Dragon

Both of them gulp in terror.

Rose closed the door real quick and silent. She took a pair of pyjama and snatch her towel from her closet. She rushed into the bathroom to hide.

Meanwhile, Ray quickly jumped and slipped in his blanket after closing the door. Also, he placed a piece of wet cloth on his forehead to make him look like he is still ill.

Soon, he heard footsteps in the hallway.

*Doors open*

"He's asleep. Maybe the intruders are nearby. Search!"

He heard Amelia's voice at the door. Then, Alan's voice can be heard.

"I will look for Rose"

*****

*Knock*

Rose who is still in the toilet, flinch.

'Oh God, did we get discovered?'

"Wait up!" She shouts as she out of the bathroom.

She opens the door and sees her eldest brother standing in front of her bedroom.

"Yes, brother? Anything?"

"We heard footsteps running. You saw anything?"

"Oh, that's me. I was running hurriedly because I had a stomach ache and I don't feel comfortable using Ray's bathroom. Sorry if it is bothering you."

"That's you? Your footsteps are like giants"

"Say that again?"

"Haha haha sorry. Just kidding. Go to sleep now. You got classes tomorrow."

"Alright alright" Rose rolling her eyes in annoyance.

"Rose, you have to study well. You're the heiress and you need to take down those enemies."

"Huh?"

"Uh, nothing. Now, hurry go to sleep."

"Good night, brother."

*Door close*

"Gosh, that was closed"

She managed to lie in order to keep their secrets safe.

"But, heiress? What did he mean?"

"Whatever, I'll ask Ray tomorrow"

Rose, lies on her bed and began to doze off.

*****

The next day, during break time. She's been thinking about the heiress thingy for almost the whole day and she decides to ask Ray about it.

"Ray, I have something to ask."

"What?"

Ray asks while playing with his cards on the table, not giving full attention to his sister.

*whisper*

"Didn't the book mention anything about heir and heiress?"

"What do you mean?"

"Alan accidentally blurt it out yesterday."

"What did he say?"

"He said I must study well as I'm the heiress and need to take down our enemies."

"Just as mention in the poem!"

"Did he know something?"

"Maybe, I don't know. But, I'm a bit confused."

"Why?"

Ray take out a piece of paper that has two poems written on it.

"Sorry, I can't bring the book anywhere. It's dangerous."

"It's okay. So, what are you confused about?"

"Look at this line" Ray point at a line in the poem.

A dragon protects the flowers

"The word 'dragon' seems a bit confusing."

"Yeah, does it refers to thorns or humans or real dragon?"

"You mean, anything that protects the flowers?"

"Yeah"

"But, what flowers could it be that need protection?"

"Someone must have known this"

"Mind asking Alan?"

"Nope, it's too dangerous. What if he just saying it without meaning anything?"

"Then, who else?"

"The raccoons!"

"Oh yes! Juel and Lia should know something ."

"Tonight then?"

"No, this weekend."

"Why?"

"Both of them were still suspicious about the running footsteps"

Rose chuckle. Looking at her brother who is confused. Her mind still reminds what happened last night.

"Alan come to my room last night."

"What?! Did he caught you?"

"No, I lied to him"

"Gosh, sister. Why did you lie? You know it's illegal right?"

"You know what, sometimes lying is better if you want to keep your secrets safe"

Ray smirk and continue playing with his cards. To be honest, he silently agrees with his sister.

Then, the harsh and tough days continue...

*****

Weekend...

The sound of the bell can be heard clearly throughout the whole mansion. The clock strikes 12. Both Rose and Ray are getting ready to sneak out to their chambers.

10 minutes pass and the guards done patrol around the first and second floor.

They sneak out and tiptoe quietly to the vase at the end of the pathway beside the garden door. Once, they entered the chambers, they are greeted by the raccoons.

"Lia, how are you today?" Rose hug Lia tightly.

Lia pat Rose's cheek and roll on the grass.

Rose remembered something and slip out a piece of paper and show it to Lia.

"You know anything about this line?"

Rose point at the word 'dragon'.

Lia claps her paws and snatches the end of Rose's pant trying to pull her.

"Wait, I should call Ray and Juel."

She ran to Ray's chamber. Lia presses her paw and the door's open.

"Ray, come over. I think Lia knew something about that."

"Really?"

Ray ran quickly and approach Rose. He is so excited about it.

"Then, what are you waiting for? Let's go!"

So, both of them followed Lia's lead along the way in Rose's chamber. Until they found a river and a bridge.

"It is magnificent. I love it!"

"Look! There's a lot of water lily floating on water along the river. It's beautiful!"

"Oh My, the bridge. Look at the bridge! Is it made out of glass?"

