Page 31 of Eliza's Cursed Dragon

She pointed from me to the swan who was still here, staring at me.

“What?” I asked.

She pointed again, making motions with her lips.

“You want me to tell them?” I asked incredulously.

She nodded with another one of her grins.

“Fine, I will,” I resigned myself to making a fool of myself, but honestly, later when we sat by the pond and all eleven swans were gathered around us, listening to me speak… I could have sworn they understood me.

Eliza

Gerald Seymore arrived by helicopter only three days later. The chopper landed right in front of the mansion, blowing dust, leaves, and gravel everywhere. I had to shield my face to not get stung.

The giant flying machine had barely touched down when the doors opened and a large man stepped out. I would have known him anywhere, even if I hadn’t already been warned that Edward’s dad was coming. The resemblance was uncanny.

For a man in his fifties he was fit, only slightly thicker than Edward, with gray in his hair and a full beard—the only other distinguishing difference between the two.

Edward was a couple of inches taller, but overall, father and son could have been clones with only a few years separating them.

I waited by the large double entrance doors as the men made their way up and the helicopter took off, again raining little missiles in my direction and at the backs of father and son.

Edward motioned for me to go inside and I didn’t hesitate, glad to be out of the danger zone.

Gerald closed the door behind them and turned to face me. His eyes moved up and down my body and a smile spread across his thin lips. Much thinner than Edward’s I noticed.

“Well, now I understand.” Gerald thumped Edward on the shoulder. “She’s a beauty, son.”

I walked a few steps forward to greet him, holding out my hand as I had learned was custom on this side of Fable Forest.

“Very nice to meet you, Miss…” Gerald took my hand and enveloped both of ours with his other. His touch wasn’t entirely unpleasant, but too intimate for my taste.

“I call her ‘princess,’” Edward provided with a slightly guilty look on his face. It bothered him that he didn’t know my name. Just this morning he had thrown a barrage of them at me that had me doubling over in laughter, Hedwig, Gertrude, Maude, Mathilde had only been a few of them.

“She can’t speak,” Edward added.

Gerald’s smile took a slight downturn, and his gaze turned a shade cooler. But he seemed to catch himself, petting my hand. “I suppose we all have to have our flaws.” He finally let go. “It is very nice to meet you, princess.” He winked.

Then I was dismissed as he turned to Edward. “Do you have something to drink for your old man after his long flight?”

I followed them into the library upstairs, where I remained unobtrusive on a chair, declining a drink for myself, and watched father and son interact.

“Tomorrow morning I would like a tour of the town to see where all my money is going.” Gerald’s eyes perused the decor and I remembered Edward telling me that he hadn’t been here before.

“Of course, it’s all planned. Would you like a tour of the house now?” Edward offered.

Gerald waved him off. “I’ve seen plenty of houses in my life, this one will do just fine for the few days I’m staying.”

He moved to the window and stared out into the yard. “Nice.”

Nice wasn’t exactly the word I would have used to describe our backyard, which even to my spoiled taste was very impressive.

“The pool could have been a bit bigger, but… is that a pond? Now that’s a nice touch.” Gerald turned slightly to Edward, pursing his lips appreciatively.

“And you have… swans?” Gerald turned closer to the window, putting his glass down. “Good lord, they are. I haven’t had swan in ages, where’s your shotgun?”

With a small cry, I rose from my chair, ready to defend my brothers.

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