Once upon a Dragon Gift (Once Upon a Dragon Series Book 4)

George knocked for a solid ten minutes.

“They are not coming,” Tabitha hissed at him.

“We are here now. I’m not wasting any more time. I want to get back to Becky.”

I sighed. They were both working on my nerves, but I knew how they felt. I would like to get back to Elena too. Even if it was the one who didn’t like me much and could be Lucian’s girlfriend. I didn’t know how I felt about that. Something was horribly wrong in that world.

I stepped forward while the two of them were still bickering and knocked harder.

They fell silent.

“Blake,” Tabitha spoke first.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” George said.

“Stop. I’m not upset. I know how you guys feel. Dent, too. Remember?”

They nodded, as Tabitha just stared at me.

“We’ve been so selfish. Sorry.”

“Stop. You haven’t been selfish for a second. Coming here, assisting me, not knowing how long this would take, away from your Dents. It’s not selfish. I’m honored to call you my friends.”

They both looked awe-struck.

The lock on the door finally opened.

“Finally,” George mumbled, and a faint light coming from a lantern appeared through a width of the door. A guy spoke in Mandarin, and Tabitha stepped forward, pushed past me, and answered.

“Give me the letter from King Albert, Blake.”

I fished the letter out from my bag. It was taking a bit of time, but I finally got it and thrust it in her hands.

George leaned closer. “Did you know she could speak so many languages?”

“I didn’t date Tabitha for her brains, George, so no.”

His lips curved, but he said nothing after that.

The monk bowed, and Tabitha mimicked his actions, which made George and me bow.

Then he opened the door wider.

“What is he saying?”

“They were waiting a long time for this day, Blake. They just didn’t know it would be at two in the morning,” Tabitha translated.

It was two?

We followed the monk up a lot of stone steps to what looked like some sort of temple. I looked around at all the tiny homes and their pointed roofs.

There were plenty here.

Tabitha spoke to the guy and the words leaving her mouth sounded weird, but in a way, funny. Still, I took my hat off to her.

“My name is Zeong,” he said in a Chinese accent. “The king sent word that you would come this way.”

A mesmerizing tune with the most beautiful music filled my ears. Goosebumps rushed all over my arms and legs.

Zeong touched my arm to gain my attention, but it was hard to look away from the direction the music came from. “You hear it, don’t you?”

I nodded as my gaze met his.

Another monk, a lot older than this one, and a boy that could hardly be sixteen stood at the top waiting for us.

They both bowed, and we did the same.

“Welcome, Rubicon and friends. My name is Ming, and I believe you have something for me, Zeong.” He held out his hand, spoke Mandarin, and the guy that we were following up to now handed him the letter.

Fire lit up in the sixteen-year-old’s hand, and the three of us stared at it. He was supposed to be a Dragonian.

The old man read the letter, and a smile fanned over his lips. “How is Albert?”

“Well. It’s his daughter that is lost, and I need to reconnect with her.”

“Lost? As in after-life loss?”

“No, she has lost her mind about who she is. I’m getting visions, so is George, about reaching her. But the timeline is not ours.”

Ming froze as he looked at me. He glanced to the sixteen-year-old guy. They spoke in Mandarin again.

“What are they saying?” I whispered to Tabitha.

“It doesn’t sound good. They don’t enjoy playing with an alternate universe.” Tabitha spoke once more, and the guys froze, staring at her. The sixteen-year-old answered her, and Ming lifted his hand for them to stop.

“You speak Mandarin very well.”

“I learned it from my nest mother.”

He bowed, contentedness on his facial features.

“Mixing with other timelines, Rubicon, it’s not good.”

“She is my rider; I can’t live without her. Please.”

“You wish your orbs to give you passage to this alternative world?”

I nodded.

“And if that Elena refuses to follow you?”

Refuse to follow? All of this still sounded so far-fetched. “Just let me try, please.”

“Will you be able to let her go?”

I didn’t answer.

“Rubicon?”

“I’ll try. I just want her to be happy.”

He nodded.

“Follow me,” Ming spoke softly, and then guided us toward another part of the monastery. He took his shoes off.

Tabitha did the same. “Take off your shoes. This building is a temple.”

We followed her lead and toed-off our shoes.

Ming called out to me, and I rushed forward as George and Tabitha stayed.

He led me to an altar. Music played, and it almost wanted to put me in a trance. I had to get to it.

Ming was faster. He opened the drawer, and a mother of an orb glowed.

It was like it sensed me and couldn’t wait to be reunited with its master.

