Page 23 of The Healing Dragon
“One day my father found the books Oliver was giving me. He was furious because this was physical proof of someone giving me something he did not approve of at all.”
“What happened?” I ask in a whisper.
Her eyes take a far away look. “My father went on a witch hunt. He never flat out blamed anyone but a sweet maid was fired soon after and tossed out.” Her eyes water but tears don't fall. “I never truly felt guilt until that day. My father took the books, and I begged Oliver to never bring me more.”
I picture a little girl with fiery red hair crying over her books. I picture her having misguided blame for her maid’s situation. Her little heart felt the guilt, thinking she brought it on by reading a book. Not understanding that the monster she has as a father is the root cause of all her misfortune.
“How did your friendship with Oliver come to be?” I ask, with ideas already circulating in my head.
“Oli’s mother’s name is Rosa. He says I remind him of her. Something about my eyes.”
I turn to look at Janelle’s eyes. I have seen them a hundred times, but as I lay eyes on her again, it finally dawned on me. Her eyes do, in fact, resemble Rosa’s.
“He never had children, but he always wanted one. His wife had been a loyal maid to my mother since childhood. He took a job as a soldier for my grandfather after marrying her. Sadly, she died a few years later from an illness.”
“Where did he come from?” I ask, already knowing theanswer but fishing for pieces of this puzzle I don’t fully understand.
“He never told me,” she says, putting away her plate.
The ring of lies never sounds.
I cannot fathom why anyone would stay under the Duelo command unless absolutely needing to. But as I watch Janelle get ready for bed, I know exactly why Oliver never left the Duelo estate, despite not agreeing with Lord Duelo. I understand why he didn’t alert us to any conspiring whispers. Oliver’s duty to do what is right will forever be second to the loyalty he has to her.
Would I have done any better in his place?
“We should go to sleep,” I say, and settle in for the night.
As we lay there side by side, I take a deep breath. The sweet spring smell of Janelle fills my lungs. Her soft breathing quiets down, reassuring me that she has drifted off to sleep. It’s a relief that she didn’t complain about sharing a bed, but it’s not the first occurrence. It’s unsettling how comfortable and correct this feels. I wish I could despise her and eliminate these uncontrollable emotions I have towards her.
I am starting to believe that is impossible.
20 years ago
The sun is high in the sky. Brandon was recently announced as the next in line. Mother has spent the day crying about it. I’m not sure if it’s from happiness or sadness. She looks at him like she pities him. Being the chosen one is a huge honor. At least that is what Grandpa says. But that is not what it feels like when Mom congratulates Brandon with tears in her eyes. She doesn’t really sound like she means it.
Brandon has said little about it. I doubt he has thought much about it. I never imagined myself being the chosen one because it’s too much responsibility. I might not know exactly what Grandpadoes, but I know it’s a lot, and he always has to be busy. Brandon’s fate isn’t something I wish for.
“Is he excited about it?” Janelle asks me.
“Not exactly.”
She doesn’t ask me much about my family other than the antics my brothers and I get into. We are pushing a small old canoe we found on the lake a few years ago. We usually paddle to the middle of the lake and just sit back. Alternating between eating, reading, and talking. It’s always a peaceful day when we do this. I spot the figure of Roman at the edge of the lake, waving his arms like crazy, but I ignore him, hoping he will go away.
“Isn’t that your brother?” Janelle asks me, but I don’t look. “He is swimming towards us.”
That makes me snap my head up. Sure enough, the monster is swimming laps toward us. Roman is a year older than me, but he had a growth spurt recently, leaving me a foot shorter than him.
I shake my head in disbelief. One day. That is what I wanted for myself. And Janelle, but she doesn’t count.
His head pokes to the side of the canoe as his fingers grab the edge.
“Careful before you tip us over.” I gesture for him to let go, but he doesn’t.
“Neither of you could hear me?” Roman looks between Janelle and me.
“We didn’t.” Her tone is sarcastic.
“Janelle Duelo,” my brother says her name with a knowing glint. “It’s nice to see you in daylight. I was beginning to think you were part vampire since you only sneak into my brother’s window when the sun has set and then leave before it rises again.”
