Vichter
Vichter rested on the couch as Ashlyn made a late breakfast. He had been shocked that hours had passed since he first saw her this morning. It was now past ten, and he was starving. Ashlyn would have to leave for work soon too.
Vichter was injured, with holes torn into his wing from stray bullets while he was flying. He tried to push through it—as he was on a crucial mission for his Dynast, the king of his dragon clan—but the pain proved too much for him and landed him at this dilapidated farmhouse. He had assumed it was empty when he arrived last night, hoping to heal quickly while he rested. It was important he continue his flight to Brazil, where the entire clan awaited his return. But he’d never expected the beauty that had stepped out this morning, and she now haunted his mind more than he cared to admit.
The warm glow of the sunrise had made her auburn hair look like fire. Form-fitting khakis and a white button-down covered a curvy figure. She was young but womanly. He was more attracted to her than frightened of the fact she could see him, despite the danger it put him in.
Ashlyn gently shook Vichter, though he wasn’t actually asleep. He had the egg on the floor beside him, and she unplugged the heating pad and carried the box into the kitchen, placing it on the counter closest to the table as he followed.
“Wow, Ash! You made all this? It’s a feast!” Sausage and bacon were laid out on the table, along with big, fluffy biscuits, obviously from scratch. She’d made eggs over easy, grits, and hash browns too. The smells made his mouth water.
He sat down and loaded up a plate with everything.
“I really like to cook. It’s nice to cook for someone besides myself. I can’t remember the last time I had someone visit.”
“You don’t have any family?” Talking with his mouth full, Vichter covered it with his hand.
“I have my brother, Stephyn, but I haven’t seen him in five years. I assume he’s out there somewhere, but who knows? I own the house now, and it’s all I really need. I think I mentioned I’m not really a people person.”
“You should be though. You’re so open and friendly. And look at all this food. You’re a born hostess.”
A look of shock crossed Ashlyn’s face as he went back for seconds. She’d hardly started on her first plate.
“You have quite the appetite.”
“It’s been a while since I’ve eaten. I was trying to hold off stopping until I could get back to Brazil, when this happened, and then I couldn’t exactly hunt in the shape I was in.”
“I’ve always wanted to go to Brazil. I mean, not the dangerous places, but I would love to live near the ocean, where it’s always warm and the traditions are ancient and special. Where the people are interesting and friendly and make you feel like you belong. I’ve always pictured Brazil to be full of legend, folklore, and mythology but also modern and in-touch with the rest of the world.”
“You’re right. And you’re making me homesick,” he said, genuinely moved by her description.
“I’m glad you’re going home. Family is important.”
“It says much about you that you would say that. I agree. I can’t wait to get home, even for a little while.”
“You still have a long way to go.”
“It’s not too bad when I’m flying. A day, maybe two. And I’m used to traveling. It’s my job.”
“So a Guardian protects dragon kids? That’s pretty noble.” Ashlyn looked at him differently now. Gone was the wariness, replaced by awe and wonder.
“I’m no hero. Please don’t think I’m something I’m not. It’s not that big a deal. I mean, it is … I take it very seriously. But it’s no more important than protecting anyone else.”
“I disagree. There’s something good about protecting people who literally can’t protect themselves.”
“Thanks.” Vichter was uncomfortable, embarrassed even, at her praise. She made him look at himself in a new light, and that wasn’t easy.
“I haven’t ever traveled. Most of my life has been spent within fifty miles of Misty Heights.”
“Having roots is a good thing. I’d love to settle down in one place someday.”
POP!
Vichter looked up in surprise, on guard. He realized quickly, however, it was only a bubble, the remnants of the pink gum still around her mouth. Ashlyn took in his reaction and smiled. “Sorry. I love the stuff. I’m always chewing and popping bubbles. It’s a habit.”
He could smell the sweetness, and it reminded him of his own childhood, when he was addicted to candy and treats. He still liked those things but rarely gave into the urge. “No, it just startled me. If you’re going to be addicted to something, bubblegum is a terrific way to go.”
“Yeah, it doesn’t exactly help with people thinking I’m a teenager.” She blew another big bubble, letting it pop onto her face, then laughed. “Screw it. I’m not going to start drugs and smoking just to look older.”
Vichter got up from his chair, rubbing his stomach. “That was some of the best food I’ve ever eaten. Thank you.”
“It’s my late grandmother’s recipes. I enjoyed the chance to cook for someone who appreciates it.” Ashlyn smiled.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to look around a little bit, get the lay of the place. It’s the Guardian in me.”
“That’s a great idea. Let me give you a tour, then we can finish cleaning up our breakfast.” She stood. “There are two floors, and it’s designed as a circle. You saw the utility room, which is off the kitchen.” She led him into the living room. “This is the biggest room and has the only set of inside stairs.” She pointed to another door. “That’s a bathroom. And there’s another door in there that connects back to the utility room, but it’s been nailed shut as long as I can remember.”
She went up the stairs, and he followed. “Up here, there are three bedrooms and a bunch of closets. This is my room, closest to the stairs. At the end is the master bedroom, which hasn’t been really touched since my parents passed. And over here, I turned my brother’s old room into a guest bedroom, and you can stay there. It’s right across the hall from me. The bathroom is between my room and the master. And all the rooms connect to each other in a circle. There’s also the central landing,” she finished, out of breath. “Did you get all that? Feel free to poke around. There’s nothing really private.”
