Page 16 of Song of the Dragon Rider
“Yes,” Angie said, exasperated. “It’s not going to eat you. Come on, I don’t have all day.”
I shook my head. “I’d rather walk.”
“It’s ten miles to your apartment. In those shoes? Good luck.”
I glared at her, then the car. It was abnormal, offensive, and far too shiny. “It’s unnatural,” I said aloud. “What powers it? Magic?”
Angie groaned. “No, not magic. Gasoline. Just get in.”
When I didn’t move, Angie rolled her eyes, grabbed my arm, and practically shoved me into the horseless carriage. I yelped when the door slammed shut beside me.
Angie climbed into the other side. “You’ll be fine. Just buckle up.”
I stared at the strange belt-like contraption she gestured to. “Buckle up? What does that even mean?”
Angie reached over, pulled the strap across my chest, and fastened it with a click. “There. See? Easy.”
Easy for her, perhaps. I tugged at the strap and scowled. “This is ridiculous. I feel like I’ve been restrained!”
“Good. Safety first,” Angie said with a grin. She turned a key and the car roared to life.
I shrieked and gripped the seat as tightly as possible. “It’s alive!” I cried.
“It’s an engine,” Angie corrected. “Relax, Cat. You’re going to give yourself a heart attack.”
Relax? How could I possibly relax when this infernal contraption was growling beneath me? The car lurched forward and I let out another yelp, clutching at anything I could reach.
“You’re fine,” Angie said, barely stifling a laugh. “Just breathe, okay?”
The ride was the longest, most harrowing experience of my life. The streets were chaotic, filled with other cars weaving dangerously close. Lights blinked at intersections, people darted across the road, and strange signs loomed everywhere. I gasped, flinched, and muttered curses under my breath the entire way. Angie, to her credit, seemed unfazed, though her lips twitched suspiciously every time I jumped.
When we finally reached our destination, I nearly fell out of the car in my haste to escape it. Angie came around to my side, shaking her head.
“You’re so dramatic,” she said, slamming the door shut.
“Dramatic?” I snapped. “That… thatthingis a death trap! I will never set foot in it again!”
“Oh, yes you will,” Angie said with a smirk. “Unless you plan on walking everywhere.”
I glared at her but said nothing. Instead, I turned my attention to the building before us. It was tall and gray, with rows of tall windows and a narrow staircase leading to the entrance. Hardly a palace, but at least it wasn’t moving.
Angie led the way inside and I followed, my nose wrinkling at the faint smell of mildew in the stairwell. The climb was exhausting, and I muttered complaints the entire way.
“How does anyone live like this?” I grumbled as I clutched my chest. “No servants, no proper decor… this is positively barbaric!”
“We make do,” Angie said dryly, inserting a key and then pushing open the door to what she called an apartment.Myapartment. Or more accurately,Cat’sapartment.
The space inside was small and cluttered, filled with mismatched furniture and strange devices. A man stood near the couch, his dark hair tousled and his shirt half-untucked. He turned as we entered, his expression shifting from surprise to something more guarded.
“Fernando,” Angie said, her tone tight. “What areyoudoing here? You have some nerve still using her key!”
“I came to talk to Cat,” he said, his voice smooth but insincere. His gaze landed on me, and he hesitated. “Cat… you’re back.”
I raised an eyebrow, looking him up and down. He was handsome enough, I supposed, but there was something slimy about him—like a merchant trying to sell counterfeit goods.
“This is Fernando,” Angie said, her voice dripping with contempt. She leaned closer to me and whispered, “Before the accident, you found out he was cheating on you.”
I tilted my head, studying him like one might study an insect under a glass. “Thisis Fernando?” I asked, my tone laced with disdain. She had mentioned him once or twice over the last few days. Specifically, Angie had asked me – or rather Cat – if she had attempted suicide after hearing of his infidelity. I nearly keeled over in laughter after her question. I didn’t know this Cat person, but I certainly would not have sacrificed my precious life over… thisthing.
