out of the way of an enraged dragon, or thought they were strong enough to take the creature, it was in this way such stupidity was self-correcting. 

She was angry, to be certain, at the loss and would love the opportunity to avenge herself on the dragon. But she was aware how much more powerful this dragon was compared to both her and Sebastian, and she was not stupid. She settled deeper into the undergrowth and continued weaving her web, and laughed. She laughed at the thought of escaping the dragon, laughed at how angry he had became, and laughed about what harm could be wrought on him in the future. She cheered herself up, pondering her grim fantasies.

Then she heard the unmistakable cry of a hawk ring out in the night. She looked up and saw the hawk, perched on a branch above her, crying out for all it was worth. 

Now what the hell, she thought. While she was no expert on the behavior of natural animals, she was fairly certain hawks were not night dwelling birds. As the cries continued to echo into the night, a thought occurred to the Jorogumo. That wretched fire-dragon had dogged her every move; in fact, at times it appeared almost prescient. Most dragons were blessed with good fortune, it was part of the mandate of Heaven. Even so, the fire-dragon was an insufferably lucky bastard. Now she wondered if perhaps there hadn't been another player in the game she had been unaware of. 

A scowl settled onto her features. While she had no proof this hawk had anything to do with the dragon, it wasn't impossible, and the bird made a handy target for her frustration. The Jorogumo picked up a large rock and took aim. The hawk's white underside stood out in the dark. She let fly with her weapon. It struck true and she sneered as the hawk's cry was cut off mid-breath. She frowned again when the bird managed to keep to its perch. 

A sudden, sharp pain robbed Chad of his breath. The force of the blow threatened to knock him off his perch. He beat his wings to keep balance and nearly overcompensated when he tried to flutter the wings in the manner of the goldfinch. He managed to figure it out and with a few powerful beats he was back upright, calling out again. He wasn't surprised by the next volley and braced himself for it. 

When the hawk remained where it was through two successful strikes and continued its call, the Jorogumo knew she was right. Any natural bird would have flown off. She considered her next move carefully. 

She was tempted to run up the tree and throttle the blasted thing herself, but that would expose her to the no-doubt approaching dragon. She was almost done with the charm she was weaving and regarded it with frustration. Spells of this nature did better when strengthened by time and she did not have it. No matter; need was calling the tune now, and she had no choice but to dance to it. She needed to distract the dragon a few more moments. 

She hurriedly wove a snare out of webbing and focused on the hawk. He hadn't moved and his white feathers practically glowed against the night sky. She caught him in the web, then threw him with all her might away. With luck, the dragon would at least go to see whether his pet lived or died, buying her much-needed time. 

Qiang flinched when he heard the call skip, and was relieved when it started back up. It wasn't hard to imagine what the Jorogumo would do if she got her hands on the boy. He quickened his pace. He had the boy in sight and was nearly upon him when the webbing net ensnared him. Qiang snarled and put on a burst of speed only to see the whole bundle chucked hard in the opposite direction. A stalling tactic, to be sure, and one he could not ignore. He doubled back, got under the hawk and caught it as it was falling. He landed and carefully removed the webbing without hurting the fragile hawk form caught up in it. Once it was removed, Chad puffed out his feathers and shook himself. 

"Show me where she is," said Qiang.

Chad thought Qiang might have meant mentally, but he chose to misunderstand the request. He took off into the air, shrieking the instruction to follow. 

"That's not exactly what I meant," Qiang muttered, leaping into the air after him. 

Chad led Qiang back to the area and circled in the air. The tree he'd perched in earlier, in fact the entire little grove, was blanketed with a giant spider web. It glistened in the light of the stars and appeared as a translucent but solid mass in the way it hung from the trees and caught up in the bushes of the undergrowth. The only clear entrance was a dark and shadowed tunnel that led inward. Qiang landed and studied the web with a scowl on his muzzle. Chad perched again in his antlers, though as a hawk he was forced to spread his stance between two tines. He screeched his question down to Qiang. 

"She used magic to erect the web." He looked away from the web and glanced up to Chad. "Take a sense of it, what do you feel?" 

Chad cocked his head, then did as directed. At first he could only detect the energies of the Jorogumo, and his feathers again twitched with the urge to fly. Then, as an undercurrent, he could sense dragon energy. He recognized it as Sebastian's. It was hard to tell without looking as it was subsumed into the Jorogumo's energy. The more he studied it, the more Chad realized the Jorogumo's energy wasn't the same as before. The dragon energy had been absorbed into her and her magic. In truth, it was neither dragon nor Jorogumo, but a synthesis of both. He looked down to Qiang and squawked out another question. 

"No, I haven't seen anything like this before. I've never heard tell of a Jorogumo that captured a dragon in its web. Clearly, she fed well from him." He paused before adding, "Damn, this will no doubt make it all the harder." 

He shook his head, dislodging the hawk, which took to the sky. Qiang directed him to land. Where a hawk landed, a human stood. Chad stumbled from the sudden change in perspective and body design. Qiang steeped closer, giving Chad something to lean against. Once he gathered his bearings he turned to Qiang. 

"How do you want to play this?" 

"Alone. There is something else I need you to do." Before Chad could protest, Qiang continued. "I need you to go back to my lair. Please have Mingzhu gather up food for Sebastian and a jacket and blanket for Dakota and take her to where they are on the river." 




The Pearl Ch. 14



"We went there overground. How am I supposed to find it again?" 

Qiang fixed Chad with a pained look. "Do you mean to tell me you can't find a dragon by sense? After tracking the Jorogumo far more effectively than I have? Is that really what you're going to try and sell me?" 

Chad looked down. He wasn't trying to sell Qiang anything. Tracking Sebastian honestly hadn't occurred to him. Qiang was right, though. Chad could most likely find Sebastian with some effort. He had been so caught up in the hunt for the Jorogumo he hadn't thought about the long-term implications of how he was keeping an eye on her. He shifted his weight uncomfortably. As a tool in the short-term to stop a monster, his heightened awareness had been useful. However, long-term applications of these talents didn't sit as well with him. It made the world frightening. He had never cared much for being frightened. 

Qiang watched the play of emotions over Chad's face. He didn't need to see into the boy's mind to see the direction he was going. The boy had handled himself well up to this point and Qiang had forgotten how new to all this he was. Anxiety was often a part of the experience for the newly awakened. 

"Was there nothing worth the having?" Qiang asked. 

The hawk stirred in Chad's heart and memory. A thought then occurred to him, that by acting assertively and positively fear can be controlled. The darkness, including his darkness, could be controlled. He took a deep breath. 

"All right. I assume you're sending me. How do we get to where they are?" 

"Mingzhu's car should still be there. Have her drive you." 

"Are you sure you can handle this?" 

Qiang shook his head. "You know, hero, I have done this before. I can handle it. On the other hand, Sebastian has been fed on and drained and Dakota is left in the cold of night without shelter or heavy clothing. It will be worse than a hallow victory if we destroy the Jorogumo and lose the two of them." 

"It's not that cold out." 

"From the man who until recently was covered in feathers. Trust me, it doesn't have to get very cold for a person to lose body heat. Especially considering she is under-dressed and coming down from a tremendous shock. They need attending to and you're the only person I have." 

Chad nodded. "Fine." 

"Thank you," Qiang said as he sent Chad back to his lair. 

With a wave of vertigo Chad appeared. He crouched down to avoid swooning all together. 

This had actually been a bit easier as bird, he thought. 

Mingzhu ran over to him. "Are you all right?" she asked, offering him a hand up. 

Chad took her hand and nodded. "Yeah, thanks."

"Is everything all right?" 

Chad cocked his head, unconsciously mimicking the hawk. "I suppose that depends on your definition. Sebastian has been freed from the Jorogumo, but he's seen better days. Dakota dumped a crap load of energy pulling Sebastian away from the Jorogumo, so she's hurting too. Qiang sent me here to have you gather up some food for Sebastian and a jacket and blanket for Dakota. He wants me to show you where they are on the river. I have a sneaking suspicion that he also wanted to get rid of me and take on the Jorogumo by himself."

"That sounds about right. Give me a moment, and I'll have the things together." 

As Mingzhu left Chad followed after. "Is there anything I can do to help?" 

She looked back and smiled. "Yes, I think I could use your assistance." 

The kitchen was closed down. Surprised, Chad looked around for a clock. Eleven o'clock, much later than he thought. Mingzhu grabbed a box and handed it to Chad. 

"Hold this, please, and follow me." 

Chad took the box and followed her. Mingzhu braced open the cooler and loaded up the box with poultry and fish, vegetables, and some cooked dumplings. She then disappeared back into Qiang's office and was gone for a few minutes. When she returned she was carrying blankets and a jacket. She put on her own jacket and grabbed her keys. 

"Are you ready?" 

Chad nodded. "Lead on." 

Mingzhu led Chad out the back of the restaurant, locking the door afterward and went over to a late-model Taurus. She opened the back door and Chad set the box on the back seat. When they were in the car, Mingzhu asked for directions as she turned the key in the ignition. Unsure of Sebastian and Dakota's exact position, Chad told her to head toward the river.

As Mingzhu drove, she glanced at her passenger. She wasn't certain who he was. She'd been far too concerned with worry, and then the task at hand to question who Qiang had sent for her. Now she began to wonder at his identity. She thought he might be the goldfinch, but was unsure when he became human. She could sense Qiang's magic on him, and knew he wouldn't send someone to his lair that was untrustworthy. She was tempted to ask the young man who he was, but upon observing him it seemed like a bad idea. 

He was slouched in the passenger seat, his eyes closed and his hand resting against his forehead over his right eye. From the look of it, he was casting for something. For the time being, she accepted things as they were. It was often easier that way when dealing with Qiang's plans. As much as she loved him, there were times Qiang's dragonic tendency to command rather than request, and forge complex plans without a lot of consideration for the people involved was damnably inconvenient. And annoying. He always meant well, almost always, but it still rankled. 

Once they reached the river, Mingzhu stopped and waited for further directions. The young man shifted in his seat and looked apologetic.

"I'm a little new at this, give me a second." Chad had been trying to get a bead on Sebastian the entire car ride with little success. He could get a vague sense of direction, but not enough to direct by. Now, as he tried again, he was aware of Mingzhu waiting next to him. 

"Certainly," she said, her tone friendly. 

Her patience made him more self-conscious, as if he was failing her in addition to the others. With some concentration, Chad shut Mingzhu out of his awareness and focused again on Sebastian. He sifted through his remembrances. Though few, they were intense. He found what he was looking for, the feel of Sebastian when he pushed him away, the first awareness of the dragon. But it wasn't quite enough; he couldn't quite focus through it for a specific direction to go in, only the same general awareness. Inspiration struck, and he looked through the eyes of the hawk. Suddenly, his head snapped around to the right and he knew where to go. 

This is getting really weird. He couldn't help the discomfort, the overwhelming strangeness of it all. He heard his father's voice, Just do the work in front of you, what you're feeling doesn't matter. Of course, his father had meant it in a far different way, but the sentiment still applied. Chad was surprised, he'd never thought he would find anything good in his fathers...teachings. 

"Is that they way we have to go?" Mingzhu asked, breaking Chad's reverie. He realized he'd probably been sitting that way for a few minutes. 

"Sorry, yeah, they're this way." 

"About how far?" 

Chad considered the distance. "Less than a mile, I'd say." 

"Very good, let's get moving." 

Chad and Mingzhu climbed out of the car and Chad pulled the box from the back seat. They found a path and followed it, still traveling in silence. Chad's silence was from considering his next move, Mingzhu's out of deference to the silence of the strange young man. When they were a few feet away, but still hidden by the brush and darkness, Chad stopped. 

"They're over that way." He gestured around the box to down the path. "Just a little ways ahead. Do you think you can carry this the rest of the way?" 

Mingzhu took the box. It wasn't heavy, and she had often done stock work. "Yes, I believe I can. Where are you going?" 

Chad held up his hand in a gesture for silence, his face taut with concentration. He was trying to picture in his mind what it was like to be the hawk, every nuance and detail. 

"I think I've got it," he said quietly. He turned to Mingzhu. "I'm going back to Qiang. Thank you for taking those things to Sebastian and Dakota." Where he stood, there was a large red tailed hawk beating its wings against the air. Then he became air-borne and headed off. 

Mingzhu watched him, thankful for whatever assistance he could give to Qiang in his battle with the Jorogumo. God's speed and blessings to you. She watched for a few more moments before going to Sebastian and Dakota. 

What an odd young man, she thought. And why would anybody choose a hawk for night flying? 

Qiang regarded the tunnel entrance in front of him, uncertain of how to proceed. He'd depleted no small amount of energy in the battle up to this point, and the Jorogumo had fed well from a dragon. A fledgling dragon, but a dragon nonetheless. He sighed. 

He tried driving her out by burning the web down. The webbing closest to the flame smoldered and melted, but it wouldn't catch. He wasn't surprised. The energy of a water dragon helped build this web, a natural deterrent to fire. Starving her out was probably the safest move, but the least advised. Heaven only knows what else she might come up with using the hybrid magic she now carried. To his mind that left one move, direct confrontation on her territory. Qiang raised his head high and strode into the web. 



The Pearl Ch. 15



Edited by PennLady

This is a copyrighted work of fiction. All rights reserved. 



 Qiang pushed his head through the tunnel opening. The webbing snagged on his antlers and stuck to his mane. He shook his head and pushed further in. The web should have broken down under his force, but instead tangled around him. He shuddered. This was not working. 

 He focused heat against the webbing and it melted away, but it stopped melting when it was off him. His choices appeared to be creating a larger entranceway or becoming smaller. Smaller meant more easily trapped. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't be concerned about escaping a Jorogumo web. These were far from normal circumstances. But the energy required to melt his way through would be a tremendous drain. He condensed himself down to seven feet and made his way through. 

 The webbing under his feet was slimy and the whole of the web smelled a bit of stagnant water. The base web provided purchase, but tended to become stuck to his feet and claws. The further he pressed in, the more slimy it became. The water seemed to at least cancel out some of the natural properties of the web. Qiang smiled. At least she hadn't managed to completely integrate the two energies yet. It did, however, make for treacherous footing. One misstep found Qiang skidding down an incline. Qiang was careful not to flounder for a hold and further lose control, so it was in a somewhat controlled slide that he exited the tunnel into the main web, and into deep water. 

 Qiang flailed as the water closed over his head. He spun around, but could not see the tunnel entrance. He stilled himself; while he could hold his breath for a long time, fire required oxygen and so did he. He oriented himself as best he could and looked around. As he did, every angle was through shadowed water. At the far side he thought he could see the web. 

 He traced what he could of the web's design with his gaze. It appeared to be a dome shape that encompassed the water. The fluid itself was stagnant and diseased, much like the Jorogumo herself, and cut through with inky darkness and shadows. As he more closely examined his surroundings he realized the Jorogumo had built not only a web but a lair, not unlike his own. She may not have fully integrated Sebastian's power, but she was certainly making good use of what she had. He also had to wonder where she was. Jorogumo hunted primarily through trickery and ambush. As he was aware of her tricks, that would leave ambush as her prime hunting method. He would have to be careful. 

 He reviewed his options, up or down. The best hope of up would be to break surface for air. He doubted there would be a surface to break. Down might afford some means of slipping out of the web at its mooring points. Down it was. 

 Qiang propelled himself downward with several powerful thrusts of his tail and felt something brush him in the water. He jerked his tail in the other direction and the movement forced him off course. As he tried to right himself something again moved past him in the water and he felt legs scuttle against his tail. Again his tail lurched away almost involuntarily, throwing him further off course. 

 He recognized the game and refused to play it. He pushed forward and ignored it when she began to graze his tail. Her movements against his tail became more pronounced, and always against different areas. He managed to flick her aside a few times before she came in near the base of his tail. He was about to slap her with the end of it when he felt her latch on and bite deeply into his tail. 

 Qiang bit down on the roar before it escaped him, but he still lost some breath in the process. He rolled around to see the Jorogumo clamped onto him. He was about to reach around and pull her off his tail when the burning that was beginning in his lungs gave him an idea. Fire may not burn in water, but heat still conducted through it quite well. 

 He closed his eyes and focused on not only the fire, but the heat of it. He stoked it until he burned nearly white hot just below his scales. Then he released it into the water. He opened his eyes to steam and bubbles as the water around him started to boil. With a scream, the Jorogumo released her hold. He continued to pump the heat into the water, hoping to boil the Jorogumo alive if need be. The Jorogumo did not oblige. The water vanished from the web leaving Qiang hanging mid-air and unprepared for the sudden pull of gravity.      He hit bottom, hard. The slam into the ground forced the rest of the breath from him, but he was able to gasp in breaths from damp air around him. He stood up and looked for the Jorogumo. He spotted her, high in the dome of the web. He could see scald marks and burns on her human torso. He noticed something else. Scutes, like on the underside of a dragon, were beginning to form on her lower human abdomen and down the underside of the spider body. He had to wonder what other changes might be taking place. While he wasn't pleased with the implications, he tried to find a way to turn it to his advantage. 

 He returned his attention to the ground and the mooring of the web. It was secured to the trees and several large rocks. The trees were water-soaked and useless, but even wet the rocks would conduct heat. He started to head over when he realized his tail was becoming dead weight. Looking back, he could see where the poison was seeping into his skin and scales. There was little pain, but black lines of contamination penetrated down into his flesh, blighting it. The flesh itself was turning dull as the scales began to whither, soon to drop off. With a snarl, Qiang went back to the rocks. He started to heat them and melt away the webbing. But his fire was ebbing low, dangerously low. He managed to detach a sizable section of webbing before he had to rest. He looked back up to the Jorogumo. She watched, waiting for the poison to weaken him further. 

 Qiang returned to his normal size. The large web accommodated him as he took up much more room. More importantly, the poison had much further to travel now. He was still weakened, and far away from a place to heal.

 He reviewed his options. He could flee, return to his lair, heal up and take up the hunt for the Jorogumo later, but he rejected it. There was too much of a chance he would never find the Jorogumo again. Or he could continue; they were both weakened and damaged, though, more and more that option looked like mutually assured destruction. He sighed. So be it. 

 Qiang lunged at her. His claws carved deep furrows into her spider half and he noticed the feel of scales amidst the fur when he struck. He couldn't quite get a grip on her, and she danced from his grasp as a thick tendril of webbing seized him around the chest and drug him back down. He lay there, panting. 

 The Jorogumo examined her wound. It was deep and ichor was oozing out the two furrows the dragon had left. She glared down at him. She attached a guide line and lowered herself closer to the dragon until she was dangling above him, but still out of reach. 

 "You can just flee. I know you can," she said 

 Qiang said nothing. 

 She cocked her head at him. He was an impressive dragon and quite handsome. But from the looks of it, he was starting to die. She could only feed off live prey, and she knew he wouldn't let her get close enough to try to feed off what was expiring. She tried again to get him to leave. 

