Spark: Hailey Holloway, #1

By K.C. Stewart

Note to self: when you see a dragon run the other way.

Watching two dragons brawl it out in the middle of Philly wasn't something Hailey Holloway had thought she'd see when she woke up that morning. It was the day that she replayed in her head over and over, the day that landed her in the mess she was in now. Because on that day, Hailey had unintentionally invited the soul of one of those dragons into her own for safe keeping. But this was his eviction notice. She wanted him out of her head. Now.

Dacea was supposed to be dead but being best friends with a witch had its advantages. Now he just had to find a way out of this human. As leader of the red dragon sept, Dacea didn't have time to babysit a woman who thought she was going insane. His enemies would eventually catch on and find out he wasn't six feet under. They were going to have to work together to get out of this, but he'd have to convince her he was real first.

• Language: English
• Publisher: K.C. Stewart
• Release date: Mar 2, 2014
• ISBN: 9781536580518

K.C. Stewart

K.C. Stewart is the USA Today Bestselling author of the Hailey Holloway series and most recently, the Adirondack Pack series. All her life she had fantasized and day-dreamed on a regular basis but it wasn’t until she began writing short stories that she made those fantasies a reality. She has graduated to novels but still dabbles in the occasional flash fiction and short story. Because of her love for reading and the written word, K.C. is currently working towards her Masters in Library Science. When she isn’t taking photographs, studying or writing, she is supporting a very real gummy bear habit. Currently, she lives with her husband and pack of german sheperds.

Book preview

1

Hailey sat up in her bed and gasped for air. With its blaring alarm, her bedside clock announced that it was time to wake up. She slapped at the clock until she found the off button. Because she couldn’t shake the dream she had been having, Hailey held out her arms and checked for any red marks. She found only her porcelain skin.

Ugh, she groaned as she rested her head in her palm. It had just been a horrible dream; one she had been having on a nightly basis for a week now. There was no fire, no smoke and no dragons.

That’s the last time I eat Mexican before bed.

Not this again, a deep voice grumbled in her head.

Hailey squeezed her eyes shut. I will not talk to the voice in my head. It. Is. Not. Real. She repeated her recently acquired mantra, punctuating each word.

Every morning it is the same thing. Hailey, you need to get over this already. He sounded frustrated, not that she cared. The voice had been with her ever since the unfortunate event in the nearby park three weeks prior. The sooner you accept what has happened, the sooner we can figure out how to fix it.

LA LA LA LA LA. Hands covered her ears as she crawled out of bed. I can’t hear you.

He sighed in her head. Why can’t you believe what is right in front of you?

Because what was right in front of her was a crazy person, who had voices in her head. Hailey turned on the shower and set in her ways of ignoring him. She dropped her shirt on the floor but quickly covered her breasts with her arms.

Crap. Close your eyes.

Excuse me?

I said, close your eyes. I need to shower.

You are infuriating, he bit out.

Nonsense, I am delightful. You on the other hand, have no manners. I need to shower and don’t want you to watch. She shifted uncomfortably, unsure where she should look when she spoke to him.

It’s nothing I haven’t seen before. In fact, a little peek is the least you can do for the headaches you’ve caused me.

Headaches I’ve caused you? she asked, indignantly. What about me Mister? Do you think I want to hear your critique of absolutely everything I do, have done or will do in the future? Just close your eyes and leave me be.

A moment of silence passed before he grunted out, Fine.

She didn’t move. There was no way of telling if he followed her orders. Are your eyes closed?

Yes.

How do I know that? You could just say they are but really be watching me shower like a creeper. Hailey shuffled her weight back and forth as the cool air chilled her bottom.

I guess you will just have to trust me, he said amused.

The steam began to fill the small bathroom. It called to her like a Siren. Hailey sucked up her modesty and uncovered herself before tearing back the curtain. Her shower was short but it was hot. If she wasn’t red when she got out, then the shower was not over. Steam fogged the mirror and it took a few passes with her hand before she could see herself. Her damp, brown hair hung straight but soon, it would be a mess of frizzy waves. She accepted her genetics early on and didn’t fuss over it. Sure, her hair left much to be desired but she had been graced in the body department; curves up top followed by a cinched waist and a nice flare at the hips. However, she could stand to lose a few pounds. Her stomach had a bit of an overhang these days.

The rest of her morning passed rather simply and routinely with only minor interruption from the voice. The streets of Philadelphia were bustling with people on their way to work. In her own world of thought, she walked the ten blocks to work along with the rest of the city.

It seemed everyone always had somewhere to be in a city. It was a fast paced life and would run right over you if you didn’t keep up. Hailey never really felt like she fit in the urban lifestyle; her pace, much more like a leisurely stroll. But she did like the feeling of life around her, even if it was just to watch from the safety of her apartment.

An accident ahead had her normal route packed full of bystanders trying to get a glimpse at what happened. She checked her watch, still on time but she wasn’t sure how long it would take her to wade through the crowd. There was another way to her office, quicker, in fact, than the route she usually took. Hailey had her reasons for not walking that way, but being late was not an option. In a last second decision, Hailey cut down the street to the entrance of the park.

