by Mandi Oyster
Arion glimmers next to me like a mirage. If not for my hand on his neck, I might think my eyes are playing tricks on me.
He kneels, and I climb onto his back. His muscles bunch beneath me as he leaps into the air. Once we are above the clouds, he shows himself. Sunlight reflects off him, blinding me until my eyes adjust. Even then spots dance through the air in front of me.
Tension eases from my muscles, and for the first time since my dragon dreams started, I feel pure joy. I throw my head back and howl with delight.
Dragons burst through the clouds. Arion rears, and I clutch his mane. “No. No. No.”
Arion pulls his wings back and dives. The dragons pursue. Their wings beat against the sky.
Flames shoot through the air. Arion rolls to the side, and I slip off his back.
As I fall through the clouds, I hear Draconian. “Just give me Nefarious.”
He’s here. I stop my fall, hovering in the air. I turn invisible and scan the skies for him. Before I teleport away, I need to read his aura.
“Give up already,” I shout, then fly off so he doesn’t know where I am.
I reach out for Draconian’s mind. When I don’t find it, I say to Arion, “Are you all right?”
Dragons circle through the skies, their wings beating the air, changing the air currents, making it hard to hover.
Yes, I am a skilled enough flyer to avoid these silly creatures.
I need to find Draconian so I can read his aura. Can you help me?
As you wish.
“Dacia, come out, come out wherever you are,” Draconian says in a singsong voice. “My dragons are ready for a game of cat and mouse.”
“Show yourself, and she will come out.” Arion’s voice carries across the sky.
“Who is this? Somebody who wants to play with dragons,” Draconian says.
What are you doing? I think to Arion.
I have a plan. When he shows himself, I will draw his attention while you read his aura.
Be careful.
“I will not let Dacia go until you show yourself,” Arion shouted.
“How can I believe you have her?”
“You will have to trust me.”
“Trust is for fools … and the weak.”
“Well, if you are strong, you should be able to handle yourself against me. Show yourself! Only the weak hide behind dragons and invisibility.”
“I am not weak! You are hiding behind invisibility.”
“Yes,” Arion’s voice is taunting, “but not behind dragons, too.”
“I am not hiding!” Draconian yells.
“Then show yourself.”
Draconian appears astride a red dragon. His eyes dart across the sky, searching for Arion and me. His beard flaps over his shoulder. “Here I am. Now, where are you?”
This is your chance, Dacia, Arion thinks to me. Then to Draconian, he says, “You are still hiding behind a dragon so I will keep my invisibility for a little longer.”
Smoke rolls out of the dragon’s nostrils. Its cream-colored belly is alight with the fire burning inside. Flames burst from its jaws, incinerating the sky where Arion’s voice came from. Muscles ripple as its tattered wings beat the sky.
I tear my attention away from the dragon and focus on Draconian, reaching for his mind.
Women burn to death, tied to stakes. Others are bound and thrown into lakes and rivers. Dragons are beaten, their eggs stolen from their nests. Torture and violence darken his memories. Finally, madness and cruelty wash over me.
I pull my mind away and fight against the nausea rising in me.
“What was that?” Draconian grasps his skull.
Let’s get out of here, I say to Arion, but he doesn’t respond.
“Your friend is under my control. Just to prove it, he’s going to show himself now.”
Draconian waves his hand, and Arion appears in the air in front of me.
“A pegasus … interesting. He won’t do me any good, but I’m sure my dragons will like to play with him.”
“Let him go!” My invisibility fades. “Take me instead.”
Dragons swoop in, surrounding me. Terror tears the breath from my lungs. I want to escape, but I can’t allow Arion to suffer.
“What did you do to me, Dacia?” Draconian flies closer.
“I didn’t do anything.” My teeth clamp together, and my chin juts out.
“You’re lying. Shall I send one of my pets after your friend, or will you tell me the truth?”
Before I answer, a blue dragon lunges at Arion, and a ball of fire shoots through the air. I throw myself in front of it. The flames hit me in the chest, and I plummet to the ground.
“Don’t let her die!” Draconian screams.
Arion flies toward me, diving with his wings pulled back.
I try to release him from Draconian’s control. My vision swims, darkening at the edges … then nothing.
Dacia? Dacia, what did you want? You called for me, Arion said.
I didn’t want you to be under Draconian’s spell. My mind was bleary. Did you save me?
I have no idea what you are talking about, Dacia. You are not making sense. You are sending me too many thoughts. Concentrate!
Draconian had you, I tried to explain, but the pain was overbearing. I can’t do this now. I need to heal.
I will send Aurelia.
Everything was quiet and calm for a while. Then hands covered my burns. A cool feeling washed over me. When I opened my eyes, Aurelia stood over me. I lay in bed, burned and bleeding. Aurelia covered my wounds and helped me put on a new pajama shirt.
“Samantha, you can get Cody.” She placed her hand on my head, and strength seeped into me. “You are going to be okay. Arion sent me. He said you called for him, but you were incoherent.”