 "What is the point, laying here and dying?"

 "That I might watch you die also." 

 She looked at the wound. It was very ugly. "I suppose I might yet." She looked back. "But I might not and if you don't get the strength to break out you will die."

 Qiang laid his head down and closed his eyes. 

 "Fine," she snapped. "A death that serves nothing is wasteful. But if that's what you want, so be it." 

 So intent on her conversation with the dragon she didn't sense when a small form entered the tunnel of her web. It helped that the compact flyer was careful not to brush or nick any of the webbing he flew through. The first indication either combatant knew of the new-comer was the shriek of the Jorogumo as the sharp claws of a hawk raked along her soft spider body. She felt two claws drag down her body and when they stopped at where the human back merged into the spider back, additional claws closed around the flesh, mooring the hawk in place. With a sharp cry the Jorogumo remembered only too well from their first meeting, the hawk began to tear into the flesh of her back with its beak and buffet her with its wings.   

 If it hadn't been her the hawk was tearing into, the Jorogumo would have been impressed with its cleverness. The hawk chose as the attack point a spot the Jorogumo normally would have a hard time reaching. As it was, the pain of a hawk tearing her back to pieces was sufficient for her not to have many thoughts past "get it off." She lost her guide line and they plummeted to the ground. 

 Qiang watched what happened with amazement. That boy doesn't stop for anything. He began to struggle out of the webbing as the boy and the Jorogumo hit the ground. 

 The Jorogumo lurched to her feet as soon as they struck. She turned and reached behind her, desperate to remove the still attacking hawk. She didn't notice how her body bent and stretched to accommodate the move, or felt as scutes worked their way up her body. She didn't notice, but Qiang did. He also thought he might have a means to turn this to his advantage. 

 The Jorogumo grabbed Chad by a wing and pulled him in front of her, catching his other wing in her other hand. She spread the wings as far as they would go, hanging Chad spread-hawk in her grasp.    "You!" she seethed. His head snapped forward, lunging for her face with his bloodied beak and the Jorogumo was forced to extend out her arms to get him away from her face. 

 "I'm going to pull your wings off!" she shrieked. "I'm going to break your beak in two! I'm going to cut off your legs, and pluck every single feather off your wretched body! I'm going to..." 

 The Jorogumo's rant stopped as she felt the dragon's body glide around her spider half and tighten, trapping her. His head came into view. 

 "Do what?" Qiang asked. 

 She twisted her torso away from the dragon's face, still holding the hawk at arm's length, and looked over her shoulder to the dragon. 

 "Not so weak as you put on? No matter. I still have your pet hawk. Even try to crush me in your coils and his wings come off." 

 He moved his attention to Chad. He was unsurprised to be instructed by Chad to ignore his predicament and destroy the Jorogumo. That boy had a one-track mind. While he might not appreciate Qiang's next move, at least he would still have limbs at the end of it. 

 The Jorogumo watched Qiang, on high alert for anything the dragon might do to her. She wasn't expecting him to do something to the hawk. So when his wings disappeared from her hands, she snapped her head back to her hands to see what happened. 

 Both the Jorogumo and Chad were nonplussed at the change of the hawk to a goldfinch, but Chad recovered first. He zipped out of the Jorogumo's range just as she slapped her hands together to capture him. She opened her hands, but was unsurprised to find them empty. 

 "Well played," she conceded as she lowered her arms. "So is this where you feed on me, to teach me what it is like?" 

 A look of disgust crossed Qiang's muzzle. "As if I would pollute myself with your flesh." 

 She crossed her arms. "So what are you going to do then?" The dragon made no answer.

 The Jorogumo looked at where the dragon had her captured. He was twisted around her, but the last coil stopped at the junction of where her torso met the spider. He laid on his side, with his tail laying out straight and his upper body well out of bite reach. She could feel his energy surrounding her and didn't like it. 

 She ran through the spells she knew. All required webbing and the dragon had her away from her web and her spinnerets tightly coiled. She thought about biting the first coil, but she already had poison in this dragon that was taking its time working. She doubted even a second dose would stop the dragon before he finished whatever it was he was doing. That left the dragon magic she had taken from Sebastian. It was unpredictable, and not entirely under her control, but better than nothing. She prepared to call it when the dragon energy twisted, but not at her calling. She froze.    

 The dragon smiled. "That's what I'm looking for."  

 She snarled at the dragon, "What are you doing?" 

  Qiang smirked and closed his eyes, leaving the Jorogumo to wonder what would happen next. She didn't have to wonder long. She felt discomfort at her spinnerets, then watched in horror as her abdomen elongated out into a serpentine tail; her spinnerets were gone. She squirmed in desperation, but Qiang held her fast. She felt the energy she'd so recently taken from Sebastian moving through her on its own accord. No, she realized, not its own. At the will of the hateful dragon holding her. 

 Her rear four legs merged into two as her body continued to lengthen. Qiang looped another coil around the growing tail to maintain control. She felt the energy surge upward, and the flesh underneath hardened. The vagina on her human torso, and her primary means of feeding, was swallowed up and changed by these scales as they continued their path up her torso stopping at the top of the human abdomen.

 She continued to thrash as she felt smaller scales replace her fur, her last spider legs shrink down into a more reptilian shape, and her internal organs rearrange themselves into a new configuration. Her vision blurred as extra eyes disappeared. Finally, the last little bits of the energy were extinguished as she felt her mandibles dissolve, her second mouth melt closed into her face, and something heavy burst out of her skull. All was still for a moment, and she realized the changes were done. All of the energy she had gathered, all of her strength and power, were exhausted. She had neither the powers attendant a Jorogumo nor the delicious dragon energy she was just beginning to enjoy. Qiang released her and they both looked over the results

 The torso was still human, though the skin was now pale white. But instead of a spider, the lower body that spilled out from under her was a dragon's. Her beautiful black fur, glossy and perfect, had been replaced by a dull black scaled hide on top and scutes underneath. The dragon body wasn't long, perhaps five feet from chest to tail tip, and was topped by thick ruff of white fur that ran down the human back, along the dragon back, and ended in the tail ruff all Chinese dragons had. The hair on her human head had gone white as well, and when she reached up to feel her face she discovered she did have but one mouth, one set of eyes, and what felt like antlers growing from top of her head. As if these outer humiliations weren't enough, she could find nothing of the spider within either. She was empty, devoid, barren. 

 She ran her hands down her front, along her sides, and grasped her tail, disbelieving. She looked at the dragon in horror; he looked back, pleased with himself. 

 "What did you do to me?" she asked in a hoarse whisper. "And how?" she further questioned, her voice rising. "You were spent not moments ago." 

 Qiang shrugged, his smug smile infuriating the Jorogumo. "I actually did very little. The dragon you fed off, Sebastian, had not always been a dragon." 

 "So? He appeared as a dragon to me." 

 "He is a dragon, now. However, the pearl he carries was designed to make the recipient into a dragon. And that's what you took into yourself. So it did to you what it was designed to do. All I did was direct it." After a pause he added, "And ensure it ran itself out in those changes. You see, you didn't take in the pearl, or even its full energy. So I guided it to make all the changes it could, enough to eliminate the Jorogumo, but not enough to make a full dragon." 

  The full impact of his words settled unto her. Not only was she no longer a Jorogumo, she would never be a complete dragon. Not that she really wanted to be a dragon, but as it was she was without a means to power. She could not command magic in the way of a Jorogumo or in the way of a dragon, and she had no option for getting a means to do so. Her legs collapsed from under her in defeat. 

 "A fine victory, dragon," she spat. "So, you've had your fun. You've punished me for overreaching and going after your precious fledgling. Kill me, already." 

 Qiang rose to his feet and shook himself off. He could feel the poison traveling, but slowly. He had to get back to his lair, and soon, and had much more work to do before he could rest. Still, there was a vindictive aspect to his nature and he wasn't quite done here. A few more words, then he would go. 

 "Kill you? Well, why ever would I do that?" he asked, his feigned innocence barely concealing his amusement. Or his contempt. 

 "I am an aberration!" she shrieked, jumping to her feet. "A grotesque with no proper place in this world or any other! You can't leave me like this!" 

 Qiang glowered into her face, his rage and contempt no longer hidden. "I can and I will. A clean death is honorable. To free you from what you yourself set into motion would be merciful. You have attacked a child, raised the dead in the form of a monster to prey on another child. What would have become of the bakemono had it succeeded? You would have left it to wander, causing whatever mayhem it pleased. You have done nothing to deserve honor or mercy. Stay here and rot." 

 With that, Qiang turned away from the creature that was no longer a Jorogumo, but was not fully any other creature. He pushed his way out of the gap he had created in the web and walked out into the night followed closely by a goldfinch. Once the goldfinch reclaimed his now familiar perch in Qiang's antlers they both vanished from the scene. 

 Qiang appeared in his lair and collapsed among the pillows, grateful to be home. Chad flitted from Qiang's antler to the bed and chirped at him. Qiang rolled his head so that he was facing the goldfinch. He focused on the fuming bird and he was again human, sitting on the bed with his legs dangling. The look on Chad's face was not pleasant. 

 "Don't start with me," Qiang growled in warning. "She would have happily ripped your wings off. At the least."

 "I don't care about that. You can't be actually planning on leaving that thing alive." 

 "Oh, come on, hero, give it a rest. You've seen it through. The Jorogumo is destroyed." Qiang laid his head down on a pillow. 

 "Um, except for the dragon centaur thing back there cursing the day you were born." 

 "Her cursing, no matter how heart felt, is impotent. Did you not listen? She is without power or a means to power. She has no pearl, and no means to bond with an element."

 "That's not the point," Chad snapped, exasperated. He leaned forward in emphasis of his words. "She's still out there, she's still a threat. Only turn your back on the broken or the dead. I guarantee you she's neither." 

 Qiang regarded Chad. "You know," he said after a pause, "if you're going to sit here and disturb my peace, could you move that brazier over there to my tail?" Qiang indicated with a nod of his head a brazier over by the bed Chad was sitting on. It was a small metal bowl on a low stand that held it perhaps three feet above the floor.     With a sigh, Chad got up from the bed, made a path through the pillows, and pushed the brazier and stand across the floor next to Qiang. 

 "While you're up, please go to the book shelf and pull down the light green ointment." 

 Chad shook his head, but headed to where he was directed. "Do you mean that goo you used on Dakota and Mingzhu earlier?" 




The Pearl Ch. 15



"Not the same, but in the same place." 

 Chad held up a jar. "Is it this one?" 

 "No." 

 "How about this one?"

 "No." 

 Chad eventually found the correct jar and carried it over. Qiang took it from him and rubbed the medicine into the wound. He then laid his tail across the brazier and let the fire caress his injured limb.    "Thank you," he said with a contented sigh and he laid his head back down on the pillows. Chad crossed his arms and glared. 

 "I understand what you're saying," Qiang said. "But I think I've done this a little more often then you have." 

 Chad continued to look unconvinced. 

 "By the way, didn't I tell you to take Mingzhu to Sebastian and Dakota?" 

 "You did. And I did. Not all the way, but I assume Mingzhu can walk about twenty feet without supervision. Besides, I thought the last thing Dakota needed to see was the last person who assaulted her." 

 "I didn't tell you to come back." 

 "You didn't tell me not to." 

 "I see you're rather particular. How did you go back to the hawk?" 

 Chad's demeanor faltered a bit. "I guess I just wanted it and it came." He looked away, a little distant, but also a little wistful. "It's not so bad, the whole hawk thing, I guess. Actually, it's kind of nice."       Qiang nodded. He wasn't surprised, the boy had a lot of potential just under the surface. But the matter of direction would have to be carefully considered. Chad was lost in thought a few moments longer before he started to head towards the exit. 

 "This is the way out, right?" he asked. 

 Qiang nodded but didn't open it. He studied Chad while asking, "Where are you going now?" 

 The thousand-yard stare met Qiang's gaze. "I'm really not sure yet. I've things I gotta do." 

 Qiang considered his next move. Then the wall opened in front of Chad with the business office on the other side. 

 "Grace from Heaven on you, hero," Qiang said. 

 Chad nodded. "Thank you." He walked out of the lair. 

 Qiang closed the doorway behind him. He knew one of the two, either Chad or the Jorogumo, would not be seeing the next day. He prayed that it would be Chad who saw the dawn. The Jorogumo had no power, but while Chad had all the instincts of a hunter, he had none of the practical knowledge. He considered going after Chad and accompanying him on the kill, perhaps even finishing the Jorogumo himself. Yet there was something about this experience that was Chad's alone. He would need to see it through to the end.   

 Qiang lay there a little longer, letting the medicine and the flame repair the damage done to his tail. Simply being in his lair, he felt revived. He was still bone tired, but he was out of danger. He felt he could sleep for a month. His remaining work kept him from that desire. 

 When the tail was nearly finished, the poison driven out and the wound close to healed, Qiang removed his tail from the brazier and turned to face it. He buried his muzzle amid the flames and embers and inhaled before consuming a portion of the fire. He eagerly swallowed down the burning coals, replenishing his all but spent stores.     

 Once he had enough energy, Qiang shifted to human form and went into his office, leaving the lair doorway open. He fired up his computer and set about to looking at hotels. Dakota couldn't very well spend the night... He looked at his clock; it was nearly two in the morning. He sighed. Dakota couldn't very well spend the rest of the night on the river. He found the hotel he was looking for; a nice Sheraton hotel featuring suites that faced the river. He picked up the phone and dialed the front desk. 

 "Yes," he said as the line was picked up. "I need a suite starting tonight, facing the river if at all possible. Yes, I'm aware of what time it is. Yes, I'm aware I will be paying for a full night tonight, that is not a concern." He paused as the night clerk checked availability and quoted him a room rate. "Does the room have a river view? Excellent. Yes, that is acceptable. For how long? I'm afraid I can't say, but a week at very minimum. Most likely much longer." He listened as the desk clerk advised him of residential suites. "That sounds like what I need. Do they still have a river view? Balcony over the river? Even better. Yes, book that under..." He stopped as he realized he didn't know Dakota's last name. 

 "Qiang Long." He read off his credit card number. "Yes, I will be bringing by the occupants soon."     Qiang hung up the phone and returned to his lair. From under the bed he removed a storage box of Mingzhu's clothes and a suit case. He packed a full suitcase. Dakota and Mingzhu were at least somewhat similar in size, hopefully the clothes would work as a stop-gap measure until more could be purchased for her. He hoped Mingzhu wouldn't mind. Since the two were friends, he doubted she would. Tomorrow, if Dakota felt up to it, or the next day, she and Mingzhu would go shopping. Qiang would make sure of it. 

 He took up the suitcase and prepared to leave. He felt the overwhelming urge to stay well up inside him and firmly pushed it back down. While the fire wasn't nearly as sentient, or demanding, as the river, he was still weak and still longed to stay amongst the warmth and power of his element.    Miles to go before I sleep, he reminded himself as he left for the river. 

 Dakota sat on the grassy section of the bank wrapped in a blanket. Mingzhu sat next to her and Sebastian continued to lay in the river. At first he didn't want the food Mingzhu had brought. Retching up the length of a six-foot neck was enough to put him off eating for a long time. The longer the food sat there, however, the more his body told him how hungry he was. His head drifted over towards the box as he asked, "What all did you bring?"       "Duck, salmon, trout, and some extra dumplings," Mingzhu replied. One of the servings had already gone to Dakota who was picking them over as they spoke. 

 "Duck?" Sebastian asked, removing one of the poultry from the box. 

 "Yes, since it's a water based fowl, and there are some on this river, I thought you might like it." 

 "I don't know, I've never had it." Sebastian took a tentative bite of the duck and when he didn't have any troubles with it, he finished it off with two more bites. 

 "Not bad," he conceded with a nod of his head while going through the box again. Before long, he had the contents of the box devoured.    "Thanks for bringing that," Sebastian said, laying out in the river. 

 "You're welcome. But Qiang actually arranged for it. He sent a young man to lead me here with the food. He left before we got all the way here, returning to assist Qiang." 

 "Oh," Sebastian said. "Well that was cool of him." 

 "Yes, but I'm not certain of who it was. Perhaps you might know." Mingzhu described the mysterious young man. 

 Dakota looked out from under her blanket cocoon. "That sounds like Chad." 

 Mingzhu nodded. "I thought it might be also, but I wasn't sure when he stopped being a goldfinch. Then, to return he became a hawk and now I'm thoroughly confused as to who he might be." 

 Sebastian and Dakota looked at each other. "Do you know anybody who turns into a hawk?" Sebastian asked Dakota. She shook her head. 

 "Sorry," Dakota said. "Looks like neither of us have a clue. But, in all honesty, up until now I haven't had any friends who turned into anything." 

 Mingzhu smiled and patted Dakota's leg. "You get used to it in time." 

 "Well, there's something new to add to friend's info on my cell phone. What animals they can turn into." 

 Mingzhu's smile broadened into a grin. "Depending on the friend, you may need many lines."

 "Good to know." 

 In the midst of this gathering Qiang appeared, carrying a suitcase. His arrival startled Sebastian and Dakota. For her part, Mingzhu was accustomed to his sudden appearances. Sebastian eyed the suitcase. 

 "Staying for a while?" he asked. 

 "No. This is for Dakota." He set it down next to her. 

 "Uh, thank you," she said with uncertainty.  

 "You are welcome. The clothes are Mingzhu's." He turned his attention to her. "I hope you don't mind." 

 "Of course not," she said, her grin never failing. 

 "Thank you. Now, I have arranged lodging for you." He produced a card with the hotel address written on it and gave it to Mingzhu. 

 "Why are you arranging lodging and giving Dakota Ming's clothes?" Sebastian asked, confused. 

 Qiang looked over to him. "Because I burned down her house and all her belongings." He turned back. "Now, Mingzhu..."

 "WHAT?" 

 He returned his attention to Sebastian. "There's no need to shout, I'm right here. Though I would have thought Dakota already covered this, give me a moment and I'll explain what happened." He turned back to Mingzhu. "Now..." 

 "You're going to tell him the house burned down, right?" Dakota gave him a meaningful look. 

 Qiang pulled up short. "Ah, yes that's what I just said." 

 "You know, just, how the house burned down. That's all that happened." 

 Qiang realized what she was getting at. "Yes, just how the house burned down," he confirmed with a sigh. "Now, Mingzhu, if you could please drive Dakota to this destination, I would greatly appreciate it. The reservation has already been made under my name."

 Mingzhu rose and helped Dakota to her feet. "Of course," she said, picking up the suitcase. 

 Though very tired, Dakota was loathe to leave. "Maybe I can just stay here for the rest of the night," she ventured. 

 "The hotel is on the river," Qiang explained. "And I arranged a room facing the river. I will be taking Sebastian there. We will meet you." 

 Dakota reached out and squeezed Qiang's arm. "Thank you," she said. "For everything." 

