My Life with a Dragon

From Good, to Bad, to Worse

Michael woke up slowly, being sure to not make any sudden moves. Trying not to wake the two girls pressed against his arms. The TV had been on all night, now displaying, 'Are you still watching this?' Netflix is so considerate to ask. Sarah looked so peaceful sleeping next to him, for a second he thought maybe everything that happened was just a dream. Well for a second. Scowling at what he had to do he began nudging her with his shoulder.

"Sarah, It's time to get up. I don't think Crystal came back."

Sarah let out a loud yawn, rubbing the sleep from her eye's. "Well Lil did say she might not come back. I'm sure she's fine, but we should probably go out and look for her after breakfast."

"It's funny, you actually sound a little concerned."

"Not really. I mean what she did was pretty evil, but she's sick. I mean her story is kinda sad, really sad. I kinda feel sorry for her."

Michael looked out the sliding glass door, seeing the sunny day that was on the other side of it. "Ya. Well after breakfast we should,"

DING DONG! Sarah turned looking out to the front door. "I'll get it." Standing up from the couch and making her way to the door. Opening it slowly she could see the silver haired succubus. Crystal eyes were averted anywhere but at her, her face looked apprehension ,almost regretful. Standing next to her was a young man with a wide smile and a mess of dark hair.

"Hi, Sarah right?" The boy sounded genuinely happy and excited to meet her.

"Um, ya, Sarah Coldwell. You are?"

He let out a loud laugh. "Well, I'm Daryl Clark. Um," He paused looking at the succubus giving her a smile. "I'm a friend of Crystal's."

Sarah shifted from him to the succubus who moved closer to the boy, making him put his hand on her waist. She smiled at the two, opening the door wide. "Please come in."

Inside Michael and Lilith had gotten off the couch and were making quick work of a small breakfast. Eggs, toast, and some bacon. Sarah showed her guests to the table, taking her own seat facing them. Michael looked at Sarah, throwing two more eggs into the pan, noticing their additional guest.

"So, Daryl, how did you meet Crystal?" She was genuinely interested in hearing about what happened last night.

"Well it's kinda funny really. I was on my way home and just happened to see this soaking wet girl, hiding at a bus stop from the storm." Daryl moved in closer, putting his arm around Crystal's waist again, like he had outside. She could tell the girl was distressed. "I asked if she needed help, we went to my house to get dry. She had told me she was with friends but didn't know the area and got lost, well that's what she told me." His smirk made Crystal avert her eyes again.

"Well she's right." Crystal looked at Sarah confused. "Ya I told you not to go out on your own but you did anyway. We were worried sick about you. It's a wonder Lilith even slept."

"You say my name Sarah?" Lilith was stacking toast on a plate, while loading more into the toaster.

"Just how worried you were about your big sister, right?"

Lilith looked out to the table seeing the smiling boy with his arm around her sister's waist and the blush reddening her tan cheeks. She couldn't help but smile. "Ya sis, I was super worried, but I knew you'd be ok. Lucky you found someone to take care of you." Lilith and Crystal's eyes met. The little succubus giving her a smile before returning to her work.

She was so confused, it was like what had happened last night hadn't. She watched and listened as Sarah and Daryl exchanged small talk. They talked about the local college, his studies, his drawing and more details on the obvious relationship that seemed to be forming between him and Crystal.

"So Daryl what are you and Crystal, friends or something more?"

The forwardness of her question snapped Crystal into a defense. "Hey, Daryl, you don't have to answer that. You barely know her and beside,"

He cut her off almost more forward than Sarah had. "I'm in love with her."

The house went completely silent, Michael held the pan he was frying eggs in off the heat. Lilith watched Daryl and Crystal while the toaster sprang another done batch of toast. Sarah looked at the wide smile that went all the way to the young man's eyes. She couldn't help but smile back at him.

"Well that's all that matters isn't it." Crystal's eyes became wide as the girl she had tried so hard to ruin and destroy her love was celebrating her own happiness. She almost didn't even notice the tears running down her cheeks. Crystal's mind was a mess of thoughts and emotions. She had been ready for anger, being thrown out but not this, it was too much. She had always tried to ruin people's happiness and now someone was genuinely happy for her, that she had found happiness. Her body began to quake, unable to hold back the sobs flowing from her body.

