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April 17, 1997

She watched the night's sky, acutely aware of every pin prick of light that marked the location of a star so very far above her. The Pacific Ocean's unbridled lapping at the rocky shore was the only sound that reached her ears. The house behind her, which she had recently come into possession of, was dark and empty. No moon shone that night. She loved this time of night where everything was still and quiet. She sighed heavily in contented bliss.

A twig suddenly snapped somewhere behind her and she felt a presence watching her. Turning around she saw nothing, but the feeling was still there. "Who's there?" she called tentatively. No response save for the rustling of feathers. "I know you're out there! Who are you and what do you want?"

"You've taken my Master's house." came the simple reply.

She jerked suddenly at this male voice from the shadows. "The house wasn't owned when I bought it."

"But He and I lived there. Leave."

Anger turned her cheeks red. "I will not. Look, I bought that house and I intend to stay here. If you have a problem with that, tough." She hoped she sounded as angry as she felt.

The voice chuckled. "Then you must follow a simple rule. The basement is off-limits. Going down there could be risky business for your life. I'll also tell you one other thing."

She crossed her arms across her chest. "What?"

"My name is Griffin."

* * *

Two years had passed and not once had she seen Griffin face to face. She knew he was in her basement, but she followed his rule and stayed away. The basement door was in the kitchen and often, when she was cooking, she would hear the door open and he would speak softly to her. She had come to know him quite well this way. She knew he would never harm her, that he had been here several years before her, and that he was not human. She never found out who his Master was. Out of habit now she would prepare two serving of every meal, leaving the second near the basement door and turning her back so as not to see him, as per their agreement. That night she was cooking what he had admitted to be his favourite dish, and was expecting him up shortly, when she heard the house's front door being kicked in. She looked once to the basement door, hoping Griffin had heard the noise. A drunken man suddenly entered the kitchen and stumbled purposefully towards her. He mumbled incomprehensively but his intent was all too clear in his eyes. She tried backing away but the counter behind her blocked her way.

"Stay away from me!" she cried out shakily. She could hear the sound of feet rush up the basement stairs.

He shot off a slurry of words and came at her. The basement door exploded with a deafening roar as a creature of nightmares or dreams appeared. He was incredibly muscular, standing tall and imposing, but that wasn't what struck her first. He had strong features of a black panther and yet he stood like a man. He wore simple leather pants and what seemed to be a tight fitting green silk top. A large pair of brown feathered wings sprouted from his back, unfurled in fury. His long, white fangs and bright gold eyes glistened at the intruder who cowered in drunken fear. Claws appeared at Griffin's finger-tips as he rushed the man. What followed was a blur of speed. All she became aware of was a gurgling cry and a splatter of blood across her floor. Then she looked up to find the broad, imposing form of Griffin staring down at her with what seemed like frightened remorse. He almost went to her, but then seemed to decide against it.

"You're not safe here." he announced.

"It was just one drunk man." Her voice shook despite her false bravado.

"I must take you somewhere safe." he continued as if he hadn't heard. "He wasn't drunk."

"How do you know that?"

"There was no odour of alcohol on him. Even gin leaves a smell."

"Then, why was he trying to..."

"I know, and you don't want to find out. Please, Drayca, come with me." and he held out his paw to her. They both noticed the blood on it at the same time. He very nearly pulled it away when she suddenly reached up and took his hand. He looked at her, directly into her eyes. "I'm not the one you must entrust your life to." and he pulled her towards the basement door.

They descended the stairs and she got her first look at his domain. It looked exactly like an alchemist's laboratory mixed with a druid's kitchen. Strange smelling mixtures bubbled on the stove and shelves were lined with jars of more chemicals. Drayca wondered why she had never smelled any of his concoctions during brewing. Griffin led her to a tunnel that sealed itself up tight as soon as they passed through. "Where're you taking me?"

"To someone who can protect you better than I can."

"Why do I need such protection?" she asked, an edge of impatience creeping into her voice.

He stopped and turned to her as she finally wrenched her wrist out of his urgent grip. "You really have no idea who you are, do you?"

"I am Drayca Eltanin, last of the Celts and keeper of the old ways. Granted, I'm in the wrong country for this, but like I had a choice. I was forced off my home land to make room for a mini mall."