 Qiang returned the smile and laid his hand on hers. "You are welcome." 

 Dakota and Mingzhu disappeared down the path towards the car. Qiang returned to dragon form.  He turned to Sebastian. 

 "Follow me," he said as he started walking. 

 Sebastian hauled himself out of the river and followed. "So what happened?" 

 "I had to use fire to destroy the spiders. Unfortunately, it destroyed everything else too." 

 "I take it this wasn't your average pest control problem?" 

 "No, they were sent by the Jorogumo." 

 "They were sent against Dakota?" 

 Qiang nodded, noting the angry tone in Sebastian's voice. "But the Jorogumo has been dealt with." 

 "That's good. But what about Dakota's situation now?" 

 "Well, clearly I will be replacing her belongings and her home." 

 Sebastian laughed. "So what, you're going to buy her a house?" 

 "That is my plan at this time. However, it can be a time consuming process. So the hotel is a stop-gap measure. Of course, in the meantime as soon as you are able, I will need you to come by the restaurant and advise me what belongings I'll need to order. I saw she had an extensive book collection, but was unable to glean any titles. I assume you know what she had and what she likes to read?" 

 "Yeah, not really. I know some of what she had, but nowhere near everything." He paused, thinking. "You know, 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' is a good start. Oh, and I think she likes Poe."  

 Qiang nodded. "Very well. Though I'll need your input at some point when I can actually purchase something. Amazon's a rather good source for most books. I do know a rare books dealer. I'm sure I could find some first additions there for her collection. Particularly some Poe."     "Qiang, she's a college student. I doubt she even had any first additions."

 "Hmm, perhaps not. But there's no reason not to make her collection better."   

 Sebastian shook his head. She should certainly have an interesting collection at the end of this. They walked on in silence for a few moments. 

 "How are you feeling?" Qiang asked. 

 Sebastian thought over his answer. While he still wasn't feeling great, it was certainly better than when he was first broken free from the Jorogumo. He could feel the river, a much stronger presence than before, running almost all the way through him. A lot of what was taken by the Jorogumo the river had replaced with its own essence, healing him and working itself in deeper in the process. Sebastian had to smile. As he predicted, the river had a least partially won that fight.  

 "Not bad. Still a little haggard but better than before. The river did a lot to fix me up. Thanks for sending the food, by the way. Who was the guy? Ming said she didn't know who he was." 

 "It was Chad."

 Sebastian stopped where he was. "WHAT?" 

 Qiang stopped and looked over to him. "What is this sudden proclivity you've developed for shouting?" 

 "Isn't he a goldfinch?" 

 "Obviously not if he helped Mingzhu carry a box of food." 

 "I don't believe this," Sebastian grumbled. 

 "I was rather surprised too," Qiang agreed with a shrug. "But he found his way out of the spell." Qiang resumed his path along the river. 

 Sebastian stood fuming for a moment, then caught up. "But how?" 

 Qiang shrugged again. "Something about dealing with the Jorogumo set him straight. The entire point of Chang's spell was for him to learn what he needed too. Once the lesson was learned, back to human he'd go. And so it was." He saw the glare Sebastian still had. "Don't blame me. It was Chang's spell and Chang's conditions. He met them, he's human." 

 "How did he become a hawk?" 

 "Now that was my fault," Qiang conceded. "I told him after he became human he was free to go. He insisted on staying so rather than traumatize Dakota further I stipulated his remaining was contingent on not being in human form. He chose the hawk. I didn't think he would be able to replicate it on his own, but he appears to have quite a knack for magic." 

 Sebastian ruminated over what Qiang said, deciding what he thought of it. "I don't like it." 

 "I know. But he met the conditions. There's nothing further to be done for it." 

 "We'll see about that," Sebastian muttered, but Qiang heard him. 

 Qiang stopped in the river and turned lengthwise, blocking Sebastian's path. "I don't imagine you much care for my opinion on your business, but you're going to get it anyway. First, Chang laid the spell. If you try to second guess it, or him, and certainly if you harm Chad in any way, you will answer to Chang for it. Secondly, whether you believe it or not, he was exceedingly helpful in this situation. What he may do in the future, I can't say, but as of now we are both in his debt. And for this reason you will answer to me also if you do something to him without provocation. Are we clear here?"

 Sebastian looked away and glowered. 

 Qiang raised his head and glared at Sebastian. "Are we clear?" 

 "Yes," he snarled as he looked back. 

 Qiang softened, slightly. "Good. I understand you don't like him, and I understand why. There are some deeply flawed parts to him. And I don't expect you to forgive him, or even give him a chance. But I do expect you not to kill him out of hand." Qiang moved forward again, clearing the path for Sebastian.  

 Qiang continued leading Sebastian and soon they entered one of the more metropolitan areas of the river. Qiang escorted Sebastian directly to a large, and rather fancy looking hotel. The back of it faced the river and a patch of woods on the other side of the river. The hotel took advantage of the view. Along the ground level was a deck that wrapped around the structure. On the left side was a several story glassed in area that looked like the pool area. The far right side was another glassed in section, but this one extended a little way over the river. Sandwiched between these two structures the guest rooms were set, their windows dark. One of the floors of rooms had individual balconies set across the length.   

 "This is it," he said, stopping. "Is Dakota here yet?" 

 Sebastian cast about the hotel for her. "Not yet." He gave Qiang a long look. "Will you give him a second chance?" 

 "It wouldn't so much be a second chance, as we hadn't really had any dealings previously. But if he asked, yes I most likely would." 

 "Why?" 

 "Because I have to." Qiang left it at that. Sebastian waited a bit to see if there was more, but there wasn't. Before he could pursue the matter, he felt Dakota come into his range. His head turned to the hotel. 

 "She's here." 

 "Good. She should be getting one of these rooms with a balcony." 

 After a few minutes a light came on in one of the rooms. Then the balcony door slid open and the two women exited onto the balcony. Sebastian and Qiang walked over to them. 

 "Qiang, that room is huge," Dakota whispered when they reached the guardrail of the lower walk around. 

 "Good. As you will be staying there until a more permanent solution is arrived at, you should be comfortable. Mingzhu," he said as he turned to her. "I would like you to stay here with Dakota." He paused for half a minute before a thought struck him. "If it is amenable to you both, of course." 

 "I don't mind," Mingzhu said. She looked over to Dakota. 

 "I think I would like the company. Are you coming up?" she asked of Sebastian.

 He looked longingly at the room, then shook his head. "I'm nowhere near up to shifting. Sorry." 

 Dakota smiled. "It's all right." 

 "What is called for now is rest," Qiang advised. He watched as Dakota and Mingzhu returned to their room and Sebastian settled into the river. Assured that as of now at least these three were safe, Qiang returned to his lair. 

 Qiang settled in among the pillows. He missed having Mingzhu with him. He was also deeply worried about his fourth charge. Though he hadn't set out to take on the strange boy, he felt responsible for him nonetheless. There was a dept owed, without question. Things would have gone much worse without him. On the other claw, he was deeply flawed... No, he was deeply, terribly damaged. Though the semantics didn't make much difference in the long run, they were still there. 

 But even these concerns didn't keep an exhausted sleep from claiming him.



The Pearl Ch. 16



The Pearl part 2: Whore Spider

               Chapter 16 

By Thistlethorn ©

Edited by Penn Lady

This is a copyrighted work of fiction. All rights reserved.

Chad stalked down the street, paying little attention to where he was going. He had work to finish, he knew, and no idea how to complete it. How does one kill a Jorogumo that had been turned into a dragon-centaur? This wasn't covered in anything he'd ever learned. 

He turned the idea over in his head. It seemed that the human torso would be the easiest place for a strike. With what? He had a hand-gun at his apartment, but felt it might be inadequate. He shook his head. He was going up against a creature that feed off men sexually, and he was worried about the adequacy of his gun. 

A gun was still something to consider. The larger the weapon, the more likely the kill. Because he was certain he wouldn't get a second shot. 

The nearly-deserted street continued to go past him in a blur. The few people out took one look at his face and let him pass. For his part, Chad never gave those around him a moments thought. 

He considered taking flight, but set it aside. He enjoyed it too much and couldn't afford the distraction. He had to concentrate on how to kill the Jorogumo. 

For all of Chad's faults, and he had to concede more than a few, he'd never killed anyone. Threatened, on more than one occasion, but never had to carry through. However, this wasn't someone he was scarring into line. This was a predator the likes of which he had never aspired too. The actual act still disquieted him, for reasons he couldn't name. 

Worse, there was nothing from his darkness and nothing from his ill-used but suddenly active conscience. 

He drew in a deep breath and tried to focus; it felt as though he was on the edge of something profound. Whatever he did this night, his life would be changed beyond recognition, with no going back. An unimaginable path yawned before him and he couldn't begin to fathom its destination. 

He found himself at his apartment building. He didn't even know what time it was and didn't care. Compared to his past days, he figured his roommate was getting off easy being woken up in the middle of the night. 

Chad hastened up the stairs. He crouched down and wiggled aside the section of base board where his roommate hid his spare key for the many times he drunkenly lost them. He unlocked the door and entered. 

The apartment was dark, which was not surprising. Without turning on a light he went to his room. Once there, he turned the nightstand lamp on and proceeded to rummage through his closet. He sensed as much as heard his roommate coming up on him. He heard the click of a gun. 

"Really?" Chad asked without looking up. "Do you really think if I were robbing this place I wouldn't have taken you out first?" 

The gun went down, the safety back on. "Chad?" he asked, disbelief in his voice. 

"Yes." He didn't bother to turn around. 

"Where the hell have you been, man?" 

"You don't want to know." 

There was a short pause with Chad's rummaging the only sound. When his room-mate spoke again, anger replaced incredulity. 

"You fall of the face of the earth, leaving me holding the bag for your bail, the police have been crawling all over this place, and when you deign to pop back up, your only explanation is 'I don't want to know'?" 

Chad gritted his teeth. He had completely forgotten about his hearing, which meant there was probably a bench warrant for him. Great. He doubted the police would accept, "I'm sorry, officers, but I was a gold finch at that time and really couldn't make it." Chad sighed. 

After he removed a leather pouch from its hiding place he stood up. Pocketing the pouch, he pulled two laptops down from his upper shelf. Both were name-brand, top-of-the-line units, but one was bleeding edge technology, as they say. He plugged in the new unit and sat on his bed, waiting for it to boot up. He looked up at his roommate. 

"Yes, Will, I'm afraid that's all I got: You don't want to know." The computer booted up. He keyed in a program and waited for it to run. His major had been computer programming, and he'd picked up a great deal in the time he'd studied it. Soon, the hard drive was being erased. 

"And I'm sorry you got screwed in this deal," he continued. "That wasn't my intention. Just believe me when I say it was completely out of my control." 

The sincerity with which Chad spoke took Will by surprise. In his time living with Chad he had associated many things with him, a short temper but a quick wit, a guy who could be fun to hang with unless you got on his bad side, and a guy who could get anybody anything. Sincerity didn't appear on the list. Neither did "I'm sorry." And the look on his face, haunted and distant and disturbed, unsettled him further. Will was uncertain how to continue with this stranger wearing his roommate's --and in the three years they'd lived together they'd always been roommates, never friends-- skin. 

"Ah, yeah, that's cool. I, uh, didn't think it was intentional." 

The laptop dinged. He looked it over, checked for files, and ran a diagnostic. Once he was satisfied it was clean, he powered it down and snapped the lid shut. As he stood up, he handed it to Will. 

"Here, take it and pawn it. It should cover what I owe you if you're shrewd in the haggling. If not, pawn whatever else is here. I won't be back." 

Without another word, Chad left Will holding the computer with his mouth hanging open. He returned to the closet, pulled down a messenger bag, a box, and a coat. He closed the closet door, grabbed the other laptop and walked around the still-dumbfounded Will. 

He turned on the living room light, plugged in the second lap top and waited for it to power up. Will wandered out of the bedroom, carrying the cleansed laptop in front of him as though it might explode. 

"You're just giving this to me?" 

Chad didn't look up from the laptop. "Hmm, here take this, pawn it, it's yours. Yeah, that sounds like I'm giving it to you. What's your malfunction?" 

"Giving a damn isn't really your thing." 

Chad stopped what he was doing and looked even more distant. "Yeah, I guess you're right." He turned back to his computer. "Guess things change, shit happens and you're the lucky recipient of the fall out." 

"What the fuck happened to you?" 

Chad looked up again. "You. Don't. Want. To. Know. Capisce?" 

"Yeah, I guess." Will tucked the lap top under his arm and walked around to behind Chad. He could see on the computer Chad was googleing something Will had never heard of. 

"Jorogumo," he sounded out. "What the hell does that mean?" 

"Apparently, not much to Google." Chad sighed. Every site he brought up gave generalized, and he suspected sanitized, versions of folklore. Nothing concrete, and nothing that even approximated what he'd seen. He wanted to try a more in depth search, but didn't have the time. 

He shut down the computer, snapped it shut and slid it into the messenger bag. He turned his attention to the box. Upon opening it, he removed a hand gun, released the magazine from the handle and examined the amount left. Most of a magazine. He snapped it back into place.

Will continued to watch with amounting alarm. "What the hell---?" At an annoyed look from Chad, he stopped. 

Chad threw his jacket on, tucked the gun in the pocket, swung the messenger bag across his body, and strode toward the door.

"You're leaving again, just like that?" Will asked. 

"Yes. Skipped bail plus missed hearing equals bench warrant. It's best I'm not here. Like I said, do whatever you want with what's left. I won't be back." Chad grabbed the doorknob. 

"What the fuck happened to you where ever the hell you were?" Will almost pleaded. 

Chad paused by the door, then looked over his shoulder. The haunted look filled Will with a dread he couldn't understand. 

"I'll tell you this: Cherish your ignorance. Because the world is bigger than you think and filled with things worse than you can imagine. And never fuck some strange woman you just met in some weird place, no matter how hot she is. In fact, don't fuck anybody you haven't known for like, at least a year. And always wear a condom." 

With that, Chad was out the door. 

Chad felt bad about not telling Will more, giving him a more thorough warning about the dangers of which he was suddenly aware. However, he also thought ignorance was bliss and that if Will didn't know about these things, maybe he could live the rest of his life without experiencing them. At least, Chad hoped he could. Though they had never been friends, Chad wouldn't wish this experience on him. 

Chad ducked down an empty alley and pulled out the pouch. Tucked inside was cash. After confirming he was alone, he pulled it out and counted. Two thousand, as he remembered. He put it away and pocketed the pouch once more. The handgun he had was good, but he wanted something bigger. 

Chad had always flirted with the seedier aspects of life. He was smart, good looking, and when he tried, charming and disarming. He could work his way into and out of groups easily, without ruffling feathers or threatening boundaries. He ran a lucrative side business trafficking in things people wanted. He was the one people went to when they wanted something on the sly and were willing to pay for good, discreet service. He had built up quite a list of contacts for any number of things, legitimate and otherwise. So getting a heavy ordinance gun wasn't as difficult for him as it would be for others. 

The question was, who was the safest choice who would have something for immediate purchase. Waiting for someone to get him something was not an acceptable option. Excuse, miss killer spider/dragon person. Please stay where you are until Mr. Black Market here gets me something large enough to kill you with. Not likely to happen. Chad made his choice, and about forty-five minutes later found himself the proud owner of an automatic rifle with nondescript bag. 

One uncomfortable cab ride later, and he was at the approximate site on the river. Trying to give the cabbie directions based on someplace he'd been as a hawk was a challenging task. Chad was fairly certain the cabbie suspected what the cargo might be, but as no small talk was made between them, no conclusions could be drawn. 

Chad swung the gun bag over his shoulder and walked the rest of the way to the Jorogumo. Dawn was just cresting the sky when he arrived. The enormous web was still in place. Chad walked around to the hole Qiang had made in the side and looked in. The Jorogumo lay where they'd left her, amongst the ruins of her web. She was laying on her stomach, her front legs curled in front like a cat, her back legs and tail sprawled out behind. Her tail twitched, turning up dirt and debris. She wrapped her arms around her torso and her head was down. As Chad approached, she looked up. For a split second he saw the despair in her eyes, then it was covered by a mix of condescension and malignancy. 

"Who are you?" There was acid in her voice. 

Chad met her glare and animosity straight on, showing none of his own. "The hawk." 

She snarled at him, hatred burning in her gaze. "Come here to gloat?" 

Chad removed the messenger bag, them removed the rifle from its carrying sack. 

"No," he said, raising the gun to aim. "I've come here to kill you." He didn't see the point of pretense. 

"Your master won't like it." 

"Well, I guess that's my problem, now isn't it?" 

"Thank God." 

He cocked his head around the gun. He knew he should just pull the trigger, but he paused. 

"How's that?" 

The Jorogumo looked him over. "You're a little new to this, aren't you?" 

Chad raised the gun again. "Would you like to see how new?" 

"Bravado suits you well, but not as well as honesty. Let us speak as enemies, for only enemies are honest." 

"That's not been my experience." Chad's finger curled around the trigger. "I've found everybody is pretty much equally dishonest." 

"I suppose there's a truth there too. Then let us speak as hunter and prey. The ultimate honesty is death." 

Chad's finger tightened on the trigger. 

"Oh, don't worry. I know well my part here. I am the prey, you are the hunter. I just thought I might impart some wisdom before I'm slain." 

"Why bother?" 

"Because your master doesn't get it," she flared, her anger ever more on display. "He initiated the hunt, he had a responsibility to see it through. All right, I started it with going after that damned fledgling, but he hunted me down. He was the victor and my life was his. It was his right." 

"And..."

"It was my right to die as well. But instead, he mutilates my form and leaves."

"Your life was his, he did with it what he pleased." The matter-of-fact tone Chad used was far from the trembling uncertainty he felt. 

"You don't really think that, or you wouldn't be here." 

"Maybe I just think you're too dangerous to live." 

"Then you have wisdom. But I am done and I want this finished." 

Chad's arms were becoming tired, his muscles screaming from being held in position, but there was something important here. Something he couldn't walk away from. 

"Then you're not a danger." 

"Perhaps I am, perhaps I am not. Your master left things unfinished and you sense the wrongness of it. You should always finish what you start, hunter. So finish his work. Please." 

"So you just check out?" 

"Oh, I'll be back when the cycle turns 'round." Her look softened for a moment. "You'll be long gone when that happens." It hardened again, then turned spiteful. "But the dragon won't. He'll still be alive. And we'll have our reckoning then." She lowered her head so that it was in line with the barrel of the gun. "Come then, hunter. Finish your task." 

Chad stood for a moment, gripped by indecision. Then he pulled the trigger and the Jorogumo fell dead at his feet. He regarded her sprawled form, watched the blood ooze out of the head wound. Then, feeling nothing, or perhaps feeling everything to the point of numbness, he rebagged the gun, gathered the messenger bag and left. 



