The Christmas Dragon Read online

  She was staring in amazement because until the porch was scraped, she hadn’t heard a thing. When a dark figure descended in her yard, wearing blue scales and a jaunty Santa hat, she felt her mouth hang open.

  A dragon over fifty feet long from nose to tail stood patiently while she gawked at him. When she took a few steps forward, he extended one paw with long and deadly claws.

  This gift is for you. In return for your kindness. The words sounded in her mind.

  There was a small parcel in his claws and she stepped forward to take it. “What kindness?”

  You will remember in time, but for now, take this as the first of three gifts for you from the Christmas Dragon.

  The box which looked tiny in his grasp, was huge in hers. “Shall I open it here?”

  You may open it later and tell me what you thought of it when I come to deliver the next.

  “You are coming back?”

  For three nights. Tonight was the first. I wish you a good evening, beautiful lady.

  “Thank you?” She didn’t know what else to say.

  He nodded his great head and took off skyward.

  Maggie watch him until the blue of his hide melded with the sky and then she walked back into her cabin, carrying the present that had just been delivered by dragon.

  Chapter Five

  The box was real. There was a tremendous sigh of relief when she tugged at the big silver bow and the blue sides of the box fell open. Inside were a series of documents and a few smaller parcels.“What the heck is this?”

  The first document made her heart hammer in her chest. It read, This is to establish the Mandy Konrad memorial fund for counselling the families of breast cancer patients.

  Tears tracked down Maggie’s cheeks as she went through page after page of donation records. Each document was an affirmation from someone who had shared her loss and had donated to the worthy cause of helping others through their time of need.

  The next package made her laugh. It was the image of her sister and herself making faces at each other, but it was depicted in crystal. Her mother had hated that photo, but they had loved it and as soon as the tech evolved so that they could make copies, they did. It had been Mandy’s screensaver for three years.

  The other boxes yielded the ballerina ornament that she wanted when she was seven and the game Operation that her mother had refused to get her.

  At the bottom of the box was a card. It is alright to celebrate Christmas past. It does not make the present any less magical, just different.

  With the tears flowing freely, she set up the game and started to play it solitaire style. Laughter eventually replaced tears as she realized that the noise the game was making was driving her nuts. She persevered and eventually gutted the poor fella with barely any buzzing at all.

  The clock on the wall displayed that it was after midnight so she took her ballerina ornament and climbed into her nightgown. Time for bed. If the ballerina was with her in the morning, then a dragon might be visiting her in the evening. That alone was worth pushing through the day for.

  She woke to a ballerina flashing her tutu. It was going to be a good day. But if Santa got cookies, what would be suitable for a dragon bearing gifts?

  Her day flew by as she worked on a compromise. She worked on mincemeat tarts. The filling contained suet so it had a meat related product and the fruits would count toward sweetness. Using her grandmother’s grinder was fun, even if it took her a while to figure it out and she endangered her fingers more than once. The result was well worth the effort and gave her something to eat as the sun slowly sank behind the mountains.

  After sundown, she jumped at ever sound, waiting for the noise that would let her know he was there.

  In the end he used light not sound, to announce himself. A bright light danced outside her windows and when she stepped into the snow, the sky erupted in light. She had seen Aurora Borealis before, but it had never been like this.

  Out of the flaring sky, he appeared, his great wings silhouetted against the bright panorama. The Christmas Dragon was glowing blue and that triggered something in Maggie’s memory. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but she had seen it somewhere before.

  “Hello. Good evening.” A curtsy was out of the question, but she did incline her head. “The sky is beautiful. Is that your doing?”

  It is. I am glad you are pleased. Did you enjoy your gift of Christmas Past?

  “I did. Thank you. It was all very thoughtful. I now know why my mother refused to buy that game though.”

  The dragon chuckled.

  It was a comforting sound, a cough mixed with a gargle.

  It was fun selecting it for you. The elves thought I was mad.

  “There are elves involved here?”

  They are servants. You need not worry about them. They work for Sahn-Tah and I am taking his place for the holiday.

  “So you are calling the shots. Oh, before I forget, I made these for you.” She held out the plate with the tarts on it. “They are mincemeat. Fruit and suet. Would you like one?”

  I would like them all, if you would. The enormous head came closer, closer and slowly the jaws opened. No one has baked for me before. Thank you.

  “Don’t thank me until you taste them. You may not like them.” Extending her hand forward, she tipped the plate above his delicately protruding tongue. He flicked them into the recesses of his mouth and began to chew.

  They are tasty, lovely and sweet. As is their creator.

  She was suddenly blushing under his regard and hugged the empty plate against her chest. “You are welcome. I like to bake, but seldom have someone to eat the product. So thank you for the compliments.”

  And now for your gift, my lady. As he had before, his claws extended with another present, wrapped as the previous one had been.

  “What does this one symbolize?”

  His teeth showed in a draconic grin and with his hat cocked at a jaunty angle, he took to the skies.

  It’s your Christmas present.

  As his wing beats faded, a shiver drove Maggie back into her cabin with the present balanced on the empty plate. When her door closed behind her, the lightshow stopped.

