Dragon Freak- Book 1 of the Freaks Series (Complete)

Nine

Journal of Francesca DragonSpire

Dear Diary.

I spoke to Magnus tonight, he and I think our transition will hit on the next rising, and we should all be together, we must do something. We also found out, the feud between our families began with two deaths; it was between the Ravenstones and the DragonSpires. It was Poppa and Zoric's great grandfather. Kadina thinks, Zoric and my souls are the ones who died. We are reincarnating from that time. I believe her; it would explain the connection between Zoric and me. Poppa said he would talk to me about it later. I wonder what he can tell us on the subject. I cannot wait to find out; I am also terrified about the transition.

Frankie DS.

That night I dreamed no dreams, or if I did, I certainly do not remember them. I awoke a few minutes before the shutters rose and crossed into my bathroom to shower. This rising I felt like I’d been hit by a truck, my movements were slow, sluggish, and a little uncoordinated. Casper knocked on my bedroom door just as I finished tying the band around the bottom of my braid.

“Hey, you were up early,” Casper said, she was fully dressed, although like me there were dark circles under her eyes. This morning my teeth hurt more than the slight ache of last rising.

“My teeth hurt last rising but it’s more tonight,” I admitted to my cousin. My head was aching a bit as well.

“Mine too, last night it was bearable, but now it hurts like hell”. She replied tiredly. I wondered when the rest of the transition would start, as I followed Casper down the hall. Grandma and Poppa were in the dining room when we entered a few minutes later. Poppa came to his feet in a rush, hurrying around the table; he pressed the backs of his hands to our foreheads.

“Frankie and I are getting our fangs,” Casper told our grandparents. Frowning, Grandma came to her feet concern creasing her brow.

“Tabitha said Kadina was as well; she told me last night. When did, your teeth start hurting?” She demanded forcefully; both were staring at us.

“Last rising, but it wasn’t this bad then. It seems to be more of a throbbing, almost like a clock. A count down.” I admitted guiltily. Grandma started shocked, turning to Poppa.

“Impossible, no it is not possible Dorian, there is no way! She cannot have known. Do not say it. It is not possible; it cannot be. What about the others, you must check them? Dorian, check them!” she cried softly. Poppa reached for the cordless phone on a side table.

“Tibias Mentalis.” He barked into the receiver. There was silence as Grandma led us to our chairs. My teeth started throbbing harder. Casper groaned, leaning her head on her arms. I sat back in my high-backed seat; eyes closed listening intently to my grandfather’s conversation.

“Tibias, Dresdorian DragonSpire. I am calling about your boy Lucian.” Poppa went silent for a moment and then started swearing in an ancient form of the vampire language. I flinched at one reference to someone’s mother.

“Casper, Francesca, and Kadina are all about to go through the change. Francesca told me last night that it would happen this rising. I did not want to believe it could be possible. That our children could predict their transitions.” he said, shooting a worried glance at Grandma. She held a hand protectively against her throat.

“When did it start?” Poppa swore again, I missed the first part and was unable to make it out, but Grandma gave him a filthy look, whatever he had said. It must have been bad!

“Alright, yes if you will check with Roman Venturi and Solomon Ravenstone and call me back, it would be appreciated. I am with Monique.” Poppa said goodbye and hung up.

“Lucian is in the same condition as the girls, best get them back to bed. I’ll call Tabitha and have her bring Kadina here as well.” Poppa said, running an agitated hand through his hair. I opened my eyes slightly to stare up at my grandfather.

“Poppa, I’m ready for this. I knew it would be soon. I am afraid, but I am ready.” I whispered solemnly. Poppa reached out one hand, pushing the trendless of hair having escaped my braid, out of my face.

“I know you are, my brave girl.” His reply so soft was for my ears only.

“Poppa we have to be together, the six of us. We must be together.” I whispered. I do not know what he saw in my eyes; all I know is he gave a short nod. The phone rang before he could move again. Poppa whirled around snatching it out of the cradle; the noise cut through my head like a hot knife. I gasped on a throbbing wave of pain. I launched out of my chair, swaying on my feet. Grandma approached me quickly.

“No, Grandma, please do not touch me. Something, something is happening.” I waved her off; a feeling was unfurling inside me; I could hear the strange animalistic roaring in my head. Something was moving along my spine, under my skin.

“DragonSpire!” Poppa barked, almost a snarl before suddenly falling silent.

“Both! Dear gods, they were right. Francesca told me last rising they would transition today.” Poppa groaned in response to what the person on the other end of the phone said.

“Very well. You have spoken with Tabitha?” Concern colouring his baritone voice.

