Adjusting (Part 3)

"I mean that you and she will never be able to be together. It's just... impossible," Adam said bluntly, but he didn't stop there. He had to get this out in the open before things got more complicated. "Everyone in the group knows how you feel about Michelle."

Aaron's mind sputtered for a second. 'Am I that transparent...?'

Adam quickly continued. "She doesn't know, and it will stay safer that way."

"Why would you say that?" Aaron asked, his voice rising ever so slightly. He wanted to understand Adam's point of view, even if he wouldn't accept it.

"Because she is a Dragon. Even if she did have feelings for you, none of that would matter," Adam said slowly, ensuring Aaron understood his every word. "If she has the same feelings you do, and you two start dating... then you will be signing not just your death certificate but hers as well," Adam stated gravely. "Trust me... Dragons get violent when their prizes are on the line... and in this case... Michelle is the prize."

Aaron looked like he was just about ready to explode. "This isn't right... why do I get the short end of the stick?!" Aaron angrily crossed his arms and scowled. He didn't care how childish he sounded in the moment.

Adam looked at Aaron with pity. "The only way you would be able to stop a marriage that was decided hundreds of years ago would be to have enough power to defeat her current fiancé and have a high status that would elevate her family's name, and you... you have none of that," Adam stated bluntly. He had to be straightforward and stop Aaron from creating a real disaster.

"What am I supposed to do then?" Aaron asked, the last of the fight draining out of him.

"Move on." Adam stared at Aaron right in the eye. "That would be the best and safest route for you and her."

Aaron clenched his fists. 'This... this is... not right...' Aaron started heading to his room. Adam got the unspoken message and left him alone.

"Don't forget about tomorrow," Adam called out as Aaron reached his room and locked the door, just for some semblance of privacy. He couldn't be around anyone right now.

Jasmine came around the corner and looked at Adam. "That was... wow... I didn't know you could be so brutal, Adam."

"It's for his own good... how much did you hear?" Adam asked as he sighed.

Jasmine's expression was slightly guilty. "I heard everything. My ears aren't just for decoration, y'know," she said lightheartedly before sighing. "But, you're not wrong."

Adam nodded. "Let's head back," said Adam, and Jasmine just nodded and started walking.

"Where's Aaron?" Brianne asked as she saw them come back without him.

"I think he decided to sleep early today," Adam replied without missing a beat.

"Well, the movie is only starting to get to the good parts now," Brianne reassured before she glued her eyes to the screen once more. The others didn't question any further; things were in an awkward stage, and they all knew why.

Back with a certain blonde, Michelle sat quietly and looked at Adam, who was now watching the movie. 'Well, this is not how I saw tonight going…' Michelle thought wryly as she went back to watching the movie.

The next day, Adam and Aaron got ready to leave, the others minding their own business. "Remember Dean," Aaron stressed. "Please, I don't want to get back to find the house in flames... literally." Dean's thumbs-up made Aaron more worried, especially with Jasmine behind him. She held a ball of fire on her palm, grinning before dissipating the ball of fire and giving Aaron an impatient look.

She made shooing motions with her hand, prompting Aaron to stick out his tongue at her. "I will be back," he said promisingly as he got into the car. He started the car, his eyes traveled to the house. He saw Michelle and wavered.

Adam decided this would be the perfect time to smack Aaron upside the head, hopefully enough to get him out of it. He gave Adam a withering look before shaking his head and driving off.

"It's for your own good," Adam repeated. "I'm saving your life... no one here can save you if one high-tier Dragon decides that they want your life."

"Can't you do anything about the marriage?" Aaron asked hopefully. Adam shook his head. "If any of us could end this marriage, we would. Michelle is our friend, but right now, no one can help her. Weren't you listening when I told you how this works? I am a Class-5 creature. Going against even one mid or high-Class Dragon would probably kill me. They all range from Low-tier Class-5 and Low-tier Class-4 or stronger, so what do you think a few dozen can do?" Adam and Aaron sighed in unison.

"Dragons have a hierarchy like everything else in the world," Adam said as Aaron turned right and drove into town. "Most Dragons are Class-7 to Class-6, but they have a few hundred thousand that are Class-4, and then the top ten, which are known as Taynium Dragons. From number two to ten are Class-3 creatures that could go toe-to-toe with some of Hell's most powerful Devils and Arch Demons."

At Aaron's confused look, he explained, "An Arch Demon is the peak of a Demon's power, and the Taynium Dragons can match and overwhelm them. And then there is the most powerful Dragon... Draca La Cura," Adam's expression darkened considerably, "He makes the rest of the ten look... weak and insignificant. He is rumored to be as strong as Michael, Low-tier Class-2."

"He can't be that powerful," Aaron said, finding it hard to believe.

Adam looked out the window as he thought back. "Yeah... I saw him fight once... I can't really remember what happened that day. It was about seven hundred years ago. One of the most powerful Devils in Hell was leading the charge against the Dragons."