The Draconian Family

There weren’t always dragons in the Valley. I didn’t even believe in such things. However, Lucas Draconian turned up during my last year at the Valley high school and I had to fall head over heels for him, his eyes, his flawless skin and red hair. Since when was red hair attractive on a potential boyfriend? I honestly couldn’t say, but everything about Lucas was damn hot!

Then, one little snag: I was literally plain Jane, because I was too scared to stand out over fear of being bullied. I figured that if I kept out of most people’s way, wore safe clothing, that no one could pick on, so expensive but boring to look at, I was going to survive school with no fights, no missing hair and my head dry from never being flushed down a toilet. For six years it had been a flaming success, until my first day going into my seventh year.

I met Lucas at the bus stop, it was the early bus, so it was quieter, and I could just grab a seat in my form room and make polite conversation with the tutor until registration and new timetables were given out. Instead, Lucas decided that I was going to be his morning guide.

“Excuse me, are you going to the Valley high school? I’m new and I’m not sure which stop I’m supposed to get off at.”

All I could think was that I should have made a little more effort that morning. A clear gloss and maybe a slight touch of mascara was all I had used, and my hair was just tied back and out of my face. The boy, who had just spoken to me was like something off a boy band poster. I felt cursed and a sudden need to rethink my entire look.

“I am, but we’ll be quite early, and I don’t think the head of year starts until a bit later.” I replied.

“Look, this isn’t my first transfer. I just want to get my Barings and get on with it with as little drama as possible, especially with a surname like “Draconian”, my first name is Lucas by the way.” He added.

I couldn’t help but smile. I liked his name. I had a very religious grandmother, so I knew some basic Latin.

“I’m Jane, and to be honest, I think that is an amazing surname. It’s something to do with dragons isn’t it?” I asked.

Lucas looked surprised and the bus pulled up, we got on it together and even sat together, which was a first to me, as I often was on my own at that time of the morning.

“How do you know?” He asked.

“My gran up north prays mostly in Latin, and I have picked up a few things over the years. I’m not practicing religion myself; I just respect her and her beliefs.” I replied.

Lucas had a look on his face that I wasn’t used to: respect.

“That’s pretty decent of you. Anyway, I don’t need to speak to the head. He told me I have to go to Mr. Page’s room. Do you know it?” He asked.

My heart sank. Mr. Page wasn’t my tutor, and he had the worst girls in his classroom, that would probably either try and sleep with Lucas or pick on him over his surname. Also, Mr. Page and I had a history because I refused to pay attention in lower school geography and failed three years in a row before I was finally allowed to drop it.

“Yes, but again I don’t even think he is going to let you in this early and it isn’t where I’m going if I’m honest.” I explained.

“That’s a shame. Do you mind if I meet your tutor? Maybe I can convince them to at least let me stay until the others arrive?” Asked Lucas.

I didn’t fancy his chances, but what could I do? I let the good-looking new boy, follow me into my form room, sneakily convince Mr. Stax that he would prefer to stay with us, to help him find his feet, attend most of his classes with me and then a few weeks later, I unexpectedly called round to his house one morning, to find out that he was a little more than hot- he was an actual, fire-breathing, red dragon!

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I ignored Lucas’ calls and messages for days. I actually started getting the busier bus just to avoid him in the morning and even signed in late at the front desk to avoid him. In our shared lessons, I sat as far away from him as I could and continued to ignore him, his piercing blue gaze and the jeering from Alexa Cole.

“Have you two broke up? Jane, not putting out fast enough for you Lucas. I’m not surprised, she’s got no idea what to do with you.” She mocked.

I gave Lucas a knowing glance, she was almost right. I didn’t know what to do with him, especially knowing that he could turn into a red dragon. Who did know how to handle a red dragon? Since when did people turn into dragons?

“Or is it that she did, and you weren’t that impressed?” Added Alexa.

That was enough from her for one day, I packed up, made a pathetic excuse to the teacher about a stomach cramp and took myself out of school for the rest of the day. I needed an iced coffee and time to think about Lucas, his situation and what I was going to do about it.