He waited patiently, but nothing more was forthcoming. "That's it?"

"Yes!"

"No. You are what you said, but... Forget it. He can explain it better than I can." and he took her wrist again to pull her down the tunnel which seemed to plunge forever beneath the earth. Under ten minutes they came to a larger anti-chamber sealed at the other end by an oak door. "You must go through there. Don't be afraid of Him. Like me He would never do anything to hurt you."

"You're not coming?"

"No, I have to go run some interference with those hunting for you. My duty to you ends here. We will never meet again." and he headed back the way they had come.

"Griffin?" she called, gently touching his arm. He stopped, turning to her and she gave him a quick hug, kissing his cheek. "If, for the past two years, you've been protecting me for some reason what-so-ever, thank you." It was a lame thing to say at this point in time, but he smiled, bowed slightly, and continued down the tunnel. She turned back to the door and leaned her weight against it to open it. It opened enough to allow her access. She peered in but all she saw were deep shadows and shades of red light, like fire.

"Oh, please don't skulk in the shadows." came an Irish/British accent. "Come into the light where I can see you."

She obeyed, hesitantly. "Who are you?" she stuttered.

"Your other half." the voice chuckled. An immense shadow seemed to move. "I take it you've been found if Griffin brought you here. Welcome to my humble abode, Drayca."

She looked around at her erie, caverness surroundings with a chuckle. "Hardly humble. How is it you both know me?"

"Let me answer this way. Do you remember back when you were three years of age?"

"Yes, surprisingly. That was so long ago."

"Nearly twenty two years. Do you remember what happened before you were given your first Rite of Ascension into the Celtic Rites?"

"I was playing in a barn with my older cousins and their friends. I remember being pushed and then... But how do you know all this?"

"You were pushed into a spike which nearly killed you. You were beyond conventional medical help."

"Conventional medial help?"

"Your parents brought you to me. They knew I had returned." The shadow moved towards her, gigantic yet not frightening. "I saved your life by giving you half of mine through an ancient miracle known only to my kind."

Sudden realization flashed in her eyes. "By Rastaban! I don't believe this!"

"Rastaban? Appropriate choice of words." the voice chuckled. "I thought you'd recognize me, even from so long ago." and the speaker stepped completely out of the shadows. He walker on all fours like a horse, his huge leathery wings folded over his back. Bronze scales glistened in the pale light as bright gold eyes watched her. The bladed tail swished above the ground lazily. He smiled toothily at her. "So surprised to see me, dearest Drayca?"

"It can't be! My Lord Draco? Bowen believe you were dead. We all believed you were dead."

"In the immortal words of Mark Twain: The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated." and he made an indifferent gesture. "The Gods of my kind decided we should return, all of us, to tie up loose ends as you humans put it so eloquently."

"How many are you?"

"Forty, and a clutch of twelve eggs from one of the females who was pregnant when she was killed."

"Congratulation."

"Thank you. But enough of my kind. Do you know why you are being hunted?"

"Griffin said you could tell me."

He huffed. "Leave it to him to make me do the hard work. The men after you know of your involvement with my kind and wish to use this to their advantage. They've been doing this all through their ancestral history. They believe you can control us through your contact with us."

"I'd know if I could do that." she assured.

"Yes, you would, but they're not going to believe your assurance of it otherwise. And they're not going to stop until they find you."

"Then I'll be on the run forever."

"No, I can protect you, but not here. Not now." He seemed to think extremely hard as if weighing consequences of something he was planning.

"If not now, then when?" she asked in slight fear.

Draco hesitated a moment, stretched out a mighty hand to her and scooped her towards the back of the cavern. She complied, trying as much as possible not to come in contact with his reptile's flesh. Even though he was an important part of her Celtic history he was still terrifying, especially to one who had always believed his kind were only myths. Crossing into what looked like a second smaller chamber Drayca saw it was a laboratory of sorts with herbs similar to those in Griffin's basement kitchen. A giant book sat on a low stone podium open to a page of ancient looking writing. He edged her towards it and turned a few pages. "Do you know what this book is, dearest Drayca?" he asked as he continued turning pages.

She looked at each page, concentrating hard to remember the strange and ancient languages that her parents had forced her to learn at a young age. "This... these are spells."

