by Sariah Skye
Daniel shot me an empathetic smile. "Oh, hon…stretch them out," he instructed. I lifted the wings up a couple inches, feeling listless and blah. "No not like that. Like a bird. An eagle. Be a proud, winged bitch!"
I snorted. "Okay," I agreed reluctantly, and I raised my wings up parallel with the sofa and stretched them out as far as I could go. The stretch felt nice as it did before and I involuntarily stretched my arms out over my head and back down, with a sleepy yawn as I did.
Daniel helped position the wings half over me, half over the couch so that I took up three quarters of it, and assisted me in leaning back, the wings still stretched out to the side but I allowed them to fall, and drape over the couch.
Daniel stood back, crossing his arms in front of him. "They really are quite stunning, you look positively majestic," he gushed, folding his tall body into the chair nearby. "If only I was straight…" he clicked his tongue and reached over to smack me in the arm, playfully.
I snickered, rubbing the drowsiness out of my face with my hands and letting out a whiny moan. "I don’t feel anything close to majestic, that’s for sure."
Daniel grinned. "Give it time, give it time. This is all…new for all of us."
I peeked through a separation in my fingers at him. "Well…at least you always knew who you were. Up until a couple weeks ago I was just a freaky mythological beast serving coffee and listening to my co-workers' squeal about their Homecoming plans and helping Kit run the coffeehouse." I exhaled deeply, allowing my hands to fall listlessly into my lap. "Now somehow I’m this wild magic creature with magic no one knows about, possibly spelled, possibly a hybrid of god knows what and somehow I’m supposed to do…’something great.’ Ha! How am I supposed to do that?"
Daniel let out a wild laugh. "Trust me, I didn't always know who I was. I was the first born—by thirteen minutes but, still. I was supposed to get the sorcerer powers. I was groomed for it from the time I was little. The attention overshadowed my poor brother. Then when he got his mark…" he chortled shortly, his eyes distant as he recalled a faraway memory. "Everyone was shocked. But mostly—me. I had my first vision slightly after." He shuddered, remembering something terrible. "It was the worst thing I ever saw. Planes flying into buildings…they thought I was crazy."
I frowned somberly. "World Trade Center attack?"
He glanced at me with sadness, his lower lip trembling. "It was a lot for someone so young to witness. And, I saw it all. All. Not how it happened, but that it happened. I was alone with Gabe at the time and he freaked out; called an ambulance and everything. He described it to the paramedics and they said they thought I had a grand mal seizure from the description of what Gabe said. Scary stuff. When I came to, my brother was sobbing and hyperventilating. They had to sedate him; he was so worked up. He thought he was going to lose me."
"Poor thing." I could sense the guilt and sadness in the room, radiating off of Daniel. "It wasn't your fault, though."
"It wasn't but still…I felt awful. Especially after the doctors ran their tests, and found nothing." Daniel sighed, folding his hands in his lap and shaking his head. "Our dad was pissed but, our uncle—Christopher—knew what happened. Thank god. A seer hadn't been born in years, but, there was a chance I was one. It was awhile before I had another vision but when I did—this time it was much smaller—I knew it was true."
I lifted a brow. "What was your next vision of?"
He chuckled lightly. "It was a little pink dragon at the edge of a field, crying. A group of dragons in the slight distance laughing. You were joined by a green dragon. You didn't want to talk to him but he just sat there, nearby, keeping his distance."
My face fell. I remember that day. "That was, I think, the first day I came back after Lorusto tried to toast me. No one wanted me to be there of course," I said, with a sigh. "But—I don't remember any green dragon being there."
Daniel gave me a look of confusion. "Are you sure?"
I nodded. "No one ever wanted to be around me."
"I see." Daniel turned away. "Well that's besides the point. We figured out I was a seer; Gabriel got his powers. And then I came out of the closet."
I gazed at him questioningly. "Closet?" Literally, I was picturing him in a closet in a bedroom, bursting out the door with his flair like usual.
"Yes, it's how we refer to people when they realize they are gay, and tell everyone else," Daniel replied. "As you know it's still sort of…frowned upon here."
I grumbled. "Stupid."