Ahh, said the voice. I was wondering if you’d ever come back here.

Don’t talk to me, she snapped. Her nerves kept her feet moving at a considerable pace. The park was a quaint piece of quiet amongst the hustle of Philadelphia. At one point this had been Hailey’s favorite part of her walk to and from work. Now it was an eerie reminder of all the things she didn’t know about in this world.

That’s where it happened, the voice pointed out. She knew and didn’t have to look, but did anyway. Clearly as if it were happening again, Hailey saw two dragons fighting. Trees were uprooted and patches of grass were scorched by fire. The only thing unscathed was a simple swing set on the other end of the park.

That day Hailey had been late getting out of work. She had considered grabbing a taxi home but decided to walk after remembering about the bag of gummy bears she had at lunch. Typically the park had a few kids playing basketball or someone reading on a bench, but that day the park was empty of all life. She was too occupied to notice this lack of life until she all but ran into the red dragon.

Stumbling backward Hailey’s mouth hung open in astonishment. Her phone was clutched in her hand and she knew that she should be calling the hospital to see if they had an opening in the mental ward or maybe the police. Instead she scurried back out of the line of fire and hid behind a tree. Neither of the creatures seemed to notice her presence and if they did, they thought of her as only a lowly human. She however, took notice of them.

The larger dragon was easily fifteen feet high. It was covered in dark green scales with two lines of spiky horns traveling all the way down its long neck and spine. It towered over the reddish dragon with a wicked gleam in its eyes. She wasn’t sure which one she should be rooting for, but when the green one took a cheap shot, Hailey decided on Team Red. The red dragon was much less vicious looking, but still terrifying. It had two large horns protruding from its head and a much smoother coat of scales. The wings were extraordinarily large, twice the size of green. And as a stream of fire came barreling out of its mouth, she began to second guess her choice of team.

Hailey blinked herself back to the present. Her feet had stopped moving and she was blocking the path of a mother with a stroller. Apologizing and stepping out of the way, Hailey had to shake loose the memory and the racing heart it brought with it.

Her panic was palatable even now. That day left her with more than an unnatural fear of city parks, it also gave her a mental roommate who ate all her food and played music too loud.

Reminiscing? he asked sweetly.

She pinched the bridge of her nose. Go. Away.

It doesn’t work that way.

Walking once more, Hailey made her way through the center of the park. It had been a bad idea to come this way. The memories of that day were too vivid, even now, weeks later.

A dark spot up ahead caught her eye. It was a six-foot oval of dead grass. She knew what had killed the grass but was surprised it had not begun to grow back. Stepping off the path, Hailey walked over to the spot and crouched down. She brushed a hand over the dead ground. This was where a woman had found her unconscious.

The green dragon had tossed the red one into a tree, even Hailey had heard the crack of bones as he hit and fell to the ground. She lost her footing as the ground shook with impact. The tree became her crutch while she righted herself. Red had begun to change after she found her balance. He tried to hoist his body from the ground but was clearly in agony. His form shrunk. A shriek of pain tore from his throat as the scales were absorbed leaving only skin behind. Arms, legs, even hair appeared. All too soon Hailey was looking at a human man, a very naked, beaten and bleeding human man.

The green dragon had changed when she wasn’t looking. He wasn’t as harmed as the other but from her view point Hailey couldn’t see much. She darted to the next closest tree and caught the green dragon-human-thing crouched down and speaking to the other. He held a knife at his side and as the red one spit in his face, the knife slid smoothly into his stomach. Laughter filled the silent park; the green dragon wiped the blood covered blade on the grass and walked away. Just walked away like he didn’t turn into a dragon and have a full out dragon brawl in the middle of Philadelphia.

Hailey told herself she should turn away and lock herself in her apartment for an undetermined amount of time until she felt mentally healthy enough to go back into society.

Of course she rarely listened to herself.

She ran over to the man and searched for a pulse in his wrist. It was faint, but it was there.

Hey, Mr. Dragon?

His eyes opened and the most beautiful shade of amber surrounded the oblong pupil. They looked out at her with a mixture of curiosity and humor, both living and dead all at once.

Yeah I saw the whole thing. Don’t worry, I’ll freak out later. She found his hand and gave a light squeeze. Just close your eyes, it will be over soon.

The sharp, intelligent eyes of the dragon studied her. She ran a hand over his short blonde hair. Just because he was a big bad dragon didn’t mean he couldn’t have someone to comfort him in his last moments. His mouth started to move but she couldn’t hear anything. Hailey leaned closer to his lips. The words held no meaning to her but he had an Irish lilt to his voice.

I don’t understand. The only Irish I know are whiskey brands. Do you know English?

His eyes smiled one last time before his body stilled. Hailey felt for a pulse but couldn’t find one this time. She felt oddly sad for the loss of the dragon. She placed his hand on the ground and started to stand, unsure of what to do next.

A line of thin red smoke traveled out of his open mouth. It twisted and twirled in the air as it made its escape from his lips. She couldn’t resist reaching her hand out to touch it. The smoke wove its way between her fingers and traveled up her arm. Soon her body was surrounded by a red vine of smoke. It wisped and curled over her body, almost like light kisses. The feeling made her laugh as it tickled her skin.

