Going Down in Flames (Entangled Teen)

by Chris Cannon

  Damn it. She needed answers or reassurances or something, and she had none. Where did that leave her?

  Apparently, it left her angry and crying in the shower.

  Her mind flashed to her parents, and her anger shifted. Why the hell hadn’t they told her about any of this? How was she supposed to fight an entity she knew nothing about? Maybe if they’d taught her about dragon society, all this information wouldn’t have knocked her on her ass. How was she supposed to get through this when she didn’t know any of the crazy rules?

  A knock on the bathroom door made her jump. “Who is it?”

  “It’s Zavien. I brought Clint and Ivy with me.”

  And there was her life raft. “I’ll be out in a minute.”

  After dressing in yoga pants and a tank top, she towel dried her hair and checked the mirror. Bloodshot eyes and a red nose reflected back at her. Not a pretty picture. Hoping for the best, she splashed cold water on her face and wandered into the living room.

  Zavien opened his mouth to speak, and then frowned. “What happened?”

  The cold water must not have done much good. Bryn threw herself on to the couch next to him. Which part of my-life-sucks should she start with?

  “I spoke to Mr. Stanton.” A bitter taste filled her mouth. “He said it was a good thing I wanted to start my own business, because the Directorate thinks my genes are defective and won’t allow me to marry.”

  Ivy sucked in a breath. “Seriously?”

  Bryn crossed her arms over her chest and nodded.

  “Now do you understand why we need your help?” Zavien said. “When it comes to the Directorate, you have as much to gain or lose as the rest of us.”

  “Why hasn’t anyone fought the Directorate? You can’t tell me everyone is happy with this arranged marriage crap. What about love?”

  “Love and marriage don’t always go together,” Clint said. “Most of us have heard that adage since we were kids. If people don’t find love in marriage, there are other options.”

  “What the hell does that mean?” Bryn snapped.

  “It’s not uncommon for couples to drift apart once children are born,” Zavien said. “The wife occupies herself with the kids, while the husband golfs or pursues…other interests.”

  “You mean they have affairs?” She waited for him to contradict her. He didn’t. Her head started to pound. “You’re all mental. How can the Directorate force people to marry and then sanction affairs?”

  “It’s not that simple.” Clint glanced sideways at Ivy. “People marry because of bloodlines. I intend to petition for Ivy. The Directorate might deny us, but that doesn’t mean I’d stop loving her.”

  Maybe a female would have a more rational perspective. “Ivy?”

  Ivy sighed. “Whoever I end up with, I’ll make the best of it. My parents barely knew each other before they were engaged. They’re happy. They love each other. If the rumors are true, it’s mostly the upper class who makes a hobby of straying.”

  Un-freaking-believable. “Why is the system so screwed up? Who decided this was a good idea in the first place? Why hasn’t there been a revolution?” Bam. Bam. Bam. It felt like someone was whacking her in the head with a bat. She rubbed her temples to try and lessen the pain.

  Zavien scooted closer and put his arm around her shoulders. “We intend to mount a peaceful revolution, but we need your help. You see the system from an outside perspective. The rest of us have been raised this way, and we can’t see it clearly. Will you stay and help us?”

  It’s not like she had an actual choice to leave. No matter how pissed off she was at her parents, she didn’t want the Directorate to make good on their threat of eviction and unemployment. She leaned into Zavien. His body was solid and reassuring, and God, he smelled good.

  He squeezed her shoulders. “Stay and fight the Directorate with me?”

  Best to lay some ground rules. “I’ll be crabby the entire time I’m here, and I’ll curse a lot.”

  “I can deal with that.” He grinned. “Anything else?”

  His arm around her felt wonderful. Maybe she could encourage his affection. “I’ll require occasional hugs and a large stash of chocolate.”

  “I’ll steal a vending machine for you. Any other requests?”

  What would help her fit in with the Black dragons? “I want a cool tattoo.”

  “I could design a tattoo for you,” Ivy said.

  “That would be great.” Bryn’s stomach growled.

  Zavien poked her belly. “When were you last fed?”

