Iris ran. Her precious horde tucked under her cape as she fled from the village in the night. She couldn't. She wouldn't. They would have to choose another to sacrifice come morning. She stumbled as she neared the docks, causing the two bundles to stir. She panicked, trying to shush the sleepy babes as they woke from their slumber.

Not now, they would be caught. She fished through the bag she brought taking only the money and a small box, trying to lighten her load as she hurried further from the town of her nightmares. She could almost breathe a sigh of relief at the sight of the boat waiting for her. Freedom. For her and her children. She hurried aboard, quickly settling her children down under the seat out of sight, freezing in fear when she went to untie the tether.

"Did you really think you could escape here with the sacrifices in hand?" His silky voice purred. It was as sweet as honey, reeking of the rot underneath.

"They do not deserve this fate. They are but babes, innocent of this world." She pleaded with the lord of death.

"All the more reason for them to perish now, don't you agree?" he asked her as she fought the tears that tried to overwhelm her. Was there truly nothing she could do?

"Come now brother. There is something to be said for a mother's determination. She fought this far to save mere mortal children after all." Iris stilled, casting her eyes on the golden shoes. The Lord of the orchard.

"I suppose something could be said for that." The lord of death agreed. Iris kept her eyes lowered waiting for their judgment.

"Alright, fine. I will strike you a deal. You may keep the first-born child and sail away down the river. The second born will remain with me in the village where he was born. Come his 18th birthday I will open the gates to hell and allow a chance for his twin to rescue him. Should she fail, they both belong to death. At least this way they live an eventful life." Death mused. Iris turned to her bundles; their matching blue eyes only seemed to see each other as they reached for each other.

"Or we could kill them both now." The lord of the orchard baited. Iris growled, pulling the twins out from under the bench. She pulled them against her, hugging them close as she cried.

"We will come for you, my son. This I swear." Iris promised as she shakily held him out, this deal was the only way to save either of them. Saving her daughter would be better than watching them both perish before her.

"Wise choice my dear. Perhaps next time you will be cautious in bedding a god and baring his children." The lord of death cooed at the sweet baby in his arms.

"As if there would be a next time." The lord of the orchard chuckled. Iris glanced up quickly as the two lords sneered down at her.

"We said we would let your children live eventful lives. Why would we spare a mortal that defied the will of the gods?" The lord of death growled casting the boat from the dock and letting it race along the river.

"What did she name the child?" The lord of the orchard wondered as he wandered back into his grove.

"Doesn't matter now. I will call him Hades. Always wanted a son." The lord of death murmured as he stroked the infant's cheek. It was time to take his child home.

...

The croaking frogs seemed to quiet as the wind blew through the cat tails lining the small river. Kara hummed as she tended the garden watching her young son as he played. She chuckled as the boy tried to catch a grasshopper and failed, turning back to the weeds in her garden.

"Mama." The young boy called out causing a lull in his mother's humming.

"Yes, Riley?" she asked, dusting off her hands on her apron. That was enough for now.

"What's that?" he wondered curiously causing Kara to glance up. His small little finger pointed to a beaten wreck, barely a float as the stream carried it onward.

"Looks like a boat love. One of the humans must have lost it during the last storm." She noted getting to her feet. It wasn't uncommon for smaller things to float this far downstream, but larger things were often caught in the rapids or lost over the falls. It was rare for things of that size to make it down the runoff to their peaceful stream.

"Let's leave it be and head on back to the hut for dinner. Your father and older brothers should be getting back." Kara encouraged as her son stood fixated by the sinking vessel.

"I think there is an animal in it. Can I have it as a pet?" Riley asked excitedly as Kara shook her head at the young thing.

"I doubt there is anything such thing, come along now." Kara tried again as Riley pouted at her.

"But I heard it whining." he protested. Kara glanced between him, and the boat lodged against the opposite shore. It wasn't impossible to get to, just not practical for her and the young child.

"My love! We have returned, why are you not at the hut?" Riley turned to the sound of his voice, rushing towards his father and two older brothers. Eli smiled happily lifting his youngest into his arms.

