The Dragon Twins (Dark World: The Dragon Twins Book 1)

by Michelle Madow

  “I’m not a witch,” he said simply. “I thought you’d have already figured that out, since no witches—besides the chosen Gemini twins—have elemental magic.”

  “Then what are you?” I asked.

  He kept his eyes locked on mine, and said, “A dragon.”

  7

  Gemma

  I stared at him, speechless.

  Obviously I’d always known the story of my ancestors being gifted with dragon magic over a thousand years ago. And if dragon magic existed, then actual dragons had to exist, too.

  But that didn’t make it sound any less crazy.

  “A dragon,” I repeated, trying to get it through my head. “How?”

  “Yeah,” Mira chimed in. “Because you don’t look like a dragon. Thank God for that.”

  “I was born a dragon,” he said. “Same as my dad and sister.”

  Mira glanced at the stairs. “Lizzie’s asleep?” she asked.

  “Yep.”

  “And your father?” my mom asked.

  “Away on supernatural business.”

  “Hm.” She pressed her lips together, not looking pleased with his answers. Then she looked to Rosella and asked, “You’re a dragon, too?”

  “No,” she said. “I’m Ethan and Lizzie’s guardian. I’m from a peaceful place in India called the Haven, where many supernaturals live.”

  I sucked in a sharp, amazed breath. Because there was an entire place where supernaturals lived, assumedly undetected by the rest of the world.

  Incredible.

  “What sort of place?” Mira looked completely dumbstruck.

  “More on that later,” Rosella said. “Because when Ethan and his family journeyed to Earth from the dragon realm, I was assigned to look after them to help them assimilate to life here. That was seven years ago.”

  “Back up.” I stared at Ethan. “You’re from a different realm?”

  “What’s a realm?” Mira asked.

  “Another world connected magically to Earth,” I said, since I read about this all the time in fantasy novels. “Like the place they went in the Narnia series when they walked through the wardrobe.”

  “Correct.” Ethan nodded. “Although it’s far more difficult to journey to Ember than to Narnia.”

  “You mean Narnia exists?”

  “No.” He chuckled. “But like Rosella said, I’ve been here for seven years. I’ve read the books, too.”

  “Oh.” That was the last thing I’d expected him to say. “You read?”

  “Yes, I read.” His eyes sparkled with amusement.

  Mira looked back and forth between us and frowned. “The two of you can continue your little book club later,” she said, and she turned back to Ethan. “I thought dragons were big scaly monsters with wings.”

  “We can shift into ‘big scary monsters with wings,’” he said. “At least, my dad can.”

  “But you can’t?” I asked.

  “We’re only able to shift after our eighteenth birthday.”

  “But you turned eighteen last month,” Mira said.

  “The magic that grants us the ability to shift is unique to Ember,” he said. “We must be on Ember’s land the first time we shift. Once I return home—if I’m ever able to return home—then I’ll be able to shift.”

  “If you can’t prove it to us by shifting, how do we know anything you’re saying is true?” I asked.

  “Once my father returns, he’ll shift for you,” he said. “But like you saw in the cove, I have elemental magic.”

  “Fire magic.”

  “And air.” He glanced at Mira, then back at me. “Although fire’s my strongest element.”

  “Does this mean that Mira and I are dragons, too?”

  “You’re witches whose ancestors were gifted with dragon magic,” he said. “I thought you already knew that.”

  “That’s what we’ve always been told.” Mira sounded like she was in a trance.

  “But all we’ve known is that the chosen twins in the Gemini line would be blessed with elemental dragon magic,” I said. “We were never told anything about being able to shift into dragons.”

  “Because you won’t be able to shift into dragons,” he said. “You’re either born a dragon shifter, or not. The two of you aren’t shifters. You’re witches.”

  “So how come we’ve never been able to perform any spells or brew any potions?” I asked. “Because trust me, I’ve tried.”

  “I’m sure you have.” Ethan looked amused.

  Rosella set her silverware down on her plate, and we all looked to her. “The Gemini circle has extremely diluted witch magic,” she said. “In the eyes of most supernaturals, witches with such low levels of magic are considered basically human. It’s why the supernatural world has never sought you out. You didn’t register on our radar.”

  I bristled, not liking the idea of being viewed as powerless.

  Especially after what I’d done tonight.

  “I’m guessing it wasn’t a coincidence that you moved here,” I said. “You knew about us, and you did seek us out.”

  “We did.”

  “But how did you know to move here just in time for our ascension ceremony?”

  “Because I’m gifted with future sight,” Rosella said. “I knew to move here with Ethan and his family because I knew when—and had a general idea of where—you and your sister would receive your magic.”

  8

  Gemma

  “So you’re a witch,” I said.

  “A prophetess,” she corrected me. “And I’m here to help you.”

  “How? Shouldn’t we be getting help from Ethan? Or his dad? Or the other dragons living on Earth?”

  Excitement crawled over my skin at the thought of dragons living on Earth. And prophetesses, and griffins, and whatever else was out there.

  Werewolves? Fae? Vampires? Mermaids? I’d read books featuring all of those supernatural creatures. The possibilities were endless.