The orb was pure white and, like I said, a mother. A lot bigger than the others.

Ming gestured for me to take it, and I picked it up. It was heavy and pearl-like as the glow pulsated from the orb.

“She is happy to reunite with her true owner.”

I frowned. “You know what it is?”

“It always returns to us, Rubicon. We have guarded the mother for thousands of years, and we have met the four Rubicons before you. Some were not as gracious as you, and we lost many men throughout the years when they came for it. Albert promised me it would be different this time.”

I smiled.

“I assume you know what to do with it?”

Tears welled up in my eyes as everything about her filled my mind. It was as if she was telling me what to do, how to use her so that I could get from her what I needed.

I nodded, as I couldn’t take my eyes off it. “But I’m going to need your help.”

He frowned. “My help?”

“You know what I need. My friend can easily guide me, but he doesn’t know how yet. I need a doorman.”

“Doorman?” Ming’s eyebrow lifted.

“I don’t know how else to explain it. Someone who can hold open the entry point to that world.”

The reality of what I’d told Ming became clear on his face. His lips parted a few inches as his chin dipped.

“Follow me. One thing that I’ve learned is that unusual doors require a lot of water.”

The old man, led by the sixteen-year-old, walked down steps that led to a lake.

Tabitha and George followed. Tabitha tugged on my arm.

I looked at her. “How did you know what to do?”

“The second I touched her, she showed me.”

Her eyebrow raised. She was keeping a record of everything that was happening so that our future generations, or future Rubicon, had something to go on. It wouldn’t be such a dark road for them.

The lake almost took my breath away as the moon lit up the surface. The trees with cherry blossoms painted a romantic atmosphere.

It was sad that we couldn’t share the earth’s beauty with our riders.

“Place your orbs in a line, five feet apart, on the other side of the lake. The mother will become the connection so that you can open the doorway.”

I looked at George. This was it. I was going to Elena. George handed me the bag that carried all the orbs. Excitement that I was going to see her dosed me with a tidal wave of goosebumps.

“Go get her, Blake.” Tabitha smiled encouragingly.

I nodded as Ming took the mother orb from me.

I dove into the lake and came up a few minutes later on the other side.

Soaking wet, I placed my orbs five feet apart next to each other.

I swam back to Ming and took the mother orb from him.

“Now what?” I asked.

His lips curved into a satisfied smile.

“You concentrate on her, what your vision has shown to you, and try to get to that timeline.”

I nodded as I glanced at George. He’d seen that place crystal clear. I’d only gotten bits and pieces. But I would hold on to that.

I closed my eyes and thought about Elena, but something pressed hard against me, causing a headache.

I grunted.

“Someone else, not that one,” Ming said, and I nodded.

I concentrated on Lucian.

The orb turned warm in my hands, and I peeked slightly to see how all the children connected with the mother. The color beams they gave off created a bright glow.

The last one connected, and the mother’s warmth seared my hands.

“Now guide the light to the middle of the lake and open your door,” Ming instructed.

I did what he said.

“Don’t stop thinking about the one you wanted to connect with, Rubicon.”

I did as he said, and the middle of the lake grew brighter and brighter.

I closed my eyes, and then something yanked me forward. The last thing I heard was Tabitha screaming my name.

I opened my eyes and jumped up as I wasn’t with Ming and the others anymore. I was inside my bathroom at the academy.

I rushed out and found Lu sitting on the bed. He looked up. I stared at him. What was this?

I rushed to the window; my eyebrows pulled together.

“I know you are upset, but I made a promise, Blake. A blood promise.”

My gaze yanked back to his. “What?”

“I will not lose you like they lost all the other Rubicons.”

“No,” I sighed.

“I made a promise!”Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“Dammit, Lu. I’m not claimed?”

Lucian immediately stopped and stared at me with wide eyes. What the fuck was wrong with him?

“Answer me!”

“You haven’t called me Lu in such a long time, Blake.”

“Okay, you need to tell me what is going on and super fast. I’m not claimed?”

He shook his head, still dazed. “Who are you?”

I grunted. “I’m Blake, okay.”

“No, you are not him. Speak,” Lu ordered.

“I’m him. Just not from this timeline. You need to listen to me, Lu. It’s very important.”

“Kay.”

“What am I?”

“Blake, stop this.”

“Answer me.” I demanded.

“You are the Rubicon.”

“No, personality wise?” My eyebrows knitted.

“Hard-headed. Already turning dark.”

“No, it can’t be. My rider is here. I saw her.”

“Her?”

“Fuck. What are you doing?” I spoke to myself.