"Forgive us, we were heading that way and got distracted." Kara tried to explain as her husband kissed her briefly.

"A human pet! Can I, have it? I promise to care for it." Riley begged as his father gave his wife a quizzical look. His two older brothers paused in their gathering of their mothers' things, glancing up intrigued.

"No way a human pet made it this far south. You have been in the sun too long." His oldest brother Callan said as Riley huffed stubbornly.

"I heard it cry. From over there." Riley growled back, jabbing his finger at the sorry boat. Eli frowned, setting Riley down as his wife sighed.

"It just showed up a bit ago. He has been fascinated with it, but I haven't noticed anything myself." Kara explained as Eli considered it.

"Awfully unusual. Won't hurt to check it out. If nothing else, we can leave it on the side of the garden there for Riley to play with when you come to the garden. Callan, you are with me, Tarek, stay with your mother but stand ready to help if necessary." Eli grunted as his boys nodded. Eli waded into the river that moved slowly, coming up to his waist.

"We are really getting wet just so Riley can have a new toy?" Callan muttered to his father as Eli smiled. He grabbed the side of the boat, noticing his family watching him closely. He waved to assure them all was well, rocking the boat with his weight causing something to cry. Callan and Eli peered inside the shattered boat, filled with mostly holes and water.

"There! dad!" Callan gasped, grabbing the bundle of fabric, wedged under what may have once been the seat for a fisherman. Eli helped hold it as they unwrapped the weak child.

"By the stars, it's a god born." Eli gasped almost in awe, her fragile frame shivering. She would have been dead had she been human. "Quickly, take her back to your mother, I am going to dig around for clues." Eli demanded as his son nodded, taking the little girl and carrying her back to the others waiting on land.

Kara dropped her basket of veggies in shock as she quickly took the little girl from her son looking her over, wrapping her up in her warm dry apron. Eli found a small box wedged into the debris, finding nothing else of interest, he dragged the boat back to the other side where his two older boys helped pull the boat onto the shore.

"Are we going to keep her?" Riley asked his mother as she glanced at her husband unsure.

"We are going to help her, but we may have to return her to her own kind. How did you know she was there?" Eli asked his son crouching down beside his wife as the child slept in her arms.

"She called to me. She called me brother." Riley told them as he pet her bald head. Kara frowned unsure as his father sighed.

"Did you find anything about her?" Callan asked after he and Tarek finished turning the boat inside out. Eli nodded as he pulled the box from his pocket, opening it up so they all could see.

"What is it?" Tarek wondered as Callen struggled to see the item. Eli gazed at it for a moment, realizing this told him everything he needed to know about the girl. He pulled the fallen star from the box showing it to his wife as she gasped.

"Its pretty." Riley noted as Eli nodded.

"It's a rock?" Callan asked unsure as his father looked at his wife. She smiled sweetly, looking at the little thing in her arms as her youngest spoke quietly to the little girl.

"It's a fallen star. This is the daughter of a fallen god, meaning no one will come to claim her." Eli explained to his older two as they frowned. They were old enough to be aware of the wars in the lands to the north. Gods and humans fighting amongst themselves and each other. The gods ruled the land and some gods ruled over various things, like the river goddess who had delivered the baby to them.

It was said that the gates of heaven and hell were in the distant mountain rage far to the north where the strongest of the gods lived. God of the sun and the goddess of the moon had many children, but only one had become a fallen star.

Legend was his older brother coveted his place in the sky and cast him down to earth. When he tried to make his way back to the heavens, he was turned away at the gate and no longer considered a god. But being a god was more than just a title or a birth right. It was a power granted too only a select few. He had raised an army and upset the balance of nature, trying to force his way back to the heavens. To think he had a child with a mere mortal...

"Does her blood line matter?" Callan asked as Kara glanced between her four boys.

"No, not to me." Kara said softly as Eli smiled sadly.

"We have always wanted a daughter." Eli said softly as his sons nodded in agreement. Kara had a baby girl before Riley, but she was lost before her first birthday. They weren't sure Kara would have another child, until years later a surprise child became their youngest.