“He must’ve been worried because he’s outside right now.”
“He is,” she said, “but how did you know?”
“I can sense him.”
She looked out the window. “When? How?”
“He let me.” My eyes widened. “He probably doesn’t know. I read it in my dream. Then dragons came. Arion made Draconian show himself so I could read his aura, too. I guess I got them both. Tell him I’m sorry.”
“Rest now, Dacia,” she said. “I will talk to Samantha and Cody. Then I will stay here and watch over you for the rest of the night. You need deep healing sleep.”
My eyelids drooped. “Thanks,” I mumbled. I was asleep before Aurelia descended the ladder.
Chapter 21
Close Call
Dan and Samantha walked in front of us. Her hand was tucked into the pocket of Dan’s shorts. Her flip-flops slapped against her feet with every step she took.
A smile tugged at my lips when I thought of how she’d react if she knew Arion was with us.
Sunlight danced through the leaves and onto the trail. The patchy light made it harder to tell if anyone hid in the trees.
“Do you learn anything?” Cody asked Aurelia.
Something rustled through the undergrowth. A squirrel scolded us from a branch overhead.
“I have forgotten more about the stars than your culture knew to begin with. I am able to keep an eye on Dacia, and that is why I am here.” She added in a softer almost wistful voice, “Now from her, I could learn a thing or two.”
I bit my bottom lip, pulling it into my mouth. “If I knew how to teach them to you, I would.”
“That time may come, but for now, I need to continue teaching you all that I can so we can keep you alive.”
I breathed easier once we were inside Kestrel Observatory. Through class, I wondered what Aurelia knew about the stars that we didn’t. I knew her knowledge must be vast. What is it li
ke to live forever? Does she miss the way things were or welcome change? Will I live forever? Will I have to watch my family and friends die? Or will I age with them?
I imagined Cody growing old and feeble and me staying the same. How can I watch him wither away and die? Will it make me as warped as Draconian if I do? Is that what made him this way?
“Dacia, wake up.” Cody snapped his fingers in front of my face. “Time to go.”
“Sorry.” I blinked and jerked my head back. “I was spacing off.”
“Yeah, we noticed.” Samantha nodded, and her lips pressed together. “Hopefully, whatever you were thinking about was worth it because we’re having a test next week, and you didn’t learn a thing.”
“I’ll study.” I rolled my eyes. “And, no what I was thinking about wasn’t worth it. It was just a lot of unanswerable questions.”
I stuffed my books in my bag and followed the others. As soon as I stepped outside, I sensed Arion. Even though I couldn’t see him, knowing he was there helped me feel at ease.
Cody hung back with me. “You okay?”
“I’m just dwelling.” I rearranged my backpack on my shoulders. “Nothing important.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah.” I wrapped my arm around his waist, and he threw his over my shoulder.
As we passed through a grove of trees about halfway back to the dorm, I felt Draconian’s aura. My steps faltered.
Cody stopped. “Dacia?”
“Draconian is here,” I warned in a fierce whisper. “I can feel him, but I can’t tell where he is.”
“Continue cautiously.” Aurelia cocked her head in a bird-like movement. “Keep talking. Act like everything is fine.”
“So, uh, what are you guys doing tonight?” I asked, trying to sound casual. “I was thinking pizza and a movie. What do you think?”
My question was followed by a long uncomfortable silence that was broken when Cody volunteered, “Pirates of the Caribbean.”
“Yeah, that sounds good.” Dan’s voice was tense.
“I’ve always wanted to see that movie.” Draconian stepped out of the trees in front of us. His charcoal robe swirled around his feet. “Mind if I join you?”
“Don’t you have something better to do with your time than chase teenage girls?” The harshness of my voice surprised me.
He narrowed his gray eyes and stroked his beard, stepping closer. “You don’t seem surprised to see me.”
“I’m not. I knew you …” My voice trailed off before I could finish.
Arion projected his thoughts to me, Dacia, do not rush to show your cards. Keep things from him as long as you can.
I cleared my throat and started over, “I knew you’d show up sooner or later. You don’t seem to be able to stay away from me.”
“Yes.” He sauntered closer to me. “You are such a charming young lady. I am drawn to you.”
“Oh, I thought you were just attracted to my power.” I concentrated on lightning. Electrical charges leaped from my fingertips.
“No need to be aggressive—I came alone.” He held his hands out in front of him. “I just want to talk.”
“Please forgive me if I don’t trust you.” I surreptitiously glanced at the trees, not wanting to take my eyes off Draconian for too long. “I’m sure your dragons are around here somewhere.”
Aurelia walked over and stood beside me. She looked over her shoulder at the others. “Stay behind us.”
Draconian stopped moving and stared open-mouthed at Aurelia. “I know you. I know you. Does she?” He pointed at me. With a puff of smoke, he disappeared.
I narrowed my eyes at Aurelia. “What did he mean by that?” The urge to grab my friends and run off tugged at me.