  Giggling with anticipation, she snuggled into her couch and opened her newest acquisition. As the bow released the sides of the box, she gasped in surprise as a fountain of presents spilled into her lap.

  Some felt like fabric while others felt hard. She went for the hard ones first and her instinct was correct, it was chocolate. Expensive chocolate. When Maggie smelled the heady sweet and pungent aroma of the cocoa, it was a prelude to her first taste. The chocolate exploded on her tongue, melting through her mouth and trickling down her throat. She moaned happily.

  Her happy place enveloped her mind, buzzing her along on endorphins as she opened the next box.

  A pair of earrings in the shape of dragons winked at her, the silver flashed in the firelight. She giggled, then laughed out loud. The rest of the gifts followed that same theme. A dragon necklace, bracelet, stuffed dragons, dragon candle holders, a dragon diary and dragon pyjamas covered with tiny fire breathing winged creatures.

  It was quite a haul. By the time she was on her third chocolate, she noticed that even they were little dragons.

  “Oh my God.” The laughter was unstoppable. She sat in her mound of dragons, wearing the dragon pyjamas and toasted the dragons that appear in the dark to deliver presents. Her present Christmas spirits were up.

  * * * *

  Watching her from the Naughty and Nice Room was his newest favourite hobby. Syrus had never enjoyed anything more than watching her enjoyment, except being there in person to witness it. The joy that she found in her gifts was the same joy that he found in her, the joy of discovery, of surprise and of being appreciated by someone else.

  Today, Prancer was on duty, but she simply punched up Maggie’s name and left him alone to watch her go through the presents. Maggie’s reaction to the chocolate almost unmanned him. He wan
ted to be scented delicately, to have her lick him softly and then to take him deeply into her mouth. Those few thoughts had him ready to come, but by the time she had worked her way to the stuffed dragon that looked like him, he had relaxed and was smiling at her image on the big screen.

  For this moment in time, he had made her happy. Tomorrow’s gift would see if he could be part of her future. His final visit on Christmas day would allow her to choose her future with him or without him.

  If she chose wrong, he would have to persuade her to change her mind.

  Chapter Six

  Wearing the jewellery the next morning seemed a good way to start the day. Seeing how much he ate, she turned the tarts into pies and made more of the mix just in case. She hoped he hadn’t been lying when he said he enjoyed it, it was very hard to read his scaled expressions.

  A few times during the day, she realized what she was doing and shook her head at going completely around the bend. It was only the brush of the earrings on her neck combined with the cheerful stare of the stuffed dragon that kept her mind on baking. With the pies cooling on her countertop, she micro waved a few snacks and had dinner.

  Time seemed to flow past her at an accelerated rate. It was after she had washed the dishes and was settling in that her delivery dragon announced himself.

  I am on my way to you, but this time there are two parcels so I will land closer to your cabin. You need only open the door.

  Scrambling to her feet, she grabbed the pies and dropped them onto a tray. She placed the tray next to the door and took a deep breath. Maggie swung the door open and there was the dragon. Well, his snout. His hat was still perched on top of his head with a jaunty angle. “Good evening. I baked some pies for you, but I don’t know if you were telling the full truth about enjoying them.”

  I enjoyed them very much. The larger quantity is appreciated.

  He must have been telling the truth because his mouth immediately opened and his tail lashed in anticipation. She dropped three pies into his mouth, removing the pie pan before abandoning them to his jaws. Being this close to the munching was a little disconcerting, but the genuine gleam of enjoyment in his eye was rather satisfying.

  Those were even better than yesterday. Practice is good for you.

  “Well, they say it makes perfect. I have two more pies if you would like them.”

  Please. They are preparing me for a night of cookies and milk, and I have to tell you I am a little lactose intolerant. I may have to skip the milk.

  The image of a dragon farting his way across the sky had her giggling. She grabbed the last two pies and returned to the dragon in the doorway. He opened his mouth obligingly and in went the pies. His tongue flicked out to get stray crumbs and that gesture was remarkably familiar. Again, she knew she had seen it somewhere before.

  There are two parcels today. His clawed hand reached in and dropped a four foot by four foot box in front of her Christmas tree. It was shiny and blue, the same as the others. The second gift that he pushed into her home was almost as tall as she was.

  You must open the red gift at dawn on Christmas morning. Not before, not after.

  “But I can open the blue one today?”

  If you wish to. Any more pie?

  The wistful tone in his projected voice made her smile. “No. No more today, but I can prepare something for Christmas morning.” It was only two days away.

  I would appreciate that. It is very seldom that get to have food made specifically for me. The treat has been my greatest joy this season.

  “As your visits have been for me. Do you just fly through the mountains delivering gifts to women who are alone?”

  That sounds like a wonderful hobby, but no. I came here for you. You seemed to need to remember the magic of Christmas. Who better to do that than a dragon?

  “You definitely have a point there, I am really believing in the unbelievable this year.” She wanted to touch him, but didn’t know if it would be rude. “Can I touch you?”

  Certainly. My scales are tough so you can be as rough as you like.

