“Darien, breathe. It’s going to be okay. I know it feels like it won’t, but it will. You’ll all get through this.”
“That’s not it.” He stopped and stared at her with large, puffy, eyes. “I know we’ll cope as a family with this. We’ve done it before. I can’t do what he’s asking me to do though.”
She bit her lip holding eye contact with him. “Then don’t do it.”
“What the great dragon lord wills is what’s done. He is the decider. He believes it to be God’s will! I can’t just walk away.”
“Then we’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” she said softly. “For now, you should try to sleep.”
He nodded at her, exhaling slowly. “We’ll take it one step at a time right?” We, does this mean you’re going to stay?
“Right,” She grabbed his hand and gave it a firm squeeze, interlacing his fingers with her own. Yes, I’m staying.
Chapter Thirty
The funeral was held two days later on the roof of their home. As was custom for their people, Orion was burned by the blue flame conjured by his sons. It was something they had to create together. The ceremony to create the fire took twenty minutes of verbal prayer - normally. They were able to create it in ten, and this was only because Darien let his emotions get the better of him and he lost control of his magic. Nobody noticed thankfully. It was therapeutic, and they had to be united as a family. The last thing he needed to do was ‘steal the show’.
The rest of the ceremony was brief. Only the immediate family was present for it. The rest of Darien’s family - his uncles, aunts, great uncles, cousins, grandparents, etc. joined them in the party room for refreshments and conversation. It’d been a long time since there were so many people in their home. There was a lot of food too. Darien had barely been eating, and at this point all he could do was eat. Eating was better than talking, and everyone wanted to talk to him. They all said the same things. They all offered the sympathies and then asked him what they really wanted to know.
“Is it true you were there?”
This was his Aunt. He couldn’t remember her name for the life of him. All he remembered was that she was married to one of his father’s many brothers, and one he had never been particularly close with. He was significantly younger. Orion had been long moved out when he was born.
Darien gave a slow nod, and opened his mouth to say something, but stopped when his grandfather joined the conversation.
Grandpa Lucca was an old man. He’d seen many centuries on the planet and was the equivalent of being roughly in his seventies in terms of human years. He was once the great dragon lord, but retired twenty-some dragon years prior because his mind was beginning to fail him. He rarely recognized anyone, or remembered important details in general.
“Dari,” he greeted, and stretched out his fragile arms for a hug. Darien carefully hugged the man and then offered him some support as he re-situated his cane. “You’ve gotten big so quickly. Weren’t you just this size yesterday?” He made a gesture to his knees.
“I think I was that big when you saw me last.” It had been ages. He hadn’t been called Dari in a long time. Grandpa Lucca always remembered Darien because of some strange supernatural occurrence only he could see. It made little sense, and all he would do is ramble about it without ceasing. It made Darien uncomfortable. Orion said he’d always been like this.
“The pie, take me to the pie, Dari,” He insisted and started to tug Darien back over to the food. “I’m not crazy you know. I just play it.”
“Okay,” Darien nodded a little. What else could he say?
“Your Aunt Sophia, or maybe it’s Ethel, or Rhonda,” he said thoughtfully. “She makes this great apple pie. She made it for your mother and I said she had to make it for your father too. It’s tradition.”
Darien swallowed. Tradition for dead people? “So um....” He struggled with a conversation topic.
“I’ll talk. I’ll talk. No more of that!”
“No more of what?”
“So um....” And then Lucca cackled loudly and everyone stared. Darien was getting enough stares already, and this only made him want to hide more. “No that isn’t allowed at all. You need to learn, future Lord.”
“Y-y-you...” Darien stopped in his tracks and stared at his grandfather for a moment. The old man stared back at him with a wide grin. “How do you know?”
“I was told. Why else do you think I picked O for the job?” Lucca always called his father O. Darien hated it more than being called Dari. “It’s all about you. Your brothers are so jealous!” He started cackling again. “I’m not crazy. I told you. I told you.”
“Here, pie.” Darien managed as he handed his grandfather a slice. “Is this something all the lords do? Know secrets?”
“You will know too. They’re going to try and take it away. I saw it. It’s your choice after all.” He paused to eat. “Mmm. Pie. I told you!”
Tai, help, I’m going nuts.
Chapter Thirty-One
The reading of the will had gone smoothly, for the most part. There weren’t any problems at all until Darien was indeed announced as Orion’s successor to the lordship. All hell broke loose then. Everyone seemed to have an opinion; most were not in his favor.
“He’s too young - much too young.”
“Orion must have meant for this to happen at a much later date when the boy was older.”
“He’ll have help. Orion’s word is law.”
“He’s a freak!”
“He’s a murderer!”
This last accusation drove Lance over the edge. “Stop it! How can you say that about your brother?” He stood up from his chair angrily. “I dare whoever said it to come down here and show themselves like a real man!”
It was just the men of the tribe. They were meeting at a place known as the Sanctuary. It was the home of the first great dragon lord, Perseus. Only those in the tribe knew of its location, and the grand palace was where all of their emergency gatherings were held. It was the only place that was truly safe. Because Orion was indeed murdered, by the Inero no less, they had to proceed with extra caution.
