The Pearls

by Michelle Farrell

  “So is that why you feel so familiar to us? Why we feel a pull to you?” Justine asked

  “Yes, you are not fully human, we are the same and we are meant to all be together.”

  “And you’re a King and Zoe is meant to be your Queen? She is your soul mate?”

  Kaiden looked at Zoe then and noticed she was looking at him too. “Yes.” He whispered.

  “How do you know?” Justine asked

  “You know the song she plays?” Justine nodded yes. “Well I have been hearing it for about 6 or 7 months now always in the morning and mostly when I am sleeping. I wake up to it.” He was looking at Zoe now.

  “I wrote it 7 months ago for school.” Zoe choked out.

  “I also feel a pull to her. It is so strong I can’t think straight. I feel a pull to you too Justine, but Zoe’s pull is stronger, like there is a huge magnet to my soul and she is the metal pulling me in.”

  “I feel it too.” Zoe whispers

  Kaiden and Zoe just stared at each other for a long time. She had gone through the package, reading every piece of paper in the package and was now holding a picture in her hand. She broke eye contact with him after a while and just stared at the picture and started to cry again.

  Justine was pacing the floor, but her eyes were bright and looked happy for the first time since he met her. She seemed to be taking this very well.

  Chapter 12

  Zoe

  Zoe now knew what Kaiden was telling her was true. Her mother had left her a note and some pictures. Her whole family history was in this huge envelope. The letter her mother had written completely broke her apart. She thought she was thrown away. Thought she was trash the garbage man should have taken. She has always felt unwanted and dirty.

  Now there was this gorgeous man in her living room telling her she was like him, a Dragon. He was also telling her that they were meant to be, like in love meant to be. Her dreams of a family might come true after all. She knew the road to that was going to be the hardest though, she had so many walls, and she didn’t know if he would be able to get in them. She wanted him to. She wanted to feel the love that this letter explained. She needed to feel that love.

  She was looking through the pictures and saw what must be her mother and father. She couldn’t get over how her mother could be her twin. Zoe found her mother breathtaking. She had long almost white hair like her. She could tell she had her father’s blue eyes though. Her mother’s eyes were a darker blue.

  Her mother died with a broken heart. This letter tells how she witnessed him being taken away by some men. And she knew the men would come after her next. She had to leave me for me to be safe. Zoe thought. That thought hurts, because now she knows that her Mother left her to keep her safe. All the hate that Zoe has been feeling towards her parents now feels like guilt. And it is tearing a hole in her heart.

  After about an hour of her going through the pictures, she offers them to Justine to look at. Justine has this huge smile on her face looking at the pictures. Well I guess she really likes this idea of being a Dragon, and having someone out there meant for her. This made Zoe smile. Justine finally found something that made her happy, and Zoe could see it in her eyes. Zoe glanced at the clock and realized it was almost two in the afternoon. They have been sitting here for hours and didn’t even realize it.

  “Crap I need to get ready for work, my shift starts at three.” Zoe told them

  “Uh Zoe, one last thing I need to show you.” Kaiden hands her the bank statement then. She looked it over and fell on her butt.

  “Is this real?” Zoe asked

  “Is what real? Zoe why are you on the floor?” Justine asked laughing at her.

  “Yes its real, you never have to work or want for anything again, not to mention I will take care of you too.” Kaiden told her with the most serious expression, but he was afraid.

  “Umm, Justine do you want to make some phone calls? You can be as rude as you want to be. Just tell them both we will never be in again.” Zoe was smiling now too

  “What do you mean Zoe?” Justine looked confused now. Zoe handed her the piece of paper grinning ear to ear. “Holy shit!” Justine yelled.

  “Well we have to take you to that bank and get your new id’s and stuff first, then you can actually access that money, until then whatever you need is on me.” Kaiden told them.

