Chapter 7: Beach Party

When Mike arrived at Di’s lair early on Sunday morning, he didn’t know what to expect. He was the fourth person there, not counting the dragon herself.

Quetzalli stood next to Pele. They were chatting amicably while they waited. Ratu was also there, and had pulled a small wooden stool from the folds of her robe to set up a little tea tray. The others looked up at him as he walked in, and he gave them a nod of greeting, then yawned.

“I guess we’re just waiting for one more.” He yawned again, then looked toward the stairs. “Is she coming the long way?”

“No idea,” Ratu replied as she poured some tea. “But since she called this meeting, she gets to arrive fashionably late.”

It was only a few minutes later when the elevator was called to the surface. It eventually returned, carrying just Dana. The woman briefly made eye contact with everybody, then walked toward the center of the room.

“I’d like to thank everybody for agreeing to meet with me so early this morning,” she said.

“Is everything okay?” Mike asked.

Dana chuckled. “Honestly? Yeah, things are great, actually.” The zombie looked at Ratu, who gave her a nod. Dana stuck a hand in her pocket and pulled out a small box that was held shut with ribbons.

Pele cocked her head to one side and narrowed her eyes. “Is that what I think it is?” the goddess asked.

“No idea,” Dana replied. “I don’t know what you think it is, so I can’t answer truthfully.”

Quetzalli nodded her approval of the statement. When Pele gave the dragon a dirty look, the dragon shrugged. “What? I lived among the Fae for a very long time. That’s a very solid answer.”

Ratu walked up to Dana and produced another small pedestal from her robe. Mike made a mental note to discuss inter-dimensional pockets with the enchantress. Sure, she had said it would be very difficult to create outfits that would allow him or other members of the family to carry whatever they wanted, but maybe it was the kind of magic he could at least learn for himself.

Or if he couldn’t, Beth would probably figure it out. Her natural talent for learning new magic would at least mean she’d finally have enough pockets for all the things she wanted to carry.

Dana set the box on the pedestal and looked at Mike. “A few days ago, Ratu came to me with news of a potential cure for my condition.”

“Congratulations,” Mike said.

“Originally, this artifact was required to return me to my previous state. However, we have discovered that it is no longer necessary for my cure. With that being said, I give this as a gift to the Radley family in exchange for a promise.” Dana opened the box, revealing the Dragon Seed inside. From where Mike stood, he heard draconic whispering as he stared at the pearlescent surface. Behind him, Di’s coils undulated in the lava as the dragon gazed down upon what could be the salvation of her race.

“Technically, it isn’t a gift if you’re demanding something in return.” Quetzalli raised an eyebrow at Dana. “I’m just saying.”

“It will be a gift for the family one way or another,” Dana replied. “I am hoping the promise itself will be offered as a gift of its own.”

“Hmm.” Pele didn’t seem so certain about the exchange, but it was clear her curiosity was piqued. “Go ahead, child.”

“I have some big decisions to make in the days ahead,” Dana said. “And I want to be able to make those decisions without fear of either my own place or the one I love losing a place to live.”

“Do you mean Tasia?” Mike asked.

“I do.” Dana took a deep breath, which may have been partially performative. “The possibility exists that the cure turns me back into an ordinary human, or perhaps kills me. I was hoping to secure a promise that I would be allowed to keep living here with you all, or, if I don’t survive, that Tasia still has a place to stay.”

Mike frowned. “I have no idea why you think we would do otherwise,” he said. “Both of you are family. Do you really think we would turn you out?”

“No,” Dana admitted. “But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that nothing is certain.” She turned away from Mike and looked up at Di, then over at Pele. “And I mean no disrespect by saying this, but I’m not just asking the Caretaker.”

The room went quiet. Mike felt the shift before he fully understood it.

“You are many things, Mike Radley, but immortal is not one of them.” Dana’s voice was steady, but there was a weight behind it that he hadn’t heard from her before. “I’ve died once already. I know how quickly the world moves on. If something happens to you, I need to know that the promises made here still hold.”

Mike opened his mouth, then closed it. He wanted to argue, to tell her she was being ridiculous, but the truth was that she wasn’t. He had come close to death enough times that the concern was more than reasonable. It was the thing nobody in the family liked to say out loud.

