Blue Dragon

leaning over me.
    ‘Quietly,’ he said. ‘Come with me.’
    I didn’t ask any questions; I just levered myself out of bed and followed him.
    ‘I’m not properly dressed,’ I whispered as I followed him through the living room. I wore a pair of old shorts and a tank top to sleep. ‘Where are we going? Is everybody okay?’
    ‘Everyone is fine,’ he said. ‘Just come with me. I want you to see something.’
    He led me down the stairs, both of us barefoot. He wore his usual plain black pyjama pants without a shirt, his long hair braided down his back. I retied my untidy hair as we walked.
    ‘This had better be good, John,’ I said as he led me across the damp, cool grass towards the water. ‘I have to get up early tomorrow and pack. We’re supposed to be out of here by eleven to go home.’
    ‘I think you’ll like it,’ he said. He stopped. ‘It’s a beautiful night, isn’t it.’
    I stopped next to him and looked up. The sky was completely clear and the stars blazed. There was nomoon. A fresh breeze, full of the smell of the sea, made the dark water before us ripple. ‘What time is it?’
    ‘About midnight.’ He smiled, his dark eyes shining in the starlight. ‘Come.’
    I followed him to the edge of the water. We stood and waited on the small beach.
    ‘The Dragon is coming in True Form,’ John said softly, his voice carrying over the gentle sound of the small waves. ‘Don’t be concerned, he’s coming out of the water…now.’
    The Dragon emerged in full majestic True Form, nearly twenty metres long. His turquoise eyes glowed. He lowered his massive silver-fanged head over his front legs. ‘My Lord. My Lady.’ He turned so that his back was towards me. ‘Climb on, Emma. Right behind my head. Don’t worry, my scales won’t hurt you. Hold on to my frill.’
    I stopped dead. ‘You want me to ride you?’
    ‘Hop on. We don’t have much time,’ John said. ‘Let’s go.’
    I moved next to the Dragon’s head and he lowered his shoulders so that I could climb on. John didn’t move. ‘What about you?’
    ‘We are going under the water,’ John said. ‘Don’t worry, you’ll be able to breathe. Just hold on to the Dragon, he’ll take you. Let’s go.’
    ‘You’re not coming?’
    He gestured impatiently. ‘Of course I am. I don’t need a ride. Now hurry up !’
    I pulled myself onto the Dragon’s neck and held on to the massive silver and turquoise frill that surrounded his head. I couldn’t ride him astride; he was too big. I had to sit side-saddle. He wasn’t cold and sharp; he was warm and the edges of his scales were smooth and fine. He had horns, like a deer, with two prongs; I hadn’t noticed that before. The horns towered over me.
    ‘Ready?’ the Dragon said.
    ‘Yes,’ I said.
    ‘Hold on tight,’ John said. ‘Here we go. No! Wait!’
    The Dragon hesitated.
    ‘Emma, while we are under the water, the Dragon and I will be able to speak to you, but you won’t be able to talk to us.’
    ‘That will kill her,’ the Dragon said wryly.
    ‘I’ll survive,’ I said, nudging his frill. ‘Let’s go. This had better be good, I’m missing my beauty sleep.’
    I think it will be worth it, John said. Let’s go.
    The Dragon launched himself into the water but I didn’t feel the movement. The water pounded past us but there was no pressure.
    Don’t hold your breath, the Dragon said. You can breathe.
    I nudged his frill to show that I understood. I looked right. John swam next to us, matching the Dragon’s velocity without moving a muscle. He was stretched out as if he was flying. He noticed my gaze and smiled.
    Not many humans have seen me swim like this, he said. I feel self-conscious swimming in human form, I know it looks strange. I hope you’ll see me swim in True Form one day.
    I nodded. I hoped so too.
    The Dragon’s body whipped beneath me but there was still no other sensation of movement.
    The water became very dark as we plunged deeper. I gripped the Dragon’s frill tighter.
    If the darkness bothers you, close your eyes, the Dragon said. I will let you know when there is something to see. Some of my human wives have found this part of the journey quite claustrophobic.
    The wives were right. The water was dark and pressed in all around me. I couldn’t see a thing. I wasn’tsure whether the flashes of illumination that sped past us were real or just my eyes playing tricks. I closed my eyes and lowered my head. I wondered how deep we were.
    About a