He walked back to the city; he felt exhausted and overstimulated at the same time. He needed to walk, needed to do something. He thought he might put some order to what just happened, what was continuing to happen, but order wouldn't come. So he just walked. 

As he made his way past an alley, a dark feeling ran with cold dread down his spine. He stiffened, and stopped. He peered down the alley, saw nothing, but felt a lot. Something was happening, something that disturbed him and set every sense he wished he didn't have on edge. 

God, I just want to keep walking, he told himself, even as he ducked into the alley. He hugged the wall and made his way down. As he did so, voices were getting louder. They were arguing. A dark voice demanding a softer voice give way and give them what they wanted. He understood neither of these voices were human, just as he understood the object of their discussion most likely was. 

About half-way down there was a dumpster. Chad stopped and, after looking around to determine no one else was about, tucked the rifle and the laptop computer under the dumpster. He wasn't sure about the neighborhood, but he didn't want to risk the sound of automatic weapons fire not being ignored. As for the laptop, he had other plans for the bag. 

He gathered bricks, stones, discarded metal, anything heavy he could find to load up the bag. He slung the loaded down, and much heavier, bag over his shoulder and proceeded the rest of the way. 

The alley opened up into a little alcove. Chad couldn't discern what the buildings were, nor did he much care. He looked around. 

The moment he entered, both parties stopped speaking. They faded, becoming harder to discern. Chad realized they were trying to hide from him, but that he could still see them. He suppressed a shudder. As much as he hated this thing that seemed to be continually happening to him, he put it aside to see what had brought him there. 

Off to the side was what looked like all the world to be a rat. A human-sized rat dressed in some form of cloak and head gear, crouched over an unconscious man. From the looks of the man, he was homeless. Chad wandered in a little further and swept the area with his gaze, trying not to look anyone in the eye. The group on the other side consisted of three individuals, their clothes ragged and their faces covered. Torn and patched pants of unknown material, maybe burlap, were tucked into biker boots. They wore tunics of dingy gray and wide brim, low slung hats sheltering their eyes and rags ties about their lower faces. They scrutinized him, their gazes crawling over him like vermin. There was something about them he instantly disliked. They were sizing him up; deciding if he was better prey then the poor old bastard on the ground. 

Chad looked back over to the man on the ground and, keeping up the facade of ignorance, went over and knelt down next to him. Upon closer inspection, the man was passed out and reeked of alcohol. Chad sighed and shook his head. He raised his gaze up and looked at the rat. 

The head covering and coat he wore were brightly-colored patchwork. The head piece hung somewhat like a hood, but wasn't attached to the coat. It lay over his head and hung down, with tassels weighing down the edges hanging of his snout and large eye holes set into it. There were cut outs around his ears and the rest hung down the back of his head. The coat he wore was large, with the tremendous belled sleeves rolled up at the end. The bright colors of the patch work set off the gray-white coloring of his fur, and in general seemed strangely out of place given the surrounding. As garish and out of place the rat's clothing may have been, it wasn't what Chad was the most interested in. He cocked his head and studied the rat. 

The rat's brown eyes grew large when he realized the human was aware of his presence and started to scuttle back. 

With a wink, Chad said, "Shhh," as softly as he could. He got what he needed, the rat wasn't the threat here. He returned his attention back to the man lying between. His face was weathered, his hair a filthy disarray, his clothes probably the only set he had. His age was hard to determine given his condition, but Chad would have placed him somewhere in his forties. 

Well, old guy, hope you appreciate this. 

Chad rose up and walked to the other side of the alley, his hands restlessly fiddling with the strap of his bag. He stopped in front of the pack, careful not to look directly at them. They seemed uneasy about him, either way. The lead one shifted his weight, and all of them exchanged uncertain glances. They were a little short, though not as short as the rat. He guessed about five feet, maybe a little over. 

Then, telegraphing the move as little as possible, Chad swung the loaded messenger bag in an upper cut across the chin of the lead creature. In the moment of shock, he swung the bag in an arc and brought it down on the second one. He heard bones snap. He prepared to bring it around to the third one but he dropped down, grabbed the two Chad already struck, and dragged them off, disappearing into the far wall. 

Chad released the breath he'd been holding, then took several more. He turned to the rat, who brought both of his hand together and bowed his head to Chad. 

"Thank you, hunter. I am in your debt." 

Chad shuddered at the words. 

"I'm no hunter." He dumped the debris out of his messenger bag. "I'm just passing through." 

The rat inclined his head. "My mistake then. I'm sorry." Something in his voice made Chad think the rat didn't consider himself mistaken. He waited a moment and spoke again. "But then, if you're just passing through, perhaps a favor before you pass along?" 




The Pearl Ch. 16



Ballsy little bastard. "And what would that be?" Chad slung the empty bag around his body. 

"Could you help me get this man to someplace safer? I assure you, once you're gone they will be back." The rat was always in motion when he talked. When he spoke of the man, he gestured to him. When he spoke of the attacker's he gestured to the wall were they disappeared. 

"And what were they, anyhow?" 

"Goblins, of a sort." 

"Of course." Chad sighed heavily. He looked down at the man. The rat remained crouched by him, awaiting Chad's decision. It occurred to Chad that even if he walked away, the rat would remain by the man's side. Chad shook his head, but crouched down and pulled the man's arm around his shoulder. He got a full whiff of the man. 

"Fuck, what a stink. Is this a buddy of yours or something?" Chad asked as he pulled the man upright. 

"No," the rat answered as he got up and moved to the man's waist. "But even the lowest should have their defenders. I am called Ambrose." 

Chad grunted as he maneuvered the man's weight around. "I'm Chad. Where are we taking this guy, anyway?" 

"There is a mission, not far from here. I was hoping to convince them to take him in." 

"As a three-foot rat?" 

"No, I will appear differently to them. As I would to you, but it would seem you are gifted." 

"If you want to call it that." 

The two of them struggled along in silence broken only by grunts and the occasional expletive by Chad as they carried the dead weight between them. The man started to come to at one point, only to lapse back into semi-consciousness. The two-block walk took longer than Chad could have imagined. Once they arrived at the door, Chad kicked it to rouse someone as both his hands were full. Almost immediately, the door was answered. A middle aged woman, dressed in plain, well-kept clothes, opened the door. Her face, already care worn, frowned at the site that greeted her. 

"No, we can't take any right now." Her tone was as severe as the bun her hair was drawn up in. 

"But ma'am," Ambrose spoke up. "My friend here and I just chased three rather nasty hooligans away from this poor soul. Surely, it we leave him they'll be back to perpetrate who-knows-what harm on his person." 

She looked over all three of them with a critical eye. "What does he have that anybody would want?" 

"There are those who hurt for no greater reason than the pleasure of it." 

Her look softened a bit. "Sad but true, Lord knows. But we can't take him here." 

Chad put on his best game face. "Ma'am, we appreciate your situation, we really do. There's always more need than supply. But if we can just get him off the street for a little bit, I'm sure those punks will forget about him. Please, ma'am." 

She looked him over. She tightened up her expression, but Chad could see it start to crack. He pressed her harder. Getting people to do what he wanted was something of a way of life for him. 

"You've gotta have somewhere he can rest, just for a little while. Just 'til he's back on his feet." 

She relented. "Fine, bring him this way."

Chad and Ambrose brought the man in and settled him on a couch in a back room of the complex.

"Thank you, ma'am," Ambrose said and Chad echoed him. The woman smiled at them, but it was a sad smile, and she closed the door. 

Chad turned and headed back to the alley, followed by Ambrose. He retrieved his gun and laptop, relieved they were both still there, packed the computer up and realized he had no idea where to go next. It was by now mid-morning and the jangling, electrifying rush he'd gotten from the adrenaline was long gone and his body needed –demanded-- sleep. 

"Ambrose, do you know any flops around here?" Chad was aware he was trusting a rat he'd never met, but he was just too exhausted to care. 

"Yes," he said, quite amiably. He led Chad out of the alley way and pointed down the street. "Down there, about three blocks, there's an old hotel. Daily and weekly rates, very reasonable and clean. Mostly older clientèle, but if you're quiet, and," he gave a long glance at the gun bag, "keep to yourself, you shouldn't have any problem." 

"Thanks. Later days, Splinter." 

Chad made his way to the building. The Baxter Building, read the painted wood sign; nightly and weekly rates. Chad entered, went to the check in and asked for a weekly room. He paid in advance, took his key, and made his way to the room. 

He entered and looked around. The room wasn't big, but it had a bed, a kitchenette, and a small sitting area. There was no T.V. The bed was made up and the linens looked clean. He took a deep breath. The room at least smelled clean. Though, at that moment, he didn't really care. 

Chad closed and locked the door and placed the chain across. He put both of his bags and his coat into the closet then collapsed on top of the bed covers fully dressed with his shoes still on. Within minutes, he was out. 

Perhaps twenty minutes later, there was a faint rustling behind the walls. The building was maintained as well as the owners could, but there were still issues with such an old building. Chad, sleeping soundly, never heard. He also never saw as a small rat, gray and white, worked his way out from behind the fridge. The rat worked his way over to the prone form, an inch at a time until he was convinced the young man was asleep. He then scampered up the night stand and looked at the sleeping form. 

He looked so peaceful, and so heartbreakingly young. Almost child-like, though from his face he'd left childhood behind a while ago, not even reckoning age. Oh, very young, what will you leave us this time?  Played through his head as he watched the young man sleep.  

********************************

Sebastian stirred in the morning sun. He raised his head and saw mist rising off the river and the low slant of the sun and determined it to be still early in the morning. He looked around, bleary-eyed, and saw Mingzhu standing on the lower balcony.

"Morning, Ming." He uncurled and headed over to her. "What's up?" 

"Not much. I was considering ordering breakfast and wanted to know if you would like to join us."

Sebastian took inventory of how he felt. Still a little tired, but much better than he had been just a few hours ago. He felt recuperated enough to hold the human form, and breakfast sounded very good. 

"That's cool. Dakota's up already?" 

Mingzhu hesitated. "She had difficulty sleeping. She fell asleep quickly, but became restless before too long."

Sebastian noticed the hesitation. It reminded him of Dakota's insistence about Qiang only talking about the fire. "Ming, what happened last night? I know I'm not getting the whole story." 

Mingzhu sighed and looked down. "In truth, I can't tell you. I was knocked out by the Jorogumo's agent almost immediately upon its arrival. When I came to, we were all in Qiang's lair. I don't know what happened, but I will tell you Dakota is very reluctant to speak of it." When Mingzhu looked up, there were tears in her eyes. "I wish I could have done more to help. It seemed the minute it was in the door, it was on me." She covered her face as she began to cry. 

Sebastian moved his head in close and nudged her. "Hey, don't do that. It's not your fault, don't blame yourself." 

Mingzhu wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her shirt and ran her hand down his snout. "That's kind of you to say." 

"What was the agent, anyway?" 

"In the time I saw it, it looked like a man. But it wasn't human, whatever it was." 

"Look, forget I mentioned anything. When Dakota's ready to talk, I'm sure she will, to one of us. Now where are you guys going for breakfast?" Sebastian asked as he climbed on the shale-lined bank. Once he was on the bank, he focused on being human and was surprised at how easy it was. He felt a smug rib from the river. 

see should have let in long ago

Sebastian sighed. I'm never going to hear the end of this. He climbed to the balcony and cleared the rail in a graceful jump. 

"We are planning on ordering room service." 

"On Qiang's dime?" Sebastian was surprised. 

"Of course, who else?" 

"Ming, I don't think he really likes me and I don't think he's going to appreciate his credit card being used for my breakfast." 

Mingzhu smiled her sweetest smile. "Then it's a good thing that I'm ordering breakfast and you are my guest." 

"And the difference being?" 

Mingzhu's smile brightened. She reached up and patted Sebastian on the cheek "I have means of persuasion at my disposal you don't." 

"Yeah, you know, I don't even want to know about that." 

Mingzhu laughed. "Besides, do you think Qiang would have specifically chosen a hotel on the river if he didn't expect you to be around? Now, please, join us for breakfast. I'm sure Dakota would love to see you." 

That crumbled the last of his resolve. Sebastian followed Mingzhu back into the hotel. 

Breakfast was very nice, if a bit strange in the ordering. Mingzhu read off the menu what was available. When either Dakota or Sebastian asked to see the menu, Mingzhu would smile and shake her head

. 

"The minute you're in the bathroom, I'm memorizing the prices on that menu," Dakota threatened. 

"Then I'll have to take it in with me. Now what shall I order?" 

After much debate the order was called in at several omelets, French toast, home fries, danishes, a pitcher of orange juice and a pitcher of milk. It took the kitchen a little time to fill the order. It arrived quicker than they expected, if still longer than they wanted to wait. 

The conversation over breakfast was mostly small talk. It did get serious when Sebastian asked Dakota if she'd missed work the night before and if she had to go in today. It was Saturday, she didn't have classes, but the library was still open. 

"Yeah, I had to call off. I told them something unexpected had come up with a friend. Fortunately, one of the women on duty owed me a favor from when I covered for her and worked my shift, so there shouldn't be too much trouble. I don't go in tonight." She gave a heavy sigh. "But I do need to go back to the house, if for no other reason than to file a report." 



"Wow...just, wow." Sebastian held Dakota's hand as they surveyed what was left of the house. 

A few blackened timbers stood upright amongst the burnt out ruins. The roof had collapsed and had taken most of the walls with it. Most of the back wall remained standing, but that was all. Dakota dared not rummage through the still-warm debris scattered among the foundation.

"Did the landlord have insurance?" Sebastian asked. 

"I don't know. God, I hope he did 'cause there is nothing left here." 

Sebastian glanced over to the driveway. "At least it didn't make it to your car." 

One of Dakota's neighbors made his way across the yard towards the group. He was a little older than Dakota and wore a look of relief and sympathy. He had something in his hand. 

"I'm so glad you weren't home," he said as he came up to them. "No one was sure at first, since your car was here. But when the firemen didn't find any remains..." He trailed off. 

There was an uncomfortable pause as Dakota tried to think of something to say. When nothing came, she muttered, "Thank you." 

"Here," he said, handing her a card. "It's from the fire investigator. He asked me to give it to you when you came back. I'm glad I caught you." 

Dakota took the card. "Thanks. I'll be sure to give them a call." 

***************************************************

Chad rolled out of bed and looked at the clock; it was one in the afternoon. He thought about what to do next and decided a shower was in order. After cleaning up, he realized that perhaps he should have grabbed some additional clothing when he left his apartment; he only had the one set. Not a problem, he decided. He had cash, he could grab some more clothes and when the cash ran out, he knew any number of places to pick up more that wouldn't look too closely at the new hires. Some of them were even almost legit. 

No, the big concern was what now. The Jorogumo was dead but that didn't change anything, not really. The Jorogumo didn't make the world what it was and her removal didn't return it to what Chad had understood as reality before. The entire experience in the alleyway confirmed that. And what was with the "hunter" tag? Both the rat and the Jorogumo had called him that. He told himself he didn't like it even as he recognized the need to do it. There was only one place he could go to get answers, he decided. Besides, he hadn't eaten yet and Chinese sounded good. 

Chad sat in an booth in the back of the restaurant, eating his lunch. He had considered asking to see Qiang, but thought he'd know Chad was there. So, he ate and waited to be seen. 

"I'm surprised you're back so soon." 

The voice startled Chad and he looked up from his bowl of egg-drop soup. He hadn't sensed Qiang and then realized why. The entire restaurant felt like him. 

"Yeah. You have good food."

"Thank you. May I join you?" 

"If you'd like." 

Qiang sat on the bench opposite Chad. "I am glad you came. I feel the need to thank you for your assistance last night. The entire affair would have been much more difficult without it. The meal is on the house. It's the least I can do." 

"Thank you. I killed the Jorogumo." 

"Direct and to the point, aren't you? I know you did." 

Chad sat back in his seat. "Then why leave her alive if you knew I was just going to kill her?" 

"I didn't know at that time you would eventually kill her. But I did know when you left last night that that was where you were going. Was it difficult?"

"No, she wanted to die. She said you did it wrong. You had an obligation to kill her." 

Qiang tilted his head and shrugged. "I suppose that's one way of looking at things." 

"Why didn't you kill her?" 

Qiang crossed his arms in front of his chest. "I had my reasons. Why did you go back?" 

Chad looked down. "I wanted it to be over." 

Qiang arched an eyebrow. "And is it?" he asked, though he knew the answer. That Chad was here gave him his answer. Not that it could have been any other way. 

He looked up, anger in his eyes. "No, damn it. I want things to be the way they were before." 

"Do you, really? Replace the monster you vanquished with the monster you were becoming?" 

Chad rubbed his face with his hands. "OK, not that. Never again that. But I want the world to be the way it supposed to be." 

Qiang's look hardened into a glare as his eyes turned to a burning gold and red scales appeared around them. He unfolded his arms and leaned on the table, closing in on Chad. Chad felt the spike of power run deep. People at tables some distance away shifted in their seats, uncomfortable for reasons they couldn't name. A few got up and left. 

Though Qiang's voice never rose above the soft conversational tone he'd maintained throughout their talk, it dripped with power. "This is the way the world is supposed to be. What you were living before was a lie." 

Chad trembled, in fear and desperation. 

"But it was a lie I understood. It was a world I knew how to navigate. Now what?" 

Qiang reigned in his anger, touched by the boy's plea. Now was the time to do what had to be done, as much as he didn't want to do it. 

"If you want a guide to this new world, I will help as I can." 

Chad was taken aback. "What do you mean?" 

"I mean I will set about to provide you with a safe haven and I will find a means to see to your survival as you find your place here. Because you have one." 

Chad tried to process what Qiang had told him, which went against his experience. In the world he came from nobody did anything without personal gain, himself included. Unsure of how to proceed he asked, "Why?" 

"Because somebody has to." 

"Do you know what my," Chad raised his hands to make quotation marks, "'place' is?" 

"No. That's for you to find. Or not find, as you choose." Qiang slid towards to edge of his seat and stood up. "For you see, the world hasn't changed, only your way of seeing it. And even with this altered view, you can still return to the world and carry on as you were, or nearly as you were since some things should still remain changed. You decide. Take a week. If my offer sounds good, then return. In the meanwhile, enjoy your meal. It is, as I already said, on the house." He started to walk away then stopped as something occurred to him. "If, in the following week, you are in need of a meal stop here. There will be one available to you." 

Qiang returned to his office. Soon afterward, there was a knock on the door and Enlai, Mingzhu's father, entered in. 

"Do you think he'll be back?" he asked. 

Qiang sighed. "Oh, he'll be back. The week was for me." 

*************************************

In the following days, Dakota picked up the pieces of her life. She arranged for emergency time off from work and school. She spoke with the investigators and was advised it appeared to be an electrical short. 

"It's the damnedest thing," the investigator she spoke to said. "There were huge spiders all over the place. A few had gotten into the wiring. We figure one must have completed an arc between two damaged wires and up it went. Judging from how many we found, you had quite an infestation going."

