Page 6

Chapter Six

“Why must you leave?” I asked again as the female servant prepared our morning meal.

“Because I have to make money if I’m going to be able to buy enough to satisfy your growing appetite,” Pip grumbled.

A reminder that I needed to begin work on my hoard. My core memories had my kind usually confiscating it from undeserving humans. However, this time period made it slightly more difficult to ascertain what to take. This era used paper for money as well as plastic cards and something called electronic fund transfers for purchases—payment methods that had no tangible value, at least for me.

Gold and jewels apparently remained highly valued, but I’d yet to glean where I could find a sizeable amount to begin my treasury. I also needed to find somewhere to relocate before I began hoarding. The trailer of my human lacked the proper space and amenities for someone of my stature.

“So, there’s going to be a change in our usual schedule,” Pip stated as she bent down to place a plate in front of me that held a stack of pancakes drizzled in butter and syrup. “I’m having dinner at Maddox’s after work.”

“What?” I roared. “I did not give you permission. Nor do you have time to gallivant as that is my mealtime.”

“You didn’t let me finish,” she admonished. The nerve. “Maddox will be swinging by here to bring you over to his place so you can eat with us.”

A somewhat mollifying reply. “Transport wouldn’t be necessary if he lived here.” Although where we’d put the large man remained to be seen. Perhaps on the ground outside the trailer door so he could prevent intrusion?

“I’m not moving Maddox in,” she squeaked, her cheeks turning pink.

“It would be more practical. How else can he properly protect me?” I pointed out. Annoying how often I had to do that, seeing as how my human seemed incapable of intuiting these things on her own.

“Maddox isn’t a bodyguard.”

“Obviously, or he’d be here,” I retorted.

“Listen, Little Fella —”

I cut her off. “Enough of that ridiculous appellation.”

“If you don’t like it then give me something to call you,” she insisted.

“I did. I’ll accept Your Grace, Your Eminence, even Your Majesty works.”

“Not happening,” was her flat reply.

“Humans and their insistence on names,” I huffed. “It is not a simple thing to choose one. It must convey strength. Strike fear in the heart.”

“What was your mother’s name?” Pip refused to call her by the proper title.

“I don’t know. While my maternal progenitor most likely had one, that is considered a personal memory and thus not passed down.”

“Would it help if I told you some dragon names I know?”

“Perhaps.” A lie. I wanted a name that didn’t come with prior association or comparison with my kind.

“There’s Toothless, Puff, Pete, Mushu, Smaug, Drako, Eragon.” She listed off some ridiculous titles.

I waved my paw at her. “None of those convey greatness.”

“How about some ancient rulers?” she suggested. “Like Genghis Khan, Mussolini, Cesar, or Ramses.”

The latter called to me. “Who was this Ramses?”

“Famous Egyptian Pharoah known for his military success and for building some of the most epic architecture, some of which remains standing today.”

“Is this Ramses a common name?”

“Not in Canada.”

“Meaning it is in use elsewhere.” Annoying. I’d rather liked the sound of it.

“If you want a name no one uses, then might I suggest fabricating one?”

“A name no one has ever heard won’t do.” It required work to establish until it became synonymous with greatness and respect.

“You want something no one uses but will make people quake in fear, then maybe you should try using one of the many demon ones listed in the bible.”

“I am not a demon.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” she muttered. “Now listen, I’ve got to get to work. I left you a bag of Cheetos and cookies by the couch for a snack. Be good.”

As if she could tell me what to do!

Pip left and I devoured my pancakes, but still felt slightly peckish. I thought of eating my snacks, but then I would have to wait all day for more sustenance. I could probably open the refrigerator or cupboards for more but already knew they didn’t hold much. My first order of business once I did relocate to a grandeur space would be to have a fully stocked larder. Maybe two. Or three… After all, I was a growing dragon.

Rather than dwell on my already rumbling belly, I went and scrubbed off more dead skin in her bathroom sink. An inadequate bath that I’d already almost outgrown. The revealed scales already appeared much darker, indicating I would most likely end up ebony in shade.

With my molting done for this cycle, I returned to my servant’s main living area where the television displayed a movie featuring a lot of females crying and being shrill. Annoying. I poked at the remote, my claws pressing the button to change the channel. There weren’t many options. The children’s show, Sesame Street , played. While made for human younglings, it proved informative. It taught me the alphabet, numbers, and some of the social morals expected today. Not that those applied to me, but it helped me better understand my human. Although Pip had much to learn if she thought I needed manners. Dragons didn’t ask. They demanded.

