WARNING: This story is rated R for adult themes (i.e. sex, violence, and language). Lemony goodness is possible. Stay away if you are underage. If you feel that this story is abusing its R rating, please bring it up with the author, and I will adjust it. I would much appreciate it if you did this first, before bothering the website‘s beleaguered administration. Thanks.

Chapter Two
Once a Jerk…

She heard voices. They drifted over her, washing against her like an ocean wave.

“Arisa.”

“You idiot. The master will have our heads if you wake her!”

“He wants her awake,” the first voice protested.

“Yes, but he’d rather she got sleep.”

Hot air pressed against her face. She opened her eyes slowly, and when her vision cleared from the fog of sleep she’d been in, her mouth opened in a silent scream and she scurried away from the monster that screamed, out loud, back at her.

Karrian walked hurriedly though the halls of his home, arriving at the door to the girl’s room. Walking in, he couldn’t stop the laugh that crept up his throat. The girl was backed against the headboard of the great bed, the head of a smaller Gemcalian inches from hers. Both had big eyes from the fright of each other.

“Duke,” Karrian said in a serious voice, masking his amusement. “Get your face away from her.”

The Gemcalian obeyed rather enthusiastically, scurrying to a corner of the room, where another Gemcalian who matched Duke in size was already huddled. Karrian rolled his eyes. They were strong beasts, yet this small girl could send them running for the hills. He looked at the girl who now stared at him.

“Who are you? Where am I?” Her hands moved quickly, shaking, signing her words.

“So. You’re awake.” The words were said leisurely, almost bored. He walked to the side of the bed. “It’s about time.”

Arisa felt a jolt of fear. The boy’s eyes were intent on her. They were now a fixed amber hue. She wondered if it was a trick when they changed colors.

“You will need to begin training immediately.” His voice was offhanded, his words spoken in a simple tone. Her brow creased in puzzlement.

“Training?”

She shrunk closer to the bed, fearing the pierce of his intense gaze. “Yes, training. That is what I said, is it not?”

“Training for what?”

The boy let out short sigh, rolling his eyes. “Well, you can’t expect to be able to handle the Dragon’s Jewel right off, can you?”

What? She gave him and odd look. “Dragon’s Jewel?”

He laughed. “You can’t be serious! Pfft! Not knowing about the Dragon’s Jewel!” His smiled faded when he noticed her expression. “Oh. You don’t, do you?” She shook her said, calling another sigh from the boy.

“Who are you?”

“I doubt you’d believe me, even if I did tell you.”

“Try me.”

He looked out the window of the room, then glanced at her from the corner of his eye. “Alright. I’m Karrian. Guardian of the Dragon’s Jewel, and master of the Gemcalians.” He said the last bit proudly, puffing out his chest a little.

“Gemcalians?”

His chest deflated. “Magical creatures that humans think belong in dreams and fairytales, along with fairies and unicorns. Which, by the way, resemble real animals that humans saw ages ago. Except that unicorns aren’t peaceful, and they bear two horns. You could say that they are a sort of demon.”

“You’re right. I don’t believe you.”

“This is a bit odd. Why don’t you speak?”

“I have no voice.”

“And I’m a giraffe,” he scoffed.

“Don’t mock me.”

“Come, now, don’t lie. I’ve heard your voice.”

“You’ve heard nothing, imbecile.”

Karrian opened his mouth to reply, snapped it shut, and glared at her. Arisa returned the glare. He leaned forward. Arisa was undaunted, her bravery coming from stubbornness. His moved quickly, and he poked her in the side. She jumped and instinctively covered her mouth.

“You have a voice,” he insisted.

“I’m telling you, I do not.”

“Stop signing, damn it! You have a voice, use it!”

She was frightened. She flipped onto her stomach, burying her face in the pillow. Shivers ran through her body. Karrian sighed, and she felt a slight pressure on her arm.

“Look at me.” She didn’t move. “Please look at me.” He rolled her over, so that she was forced to look him in the eyes. “You must speak. The Dragon’s Jewel doesn’t answer to sign language.”

“Karrian, she will speak in her own time.”

Karrian immediately straightened himself, turned to the door, and bowed. An old man stood there, with a beard and mustache that reached his waist, an intricately carved staff in his hands.

“Grandfather.”

