The next morning, Ann, Andy, Nim, and Jo discussed how much to tell Jo’s parents about Menthanla. They didn’t want to ask Vor and Dae to hide while they were here. Since Mr. Creepy didn’t seem to know which clan Nim was from, they decided not to tell them that, but they would tell them he was a dragon. Nim couldn’t change yet. Ann didn’t want to reveal she was the White Wyrm. Mr. Creepy had tried to kill Ti once. They didn’t want to risk drawing attention to him and the fact he survived. Jaidu and Thailyn were purple, a color very rare in Baj-tisk so it might draw unwanted attention to them. They decided Dae would be the best choice if a demonstration was needed, assuming she agreed. Nim and Jo waited for her parents to wake up. Jo found some clothes for her mother to wear and Nim lent Curt some clothes although they were way too big. The four of them then went to the main house. They found Ann, Andy, Remtani, Jaidu, and Thailyn in the kitchen. Jo introduced Jaidu, Thailyn, and Andy since she’d forgotten to the night before. “My folks will be down shortly. How do you like your eggs?” Andy asked. He was making breakfast. “Oh, you don’t have to go to any trouble,” Amelia said. “It’s no trouble. I like to cook. How do you want them?” “I haven’t had sunny side up in ages,” Amelia said. “Fried.” Curt requested. “Jo?” “The usual.” Jo shrugged. “Nim?” “I can’t believe you people not only eat birds but baby birds,” Nim said. “So, no eggs, just bacon, and toast?” Andy grinned. Nim growled. “What is with your clan and pork?” Thailyn asked. “You eat pork?” Ann asked. Thailyn nodded. “I love pork.” “When you have to hunt for food, small animals are a waste of energy,” Nim said. “But you’ve been established for centuries, millennia even. You have farmers. There’s no need for hunting.” “Some of us like to hunt. Some find it more desirable than going to the market,” Nim said. “Well, you’re not hunting for breakfast,” Andy said. “How do you want your eggs?” “I don’t know. I don’t normally eat them.” Andy nodded. “I’ll make an omelet, put lots of things in to hide the eggs.” Voramini walked in. “Mom, Dad, this is Voramini. Vor, this is my parents, Amelia and Curt,” Jo said. “Call me Vor. Voramini is too long.” He turned and shook their hands. “Your eyes, they’re two colors,” Amelia said, stunned at the sight of them. “No, they’re not.” Vor shook his head. “They’re not?” Amelia looked confused. “There are lots of colors, just two prominent ones,” Vor said and winked. “There’s coffee made and the vinegar’s in the pantry,” Ann told him. “Vinegar?” Curt asked. Vor nodded. “For my coffee.” “You put vinegar in your coffee?” Amelia asked. “I put vinegar in almost everything. You humans like things too sweet.” “We humans?” Curt asked. “Mom, Dad, let me get you some coffee, and then we’ll explain,” Jo offered. “Is there any tea?” Nim asked. Andy pointed. “And we’ve got decaf.” “Tea’s good, thanks.” “Joanne, explain this human, not human thing Vor was talking about,” Amelia insisted as Jo poured the coffee. “Some of us are human, some are dragons and Vor’s an elf,” Jo said. “Yes, I’m the lone elf,” Vor said. “Blame the elders for that,” Ann said. “It was King Arlen’s doing,” Vor said. “He looks like an elf but dragons?” Curt said. Nim nodded. “Some of us are dragons.” “Wait, you’re a dragon?” Nim nodded again. “Not human?” Amelia looked pale. Nim shook his head. “But you…” “Don’t look like a dragon?” Nim finished. “We can change our shape to be able to work with these small creatures better.” He gestured to those in the room. “Good morning,” Dae said cheerfully walking into the room. Then she saw Amelia and Curt and her face fell. She stepped back out of the kitchen and started to let her hair down to hide her ears. “It’s okay Dae, they know,” Ann called. “Well, we’re telling them now,” Andy said. She returned. “This is Dae, Dae, this is my parents, Amelia and Curt.” Jo made introductions again. “Another elf?” Amelia guessed. “No ma’am, I’m a dragon. Some dragons can look like humans, some look like elves, some look like dwarves. On occasion, one can take multiple forms. I managed to do human once, but it was only for a few seconds.” “Where’s