Page 19

Ember

“Good morning, Miss. Today is a sunny day and a new month. It’s July 1st. I always love this time of year.” I hear shuffling, and then the kind female voice sounds again. She has an accent, but I can’t place it,

“I do hope you wake up today, or they are going to try drugs, and your friend said that would make you worse.” I lick my dry lips,

“I’m awake! What, friend?” My voice is raspy and more of a croak. She squeaks and spins to face me before smacking the doctor’s bell and then getting a plastic cup with a straw and holding it to my lips,

“Small sips,” she says with a smile before answering some of my questions,

“The nice young man said you called him Dark angel!” She smiles again,

“Odd nickname. His hair was so blonde it was nearly white. He said he would come back to check on you, but he had to find his baby brother first.” The doctor comes in and does my vitals. I try not to flinch, but Nurse Shield stays with me because of my obvious fear of doctors.

They want to keep me in for a bit to get my weight up and my appetite back to healthy, rather than in small amounts, like I’m used to.

Nurse Shield is lovely, as I don’t have visitors, she brings her lunch or cup of tea in during her break and has a chat with me about her hobbies, whether she’s trying to decided which knitting pattern to try next or a recipe she isn’t sure she will like, she did completely loose me when she was talking about her garden as she was using the Latin names, I speak Latin but I have no idea about plants.

On my fifth day, her husband pops his head in because she left her phone at home. I end up choking on my own tea when I see him. He is a Gold and Green Dragon; I breath out a shakily and wince as I realize my mistake,

“Highness” while averting my eyes and dipping my head.

Mama Lou had home-schooled us and told us about most of the Royal lines.

His eyes go wide as Nurse Shield quickly closes my door.

“My name is Dantillian Scaith or Dan Shield, and this is my mate, Elise. You’re not in trouble, but how do you know I’m from the royal line?” I look between him and his mate, who is very human and looks worried, and take a deep breath.

“All my life, I have been able to see what people are when they have an alternate form. I can see your dragon side as clearly as your human face.” I went on to explain. I keep some things back not ready for all of my oddities to be on show. Somewhere in my life, I gained the ability to know if someone would harm me if they knew my oddities or if I was safe. After some extra questions, I explained to Dan that my social worker was bad news and gave him pretty much my entire history, including the confirmation I’ve had DNA done but they just don’t want me. He was satisfied and reached out to a lawyer friend to see where I stand on getting help. It takes a gentle look from Elise for him not to track down my Bio family, and pointed out that could alert my social worker to where I am.

On July 8th, Dan and Elise took me home. They found a trustworthy social worker, and I was, for the first time in my life, legally placed in a foster home. It was odd as hell, and I felt like Dan and Elise always looked at me with sympathy and anger that wasn’t directed at me. Elise burst into tears so often that I started to feel like I was causing problems, it stopped after a few months, when we all realized I was safe.

I have my own room, new clothes and shoes, three hot meals a day, school, and two people who care about me.

The money the government gives to those who foster Dan and Elise decided they would put it in a bank account in my name to use for whatever I wanted. They also gave me an allowance that I got paid for getting good grades and helping with chores.

Elise teaches me how to cook, including an English roast with Yorkshire puddings, which was a definite favorite. She grew up in Wales, and Dan was originally from Ireland. Dan teaches me something new every Saturday after I’ve finished my homework.

He found out I could speak Russian, Irish, Cherokee, Japanese, and Latin. He was also shocked at my knowledge of runes and Supernatural types. He has taught me Welsh, French, Italian, and German, as well as Supernatural History and anything else that caught my eye in his Library.

He soon found out I had a photographic memory; I can read, write, or draw anything, and I will remember it. I had a habit of picking a random book off the shelf and reading it; then, over Sunday dinner, Dan will quiz me.

When I restart school in September, I’m called in for a meeting with my Guidance Counselor.

Ms Volks is a Succubus, but she’s unlike the pampered princesses I’ve met.

She lives in Primark clothes minus the killer shoes and handbags that probably cost the same as a house. My oddities show she’s a strong succubus, and she can feed from residual emotions, which are huge in high school. She’s best friends with and has a huge history with the AP English and Art teachers, which are two of my favourite classes.

I learned that the art teacher is next in line for the Vampire throne. The English teacher is his personal guard and has been for at least two centuries, if not more.

Prince Liam Gideonson is eccentric, to say the least. You never know the music soundtrack to our art lessons – one week was ABBA, and the week before was Slipknot, but he is a fantastic artist, and I’ve learned so much from him. The same for Sir Nathanal King. He was born solely to protect Liam. They are 6 days apart in age – he’s not as eccentric as Liam but just as much a fantastic teacher.

When I get called into Ms. Volks’s office, I panic a little as I see Dan looking so disappointed that I can’t bring myself to look at Elise, trying to work out what I’ve done wrong,

“Why didn’t you tell us, Emmy? We would help and support you!” Dan says, almost sighing the words. I can’t bring myself to look up from my feet; I still don’t know what I’ve done.

“What is our next step?” Elise asks. Fuck! Are they sending me away? Ms Volks answers, but it just makes me more confused,

“Once the exams are over, she will then need to make a choice. This could get her out of the system and become more independent.” I look up, frowning, and finally say,

“What exams? Do you want me to leave? Have I done something wrong?” I say all this, fighting back tears, and Dan’s face changes. His dragon flashes in his eyes as he speaks,

“Emmy, you’re not going anywhere. If we didn’t think it would bring Jameson back on your scent, we would adopt you. This is because the teachers are struggling to teach you. You are so far ahead of your peers. They want you to take your exams, graduate, and go to college.” He says this with a pleading tone and sympathetic eyes. I release a massive sigh.

“Ok, I’ll take the exams. The classes are starting to get boring.” Elise laughs, and Dan rolls his eyes, but I see pride shining through them.