Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 45585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Pizza! Maybe she could use the oil from the cheese and meats to drip on the key. Aurora knew she wasn’t really carrying a piece of pizza into her brain, but why not try. Keeping her focus on the door, she flailed one hand around searching for the box Angelino had brought here and hit Drake instead.
Damn it!
She was turned around facing her brain. It was on the other side. Reaching out with the other hand, she almost lost track of the door and forced herself to stop to regain her solid view of the steel barrier. When she had it back, locked in front of her, Aurora tried to touch it again.
This time, her fingertips brushed over the corner of the pizza box. Quickly, she blindly fumbled with the cardboard and cheered when she got it open. Grabbing a slice, she rubbed it around the key and even squeezed it in one hand trying to apply oil droplets to the frozen area.
Tossing that slice away, she turned the key, but her hands slipped. “Damn it!”
Aurora rubbed her fingers and palms on her jeans before wrapping her fingers around the key and heaving with all her force. “Uhhhh!” she groaned. It moved a minuscule amount, giving her hope. She wouldn’t give up. Her arms and hands began to tremble.
Nothing.
Her eyes landed on the symbol she had drawn. She reached out to refresh the side that seemed wiped away, restoring it. It made her smile once again. The two hands once again formed a heart with curved fingers.
Sending all her love into that picture, she wrapped her fingers around the lever that was supposed to turn and twisted with all her might. With a screeching metal on metal sound that reverberated in her mind, the lock moved, opening the last deadbolt. She grabbed the door handle and pulled it open.
“Little one!”
“Daddy!”
The growing hubbub around her suddenly became quiet. Aurora blinked her eyes open to see Drake’s head now lifted into the air.
Climb on, Little one. It’s time for us to get out of here.
She registered that his mouth had not moved. No one around them moved. Are you talking in my mind?
Yes, Little one. Hurry. I scared everyone when you woke me up.
A feeling of being hugged close to his body filled her, making her move. Aurora scrambled to her feet and up to her normal riding spot. She clung to his scales as she settled into place.
“Don’t shoot. He’s leaving the city,” she called.
“If he gets in the air, he can burn everything down,” a woman in the crowd shouted and the police raised their weapons.
“Enough!” Drake roared over everyone.
Instantly, the crowd froze in terror. As they processed that he could speak, Aurora could tell many wondered if he’d heard their encouragement to harm him.
“It is obvious that many of you have forgotten the old ways. We have become too complacent. I and the dragon council will meet with your town leaders in two days’ time. Research the old ways,” Drake ordered.
“There are those of us who remember,” Aurora’s father called as he walked through the stunned crowd that divided to form paths as others emerged from their scattered positions in the mass of bodies. Aurora knew they had worked to keep the people of Wyvern calm.
Clutching the ancient book to her chest, her grandmother called from the doorway, “Pass the word that all who hold the books will unite in the town square this afternoon at two. We will share the story of Wyvern’s heritage with all who wish to learn.”
Drake nodded his head in thanks and raised his wings to leave. Those on the front edge of the gathering scrambled backward in fear of the massive beast. All except for Angelino’s sons.
The youngest ran closer, calling, “Hey, Drake! Can you take me on a ride?”
“Not now, Giorgio. Later, I promise,” Drake told him. He flapped his wings as the child gave him two thumbs up. With a powerful leap into the air, he swept into the sky.
Aurora could hear the wowed aahs from those gathered. You know you’ll make the evening news tonight. What happens when people start traveling from all over the world to see you? Or worse, to hunt you?
We’ll deal with that later. Now, I simply want to hold you in my arms. Have you forgiven me?
I owe you an ass kicking for deceiving me. Maybe it’s my time to spank you.
That will not be happening, but I will need to redeem myself. I also owe someone in the company a thank you for sending you that map.
Somehow his stress on the words ‘thank you’ didn’t make it seem like that would be a pleasant reward.
Her next question would have to wait. A trumpeting roar interrupted her thoughts. She looked up to see the black dragon flying directly at them. “Watch out, Daddy!”