[The Dragon Kings 01.0] Obsidian

by Kimberly Loth

  The backpack held an old tattered book. There was no title page, just a list—a very long list. She paused to read a few of the lines. There was a checkmark next to “Take a math class,” but not next to “Get a high school diploma.” What was this? She flipped farther and saw “Kiss a girl” checked.

  She closed the book, reached into the backpack, and pulled out a framed picture of the silver dragon. There was a Post-it note with the words “My sister” scrawled across it in Sid’s handwriting.

  Aspen’s heart raced. She dropped the picture. How was this possible?

  She picked up the book and flipped through the pages again. It must be a to do list of sorts. Was she just some project from the book? Something Sid or Obsidian could mark off so that he could say he did it?

  Everything made sense, and it pissed her off. Obsidian or Sid or whatever his name was lied to her. Repeatedly. Oh, he was so in for it.

  The clock seemed to move more slowly that morning. The more time that passed, the angrier she got. She supposed she could just call Sid and ask him to come over, but she wanted to see him as Obsidian, and her backyard was too small for that.

  At a quarter to nine, she laced up her boots, put on her coat and gloves, grabbed the backpack, and headed out on the trail that led away from her house.

  Obsidian was already in the clearing when she arrived. Her anger nearly dissipated. Her heart constricted. She loved both of them, and they were the same. She should be happy, but he’d lied to her.

  “I know what you can do. I want to see your human form.”

  How do you know?

  She held up the backpack and the broken lock.

  “I’m waiting,” she finally said.

  Watching him change was one of the strangest things Aspen had ever seen. His body shrank. Claws became fingers, and a snout became a nose. It took less than thirty seconds.

  She sank to the ground. In spite of the evidence she had, she still wasn’t quite expecting it. Sid held a hand out to her. She swatted it away and stood up on her own.

  “Why’d you lie to me?”

  “I tried to tell you, but I never quite got it out. I’m so sorry.”

  She’d forgotten what kind of effect he had on her. He sounded so sincere. She wanted to reach out and touch his face, and she had an overwhelming desire to kiss him. Focus, she reminded herself.

  “You didn’t tell me though. You seemed so shocked that I couldn’t trust you, yet our whole relationship is a lie. I can’t even seem to reconcile that you and Obsidian are the same.”

  He took her hands in his, his eyes seeking hers. “I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.”

  Aspen closed her eyes, gathering her anger, and opened them again. She ripped her hands from his. “What about the book? Was I just a task to mark off on your stupid list? You are just like Marc. I never should’ve trusted you.”

  Sid glared at her. “I’m nothing like Marc. Don’t you dare make that comparison.”

  “I was a joke to you. A mission so you could finish whatever it is you’re supposed to do here.”

  Sid pinched the bridge of his nose. “It’s true I used parts of our relationship to mark off things in that stupid book, but believe me, I’m in much more trouble than you can imagine. I liked you, and I used the book as an excuse to get close to you, but both Theo and Pearl were against it from the very beginning. They were right. I shouldn’t have fallen in love with you, and I certainly didn’t expect you to reciprocate. But it happened. I love you. You have to believe that.”

  Aspen crossed her arms. “And why the hell should I believe you?”

  Sid leaned down and peeled away his sock, revealing the tattoo with her name.

  “Because this proves it. This ties me to you forever. I will never love another.”

  “Is that true?”

  “Of course it’s true. When you die, I will live out my remaining years alone.”

  She crossed her arms. “How do I know you aren’t lying to me again?”

  He gripped at his hair. “I don’t know how else to tell you this, Aspen. I’m madly in love with you. No stupid book will change that.”

  Aspen’s heart caught in her throat.

  “You still lied to me.”

  His face fell. “I know. But Aspen, I didn’t know how you would react.”

  Aspen didn’t want to be angry with him.

  “No more lies.”

  “No more lies. Now, it’s freezing out here. Let’s go to your house. I imagine you have a lot of questions.”

