The Gemini Reign

I was confused. What were they doing? The fundamentals?

“Come and sit, Avery,” Selene held out her hand. This was so weird. I still couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that they were talking about shifting so freely. Did they forget that they had been lying to me for sixteen years and had vandalized my memories? I couldn’t act like everything was fine, and we were one big happy dragon family.

Why should I be expected to? Why should I forgive them? Why should I forget? I shouldn’t have gotten my hopes up when I couldn’t live up to their expectations. Backing up into the trees, I said, “No. I’m not doing this. I can’t. I won’t.” I turned around and broke into a run.

“Avery, wait!” I heard them shout after me. I didn’t look back and just ran. It felt good to run, my heart beating hard against my chest as I dodged the trees. When I finally got back to Selene’s car. Selene was in the car. How did she…?

I remembered what Justin said. They had super speed. Selene rolled down the window, popped her head out of the car, and said, “I can take you home if you want.”

“Why are you helping me?”

“Why not?”

I took her offer. We sat in awkward silence. “I won’t apologize. I don’t want this life. I want to be normal.”

“I don’t want you to apologize. I want you to take advantage of your youth and freedom. I never had that freedom.” She said.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I am the eldest, and so I had to give up my childhood to be trained for queen.” She said, “Which might be soon unless…I die. Then Justin will take the throne.”

I felt stupid. I should have known that. Except why was Selene so calm when talking about her death. Did she not care? Why did she think she was going to die? She was so young. Also, wasn’t she rich? Couldn’t she pay for protection?

I asked her these questions, and she laughed bitterly, saying, “It’s common for royals to die young, especially in my situation. I can pay for protection, but I can’t trust other people.” She looked at me, and her voice projected importance, “Not even my own family.”

I was shocked by her response. I didn’t think she had any problems. She was so put together and so peppy in school. I guess everyone had their problems. I wasn’t surprised at the last part. I couldn’t trust my family, either.

I didn’t realize we were home until Selene pointed it out, but I still had one question, “What situation?”

“Pardon?”

“You said because of your situation you could die.”

“You can’t know. Not until you decide to accept who you are.”

I walked into the house. I didn’t think she would use my curiosity against me. She did say she couldn’t trust anyone. I guess that included me, but I didn’t think it included Justin.

I would wait until he came home. He trusted me. He would tell me why Selene was prone to die young. I wasn’t curious. I had to know. It was a part of my decision. If she could die, I could too.