Chapter 5: Chapter 5

EVERMORE

Under the Ferris wheel lights, Draco is buying Fiona an ice cream to share between them. I linger back, my gaze focused on a particular corner of the local carnival.

Just behind the setup of the bumper cars, I see a strange flash in the air. It is like a mirage in the summer heat, but I know better.

It could be Storm…but…I don’t know…I…I have to take a closer look.

Our next stop is the haunted house, but I am going to check out this strange ~blur~ first. I walk away from the Ferris wheel, tilting my head as I walk down the middle of the dying grass from all the foot traffic.

I get halfway there before a ~boom~ vibrates through me. A warning. The auras I sense off people are always in the normal range.

But I get a spike of violent excitement, and I immediately pause, my heart racing. Nothing and nobody scares me. But right now, that feeling rips right through me.

A form of danger I’ve never felt before. When someone has an intention even ~I~ don’t understand. Storm always says that’s what evil is—a completely strange, irreparable terror that has no beginning, no end…it is just ~bad~.

When you’re being watched. When—

“Hey.” Fiona appears at my side, slipping her hand through mine. “This way, Evermore.”

I turn to her and immediately I hear all the sounds once again. Kids screaming on their favorite rides, families taking pictures, kids begging for fairy floss, teens laughing together.

Fiona licks the vanilla ice cream, and I turn to see Red hanging back, waiting for us, and he is relaxed. If Draco is calm, I can be too.

The fear leaves me, and I smile as I walk with Fiona back to Draco, and then we head toward the haunted house. Fiona offers me some of her ice cream, but I shake my head, still thinking inward.

Draco notices my quiet focus but only watches me for a moment before he stares ahead at the haunted house and starts to look concerned. Fiona starts to smile.

“Don’t worry, Draco. You have nothing to fear.”

“Don’t be so obvious,” Draco growls under his breath. “I can tell you’re planning something, Penny. I don’t like it.”

“Scaredy cat—”

“~I’m not scared~,” Draco snarls venomously. He almost breathes fire, his eyes alight with a burning orange, before Fiona purses her lips and keeps her teasing contained.

“Fiona, go ahead of us, don’t worry him.” I egg her on to get her a head start, so she can scare him properly. I am so excited for it.

I think of the laughter we’ll all share at the end of it. I am so in love with my two best friends that the world melts away, as if I am living my own perfect fantasy. I don’t care about anything.

Of course, caring is for adults. It’s hard to remember ~I am one~—when we were in school a few months back. It’s a strange transition from minor responsibilities to ~ real-world ~ responsibility.

You can’t know what it means until you experience shit. I have never been worried because I am strong, powerful, and aware.

~Being arrogant will get you killed~, I don’t know why those thoughts filter through my head until I remember Storm told me that at my eighteenth birthday last year.

~The world might feel like it’s in the palm of your hand, Evermore, but you’ll learn nothing owes your vision, your ideas, or ~you~ anything. Do not rely solely on your friends’ company for safety. It’s a lesson you’ll learn with time.~

Storm’s advice keeps piling in. I do wonder what things he thought would happen to me when he said such statements.

I am not vulnerable, I am not without friends, nor lacking protective parents. I am not in a position to ~be~ hurt.

The only thing that makes me worried in the subconscious of my mind is the unnatural dynamic of our mating bond. Knowing in no other circumstance would we have been allowed to grow together.

I have been thinking so deeply that I don’t feel the time pass in the line to the haunted house, and soon Draco has stepped right into my side, his arm brushing mine as he keeps close, his eyes wide, pupils dilated on what’s to come.

I glance at his intense expression, curious by what exactly it is about the haunted house that scares him the most.

“Don’t run off,” Draco growls under his breath at me. “Stay with me, Ice.”

Fiona runs in first, already flirting with the paid ghouls lining the entrance and blowing them kisses. Draco starts to growl in the depths of his chest.

“Listen to the kids.” I motion around. “They’re not even scared, and you’re a grown adult about to shit himself.”

“Shut up, bitch.” Draco gulps hard, still staring ahead as we walk in together, ducking under the purposefully low ceiling so the patrons feel squeezed in, to increase the claustrophobia.

Once we are within the cloth walls, Draco slides up behind me and wraps his arm around my waist, breathing hot air over the top of my head as he steps us forward while the kids around us in the same group sprint ahead around the first corner.

On the walls, we see hanging skeletons and fake spider webs, and twirling dolls meet us around the next bend, along with low and quiet Halloween music.