  Under his scrutiny, she blushed. It was a little hard to reach out to touch with him watching, but she managed. His scales were hard and very smooth. One overlapped the other in a tight pattern that still allowed him to move and twist as he pleased. His tongue lashed out and licked her hand, making her jump back in surprise.

  You taste like pie.

  “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

  A good thing, but don’t worry, I never bite the hand that feeds me.

  “I thought you said no one had cooked for you before.”

  I am testing the theory that I never bite the hand that feeds me.

  His saurian smile was wicked as was the laugh that trickled into her mind. Maggie put her hands behind her back to be on the safe side.

  Aw. I was having fun.

  “And freaking me out at the same time.”

  Sorry. I rarely socialize. This time with you has been a treat for me and as much as I would love to spend the night chatting, tomorrow is Christmas Eve and I have to get some rest before my flight. I will see you Christmas morning. He began to back out of the doorway, his tail held high and his wings tight against his back.

  Maggie followed him out onto the porch and watched him fluff his wings out for flight. “Thank you for coming by again. It was nice to have you visit.”

  Thank you for your hospitality, not many would offer it to a dragon in their front yard. I wish you the joy of the season, Maggie Konrad.

  “The joy of the season to you as well, Christmas Dragon. I hope your Christmas Eve goes smoothly.”

  He inclined his head in one of those formal bows and took to the skies. As he flew out of her sight, a shower of stars followed him, then came to her yard and broke into a thousand glittering shards. Each shard formed a pixie and as she watched, they danced in her view.

  Standing on her porch with the glow of the fire behind her, lighting the drifts with a warm cascade of colours, Maggie watched the pixies dance in the snow. Tears flowed down her cheeks, but they were tears of joy at the sheer wonder of the magic that she had been given.

  This was truly a holiday to remember.

  The pixies had shooed her inside when she began to shake with cold. A handful of them followed her and made sure that she sat in front of the fire with a cup of hot cider in her hands. When she was warm and relaxed, they got her attention again.

  Tiny piping voices squeaked as they engaged in the occupation of leaping up and down on the large blue box.

  “So you want me to open it, I suppose?” At their fervent agreement, she tugged on the ribbon and stepped back while the box fell open as its siblings had.

  The boxes and packages that spilled out covered the base of her tree and half her floor. It would take her most of the night to get through all the gifts and even longer to clean up afterward. She looked at the pile. Six. She would open six and save the rest for Christmas Eve. But which six to choose?

  “Can you pixies help me out? I want to select six to open tonight and the rest I will open tomorrow.” The little creatures looked disappointed for a second and then nodded with enthusiasm. Diving amongst the packages, they pulled one after another to the top of the pile until she had her six.

  The pixies had a hard time deciding which one to have her open first and a tiny little fistfight broke out.

  “Okay. No fighting. You can go back and play with your friends outside. I will be fine in here. Thank you for your help.”

  How they managed to open and close the door would forever be a mystery, but they did it and soon, she was alone. Well mostly alone. She was able to see the tiny faces pressed up against the glass from where she sat. Her window was now a theatre for pixies.

  Sighing and laughing at the same time, she tugged on the wrappings of the first gift. “Oh my.” If asked for the colour of the negligee she would have to say that it was clear. The palest of blue silks which would be rendered transparent when held a
gainst skin.

  The saving grace to the gown was a robe that would create enough contrast to give the wearer the illusion of modesty. Each item had a tiny embroidered dragon at the base of the neck and Maggie felt her lips give a wry twist. It was fairly obvious who was providing all these gifts, but what could a dragon want with her?

  The next parcel opened to reveal a deliciously soft emerald green shawl that she wrapped around her shoulders immediately. The scent of the fabric was familiar, masculine, but familiar. A tiny dragon tag was on it as well.

  The box that she dragged to her next was large and it contained a black velvet cloak with a silver dragon clasp. It was a piece of clothing from another time, but it was beautiful.

  Another stuffed dragon was in the next parcel, but he was holding a jewellery box. The box held a pair of earrings made of tiny versions of the dragon’s scales.

  A smaller, flatter box revealed a necklace to match the scaled earrings. When she touched the stones, she felt them warm under her fingers.

  The last box that she had designated for opening yielded up the most practical of all gifts. A black forest cherry cheesecake that was chilled but not frozen. After a few judicious nibbles, she placed the rest in the fridge for the next day. No sense stuffing herself before she went to bed.

  She banked the fire and went to bed after one longing look at her pile of presents and the big red box with the great white bow. There would be time for them tomorrow.

  * * * *

  At the Workshop, Syrus groaned in reaction as her fingers stroked the scales he had sent her. A dragon’s scales were only given to those that they loved because they tied the mate to the dragon in perpetuity. The mating jewellery was made from scales around the male’s member and pulling them out to create the items was painful. Very painful, but well worth the effort.

  Unfortunately, in the hands of a mate who didn’t know what they were, it could be a little uncomfortable. Each scale was still tied to the point from which it had been torn. Her light stroking was effectively caressing the base of his cock. If she did the same the next day while he was delivering gifts, he would go out of his mind before arriving at her cabin.