Drakon (4 page)

“I'm sorry, Andrea. I should never have taken you there. I knew what might happen, and I never told you how to prevent it.”

Suddenly the ship lurched and Andrea was thrown into his arms. They stayed there in silence for what seemed like eternity. Jonathan broke the spell.

“We'd better go in and I'll try and explain. I hardly know where to begin.”

Andrea knew how she wanted him to begin - with a kiss, but that wasn't what he was talking about. She followed him reluctantly into the cabin. He sat down on the dressing table stool; Andrea sat down on the edge of the bed directly opposite him and waited.

“Since in a way, this is a story, I'll tell it like one. How about if I start it with once upon a time?”

“Is it a fairy story, then?” asked Andrea, raising her eyebrow.

“You'll see. Once upon a time and far away there lived two races of people. One of these races were called human, the other were the Drakon. The Drakon looked like humans but they were very different, their women especially.

“When a Drakon girl reached puberty, she came into her powers, powers that only rarely were bestowed on Drakon males. The Drakon females could read minds, they could heal, they could transport from one place to the other by just thinking about where they wanted to go.

“It was a matriarchal society. It had to be for the women usually had these special powers. Occasionally a boy would be born with the powers and then there would be a war over who should rule, the men or the women.

“They lived quite peacefully alongside the humans; they helped them with their illnesses and diseases, cured people and helped people find lost objects, things like that. The Drakon were also psychic to a certain degree and knew when storms were coming or when there was going to be an eclipse.

“At first the humans relied on the Drakon to foretell such events, but gradually they became afraid and blamed the Drakon for causing the storms or the crops to rot. There was another reason the humans became afraid. The Drakon reached thirty or so, but after that they didn't age-”

“You mean they were immortal?” asked Andrea.

“No, they could die. Very easily, in fact, but never from old age. They just didn't get any older. They realized this was frightening their neighbours so they made it appear as though they looked the right age. The Drakon now began to look like people in their sixties and their eighties, but in reality they still looked about thirty.”

“A fairy glamour?” asked Andrea, trying not to laugh.

“Something like that. They could also change their appearance, so that they looked like someone totally different. Gradually the Drakon began to hide away from humans, afraid of what they might do to them. They had seen the wars of the humans, the slaughter.

“When they had a war, no one was killed. It was a war of the mind and the strongest mind won and they ruled a tribe until they were challenged in their turn. But then something happened to the Drakon. Maybe because they had been living near humans too long. They became violent, especially the men. They had seen how the human men ruled the human women and they wanted to do that too, even though very few men had the Drakon power.

“The only way they could do it was by force, by killing the women. After they'd butchered half their number, they realized that if they kept killing all the women, there wouldn't be any more Drakon, they would die out.

“So they kept the remaining women as brood mares, keeping them pregnant hoping that they would be so exhausted that they could never escape from them. Some of the Drakon women did escape and lived on their own, not as a group any more. They were too afraid of the violence recurring.

“They were considered odd by their human neighbours, but were accepted as humans for the most part. Rumours spread however, of their powers, although they tried to keep them hidden. They knew that humans would no longer accept these strange powers without question. They wanted to know how they got them and came up with outlandish explanations.

“They were fairies or the little people, but the most dangerous rumour of all was that they had sold their soul to the devil and were witches. Even an accusation of witchcraft was enough to get people killed in the past.”

“How awful! You mean the Drakon were what we might call witches?”

“I don't know if there are such things as witches, Andrea. I do know lots of people were killed accused of being one, the Drakon making up a large proportion of that number. Maybe being a Drakon is the same as being a witch, I just don't know.”

“But what has all this got to do with what happened at Pompeii?” asked Andrea. Jonathan shook his head. “I thought you'd have realized by now, Andrea. You're a Drakon.”

“No!” screamed Andrea. “I don't believe you! You've made that up!” It couldn't be true.

She couldn't be part of some lost race. She was human, wasn't she?

“But I'm not a devil worshipper,” protested Andrea

“I didn't say you were. The Drakon were accused of it, I didn't say they actually were devil worshippers. You must have realized you were different. That's why you were attacked. That's why all the women were attacked. He knew somehow.” Andrea's hand went to the back of her neck, the site of her scar.

“Why were we attacked?”