He grinned. "I agree. Obviously. You'd think people that believed in sorcery would be open minded. Hell no!"
"Your dad?"
"And uncle, yes. In fact, that's how we ended up in Canada," he groaned, scrubbing a palm down his face. "I was so stupid. I was madly in love with this guy—Jeremy. And since the rest of our family was being assholes; I followed Jeremy to Canada so we could get married. I was eighteen."
"Guessing that didn’t up well," I mused, sarcastically.
Daniel let out a howl. "Oh no. But, Gabriel was there for me. Dad was pissed when we left the Cities. He didn't talk to us—well me—for about a year. He was really pissed though, about my being gay; not about us leaving."
"Family drama?" I could relate.
"So much," he said, with a dramatic flourish and roll of his eyes. "Well, college was cheaper there anyhow so we rented an apartment after Jeremy bailed and stayed. Gabriel went to school for computer technology and graphic design; I went to be a personal trainer. The rest is history. Our father took about two years to warm up to the idea of having a son-in-law someday. But at this rate, he won't have to worry about it," he said, with a laugh. "Not so much luck with the fellas."
I laughed. "I relate to that too!"
He let out a groan. "Ugh, even my gay friends—I didn't have anything in common with them. They all wanted to dress up, be in drag. Now, I love looking fabulous but—" he motioned to himself, "—I look great as is; drag isn't for me. I'm perfectly happy being a gay male. I love looking like a typical male, and being one. My other friends…not so much. They thought I was weird because I didn't enjoy doing drag."
"Why is that weird?" I questioned.
He gave me a knowing look. "Because, there is a stereotype. Gay men like to wear dresses and makeup and be feminine. Everyone knows that, right?"
I gave him a strange glare. "I don't get it."
He chuckled. "You wouldn't but I imagine it's a lot like you—people thinking you should be one way, when you're not."
I sucked in a breath. "Yeah…I guess so."
"Yep. I mean I tried the drag thing. It was awful. I mean, I rocked it but while it was fun once or twice, it wasn't for me. I liked my motorcycle better. And a little bit of leather," he added with a playful wink.
"Scandalous!"
"Mmm-hmmm. I did this act to Def Leppard's 'Pour Some Sugar on Me.' Girl, it was fabulous! I had a pop I shook up and sprayed all over myself. It was hot! So many men chasing me after that!"
"That's good, right?" I groaned, adjusting my wings behind me again. They were definitely getting in the way.
"Yes, but they just wanted me for kink stuff. Because they thought that's what I'd be into." He sighed. "I had to reinvent myself. I had to change peoples' idea of me. I had to reinvent what it meant to be a gay male. At least what it meant for me.
"Honey, you're in the exact same position. You have to re-invent what it means to be pink. People won't like it; you're taking away their comfort. Disturbing what they think they know, because the idea was popular. People thought I was a traitor because I didn't like drag. I wasn't really gay enough." He scoffed.
"That's ridiculous!" I exclaimed.
"Of course it is, but you have to do the same thing. Redefine yourself. Redefine what it means to be pink. You're strong, and smart, and caring. You're beautiful and have a heart of gold. I know this. And before long, when you just practice being yourself, you're redefining yourself to the world. You are not Cyril the Mad. You are Leorah the I
nspiring!"
I gave a hesitant smile. "I'm not sure I can," I said.
"I know you can," he smiled knowingly, reaching over and clutching my hand with a squeeze. "It will be okay."
"You know this for sure?" I raised my eyes at him, hoping for some sort of insight.
He shrugged with indifference. "I think it will…that’s all I can say."
I smiled warmly at him before the guilt welled up again once more. "Ugggh…and I dragged all of you down with me. You know what would happen if the Court caught you with me? Even though you’re human?" I shuddered.
"Let me guess…we’d be tasty with ketchup?" he jibed but I shot him a serious look and he stopped smiling. "You’re…not kidding."
I shook my head. "Nope. Probably the worst out of all of us—Maxxus." I slapped my hands against my face again, leaning over my lap and crying out in frustration. "He has no pull in the Court, nothing to barter with. The way they’d punish him is…unthinkable. And for what?"
"I’m sure he has his reasons," he said, absently.
I looked up. "You’ve spent some time with him. What do you think?"
