by Christy Shorey and you

ARCHIVE: NOV. 17 edited for spelling and grammar

2018 words

*You'd better stay here tonight, the storm sounds like it's getting worse.*

Dresden shifted uncomfortably in his seat, staring at Margot. "Do you have to stay like that?"

Margot put her head on her front legs, stretching out her long neck so she still faced him. *You prefer my human form. I did work hard on picking a pleasing one, this time. I guess I did a good job.*

Dresden blinked at her, and she could see the academic curiosity passing over his face. "You mean, that isn't a set look? I mean, that you can look like someone else, when you go...human?"

*It's not that easy to change form, but yes. Every so often I'll change my human guise, when the one I have has outlived it's usefulness.* Margot turned toward the window as lighting flashed, an counted along until the thunder, confirming that the storm was getting closer.

"So, I might have met you before, when you looked different, and would never know it."

*In theory. But the first time I meet you was when Kyle brought you into the medical center. Did he go to his room?* Margot said, picking up her head, and sending her perception out to find the youth.

"I don't know..." Dresden started to answer, but stopped as Margot sent her thoughts to the boy.

*Kyle, you are welcome to come and join us. I don't think Dresden will mind, will you?*

Dresden shook his head. Margot knew that he would have rather had this conversation in private, and had used her will to bend his into agreeing. Kyle came into the room, his pillow tucked under his arm. One thing about the boy, he was simple enough to understand, though it sometimes required extra attention to care for him. But one did what one must for a favorite pet.

*You can come and sit next to me* Margot indicated, and Kyle obeyed. When he was settled, she turned so her shoulder was against his side, and he tossed an arm over her scaly body. Margot noticed Dresden shifting in his seat, unsure of how to handle this change, the forcing together of two realities. *Would it make you happier if I were in human form now?*

Dresden blinked, and shook his head.   *Kyle doesn't like storms,* Margot explained. *And I don't like to leave him alone in them if I don't have to. So, as I was saying, I've had this form for only a few years.*

"You were the dragon I saw being walked!" Dresden suddenly burst out. "The blond guy was Kyle! I thought I was seeing things."

Margot cocked her head. *When?*

"A few weeks ago, just after I had met you. I saw you near my house."

*Ah, yes. I didn't think you were home,* Margot said, remembering.

"I wasn't. I saw you as I was walking back from campus. I had been looking for the English department, for that interview."

*That explains it.*

"You, do you. I mean, do you just go out walking as a dragon like that?"

*Calm down, Dresden. You and Kyle would have been the only ones to see me as a dragon. I was projecting an image of a dog for the rest of the world. Usually I just go out as a dog, actually, but I had been too long in human form, and had exhausted my ability to stray from this form.*

"You mean, you can't just stay in human form?"

If she had been in her human form, or even in dog form, Margot would have sighed. Unable to do so as a dragon without the danger of scorching the furniture, she rumpled her wings against her back instead. *No. I'm too old* she thought, bitterly. *I can only hold a human guise for about two weeks, tops. I can rest in a dog form, which is more like this one, and usually I'm fine, but even then I have to return to dragon form every two months or so to rest. If I'm in human form too long, than I expend too much power, and I have to return straight to dragon form to rest, thus my not wanting to change back tonight. I really need to recover some, and since you are now privy to this knowledge.*

Dresden nodded. Just then a lightening flashed, followed in quick succession by a crash of thunder. Kyle tightened his hold on Margot, and had started to whimper a little.

*Look, I'm probably going to sit here with this one,* Margot said, tipping her head toward the terrified Kyle *for a while yet. You are welcome to use his room. I'll have him sleep on the couch once the storm is over.*

Dresden blinked, and shook his head. *Go on,* Margot added, and watched him stand up, and heading out of the room, muttering. It was good he hadn't figured out that she had this power over him. With Kyle, the discovery wasn't an issue, but Dresden was smart, and would eventually catch on to what she was doing giving him suggestions like that which he just didn't want to disobey.

Dresden was halfway across the room when the next flash of lightening struck, knocking out the power lines, and throwing the room into darkness. Kyle grew silent, but had a death grip around her. The wind was throwing things against the house now, as well as driving the rain sideways to pound against the window.

"Um, I think I'll just stay here until the lights come back on, since I don't really want to walk into stuff along the way."

Margot was amused to hear the nervousness that underlied the statement. *That's fine,* she thought at him, pondering just how much power she had over her new pet.

***

Lacey was anxious to hear what Logan had learned from his memories, but was hesitant to press him for an answer. He hadn't spoken much since he had come out of his long mental trek to the past, and he seemed rather out of sorts. Also, she wanted to make sure he was well grounded in the present before asking him questions about what he had seen in the past life, or lives, for fear that asking him might send him away again.

