"Do we even have a plan here?" The doubt in Drenar’s voice is apparent to Julia when they arrive at the house listed as the last residence of the Vertimer family. The tan and white house is well maintained, and the grass has yet to brown from the impending winter. The walkway is adorned with fall plants and bushes in full bloom–it feels quite rustic. A series of well-maintained planters hung from the open porch of the two-story house. "I mean, what is this lady even going to be able to tell us? The Vertimers could have moved out ages ago."
"Well, maybe we can track down Amaranth. If he's alive." Julia doesn't hesitate before she knocks on the door. She needs answers. No matter where they take her.
For some reason, she feels like they are being watched. The only thing that stands out of place is a large black barn cat peering at them from a bench, yellow eyes flickering with interest at their arrival. "Hi there," Drenar said nonchalantly to the animal, but it merely yawns at him and then curls back up onto the bench, as if his presence isn't noteworthy.
"Careful Drenar, it might be some kind of dangerous beast," Julia teases.
"You’re more dangerous than any beast Julia, and yet I still hang with you,” he retorts.
“I'm only dangerous when I'm hungry! Just keep me well-fed, and I won't have to nibble on you.” He goes red in the face in a near instant.
“I'll be real with you, I feel like we're skirting boundaries we need to have a proper discussion about someday. Not that I'm not flattered or anything.”
“So what you're saying is, the only thing in the universe that scares you, is me.” Watching Drenar get anxious when she smiles is almost priceless. “Alright, snack time later, down to business.” She knocks again, and she hears shuffling steps this time.
"Just a minute." The French door creaks open and a young woman, not quite middle-aged yet, with dark red hair and amber eyes towers over them. There's curiosity etched in the creases of her eyes. Julia's first impression is that she's a basketball star, because she's lean and toned all over. "I'm sorry, do I know you two...oh Julia! I thought I recognized you, you look so much like your mom!" She smiles warmly at them.
You mean, like a Viking warrior with raven black hair and a touch of Okinawa islander? Yeah, it’s hard for me to hide in a crowd, Julia thinks to herself. She does recognize her from the bakery, but can’t recall the name. “Yeah, I get that a lot,” she plays loosely.
"Oh, I know what this is about, I borrowed your mom’s crockpot last week. Sorry, I've been busy. ”Julia can’t recall that at all.
Mom’s been eating way too many frozen crap meals lately, or at work. Man, I want Drenar to cook me food, he’s so good at it, and keeps me from burning down the kitchen. "Uh, not exactly, miss...I'm so sorry, I don't think my mom ever mentioned your name," Julia answers calmly. Drenar glances at her, and she's clicking her nails–he knows all too well she is slightly anxious.
"Oh, I'm Malena," she replies, and her face brightens and she smiles widely when she focuses on Drenar. "Hey, I know you, you're Drenar! Trisha's kid! I'm so sorry we haven't been formally introduced, I was a friend of hers and…" Julia’s eyes go wide at the possible earth-shattering revelation.
Oh, my fates. There is a dragon camping in the house half a mile from home. The amber eyes! And what’s this with her knowing Drenar’s mom? Drenar answers far too hastily to give her any time to process this.
"Uh, yes, I'm Drenar," he hastily answers–this could be a coincidence, but given the recent discoveries, she seriously doubts her gut instinct is wrong. "So you're Malena, uh..."
"Yes, Malena Vertimer," she said proudly. He glances at Julia to read her reaction, and while subtle, she tilts her head slightly. "Oh where are my manners, do come in!" They almost stumble through the door into the moderately adorned house. There are traces of a European feel to the open room concept, the colors sharp and utilitarian, and the interior is well lit by a few hanging lights housed in decorative glass shapes that look almost like flowers. Julia can smell something simmering on the stove that smells like beef, and…
Why is there a faint smell of cinnamon in the house? Bakers gonna bake. You think they’d get tired of it when they’re at home. "Don't mind me, I was just cooking dinner--Shepherd's pie, nothing exotic. So Julia, is your mom working today?" She asks casually while putting away a magazine. Julia quickly used sign language to Drenar, with one single exclamation:
[Play along, dummy!] she announces quietly. He gives her an irked look, but otherwise keeps a stone face. Julia puts on a smile, and her smooth-talking sets the pace. "Yep, she's working tonight, sometimes I barely see her until the weekend. I take it my mom talks about me?" She drops the question casually, her hands on her hips.
"All the time! Perhaps it's not my place to say, but she is so proud of you. Last year of high school, and you're going to USC next fall? What will you do in this world?"
Instant panic ensues for her.
Oh, you did not just drop that in front of Drenar before I could tell him. Damn it! Mom must have told her! And she’d been debating even telling Drenar, given the extremely disruptive recent events, and how that was going to shake out in her future. "I'm...still kind of figuring that out. But, at any rate, I was hoping to major in Biochemistry."
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
"You sure? I'm surprised she hasn't tried to dissuade you yet. What with your...oh. Sorry, I shouldn't speak out of turn." Malena falters in her words as though she's broached a subject she shouldn't, and Julia tilts her head, looking confused. Oh, do not tell me that you’re in on this wild conspiracy theory, too, dragon baker!
