Chapter 34 — Village Girl

During my time in the elf village, I learned a lot about community. They all helped one another out using whatever skills they had to offer. They were kind to each other and cared about each other. I helped in whatever way I could but while keeping a low profile. The children of the village all played together and were basically raised by all the adults in the village in a way. I was only staying in the inn and not planning on moving in permanently, but they welcomed me.

After I got the call from Cade this morning I was shaken up. He told me they’d find her and for me to stay put but I couldn’t exactly do that. “Hey, stranger.” The inn workers daughter greeted me as I walked out of my room. She tried to talk to me all the time, but I barely responded. Whenever I tried to relax outside, she would always be staring at me trying to impress me with elf magic. I waved so she’d be satisfied but she followed me. “You’ve been here for a month, and you barely talk to anyone, you just observe.” she put emphasis on observe. “You're from one of those big cities in one of the dragon shifters kingdoms, aren’t you? What are you doing way out here?”

I pushed the entrance door open. “I try not to talk to minors so if you don’t mind.” She was probably Hannah's age, maybe a little younger.

“Don’t worry I trust you. Everyone talks to everyone out here. You don’t seem dangerous to me and if you are I could just scream. Our village is so small everyone would hear.” She laughed. “Are you in a hurry?” 

“Kind of.”

“Are you really Prince Lexus?” She asked. “I didn’t want to come right out and ask but you haven’t really been having a conversation the right way.”

“Who else knows?” I asked because I’ll have to relocate.

She smiled. “Well, everyone, they’re just too polite to let you know that they know. We’re not a poor village, we have decent TVs, we’re just small. You’re always on the TV, especially on the news and as topics in talk shows. Nobody outside this village knows you're here. It’s cool, it’s like our village has its own little secret.” I stopped because she was nearly following me into the forest. “If you want to stay a secret you shouldn’t leave. Your dragon is pretty recognizable and a few of the neighboring villages are noisy, they’d give up your location.” I didn’t understand why the people of the village didn’t give up my location.

Finding Aqua was more important than my hiding was. “I’ll be fine.” I watched her shrug and walk off.

 I thought to look in the most obvious place first. I flew around the neighboring kingdoms of Wilwar until I found the mixed species kingdom Aqua’s mom lived in. This was the most obvious place, so Konn probably already looked here. I needed to know for sure she wasn’t here. I had to fly around for a while until I found Mae’s house. I knocked on the door.

Mae answered with a surprised expression. “Prince Lexus?” She frowned. “If you’re looking for Aqua, she’s not here. You should be the last person looking for her.” 

“Can I at least come in? You obviously know more than I do.”

“Sure, just don’t pass out, you look tired.” She opened the door wider and took a few steps back. “I want to make this quick.”

I looked around for any sign of Aqua. “Why should I be the last person looking for Aqua?”

“Because, when you two were found out you left. I don’t mean the castle, you had to leave the castle, but you stopped talking to her all together. She was already feeling terrible about everything you both did to the people you care about. She had to deal with the consequences alone.” I never thought of it like that, I thought I was protecting her from more consequences.

I leaned against her living room wall and noticed Aqua’s clothes folded up on the couch. They looked familiar enough for me to know they were hers. “So, you did talk to her?”

She nodded. “The last time I saw her was a week ago. I don’t know where she is now. This is the last known place she was. Even my tracking spells aren’t working. I’m not worried, I would be more worried if she stayed in the castle.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Why? It’s better to know where she is.”

She sat down on her couch. “I’ve disappeared myself at her age. She might be better off. They were stressing her out. They had her using her abilities way too much. She’s already burned out. She wasn’t raised being taught how to develop her abilities. She’s half human, they can’t treat her like she’s an average holder. Her support system isn’t the same anymore. She’s not just burned out from using her abilities she’s also emotionally burned out. She thinks she makes life worse for everyone around her. That’s all the information I have Lexus.”

I walked to the door. “I’m going to keep looking for her but not to bring her back to the castle.” 

“Good, promise me you won’t let her go back. Holders have shortened lives and I want her to have a long one.” I forgot about that. I wouldn’t have worked her that hard but I’m not sure how much control I’d really have.

“I promise.” The only other obvious place I could go was the human world. I left Mae’s house and flew past the barrier out of the hidden world. I thought a lot about what I’d say and whether she’d forgive me for letting my parents break us apart. I walked to her family's home and knocked on the door. Her adoptive father/blood uncle answered. “Yes? Can I help you?”

“Is Aqua here?”

The man frowned. “No… who are you? Are you one of…” I didn’t answer his question, instead I walked away, and he yelled after me, “Tell she’s not welcome back again without notice!” It was pointless information. 

I flew around high enough not to be seen. Luckily for me any satellites or anything like that had been enchanted by mages not to pick up dragons or any other magical creature. I swore I caught onto Aqua's scent, but it disappeared before I could lock onto the location. I had to give up, it was hard searching in the human world when I had to worry about being seen by the wrong people.

