“Thanks,” she said, locking her dressing room door behind her as they began to walk. She was still in her stage makeup, and he could see the weariness in her face. Alexander was looking forward to a nice, relaxing night. Peter seemed at least quieter and less self-destructive than he was twenty-four hours ago. Alexander even had plans for a romantic evening, and he was about to ask Ariel what she thought when she suddenly she stopped dead on the sidewalk.
“Darling?” he asked. She was staring straight ahead across the sidewalk. In front of their hotel was the very man she had seen in the lobby earlier today.
“There,” she said, trying not to be obvious. “Is that not a dragon?”
Both of the boys looked across the street, and Peter turned pale.
“You're not crazy,” Alexander said, looking closer.
“If I'm not crazy, why do you two look so stunned?”
“Because that is a dragon,” Alexander finally managed. “His name it Otto.”
“Good?” Ariel replied, but Alexander wasn't done speaking.
“He's dead,” Alexander finished. “Otto has been dead for two years. I personally saw him vanish into the Other. He worked in the palace as my father's aide-de-camp.”
“He was with me,” Peter said. “In the Other.”
“Didn't you just get finished telling me that Peter coming back was some sort of miracle?” Ariel asked. “How are there two of them now?”
“Three,” Peter said, and both their heads swiveled towards his pointing hand.
Wandering down the street looking confused was what Ariel recognized as a female dragon. Her neck was longer, her eyes the telltale yellow, and she looked recently changed.
“Do you recognize that one, too?” she asked her husband, who slipped an arm around her.
“No,” he said. “But I'll hazard a guess to say that you can feel the Other magic off her, too.”
Ariel closed her eyes for a moment. “I think so. It's not an exact science, you know.”
“We have to get inside the hotel,” Alexander said. “Did you see a back entrance?”
“Probably that way,” Ariel pointed along a side street. “Why are there so many here?”
Alexander glanced to Peter who raised his head a bit.
“Because they are gravitating towards their king,” he said. “It's built into them. It's how we control our subjects a bit easier than human monarchs. It's built into their magic to rely on us, to seek us out when lost.”
“So much for free will,” Ariel said. “Come with me.”
“I'm not going to ask how you know how to get into a hotel the back way,” Peter said, speaking up as she snuck them around the worker's entrance. “No doubt questionable motives.”
She glared at him. “People recognize me for my work, jerk,” she said. His brow only furrowed because the word didn't translate. “Why are we running, by the way?”
“Less questions, more hiding,” Alexander said, and her heart skipped a beat.
“I've never known you to be afraid.”
“I'm not afraid,” he answered. “I'm confused, and we need to figure this out before they get to Peter.”
Peter snorted.
“Are you afraid they will drag me back to the Other?” he asked, as the elevator door opened, and they were able to let themselves into their suite.
“That would be difficult here on Earth with a carapace,” Alexander answered. “So good luck to you, brother. What I want to know is why are there dragons – dragons whom I know died – suddenly wandering the streets?”
“Maybe the Other failed,” Ariel sank onto the bed. “Maybe it needs to be rebooted.”
She said it in English, and it drove Alexander crazy that she could switch languages so fast. He translated as best he could, looking to his brother.
“You have no idea why you are back, do you?” he asked.
Peter remained silent, and Alexander repeated the question.
“Peter. Were you pulled back?” he asked. “Did you want to be there?”
“You know that I wanted to be there,” Peter replied. “You know that I'd prefer to be there rather than anywhere else.”
“So you didn't have a choice,” Alexander said. “You didn't possibly have a part of yourself that wanted to be back, with us? With me?”
Peter remained silent, and Alexander ran a hand over his face.
“What are the reasons that the Other could fail?” he asked.
Peter shifted, glaring at Ariel. “Isn't that obvious?”
“One carapace cannot pull down the magic of the Other,” he scoffed.
“What makes you think she's the only one?” Peter said.
“Because Father took care of the rest.”
“Sorry, your Father did what?” Ariel asked, raising an eyebrow. Peter smirked.
“For being married as long as you two have, you'd think you know everything about each other. Our father ordered the slaughter of all carapaces because he was afraid.”
“It's not like that,” Alexander quickly turned to her. “There were a few who were dangerous, who were using their power for the wrong reasons.”
“And slaughtering them wasn't using your power for the wrong reasons?” she said. “Look, Alexander, you know I don't judge you, and I certainty don't judge what your family does. That's not your fault. You've been good to me. But is it possible that's why I'm a screwed up foster kid?”
“It's possible,” he admitted, and she got up, shaking her head.
“Whatever,” she was clearly not alright with the history that was being presented to her. He could see the emotion brewing under her skin. “So, if you're blaming carapaces, Peter,” she said, “are you thinking they missed a few? Because I’m still here?”
“I'm thinking,” he answered, “that unless my memory serves me incorrectly, it's been thirty years since the slaughter of the carapaces was ordered. An anniversary is a perfect time to get revenge. If you were missed, how many others were missed?”
