“Nowhere,” Nicholas replied. The third oldest brother, he had once enjoyed the privilege of being the heir to the throne. He took it lightly, grinning his way through his regency. He often vanished for days at a time, working hard before he left to make sure no one could claim he wasn't doing his part.
Alexander would find an entire day's chores done before done when they were teenagers, and wonder what in the hell was motivating his brother. These days, he was often too exhausted to even wonder.
“Well, you're here now,” Alexander replied. “Peter has throne duty, and I have other things to attend to. Can you be there to translate for him, if he needs?”
“I can,” Nicholas replied, with a shrug. “Although he really should make an effort to learn a different language once in a while. It's not that's difficult.”
“Where is Cole?” Alexander asked, and Nicholas shrugged.
“I just got back,” he said. “If you have questions, you need to ask them yourself. Now, if you'll excuse me, I can't exactly enter the throne room looking like this, can I?” he asked, pointing to his traveling clothes.
“Nicholas,” Alexander caught his arm. “Have you heard any word of Father, possibly returning?”
“No,” Nicholas said. “But anything is possible, isn't it? Although if he does return, what do we do? Dethrone Peter and go back to the way things were?”
“Things have changed,” Alexander said. “And Peter and Father will have to accept it. We no longer stay away from Earth except for a slaughter. We no longer consider ourselves alone in this world, superior to everyone else. We are modern; our partnerships have changed.”
“But we are still dragon lords,” Nicholas said. “And that's what we must not lose sight of.”
“Right,” Alexander replied. “Go change, please.”
Nicholas sauntered off, leaving Alexander standing alone in the hallway. Despite that the palace was bustling with people, this was often how he felt. Alone, unsure, and no one to bounce his ideas off of. If he was going to fix the problems that plagued them, he would have to do it himself. Although there was support in another room, he often learned that the only person he could rely on was himself when it really came down to it.
Everyone envied them in the palace, but no one saw the pressure on his shoulders – the weight of the crown. He felt guilty of how relieved he was when Peter returned.
He had at least three meetings to attend in the next two hours. He should be in one right now. Instead of rushing, however, he knocked on Peter's door.
“All is well?” he asked, listening.
He heard Peter grunt his answer. “Fine.”
“Lovely,” Alexander said, and eventually strolled off. Another day to figure out how to run the world from dust to dawn.
He hoped that the girls could find a solution. He wasn't sure how much longer he could keep up this pace; relentless and painful. The crown was more harmful than it was a privilege.
Chapter 2
“Alexander, are these dragons?” Ariel showed up just outside his meeting several hours later, photographs on her phone right in front of his face. The girls had been amazed that their phones had Wi-Fi up on Umora, which he thought was ridiculous They were an advanced society, far ahead of Earth. Wireless internet technology was something Umora had long before Earth. Their phones were primitive compared to the holographic tablets, but both seemed content with what they had.
“Uh...” He blinked and took a step back, trying to focus on what was in front of him. He had brilliant eyesight, but nobody could see when something was held half an inch from their face. Eventually, he focused on a few pictures in a collage of a girl a little bit younger than Enya, surrounded by several people at a Christmas tree. They were certainly dragons, with tinted yellow eyes, and the tall, lean, strong bodies gave them away. He also recognized them. “Yes. That's Dr. Donizetti and his family.”
“Oh?” she said. “They live on Earth.”
“Yes,” Alexander replied. “Dr. Donizetti made the move to Earth nearly thirty years ago, when my father started to wage wars on a constant basis. He used to work as a doctor within the palace, and he left on good terms. He is peace loving and kind. The people surrounding him are not his blood relations, but they've joined his family – his clan – as like-minded dragons. Although…” he squinted at the photo. “Some of them have passed on. This is recent?”
“It's dated last week, so I assume,” she said. “This is Yvette,” she pointed to the girl in the middle, who was clearly human. Short and fragile, she wore an oversized sweater and leggings, her face paler than the rest. “From what I can gather, she is living with them. They are her primary sponsors at the moment. I think I know what town they live in.”
“I know where Dr. Donizetti is,” Alexander replied. “He's living in a small town in the south, away from prying eyes. From what I understand, they act as if they are human, they take up school and normal actives”
“So, they've renounced dragon life?” she said.
“No,” Alexander replied. “They haven't. They transform when they can. They feed normally. They just have decided that life that close to the Royal Palace was not what they wanted. Their son, Thomas, here,” he pointed, “and their daughter Wilma, here, have passed away. Now that they are back, I'm guessing that is what they need Yvette for.”
“And you think that they will just hand her over?”
“Well,” he said. “Dr. Donizetti has always been a reasonable person.”
“But you are king, you can…” Ariel stopped. “Right, you're not.”
Alexander winced.
“I'm still the crown prince,” he said. “Although I hope that fact doesn't come up.”
“Well,” Ariel said, not quite sure which path to take. They couldn't be together on Earth, where Alexander's defenses were lowered. “I guess you and Peter have a trip to make.”
“Indeed,” he replied, not eager to make that trip. “Unless you want to go with Peter?”