"Does that mean we will keep her?" Riley pleaded with his eyes as Kara smiled at him.

"Yes. And I think we will call her Brigid. Brigid Star Emberheart. The god daughter of the dragon clan." Eli told his boys as they smiled happily. They quickly helped their mother gather her things so they could take their sister home. Riley rode on his fathers' shoulders, smiling down at the little girl. His first pet...

... 17 years later ...

Riley sighed as he held the pitcher of beer, watching his sister challenge yet another loser to a duel. Her fiery red hair was pulled back out of her face in a myriad of braids. Multiple gold and diamonds earrings in each ear as her tight black dragon hide vest revealed her strong tan arms and dragon tribal tattoos.

Their father always claimed it was the god blood within her that allowed her progress as quickly as she did, but even so, as a fierce warrior, she was still considered the sweet little princess of the Emberheart clan. Riley rolled his eyes wishing she would hurry up. Beer was better cold and with warm food. Neither of which would be happening if she didn't hurry it up.

Riley side stepped quickly to the left as the body hurled past him into the bar. He simply shook his head as Brigid noticed him waiting for her.

"What? He started it by trying to swipe our coins." Brigid huffed, making Riley roll his eyes.

"I am not saying you shouldn't fight him, just saying you should have just killed him and be done with it." Riley grumbled, noticing the sudden space around the pair of them.

"See this is why you are my favorite brother. Callan and Tarek would be all..." Brigid started.

"At it again you two? Seriously, when are the pair of you going to grow up?" Callan's deep voice pierced the air causing Riley and Brigid to jump.

"Yeah, just like that." Brigid muttered as Riley sighed. Their fun was over before it even began.

"Speak for yourself, you are the one who is late. We wouldn't be in this mess had you showed up on time." Riley huffed back as the village leader scoffed. Riley set the beer on a table as they left the place behind.

"You know what my schedule is like, besides you are supposed to be keeping our sister out of trouble. Not getting her into it." Callan growled as he led the pair out of the bar and into his carriage.

"Get to ride in style with the most important man in town. Feel special yet?" Riley asked Brigid as she shrugged.

"I don't understand why we are going through all this song and dance for my birthday. Dinner at home with the family would have been nice." Brigid mumbled as she thought of the family that had taken her in. Eli had died a few years before, leaving Kara to mourn and look after the farm with Tarek. Brigid would never understand that longing a dragon faced once they lost their beloved. Apparently, a dragon knew when they met their soul mate. They just instantly had a connection and only had one true mate for life.

There had been talk about Riley and her being soul mates, but their connection was different and didn't stir Riley's dragon fire. Either way, both would find it incredible weird to be dragon mates now after owning the whole double trouble, sibling act.

"You are supposed to be a lady of standing now that you have become of age. That is why we are supposed to go to this whole gala in your honor, but of course I was blessed with heathens for younger siblings." Callan grumbled, making his younger brother smirk as his adopted sister offered Riley her fist for their secret handshake. At this rate Callan was sure they would never grow up. They crested a hill, with the mansion in the distance, the setting sun casting a warm glow over the land. Then suddenly it was gone.

"The little girl has grown into a want to be warrior. Let's see how you fare." A cold voice purred causing Brigid to tense up as she spun around. The landscape of hell was massive, a dark beauty hidden within the flames. Two strangers stood before her as the older one laughed.

"How utterly perfect! My warning was lost, and your sister remains clueless to the bargain set in motion all those years ago." The lord of death cooed.

"Where is Riley?" Brigid demanded causing the Lord of death to pause as the young man beside him frowned. "Where is my brother?!" she demanded again as he grinned darkly.

"Right here." The Lord of death promised as he wrapped an arm around his younger counterpart.

"Don't you remember who I am, Faelynn? I am your younger brother Hades." He declared. Brigid took a step back frowning at him confused. His blue eyes were mixed with what looked like black tar as his blond hair glistened like gold. He seemed to be about her age, but something just felt off.