“Lucian told him they have to do this together. Francesca said the same. Good, we will collect them on the way, Roman thank you!” Poppa put the phone down.

“Roman is having a room prepared for all six of you; he said the transition would go easier on them. The kids say they need to be together. I agree with them, Monique; they will be able to comfort each other. Roman is having the same thoughts as you.” Grandma nodded, calling for Mark. The human appeared car keys in hand; he glanced hesitantly in my direction. I was touching my back, trying to feel my spine.

“Francesca is alright for now, but there will be six of us, Mark. We must stop at Glenwood on the way to Senath Park.” Grandma ordered. Mark nodded hurrying to bring the car around. Poppa stepped in close to me, and he rubbed my back lightly, trying to comfort me as much as he could. I could smell a mix of blood and saltwater. We were starting to perspire. Great, that was all I needed, to walk into Magnus’s house smelling like a Bogan!

“Poppa, something is moving inside me!” I whispered franticly to him as Grandma got Casper slowly to her feet.

“What do you mean?” He asked, bending down.

“It’s stretching. I don’t; I don’t know poppa. I can’t think.” I cried in a whisper, clutching the side of my head.

“It is going to be alright, just breathe dearest.” He murmured, leading me out the front doors. Mark held open the back door, his brow creased. Casper and I climbed in, crawled across the floor, and flopped into the seats on one side. Grandma and Poppa slid in behind us. Casper and I leaned against each other.

“Grandma, I forgot my school bag,” Casper muttered wiping droplets of perspiration from her brow.

“You don’t need it, dear.” She soothed. Poppa gave us a wan grin, and the car started moving. My stomach rumbled.

“I should have eaten something; my stomach is killing me,” I said, turning my head and meeting Poppa’s green eyes, the same colour as my own.

“Probably best you didn’t dearest. I made that mistake and paid dearly for it,” he replied softly. He took my hand as Grandma took Casper’s. I felt a little more comforted. Once more, the roaring began.

“Poppa, can you hear that?” I asked swaying. He c****d his head to one side.

“Hear what dearest heart?”

“The creature inside me, she is snarling. Roaring. It is getting louder. Gods it is so loud; she is fighting me. Please make her stop.” I cried, clamping both hands to my ears. Poppa’s eyes shone with something akin to shocked horror.

Time became elastic. The limo stopped, the door opened. Poppa climbed from the car, and Kadina crawled in to sit on the seat across from us.  Mrs DesCor slid in after her, followed again by Poppa. The three ancients shared worried looks. The door closed, and we were moving again. I managed to catch Kadina’s eye before losing focus; her gaze was fearful. I must have dozed, I opened my eyes, and I could taste blood in my mouth. I flicked out my tongue, and something sharp pierced the soft flesh. I turned fear-widened eyes to Poppa he peered back concerned. I blocked the view of my face from the others, a trail of blood leaked from the side of my closed mouth. Poppa reached out, he put slight pressure on my chin, and I opened my mouth. Two incisors extended and receded. A look of alarm came crashing down onto Poppa’s face. All the blood drained from his features, leaving him pasty and pale.

“Hell, and damnation! Mark, drive faster man!” Poppa yelled. I pitched forward in my seat a cry of pain torn from my throat; he caught me under my arms and dragged me up against his side. The car sped up.

“Monique, go to Casper.” He ordered. Grandma changed seats. Casper was groaning in pain. Kadina was panting, short staccato breaths. Poppa pulled his belt from around his waist, folded it twice, and shoved it between my teeth.

“Bite down Francesca. Her incisors are through. It’s coming too fast.” Poppa hissed. I felt them pierce the leather before I shook uncontrollably.

“Dorian, I will not live if it happens again.” I heard the unchecked horror in Grandma’s voice.

“Do not even think it, Monique! We will not lose our Granddaughter! DragonSpire transitions are harder than most. Our blood is of dragon’s as well as Breed.” I heard Poppa snap. His arms locked around me. The convulsing stopped. I breathed hard, panting.

“No worries Grandma I am good, worry about the other two, they are big pansies. This is a walk in the park.” I panted gasping for air and winking sluggishly at the other two girls. Kadina poked out her tongue, and Casper did the finger at me, earning her a half-hearted smack on the thigh from Grandma. Before I could return the favour, my body bowed off the seat. My mouth opened in a silent scream. I began to shake again. Poppa shoved the belt back into my mouth, so I would not put my elongating and retracting fangs repeatedly through my tongue, as I had done before. One piercing in my tongue was enough. I felt all my muscles clampdown, a twisting of my bones. Loud popping came from my joints. I fell back onto the seat.

“Oh Francesca, sweetheart, you will get through this.” Grandma cried, reaching for my hand. I held her fingers lightly.