“Apparently, he knows what you figured out the first time we met … I am not human.” Her face was unreadable.
“Is that all he meant?” I stood between her and the others, shielding them.
“He might think he knows what I am, but it would be nothing more than a guess.”
Widening my stance, I crossed my arms over my chest. “I suppose this still isn’t the time to tell me.”
“No, Dacia. Now is the time to get you and your friends to safety … before he returns with reinforcements.”
“Is he afraid of you?” Cody asked.
“Yeah, why did he disappear so quickly?” Samantha asked before Aurelia could answer Cody.
“Arion, show yourself, please.” Aurelia ignored the questions. He appeared right beside me. I realized for the first time how serious he was about protecting me. Draconian didn’t know about him, and I needed to make sure it stayed that way. The element of surprise was on my side for now.
Samantha’s mouth dropped open. “You are beautiful.”
Aurelia didn’t give him the chance to respond. “Take Samantha and Dan to the dorm. Keep them safe.”
“When I turn invisible, you will too.” Arion knelt in front of them. “It is a very strange thing to watch yourself disappear.”
Excitement flushed Samantha’s cheeks and lit up her eyes.
“What now?” I asked Aurelia.
“Now we do the same,” she answered as if it was as obvious as night following day.
“What about me?” Cody pointed at himself.
“I will take you with me,” Aurelia said.
I looked from Cody to Aurelia and tried to imagine her carrying him. He had four inches on her and at least fifty pounds. “Do you need help?”
“No, Dacia. I am very strong.” A smile lifted her lips but went no farther. “Looks can be deceiving.”
With that, we turned invisible and flew off. Draconian really must have been alone, I thought to Aurelia. Why?
I do not know the answer. Maybe he really wanted to talk to you.
Maybe. I think it’s best that we left quickly. If he was coming back with his dragons, the farther we are from there the better.
Aurelia and I landed in the trees outside Wisteria Hall. We became visible and hustled to the dorm room.
As soon as the door clicked shut, Samantha bounced up out of the chair and clapped her hands. “That was amazing! I thought it would be awesome just to see a pegasus, but I got to ride one.”
“She almost fell off because she was so excited.” Dan laughed. “But it was pretty cool.”
Cody crossed the room and sat down. He leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. “Aurelia carried me like—” he held his palm out, staring at it “—like I was a fly. Weightless.”
Even though I was safe here, the room felt too stuffy, too closed in. Too many colors overloaded my senses.
I walked to the window and opened it. The breeze blew across my face, helping to fight the claustrophobia. I closed my eyes and breathed in the fresh air. “So, why did Draconian run away when he saw you?” I asked. “Don’t say now is not the time.”
“I imagine he was afraid to take on one of us while the other was there.” Aurelia pulled out the desk chair and sat down. “You asked me what I was shortly after you met me. You admit you thought I was different the first time we met. You should understand what he saw in me. Just because we are friends now does not mean I am human. It does not mean other people who know see me as a person. Remember that.”
“You’re right,” Cody said.
“No matter what else you are,” Samantha said, “you’re our friend. That’s all that matters.”
“Then trust me,” she said. “I will tell you more, but you have to give me time. There are things I have to do first. I know you are curious. Humans, especially the young ones, often are.”
“We’ll do our best,” I said. Cody, Samantha, and Dan all nodded in agreement. “You have to remember, though, we are human … curious humans who can’t always
trust, even when we want to. Human nature isn’t what it should be.”
“Well said.” Aurelia inclined her head. “I, too, will have to try to be more understanding.”
“What is Draconian up to? Why would he just want to talk?” I turned my back to her, hoping she’d see it for what it was—a sign of trust. “Do you suppose he knows I read his aura?”
“We can only speculate,” Aurelia said.
“I don’t know what to think of this.”
“None of us do,” Cody said.
“I hate to change the subject, but we need to decide,” Dan said. “Do we take our chances and go to calculus, or do we skip?”
The thought of spending the day trapped in this room made my gut clench. Panic gripped me, threatening to suffocate me.
I took a deep breath, inhaling the pine scent, letting it soothe me. “Well, I’m not spending my life hiding.” I faced the others. “However, I can’t blame any of you if you want to skip. You can’t heal yourselves or fight back. You have to decide for yourselves.”
“I’m going,” Cody said in his don’t-even-think-about-arguing-with-me voice.
“Me too.” Samantha stood. “I can’t let Draconian take my grades down.”
“Well, let’s get going then.” Dan walked to the door. “We don’t want to be late.”
Aurelia frowned at me. “Though I disagree with your decision, I will not hold you back.”
Cody and I led the way to class with Aurelia following Samantha and Dan. We didn’t dilly-dally.
As Cody took his seat, he let out a sigh of relief. “We made it.”
“Yeah,” I agreed.
“You don’t sound too happy about it,” Dan said.
“I don’t know what he’s waiting for, and that scares me more than I’d like to admit.”
“Every day he waits is another day for you to learn to perfect your skills.” Aurelia’s optimism wasn’t contagious.