He smiled playfully. "Well he’s gorgeous for starters!"
I smirked. "Yeah…I suppose so. Any…interest there?" At least if there was some sort of interest…something there, at least perhaps he could gain something from defecting from his entire life. I wiggled my eyebrows hintingly at him though, for some reason as soon as I said it I instantly regretted it.
Daniel guffawed. "Um…not so much. He’s as straight as a ruler."
"Figured." I frowned again. "I know he is close with Grandfather but…it still doesn’t seem like a good enough reason to leave everything behind."
Daniel shrugged again. "Maxxus is definitely a man—a dragon—with secrets, that’s for sure. Secrets I can’t even figure out. The entire time we were eating he just…ate. He barely spoke, but some small talk he was clearly very awkward with. Good looking company, but not the best conversationalist."
"Really? I always had no problem talking to him, he was always pleasant when I’d see him across the portal?"
There was a glint in Daniel’s blue eye; one of mischievousness. "Have you ever thought of him…like that?"
"Who? Maxxus?" I snorted. "I barely know him. The most I saw of him before he took his position as a guard at the portal in Green Knoll—that's the dragon side—was maybe once in passing when he was accompanying my grandfather for…whatever it was they were doing. That is it."
"Doesn’t take long, though, does it? I mean…look how long you’ve known my brother," he pointed out.
I bit my lip, feeling the telltale flush in my cheeks. "Yeah…I suppose you’re right. What are you getting at with this, anyway?"
"I don’t know…" he said with a smirk. The lock clicked then and the doorknob turned. "Look who it is!"
Gabriel glanced at him briefly and rolled his eyes. "I don’t even want to know. What kind of shit is this guy feeding you?" he questioned me.
"Oh, all the good stuff!" Daniel kidded. "Like, about the time you were at the pool and your shorts fell down, and—"
Gabriel shushed him. "Enough!" I couldn’t help but laugh at their brotherly repartee and smiled, but feeling suddenly wistful I looked away, thinking of my own brother.
"What is it?" Gabriel asked, awash with concern.
I waved him off. "Oh, nothing. Just…the day is getting to me."
Daniel checked a chunky black wristwatch on his left arm. "It is getting a bit late. Sun should be setting very, very soon."
"We should figure out what we’re going to eat," Gabriel said, clutching his stomach as it rumbled audibly.
I patted my lap for my cell phone and reached under the robes and pulled it out of my pocket, tapping on it a message for Kiarra.
"Calling for Chinese?" Daniel kidded. "Oh…that sounds good. You don’t suppose they have a Chinese restaurant here?"
Gabriel chuckled. "Maybe in Duluth. Besides, you don't eat that stuff."
Daniel puffed out his lower lip. "True. I suppose that’s off limits, anyway, huh? Going to Duluth?"
I exchanged a look with Gabriel and we shrugged. "I don’t know, actually."
My phone chimed again, indicating a response from Kiarra, hopefully instructing me on a good place to eat.
Don’t worry about it. I will fix dinner. I have a ton of food from today’s market and I need an excuse to cook.
I smiled. That sounds good. Given that we’re stuck with each other…might be nice to have some fun!
Indeed. She explained how to get to her home in her next message and I agreed we’d meet her in about thirty minutes. I forwarded the message along to Maxxus, but after ten minutes and more my message went unnoticed or he just didn’t reply.
"Did Maxxus seem okay to you, after this morning, Daniel?" I inquired, interrupting a bout of brotherly snickering and banter between the twins as I was on the phone.
"How would I know differently? He seemed okay if not all that chatty, at least," he replied.
"Hmm…" I trailed off, attempting another text message again to him again.
"What’s up?" Gabriel questioned, trying to peek over my shoulder.
I shot him a dirty look over my shoulder and clutched my phone to my chest. "If you must know, I’m trying to send a message to Maxxus, to see if he wants to join us—all of us—for dinner at Kiarra’s."
Gabriel fought a scowl, unsuccessfully. "You know, you are not responsible for the choice he made, right? I know the guilt you have is—"
Abruptly I was on my feet, getting right in his face. "Excuse me? Guilt? You think this is about guilt?"