“I am not Giovanni! I am Montcastle and DragonSpire. There has never been one of me.” I whispered in a guttural sounding voice, half-spoken, half growled. Grandma’s eyes widened.

“Yes, darling, I know you are not Giovanni.” She murmured flashing me a bright teary smile. She turned back to Casper. I gazed up at Poppa, his green eyes a mirror image of my own stared gratefully back at me.

“I am stronger than both damnit. Watch this space, DragonSpire is going hardcore.” I whispered my voice once more my own, closing my eyes. I drifted.

Poppa’s door opened sometime later. Poppa reached for Kadina and passed her out into the arms of a very tall, red-haired man. Casper was then passed to another male with blond hair. Poppa slid me carefully off the seat. I’d stopped convulsing, but the skin on my hand kept flashing from white to a scaly black and red. Terrified, I held up my hand to show him.

“Poppa, what the hell is going on?”

“It’s called the aspect of the dragon, and it’s happening all over you, not just your hand. Stay calm for me; you’re doing so well.” He replied softly, perspiration dotted his forehead. A familiar face loomed over mine.

“Mr Ravenstone, I not going to make it to school today. I am feeling a little under the weather. I am miffed about missing military studies again, though; I was looking forward to it.” I murmured sluggishly. The handsome father of my crush smiled worriedly down at me.

“That’s alright, Francesca. You have a whole year of military studies to make up for. Your class is not going anywhere.” Solomon Ravenstone told me. The creature inside me pushed to the forefront.

“Yes, it is. We will not be here for long. A storm is coming. Solomon, Dresdorian are you ready?” I murmured in a voice, not my own. My eyesight suddenly sharper, my irises elongating. Poppa swore. I could see a small dragonfly humming around a flower in the far garden; it appeared so close, magnified.

“It is so pretty. A little dragonfly, buzzing around the flowers.” I whispered a small smile touched my lips.

“Dorian, what the hell was that?” Mr Ravenstone demanded. I had no idea what they were talking about, and I felt the heat rise within me. I stiffened.

“Poppa, here it comes again.” I groaned pushing the belt back between my teeth. Poppa laid me on the stone stairs with Mr Ravenstones hastily removed the jacket, placing it under my head as I began to convulse again. This time my back arched off the stone, my body as taut as a drawn bow. Poppa and Solomon held me down with strong hands on my shoulders and legs. The convulsions stopped. I panted again, the belt slipping from my mouth. My face burned, Poppa and Mr Ravenstone were staring down at me with faces of unsuppressed horror.

“I am going to wreak so much havoc and when I am done with the parentals. Selene too, I am going to make earrings from her fangs!” I panted attempting to sound tough.

“Dorian, I take it by the look on your face; this is not your typical DragonSpire transition.” Mr Ravenstone hissed, lifting me quickly into his arms, he sprinted for the staircase. Poppa yelled at Grandma for help.

“No Solomon it is not. This is something else.” He returned tensely. The belt dropped to the floor. I felt a fire race through my insides.

“Put me down, hurts too much, on the floor please,” I whispered brokenly. My mouth near Mr Ravenstone's ear, I breathed in short strained bursts. He stopped suddenly, and my Poppa nearly ran into his back. He laid me on the smooth stone floor. The pain was arcing up my spine. I jerked up onto my hands and knees. I started to shake again. This time I screamed, the pain in my back growing. I heard skin and material tearing. Both men swore, and a woman’s cry of fear echoed in the stone hall.

“Oh, hell! She’s a changeling!” Poppa whispered as I arched again. The pain in my back receded, at last, I slumped face-first to the floor. Poppa wrapped me in his too-big jacket. Mr Ravenstone picked me up again, and he carried me down a hallway and into a huge room with six kings sized beds. Five of which perspiring and panting, transitioning vampire adolescents occupied. Mr Ravenstone did not put me in a bed; instead, he carried me into the bathroom where Grandma and Mrs DesCor were waiting. He placed me gently on my feet, where I leaned against the wall. I was so tired.

“Is that it, piece of cake? It was nothing, I told you, Grandma, tough as nails.” I forced a laugh, pretending to brush it off. Grandma smiled and closed the door. Both women stripped me of my ruined uniform. There was blood covering my shirt. Mrs DesCor wiped the blood from my tender back.

“Mum should have told me,” I whispered. Grandma nodded eyes glinting with anger. She handed me a pair of loose drawstring pants.

“Your mother has more than a lot of explaining to do Francesca.” She replied, spying the puckered scars covering the flat firm skin of my stomach and the brand marring my side. I reached out and cupped the side of her face, drawing her gaze up to mine.

