Jasmine POV
I groaned. I wasn't exactly sure why but I felt really tired, and my head was throbbing like crazy. I felt my body stir. Then, my eyebrows furrowed.
What the- what am I doing lying down? And on where?
I opened my eyes, sat up immediately and stared at my surroundings.
Great, just where I need to be. In a prison cell. But… how did I get here? What had happened? I remember green smoke then something hit me from the back and- Oh… Something else happened before that. My mom. That guy named Jake. Roxanne.
Then, something moved beside me. I turned my head sharply.
Speak of the devil, there she was.
I blinked, confused.
But why? Why are we here? Who took us here? … Actually, there were only two people whom I could think of who could and would have done so. Why, though? I couldn't understand. It must be something about the Huntsclan, but why take Roxanne? What's she got to do with all this?
I continued looking at her. My twin. Another thing I couldn't understand. Another how and why. How could this have happened? Why didn't I know any of it until now? I can't believe everything turned out this way.
I dropped my gaze and once again, started looking around, my brain trying to think of a way out when another question popped into my head. Where's mom? And that guy? And that dog…
I shuddered. That talking dog. It's creepy. I know I never really liked dogs but this isn't prejudice. I mean, I've seen all kinds of magical creatures but talking and walking dogs? Come on, no way. There's just no way.
Alright, enough, too many questions all at once, not good for an already aching head. This is so unfair, why am I the only one pondering about these things? I glanced at Roxanne and frowned. It couldn't possibly hurt her to actually do some thinking once in a while.
And as if on cue, Roxanne stirred and slowly her eyes opened. I stared at her in mild amusement as she blinked, probably wondering where she was. Slowly, she sat up, eyebrows raised skeptically.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS? WHERE THE HECK AM I?"
…
Ow.
I rubbed my ears. Man, can she scream…
--
"Huntsmaster, exactly what are we going to do with those two?" the Huntsboy asked his master who was looking out the window of the room they were in, which, I might add, was the Huntsmaster's study.
"You should know better by now exactly what we're going to do" he replied, his back on him.
"So, they're both really dragons?"
"Yes"
"Which one of them is the American dragon?"
"I have yet to know. But it does not matter"
"But master, one of them is part of the Huntsclan-"
"That is incorrect"
"What?"
"Both of them are actually part of the Huntsclan"
"What! But how-"
"Do you remember who Rose is?"
"Yes, of course" he replied without delay.
"She was once an apprentice. But after a year or so of starting, she stopped because she had met a certain person. After disappearing for four years, she came back and married that same person. That person who happened to be the American dragon during her time. They had children, two of them, twins. A year later, something ensued and they broke up and left New York, bringing with them one of each twin. Of course, barely months later, we moved in and the dragon came back with his daughter. That is their story"
The Huntsboy nodded in understanding. "But…"
"But what was it that happened that caused the reason for their break-up?" the Huntsmaster continued for him. "Well, let's just say an accident involving the dragon's dragon master. Rose killed his dragon master"
The Huntsboy raised his eyebrow. "Why? I thought she loved that dragon. Why kill his master?"
The Huntsmaster smirked. "That, of course, that's what he thinks"
There was a slight silence before the Huntsboy spoke again. "Huntsmaster, if those two are part of the Huntsclan, are we really going to kill them?"
His master surveyed him. "That may not be the case. One of them already is an apprentice. I suppose if she chooses to be with the Huntsclan then it's acceptable. The American dragon, on the other hand, might not-"
He was interrupted when someone screamed loudly. Very loudly.
"Hm…seems like our guests are awake. Why don't you go introduce yourself, Alex?"
--
"What do you mean we're captured?!"
"I mean, we're in a cell at the mercy of whoever caught us" Jasmine replied irritably.
"No way. No stinkin' way. I do not, I repeat does not, get captured by anyone" Roxanne declared.
"Well, looks like you'll have to revise that 'fact', won't you?"
Roxanne glared at her. "Shut up!"
"Don't tell me to shut up! I'm just as upset as you are but you don't see me screaming!"
"That's because you're an idiot!"
"Shut up!"
"No!"
"Yes!"
"Why should I?!"
"Because I said so!"
"Then the more reason I shouldn't!"
"Freak!"
"Nitwit!"
The two glared at each other.
"That's something you don't see everyday" a voice spoke.
Both blonds turned their heads sharply and simultaneously.
"You" Roxanne said, eyes narrowing.
The Huntsboy smirked. "From that glare you're giving me, I believe I can conclude that you are the American dragon"
"Got that right, freakface. Now, tell me where-"
"You're the American dragon?" Jasmine interjected, apparently shocked.
"Yeah, I am. What about it?" Roxanne replied.
"But… but…" Jasmine seemed too stunned to speak.