After Lance made his declaration, everyone was silent, and the room became even more tense as their Uncle Garrett stepped out of his seat and moved to the front of the room. Darien and his brothers were all at the front, sitting at a table with their Uncle Arthur. Lance was the only one who seemed unthreatened by Uncle Garrett’s presence.
He was older, and had always felt entitled to the position of the great dragon lord because he was the biggest of his family as well as the most powerful magic user. This made him greatly feared among their family, especially because he was so bitter to have never been appointed a true leadership position for the tribe. Darien was scared of him. He didn’t understand why Lance wasn’t. Lance would never be able to best the man in a fight. Perhaps Darien could if he used his magic, but the last thing he wanted was a fight. He didn’t understand how to control it enough to feel safe.
“You?” Lance asked.
“Perhaps murderer is a stretch,” Garrett said. “And it was not I who said it, but I do agree with the purpose of it. He’s dangerous. Orion put him in this position because he was afraid of the boy. Everyone is afraid of him. He’s touched.”
“I don’t see what that has to do with his character,” Lance said. “Because anyone who really knows Darien, knows he is the most gentle, kind, and loyal person they’ll ever meet. There is no reason to be afraid of him. Yes, he’s touched, but that’s not his fault. Have you stopped to think maybe he is touched for a reason? A reason like this?”
Everyone was quiet, waiting to see what Garrett had to say in response. “Then the boy is cursed. Destruction and pain follow him wherever he goes. I, for one, do not want a leader who will be leading us to death.” He was grasping for straws, looking for any reason to turn the family against his nephew. It made Darien’s stomach turn. Was his uncle trying to manipulate the family into choosing him as the
new leader?
“Orion’s word is law.” Uncle Arthur said quietly, now also rising. “It is this man’s decision to make it so, not ours. Because at this point in time he is our lord, and his word is also the law.” He looked at Darien, and made sure to put emphasis on the fact that he was indeed a man now.
“And what do you think of this Arthur? You’ve served as first council for all of Orion’s reign,” Garrett sounded bitter about this especially. “Do you think he is the one?”
“His successor must be one of his sons,” Arthur stated bluntly. “You know this as well as I do. As for if he is the one or not?” He looked between Darien and his six brothers for a moment, “Yes. I do. I have seen things in my time with Orion that not everyone else was allowed to see, as was my right as his first council. Things from Orion and things from God Himself. I trust this to be right, and from witnessing all of his sons and their thoughts of the sessions they’ve sat in during the quarterly council meetings, Darien was the most observant. I do believe he was meant to rule now.” There was stir of voices amongst everyone watching.
“So you believe that Orion saw his own death coming?”
“If that is what God showed him, then that is what he saw, but he knew no matter what happened in the future, he wanted Darien to take his place. Whether he was to die the day after he signed the will, or thirty years from now.” Arthur folded his arms in front of his chest. “Regardless, it is not my say, nor yours, and I will respect the one who was appointed to be my leader, whether I agree or disagree. It is not my right to question.”
Garrett was silent for a moment, taking in those words, and then he returned his attention to Darien. “And what do you think of all this, boy? You look as though you have done nothing more but weep like the child you are. Do you really think you are capable of leading an entire nation?”
Darien swallowed hard. What other option did he have? His brother’s were either too naive or too arrogant. Granted, Darien didn’t feel like he could do it either, but he felt like he didn’t have a choice. The fact still remained their father believed it was meant to be.
“Forgive me for showing proper grief over the loss of my father." Darien glared at his Uncle. “As for whether or not I can lead, not me on my own, but with some grace from God, and help from my family, yes.” Darien finally said. “And the first thing I want to do is find out why the Inero are bent on destroying us.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
“Tai,” Darien shook her until her eyes opened and she made sure to give him a glare. When she looked at the clock next to her, she saw it was close to one in the morning. She was about to snap something about waking her up in the middle of the night not being a good idea, but she stopped herself when she saw him smiling a genuine smile. Not a weak or forced one which was the most he’d been giving her since his father died. For the first time in a week, he looked happy.
Slowly, Tai sat up in bed. “Yeah?” She returned the smile, wanting to encourage him in his happiness. He couldn’t shut down.
“It’s raining,” he whispered. He wore a childish grin, and it grew wider when the distant sound of thunder rumbled through the air.
“It’s storming,” She said and tossed aside the covers. Quickly, Tai pulled back her hair, found her flip flops, and ran for the door with Darien close behind her. Careful to not wake anyone, they moved through the halls towards the stairs. Tai started to go down, but he stopped her.
“Let’s go up.” He suggested, taking her hand and leading her up the two flights of stairs to the roof. He opened the door and held it for her to go first.
She chewed on her lip hesitantly. “I don’t want to get struck by lightening.”
Darien rolled his eyes and stepped past her, going outside. He spun around in the rain a few times out towards the middle of the rooftop before going back to her. His eyes glowed slightly in the dark, filled with such intensity, and she wondered if perhaps she was looking upon his magic.
