Chapter 3

Beaufont Residence, West Hollywood, California, United States

Genevieve Beaufont hadn't gone by that name since she left 1426 London, England. That had only been a few weeks ago, but still the woman she used to be felt a world away. Gen had no idea when she followed two women through a portal that she'd traversed six hundred years into the future. She had no idea the women were her relatives from modern-day Los Angeles. She had no idea where Los Angeles was or that there was another continent on the other side of the world. And the list of things that Gen didn't know had only gotten longer since being dropped and stuck in the twenty-first century.

Gen Beaufont could never go home. Her curiosity had always gotten her in trouble. This time, it had gotten her stranded in a brand-new era. Thankfully, the universe hadn't totally left her abandoned. For one, she had her modern-day family—the Beaufonts. They were leaders in the House of Fourteen, comprised of the most powerful magicians in the world, which ironically was the magical governing agency that Gen and her father, William, had founded. They also held many other roles as magicians in the present time, like leaders of the dragonriders.

That was the other part of Gen's life that didn't suck. She had her dragon egg, her most prized object that she stole in the 1400s and buried. She'd found the dragon's egg in the forest—the animal within the shell speaking to her in her mind. He'd told her that he was the first dragon egg ever spawned. Not knowing what a dragon was, Gen was very confused. Then he told her, telepathically, that she had to hide him because the world wasn't ready for a female dragonrider and she was meant for him.

Afraid of trusting a disembodied voice in her head, but also of losing him, Gen did as she was told. And so, the egg stayed buried in London until last week, when the dragon called to her and she dug him up. A lot had changed in Gen's life, except for one thing—her dragon was still hiding away in his shell, unwilling to hatch even now.

Gen strode into the living room of the condominium that belonged to her relatives from the future, a pair of siblings, Clark and Liv Beaufont. They were her relatives, twenty-something generations in the future.

And their residence? Well, it looked like a shiny white box with angular surfaces and hardly a lick of color anywhere. But plastered across the walls of the dining room was the family motto that Gen's father William had coined and which had been passed down through the years. The words read: Familia Est Sempiternum. And that simple phrase meant: Family is forever.

Gen paused in front of the dining room table. She lowered her chin and regarded the shimmering, huge dragon egg with slight annoyance.

"So, you were right," she said out loud, although that wasn't necessary since he spoke in her head. It just made her feel a little less crazy if she was speaking rather than having a back and forth with a dragon, telepathically.

Of course I was right,the dragon said in his deep voice in Gen's head. I clearly heard the gang members due to their ill will and violent intent toward each other. Those kinds of emotions broadcast thoughts louder than anything else.

"Right," Gen said, having learned after digging up her dragon's egg that he couldn't just hear her thoughts, but those of others, although not consistently. The dragon apparently was also psychic and also promised to have other abilities that he would one day reveal to her.

So, you seemed to have had an easy time of breaking up that showdown, which would have been a blood bath in the streets, the dragon whose name Gen didn't know yet stated. She apparently would know his name upon meeting him, but only if she was in fact his one true rider. It was the final test to their bonding and sealed their connection.

"It would have been a bit easier if I had some help," Gen said, glaring down at the massive egg covered in shiny purple-like scales, giving the dragon a pointed look that he could sense, even if he couldn't see. However, Gen also knew that he saw through her eyes, through something called scrying, so he got extra glimpses of her world, meaning he would have seen the whole fight with the gang members in the streets of Los Angeles.

"I mean you," Gen continued. "You could have been there to help."

I was busy,the dragon said blankly.

"Doing what?" Gen challenged, sticking her hands on her hips.

Being.

"Being what?" Gen asked.

Being remarkable.

Gen sighed. "When are you going to hatch? And don't say, when you're ready. You've been in that shell for over six hundred years. I think you've incubated long enough."

When I feel like it,he replied.

"I think you're afraid."

Afraid of what?the dragon questioned.

"You're the very first dragon egg ever spawned and now you're the last to ever hatch, since all two thousand have hatched already—all but you, Mr. Two thousand and one."

I prefer to go by Number One, not Two Thousand and One,the dragon stated matter-of-factly.

"So, the way I see it is you're worried that when you finally hatch, you'll be a runt and everyone will be like, the first dragon isn't that impressive."

I don't have stunted growth,the dragon argued. I will hatch when the time is right. When the environment is.

"Can you give me a clue of when that will be?" Gen asked. "I don't want to be asleep or fighting bad guys alone and miss your big hatching. I mean, I'd take you to these fights. However, bringing an egg along isn't really that helpful. You're about as effective as rolling a stone at villains."

Bowling ball,the dragon stated.

"Say what?"

In modern times, where you find yourself, there's a game where people roll a heavy ball at pins to knock them down. That's the better reference. I'd be like bringing a bowling ball to a fight.

"How come you've been in that shell for all your life, and you know more about the world than me?" she questioned.

I listen,he answered. I pick up on things. I'm in touch with the social consciousness. Oh, and I'm psychic.

"Like you knew when those bad guys were about to have a showdown in the streets of Los Angeles," she stated. "Imagine how effective we could be if you broke out of your shell and helped me out."

I'm busy…

Gen sighed, looking around at the place full of white shiny surfaces and things she didn't understand. "Okay, well, fine. Just don't leave me waiting much longer."

Like you left me buried for six hundred years?

"That passed for me within seconds, but sorry, I'm sure that was lonely," Gen offered, sympathetically.

It made me a good listener,the dragon stated in her head. Now go and get something to eat. I hear your stomach growling.

Gen nodded, turning for the kitchen. "I'll try, but I don't really know how anything works here."

Just don't put your finger in an electric socket and you'll be fine,the dragon offered.

Gen frowned at the egg. "What's a… Never mind. I'll figure it out on my own."