“Dragons?” I asked tentatively.
She nodded, touching the bottom of my can and lifting it to my mouth, encouraging me on to drink more.
I took a couple of gulps. The sugar helped, and I could feel the knots in my stomach starting to loosen. “Why didn't I see any of the Dragons?” I was still trying to take it all in.
“You couldn't. They're very good at disguising themselves. But, if the Council thinks they won't be able to contain their true form, especially the Chromatic dragons, they won't grant them a pass. They’re not allowed to invent anything on the other side of the wall, because they could draw too much attention to themselves. On that side they're only allowed to give the humans ideas, and it's usually enough for the humans to fill in the missing pieces.”
“Why does the law forbid them?”
“They're filled with the essence of life, which means they age differently than humans. Most of the Metallic dragons can age up to twelve thousand years.”
“Twelve thousand years?” I exclaimed, stunned.
“The coolest part is if their bond is strong with their Dragonians, they can grant them a part of their essence.”
“How?”
“I'm not a hundred percent sure, but they say it's rare, the same as the dent thing. A normal dragon bond isn't thatstrong, but King Albert had the essence from his dragon. King Albert celebrated his two-hundred-and-fiftieth birthday the year he died.”
“Wow. How do you know if you're part of a dent?” I asked.
“We have a Viden. She's a Moon-Bolt dragon. They have the ability to foretell the future, but they don’t predict it in a way for us to understand. Our Viden lives in the tower behind the boy's dormitories and everyone is required to see her at least once a month. You will too. If she picks up a Dragonian in one of the sessions she has with a dragon, they mostly end up in a brother-hood or sister-hood. She even feels something when it's time for one of her predictions to be fulfilled. That part is amazing, but most of the time she sucks predictions out of her thumb.” She laughed. “Sammy's version is easy; she says the Viden speaks a lot of shit.”
“How will I know whether she speaks the truth then?”
“Believe me, you'll know. It's best to wait until you see her.”
All this new information swirled around in my head and ascending was on my mind again. “So do you know what ability you'll get?” I asked,hoping one day I wouldn’t have to be constantly asking questions.
“No but I have a feeling I'm a Fire Wielder. When that happens, Sammy and I will team up.”
“You're going to claim Sammy?”
“No, the Metallic dragons don't throw tantrums the same way as the Chromatic ones. They usually decide they want to be your dragon and surrender, but there is still a lot of paperwork that is just as painful. You need to register with the Council and give them a statement of intent. Lately, we have to ask the Council permission for everything. That's where I envy Blake. He gets away with everything, especially when it comes to the Council. I think it's because he has so many abilities,” she said matter-of-factly.
“Wait, if he's both, why doesn't he just surrender?” I asked, placing my empty soda can on the coffee table. "I mean, if he needs a Dragonian, and he's half Metallic, why doesn't he choose?"
“Elena, not every story ends with good overcoming evil. In Blake's case, only his Dragonian can keep him from turning."
"But you said his Dragonian doesn't exist.”
She inhaled deeply.
“I'm asking way too─”
“It's not that. Blake can get claimed, but whoever is going to claim him needs a miracle. Arianna, the princess of Tith has tried once and Lucian twice now. He almost had him the last time, but he got a surprise blow from an ability none of us knew Blake had. The problem with a claim like his, and this might sound crazy to you.” She sounded nervous. She put her feet on the couch and hugged her knees to her chest. “There's ways to keep the Chromatic dragons, that don't dent, from becoming evil─”
“What ways?” I asked, intrigued.
“Beating the evil out of them,” she said and shrank into the chair.
“What!” I could feel the nausea beginning to return at the thought.
“I know, sounds pretty awful, but it's the only thing that works.”
“So whoever will claim Blake has to beat the living crap out of him so he won’t become evil?” I said skeptically.
“Pretty much.”
“Lucian knows this?”I asked, though I still couldn’t believe it.
“Yes, Elena. He says it’s a sacrifice he is willing to make in order not to lose the Rubicon this time.”
I struggled to wrap my mind around the beating thing, while thinking about the fact that Lucian was okay with doing that. Any attraction I had once felt disappeared in a flash. I didn't fancy him so much anymore.
“Told you it sounds nuts, but I take my hat off to the ones who want to claim a Chromatic dragon if they're not dents. They said when the Chromatic is good they'll do anything for their Dragonian. No matter how crazy the task is.”
“So basically they let their Dragonians abuse them and then let them take advantage of them after the fact. Sounds like a match made in heaven.”
“Elena, you make it sound so . . . evil.”
“Becky, it is!”I could feel my voice rising, though I wasn’t really upset with her.
“No, it's not. Look, they don't get beaten on a daily basis. Only when they really need to control their evil selves, and on this side, we grow up knowing that Dragonians don't always get the ability they want. If fate messed up and we get the ability that matches one of the Chromatic dragons, we know what needs to be done. They'll let their Dragonian know when the dark in them becomes too much to control.” She was trying to get me to understand the situation from her view.
“I don't understand,” I said solemnly, refusing even to consider the situation as anything other than abuse.
“Dragons know what it takes to stay good. Why do you think Sammy has different classes than us? She learns other stuff.”
“So the dragons want their Dragonians to beat them?”
“Only the Chromatic dragons, and yes, they truly love their Dragonians for helping them stay good. It's not a cruel game, nor do we enjoy it. So please, don't go start a group against dragon abuse.”
“They really beg their Dragonians?”
“It's not that difficult to grasp, Elena, believe me, the Dragonian hurts more than the dragon.”
“The Dragonians don't like beating them?”
“No, unless they're psychos.”
I still couldn’t come to terms with the abuse, but I decided I would do as Becky asked. I told her I wouldn't say anything bad about the beatings or bring them up ever again.
The bell rang and we both jumped. "You ready to go back to class or do you want to stay here?"
“No, let's go back,” I said, thinking my problems weren't as bad in comparison to some of the others. I would even face another dragon if I had to, but running away was part of my past now. Heaven knows I'd had enough of that.
Chapter Seven
I took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and opened the classroom door an inch, peering inside. Becky came up behind me and opened the door wide, nudging me softly in the back to go in. I expected the stares, but a boy in the third row had the nerve to snicker audibly. Becky gave him a sharp glare as she dragged me to the last row. We slipped into the only two chairs available and I sunk inside my seat, wishing I could disappear.
The tutor at the front of the room paged through his textbook. His youthful appearance reminded me of Professor Mia and Sir Edward.