The Twin Dragons Series: Requiem City

MADDIE

Apparently the image of Dominic’s body was too graphic to even show on the news.

When I got back to Greensward, everyone was grieving—well, grieving might be too strong of a word—processing what happened.

No one had any love for Dominic—he was a monster.

But he was also one of us.

We’d all grown up with him.

He was an orphan. A street kid.

His life hadn’t been easy.

For my part, he’d taught me almost everything I knew about thieving, even though he held it over me like a debt that needed to be repaid.

I sure as hell wouldn’t miss the sonofabitch, but I was still shaken by Harry’s description of his body.

I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy, and that was exactly what Dominic was.

When I opened the door to my room, Darshan immediately threw his arms around me.

“Dammit, Maddie, don’t scare me like that again,” he said, his voice quivering.

“Sorry, Dar, I promise I’ll be more careful next time,” I replied, giving him a tight squeeze.

We sat on the edge of my bed and lay back, staring at the ceiling.

“I’m glad he’s gone,” Darshan said suddenly. “I’m glad he can’t hurt anyone any more.”

I clutched Darshan’s hand and took a deep breath.

He was a good kid, and I’d been looking after him for years, but the truth was he looked after me too.

I was glad I still had friends like Dar and Harry to lean on when things got weird.

And things were getting really freaking weird as of late.

“Let’s not devote any more time to talking about that bastard—may he rest in peace. Let’s talk about something fun,” I said, changing the subject.

“Mads, have you met us? When do we ever have fun? We’re dour, disadvantaged orphans, and that’s the extent of it,” Darshan responded.

We both broke into laughter and rolled around on the bed, poking each other, but were interrupted by the sound of someone clearing their throat loudly.

Ugh, freaking Elle.

She stood in my doorway with a look of pure annoyance on her puckered face.

“What do you want?” I asked, not even trying to hide my distaste for her.

“I see you two have no respect for the fact that your fellow brother has just died.” She sniffed haughtily.

Elle knew exactly what kind of person Dominic was because she was the same kind of person.

His death probably meant the end of several illegal operations she had going with him.

“We all mourn in our own ways,” I said scathingly.

“The school called—said you skipped again,” Elle said with an evil smirk. “That’s two strikes, Maddie. One more and I’m throwing your ass back on the streets.”

“You can’t do that!” Darshan shouted. “This place is supposed to take orphans in, not throw them out.”

“She’s almost eighteen,” Elle sneered. “She’s out of here soon anyway.”

It was true, and I had no idea what I’d do when that happened.

“Anyway, this came for you.” Elle dropped an envelope in the middle of the floor instead of handing it to me. “Better not fuck up again.”

As she walked out, I excitedly scooped up the envelope and tore open the seal.

I’d never received a piece of mail in my entire time at Greensward.

“What is it?” Darshan asked impatiently.

“It’s…it’s an invitation,” I said, examining the fancy letterhead. “To a party at Req Enterprise…tonight.”

“Are you going?” Darshan asked with a gleam of excitement.

“We’re going,” I said with a smile. “I have a plus one.”

***

A stretch limo pulled up in front of Greensward, and Darshan and I piled in, dressed in our best outfits.

It was already filled with other kids our age, likely from other programs funded by Req Enterprises.

This was the company’s ten anniversary party, and the Dobrzyckas had decided to make it a public event for the first time.

I didn’t exactly want to see them after our encounter this morning, but the party would be massive—I could probably just avoid them.

With my luck? Fat freaking~ chance.~

“Did you see the news this morning?” a blue-haired boy across from me sneered as he talked to his friend. “Fucking brutal. That’s what you get for going to Club Emerald. I wouldn’t go within a mile of that death trap.”

From the way he was dressed and the smug look he wore on his face, I could tell that he must’ve come from money. He was definitely not from a community center.

“I knew him,” I said. “He was from Greensward.”

The blue-haired boy turned and looked me up and down.

“You’re from one of the Dobrzyckas’ charity programs? Greensward you said?” There was a note of distaste in his tone.

“That’s right. I grew up there.”

“Those arrogant assholes throw their money everywhere, just so that they can have their greedy claws sunk deep into every facet of this wretched city. All they want is power,” he said with surprising venom.

“If you despise them so much, then why are you attending their party?” I shot back.

“They fund my boarding school, and I’m top of the class,” he replied arrogantly. “It’s sort of a requirement. What’s your name, girl?”