Around the third bend, a very old mechanical skeleton creaks off the wall—but it was so obvious that it was going to happen, and the gears squeaked so much, that Draco and I actually laugh together.

“Not so bad,” Draco whispers.

“Not at all…we’re near the end anyway.” We walk around the next corner, and we see some paid actors as zombies, pretending to chase the kids that just ran by. One is even slacking on their phone by the wall.

“It’s boring,” Draco drawls over my head, gaining his confidence back as he slips his arm from around my waist, releasing me to walk ahead. “Penny will be at the end already.”

“I saw her behind us,” I call to Draco with an unnaturally chilled tone, losing all expression. He pauses and turns to see me smiling slowly, trying to be as creepy as possible. “She is back there, Draco.”

“I would have seen her,” Draco states while hesitating before approaching me. He runs a nervous hand through his red hair. “Stop doing that creepy toothy smile, Ever—shit…” He pauses. “Why is it so quiet?”

“EEEE!” We both hear a screech. Indeed, not behind us at all, since I lied, but now she is behind Draco—Fiona is on her back, in her crab walk, facing the ceiling as she walks back with her hands and toes.

I see she convinced the staff to give her access to fake blood, which is thrown all over her from the staff, some of whom are filming for Draco’s reaction.

Draco turns toward the demoness, and Fiona starts crab-walking at top speed toward him, still fake-shrieking. Her mouth hanging open, her eyes bugging out.

Instead of screaming and running, Draco insta-shifts. Instead of turning to his dragon, his clothes fall in a pile and his red mist sweeps out of here as fast as the wind.

Fiona pauses, twists, and turns around. She kneels, pouting at me as the fake fog piles around her.

“~Damn it~, I wanted to hear him ~scream~,” Fiona grumbles as she jumps to her feet, fist clenched in annoyance as she sighs at all the fake blood she threw over herself. “What a waste.”

I come to her side, and I pick up his clothes. “He’s naked out there somewhere, in the wild.” I say the obvious, and Fiona pauses, her eyebrows hitting the ceiling as she turns to me in slow motion.

“Oh, ~yeeeah~, he’s naked and swearing his ass off, I bet.” Fiona grins. “He’s probably in his car; let’s go.”

She runs off and I follow. We exit the haunted mansion, and I immediately get that ~boom~ sweeping through me again.

A second time? I wasn’t imagining it.

I stop in my tracks, and I turn to see a man in a coat, walking by the haunted mansion, with long silver hair tied behind his back, half his face, pink and scarred.

He glances my way, but before his eyes can reach mine, I look away. His aura… I had never seen something so turbulent before. Flashes of light. Unreadable.

I see Fiona moving up ahead, and I quicken my pace as the strange and tall man walks in a completely different direction, his hands buried too deep in his pockets.

~A Silver Dragon.~ One I had never met before.

Fiona senses no danger, but she does get a few strange looks as she walks through the crowd while covered in blood, using the opportunity to smile and wave at everyone.

By the time we reach the parkade, I’ve gripped her elbow and I hold her tight as I look over my shoulder, searching the carnival before we reach Draco’s car.

Again, the feeling fades and safety returns.

We have to walk to the far end of the parkade by some overhanging pine trees. Our Red is there and very much naked, but he’s angry as he glares down at the side front-end of his car.

“Fuck!” Draco rages, looking up and seeing us approach. His anger fades as he knows we’re safe, but his eyes drag from Fiona to me.

Fiona takes action and runs to Draco, to inspect the damage on the car. I approach more slowly, just absorbing Draco’s shock and horror.

I turn around the bonnet, and I see Fiona picking out metal shards from the flat tire and the rubber, looking closely at the mirrored triangle shapes, curved at the corners…blood and flesh stuck to one side.

When Fiona sees the blood and sinew, she drops the dragon scales in shock.

“They’re coming for you,” Draco tells me, his voice husky. “That’s Sini’s scales…he’s a primed Silver, that’s what my father calls him. He’s hunting you ~slow~.”

“We’ll kill him,” I say simply. “Together.”

Draco nods, and we look to Fiona, who is checking all around us. I pass Draco his clothes, and he gets dressed, silent and brooding.

“What do we do?” Fiona asks me. “In the meantime? Wait for him to appear?”

“No,” Draco answers for me. “We’re getting out of here.”

“How, you have a flat—”

“We’re walking.” Draco nods to the street. “I’m walking you both to my place, it’s empty on weekends, like I said—and Sini, and ~nobody~ from the gang, gets into the Cyrus home.”