“I don’t much want to open that can of worms right now, Grandma. Thank you for taking me into your home.” I muttered my hand dropping back to my side. I looked up to the ceiling to blink back tears. Thankfully, Grandma changed the subject.

“Francesca, you are a changeling. You can become a dragon without the use of witchcraft. This is very rare, even for DragonSpires. This is going to be more painful than we previously expected.” Grandma explained buttoning up a huge men’s silk shirt that she had put on me. Someone knocked urgently. Mrs DesCor opened the door. A very pale Dresdorian stood in the doorway.

“They are changelings! Every one of them. The kids knew though they did not understand.” He whispered shaken to his core. He moved out of the way, so we could see the other five kneeling on the floor on hands and knees arching their backs. Mrs DesCor ran to Kadina. I stood in horrified fascination as the skin split down each of their spines, huge wings emerged, leathery almost transparent with small coloured veins. My stomach rolled, and I swayed. Poppa caught me up into his arms and carried to the remaining bed. He laid me gently in the middle.

“Poppa, I’m glad you’re here. The parentals would have left me to go through this on my own.” I told him tiredly. He sat on the side of the mattress; his big hand brushed the hair off my forehead.

“Didn’t your father take you to the caves when you turned thirteen?” He asked softly. I shook my head.

“Aunt Selene said it was a silly superstition and to engage in it was folly. Mum forbad my Dad to take me. Dad told her to sod off; this led to a big fight. That is why the parentals split up that time. Mum still won because Benson was too upset about his marriage to take me to the caves. Dad and I had a fight last rising. He told me I had defective genes. Grandma heard the conversation. Selene convinced them my power was too weak to transition, and I would stay like a human or die.” I replied around a yawn. A thunderous look crossed Poppa’s face. He leaned down and kissed my forehead.

“You are not defective my dearest heart; you are the strongest DragonSpire ever born. My Grandparents would have been screaming your name from the rooftops. Hear me now and listen closely; the transition will come in waves. It will swell and then recede. Call out if you need me, I have a few important calls to make. I am here for you, my dearest girl. I will not allow you to die. I will storm the heavens and bring you back. Not even the gods will protect the ones keeping you from me. I vow it, my little dragon.” He whispered with a small smile.

“Poppa do not call them again. That’s why Dad rang me. He was mad; he wanted me to lie to you and say the kids attacked me out of self-defence. They didn’t Poppa; I swear they came at me.” Poppa leaned in and kissed my head again.

“Shh, I believe you, just rest. Call out if you need me.” He got to his feet and strode out the door. Grandma closed it behind him. I saw the look he shot her; it was blind terror mixed with unchecked fury. I could feel his power swelling; it lifted the hair on the back of my neck when the force of it caused the thick walls to ripple.

“Tabitha look at the walls. I wonder what Francesca told Dorian. Whatever it was, he is livid.” I heard Grandma say to Mrs DesCor. I looked around me. Everyone was again lying in his or her bed. I rolled onto my side, facing the door and was surprised to see Zoric's dark eyes staring back at me.

“Hey Z, how are you doing?” I said scooting closer to the side of the bed. He mirrored my movement.

“I am all right, are you okay? I heard you scream.” He asked in a half-whisper. I noticed the others did not have blood covering them. That would be right give me the short end of the stick!

“Yeah, wings hurt. The parentals are pretty freaked, though; they said we are all changelings.” I whispered urgently. Zoric frowned in thought.

“Changelings’, what’s a changeling?”

“Grandma said we’re basically dragon shapeshifters,” I replied, keeping my voice down as low as I could. Zoric’s eyes grew wide.

“Dragons, huh? I want to say that’s so cool, but I have a feeling this is going to be bad, really bad.” He said. I had to agree. The adults were too freaked out, for us not to pay attention.

“She also said our transition would be more painful than usual.”

“Figures the cool stuff, always hurts the most,” Zoric swore closing his eyes for a second. Sweat beaded on his brow. My skin began to flicker between red and black scales, then back to normal. My hand kept changing. I looked up again. Zoric stared at me intensely. Suddenly a smile lifted the corner of his mouth, and his eyes popped open. I could see the ghosts of pain receding in his gaze.

“Just for the record, I think your pretty hot stuff too DragonSpire. Not just interesting. When I saw you on the stairs at school, I almost swallowed my tongue. I didn’t know, females like you existed.” He whispered suddenly. I stared shocked at his revelation, coming completely out of the left field. Then I laughed low and long.

“Casper, you’re a stinker. You promised. I still had one more rising.” I called my cousin, who was in bed across the room from me. A laugh came from the other end of the room.