  “I ate breakfast.”

  Ivy stood and stretched. “I’m hungry, too. Let’s go to Dragon’s Bluff. We can eat at Fonzoli’s and shop for school supplies.”

  “What’s Dragon’s Bluff?” Bryn asked.

  Everyone stared. This being out of the loop crap was pissing her off.

  “That’s it. Over lunch, you three are going to fill me in on all the stuff my parents never told me.”

  “You need a primer,” Clint said.

  “You need to change back into real clothes,” Ivy said.

  “Damn dress code.” Bryn stalked into the bedroom and slammed the door.

  …

  They walked to the shuttle station and waited in line. Students stared and muttered comments. To keep her mind off the scrutiny, she focused on Zavien. “Tell me about the town.”

  “Dragon’s Bluff is unique. It’s made up of descendants of knights who used to go to war side by side with dragons,” Zavien said. “They know about us.”

  “You’re joking.”

  “No. It’s a symbiotic relationship. They’re involved in business dealings with dragons. The town protects our secret, and they’re more prosperous than they would be if left to their own devices. Technically, if called upon, they are still bound to fight by our sides. Not that any of them act as knights now.”

  “Hasn’t anyone ever questioned the name of the town?” It seemed obvious to her.

  “The town sits at the base of a cliff, and on the uppermost bluff, there is a rock shaped like a dragon. That’s where the name comes from,” Zavien said.

  Ivy scooted closer. “There’s a romantic legend about a dragon who fell in love with her knight. The knight died in battle and was buried on the bluffs. The dragon sat at his graveside and died of a broken heart. Magic turned her body to stone so she could stay by his side forever.”

  “That’s not romantic,” Bryn said. “It’s depressing.”

  “They were together in the end,” Ivy said.

  “Yes, but they were dead,” she snapped. “I doubt they had much fun.”

  “It’s a legend,” Clint said.

  “From now on, I only want to hear happy, uplifting legends.”

  “I know a few limericks.” Clint wiggled his eyebrows.

  Bryn held her hands up. “No thanks.”

  The white shuttle bus arrived. Bryn and her companions climbed the metal steps and settled into the black, plastic seats. Out the window, she watched as the shuttle wove through campus and headed toward the back gate.

  The stupid seat was uncomfortable. “Why can’t we fly to town?”

  “We could,” Zavien said. “But this way, we don’t have to deal with everyone lining up to see what you look like in dragon form.”

  There was something to look forward to. “Maybe I should post pictures around campus so people will leave me alone.”

  Ivy pulled a list out of her pocket. “I hope my dad set up my line of credit.”

  “I know my card works. If your dad forgot, you can use mine,” Clint said.

  Besides food, what expenses were involved in living away from home? How was she supposed to pay for things?

  Zavien reached into his pocket and pulled out a credit card. “Your parents asked me to set up an account for you.”

  A silver stripe ran down the side of the black card. Dragon’s Bluff was printed on one side in silver letters, and her name was embossed on the other. “This works at any
store in town?”

  “It works at the restaurants, too,” Ivy chimed in.

  “Cool.” Good to know she could buy necessities. She doubted her account would pay for much beyond that. Money was tight.

  The town came into view in the valley below. It looked like a fairy-tale setting from a children’s book. The streets were set at perfect right angles. Red brick buildings sported bright, yellow awnings, which matched the yellow flowers in the planters lining the sidewalks. Old-fashioned, brass streetlamps, green with age, lined the streets.

  It was almost too perfect, like the set of a horror movie before everyone realizes the town is inhabited by brain-eating zombies.

  The shuttle pulled into a parking lot. When Bryn disembarked, the sweet scent of caramel made her mouth water.

  Clint raised his hand. “I vote we have caramel corn for lunch.”

  “That would be dessert.” Zavien pointed to the right. “Lunch is this way.”

  Half a block later, the scent of garlic drifted through the air. Bryn inhaled and groaned. “Please tell me we’re eating wherever that smell is coming from.”

  “Yes, we are,” Ivy said. “Fonzoli’s garlic bread is awesome.”

