Beauty Is The Beast
Chapter 32

"That thing thinks I'm his mother?" As if to back up his statement it walked over, rubbing it's head against my ankle. I tried not to pass out.

"They either love you or they eat you first sight. Whatever grabbed you must've thrown you in there to be eaten, but the Gazzak marked you as his instead." He studied him, a curious tilt to his head. Great, another alpha male setting claim to me. The little Dragon was circling my foot now.

"I'm assuming a Gazzak is a type of dragon?" It looked up at me, then his wings started to flap. Oh God it's going to fly again.

"A very strong one, and very rare to encounter. Even in the forest of dragons. I'm glad it sees you more as a mother and not a snack." His heated gaze landed on me. "Only I'm allowed to see you as a snack."

The dragon flew up, I shrieked as it landed on my shoulder. "Oh my gosh!" I tried not to freak out, I didn't want it to take a chunk out of me.

He nestled himself on my shoulder, tucking his wings around him comfortably. His long black tail hung limply down my back. He yawned, a small flame of fire coming out of his mouth. "I think I'm going to pass out."

"Where the hell is this elevator? We've been walking forever!" I groaned, stomping on a bug that was scurrying across my path. I'm sick of this forest!

"Not much longer, I believe they moved it. It was never this far before." Looking over at him I wanted to scream. His suit was in perfect condition, not a spec of dust on it. The man wasn't even sweating! Whilst I looked like I've been dragged through the forest. Leaves in my hair, dirt patches on my jeans, there was even a few twigs in my wings. I ached all over, I just wanted to submerge myself in a bath.

"Do all levels have a dragon forest in front of the elevator?" A dark shadow passed over his face.

"No, they're all...different." I didn't bother asking him to elaborate, that look was answer enough.

"Do you think Kyle made it already?" He left only a few minutes before us and we still haven't seen him. There's a possibility he's dead. Well I think there's a possibility.

"Very likely." I sighed, my eyes falling to the small creature on my shoulder. He was fast asleep, not having a care in the world. After carrying him on my shoulder for the last twenty minutes I was starting to get comfortable around him. I even gave him a name, Draco. He was actually sort of cute, if you ignored the scales and flames.

"How are we going to ditch the dragon?" There was a small pain in my chest at the thought. Was I attached to the thing already?

Enzo eyed him. "I can put him to sleep once we reach the elevator, but if you leave him here he'll die."

"What? How?"

"He chose you as his keeper. They feed off their keepers essence, it's how they stay alive. As long as their keeper is alive they'll live, but they have to stay close to them. If he's away from you more than a few days he'll die from starvation. It's why their kind is so rare." He explained.

"So I'm stuck with him for the rest of my life? Great!" I huffed. Now I have no choice but to get used to the creature, or let him die.

"You think you're the one with the problem? He's going to get bigger and need a place to sleep. We'll be going to my home sooner than I'd like. It gives him more room to be free." He sounded upset. What was so bad about going to level seven? I was curious about his living quarters.

My legs were about to give out when Enzo finally put me out of my misery. "We're here." He pointed to a silver elevator not too far away from us. The doors were closed and I wondered if there was a special code to get it open.

Suddenly the Draco jumped up, an embarrassing squeak left my mouth. Low growls was coming from him, his head darting back and forth, looking for something. "Something's here." Enzo says watching the forest around us. He pulled me closer to him.

"I don't see -" A cold chill went down my back, making the hairs on my arm stand. There was the sensation of a snake slithering across my body. Something was definitely here and watching us, more specifically me.

The dragon jumped down, placing himself protectively at my feet, wrapping his tail around my ankle.

The sound of leaves crunching ahead of us had me watching the tress. "Whatever you are you're scaring my girl, and that alone warrents your death. Just come out so I can get this over with." Says Enzo, calm and collected. I wanted to point out that I wasn't his girl, but now wasn't the time.

My eyes widened as a silhouette formed, it was tall but skinny, and I found out why seconds later. It was a skeleton, with a black abyss for eye sockets. I shuddered when it focused that empty gaze on me.

"Giiiirrrlll givveeee." It hissed, stepping closer. I took a step back, Enzo rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, that's not going to happen. Now run along before I murder you." He made a shooing motion with his hand. Draco flapped his wings.

The skeleton crouched down, getting into a fighting stance. "Giiiirrrlll taaakee."

Did all supernatural creatures have a death wish? Enzo laughed. "Nothing wants us to get to this elevator." Shaking his head he crouched down as well, pushing Draco to the side.

The creature opened its mouth, and I prepared for more hiss like words to come out. Instead a gust of wind came out carrying a horrible screeching sound.

Enzo flew back, crashing right into me. I landed on my wings wincing as he landed on top of me. He cursed, looking at me over his shoulder, his lips lifting into a grin. "Thanks for breaking my fall babe." He kissed my cheek. I growled, shoving him off. He stood up, dusting his suit facing the creature. "Now you're just pissing me off."

The creature rushed him, and he did the same. They clashed into each other falling back deeper into the woods. I jumped up to the follow them, probably was a bad idea since the thing wanted me but I had to make sure Enzo was ok.

When I made it to the trees they went through he was standing there unbothered. The creatures head was laying at his feet. While the body was farther away. "Well damn."

"Let's go before I burn this forest down." I nodded, squatting down to retrieve Draco who was blowing out flames on the discarded head. I smiled at his actions, placing him back on my shoulder.

"What was that thing?" I ask, catching up to him.

"They have no name, just another creature that lives in this forest."

"So not just dragons then?" He looked back at me, noticing Draco on my shoulder.

"No, not just dragons." We stopped in front of the elevator and the doors slid open. No passcode needed then.

"Well you guys took your time, don't tell me you were bumping uglies on the forest floor?" Kyle was leaning in a corner of the elevator. His eyes landed on me, taking in my rugged appearance. "What the hell happened to you?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"And you guys made a friend." He reached his hand out to Draco as if to pet him. The little Dragon released a wall of flames, making him jerk his hand back to avoid being BBQ. "Feisty, who does he remind me of?" He snorted.

Enzo chuckled. "The feisty creature he's resting on."

I glared at the both of them as the elevator started descending.