“Ha,” she answered. “Ha-Ha-Ha.”
“I guess that answers my question.”
“Enya will go with you, though,” she said. “She's at least met the girl before. Nicholas, Cole, and I can hold down the fort.”
“I'll come back and the furniture will be glued to the ceiling,” Alexander said, and Ariel smirked.
“Maybe. Would you prefer a certain pattern?”
“Go away,” he said.
She giggled and kissed him on the cheek, sauntering off. He couldn't help but smile as he watched her go. It may have been a marriage of convenience, but it was working out just fine.
It was that evening that he brought up the idea of the trip to Earth to Peter, Enya, and Cole, who were gathered around the fire.
“I propose we go and meet her,” Alexander said. “And if she is as promised, we can bring her here.”
“And what makes you think that I have any interest in accepting the help of a human?” Peter asked.
“As crown prince, I'm allowed to put policies in place for the good of the palace,” Alexander said. “If she can help you learn English and just update you on what you've missed, it will be helpful to all of us. Think about all the times on the throne where you've simply been missing information, Peter. Each of us have our own duties to fulfill. And whether or not we wanted to sit on the throne, we've been tasked with this life.”
Peter said nothing for a long time, and Cole used that as an opportunity to speak.
“Should you be going back to Earth with the threat of the carapaces?” Cole asked.
“Do you think that I cannot protect him?” Peter raised his eyebrow, the confidence of the king showing through his words. He took offense to the fact that even his own family would question his ability to protect them.
The thought made him pause. It was the first time in a long time he had thought as a king, and not just as a burden he had to bear.
He realized that it was because of this potential journey that he was thin
king this way.
“I'll go,” Peter said. “But I can't promise that it will end the way you want it to.”
“I think it will be good for you to meet her first,” Alexander said. “Thomas and Wilma have recently returned from the Other and perhaps having that in common will assist as well.”
“You want to go now?” Peter asked, eyeing his brother. “You're exhausted, your day has taken its toll.”
It was refreshing, to have someone looking after him for a change. Alexander gave him a half smile.
“In the morning, then,” he said. “Enya?”
“I can make arrangements for Earth,” she said. “He's a doctor, right? Perhaps he can manage what I need. I'm almost due for a return anyways.”
“If that's alright with you,” Alexander eyed Cole, who nodded.
“Of course,” Cole replied. “Godspeed though. Earth is boring.”
“Says the dragon who recently tried to take it over,” Enya teased him, standing up. “I'll see you in the morning then.”
“Good night,” Alexander said, as Cole escorted her out of the room. Leaving him alone with Peter, he waited for his brother to have the first word.
“You really think this is the best way?”
“Didn't we always say that when we were on the throne, we would try our best to be different, modern, and to change?”
“That conversation seems a million years away,” Peter said.
“You have been through so much since then.” Alexander pointed out. “Through a world or two.”
“We were children of a different mind,” Peter sighed, getting up. “And I wish not to dwell on a past that was simple. I'll see you in the morning.”
“Indeed,” Alexander said, watching him go. He briefly wondered whether he should call Dr. Donizetti, and warn him that he was coming. But he decided against it, wanting nothing more than sleep. Dr. Donizetti had always been in corporation with the crown, and he believed that they would have no problems.
It was the hope he went with early the next morning, as the three of them gathered in the antechamber, just off the throne room. It was one of the easier transfer points and would send them back to the one vortex they knew was still open on Earth. The carapaces had closed many of them during the way a few months ago. As queen carapace, even one who was separated from her pack, Ariel had the authority to at least leave one open.
“Right,” Alexander said, looking around at the space they had. He realized he wasn't quite familiar with how Cole transported Enya. Ariel was strong, he could just grab her and go. But Enya wasn't as strong as his wife, and his magic was rough at best. But again, Peter stepped up in a surprising way, taking a gentle hold of his sister in law without words.
“Are we ready? Enya,” he switched to English, “is this alright?”
“Fine,” she said. “And I've already figured out our route once we get there.”
“Excellent,” Alexander said. “Then, let's go.”
The magic, mostly from Peter this time, swirled around them. It wasn't any harder to get to Earth than it normally was, although Alexander hoped that the carapaces hadn't somehow gotten wind of this and were waiting on the other side.
Everything was fine when they landed, though, the area around them quiet. It was early morning on Earth and the city was just waking up.
There were the honks of cars and the buzz of early morning traffic, and Alexander was happy to find that they were alone where they landed.
“We need to take the train an hour or two,” Enya said, as they got to their feet. “Is that alright?”
“As long as you know where we are headed,” Alexander replied. “Peter and I are like lost sheep here.”
“Pity the sheep who finds a dragon,” Enya grinned. “Should you call ahead?”
“No,” Alexander answered. “Dr. Donizetti will be compliant.”
“You have concerns,” Peter said, as they walked through the streets. “I can hear it in your voice, even if your words confuse me.”