My attention wandered as I tired of watching the screen. The fictional stories were only barely indicative of the real world. While the many shows offered a variety of names, those belonged to people and a dragon deserved better.

It made me mull over Pip’s suggestion that I choose one assigned to a demon. That would certainly provide me with a name that humans wouldn’t dare mock and would immediately imply strength and ruthlessness. But how to find those appellations?

My human owned few books, and of those, most were about tattooing, a strange art that involved permanently marking flesh with designs. I didn’t understand why anyone would do it, however, apparently people paid my human to do so. She did have a few books with interesting knowledge. One featured images of the flora and fauna of Canada. Another displayed tribal markings from around the world and their significance. However, it was the tome claiming to be the most comprehensive collection of occult symbols that drew my eye.

My reading skills weren’t up to par—yet—however, I could muddle through enough to understand and learn as I forced myself to read the words. There was an entire section devoted to demonology, and as I flipped through, I found the name I would be known by.

My servant would be pleased, not that I cared.

I spent the time remaining before my chauffeur arrived watching the news channel, baffled by the items they found newsworthy. Who cared if an elderly person went missing? They most likely did their family a favor. A car crashed. And? Accidents happened. As for this thing called an election? Rulers should govern for life. If they did poorly, then the people could remove their head as incentive for the next.

Hearing a vehicle crunching gravel, I popped from the couch and waited by the door. I remained too short of stature to be able to open it on my own. A frustrating thing that I would soon outgrow.

The portal to outside opened and my burly male human poked his face in, only to recoil as I said, “You better have brought me a snack.” Because the delicious Cheetos and cookies were long gone.

“Um. I think I’ve got something in the truck. How do you feel about beef jerky?”

I loved it, as it turned out. My human placed me in the back of the vehicle, as was proper. A dignitary never sat beside their chauffeur. Despite the caution to remain hidden, I did peek out the window, observing the roads and other signs of modern civilization. Much different in person than on the television.

As for the city we entered? Impressive. It held a staggering number of buildings, cars, and people. It also smelled bad. I’d have to ensure the home I acquired remained far from civilization to avoid the stench.

“Tuck down. We don’t want anyone seeing and reporting you,” Maddox cautioned.

I listened but only because I remained too small to defend myself and I didn’t know yet if I could count on my human to do so. He’d seemed reluctant and acted as if he had a choice in the matter.

He didn’t. He’d been chosen, and until I released him from my service, he belonged to me.

The building he brought me to appeared more impressive than Pip’s until the male stated, “This is my store, Leaping Lizards.”

The ground level held his shop, making my protector a merchant. Surprising, given his stature, though his shopkeeper status explained his lack of enthusiasm for becoming my knight. But he’d been chosen, so he’d have to learn.

Despite the fact half the building was for his business, the second floor, containing his home, did have a spaciousness to it that I approved of—until I smelled the feline.

A feline that dared to rise from a chair and hiss at me!

The nerve.

I hissed right back, which led to the male chiding us both. “Be nice. We’re all friends here.”

Not really. That cat looked more like a hairy snack to me. However, I let it live since I smelled yummier things cooking.

I’d save the feline for dessert.

“Make yourself at home,” my male offered.

As if I wouldn’t.

“Pip says you like watching television. I’ve got the sports channel on now but can change it if you like.”

Sports? I didn’t mind the displays of athleticism, especially since the male brought over more snacks. This time a platter of cheese and fruit. Not enough, I should add.

Maddox left to fetch me a drink. When he returned, he eyed the empty plate and muttered, “Guess you’re not sharing.”

“If you expected some, you should have served more. Speaking of which, I’m still hungry.” Really, how many times did they have to be told a growing dragon needed a lot of food?

“Good thing dinner is pretty much ready. We’ll eat once Pip gets here.”

It took an eternity despite the clock saying she arrived twelve minutes later.

A doorbell rang and Maddox answered the door, letting Pip inside. The pair exchanged hellos and completely ignored me and my rumbling belly.

Unacceptable. I wasted away while they flirted. “About time you got here, woman. I’m hungry.”

To which the insolent wench smirked and said, “I’m happy to see you, too, Little Fella.”

Which gave me the opening I needed to announce, “No more shall you denigrate me. I have chosen my name. From here on in, I shall be known as the mighty Abaddon.”

Did they fall to their knees in veneration? Cheer my stupendous choice of name?

Nope. Pip said, “Awesome,” and Maddox added, “Dinner’s ready.”

I might have been more annoyed but for the fact the food was really good.