“What is the big deal, anyway?” she asked. “So the wall between living and dead falls? Shouldn't you rejoice that all your dead friends are back? Your father would be back, wouldn't he? That should delight you.”
“Except that means everyone is,” Alexander said. “Including the ones who were executed for their evil intentions. Every magical creature when they die goes to the Other. Hundreds of years of history.”
“Why would they be here?” she asked.
“They can be anywhere,” Alexander shrugged. “If Peter got his magic back, then anyone could have.”
“This is ridiculously dramatic,” she buried her head in her hands. “I'm going to get some air.”
“Ariel,” Alexander reached out for her. “Now is not the best–”
“Do not give me orders,” she snapped at him, with more anger than he expected. She charged out of the room, leaving the boys in silence.
“Thank you,” Alexander said angrily to Peter, who simply raised an eyebrow.
“How have you kept all of that from her?”
“Because Ariel doesn't care,” Alexander replied. “She has never judged my history, my quirks, my position in life. The marriage that we have is not based on love.”
“But it is based on trust,” Peter replied. “And even if you did not marry for love, you cannot be married so long and not come to care about each other. We see it all the time in nobly arranged marriages. Our parents were married out of an arrangement, and look how father wept when mother died.”
“And because of that, you must make sure she knows everything?” Alexander snapped at him. “She already wants to divorce me, Peter. I don't need any help.”
“Why does she want to divorce you? A very human notion, by the way.”
“Because marriage doesn't fit her style?” Alexander asked. He laughed.
“A wonderful queen you've damned us to,” he said. “You're addicted to her.”
“I'm not,” he said, and Peter shook his head.
“You don't eat, Alexander. You don't like being a dragon any more than I do. I chose to give up my life, but you've found other coping methods. Tell me the truth. Without her at your side to help you through your rule, your life, what would you do? Would you do exactly the same as I did?”
“I don't know,” Alexander sighed, his shoulders sinking. “I don't know.”
“Well, that's good,” Peter answered. “I'm glad I left you in charge then.”
“You didn't leave me in charge,” Alexander answered. “I had no choice, I had to take up the throne.”
“You could have dodged,” Peter said. “Started a new life with your human lady love here. The husband of a dancer sounds significantly less stressful than a king.”
“Just stop talking,” Alexander said. “Every time you talk, you cause more trouble.”
“So, what would you like me to do?” Peter asked. “I'm your prisoner here. You are blocking the majority of my magic.”
“You have enough magic to call Nicholas,” Alexander replied. “So perhaps you can call and tell him the world is ending?”
“I'll use those exact words,” Peter replied. “But we should get back, don't you think?”
“We get back and you'll kill yourself,” Alexander said. “It's not that easy.”
“So, I am your prisoner,” Peter grinned, knowing he was driving Alexander crazy.
“Is it a crime that I want to keep my older brother alive?” his voice practically broken. “Is it?”
Peter fell silent, and Alexander turned to the window, wanting to get away from Peter at that moment. Looking out onto the street, he watched the people go by.
Everyone seemed so calm, walking by, talking on their cell phones, laughing. It was a simpler life and a simpler world. They only had one form and one state of mind to worry about. They didn't have to transform; they didn't have to eat like carnivorous animals. They didn't have to deal with yellow eyes, changing shapes, or ruling an entire planet.
Peter was right, although he could barely bring himself to admit it. If it weren't for Ariel, he wasn't sure that he would have made it through. It had been a hard few years, that was for sure. Her calming touch. Her relaxing gaze. If she wanted to be out of his life, he wasn't sure what he would do. He needed her; he wanted her. It sure sounded like being in love when he thought about it. But love was for the stupid; love was for fools, for those who were weak. Nobles married for status, for advantage, and she was his social climb, at least in his head.
But perhaps, it was more than that.
Chapter 7
Ariel had chosen to go for a walk. She didn't know the area well, but she had been here before, so she knew it well enough to head towards downtown. They were only a few streets away, and she wanted to at least find a Starbucks. Although she liked to party, she didn't usually do it on show nights. She wasn't old by the world's standards, but her age was coming into question among other dancers. Dancers had a very short career lifespan, and she had no doubt that she would eventually have to find another career.
She had thought that the other part of her life was going to end in luxury, being queen. But now, she had no idea.
Ordering the largest, most complicated drink that she could, she handed over an obscene amount of money for it. She didn't really care if they charged her a thousand dollars at this point. She just wanted caffeine and sugar and her world to stop spinning. She was looking forward to sitting at the table and losing herself in mindless phone reading for awhile.
So, she wasn't too happy when someone tapped her on the shoulder.
“Excuse me, Miss?”
“I'm not signing autographs right now,” she didn't even look up. This sometimes happened when she wasn't far from the theater. People who had just seen the show often thought that they could interrupt what she was doing.
“Not even for very special friends?”
“Not for anyone,” she was one step away from yelling. She desperately wanted to watch some mindless YouTube videos, perhaps something about people running into tables or chairs – something to make her laugh.
“Not even for family?”