  “That is the understatement of the year.”

  He took her hand, and she didn’t bother pulling away. He was forgiven, and he knew it.

  Aspen didn’t say much as they walked, her mind reeling with this new information. The house was quiet when they got home. Rowan was probably still in his room playing video games.

  They sat on the couch, and Aspen asked the question that had been bothering her since she realized Sid and Obsidian were one in the same.

  “What do we do now?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You’re a dragon, and I’m…well…I’m not.”

  Sid laughed and scooted closer to her. “That hasn’t been a problem so far, has it?”

  She shook her head. “But what about the future and the other dragons? Surely this isn’t allowed.”

  “You’re right. It’s not. But we don’t need to worry about that now. As long as they don’t find out, we’re fine.”

  “And when they do?”

  “We’ll deal with it. Aspen, I want you to be a part of my life.”

  She grinned and laughed. Sid pulled away.

  “What’s so funny?”

  She shook her head and continued giggling.

  “I’m sorry,” she said when she finally stopped. She moved closer to Sid and took both his hands in hers.

  “My boyfriend’s a dragon. It’s like a complete dream come true for me. But anyone else in the world would be horrified.”

  Sid smiled.

  “It’s a good thing I fell in love with you then, instead of someone else.”

  She nodded. “Definitely a good thing.”

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Ella had been right about the community looking forward to the party. For two weeks prior, Sid’s phone rang off the hook—half the time it was people from town and the other half was Vicki. Apparently, this party would reach epic proportions. It would be Vicki’s biggest yet—and most expensive. People from all over the county would be coming because Sid’s house was about to be opened up for the first time in a hundred years. People wanted to see the inside. Not that it would look like it normally does.

  The weather was too cold to hold anything outside so his entire house would be transformed into a carnival. The basement would hold all the rides. The main level would be food and entertainers, and the upper level would have various freak shows and games. Costumes were mandatory.

  Three days before the party, Sid hid out in his room to avoid Vicki, who was attempting to ask his opinion on everything from the exact placement of the candied apples to which room would best for the sword swallower. He kept telling her he didn’t care; she was the expert.

  Someone knocked on the door.

  “I already told you, Vicki. Use your best judgment.” But when the door opened, it was Pearl.

  She sat at his computer desk, her face a mask of no emotion. “What are they doing to your house?”

  “We’re having a party on Halloween. You should come, bring Raja with you. But you have to wear costumes.”

  “Will Aspen be at the party?”

  “Of course.”

  “It’s time to fix the Aspen problem.”

  “Nope, it’s not. What about Marcellus? Have you caught him yet?”

  “We’re still looking. He’s been evasive. But every dragon guard is out searching for him. Including most of the council.”

  “Sid, can you hear me?” asked Aspen from the other side of the phone.
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  “Just barely, where are you? I thought you’d be here by now.” The party started thirty minutes ago, and his date was still missing.

  “I know. My parents just got home, and I promised I’d wait for them. They’re getting dressed. We’ll be there in fifteen.”

  “Okay, hurry up though. Vicki’s having a fit because her Serpentina isn’t here yet.”

  “Yep, love you. I’ll see you soon.”

  Vicki had certainly done her best making over the house. They moved all the furniture into two large trucks that were now parked in the Purple Dragon’s lot.

  Theo and Ella acted the perfect hosts in the entryway. Theo was a bit distracted because his bearded lady was running around in a tiny bikini, having the time of her life.

  “Where’s Aspen?” Ella asked when Sid approached.

  “On her way. Her parents were running late.”

  She grinned, greeted another family, and handed them a map. “Food is to your right and straight through to the grand room. Rooms that are off limits are marked with a staff only sign. Otherwise everything else is open. If you go up to the second floor, the rooms all have games and freak shows.

  “Make sure you go down to the end of the east wing and see the fortuneteller.” She looked up at the parents. “Both towers are open, but the farther up you go, the scarier the shows get. And it’s PG-13, so I wouldn’t take your little ones up there.”

