***Diamonds and Deviants***
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![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmUkPSfdFzTm5Wj1xSfRbXvS7bELqkGCMyrntKiFF8ZnFz/image.png)
*This picture my own - others from Google Free to use images*

[Part 1](https://steemit.com/writing/@michelle.gent/writing-fiction-novels-a-progression)
[Part 2](https://steemit.com/writing/@michelle.gent/writing-fiction-novels-the-decision)
[Part 3](https://steemit.com/writing/@michelle.gent/writing-fiction-a-novel-exclusive-for-steemit-diamonds-and-deviants)
[Part 4](https://steemit.com/writing/@michelle.gent/6mpdd1-writing-fiction-a-novel-exclusive-for-steemit-diamonds-and-deviants)
[Part 5](https://steemit.com/writing/@michelle.gent/writing-fiction-a-novel-exclusive-for-steemit-diamonds-and-deviants-5)
[Part 6](https://steemit.com/writing/@michelle.gent/writing-fiction-a-novel-exclusive-for-steemit-diamonds-and-deviants-6)
[Part 7](https://steemit.com/writing/@michelle.gent/writing-fiction-a-novel-exclusive-for-steemit-diamonds-and-deviants-7)
[Part 8](https://steemit.com/writing/@michelle.gent/writing-fiction-a-novel-exclusive-for-steemit-diamonds-and-deviants-8)
[Part 9](https://steemit.com/writing/@michelle.gent/writing-fiction-a-novel-exclusive-for-steemit-diamonds-and-deviants-9)
[Part 10](https://steemit.com/writing/@michelle.gent/writing-fiction-a-novel-exclusive-for-steemit-diamonds-and-deviants-10)
[Part 11](https://steemit.com/writing/@michelle.gent/writing-fiction-a-novel-exclusive-for-steemit-diamonds-and-deviants-11) 
[Part 12](https://steemit.com/writing/@michelle.gent/writing-fiction-a-novel-exclusive-for-steemit-diamonds-and-deviants-12)
[Part 13](https://steemit.com/writing/@michelle.gent/writing-fiction-a-novel-exclusive-for-steemit-diamonds-and-deviants-13)
[Part 14](https://steemit.com/writing/@michelle.gent/writing-fiction-a-novel-exclusive-for-steemit-diamonds-and-deviants-14)
[Part 15](https://steemit.com/writing/@michelle.gent/writing-fiction-a-novel-exclusive-for-steemit-diamonds-and-deviants-15)
[Part 16](https://steemit.com/writing/@michelle.gent/writing-fiction-a-novel-exclusive-for-steemit-diamonds-and-deviants-16)
[Part 17](https://steemit.com/writing/@michelle.gent/writing-fiction-a-novel-exclusive-for-steemit-diamonds-and-deviants-17)

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Celtica the dragon stretched her head upwards to pull the skin on her throat tight and then she clawed down it with both front claws, taking it in turns and in an almost stroking gesture. Slow and careful, pulling her claws through the top layers of her skin, down to her belly and along the already ragged tail.

When she was satisfied that the entire outer layer of her hard, protective skin was etched through, she began the distasteful job of peeling herself.

![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmUncVmwgh6FRE1tSo1AgjWe1Vk2HJipN8iBwZkVLcVeVQ/image.png)

If you have ever had bad sunburn and watched as the top layer of your skin began lifting away from the rest of your skin and you’ve taken one corner of it and tugged gently, pulling it for as far as you can, to see just how large a piece of your own skin you can take off at once, well this was nothing like that.

As the dragon pulled the skin away from her body, it hurt. It was so painful that fresh dragon tears dripped off the edges of her face and she couldn’t stop them even if she had been aware of them. The tears came so fast that they didn’t have time to evaporate and some dripped onto the floor to solidify. She would collect them later but at the moment, she was too busy to even think of them.

![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmf2Se1n1xwD4vHT65CNisLdkPw3hYTWjs3BvrVkh4TYfX/image.png)

The pieces of skin were coming off her body. On one side they were blackened and charcoal-like but on the other, they resembled something akin to beef jerky but redder and tougher. She’d have to go deeper.

When she had taken the very last piece of the old, blackened scaly skin from her body, she began the process again. She scored faster this time because the scales were new and softer but she also had to work at a greater pace because she didn’t want the new scales to harden before she’d had chance to remove them. The dragon tears were coming thick and fast by now but even in her agony, she still remembered to lay the pieces of her skin as flat as she could.

https://i.imgur.com/9KpjnTo.jpg?1

By the time she had two full hides laid out on her living room floor, she was exhausted. The dragon lay on the floor (not on the rug) and she rested. Her skin was pink, wet and very tender. It was best to just lie still and allow the healing to do its thing. 

Celtica slept for a good twelve hours.

When she woke, her scales had taken on their usual vibrant red hue. She stretched herself, forgetting that she was in dragon form and was fortunate that she had lay down in an area that was clear of ornaments because the red leathery wings would have destroyed them as she stretched them to their full extent.

She felt wonderful!

She had not sloughed her skin for a couple of centuries and she had already forgotten the agonies and just remembered that for the next century she would stay invigorated, supple and revitalised.

She had to be a little bit careful for the next twelve or so hours because she was not as well protected as she had been before she removed her armoured outer layer.

![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmNyhCNfN3p8weYQn2NZ13abx8bQ4nWnw5HYLmJ7k5JJLX/image.png)

Celtica took one more stretch and then compressed her dragonness into her human body.

The effects of the sloughing weren’t lost even then. She felt like she could leap tall buildings in a single bound (which she probably could).

The first thing she remembered was that her parents were probably coming over so she called Crystal Securities to have their names and other details put on her visitors list. She assured the company that for the first time they visited, she would be there to greet them and verify their identities.

If it wasn’t her parents, or they had brought anyone else along, then they would have to go and get rooms at an hotel. They wouldn’t be allowed in.

The next call Celtica made was to Gideon Grey. She asked how he was doing and if he had noticed anything unusual.

Apparently he hadn’t seen anything and he certainly hadn’t sensed anyone following him so unless they were exceptional trackers, skilled in their profession, he doubted that they had sent anyone. Knowing that the ones that had been sent after her had been less than exceptional trackers and definitely not skilled, she agreed with him but warned him to be vigilant at all times anyway.