Fitted in a vest that would much rather be on someone else, someone who wanted to be seen. I stood away from the crowd, watching everyone. As usual. Just going to stand here till the party concludes then I can ask.
The scent of sweets drift through the air, and the music is light but energetic. A song that makes the atmosphere...blissful.
I leave my little corner and search for the table of pastries filled with cream, fruits dipped in chocolate, and candies from the illustrious Strawberry. Moons, my mouth is watering.
I slip between the chattering partygoers, carefully watching out for the friendly and curious dragons that might pull me into a conversation.
"Jacky!" cried out a young voice excitedly. A sigh escapes me as I turn to see a young SandWing who shares the same eyes as I.
"Hi, Tumble." I say with a strained smile. He runs up in a...MATCHING VEST! Three moons, no! Oh, I am so going to give Sunburn for playing me. If he plans to tell everyone that I am his son I am leaving!
"Jacky, did you see all the candy! Dad said I can have some after dinner!" Tumble shouts even louder, drawing unwanted attention to us. us two in matching vests.
"Yeah, yeah just shh. How about this. We go and sneak up just a piece." I said crouching down to the bundle of too much energy. Candy will just make that worse but if his mouth is stuffed with caramels, he won't be able to speak.
"Really?" He whispered, his eyes shimmering. How are his eyes shimmering. Too cute, too cute.
"Yeah, just be quiet so we don't get caught." I say as I lead him through the crowd to the table that looked like heaven. He rushed over, grabbing on one of my talons pulling me to the table.
I drooled at the sight of all the sweets laid out before me, and beside me so was Tumble. We both scoured for the perfect treat and found it. Strawberry's Bon Bons!
A delicious candy with red hard shell of sugar that hides a sweet gooey center. My favorite of the dragoness's sugary sinful delights. Tumble and I grab one from the bowl, peeling off the strawberry wrapper. Popping it in our mouths, we both hum in joy. Tumble smiles up at me and I smile back.
"Hi, Tumble Bumble. How's my favorite nephew?" Greets a SandWing that was wearing so much jewelry that I could barely see her.
"Auntie Flare!" Tumble yells, bouncing right into the dragoness's arms. "I'm super good!"
She turns to me with light blue eyes that pierce holes through me. Reminds me of XI in that way... "Who's your friend? In a matching vest?" She asks looking me over as if I intend to poison her.
"I'm just-"
"He's my big brother." Tumble answers, cutting me off.
"Auntie" Flare looks shocked, "My brother never told me he had a son with her... I am going to-" She says going from a very terrifying voice to a softer tone that knew Tumble was present.
"So, what's your name?" She asks putting the fidgety dragonet done. She strides over to me confidently and I can't help being very intimidated. she much bigger than me, veiled in so much silk and jewelry that all I can see are wings, and she just has the vibes of a queen.
"Jackal." I answer, standing my ground as Flare towers over me, her azure eyes turning me inside out.
All of a sudden, she pats my head, "It's good to meet you Jackal." she hugs me and whispers, "Your mom was a good friend of mine." She grabs my talons and picks up Tumble before he grabs more candy.
"Wait, where are we going?" I ask as I'm dragged along. The crowd parts like a sea, as if they know they'll get caught underfoot.
"One, Sunnie wanted me to get Tumble. Second, I am going to give my stupid brother a piece of my mind." She snarls under her breath. I'm scared at what piece she'll give him.
We climb up a dais to Sunburn and his mate, Lotus. They smile at us till we reach the top and Flare drags Sunburn to the far side of dais. Lotus busies herself with Tumble while I listen.
"Why did you never tell me you had a son with Echis." Flare hissed in a hushed whisper.
"Because Jackal was...an accident." He replied. Ouch. That hurt a little too much for my taste.
"An accident? You have a son. One that just appeared with a gimp. Yeah, I noticed."
"We didn't think. We had Jackal, Echis changed, and I left."
"And what? End of story?"
"No. I want to make it up to Jackal. I want to be his father."
My stomach flipped, and I couldn't help but feel...Happy. No, he had his chance, and he left. He will never be my dad.
"You had your chance. Now you got to try harder." Flare snarls then leaves. her veil and jewelry slipped a bit, and I saw her smile. No pity, no malice. Just a smile.
Sunburn joined us and I ignored him. I stepped back as the happy family stepped into the limelight. Sunburn spoke of the usual stuff. Thanking those that arrived, making jokes, but he turned to me. He gestured for me to step forward. To join him. To be a part of his family. I shook my head, and he frowned while something stung my heart.
He went on with jokes and Tumble then made his own. They all laughed, all of them smiling. Together. I remember Nile and Mirage's laughs. My mom's smile. Even Rattlesnake I remember the few moments he was smiling. They are all dead though, and Sunburn's family will never true be mine too. I'm on my own.
Tumble turns and points at me, "Here's my new brother, Jacky!" Sunburn and Lotus smiles, but everyone else looks confused. They look at me, they whisper about me, and they smile.
I turn and leave. If I stay any longer, I'll...
"Jacky, wait." Yells Sunburn who catches up with me. "Don't go. I'm sorry, I-"
"Don't call me Jacky and don't apologize. You made your choice." I mutter. Trying to swallow the lump in my throat.
"I messed up and I want to make it up."
"Did you know I had a sister and brother? Did you know my mom got a new boyfriend who abused us? Did you know I watched them all die. I held my little siblings' bodies. I had to bury them."
"Jacky..." Sunburn whispered. I felt tears running down my cheek. He stepped closer to me
"Don't call me Jacky! Please." Before he could reply, I left. I fled out the door, down some dark alley, and dropped into a corner.
I cried. I wrapped my wings around me and cried.