“Why else? Power. The Drakon women have it and they want it. Why do you think you were almost raped? They want to create an army with all these powers, an army of men. But the powers are only normally passed through the female line. They're still experimenting, trying to get the perfect male soldier. If you'd been made pregnant with a girl, they would have made you abort it. They only want the male line.” Andrea got up from the bed and then sat back down again. It was all so much to take in. And what were the Drakon anyway? Witches? Fairies? Or something so strange that they were totally unknown?

“Is that why you need to protect me? Because I'm Drakon?” asked Andrea and then realized. She'd called herself Drakon. Was she beginning to accept this strange tale as the truth?

“Who was that man?” she asked, trying to change the subject.

“What man?”

“The one who appeared and then disappeared in our cabin?”

“Oh. That was Dr. Haroldson. He's the one you need protecting from.”

“What does he want me for?” Andrea had a feeling that whatever it was, it wouldn't be pleasant.

“Sometimes a male Drakon is born who has stronger powers than some of the women. Haroldson is one. He is ruthless and wants no one to stand in the way of his grand plan.”

“Which is?”

“To create a race of Drakon soldiers. Male soldiers.” Andrea didn't laugh, even though the idea sounded preposterous.

“But what does he want me for?”

“He wants you to have his children. To create a new race of Drakon. He's totally mad, of course. You have to stay away from him.”

Andrea nodded, even though she was finding the whole thing hard to take in.

“Jonathan, I think I'd like to be alone for a while.”

“Yes of, course, it's a lot to think about.”

But when he left, that wasn't what Andrea thought about. She thought about Jonathan and how she was going to get him to make love to her. She didn't think about Dr. Haroldson wanting to impregnate her. The idea seemed so far-fetched that she didn't feel it was a threat to her.

Not then.

She thought a bit about the Drakon but that was too confusing. She was a science teacher and wasn't even sure that science could explain this. She had heard of identical twins who could communicate telepathically. So maybe the idea of a race of people who could do that was something she could learn to accept.

What she couldn't accept was the fact that Jonathan had hidden this from her. Why hadn't he told her before? Why hadn't anyone told her? Her parents must have known, yet they told her nothing. She didn't feel different in herself. She always thought she felt human, but if she wasn't human maybe what she thought of as feeling human, was actually feeling Drakon. She had the impression that Jonathan was still hiding something from her. Well, if he wouldn't tell her, maybe Lucy would.

Lucy's cabin was on the deck below theirs and Andrea had the feeling that if she just kept going down, she would never find her way back up again. The engine noise was more noticeable here and Andrea was glad their cabin was on one of the higher decks. She knocked on the door and Lucy answered, wrapped in a bathrobe. Andrea just caught a glimpse of dark hair in the bed. She wished the floor would open up and swallow her where she stood.

“I'm sorry, Lucy, I shouldn't have come.” She turned to go.

“No, wait!” called Lucy. “Give me five minutes and I'll meet you up on deck.” Those were the longest five minutes of Andrea's life. She watched the people strolling along the deck. Most of them were couples holding hands or with their arms around each other. That's how she wanted it for her and Jonathan. Not this polite care. She didn't need to be looked after. She needed to be loved. Why couldn't Jonathan see that? Was she that unattractive to him? Did he only go for girls like Suzanne

Lucy joined her by the ship's railing.

“It's about Jonathan, isn't it? Did he tell you about the Drakon?”

“Oh, yes. He told me. I just get the feeling he's holding something back. I'm fed up playing guessing games. I want to know what else he hasn't told me.”

“We should continue this in our mind. Walls have ears.”

Have you made love?

Not yet. I don't think he finds me attractive.

That's what he hasn't told you. He's afraid.

Of what?

Of you.

Me? Why?

You've only just found out what you are. Your powers are small compared to what they could be. Jonathan is afraid of what he might unleash in you, that you won't be able to control it.

I don't understand.

Once you have made love, your powers will increase enormously. If someone forces you, then they will be destructive powers, usually against that person. You have the power to kill with a thought; Jonathan knows that.

But I wouldn't kill him! I love him!

Would you accept him willingly?

Of course!

Then you must tell him.

I can't!

It's the only way.

