Tesser: A Dragon Among Us (A Reemergence Novel) (51 page)

Tesser and Matilde's daughter was born with a near full head of violet colored hair. It was a soft purple, the shade of a summer New Hampshire lilac. Tesser loved that color. It reminded him of his sister.

The baby girl had a round, cherubic face that already faintly resembled Matty. She was calm, already sleeping dreamily, happy to be in the arms of her mother. She had one tiny hand wrapped tight around Matty's index finger, clutching on to her mom, wanting to be a part of her, despite not being aware of the world just yet.

"She's here," Matty said, looking up at Tesser.

She's everything. Never have I had a child I've loved so much without ever having laid eyes on her.
"She's so beautiful, Matty. She looks like you."

Matty agreed with a nod and a smile. "Yeah. A little like you too. Do you want to hold her?"

Whoa. Now there's an anxiety spike.
"Yeah. I do." Tesser reached down and the mother and father exchanged the baby. She was heavier than Tesser thought she'd be, but he lifted her carefully, as if she would break, beaming with his own pride.
 

Ambryn and Fyelrath leaned over his shoulder and looked at the baby. Both dragons were overcome with emotion. The tears flowed, though this time not in grief, but in exultant celebration. True, selfless joy.
 
I am the father of a dragon. The greatest of all life.
 

"What will you name her?" Ambryn asked, sniffling.

Matty answered him. "Tesser once knew a Valkyrie named Astrid. Her name means to be fair, beautiful, and of God. Her name will be Astrid Kaula Rindahl. The eighth dragon."

"That's an incredible name you two," Alexis said softly.

Astrid opened her eyes and looked up at her father for the first time. Her eyes were the same soft purple as the shock of hair on her head, but tiny vibrant flecks of green were there too. The tiny baby smiled and her feet fluttered. She cooed.

She knows I'm her father. Or maybe… my sister's soul recognizes me.

Tesser walked over to the window holding his baby and looked out on the city of Boston. Down in the streets below, he could see Garamos looking up at him eagerly. The two caught each other's eye, and Garamos looked at the baby as Tesser presented her.
He is happy. And finally, after all this time, I think he might approve of a life I created.
 

Tesser smiled.

Garamos reared up on his two hind legs and began to clap thunderously. The crowd gathered at his feet, lining the city streets almost as far as the eye could see, went wild, for his celebration signaled the birth of Tesser and Matty's child ushering in a new age for the world. Their applause and celebration could be heard through the window, many stories above. Tesser watched as several helicopters came into view, attempting to get a good view of their window to capture the first images of the new dragon child. Tesser held his baby girl aloft in front of the window and let them drink in the majesty of Astrid.
 

"That's right. Take her in. Get used to her world. She's going to be a big thing for a long time."

"Aren't you the proud papa?" Matty said from the bed.

Tesser turned, disappointing several billion television viewers around the world. "Have you seen this child? She's perfect. She's the best thing I've ever done. Aside from meeting you."

Matty looked at the man she loved, the dragon she loved, and rested her head back on the pillow. Zeud took her hand and squeezed it.

Tesser turned back to the window, and held his daughter to his chest. He whispered, speaking to the world, but only loud enough for his daughter to hear. "You're going to want to pay attention, Earth. This is my daughter, Astrid. I love her, and you will too. Now that she's here, everything will start getting back to normal. Back to the way things should be. But different too. And I'm okay with that. But it's time to get back to work, Tesser. This world has missed you fiercely, without even knowing you were gone. But it'll be easy."

Tesser kissed his daughter's forehead. She smelled nice.

"I am yours in the way a Princess owns a King."

Tesser kissed her forehead again and looked out at the sea of people below celebrating the birth of his child with him.

"There is a new dragon among us.”

About The Author

C
HRIS
P
HILBROOK is the creator and author of
Tesser: A Dragon Among Us
, as well as the popular webfiction series
Adrian’s Undead Diary
and
Elmoryn: Wrath of the Orphans
.

Chris calls the wonderful state of New Hampshire his home. He is an avid reader, writer, role player, miniatures game player, video game player, and part time athlete, as well as a member of the Horror Writers Association. If you weren't impressed enough, he also works full time while writing for Reemergence as well as the worlds of Adrian’s Undead Diary and Elmoryn.

Find More Online

Check out Chris Philbrook’s official website
thechrisphilbrook.com
to contact the author and keep tabs on his many exciting projects, or follow Chris on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/ChrisPhilbrookAuthor
for special announcements.

Visit
adragonamongus.com
to access additional content and learn more about Tesser and the world of the Reemergence Novels.

Don’t miss Chris Philbrook’s smash hit:
Adrian’s Undead Diary
. Follow the exploits of Adrian Ring in this epic eight-book series as he searches for meaning, survival, and hope in a world ravaged by the dead. Visit
adriansundeaddiary.com
to learn more about Adrian’s world. Available in print, Kindle, and online.

Read more by author Chris Philbrook in
The Kinless Trilogy
. Explore Elmoryn, a world of dark fantasy where death is not the end. The story begins in
Book One: The Wrath of the Orphans
, available in print, Kindle, and online. Visit
elmoryn.com
to learn more about Elmoryn, view concept art, and much more.