by S. I. Hayes
“Guess it’s a good thing he didn’t come get ya, huh?” My adopted brother Adrian’s voice broke through with a snicker as he spun me around and into a tight hug. “How you been? How’s Boston?” He kissed me on the mouth as was his usual greeting.
“Lemme go!” I protested as he tried to pick me up. I batted at him and he let me go as Mary grabbed him by the shoulders, jumping on him with a boisterous laugh, making him carry her over to the luggage carousel.
“Mush!” She ordered. “Here it comes, it’s the bright pink one!” Adrian snatched it up, tossing it over to the floor and getting a smack to his dark brown haired head.
“That’s my stuff, treat it better!” Mary demanded, jumping down to inspect her bag. Adrian rounded back to me, his chocolate brown eyes glinting with mischief.
“So, what’s going on?”
I looked down at my feet, noticing little droplets of blood on my tan sandals. “I- Uh- Well.”
“Guess who popped today?” Mary cut in, throwing a hoodie at me. I slipped into it as Adrian beamed, walking over to me. He pulled the hoodie down and ran his fingers down my back.
“Really? When?” He was looking me over with fascination as I slouched from his touch. My back was sensitive and I didn’t want another incident, especially not around all these Humans.
“On the plane okay!” I snarled, feeling the acid rise in my throat. It was always preceded by the taste of bitter almonds. I swallowed hard, keeping it back.
“It was nearly a disaster, but I kept her in check.” Mary sounded too proud for someone who had burst into tears just hours ago.
“As well you should have. If she is to be your Guardian one day, you need to keep her under control.” Adrian put his arm around her, kissing her hello as well.
“Who says I’m gonna be anyone’s Guardian? Don’t I get to make that decision? Besides, what if I never get my weapon.”
“Then, like other Half-bloods, you’ll adapt. Mother and Father hope you make the good choice. I’m doing right by Enrich, staying here in the Summer Court, so you should stay with Marigold in the States with the Winter Court. The Unseelie could use beauties like the two of you to spruce it up.”
“I just don’t know yet. Is that wrong?” I lamented as he put his arm around me as well.
“Nope, just don’t let on to Mother and Father and all will be fine. I know that this summer they plan to introduce you to the courts. Just do like we all do, smile and nod.”
I pulled my luggage to me and sighed. It was going to be a long summer.
THE DRIVE TO THE HOUSE was quiet for me, I put on my earbuds and drowned out the chatter between Adrian and Mary, simply letting the classical melodies wash over me. I loved those long dead musicians, the piano and the violins stirred something in me that none of the hard rock or ultra-pop of 2030 could. I had a lot to think about.
Should I continue to keep my secrets and my freedom or should I admit to having my lance and become some commodity to be fought over and won? As it was coming into my lance meant that my bloodline was pure. That I wasn’t a Half-blood, I was Dragonborn, through and through. Halflings can gain their wings, but they never get their subdermal weapon. Having mine meant that both of my parents had been Dragonborn as well. I should be proud as a peacock, and yet all I wanted to do was be normal. I didn’t care about my immortality; I was having it hard enough being nineteen. Who would want to be this age forever? That was the crux of it, the moment I swore my fealty I would gain my immortal magic and never age again. I still had my baby fat in places, I was barely in a woman’s body and they wanted me to bow down and succumb to... This? I wanted to finish growing up. Hell, aside from Adrian and Enrich, the only other man to ever kiss me was my father. Sure, I was a flirt, but I never had the opportunity to spend time with others my age, let alone my own kind. My own kind... I reached into my pocket looking at my cell phone, sure it wouldn’t get international calls, but I would still get my voice mails. I pulled out my earbuds and dialed, hoping to hear that deep sexy unsure voice on the other side.
No messages. “Uggh!” I slammed the phone down disappointedly, gathering the attention of my siblings.
“What’s up babe?” Mary asked, craning her neck to see me in the back seat.
