Over the Dragon's Gate

By Juliana Jones and Riley Sanderson

A dark paranormal romance/urban fantasy novella by Juliana Jones and Riley Sanderson.

Summary: Treya has everything he needs in his pond: food, shelter, and other fish to swim with. It’s painful to wonder if he had another life once, so he ignores the fragments of disturbing dreams that plague him.

But when a boy falls into his pond, Treya discovers he’s more than a fish. He can also become a boy, and now he has a friend: the irrepressible Eli. During secret meetings in the garden surrounding the pond, Treya and Eli forge a bond that even dark magic can’t break. But when Eli starts asking questions about who and what Treya is, the two of them discover that questions are dangerous, answers have a cost, and their fates depend on unraveling the mystery of Treya’s past.

Content warnings: Graphic depictions of violence, death, gaslighting, memory loss, amnesia, mind manipulation, mind control, implied noncon (in the background, due to the mind control), crying (a lot of crying), vomit, underage drinking, implied/referenced drug use, car accidents, child neglect, child abuse, murder, kidnapping, imprisonment, magical imprisonment, trauma, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt (planned but not carried out), death threats, fantasy racism

...[A] delightful read, full of magic and touching moments of humanity in the face of darkness we can all find ourselves facing.
~Arista A. Holmes, author of the Fey Touched Trilogy

This is a rollercoaster... There are thrilling twists and turns, enough mystery to keep you going, and a satisfying payoff at the end.
~E, Goodreads review

It’s got... a lush fairytale manner about it but hides dark secrets.
~Oliver Ferrie, author of Sugar People

• Language: English
• Publisher: Juliana Jones
• Release date: Jan 9, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215271360

Juliana Jones

Juliana Jones is a writer of fantasy and speculative fiction. She lives in a house with too many plants and likes to collect and create art of all kinds. Themes in her work include the relationship between humans and nature, loving across differences, and vengeance.

Book preview

Over the Dragon’s Gate

Juliana Jones and Riley Sanderson

Copyright 2023 Juliana Jones and Riley Sanderson

Smashwords Edition

License Notes

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite e-book retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of these authors.

Cover art by Julia Kosickaya, licensed from iStock.com

Cover design by Riley Sanderson

Koi illustration by kareemovic from Noun Project (CC BY 3.0)

Water lily illustration by sakazaki from illustAC

Interior design and formatting by Juliana Jones

He lived in his pond.

It was a beautiful pond. There were other fish to swim with, green plants in which to play and hide, and all the food he could ever want. The water was clear and cool, shaded by graceful trees and manicured bushes. Every day, he swam in circles with the other fish. Every night, he rested cradled in the water between the water lily stems.

Sometimes, he dreamed he was more than a fish. Sometimes he dreamed of a wide-open sky and a soft voice singing. Those dreams left him longing, but he liked the nights when he dreamed them. Sometimes he dreamed dreams full of pain and fear. He didn’t like those dreams. Upon waking, he always hid in the water lily stems until a current of forgetfulness pulled the painful dreams away into darkness. He let himself forget the other dreams, too. That was the price of peace.

He swam in circles. Sun-dappled days turned into moon-kissed nights. And a very long time went by.

Until the boy fell into his pond, a churning mass of arms and legs.

In that moment of chaos, he forgot about everything except saving the boy. Boys didn’t belong in ponds. He changed until he wasn’t a fish anymore, transforming so quickly it happened before he’d even realized he’d done it. With arms that hadn’t been there before, he hauled the kicking, coughing boy out of the water, pulling him to the shore. The boy spat out water and stared at him, eyes wide. He realized then that he was no longer a fish. He had grown not only arms and legs, but hands and feet, fingers and toes.

Hi, said the boy, amazed.

Panic struck him and he threw himself back into the water with a splash, becoming a fish again.

Wait! the boy called out.

But he didn’t wait. He swam as fast as his fins would take him and hid in the foliage, far away from the boy. He hid while the boy paced the edge of the pond and hid while the boy tried to coax him out, first with words and then with food.

Eventually, the boy left. The other fish returned to their circles, but he didn’t join them.

That night, he dreamed of the boy.