"Crystal are you alright?" Daryl turned looking at the woman at his side.

She could barely speak, her sobs were growing in strength, but she eaked out what she needed to say through it. "I'm sorry Sarah, I'm sorry for," Another sob cut her off before she could finish but before her sob had loosened for her to speak she felt Sarah wrapping her arms around her neck, pulling her into an embrace. Stopping her from continuing.

Sarah held her head in an almost motherly embrace speaking softly to the crying girl. "It's ok, just forget about it. It was all a dream, just a dream."

Crystal's sobs grew as a new sensation of relief replaced the knot in her stomach. She wrapped her arms around Sarah's waist, hugging her tightly. Daryl was confused as though he had missed something but the only thing he could think to do was rub Crystal's back as she cried into the matronly figure comforting the girl he loved. Lilith stepped out from around the counter, approaching the scene not completely believing what she was seeing. Her sister looked at her, releasing Sarah from her hug and beckoned her closer.

"Hey sis." Crystal said wiping the tears from her eye's.

Lilith studied her sister, watching her and thinking of what to do. She leaned forward, placing her hands on Crystal's cheeks, looking into her eyes, seeing the happiness in them. The little succubus smiled wrapping her sister into a tight embrace, whispering into her ear. "I've missed you so much sis."

The group continued to talk over breakfast. The stack of toast slowly disappeared along with the eggs and glass after glass of juice. They all laughed and talked as though they had all been old friends. Any sign of the previous night was a fading memory and seemed to be a world away now.

"Well, wow," Daryl said looking at his watch. "It's almost 10, we really should be going shouldn't we?" He asked Crystal.

"Ya I think so. We have a lot to do today don't we. And you have school on Monday."

Michael started to clear the dishes, talking as he did. "Well we hope everything goes smooth, no point in stressing out about errands. Lilith you mind helping me?"

"Sure." She said jumping up and grabbing the rest of the plates.

Sarah leaned back stretching. "Busy day. Well Michael and I have a lot of the same to take care of." She looked at the little succubus in the kitchen. "I think she wants to be with you."

Crystal looked at Lilith a little unsure, it had been so long since they had been close. After what happened she shut herself off from everyone, it almost felt like she didn't know how to talk to her own sister anymore. Before she could make a response Lilith came running up, wrapping her arms around her big sister and laughing while she spoke. "Hey sis, I wanna spend the night with you and Daryl. I wanna see his apartment. You too made it sound so nice."

Daryl laughed. "If you call a single room with a bathroom nice, sure it's nice."

"I'm sure it's fine." Lilith said waving at him with a wide grin.

"We'd love to have you Lil, so long as it's ok with you Sarah, I mean you are her host?" Daryl asked.

Sarah just smiled. "And you are her sister." Looking at Crystal. "And I think you two have a lot to catch up on."

Sarah and Michael waved goodbye as The three walked down the street towards Daryl's house. Lilith had definitely taken a fancy to him. She called him nice and loved how he had such a sweet tooth. Crystal looked back to the girl and her dragon lipping softly, 'Thank you.' They hadn't told Daryl why she had fled the house, they didn't have to. It was in the past and she seemed to have changed, found something that was missing in her heart and seemed genuinely happy. Sarah took Michael's hand in hers, pulling him closer to her and he was happy to oblige.

"Oh don't you two look cosey." The sound of Agent Smith's voice made the two jump as though they had both become white hot. Smith looked down the street sliding her sunglasses down her nose. "And where are those two going, and who's that with them?"

Reaching for an explanation, the truth seemed to be their best option instead of trying to fabricate something on the spot. Sarah invited Smith in for coffee, which she gleefully accepted, along with an explanation.

Sitting at the table Sarah recounted the evening, omitting some minor details, but keeping the general goings on. Crystal had become angry and left the house, unsupervised. Met a young man who took her in, took care of her for the evening, returning her in the morning but she decided to stay with him. Lilith went with her sister because it seemed they reconciled some issue and she wanted to be with her big sister. Also get to know her sister's host. Sarah almost slipped calling Daryl, Crystal's boyfriend.