Rose pointed at the crystal clear bridge.

"I thought there's only glass shoe exist. Like the one, Cinderella wore in the fairytale."

"Don't be ridiculous. We are in a fairytale."

"Is it safe for us to cross over?"

Before they could do anything, the raccoons chase each other on the glass bridge.

"Lia, Juel! Wait up!"

Both of them just walk slowly on the bridge. But...

"AAAAAARRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!"

Rose scream and walk backwards. She accidentally hit Ray and both of them fell on the bridge.

"What? Why? What's wrong?"

Rose shiver as she points something below the bridge.

"Ray, I think there's something down there."

Ray stand up and walk slowly to the middle of the bridge and look down since the bridge is crystal clear so he can see directly what's below them.

It's like two creatures of black and white forming a circle together.

"Rose, it's a black and white swan."

"Thank goodness. I thought it is a monster or something because the position is kinda weird."

They continue walking slowly as they fear that the bridge might collapse. After passing through the bridge, they walk on an aisle. Surround by beautiful flowers and birds chirping and flying happily in the sky.

"I didn't know that this chamber was actually huge. It's like we're in another realm."

"Well, I guess this chamber leads us somewhere out of our mansion and headquarters or even our so-called Lee's Palace."

"Looks like every weekend we can sneak out."

Both of them giggle as they walk through the aisle.

Suddenly, they bump into the raccoons. The raccoons didn't move an inch but their eyes fixed on something ahead of them.

"Lia, Juel. What's wrong?"

Looking confused they tilt their head and look in the direction where the raccoons are looking.

Both of their jaws drop.

"Oh my god!!!! For real?"

"Shit! Rose, pinch me!"

Without any doubt and look at this golden opportunity, Rose gladly pinches Ray's cheeks with her whole heart.

"Ouch, okay okay it hurts."

"I can't believe this!"

In front of them, a rose field comes to their sight. A blue rose field! Surround by wooden fences and gardening materials.

"HOW FREAKING WONDERFUL!!!!"

They run towards the field. They wandering around and caressing the roses. Jumping happily as if they had never seen roses before.

But, something comes to their mind.

"Ray, what does this means?"

Suddenly, they feel a heavy breath behind them. The heavy wind touches their skin.

"Ray, I didn't know that you can breathe so heavily."

"It's not me."

They turned around and see a middle-size with skin colour and black wings dragon standing behind them with a pair of angry eyes.

"Uh-oh" Both of them gasp in terror.

The dragon burst out the fire and both of them run for their lives.

Surprisingly, the roses are not bothered by the fire. It didn't burn!

Ray got to sneak away from the dragon's sight but the dragon keeps chasing Rose.

Rose stumble and fall to the ground. The dragon takes the opportunity and burst out fire towards Rose.

Rose eyes widen but she couldn't run. She uses her hand to protect herself.

"ROSE!!!!"

Ray scream with fear. A loud bang can be heard and blue smoke fills the atmosphere.

When the smoke fades away, Ray quickly runs towards it. He tried to call Rose name but his voice is stuck in the throat.

Then, he saw something that makes his jaw drop once again.

To his surprise, a blue shield appears and protect Rose from the fire. Without missing a moment, he runs towards Rose and hugs her tightly.

"Thank god, you okay."

The dragon startles at what had happened and immediately bow down.

"What just happen?"

Ray shook his head but realize something glowing on Rose's left wrist.

"Rose, give me your left hand"

He took Rose hand and swing it near the dragon.

The dragon startles and steps backwards in fear.

"Don't you scared it!"

"But, why? The Opal bracelet forms a shield to protect you and the dragon clearly afraid of it."

"I don't know"

"Where did you get that?"

"Mum give it to me when we're kids."

Rose stand up and slowly approach the dragon. The dragon steps backwards.

"No, don't be afraid. I'm a friend. I'm not going to hurt you."

The dragon stops and sit.

Rose slowly touch his snout. The dragon's eyes widen and he let out a groan.

Eventually, Rose's bracelet glows again. A blue light appears on her palm and surrounds the dragon.

It floats the dragon and the dragon are totally immersed in the blue light.

"BBAAMMMM!!!"

A huge explosion occurs causing huge chaos in the rose field. Clouds of dust fill the atmosphere as they can't see what happen around them.

"What just happened? Rose?!"

Ray shouted for Rose as he can't see anything just dust everywhere.

"I'm here!"

Ray run and approach Rose.

"Where did the dragon go?"

They silently wait until their surrounding is clear from the dust.

What they saw is a young handsome man stood where the dragon was earlier.

"Excuse me, but who are you?"

To be continued.....