"Well, you know, it's been a debate?" Julia proposes while internally seething. And Drenar is giving her a confused look. He’s going to be irate at her for not telling him right away, and she knows it.
"Hmm, true. Parents do care when their kids leave the nest, so to speak," Melena replies tactfully. "Anyway, I didn't mean to interject. I still see you and Drenar are hanging out together, just like when you were kids. Are you two…" she trails off, smiling faintly.
"We're just friends," they both answer with annoyance in sync.
"Ah. Twins, but not really," she mused, then walked over to Drenar. "I see Trisha in you when I see you, Drenar. You are definitely your mother's son."
"How did you know my mom?" he asks. "I don't remember meeting you before."
"Ah. Work friends. However, the bakery is a relatively new venture. She was always very charismatic, she made friends quickly and kept friends with everyone," she said, warmly. "She was also such a prankster. Oh, you know how it goes, a bunch of moms, all of us talking about their kids, swapping photos of all these fun family things, griping about husbands. I still remember the way she talked, that firm, decisive voice of hers. She never left anything unsaid that had to be said on the job. It was her gift. Then, when she…" she trails off, the smile gone from her face.
There’s almost no one that knew Trisha personally, that her death didn’t hit them like a gut punch, Julia thinks sadly. Malena lets out a soft breath of remembrance. "Drenar, I'm so sorry about what happened to her. She is, in my mind, the kindest soul I’ll ever meet.”
"Yeah. My mom had that kind of impact on people. I get it," he said quietly. "I'm just surprised she didn't...ah hell. It's been a long time, I doubt I'd remember her mentioning you."
"It was a long time ago now. The last time I saw you was at the funeral, and...well, you had your thoughts elsewhere, you may not have even noticed me." She examines him and puts her weather-worn hand to her chin, and the brightness has returned to her face. "Hmm. You even look like her, you know. The green eyes, are distinct. Not as tall as her, though," she adds with a hint of playful laughter. Julia tries and fails to hide her amusement, and he rolls his eyes at her.
"I've got a couple of years to catch up," He grumbles in a somewhat veiled rebuke.
"Oh, more than you know. Oh, I'm sorry, listen to me gab. You two must have come here for a reason." Malena switches the subject seamlessly, and Julia decides to stick to objectives. They need to find Amaranth, and hopefully it's as easy as getting a phone number.
"Hey uh...not to change the subject but, do you know an Amaranth Vertimer? Is he a relative of yours?" She blinks in surprise and nods animatedly, even proudly.
"Of course! He's my son! Amaranth hasn't lived here in some time. He moved to London years ago. He visits on holidays though, always pestering me to come to his house out there...ah, he never lacks for energy."
"But you're...uh…" Drenar trails off. Oh you're so smooth Drenar, bring up an ancient dragon lady's age why don't you? Julia worries he might blow this, even though he’s usually pretty good at keeping things under wraps. “Well, what brought him out there?”
Good recovery, attaboy Drenar!
"Work, actually. He teaches at a private academy, and from what he tells me it's the best job he's ever had. Were you looking for him?"
If she mentions this academy’s name sounds like ‘warthog,’ I’m gonna murder fools, Julia thinks internally while Drenar pops the question. “This is going to sound kind of weird, but I found his name in a book. I was hoping to find more of his writings, he had some cool stuff I was reading about that I was using for tabletop gaming.”
"You...found one of his books?" Her puzzled expression is etched on her face, and she leans in a little.
"Yeah. I did actually, and I was hoping to meet him. But London is a lot further away than I had planned for researching material for a tabletop game. I'm not that hardcore,” he admits and expertly weaves together a half-truth.
"You think it's...oh." It's as if something clicks, and he finally manages to deflect her suspicion when she laughs softly. "He always had a good imagination, didn't he? Almost as if he approached it as a researcher, studying animals from afar with patient observation. I’m glad you enjoyed it,” she adds while smiling faintly.
“I don’t suppose he had any more books, did he?” Julia's face appears calm, but she's anything but by this point.
“He did, but I don’t have any here at the house. I could call him and see if he has any he could ship,” she answers, but given her rising suspicion, Julia thinks it’s high time to leave.
“If you could, that’d be awesome,” Drenar replies to her, then looks at Julia. “Still wanna make food?”
“Huh, food?” she’s been post-processing this exchange too deeply. Just ask for the damn phone number Drenar or an email!
“Julia, I know what you’ll do if I let you cook by yourself,” he replies slyly, which she took offense to with a subdued growl from her throat. He turns to address Melena, who is setting a plate. “Thank you, Malena, we appreciate the gesture. Here, give me a call if you manage to get in touch with your son,” he continues, before giving her his number.
"I'll try. He doesn't bother with a cell phone, he's always out in the field where cell reception is nonexistent, so I'm lucky if he reaches out on a landline or his email. At least I know he loves his work," she replies warmly. "Anyway, it was good to see you two. You should stop by sometime. See you later, at the bakery maybe?”
“Sure thing.” Both Julia and Drenar depart a few seconds later. Neither of them dares to speak first. This is way too much to take in over only a couple of days.
All she knows is that there is probably going to be a less-than-pleasant discussion about the less-than-stellar reveal.