Our writing group was slowing down. It was almost a whole year between rounds - but we weren't dead! After six years of writing several stories per year, we were all losing a bit of excitement I think. This was my entry for Round 30 in 2011, and I wrote a super short story once again. I had become really fond of trying to trick the reader into thinking that a certain thing was happening, and then revealing something completely different in the end. This was probably the best story in which I executed that idea, and many people in our group told me the ending really "got" them!

A Bad Breakup
by Rusty Keele

She blocked his exit. "Leaving so soon, Berec?" she asked icily.

He stopped and stared at her. She was so beautiful. He wanted to get lost in those mesmerizing blue eyes like he had many times before, but this time was different. He cautiously cleared his throat, "Um, no. Just thought I'd better be going is all."

"I think you're lying to me, Berec. Have you become tired of our relationship?" She cocked an eyebrow.

Yes, yes he had - but he wasn't about to tell her that. "Tired? Naw, things have been workin' out great... haven't they?"

"I thought they were, but apparently you disagree - regardless of what you just said." She spread her arms wide, "Are you really getting tired of all this?"

He looked her over, his eyes drinking in the details. She was magnificent! Was it possible that he was making a bad choice? Probably. That seemed to be his lot in life - bad choices.

She gestured around the room, "And all this? I thought we had a good thing going here, Berec."

He glanced around - realizing once again how filthy rich she was. That was probably another sign that he was making a terrible mistake. "Nessa, you have been so good to me, and have provided so much. But," he sighed dejectedly, knowing he couldn't keep the truth from her, "I just can't help myself - I'm a man after all!"

She chuckled. "Yes, all those unsuspecting men you brought here. All the money we took from them. All the fun we had disposing of their bodies. They were just men too - I don't know why I thought you would be any different." Her eyes began to smolder - that was a bad sign.

"Nessa," he chuckled, "nothing is changing. Come on, we still have our deal."

"Really? Then why are you stealing from me?"

"What? I'm not stealing from you? Why would I do that? I am just taking my share of the treasure and leaving."

"I'm not a fool, Berec. Nothing is more important to me than my treasure. Did you forget that I know every piece? That's how I know you are hiding those diamonds in your pouch."

"No, no. Nessa, that was part of the..."

"I'm sorry Berec, but this relationship is over." She reared up to her full height. Gold pieces and gems fell from her scales. Steam was now bellowing from her nostrils. Berec knew he had only seconds to live, but that didn't diminish her beauty. He took a last look at her magnificent red scales, her delicate leather wings, her gleaming claws, her majestic crested spikes. Even now he was in awe.

"I'm sorry Nessa," the words barely croaked from his mouth.

She laughed, "You stupid human."

A sharp intake and a blast of fiery breath was the last thing Berec ever saw.

The End

This story copyright © 2011 by Rusty Keele.  All rights reserved.