"Each one more powerful than the next. We will take this book with us, but in a more compact version." She heard him mumble a few words, the book seemed to glow blindingly, and then it reappeared in version she could carry. He handed her a shoulder bag from a nearby table and gave her the book. "Page forty two. Read the spell there." She looked up, afraid. He smiled and moved to stand above her. "Don't worry, dearest one. Everything will be fine."

She searched for the indicated page and read the contents to herself. From what she understood the spell had to be repeated four times for it to be effective and a year and place had to be specified. Year and place? "Draco, when and where do you want for this spell?"

"The coast of Arabia in the year 1142 AD. That's where the others of my kind should be by now."

She shrugged and brought her eyes to the spell itself. "Here goes." Then, taking a deep breath, she repeated four times, "Deslagrati mouri tempi at intervalia." Everything around them seemed to disappear in a white haze of swirling mist. Panic welled up in her. She turned to Draco's front leg and held on for dear life.

He responded by scooping her up, sitting up on his haunches, and cradling her like a child. "There, now, it's alright. This is all normal. See, it's already over."

Sure enough, opening her eyes, she saw the mist had disappeared and they were now in a dry glade of scrub bushes and white sand dunes. An ocean of deep blue water lapped at the shore. She looked around in utter wonder. "Where are we?" she finally asked as Draco set her down on her own feet.

"This, my dear Drayca, is Arabia eight hundred fifty five years ago. Pristine, isn't it?"

"Sweltering is more like it." she stated, still unsure of the whole situation. "So that was a time travelling spell. Why didn't you tell me?"

He turned his golden eyes towards her and smiled. "Would you have agreed to come if I told you we were going to the past?"

"Probably not, especially since I knew I would stick out like a sore thumb like this. Jeans and a Metallica T-shirt just scream twelfth century."

He looked her over critically. "Mmm, I agree. If you think you can wait here for a while I can go and find you a more suitable attire for this time period."

She shrugged, indicating her surroundings with her arms. "I'm not going anywhere."

"Good." and he turned to leave, but stopped suddenly to turn his head back to her. "You assure me you'll stay here?"

She sat in the warm, white sand. "I wouldn't know where to go even if I tried. I'll be here when you come back." He nodded once, spread his wings and took off rather clumsily into the sky. Immediately she began to feel like a sense of loss. Taking handfuls of sand she watched the white grains filter between her fingers just as the grains from an hourglass would do. How long would it take for Draco to come back? As she watched the waves crash against the shore, Drayca leaned back against the dune to enjoy the day's heat. Moments later she thought she heard voices approaching from over the dunes. Several male voices. She quickly got to her feet, keeping a handful of sand in her tight fist.

The men appeared, six of them, dressed in vintage warrior gear for the region. They laughed boisterously as they walked the shore line. Then they spotted her. They saw a lithe woman dressed in strange clothing with long brown hair that floated wildly in the coastal breeze. One of the men stopped the others and stepped forward with a leery smile. "Well, well, well. What have we here? A fine young maiden, alone, in the middle of nowhere." He moved closer. "Can we be of any service, my lady?"

"N-no. I'm waiting for someone." and she took a step back but slipped in the sand dune behind her.

The unshaven man, who seemed in dire need of a bath, licked his lips hungrily. "I don't know where you came from, but you sure are a lovely prize. Your only problem is you're not warming up to us." The other men formed a semi-circle behind their leader. "What do you say we help you melt that ice, mm?" and he reached for her shoulder.

In a bold gesture she threw the sand in his eyes, whirled around, and ran up the dune to the open space it offered. "Draco!" she screamed, unsure quite why. Drayca could hear the men running after her. A huge dune of loose sand towered before her, almost blocking her escape. She tried to climb it, but each time she would slide back down to its base back towards the men. She turned in time to see them surround her again, laughing playfully as if everything had been a sick form of foreplay.

The leader approached her, still wiping sand from his eyes. "You're gonna pay for that little mistake, you bitch." he chuckled.

She braced herself in the sand. "Draco!" she screamed in terror with all her might.