  The aroma of garlic and an Italian flag hanging from the yellow awning were the only indications on the outside that this was an Italian restaurant. What type of weird restrictions did they have in this Stepford town?

  Inside, Fonzoli’s was decorated with red, white, and green posters depicting different Italian food. Green tablecloths and red vinyl upholstered chairs completed the color scheme.

  The other patrons threw curious glances their way. Once she was seated, Bryn blocked them out and concentrated on the menu.

  “Welcome to Fonzoli’s. My name is Valmont, and I’ll be taking care of you today.”

  One look at Valmont and Bryn understood how a dragon could fall for a knight. His olive skin, black hair, and ice blue eyes were a striking combination. When he smiled, a single dimple appeared on his left cheek.

  “Do you have any questions about the menu, or are you ready to order?”

  “I want a large pepperoni pizza.” She planned to eat it all by herself. Breakfast seemed forever ago, and she was starving.

  While they waited for their food, Bryn said, “Since I don’t know anything about dragons, tell me the basics.”

  Ivy grinned. “I’ll play the teacher. The basics, let’s see. We’re Black dragons. We breathe lightning, and we’re all fabulously creative and artistic in one way or another. Green dragons’ breath weapon is wind. They’re the analytical ones who become professors and medics. Orange dragons’ breath weapon is a sonic wave, like an earthquake.”

  “Which means you do not want to piss them off,” Clint added.

  “That makes sense. What’s their specialty?”

  “They’re good with things in the earth, like mining and growing crops,” Ivy said. “And their numbers have dropped in the last few decades.”

  “Is that why there are only two orange students at the Institute right now?” Bryn asked.

  “There are rumors of an underground community of Orange dragons who live off the Directorate’s radar,” Clint said. “But no one’s ever come up with any proof.”

  Valmont arrived with their food.

  Bryn took a bite of her pizza. The crust was crisp and light. The sauce was tangy, and the stringy cheese was heavenly.

  After she plowed her way through the pizza, Valmont came back to check on them, carrying a tray of lemon-shaped bowls. “Lemon ice all around? It helps ward off garlic breath.”

  Everyone nodded.

  Bryn dipped her spoon into the pale yellow ice and took a bite. A sour tang hit her taste buds, followed by a cold sweetness. Too soon, her spoon scraped the bottom of the bowl.

  “Want a gallon to go?” Zavien asked.

  Ignoring his comment, Bryn said, “Back to my primer. Tell me more about the town.”

  “You can find anything in Dragon’s Bluff. They have a drugstore, clothing stores, a jeweler.” Zavien’s gaze drifted to her chest.

  Her pulse spiked. But he was probably only thinking about the key she wore under her blouse.

  Chapter Ten

  “I need to visit Bath and Beauty.” Ivy pulled a list from her pocket.

  Clint groaned. “I love you, but nothing could make me step foot in there.” He turned to Zavien. “Is there a masculine store we can go to while they smell fruit-scented lotion?”

  “There’s a computer store across the street.”

  …

  When Bryn walked through the door at Bath and Beauty, competing scents assaulted her. Flowers and fruits were the predominant smells. Soaps, shampoos, and lotions lined the walls in pretty packages. It was sensory overload.

  “How do you choose?” Bryn asked.

  A saleslady approached. “I suggest you smell different scents until you find one that makes you happy.” She handed them each a basket. “There’s a back to school sale. Whatever you fit in the basket is twenty-five percent off.”

  Ivy pointed at a wall decorated with fruit. “Let’s start over there.”

  Bryn ended up next to a tall blonde who seemed familiar. The girl sniffed a bottle of green apple shower gel. Bryn picked up a similar bottle and inhaled the fresh, crisp scent. “This smells great.”

  Without looking over, the girl said, “My boyfriend wouldn’t like it.”

  “He’s not the one who’d use it.”

  The blonde turned to speak. When she saw Bryn, the corners of her mouth turned up. “I shouldn’t speak to you. He wouldn’t like that, either.”

