Page 18 of Training my Human

“A name no one has ever heard won’t do.” It required work to establish until it became synonymous with greatness and respect.

“You want something no one uses but will make people quake in fear, then maybe you should try using one of the many demon ones listed in the bible.”

“I am not a demon.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” she muttered. “Now listen, I’ve got to get to work. I left you a bag of Cheetos and cookies by the couch for a snack. Be good.”

As if she could tell me what to do!

Pip left and I devoured my pancakes, but still felt slightly peckish. I thought of eating my snacks, but then I would have to wait all day for more sustenance. I could probably open the refrigerator or cupboards for more but already knew they didn’t hold much. My first order of business once I did relocate to a grandeur space would be to have a fully stocked larder. Maybe two. Or three… After all, I was a growing dragon.

Rather than dwell on my already rumbling belly, I went and scrubbed off more dead skin in her bathroom sink. An inadequate bath that I’d already almost outgrown. The revealed scales already appeared much darker, indicating I would most likely end up ebony in shade.

With my molting done for this cycle, I returned to my servant’s main living area where the television displayed a movie featuring a lot of females crying and being shrill. Annoying. I poked at the remote, my claws pressing the button to change the channel. There weren’t many options. The children’s show,Sesame Street, played. While made for human younglings, it proved informative. It taught me the alphabet, numbers, and some of the social morals expected today. Not that those applied to me, but it helped me better understand my human. Although Pip had much to learn if she thoughtIneeded manners. Dragons didn’t ask. They demanded.

My attention wandered as I tired of watching the screen. The fictional stories were only barely indicative of the real world. While the many shows offered a variety of names, those belonged to people and a dragon deserved better.

It made me mull over Pip’s suggestion that I choose one assigned to a demon. That would certainly provide me with a name that humans wouldn’t dare mock and would immediately imply strength and ruthlessness. But how to find those appellations?

My human owned few books, and of those, most were about tattooing, a strange art that involved permanently marking flesh with designs. I didn’t understand why anyone would do it, however, apparently people paid my human to do so. She did have a few books with interesting knowledge. One featured images of the flora and fauna of Canada. Another displayed tribal markings from around the world and their significance. However, it was the tome claiming to be the most comprehensive collection of occult symbols that drew my eye.

My reading skills weren’t up to par—yet—however, I could muddle through enough to understand and learn as I forced myself to read the words. There was an entire section devoted to demonology, and as I flipped through, I found the name I would be known by.

My servant would be pleased, not that I cared.

I spent the time remaining before my chauffeur arrived watching the news channel, baffled by the items they found newsworthy. Who cared if an elderly person went missing? They most likely did their family a favor. A car crashed. And? Accidents happened. As for this thing called an election? Rulers should govern for life. If they did poorly, then the people could remove their head as incentive for the next.

Hearing a vehicle crunching gravel, I popped from the couch and waited by the door. I remained too short of stature to be able to open it on my own. A frustrating thing that I would soon outgrow.

The portal to outside opened and my burly male human poked his face in, only to recoil as I said, “You better have brought me a snack.” Because the delicious Cheetos and cookies were long gone.

“Um. I think I’ve got something in the truck. How do you feel about beef jerky?”

I loved it, as it turned out. My human placed me in the back of the vehicle, as was proper. A dignitary never sat beside their chauffeur. Despite the caution to remain hidden, I did peek out the window, observing the roads and other signs of modern civilization. Much different in person than on the television.

As for the city we entered? Impressive. It held a staggering number of buildings, cars, and people. It also smelled bad. I’d have to ensure the home I acquired remained far from civilization to avoid the stench.

“Tuck down. We don’t want anyone seeing and reporting you,” Maddox cautioned.

I listened but only because I remained too small to defend myself and I didn’t know yet if I could count on my human to do so. He’d seemed reluctant and acted as if he had a choice in the matter.

He didn’t. He’d been chosen, and until I released him from my service, he belonged to me.

The building he brought me to appeared more impressive than Pip’s until the male stated, “This is my store, Leaping Lizards.”

The ground level held his shop, making my protector a merchant. Surprising, given his stature, though his shopkeeper status explained his lack of enthusiasm for becoming my knight. But he’d been chosen, so he’d have to learn.

Despite the fact half the building was for his business, the second floor, containing his home, did have a spaciousness to it that I approved of—until I smelled the feline.

A feline that dared to rise from a chair and hiss at me!

The nerve.

I hissed right back, which led to the male chiding us both. “Be nice. We’re all friends here.”

Not really. That cat looked more like a hairy snack to me. However, I let it live since I smelled yummier things cooking.

I’d save the feline for dessert.

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