"Gabe…" Daniel was behind his brother in an instant, trying to pull him away from me.
He pulled out of his brother’s grasp. "No!"
I felt the anger swell inside my chest. "This has nothing to do with guilt, Gabriel. It has everything to do with Maxxus being my friend. Period. I knew him before you. Is that a problem, Knight? That I have another friend that’s a male? Is that what this is all about?"
"When the male could be a goddamned runway model, yes!"
Daniel let out a low-whistle. "Low blow, dude. Low blow…"
I smirked and nodded knowingly. "I see what this is all about. It’s about your insecurity. Well, dude…if you cannot handle that I have a male friend—a good looking male friend—and you’re this jealous right off the bat…I do not think we can continue!" I shot daggers from my eyes at him. He looked sheepish, now with a smug grin on his face as he looked away, as I made him nervous with my stare. I raised my hand abruptly as if to slap him in the face—which I had the urge to do. Before I could land the blow, he winced and clutched his cheek, stumbling off to the side.
"What the—" he said, rubbing his jaw. Daniel had caught him before he tumbled over.
I gasped in horror, looking at my hand which remained in its raised position and had been nowhere near Gabriel’s face.
"Bro…I think it’s best not to piss of the dragon…" Daniel said in a sing-song voice in Gabriel’s ear.
My hands fell and I was quickly at Gabriel’s side; the rage I had felt quelled by the sudden remorse I had after apparently mind slapping him. I looked at him apologetically and I tried to reach out to him, to touch his reddened cheek but he pulled away.
I stepped back, feeling emotionally wounded.
"I don’t think she meant—" Daniel began, giving me a look of sympathy. Gabriel just stood up, shot another angry look at me and stormed out of the room into the bedroom, where he slammed the door.
My lower lip trembled. "I…I didn’t mean to—" I began, my voice wavering.
Without hesitation, Daniel wrapped his long arms around me—wings and all—and pulled me close. "I know you didn’t, Dear. It’s been…overwhelming for all of us, I think."
I nodded against his strong chest, involuntarily sniffing into his t-shirt.
"I haven’t been around dragons much but I know it’s not a good idea to make on
e angry," he said, stroking my hair over my wings which lay flat against my back.
I shook my head no.
"And…my brother is a huge dick for saying what he said about Maxxus. And trust me, I know a thing or two about huge dicks," he said, with a chuckle. I snorted at his quip briefly and continued to allow him to hold me. It was comforting, like Gabriel but there was no confusion involved about love or friendship; he was just…strength. A pillar of sanity in my crazy life. No question about it, Daniel was a friend, and confidante.
"And you," he said, pointedly yelling out the insult part for emphasis in hopes his brother would overhear him. "He is insecure, most definitely. After being picked on and tormented…"
I sniffled. "I know…"
"The way you jumped up to save him without hesitation really threw him for a loop," Daniel said.
I pulled away momentarily and stared up at him and his familiar features but somehow still different. "If it had been him—"
"—or any one of us, I know. You would have done the same thing. Or…anyone really. What you did for those boys…it was heroic. I can tell you care about Maxxus, too and that's a little intimidating for my brother," Daniel said, placing his hands on either cheek and looking me square in the face. "I can’t imagine being in your position, right now." He leaned down and placed a brotherly, comforting peck on my cheek. "And I’m sorry for the way my brother acted."
I nodded, pressing my fingers to my eyes in hopes of stopping the tears from pricking them.
He patted my shoulder. "Now…go head over to Kiarra’s. I’ll drag the jackass over in a few, after I smack him around a bit," he kidded.
"Okay," I agreed. I left the comfort of my friend and headed towards Kiarra's.
I smelled it before I even saw it; all the delicious smells wafting through the small "neighborhood" that was home to a handful of mythological beings. Kiarra’s home was not what I expected. The majority of houses along the way appeared like they were either 100 years old or more, or were little more than huts with straw roofs. So I was surprised when I arrived at a red-scalloped trimmed, white cottage-style house with a red front door and a "Welcome!" mat before it. I almost wasn’t sure if I was in the right place—it was such a far cry from the sterile, cold homes dragons generally lived in, but when she emerged from the door, all smiles, I sort of figured that it was.