“I don't have any more concerns about Donizetti than when he first left,” Alexander said. “And even when he left, he did it so politely and kindly that I couldn't possibly think wrong of him. He has amassed quite the following though. I think he and his wife have gained four or five adoptive children in the past ten years. They have caused no trouble, mostly keeping to themselves, and making sure that they have not violated any of the rules.”
Peter said nothing to that, looking around. Everything on Earth was so new to him, so different, something that he should have learned long ago.
In the end, Enya's confidence in directions was correct. She knew how to buy the train tickets, and she felt safe, even in the early dawn hours, with her brothers in law at her back. Peter said nothing, even though it was clear he had a million questions on his mind. He looked out the window, his fingers drumming nervously on his knee, which was a habit he had always had. Enya was absorbed in her phone, happily texting her friends, and she almost missed their stop. Alexander was glad for the conversation again, lost in his own head about how he was going to approach this situation.
“Here,” she said, practically pulling them off the train. They were in a suburban area, and Alexander thought it was nice that Dr. Donizetti had managed to blend in. But their journey, it appeared, was not done.
Enya led them to a taxi, giving rapid instructions to the driver. They wound out of the suburban section, and headed down a side road where the houses got farther and farther apart.
Eventually, they went through a long stretch without any houses, turning a dark corner. And then, they found themselves outside of a mansion. It was nothing compared to the palace, but it was far grander than a palace doctor could have afforded on Umora. There were multiple wings, wide windows, and a glass ceiling, which Alexander understood. Dragons preferred to see the sky at all times.
“This is it,” Enya said, as she paid the driver. “Shall we?”
“Nothing ventured, nothing gained,” Alexander said, and got out. It was time to hope that old friendships still remained strong. And if they did not, then at least he needed to trust that the Donizettis still recognized the monarchy. He didn't want it to turn violent, but if the Donizettis didn't give him what he needed, he would pull rank. He needed Peter to be king at any cost.
Chapter 3
Peter could hear the voices inside the household before they even knocked on the door. Dragons, even in human form, had superior hearing, for miles. It was likely that the Donizettis could hear them approaching, if they weren't so distracted. But inside, it seemed like there was chaos going on.
“It's my turn in here. Get out!”
“You've been here forever!”
“We have more than one–”
“Armand, just leave it, alright?”
“I don't understand, we have more than one–”
“Stop!”
Alexander cocked an eyebrow at Peter with a slight smile as he knocked on the door. It sounded like a normal family household, except they knew it wasn't.
Evelyn Donizetti, Armand's wife, answered the door. As far as Alexander was aware, she was a stay-at-home wife, with the dragons they were guiding into a new world. The few times they had met, she was calm, collected, and loving.
The shock on her face this time, though, was unexpected.
“My king,” she said, and dropped to her knees right away. Enya was surprised at the reaction. She had seen people bow to them in the palace before, but never to this effect. It was almost as if there was magic pulling her down to the ground. “I didn't…expect…I didn't think…”
“You've had some of your own return from the Other, haven't you?” Alexander asked.
“My prince,” Evelyn said, “of course. But we didn't think…”
“May we come in?” Alexander asked, carefully. He didn't want it to seem like they had no choice, but truthfully, they didn't.
“Of course, of course,” Evelyn said, watching them almost nervously. �
�This is such a surprise. Can I ask the reason for your visit?”
“We'll discuss that,” Alexander said. “This is Enya, Cole's wife.”
“Princess,” Evelyn replied, still nervous. “It is wonderful to meet you. Have you come for a particular reason?”
“You are hiding something,” Peter finally spoke up, in dragon. Evelyn whipped her head, her eyes wide. Peter was always the strong-silent type, and that could be frightening.
“Have you come for Thomas?” she blurted out, a mother's fear in her eyes.
“Ah,” Alexander glanced to Peter. “That is a different matter.”
“Because he's better. He's trying. He's–”
Thomas, like Cole, was not full dragon. He was half witch, half dragon, and like Cole, he had trouble with his temper, his impulses, and his transformations. When he lived on Umora, he was a deadly warrior. Now, Alexander caught sight of him thumbing through a backpack, as if he had not been a young warlord once. He wondered how they had made that transformation.
“Evelyn?” Armand appeared in the doorway, the wrapper of a syringe in his hand. He had clearly just gotten in from work, his dress shirt unbuttoned and the tie gone. “My lords,” he bent his head. “What a surprise.”
“Armand,” Alexander said, and Peter nodded his greeting. “Shall we have a chat?”
“Of course,” Armand said. “If you don't mind, I just have one thing to finish up.”
“Are we done?” A female voice came into the room then, in the form of a small, human female. She was wearing a cap on her head, and everything about her seemed fragile. From under her cap, there were large, green eyes, and they caught Peter by surprise. They were like a forest, vast and beautiful. She praised, staring at him, and it was if he was paralyzed.
Peter had always thought that he only looked at strong, tall, dragon warrior women. But this girl caught him off guard
“Yes, you're done for today,” Armand said. “But if you start to feel ill at school, can you call me?”
“Yes,” Yvette said. “Thomas and I have a math test today, so I need to be there.”
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