Dakota also went shopping with Mingzhu for new clothes and a few other necessities. She tried to balk as the tab was going higher, but Mingzhu would smile and insist Qiang would settle for nothing less. Dakota drew the line at replacing her burnt textbooks with brand new ones. 

"The old ones had been bought used, the replacements can be used." 

During one of the shopping trips, Sebastian went to the Dragon's Garden to help Qiang replace other things. Qiang sat Sebastian down at the computer in the office, brought up the Internet and sat down in another chair. Sebastian looked up over the monitor to Qiang. 

"And I'm supposed to do what?" 

"She's your lover, buy things she would like." 

"OK." 

Sebastian returned his attention to the computer. He thought a moment, then plugged Abney Park into the search engine. It pulled up a website. He explored it, hoping to find CDs. He found those and other merchandise. 

"Wow, this band she likes has a bunch of stuff..." 

Without looking up from the papers Qiang was reading he said, "Buy one of everything." 

Sebastian looked at the very full screen of offerings. "Qiang, there's a lot of stuff here." 

"One of everything." 

"I mean a lot a lot of stuff." 

Still not looking up, Qiang reiterated, "One of everything." 

"Um..."

"Do I need to put it on a recording for you?" 

"One of everything," Sebastian confirmed with a shrug. 

The rest of their time went by like that. Whatever Sebastian found that he thought Dakota might like Qiang instructed him to purchase. After an Amazon order that went well into the triple digits, Sebastian felt obliged to speak up. 

"You know, Qiang, I get that you feel responsible for what happened. And you want to fix it. And it's totally cool that you're putting her up and stuff. But I think this might be a bit much." 

Qiang paused, considering what had been said. "Do you think she might be made uncomfortable by this?" 

"Yes I do." 

Qiang nodded. "Very well. We'll stop with the Amazon order. I don't want to make her uncomfortable. I've mentioned this to Mingzhu, but I'll have you check also. Please let me know when Dakota is ready to look for a house." 

"Seriously, you're buying her a house too?" 

"Yes. I said I was and I meant it." 

"I know this isn't my business, but, dude, where are you getting the money?" 

Qiang leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms. "You're right, it's not your business. But since you've asked; I've been in this country for nearly one hundred fifty years. I have been gainfully employed for pretty much the entire time. I have... resources." 




The Pearl Ch. 16



A few days into Dakota's time off she, Sebastian, and Mingzhu were watching the television in the rented hotel room. Mingzhu had continued to stay in the hotel room with Dakota. She never said anything, but there seemed to be a certain sadness to her. When pressed, she would only say that to help Dakota was the prime reason she was there, but not the only one. 

Dakota ran through the options on the television. As it was well into October most of the offerings were of a spooky nature. Dakota normally enjoyed Halloween, but this year no one found much of a taste for the darker aspects. Several shows with a horror theme were passed over, and the Animal Planet documentary on spiders was immediately rejected. At last, she found a channel running Nightmare Before Christmas, and this was judged to be acceptable.

Sebastian sat back on the couch with Dakota curled up against him. The river was an almost constant presence now, but he could convince it to back off. Even when the river wasn't actively engaged with him, he could feel its lingering energy. Now he felt an intense spike of energy along the river. He recognized it immediately, but he'd never felt this level of vehemence before. He gasped as his body tensed.

Dakota looked over to him, concerned. "What is it?" 

"Chang," he whispered. "He's...." 

Sebastian didn't get the opportunity to finish his statement as Chang appeared in the room. He was in human form, his back straight, his arms at his sides, and his expression as dark as any of them had ever seen it. 

"Is everything here all right?" His tone was mild, in complete contradiction to his mien. 

Sebastian nodded. "Yes, it's all..." Sebastian was going to say "all good," but couldn't quite bring himself to commit to that. Instead, he just said, "Right." 

"I see." Chang appeared to calm himself, at least some what. His face softened as he regarded the three people in the room. "Is there anything here that requires my immediate attention?" 

Sebastian shook his head. 

"Very good. I will be back momentarily." 

"It's not his fault," Sebastian spoke up. "What happened. The river told me to wait for him, and I didn't and I got screwed. He couldn't have known." 

Chang looked thoughtful. "Thank you for telling me. I will take it under advisement." With that, he was gone. 

Sebastian thought he now understood why Mingzhu was told to stay with Dakota. He looked over to her and saw the distant look in her eyes. 

"Qiang thinks he's on the hook for this, doesn't he? And he's trying to make sure you're out of it when the shit hits the fan?" 

Mingzhu looked over. She didn't even try smiling. "He is on the hook for what happened. And Chang will be the one to decide his fate. He was quite angry, wasn't he?" 

Part of Sebastian wanted to lie to her, but he couldn't, not about this. "I'm sorry, Ming. He was way past pissed and into territory I've never seen." 

Mingzhu nodded and softly started to cry. Dakota went over and comforted her as best she could. 

In the Dragon's Garden Qiang stood in the kitchen, chopping vegetables when he felt his lair rent open. He blanched before he caught himself. He set down the knife and walked over to his office. 

"Is it time?" Enlai asked as Qiang walked past. 

"Yes it is. Please see to the things I asked you about." 

Enlai looked down. "Of course." 

Qiang entered his office, closed and locked the door, then entered into his lair. He wasn't surprised to find Chang waiting for him as a dragon. Chang glared at Qiang, the fury of a thunderstorm in his eyes, his glittering scales black and foreboding. Qiang looked down, shifted into dragon and summoned his pearl. 

"I only ask that you arrange for someone to look after the boy who had been a goldfinch. He is human again, and will require some form of guidance." Qiang then laid his pearl at Chang's claws and rolled over onto his back, exposing his neck and underside to Chang. 

Chang regarded the prone dragon for a silent moment, then said, with the slightest humor, "Falling on your sword? That's rather Japanese of you, don't you think?" 

When no response was forthcoming, Chang added, "You know, I think I would like some tea and dumplings." 

Qiang raised his head. "Tea and dumplings?" he repeated.

Chang gathered up the pearl and returned to human form, cradling it in his arms. 

"Yes. I would like a pot of tea and some dumplings. If it is not an inconvenience." 

Qiang rolled upright while resuming human form himself. "Of course not. One moment, please." 

As he started to leave, Chang asked, "Can I have cream and sugar with that, please?" 

Qiang looked back, bewildered. "With tea?" 

"Yes," Chang said, taking a seat at the table Qiang had set up. "It's really very good that way. You should try it some time." 

"Of course," Qiang muttered as he left his lair and went into the kitchen. 

As he was preparing the tea and dumplings, Enlai came back over. 

"What's going to happen?" he asked. 

Qiang gave him a look of equal parts resignation and bafflement. "I'm not even going to pretend that I have the faintest idea." 

Qiang returned to his lair, carrying a tray with the requested items. He poured Chang a cup and himself a cup. He then sat down in the chair opposite and looked down. Chang set the pearl on the table, close to him, and prepared his tea. Then he had some dumplings. 

"You know, these really are some of the best dumplings I believe I've ever had. Is the recipe yours?" 

"Yes, though I don't prepare them anymore. My head chef, Enlai, prepares them." Qiang looked distant for a moment, though he still faced away. "He's a very fine chef in his own right." 

"Is he a friend of yours?" 

"Yes, he is," Qiang answered without hesitation. "I suppose the formal arrangement would be referred to as a vassal, but in all honesty, he is my friend. He is Mingzhu's father. His family has worked for me the entire time I've been in America." 

Chang nodded and was silent for a time. "What happened?" 

"It was a Jorogumo." 

Chang looked surprised. "I wasn't aware they were over here." 

"They are rare. In my entire time over here, I've only encountered two and there was forty years between the encounters." 

"That is good, at least. And the Jorogumo?"

"Is dead, though it was Chad who killed her." 

"Not as a goldfinch, I assume?" 

"Not for the killing, but it was during this situation he found his way out of the spell." 

"Do they know?" 

"Sebastian does. I do not know if he has told Dakota." 

Chang nodded. "I had hoped he would someday regain human form. I just hadn't expected it so quickly." 

Qiang shrugged. "The Jorogumo had the effect of scaring him straight. The future is still uncertain, though." 

"You seem to have had dealings with him?" Chang's tone was curious. 

"I have. Odd boy, I'll tell you that." 

"Yes, he is. Do you think he'll remain upright?"

"Hard to say. It all comes down to his choices. I do think with proper guidance he can be taught. I do not think he'd been properly taught to begin with. Obviously, his choices and actions come down to him. But, from what I've seen of him, he was raised to be what he was. His sudden awakening destabilized him. He seems to be getting his footing, however." He looked over to Chang. "I know I'm in no position to make requests, but please have someone watch over the boy. He is gweilo, yes, and has some of the worse instincts of his race. Nevertheless, he is capable of so much more."

"They all are," Chang responded, looking Qiang in the eye. "The whole human race. Or have the horrors of Tienanmen Square escaped you?" 

Qiang looked back down. "Of course not, how could they?" 

Chang reached across the table and rested his hand on top of Qiang's. Qiang looked up, startled. 

"I want you to understand that. They are all of the same race, regardless of their country. And they are all capable of the same highs and the same lows. Let them draw their petty lines and call each other their petty names and hope they learn wisdom sometime soon. But you are a dragon. You should be above that and already posses that wisdom." 

Qiang nodded, humbled. "Yes elder, I will remember that." 

Chang smiled. "Good," he said as he rolled Qiang's pearl back to him. "For I have to ask another favor of you. Please watch the boy. He is my responsibility, but given the delicate history I don't feel I can do so." 

Qiang caught the pearl. "Are you sure?"

"What, that he's my responsibility? It was my fledgling that awakened him. Of course, he didn't understand what he was doing. However, all his mistakes fall on me." 

Qiang shook his head. "No, not that. I mean letting me go." 

Chang looked thoughtful. The storm had not entirely left his eyes, but it was mixed with something else. "Truthfully, if you had been the same dragon I encountered on the river tangling with my fledgling, your future would be by no means certain. But you are not. You are remorseful and have tried to correct for what happened. Sebastian lives, as does Dakota, albeit a little worse for wear. And you looked after Chad, something I never even asked you to do. So, yes, I am certain. I neither seek nor impose any punishment. I just ask that you watch over Chad. And try to remember, he is human not gweilo."  

Qiang gathered up the pearl into his hands and it vanished. "Thank you, elder." 

"My name is Chang, not elder." Chang finished his tea and dumplings. As he rose from his seat, he looked over the Qiang. "Remember this also, Qiang," he said. "Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future." Then he was gone. 

By the end of the week, Chad had returned and advised Qiang of the bench warrant. Qiang felt he was as ready as he could be for him.



The Pearl: Epilogue



Edited by PennLady

This is a copyrighted work of fiction. All rights reserved. 

*

"If the river told you not to, then why did you go in?" Chang asked. 

They were at the river. Sebastian's dragon form was curled among the rocks in the river the blue of his scales nearly blending in with the water and Chang's long form arched in a seated position, black scales reflecting the water. Dakota made herself comfortable on some rocks on the bank. It was the following day and Dakota insisted Mingzhu visit Qiang. Dakota pointed out that with both Chang and Sebastian to look after her, she was sure she'd be all right. Mingzhu agreed to leave after lunch, but promised to be back by dinner. 

The day was beautiful; the bright autumn sun caused the patchwork of colored leaves to glow. Dakota pulled her new sweater tighter as a cool breeze blew through. 

"Well, I didn't want to waste Qiang's time for nothing. If it was some minor thing I could handle then I would've taken care of it." 

"But that was part of the reason he'd been asked to watch you, so you would have someone to call on if something came up." 

Sebastian looked down. "I know, I know. It's just he's already not that fond of me, I thought I would just make it worse if I hauled him down here for something that wasn't a big deal." 

"You knew it was spiritual in nature?" 

Sebastian shrugged. "Yeah." 

"How did you plan on determining how dangerous it was?" 

"Well, I thought it might be obvious. I guess in retrospect, that wasn't the best plan." 

Chang sighed. "The problem with that plan is you're too inexperienced to know if something is dangerous or not. When an animal wants to scare you off, what does it do?" 

Sebastian thought it over a moment. "Look big?" 

"Precisely. But in contrast, when something dangerous wants to get close enough to strike what does it do?" 

"Look small and unobtrusive," Sebastian muttered. 

"Precisely. You made an honest mistake and I understand your concern about Qiang. But in the future, please do not explore these things alone. You were exceptionally lucky, this time. And assistance came from some very unexpected quarters." 

Sebastian's eyes darted over to Dakota as he responded, "Ah, yeah. Yeah, that's true." 

Qiang curled his head up and regarded Sebastian. "You haven't told her yet." 

"Well, it hadn't come up yet," he hedged, looking away from Dakota. 

"What hasn't come up yet?" Dakota asked, her tone concerned and a little annoyed. 

Chang sighed. Without removing his attention from Sebastian, he explained that Chad was now human. 

"When did that happen?" 

"Apparently, during the ordeal with the Jorogumo," Chang explained.

Dakota considered the information. "Sooner than I would have thought." 

Chang nodded. "And I too. But from everything I can determine, it is true. He found his way. Or at least has started to." 

"What happens now?" Dakota was careful to keep her voice neutral. 

"Though he his my responsibility, Qiang has agreed to keep watch over him." 

Dakota nodded, not looking at him. Chang cocked his head at her. 

"How are you with this?" His tone was gentle. 

Dakota was again silent for a bit before answering. "I don't know. I wish I could say 'fine', but I'm not. But I'm also not as upset with it as I'd thought I would be. I guess I just don't know." 

Chang nodded. "Fair enough. Sebastian?" 

Sebastian sighed and screwed up his snout in a snarl. "I'm not happy, but Qiang pretty much laid down the law. As long as Chad doesn't do anything to me or Dakota, I'm not supposed to do anything to him." 

"Good. Are you going to listen?" 

Sebastian rolled his eyes. "Yes." 

Dakota continued to look thoughtful. "You said help came from unexpected quarters. Did you mean Chad?" 

"Yes." 

"In what way?" 

"He was the one to slay the Jorogumo. I am under the impression he assisted in other ways as well. Whatever the exact details, he impressed Qiang enough to speak for him." 

Dakota nodded. "I see." 

*********************************

Dakota and Sebastian stood in the spacious living room of a bungalow-style house. A dining room that led to the kitchen was off to their left. There was a foyer in the front from which there was an office on one side and an utility room from the other. The living room opened onto a porch in the back. The yard was a good size, but the real selling feature was the section of the river that butted up to the back yard. Sebastian could feel its call. 

"Well, I'll tell you someone who really likes this house," he said. 

"Yes," Dakota responded with a smile. "I can imagine."

Dakota returned to the foyer and took the stairs up to the second floor. There was a master suite and two smaller additional bedrooms. It was all very nice. She headed back downstairs. 

"I don't know," she said. 

"Don't you like it?" Sebastian asked. 

"I love it. It's just so much." 

She returned her attention again to the face sheet on the house. It had been built as a vacation home, had stood empty for awhile, and was then refinished and updated for use as a full-time family dwelling. The furniture could be included for an additional amount, or would be removed at the discretion of the buyer. She sighed then returned to the front porch to the waiting Qiang. 

He was leaning against the railing of the front porch. The porch took up the entire front of the house and was shaded by the overhanging roof. He raised an eyebrow as she stepped over to him. 

"Well?" he asked. 

Dakota paused before speaking. She was torn. It was the beginning of November, and she was getting squirrely living in the hotel. She was sure the cost of living there was astronomical, but Qiang buying her a house didn't seem right either. 

"I don't know. I mean, it's really nice. And I appreciate that you found one on the river. But a house, Qiang? I didn't even own the previous house. I was just renting." 

"As you've said." Qiang crossed his arms over his chest and appeared to be thinking. "How about this, then. I will purchase the house but retain the title. You will live here and pay the utilities. Does that sound acceptable?" 

"What about rent?" 

Qiang waved his hand. "I'm sure something can be arrived at." 

"Qiang, I'm serious..." 

"I never doubted that for a moment. Now, if you're sure this is the house you would like to live in..." 

"Yes," Dakota said, nodding for emphasis. "I like it a lot." 

"Very well. I will put in an offer and with luck you will be moving in shortly." 

Luck was with them. The sale went through and Dakota moved in just a short time later. There wasn't much to the moving, as she decided to keep the furniture in the house. Just her clothes and the things Qiang had purchased on line. Dakota bought a new stereo and started saving for a television and DVD system. One of the upstairs bedrooms was kept as a guest room. The other converted to a library. Her book collection was still small, but there was room to expand. She was quite happy with it. Qiang had yet to locate the first edition Poe for her, but was still looking. 

**********************************

"I should think if you invited him and he wanted to attend, then he should attend." Chang sat across the table from Qiang in his lair, sipping tea with cream and sugar. 

"It is far more complicated than that." Qiang also took a drink of his plain tea. 

"Well, yes it is at that, isn't it?" Chang took a dumpling from the platter between them. "What can be done to make it less complicated?" 

"That is what I'm asking you." 

Chang sat back in his chair and thought. For the past several years, Qiang had had a Thanksgiving dinner for staff and friends. This year, Mingzhu had invited Dakota and Sebastian which was fine. The problem arose from the fact that he felt he should extend an invitation to Chad. Not wanting a brawl at his gathering, he consulted Chang. 

"Chad has changed considerably, that's certain," Chang conceded. "And Dakota did acquiesce to dropping the charges. So the problem would be Sebastian." 

"Thank you for asking her to do that. In light of everything else, I thought it might be too much for me to ask." 

"She is still reserving judgment. I doubt there will every truly be peace between them."

"And he will have to live with that."

"True. And has that situation been resolved?" 

"What, with the warrant? Not hardly, but he's not in jail. I have a lawyer on it." 

Chang smiled and shook his head. "You move more adroitly in this world than the other." 

Qiang shrugged and drank more tea. 

"What is he up to now?" 

Qiang sighed. "He says he's getting a feel for the lay of the land as it is now. But I hear rumors of a new hunter, a young male. He hasn't struck often, twice, perhaps three times, but it has been noticed." 

"He is young for that path." Chang's concern was clear. 

"True, but you can't say you're surprised." 

"No," Chang agreed, with some sadness. "I cannot." 

"I intend to speak to him about it. Still, this isn't the matter at hand." 

Chang prepared another cup of tea. "No, it is not at that." He paused again, considering. "I say invite him. I will ensure Sebastian's behavior. I think Sebastian needs to see Chad for who he is now, not for who he was at the restaurant." 

"Do you think he will see?" 

"Chad carries his awareness like a banner. How could Sebastian not see?"

Qiang nodded. "Perhaps the more correct question is, will it matter?" 

"I wish I could say. Sebastian's feelings for Dakota run deep. He may refuse to acknowledge the change. In which case, I will see that he behaves." 

