Page 14 of Drakhana's Treasure
I’m going to find something I can do. I will go home just as Rastus told me but I won’t go empty handed. Today I will master at least one human skill to prove that if I have to survive in the human world, I could.
When I hit the casino floor, I see Zelena straight away. I hardly recognize her. The bright blonde hair that almost every girl envies is bound up in a glittering bun and her tall, shapely form is strapped into a smart skirt and jacket. She’s holding a tablet device and a stack of paperwork, talking enthusiastically with a well-dressed fat man. She doesn’t notice me pass by.
As I move through the ground floor, I notice all of the crew working hard at their jobs. Bailey and Kane are both in suits and they are working with VIP clients like Zelena is. Haywin is in a small internet café section, debugging computers. Janet is in the bar, happily wiping down glasses. Lira is waitressing, moving platters of food to the buffet table and talking to the customers.
It looks like everyone found something to do. My blood crawls in my veins, desperation making me slow. I have to get myself together. That’s when I notice the sign for the daycare center.
I rush through the door to find a massive play area filled with toys. A small attached building has a full kitchen and loungeroom with a TV. I tell the women that I’m here for work experience and they check my paperwork. A lady wearing a red pin on her top button winks at me. When my file comes up it turns out I have all the correct qualifications for working with children. She ushers me in and shows me around.
My dragon recoils from her. Her dragon is so quiet it could be dead. There is no fire living in her. Should a blaze pass her by, she would burn to ash. I hold back my personal feelings and try to listen as she inducts me into their routines. She’s nice enough, I just don’t see how a dragon could let this happen to them.
I spend all day in the daycare room and I don’t even noticed the hours passing. We play games, build castles from plastic blocks and watch cartoons. Making snacks is especially fun. Children come and go all day, making for an intense pace. As the center starts to slow down, I’m amazed to see that eight hours have passed.
The other dragon worker, Carla, comes over as we hand over the last few kids.
“It’s getting late now.” she says breathlessly. “You must be ready for a break! You haven’t left the creche all day.”
“Oh, I didn’t notice the hours going by.”
“Still.” She drops her voice to a whisper. “You can’t work like that all the time. You need to appear tired and want a break at least every four hours. The others will notice if you work too hard. Questions will be asked.”
My confidence forces itself into my guts where the bubble bursts into disappointment. Can’t I do anything right?
“Okay.” I hold my tears in, wondering if I’m going to cry every single day in this place.
“You’re certainly full of fire, even for a dragon!” Carla laughs. I just nod, trying to smile politely.
“Does anyone need to be here? I don’t know how late the childcare center works.” I’m wondering if I could stay and hide from everyone’s criticism by being at work. Carla shakes her head.
“One of the night staff will be here. It still acts as a parent’s room and occasionally kids are put in late. Sometimes the parents want to see a late show or something.”
“Okay.”
“Get out of here girl. Sit down and have some coffee and cake. You’ve earned it!”
She hesitates for a moment and I think she’s going to suggest we take a break together. I smile quickly and head for the stairs, waving at her. I don’t want to seem antisocial, but I’ve got to get out of the noise. I managed to stay calm during the day by focusing on the children, but now I have nothing to distract myself with, the pounding sounds and bright lights feel like a full-on assault.
I hit the stairs and run. I leap up them two at a time. I don’t stop, letting my dragon scales flow over me as I push my body to the limit. I don’t stop until I get to the roof. I run across the flat concrete, running to the very edge and holding out my arms to welcome the breeze coming from the desert.
Behind me there is a raised area of bright blue tile. That must be the penthouse with its open roof party area. I’ve come out in a drab concrete space just under it. Laughter spills over the edge, turning against my loneliness. I may have been partial to solitude in the past, but I think that’s because I was surrounded by a community of dragons.
Now I really am alone. The longer I stay here the more different I feel. I’m slowly being forced to the fringes. Outcast.
Behind me, there is a small noise. I whirl around, wondering who would sneak up on me. When I see Rastus, I don’t relax. Is he here to chew me out again?
“Kirralee, you did well today.” His voice travels ahead of him, reaching me through the deepening shadows. As he comes closer, I can see how tense he is and I feel a stab of doubt shocking my guts. He’s here to kick me out, he must be.
“Thank you.” I wait for the bomb to drop. His next words are shocking, but they are not what I expected to hear.
“Show me your dragon, Kirralee.”
“What?” My dragon turns over in my veins, desperate to be free. She wants to stroke that desert air with her wings, glory in the heat from the sands. She needs no encouragement.
“I’m supposed to be hiding here, learning to keep my dragon in control. Why are you asking me this?”
He shakes his head. “Because even on your best day, you barely pass for human. I don’t know what to make of you.”
His eyes search my face in the gathering dark. There is so much tension between us I feel it will shatter like glass at the slightest movement. His expression doesn’t change. He makes a nod towards the edge of the roof.
