Life was never short of surprises. However, before this, Sarah faced all the surprises with an open mind and a flippant attitude. After what happened when she was seven, nearly nothing would faze her.

That was what she thought. Facing a naga spirit claiming to be her husband, even she couldn't accept the situation.

The door opened with a bang, startling Sarah.

Sheila entered the room, bloody and battered.  Her fair skin was splotched with pink and red bruises.

"The bruises are new." Gu remarked quietly.

Sarah approached Sheila. "Sheila... are you alright?"

"Do I look alright to you? This is all because of you!" Sheila shot her a deadly glare.

Confusion filled Sarah's mind. However, the well-being of her so called protector was more important.

Sarah ran down to the cafe and bought a pack of ice. Running back to her room with the ice pack with her, Sarah's mind was wondering how Sheila's condition was related to her.

"Here you go. For your bruises." Sarah said meekly while handing the ice pack to Sheila, who was bandaging her wound.

"Seriously, currying favour with me? I know you are doing this because you want an explanation." Sheila rolled her eyes.

Silence filled the room when Sarah made no move to respond. Sheila's not going to believe anything I say, anyway.

Sheila sighed. "I got this," she gestured to her beaten up body, "because I refused to sell you out. A suspicious guy was pretending to be your cousin, asking for you."

"How did you know he's not my cousin?"

"Your father is an only child. All the cousins on your mother's side is at least five years younger than you. Seriously, you are my client. Of course I'll do a background check." Sheila said with a bored expression, as if it was general knowledge.

"Why did he approach you?"

"The girl that you bumped into, whose books you helped to pick up... she mentioned to him that you're under my protection. Seriously, that shallow crap thinks that's enough to scare me."

"Sheila... I'm sorry. Thank you."

"Seriously, I'm only doing this because you are my client."

Sarah nodded her head obediently and left the room quietly. It was safer to leave quickly, before Sheila's mood turned sour.

Sarah went outside, savouring the last rays of sunlight. Her head was spinning. She needed answers.

"I can give you answers." Gu told her gently.

Sarah sat on a bench, hidden from prying eyes and ears. "You'll only answer questions that I ask. Nothing more, or I'll go crazy."

"Agreed."

"I'm going to start from the beginning. The blood contract. Why me?" Sarah asked, staring at Gu.

"Two reasons. Firstly, royal blood runs in you. Secondly, you have the sixth sense."

"But my parents aren't from the royal lineage! I'm from a mixed descent!" Sarah's eyes widened.

"The true royal families are hidden. The kings right now, they're not from the original royal family," Gu shook hid head, "plus, your sixth sense most probably came from your foreign-blooded parent."

"My parents are special?" Sarah's voice cracked.

"Definitely." Gu nodded his gigantic head.

Sarah smiled sadly when she reminisced her short sweet moments with her parents.

After a wiping a few stray tears, Sarah forced herself to be strong. "But how and when did we make the blood contract?"

"Remember the keris in the antique shop? It belonged to the late king of Old Chini, the last person I made a contract with. My soul was trapped in it. When your blood touched the keris, I forced a contract with you. That's the only way I can free myself."

"So, I am forced," Sarah glared at Gu, "answer me, you said I'll get powers from this contract that I'm forced into. What powers?"

"My powers. Dragons have two types of powers. All dragon will have the mind power and each dragon will inherit one elemental power. You are a human, so you can't inherit my elemental power, the fire power. But you'll be able to use the mind power."

"What is the mind power?"

"I'll be teaching that to you soon."

Sarah sighed. "Mean old dragon spirit. Last question. I am not your wife, right?"

"In the human world, no, you're not my wife. But in the dragon realm, you are my rightful wife."

Sarah frowned.

"We can only make one equal contract in our life. It's a contract with our life partner." Gu said carefully.

"Then why did you force me into an equal contract, instead of a master-servant contract?" Sarah fumed.

"I am weak right now. You are stronger than me. I can't be a master, I can only be your equal. We can't be servants to the lowly humans."

"Look, instead of husband and wife, we are more like business partners. So I'll be treating you as a business partner." Sarah tried to bargain.

"No matter we call our relationship, you're still my responsibility. Plus, you might be targeted."

"Me? Why?" Chills went down her spine.

"The naga's revival will shake the world.  The suspicious man that your roommate is talking about... he knows about me."

Oh, dear mother and father, just what is going on with my life? What did you hide from me?

*****

This chapter is dedicated to @Avian_Heart. Thank you for your support and your help! Gummy is proud of you.