I’m picking up an old blog story of mine. This is the part of the story that I wrote of what happens when my chibi Alyssa (who already has Minias from Kim Harrison’s The Hollows living in her room as a fugitive) discovers another lodger have taken up residence. It’s silly fun, not at all intended to be serious or a pun on How to Train Your Dragon the movie.
You can find the first parts here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Minias is the property of Kim Harrison. I do not make any money out of this, it’s purely meant as innocent fun. I also don’t entertain the idea of having demons in my real room.
Enter the Dragon Part 6
Alyssa found herself perched on the steps of the main house which overlooked her room and a concrete courtyard. They had been baked warm in the July winter sun and were normally one of Alyssa’s favourite places to sit and have her cup of coffee when all was quiet.
Today, she couldn’t quite enjoy the moment as she used to because she had a headache.
And she also had a dragon.
Alyss sighed and cradled her head on her one hand, grimacing when a shadow fell over her. She looked up to see her lodger standing over her with two cups of coffee in his hands. Grateful, Alyss moved over to make space for the Hollow’s Character and took a cup from him. After a moment or two’s consideration, the demon sank down beside her and cradled his cup, looking at the ground by their feet. According to everything that Alyss thought she knew about his species, he should be unable to walk around while the sun was still up but obviously, he had found a way around it.
She didn’t want to think about it too long or too hard because then she would have to think about what he was as well.
“I’m sorry about your dog.”
Alyssa sighed miserably and took a sip of coffee, comforted by its warmth.
“Yeah well,” she said and sighed again. “These things happen.” She paused for a long time then looked up to where the dragon was lying in the sun.
“And you’re going to help me with it.”
It was indeed her dog which the dragon had chased out of the room. Horrified, Alyssa had stormed after it, fearing the worst when she saw the dragon crouched by the garden tool shed. At first she thought that her dog was hiding underneath it but as it turned out, Nikki the geriatric dachshund was facing the dragon head on. She wasn’t a fierce dog by nature, really – she wasn’t anything but patient (and slightly overweight). She had never been in a fight and had never faced anything scarier than a cat or Alyssa’s horse (which wasn’t scary at all). It was therefore natural to assume that the faceoff would not go in her favour.
But, strangely enough, it did.
Alyssa had watched in a kind of strange and random horror as Nikki barked at the dragon. The black reptile took a step back in surprise, half reared up onto its back legs and then came down to give Alyssa’s dog a sniff. Nikki growled at it again, all the hairs on the back of her long body standing up straight, and earned an excited screeching sound for her effort. The dragon started bouncing around her in what could only be a look of complete excitement. As Minias joined Alyssa’s side, they watched as Nikki stared at the dragon, seemed to decide that everything was all right and started heading to the courtyard, ignoring the reptile as best she could (as she did with most things except for Alyssa and her food). Alyssa had stepped closer scoop up her pet but immediately recoiled, almost gagging from the smell.
Nikki had rolled in dragon poo and the smell was terrible.
Having never had a lot of control over her gag reflex, Alyssa had stooped over right there and dry coughed against the wall as Minias took a step back and started laughing, very amused with the situation.
“It must think she’s a dragon,” he said. “No other creature is dumb enough to do that…”
Alyssa couldn’t believe it but then, she could still not believe the kind of day that she was having.
Shifting on her spot by the courtyard, Alyss lifted up her head to look at the dragon lying on the paving stones. It was on its back, sunning itself with all four its feet in the air, a clear imitation to her dog’s posture. Nikki, who could still not understand what all the fuss was about (or for that matter why her mistress refused to touch her) shifted into a more comfortable position, rolling over to her one side and staying there.
The dragon, after some consideration, did the same.
“They look like tandem swimmers,” Minias tried to point out lightly, motioning to the pair of them.
Alyssa snorted and shook her head.
“They smell like tandem pig farmers,” She pointed out. “And if you missed it the first time buddy, you are going to help me get rid of that tandem smell that’s enfolded my dog.”
“Oh no,” the demon said amused. “You got yourself into this mess all by your lonesome. I could’ve dealt with the dragon for you, but you did not wish to take my course of action so you’ll have to live with the consequences of it.”