Lucy's thoughts ended abruptly and Andrea staggered against the railing. She had a throbbing headache. “I'm sorry,” said Lucy. “I was in your mind too long. You're not used to it yet. Look, Andrea, I know my cousin and I know he's in love with you. He's scared that you don't feel the same way and if he presses his attentions too far, you'll destroy him.”

“But he already knows I love him! I've told him.” But what if he didn't believe her? He had a problem with trust, and who could blame him?

“I'm sorry if I disturbed you,” said Andrea, remembering the dark-haired bundle on the bed. She would have been so embarrassed if someone had come to the cabin and she and Jonathan had been making love.

“That's quite all right,” said Lucy. “David will just have to get used to the fact that we're a close family if he wants to marry me.”

“Marry?” asked Andrea.

“Yes, he proposed to me last night, but I haven't made up my mind yet.”

Andrea blushed, wondering if she should say what was on her mind, but then realized that Lucy probably knew anyway. Lucy laughed.

“Come on, Andrea! We're not in the dark ages any more. Just because I've slept with a man doesn't necessarily mean I want to marry him. He's a good lover, but will he make a good husband? Drakon men rarely do. They're too frightened. They know what we're capable of if they displease us. I've yet to be displeased with David, but who knows?”

Andrea didn't know whether Lucy was joking or not. Would she really destroy a man who displeased her? At the moment Jonathan wasn't pleasing her, but Andrea had no intention of destroying him.

“I'd better get back to David before he starts to panic. Good luck with Jonathan. You'll need it.”

“Thanks,” said Andrea.

What else was there to say?

Chapter Four

Andrea and Jonathan spent the rest of the cruise avoiding each other. Jonathan soon began not coming back to the cabin to sleep. After the first time Andrea gave up worrying where he slept. She saw him at mealtimes when he gave her a curt nod in acknowledgement, as though they were merely polite strangers who knew each other in passing.

One of the dinner waitresses was very attentive to Jonathan and Andrea felt a knife twist in her heart, for he paid as much attention to the waitress. How could he not know how Andrea felt?

Wasn't it written in every look she gave him? Wasn't it written in her face, her heart, her soul?

She would be glad when this charade of a honeymoon would be over but what then? She couldn't go home, not if Dr. Haroldson still wanted to kidnap her. That would be the first place he'd look. He gave every indication that he wouldn't give up. Andrea couldn't believe that the doctor thought that she was the means to create a new race of Drakon.

“NO!” screamed Andrea and woke herself up. She was in the cabin, the bedclothes a sweaty tangle around her. A nightmare, just a nightmare, but she couldn't shake off the ugly feeling that she tried to put to the back of her mind. A voice came over the loudspeaker to announce that they would be disembarking after breakfast. At last, the cruise was over.

She washed and dressed in record time and was just finishing the packing, when Jonathan appeared, reeking of someone else's perfume. It was as though someone had punched her in the stomach and she almost doubled over from the pain of his betrayal. He must have seen something in her eyes because he tried to justify himself.

“Andrea. Let me explain...”

“I don't need any explanations from you. We never had a marriage. As soon as we get back home, we'll get it annulled. There shouldn't be a problem as I'm still a --!” she cut the sentence off, hoping to make him see, to make him say, '
No don't go, I love you too much for that
.'

But no, he stared at the two packed suitcases on the floor between them; as though they were a barrier he could not or would not cross.

“If that's what you want,” he said.

“Yes it is.” Oh, liar liar, but what else could she say? She wasn't going to admit she loved him, not while he had the smell of another woman on him. How could he have done it? How?

“You can't go home,” said Jonathan suddenly.

“I know. I'll find somewhere.”

“I'll take you to my aunt's. You'll be safe there.”

“Will I, Jonathan?” she asked, but what she meant to say was, would she be safe from him, from his memories?

“Of course you will. You trust her don't you?”

“I don't know her, but I don't seem to have much choice, do I?” The flight back was even worse than the cruise. The plane was crowded and Jonathan was separated from her by an aisle. Andrea was sitting beside a rather tall man, even taller than Jonathan, who took up most of the legroom, including hers, so she had to sit with her legs turned towards the aisle. There was a lot of turbulence and she was sick three times.

Jonathan was fast asleep and didn't seem to care what was happening to her. Good for him, thought Andrea bitterly. Here she was being sick and he wasn't even awake! She was so glad when they touched down and she got off the plane that she forgot to be angry with him.

