Chapter Fifteen (Daimonas)

Starling came back later when it was dark out.

He brought popcorn and candy and a stuffed dolphin. I didn't even ask him to. He just showed up with them, smiling and pretending that I wasn't leaving tomorrow. I was happy he didn't talk about it. I don't think I could bring myself to discuss it. I didn't want to say goodbye.

"And so I got grounded for, like, two months after that." Starling informed, popping a handful of popcorn into his mouth with a noisy crunch, making me grin. He was telling me about the time he left school to join a skateboarding tournament and his parents grounded him. I felt sorry for him, though. He got second place, why wouldn't his parents be happy for him? Was it the skipping school part?

"You get grounded a lot." I pointed out. Starling shrugged, picking up a candy that he called a starburst and popping it into his mouth and folding up the wrapper. He extended one of his nails into a claw, making me watch in awe as he placed the wrapper on the tip of his claw.

"My parents think I'm a wild child," He paused, wrinkling his nose, "I am a dragon. My people don't like being confined. We need to be free. They don't get it and I can't very well tell 'em I'm a dragon. They'll withdraw everything from my savings." I frowned, tilting my head.

"What's a savings?" I asked, confused. Starling looked up with a polite smile.

"Savings. It's where all the money I earn and my parents set aside to send me to college. I've got quite a lot in there." He answered.

"You're going to college?" I asked with interest. Starling paused, averted his eyes, shrugging a bit uncomfortably.

"I could," He responded, "I mean, I should, but... I dunno. I kinda wanted to continue skateboarding and join in more competitions." I cocked my head at that. It suited him. It was probably the closest to flying Starling could get. At least, that's what it looked like to me when I saw him skateboarding to school on my first day. He moved fast and he had good balance, but that didn't surprise me. It made sense for dragons to be fast and be well balanced.

"I want to go to college." I offered. Starling smiled.

"I bet you'd have fun there. It's better than high school."

"Really? High school's already fun."

"Aha, that's what it looks like now," Starling admitted with a frown, "But, ah, it doesn't stay awesome for long. At least, not until you graduate." I blinked at that.

"Graduate?"

"It's when you're done with high school and go to college. And then you graduate from school. I graduate this year."

"So you'll be all done with school?" I asked in awe. That must mean he was really smart. I wondered if I would ever graduate. How long would I have to stay in school? Starling caught the look on my face and smiled warmly.

"Yeah, but you'll be there soon, Daimonas. You're smart." He commented. I blushed, shifting a little as I reached up to brush a lock of hair behind my ear. I grabbed a candy and popped it into my mouth, wincing at how sour it was. Starling laughed at my expression and I pouted before chewing it.

"I dunno," I said after a while, picking up another candy to put in my mouth and dull down the sour taste, "I'm not that smart. I just ask too many questions." Starling smiled, tilting his head to look at me as I ate the candy and squeezed the stuffed dolphin in my arms.

"Don't say that," He scolded lightly, "You are smart. And asking questions is a good thing. That's how we learn."

"But people look annoyed when I do." I admitted softly. Starling scrunched up his nose.

"Then they're stupid. People learn things by asking questions. So ask whatever you want, whenever you want, however you want. It's a free country... Even people in London won't mind if you ask questions." He added, his smile fading. I looked down at my lap. I figured we would bring it up sooner or later, but I didn't want to.

"You know," Starling tried, "London isn't that bad. It's a really nice city. There's lots to do, people to see and meet. It's a really historical place. I have a lot of ancestors that lived in London and the surrounding areas." I shook my head, averting my eyes.

"But you won't be there." I muttered. Starling smiled again, but it was a sad smile. He leaned up and kissed me on the head, pausing to run his fingers through my hair. I loved the way his fingernails very gently scraped my scalp. It was a tingling sensation that warmed me.

"I'll be with you in spirit," He promised, then kissed me on the cheek, "Whenever you get lonely or afraid, just think of me, okay?"

"That's not good enough." I complained. Starling smirked and kissed me again. He nuzzled my ear, giving me goose bumps. I noticed, though, that it didn't feel the same way as when the vampires had done it. When that vampire had nuzzled me, it hurt because his teeth nipped at me and I didn't want him to do it. I wanted him to get away from me. But with Starling, I liked it. He was gentle about it and his skin was soft, his breath warm. I turned my head a little to look at Starling and he looked back at me.

We were so close that his nose brushed mine, his eyes studying me intently. His eyes were so beautiful, so exotic. They weren't any kind of blue. Just pure silver. I could get lost in them.

