The Dragon's Bride
Chapter 10

Catori’s heart raced as she got closer to where a circle had formed around the new arrivals in the village.

It was as if Rydstorm was waiting for Catori because the moment she arrived, he turned his attention in her direction and smiled.

Catori’s heart raced faster, and the dream of last night came back to her.

Rydstorm made his way over to her, but Leona blocked his path.

“Hi, I’m Leona.” She smiled, twirling a strand of her ginger hair around her index finger.

Rydstorm made a face, “excuse me but I’m not here for you, now move.”

Leona gasped. “That’s rude.”

“Rude is you forcing yourself on a man because you think you look good, you don’t.” Rydstorm sneered.

He turned his full attention to Catori. He ran a finger down her cheek, then played with a lock of her hair.

“I told you I’ll come back for you.” He gave a half smile.

Catori opened her mouth but couldn’t replace her voice.

“Your people aren’t welcomed here.” Chief Stone’s voice came, breaking Catori out of her trance.

Rydstorm laughed while turning to him, it boomed around the village. “Would you look at this man, trying to tell me I’m not welcomed to Desolation. A place that our people once settled in first.”

“Here I was expecting a warm welcome for me and my people, only for you to tell us we are not welcomed here.” Rydstorm finished.

“Because you are not!” Chief Stone yelled.

Fang stepped in with a spear, pointing it at Chief Stone’s neck.

“Now, now, Fang. There is no need for that yet. We came here on a friendly visit, remember?” Rydstorm said.

Fang scoffed.

“And for me to formally introduce myself, my name is Rydstorm Valkaria.” He turned back to Catori with a smile, took her hand in his and placed a gentle kiss on it.

Instantly electricity shot up her hand, “Catori Murdoch.” She stuttered.

“Such a beautiful thing you are.” Rydstorm stared down at her.

“Who-?” Catori began but didn’t get to finish.

“These people aren’t welcome here! You have no idea what they are.” Chief Stone stated.

But everyone was already transfixed by them, to give his words a second thought.

Rydstorm gave a light chuckle, “looks as if your people don’t give a shit about what you have to say, now replace us a place to stay or I’ll forcefully take one.”

Rydstorm walked off to have a word with his people, leaving a gaping and stunned Catori behind.

“What do you have that I don’t? I mean, why did he choose you over me?” Leona frowned.

“That’s why. You think you’re God’s greatest gift. Better yet, you have your head too far up your ass and think that everyone wants you.” Catori remarked.

“Well, they do. Everyone wants me. Well, except for him.” Leona argued back.

“Well, people do flock to cheap things.” Catori countered.

Halona laughed, and so did Kateri.

Leona screeched, “this is why none of the men here likes you.”

“Like I give a fuck.” Catori shrugged.

“We all know she doesn’t.” Halona said, giving Catori a high five.

Catori tried to be brave and walked over to Rydstorm, but her legs wobbled as she did, which made her fear that she would fall over and say the wrong thing.

“Hmm, can I... can I ask you something?” Catori finally got out.

Rydstorm turned towards Catori. She bit her lower lip as she stared up at him.

“I only wanted to ask you something.” Her eyes drifted as she spoke.

“Anything.” Rydstorm smiled.

“Are you a dragon and did you have that dream as well?” Catori bleated out.

Taken aback by the question, Rydstorm’s smile faded, turning into something much darker.

“Those are conversations for a later time. I must go now to replace a place for us to rest our heads.” He told Catori.

“But-”

“Not now.” Rydstorm said.

He didn’t want the town to fall into chaos just yet. “I promise I will answer any question that you have.”

Rydstorm kissed the back of her hand, then turned to leave with his people.

Catori watched after him, feeling as if he took a part of her.

“This is just bullshit.” Leona screeched.

“No, that’s what rejection is.” Halona said.

Kateri touched Catori’s hand, “so what are you going to do? It is clear that, that stranger is digging you.”

Catori chewed on her top lip. “I mean.”

“Catori, you better replace where he is staying. You might just get lucky.” Kateri made a motion with her hips.

Halona pulled her friend away. “Come on, Catori, you don’t have to answer to them.”

“Calian is right about her.” Leona said under her breath, but Catori still heard her.

“Don’t listen to her. We both know that she is always the jealous one and hates to see anyone with anything better than what she has.” Halona stated.

Catori glanced behind her to see that they were at a distance from them.

“Have you ever felt as you have met someone before, even though you haven’t?” Catori asked.

Halona shook her head. “No. But I wish I could really see the future. I could tell you if he genuinely likes you.”

“Have you told anyone else that you can’t, you know?”

Again, Halona shook her head, “no, I don’t trust anyone as much as I trust you.”

Catori stopped walking at that. “Really?”

“Yes, you are my best friend, after all, so why not? Besides, you and I both know that neither of those girls knows how to keep their mouths or legs closed. And I don’t want to choose for you, but if you see a chance where you can leave, take it. I know how you feel about everything, with your mom, and the village.” Halona added.

Catori smiled, “trust me, I have already decided. I’ll see you later. I’m sure that tonight will be much more exciting.”

The two said their goodbyes, with Catori making her way home.

She paused at the door after hearing her parents arguing.

“Two thousand years of paying for one mistake, two thousand years of pain, every minute of every day!” Lucian was saying.

“What are you even talking about?” Farrah asked.

“I have lived on the earth for years, and the most miserable I have felt is with you.” Lucian cast his eyes on his wife.

“Miserable, is that how you really feel?” Farrah slammed down her ball of yarn.

“Farrah, all you do is nag. Compare me to other men and never stop to think about how that would make me feel. You have this strange obsession with perfection, when you yourself are far from it.” Lucian said.

Catori stood in the kitchen doorway, listening to her parents go at it. She always had a feeling that her father would break and leave, but she didn’t want that to happen.

“Dad, please don’t leave.” Catori ran to his side and threw her arms around him.

“I will never leave you; you are too precious to me.” He hugged his daughter back.

“Why don’t you go get something to eat, bring it to your room so your mother and I can finish our discussion.” He added.

“Don’t you dare touch my pots! I made nothing for you. I told you-”

Lucian made a strange sound that cut Farrah off and made her take a step back, he grabbed hold of her upper arm and dragged her away to their bedroom.

Catori stood there for a while. She had never seen her father so upset before. After her moment of shock wore off, she headed to her room, where she locked the door with the dead bolt she installed and sunk to the floor.