In Love with the Dragon - Chapter 6

"I want you to know that I am independent. I am alone for too long. I would appreciate--that you won't fetch me to work after today." Qila tried to be firm.

"Okay, darling," he agreed at once. He stroked her back and kissed her perky nose.

"Please, stop calling me 'darling' for now," Qila instructed weakly.

"Darling, darling, darling," Spike chanted seductively. "Qila darling, you're enchanting when you told me not to call you darling."

"Because my resolve weakens," she murmured to his neck. She was lying on his shoulder and inhaling his masculine scent.

"You tempt me, Qila!"

"I am not being coy!" she protested helplessly.

"I know, sweet Qila," he crooned throatily.

Spike whispered sweet nothings to her ear. He created a small world of warmth and joy for them.

The car sped fast the large forest park within the Pendragon Development Property. A group of wild dogs meandered between the trees. They hid themselves from the guards who roamed around the property.

One of the dogs was largest and wolf-like in appearance. He was the alpha. His sharp eyes had seen the couple cocooned inside the car. He sniffed the air. His expression became an angry snarl.

'Spike, you can't breed! As long as I live, you can't be happy!'

* * *

Spike looked at the window. His arms tightened around Qila protectively. His nemesis was near!

His eyes changed color from black to red. He tried to contain his antipathy. Every time he thought about his enemy, he could not control his transformation. Almost...

The hatred, the disillusion, the hurt...

Every painful emotion came back to him.

He carefully pulled out the cellphone from his pocket and pushed the special button to all his security guards. There was no need for detailed instructions. They knew the signal. They would hunt the whole property!

Spike tapped the mirror separating them from the driver. He drew a circle on the air with his forefinger.

'Home,' he said without a sound.

The driver maneuvered smoothly and drove on to different direction. The two bodyguards in the black car were joined by four motorcycles with armed men.

Spike was relieved because Qila fell asleep. He held her soft body to his chest possessively.

Every time he saw her, he was healed little by little. He liked her. He really liked her.

Qila was beautiful to look at. So fresh. So innocent. Her lips were full and naturally pink. They were like luscious fruits or petals of a rose. So sweet. So delicious.

She was more beautiful from the inside. Her character had a backbone made of steel. She was strongly independent. She was stubborn.

Spike was eager to know her more but he already presumed that she had a generous soul.

He looked deep into her eyes and he saw paradise...

'Whoa! I'm turning into a poet!' he told himself while grinning about his foolishness.

After a few minutes of traveling along the busy road of the city, the car drove to a private road. The guards on the gates were also alerted of the possible attack. They opened and closed the gates quickly.

"We're here," he murmured to the side of her neck.

"Mmm, sorry! I fell asleep!" Qila was half-awake.

"Good. You'll feel refreshed!"

"Where are we? This is not Pendragon Company! Spike--" Qila stopped her speech because his finger had touched her lips.

"Before you react, let's hear my head security's report," he said matter-of-factly. "Yes, I'm listening."

"We did not apprehend anyone, or any animal. We questioned an old man. We also took his pictures. About Miss Qila's flat..."

"What about Qila's flat?" Spike was alerted.

"Our men established that Miss Qila lived alone. But last night, a shadow was seen leaving her flat--"

"Shadow of a man?" Spike interrupted urgently.

"Not clear, sir. A man or woman."

"What does he mean? Last night? What time?" Qila was bewildered.

"About thirty minutes since you left, sir."

"A burglar would have taken something..." Qila rummaged her memory. All her things were in their place...

"Allow us to do an in-depth investigation, sir!"

"Qila?"

"But I don't have anything of value..." she said while still thinking hard.

"That's why they'll investigate," Spike rejoined patiently. "In the meantime, you shall stay here."

"What?"

"I have a huge house. We can lose one another in a place so big!" His hand indicated the white mansion.

The two-storey structure had ten spacious bedrooms with a bathroom each. The first level had two dining rooms, two kitchens, and one large living room. At the back of the mansion was the cavernous structure that housed a thirty-feet swimming pool.

"Sir, the life of Miss Qila is in grave danger," the head security voiced conclusively.

"We will be surrounded by my employees," Spike continued to persuade her.

