Introduction

Before we begin this story, you need some background information first. My name is Andrew Arcanum Umbra Slate, and I am currently 15 years old. I live in the kingdom of Picantia with my father, Mark, mother, Lillian, sister, Alexandra "Alex", and my four adoptive brothers, Josh, Adam, Damian, and Dominic. My father's side of the family has always held the position of Dukes in the kingdom, while my mother is part of the royal family. Before anyone asks, no, I am not a prince. My mother's parents disowned her when she decided to marry my father, saying that it was a disgrace to their family name that she wasn't marrying a prince. So when they passed away, my aunt, Mary and her husband, Richard, became the next King and Queen. They also congratulated my mother on having a family that she willingly wanted. They are also very supportive and understanding about everything that has happened in my family since I was born.

I come from a Pure Blood family. Pure Bloods are humans that have a lot of magic in their blood, so they are born with an innate gift or talent. They can also train to become a witch or wizard if they wish. My dad has enhanced strength, and my mom and sister share the same gift of healing. I'm different. Apparently, an Ayakashi gene runs on my dad's side of the family, and a Dragon gene runs on my mom's side. When I was born, I was born with both an Ayakashi and a Dragon, meaning that I am a Dual Shifter. No one understands how I was born with two beasts, but since I was healthy, they couldn't do much about it.

My family has always tried to protect me, but from the ages of 6-10 years old, I've been kidnapped and tortured by people who either wanted to control me, or kill me because of what I was. The Ayakashi I was born with is named Nightmare. He is a 10-Tailed Wolf that is the size of a Ford F-150, with midnight black fur that has electric blue mixed in and bright emerald green eyes. The elements that he can control are Darkness and Ice with the temperature of Absolute Zero. Magnis is my Dragon, and he is currently the size of a double-wide trailer. He has black scales with red, yellow, and dark purple tips, spikes going down his back, and four spikes on the end of his tail, with yellow eyes. His elements are Darkness, Fire (with a temperature of Absolute Hot), Electricity, and Poison.

I've had to keep my identity as a shifter a secret my entire life, so the noticeable changes to my appearance have been called "acts of attention" or a "fad." However, it's not. My fangs are natural, not surgical implants, my slightly slitted pupils are also natural, not contacts, and my hair, which is black, red, and blonde, is also natural. With my abnormal features and my attire that consists mostly of dark colored clothes, the middle school had taken to calling me the "residential bad-boy" or a "freak." Now, tomorrow is the first day of 9th grade and I know it's going to suck. People have always spread rumors about me, and this year won't be different. But they don't know the truth. Nobody but my family knows about this secret.

Normally a shifter of any species can blend in with regular humans perfectly. However, with my beasts being the kings of two different species, some traits have leaked onto my features. I have been dealing with this secret and the rumors for my entire life. I'm 15 years old, but I have more problems than what most of humanity would probably be able to handle.

Not only do I have to struggle with being a teenager in high school, I have to keep my true identity a secret from everyone outside of my family, the Ayakashi and Dragons don't like the fact that only one person was born with both of their kings, but also the fact that an Ayakashi or Dragons 18th birthday is the day they "inherit" the rest of their beast's magic. When an Ayakashi or a Dragon is two years old, they have access to 25% of their magic. Once they turn 18, they gain the remaining 75%. However, it is extremely painful, and if their body can't handle the power, they die. Sigh I just wish that I was normal, not some Ultra Rare Dual Shifter that has to fight for his life while in school. But…I have to admit…having powers is kind of cool. Even if it does come with such a steep price tag.