Before I knew it, we were kissing, but this kiss was different than the one he'd given me before he left the room and made his father angry. That one had been a bit quick.

This one was slower. Starling parted his lips against mine, taking my tongue into his mouth. A shiver of excitement ran through me as he ran his hand down my arm, his tongue twirling around mine. I didn't know what to do, so I just let him take charge as he took over my mouth. I heard the bed creaking and squeaking, making me peek open an eye to see him pulling the bars down the side so he could get on top of the bed.

Even though I was worried someone would come in, I didn't stop him as he got on the bed and leaned over top of me, kissing me hungrily, his fangs very gently brushing my lips. I moaned at that, letting him move the dolphin out of the way so he could touch my chest. I felt my heart skip a beat and begin pounding against the inside of my chest, making the heart monitor beat wildly. Starling broke away, laughing quietly as I sucked in air.

"Sorry." I breathed. He shook his head, then reached around the bed, unplugging the monitor. I bit my lip nervously, looking at him in questioning. Was this such a good idea? What if someone walked in? What if something went wrong? What if his father came in? Oh god, I'd die of embarrassment.

"We're fine." Starling assured me. I just nodded hesitantly. He smiled, then leaned in and kissed me again. I moaned at that, letting him push me down on the bed. I was still a little scared. I wasn't sure how far Starling intended to go, or how far I'd let him go. Even though it was Starling here with me and not those vampires, it still made me nervous. While it didn't hurt when Starling touched me, I still felt like I was on fire.

My body ached, but instead of being painful, I found myself wanting more. Starling slipped a hand behind me, lifting my back off the bed so he could undo the knots of my hospital gown. He slipped my arms out of it and placed it aside. My heart was beating vigorously as I laid there beneath them, holding my breath as his silver eyes raked over my body eagerly.

Part of me was a little scared he'd find out what those vampires did to me. What they did made me feel dirty and used and gross. What if Starling saw how gross I was? Would he not like me anymore? I swallowed hard and just squeezed my eyes shut tightly, laying there with Starling on top of me. I waited for him to do something, but he didn't seem to do anything. At least, not until I felt his lips on my forehead and he brushed the hair out of my face.

"Don't worry," He said quietly, "I won't go all the way. You're not eighteen yet." I didn't get what he meant by that, but my body slumped in relief. I was so tense and afraid, waiting for something to hurt me. I should have known Starling wouldn't hurt me. He kissed my face all over. My nose, my cheeks, my eyelids, my ears. He buried his nose in my hair, inhaling me deeply like I was a drug.

He gently ran his hands up and down my chest, like he was trying to memorize the way I felt. I moaned as his thumb passed over my nipple. He smiled at that and did the gesture again. I purred as he started to rub his thumb in a slow circle around it. My back arched and I felt the blood in my body rush down between my legs. Starling stopped playing with my nipple, leaning down to place a small kiss on it before moving up to kiss me on the lips.

He kept rubbing and touching my chest, hands ghosting over my stomach and to my hips, then back up again. Even if it wasn't anything hardcore, it felt so nice. It was like I could feel how much he loved me through his fingertips.

I chewed my bottom lip, though, as I saw his shirt ride up to reveal his solid stomach. I peeked up at him past my hair.

"Can... I touch you?" I asked quietly. Starling smiled.

"I thought you'd never ask." He said, then sat back as he dropped his jacket off and pulled his shirt off over his head. I smiled up at him and his body. It was incredibly attractive. His body was lean and narrow, but the muscles hidden by his shirt were now revealed, pulling taut when he stretched and flexed them. He leaned over me, picking up my hands in his, then placing them on his chest.

I shivered in delight at the way he felt. His skin was so smooth, stretched over hard muscles. I ran my hands over his chest, up to his collarbone, then back down in the same way he did. He growled low in his throat, but it wasn't a threatening sound. In fact, it almost sounded like he was purring. A deep rumbling sound that vibrated his chest beneath my hands and made me shiver. I looked up at him with a shy smile, making him blush.

"Sorry." He apologized. I cocked my head.

"Why?" I asked. Starling cleared his throat, averting his eyes.

"I do this weird purr thing. It's a dragon thing." He admitted. I beamed up at him.

"I think it's cute." I replied. Starling blushed harder, then leaned down and captured my lips hungrily. I moaned at the taste of him, wrapping my arms around his neck to pull him closer. We kissed and cuddled for a while longer and while I could feel the bulge in his jeans, he didn't act on it. Not like other people did. He reluctantly climbed off me and put his clothes back on. I pulled the hospital gown on just as the door was opening. I gasped, pulling the blankets up just as Dr. Kavanaugh came in. Starling stiffened as his father glared at him.