"Wow quite an evening then. Seems like a lot happened after I saw all of you at the restaurant." Smith sipped her coffee before continuing. "Well I suppose after I'm done here I should pay a visit to Mister Clark and vet him properly. Wouldn't want any delinquents hosting extraspecies now would we?" She said letting out a laugh.

Sarah and Michael let out a forced laugh. Michael winked at Sarah before he spoke. "Well I spoke to him, he seems like a good decent man. I don't think he will give you any problems, especially with Lilith and Crystal. You could tell he cared a great deal for them, besides how many people do you know who would just take someone into their home because they needed help?."

Smith smiled at the dragon. "You're probably right Michael. Well I wouldn't think he would but procedure is procedure ." Setting down her cup and pulling off her sunglasses, laying them next to her cup. "So about last night. I noticed you two seemed to be getting awfully close." Smith's smirk made Sarah's face go pale, she could feel Michael's hand tighten around her own. "I mean if I didn't know any better I would say you two seemed closer than host and guest." Michael's blood went cold with her words, but her sudden outburst of laughter made the two look at each other confused. "You two have become such great friends!" They went wide eyed. "I mean this is what it's all about, showing that species doesn't matter, everyone can get along. I am so happy the relationship between you two had become so strong, It's exactly what we need right now." Smith clapped her hands with excitement while the secret lovers breathed a sigh of relief.

"Yes Agent Smith, great friends, very close." Michael said smiling and rubbing the back of his neck in relief.

"Absolutely. great friends. I don't know what I'd do without him really." Sarah smiled up at her dragon.

"Well that is great to hear. You two are an example of how this can work, best of all you two aren't copulating." Their faces turned to stone again. "I mean the biggest problem we are having is interspecies romantic relationships. To be honest I'm waiting for the law to get appealed I personally hope they change it soon, I mean love and let live right?"

"Is there talk of an appeal Mrs. Smith?" Sarah tried to sound casual in her question but Smith gave her a cat like grin.

"Well there is talk. Now you can't spread this around, but three of the councilmen. Two men and one woman, are currently under investigation for breaking the interspecies exchange bill by engaging in relations with extra species."

Michael became irritated, immediately. Hearing this made his blood boil. "How are they gonna make a law they themselves don't even follow? Isn't there a law about that?"

Smith shrugged. "Well ya, that's why they are under investigation. One man allegedly fornicated with a lamia the other a kobalt, which surprises me. The man was in his sixties and kobolts have a reputation for being super high energy."

"What about the woman?" Sarah asked.

Smith took another sip of her coffee. "Oh she became involved with a minotaur. That one is pretty hard to hide at this point."

"What do you mean?" Michael asked.

"Well she wasn't exactly discreet. She had a camera phone and would take videos and pictures of their, activities, and the video got leaked. It's all over the internet."

"That's horrible." Sarah leaned back in her chair thinking how embarrassed the poor woman must have been, but she was a little angry that she had been one of the ones who made the law that made her and Michael have to hide their relationship, for the time being at least.

"Yes it is, but it was her choice when she decided to make a law and then break that law. Kinda like karma if you ask me. Well I must be on my way. I want to catch Crystal and Mr. Clark at home, I know Lilith can become pretty restless. Oh there is a committee meeting today about the law and the scandal of the situation. I hope the results are positive but I will keep you both posted" They all chuckled thinking of the little demon and hoping for a positive outcome to the meeting.

"Ok well I think we all would like that, for everyon's sake. I'll show you out Mrs. Smith and please be easy on Daryl. He's a good man and I think he's what Crystal need's right now." Smith gave Sarah a raised eyebrow before smiling and closing the door behind her.

Sarah returned to Michael, who was still sitting at the table, wrapping her arms around him, pulling him into her chest. He returned her embrace, wrapping his own arms around her waist and listening to her strong heart beat.

"Well maybe the law will change soon. Politicians change their tune pretty quick when they get caught doing something wrong."

Michael smiled thinking of the possibility of an appeal. "Ya but there are still the extra species that voted against it."

"There were only a few that voted for that stimulation of the bill, it was mostly humans that seemed to want to keep us separated."

"You're right." Michael nuzzled into her soft breast, taking in her sweet scent. "I just don't want to hide anymore."