"Like me," Qila added in a dignified tone.

"Yes," he sighed. "You will stay here, Qila. I will not have a moment's peace if you're out of my sight!"

Something warred inside her.

Spike could not read Qila's mind but he could guess the meaning of her expression.

"I promise I'll be a gentleman all through the month, Qila!" He raised his right hand and placed it on his left chest. His countenance was serious.

"O-okay..." Qila licked her full pink lips. Her lashes were flickering on his grave face.

Spike craved to put his mouth on those succulent flesh. He swallowed his desire.

"Thank you for believing in me. I appreciate it. Really." He kissed her hands instead.

"Sir?" The head security answered immediately when Spike pressed the 'hold' button.

"You go ahead, Turner. Inspect everything in Qila's apartment. Very thoroughly."

"Yes, sir! Thank you, sir! The pictures are sent thru email, sir!"

"I'll expect a report every day, Turner. Or make that every hour! Every minute!"

"Right, sir! Okay, sir!"

Spike paused before he turned to Qila. "Are you mad?"

"No." Qila shook her head. She closed her eyes as though she was getting dizzy.

"Tell me what's bothering you, Qila." Spike held her hands. "What is it?"

"I--nothing, Spike... I'm just sad I had to leave my things behind..."

"Don't worry, we will provide you all the things that you'll need," Spike countered gently. "Qila?" He shook her by the shoulder but her head lolled.

Spike carried her out of the car. "Get the doctor! Quick!" He shouted instructions to his guards.

Dr. Peralta was in the compound. He was the house doctor. The male nurse was his partner.

They examined Qila in the clinic beside the mansion. It was a free-standing structure that looked like a luxury cottage, outside and inside.

Spike was upset and restless.

'What was wrong with Qila? Yesterday, she seemed okay. What happened last night?' he asked himself agitatedly.

Spike looked at the pictures of the intruder critically. No, the shadow was short by two heads. He measured the height of the invader against the door jamb. His head almost reached the ceiling of Qila's attic flat.

'But he can use another person to do his dirty job!' Spike argued with himself.

His enemy was a wily one. He was a sly cheater and a double-dealer!

Spike gripped his self-control tightly. He did not want bloodshed.

Dr. Peralta opened the door.

"Mr. Pendragon, the patient suffered from poisoning. That was the initial diagnosis."

"What kind of poisoning?" Spike frowned while thinking the champagne she had imbibed yesterday. He did not taste the alcohol.

"We must wait for tests results to get a complete conclusion."

"Where is she? Is she still unconscious?"

"She is conscious but only just. She has mental confusion. You may come in and see for yourself," the doctor invited him courteously.

The male nurse tucked the white sheet around Qila and checked the flow of the dextrose before going out of the room.

Qila was pale and listless. She was lying very still.

"Hello, Qila," Spike whispered his greeting.

"Spike...?" Her voice was weak.

"Yes. Can you hear me?"

"Yes..."

"How are you feeling?"

"Dizzy... Headache... I can... not see... you... properly..." She had breathing problems, too.

"Don't talk anymore, Qila. Close your eyes and take a rest. I'll be here." Spike held her right hand between his palms. He rubbed it gently because it was clammy.

"I had a strange dream..." she said slowly.

"Last night?" Spike listened to her ramblings.

"Yes..."

"I saw a werewolf..."

"A werewolf." A frown started to form between his brows.

"Then... a dragon..."

"What kind of a dragon?" The frown deepened.

"A sinister dragon... it changed into a shadow..."

Spike could not understand what she was saying but he continued asking her.

"What did the shadow say to you?"

"The werewolf had changed shape, too..."

"Did he become a man?"

"A shadow..."

"Meaning, the dragon and the werewolf turned into a shadow of a man?"

Qila fell silent. He thought she had fallen asleep.

"Yes... A man..."

"Did he say something to you?"

"Yes..." She half-opened her eyes. "He said, kill him... kill the dragon..."

"What did you say?"

"Nothing... I ran away..." Qila closed her eyes. Her breathing was still shallow but regular.

"The mild tranquilizer had taken effect, sir," the male nurse calmly informed Spike.