  “My dad, sister, and I are the only dragons living on Earth,” Ethan said sadly.

  “Where are the others?” I asked.

  “Back on Ember.”

  “You miss it there?” I couldn’t imagine what it must have been like to pick up with his family and leave his entire realm for a world where they were the only ones of their kind.

  His expression hardened. “There’s nothing to miss.”

  “What do you mean?” Mira asked.

  “Ember’s changed over the past few centuries. It’s no longer a safe place for my kind. Luckily, my family was gifted passage out of Ember—to help you. It’s my job to protect you.”

  Mira shifted in her seat, her eyes downcast. “What do you mean, it’s your job?” she asked.

  “It’s my duty to ensure the survival of the Gemini twins gifted with dragon magic. In Ember, we call you the Dragon Twins.”

  “So your people have heard of us?” I asked.

  “You and Mira are something of a legend there. We’ve been waiting for you to ascend into your magic for a long time.”

  “But we’re just witches with dragon magic. We can’t shift. Why would actual dragons care about us?”

  “Because you’re not just witches with dragon magic,” he said. “According to legend, one of you will eventually be gifted with power over the fifth element.”

  “What’s the fifth element?” I’d read a few fantasy books where the main character was gifted with the fifth element. In the most recent one I’d read, it was the ability to heal or kill with a touch.

  “I don’t know,” he said. “No dragon in history has ever had power over it. But it’s my job to protect you and help you learn how to use your magic. Then, once you’re strong enough, we’ll find out what the fifth element is and figure out how to use it for our benefit.”

  Mira sniffed and brushed a tear off her cheek.

  “What’s wrong?” Ethan’s voice was soft with concern.

  “This is why you dated me, isn’t it?” she asked. “Becaus
e it’s your job.”

  I could have sworn that guilt flashed over his eyes.

  But then he took Mira’s hands. “No,” he said. “Of course not.”

  “You mean it?”

  Of course he means it, I thought. Because he met me first. If his goal was to find us and date one of us, he would have stayed with me that first day in the cove.

  “Yes, I mean it,” he said, and Mira relaxed, seemingly accepting his answer.

  They both settled back into their seats, and all was well between them again.

  “As much as Mira shouldn’t have told you about the ceremony, I’m glad she did,” my mom said. “You saved our lives, and I’ll never be able to repay you for that.”

  “You owe me nothing,” he said. “It’s my duty to protect your daughters. You have my word that I’ll be here for them, always.”

  Warmth settled over me at the certainty of his words. Because despite how distant he’d been since that first day in the cove, I believed him.

  My mom nodded, sat straighter, and turned to Rosella. “Since you’re gifted with future sight, I assume you know why the griffin attacked us?”

  Rosella stared in Mom’s general direction with her cloudy eyes. “I don’t know much,” she said. “But I can tell you this—there’s someone out there who wants to get to your daughters before they’re able to access the fifth element.”

  “You mean they want us dead,” I said.

  Mira scooted closer to Ethan and held onto his arm, her face pale.

  “Perhaps,” Rosella said. “Or they might want to keep you alive so they can force you to use the fifth element to their advantage.”

  “As if we’d ever do that.”

  “There are forces out there far more powerful than you’ve yet to realize,” she said. “There’s no saying what they—or you—might do if they get ahold of you.”

  I swallowed at her ominous tone.

  What does she know that she isn’t telling us?

  “What sort of forces?” I asked instead.

  “Dark ones,” she said. “And they can track you whenever you use your magic. You won’t be safe until we learn how they’re doing it and stop them.”

  “Who’s ‘we?’”

  “The three of us,” Ethan said. “I can’t use my magic without leading them to us, either. Which means I want to figure out how we’re being tracked and put an end to it as badly as you do.”

  “But how are we supposed to ‘put an end to it’ if we can’t use our magic?” I shuddered as the image of the monstrous griffin flashed through my mind.

  If we hadn’t used our magic against it, we’d be dead.

  “We’ll use it when the time’s right,” he said. “Until then, you and Mira need to train so you’re ready when that time comes.”

  “But we can’t use our magic,” I said flatly. “So how are we supposed to train?”

  Rosella chuckled. “The Haven—the place where I usually live—is one of six supernatural kingdoms on Earth,” she said. “But like I said, it’s a peaceful kingdom. The witches there aren’t as skilled with using their magic for battle as those in the other kingdoms. Which means you must go to one of the other five kingdoms to train.”

  “But the person who’s after us will still be able to track us.”

  “The magical domes around the kingdoms should block them from doing so,” she said. “But not all of the kingdoms are welcoming. There are some you’ll want to avoid at all costs.”

  “Which ones?” Mom asked, as if she knew of these kingdoms.

  “That’s not for you to worry about. Because I’ve reached out to the queen of one of the safe kingdoms—Utopia. She’s agreed to take you in. All four of you.”

  “Wow.” I exhaled, unsure what else to say.

  “We can’t just pick up and leave,” Mira said in a rush. “This is our home. We have friends here. And what about school? And the café?”

  “You’re not safe here,” Ethan said. “We have to go.”

  Mira’s lower lip quivered. “But I don’t want to. I don’t want magic, either. And I don’t want these monsters tracking us.”

