"Chuckle bucket, why aren't you eating your peas?" Nancy's voice sounded both cheery and concerned as she peered over at my plate.

It's not unusual for my stepmother to sound cheery. I think that's what drove me so crazy. No matter what, her high pitched voice rang like a happy clappy church bell. She was the only person I'd ever met that could sound both cheery and sad, or cheery and mad... and it made me want to rip my ears off.

"Because I'm turning into a freaking dragon, Nancy." I growled, "and dragons. Don't. Eat. Peas."

"Oh, sweetie, is this from one of your video games?" Nancy frowned, "and I thought I said no more growling! That's not how we communicate with people in this house." She said, authoritatively. She might as well have wagged one of her fat, pudgy fingers at me.

"No," I said, gritting my teeth, "it's not a game. I found an ancient scroll and I'm turning into a dragon."

"Sure, honey." Nancy sighed, "Have you---"

"It's not HONEY," I cut her off, "it's Shadowmancer now. GET. IT. RIGHT!" My voice was loud now, booming. No doubt part of my transformation.

"Shadowmancer. Did you take your mana beads this morning?" Nancy asked.

I didn't know what the hell 'mana beads' were supposed to be, but I recognized one of my stepmother's tricks when I saw one.

"DO NOT PLAY GAMES WITH ME, MORTAL," I bellowed across the dinner table. "FOR I, SHADOWMANCER, AM--"

Just then I heard the door to my dad's truck slam. He had gotten home late. Another late night. Probably not at the bar- it had been years since he'd given up the drink. Whenever he came home late, I'd still always get nervous that he might relapse and stumble into the dining room like he used to do.

This evening, he was running, not stumbling, though. He ran straight into the house to the medicine cabinet and got my pills.

"YOUR MAGIC BEANS CAN NOT SUPRESS THE INEVITABLE, OLD MAN, FOR I AM--"

Dad shoved the pills and a glass of water in my face. "I've had a long day, boy. Please, just..."

He sounded sad. He looked even more sad, and tired.

I took the pills, against my better dragon judgment, and hugged him. About an hour later, I apologized to Nancy.

Perhaps, when my transformation is complete, I will spare her. Only for him, but at least she will live.