“Yeah, I’ll take a look around. I love this old house.”
“I’d love it more if it wasn’t just me here. It’s too big and too old. Everything’s falling apart, and I can’t fix it right now. Every time something breaks, I usually just try to fix it myself or do without.”
“I’ll be glad to try to help you with anything around the house while I’m here. I can earn my keep.”
“I’d take you up on that, but it’s not insufficient ability on my end, it’s mostly a matter of funds. I can’t afford the equipment or parts for most of it. Right now, it’s the water heater. It’s lukewarm at best, even on the highest setting. It needs a new thermocouple, but that’s only a temporary fix. I need to just buy a new one, but that’s out of the question.”
“You know a lot about houses and electronics?”
“Everything I know, I’ve learned from YouTube and Google.”
They went back downstairs, and Vichter cleared the table while Ashlyn washed the dishes. As big as the kitchen was, there was no dishwasher. Now that he looked closer, all the appliances were at least fifty years old.
“Did your parents buy this house?”
“No. It’s been passed down through several generations. I think my great-great-grandfather built it in the early 1900s. I wish I knew more about the history, but I haven’t been able to dig up a lot of mementos.”
Ashlyn disappeared into her own thoughts as she washed the dishes and looked out the window. Vichter took the opportunity to really look at her, watch her.
He shouldn’t be attracted to her. It was an inconvenience, and he couldn’t remember having such an instant reaction to anyone else. Why did Ashlyn seem so different? For Vichter, being out of control, unable to keep himself in check around her, was unacceptable. He didn’t want her thinking he was going to make advances, or that he wanted more from her than a safe place to sleep. He’d keep the persona of a friendly stranger, someone who’d be leaving as quickly as they came.
“Thank you for making me feel welcome. I appreciate the food and a warm bed. Most nights, I sleep high in a tree, in the deepest wilderness I can find. I’m a light sleeper, trained to wake at any noise or danger. But I feel safe here.”
“It’s no problem. It’s not like I have company very often. Well … ever. It feels good to play hostess.”
He wasn’t going to argue after that; he’d never crush her domestic bliss. “I really appreciate it, thanks. It’s much better than any bed I’ve had in months.”
“I didn’t realize being a Guardian requires so much—”
“Sacrifice? Yeah, well, I take my job seriously, and comfort means you’re not paying as much attention. I try not to let myself get too relaxed.”
“Admirable. But it’s not the best way to live. Comfort is important too.”
Vichter looked at her. There was something about Ashlyn that was drawing him in, making him want that comfort. Her kind of comfort … a warm bed, hot food, and interesting conversation. Family. Hosting a friend when they needed it. She was … She was mate material. His body had been trying to tell him since he’d first laid eyes on her, but his brain was starting to catch up.
The thought shocked him. Vichter had never thought about finding a mate; he was too young. He had duties and needed to fulfill his time as a Guardian before he settled down. Of course, most dragons didn’t make it through their entire service before settling down, but he wanted to. When he took a mate, he wanted to devote his time to her, not leave her at home alone for weeks at a time.
And Ashlyn wasn’t a dragon, so it wasn’t worth thinking about. Not to mention how young she was. She wasn’t in the market for a lifetime commitment to a man, much less a dragon.
Ashlyn had to run up to the school for a half-day shift in the nurse’s office, so Vichter spent the afternoon exploring the farm. It was long since fallow, but there was an old, picturesque, red barn up on the far hill out back. There was a dried-up garden, with puny stalks that could still be seen coming up through the cracks in the dry clay. The yard itself was beautiful, with deep-green grass and the old oak he had used as cover. The porch was well cared for, with a recent seal on it. The lawn furniture was clean and painted. Small flowerbeds were already planted, even though it was early spring. It was obvious Ashlyn liked the outdoors, even if she couldn’t run the whole farm by herself.
Ashlyn brought home a pizza that night, and they watched TV. Vichter was unfamiliar with most of the shows, but he enjoyed the experience. Ashlyn was great at knowing what to explain and letting him figure out the rest. It felt good to laugh with someone.
Ashlyn had changed out of her work clothes into a tank-top and running shorts. It wasn’t flashy or revealing, but it was, again, that symbol of “comfort” which seemed to radiate from her. It distracted him into thinking how good it would be to see her padding through his home, getting things ready to settle down for the night.
“You ready to hit the hay? I have to warn you, as old as this house is, it can get pretty creepy at night unless you’re used to it.”
“Sure. I’m scared of a few things in the world, but the dark isn’t one of them.” Vichter followed her to the guest room and sat down on the bed as she set up the egg box on the bedside table. He was surprised at how comfortable the old, brass bed was. “Goodnight, Ash. Thanks for sharing your home with me. I owe you more than you know.”
“Just don’t kill me in my sleep and we’ll call it even, okay?” she said, laughing.
“I promise. And I also promise to not let anyone else hurt you. Consider yourself one of my charges. I’m on the job.”
“Okay. But just remember, I’m not one of those kids you babysit.” She gave him a saucy wink.
She turned out the lantern before she left the room, and he laid there in the dark.
“Not a problem, Ashlyn, because now I can’t seem to forget that you’re all woman,” he muttered under his breath.