Thanksgiving day came. A large sign hung on the door that read: Closed for the Holiday. The dinner started at one and a splendid feast was laid out with a mix of traditional American Thanksgiving and Chinese dishes. Sebastian, Dakota, and Chang arrived a little early to help set up food and places along with Mingzhu and her family. At one, the workers arrived and the meal was started. 

Qiang proved to be a congenial host. He was pleasant, made conversation with everyone present, and ensured all the guests were served before he took his seat. 

Qiang sat with Enlai and his family, his wife Lin, daughters Mingzhu and Bao, and his son Junren. Sebastian, Dakota, and Chang were also at this table. The other workers sat at tables around the restaurant but close to the section of the buffet the food was on. The conversation was light. 

At one thirty, Chad walked in. All conversation stopped. He stood, self-conscious, in the door way.

"I'm sorry I'm late. Something...came up." 

Qiang stood up and gestured to Chad with a warm smile. "Well don't stand there letting the cold air in. Come in, get a plate."

Chad walked over. He was dressed in jeans, a pull over, and work boots. He also wore a long duster that he shrugged his way out of as he walked. His hair brushed the top of his shoulders and he didn't look at anyone as he moved to get his food. His eyes were haunted and he carried an air of otherness that everybody in the room noticed. Qiang met him at the buffet and served him a plate. 

Dakota nudged Sebastian in the side as he pivoted in his seat to follow Chad's path. 

"Stop staring," she whispered sharply. 

"I can't help it," he whispered back. "There's just something seriously weird about him." Sebastian shook his head and turned back around to the table. "Chang's right, he's not the same." 

Dakota pushed food around her plate. "Is that a good thing?" 

Sebastian shrugged, then laid his hand on hers. "I wish I could say." 

Chad took a seat at an empty table. After a few minutes, some of the more outgoing workers joined him and soon drew him out into conversation. Though they found him engaging, quick witted, and in general fun to talk to, afterward they would all comment on how his eyes glittered and how he tended to look off to the distance.

The dinner lasted well into the evening, with people leaving at varying times. Soon it was down to Qiang, Mingzhu and her family, Sebastian, Dakota, Chang and Chad. When Chad got up to leave, he asked if he could take some of the food with him. Qiang nodded. Chad filled up two Styrofoam take out containers, bagged them, and went on his way. 

"What happened to him?" Sebastian asked. 

Chang looked over to Sebastian. "You opened his eyes and he sees the world differently now." 

Sebastian struggled with his conflicted feelings. "I'm not going to feel sorry for that son-of-a-bitch," he said, with far less conviction than he would have liked. 

"Then don't," Chang responded. 

Dakota said nothing. 

Chad arrived back at the flop where he was staying. He landed in a secluded area and was pleased when he managed not to mangle the take out container. He shifted, grabbed the food, and entered. 

"Hey, welcome back, Mr. Chad," called the elderly black man who worked as the night desk clerk. 

"Hey, Happy Thanksgiving," Chad answered as he walked over to the counter. "Here you go." He set one of the containers on the desk. "Enjoy." 

The clerk thanked him but Chad just nodded before walking up to his room. 

Once inside, he put the rest of food into the fridge. He puttered around, looked up some folklore websites, and took copious notes. At eleven he got ready for bed. Before laying down, he went back to the fridge, pulled out the leftovers, and set them on the counter. He then laid down and was soon asleep. 

Around Midnight, a rat worked his way in from his usual entrance behind the fridge. The unmistakable smell of food got his attention. Once he verified Chad was asleep, he went over to the counter. Resuming his more human form, he found the food left out for him, a fork set on top of the container. Ambrose smiled to himself. Apparently, he wasn't being as slick as he had first assumed. 

******************************

The weekend after Thanksgiving there was an early snow storm. Sebastian had always loved the snow. Watching it fall from his vantage point in the river engendered a childlike enthusiasm for it. He convinced Dakota to join him in watching the snow. 

He laid in the river, the current cool against his back. The slower parts of the river had already developed a thin sheet of ice, but anywhere the current was swift, the ice had no chance to form. The cold didn't bother him and he hoped Dakota was warm enough. 

Dakota lay stretched out along his abdomen, her head resting on his chest. Having her there felt so good to Sebastian he hoped they would lay that way long into the afternoon. 

The Christmas holidays had been arranged, with both of them staying in the area. Sebastian felt he had no choice, but was both sad and happy that Dakota would also be staying. Sad that she would miss out with her family, but happy that she would chose to stay with him. The mixed feeling intensified what he already felt for Dakota. 

They lay in companionable silence for a while. Sebastian contemplated the snowflakes as they drifted down, about how no two snowflakes were alike and how he and Dakota were not like anything else. The though brought a smile to his snout and a contented flip to his tail. 

Dakota lay on top of Sebastian. His front legs were folded on top of her and she rested her arms on them. It wasn't as cold as she thought it would be, and suspected the reason was a combination of Sebastian and the river. She had decided to stay because she loved him and didn't want him to be alone. Her family suspected a man might be involved, but Dakota wouldn't confirm or deny anything. Her mother was disappointed, but told her it was her decision and that a care package would be sent.

As Sebastian had predicted, the river did want back into her. With so much going on, and with her schooling to be considered, she firmly said "not at this time." She was surprised by how well the river took that. She couldn't escape the feeling the river was waiting for something it considered to be inevitable, and given the almost eternal nature of the river, it could wait. She was also almost sure there was some of the river still there, in her. 

She also considered the favor she continually almost asked Chang for, to temporarily be a dragon. Again, too much going on. Every time she went to ask, it felt wrong. The right time would come. Like the river, she just had to be patient. It was worth waiting for. 

"Are you cold?" Sebastian asked. 

"No. You're pretty warm, and I suspect the river trying to keep me warm too."

"Yeah, the river can be kinda intrusive." 

"Honestly, I don't mind. This is really beautiful. I've never just watched the snow come down before." 

"That's cool." 

They lapsed into silence for a bit longer. There was something Sebastian had been wanting to bring up to Dakota, but couldn't find the words. He decided now was the time. 

"Uh, Dakota, can I ask you something?" 

Dakota detected the slight apprehension in his voice. "Sure, what's wrong?" 

"Well, nothing's wrong, exactly. It's just that...Well, remember that whole thing with the pearl and swapping pieces and all?" 

"Yes." 

"Well, you pulled in the piece you had and I still have the piece I got and..." He trailed off. 

Dakota smiled. "Yes. You can have it."

Sebastian smiled in turn and moved his attention inward. He absorbed the piece of Dakota, lingering on the sense of her, and smiled. He had never forgotten Qiang's warning about how ephemeral his relationship with Dakota could be, most likely would be. But at least he would always have a piece of her. 

Dakota felt surrounded by Sebastian's energy. There was safety there, and his love for her was as intense as anything she had ever known. She felt his pearl again. As the piece of her settled in, some of the intensity of the feeling eased up, but it didn't disappear. When she focused, she found she could sense him around her. She looked for the pearl and smiled when she found it. She couldn't resist a caress. She felt Sebastian undulate underneath her. 

"You little minx," he muttered, but the tone in his voice said he didn't mind. 

The two settled into each other as the snow continued to fall. The afternoon grayed into evening and the snow continued to fall. Though Sebastian hated to do it, he mentioned to Dakota going home. He felt her snuggle into him some more before sighing in contentment. 

"I'm already there." 



The Pearl Necklace



She was my friend, she was my confident and she was my occasional lover. Today however, she was a client. Here to have a photo-shoot done, something she claimed she had always wanted. This woman was a fan of the classics, so the photos were supposed to have a classic feel; 1940's.

She arrived at my studio in a sundress, short heels and Sunglasses. A perfect southern belle like so many found in the area. The bag slung over her shoulder spoke of the outfits to follow, and if the size was any indicator, today was going to be a long shoot.

I walked over to her and exchanged a brief hug, a momentary linger the only evidence of anything that had passed before. Pleasantries were exchanged and we decided that the first shot to be taken would be a recreation of the Audrey Hepburn photos that adorn so many posters and icons around the world.

She moved behind the screen to change as I began arranging the lights and the backdrop for the shoot. The table in front was easy, and quickly arranged from the props I kept around the studio. For the backdrop, I left a solid white drape, as I would use a computer later on to shop in the remainder of the cafe.

When she walked out from behind the wooden partition I had set up for changing, she was the picture of beauty. A black dress sleeveless dress with matching gloves. Her hair up, with a tiara in it. The only differences from the original outfit were the deep red lipstick she wore, and the banded pearl necklace replaced by a long string, wrapped several times around her slender neck before draping down to hang seductively between her breasts. I had seen her before, wearing nothing but early morning light and my scent, but never had she been this alluring. While I casually attempted to wave her over, the smile she flashed showed me that the outfit had achieved it's desired effect.

She chuckled lightly, "well dork" she said, with one eyebrow waved. "Are you going to just stand there or are you going to get your camera?"

I shake my head, her teasing sense of humor eliciting a slew of emotion as I walk back to where my cameras were prepared on the shelves. Selecting one and the appropriate lenses, I darkened the rest of the studio slightly, turned on the lighting and directed her to the table which was prepared for the shoot. 

She was an easy woman to photograph, the kind of person who naturally lights up a frame. I found myself taking more shots than were strictly necessary, she was too beautiful to not preserve on film. As I approached shot number 30 or 40, I could start to see something different in her eyes. Normally, she was patient while I shot, but today she seemed a touch anxious, expectant.

"Well?" She asked, finally breaking character. "What's taking so long?" 

"Hold on a second" I replied, "I only want to take one or two more shots before you can change and we can shoot the next scene."

I walk over to her and make a few minor adjustments to her outfit. A piece of lint here, shift the Tiara there. I allow my hand to graze her face as I move a strand of her hair. I recognize that I've broken professionalism for a slight moment but I just can't resist the feel of her skin. 

Her body reacts almost before I had finished my glancing contact. I hear her inhale, a slight sound of contentment as the breath is released. She leans her head back slightly towards me, exposing both her neck and the generous view of her breasts. She reaches up and takes my hand, returning it to her cheek. 

"I had wondered how long it was going to take before you would touch me." I responded with a smile and a slight flutter in my stomach "I thought today was supposed to be a photo shoot for you" 

"It is, but I have a few other ideas too." She says. "Shall we do the next scene?" 

As she is talking my hand is slowly caressing its way down the side of her cheek and along the line of her collar bone. She stands suddenly facing me. "I'm going to change into my next outfit, I'll be right back"

I take a second to clear my head, shake off the rising lust I feel and set about a few basic necessities. I replace the memory card in the camera, swap out battery packs and begin clearing the table. The next set is a number of boxes of different shapes, all in block white and black, draped with cloth.

"What do you think of my outfit?" 

I turn and look back over my shoulder and almost drop the sheet I'm carrying. she emerges from behind the screen still wearing the Tiara and the pearls. She is also wearing a black lace bra with matching high waist bottoms. A garter belt, straps and sheer black stockings. The color of her lips is reflected in the bottom of her Louboutin "Come to bed red" pumps. I am beyond speechless. Before she was beautiful, now she is a creature of sex. Her body speaks in ways that words cant, and I find myself staring in open appreciation.

"I want these photos to be classy too" she says, "But a much more private kind of classy. Think you're up to that?" I nod acquiescence. I direct her to the boxes and recover my camera from it's shelf to begin photographing again. 

As I direct her through the photographs, I find that I am well beyond the point of simply appreciating her beauty and crossing over into lust. Photos of pursed lips, caressed breasts and delicately posed legs incite my desire more than I had thought possible. For her second to last photo, I have her stand directly facing me, one leg up on a low box and at an angle to her body, allowing the impression of her beautiful sex to press into the front of her panties.. I spend so much time daydreaming about her sweet taste, that i forget to take the photo and she puts her leg down. I have her replace her leg and finally snap off a few of the shots.

"OK" I say, "that should be about it for this outfit, if you have any others?" "Not quite yet" she says, "I have one more photo I would like you to take for me" 

She turns and looks at the boxes, selecting one with the same care a master chef would devote to arranging his plate. Finally she walks over to one just slightly higher than waist height. She leans forward over the box, placing her hands flat on it. A position that was a personal favorite of mine during our few brief encounters. Her legs are spread a foot or so apart and with the high heels, her ass is elevated to give me a perfect view of her mound. 

All professionalism leaves my head and I step towards her without even thinking. The first warning she has that I have approached her is the light trailing of my fingers along the length of her slit. She is already moist and moans deeply at the contact of my fingers. "What do you really want?" I ask. 

"YOU" is her reply.

I slap her ass, gently at first, delighted at the squeal of pleasure it brings from her, and the feel of her skin warming under my hands. After two or three slaps, I take a picture, admiring my pink hand print on her pale skin. "Is this what you want?" YES... she moans.

I slap her again, but this time I don't take my hand away, I trail it down between her legs to enjoy her wetness again. Rubbing my fingers along her slit, and then sliding two of them deeply inside her. Her knees buckle slightly, but she recovers. 

"Keep your legs steady" I say, delivering a quick slap to remind her. 

I take to my knees behind her, inspecting the beautiful gift which has been brought here for me. Her lips already swollen with anticipation, visibly moist from the show she has put on for me and from the spanking I have already delivered. I move forward to inspect her closer, in a way that fingers could never do. I run my tongue slowly, starting with her clit, and sliding upward with delicate sweetness. Her mound is hairless, perfectly smooth and of the most amazing taste. Stopping at her entrance to drive my tongue into her, penetrating like any finger, before moving further up to dance around her equally bald ass. I swirl my tongue around it, briefly penetrating with my finger, before I move back down to her clit. I can feel her shudder as I send waves of pleasure through her body, moving up and down this wondrous path. I step back and take a photo. 

My hardness is straining against the front of my pants, and I can't take it anymore. I undo my belt and remove my pants, freeing my full length. I step behind her, sliding down her panties in the way a man opens a anticipated and valuable Christmas gift. I rub head of my cock up and down against her slit, mixing her wetness with the pre-cum already drawn from me. 

Thrusting into her in one smooth move, I drive my cock in until my hips are against her ass and I can feel my balls resting against her. I start slowly, with deep strokes, thrusting hard, feeling her slide forward and fight to keep her hands down on the box. I hear her moan harder as my cock drives into her again and again. I alternate between deep slow hard strokes, making her gasp and faster, shallow thrusts, using just the head to withdraw from her and reopen her again and again. These leave her begging for deep thrusts again while continuing to bring her pleasure. 

On more than one occasion, I bury myself and wait there, not moving as she squirms back against me. When she does this, I reward her with a swift slap on her ass, feeling her involuntarily clench down on me. I know this woman, and as I bury myself in her, I can feel the orgasm building within her. I take her harder and faster, listening to her breath coming in ragged breaths now, interlaced with moans. Her pussy clamps involuntarily as she pushes her body back into mine, impaling herself on me and driving me in with more force than I could ever hope to manage on my own. 

I reach forward and gently grab hold of the pearls wrapped around her neck, using the multiple strands as a collar and pulling her head back towards me. Delicate enough to avoid damage to the pearls, but hard enough to force her to arch her back even more, allowing me the deepest sort of penetration. I force her legs together, now standing wider than her, and using her own body to increase the pressure inside of her. I thrust harder, pulling back on the pearls with one hand while the other one probes her asshole. This is what pushes her over the line. I can feel her body tense, shudder and release over and over. I feel her pussy squeeze down on my cock as wave after wave of orgasm ride through her body. I slow my thrusting as I feel her body slack on top of the box. She turns and looks back at me, barely uttering a purr as she looks down at my still hard cock. 

"I have one photo left to take, and I think you know what it is" I say, as she looks up into my eyes. "I want to cum in your mouth, and I want a picture of it."

She has a devilish look in her eyes, one that says this is an orgasm I will not soon forget. "For you" she says "anything." The devilish look is replaced by one of pure mischief as she slowly unwinds the pearls from around her neck. Pushing me back against a box she drops to her knees, winding the pearls back around and around the back of my cock. With one last look up at me, she begins to stroke with me with pearls, using her mouth on just the tip. It is only a few short moments until the pleasure is too much, and I give her what she really came here for.



The Pearl



Brick shithouse's reaction was different from what I had hoped. Instead of crumpling into a heap of fear and shock like I would have, he produced another knife and ran at me flailing it with his one remaining hand. Great. I didn't exactly want to kill this guy, just get him off the woman. In that respect my plan worked flawlessly. He completely forgot about her. She, however, looked like she was going to crumple in a heap of fear and shock. This rescue was going just wonderfully. 

I didn't try to stop him as he reached me and thrust his knife at my under scales with all his might. The knife broke at the hilt and clattered to the ground. Brick shithouse looked at the broken hilt, then at my unscathed scales. I grabbed him and hauled him off the ground. He tried to bite my hand. 

"This is ridiculous," I huffed. "Look, what do you think you're going to accomplish?"

"Son of a bitch! Put me down and I'll show you!" 

I obliged. He dropped about ten feet to the ground and landed on his but. I lowered my face into his. 

"Go away," I ordered him calmly. "You can't hurt me and I really don't want to kill you. So leave before we both regret it." I don't know what I was thinking as I began the descent back to the river, but the young woman's scream was enough to tell me brick shithouse wasn't done yet. If he couldn't hurt me he'd hurt whom I was trying to protect. Stupid! How could I be so stupid? And how the hell long does it take for blood loss and shock to set in anyway? He was bleeding out for God's sake!

I flew back to the spot. Brick shithouse was on top of the woman again, and I couldn't tell what he was doing because his blood was everywhere. Enraged, I grabbed him and wrenched him off of her. I slammed him down on the ground and glared. 

"What in the hell do you think is going on here?" I asked harshly. "What do I have to do to convince you to leave?" 

He didn't respond and I realized from the blank expression on his face that he wasn't going to. My claws were stuck deep into his body, and I was leaning a lot of my weight on his chest. Blood flowed from his mouth. My heart sank as I came to fully understand what I'd done. Slowly, I retracted my claws. I turned to the young woman, who was staring at me wild-eyed. 

"I'm sorry," I said faintly. "I'm just so very sorry." 

"For what?" she asked, somewhat dazed. 

I stared at her a moment before replying. "I never meant to kill him." 

She looked away for a moment. When she looked back, her eyes weren't as wild. "You saved me," she said simply. "He wasn't going to go away. If that's what he pushed it to, who am I to judge?" There was a silence between us for a short time before she spoke again. 

"Thank you." 

I choked a bit on my response. "You're welcome, " I finally said. 

Slowly, I turned the body over. "Will you check if he has a wallet?" I asked. 

Gingerly, she came over and pulled a wad of money out from his back pocket, but no identification. Whistling, she examined the money. 

"He's been a busy boy. What should we do with it?" 

I was surprised she asked me. It didn't take much thought to come up with a response. "You should have it." 

"Me?"