The old man walked to the side of the bed. Karrian straightened from his bow.

“Child, you must excuse my grandson. He is an idiot.”

Arisa giggle. Karrian looked annoyed by his grandfather’s words, but neither Arisa nor the old man truly cared. “Grandfather, I’m not stupid, I know she has-“ His words were cut off when the old man’s staff met Karrian’s head.

“Quiet, boy.”

“Sumimasen.” Karrian’s head hung and he backed away.

“Now, Arisa-san, you must prepare for your first day of training.

Arisa stared at herself in the wall length mirror. She had to admit, her ‘training’ outfit kicked ass. She wore a sleeveless, low-cut black shirt that bared her midriff and sported a red Japanese character on her chest, and black cut-off shorts. Cloth was wrapped around her wrists and ankles. They had given her no shoes, so she was barefoot. Her hair was up in a ponytail, with two free blonde strands on either side of her face. She reminded herself of a martial arts videogame, only she was wearing a bra.

“You ready?”

She turned towards Karrian. “Do I get shoes?”

Karrian lifted his foot to show her. He had no shoes. “Come on.” He walked out of the room.

She followed him, glaring at his back. She wished she could shoot flames from her eyes or something cool like that.

Her eyes widened when she saw the hallway outside of her room. It stretched out to both sides, doors lining the wall. In front of them there was another long hall with even more doors. She followed Karrian down this one, and he led her through a maze of more halls. She thought this house would make for one kick ass game of hide and go seek.

It was all old fashioned. Stone bricks held sconces that cast a light that flickered and danced on the walls. Musty tapestries adorned the cold walls, faded by the light that had once streamed in through the boarded windows cut out of the stone.

They finally arrived at a set of great double doors. Karrian seemingly effortlessly pushed them open to reveal a magnificent ball room. They stood on a marble balcony, a split stair case leading down to the main dance floor from either side of the balcony. The floor was a magnificent array of colors, dazzling and spectacular. The design of the floor portrayed dragons like the ones in her room, and beautiful ladies, both living peacefully together. One dragon started a fire for a woman roasting a chicken, and another woman rubbed down a happy dragon by a lake.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?”

She nodded her head.

“It’s amazing when we have a ball. It’s like going back in the past, when everything was beautiful and humans still believed in dragons.

Arisa smiled bleakly and looked at Karrian. “Those people also believed it impossible to walk on the moon.”

“Then perhaps the people of both times should join their beliefs. They were wrong about the moon. Perhaps you are wrong about dragons.”

“Dragons don’t exist.”

“Oh? I would love to hear what you thought that sight you awoke to was.”

“An illusion, of course. A figment of my imagination. I was quite stressed, what with being kidnapped and all.” She looked at him pointedly. He met her gaze, capturing her eyes with his. She couldn’t look away from those amber eyes.

“Perhaps what you saw was indeed a mere illusion. But I promise you, this is no figment of your imagination.” His lips pressed against hers. Arisa’s eyes widened. Karrian was sliding his arms around her waist, pulling her against him. At first she stiffened, laying her hands on his chest to try to push herself away. His lips played with hers, and her will to fight left. Soon she was putty to him, and the only thing that held her up was Karrian’s embrace. Her arms snaked around his neck, her hands entwining themselves in the hair at the nape of his neck.

He broke his lips away from hers, but still held her against him. She could feel his breath against her lips.

“Damn it,” Karrian muttered. He released her and stepped back, his eyes gazing into hers. Shivers went down her spine. “We must begin your training. You’ve much to learn.” He turned and glided down the marble stairs. She followed him to the center of the ball room. They stood on a dragon’s head. The dragon had a jewel for an eye that sparkled when it caught the light of the candles in the massive chandelier. Karrian pulled an object from his pocket. It was more beautiful than anything Arisa had seen, even the room in which she stood.

“This is the Dragon’s Jewel. You are her master now. You must learn how to control her great powers. It this artifact falls into the wrong hands, they could accidentally destroy all life.”

“Accidentally? What, so there are no evil people who would do it on purpose?”

He knew she was mocking him. “Even if they wanted to destroy it all, they wouldn’t be able to do so, on purpose. Now, take it.” He held out his hand, offering her the pendant. She shrugged and reached out a hand.

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