“The big black one.”
Could this week get any worse? Tori would never speak to her again, her car busted, she was probably grounded, and now her dragon-hating twin saw her with Obsidian.
“How did you do that?”
“I followed you.”
“Why? You barely leave your room.”
He twisted his hands. “I’m still trying to work through my anxieties.”
Aspen had to admit she was impressed. She didn’t realize he had it in him. But now she had a problem.
“What are you going to do about it?” Aspen asked.
He sat on her bed. “What do you mean?”
“Well, my anti-dragon sibling, this cannot be a good thing for you. What are you going to do about the fact your sister is now ‘in league’ with them?” She knew she was being unreasonable, but her head was starting to hurt, and she couldn’t think straight.
“I’m not Tori. I just wanted to know what’s going on. And I’m not anti-dragon, I’m just scared of them, that’s all.”
“You’re scared of everything.”
“I know you’ve had a crappy day. You don’t need to take it out on me.”
“Crappy? Rowan, this could quite possibly be the worst week of my life.”
“Worse even than the time you went rock climbing alone and got stranded on the face of the mountain?”
“Yeah, worse than that.”
He lay next to her and propped his head in his hand. “How could this be the worse week ever? You made out with Sid. Something I know you’ve wanted to do for a while.”
Aspen shoved him on the shoulder. “That’s so not true. What makes you think that?”
“Oh please. I see the way you look at him at school.”
“Whatever. Anyway, my car broke down twice, and Tori is pissed. I made out with a fabulous boy, and I have no one to talk to.”
“You have me, plus I know about the dragon, which I’m sure you’ve been dying to tell someone. Seeing as how it’s not a New York Times article yet, you didn’t tell Tori. You’ve only been on friendly terms with Sid for…” he said, looking at his watch. “Three hours now. I don’t think you told anyone about him. Why?”
Aspen looked at her brother for few minutes before answering. They had never been close. Their sister snatched Aspen from the crib as soon as she could. She didn’t pay attention to Rowan; he was a boy. So even though they were twins, Aspen was closer to her older sister than him. Plus, they were complete opposites. Aspen was the daredevil, and he was the chicken. She feared for his kids; they would literally have to wear a plastic bubble when they left the house.
In spite of that, she trusted him. If she could tell anyone about Obsidian, it would be Rowan. He was loyal to their family, and she knew he would never betray her. Besides, even though she had Sid and their newfound relationship, he was still mum on the dragons.
“Obsidian asked me not to tell anyone. He’s not supposed to be around humans. In fact, I got the impression he’s not supposed to be out at all.”
Rowan sat up quickly. “You mean they can talk?”
“Yeah, except not with their mouths. They talk with their minds.”
Rowan scowled and started to get up. “You know, Aspen, I thought things were finally getting to be cool between us. I can’t believe you’d try to trick me like this.”
Aspen grabbed his arm. “I’m telling the truth. They talk with their minds. It’s amazing.”
He looked at her for a minute. “Fine, I believe you. Well, not really, but prove it.”
“How?”
“I want to come with you the next time you go see him.”
Aspen laughed out loud. Her brother was the most timid person she knew, and he wanted to meet the dragon she hung out with. “Are you serious? You’ll pee your pants.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, probably, but don’t you think it’s time I grew up? The fear I feel half the time is paralyzing. Sometimes I even struggle walking out the front door. I’m seventeen years old and don’t even have my driver’s license because I’m scared of everything. I need to get over my fear. I figure by facing the thing that scares me the most, I’ll be able to approach the rest of my life easier.”
Aspen couldn’t believe he was confiding in her, so she chose her words carefully. “Don’t you think therapy may be a better option? I’m afraid of what this kind of trauma might do to you.”
“No, this is the best way. You trust the dragon, and I trust you. It should be cake.”
“Well, I’ll need to talk to him first. He’s not too keen on people knowing about him. The first time I met him, before I knew he could talk, he smashed my camera.”