“It was me, ha-ha Frankie, owned!” Kadina called giggling.

“Thanks,” I muttered. Zoric winked and sat up. He was not wearing a shirt! Thank you, Gods! The parentals had left us alone for a few minutes. For the first time, I saw the full extent of the jagged scar crossing his chest. I winced; it must have hurt a lot.

“Hey, guys listen up. Mrs Montcastle just told Frankie we are Changelings. Dragon shapeshifters. Frankie being a DragonSpire, was already predisposed to change shape easier than the rest of us; their blood is mixed with Dragons anyway.” All six of us were sitting up now, staring at each other intently. I was silent. I did not know until Poppa mentioned it to Grandma.

“What does that mean, are you saying we’re going to turn into dragons?” Kadina’s voice was barely above a whisper. I turned eyes in her direction.

“Grandma only said our transition is going to be more painful than she first thought. Poppa said the pain would come in waves, apart from that, I don’t know much more.” I replied, fear penetrating my voice.

“What do you mean by waves?” Lucian’s face was beginning to contort. His eyes became glassy and strained by the second.

“The pain will come and then recede for a bit and then come again, like a tidal swell.” I gasped suddenly with the sensation of an inferno building inside me again. Lucian threw himself back on the bed, withering and gasping, his legs scissoring over the sheets.

“Gods Poppa I need you!” I cried, the roar of a dragon echoed around the room. Zoric's head snapped around at the blind fear in my voice.

“Frankie!”  Zoric was struggling to get the sheets untangled from around his legs, sweat beaded on his face and neck.

“Gods damn it, it hurts. Oh, it hurts.” I cried out, the inferno built to a crescendo. The force of the wave sunk me fully into a convulsion so strong it threw me across the bed and off the other side. I landed with a painful, dull thud on the floor. I managed to flip onto my stomach, looking like a struggling fish out of water. Zoric appeared next to me, the skin around his mouth, pale. He lay on the floor next to me, holding my hands.  He started panting too; I could feel the waves of pain radiating from his body. I jerked hearing a series of thuds. What was that? I thought.

“My Dad said to breathe through the pain, try to rise above it. Frankie, breathe.” It took all my concentration to hear Zoric's voice. Blood beaded on my brow, it rolled into my eyes. I managed a slight nod; I was unable to speak. If I unclenched my teeth for even a moment, I was going to scream. I shuddered an involuntary and unceasing movement. I rolled to my side, facing Zoric, hands still gripped, held tighter. A shadow loomed over us. Mr Ravenstone hunched over.

“They’re over here Dorian, that’s it, help each other through it kids, you’re doing great.” He encouraged worriedly wiping our faces and the backs of our necks when the waves of pain receded. He glanced worriedly at Poppa as he mopped blood from my head.

“I heard your calling; I am here dearest heart; I am right here. It is alright.” He murmured.

“Grandma said we could do that thing this weekend.” I panted breathlessly. Zoric and I were huddled against each other, chest to chest our legs tangled together. My face was in line with his neck. His Addams apple bobbed each time he swallowed. It took a minute for him to find his voice.

“Cool. I’m still waiting on a response from my Dad; he seems to be taking sweet damn time about it too.” He replied pointedly because his father was still crouched over us. Mr Ravenstone chuckled softly.

“I yield! Even during a particularly ugly transition, he is trying to negotiate this weekend; I guess it’s a go then Mrs Montcastle.” Ravenstone called across the room. Half-hearted cheers from other parts of the room sounded. Followed up by soft chuckles from worried parents and grandparents. Poppa knelt beside Mr Ravenstone and pushed my hair out of my face.

“Hey Poppa, victory is ours, we get our study weekend?” I told him, my voice did not sound like my own; it was breathless, almost wispy from exhaustion. He did not smile although his eyes grew a little lighter.

“Congratulations, that is wonderful news. Unfortunately, you are not going to like what I must tell you. Your parents are on their way dearest heart.”

“No.” I flinched violently at his words; something fierce within me raised its head, my eyes became sharper. Poppa’s eyes widened for a split moment with something akin to recognition.

“No, I don’t want them here. Tell them to go back home.” I whispered savagely.

“Francesca, they are your parents.” Poppa admonished softly. I made a rude, snorting sound, rolling my eyes.

“Parents, huh, you mean captors. Some parents they are. Dad said they wanted a boy, a powerful male to equal the great DragonSpire and Montcastle bloodlines but instead got lumped with me a useless little girlie.” I muttered disdainfully. Zorics arms got tighter, and he bared his shiny new fangs a deep and menacing animalistic growl coming from the back of this throat. Poppa did smile then.