Everything died, or was supposed to, anyway. Out of everyone present, his lifespan would be just a blip on their calendar someday, no bigger than a reminder to do the laundry.

Dana looked at Pele. “This is your territory, your volcano, your domain. The land itself answers to you, and I would hope it would continue to serve as a safe haven should the time come.”

Pele studied Dana for a long moment, her expression unreadable. “You have some nerve, child,” she said, though not unkindly. “Coming in here and asking a goddess for promises.”

“I’ve been dead for years,” Dana replied. “Nerve is all I have left.”

Something that might have been a smile flickered across Pele’s face. “Anyone who gives up a Dragon Seed of their own free will has earned the right to ask.” The goddess inclined her head. “As long as these islands stand, you and yours will have a place on them.”

Dana nodded, then tilted her head back to look at Di. The dragon’s massive eye regarded her with an intensity that would have sent most people running.

“The fate of dragonkind has not long been in the Caretaker’s hands,” Di rumbled. “And if a day should ever come that our fate is truly our own, then you and yours shall have a home among us.”

“Thank you.” Dana turned back to Mike, and some of the rigidity left her shoulders. “You allowed me to keep this artifact, even though it was perhaps far more important to dragonkind. You’ve given me both the space I’ve needed, along with the support to survive. Part of me wanted to just hand this over to you and be done with it, but I wanted to make everybody here aware that I know how important this artifact is. I thank all of you for your patience.”

Mike studied Dana for a moment, his brow furrowed. Dana wanting to make this transaction so formal felt a little off to him, but with Ratu standing nearby, he could only assume that the naga had recommended it. For all he knew, this had something to do with the Seed itself. Dana had taken it from a man who had been using it for his own personal gain, and was now willingly handing it over. Perhaps there was some magic in the formality?

Even so, there was something else. He wasn’t worried about what it could be, but was definitely curious.

“I swear to you that as long as there is no ill will in your heart or the heart of those you love, then you shall have a place here,” he replied.

Di made a rumbling sound in the back of her throat. “You willingly part with such power that dragons may once again rise and travel the world?”

“I do,” Dana replied.

Mike caught Ratu nodding out of the corner of his eye.

Di cleared her throat and looked at Mike. “Technically, this is a gift offered to the Caretaker, and he must accept. The nobility of this act will have left its mark on the Seed, should you choose to ever use it.”

Mike nodded. “I will accept this gift and promptly put it into the hands of the dragons themselves. I do not think the fate of dragons should belong to mortal men.” He looked at Quetzalli and Di. “I would leave it in your care.”

The earth dragon laughed. “And just like that, you would let dragons return?”

“Well, that’s just it. I don’t know that now is the right time or place for dragons.” He looked at Pele, who nodded in agreement. “But I can’t think of anyone else more qualified to make that decision than you two.”

“Well put.” Pele looked back at Dana and smiled. “This momentous occasion calls for a celebration, though the details of why will have to remain a secret. Nobody outside of this place can know what has transpired.”

“Agreed,” Mike and Dana said at the same time.

“So what should we tell everyone is the reason for the party?” Quetzalli asked. “They’ll want to know.”

Mike shrugged. “Do we need a reason for a party? Let’s just tell everyone the Radleys are having a massive beach party to catch up on personal celebrations and that anyone who wants to come celebrate with us is welcome to.”

The goddess chuckled. “Well put.” She took the Seed and did a trick with her hand that made it disappear. “By your leave, I have a celebration to plan.”

Quetzalli immediately engaged in an animated conversation with both Di and Ratu. This left Mike and Dana to walk quietly to the elevator together. The lift carried them away from the central chamber, causing the temperature to drop down into the low 80s.

“That felt like a lot of pomp and circumstance,” Mike said.

“It was deserved,” Dana replied. “Ratu explained to me that these things matter, especially to ancient beings like dragons and gods.” The zombie studied him for a moment and Mike got that weird feeling again. Her soul was mottled and unreadable.

“What is it?” he asked. “I feel like there’s something else you aren’t telling me.”

She snorted. “I hate that you can do that. But yes, there is.” Dana stuck her hand in a pocket and pulled something out. “I wanted to know if I could have your blessing on something.”

“You shouldn’t need my blessing for—oh.” He looked at the object in her hand, then smiled. “Really?”