"Are you a dragon?" She questioned noticing the Lord's grin dim. He looked her over closely, before shoving Hades forward. She instinctively reached out to catch him, screaming when their skin touched. It felt like a mix of fire and lightning overwhelmed her.

"So, the dragons aren't dead. They soon will be." The lord hissed as Brigid got to her feet.

"Like hell I would let you touch them." She hissed, making him laugh.

"I own hell! And soon I will own you too." He swore, making Brigid lunge at him. She stumbled when his laughing face vanished leaving her in a cold and damp cave. She spun around quickly, frowning at the young man sweating over a glowing pool.

"Look I don't have much time, don't bother with your stupid questions. Your god blood has awakened now that you have come of age. You are the older of twins. Your younger twin whom you just met is Hades, being held captive beyond the gates of hell in the realm of the dead. If you do not free him by sunset on your nineteenth birthday, you and your brother will die as is bound by the fate of the gods. You have one year to complete this task. Get to it. Please don't make me remind you that the fate of the world depends on this." He told her making Brigid huff.

"I don't even know your name." She said insulted as he simply smiled weakly.

"Maybe if you manage to find me, I will tell you. Now go." He grunted clearly overcome as magic filled the room sweeping Brigid away.

"Oh, thank the gods your alive." Callan's familiar voice muttered as Brigid groaned. Her head was spinning as she lay in the grass while her brother fussed over her.

"How much did I drink at your party?" Brigid muttered, squeezing her eyes shut tight as she kept the nausea at bay.

"We never made it to the party. You started speaking in tongues and went full blown goddess while Riley..." Callan stalled. Brigid risked the pain by opening her eyes to stare at her brother's worried face.

"What happened to Riley?" she demanded. Callan nodded his head at the field behind her, helping her sit up as the fallen night sky stole her breath. "Riley?" She gasped in shock as his glittering scales reflected galaxies. A long slender tail curled around his trembling snout as the unconscious beast breathed unevenly.

"You called for him while speaking in tongues and he suddenly turned into this, encouraged by your goddess powers." Callan stated, watching Brigid's mouth flap open in shock. But how?

"I thought changing forms was just a myth or legend. I didn't know you guys could actually turn into... dragons!" Brigid squeaked in shock as Callan shrugged.

"Neither did I. Do you remember anything while you passed out? A vision perhaps?" Callan wondered to try and make conversation. He still wasn't sure what to do. But something that rare and beautiful... was bound to be hunted. Perhaps Brigid could remember how to undo her magic too and save their brother before word got out. She paused in her pacing, nodding slowly.

"Yes. The god of death had summoned me. My twin brother is being held as a prisoner in hell. If I do not free him before my next birthday, my life... and his will end. I had thought they had taken Riley. It was weird, like I could feel his energy. But then they told me this Hades god was actually my brother I never met. Before I was kidnapped by some other weirdo... who was kind of hot now that I think about it..." Brigid mumbled the last part embarrassed. The glowing pool guy had been awfully cute.

"Great the weirdo was hot. Someone has their priorities in check. Your life has a time limit, you dingus." Riley grumbled as he lifted his aching head.

"Yeah, which means if I want to save my life and my brother, I need to go north to the gates of hell." Brigid claimed, watching in amazement as the scales melted away leaving her brother in his human form. Naked human form.

"I have a spare robe in the carriage." Callan huffed quickly going to grab the covering.

"You know I am going with you, right?" Riley told Brigid softly as she shook her head. He growled, turning his face to the sky. "I felt it too. For a brief moment I was tied to you and felt what you did. Something about your brother is familiar, but then again, he is your twin, right? Maybe its just destiny saying our baby brother needs us." Riley mentioned as Callan brought back his clothing.

"Well, you are not leaving today. Come, let's go home and finish that birthday we are dreadfully late for. We can make a plan in the morning." Callan declared as Riley dressed quickly before following him back to the carriage.

"Destiny awaits." Brigid whispered as she held thehidden amulet to her chest. "I am coming for you brother."