Lu’s hand grasped onto my shoulder. “Who is she, Blake?”

“I didn’t show you any sign of her existence?”

His face slacked, and he shook his head. “No, please. Not her.”

“I did?” I mumbled.

“You said it was nothing when I questioned it.”

“I lied. She needs to claim me.”

The yank came again before I could say her name.

“No, no, no,” I yelled and coughed. I was on damp grass.

“Blake.” Tabitha ran to me. Her icy hands were familiar. “You saw her.”

I shook my head. “I saw Lu.”

“What?” George asked.

“I spoke to Lu. I’m not claimed in this timeline. I’m actually turning dark. What the hell, George?”

“So that was what that was?”

“What…what was?” I asked.

“I saw you retaliate. I didn’t understand it much. But now I do. The you in this timeline is fighting his rider. I don’t think Elena has any idea who or what she is.”

We had to wait. The mother orb was tired. It wasn’t a natural door.

At breakfast, Ming explained it would be easier if I wanted to go to the after-life as that door actually existed, but it wasn’t a pleasant journey as time worked differently on that side.

We all stared at him, talking about the after-life as if they’d walked through it daily.

“So, what you are saying is that Blake could visit the after-life?” George inquired.

“If he chose for the mother to open that door,” Ming answered.

“Why is an alternative world so much harder?” Tabitha questioned.

Ming smiled. “Some would say that it simply doesn’t exist. And for a mother orb to open such a door is very draining.”

“I had no sign when it was over. She just yanked me back. Which means that I don’t know how long I will have on that side. I need enough time to get through to them.”

“I understand, Rubicon.”

“Blake, please.”

Ming smiled and nodded. “It’s not natural. And I fear that what you are trying to accomplish might not be possible.”

Tears welled up in my eyes. It sunk in faster than my hardheadedness usually blocked it.

Tabitha touched my arm. She spoke in Mandarin. I did not know what she said to Ming, but the tone in her voice told me that she was not happy with him. She got up and left, walking with huge strides to the room the monks had assigned to her.

“I’m sorry about what she said to you. I’ll speak to her.”

“Relax. You have loyal friends, Blake. Like I said, the Rubicons before you were nothing like you. We only learned from the scrolls of our forefathers about what the Rubicon could do. My brother, Lau, was privileged enough to have met you when you were only a little dragon. He couldn’t stop speaking about the honor that he felt from you. And what an honor that was to be the one to have met you. I envied him for such a long time, not realizing that I was going to be the one to help you in your quest. Is there a way that you can show us what the Rubicon truly looks like?”

“Here?” I asked and looked around me.

“We have a courtyard that is big enough to house a dragon of your size.”

I nodded.

“Good, after breakfast you will show us.” He nodded at the boy next to him, and he jumped up and ran.

“Where is he going?” George asked.

“To tell everyone that we are going to see a dragon.”

“Wait, what?” George sputtered.

Ming laughed. “We have never seen a dragon before.”

I huffed as George stared at me. I doubted he knew he had three dragons with him.

Oh, this was going to be fun.

After breakfast, George went to get Tabitha, and I followed Ming.

“Is it true that you only understand Latin when you are a dragon?”

I nodded. “My friends can translate.”

“We have been learning Latin from a young age, to always communicate with dragons whenever they seek safety.”

“Have you ever housed dragons?”

“No, I believe the agency that they put on this side is doing an astounding job.”

I nodded. Mark was great at his job.

“I would like to try again when she is ready.”

“Of course. One thing I know, the mother would not want to disappoint you, Blake.”

I smiled as we walked down the steps that led to what he called their courtyard.

It wasn’t really that big, and I looked at George and Tabitha. They wouldn’t be able to transform with me. There was simply not enough room for all three of us.

Plus, there were so many monks here wanting to witness a dragon. Little boys even watched from the building across the courtyard. Probably students and future monks to carry on spreading the word of the Rubicon.

I bowed at them, and they all laughed behind their hands, except for one boy. He puffed his chest and bowed back.

Tabitha giggled.

I disrobed while explaining that I had to be naked. I was tired of shredding my clothes.

Tabitha translated in Mandarin and elicited a couple of laughs.

“I hope you are translating it correctly and not telling them how hard-headed I am.”

Ming laughed as Tabitha gave me her astounded look.

I pulled off my boxers and then transformed.

Gasps and even shrieks came from around us. I tried not to break anything, but my tail was always in the way.

“Sorry,” I spoke to Ming.

“You do not need to apologize, Rubicon.”

“I told you to call me Blake.”

