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She rubbed her eyes with the heels of her hands, not wanting to think of that outcome. Her head pounded from both the aftereffects of the tranquilizer and the information overload. It was still weird how they’d revealed so much. It was almost as if things were going right for once in her life.
Although given her track record, shit would hit the fan when she stopped being careful or let her guard down for even a second.
The curtain fluttered, and a soft breeze brushed over her face. Even just the air against her skin was new, something she hadn’t felt in years, and she took a second to memorize how it felt. Her eyes trailed to the window.
She’d been putting off this moment, not wanting to be disappointed if her first glimpse of the outside world in more than seven years didn’t live up to her memories. But not looking was cowardly, and if nothing else, she was determined to avoid being weak since her dragon might need her strength.
Staring at the billowing curtain, she took a deep breath and finally rolled out of bed and padded toward it.
Peeling the curtains back, she looked at the bright moon in the sky, the outline of the trees, and even the faint stars twinkling in the patches of sky not covered with clouds.
There was so much open space, it nearly overwhelmed her. Years of living inside essentially three rooms had taken a toll.
But she’d come this far and wouldn’t stop now. Opening the window all the way, she pressed a hand against the screen and simply enjoyed the fresh air, the slight chill, and the view of something other than a manmade wall. It was so simple, and yet her eyes heated with tears as she watched something fly in the sky. Even if she couldn’t make it out, just being able to see life in motion was special.
Although as she continued to memorize everything in sight, she grew greedy. After devouring this small slice of the outdoors with her eyes, she wanted more, so much more. And since the nurse had rushed off to attend an emergency, no one would see her in case she lost control of her emotions.
So Percy dashed out of the bedroom and to the kitchen and gripped the handle of the back door. For one beat, then two, she waited. It’d been so long, but she needed to stop being afraid of how maybe her memories had lied to her about how the earth would feel under her bare feet.
After opening the door, she stepped outside onto the small patio and stopped in the middle of it. The breeze blew stronger out here, and faint sounds of animal life filled her ears. She tilted her face toward the moon.
As a child, she’d often stared at the bright circle, wishing she could be there, away from everything else. To start over someplace new, where she could welcome other outcasts like herself and finally fit in.
It was all naïve bullshit, of course. She’d never get to the moon—let alone be able to live there—and there was no little haven for those who were different from everyone else.
Since she was alone, Percy touched the birthmark on her neck. She would always stick out, no matter where she went.
She had no idea how long she stood there staring at the sky and memorizing the feel of the patio and then the nearby dirt under her toes, but eventually, she shivered and went back inside.
Leaning against the closed door, she shut her eyes and imagined flying through the night sky, soaring among the stars, and for the first time in her life, being free.
And that image, that wish, she fixed into her mind. She would accomplish it, no matter what. After all, she’d gone through hell over the years. How bad could it be to work with her inner dragon when she finally woke up?
ChapterSix
Bronx woke up early the next morning and headed to the kitchen of their temporary cabin. Violet usually slept later than he did, and he was a little relieved to find the room empty. He’d have time to think through his planned activities for the day as he made breakfast. Violet would be excited to go visit Percy again—his daughter had talked nonstop about it the night before—and would try to rush him out the cabin. But if she didn’t eat, she’d be grumpy, and no one needed that complication.
He took out the ingredients for pancakes and went to work on the batter. Just as he placed the frying pan on the burner and went to grab some bacon, a piercing scream rang through the air, followed by another.
It sounded as if someone were being tortured.
Within seconds, he stood outside, scanning the surroundings. Another scream erupted, coming from the direction of Percy’s cabin.
His beast spoke up.If her dragon came out, we need to go help her. The nurse might not be able to handle her by herself.
Violet asked sleepily from behind him, “Who’s screaming?”
“Vi, stay here, okay? I need to go check on Percy.”
“But I want to help.”
More screaming rent the air. “And you can help by fetching a doctor and bringing them to Percy’s place. Can you do that?” She nodded, and he added, “I’m going on ahead. Call me if you need to.”
With that, he grabbed his mobile phone and ran out of the yard, down the path, and up the walkway to Percy’s place.
The closer he went, the louder the cries grew.
He tried the front door, but it was locked. He reached above the door trim until he found the spare key and opened the door. The never-ending screaming reverberated through the house.
