Chapter 6
“I would have thought better of you than to marry a dancer,” Peter said as they entered the theater.
Alexander raised an eyebrow.
“But you know she's a carapace,” he said. “And possibly the most powerful one we've ever met. A carapace-dragon alliance is something that has long been sought after.”
“Was that before or after our father ordered the slaughter of them because of how dangerous they were?”
Alexander evaded the question. “They aren't dangerous,” he said. “As long as they are on your side.”
“I hear they can be addicting,” Peter said, giving him a sideways glance. “Have you ever heard that?”
Alexander evaded the question as well, leading him through the maze of underground hallways that took them to her dressing room.
He was surprised when Ariel saw him in the hallway and threw her arms around him. He hugged her back. “Darling?” he asked.
“I'm going crazy. I need to sleep,” she said. “Sorry, I thought I was tougher than this. You dragons mess with my head.”
“It's alright,” he chuckled, running a hand through her hair. “It's fine. Grab your bag and we’ll walk back.”
“Thanks,” she said, locking her dressing room door behind her as they began to walk. She was still in her stage makeup, and he could see the weariness in her face. Alexander was looking forward to a nice, relaxing night. Peter seemed at least quieter and less self-destructive than he was twenty-four hours ago. Alexander even had plans for a romantic evening, and he was about to ask Ariel what she thought when she suddenly she stopped dead on the sidewalk.
“Darling?” he asked. She was staring straight ahead across the sidewalk. In front of their hotel was the very man she had seen in the lobby earlier today.
“There,” she said, trying not to be obvious. “Is that not a dragon?”
Both of the boys looked across the street, and Peter turned pale.
“You're not crazy,” Alexander said, looking closer.
“If I'm not crazy, why do you two look so stunned?”
“Because that is a dragon,” Alexander finally managed. “His name is Otto.”
“Good?” Ariel replied, but Alexander wasn't done speaking.
“He's dead,” Alexander finished. “Otto has been dead for two years. I personally saw him vanish into the Other. He worked in the palace as my father's aide-de-camp.”
“He was with me,” Peter said. “In the Other.”
“Didn't you just get finished telling me that Peter coming back was some sort of miracle?” Ariel asked. “How are there two of them now?”
“Three,” Peter said, and both their heads swiveled towards his pointing hand.
Wandering down the street looking confused was what Ariel recognized as a female dragon. Her neck was longer, her eyes the telltale yellow, and she looked recently changed.
“Do you recognize that one, too?” she asked her husband, who slipped an arm around her.
“No,” he said. “But I'll hazard a guess to say that you can feel the Other magic off her, too.”
Ariel closed her eyes for a moment. “I think so. It's not an exact science, you know.”
“We have to get inside the hotel,” Alexander said. “Did you see a back entrance?”
“Probably that way,” Ariel pointed along a side street. “Why are there so many here?”
Alexander glanced to Peter who raised his head a bit.
“Because they are gravitating towards their king,” he said. “It's built into them. It's how we control our subjects a bit easier than human monarchs. It's built into their magic to rely on us, to seek us out when lost.”
“So much for free will,” Ariel said. “Come with me.”
“I'm not going to ask how you know how to get into a hotel the back way,” Peter said, speaking up as she snuck them around the worker's entrance. “No doubt questionable motives.”
She glared at him. “People recognize me for my work, jerk,” she said. His brow only furrowed because the word didn't translate. “Why are we running, by the way?”
“Less questions, more hiding,” Alexander said, and her heart skipped a beat.
“I've never known you to be afraid.”
“I'm not afraid,” he answered. “I'm confused, and we need to figure this out before they get to Peter.”
Peter snorted.
“Are you afraid they will drag me back to the Other?” he asked, as the elevator door opened, and they were able to let themselves into their suite.
“That would be difficult here on Earth with a carapace,” Alexander answered. “So, good luck to you, brother. What I want to know is why are there dragons–dragons whom I know died–suddenly wandering the streets?”
“Maybe the Other failed,” Ariel sank onto the bed. “Maybe it needs to be rebooted.”
She said it in English, and it drove Alexander crazy that she could switch languages so fast. He translated as best he could, looking to his brother.
“You have no idea why you are back, do you?” he asked.
Peter remained silent, and Alexander repeated the question.
“Peter. Were you pulled back?” he asked. “Did you want to be there?”
“You know that I wanted to be there,” Peter replied. “You know that I'd prefer to be there rather than anywhere else.”
“So you didn't have a choice,” Alexander said. “You didn't possibly have a part of yourself that wanted to be back, with us? With me?”
Peter remained silent, and Alexander ran a hand over his face.
“What are the reasons that the Other could fail?” he asked.
Peter shifted, glaring at Ariel. “Isn't that obvious?”
“One carapace cannot pull down the magic of the Other,” he scoffed.
“What makes you think she's the only one?” Peter said.