“What the actual fuck,” she looked up and her heart nearly stopped. Standing across from her was a boy about her age, with strikingly similar features to her. There was the flaming red hair and piercing green eyes that she saw strain back at her in the mirror every day. Even the build was the same: tall and slim, with a few freckles across the nose.
“Are you sure?” the boy quirked a smile, and she saw the same twist of the smile that she had.
“Who the hell are you?” she asked, tensing.
“I'm your cousin,” he replied.
She grabbed her stuff, jumping up.
“Get the hell away from me,” she said. Her hand was clenched her coffee tightly, and she grabbed her purse, heading back to the sidewalk. To her dismay, the boy followed her. “Are you deaf or something? Get away from me.”
“So quick to distrust,” he said. “Your eyes don't deceive you though.”
“So, we look similar. That doesn't mean anything,” she said.
He smirked. “You want to go find a dragon, and I'll show you that we can do the same thing?”
“All the carapaces are dead,” Ariel replied, “as I just found out.”
“That part is true,” the boy said. “Officially, most of them are dead. But there are a few, like you, who survived for various reasons.”
“I survived because I'm strong,” Ariel said. “The carapaces abandoned me. I don't know why the hell they did, but they did. And I'm alive now because it was the dragons – not the carapaces – who looked out for me.”
“Is that what you think?” the boy said. “You didn't stop to consider that the carapaces saved you by hiding you away?”
“Hiding me? Abandoning me on a door step, you mean?”
“Oh, no,” the boy said. “You, Ariel, you were special. You were hidden away because you were our last and best hope. The rest of us ran. We hid. Some of us survived. But we had to make sure the dragons didn't know anything about your survival, because you would be the greatest threat in the world to them.”
“News flash: the dragons know about me,” she said. “And they are reasonably fond of me. Most days.”
“But they don't know who you are,” he said. Ariel growled, stepping towards the boy.
“Talk fast,” she said. “Otherwise, don't think the dragons haven't taught me to break your neck.”
“Whoa,” he put up his hands. “You really don't know how to deal with family, do you?”
“I don't like liars,” she said. “And I don't like people who ambush me. So, you better have an amazing reason for interrupting me. I don't care that my family ditched me, and I don't care whether they lived or died,” she said. “What is this secret that you can't help but tell me? And how do you know I won't run right back and tell Alexander?”
“You mean your husband?” he asked. “The man who basically handed you the keys to the kingdom? I can't wait for you to tell him.”
This boy knew everything, and it was scaring her. There were things that she had kept secret from his own brothers, like their marriage, and yet suddenly, this boy who looked like her knew things that he shouldn't.
“Tell him what?” she asked. “Talk fast, because I promise you he will come looking for me if I'm gone too long.”
“Protective much?” he asked.
“With everything going on, there's nothing weird about it,” she said. “He's here, and we're together, Talk fast or you'll probably get your face broken in.”
“Feisty,” he grinned. “It must be the red hair. You're a very special carapace. One would say you’re a crossbreed.”
“Of what?”
“Of two of the most powerful carapace families,” he replied. “The Campbells and the Reignas.”
“Carapaces don't intermarry between family lines,” she said. “I may not know much about them, but I know that. The families hate each ot
her. It's why they never got anything done, even though they had the great power to do so.”
“Well, they can now,” the boy said. “You were hidden because you were a love child of the heirs to the Campbell and Regina lines. They knew that it would make you incredibly powerful, and that the dragons would want you dead. But they didn't know that the dragons would want them all dead. And there's something odd about a slaughter like that that brings people together.”
“It's been thirty years!” Ariel protested.
“The numbers were few,” he said. “But now they are many. And so, it's time.”
“Time for what?”
“We've brought down the Other,” he said. “And so now we have back carapaces who had been gone quite awhile. Imagine what we can do next. We can bring down the whole kingdom. We can bring down the dragons.”
“You can't get up there without a dragon!” she said. “We don't have magic of our own.”
“But you have a dragon.” He raised his eyebrows. “You have a dragon who will do your bidding anytime. In fact, I do believe the word addicted is used to describe his relationship with you.”
Ariel moved forward, slamming her hand into his nose. She was fast, and he wasn't expecting it. He hollered out, his hands going to cover his face.
“Are you kidding me?” he asked. “We're family.”
“You're not my family,” she said. “Don't you dare come near me again.”
“Really?” he said. “You don't want to know your parents? Your parents who gave up everything to take care of you? You want to have no idea?”
She didn't answer, turning on her heel and storming away. Her mind was spinning. She couldn't think; she could barely breathe.
This was too much. In one evening, she had gone from not caring about her family to finding out they were dead, and then finding out they were alive and cared about her.
She couldn't even begin to think about what all of this meant. It felt like everyone in her life the past week had been lying to her. No one had been telling her the truth, for various reasons. She didn't know who to trust. She didn't know herself; she didn't know where she stood in the world right now.
Her cell phone rang, and she saw that it was Alexander, but she didn't answer it. She didn't know what to say to him. She didn't even know if she could go back and face him tonight.
Zarin Page 24