One Man's Treasure

A thief gets more than he bargained for when he decides to steal a ring from a dragon's hoard. Short story.He was created for only one person. She was never supposed to be the One.It is 1988, Clear Lake, Texas. Lilly Garcia is not looking forward to her senior year of high school. She is a shy, studious, band geek with a non-existent social life, who lives out her romantic fantasies through the fictional characters of her books. But all that changes when she issues a spur of the moment invitation to a strange, new student.Charlie isn't happy about returning to Earth and he resents having to attend high school to blend in. His father has been recruited for another mission to spy on the Earthans and make sure they have no idea of the existence of the Sentrian civilization. The Sentrian leaders are not only paranoid and disdainful of the Earthans, but also controlling and suspicious of their own people. Almost every aspect of a Sentrian's life is under the supervision of the State. Their religious beliefs are the one exception. Sentrians do not have free will, and all the people believe in the existence of God. Their belief that God chooses your soul mate is their most sacred law. While on Sentria, Charlie never found his chosen, and when he develops an attraction to an Earthan, he is torn. Should he ignore his feelings for Lilly, feelings he knows are wrong, or should he pursue a doomed relationship with the only person who has ever mattered to him?Lilly finds Charlie interesting. They have a lot in common, especially their love of books. She's falling for him, but there's something off about him, something she can't explain. When she becomes an involuntary witness to his supernatural abilities, Charlie is forced to admit he is not from her world. Lilly is fearful at first, but soon realizes she wants to be with Charlie no matter what.Unfortunately their happiness is threatened when a Sentrian from Charlie's past is put in a position of authority over him. Evelyn, a power-hungry elite, believes it is her duty to make sure all the Sentrian youth comply with their strict code of laws. Almost immediately she becomes suspicious of Charlie and his contact with the Earthan girl, Lilly. After tracking Charlie's movements, Evelyn's worst suspicions are confirmed. A relationship with an Earthan is considered blasphemy and Charlie must return to Sentria to go on trial for his moral crimes. This leads Charlie and Lilly to a desperate choice: accept the decision of the Sentrian rulers and never see each other again, or risk everything to stay together.