"Sure, why not? I can't use it. We have no idea where it all came from and he's well past needing it."

"Won't I get in trouble for this?"

I wasn't certain what she meant and said so.

"Well, I'm robbing the dead. Isn't that, like, seriously bad karma?" 

I shook my head. "No. This is my karma, not yours. Besides, it seems to me you deserve to get something for this." 

She still seemed somewhat apprehensive, but she pocketed the money. "What happens when somebody finds the body?" 

I regarded the corpse grimly. "No one's going to find the body," I assured her. 

As I drug the body down the embankment, the woman seemed to be struggling with something. I was getting ready to leave when she suddenly spoke.

"Is there anything I can do for you?" 

I glanced back at her. "Do for me?"

"Yeah. Is there anything I can do or get for you?" 

Thinking about my diet for the past week, I wryly answered: "Two, no make that three, of everything from Toxic Taco." 

She fidgeted nervously. "OK. Well, I guess I'd better get going." 

I nodded and she left. I knew I'd never see her again. 

I returned my attention back to the body. Now what the hell was I going to do with a dead body? The thought of eating it was fairly revolting to me, the arm notwithstanding. I couldn't just leave it along the railroad tracks. Somebody would find it, and though I didn't see how it could be linked to the young woman, it seemed to me that it would raise way too many questions. Especially the question of how he died. I considered ripping the body to pieces and letting the current take care of it. I debated my options for about an hour, maybe less, when I felt someone was looking for me. 

It was a curious sensation and a little eerie. It hit me out of the blue, this knowing that I was being searched for. Cautiously, I looked up on the bank. The young woman from earlier was back, carrying a large cardboard box. The box smelled of Mexican food. I climbed further on the bank and said hi. She jumped slightly and looked in my direction. 

"God! You scared the shit out of me!" 

"Um, sorry. What's in the box?" 

She set the box down in front of me and pulled out a Toxic Taco bag. "Three of everything from Toxic Taco, liked you asked for. This bag," she held it up, "is mine. The rest is yours. Assuming you're still hungry." The last part was said quietly. I wasn't sure if I was meant to hear it. I decided to ignore it for the moment. 

"You didn't have to do this, you know. How much did it set you back?" I asked, sticking my head into the box. I hadn't been particularly hungry, but the food smelled very good, and my mouth began to water. I was passingly glad the dead body didn't have that effect on me. 

She started to unwrap her taco. "Not that much," she said around a mouth full of food. "The money you gave me covered it easily, with some to spare. You should have seen the clerk's face when I ordered, though. They thought it was some kind of joke. The manager rang me out and made sure I paid up front. Man, did they have to scramble. Besides, this is what you asked for." 

I carefully removed what smelled like a burrito and unwrapped it. I popped it into my mouth and barely had to chew. I could have swallowed it whole without any difficulty, but this was the first "real food" I'd had in a week and I intended to enjoy it fully. I took out another item. "So, what's your name?" 

"Dakota," she answered. 

"North or South?" 

"Huh?"

"North or South Dakota," I explained, feeling pretty lame.

"Oh, I get it. Duh. It's not even like that's the first time I heard that joke. So, what's your name?" 

"Sebastian." 

She looked at me disbelievingly over her taco. "What was that again?" 

I shrugged. "Sebastian, as in the composer. Or the crab from The Little Mermaid. Whichever you prefer to remember it by." 

"You're serious?" 

"Yes, I am. What's wrong with Sebastian?" I asked lightly. I was enjoying my first conversation in a week. 

"Nothing. I just seems like such a normal, run of the mill sort of name is all." 

I saw what she was getting at. "That's because a little over a week ago, I was a person. A normal, run of the mill person." 

She looked at me with wonder and a little skepticism. "You have got to be putting me on."

"Don't you think this is a little far for punked?" She just looked at me. "No, really, it's God's truth. If you're interested, I'll tell you what happened." 

She was, so over the course of our meal, I told her the whole story, beginning to end. She occasionally asked questions, and made a derisive snort when I mentioned that brick shithouse was the one who mugged me. 

"I know it's wrong to speak ill of the dead, but I don't see how you can be sorry he's dead. Can you even guess how many other people he's hurt, maybe even killed?" 

I couldn't. But I didn't really want to talk about him, so I continued with my story. "And so that's how I became a snake," I finished. 

"A snake?" she asked uncertainly. 

"Okay, a giant snake." 

"Snakes don't have legs or hair." 

"Yes, I know, but what else would you call me?" 

"A dragon," she said slowly. 

"Dragons are bulky. Their bodies aren't the same width all around, and they have wings," I responded smugly. 

"European dragons are like that, not Oriental." 

"Oh." She was right, off course. I hadn't even thought of that. 

"But I'm not oriental. Or at least I wasn't when I was human." 

She shrugged. "I can't tell you why things happened the way they did, but what you look like is an oriental dragon." 

We continued talking, mostly small talk if you can imagine that. Eventually, I noticed it was getting on towards dawn and pointed that out to Dakota. 

"Shit! And I've got to work an early shift this morning, too." 

"You want my advice, call off. After what you've been through, you deserve a day off." 

She said she would consider it. Then she picked up the box and took off. I watched her go, trying to decide who helped who more. It was nice to talk to someone, and I hoped desperately to see her again. Then I set to work on the body. I decided to tear it apart and send it down the river. As I worked, I said a silent prayer, for both brick shithouse and myself for killing him. I don't know if anybody heard.



The Pearls of the Mediterranean



"It'll be wrinkled old grannies with saggy tits and fat Germans with hairy beer guts," Maddock said.

"It's one of the top nudist beaches in the Mediterranean. It's got to be good," Stevie S. said.

"I've seen the people that go to the top European nudist resorts. I've watched Eurotrash," Maddock countered.

"It won't be like that," Stevie S. responded. "It won't all be like that," he hastily amended. "There'll be tons of honeys. Just picture it. Row upon row of naked breasts lying in the sun, their nubile owners waiting for hunks of studliness like ourselves to come along and rub sun scream all over their naked bodies. It's going to be mint."

Stevie S. was right about the rows of naked breasts, Brent Underwood thought, although their owners couldn't really be described as nubile. Or even female in some cases.

"Eww," Wilson said as they got out of the rental Jeep "Nasty."

"Told you," Maddock said. "Saggy grannies and fat Germans."

Stevie S. tried to remain enthusiastic. "Hold on. We're not looking hard enough." He looked up and down the beach, searching for anyone that might be in their twenties, or under forty. "Just a minute," he said. "Just a minute."

"We're totally snookered," Brent said.

And they were stuck here for the week, he thought.

"Stevie S. you muppet!" Wilson said. "We could be in Ibiza banging some Essex slappers."

"Ibiza's past it," Stevie S. retorted. "The only people that still go there are the sad wankers in their thirties trying to pretend it's still 1999. You gotta go off the beaten track to find the cool places nowadays."

"The old farts go off the beaten track to look for a bit of peace and quiet, you tool," Maddock said.

"That's the last time you pick the holiday destination," Wilson said.

"Seconded," Brent added.

"Give it a chance," Stevie S. said. "It's still early."

"Have you seen it out there?" Maddock said. "David Attenborough's going to show up any minute with a BBC film crew to shoot The Life and Times of the Mediterranean Walrus."

Stevie S. looked completely punctured. This had been his big idea. He'd gone on and on about it for the past month and now they'd got here it looked like they'd made an enormous mistake.

"This can't be the only beach on the island," Brent said, throwing out a lifeline. "Maybe there's another one where the young crowd hang out."

"Yeah, that's it," Stevie S. said, snapping his fingers. "Of course. We should ask around to find out where it is."

The four of them left the rental Jeep on the rough gravel car park and headed towards the beach. The midday sun was scorching. Even with sunglasses on the glare was bright enough to force Brent to squint. A brown lizard, disturbed by their crunching footsteps, scuttled off into the brown undergrowth.

A middle-aged couple were standing next to their car. Brent couldn't tell if they'd just arrived or were about to leave. Neither was wearing any clothes. The man was short and scrawny. There wasn't anything left of his hair apart from a few wispy tufts behind the ears. The woman was around the same height, but portly to the point of being overweight. Without clothes she resembled a plate of wobbly pink jelly.

"Hello," Maddock said, immediately slipping into his charming bastard routine.

"Oh hello," the man said, turning to face them. "How can I help you, gents?"

He was English, just like them. From the home counties, Brent reckoned by the accent. The only item of clothing he wore was a pair of round spectacles. The lenses were so thick his eyes seemed to expand to fill them.

"We're looking for a nudist beach," Maddock said.

"Well you've found it," the man replied. He put his hands on his hips, proud of his nakedness even though he looked like the last scrawniest joint of meat left on the butcher's...

Brent looked down.

Jesus fuck. That was some schlong.

"Where are my manners," the man said. "I'm Ron and this is Gale Anne." He offered his hand.

Brent didn't take it on account of he was still gawping at the monster hanging between the other man's legs. It was enormous. It was like an elephant's trunk sticking out of his crotch. How the fuck did a scrawny little bloke end up with a monster dick like that?

"Hi Ron and Gale Anne," Maddock said. He didn't take the other man's hand, or offer their names either.

"So where you gents from, London?" Ron asked.

"New Zealand," Maddock lied.

Ron looked a little puzzled, probably because Maddock sounded about as Kiwi as a plate of fish and chips. His wife rallied for him.

"So when are you taking those clothes off and joining in the fun?" she asked. Her boobs wobbled in opposing orbits to the rolls of flab around her stomach. "Come on. Don't be shy."

"Maybe later," Maddock said.

"Actually, we were wondering if there were other beaches on the island," Wilson said. "Ones where we might find people more our own age."

"I don't know to be honest," Ron replied. "This is the main beach, but I suppose there could be others."

"Oh oh!" Gale Anne interrupted, her piles of fat wobbling with excitement. "José might know. He lives on the island. He's a real sweetie," she added, looking at them, "Can you go look for him darling, I think I saw him by the bar earlier."

"No problem. I'll be right back honey dumpling."

"I understand," Gale Anne winked at them after Ron had left.

"Understand?" Maddock arched an eyebrow.

"Yes, you want to find somewhere a little bit more private on your first visit. It's perfectly understandable."

Maddock listened to her, amusement glinting in his eyes.

"I was terrified the first time," Gale Anne confessed. "Those inhibitions are a hard thing to shake off."

"Really, I'd never have guessed," Maddock said.

"Well, you only have to look at me," Gale Anne continued. "My body isn't going to win any beauty prizes."

"No, it's not," Maddock said.

"But it doesn't matter. We're all different sizes and shapes. The important thing is you have to be proud of your body and not be afraid to show it to the world. Like me."

She gave them a twirl. It was indeed hideous. Brent suspected the rolls of her flesh would still be in motion an hour from now.

"That's good," Maddock said. "I'm glad you're proud of your body. Someone has to be."

Oof. That was nasty, Brent thought. Maddock could really be an asshole sometimes. Stevie S. stifled a giggle behind him. Maddock stood there smiling as if butter wouldn't melt in his mouth.

Gale Anne paused. She'd caught what he'd meant. She had that peculiar expression common to most Middle Englanders when they know they've been insulted straight to their face, but are too polite to know how to respond. She looked a little like a blancmange after being dropped from a fourth floor window.

Ron chose that moment to return with a heavily tanned islander.

"Hi gents. You're in luck. José says there's a beach you might like not far from his house. He'll show you if you give him a lift back."

It's not far," José said in heavily accented English. He smiled, revealing a row of perfect white teeth.

Now this was a smooth bastard, Brent thought. It was sweltering hot, but unlike everyone else, José was wearing a fancy white suit. His white shirt was unbuttoned to halfway down, revealing a triangle of hairy chest. His jet-black hair was slicked back against his scalp. Even though the sun was a burning yellow disc above them, not so much as a single bead of perspiration marked José's forehead.

Yeah, a real ladies bastard, Brent thought. That was perfect. It meant he'd know where to find all the hot chicks.

"Lead on Pedro," Maddock said motioning him in the direction of the Jeep "Let's bust the hell out of this flab farm."

It was a suitable moment to leave. Ron had just noticed his wife was upset enough to be on the verge of bursting into tears.

"You sure this is the right way Pedro?" Maddock asked after they'd been driving down back roads for the past ten minutes.

José was sitting on the back seat between Brent and Stevie S.. Despite a broad smile, he'd been impassive throughout the journey, only speaking to direct them as they approached a junction or turn off. The roads had grown progressively rougher and more overgrown.

"Doesn't like these roads get much use," Maddock commented.

"We like to keep the best parts of the island to ourselves," José said, still smiling that white-toothed smile.

"Figures," Maddock said. "I wouldn't want a bunch of flabby Ros Beefs polluting my view either."

"They bring money to the island." José shrugged.

Brent was bounced around in the back as Wilson hit some potholes in the road. Branches scraped against the side of the Jeep It didn't seem to bother José in the slightest. He remained super-cool and motionless even as Stevie S. and Brent were flung around in the back.

"So this beach we're going to," Maddock said. "This is where all the honeys hang out?"

José said nothing, but his smile grew a little broader and his dark eyes twinkled.

"So Pedro, as one red-blooded male to another," Maddock continued. "Just how fine are these girls we're about to see?"

Brent expected another sly little smile, but José surprised them by suddenly becoming animated for the first time on the journey.

"They are the pearls of the Mediterranean," he said, kissing his fingers for good measure. "You will not be disappointed."

Brent had doubts about that. They didn't improve when he saw the road they were supposed to follow after they'd dropped José off at the base of a small hill. The islander stood there and waved after them with a broad smile, still completely out of place in the rustic setting with his fancy white suit.

"I think our Pedro might be having a little jape at our expense," Maddock said.

The four of them were standing outside the Jeep The road, a generous description at best, had come to a dead stop, completely overgrown with vegetation. They stood in the shade, surrounded by a dense knot of greenery. Underneath the canopy the humidity was stifling. Bird song sounded all around them while large insects whirred by with somnambulant drones.

"It's going to be a bugger driving back," Wilson said. "I think I'm going to have to reverse for most of the way."

Brent looked around. There was nothing here but trees, leaves and caked dirt underfoot.

"Hey, I think there's a path up here," Stevie S. called back.

They followed him up a small rise and were astonished as they scrambled over a small ridge and suddenly came out on paradise. It was a secluded little bay with high cliffs at either end. Pristine golden sand sloped down to a brilliant blue sea. Gentle waves crested with only a slight dusting of white foam lapped at the shore.

And the girls...

"Fucking hell," Wilson said, "we're on the set of a Loaded calender shoot."

"Our Pedro is indeed a man of good taste," Maddock said.

Wilson was right, Brent thought. It was like looking on an expensive photo-shoot in an exotic location. Beautiful models were lounging on the beach.

Naked beautiful models were lounging on the beach.

They all had that perfect Mediterranean olive skin. Long black hair cascaded behind their heads in lush waves. The exposed and equally perfect hemispheres of their breasts were topped with dusky brown nipples. And their legs... wow, those legs. They went on and on and on.

The boys hunkered down in the shade and admired the girls from afar. There were nine of them in total and not a single man in sight. The girls lay on the beach, sunning themselves and not in the least bit self conscious about their nakedness.

"This is fucking beach bunny nirvana," Wilson said.

"So now what do you say, oh ye of little faith," Stevie S. said. "When I say there's going to be hot naked chicks, there's going to be hot naked chicks."

"You done good," Maddock said.

Brent wondered if the girls knew they had an audience. It might be his imagination, but it seemed like they were posing. Heads were thrown back and tousled hair cascaded onto the sand. Their breasts were thrust up for maximum effect. Full, sensuous lips were pressed together in seductive pouts. Yes, Brent could almost believe they were putting on a deliberate show.

Or maybe they were just so damn hot it all came naturally.

The boys didn't get to spy on them for long before one of the girls turned and spotted them. Brent expected a commotion, but instead of shying away or covering up the girls beckoned them down to join them with a friendly wave.

"Well, what are you waiting for," Maddock said. He stood up straight and smoothed back his lustrous black hair.

Brent stood up with the others. He noticed Wilson sucking in the slight swellings of his burgeoning beer gut. Stevie S. was furiously using his fingers to comb his spiky hair into some semblance of fashionable disarray. Brent puffed out his own chest. Their preparations done, the boys stepped out onto the beach, trying their best to look like the coolest dudes on the planet.

Nah, that was too negative, Brent thought. They were the coolest dudes on the planet.

The girls sat up and watched the boys as they sauntered down to them. They looked amused.

"Hello ladies, Hola chicas," Maddock said, smiling broadly.

The first girl, a gorgeous honey with golden-brown skin, looked Maddock up and down. Her soft brown eyes sparkled with lustful hunger. None of the girls seemed the slightest bit shy about being naked in front of complete strangers. Given how hot their bodies were, Brent wasn't that surprised.

"Aren't you a little overdressed for this beach," the first girl teased. She spoke English with only the light traces of an accent.

Always the show off, Maddock ripped his shirt open. Shiny buttons flew into the air and landed on the soft sand. They sparkled in the bright sunlight. The girls' attentions were focused on Maddock and they tittered with delight as he flexed his pecs. They didn't seem to mind his skin was the typical pasty colour of the mid-May Englishman.

Unbelievable, Brent thought. They were gagging for it. Completely gorgeous and gagging for it. He glanced over at Stevie S., who flashed him back a smile of triumph as if to say: 'Of course, what did you expect?'

Naked now, Maddock lay down next to the lead girl. He was already snogging her before Brent had even had a chance to pull his trousers down. Such a smooth bastard, Brent thought.

While he was undressing Brent noticed one of the girls was looking at him. She was a little different from the others. Her hair was lighter coloured, more dirty blonde than chestnut brown, and her eyes were blue like the cloudless sky above them. She also seemed a little more coy. While the others stared at the boys with unflinching gazes, she glanced shyly away every time Brent looked at her directly. Always slow enough for their eyes to briefly linger on each other though.

Brent paused when he reached his boxers, a little self conscious now he knew someone was staring at him. Fuck it. He pulled them down anyway and saw the blonde girl steal a quick glance at his exposed privates before looking coyly away.

"Go on you muppet!" Wilson whispered in his ear. "Can't you see she's gagging for you." He pushed Brent hard in the back.

Brent stumbled towards the girl.

"Mind if I lie down here?" he asked the beautiful blonde girl. He tried to sound both casual and confident, but in reality his heart was pounding in his throat.

She really was beautiful. Her blue eyes sparkled like precious stones. Her hair cascaded on her olive shoulders in a shower of golden curls. Her pink lips looked full and inviting. And this was before he'd even looked at the other treasures of her naked body.

"Lie here," she said, slender hand motioning over a flat patch of beach right next to her. "The sand is soft."

Brent got down next to her. She lay on her side, fine sand dusting her naked breasts as she stared at him. Was that really adoration he saw in her eyes? He must be dreaming. This beat the hell out banging some Essex slapper on a Club 18-30.