“Message received loud and clear, young man.” He shared an amused look with Zorics stunned father.

“What do they want anyway?” I asked my voice muffled against Zoric's throat again. I leaned my head back; it landed softly on Poppa’s leg.

“I told them that you began your transition. I said you were different, and it was very painful. I also told them they have a lot to answer for; you were not prepared for this at all, were you?” Dorian’s voice rang with suppressed fury.

“I bet they are coming just to see me scream and wither on the floor. It would give them a real thrill.” I muttered. Mr Ravenstone's head snapped up, staring in shock. The male body pressed so tightly against my own stilled.

“Frankie, you didn’t answer the question. They didn’t tell you what to expect at all, did they?” Zoric asked gently pushing my shoulders back so he could peer down into my face. I shook my head.

“All I knew was the little bit Grandma told me at dinner when I arrived at her house. Selene said I was faulty and would not go through the transition. The parentals believed her and did not tell me anything. They said I did not need to know. I asked a teacher at school about it once, and he told the parentals. They were furious that I would ask outside my family. I think the parentals were hoping I would die.” I replied quietly. Zoric tilted his head back and looked up at his father.

“Dorian will deal with it son; you stay with Francesca.” He said, putting a comforting hand on his son’s shoulder. Zoric suddenly stiffened against me and then began to pant and shake a low moan broke from his mouth. I put hands to his cheeks, forcing his forehead to mine.

“Breathe through it, remember. Try to rise above the pain.” A wave so intense, hit me like a sledgehammer. Zoric and I wrapped our arms around one another. A light surrounded us; a nimbus of black and red swirled around us. Time was elastic; we did not know how long we had been submerged in the pool of agony. We continued to convulse, and there was no holding back the cries of pain. All we could do was hold each other close until the wave faded again.

“I am voting transitions off this island.” I panted, tears flowed from my eyes. Zoric and I sobbed into each other’s hair.

“Transition is the weakest link.” He muttered sourly. A cool washcloth ran over our faces. My whole body hurt. I could feel the cold stone penetrating the thin material of my sweat and blood-soaked shirt.

“I need to get up before the next one.” I groaned. Zoric leaned heavily on his father. Poppa appeared as if out of thin air, he just reached down and plucked me up off the floor, depositing me back in the bed. To my surprise, they did not say a word about Zoric climbing in with me or when he pulled me back against him lying chest to chest again with my face tucked into his throat. I shuddered, and Zorics hold grew tighter.

“When will they be here?” I asked my voice muffled again. Poppa heard me. I felt the bed behind me dip a little as Poppa sat on the edge of the mattress.

“About ten minutes. It’s been two hours since I called them.” He ran a cloth over the back of my neck. I began to hum a small tune in Zorics ear; it was something that just popped into my head. He picked it up and hummed softly with me. I closed my eyes, willing sleep to come.

“I brought some ice to wet your lips.” A beautiful woman with dyed bright white hair spoke softly. Startled I jerked opening my eyes.

“Frankie, this is my mum Sonya,” Zoric whispered in my ear. I leaned my head back, so I could see her better. She was looking down at her son, worriedly.

“Mum, this is Francesca DragonSpire, Frankie.” He said softly as exhausted as I was.

“Hello, Mrs Ravenstone,” I said in the best upbeat tone I could muster. She smiled warmly and pressed ice cubes to our lips. Bliss!

“Hello, Frankie, thank you for looking after my son. He means a great deal to his father and me.” Her voice was melodious; it seemed to flow through me.

“I think he might mean a great deal to me too,” I whispered. Mrs Ravenstone smiled down at me warmly.

“Same goes DragonSpire.” Zoric murmured. I felt his lips brush my forehead. The blissful feeling of the ice against my lips did not last long, as I had hoped it would. We just closed our eyes to rest again before the next wave, when a commotion broke out in the hallway beyond the closed bedroom doors. Mr Ravenstone, Poppa, Mr Venturi, and Mr Mentalis strode out into the hall, leaving their wives and our Grandmothers to care for us.

“Frankie, Z, hey are you two still living over there?” Magnus called out softly from his position directly opposite us. He and Kadina curled chest to chest. Lucian and Casper mirrored their position in the bed Zoric vacated before following me to the floor.

“We’re good, Lucian, Casper, how are you doing?” Zoric called back his voice a little stronger than mine.

“We’re alright, what’s going on out there?” Lucian called back. Mrs Ravenstone opened the door a c***k; she listened for a bit before closing it and coming back over to us.

“Francesca’s parents are here, along with a woman called Selene. Monique and Francesca’s mother are yelling. Dorian has Francesca’s father by the throat and is choking him.”  Mrs Ravenstone chuckled. Excitement tore through me with sudden force, and emotion clouded all thought. I had to get up; I had to see I had to know what was happening.

