I tip my chin up in indignation. “I did not lie. I am not a liar. You never asked me if I was a monster.”
“Oh, I have to ask, do I?”
“If you want information, you do.”
“And you would’ve told me the truth?” He’s side-eyeing me now.
I chuckle. But don’t answer. Because I am a truth-teller. So if I get an uncomfortable question, that’s all I can do. Just… don’t answer.
“That’s what I thought,” Big Jim says. Then he squeezes Madeline. Manhandling her! Pushing her! And even through his meaty paw I can make out her muffled screams.
“Stop that!” I demand. “Right now. You will let her go—”
“Oh, will I?”
“If you know what’s good—”
But he cuts me off again. “Boy, you’re gonna listen to me now. Because while this girl might be my niece, there’s no love between us.”
He’s wrong. I understand that he has no feelings for her, but Madeline has genuine affection for her uncle. And this disproportionate love makes me angry.
Because that’s how I’ve been treated my whole life as well.
I might not be the smartest monster. I’m not clever and cute like Pie. Or cunning and charming like Pell. But I am a loyal beast. Dragons are nothing if not loyal.
My love for others far exceeds the love given back. It has always been this way. And up until now, it was fine. I am a dragon and that is part of our curse.
But Madeline is not a dragon. She is an innocent, beautiful, pure soul who sees the good and never the bad. And this jerk is her kin. And he is using her—
“I’m waiting, beast!”
“Waiting for what?”
“Are you gonna come with us? Or do I have to hurt her?” And when he says hurt her, he does hurt her. Because she squeals. I don’t know what he did. Pinched her, maybe. Kicked her. Squeezed her.
But it doesn’t matter. Because I am starting to get pissed.
“Don’t be stupid, boy,” Big Jim says. My anger must be written all over my face. “You have no idea how long I’ve been searching for you monsters. You have no idea how many decades I’ve been ridiculed for believing in you monsters. So you have no idea what it feels like to be mocked for stating the truth about you monsters. You think you can make a fool out of me, son?” He shakes his head. “No, boy. You cannot.”
Now I’m starting to get bored. Humans. They have so much ego, it gets on my last nerve. “What do you want?”
“You are gonna come out from those walls, allow me to tie you up, and then we’re gonna go into town and you’re going to jail.”
“Jail?” I blink because I’m confused. Not because I don’t understand what jail is. But because… jail? Really? That’s the best he can come up with? So I shrug and walk towards the gate. “Fine. But you will allow Madeline to stay here behind the safety of these walls.”
Big Jim laughs. “Like hell. She’s the only leverage I have. No deal. Either you come with me, and I keep Madeline, or she’s done. She never makes it home ever again.”
I pause at the gate and run a few scenarios through my head. How might this end?
How, indeed.
Well, there are many possibilities. Some better than others. But all of them end with Madeline in my arms.
So once again I say, “Fine.”
But at the same time, from behind me, comes a voice.
“No.” It is a very firm no.