Dana nodded. “I don’t need your blessing, but I do want it for personal reasons.”

Mike pulled her in for a hug. “Have you told anybody else yet?”

“I have not.” Dana hugged him back stiffly at first, then relaxed. “Well, Lily and Lala, but only because I asked them first.”

Mike took a step back and put a hand to his chest in mock indignation. “You told me third? Am I the third blessing?”

“Maybe.” Dana smirked. “There’s an order to these things.”

“There certainly is.” He laughed and looked up the elevator shaft. “When are you going to do it?”

“Maybe after the party,” she replied.

“I know a perfect spot that overlooks the ocean. Nobody ever goes there. You won’t be interrupted.” He didn’t feel the need to mention that it was his favorite fucking spot on the island. Nobody else seemed to know about it. “But I’m relying on you to keep it a secret.”

The zombie smirked. “In that case, you should probably not plan on using it for anything on Party Night.”

“I’ll find other ways to keep myself occupied.” He saw the edge of the shaft up above and knew this particular conversation was running short. “Just let me know if you need anything else from me.”

“I absolutely will.” Dana smiled and closed her hand, then stuck it back in her pocket. “I finally have a life to look forward to, and I’m not about to let anything get in my way. There is something else I want, though.”

“Oh?”

“Paper-Rock-Scissors,” she said, turning to face him. “Winner gets to tell Lily we’re having a beach party.”

Mike narrowed his eyes. With Dana’s reflexes, he had no chance in hell. “I’ll let you have this one,” he said.

The party started simple enough two days later. Mike had Callisto and other young centaurs help him carry coolers full of child-friendly beverages that came in flavors such as Arctic Chill and Cool Breeze. These were quickly collected by the children playing in the surf, many of whom were merfolk. Several of the Moon Tribe were in attendance already, including Nima. The old man waved his walking staff at Callisto, and the two of them went off with Grace to hunt for treasure in the tide pools.

Mike noticed a few sour glances being thrown his way by some of Zel’s people. Though it didn’t trigger any sort of danger sense, it did give him an itchy feeling all along his brain. He would check in with Zel about it later, because he felt there was a really good chance she was underestimating the problem.

Wild pigs, dozens of them, were wrapped in leaves and buried in coals along the shoreline for dinner in roughly sixteen hours. Humans, centaurs, and merfolk alike mingled on the beach. Mike’s family had a special pier built for them to sit at, which had gotten a couple of dark looks from the same culprits earlier.

“Do you get the idea that some of the people here are harboring ill will toward me?” he asked Leilani.

“No,” she replied. The princess was busy watching the kids play in the tide pools while a pair of attendants fanned them from the sides. Leilani eventually put her hand on his knee and squeezed. “I think you worry too much.”

He gave the mermaid a frustrated look which she didn’t see. Maybe she was the wrong person to be asking this question. “I think you don’t worry enough.”

“Then perhaps we are the perfect pair,” Leilani declared just as a massive cooler was nearly dropped on her foot. She jumped to her feet to glare at Lily and Tink, who had been the ones carrying it.

“Oops,” Lily said, putting a hand to her cheek in mock embarrassment. “I’m so clumsy.”

“And husband graceful,” Tink added.

“I guess we’re—” Lily was casually pulled by her bikini-top straight into the water by Leilani. Tink raised her fists and threw some mock punches.

“Tink fight next!” she declared.

“I only punch above my own weight cl—” Leilani didn’t see Kisa slip behind her and crouch down. When Tink shoved the princess, she fell over the catgirl and into the water.

“Yeah, I’m out,” Mike said. “When you all are done killing each other, come get me.” He stood as if to leave, but Tink grabbed one arm as Kisa grabbed the other and they both pulled him into the surf with the others. Halfway through their splash fight, a tiny green figure cannonballed into the water and climbed onto Mike, biting his shoulder.

“Ow, Matilda!” Mike grabbed the toddler by her leg, which was the only part of her he could reach. The child giggled and splashed him, then tried to bite his hand.

“Little booger now a snot,” Tink declared as she took Matilda away. The little goblin tried to bite her mother, then locked eyes with a table full of snacks up on the beach, managed to squirm free, and scurried out of the water faster than her mother could keep up. Centaurs standing by the table skittered away nervously at the sight of the child. They were well aware that she was a literal ankle-biter.