A monstrous roar rendered the air as a shadow of immense proportion blocked out the sun's light. Draco had returned. He dropped a heavy bundle near her as he landed between Drayca and the men. The men stared, stunned for a few seconds, and then began to run for the safety of the dunes. The dragon straightened. "Cowards." he mumbled in disgust. Then he turned to Drayca. "Did they hurt you?" he asked, his voice laced with so much concern it was surprising.

She shook her head with a relieved smile. "No, you came back in time." and she slowly got to her feet and went to him, pressing herself close to his warm, scaled foreleg.

A cross between a soft purr and a blissful sigh escaped his throat as his other paw cupped around her to hold her. Draco suddenly chuckled. "I can't leave you alone for a second." he quipped.

A laugh forced itself up in Drayca's throat. "That's right, blame me." And they both broke into relieved laughter.

He smiled down at her, but the smile faded at the sight. Gently he lifted her chin with the tip of his claw. "You're crying. What is it?"

In embarrassed surprise she wiped away the tears she hadn't realized she had shed. "I guess everything from the past hour hit me all at once." She took a deep breath to compose herself. "So, what did you bring me?"

He allowed himself a low laugh. "I convinced a travelling merchant to part with a few items."

She opened the bundle and examined each item. "I'm sure you did." she stated coyly.

"There's a sword in there as well."

"I hope you know I don't know how to use a sword."

"Not now, but we'll find someone who'll teach you."

Drayca took a few pieces of clothing from the bundle and then started to pull off her T-shirt when she suddenly stopped. She turned to her companion. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course, dearest."

"Have you ever heard of privacy?"

"What?... Oh, please! My kind don't enjoy seeing the naked bodies of women." he admonished.

"I believe that just as much as I believe those men won't be back with reinforcements. All the same, would you mind turning around." With only the slightest hesitation he did so and Drayca proceeded to change her clothing. She chose a light cotton shirt, a tight leather coat with short sleeves, and leather pants that fit snugly. She completed the outfit by a pair of hard leather forearm guards decorated with strange metal designs and soft leather booths. Then she took the sword. It was lighter than she expected it to be for its size. It was just long enough to come below her knee. She cinched it at her waist, adjusted it for comfort, and tightened her belt one last time. "Done."

Draco turned around and looked her over critically. "Now no one will know you're from the twentieth century, not that anyone would. The Breathing Caves aren't far from here. Climb aboard, dearest, and I'll walk us there."

"The Breathing Caves? I don't think I've ever heard of them." she admitted as he lifted her to his shoulder and she climbed to sit on the back of his neck.

"For a good reason. The Caves were completely destroyed by an earthquake that will occur in another four hundred years. They're called the Breathing Caves because of the almost regular expulsion of steam from an underground spring through two small tunnels above the main entrance. From a distance it looks like a Giant breathing." and he began to walk.

Riding this huge beast Drayca had to admit it was almost like riding a horse, only this was hardly one. It was comforting being it physical contact with him though. For some reason she knew that so long as he was around and in sight she was perfectly safe. She could feel his giant muscles rippling beneath her, feel his powerful heart beating to power this beast, and she could hear his breath fill his immense lungs. Then her ear caught another sound. She turned to look behind her to determine the origine of the sound. Draco caught the movement and stopped. "Does that sound like a war cry to you?" she asked. He didn't have time to answer before they were completely surrounded by rushing, armed men. Before either of them knew it they were violently overpowered, Draco securely chained and Drayca tied with coarse rope.

A man Drayca recognized as her earlier aggressor approached them and Draco growled menacingly, struggling against his thick chains. The man backed away a step in response. "If you can understand, beast, you'll do nothing against us if you want your mistress here to live." Draco stilled. "Very good." He pulled out his sword, pushed Drayca ahead of himself, and pressed his sword to her back. "Now, we're all going to take a little walk back the way you came. It'll take two hours so start walking. And remember, beast, you try anything against me and my sword goes through her." They walked in total silence, the larger number of the men surrounding Draco in a protective perimeter. Every once and a while she would look up at her companion's face for any sign of an escape plan, but if he was thinking up any such plan it didn't show in his reptilian features. "Don't worry, my pretty prize." the leader told her as he stroked a lock of her hair that had fallen near her face. "It won't be hurt if it listens to what it's told."