Sarah ran her hand over his head to his spikes to the back of his head, it always looked like a jagged crown. Her king. "Me too, but for now we have our safe place again. All to ourselves." Michael smiled up at her thinking she could only mean one thing. He quickly stood up scooping her into his arms, almost running towards the stairs. "NO NO NO!" She said laughing. "Not now, If we make love I'm going to go to sleep and we have to take care of some errands." Michael let out a harumph looking down at the girl in his arms. "Are you pouting?"

"No."

"Oh come on. When we get back we can do it all night but we really need groceries." Michael set her down, knowing she was right. Lilith had been like a bottomless pit and they only had enough food for a small breakfast this morning.

"I suppose you're right. Besides I wanna see if the store has anything particular to dragons, maybe they have some of the foods from home."

Sarah smiled seeing him do the same. "I bet they do. It's been months since the integration started. I bet they have all kinds of new food."

Sarah started up stairs to Michael's confusion. "Where are you going?"

"To change, I mean I'm not going out in sweats and," Sarah said pointing. "I think you should probably change too."

Michael looked down realizing he was wearing about the same as her. Sweats cut into shorts and a tank top, gym clothes maybe but not shopping clothes.

Twenty minutes later Sarah exited her room in a skin tight pair of tie dye yoga pants and a white off the shoulder blouse, that barely covered her midriff. Michael's eyes went wide seeing her looking so sexy. "I feel a little under dressed."

She smirked at her dragon in his blue jeans and blue tune in Tokyo t-shirt. "You look handsome. Let's go."

The street was surprisingly bare of people. The shops had the occasional shopper but few and far between. After going down along ways, probably thirteen blocks or more. Michael found himself looking at a grocery mart that seemed like it had once been a convenience store and not a place to buy groceries. Sarah, still holding his hand, lead him into the grocery. As they entered He was surprised with the high shelves, stacked all the way to the ceiling. He followed Sarah as she browsed them, they were all well stocked with anything and everything you could think of. Michael took a basket following Sarah as she began to put items into the it. Grabbing mostly snacks, Michael became confused as to how they were going to survive on Oreos and peanut butter.

"Hey Sarah, Um, how are we gonna get all the food we need home?"

She simply smiled at him. "Well I took the liberty of making a quick list before I got dressed. The best part of this store is they deliver if you live close enough. The snacks are for us now cause the rest of the groceries probably won't be home until dinner. So, we gotta make due." Her smile made Michael feel good enough if he had to carry three hundred pounds of groceries home he'd be okay with it. As they walked Sarah jotted down new items to the list as they made their way through the aisles.

"Well that's convenient." They continued looking around until arriving at the "ethnic section". Usually this area would be filled with exotic human foods but recently it had been re-purposed for the tastes of extra species. Only one or two items for individual type but Michael quickly grabbed something that resembled black marbles suspended in jelly and his eyes lit up.

"Oh wow," He said taking the jar in his over sized hands. "They have Mandrake seeds, these things are awesome."

Sarah looked at the jar and its contents more closely, cringing at the realization that the "seeds" as he called them looked more like eyeballs than actual seeds. Whenever Michael moved the jar the seeds appeared to move, giving the impression that they were alive somehow. Being polite she tried to seem interested in the gross looking food. "So you eat that huh?

"Oh ya these things are great. You can only eat a few of them cause they fill you up so fast."

Moving a little closer, unable to hide the slight look of disgust on her face. "So what do they taste like?"

"Well I don't know how these ones are preserved, usually they are pickled and have this salty sweet taste. Almost like eating an olive and a piece of pineapple at the same time."

Hearing the combo made Sarah raise an eyebrow. "Salty and sweet huh, well they are for you. I think we have enough snacks for at least a lunch, then when we get the rest of the groceries I'll cook dinner okay?"

Michael nodded thinking of what wonderful meal Sarah had thought of. He secretly hoped for her teriyaki beef and some rice, so simple but so good when she put some sushi vinegar in the rice.

Michael had a large grin thinking of the delicious meal while Sarah started with a raised eyebrow. "You ok?"

Snapping him out of his trance. "Um ya, I guess I'm hungrier than I thought. Just thinking about dinner is making me zone out."

"Well let's check out, put in the delivery order and why not put this stuff on it too. Maybe we can grab lunch someplace instead?"