“Frankie, what are you doing?” Zoric pulled back from me a bit. I could feel fangs elongated against the backs of my lips. Black and red scales mottled my skin again. I cried out as my huge bat-like wings tore through the back of the shirt I wore. I heard Zoric swear as my wings clobbered him in the face.

“Sorry, didn’t know they were coming out. They could at least ring a bell or blow a bleeding trumpet when they do that.” I groaned over my shoulder. Zoric chuckled. I rolled off the bed, moving slowly towards the door. More blood oozed down my back. I staggered, stumbling just managing to catch myself before I pitched face-first into the floor. Zoric scrambled to follow; the same transformation within him pitched him forwards; it was as if he was feeding off my emotions.

“You’re not going out there alone, Frankie, wait for me. I am right behind you.” He growled. His elongated fangs appeared longer and more menacing than mine. I shivered he was one scary male. Mrs DesCor opened the doors stepping quickly back out of our way; I glanced back over my shoulder. Zoric was so close behind me; I could feel the heat from his body. Magnus, Lucian, Casper, and Kadina all with the bat-like wings identical to mine, shadowed us. We moved in pairs, swaying with weariness, mirroring each other’s movements in a graceful dance. The creature within me lifted its head once more, this time demanding more from me than before. I suddenly felt comfortable within my skin. For the first time in my life, I felt who and what I was. Unbridled power!

Through the open door, I spied my mother and father standing off to one side, arguing while Selene stood toe to toe with Mr Ravenstone and Mr Venturi who owned the house. He denied her entry to the room where we had been resting.

“I will see her now! There is no such thing as changelings Mr Ravenstone. You and my sister are either daft or in pathetic need of schooling. You call yourself a headmaster, an educated male. The creatures you speak of were wiped out centuries ago; they no longer exist!” Selene demanded stomping her foot and snapping her teeth together with an audible click.

We, all six of us, laughed at Selene’s revelation. Our combined voices harmonized. Zoric wrapped one arm around my neck in a loose chokehold. I shifted my body weight to my back foot.

“Changelings are not real. Mm, Francesca, I think I missed that lesson, did you get the notes?” Zoric asked me his voice travelling the short distance was low and gravelly, almost menacing.

“I must have missed the memo. What about you, Casper?” My cousin stepped forward, Lucian pressed against her back.

“I must have slept through that class, Kadina?” She answered stonily. Zoric and I swayed, we caught the doorframe. Kadina stared through my aunt.

“Mm, I remember it now. It was the class strictly for moronic parentals. That is why we do not remember. We are neither morons nor parentals.” She finished unemotionally. The corner of my mouth hitched up a little at her response.

“Mr Venturi, we owe you a couple of new shirts. These suckers have no sense of propriety; they just pop out without warning. Poor Z might have to fill out an incident report.” I told him wagging the little claw on one tip of my wing in a small wave. Mr Venturi shot me a warm smile.

“It’s alright. They are only shirts easily replaced, and I doubt Z has been badly wounded. He looks to be in fine shape.” He replied kindly. Magnus hugged Kadina closer. Mr Ravenstone winked in my direction.

“I told you not to worry. My Dad wouldn’t care about a couple of shirts.” He whispered. Kadina shrugged one shoulder.

“Hey Dad, looks like I am not so defective after all. I wonder where I would have gotten that idea. It must be the DragonSpire genes, which made me this way. I have heard somewhere that dragons can be impossible to live with. No offence intended Poppa.”  I stated, eyeing his son. Poppa smiled grimly waiting for Benson to say something to him about their bloodline. I c****d my head peering at my mother; her eyes were bright with unshed tears.

“Francesca honey, we never meant to hurt you.” Her voice carried softly across the hall. Zoric and I laughed harshly, as one. My mother flinched.

“I recall, you meant for me to die painfully and horrifically on the floor before the fire mother, you remember, that, don’t you? You were holding a burning hot brand at the time. But that is not a conversation meant for public ears.” I pointed one finger at her, looking down at my extended index. It trembled a little. My eyes shot to Poppa. He started moving toward us at a clipped pace. Peering back down at my hand, I turned it over; the trembling overtook my whole hand.

“What the-, Poppa what’s happening?” I started; the pain had not begun yet. Having pressed so tightly against my back, I suddenly felt the shudders coming from inside Zoric. My body was mirroring his. I spun a blur of movement, catching Zoric I pressed against his chest.