The moon was out the next night when fingers broke the surface of his pond and wiggled around. Come out, come out, fishie boy! a voice called from above, distorted through the water.

He stopped his circling, hovering over the muddy bottom of the pond. It was the boy. He’d come back.

I knooow you’re in there! The fingers wiggled around with increased vigor.

He swam closer to the surface. Now that he’d changed once, he remembered that he had a human shape, but he felt deeply uncertain about changing into it again. He was afraid of what might happen. What else he might remember.

Fishie boy, come out! the boy continued in a pleasant, sing-song voice. Let’s be friends!

He wavered. It was easy to be a fish. He didn’t have to think about things. He had everything he needed in the pond: food, shelter, other fish to swim with.

The other fish didn’t understand loneliness, though.

It took him a long moment to remember how to change—he’d done it instinctively before—but eventually he managed it, fins elongating into limbs, spine stretching, neck and jaw cracking softly into place, hair rippling out, fingers and toes unfurling. He let his head breach the surface.

Hhhiiii, he said, voice hoarse with disuse.

The boy jumped away with a little scream. Immediately, he ducked back under the water.

Wait! Come back! I’m sorry, you startled me! The boy’s voice was apologetic.

He surfaced again, tentatively. Hhiii. The word came a little easier now.

Almost shy, the boy waved to him. Hi.

Hi, he repeated.

You’re a pond monster, I get it. The boy scooted closer. I knew you were in there, you saved me. The boy stared at him, wide-eyed. Can I touch you?

He held his hand out, dripping wet.

Whoa… The boy took the offered hand and turned it over, examining it. I’m Elias, but everyone calls me Eli, he said, looking back up. He lowered his voice conspiratorially. Mister Anton told me my last name is Chevalier, now that they adopted me, but really it’s Whelan. That means ‘wolf’ in Irish. Eli looked very proud. What’s your name?

He hesitated. The man had never called him by a name. His stomach twisted with a panicked, queasy feeling when he thought about the man. He was starting to remember, a little. The man had told him to stay in the pond and not let anyone see him. He glanced uneasily toward the house that bordered the garden on one side. The house was dark.

He wanted so much to keep talking to Eli.

Don’t be sad, Eli said, seeing something in his face. Eli had blue eyes and his hand was very warm.

Hi, he repeated, even easier this time. He gathered his courage, and then climbed out of the water and sat down on the bank next to Eli.

Eli laughed. Don't get my pajamas all wet, I’ll get in trouble. I’m supposed to be in bed now.

Hi.

Is that all you can say? Where did you come from? Do you live in the pond?

He nodded.

Where are your parents?

He couldn’t remember. He had fragments of memories now that he’d rediscovered his human shape—words and concepts he’d forgotten as a fish—but there was an empty space in his chest, near his heart, where other memories should have been. All he had left of his family was the faint echo of his mother’s voice, the song from his dreams. He looked away.

Oh. My parents are gone too, Eli said.

Eli sounded sad, so he put his hand on Eli’s arm.

Why is your hair so long? Eli asked, rebounding from his momentary quiet. Why are your eyes like a cat’s? What kind of Fae are you? I’ve never met a fish person before. I’ve hardly ever met any Fae before! This is so cool. Are you an undine? Maybe you’re a naiad? Why don't you have any clothes?

That was too many questions and he didn't know how to answer any of them.

Can you say anything other than ‘hi’?

Eee. Eli?

Eli laughed. You said my name!

Eli, he said again, because he liked hearing Eli laugh.

"Can you say your name now?"

He used to be called something, before he lived in the pond. He tried to remember, thinking hard.

...Treya, he finally said.

Treya, Eli repeated. That’s a nice name.

Treya smiled.

Oh man, I gotta tell Mister Anton! There's a little monster kid that lives in his pond!

NO! Fear surged through Treya and he scrambled away from Eli. NO! NO NO NO!

Eli's eyes went huge. Whoa. Hey. What's wrong?

My! My pond! Not his! Treya dove into the safety of the water.

A little orange thing fell into Treya’s pond with a plip the next time the sky was dark. It annoyed him. His pond should be clean. Another one fell in, bobbing on the surface. Treya looked up past them and saw the distorted silhouette of a person crouched on the bridge.

It was Eli. He’d come back again.