  She got down on her knees and looked very seriously at the miniature witch and wizard in front of her. “The midgets all have candy, and the louder you yell ‘trick or treat’ the more candy they’ll give you.”

  Vicki approached from his right. “I need to hire her to host all my parties.”

  “Yeah,” Sid said as Ella went to greet a family of fairies. “But I don’t think your dwarfs will appreciate her telling the kids to yell loud.”

  “Oh well. They’re actors used to doing strange things. The one upstairs with the sword swallower yells back. Most of the kids run away before he can give them any candy. Shame because he’s got full size candy bars. Those kids brave enough to wait it out are rewarded. Now where’s my snake lady?” She put her hands on her hips and waited for a response. The effect was quite humorous as she was a half man, half woman. The bearded side of her face did not match the lipstick.

  “On her way. I’m a little hungry. What do you recommend?”

  That got a smile out of her. She had bragged the last two weeks about the food. She found it hard to believe Sid had never been to a fair. “The corn dogs are to die for. Or you could try the funnel cakes. Everything is good. Go pick.”

  Sid dodged midgets and screaming kids and made his way into the great room, nearly running into a man on stilts. The bright green and blue cotton candy caught his eye, so he tried that first. The fibers stuck to his fingers and tasted sickly sweet. Not his kind of food. Ella would probably eat it, though. Sid snatched a corn dog from a man in torn clothes with a permanent snarl and turned to go to the entryway when he caught sight of Aspen.

  Her back was to his, but his heart stopped anyway. Above her bare feet, her marking stood out. On her left ankle she had an airbrushed tattoo, but it was bright green and contained her name instead of his. Her own tribute to Obsidian.

  She wore sheer green gypsy pants that hung low on her hips. Her nearly bare back had another airbrushed tattoo, a black dragon with a golden belly. Her black-dyed hair curled and hung down to her shoulder blades.

  Sid snuck up on her from behind and slid his hand across her bare stomach and pulled her toward him.

  “How am I supposed to host a party when you look this hot? All I want to do is take you to my room,” Sid whispered in her ear. She laughed, and he found himself face-to-face with beady black eyes and a forked tongue. The snake stared at him for a half second before it opened his mouth and hissed. Sid let go of Aspen and turned her around.

  She looked even better, except for the snake weaving itself around her body, into her hair, and down her back. There were a few species dragons couldn’t communicate with. Snakes were one of them.

  “I don’t think your snake likes me much.”

  “Yeah, probably not.”

  “Course, I don’t like him much either. I’m a little jealous that he gets to crawl all over you. I was under the impression I was the only one who got to do that.”

  She blushed and wove her fingers into his. “Come on, I want to see the rest of the party.”

  He held her at arm’s length and looked her up and down again, wondering how the hell he’d manage to stare at her all night and refrain from doing things not fit for the public eye. His eyes trailed down to her ankles, and his heart froze. He hadn’t thought about the implications.

  “You need to cover your tattoos.”

  “Why?”

  “My sister is coming tonight, and she can’t see those.”

  Aspen’s eyes bugged. “Your sister is coming? You mean I get to meet another dragon?”

  “Yeah, but, for obvious reasons, she can’t know that you know about us.”

  He stopped one of the actors who had leather cuffs around his wrists.

  “Can I have those?”

  “Your party. Sure.” The man took off the cuffs and handed them to him.

  Aspen fastened the cuffs to her ankles, and Sid sighed. Pearl would have a fit if she saw the markings.

  “You hungry?” Sid asked, hoping for another corn dog.