“Where does your aunt live?” asked Andrea while they waited for their bags to appear on the carousel.

“Cornwall,” said Jonathan.

“I've always wanted to go to Cornwall,” said Andrea.

“Well, now you can,” said Jonathan just as Lucy appeared beside them with a dark haired young man in tow.

“David, I'd like you to meet my cousin, Jonathan, and his wife, Andrea.”

“Pleased to meet you,” said David as he shook both their hands. He squeezed Andrea's hand too hard for her liking. There was something about this David that she didn't trust.

“Jonathan you'd better leave now,” said Lucy. “I overheard a policeman talking into his radio. They're looking for you and Andrea. I'll bring your cases to Mum's when the coast is clear.”

What did the police want them for?

Oh, God was it the forged passports? Her passport must have been forged, she hadn't got it, Jonathan had. But why had no one mentioned it before? They were allowed on the plane without any trouble.

“Come on, Andrea, we have to go,” said Jonathan picking up their hand luggage and heading towards the green nothing to declare channel.

“There they are!” rang out a shrill voice. A voice she couldn't fail to recognize. She was rooted to the spot by that voice, as she so often was. It had the same tone her father used when she had been caught at some mischief. Was this the infamous Dr. Haroldson? He was sandwiched between two police officers, but they didn't seem to be detaining him in any way.

“I want that man arrested on kidnapping charges, officer. He kidnapped my patient from hospital and I want him arrested!” roared the man, and Andrea felt as though every person in the airport was staring at her. Dr. Haroldson was mad, he must be!

Jonathan had rescued her. Who knew how long she would have spent in Roseberry Hill if Jonathan hadn't got her out of there? Jonathan put his arm around her, as though to protect her from blows and she was glad of his support.

“Let's just see what the young lady has to say, shall we?” asked the younger of the two policemen. “Did this man abduct you?”

“No,” replied Andrea firmly. “We eloped. We thought it would be romantic. I have no idea who this man is or why he is harassing us.”

“Do you have your marriage certificate with you?” asked the first policeman.

“Yes,” said Jonathan as he reached into his trouser pocket. The policemen perused it for what

seemed like hours before handing it back to Jonathan. “It all seems perfectly legal to me. You can both go,” said one of them, addressing them with a bemused smile, as though to say, '
Nutters, the world's full of them
.'

“You can't just let them go! He's a kidnapper!” protested Haroldson, a purple vein throbbing on his forehead. “I'm sorry, sir, elopement isn't a crime. If she'd been under age then we could do something about it. This woman is an adult and as such is perfectly within her rights to marry whoever she likes. It doesn't matter whether you approve of the choice or not. There's nothing anyone can do.”

“There must be!” shrieked Haroldson as he stared at Jonathan and Andrea.

“If you've laid a finger on her I'll kill you!” He lunged towards Jonathan and then the policemen restrained him. The policeman nodded for them to go. They didn't need telling a second time and hurried out to the car park. It was only after they'd reached the relative safety of the car that Andrea wondered if Haroldson might have been arrested for threatening Jonathan. She was hoping that he had and would be put in prison. If he was in prison he couldn't hurt her.

“What?” said Jonathan. She was miles away, thinking of what might have happened if she hadn't been married to Jonathan. Haroldson would have taken her in his car. Alone. No witnesses. Just a quiet country lane somewhere where no one would be able to disturb them. She shuddered at the thought.

“I'm glad you were there,” said Andrea and wished she could say more, but didn't know how to put it into words. She was glad that nothing had been said about the annulment, because she was hoping that before they went through with it, Jonathan would change his mind and want to stay married to her.

They stopped for lunch at a motorway cafe where the food was surprisingly good, although Andrea didn't eat much of it. Jonathan didn't seem to notice as he wolfed down his portion of shepherd's pie, closely followed by most of Andrea's. He even had room left for dessert, apple pie and ice cream. Andrea was glad when they were on their way again. The further away from Haroldson they got, the better. Andrea sat bolt upright in the seat. “I can smell the sea,” she said.

“Yes, we're nearly there. She lives by the coast,” replied Jonathan turning off into a winding side road. Rain had started, sounding like pebbles hitting the windscreen. The wipers squeaked like an unoiled door as they swept the water away, only for the windscreen to be awash once more.