“So we’re staying at yours?” Fiona asks, her brows furrowed. “We’ve never been to yours.”

“Yeah, why now?” I watch Draco’s eyes flash.

“We have guns, ~a lot of guns~,” Draco explains. “Don’t worry—no baddies there, Penny. Just me.”

“And you’re scared of girls.” Fiona tries to lighten the mood, and immediately does. Draco breaks out into a genuine smile, and I just smirk.

“Only when you look like a demon.” Draco ruffles up her hair. “In any other way, I’d still fuck you.”

“What does in any other way mean? What’s my other ways?” Fiona asks, quizzically, stroking her chin. “Hmm.”

I list them off immediately, “Tantrum mode. Cute mode. Smart mode. Cry mode. Demon mode,” I list them off. “Did I miss any, Draco?”

“Hmmm…whatever the mood is when she goes…~huhhh~…I like it when she ~sighs~,” Draco says sweetly, ~so~ sweetly in fact, Fiona is blushing as red as a ripe tomato.

“Let us walk to the den of the devil of this town, shall we?” Fiona immediately changes the subject, turning and leading the way.

Draco quickly follows, and he and I scan the surroundings. As we walk onto the quiet street altogether, we start to walk into the dark—and the sound of the carnival fades as we head toward Aeron Court.

Where the Red Den was located. It was a smart move, just heading home to his defenses against lower members of the Red Roses.

“Does that Sini rip off his own scales?” I ask.

“He donates,” Draco murmurs very quietly. “I don’t want to talk about this in front of Fiona.”

I can read Fiona’s aura. She’s tensed, and she feels deeply uncomfortable.

“All right, no talk of that world of darkness,” I agree.

“Draco…”

“I know.” He understands before I even explain my mind, and he speaks the words I’m thinking, for us. “Shit is changing too fast. I…ah…” His drawl drops so deep, he can’t talk.

“I…” He breathes out and back in, deep, finding his composure. “I’m thinking of ways…to fix this. But I can’t see it happening…without my girls by my side.”

“Yes.” Fiona tears up. “With us.”

I feel my confidence come back. “Together we will ~rip~ from them first.”

Draco starts to smile. “That’s my Ice. Be cool. Penny, stop tearing up.”

“I’m just so happy—”

“We know,” Draco and I both scold her.

“~When I’m with you both~,” we mimic her sweet sigh in perfect unison.

“Hey!” Fiona complains, before she blushes.

“That was kind of…~perfect~.”

“You are perfect, that’s why,” I whisper back.

“Fuck me. I am surrounded by…the two hottest women in the realm that I get to own for the rest of my life,” Draco whispers.

“Well, shit—what could go wrong?” He laughs maniacally.

“Everything. ~Absolutely fucking everything~. Aha. Ha!”

He keeps laughing like a villain, and Fiona giggles but looks worried as we turn into Aeron Court and Draco keeps chuckling, sounding slightly unhinged.

We now approach the dark, menacing, megalithic mansion, tucked away at the far end, surrounded by cursed plastic grass.

“Draco, you can stop…laughing like that now.” Fiona casually tucks her hand into his pants.

My eyes widen.

“Fiona,” I gasp.

Draco immediately stops being hysterical as he glances down and then to the side at our cheeky mage.

Fiona feels him up and then slips her hand from his pants, licking her lips.

“I’ve always wanted a taste, Draco,” Fiona whispers.

“I want to…” Fiona looks at me. “Want to…?”

~Taste his dick at the same time, together?~

I can read the scenario playing out in her eyes.

Draco’s veins start pulsing rapidly in his neck.

“You can have at it,” Draco drawls comfortably.

“~Soon~…Penny. You little witch, you.”

Fiona reaches out her hand again, this time in slow motion.

I snatch her hand in midair over Draco’s belt, and then I guide her hand with mine.

Draco’s skin heats as both our hands reach into his pants, right in, to feel his hard cock straining in his boxers while we walk.

Fiona gently strokes him, and I follow her hand.

“Okay,” Draco snarls so low he sounds like a demon, grabbing both our forearms and jerking both our hands out.

“~In~.”

His gaze is set on the front door, that is quite close, but clearly feels too far away.

“So are we like, going to watch a movie or something?” Fiona asks, pretending nothing happened.

“You’re too ~goooood~,” Draco growls at Fiona.

“Fuck, Ice. ~Fuck~.”

“Penny will need a shower,” I mention.

“She’s covered in fake blood.”

“Oh…” Fiona sighs.

“Oh well. I guess so.”