Treya changed—it was a little easier this time—and carefully reached out for the orange things, scooping them out of the water as he stood upright. He took a hesitant step toward the bridge where Eli waited. It was a simple bridge, a delicate arch over the pond with no railing. Treya took another step. His legs were unsteady, but he could walk. Eli watched him with wide eyes.

Hi, Treya said.

Eli grinned. Hi. Don’t be scared. Those are goldfish crackers.

Treya eyed them suspiciously.

Don’t worry, Eli said, "they’re not made out of goldfish. They’re just shaped like goldfish. I thought you’d like them. He pointed at the orange things in Treya’s palm. You're supposed to eat them, not hold them."

Treya ate one. He made a face. He didn't think he liked it very much.

Not a fan, huh? That's okay, maybe goldfish aren’t supposed to eat goldfish. Eli’s voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. I saw you turn into a fish. You're the pretty black and yellow fish.

Treya put the other cracker into Eli’s hand.

Ew. It’s all wet. Eli ate it anyway. Tastes like pond water! Do you want to come out? Eli asked, offering his hand to Treya.

Treya hesitated, looking in the direction of the house. The man must be inside somewhere, but there weren’t any lights on in the windows.

I didn’t tell anyone I fell in the pond. I’m not supposed to mess with the fish and I’m definitely not supposed to try petting them. Kinda funny falling into a pond trying to pet a fish, huh? Anyway, I’d get in trouble again for sure. And then you got scared when I said I’d tell Mister Anton about you. I won’t tell him if you don’t want me to.

Treya bit his lip, then took the other boy’s hand.

Eli hopped to his feet for better leverage. Oof, he grunted as he pulled Treya up. With a splash of water that got all over Eli’s feet, Treya clambered up onto the bridge and stood. He wobbled and Eli steadied him, bracing Treya by the arms. Wow. We’ll have to work on your land-legs, Eli said.

Eli, Treya said, returning the gesture and placing a hand on Eli’s arm.

Eli grinned. That’s me! You remembered! And you’re Treya. We’re gonna be best friends, I know it. I’ve never lived in a place with a pond monster before.

Treya rested his forehead against Eli's shoulder. He wanted to melt into the other boy who talked to him.

You're all alone, huh? Eli shifted to the side so he could put an arm around Treya's shoulders. Are you cold?

Treya nodded.

Okay! I have some clothes in my room. They're probably a little big, but I bet you could wear them. He pulled Treya by the hand in the direction of one of the sliding glass doors, half-hidden in the trees, that led into the house.

NO! Treya jerked free. The man would catch him and hurt him again.

Eli frowned. Treya?

Treya pointed at his pond. Stay.

Oh, you have to stay by the pond. Okay. I'll get you something!

Okay.

Eli smiled. "Cool, that's a new word for you!

Cool.

You're smart! Okay, you stay and I'll go. Be right back! Eli dashed off.

Treya waited by the pond until nearly sunrise, but Eli didn't come back.

Sorry, Eli explained the next night. I got caught out of bed ‘cause I was going to get us snacks from the kitchen. I didn’t even say what I was doing, but Mister Anton always acts like I’m trying to get into trouble. Then he told me to go to sleep and I just fell asleep!

This made Treya feel nervous. He’d forgotten something important. Something about the man—Mister Anton.

Don’t worry, he won’t catch me again. I’ll just be sneakier from now on. That only made Treya feel a little better, but he was distracted when Eli dropped a full duffel bag onto the ground. Treya knelt next to it, pawing through the contents.

I brought a little bit of everything. Some warm clothes, a hairbrush, some toys. We can hide them under the pagoda. He gestured to a path that curved around the building, disappearing around the corner of the house between rows of trees. The pagoda’s close to my room, no one will see us there. We can play all we want.

Treya liked this plan. Eli was very smart. Cool, Treya agreed.

Eli picked up the bag and slung it over one shoulder. Treya followed him along the path, stepping carefully on bare feet unused to walking in dirt, away from the pond and its dense, well-manicured greenery around the corner of the house into a patch of trees left to grow taller and wilder. Tucked among the trees was a little wooden structure with a steep, pointed roof. Eli climbed the stair and set the bag down on one of