He laughed. “I always thought that the dragon and the human were two different parts.”

“No, we are the same.”

Applause came, the ones who were frightened had to calm down, and then all eyes were on my scales and my humongous figure.

“They can come and touch me,” I called up to the teacher at the window where all the children observed.

Smiles fanned over all their lips, and then they ran outside with the speed of light.

George and Tabitha just stared. I wished there was enough room for the two of them to change with me.

“Does that only extend to the little ones, Blake?” Ming asked, and I shook my colossal head.

“No, come.”

He was the first, and there was a slight tremble in his hand. I didn’t know if it was from old age or fear. But the look on his face told me neither. He was like that kid, puffed chest, and I could tell that the boy in him had awakened.

He glided his hand over my scales softly, not saying a word. Even touched my talons.

“Thank you for allowing an old man this honor.”

“The honor is all mine.”

Then it was everyone else. They all spoke in Latin as they admired my scales.

The little ones came last, and I actually pretended that they were wrestling me down on the ground.

The grown-ups laughed as they fell on my body.

The sun felt great as I baked for a while.

“I would love to play with you all day, but I have a pretty important task ahead of me.”

“Will we see you again?” one boy asked.

“If time allows.”

He bowed again, and the teacher bowed as he called the kids back to him.

“Hold on. I’m not the only dragon here.” They all gasped, and Ming’s gaze flickered to George and Tabitha. “They are dragons too.”

“A Moon-Bolt and a Snow Dragon.”

Ming grabbed his chest as he swallowed hard. “Chromatics.”

“They each have been claimed. Tabitha is Helmut McKenzie’s son’s dragon. Meaning she is a royal dragon with me. And George is one of the other Dents.”

He bowed again.

“Stop bowing. I’m going to change back now, so that they can show you what they look like.”

Ming nodded, and I changed back. I grabbed my boxers and stepped into them.

The sixteen-year-old held a robe open for me. “It will be an honor, Blake,” he said in Latin, and I took his robe. I put it on as Tabitha undressed.

All the monks turned around, giving her privacy that she didn’t require. She paused at it.

“It’s not custom for ladies to walk around naked this side, Tabitha,” I explained.

“Okay.” She exploded into her dragon, and when they looked back, they all gasped and stared.

She was friendly and let everyone pat her as if she was some sort of lap dog.

She even showed them her ice, breathed it on a couple of boys. Soft snowflakes covered their hair, and they laughed.

They did the same with her, touching her scales and admiring her.

Her show and tell was coming to an end, and then it was George’s turn.

He was bigger than Tabitha, but the kids loved him. He even plucked out a few scales and handed them out.

He was insane, but that was George. He wanted to make our visit a memorable one.

He made me feel stupid, as I should’ve thought about that.

After breakfast, Ming took me to the lake again. I placed the orbs on the other side once more and held on tight to the mother orb.

She was fully recharged, and I couldn’t help thinking that she wanted to succeed for me.

She was in so many ways just like me. Stubborn as hell, but I needed it. I needed to get to Elena and speak to her. The warmth spread up my arms, and the pull came.

When I opened my eyes, everything happened at once. Noise came back. Jeff was speaking non-stop. Brian wasn’t there. I tried to find him, but there was no sign of him. Lu was sitting at a table with George and Becky. They were laughing at something that George had said. Becky was pushing him away.

There was no sign of Elena.

“Blake?” Tabitha asked. She grasped my arm. “You okay?”

“We don’t belong together, Tabitha. Stop hiding who he is to you. You are so much more.”

“What?” Her eyebrows pulled as I got up and rushed to Lu’s table.

I stared at him.

“Blake?”

“What the fuck didn’t you understand from our conversation the other day, Lu?”

His eyes grew. “I think we should go talk.”

I slammed on the table. “No! I told you what she had to do.”

“Yes, and then you told me you…” He grunted.

“I cannot stay long. You cannot believe a word he is saying.”

“Blake?” George asked.

“They have to train her, Lu. She needs to claim me.”

He stared at me as I got yanked back. I woke up, and this time I puked. My gut felt wrong.

“It’s okay. You were in longer. The mother orb is getting stronger,” Tabitha commented.

“Not long enough. Lu has told no one who Elena is.”

“What? Why?” Tabitha questioned.

“Because he is living in a world where he does not know you are his dragon, Tabitha.”

Her eyebrows furrowed. “We are both rebelling?”

I nodded and waited for the nausea to subside. I got a feeling that Lu was not ready to let Elena go, and I couldn’t tell Tabitha that. It would be cruel.