"I thought I sent you home." He stated. Starling cleared his throat, shifting uncomfortably.

"He wanted me to come back." He answered. Dr. Kavanaugh frowned at me.

"Young man, Starling is currently grounded. He's supposed to stay in his room." He scolded me, making me frown in irritation. I could handle Newell and Xed and Starling scolding me, but I didn't even know this man, so what gave him the right to scold me?

"Starling didn't do anything wrong, though." I replied. Starling stared at me and Dr. Kavanaugh's frown deepened.

"He skipped school. Playing hooky is no way for someone his age to act. I'm sure your guardian punished you for skipping." He answered. I paused to let that sink in. I guess in a way they were kind of punishing since we were moving away. I slumped back against the bed silently. Dr. Kavanaugh cleared his throat and looked at Starling, who frowned defiantly at him.

"Go home, Starling. I'll talk to you then." He said. Starling sighed wearily, but gathered up his things and then gave me a quick kiss on the cheek.

"See ya later." He told me, making me blink and watch him leave. Dr. Kavanaugh shut the door behind him and washed his hands to begin another check up to make sure I was still stable. I didn't like the way his cold hands touched me, though, or he slid his hand up against my back with that cold metal thing to listen to my heart beat.

"Starling's not gay." Dr. Kavanaugh said after a while, making me look at him in confusion. I remembered what Kiki had told me about what gay meant, though, so my confusion fled, only to return again. Starling and I were both males, though, which meant technically we were gay, right?

"Uhm, I thought gay meant two guys liked each other." I said. Dr. Kavanaugh blushed, clearing his throat and pinning me with a withering stare that made me grimace.

"Yes. And Starling does not like other men." He responded sternly. I frowned.

"But he kissed me. And he touched me." I replied. Dr. Kavanaugh stiffened.

"I beg your pardon?" He asked. I was confused again. Did I say the wrong thing? Why was he angry? Wait, did he know I was dirty? Is that why he didn't want Starling to touch me? Because he knew it would make Starling dirty too? My stomach was churning now and I felt guilty.

"I'm sorry," I said, looking down at the dolphin as I ran my hands over its soft, velvet fur, "I didn't mean to make him dirty." Dr. Kavanaugh frowned again. I wished he'd stop doing that. It made me feel even worse.

"I don't understand what you mean." He said at last. I blinked and looked at him. So, did he not know? I wasn't sure. If he didn't, then I wasn't going to tell him. So I just shook my head and said nothing else. Dr. Kavanaugh reluctantly gave up and just finished the check up before leaving. I laid back against the pillows as the lights outside my room started to go off and a nurse came in to shut off the lights so I could sleep.

I didn't like sleeping here, though. It was too cold and dark. It wasn't like the incubator, but it was still pretty scary. I hugged the dolphin tightly in my arms and rolled on my side, shutting my eyes and wishing morning would come quickly. I didn't want to leave, but I didn't want to lay in the dark for very long.

I wasn't sure how long I laid there until I fell asleep, but when I finally did, I had a weird dream.

I was watching trees go by quickly. They kept going faster until suddenly they vanished and I was looking at some kind of huge field, but there wasn't anything in it. It was just sand that seemed to ripple in the distance. I blinked to make sure I saw what I saw, but it all disappeared and I was standing in a weird place. There were lots of people running back and forth, some of them smoking, others carrying luggage. I looked up and saw a sign hanging overhead, but I couldn't read it very well. It kept blurring over until I realized I was falling backwards. I yelped and scrambled to grab something, but I only grabbed at air.

I fell back onto what felt like grass. It was soft and so green. I rolled over quickly, looking around. I was lying in a small yard in front of a tall, thin house that was smashed together with other houses on either side. I looked around to see a black iron fence surrounding the yard I was in. I frowned, confused.

What kind of dream was this? Everything was so vivid and strong.

Was it a vision?

That's what they called those things of the future, or the past. Visions. They were pictures or hints toward what could or had happened.

But I didn't recognize any of this, so it must be the future.

"Excuse me?" I blinked and rolled over, sitting up to see a man standing at the end of the short driveway. He had an odd accent. It sounded so proper. I tilted my head at him. He was tall and slender, his hair was dark brown, but it looked like he had some purple layered underneath of it. He had a pair of black glasses sitting in front of his baby blue eyes. He was kind of cute in a weird way. He was wearing a school uniform, or at least, that's what it looked like when I remembered Googling it one time. He wore a white shirt, black pants, a black jacket with a black tie that had a white cross on it.

"Uhm, hi?" I offered. He smiled.