“No rushing this.” Draco shakes her head at her.

“I’m serious.” He looks at me next.

“You’re with me, Evermore—while we wait for Penny to shower and get comfortable.”

“Thank you, Draco.” Fiona smiles.

“Girls, follow me.” Draco takes the lead and scans his eye retina to get into the front door.

As the vaulted front starts to creak open, Draco winks back at us and urges us to follow.

“Don’t get distracted, Ice.”

When I step in, the first thing I see down the giant hall?

Weapons lining the walls.

Polished swords of all sizes.

Daggers.

Axes.

Collections.

~Beautiful~ collections that reflect my wide eyes back at me.

I almost linger, drooling at the metal—getting an urge to lick one of the blades.

“Nooou oh oh oh.” Fiona takes my hand and tugs me along.

“No. Think of death later, my darling Silver.”

“I am in love,” I whisper.

“Oh, ~Draco~, I…” I see him ahead, walking up a dark wood staircase.

“I’m in love with the thought of you two kissing my balls—so get your sweet asses up here, and get undressed,” Draco snaps with a tone we both haven’t heard before.

Fiona and I share a look, and we’re both blushing.

“That snarl was really hot,” I whisper.

“I’m so wet.” Fiona’s eyes even water with her anticipation.

“~Let’s go~.”

We run after Draco.

Draco is looking back at us from the top of the staircase with red, dark, swirling eyes.

Patient and calm.

Only for us.

Only for his perfect girls.

I want to please him.

I want to do what he says, but…

“I feel all submissive and shit,” I whisper at Fiona.

“What the heck?”

“Mm…we need to hurry.” Fiona looks longingly ahead as we walk down the hall toward Draco and his room.

“I want to learn everything. About him and what he wants.”

“~I can hear you~, Penny,” Draco drawls from his bedroom door, which requires another retinal scan.

He opens the door and waits for us.

“~Wait till you see this~.”

He sounds like he has a surprise for us waiting.

We both hurry and peek into the dark, black room.

Draco’s bedroom is pretty normal, for a goth.

He even has maroon and thick curtains draping over his four-poster bed.

But there’s also…other stuff.

Chains lying around, connected to different places, ropes looped on the walls, and contraptions about…you know, dungeon-style sex stuff…

Fiona nearly falls over, but she stumbles in first, gasping.

I follow, and Draco shuts the door behind him.

“I think about this shit all day, all night,” Draco admits.

“My girls. ~Chained to me~.” Fiona spins around, looking frightened. “Only if you want,” Draco adds quietly. “Or if never…never…”

“Your room is very psycho, and I love it,” Fiona says sweetly.

“Towel, please.”

“That way, everything you need.” Draco nods to the end and the bathroom.

Fiona runs off, and Draco turns to me. “You like it?” Draco asks nervously.

“I’m in love with your house.” I blink and blink again. “Everything about it.”

“I know. It’s depraved. I knew you’d like it,” Draco jokes. I smirk, and he adds, suddenly losing all his edge to humor, “Evermore… I’m going to rule this one day. I want you to be there—my equal, with Penny. This can be our home.”

“I think about how we can do it all the time,” I answer just as seriously.

“Me too.” Draco nods. “I’ll make it happen, slow—we tread slow. Aspen is coming for us.”

“Aspen?”

“My father isn’t called Draco like me, in this world, he’s ~Aspen~,” he explains.

“To the Reds. He’s Aspen. It’s just a name he likes. I don’t know why.”

“Draco, I believe in you.” I smile and put on a cute tone reserved just for him when I’m feeling extra sweet.

Draco loves it.

He walks up to me and his eyes melt into mine.

As he pinches my chin, he strokes down my neck with the palm of his hand, gentle but possessive.

“Evermore…” Draco drawls, his eyes a deep, dark violet red. “You’re a bad, bad Silver, aren’t you? Thinking of your arms?”

“You want to play with me?” I whisper. “A Silver, a Red? Ice and Fire? Are you sure that’s a good idea? I could make you scream a lot quicker.”

Draco chuckles. “I love you, Ice,” he murmurs deeper as he gets closer, and then we ~kiss~.

I stay still, feeling how he does it.

I tilt my head and return it, feeling my heart ~flutter~.

Draco. Tastes. Like. ~Beautiful bloody promises of power~, brewing beneath his potential, locked away with his mother’s weak position under his abusive father.

Draco being the most controlled Red in existence has given him a major advantage.

Just from this one perfect and controlled kiss of passion, I know he can rule this Red Mafia.

~He just has to make his move.~