"What's your name?" he asked. "I'm Brent."

"Lamellisabella," she replied, her blue eyes intense as she stared into his.

"Lamellisabella," Brent said, rolling the strange syllables on his tongue like exotic food. "That's pretty."

Fuck, she was gorgeous, Brent thought.

"Where are you from?" Lamellisabella asked.

"England," Brent replied. "London," he added.

"Is that far?" she asked.

She must mean the flight time, he thought.

"Not too far," Brent said. "A couple of hours flight."

"Then we are both strangers here," Lamellisabella said.

That surprised Brent. "You're not from the island?"

Lamellisabella shook her head.

"Oh, I just assumed," he said. "Where are you from?"

Lamellisabella beckoned with her hand out beyond the bay. Brent saw only sea, as flat and as placid as a piece of glass.

The continent must be that way, or maybe another island, he thought.

"You're very pale," Lamellisabella said.

Brent shivered in excitement as she ran a soft hand over his shoulder and down his arm. Gagging for it, he thought. Absolutely gagging for it.

"We don't get much sun in England," Brent said. "Not at this time of year."

Concern flashed in Lamellisabella's eyes. "You'll burn in this sun," she said. "Let me put some sun cream on."

She reached behind her and came back with a small brown plastic bottle.

"I'm glad you've got some," Brent said. "I left mine back in the car."

Which was really dumb considering the sun usually turned him redder than a boiled lobster.

"The locals leave it for us," Lamellisabella said, "along with other gifts."

She squirted greasy white lotion into her palms. She motioned Brent onto his front and began to massage the liquid into his neck and shoulders. Her touch was light and erotic, but it was the single-mindedness of her attentions that really turned him on, like he was the only thing in the world that existed to her. He was glad he was lying on his front, it hid his massive erection.

Lamellisabella rubbed the slippery liquid into his shoulders and then moved down his back. Brent stared dreamily out across the calm blue sea. Sea birds wheeled in the clear blue sky above it. This was the life, he thought. Here he was, lying on a warm beach while an absolutely gorgeous island nymph rubbed sun cream into his...

Oh...

Brent squirmed as Lamellisabella's hands slipped down to his buttocks and cheekily reached round to tickle the back of his balls. She giggled as he jumped and he joined in with easy laughter.

You're a fucking genius Stevie S., Brent thought. And a jammy bastard for running into the one person who knew where this hidden beach was.

"Where are the local men?" Brent asked, suddenly wondering why José hadn't come with them. Or why there were none of his fellow islanders. This seemed like a perfect place for them to turn on that Mediterranean charm.

"The local men don't come near us," Lamellisabella said.

"Oh?"

Maybe they only stuck to their own kind, he thought.

"Their loss," Brent laughed.

He turned over and propped himself up on an elbow. Lamellisabella lay next to him.

"Could you do me?" she said, her eyes suggestive as she stared at him.

A blob of white liquid dripped from the bottle and landed on her naked chest. Brent was mesmerised as he watched the white dribble slide down the side of her tanned breast.

She took his hand and pressed it against the side of her breast. He marvelled at the feel of its soft weight resting against his palm. As she stared deep into his eyes he brought his other hand over and cupped her other breast. He began to rub sun cream into her firm breasts, nervously at first but soon picking up the confidence to massage them properly. She closed her eyes and sighed in delight as his hands roamed all over her soft olive skin. He felt her nipples between his fingers. They were erect and pointed like bullets.




The Pearls of the Mediterranean



Her full lips parted and Brent took that as his cue to kiss her, leaning down and brushing his lips lightly against hers. He was tentative at first, but then grew bolder. A light touch became a firmer press and soon their tongues were jousting between their hot mouths. Her arms circled his back and she pulled him down on her until he felt her warm body and those ever so luscious breasts pressing against him.

Time lost meaning. He stopped noticing even the hot sun beating down on his back. There was only Lamellisabella, her soft lips pressed against his, her teasing tongue tickling his, her warm body beneath him. She guided his hand down her body, leading him to the warm mysteries between her legs, mysteries he'd soon get to explore...

Fuck!

Sun cream wasn't the only thing he'd forgotten.

You tool! You knobhead! You absolute fucking moron of the highest fucking order!

He'd left his condoms in the fucking Jeep

Brent broke off the kiss much to Lamellisabella's obvious disappointment.

"I have to fetch something from the car," he whispered. "I won't be long. I promise."

He gave her another kiss, this one little more than a brief peck. There was a strange after-taste to her mouth and lips. Salty, a little like the sea. He hadn't noticed it before.

He got up and tried to look dignified as he walked up the beach, even though inside he wanted to pick up the nearest hard object and repeatedly bash his head against it.

How could he be such a fucking idiot?

He looked back and gave Lamellisabella a reassuring wave. She was sitting up, her beautiful blue eyes wide as she watched him go.

Idiot. Fuckwit. Moron. Brent berated himself.

Back beneath the vegetation and out of sight of the beach he broke into a less than dignified sprint. 

"Tool. Dickwad. Muppet."

He spat out curses under his breath as he got back to the Jeep He pulled open the door and frantically rummaged through the glove compartment.

"Where are you? Where are you?"

His hand closed around the familiar leather square of his wallet. He reached inside and pulled out a foil wrapped condom.

"Yes, you beauty!" Brent said, holding up the little square of silver like it was a hundred pound note.

He charged back up the slope, hoping that Lamellisabella hadn't lost interest in the meantime. He used his arms to batter away overhanging fronds. At the top of the slope he paused to get his breath back. It wouldn't do if he came back panting like a septuagenarian marathon runner.

Brent was relieved to see Lamellisabella was still sitting in the same place and smiling eagerly in his direction. She didn't look too pissed. He should be able to continue from where he left off without too much trouble.

You're going to fuck her. You're actually going to fuck a girl as gorgeous as that.

Mint!

The others hadn't wasted any time. Maddock was already on top and humping away, probably without any kind of protection. For all his pretty boy looks the man had the morals of a sewer rat.

And soon he was going to be doing the same, Brent thought, looking back at Lamellisabella. Fuck, she was so hot.

Something niggled at Brent's thoughts.

He looked back at Maddock. Something wasn't right.

Maddock seemed unusually active in his gyrations. Brent supposed he could be coming, but it looked more like he was struggling. Only his upper body though. It looked like his legs were caught in the sand between her legs. As Brent watched Maddock became more and more upright, as if he'd now sunk into the ground up to his hips. The girl beneath him swung her knees up and as strange as it sounded, to Brent it looked like there were flesh-coloured flaps beneath her legs that extended into the sand beneath her. Her knees bobbed and those flaps seemed to swell out almost like they were gulpi...

Those weren't her legs he realised in horror.

Their motions, it was like the lips of a mouth coming together, a mouth that was currently gulping down a large morsel. He saw the flesh beneath swell and bulge like a throat swallowing. The rest of her body was hidden beneath the sand. He didn't know how deep it went. Very, his intuition said.

What the fuck?

The beach suddenly erupted in pandemonium. Wilson shoved himself free and tried to scramble away. The girl -- not a girl, the girl part was just the tip of a long serpentine body -- erupted from the sand behind him. She opened her knees and engulfed the lower half of Wilson's body. He scrabbled desperately, unable to find any purchase on the soft sand as the monster girl pulled him deeper between her legs and into her maw with peristaltic gulps.

This was wrong. It was a bright sunny day in paradise. This couldn't be happening. The condom fell from his nerveless fingers and landed in the sand. It lay there, the silver foil glinting under the afternoon sun.

"Fucking run!" Maddock yelled.

He'd sunken so far between the girls legs only his head was visible. About the right height to give her oral, Brent thought. Stevie S. was nowhere in sight.

Brent looked back at Lamellisabella. The innocent beach bunny was gone, replaced by something that regarded Brent with predatory hunger.

He stumbled back in shock and the sight of her prey about to bolt spurred Lamellisabella into action. She dived into the sand of the beach with the same ease as Brent would dive into a swimming pool. Sand sprayed up like a sea spume as a long serpentine body followed Lamellisabella's human form beneath the surface.

It was easy to track her progress as her burrowing sent up a ridge of displaced sand.

A ridge that was heading right for him with great speed.

That was enough to finally shatter Brent's shocked paralysis. He turned and ran. Normally the soft sand should have been an impediment, but raw adrenaline was running through Brent's veins. His terror propelled him up the slope in a frantic series of hops and jumps.

He dived over the ridge and immediately lost his footing on the downward slope on the other side. His foot caught on a root and he was sent tumbling through the thick green vegetation. He crashed down the slope, picking up cuts and bruises before landing in an untidy heap at the foot of the slope.

Where was the Jeep?

Brent was completely disoriented. He was surrounded by thick green vegetation that looked the same in all directions.

No time to puzzle it out now. Loud crashing sounds from behind him told him the pursuit was far from over.

Fuck!

Brent stood up, picked a direction that led away from the noise and started running. He barrelled through the vegetation, smashing branches out of his way in his mad flight. He didn't know where his pursuer was. The sounds of something large smashing through the branches seemed to come from all around him.

The dense greenery suddenly opened out into a shady clearing. Brent sprinted across it, happy that his path was no longer impeded.

He got about halfway across before the ground suddenly erupted beneath him in a shower of soft earth. Brent was sent flying backwards onto his ass. Lamellisabella reared over him. Her naked body hovered above him, swaying like the head of a snake. Her long legs parted to reveal a long, glistening pink tunnel.

Brent scrambled backwards, his limbs thrashing wildly in terror but contributing little in the way of actual movement away from the monster in front of him. Lamellisabella swooped down and Brent felt moist, muscular flesh close around his ankles. He was yanked forwards with a sudden jerk.

"Don'teatmedon'teatmedon'teatmedon'teatme!" Brent blathered over and over in terror.

It had no effect. Each muscular gulp pulled more of his body between her legs. Soft flesh gripped first his knees, then his hips. She forced his struggling arms against the side of his body and pinned them there with her knees. They too were swallowed until only Brent's head remained outside her body.

Then she stopped and sat down.

Anyone walking into the clearing at that point would have seen a very strange sight. It would have looked like someone had buried a man in the ground up to his shoulders and a naked woman was sitting cross-legged over him with her legs folded around his neck.

Brent wasn't in the ground though. He was inside her body, the larger part of it hidden beneath the surface. Powerful muscular walls were wrapped so tightly around his body he couldn't move an inch.

"Don'teatme," he continued to wail, even though his position was surely hopeless.

"Shh," Lamellisabella said, putting a warm hand on either side of his head. "I'm not going to eat you." 

Brent stopped yammering and looked up at her. His terror was stopping him from thinking properly. Random thoughts cascaded and swirled in his mind. He saw how marvellously ripe and full her naked breasts looked and the mixture of lust and fear threw his mind into complete confusion.

Her flesh, soft and moist, slid all across his skin, exploring every nook and secret cranny. It didn't feel that bad. He wasn't dissolving, or being crushed, or any of the many bad things he would have associated with being eaten. It actually felt kind of nice. Her warmth was all around him and it felt like he was being massaged by many caressing hands.

"I have other plans for you," Lamellisabella said, running her hands down his cheek and along his jaw.

A soft nub of flesh brushed against his intimate parts and Brent jolted in surprise. He felt like he'd just been groped by a hot girl on a club dance floor. He looked up at Lamellisabella with a puzzled expression.

Her soft thighs shifted position around his neck and a pungent, musky odour welled up from inside her body. Brent's head was engulfed in a cloud of pure, stinking sex. The scent flooded into his nostrils and tripped primal triggers in his brain. His thoughts were overrun with potent pornographic imagery, strong enough to drown the fear he felt in a sticky morass of sex, sex and heaving sex.

"I want to mate with you," Lamellisabella said, her expression sluttish.

The fleshy nub within her body opened up into an orifice that stretched first over the mushroom head of his cock, then engulfed his whole organ right to the base of the shaft. Inside it was soft and wet, like a pussy but as mobile as mouth. It sucked on his cock and Brent immediately started to get hard.

"I was worried when you ran away like that," Lamellisabella said. "Sometimes your kind gets too frightened to mate."

Brent only groaned in reply. Her wet orifice squeezed and sucked his cock, taking all of his expanding length. The only time he'd ever felt anything close to this was when that drunken tour guide with the big boobs on Faliraki had given him a thorough and sloppy blow job, and she still seemed like a rank amateur in comparison to what Lamellisabella was doing to him.

"Ooo yes," Lamellisabella sighed. "Come for me."

Her face was flushed and her eyes half closed. She tweaked her erect nipples, causing her breasts to sway and bob. Her soft thighs squeezed against the side of his head. The fleshy walls pinioning Brent grew wetter and plusher, almost like he'd been inserted bodily into an enormous pussy.

Brent was lost to helpless pleasure. Her orifice rippled along the length of his shaft, tugging and teasing him, slurping and sucking the head until the sensation was almost too much to bear. Her muscular walls grew softer and warmer. They undulated against his body in a similar rhythm to the smaller orifice sucking on his cock.

As the grip on his body relaxed, Brent instinctively began to thrust his hips against her, groaning as he felt his cock slide deeper into her soft, sumptuous sheath. He couldn't help himself. Her muscular walls aided him, pushing against his back with rhythmic contractions that grew faster and faster as her excitement grew.

"Yes, give me your seed," Lamellisabella sighed.

Brent was going to come. Even though she was a monster, not even human, he was still going to come. His dick drove back and forth into her fleshy warmth.

He groaned as he felt the orgasm about to hit. Lamellisabella contracted all around his body, pressing her moist flesh so tight against him he couldn't move, could only shudder in place as the pressure of the imminent release thrummed through his body. She pulled his cock deeper into her body and enveloped it in layers of soft flesh that throbbed and then began to suck. He felt her whole body, the great vastness of it beneath the surface, swell and pulse as a powerful suction gripped his cock.

He couldn't withstand it for long. With another pent up groan he erupted inside her like a geyser. He couldn't tell whether it was him spurting his load or her pumping it out of his body like oil from a well. The great mass of her body throbbed and pulsed around him with liquid gurgles as she milked the semen from his balls with enough force they started to ache. Still her flesh pressed tightly against every inch of his body, like he was a lemon and she was intent on squeezing out every last drop of his juice.

Finally she relented and the stream died away to a dribble. The bands of muscle pressing tightly around his body relaxed their grip and Brent was able to slump within her. He sucked in great lungfuls of air. He was shattered. His nerves jangled like discordant piano wires. She'd emptied him.

"This is a nice spot," Lamellisabella said, looking around her. She could have been discussing having a picnic at a local park. "Quiet and out of the sun."

Brent let her support him. Her body really was soft and comfortable. It was like being wrapped in a giant cushion.

What now? Brent thought. As the tingling aftermath of pleasure subsided the fear and revulsion returned.

Lamellisabella sat cross-legged above him, eyes closed as if she was meditating. Brent flexed his arms and shoulders in an experiment to see how much give there was. None at all. It might have felt like he was wrapped in the softest of cushions, but they held him imprisoned as effectively as bars of steel.

His struggles caught Lamellisabella's attention. She opened her eyes and smiled down at him. "Didn't you enjoy that?"

Brent, still with only his head poking out between her thighs, looked up and said. "It was... um... nice. Can I go now?"

"No," Lamellisabella said. "This is only the beginning of the mating. You must relax and prepare yourself for the next burst of seed." Her flesh massaged his body with long, slow caresses.

The beginning. Only the beginning. But she'd emptied him, drained his balls completely.

"But I don't think I can go again," Brent said.

Lamellisabella only smiled.

There was a powerful convulsion and Brent's body was flooded with a thick stew of warm liquids. He felt another cloud of pornographic musk bubble up around his body. Her legs parted as she expelled the lascivious perfume and he drew it into his lungs. The smell of sex was far stronger this time. It didn't so much flip the levers in his mind as seize the entire machinery. Rational thought grew difficult as Brent reeled from the erotic onslaught. He glimpsed Lamellisabella through a haze of pornographic memories.

Within her body her fleshy walls massaged warm oils into his skin. A tingling in his balls, at first pleasant, then sinister, spread throughout his body. Brent felt opulent pleasure and overwhelming bliss, but also beneath that was a slight tinge of queasiness. His body was not meant to be used in this way. She was overloading his senses, burning him out through over stimulation.

He wasn't going to survive this.

He looked plaintively up at her, seeking yet dreading confirmation of his fears.

Lamellisabella looked sad.

"The sea is a harsh womb," she said. "It takes billions of eggs to give one the chance of reaching adulthood."

Her orifice stretched back over the head of his cock. He felt the great chambers of her body swell and gurgle beneath him as she tightened her grip on his body and prepared to suck.

* * * * *

Ron and Gale Anne walked up the hill to the small restaurant José ran with his family. It had taken a lot of persuasion on Ron's part to get Gale Anne to leave the hotel room this evening. She was still upset about that incident earlier and had followed it with an afternoon of brooding introspection.

José greeted them at the door wearing an immaculate white and black tuxedo.

"That's a nice suit you've got there," Ron said.

"Tonight is a special occasion," José replied.

He didn't elaborate, merely leading them through to a small romantic table out on the balcony. The view was breathtaking. Ron could see all the way down to a secluded bay below. Silver moonlight reflected off waves lapping against the shore. It was the perfect setting for a romantic evening.

Ron kissed his wife's hand as José presented them with a bottle of red wine. They didn't speak as they ate. They didn't need to. This was the tenth year they'd come out to the island and every time it was an ideal escape from the rat race back home.

"So what's the special occasion?" he asked José once the meal was over.

José didn't answer. Instead he motioned them to look at the sea below.

"Oh look Ron," Gale Anne said, awe and wonder in her voice. "The sea's glowing."

Ron was astounded by what he saw. It looked like someone had scooped up all the stars in the sky and deposited them beneath the waves. Millions of tiny motes, white and shining, floated in the bay. They formed a large cloud as they were caught by the tide and washed out into the sea beyond. Faced with the great darkness of the open sea the lights refused to dim. They sparkled with defiant brilliance as they swirled and whirled in an exuberant dance.

"What is it?" Ron asked.

"Once a year rare creatures come to the island to spawn," José explained.

"It's beautiful," Gale Anne said, watching the lights dance and flicker.

"It is one of nature's own fireworks displays," José said.

"You are a silly woman," Ron said. "Imagine what you would have missed had you spent the night moping around the hotel. And all over a couple of silly comments from some immature boys."

"I know, I'm silly," Gale Anne said.

"You're beautiful."

"Now you're being silly. I'm old, fat and have wobbly bits all over the place."

"I say you're beautiful. Does anyone else matter?"

"No," Gale Anne replied.

She leant close to kiss her husband while a billion sparkling lights danced on the waves below them.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE

This is an entrant to the Literotica 2009 Nude Day Story Contest. If you enjoyed the story please show your appreciation by voting.

Thanks

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