  Zoe was in shock by what Kaiden had just told her and what she was looking at. She was rich, like filthy rich. She wasn’t sure what to do first. She has always worked for everything. The things she saved for and spent the most on, was all in her bedroom. She started laughing then, hysterical giggles erupted from her mouth. Zoe jumped up then and grabbed Justine’s arms.

  Zoe hugged her as tight as she could and then they both started jumping up and down like the little girls they never were. Then they both stopped suddenly looked at each other and both burst into tears. They cried and sobbed and blew snot on each other’s shoulders. A couple minutes later they both remembered Kaiden at the same moment and looked up at him.

  “Uh you guys ok?” Kaiden handed them a roll of toilet paper.

  That made them laugh and the giggles started all over again. Kaiden was so lost he just stood there and stared.

  “Sorry we just, well, god I just hope this isn’t some sick joke.” Zoe said as Justine was starting to sober up and just stared at Kaiden waiting for him to tell her “yes this is a joke”.

  “Nope no joke, Zoe is beyond rich, a Queen, she was very much loved by a mother and father, and my soul mate. And Justine we are going to track down your information next, and I am sure we will find something just like I did looking for Zoe. You are filthy rich too, we just need to find it.” Kaiden told them both

  “What do you mean I am rich too?” Justine was very curious now, almost not believing

  “Well, one thing I haven’t been able to tell you yet, is that, well, once we turn into our Dragon, we turn immortal. We will never age. We can be killed obviously, but you will never age again. And since we are immortal we tend to be very good with money and well all Dragons are filthy rich.” Kaiden told her.

  “Wow” Justine breathed out. “Well on that note I need to make some phone calls”

  “And I need a shower and then food.” Zoe said

  “Well how about I go grab us some food while you girls clean up.” Kaiden said

  They both just nodded their heads and turned on their heels.

  Zoe went to her room in a daze and then the bathroom. She turned the shower on and took her clothes off. She stood for a minute looking at herself in the mirror. She will be this age forever. As much as the old couples were her favorite to watch, she was silently glad she would be young forever.

  She hopped in the shower then and took an extra long shower. Her tummy was rumbling loudly now, pleading for food. She quickly toweled off and threw some clothes on. She brushed her teeth and then her hair and made her way to the living room. As soon as she stepped out of her room she smelled the food, and once she saw all the food Kaiden got, she stood there stunned.

  The coffee table was laid out with every kind of food you could get in this small town. There was pizza, burgers, fries, cinnamon rolls, coffee, soda, and chips galore.

  “Did you buy the whole store?” She asked

  “Well, I wasn’t sure what you both like so I got everything.” Kaiden said, grinning like little boy that just got a candy bar.

  “Well, we both love food so you did really well.” Justine burst into the room and grabbed a slice of pizza, shoving it in her mouth.

  “I also grabbed some movies, in case you guys just wanted to relax today.” Kaiden said

  “Sounds like a plan.” Zoe said stuffing a burger into her mouth.

  They all ate and watched movies. Justine told them she had called both their jobs and told them to shove it, they wouldn’t be back. Kaiden told them more about Dragons and the others they needed to find. He told them about his home in Ireland and about his parents. He al
so told them about Charles and the half-bloods. They in turn told him about their time together and how they found each other. How they moved out here to this little town to start over and just blend in. The girls however, did not tell him too much of their past, they left out all bad things.

  They talked for hours sharing stories and talking about the Dragons. Zoe choked up when they asked her to read her papers. She did and things sunk in a little more for her. At about midnight they all became quiet and lost in their thoughts. Kaiden and Zoe kept exchanging glances and eventually they all fell asleep. She woke up once to find herself curled up next to Kaiden and his arms around her. She went tense for a second and then just gave in and fell back asleep.

  Chapter 13

  In the morning Kaiden and Zoe woke up in each other’s arms. Justine was on the loveseat curled up in the smallest ball she could make. Kaiden was staring at Zoe when she finally opened her eyes. She gave him a shy smile and looked away. He gently sat her up and she kicked her legs over and sat up. Her heartbeat was beating a million beats a minute, but she didn’t care she loved waking up in his arms.