I made my order and took a seat towards the back of the café in the town center. It had all been going so well. I really liked Lucas, even beyond his looks, toned arms and general sexiness, we got on really well and there had been so much more to it than how much I thought he could be the one that I had been holding out for.

On our first weekend I had brought Lucas to the same café, I didn’t like the idea of him stuck at home with his family, worried that he had no one to go anywhere with. He must have remembered that because he soon found me and begged me to stay.

“Don’t go Jane, please, don’t do this. I didn’t mean to scare you, I’d never hurt you, at least not on purpose.” He added.

I sighed. I couldn’t be mad at him. I knew that my parents were working and that we weren’t in danger of being over-heard or classed as mad if we spoke about what happened in private.

“We should go back to mine; I’m guessing you don’t want anyone else knowing?” I asked.

“You’re more than enough.” He muttered.

I took my drink with me. I offered it to Lucas and the next thing I knew the ice had melted and the plastic cup was too hot for me to hold. He binned it and quickly put on a strong pair of sunglasses.

“We need to leave!”

I got him home as quickly as I could. His skin was burning and when he removed his glasses, his eyes were yellow and black.

“What’s going on? Can I do anything?” I asked.

“I’m scared Jane! Scared others will find out! I’m scared I’ll lose control! Last time I burned the school down! I nearly killed someone!” He panicked.

“Lucas don’t be scared, it’s just me, you can trust me, I hardly know anyone or like anyone enough to betray your trust! We are friends, aren’t we? Lucas, listen to me, please! It will be alright!” I pleaded.

Lucas’ skin returned to normal, but it was clammy, his eye went back to blue, and he was breathless, practically shaking in front of me. One minute, I put my hand on his arm and the next I was holding him close to me.

“Please help me Jane, I’ve no one outside my family, I’m the youngest and I just can’t control this family curse no matter what. My dad thinks it will calm down with age, but I’m the only scarlet in the family and they are said to be more dangerous.” He explained.

It all started to make sense. Lucas Draconian and his family didn’t just have a dragon-based surname. They were actual dragons or at least people who could turn into dragons, usually at will, but Lucas seemed to be having more trouble controlling his shifting than his family.

“Your whole family can do this?” I asked.

“Just my dad, my older sister and me. My mum is normal, like you. Everyone else is a black dragon.” He replied.

I tried to picture them all turned as dragons, though I could only do it with Lucas and his father Henry Draconian as I hadn’t actually met his sister Katherine, but I was told she preferred to be called “Kay” for short.

“Maybe this is a bad idea, if my dad finds out that you know…” started Lucas.

“He won’t know, not from me. I won’t treat any of you any differently. I made you a promise and I intend to keep it.” I assured him.

We hadn’t let go of each other. Lucas seemed to be deciding if he could trust me or not and he sighed defeatedly.

“He’ll know, if I go home like this, he’ll know I was close, and he knows I’m with you if I am not at school.” Added Lucas.

Lucas was still dripping with sweat, and it was a mild day. I gave him a fresh towel out of the airing cupboard and left him to have a cold shower to hide how close he came to transforming in public. A less panicked Jane Bailey would have had at least one eye at the keyhole of the bathroom door, but I had just pledged myself nothing more than a friend, keeping a very large secret and friends didn’t try and sneak a peak at other friends in the shower as far as I was aware.

Beautifully done Jane, literally the hottest man you will ever know is in your shower and you’re downstairs, giving him his privacy, reading mum’s trashy magazine, drinking coffee and dunking shortbread! I thought.

The shower did the trick, Lucas came into the kitchen, looking a lot cooler and calmer than he had been. He raised his mug to me.

"Thanks Jane, but, to be honest, you could have done me a favour and scrubbed my back for me." He said, winking at me.

"Just behave." I muttered, assuming that he was joking.

Lucas smirked and lowered his mug.

"What for? We're already the talk of our year. I think you and me should give the likes of Alexa something to talk about, plus I really do like you, after everything we have just been through. Will you be my girlfriend Jane? Can you go out with someone like me?" He asked, no longer smirking, but sincere.