Ti?” Jaidu asked. “He’s still sleeping.” “Is he doing okay?” Thailyn asked. Dae nodded. “We were just up late last night.” “So, you and Nim are dragons, what about the rest of you?” Curt asked. “I’m human,” Andy said. “Dae, how do you want your eggs?” “I once saw someone eating them where the yellow was liquid and the white was solid. I’ve always wanted to try that.” “Sunnyside up, no problem.” Andy nodded. “I’m a dragon,” Thailyn said. “I’m both,” Jaidu said. “My mother is a dragon and my father’s human.” “And I’m the opposite. My father’s the dragon while my mother was human,” Ann said. “And he’s a dwarf.” She said pointing to Remtani. Amelia did a double-take. “I’m human,” Remtani said, giving his sister a dirty look. “Wait, didn’t you say he was your brother yesterday?” “She was adopted,” Remtani said. “Thailyn is her birth father.” “Are we making introductions?” Carla asked entering the kitchen. “Good morning, Amelia, Curt. It’s good to see you again. Steve will be down soon.” “Thank you for letting us stay,” Curt said. “No problem.” Carla waved them off. “We were explaining that not all of us are human,” Andy said. “Let me see if I get this right. Vor is an elf. Jo, Remtani, and Andy are humans. Jaidu and Ann are half-human, half-dragon. Thailyn, Nim, and Dae are dragons. Someone’s missing.” She looked around. “Ti, he’s a dragon.” “Maybe, if she’s willing, Dae can show them what a dragon looks like after breakfast,” Andy suggested. “I could, but what about Nim?” Dae asked. “I’m still healing.” Nim reminded her. “It’s going to take at least a week, maybe longer before he’s healed enough to change,” Thailyn said. **** After breakfast, they went outside so Dae could change. She changed, breathed fire, and flew low around the property, staying below the tree line. They decided it would be too dangerous to give Thompson’s rides while having to stay so low. As they went out, Steve called Andy aside. “What’s going on?” He asked his son. “We told you last night,” Andy said, not understanding. “I don’t mean the Thompsons, although maybe they play into it somehow too. Why did you come?” “For a visit. Mom’s been pestering a since we got married.” Andy shrugged. “You’ve been going into town a lot. Jo’s been searching old news articles online. You might be visiting, but there’s more to it.” Andy sighed and looked around to make sure he wasn’t overheard. “Ann’s paleness? Thailyn says it’s part of a genetic abnormality passed down from her mother. Darina had no sign of it so they thought they were safe and it wouldn’t be passed on to any children they had. Unfortunately, they were wrong. It causes Ann difficulties sometimes. We’re worried that the baby will have it too. Most kids with it don’t survive into their teens, but something happened to Ann when she was ten and that seemed to help. Unfortunately, it’s something we don’t think we can repeat and even if we do, there’s no guarantee it will work. We’re hoping I don’t have it too, but I think Thailyn thinks I do. He doesn’t sense it in me, but he didn’t in Darina either. We’re looking into Sam, to see what we can find.” “Andy, Sam is dead. You know that.” “We thought there might be other kids.” “Why didn’t you tell us?” “Tell Mom I’m looking to see if Sam had other kids? Do you want her to start drinking again?” “You could’ve said something to me.” “You’ve never been willing to talk about him before. I get that, but we still need to know. I just thought we could do it without upsetting anyone.” “Sam had three kids with Kate, the woman he was married to before going to prison. I have her address. I’ll get it for you,” Steve said. Andy stared at him, surprised. “Your mother doesn’t know this, but I checked into it when you started having your vision trouble, wondering if that was genetic. We met a few times. I even recommended a good divorce lawyer.” “You didn’t do it?” “It felt unethical. We were still in trial. I had to go through a lawyer just to talk with her. I’ll give her a call and let her know you’re coming.” “Thailyn and Ti will be going too.” “I let her know. Let Thailyn know Sam beat the crap out of Kate several times.” Andy nodded. “Thanks for the heads up.”