Chapter 10

-Eir-

I stood at the back door of the Dragon's lair with my hands behind my back and my head held high. I looked towards the grey clouds which threatened to unleash seas onto the land where my father was buried not six hours ago.

We had another funeral to attend today, but I had to change out of my pristine white dress, which wasn't so pristine after the burial. It was traditional for those who are close to the dead to wear white when in mourning. I couldn't wait to get the garment off me and something on which didn't make me look like a piece of paper.

My father's absence was noticeable from the moment he took his last breath. Dragons who refused to be led by a woman fought back with their weapons of choice. I made quick work of them. I didn't kill any of them; they were still people who I had grown up with, but they wouldn't find anywhere else anytime soon. Unless they went to the Stranger's side.

It was different fighting people who you've grown up with; you could anticipate each of their moves far too easily. The recent missions that I had gone on knocked me down a few pegs. Now that I was the leader of the Dragons; I couldn't afford for my confidence to be low.

We still had some faithful members, Falcon being one of them. He quickly became second in command after my father's death. I didn't know his skill set too well, but Dag put in a good word for him. The two of them had a thing going on for the last few years. Seems it's very difficult to separate the Strangers and Dragons when it comes down to love.

Stone and Ash were more open about their relationship too. When the fight had ended, Ash was a key target for the Dragon's anger. Those who raised a knife to her got told to leave, but nothing more. I didn't mind an argument, as long as there was no bloodshed.

"She's like an angel," Xen's voice came from behind me.

I furrowed my eyebrows and turned around. She was looking directly at me. Ash was by her side, both of them also dressed in white. Ash had a grin on her face, whilst Xen's mouth dropped open, and her hand covered her mouth. "I said that out loud, didn't I?"

My lips twitched and I nodded. "Appreciated, but denied," I said. "How are the preparations?"

Ash lifted a hand. "Good point," she said and turned around. "I should go check on those."

Xen stomped her foot as she turned back to look at me. Her eyes were red and lay on top of heavy shadows. "Okay, I suppose," she answered me. "The funeral is in approximately-" she checked her watch "-ninety-eight minutes."

I nodded again and let out a heavy sigh. I was sure my expression matched hers; tired and tear-stained.

"It's difficult," I admitted. "He's my father, but he didn't really act like one. I feel like I shouldn't care about his passing, but I haven't stopped crying." It wasn't necessarily a lie; even though it was improper for me to cry as a leader of the Dragons, I couldn't help the tears from falling.

"I feel the opposite," Xen said as she stepped towards me. "He acted like a father, but I didn't know that he actually was my father until he died." I knew this, but I let her talk anyway. Her shoulder was touching mine, her hand was only inches away from my own.

Xen had been a tremendous help over the past few days. She made me get out of bed on the days I didn't want to do any preparations. She helped me keep myself in check when it came to forgetting meals. She helped me figure out what I was going to do with my little band of assassins and thieves.

Her fingers twitched, touching mine for the briefest of seconds before her hand grasped mine. I was surprised, but I welcomed the comfort that her grip brought.

"What are you going to do?" she asked me softly. "Will the Dragons remain an unformidable clan?"

I chuckled and shook my head. "We'll try," I answered. "It will take a lot of time to build a reputation, but my father did a lot of that without me." My father wanted the world to know his name, he couldn't do that without hyping the surname we share. "What are you going to do?"

Xen shrugged, her shoulder making her short hair fall into her face. "Same old, same old," she responded. She looked over at me, "How about, when everything is settled, I...take you out one day?"

I couldn't believe what I heard. I searched her face for any trace of lies, but I saw nothing but hope and anticipation in her warm brown eyes. "You mean with a knife, or on a date?" I cleared my throat. "No, I mean a dagger."

She rolled her eyes at me, but a grin spread across her lips. "A date, you dummy." She huffed. "Don't hate on the daggers, they're perfectly valid just the way they are."

"If I admitted they were good, I'd be two-faced," I joked. It didn't really come across how I intended, but she laughed. "That was pathetic, I know. I'd like to go out with you one day." I nodded as I spoke. "Where would you take me?" I asked, a curious smirk coming onto my lips.

Xen turned on her heels and started to drag me inside. "The shopping centre, maybe you could pick up some fighting skills?" she teased.

I opened my mouth with a dramatic gasp. I wasn't expecting that, but then again, she always seems to surprise me. "How about we buy you some style instead?" I retaliated. "Or is 200's emo still in?"

It was her turn to stare at me, amusement sparkled in her eyes and a smile lifted her lips. "Emo will always be in, little miss goth."

I shook my head in denial. "Goth was around before that, and it suits me far too well." I looked down to the dress I was wearing. "Unlike this."

"I think you look really pretty in white," Xen told me. "Though, I think you'd look even better in red." She sent a wink my way.

I froze, I hadn't thought that I would be wearing red at any time throughout my life. I started to imagine myself wearing red. Having perfectly sculpted lips the shade of crimson and wearing a dress the shade of scarlet. Splashes of gold would break up the colour every now and again, golden bangles and beads would litter my wrists and neck.

I shook my head. I was only asked on a date, it's far too early to consider the colour red.