“What did you do?”
“I called him an idiot.”
Rowan gaped. “You insulted a fully grown dragon before you knew he was nice? How could you be so stupid?”
“I think I was born without fear genes. That was the first time he spoke to me.”
“Did he say ‘cut it out I’ll incinerate you?’”
Aspen laughed. “No, he asked if I wanted a ride.”
Aspen watched Rowan’s expression, and sure enough he looked dumbstruck.
Sid was nervous picking Aspen up the next morning. Her moods shifted quickly, and he was afraid she had gone back to hating him. When she slid into the car, she kissed him full on the lips. He tried to prolong the kiss, but she pulled away. “Do you mind giving my brother a ride? I usually take him to school.”
He looked out the window and saw Rowan pacing on the porch. Did he actually think Sid would say no?
“Sure thing,” Sid said. He moved his books around in the backseat. Aspen waved Rowan to the car. He got in and looked around warily. As usual with Rowan, Sid could feel his intense fear. It was nearly crippling. Interesting because it never showed on his face. “Are you okay?” Sid asked him.
“I’m fine,” he said and leaned down to pull up his socks.
Sid turned around and still felt that debilitating fear. “Are you sure? I get the impression you’re afraid of something. I’m not that bad of a driver.”
“I’m fi—”
“Rowan is scared of everything. We think there’s a name for it, but he won’t talk to a shrink. He’s probably scared we’re going to kiss in front of him or something. He’ll be fine. Let’s go.”
Aspen’s bluntness shocked Sid. If Pearl had done likewise, he’d be very angry. Rowan didn’t get upset, and his fear subsided slightly.
Sid tried to make small talk as they drove to school, but he couldn’t get much out of Rowan. Sid made a mental note to learn more about those video games Rowan played so he could talk to him next time.
Aspen held his hand as they drove, but the closer they got to school, the more he felt her own anxiety rise.
“Are you okay?” he asked her.
“What are you, some kind of psychic or something?” she asked.
“No, you have a death grip on my hand.”
“Oh, well, uh.”
Rowan spoke up. “Tori’s pissed at her because she’s going out with you. She’s terrified Tori’s never going to speak to her again.”
Sid wondered if it was normal for twins to answer for each other like that.
That afternoon Sid convinced Aspen to do homework with him. Which actually consisted of her lying on his bed trying to decipher his dragon books and him doing her homework for her.
“What language is this?”
Sid looked up; she had the book upside down. “Can’t tell you that.”
She pouted. “This whole secret thing is going to end us eventually.”
“I hate it when you say things like that.”
“It’s true.” She slammed the book down on the bed. “You know how I feel about the dragons, and yet you won’t say a word about them, even though I know you’re connected to them somehow. Besides, if you tell me, maybe we could stop the witch-hunt that is beginning.”
He sighed. Maybe he should just tell her. Now was as good of ti
me as any. Would she be angry or pleased? There was no in between with Aspen. It would be one or the other.
He sat next to her on the bed and brushed her hair over her shoulder.
“Stop trying to distract me.”
He grinned and leaned down and kissed her neck. She shivered.
“I mean it, Sid. I want answers.”
He pulled her into his lap and looked deep into her eyes. Those gorgeous green things would be the death of him yet. He started to speak when her lips met his, and Sid forgot all about telling her.
A half hour later Sid lay on his bed half asleep with Aspen lying on his chest. If he could distract her like that every time she asked questions, he might never have to tell her the truth.
Aspen’s phone buzzed, and she looked at the screen. She scrolled through a text, sent something back, and scrambled off him.
“Let’s go.”
Twenty minutes later they stopped at a small yellow house on the outskirts of town. Weeds grew in flowerbeds, and yellow dandelions dotted the overgrown yard. Ella flung the door open before Aspen even knocked. “I knew you’d come. Sid’s gonna love this. I’ve got a few phone calls to make. You’ll be okay?”
