Captured By The Dragon
Episode 25

Dylan – third

Dylan woke up early. He could smell her all around him even though she was down the hall from him. She was so close and so far away at the same time, he didn’t know how to cut the gap between them.

His body ached as it tried to push out the poison inside him. Slowly, he got up and made it down to the kitchen. By nightfall he would be good as new.

He saw it yesterday, that small bit of kindness she showed him. He saw her start to warm up and for the first time he thought that all hope wasn’t lost. He could redeem it before it all ended in flames.

Perhaps it was the house that was too dark. He had another place that was brighter and filled with a softness that matched her. Maybe he would take her there.

Dylan made her breakfast. He sent the cook away and filled the house with sweet scents. Soon enough, his attempt worked. She wandered down the stairs with a curious look on her face as she followed the smell right to him.

“What is that?” She asked in a small, sweet voice. He could have bottled that sound and carried it with him wherever he went.

“I made you breakfast.” Dylan turned to see her in nothing but a large shirt that used to be his own. It came down to her knees and she looked too tired to even register how she looked to him. He swallowed the lump in his throat and passed the plate across the counter to her.

He had to behave. He would never gain her love or trust if he only pawed at her like an object. Inside he knew he was just as rotten and selfish as all the men that wanted to buy her. Perhaps one day she would realize that coming with him was the right choice.

Patara seated herself at the island and pulled the plate to her. “I didn’t know you could cook.” She said in a bright voice.

“I suppose it’s a hidden talent.” He smirked as he leaned across the counter. She eyed him for a moment before she dug into her food with a daintiness that only came out when she was shy. “Don’t hold back on my account. If I were you, I would have already torn through the entire pot.

The side of her mouth lifted as if it was against her will. He watched her cheeks flush red and her eyes lower from him and he had to turn away from the sight.

Dylan – third

Dylan woke up early. He could smell her all around him even though she was down the hall from him. She was so close and so far away at the same time, he didn’t know how to cut the gap between them.

“I was thinking we could go for a walk. I know it must have been miserable being inside all the time. I would have probably broken a window just to taste the air.”

“I thought about it.” She said half heartedly. “I would like that very much, thank you.”

“Meet me at the door in an hour.” Dylan tipped his invisible hat to her before he left her for her meal. He swore he caught a smile on her lips before he left completely.

The thought of her wanting to break out sent a strange wave through his dark side. He had to calm that part of him down before it tried to take control of his actions. This wasn’t the time to control her or push her inside a box.

If he did something like that, he would lose her forever and only live with the resentment he earned in return.

“Be charming, Dylan.” He muttered to himself in the mirror as he dressed. He was an animal on the inside. A pure animal that wanted to do dirty things to her and make her bend at his will. He was not the type of man a mother would ever want for their daughter.

But Patara was different. She might have been swayed by his looks, but not entirely. Most women would do anything he said for a night, but Patara was innocent. She was sweet and small and filled with everything he wasn’t.

Perhaps that was why he wanted her as much as he did.

Patarar waited by the door for him as he came down the stairs. Her eyes were wide and curious as she turned to look up at him. Dressed prettily in an old dress that covered her head to toe but looked as if it came out of an old movie from the human world.

Dylan stopped and put his hand on his heart as he looked her up and down. “Watch yourself when you dress like that. I could have fallen down the stairs and broken my leg.”

Patara quickly looked away when a small smile started to form. Dylan smoothed out his black jacket and held out his arm for her to take. Surprisingly, she did.

He led her out and a wind of crisp air greeted them immediately. The sky looked almost green as they wandered down the road.

“Why does the sky look so different here? It’s only blue in the human world.” She asked wondrously. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“Magic.” Dylan smiled. Her eyes caught on her lips and a blush followed. “All of us have a little bit of it. It’s what makes this world different. Think of it as entering another realm.”

“It feels like that.” She admitted. “As if I entered one of the books I used to read at school.”

At the mention of school, her tone snagged a little. Dylan cleared his throat and tried for a different subject.

“My mother used to love taking walks around this time of day.” He started. Her eyes went up to his face. They passed a group of guards that stared at Patara a little too long. When they glanced at Dylan, they immediately dropped their gazes before he did something drastic.

Like rip out their eyes.

“Do you remember a lot about her? You must have been so little.” Patara said in a small voice. She leaned more on his arm and he tried to remember the feeling of her this close.

“I remember some. I remember the walks, I remember her laugh and love of sweets and pretty things. She loved this world a lot and I hate that it was this world that killed her.”

Patara frowned. “She must be the reason for your dedication. I bet she would be proud to know that her son avenged her death in a way that would eventually bring peace to this land.”

Dylan felt at a loss for words for a moment. He never considered if his mother would be proud of him or not. Lately he had felt as if he failed her.

Dylan started to lead her towards a small river. She said nothing, but he could tell it was because she was too busy taking in her strange surroundings. No flower or plant looked the same as it did in the human world. Everything here was different and she couldn’t look away from any of it.

“I think you should—“

“Well, well.” Said a dark voice from the trees. “What do we have here?”