Percy POV:
"You need WHAT?!" I exclaimed jumping back in surprise while simultaneously sliding into a defensive position. I was ready to take this guy down when I noticed that he was laughing.
"OH!," He managed to bark out, "The looks on people's faces when I saw that a PRICELESS!" I paused in confusion but didn't lower my guard. "Don't worry young man," he said when he saw my defensive stance, "I don't want to harm you but I really will need a sample of your DNA." I relaxed my stance, but I was still ready for anything.
"What exactly do you need it for? I thought this was an adoption! Not some sort of crazy mutant lab…thingie…" I really wasn't sure what to think.
"Well, it IS an adoption, you may be a part of the Cadence family (AN: Yes Cadence IS a musical term, just like Melody and Intone(ay)) legally and in paper work, but in our culture you must also be related by blood to gain the full admittance into the family in order to blend in a bit more, especially when you are mortal and in your case your draconic growth has been stunted because of it. You'll retain your human DNA, but you'll just have more dragon DNA than human now." He explained
"Oh, well…" I was absolutely dumbfounded by this point. I thought over his words and they started to make more sense. Because I was actually not fully a dragon I wouldn't get all of the extra bonuses or downfalls of being one, so I'd never fully fit in in the community. Also I won't gain one of those cool abilities like Melody's singing or Ralen and Esmond's control over mists and clouds. "I think I understand now, so by joining our DNA we combine our powers right?"
"Yes, however it is only you who will be gaining anything as we don't want them to be infused with human blood. Not that we have anything strictly against humans, its just that it would be a significant decrease in power for them and that would be a little unfair." He explained. I understood now.
"So, who exactly is this going to happen?" Melody asked "How would we combine DNA without killing ourselves?"
"The procedure is simple," Mr. Selest began to explain "First I will take a little of the Cadence family's being as in a sample of hair or skin, however, because you are not a full-blooded dragon I will have to use a more binding method of this ritual in that I will need to get a sample of blood from both them and you. Don't worry though, it literally wont hurt a bit and I mean that it wont hurt. However, you may get a surprise that will hurt when your bloodlines combine." He said with a hint of a mischievous smile. His words were a little off putting but I got the picture. "So after I get a sample of blood I will drop them into this basin," He gestured to what looked to me like a really fancy birdbath that you would find in the richer houses of New York, "the order is very specific so it will be the Cadences who will go first seeing as it is YOU joining THEM. Then I will speak the ritual and you will become joined. Simple as that."
Just them a man came in who looked a lot like Ralen and Esmond. He was panting slightly, as though he had just jogged all the way here. He walked in and hugged the children, not me of course, and then kissed Intonay (on the cheek thank the heavens) and then he walked up to me. By now I already had a pretty good idea of who he was. "Hello, there young man, you must be Percy. My wife has told me all about you. I am Jared Cadence, Melody, Ralen and Esmond's father." He held out his hand so I took it.
"Its nice to meet you sir, um… thank you for letting me stay with you guys."
"Its no trouble, really. It was all my wife doing to be honest. It isn't the first time she's taken in an orphan," He leaned in closer and whispered to me "Between you and me, I think she's a little obsessed with taking in things that need a home, just last month she tried to take in an injured pegasus and you can only IMAGINE how difficult it was to make it look like it flew away of it's own accord." I stifled a laugh and he smiled and straightened up to address Mr. Selest. "Ok, we are ready to begin, please start the ritual."
Mr. Selest then pulled out a small knife that was cobalt blue with a golden hilt and it was tipped in black and the black was outlined in a rosy color that seemed to both darken and enlighten the immediate area around it, no farther than a few centimeters, but it was still an evident distortion in the air that looked rather odd. I narrowed my eyes but decided to see what it was going to do. Then he went and led Esmond up to the birdbath and Esmond held out his hand. Mr. Selest cut it and I cringed but when I looked again Esmond was looking in wonder at his hand that was not even injured in the least. I too looked at it in wonder. The same happened to Ralen, Melody, Intonay and Jared. When Jared's blood was dropped in it flashed, not red, but a neon pinkish color which I thought was interesting but at least it wasn't cliche. Then I guessed ti was my turn. I approached the birdbath with a small amount of apprehension, but after seeing the others going I wasn't too worried. I held out my hand and he took the knife and sliced my hand but I didn't feel anything but an almost bliss however I winced involuntarily. The moment my blood sent ripples through the mixture and it turned electric turquoise, almost the exact shade of my eyes that I could tell. Then it flashed white and disappeared. There was a moment of silence where even Mr. Selest seemed confused then I felt excruciating pain and convulsed in the agony of it.
Melody POV
Percy had suddenly convulsed in pain when the basin turned red. Not the stuff inside it, but the actual basin itself turned a bright red and then a crack appeared on the edge of it when Percy screamed and I turned my attention to him. There was a ripping sound and wings burst out of his back. 'Ohhhh…. that had to of hurt. Getting your wings all at once. Geez, a normal full-blooded dragon's wings develop over the month approaching your 6th birthday and when they are sky worthy they will glow and do this cool animation thing for a few seconds when you are officially 6. It causes a little discomfort but not pain. I know that Ralen can't wait to get his. Dragon wings are weird, but mine are weirder.
They started like normal dragon wings, leathery and light. However, mine have started to morph into feathery wings like a bird or angel. The feathers only come out when its around day time though so I think it may just be one of those weird happenings. One of my friends from when I was still in school had a lion's paw for his left hand. Dragons seem to have a lot of genetic defects now that I think about it. Probably something to do with our rapid evolution over the last 5 generations. According to school, dragons were only recently able to take human forms but enough about that.
By now Percy's wings had stopped forming and they were beautiful. The wings not Percy, ew. They were navy blue at the base and got lighter as it fanned out to the tip of the wing turning a sea green at the top and white lines shifted across the surface to make it look as though they were made from the sea. Except you could see the membranes that held the leather together which sorta ruined the image but it was still awesome. Mine had made a musical staff and emitted a strange but beautiful song that I still can't quite place after a year. Note to Self: keep trying to figure out that song!
Then the light died down and his wings just retained the navy blue color like mine had retained their dark purple. I also noticed that he looked a lot cleaner than before this started. Then I think he passed out cuz he wasn't moving and our family's crest appeared over his head, a few wisps of white with birds going through them and rain pouring down. Then he promptly collapsed onto the floor as the magic was no longer supporting him. Mom rushed over and helped him up as he regained consciousness. Then me, dad and the boys went over and we gave him a group hug. It was only when he started to wheeze from lack of air that we let him go.
"What happened?" He asked. I was about to explain but mom cut me off.
"You are now officially part of the family, but lets get you home so you can rest and I'll explain the details later, okay?"
"Okay."
AN: I am soooo sorry for the long wait. I had a serious case of life and homework. It was not pretty and my current 3 day weekend is the only reason this is published at all. So forgive me for making it being a short chapter, but I wanted to publish SOMETHING. Hope you enjoyed it and have a great day! ~ FictionGirl11
