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"Twelfth, I think. It's been a long time. I remember people more than I do dates now."
Bolivar was still holding my hand as he pulled me out of his collection room and into another bedroom, this one seemingly his. But before I could wonder what we were doing there he took me onto the deck, which was actually a sunroom, and there he had a makeshift office. He handed me a small cardboard box with a bright red bow on it. The kind that I would have bought from a grocery store, but his actually looked like he'd curled the ribbon by hand instead of going the easy route like I would have done.
"Your first task as my new assistant will be to deliver this to Imrel. His birthday is coming up."
It took me a few moments to process what he was saying, and even when I did I still didn't believe what he'd said to begin with. "You want me to take something to Imrel?"
Bolivar looked like he was trying very hard not to laugh at me. "Yes. Is there a problem? If you know anything about us, then you know I'm not the only dragon in the world, and he's only a few hours away at the Canadian border."
Of course, I knew that he wasn't the only dragon. It was just…I knew their history. "But don't you hate him or something?" The journals had been so specific about that fact.
Bolivar just shrugged off my question. "Once, yes, I did. But that was centuries ago, and hate is such a strong word."
"Your feud lasted for something like eighty years, right?" I really wanted to go find the old journals and read up on their war again, because I'd thought it was a pretty significant thing, and Bolivar was here acting like it was nothing at all.
"Well, yes, that was how long he was with that obnoxious man he cheated on me with. Are you going to deliver this box or not? Arguing with me isn't part of being my assistant."
"Uh, sure." I took the cardboard box from him and was surprised by just how light it was. I was pretty sure that there wasn't anything actually in it at all and he was just sending me away.
"Good. Now, hire a taxi and go to this address." He quickly scribbled down an address and then put it on top of the box. "It's a cafe. You'll need this, too." He pulled out his wallet and handed me a wad of twenties. "Have something to eat while you're there. Now, get going. He's expecting to meet you for dinner."
I'd barely had a chance to sit down yet, and Bolivar was already sending me away. I called a cab and then I was gone, but I was not happy about it. Though I hadn't really wanted to stay, either. Bolivar made me tense, and I really had no idea what to expect out of him. My time until I got back home was already feeling like it was going to be miserable. I couldn't help but start to count the hours.
Where Bolivar seemed nothing like the dragon I had imagined him to be, Imrel was everything I'd pictured a dragon to be like. He looked like he was in his sixties and never smiled at me or even acted like I was welcome in his presence. He treated me as a lowly human, exactly what I'd expected Bolivar to do.
"How is my old friend?" Imrel asked as we sat at a table.
I shrugged. "I only met him today." I'd already given him the present, and he had put it aside, appearing to give it no consideration at all.
"And you already don't like him. Unfortunately that feeling won't get any better. He's a difficult one, but if you're determined to get away from him you can always get out of your family's contract with him. All you have to do is find a girl, get her pregnant, and then wait until your child turns eighteen and can leave home to go work for him. Simple enough, really."
I felt like Imrel was laughing at me, too. We humans must just be one big joke to these dragons. "Thanks. That won't be happening, though."
Imrel stopped smiling and seemed to actually consider me for a moment. "I see. Well, you could always do what your great-grandfather did and simply stay with Bolivar until he finally kicked him out. You know, I think the only reason your great-grandfather even decided to have a kid was because Bolivar told him to. He certainly didn't seem like he was all that close to his family whenever I talked to him."
He might have been trying to get a rise out of me, or he might have just been talking and didn't realize that he was being mean. Either way, it would be best to change the subject. I looked at the simple, plain cardboard box with the bright red ribbon that I'd delivered to him. "What do you think he got you for your birthday?"
Imrel looked as well, but he only smirked at it. "I know what's in it. Absolutely nothing. The same thing he gets me everytime he has a new assistant. It's a game we play. The present is for me to see what his new human looks like. I approve of your looks, and I think you'll be entertaining enough for him, but I doubt you'll enjoy the work. You humans aren't built for the long haul. I think you'll be bored and wishing to get out of serving him within the year, if you're not thinking that already."
I sat back in my chair and considered what he was saying. My great-grandfather had certainly liked being with Bolivar, so maybe Imrel was wrong. "How long have you had your assistant?" He wasn't with anyone right now, but I knew that all dragons had assistants, so he had to have one around here somewhere. Maybe they were waiting in his car or something.
"She's been with me for about six years now, though I rarely see her. She comes back for a week or two and then she's gone again. I don't mind. She's there when I need her, which is all that matters."
I didn't get it. I'd been told that I would be working closely with Bolivar, that really I would never leave his side. But, then again, I was already away from him. He'd sent me away less than an hour after I'd arrived, so maybe there was a bit of truth to what Imrel was saying. "What does she do when she's gone? Does she have meetings with other dragons?"
Imrel laughed. "Not at all. She's got a credit card and a bucket list for every country. Her passport is nearly full by now. She's at my beck and call when I need her, and in exchange for that I give her as much freedom as I can. She would’ve gone mad if I insisted she stay with me constantly. Your great-grandfather certainly enjoyed his time away from Bolivar. I have, too. While Bolivar and I used to be close, we can't be anywhere near each other now. If we have a problem you'll either meet with me, or with my assistant. Her name's Kelly. You two could take a vacation together if you wanted to, or you could come spend a week in Canada with me, assuming Bolivar ever lets someoneas good looking as you out of his sight. Don't worry about that, though, I'm sure he'll get bored of you soon enough, and then you'll have some variation of your freedom back."
He got up to leave, but I wanted to keep talking to him. I had so many questions for him, and so far Bolivar hadn’t talked to me at all like Imrel was.
I was back at Bolivar’s house by midnight. I thought I’d just go to sleep, but he was still awake and his bedroom door was open, so I figured I should probably stop by to say hi.
He was sitting up in bed when I went to his doorway. "Hi."
Bolivar looked up from the heavy book in his lap to consider me. "Did you have a good meal?"
Aside from the eight-hour round trip, it had been fine. I shrugged. "I'm tired. I'd like to go to bed."
"Did Imrel offer to let you stay with him for a week?"