Roxanne raised an eyebrow. "What's with you?"
"I can tell you that" the Huntsboy said, still smirking. "She's the Huntsgirl"
"What!"
Jasmine glared at her tone. "What about it?" she retorted then blinked. "Wait a minute, I'm part of the Huntsclan, she's a dragon but we're supposedly twins then that must mean-"
"Both of you are part of the Huntsclan and both of you are dragons" the Huntsboy continued for her.
"WHAT?!"
"NO WAY!"
"YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING!"
"Well, no, I'm not. Deal with it" he responded.
Roxanne scowled at him. "When I'm going to get out of here, I swear you're going to get-" She stood up and made a move towards him.
"That's impossible" Jasmine intervened. "If she's part of the Huntsclan, then she must have the mark"
"What mark?" Roxanne asked.
"This one." Alex (I'm too tired to write Huntsboy, it's too long) raised his hand and took out his glove. There was a tattoo mark of a dragon.
Roxanne stared at it with wide eyes.
Jasmine placed her hand on her right shoulder and pulled her sleeve down a little so her bare shoulder was seen. And there it was again, the tattoo of dragon. "She can't possibly have one" she said without doubt.
"Do you?" Alex asked Roxanne mockingly. She glared at him then looked away. "What's so important about a stupid mark anyway?" she muttered.
"It dictates your destiny" he replied.
Jasmine stared at him. "You believe that?"
"Yes. And so do you. Or, you wouldn't have accepted to become an apprentice"
Jasmine continued looking at him but didn't answer.
"So, your mark?" Alex questioned Roxanne who glowered. "None of your business!" she snapped.
He smirked. "You do have it"
"I didn't say that"
"You didn't not say it either"
Roxanne glared at him. "Go away"
"Make me"
She scowled darkly.
Alex smirked again. "I'm not here to make fights" he said. "Well, not entirely" he added when Roxanne raised an eyebrow.
"Then, why are you here?" Jasmine asked.
He turned to her. "I've had a talk with my master. He says he will reconsider releasing you"
"On what condition?" both twins replied. They exchanged looks of aggravated surprise before looking back at the Huntsboy.
"I thought you were smart, shouldn't you have guessed that by now?" Alex responded.
Jasmine stared at him.
Roxanne glowered. "Dream on, jerk" she said at once. "I'd rather die"
"You do know that I'm giving you another chance. Your other choice is exactly that, death"
"Um, hello? Didn't I make myself clear enough? I'd. Rather. Die. Than join the likes of you bastards"
"Why do you insist on protecting magical creatures? What do you gain from it?" Alex wanted to know.
"What I gain doesn't matter. What they do does, or at least, what they keep. Their lives"
The Huntsboy looked at her, taken aback. "So, you're saying you'd give up your life for them?"
"Wow, you catch on quick for an idiot" Roxanne replied smoothly.
There was an awkward silence. Roxanne stared at the two Huntslcan apprentices who, in return, were also staring at her.
"Will you two stop staring at me?" she snapped.
Jasmine blinked. "Oh, right. Sorry, it's just that…"
"Just what?"
"I never knew you felt that way about magical creatures…"
Roxanne met her gaze. "What's it to you?" she responded but her tone was slightly softer.
Before she could reply, Alex had spoken. "Your choice. Foolish as it may be" he said, regaining his composure before turning to Jasmine. "What about you?"
There was a slight pause as she was still looking at her twin with a rather awed look of surprise. Then, she surveyed him intently before giving her answer.
--
Rose paced back and forth, murmuring to herself, worried than she could ever be.
Jake, sitting on the steps of the school, followed her with his eyes.
"Why don't you try talking to her?" Fu spoke beside him.
"And say what?"
"Something to make her stop. She's driving me nuts"
Jake glared at him.
"Kidding" he said. "Come on kid, look at her. She needs to calm down"
The previous American dragon sighed. "You're right." He stood up.
Fu watched as he approached her. They talked for a little while then Rose slapped him. The gray dog blinked.
Jake returned to his seat with a red mark across his face. "Tried. Didn't work"
Fu had to keep himself from laughing out loud. Then, Rose came near them with an apologizing face. "Oh Jake, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. It's just that-"
"You're worried" he said for her. "I figured." He fingered his sore cheek. "Man, I forgot how hard you can hit…"
Rose laughed a little before a serious expression took place. "Jake" she said urgently.
"I know. We'll find them, don't worry"
She stared at him with an expression Jake couldn't read. "It's not just that…"
Jake looked at her. "Then what?"
She looked down, fidgeting with her top. "Jake… the Huntsmaster… the recent one… he's… you see, he's not just someone ordinary to me… he's…"
The dragon waited for her continuation.
Rose took a breath. "He's my brother"