"I thought you were hurt. You were just laying there." He answered sheepishly.

"I'm fine," I said carefully, then looked around with a frown and looked up at him again, "Uhm, am I dreaming?" He paused, looking around, then down at himself. He looked back up and shrugged, hugging a couple books to his chest. One of them looked like a planner or scheduling book of some sort. On the front it read St. Magna's Private School for Gifted Boys and Girls with what had to be his name underneath. Dominik Laird.

"If this was a dream," He said, "I wouldn't still look like this." I tilted my head curiously.

"What's wrong with the way you look?" I asked. His cheeks darkened.

"Nothing."

"Then why don't you want to look like that?"

"I don't want to tell a stranger." He responded. I scrunched up my nose, then reluctantly got up, only to pull up short when I realized I was wearing the same uniform as Dominik. I looked at him and he seemed to be waiting patiently.

"Uhm," I hesitated, looking around again, this time seeing a bag that had fallen open on the grass beside me with several books coming out of it, "Is that mine?" Dominik gave me an odd stare, pushing his glasses up on his nose.

"Where are you from again?" He asked. I frowned.

"Uhm, Michigan?"

"United States?"

"I think so."

Dominik was looking at me oddly now, but he didn't say anything else, just shrugged and gestured for me to pick up my things. I did what he said, gathering the books and pushing them into my bag. I had just finished doing so when I looked up to the sound of a door opening. I froze, surprised to see a young man coming out of the house. He was tall and slender and really pretty with his black hair cut just between his shoulder blades, in a ponytail that rested over his shoulder. The scariest part was that I recognized him in a weird kind of way.

"Newell?" I asked. He looked up with a scowl.

"Daimonas? You're supposed to be at school. Get going, you're going to be late." He scolded. I didn't even know what to say. Just stared at him in disbelief. It looked like him. The same facial features, but they seemed... matured. He was taller too. He didn't come up to my chest anymore, but looked taller than me. He was getting into a small back car with faintly tinted windows where it looked like someone was already waiting for him. I looked at Dominik, who was frowning at me curiously.

"You're not one of those weirdos, are you?" He asked. I looked at him, confused and offended.

"What's that supposed to mean? What weirdo?" I demanded. Dominik shook his head, pushing his glasses up again.

"The last thing I need is more people bugging me because I'm stupid."

"You're not stupid."

"You just met me."

"So?"

"So you don't know anything," Dominik said, sounding annoyed, "Quit trying to be my friend. I was just told to come pick you up. You need someone to walk with you to school." I didn't like the way he was talking to me and I was tempted to just go inside and let him go to school by himself, but I could hear Starling's voice echo around me.

"I'll be with you in spirit. Whenever you get lonely or afraid, just think of me, okay?"

I seemed to be the only one to hear it, even though it was really loud, but I reluctantly took a step forward to go when I felt someone shaking me awake. I gasped, my eyes flying open and I found myself staring up at Xed, who was looking down at me with a tilted head, expression concerned.

"Xed?" I asked breathlessly. I slowly sat up, wiping the sweat off my face and looking over to see Newell standing near the door. He looked the way he always did. Super small and boyish with his medium black hair falling over his face and ears, icy blue eyes glaring at me.

"Get up, we need to leave now." He ordered. I didn't want to go. I didn't want to go to that place in my dream. I didn't care if it was safe there, I still didn't want to go, even with Starling telling me it as okay. Thinking of him wasn't as good as actually being with him.

"Daimonas, get up." Newell ordered. But Newell's voice scared me with how serious he was, so I reluctantly climbed out of bed. Xed had brought me a change of clothes, so I showered in the bathroom, then changed into a pair of jeans and a blue V-neck. Xed handed me my bag of things, which felt super heavy. I wanted to use my powers and make it disappear long enough for me to make it to the train station without collapsing, but I might accidentally send it somewhere else and not get it back, then Newell would be angry with me.

I went to my hospital bed and grabbed the dolphin Starling had given me, hugging it tightly to my chest. Xed gave me a sympathetic stare, but Newell wasn't too patient with me and kept trying to shoo me out of the room. We reluctantly left and made it outside of the hospital without any problems where we waited for a bus to come pick us up.

I looked up at the hospital, then down at my feet.

"I don't wanna go." I said, hoping maybe it would do something, but Newell shot me a glare.

"Do not start with me, Daimonas." He warned. I looked at Xed helplessly and he just shook his head, making my heart sink further. I didn't say anything anymore as the bus showed up. Just looked at the hospital again and squeezed the dolphin to my chest tightly.

Goodbye, Starling.