When I got back from the human world, I looked in a few other places. I called her over and over again all throughout the day. I got back to the village and reporters were there. It had got out that I was staying in the elf village. The innkeeper's daughter was right about the neighboring villages. I was prepared to leave so I was fine with it. They asked me all kinds of questions, but I ignored them all. They wanted to know if I were exiled or disowned. They asked if I were romantically involved with the current holder and if I still planned on ruling. The inn keeper made sure they didn’t get inside.

 “I told you they’d find you.” The girl walked to me. “You don’t have to leave; they’ll get them to leave.”

I walked to my room. “I have to leave. I don’t want my parents knowing where I am.” 

“Why?”

“They’ve known my whole life.” This was my chance to breathe and let them know we’re either in each other's lives completely or not at all. I’m not living on their terms anymore, my relationship with them is already shit. I walked into my room and collected a few of my small important things. 

When I left the room, the girl gave me a scale. “I’m a hybrid, elf and dragon. There are mostly elves here but a lot of hybrids too, especially the kids. I know you have tons of your own scales, but I still want you to have it. Hybris scales are still rare, since I’m an elf it’s great for healing and healing spells.” One of the main reason’s dragon shifters gave out our scales and feathers was because they were valuable and would sale. There’s no reason to give it to another shifter because we have our own scales and feathers, we could sale if we wanted. The only reason one shifter would give a scale or feather to another shifter was for them to have it as token of friendship and/or affection. It meant a lot to keep another shifters scale or feather as a treasure of sorts or way to remember them. It was rare for shifters to give other shifters scales and feathers which made it even more significant.

I had to ask, “Why?” 

She looked away. “Sometimes I can’t sleep at night. I hear you in the front when everyone else is in their rooms and it’s quiet. You play the piano… my older brother used to play it, that’s the only reason it’s there. He left to do research in the human world, he’s full dragon shifter so he blends in well in the human world without shifting. I can’t do that.” Her ears, eyes and a few other features didn’t look very human. “I’ve been missing him, so the piano helped. I want you to have this as a thank you.”

I took her gesture and decided to give her one of my feathers. Konn always taught me to keep a few on me, I thought it was stupid up until now. “I probably won’t be back.” I left and the reporters followed but I was able to lose them after half an hour. I didn’t know where to go so I found a cave in a Forest to stay in. I didn’t need a comfortable place to stay. Not knowing if Aqua was safe made it hard to feel comfort anyways.

A week went by, and I wasn’t sure if they found Aqua because I still wasn’t in contact with anyone. Cade wouldn’t answer my calls and I didn’t feel comfortable calling Konn. So, I called the only other person who I could.

“Lexus? This is a surprise.” Hannah laughed. “You’re calling me of all people. What can I do for you?” She said in a sinister tone. “You know other than take up all your damn responsibilities.” Her tone switched to bitterness. “You know I always wished I were older than you so I could take over but it’s so much work. They’re even more strict about where I go. I haven’t seen my girlfriend much in the last two weeks.”

“Did they find Aqua?” I asked.

“No, she’s been gone for two weeks, and they haven’t found someone else to help me with my work. It was easier when she was here. Those were good days.”

It was hard to imagine Aqua aiding for someone who wasn’t me. “I’m sorry about fucking up so badly that you had to take my place. They’ll find you a replacement aid soon, and you’ll be able to see your girlfriend.”

“Where are you?”

I looked around the cave. “In an elf village, I’m staying in their inn.” I missed the elf village; I didn’t expect to.

“That’s bullshit, I watch the news Lexus. They found you a week ago and you left. Where are you now?”

I know she was worried but there was no point in worrying more. “I’m in a cave outside of the southern dragon kingdom. I don’t need the press finding me again.”

“That’s terrible, mom and dad wanted you to stay in a hotel nearby. They’re worried because they don’t know where you are.” I didn’t doubt that they were worried.

“They shouldn’t have kicked me out then. I don’t even want to be there if I can’t be with Aqua.”

“You’ve never said anything like that to me before.”

“About a girl?”

“No… something real I guess.” She paused. “If you find Aqua before we, do I hope you don’t come back. Not because I want to be queen, which I do, but because she was on the verge of depression without you. You guys should be together if that’s what you want.” I couldn’t imagine the holder family line not being advisers anymore and something tells me my parents will do all they can to make sure it doesn’t happen. “

“I appreciate it, but Lydia is a werewolf. Aren’t you worried if you become Queen, you wouldn’t be allowed to be with her?”

“Not really, if me and Lydia are still together when it’s time for me to take over, I can handle it. I’m very persuasive. It does seem like our parents are having trouble with the pack ever since we announced that we found the holder. Ugh I have to go. I made a mistake again and Konn is knocking at my door. Stay in touch, I’m kinda worry about you.” She hung up before I could say goodbye.

I realized if I wanted to find Aqua, I might need to make sure Konn, and Cade didn’t find her first. Or make sure we found her together.