“Nothing. Was hoping for a call that’s all.”
“From who, you barely know anyone outside the guys from the Groove Brew.”
“Groove Brew? What’s that?” Adrian asked suspiciously.
“A coffee shop where I work. It’s a great place, full of music and people. I get to interact with all sorts.” I smiled, thinking about the Dragon I had met just yesterday. Mary could read it all over my face.
“Oh fuck, really Aella? And this is the first I’m hearing!”
“What?” Adrian swerved as Mary jumped into the back seat on top of me. “Hey, be careful!”
“Our sister dear has met a guy! Oh my God, Aella, when did this happen?”
I smiled happily, thinking about him, a low rumble starting in my belly. I bit my lip as a shiver ran up my back. Such striking green eyes. “He came into the shop actually. Seemed like a nice guy.”
“Yeah, nice and hot by the way you’re twisting up those fingers in your lap.” She bounced next to me. “What’s his name?”
“I haven’t a clue.” I laughed. “I gave him my number on the Espresso with milk that he ordered. I had hoped he’d have called.”
“Eh, you just gave it to him, Sis, give him like a week to get around to it. We guys are asses like that.”
“Uggh, a week? Really Adrian?”
“Just a guy thing.”
I shook my head, smacking the back of his seat. “Well, you would know better than me, I guess.”
“Hey look at it this way, at least you two get to make a choice not get married off to some Vampire Lord you’ve never even seen. Although, being a Princess could have its perks.” Mary looked at me thoughtfully before falling in next to me.
I wrapped my arm around her.
“Is it so bad that Mother and Father want to make sure you get well taken care of?” Adrian asked, looking at us through the rear view.
“No,” Mary sighed. “I just thought I’d get a chance to fall in love, not be pushed into it.”
“Everything happens for a reason.” I patted her on the head gently. “I’m sure it’ll work out for you in the end.”
“Maybe you’re right, perhaps he’ll have a happy accident.”
“Mary!” Adrian and I both protested in unison.
“What? I’m just sayin’”
Chapter 12 Sig
“HEY BOSS, CAN WE HAVE a little talk?” Keegan was sitting in an armchair, watching Ryane as she went through the journals he had given her. Apparently he had torn up the floorboards to get them. Just one more thing for me to fix, I suppose. I was going to let some of the things in my head go, but the way he watched her, surrounded by all those weapons and books... His movements were telling me that something was going on, he was nervous and distracted, more so than usual.
“Huh?” He had barely heard me as I stood next to him, so deep in whatever was bothering him that he didn’t notice me standing there and I had to repeat myself... Twice.
“I said we need to talk. Would you come outside with me?” I motioned toward the front door with a wave of my hand.
He stood up with a hard sigh and Ryane looked up.
“What are you doing? Aren’t you interested in my childhood?” She pouted as I looked past Keegan to her.
“We’ll be right back, just look at your pictures alright?” I said.
“Secrets don’t make friends!” She called after us. “You know what, it’s fine. Whatever.”
“What’s the matter Sig?” Keegan asked me before we even got out the door.
Making sure she was still preoccupied, I closed the door behind us. “There’s a lot that’s gone on in the last month or so, and frankly, the implications of all of it have me on edge. I’m not the type to pry, but I’ve k
nown you long enough to know when you are troubled. It comes off you in waves. So I called you out here to ask you what’s going on?”
He ran his hands through his platinum hair and leaned against the doorframe. “It’s not that simple, Sig. There are several things weighing on me at the moment and I am still assessing their needs to be dealt with and in which order. I realize that what happened to me had more to do with my distractions than my actions. I let myself lose sight of what I’ve been working so hard for. The integration at Grigori has been my passion since it was first proposed. You know that.” He sounded drained as he crouched to sit on the ground.
“Yeah, you’ve been kind of busy with Ryane. It’s only going to get more severe now that you two are getting hitched.”