To his surprise, Alyssa grabbed him by his shirt collar and pulled him close, bringing him eye to eye with her. “Your participation is non negotiable Minias,” she growled. “You will help me get that smell off of my dog or I will call up Newt and tell her where you are. It’s as simple as that. Dragon poo or death. Your call.”
The demon blinked at the fierceness in the young woman’s gaze and shifted back a bit. In another life, he would’ve killed anybody for speaking to him like that or for that matter touching him. But, this was Alyssa and they had an arrangement.
Besides, he couldn’t kill her, even if he wanted to.
“Alright,” he said simply. “I’ll help you look into it.” Or at it…
Alyssa sat back and sniffed, turning her attention back to the pair of smelly creatures in front of her. “Good,” she said simply and sighed, her demeanour shrinking back to its previous hopelessness. “I cannot believe there’s a dragon in my courtyard. How am I going to explain this one?!”
Minias sighed and also turned to look at the pair. “You won’t have to Alyssa,” he said simply. “The answer is quite simple. You can’t keep it.”
There wasn’t any animosity or irritation in his tone and for the first time, Alyssa realized that the demon was giving her his honest opinion. It rarely happened, so she took a few seconds to appreciate the moment.
“I know I can’t keep it,” she said softly, looking at the reptile. “But… I can’t send it away Minias. Technically, I can’t keep you, and you’ve been living underneath my bed since April.”
She gave the demon a pointed look, which shifted and glared at her from behind his smoky glasses.
“That’s completely different,” he pointed out. “I have my own room Alyssa.”
Making a considering sound, the fan fiction author stretched out her long legs. “Yes,” she pointed out. “But, your front door is underneath my bed. It’s your haven Minias. And, I don’t mind, really – I like having you there.” The demon snorted but when he said nothing, Alyssa continued. “The thing is that… I didn’t turn you away. So, really – I can’t turn it away either. You said it’s scared and looking for a place to hide…”
Minias almost growled at her. “I didn’t say that it’s scared Alyssa,” he pointed out. “I just said that it’s looking for some place safe. There are many other places scattered around the universe. You don’t have to turn your room into an intergalactic way station for the rejected and hunted.”
The young woman gave him a very pointed look. “You’re really one to talk,” she said. “Really Minias.” She sniffed and turned her attention back to the dragon. “I can’t send it away. That just won’t be right. It’ll have to stay.”
Minias looked at her with a look that resembled cold horror. “Alyssa, it is a dragon,” he said. “It is going to get bigger. It might be all coochy coo with your dog now but wait till it gets hungry. It can’t stay in your room.”
Alyssa smiled slightly and pushed herself up, grunting like an old woman. The day had been very, very long.
“You of all people should know that nobody tells me what to d. You give me the facts and leave me to make my own decision. And, I have all the facts, so I’m making my decision. It can stay. I’ll figure something out.”
The demon made an exasperated sound. “Alyssa,” he said in a hopeless tone. “Please. Reconsider.”
The young woman shook her head, taking something from the gate. “Nope,” she said. “Besides, I’ve already thought up a name for it.”
It was the beginning of the end and Minias knew it. Shaking his head, knowing that he couldn’t stand up against the force of Alyssa’s own decisions in her own backyard, he gave her a questioning look and stood so that he didn’t have to look up at her. They considered each other for a long time – not quite foes, not quite friends, but roommates with different opinions about how the world should work without feeling the need to kill each other to get their point across.
It was, in a way, refreshing for the demon though he would never admit it.
“What’s its name Alyssa?” he queried. “What have you decided to call it?”
She smiled immediately, clearly pleased that he had bothered to ask.
“Will,” she said, a trace of her strange lilt of an accent coming through.
It was clear that there was a story behind the name, because she seemed far too pleased with herself.
“Why?” Minias queried. “And what’s that in your hand?”
Alyssa looked down at the nylon bindings and smiled. “I’ve named it after goodwill,” she said simply. “Everybody’s been wishing for it to come my way and… well, here it is.” She smiled and held up her hand. “And this mate, is a halter. I figure – if I can train horses, I can train this dragon. I mean – how hard can it be?”
To Be Continued…
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