  “This is all real?” She whispered to him.

  “Yes it is, and I promise you Zoe, I already love you. I have been searching for you for seven years. I was not going home until I could take you with me. You have my heart and soul, you are my everything, and I live for you now. I don’t want to scare you and I am sorry if this does, but it has just been very hard these last seven years wondering who you are and if you are safe.” Kaiden whispered back.

  Zoe felt relieved to hear his words. She was about to give in to them and then fear swept through her.

  “I have never been with someone Kaiden. I don’t know how to be a girlfriend. I have never let someone get close to me, Justine is my only friend and the only person I have let in my life. The fact that you are here scares me, but at the same time I am so happy you are. I guess what I am asking is please be patient with me?”

  “I will never hurt you, I will be as patient as you need, you were made for me, and I for you.” Kaiden whispered and kissed her hand.

  Zoe tensed at the kiss but his lips felt like heaven. She wanted to feel his lips against her own and her heart started to beat a little faster, her breathing a little faster. Her walls were crumbling around his words. She wanted to listen to her soul and let him in all the way, but her mind wasn’t willing to work that fast.

  “You know you can whisper all you want, but I can hear you. It’s all good, let’s just hope mine will be as understanding.” Justine said.

  “He will, Justine, he was made for you” Kaiden told her

  “I didn’t think you wanted a man Justine?” Zoe asked her confusion taking over and pushed the thoughts of Kaiden’s lips on her aside.

  “I didn’t think so either, but finding out I get to be some kick ass Dragon, I guess I will take the man that makes me that Dragon too. Hell it might be fun to have a family too, but not for a while.” Justine said so matter of fact.

  “Huh” Zoe said shrugging her shoulders. She has never heard these words come out of Justine’s mouth. She was learning more about the girl that she had more than half her life with.

  “Well I would like to call the lawyer that found Zoe for me and tell him I found her. Maybe have him start looking into your past Justine.” Kaiden said

  “Sounds good to me. All I know about me is that I came here from Germany. My first family adopted me from there and then just decided they didn’t want me after I was five. Their names are Marie and John Barnett.” Justine told him

  “Have you looked into you past before?” Kaiden asked

  “Nah figured I was never wanted like Zoe here did. Now I would really like to know though, makes things a little different and changes my mind a bit about my birth parents. Knowing they may have sent me away to protect me. That changes my outlook on them and on me.” Justine shrugged her shoulders, but you could see the hope in her eyes.

  “Justine, this is more then you have ever told even me, I guess we really don’t know each other.” Zoe said, she felt a little wounded that Justine was just now opening up and talking.

  “It wasn’t important Zoe, you and I both thought we weren’t wanted. Thought our parents just threw us out. Admitting that hurts a lot. I am sorry I drank, it was easier to drink the pain of that away then say it out loud you know?” Justine had tears in her eyes. The pain of the past written all over her face now.

  “Yes Justine I know. Don’t be sorry, just talk to me, don’t drink it away.” Zoe was leaning in front of her now.

  They stood and hugged and cried a little more.

  “Well I am going to go grab a shower and make that call, you ladies up for a road trip?” Kaiden asked

  “Hell yeah!” Justine said loudly

  “Where to?” Zoe asked

  “Well I figured we would go to the town you were born in, get your name change official, and get you a new id. We also need to get you to the bank so you can have access to your money. I mean I have enough, but I didn’t want you to feel you had to owe me anything.” He shrugged off his insecurity.

  “Apparently you were made for me.” Zoe definitely did not like owing people or being in anyone debt. “Are we going to stop by that lawyer’s office too? I would really like to thank him for all he has done for me.” Zoe asked trying to cover up the fact that her mouth acted before her brain did.

  “We can if you like. It’s eight now so we need to get on the road soon it’s a two hour drive, but I can get there in forty five minutes.” He said with a smirk on his face. Kaiden heard what she said but he was trying to act like he didn’t.

