•Short End Of The Draw•

~Steel BlackStone~

"Steel, Silva Come on we got get to the community hall meeting."

I groaned loudly, hearing my mother call me and brother down to attend another stupid meeting the elders are holding. I hesitantly drag myself out of my warm comfy bed of sweet bliss to get ready. I pull out a random black hoodie and jeans and throw them on.

No point in getting all dressed up for a meeting where I'm just going be stuck standing off to the sidelines with the rest of teenagers my age as our parents talk about what's going on in with the stupid humans and such.

"Hurry up grumpy," I looked up and glared at my younger twin brother who standing in my doorway smiling like an idiot. I look him up and down inspecting his outfit, A way to a bright yellow T-shirt, light gray jeans, and black slip-on shoes. "The sun called she wants her ugly ass shirt back," I plucked my brother's chest and walked past him go downstairs smiling.

"Well!... uhhh... Hades called, and he wants his grumpy ass attitude back!" I turned around to face my brother once I got to the end of the steps "that's just a lame repeat of what I said Silva, at least put some creativity to it brother"

My mom rushed in the living room grabbing her keys "Boys! Come on we gotta go" my mom shoved me forward along with my brother pushing us out the door. "Where Dad? Why isn't he being shoved along" I grumbled as I get another shove forwards?

"Your father already there. No standing off to the side this meeting were all staying together we have important matters to discuss." I look over to Silva see him shrug paying no mind that weirdly for once us teenagers are being involved with the meeting.

We finally arrived at the ancient-looking building our mother pushes us once again into the building. I look around the room and see that it's already almost filled. "Good, you're finally arrived," I turned around to the voice to spot our father walking towards us.

"Come along boys stand with me upfront" our father effortlessly walked through the crowd that has gathered to the front. Being 6'3 definitely has some perks like easily walking through a crowd of people, getting stuff high up and such but their downsides too. I know this first hand me and my brother got our father's height, but we're 6'0.

Thank the Heavens because I don't know how I would be able to handle myself if I was my mother's height. She is no bigger than a mini troll! Though her feistiness makes up for her shortness I pity anyone who pisses her off. "Steel, pay attention" I look to my father giving me a pointed look. I sighed and look up ahead as The master of Dragons Ryuu, stands upon the platform calling for quiet.

"Now we all come here today to discuss important matters. We all know that we have finally come to have peace with the mortals," some people cheered while others made a sound of displeasure. We may have peace with the humans but not everyone happy about it especially the Divines who lost loved ones in the battles.

"Upon the peace treaty, both sides agreed to have a selected portion of our children attend a school made just for Humans and Divines." I look over to my father to see if he knew anything about this "did you know?" I whispered to him but by the lack of response from my father and him refusing to look me in the eyes tells me everything I need to know. I scoff and turn my attention back to Ryuu pissed off.

"I and the council have decided that we will send a couple of kids of every Divine aspect," Ryuu got up and picked up a black box opening it "now please will one of the children of the gods please come forth?" I looked around the crowd to see the familiar faces of my friends hesitate to come towards Ryuu.

I look over to Silva to catch him already looking at me "We got this" Silva winked at me and took the first step on the floor. Well here go nothing I step on the floor alongside my brother walking slowly to Ryuu. "Ahh, Silva and Steal Blackstone, The twin sons of Forge God of stone," me and Silva stand in front of Ryuu as he rakes us with his eyes.

"Which one of you is the oldest?" I take in a deep breath trying to calm my nerves and step forward. Ryuu grabs my chin with his hand tilting my head up weirdly staring at my face. Man how I would love just rip his cold hand off my face but I stand still resisting myself from doing so. I rather deal with his creepy ass and cold hands then being punished for putting my hands on The Dragon master.

"Your white eye on the right and the blue one on the left tells me you are steel, am I correct?" Ryuu lets my face go and stands himself back up properly. "Yes sir" I nodded my head lightly "Since you are your brother are twins I'm counting you as one. You are the eldest you will pick your fates" Ryuu held the black box out to me "now carefully place your hand inside."

I glance back at Silva, and received a small smile. I slowly slide my hand into the hole in the front of the black box. I feel around the box until my fingertips touch something on the very bottom. I put my hand little father in the box picking up a.... card?? I pull it out to see that I've picked up a black card with some type of crest on it. The crest has a shield with a white and red dragon on it.

"You May return now," I gave Ryuu a nod turning around walking back to the crowd with Silva. Still pissed off at my father for not giving us a heads up about this dumb school thing so I stand back with my mother.

For the past hour, it was person after person pulling a card out of the black box. Some got the same card I did while others got a plain black card. I noticed some of my good friends got the same card as me. I was especially happy to see my closest friends pick the same card as me.

Whatever the card means at least we're in it together, I wouldn't want it any other way. "Now ladies and gentlemen the people who have the Black card with the crest please come forth," me and Silva, walk out on to the floor along about 40 other people.

"Congratulations, you all been chosen to attend the Institute Of Salvation," what in the holy fuck! Of course, I would choose the goddam card for the stupid school. I glance to my right and nudge Silva a bit. I look over at me and I mouthed "I'm sorry" he gives me a smile and shrugs.

"Now that we discussed everything you all may leave. To the students who leaving please pack your stuff and be ready leave Friday at 10 am." Friday? That's 3 days away, I sighed and walked back to my parents like the rest of the surrounding teenagers.

I walk ahead of my mother and father with Silva, letting them talk while we (I) calm down about the whole school thing.

"It's not all that bad. We're juniors we don't have long until we graduate, it go by in a flash," I glare lightly at Silva, always looking on the bright side of thing.

"Aren't you worried about the Humans? We might a have peace with them but it doesn't change their view on us as monsters," Silva stayed quiet for the rest of the walk home. Once we got to our house I went straight to my room and plopped on my bed tired.

"Scoot over u big ouf" I pick my head up as Silva shoves me towards the wall against my bed. "What are you doing?" Silva ignores me laying down turning my TV on "what? I can't spend some quality time with my own twin brother?" I shake my head at him.

"Look you're grumpy, you are usually buttt your more grumpy than usual soo I decided were going spend twin time like we use to." I smile to myself remembering all the times we would spend together calling it "twin time." I lay on my stomach alongside Silva and watch some action movies he picked out slowly falling asleep.