ARIKA
"Your supper will be served here. We don't know what Vodka is," Ivret said, and I couldn't help but frown.
"Then a beer, maybe?" I suggested. Ivret and Zorge exchanged a look.
"What's that even?" Zorge asked.
"You don't know what a beer is? Then what do you drink here to loosen up?" I asked.
"Why would we want to loosen up?" Ivret asked, and the two looked at me as if I were talking about flying pigs.
I scoffed. "Just bring me some food before my stomach digests itself,"
"Is that possible?" Ivret asked, his eyes slightly wide with surprise. Meanwhile, Zorge pressed his lips thinly as if holding back laughter. "Can the human stomach digest itself due to starvation?" He asked thoughtfully.
I was annoyed with his stupid question and was going to point out the obvious, but I stopped and pondered for a second. Were the dragons THAT clueless about humans?
"Oh definitely," I decided to test with this answer. "It happens all the time,"
The shock on his face made me want to roar with laughter. I couldn't believe that he'd think that. On the other hand, Zorge's eyes flashed with amusement. He seemed to have gotten the joke, and I realised that maybe it was only Ivret who was the clueless one.
"I'm astonished that you didn't know that as a healer," Zorge said, and I almost snorted out loud. I wasn't expecting him to join me in this.
"No, I didn't— wait a sec— alright, I'll bring you something to eat right now," Ivret hissed angrily and stormed out of the room.
"Did he really believe that?" I couldn't hold back my laughter but snapped my mouth shut when I noticed Zorge staring at me with a strangely obsessive look. The soft glow in his eyes seemed brighter.
"He could be clueless sometimes," Zorge said with a nod, his eyes lingered on me with an uncomfortable intensity. It made me feel seen— as if he could see through me, and that made me shudder. "But he'll figure out soon,"
"Oh no," I muttered, pressing my back against the wall and briefly scanning the room again to ensure I knew the way out of there in case the situation required. Zorge remained standing by the edge of my cot, staring at me.
"What's a beer and Vodka?" He asked, breaking the silence.
"Alcoholic drinks," I replied, "You don't have that here?"
"Alcohol..." He muttered, "Is it something that numbs your senses?"
"You mean drunk?" I asked back, but he tilted his head and pondered in that awkward silence. He said nothing more. Meanwhile, I took my time studying Zorge and his strange dragon features.
I couldn't help but stare at his horns and the strange scales on his skin. Despite all his dragon strangeness, he seemed somewhat human, and I was slowly getting used to that. From his interaction with Ivret, I wondered if I could befriend him with some humour and use him to escape. Having someone on my side would help me in this situation.
"So you're a dragon," I said, instantly realising how stupid I sounded.
"Isn't it obvious?" Zorge asked, staring at me with that same fascination that made me fidgety.
"I haven't seen a dragon before," I told him. "Can you fly?" I asked just to be sure. It was always great to know thy enemy. I searched him for wings but couldn't make out much under the thick fur cloak draped over him.
"Yeah," He answered.
"Can you blow fire out of your mouth?" I asked, seeing a hint of amusement in his eyes. He took another step closer to the cot, and I stilled. I watched him breathlessly as he sat on the edge, turning his body towards me.
"No. I'm not a Fire Class dragon," He said.
Class. That was interesting. So, they had different power classes. I wanted to ask more about it but didn't want to be too conspicuous.
"Oh, then what can you do?" I asked. Something gleamed in his eyes.
"Why shall I tell you?" he asked me back. I pressed my lips in a thin line, and he looked even more amused.
"You said Ivret is a healer," I commented. He nodded, slightly narrowing his eyes as if he was wary of where I was trying to take this conversation. "He seems pretty clueless for a healer, then," I smiled, hoping to get something from him this time.
"He's the best among the Dragon Healer Class," Zorge replied with a slightly defending tone instead, dampening my hope of a future alliance that'd help me escape this place, "Though he's pretty clueless about humans,"
"So it's your first time interacting with a human too?" I asked just to be sure.
"No," his reply was curt, while the pensiveness in his eyes seemed to have gone up a notch. He was trying to figure me out the same way I was trying to know as much about him.
"Are you the one I talked to while closing the deal?" I asked.
"It was Raddrox. He isn't here right now," He answered after a pause.
"Raddrox," I rolled the name over my tongue. It was another dragonish name, but nothing could beat Zorge to it. "Where is he then?"
"He's out to run an errand, but we're familiar with all the terms of the deal," Zorge clarified quickly. I could tell that he was thinking along the same lines as I.
"Oh, what kind of Class does he belong to?" I asked innocently. Zorge cocked an eyebrow at me. He knew what I was doing, but for some reason, he answered anyway.
"He's the one from the Fire Class,"
My eyebrows almost touched my hairline as I gasped in surprise.
"Really? Can he breathe fire?" I asked, excited. I've always wanted to see a dragon breathing fire, and it was a strange fascination for me.
"Yes," Zorge said.
"That's so cool! I'd love to see a fire-breathing dragon. When is he coming back? I'd love to meet Raddrox," I said, and for some reason, Zorge looked pissed. His nostrils flared as he gave me an offended look. I wondered if this meant he wasn't a big fan of Raddrox.
"You know, there are far cooler powers classes a dragon can have than just merely breathing fire or healing someone," Zorge commented, and I swear I heard a tinge of jealousy in his voice. It almost made me smile.
"Oh really? Like what?" I asked, slowly edging closer to Zorge even though his horns scared me. Up this close, I could see his human features better, and for the first time, I noticed that he was pretty good-looking for a dragon man. No, scratch that. He was handsome. I tried not to stare at his magically perfect features.
Zorge's eyes flashed brighter. He didn't miss my slight movement, and his offended look was instantly gone.
"Well, there are many such power classes," he answered casually. "Like being able to see a particular event in the future or present, controlling the weather, extreme preservation, far-sighted vision, seeing and hearing in other dimensions, reading minds and emotions and the sorts." He answered with a shrug. I inched closer to him and leaned in a bit.
I noticed how he never blinked. He seemed to want to take in every bit of me, making something flutter in my stomach. I was closer now, and for the first time, I could see specks of blue in his dark grey, glowing eyes. I felt strangely hypnotised by his eyes. I wondered if that was his power.
"Which one is yours?" I asked, my voice was a suggestive whisper. He sucked in a breath and tensed up.
"You want to know which Class I belong to?" He asked, his voice was low and rough.
"I'd love to know that, Zorge," I smiled at him and noticed how his eyes lingered on my lips for a second longer.
"Well, that'd come at a cost," He said, and I straightened up, acting surprised. I knew there was something like that going to be involved.
"What cost?" I pouted. His eyes returned to my lips, and I swear they darkened hungrily. I had never kissed a dragon before, but if it could buy me a safety ticket out of here, I was willing to fuck one.
"I want to see your—"
"I've brought your supper, Arika," Ivret announced, walking into the room with a tray.
"Thank you!" I chirped gratefully at him while Zorge gave a low, frustrated groan. I shouldn't have enjoyed it this much.
~
Arika has cast her net. Do you think she'll be able to catch the dragons with her net? Let me know.
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