“See?” He offered her his hand. “It’s perfectly safe. The lightening is miles away. Besides, there are much taller buildings nearby with rods. Come on; don’t miss your first storm in three years by being a chicken.”
Tai took his hand, laughing as she stepped under the torrential rain. She was instantly soaked. “Are you challenging me?”
He didn’t answer her verbally. Instead, he pulled her to his chest, and she was glad for his warmth. One arm snaked around her waist, and the other took her hand and he held her in the traditional waltzing position. “I just thought maybe we could dance together.”
“Of course.” She nodded, and he spun her around.
He gave her a sheepish smile. “That’s about as far as my dancing skills go.”
“It’s the best dance I’ve ever had.” She said and leaned up to kiss him softly. His lips lingered near hers for a moment before he moved in for another one. This kiss was longer, more passionate, and she found her fingers curling under his hair and her mouth opening to his slightly.
“Why do you dance in the rain?” He asked once their lips had parted.
Tai laughed and attempted to spin with him again, but her arm caught on his shoulder. “I dance because it reminds me that nothing is too big for me to handle.”
“That’s a good thing to remember.” Darien sighed happily, before pulling away. “I brought you out here for another reason too. I think there’s a way you can let your mom know you’re okay without going home. There’s a spell. It will allow you to send her a message that will appear to her in a dream. It’s complicated, but I can do it. The rain is amplifying my magic.” He bit his lip and his brow furrowed with determination. She realized through his body language alone he wasn’t certain of his abilities, but he was willing to do whatever it took to make it happen.
She kissed him again, “What do I have to do?”
He motioned for her to take both of his hands. “Concentrate on your mother. No matter what happens, don’t lose focus on her. When it’s time, I’ll tell you when to send your message.”
Tai squeezed his hands, and closed her eyes. She focused all of herself on her mother. It’d been a long time since she’d seen her, and the details of her were beginning to become fuzzy. This disturbed Tai. The last thing she wanted to do was forget.
She thought about simple details to try and jolt her memory again. The way her mother looked. Her hair was dark, just like Tai’s, but her eyes were a hazel color. They always looked soft and gentle, even when Tai had been disobedient. She liked to read a lot, and the house was constantly filled with her singing. Baking was one of her favorite pastimes. There was always some kind of homemade treat available in the house. She laughed a lot, despite being alone. Tai knew her mother felt lonely. They wouldn’t talk about it much, but she always looked a little sad. This sadness increased the last few days Tai had been at the house.
“I’ve found her,” Darien said weakly.
Tai’s eyes snapped open, startled, and she gasped when she saw him. They were both completely surrounded by a bright, blue glow. Magic poured from out of him, and it reminded her a lot of the blue fire she had watched him conjure at his father’s funeral. His eyes were squeezed shut as if he were focusing every bit of his energy and concentration on this task. The magic dimmed slightly before the light intensified.
“Focus please; I’m not sure how much longer I can hold the connection. Speak your message.”
She nodded, quickly trying to think of what she wanted to say. There was so much, and not a lot of time. “Mom, don’t be sad for me. I’m okay. I’m happy, and I want you to be too. I love you.” Tears filled her eyes. “I miss you. Please, don’t forget about me.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, glittering, navy, ribbons of magic floated from her lips. The ribbon swirled around Darien, before disappearing in a bright flash that reminded her of lightening. For a moment she thought they had actually been struck by it, because as soon as the flash was gone, so was all of the magic and Darien could hardly
stand he was so weak.
“Thank you,” she whispered. She wiped her tears from her eyes and hugged him tightly. I love you. The rain broke their psychic connection, but Tai didn’t want to hold back any more. Saying the words aloud still scared her and her pride still got in the way, but she no longer held herself back from showing him. When the two returned to their bedroom, they made love for the first time since their wedding night.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Darien gave Tai’s hand a squeeze as they walked towards the front doors of Oceina City High School. He was so nervous, and Tai really couldn’t understand why. What was there to be nervous about when it came to high school? Though, Tai was fairly certain his nervousness had nothing to do with the school itself. It had everything to do with his upcoming meeting with the entire dragon council. All of the tribes would be there for his official introduction and swearing in as the great dragon lord of the Oceina tribe. This was coming up soon, and the closer the date came, the more he talked about it.
It’s so stupid. I don’t know why I can’t use my Uncle Arthur as my first council. It’s a dumb rule. He told her again as they walked through the hallway of the school. She’d heard this several times already.
You’re avoiding my question, Tai observed and gave him a smile. When do I get to meet all of your friends?
You don’t. I’m different. I’m not popular here. He gave her a weak smile. He motioned at his hands which were now covered with black gloves to hide the claws he had instead of fingernails. Besides, dressing odd, I also got overly excited when I first got here. I’d never experienced being around humans my own age, especially girls. What was cool when my brothers were in school was no longer relevant for me, so I basically made a fool of myself to the point where I don’t think anyone wants to be seen with me. I earned the branding of freak, and they won’t let it go.
Legend of the Oceina Dragon (The Dragons Saga) Page 13