“We’ll be fine. How’s the mother?” Aspen asked.
“Recovering. Don’t approach her. She’s grumpy.”
Aspen laughed. “Okay, do you need me to take one home?”
“No, I don’t think your mom has forgiven me for the last time. They’ll be fine here.”
Aspen grabbed Sid’s hand and dragged him through the living room and into the kitchen. The linoleum had holes in it, and the tiny table in the corner had a phonebook under one leg to keep it balanced. A few dishes sat in the sink.
They headed down a flight of stairs to the basement, although the basement looked more like a hospital. It was brightly lit with sterile white walls and stainless steel tables. Two large cages took up the back half of the space. In one there was a giant grizzly bear with bandages around her head. Two small cubs fought over an odd looking toy in the other cage. Aspen opened the second cage, scooped up one of the cubs, and thrust him into Sid’s arms. She gathered up the other cub and walked out. Sid followed, the bear squirming in his arms and gnawing on his hands.
Calm down, little one. I won’t hurt you, Sid said.
The cub immediately stopped moving. I’m sorry, Master Dragon. I didn’t recognize you.
No worries. What’s your name?
I’m Black and my sister is Berry. My mother is Oakley. What’s your name?
I am Obsidian.
His eyes widened. The new dragon king?
Yes, I’m surprised news has spread that quickly.
The birds, they tell everyone. What are you doing like this?
You mean as a human?
Yeah, humans are gross. Why would you want to be one of them?
It is something all royal dragons must do. We need to learn to maintain communication with them. Very few humans know we can do this.
Oh, he seemed disappointed. He probably imagined a much grander reason.
“Sid, is your bear okay?” Aspen asked.
Sid looked up at her, surprised. He had gotten so wrapped up in his conversation he forgot she was there. “Yes,” he said and put Black down. He scampered over to his mother’s cage.
“It was just strange. He wasn’t moving.”
She sat on the floor with Berry cradled in her lap. The bear was sucking vigorously on a bottle. “There’s another bottle on the table. You can feed the other cub.”
Sid was reaching for the bottle when Black spoke up. Mama says I’m not allowed to be fed by you. She said it would be a disgrace for a dragon to have to feed a bear. I’ll wait for the girl.
You have to prove to her that you won’t. She expects me to feed you.
And you, the dragon king, answer to her?
He laughed. Yes, I do.
He walked over to Black, picked him up, and settled next to Aspen. Obedient to his mother’s instructions, Black refused the bottle. “He won’t take it from me. Maybe you should try.”
“Huh, that seems weird. I wonder if there is something wrong with him.”
Black told Berry who Sid was, and she trembled when Aspen handed her to him. Your brother told me you were Berry.
Yes.
And how did you end up down here?
I don’t know. A car I think.
You don’t have to be afraid of me.
I know, but I’ve never met a dragon before, and you are the king. I can’t wait to tell everyone I met you.
They played with the cubs for a while. Before they left, Sid approached the mother. He knelt in front of her cage. She shook with anxiety at meeting him.
You have very brave children.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Be nice to the humans who are taking care of you. They’ll get you patched up and home before you know it.
Yes, Your Majesty.
“How did you get involved with the bears?” Sid asked Aspen on the way home.
“Has Ella ever told you her story?”
“Nope.”
“Do you even know how old she is?”
“Nope, but I don’t see what this has to do with bears.”
“She’s thirty-two.”
“No way.”
“Yeah, she doesn’t look her age at all. Anyway, she ran off to California when she turned eighteen and went a little crazy. A few years later she met a guy named Jeremy. Then her parents died, and so she came home, but not before making a detour to Vegas and getting married. She took over the coffee shop, and Jeremy always had a thing for bears, so he started a sanctuary.
“I went to the sanctuary for a school field trip in seventh grade. I already had a penchant for danger, so instead of getting back on the bus, I hid in the nursery. Jeremy found me there and let me help him feed the bears. I was hooked. For a few years, I spent three nights a week with the bears.