  Aspen shook her head and dragged him up the stairs. They played a few games and he won her a stuffed dragon by hitting a balloon with a sharp dart. At the end of the east wing they visited the fortuneteller. She gave them their fortunes together. Told them they’d get married, have ten kids, and live until they were a hundred. Sid grimaced because he already passed his five hundredth birthday and would be lucky to see another one.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Aspen thought the night couldn’t have been more perfect. Sid looked adorable with his bushy mustache and top hat. Except it tickled her cheek when he kissed her. The snake Vicki’s people loaned her was docile, except he didn’t like Sid. Although the feeling was mutual. After a visit to the fortuneteller, they were about to make their way up the towers to see the truly freaky and weird when Sid stiffened next to her.

  “Are you okay?” she asked.

  He nodded, but his eyes were on a tall girl with dark red hair. She wore a golden dress with long sleeves and showed generous cleavage. Her arm was looped through the arm of a man who had the same dark skin and black hair as Sid, but his hair was cut short.

  “Aspen,” she said, untangling herself from the man and taking Aspen’s hands in hers. “It’s fabulous to finally meet you. Sid has told me so much about you. You are every bit as gorgeous as he said. And what a clever costume.” Aspen couldn’t tell if she was being genuine or if she was mocking her in some way. Sid had a frown on his face. Or at least Aspen thought he did. It was hard to tell from the mustache. “Sid, aren’t you going to introduce us?”

  He put his arm around Aspen’s waist. Her snake, who had been hiding in her hair, peeked his head out and hissed at Sid again. Sid gripped her ribs a little harder, but he didn’t move from her side.

  “Aspen, this is my sister Pearl and her fiancé Raja.”

  Raja grimaced when Sid said fiancé.

  “Wow, Sid didn’t tell me there was going to be a wedding in the family. When’s the big day?” Aspen asked.

  Pearl looped her arm through Raja’s again and put on a sugary smile. “We haven’t set a date yet.” She looked at Sid. “Raja’s dying to see Theo again. Why don’t you help find him, and I’ll stay and get to know Aspen a little better?”

  Sid pulled Aspen back as a couple of kids ran down the hall. “Aspen and I were just about to go up the tower. Why don’t you join us, and then we’ll all go and find Theo.” He didn’t wait for Pearl’s response.

  Before Aspen knew what was happening, Sid had her halfway up the stairs. The first room they stopped at had pur
ple fabric draped on the walls. Eerie green lamps hung from the ceiling and a vintage desk with an ancient sewing machine sat in the corner. A woman with a pixie face and bobbed hair sat beneath the chandelier. She would’ve been cute but for the eight legs curling under her skirt. She flexed three of the legs and wrapped one around her neck. Aspen grimaced, and Pearl spoke.

  “Sid, this is disgusting. Why would you have a party with this filth?”

  “If you don’t like it, go back downstairs and wait. We’ll be done soon.”

  “I’m not leaving you alone with that girl anymore.”

  Pearl had been so friendly so far that her words surprised Aspen. She looked at Sid. He and Pearl were staring at each other. Probably having a conversation in their heads that she wasn’t invited to. Not fair. Aspen put herself in between Sid and Pearl. “Look, you have something you want to say to me. Why don’t you just say it?”

  Pearl pursed her lips and glared. Raja looked at Sid and raised his eyebrows.

  Sid spoke up. “Pearl, it’s obvious I shouldn’t have invited you. I’m sorry you have a problem with Aspen, but I think it’s time for you to leave.”

  Wuss. He didn’t want Aspen to listen to what Pearl had to say. “No, Sid, I think we need to hear her out. She’s your sister. I don’t want to create a rift. Why won’t she let you be alone with me anymore?”

  “He’s not allowed to be with you. You threaten everything.”

  “Look, I know a lot more than you think I do. We’ll figure it out.”

  Pearl sneered. “There is where you are wrong, sweetheart. I don’t know what Sid told you, but you don’t know anything, or you would stay away from him. He’s been promised to another. You threaten that. Stay out of his life.”

  Aspen felt as if someone had slapped her. Not two weeks ago, Sid practically swore he’d spend the rest of his life with her. What had Pearl meant when she said he was promised to someone else?