Logan finally spoke, after seeming to doze where they sat on the couch. She had been worried at first, until he had given a small snore. He had slept for almost an hour, and George had even hopped up to curl up against them. But now he stirred and said, "Can we get food? I missed lunch."

"Sure," Lacey said, standing. She stretched out the stiffness she had gained by holding on to Logan the past hour, then extended a hand to help him up. He also stretched, and as they headed to the kitchen, she decided it best to keep the conversation light, so she decided to tease him about his nap. "Any insightful dreams there - you were out like a light there for a while."

Lacey turned to give him a grin, to let him know that she was just making fun of him, only to see that Logan had stopped a few paces back. He looked at her, and shook his head. "I don't dream," he said, then resumed the trek the kitchen, passing Lacey.

"You don't?" she asked, realizing that she was probably entering awkward territory, but not caring.

"No. I never had any dreams of my own."

But Logan refused to say any more on the subject, regardless of how Lacey questioned him. They made simple sandwiches, both of them unwilling to head out for more elaborate food as the rain started, and the wind picked up. Lacey didn't mind the weather so much, she loved storms, but she didn't want to leave Logan alone.

They had just sat down with their food when the power went out. Lacey felt her way over to the pantry, and found the flashlight, but noticed the light was pale, and the batteries dying. It took her a few minutes to find the candles, but soon she had them, and put two lit votives on the table.

In the flickering light, Logan looked across at her, and shook his head.

"What? Disappointed the meal isn't a bit more romantic to go along with the candles?"

"No," Logan said. "This, I think it reminds me of something. From the past."

Lacey leaned closer, trying to get a good look at his eyes. "You going to go into another of those memories?" she asked, trying to keep her voice calm.

There was a pause, but finally Logan shook his head. "No. It's just something I remembered- like an impression. Not a full memory."

Lacey sat back, but kept a wary eye on him. "Okay," she said. "If you say so. You'd know better than me."

"Actually, that's never happened before," Logan sounded intrigued, but not worried, so Lacey didn't press him any more.

Thunder crashed. The storm was getting worse. They stayed at the table after they had finished eating, only getting a glimpse of George as he tore by towards the safety of the bedroom after another, cacophonous round of thunder.

They sat in silence, listening to the storm as it passed. The candles were guttering, and one finally flickered out. Lacey took this as a cue to ask what had been weighing on her since Logan had been trapped in his memories.

"So, what was it that the past yous were so desperate to share with you? They, you? Seemed pretty insistent that it was important."

Rain pounded against the roof and windows of the two-story townhouse for several minutes the only sound. When Logan finally spoke it was quietly, and a distant round of thunder was enough to drown him out.

"I missed that," Lacey apologized.   The second candle flickered out, and they sat in the dark. Finally Logan spoke again.

"I don't know."

"What do you mean?" Lacey asked the darkness.

Logan's voice carried, louder this time, and edged with frustration and fear. "I don't remember, and before you ask, no, I've never not remembered. But this time, I really don't know. I've been trying to remember, but its not there. It's just gone."

****

Dresden woke to someone shaking him lightly. He was stretched out on the couch, with no memory of how he had gotten there. Kyle was standing over him. "He's awake," the youth announced to the neighborhood, practically yelling.

*Good* Dresden sat up and looked around, at the sound of Margot's voice, but she was no where in the room. *Dresden,* the voice continued, *didn't you say your suspension was over today?*

Dresden nodded, then managed to find his voice. "Yes."

*Well the clocks were knocked out by the storm, but I'd wager both you and I are running a bit late.*

Dresden was looking around the room for Margot now, trying to remember the events from the night before, certain there was something important that he was forgetting. Kyle still stood there, and holding Dresden's shoes out to him. Dresden looked at the youth, and then the shoes. He took them, and sat down to put them on. "Where's Margot?" he asked.

"She's changing," Kyle said.

Something about that statement nagged at Dresden, but he couldn't place it. "Do you think she'll need a ride to work?"

*No, you go ahead. You shouldn't be late. I've already called in and let them know I'm running behind, but I didn't know the number for the school to call for you.*

Dresden rubbed his hand over his eyes, and back through his gray hair, mussed up from sleeping. She was right, he should go. As he made his way to the front door, he called back to the house in general. "I'll still be by after work, then? To help you research?"

He got a little thrill as Margot's voice carried to him *Yes. I'm looking forward to see what you've turned up.*

"Great," he said, and headed out.