The Dragoso Series 1: Discovery in Hardship

Trevor laid in bed staring at his phone, completely miserable. Not only was he sick, Brenda, Aya, and David were as well. Evanna told him she was woken up by everyone coughing early in the morning. They were all running fevers and everyone was freezing in their beds.

Trevor sighed as he got no response from Amy. She had started a summer program for the college she chose to go to. Always busy, he still texted her to let her know he was really sick.

Trevor looked up when his bedroom door opened, revealing David holding his stuffed dolphin and rubbing his eyes.

“Hey, little bro, what’s wrong?” Trevor asked. David sniffled before climbing into bed with Trevor.

“Had a bad dream...can I stay with you for a little while?” David requested and Trevor hugged David close.

“It’s ok, David. Stay as long as you need. It stinks we’re all sick, huh?” David nodded slowly and yawned. Trevor rubbed David’s back until David fell back asleep. It’s all he and Aya had been doing, trying to sleep the sickness away while Trevor and Brenda had been doing their best to manage with the illness. Trevor looked up again when he heard Evanna standing at his open door.

“Is he ok?” she asked. Trevor nodded.

“Yeah, bad dream is all. How are Aya and Brenda?”

“Curled up in Brenda’s bed napping.” Trevor smiled.

“When are we heading to the doctor’s?” Trevor questioned, regretting he asked anyway. He hated needles.

“I’m having someone come here to look at you guys, I’m not making you all get up and go to get checked out.” Trevor nodded and yawned. “Get some sleep, baby.”

Evanna closed Trevor’s bedroom door as he closed his eyes. She walked down to the kitchen, looking at the piece of paper she had set on the table. Henry’s phone number, he said to call him if anything happened to the kids. Something that she was worried about. Trevor had been coughing up blood and they all got sick the same night, not to mention restless sleep. Evanna exhaled before sitting down and picking up the house phone. She dialed the number and waited as it rang.

“Hey it’s Henry, you know what to do.” Voicemail.

“Henry, It’s Eva. Call me back, I need answers...please.” Evanna hung up and put her head in her hands. She sat for a moment before standing, turning the stove on and starting a big pot of soup. Just as she was ladling soup into bowls for the kids, the phone rang.

“Eva, I got your message, what’s wrong?” Henry’s voice was rushed.

“The kids are in trouble, Henry. They’re all sick...Trevor coughed up blood this morning. What’s going on with them?” Evanna explained, holding back tears. “There’s been too much talk lately, does this have anything to do with what the reports are saying about those dragons?” Henry was silent for a moment.

“Are you alone?”

“They’re sleeping.”

“Listen to me. There’s nothing against a dragon forming a relationship with a human.”

“You said they would stay human!” Tears rolled down Evanna’s cheeks.

“I thought they would too, Eva. I really did. No signs of any dragon abilities. Not during development, not during growth. They just gained unnatural eyes, that’s it. Anyway, there’s a good chance with the strong bond you told me about, only now are they actually gaining their powers. David just turned eleven right?”

“Yeah...and Aya thirteen.”

“They’re a little young to be gaining the powers. I’ve been doing more research about the whole human to dragon thing. Fourteen is the optimal age for a mature adult, the time when a human with a dragon parent would gain their powers. Trevor and Brenda are a little late, David and Aya are a little early. I honestly wonder if it’s because there’s something about to happen and Kaylano needs more dragons to fight whatever it is.” Henry exhaled on the other line and was silent for a moment. “Listen, Eva. I have a contact at a place that’ll keep them safe and train them. They won’t hurt themselves, each other, or anyone else.”

“No! Trevor just found a college to go to! The others have school!” Evanna shouted.

“Keep your voice down. If they don’t get help, that sickness is gonna get worse than it already is. You can’t tell them about me, Eva. They need to learn it for themselves when they’re ready.” Evanna sniffled before nodding.

“Fine...call your contact...”

“Expect someone with strange names to show up soon.”

“Henry?”

“Yes?”

“I love you...”

“I know, love. I gotta go, they’ll be safe.” The line went dead. Evanna exhaled and set the phone down. She picked up the trays holding the bowls and started upstairs to feed her kids.

~oOo~

Trevor shivered as he sat on the couch with his siblings. They had eaten soup before Evanna requested they have a family talk. She sat on the recliner chair nearby.

“Mom, what’s this about?” Trevor asked. David snuggled into Trevor a bit more.

“There’s someone who’s going to check you and then...you might be leaving...” Evanna explained

“Leaving?” David questioned.

“Yes.”

“What’s this really about?” Trevor demanded.

“I was asked not to say anything...” Evanna exhaled as the doorbell rang. She stood to answer the door.

“Did we do something wrong?” Aya asked Brenda.

“I don’t think that’s what it’s about, Aya. Let’s just wait and see,” Brenda replied. They looked up when Evanna walked into the living room with two strangers. A woman with blond hair with sea green highlights and bright green eyes and a man with short blond hair matching Brenda’s color and cyan eyes.

“Kids, this is Sereph and Sylark,” Evanna introduced.

“What kind of names are those?” David wondered.

“That’s not nice, David,” Evanna advised him and he hung his head.

“Sorry...” David whimpered. Sylark and Sereph exchanged glances before Sereph knelt before David.

“What’s your name, big guy?” she asked.

“David.”