  “I know you don’t,” he said. “But this is your destiny.”

  The word sent shivers up my spine.

  “Well, I don’t want it.” She slid her chair back, stood up, and marched out of the room.

  Ethan hurried after her and blocked her path.

  “Move,” she commanded.

  “No.”

  She stepped to the side, but he mirrored her, blocking her again.

  “School doesn’t start up for another few weeks,” he said. “Come to Utopia. If you still feel this way after a few weeks of training, we’ll discuss other options.”

  “What kind of options?”

  “None that are good. But give Utopia a chance—for me. Can you do that?” He gazed down at her like he was trying to convince her just by looking at her.

  I held my breath, waiting.

  The others were silent, too.

  “Fine,” she said after a few long, tense seconds.

  He nodded, took her hand, and they re-joined us at the table.

  “What about her?” I glanced at Sasha, since we couldn’t just leave her here.

  “I’ve made arrangements for a witch to transport her to the Haven,” Rosella said. “The supernaturals there will help her adjust to the changes in her life.”

  She said it so simply—like Sasha was going through a career change instead of witnessing magic for the first time and watching a monster brutally kill her daughter and cousin. And thanks to the complacent potion, Sasha didn’t even twitch.

  “Lizzie will also come with me to the Haven,” Rosella added.

  Ethan’s expression hardened at the mention of his sister. “I trust you’ll keep her safe there,” he said.

  “I view Lizzie as my own daughter,” she said. “And the Haven is the safest place she can be.”

  He nodded, like he’d been prepared for this possibility. “And my dad?”

  “He plays an important role in this, too,” she said. “He’s unable to reach us right now—as usual when he’s away on supernatural business—but you’ll learn about that role in due time.”

  He pressed his lips together, but didn’t ask for more information. He must have been used to Rosella’s cryptic way of speaking.

  “So.” I bounced in my seat, trying to quell the adrenaline rushing through my veins. “When do we leave?”

  “Soon,” she said, and from there, she explained the basics of what to expect when we got to Utopia.

  9

  Gemma

  The next two days passed in a blur.

  Rosella convinced one of the witches from the Haven to watch the café while we were in Utopia. Her name was Shivani, and she was more than happy to take on the task.

  Every time we asked Shivani about the dark forces Rosella had been referring to, she shut down and said we’d learn more in Utopia. She was impossible to crack, so I eventually stopped trying, since we’d be in Utopia soon enough.

  Ethan had been camping out on the couch in our living room. He only left the house once, and that was to say goodbye to his sister before Rosella took her and Sasha to the Haven.

  Mira had asked him to stay in her room, but he’d refused. And he’d been as closed off as ever, especially when we asked him to tell us about Ember. So Mira hung out in the living room with him, watching mindless reality TV shows. I stayed in my room, trying—and failing—to focus on reading.

  What books would I bring with me to Utopia? I eventually settled on a few I’d already read and knew I loved, because it would be nice to have a sense of familiarity and comfort in such a strange, new place.

  The next morning, I waited in the living room with Mira, Mom, Ethan, and Shivani. Mira’s suitcase was the largest, but mine was the heaviest, thanks to the books. Everyone always told me to get a Kindle—Mom even bought me one for Christmas a few years ago—but I preferred holding an actual b
ook in my hand. Not like it would matter in Utopia, since they didn’t have the internet or cell service there.

  Mira stood next to Ethan, tapping furiously on her cell phone.

  “Who are you talking to?” I asked her.

  “Just replying to comments.” She didn’t look up from the screen. “I posted on Facebook that we were going on holiday to New Zealand and wouldn’t have cell service, and the post is blowing up.”

  I reached for my cell to check my messages. I’d texted my closest friends the same cover story, and had heard back from everyone—even Joey. Things were still shaky between us, but at least he’d started talking to me again over the past few weeks.

  I had one new message, from my closest friend, Jillian.

  Have fun in the mountains! Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do ;)

  I chuckled, and responded, Thanks! I’ll do my best.

  Then I unzipped the front pocket of my suitcase and placed the phone inside. Just because Utopia didn’t have internet didn’t mean I wasn’t going to bring my phone with me. I might not have been as attached to it as Mira, but I still couldn’t imagine leaving it behind.

  Suddenly, a ball of fire lit up in Shivani’s hand.

  Mira stopped typing mid-sentence and dropped her arm to her side.

  I stared hungrily at the fire. Its warmth called to me, and the tip of the flame tilted in my direction.

  “Gemma,” Ethan said my name tightly. “Stop.”

  Right. No magic.

  I centered myself and forced myself to look away from the flame.

  Once the fire was gone, I looked back at Shivani’s hand. She held a letter—parchment inked with cursive, like it had come from the past.

  “How come you can use magic but we can’t?” Mira asked.

  “Fire messages are sent with witch magic, not elemental magic,” Shivani said in that calm, patient way of hers. “Whatever’s tracking you can only track dragon magic.”

  “Which is why we need to learn how to use our witch magic,” I said.

  She frowned—looking at me in pity—then wiped the expression from her face. But I knew what she’d been thinking.