Slaying the Dragon

By Sydney James

This time it was all going to be different.

For years, I've been running, hiding, looking over my shoulder. Moving from town to town, changing my appearance, starting over. And over and over. Trying to get away from all those painful memories. And from him.

The man with the dragon tattoo on his chest.

When I step of the bus in Boulder, Colorado, things seem to fall into place in a way they've never done before. Is that a sign? Is it finally time to stop running? Perhaps, I can finally start to rebuild the life that the Dragon destroyed, all those years ago.

But I should have learned by now, that you can't run from your past. When it all catches up with me, I'm forced to make a choice - keep running or find a way to make sure that the Dragon never hurts me or anyone else ever again.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Alba Publishing
• Release date: Feb 25, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386037897

Book preview

Slaying the Dragon

Slaying the Dragon

Sydney James

Contents

Slaying The Dragon

About the Author

Also by Sydney James

Slaying The Dragon

I squinted against the bright sunlight and filled my lungs with the clean mountain air. The thin air almost made me dizzy as I adjusted my grip on my bags and looked around. The plan had been to get off at the terminal downtown, but there had been plenty of young people on the bus, and they had all gotten off here. At the last minute, my desire to blend in with the crowd had sent me scurrying off the bus, even though I had no idea where I was.

Seeing the University of Colorado sign outside the building across the street, I calmed down a little. I was no student but usually tried to stay in areas like this. With all the people coming and going every term, it was easy to get lost in the crowds. No one raised an eyebrow over an unfamiliar face, and there was usually cheap housing to be had, and easy to get entry-level jobs without too many questions asked.

I walked along the busy street for a while until I found what I was looking for. A small, nondescript café with a sign in the window that indicated free wifi. A quick glance through the window told me that this was no student haunt, but I still pulled the door open and stepped inside, dropping my bags in the corner behind a small table by the window. I glanced over at the waitress who was busy with another customer but nodded to signal that she would be right over. I pulled out a chair, the one facing the door, and plunked down with my back against the wall. Every inch of my body ached after the long bus ride, but at the same time, I felt good. Relieved. It was the greatest feeling in the world. Starting over.

Wiping the slate clean.

This time it was all going to be different.

I could feel it.

The waitress appeared beside me. What’ll it be, hon? she asked, and I couldn’t help but grin as I looked up at her. She was the quintessential waitress, and I’d probably met a dozen just like her, in towns like this across the country.

Coffee, please, I said. As black as you can make it. And a BLT on white.

The waitress made a note on her pad and walked away. A moment later she returned with a coffee cup and a pot of coffee that smelled freshly made. She filled the cup to the brim. The sandwich will be another minute or so, she said. Wayne is making a new batch of bacon; the old lot had been sittin’ on the grill a bit too long.

That’s fine, I said. It always amazed me when people apologized for doing a good job. When did that happen? When did we decide that it was no longer worth making an effort? To try and do things right?

Anything else I can do you for? she said, resting her weight on one hip.

I looked up at her friendly face. I wasn’t the kind of person who made friends left and right, but a waitress at a café might be a better source of the info I was after than even Google itself. Well … As a matter of fact, I just got off the bus, and I’m looking for a place to stay.

She threw a glance at my bags on the floor. Are you a student? The university has housing if you—

I hesitated for a moment but then shook my head. No, I might sign up for a few courses next semester, but for now, I thought that I’d try and find a job.

She glanced out the window and pouted her crimson lips as she thought about it.

Don’t worry about it, I said holding up my phone. I’ll check Craigslist and …

Well, there’s always Henny Jensen, she said, almost more to herself than to me. She has that small apartment over her garage that she used to let to students. The girl that used to live there had to drop out because of some unfortunate business with a boy … She frowned and glanced at me. What’s your name, dear? And have you got a boyfriend?

I shook my head. Megan. And no. It’s just me.

"I can give Henny a call