"What do you hope to gain by keeping us prisoner?" Her voice dripped with venom.

"Now, now, such a harsh tongue to the only man on whom your life depends. What I want from you is to tell your pet to attack the targets I set for it, and other little services from you personally."

"And if I refuse to do so?"

"Then it dies and I use you any way I choose. Either way, I end up being the winner. I get a super weapon or my very own whore." and he chuckled as she shivered in fear and disgust. Over the next dune they saw a huge city sized pier where the largest sailing ship sat moored. It was at least ten time as big as Draco in hight and length and five times as big in width. Eight masts lined its centre with their sails furled. One end of the ship was open to the dock thanks to a moveable ramp. "My pride and joy. The Juggernaut. I designed it myself after I heard rumours and found proof the dragons were real. The perfect way to transport such a beast." People all over the dock stopped their work to watch the approach of the gigantic beast and its woman companion. "Into the ship, beast." the nameless leader ordered as he jabbed his sword into Drayca's back. With a low growl he obeyed. Drayca was going to follow but the ruffian grabbed her arm to restrain her. "No, my pretty. We have other plans for you right now."

* * *

For days after setting sail Draco was alone in the large hold in the ship which seemed to have been specially designed to hold one of his kind. Dried grasses and hay lined the floor. His chains were attached to iron rings set into the floor and against the walls. If he tried to tear the rings from their mounts the hold would fill with sea water and sink the ship, drowning him in the process. He had to admit a lot of thought had gone into this design. He wondered where Drayca was being held and if he was ever going to be able to see her again. Suddenly he heard the sound of the only other door to the hold, a man sized steel door, being unlocked and opened. Two guards walked in dragging a limp body between them. They threw it to the ground and one left as wordlessly as they had arrived. The other smiled evilly at Draco.

"It took us a while to convince her, but she finally warmed up to us. And she was so sweet."

Draco understood violently and tried to rush for the guards. His chains restrained him from carrying out his plan. The guard laughed and left. Drayca's body was still where they had left it, totally immobile, almost seeming to not breath. Her clothes were tattered and torn in areas, proof of the abuse he had been unable to stop. Her hair was a dark Lilly against the gold straw. He reached out a great clawed paw to touch her but she was just out of reach. "Drayca." he called softly. She didn't move. "Please, dearest child, tell me you're alive."

A low, almost imperceivable moan emanated from her as she struggled to raise her face away from the straw. "Draco." she breathed with effort when she managed to look up at him. Her vision was blurred and all she could see was his great paw reaching out to her. She fought to roll towards him, first to her stomach, then to her back. Semi-consciousness took her as his paw closed atop of her and lifted her in the air. His other paw appeared to help support her limp, unresponsive body in a sitting position in his palms.

Holding her closer to his face he could see the bruises forming on her face and throat. Tired circled had long ago formed under her eyes. "Dearest Drayca, what did they do to you?" She responded by curling up in a tight ball and beginning to cry uncontrollably. He realized the horrible truth and held her close to his heart with a pained moan. "I should have never brought you here. It would have been safer to protect you in your time." She just cried, unable to answer. The ship's crew had broken her. "Forgive me, my dearest Drayca." He sat back on his haunches and held her against the soft scales of his chest where she cried between periods of very deep sleep. He watched over her quietly, full of remorse and guilt, always keeping one of his gentle paws over her as a protective cover, completely hiding her from sight. In the evening, when Drayca once again slept, he became aware that the ship had slowed its until now frantic pace. Straining his ears he heard what seemed to be five new voices and a hunting falcon, and they were coming closer.

"... Yes, the size of this ship was specific for the cargo we're carrying. The most amazing of beasts in the world." The nameless leader stepped into the hold accompanied by four men and a woman with a falcon. "Our cargo: A dragon."

"By Allah!" the youngest one exclaimed. Draco turned his head away, uninterested in the following conversation of the leader gloating to these newcomers. He sighed heavily, hoping Drayca would stay asleep just a little longer.

"How did they capture you, Lord?" came the woman's voice.

He looked down at her. She knew of his kind and had respect for them, he could see that in her eyes. Checking to see that the rest of the group was far enough away he lowered his voice to speak to the woman. "He threatened to kill her."