“Excuse me?”
I spun around to the voice of Keegan’s father. “Your Majesty.” I bowed shortly out of respect. He wasn’t my King, but he was a King to his people.
“Did I hear this correctly?” He stared down at Keegan, who did not make any motion to stand. “You’ve asked that child to marry you?”
“Did more than that. I blooded her permanently.” His silver grey eyes lifted to meet mine, then moved to his father. “She’s making the transition as we speak, and has your knack for compulsion if you can believe it.” He let out a small laugh, rolling his shoulders.
“Is this what you called me here for, so you could spoil my plans for you?”
I could see the heat rise into Herlihy’s face as he stared down at his son and I instinctively put myself between them. “Sir, if he has called you, I’m sure it has more to do with Vampire business than anything.” I had to try to diffuse the situation before they came to blows, and not for the first time. Probably not the last either.
“You suggested I make her a part of the family.”
“But I did not say anything about marriage. Blooding her was in our best interest. With her Hunter’s blood, it was the wise choice to make her part of the house of Teague. Marrying her and giving her political power was not what I had in mind.”
Keegan stood up and using his extra inches to his advantage, he looked down on his father. “I’ll not be dissuaded. She has saved my life, in more ways than she’ll ever understand. I can feel her, when she is not near to me, I cannot breathe. I will not give her up, even if it means giving up my position as your Heir.”
Herlihy sighed, shaking his head. “You have no idea of the shit storm this is going to be leaving me with. I had intentions of us joining with the Fey. Now I must explain why that is not going to happen. They will not be pleased.”
“If it must be severed, and it must, I will do it if that will make it easier for you, Father.”
“No, you’ll only make it worse. Now tell me, if this monkey wrench was not the cause of your distressed call, what is?”
“That you must come inside for, but please, try not to be the bastard I know you are.”
The King nodded his head, turning back to his Guardians Dodge and one I was not familiar with. They climbed back into the car as Keegan led us into the house.
Chapter 13 Keegan
AS SOON AS WE WALKED into that house my father was a different man. He looked over at Ryane as she sat surrounded by a cask of weapons and he let out a long laugh.
“Is my soon to be daughter in law preparing for the apocalypse?” He walked over to her and put out his hand. A look of confusion passed over her face as he pulled her up to stand and took her into his arms in what looked to be a warm embrace. Sig snickered as a look of pure panic covered her and she hung in his arms, stiff as an over starched shirt. “You look to be very involved, what is all of this?” He asked with genuine interest, nudging one of the long barreled guns with his foot.
“A stash left behind by Sam, from my dad.” She picked up a photo, showing it to him. “I just can’t figure why he hid it all.” She looked down thoughtfully.
He fingered the picture a moment before handing it back. “Well, I’m sure he had his reasons. Just be glad you have it now.” He looked back at me with an eyebrow raise and I nodded gently so as not to be noticed by Sig.
“While I see that congratulations are warranted; I do need a few moments with my son. If you’ll excuse me.” He patted her shoulder as she went back to the journals and the floor.
“Sig, would you?” I motioned toward Ryane.
“Sure Boss, whatever you need.” Sig cracked his neck, a surefire sign he was annoyed with me, but I couldn’t worry about that right now.
“SO, WHAT IS THIS ALL about then?” My father asked as I led him into the room I had been occupying. “And what happened to the bed that was in here?”
“I got over stimulated and smashed it to splinters.” I went to the drawer, pulling out the file on Vanessa Ravencrest and turning back to see him shaking his head in disappointment. “You need to help me with this.” I handed the file to him.
He furrowed his brow as he scanned it. “What do you think I can do to help you?” His stance was uneasy as he held the file open.
“We are mentioned, well, you are. Then you are scratched out. Thing is, he knew an awful lot about the Senate and our Laws. Things he would have had to get from an inside source. I think that was you.”