  “Eyesight helps when you want to fly low.” Justine said

  “I will leave the driving to you two I am still too scared to drive.” Zoe said

  “Would you guys like to stay the night there and get a hotel?” Kaiden asked

  “Why not, can we shop too?” Zoe asked “You know I have all this money, I think I want to splurge a little. I haven’t gotten nice new clothes in well ever.” Zoe was giddy at the thought of new clothes and not having to account for the money.

  “We can do whatever you want Zoe.” Kaiden told her.

  “Yay, I get to be a third wheel!” Justine had sarcasm dripping from her mouth.

  “Awe honey you want some new clothes too?” Zoe asked Justine, putting on a mommy voice she heard so often at the diner.

  “Yep and some kick ass boots. I’ll pay you back when I get my riches.” Justine was all giddy now.

  Zoe laughed and smacked her on the butt. They both burst into laughter and ran to their bathrooms to get ready.

  Kaiden left laughing to himself, happier than he has been in years. He went to make the phone call and get himself ready. Kaiden took a shower first and packed his stuff back up. He loaded it all in the car, and then called Mr. Steinman. Kaiden told Mr. Steinman that they were coming into town and would be stopping by. He also told Mr. Steinman that he would like to hire him to find Justine’s parents or information about her. He agreed and said he hoped to have something by the time they arrived. Kaiden thought the girls would need a little more time so he went and grabbed some coffees and bagels.

  When he pulled up to the apartments he noticed the girls at the curb, each with a small duffel bag and Zoe had her Guitar with her. Smiles were plastered to their faces. Zoe looked so beautiful. She wore a pair of tight blue jeans, a cream sweater, and knee high boots. Her hair was up in a messy bun and some strands had escaped falling around her face. He wanted to jump out of the car and grab her and run back inside with her. Instead he just shook his head slightly and smiled at her. They were both just kind of bouncing in place with excitement and when he pulled all the way to the curb they hopped in.

  “How’d the phone calls go?” Zoe asked Kaiden.

  “Well Mr. Steinman is expecting us and he is working on finding out information on Justine.” Kaiden answered.

  “Awesome” Justine said all chipper in the
back seat.

  “You know I have to tell you, I thought both of you were going to freak out on me and tell me to get out last night, but you have taken all of this information so well. Your song told me that you were ready though. I know that sounds weird but its true” Kaiden told them.

  “Really? Well it’s kind of hard to not believe you when you bring me my birth certificate. Not to mention a newspaper article with my name and my mother’s and then the letters and pictures. I mean there is one of my mother next to 2 huge white Dragons. Which says on the back are my grandparents. Oh and both of us knew we were different from other girls, this just kind of puts in all into place.” Zoe told him.

  “And you Justine?” Kaiden asked her.

  “Well I have been a freak all my life. I have only ever felt a pull towards Zoe, then you come and I feel that same pull towards you too. That tells me I am freakier then even I thought. Then you come over, hear her song, and I know something clicked inside you when you heard it because something clicked for me. Then you tell us we are Dragons like real life flying fire breathing Dragons and we have super powers, I am stoked honestly. I am not a freak, but a Dragon, and I get to be part of something that is bigger than me. I feel like I have a purpose in life now, I need to help you two save an entire race. I get to have a man that will understand me and accept me for who I am and not judge me. Hell, he might even be an orphan like us. From what you told us it’s a good chance he is and that makes it a little better to me. To me it means he will understand me.”

  Justine takes a huge breath and keeps going

  “To me that means I won’t have to be some girl that I am not. I never wanted a family or a man to love me, I never wanted to tell anyone what happened to me when I was little. I still don’t, but if he is an orphan too then it will make it easier for me to open up to him in private, after some time. You have basically just changed my life for the better. I mean Zoe saved my life when I was eleven and now you are again. If you two are the last King and Queen I will stand by you two forever, Zoe already knows this. I haven’t left her side since we jumped out a window together.” Justine stared out the window silent tears streaming down her face.