“Because Father took care of the rest.”
“Sorry, your Father did what?” Ariel asked, raising an eyebrow. Peter smirked.
“For being married as long as you two have, you'd think you know everything about each other. Our father ordered the slaughter of all carapaces because he was afraid.”
“It's not like that,” Alexander quickly turned to her. “There were a few who were dangerous, who were using their power for the wrong reasons.”
“And slaughtering them wasn't using your power for the wrong reasons?” she said. “Look, Alexander, you know I don't judge you, and I certainly don't judge what your family does. That's not your fault. You've been good to me. But is it possible that's why I'm a screwed up foster kid?”
“It's possible,” he admitted, and she got up, shaking her head.
“Whatever,” she was clearly not alright with the history that was being presented to her. He could see the emotion brewing under her skin. “So, if you're blaming carapaces, Peter,” she said, “are you thinking they missed a few? Because I’m still here?”
“I'm thinking,” he answered, “that unless my memory serves me incorrectly, it's been thirty years since the slaughter of the carapaces was ordered. An anniversary is a perfect time to get revenge. If you were missed, how many others were missed?”
“What is the big deal, anyway?” she asked. “So the wall between living and dead falls? Shouldn't you rejoice that all your dead friends are back? Your father would be back, wouldn't he? That should delight you.”
“Except that means everyone is,” Alexander said. “Including the ones who were executed for their evil intentions. Every magical creature when they die goes to the Other. Hundreds of years of history.”
“Why would they be here?” she asked.
“They can be anywhere,” Alexander shrugged. “If Peter got his magic back, then anyone could have.”
“This is ridiculously dramatic,” she buried her head in her hands. “I'm going to get some air.”
“Ariel,” Alexander reached out for her. “Now is not the best–”
“Do not give me orders,” she snapped at him, with more anger than he expected. She charged out of the room, leaving the boys in silence.
“Thank you,” Alexander said angrily to Peter, who simply raised an eyebrow.
“How have you kept all of that from her?”
“Because Ariel doesn't care,” Alexander replied. “She has never judged my history, my quirks, or my position in life. The marriage that we have is not based on love.”
“But it is based on trust,” Peter replied. “And even if you did not marry for love, you cannot be married so long and not come to care about each other. We see it all the time in nobly arranged marriages. Our parents were married out of an arrangement, and look how father wept when mother died.”
“And because of that, you must make sure she knows everything?” Alexander snapped at him. “She already wants to divorce me, Peter. I don't need any help.”
“Why does she want to divorce you? A very human notion, by the way.”
“Because marriage doesn't fit her style?” Alexander asked. He laughed.
“A wonderful queen you've damned us to,” he said. “You're addicted to her.”
“I'm not,” he said, and Peter shook his head.
“You don't eat, Alexander. You don't like being a dragon any more than I do. I chose to give up my life, but you've found other coping methods. Tell me the truth. Without her at your side to help you through your rule, your life, what would you do? Would you do exactly the same as I did?”
“I don't know,” Alexander sighed, his shoulders sinking. “I don't know.”
“Well, that's good,” Peter answered. “I'm glad I left you in charge then.”
“You didn't leave me in charge,” Alexander answered. “I had no choice, I had to take up the throne.”
“You could have dodged,” Peter said. “Started a new life with your human lady love here. The husband of a dancer sounds significantly less stressful than a king.”
“Just stop talking,” Alexander said. “Every time you talk, you cause more trouble.”
“So, what would you like me to do?” Peter asked. “I'm your prisoner here. You are blocking the majority of my magic.”
“You have enough magic to call Nicholas,” Alexander replied. “So perhaps you can call and tell him the world is ending?”
“I'll use those exact words,” Peter replied. “But we should get back, don't you think?”
“We get back and you'll kill yourself,” Alexander said. “It's not that easy.”
“So, I am your prisoner,” Peter grinned, knowing he was driving Alexander crazy.
“Is it a crime that I want to keep my older brother alive?” his voice was practically broken. “Is it?”
Peter fell silent, and Alexander turned to the window, wanting to get away from Peter at that moment. Looking out onto the street, he watched the people go by.
Everyone seemed so calm, walking by, talking on their cell phones, laughing. It was a simpler life and a simpler world. They only had one form and one state of mind to worry about. They didn't have to transform; they didn't have to eat like carnivorous animals. They didn't have to deal with yellow eyes, changing shapes, or ruling an entire planet.
Peter was right, although he could barely bring himself to admit it. If it weren't for Ariel, he wasn't sure that he would have made it through. It had been a hard few years that was for sure. Her calming touch. Her relaxing gaze. If she wanted to be out of his life, he wasn't sure what he would do. He needed her; he wanted her. It sure sounded like being in love when he thought about it. But love was for the stupid; love was for fools, for those who were weak. Nobles married for status, for advantage, and she was his social climb, at least in his head.
But perhaps, it was more than that.