He nodded. “You are sometimes smarter than I give you credit for, son. Indeed, I had been trying to keep him from getting himself killed. He was a good man, good to the cause of integration.”
“Do you know who ordered it?” I crossed my arms in front of me. He wasn’t the easiest person to read, but his heartbeat was calm as I asked, letting me know that he, at least, wouldn’t be lying to me at this point.
His head shook in the negative. “I never really thought about it. I simply answered the questions he asked. I didn’t realize he was actually looking for anyone in particular. He didn’t tell me what it was about, simply contacted me through a mutual channel in the Hunter’s Association. I thought he was doing a paper on the integration and the melding of our governments. He was mostly interested in who was at the forefront of the resistance. There, I was of little help. We didn’t know back then. Still don’t, really, as it has switched hands so many times.”
“He never mentioned her death?”
“No. If he had I would have been more invested; I think he wanted to keep me at a distance. Which I don’t fault him for. I was still on my way up, and dealing with your mother and her disease... Frankly, I was distracted enough.”
I nodded, my mother’s mental condition had been tough on him. It wasn’t something that could be fixed and watching her fade away nearly killed him. It certainly hardened him.
“Will you look into it, now that I can give you the specifics?”
“It will take time, but I think I may be able to help. I wish Henry had let me see these back then. Many of the houses have faltered since this time. We may be chasing ghosts, but if there is anything left to discover, I will try.”
“Thank you Father. I shouldn’t have to tell you, but this is to stay between us. I don’t want Ryane distracted by any of this. She has plans that need to be seen to their ends.”
He smirked at me. “You ordering me son?”
“No, simply consider it my engagement present.”
Chapter 14 SIG
KEEGAN WAS OCCUPIED by his father, Ryane was surrounded by journals written by her old man, which left me the odd one out with no parental items to indulge in, but thinking about my family all the same. I wandered into the yard to make sure the bonfire had dropped to a fine smolder and then cloaked, taking to the air, unfurling my Dragon as I hit the higher atmosphere. It felt good to stretch him out, let my long, lean legs stretch with the wind beneath them. The chill air caressing my scales, within minutes my long black talons clutched hard Berkshire Mountain Cliffside. I had a roost there, a hiding place for some of my treasures, most Dragons do. Sure, I kept bank accounts, but I never knew when those could be compromised, hacked, or stolen in some way. One must always be on guard of one’s treasures. There
in the high place, I had a cave that was only accessible by air, tooth and or nail, and only known of by me as I dug it out myself. I kept Mother and Father there, along with silver, gold and jewels. I am a rich man, but have lived modestly because it suits me. I do not need all the finery that Keegan strives for. Give me a warm bed and some good food and I’m a happy cabbage.
I pulled my Dragon back, taking my Human form with a roll of my neck and shoulders. I adjusted that which needed adjusting and entered my cave. Something was off, immediately I could sense that a breech had been made and someone or something has been in my cozy little lair.
My scales prickled and I could feel the sails on my arms as they penetrated the sleeves of my shirt. This was the problem with the partial turns, for Dragons, our magics absorbed our clothing in a complete unfurling on our willing, but when our minds were cluttered, things tended to get shredded... I really didn’t want to get caught up, half naked when I got back to Samuel’s. I took a deep breath as I loosed my wings and my vertebrae zinged as I drew my sword from its place between my shoulders. Properly armed, I stepped deeper into the cave, tiptoed and silent, my heartbeat the only sound I could detect aside from my soft, shallow breathing. My eyes adjusted to the darkness and I could see that some of the silver had been knocked over, but didn’t appear to be missing, the same with the jewels. Mother and Father were still on the alter and untouched. I let out a long held breath. If they had been damaged, I would have lost my shit completely. Then I caught wind of something awful. Following the stench, I found, in the back of the cave, a rotting buck, it’s head ripped back and innards devoured. From the looks of it, a mountain lion must have climbed up here and stashed its meal.