  The idea of someone bossing around the soft-spoken girl ticked her off. Time to stick her nose in where it didn’t belong. “Did you ever think your boyfriend might have control issues?”

  The girl studied her. “You’re concerned for me.”

  “It’s none of my business, but if you want green apple shower gel, you should be able to have it.”

  “Maybe you’re right.”

  “Rhianna,” a masculine voice called from across the store.

  “I should go.” The girl snatched a bottle of shower gel from the shelf and placed it in her basket. “You’re nice. I’m sorry if the Blues are mean to you.”

  Not all the Blues resented her. Good to know.

  By the time Bryn’s basket was full, she had trial packs containing mini-sized shampoos, conditioners, lotions, and shower gels of cinnamon buns, tangerine grapefruit, peppermint, and lemon meringue pie. After checking out, she spotted Ivy holding two large bags filled to capacity. “What did you buy?”

  “My dad said he’d monitor my spending the first month and add the same amount to my account every month afterward. Figured I’d start out with a bang.”

  Bryn stepped out of the shop and held the door for Ivy. As she released the door, someone bumped her. She jolted forward, and the peppermint-scented bath kit fell out of her bag and rolled a few feet before someone accidentally kicked it into the street.

  A blond man in front of her ducked to retrieve the package. When he turned to hand her the box, she was shocked to come face-to-face with Jaxon Westgate.

  The expression of disgust he wore told her he never would have helped if he’d known it was her. Steeling herself for a verbal attack, she held out her hand. “Thank you?”

  He stood frozen.

  The blond girl from the store stood next to him. A smile played across her lips. “Be the gentleman your mother raised you to be, Jaxon. Give her the package.”

  In a stiff gesture, he thrust the package at Bryn.

  “Thanks.” She placed it in her bag.

  He gave a curt nod and stalked off.

  “That was interesting,” Bryn muttered to Ivy as they continued walking to meet up with the guys.

  Ivy snorted. “Blues would rather be accused of murder than of having bad manners.”

  Good to know that if he murdered her, he’d do it politely.

  Zavien and Clint stoo
d on the sidewalk outside the computer store.

  “I need to take Bryn to All That Sparkles,” Zavien said. “Why don’t we split up and meet for caramel corn in half an hour?”

  “Sounds good.” Clint picked up Ivy’s bags, and they headed down the street.

  Bryn followed Zavien through the crowd until they reached the jewelry store. From the outside, it looked like all the other Stepford storefronts. Inside, silver and gold trees decorated the walls. At the end of each branch, a piece of jewelry was attached to a green velvet leaf.

  Bryn turned in a circle, admiring the jewelry-laden trees. “This place is fantastic.”

  “Thank you. I designed the decor myself.” A dark-haired woman in a purple dress held out her hand. “My name is Talia, and this is my store. How can I help you?”

  “I received a charm as a gift, and I hoped you could tell me something about it.”

  Bryn pulled on the chain around her neck. The key left a trail of warmth as it slid along her skin. She held it out for Talia to inspect.

  “It resembles the keys from our legends line. May I take a closer look?”

  “Can you see it if I leave it on?” Taking it off would give her that nervous, sick feeling.

  “Come over to my desk.”

  She followed Talia to a counter in the back of the store where the woman used a lighted magnifying glass to study the pendant. “This is old. It didn’t come from my store. Can you feel the charm it carries?”

  Time to confess. “That’s why I didn’t want to take it off. When I’m separated from it, I feel nervous.”

  “The key is old, but the charm is new. Were you the first to touch it?”

  She thought back to the scene on the roof. She’d been the one to remove the key from the box. “Yes.”

  “Then the key is attuned to you. It has a powerful protection charm.” Talia frowned. “It also has an anxiety charm, to make sure you keep it close. Someone wants to keep you safe. Which leads me to ask, why would someone wish you harm?”

  After tucking the key in her blouse, Bryn held out her hand. “We weren’t properly introduced. My name is Bryn McKenna.”

  Talia’s eyes grew wide. “You’re the crossbreed. I didn’t believe you existed.”

  “I do.”