Jonathan slowed right down as it was getting more and more difficult to see the road ahead. He stopped as a two storey cottage came into view. As soon as he switched off the windscreen wipers, all Andrea could see was water. It was as though they were in a submarine.

Jonathan's aunt, Edith, was at the door, ready to welcome them, a broad smile on her face.

“Welcome home, both of you!” She kissed them both on the cheek.

“How did you know we were coming?” asked Andrea, although as soon as she said it, she realized it was a silly question. Lucy had probably let her mother know using telepathy.

“Lucy telephoned from the airport,” replied Edith. Oh well, bang goes my theory, thought Andrea.

“Come in, come in, you’ll get soaked through standing out here.” She grabbed Andrea's arm leaving Jonathan to get their bags from the car. At least they'd both had the presence of mind to pack some underwear and toiletries in their hand luggage. They would manage until Lucy arrived with their suitcases.

The front door led directly to a sitting room where there was a fire blazing in the hearth, even though it was August. It made the place seem cosy after being in the rain and she felt like curling up by the fire with a good book and a mug of hot chocolate until the chill had left her.

Jonathan came in with a bag in each hand and a weird expression on his face.

“I've put you both in your old room, Jonathan I remember how you used to love staying here as a child. Your cases arrived safe and sound about an hour ago. I'm not sure I would have let Lucy do that, you know teleportation isn't one of her strong points.” Andrea felt as though a rug had been pulled from under her. Teleportation? Did that mean what she thought it meant? Lucy could move objects with her mind? Move them to a different place?

“Why don't you show Andrea your room so you can both freshen up before tea? It shouldn't be too long now.” Before either of them had a chance to reply, Edith had disappeared into the kitchen, a small room leading off the sitting room.

“It's upstairs,” said Jonathan, as though Andrea hadn't figured that bit out by herself. Andrea followed behind him. “Do you want me to carry one of those bags?” asked Andrea.

“No, I can manage,” replied Jonathan gruffly, and put them both in front of him so Andrea couldn't reach either of them.

There was a small landing with four doors leading off it. Jonathan opened the second door on the right. “You can sleep here. I'll take Lucy's room since she's not here. You don't have to worry about the sleeping arrangements.” He set down her bag. “The bathroom's the door opposite this one. I'll see you later.”

“Jonathan I
— ”  said Andrea but was unsure how to continue. What could she say?

“Don't worry. I'll explain everything to my aunt about the annulment. She'll understand,” said Jonathan as he left.

Andrea sighed. Edith may understand, but could she?

Andrea changed out of her wet clothes and had a quick shower before venturing downstairs again. As she came onto the landing she heard Jonathan and his aunt talking. About her. Instead of going back to her room, she stayed where she was, one leg in the bathroom and one on the landing.

She rested her arm on the door frame.

“An annulment! I won't hear of it! You two were meant to be together,” said Edith.

“But, it's what Andrea wants. I can't say I blame her. Things haven't exactly gone smoothly so far.”

“Then make them smooth! A blind man can see you're both in love with each other. You've got to make Andrea realize that.”

“How? She must hate me for what I've put her through. How do I keep her?” Andrea moved closer to the top of the stairs so that she could hear better. Jonathan loved her! That was all that mattered. If they had problems, they'd work them out. Jonathan wanted to stay married to her. With him by her side she could face anything, even a crazy Dr. Haroldson.

“You've got to woo her,” said Edith.

“Woo her?”

“Yes, flowers, chocolates, candlelit dinners, moonlit walks. It doesn't matter what you do as long as you do it to please her. To show her that you're sincere.”

“But what if she doesn't like any of that?”

“I've yet to discover a woman who doesn't like a bit of romance. But if Andrea doesn't like that, find something that she does like. Haven't you talked to the girl at all?”

“Of course I've talked to her! I've explained to her what we are and why Dr. Haroldson is after her.”

“I don't mean about that! Haven't you talked to her about her dreams, her aspirations? What's her favourite book? Does she like music?”

“We never seem to get around to any of that.”

“Well, it's about time you did.”

Andrea chose that moment to go downstairs. She knew she shouldn't have been eavesdropping, but if she hadn't she would never have known how Jonathan felt about her. Would he ever have told her himself? Jonathan was sitting in an armchair staring at the fire. He looked up as she approached.