“Well, David, Sylark and I are from a school that will help you four out. There’s something special about Sylark and myself.” Sereph held her hand up as it glowed green and was replaced with sea green scales and sharp claws.

“Whoa!” David gaped. “That was like magic! But why is your hand like that now?” David reached out to touch the scales. “They feel like a lizard.”

“Well, I’m a dragon. I can make my whole body change if I wanted to,” Sereph explained and David pointed at Trevor, almost poking his face.

“Ha! I told you dragons were real! You and Brenda never believed me!” David bragged.

“There was never enough proof, David. You can’t blame us. So why exactly are you here?” Trevor asked.

“You are sick for a reason,” Sylark stated.

“And why is that?” Brenda added.

“The magic in your bodies is consuming you. You have gained powers of the dragons and have not used them enough to release the magic and keep your bodies healthy. Judging by how sick you are, you have not used the magic at all.” Sereph looked over her shoulder at Sylark. Sylark looked down at her before snorting and walking outside.

“Where’s he going?” Trevor asked.

“I asked him to go wait outside,” Sereph replied, observing Trevor’s eyes.

“You didn’t say anything though.”

“I don’t have to speak for him to hear what I want him to do. Few dragons have telepathic powers. Sylark is one of three Ice Dragons we know of that have telepathic powers. He has two younger sisters who have his skill.” Trevor and Brenda looked at each other.

“What other kinds of superpowers do dragons have?” Aya wondered.

“Well, I’m known as a Heal Dragon, I have the ability to heal wounds. I’m also the doctor at the Voutneth Academy. And judging by how sick you are and Sylark assuring me you have the powers of dragons, we’ll have to get you four there as soon as we can before you get sicker.”

“Can’t you teach us here?” Trevor questioned and Sereph shook her head.

“I’m not the one to train you. Plus it’s too dangerous for you to be here. Dragons have enemies. If they find out about you four being dragons, living here, you’ll be killed, as well as your mother.”

Evanna stood nearby, watching Sereph.

“How long will my babies be taken from me?” She demanded.

“As long as it takes, Mrs. Williams. It’s for their safety and the safety of the rest of the humans. You must be ready to relocate should your life be in danger. I’d suggest you find your mate so he can protect you.” Sereph looked to the kids. “Pack clothes and small belongings. We must leave.” Trevor looked between his siblings, unsure if they should listen to this stranger.

“Trevor, don’t argue with Sereph. Your father didn’t have her sent for no reason,” Evanna commanded.

“So you talked to Dad?” Trevor snapped.

“For the first time in eleven years. Now listen to Sereph and go pack your things.” Trevor didn’t argue and lifted David off his lap, setting his brother on the floor and heading upstairs. As Trevor threw clothes into a duffel bag, he hoped Evanna would come up to give him a private talk, something she had done in the past before he had a big game for football. It wasn’t until he was standing with the picture of his father in his hands when he heard knuckles softly knock on his open door. Trevor looked over his shoulder at Evanna.

“You knew he was a dragon, didn’t you?” Trevor accused her and she nodded.

“I’m sorry, Trevor. He didn’t want anyone to know.”

“He stayed for seven years then just left! Why did he leave?”

“That’s not for me to say, . You have to understand that.”

“Bullshit!” Trevor kicked his desk chair over and huffed. Staring at the furniture before he broke down into tears. Evanna rushed to him and took his head in her hands, forcing him to look at her, despite the height difference.

“Look at me!” Trevor opened his eyes, his body shaking as he cried. “It’s the rules among the dragons that didn’t allow me to say anything about him being a dragon. His reasons for leaving are for him to tell you, he didn’t want you four knowing in case you didn’t gain powers. I can’t control what happens now.” Evanna searched Trevor’s eyes for a moment. “You’ve always led your siblings through life. Trevor, baby, promise me you’ll keep being their leader. Help them through this. For me.” Trevor sniffled before he hugged her. He pulled back after a moment and Evanna held her hand out to him. “You have to leave your cell phones. Sereph says they’re a safety hazard, you can be tracked by them.” Trevor nodded and pulled the device from his pocket. Laying it in her hand. Trevor wiped his face and exhaled.

“I’m sorry, Mom...” Trevor mumbled and Evanna shook her head.

“I should be sorry. I never told you kids, I should’ve said something, despite the rules.” Evanna sighed before brushing Trevor’s hair from his eyes. “Take care of your sisters and your brother.” Trevor nodded and grabbed his duffel bag.

He stood outside waiting for his siblings, probably saying goodbye to Evanna. Sylark stood by a van parked on the street. Trevor’s eyes scanned the man . He was lean, but muscular, wearing a denim jacket, cyan shirt, black pants, and hiking boots.

“You are worried.” It was a statement from Sylark.

“No shit, I’m worried. This is something unknown to me and my siblings. I don’t like it,” Trevor stated.

“Do not worry. You are in good hands.” Sylark looked up when Trevor’s siblings walked outside, throwing bags into the back of the van and piling in. Everyone looked towards their house, spotting Evanna standing in the doorway, waving to them. They all waved as well before sitting forward.

“Listen guys. There’s no way out of this. Let’s work hard to master this. Maybe we’ll be able to go back home,” Trevor encouraged and his siblings nodded to one another.

We should not get their hopes up about returning home. Sylark’s mind spoke to Sereph as she drove the van.

I told their mother to relocate should her life be in danger. We can’t let them stay in contact with her. Sereph replied.

Agreed.