“Maddie,” I replied, somewhat coldly.

Our limo slowed to a stop in front of the Req Enterprise skyscraper.

“I’m Nautica. You should remember that name if you know what’s good for you,” he said, smirking. “I’m here to slay.”

Barf.

This guy was so full of himself.

But I had to admit I was curious about his claims against the Dobrzyckas…

***

I pulled Darshan into the crowded elevator with a dozen other young boys and girls, including Nautica.

I had two goals for tonight.

One, get really drunk.

And two, avoid Loch and Hael.

As the elevator attendant pushed the button for the 85th floor, the doors began to close, but before they shut, a muscular arm shot through the divide and they reopened.

All the girls screamed in delight as Loch crammed his massive body into the already too-full elevator.

“What’s going on?” Darshan whispered to me.

“Trouble,” I whispered back, annoyed that I had already failed one of my two simple objectives.

While most of the boys were looking at Loch like he were a god, Nautica glared at him with absolute contempt.

Loch wasted no time in pushing his way over to me as the elevator began to rise.

“Madeline, I’m glad you were able to attend,” he droned.

I was surprised he was using my name. He always seemed to enjoy talking down to me, but I guess there were other people around now.

“I’m here for the open bar,” I replied dryly.

“Partying two nights in a row? And school nights no less? Bad, bad girl,” he said mockingly.

There was that condescending prick I knew.

My cheeks started to turn red, but I wouldn’t let this asshole embarrass me.

“Your concern is touching, Loch. But you’d think you would have more important things to worry about than a teenage girl’s schedule,” I sneered.

The elevator reached the 85th floor, and the doors popped open to a bustling party.

Loch pushed to the front but turned around and gave me a smirk.

“Next time you spend the night, Madeline, don’t run off before you’ve had breakfast.”

Every girl in the elevator gasped and looked at me like I was the devil. Nautica had a strange expression as well. He looked at me like I was…suspicious?

“It’s NOT what it sounds like,” I said, grabbing Darshan and dragging him into the party.

“Uh, what exactly is it then?” Darshan asked with a hint of judgment. “Because it sounds like you slept with Loch Dobrzycka.”

“First of all, gross. And second of all, I’ll tell you everything—while we get wasted.”

***

Darshan and I had at least managed to accomplish my first goal of getting drunk. I had filled him in on everything that happened, and he was way too delighted by the whole situation.

But after a couple of hours, I was starting to get antsy.

There was usually only one reason I was at a party like this…

“Hey, Dar, what do you say we fleece a couple of these rich bitches? It’s the perfect opportunity.”

“Mads, are you serious? We’re way too drunk, and also the people here are actually nice. I’ve been making some friends,” Darshan said, wobbling slightly.

I laughed, slurring my words. “C’mon, Dar. You be the eyes, and I’ll be the ears.”

“Har har,” he scoffed. “Look I won’t judge you if you can’t keep your hands out of other people’s pockets, but I’m gonna go talk to those kids from the disabled youth center again.”

“You’ll be alright on your own?” I asked, concerned.

He nodded. “Go do your thing, Mads.”

As Darshan joined a group of kids a few feet away, I started looking for my mark.

Before I could settle on one, I found myself being marked—by Loch.

His massive arms wrapped around me, and he started pulling me over to a velvet curtain near the large glass window overlooking the city.

“What the hell, Loch? Where are you taking me?”

“The VIP section. Your services are needed,” he said playfully.

It was against my better judgment to go anywhere alone with a Dobrzycka, especially with Loch, but my inhibitions had flown out the window by my eighth glass of red wine.

We disappeared through the curtain and walked out onto a beautiful garden terrace where hypnotizing green flames were lighting a stone fire pit.

The only other person outside was Hael, who looked uncertain as he saw Loch approaching with me in tow.

“All right, Hael, I brought her,” Loch said, releasing me in front of his brother. “Shall we?”

“I still think this is foolish, brother. She’s not the one,” Hael replied.

“I disagree. I think she is. I’ve felt something strange ever since we met her.”

What are they even talking about? This is starting to freak me out.

Hael let out a long sigh. “Very well. If you think she’s the one, we have ways of testing it.”

Grinning, Loch suddenly put my wrist in a vice grip. I couldn’t break free, no matter how hard I struggled.

“What are you doing?” I asked, alarmed.

But Hael just nodded to his brother.

“Set her on fire.”