“That’s how Ella and I became friends. Jeremy ran the sanctuary for seven years. Ella doesn’t have much to do with it anymore. She sold it three years ago, but she’ll take in cubs for short-term holding. That mama bear and babies will be back in the woods in a few weeks.”
The story spun in his head. Ella was married? “What happened to Jeremy?”
“He died.”
“How?”
“One of his bears attacked him. He was alone and never stood a chance. When Ella first came home, they named the coffee shop ‘The Grizzly Bear.’ But when Jeremy died, she and I remodeled the place and renamed it. It was very therapeutic for her. The night after we reopened the shop, the new sanctuary owners called and asked her to take in some cubs. I was shocked when she said yes. She doesn’t blame the bear for what happened. Jeremy knew he was taking a risk.”
And Theo was just playing with her. They would have a serious talk about Ella later.
They picked up a pizza and took it to Sid’s house. Aspen thought his movie education was lacking, and she had every intention of educating him on the merits of blowing things up.
“I’ll see your two days of dishes and raise you a week’s worth of vacuuming.” Rowan laid the homemade chips down and gave his dad an evil glare. Aspen and her mom had already folded, and Sid, having no earthly idea what his was doing, looked at his cards. Two queens, two kings, and an ace. He knew that was enough to win this hand, but he wasn’t sure if this was a hand he wanted to win or not.
Theo taught him how to play poker, but Aspen’s family played for monthly chores. And Aspen’s mom, foreseeing the possibility that everyone would try to lose, instituted a rule that you had to have a least thirty chips in your possession at all times. If you went below thirty, the rest of the family could give you any chips they wanted. And the dreaded bathroom duty chips were the first thrown at the poor sucker who went under thirty chips. Sid knew if bathroom chips were in play, everyone folded. But aside from that, he could never tell if he wanted to win or lose. You only ever wanted to win when
the “good” chores were in play.
After Aspen’s dad threw in another week of vacuuming, Sid matched with a dusting, since according to Aspen, they were equivalent. Sid won.
Aspen’s parents had been a little apprehensive about letting him play with them tonight. Family game night was a sacred tradition every Tuesday. No one missed family game night for anything. Sometimes friends joined in, except on the last Tuesday of the month. That was the night they played for the next month’s chores. Sid spent a good thirty minutes convincing Stacey that he wanted to help with the chores.
“But what about your own house. Surely you’ve got responsibilities there.”
“No, we have a housekeeper who does everything. I’ve never done dishes before or vacuumed. I want to learn how. Seriously.” And cross a few more tasks off his Human Experience list.
Rowan sat in the chair next to him and popped a few pretzels in his mouth. “Your boyfriend is mental, Aspen.”
“I know, but that just means he’ll be spending more time around here.” She kissed him on the cheek.
“Oh, gag. Mom, I don’t want to see this all night.”
Aspen’s mom grinned. “I think it’s sweet. I was beginning to think Aspen wasn’t ever going to date. What about you? When are you going to bring a girl home? Honestly, you two are seniors in high school, and this is the first time we’ve ever had a boyfriend or girlfriend over. By the time Sissy was your age she’d had several.”
“I’m not Sissy,” Rowan and Aspen said at the same time. Aspen explained that her older sister was the perfect child who could do no wrong. She was only eleven months older than the twins, but had graduated a full year early from school and was now on a full scholarship to a university in Hawaii.
Jason, sat next to her mom. “You have a single housekeeper? I would think in a place like that you’d have to have team.”
“We don’t keep the whole thing open. We only use about a quarter of the house. There are rooms I’ve never been in.”
Aspen started dividing chips. “It’s a cool house though, Sid. Do you mind if I bring my family over to see it sometime? The house is somewhat of a legend in Gardiner.”
Obsidian (The Dragon Kings) Page 13