The smoke wrapped around her neck, winding around and around until air was hard to swallow. She clawed at her throat, taking in large gulps of air when she could. The smoke crawled up her skin, attached itself and spread like veins over her face before she could think to do otherwise; it was slinking into her mouth. She stumbled back and fell to her knees. Pained bloomed in her head. Her skull felt heavy, too full. Blood dripped from her nose onto the grass. She caught a drop on her fingertips. Shit, she slurred and fell.

She woke the next day in her bed with a voice telling her to wake up. Hailey groaned and pulled the blanket over her head. Five more minutes.

Get up or I will make you get up, the deep voice echoed through her head as she burrowed deeper under the covers.

Hailey’s eyes shot open. Who the fuck was that? She peeked out of the blankets and found only an empty room. H-hello?

Okay, maybe her imagination was on hyper drive or something. She sat up and her head swam. This had to be the worst hangover of her life. How much did I drink last night? She rubbed her eyes with the palm of her hand.

You had nothing to drink but I’m sure the effects of our joining left you feeling as if you spent a night with a bottle of whiskey.

That was a rhetorical question Jackass.

Language.

Bite me. Hailey’s feet hovered above the ground. Did she just have a conversation with herself? And when did the voice in her head start sounding like a man? She stood and shuffled into the bathroom. Why was she still in her work clothes?

You surprise me. Here I thought you would be clawing at your head trying to get the voices to stop. Instead you tell me to bite myself. This may not have been a mistake after all.

She took a full minute before speaking. After running through every rational explanation she still had nothing. Err, come again?

He sighed. Then again, maybe I spoke too soon.

It hit her then, everything that had happened the day before in the park. There was a dragon fight and some smoke then everything got fuzzy. How did she get home? She vaguely remembered flying but not in a plane, almost as it she had wings. This was crazy; she needed to wake the fuck up. Dragons, really? Hailey turned on the cold water and splashed some on her face. This was just her mind making up fantasies to escape the stress she’d been under lately.

Bracing her hands on the side of the sink Hailey lifted her head and stared into eyes she didn’t know. Her once light brown eyes were now a dark amber color; her pupils were long and narrow reminding her of a cat. Holy fucking shit she had dragon eyes! But that would mean…

I have dragon eyes.

And she finally gets it. Congratulations.

You’re the dragon? You’re the dragon and you are in my head?

Yes, he said.

Crap. Hailey’s head was spinning. She had a dragon inside of her and she was speaking to him in her head.

She needed to lie down; this shit was too weird to be true. Obviously she had an accident and was now in a coma.

Err, Dragon? I’m going to go back to bed and when I wake up you’ll be gone. She opened her medicine cabinet and grabbed the bottle of NyQuil. Hailey could almost feel his disapproving gaze. Don’t judge. She took a few swigs from the bottle and replaced the cap.

Very well, we will play this little game of yours but when you wake up, we will talk.

She stood and brushed off the bits of cut grass from her pants. They hadn’t talked that day or the next. Hailey did everything in her power to pretend he wasn’t there. She still did.

Realizing the time, she took a deep breath and cleared her mind. Once outside the park’s gate she felt the air move again. A cool fall breeze snapped her from her stupor. Life had taken a serious wrong turn and that park was to blame.

2

Hailey settled in at her cubicle and flipped through the new files that magically appeared overnight. Not her work of course, she always got that done. Hailey had the unfortunate roll as the office pushover. It started out with helping people who were behind to make their deadlines. Now, she just did it for them and avoided the confrontation. It bothered her more than she liked to admit but never planned to do anything about it.

Oh good, you found the files. If you could just finish those up for me, that’d be great. Holly, otherwise known as the Office Slut, gave her a fake smile and sauntered past Hailey in her 'Ode to Mad Men' dress. She was no Christina Hendricks, but Holly’s red hair and hourglass curves were what dreams were made of. By noon Hails, she said before closing the door to her office.

By noon Hails, she said mockingly to her computer.

Inside she fumed with loathing, spouting off every string of curse words she could think of. Outside she held a well-practiced neutral face. Emotions and Hailey didn’t really get along. Something always went wrong from the initial feeling to expressing that feeling outward. Instead of fighting it, she accepted and honed it. Now, it was a blessing and a curse to stay in her emotional safe zone. On a scale of one to ten, she stayed consistently between four and six, never to stray far from the median.

Why do you never say no? Is it not in your vocabulary?

Oh goodie, because her troubles weren’t bad enough, the voice was back again.

Why do you insist on speaking to me when I want nothing to do with you? she whispered and looked around to make sure no one was watching her talk to herself. They already thought she was a freak, no need to add fuel to the fire.

You know I can’t leave. I have tried countless times but nothing has worked. So speaking to you, as loathsome as that may be, is my only option.

And here she thought he lived only to torment her. You have? She frowned. Hailey wasn’t a religious person, but she had prayed for help every day to anyone who would listen. Just like when she was ten and prayed for a snow