“Zoric...No... Please no, not yet. Damn it, rise above it.” I snarled, fighting to stay lucid and upright. I heard Zorics breath hiss as he struggled with the fire threatening to consume him again.

“I can’t, Frankie.” He cried softly. I clamped my lips, not wanting my grandparents to hear my cries of pain. The shudders in my body grew stronger, my eyes clashed with Selene, slashing with a mixture of disdain and amusement. Selene backed up a step, the look in my eyes promised swift and terrifying retribution. Pain erupted again like a volcano, ripping through us with such force, blood poured from tear ducts, ears, noses, and mouths.

“Frankie.” Zorics agonized moan split the suddenly silent air. He clutched me tighter, black claws where his hands used to be, stabbed deep into the flesh of my sides. I jolted in shock; something inside me lifted its head roaring for release. A high-pitched haunting cry, torn from my mouth echoed by Kadina and Casper, the sound bounced off the high ceiling; it rang loudly

through the house.

“Dresdorian, it is not possible. They were wiped out, and he was destroyed.” Grandma cried her normally serene face etched with fear. Dresdorian DragonSpire stared wide-eyed as the horrific scene unfolding before him. Dread settled in his bones, and his mouth ran dry with fear.

“Impossible.” He muttered shocked. Zoric stilled, arms like steel curved tighter around me. I met his blood-stained gaze. Long black dreads plastered to the side of his face. I reached up to trace a line from one of his dark eyes to the corner of his mouth. I swayed wearily; somehow, I knew it was not over yet.

“I know you, I see you now. We are what came before.” I murmured, a crease forming between my eyebrows as I searched inwardly for an answer, to what was happening.

“Blood to blood our souls are one,” Kadina whispered Mr Venturi, and Mrs DesCor stiffened.

“Old to new. Forming time and space.” Casper called faintly, her head pressed to Lucian’s chest.

“New to old, with fire and ice,” He snarled breathlessly, holding my cousin closer.

“Wind and earth, we bend, we shift,” Magnus ground out through clenched teeth.

“We crush and tear, driving back despair.” Zoric looked down at me. He saw fear, pain, weariness, and resolve.

“Fang and claw, scale and might, our return is here. We stand. We fight.” I cried the words on a wave of pain. Poppa’s hands were shaking as he reached towards me. Light, brighter than the sun spilled out from within us, engulfing our bodies in heat. It lasted no more than a second but seemed to burn for an eternity. Clutching one another again, pain, so much pain, more than before rushed over us like a tidal wave. A shadow moved behind Zoric, with the last of my strength I spun us sideways hissing. As one the others moved as well, Zoric, Magnus, and Lucian stood back to back, our shorter bodies clutched to their chests. I turned my head to snarl at the shadow.

“I am sorry,” I whispered. It was Zoric’s mother; I sucked in a short breath of relief before the wave took me again.

“Solomon, quickly they’re going over. Help me!” Sonya cried, catching Zoric and me to her chest, we started to collapse. Pandemonium broke loose, and parents dived for their children; all six of us fell withering on the floor like a fish out of water, clutching at each other trying to ride over the pain.

Zoric, Magnus, and Lucian were head to head, and I was sprawled next to Zoric.  Magnus withered beside me; I could feel the air around him pulse with power. The wave lasted forever, or so it felt. Finally, the six of us reached the peak of our transition with ear-splitting screams, our voices fused with that of the changeling. The combined roars of six dragons shook the house; power pulsed out of us in a concussive force. The sheer magnitude threw our parents and Grandparents through the air, landing heavily with grunts and cries of pain. They watched helplessly, faces stained with tears as their children thankfully passed into blissful unconsciousness. Dresdorian DragonSpire crawled along the floor, coming face to face with me.

“Salomor is here, light the shadows Dresdorian. It has begun.” A voice not my own whispered. Popper stared deeply, knowingly into bright dragon eyes. He brushed a hand down one red and black scaled cheek.

“I see you. Sleep old friend, will we stand firm to the end of days.” He whispered. With a sigh, we closed our eyes, allowing the darkness to take us.

****

Henry Tibbies did not know what had been going on at the Venturi Estate, but he was going to find out. All six of the original power families were together. A bright light had erupted from within one wing of the house, followed by the most ferocious roaring. The last time the power families met a feud broke out. They were almost tearing the Breed into two separate factions. Now they looked to be playing with powerful magic. Henry was not going to let it happen again. Twenty years ago, Henry lost Japara. The love of his life, to the thieving poser Roman Venturi. He would have his revenge. He saw the way the DragonSpire girl and the Falcon boy looked at one another. They thought no one noticed. Their families would tear themselves apart to keep them separated. It would draw the powerful six into another war. Henry could not wait to see them all fall.