"Kill who?" she asked. He lifted his hand just high enough to reveal Drayca's sleeping form. The woman squinted for a better view and her breath hissed between her teeth. "She looks as if she's been through Hell."

He covered Drayca from sight again. "She has. For several days straight he and his men raped her. I don't know what he told you, but he plans to use us both for his own gain."

"I'll talk to my friends and see what we can do for you, Lord." and, with a slight bow, she walked back to her friends.

He saw her approach the youngest looking of the men and whisper something in his ear. This one looked at Draco, then the woman, excused himself to their host, and then ushered the others out. Hopefully they could help. It took nearly four hours to see any progress from the newcomers. Or rather, hear any progress. It began with a battle cry, the sound of sword play, and the five rushing into Draco's cell. "I take it this means your plan didn't exactly go how you wanted?" he stated to the young one.

This one turned to him in slight surprise. "You could say that, Great One. Any suggestions?"

"One. The woman, she's a sorceress?"

Both the young leader and the woman turned to each other before looking up at him. "She is."

Carefully, as not to wake Drayca, he took the spell book, that had never left her person for the duration of her ordeal, and handed it to the woman. "Please, read page ninety eight. It'll put an end to all of this."

She looked up the page and read it quickly. All the noises from outside and above stopped. An erie silence hung in the air. "What happened?" the brawniest of the group demanded.

"Your friend just cast a spell to remove those men from the ship." Draco replied in earnest.

"To where?"

"Where were you thinking, child?" he asked the sorceress.

"Of nowhere, really. A void."

"Then, that is where they are, in the void. An apt punishment for what they did to her."

"Lord Dragon, Maeve didn't explain much to us, simply that you were being held against your will to be used as a weapon. What did these men do and who is this woman?" the young leader inquired as he and the others removed his heavy chains.

"I owe you that much for your help. My name is Draco, so named by a Knight by the name of Sir Bowen. The crime these men committed was rape against a lady who is dear to me." He raised his paw to reveal Drayca's sleeping body. "This is Drayca Eltanin, a woman under my protection. Something I have failed to do." he ended softly, stroking Drayca's back with the back of his claw. "And your names, Captain?"

"I am Sinbad and this is my crew: my brother Dubar, Romgar, the silent warrior, Firuz, our man of science, our sorceress friend Maeve, and Dermit, our eyes in the sky. The ship is now yours, Lord. Where can we help you sail to?"

"To the Breathing Caves. That was where we were headed to meet up with the rest of my kind and where she could properly be protected."

"From what and for what reason?"

He sighed heavily, carefully formulating his explanation. "Drayca and I share a life. When she was still a babe she was nearly killed in an foolish accident. Brought before me, I only had one option to save her and that was to give her part of my life. Part of my blood courses through her veins. I have reasons to believe that someone discovered this and thinks she now has the ability to control my kind, make them do anything she wants. We are actually from your future, but time travel will not stop her pursuer. She is sacred to my kind, but we are still free to think for ourselves."

"This person, though, would probably not believe this and have her killed for what would be thought as defiance." Sinbad completed.

"Killing me as well."

"She suffered enough, from the looks of her, and you deserve to live for your selflessness and wisdom. We will help you, for both your sakes."

"Thank you, Captain."

"Dubar, have the Nomad tied to this ship and have the crew man its stations. We'll be under manned, but this ship will sail back to its coast of origin." The large bearded warrior rushed off with his orders. "Firuz, Romgar, see what you can do about making an opening to let some fresh air in here for our new friends." and the two went right to work. "Maeve, she'll need our help when she wakes up. Yours especially."

"Why my help?"

"I don't think she'll want to trust a man for a long time after what she's been through."

At the sudden sound of wood splintering above Drayca awoke. She was relieved to see Draco was still watching over her, but the sight of the strangers unnerved her. Maeve stepped foreword, a comforting smile on her lips. "We won't hurt you. We're here to help. The other men are all gone and we're taking you back to the coast."

"It's all true, dearest." Draco assured. "Time for you to meet some legends." Sinbad and Maeve looked at each other in puzzlement. "This is Sinbad." Drayca's eyes went wide at the revelation. "The woman is Maeve."

"Of the--?"

"Not yet, dearest." he interrupted quickly.