by Mandi Oyster
I dropped Cody’s hand and stepped away. “I have to go back.” Leaving him standing by Big Bird, I teleported back to Falcon Lake. I searched the area for them, finally spotting Samantha’s pink shirt through the trees.
“Come on.” I held my hands out. “I’ll get you out of here.” They ran to me, and I grabbed them both by the hand. In the blink of an eye, we stood in our room. “I have to go back to help Aurelia.”
“Be careful.” I heard Cody’s worried voice as I disappeared.
Dragons circled in the sky. One was as white as the new-fallen snow. Muscles rippled as it darted through the air. The beast’s head was slender with a bearded chin that flowed into a long neck. Its wings frayed at the edges as if they’d been torn. A long, spiked tail whipped through the air.
The other dragon was azure with scales that glistened in the sunlight. Large frilled ears and two long ivory horns adorned this beast’s massive head. Enormous fangs jutted from its mouth.
Aurelia, where are you? Are you okay?
I am fine, Dacia. Get yourself back to safety.
“I can’t just leave you here,” I shouted.
Then we will both teleport back.
I reappeared in my room. Samantha and Dan huddled together on the couch, and Cody strode toward me, wrapping his arms around me. “You’re okay.” His breath brushed my cheek.
“Where’s Aurelia?” Samantha asked.
“Here.” She appeared beside Cody and put her hand on my shoulder. “You did well.”
“Thanks.”
“I don’t think we should go to Falcon Lake again anytime soon.” Dan gripped the arm of the couch with white knuckles.
“Probably not.” I tried to move to one of the chairs. Cody’s grip tightened on me, holding me in place. I wrapped my arms around his waist and leaned into him, knowing that he needed this. His heart raced against my ear, and his body trembled. I didn’t understand why he was acting this way. We’d gotten to safety with no difficulty.
When Cody loosened his grip, I looked up into his face. His eyes were red and his cheeks tear-stained. He smiled at me, but it wasn’t convincing. A lump rose in my throat.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
He shook his head before leaning it back against mine.
“Aurelia, can Cody and I go to your room for a minute?”
“Take all the time you need.”
Cody started to walk away, but this time, I didn’t let go. We teleported into Aurelia’s room, and he crumpled against me when we sat on the couch. I ran my fingers through his hair, waiting for him to let me in.
“I watched you disappear.” His voice was quiet and broken. “Twice.”
“I’m sorry, Cody.” I brushed my thumbs over his cheeks, wiping away his tears. “I had to go back for them.”
“I know, but I …” His voice cracked. “What if you didn’t come back?”
My hand slipped down to his shoulder as I bent to kiss his forehead. He sat up, pressing me against the arm of the couch and crushed his lips against mine. His kiss was desperate and fierce. His hands traveled up and down my spine, pulling me against him. Then he pushed me down, propping himself above me. My hands tangled in his hair, before moving to his shoulder blades and pulling him down on top of me.
He made a low sound in the back of his throat, arching his neck. He brought his lips back down on mine. Fire flowed through my veins. His mouth moved to my neck, and a wave of desire crashed over me.
I pulled his mouth back to mine, then slipped my hands under the hem of his shirt. My fingers explored his back: tracing over his ribs and up his spine, feeling the flexed muscles in his shoulders. I moaned softly against his lips.
The kiss deepened, and he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me against him. His lips veered off mine again, kissing my chin, my cheek, my ear, and my neck. He lifted his head and looked down at me. The sadness was gone from his face. His eyes were lit by desire, his cheeks flushed, and his lips swollen. “I love you.” His voice was husky.
“I love you, too.” I brushed my fingers over his lips. “Are you okay?”
He nodded. His hand drew a path from my arm to my shoulder and up my neck. Then gazing into my eyes, he brought his mouth down on mine again. This time the kiss was gentle, intensity and desperation gone.
I lay on my side with my head on Cody’s chest. He squeezed my shoulders, and with his other hand, he traced circles on my arm. “They’re worried about us, aren’t they?” Cody asked.
“Probably.”
“We should go back.”
“Only if you’re ready.”
Chapter 26
What In The World Are Grigs?
Dan, Samantha, Cody, and I walked to class. Aurelia and Arion were trying to recruit help, so I was on high alert.
Something rustled in the trees, and I stepped in front of the others. A deer ran across the trail in front of us, and a nervous laugh escaped from me.
Three more deer darted through the trees, separating me from my friends. The hair on the back of my neck lifted. Something was wrong.
The smallest dragon I’d seen stepped through the foliage, keeping me apart from the others. It was only a little taller than an average-size horse. The beast’s scales were splotches of browns, greens, and black, creating a camouflage pattern. This dragon was perfectly suited for forest life, blending in with the trees and going unnoticed until it was ready to be seen.
The dragon lowered its horned head. Spikes ran down its back and jutted out from its heels and elbows. Its long, swishing tail ended in a fin.
“Let them go,” I said. “Take me to Draconian instead.”
“He wants them, not you,” it said in a sibilant voice.
“He only wants them so he can use them as bait to trap me”—I stepped toward the beast—“but I’m giving myself to you willingly. He will reward you greatly if you take me to him in their place.”
The dragon moved forward. Its head cocked to the side like it was contemplating what I said. “What does he want with you?”
“I am a powerful magician.”
The dragon leaned its head back and let out a strange guttural sound that I assumed was laughter. “You must take me for a fool.”
Aurelia told me that immortal creatures would be able to sense my powers, so I was thrown off by the dragon’s response. “I also have something he wants,” I told the beast. “Take me to him. If he really did want them and not me, you are clever and cunning enough to capture them again.”
“Yes,” the beast agreed. “Dragons are so much more intelligent than puny, insignificant, worthless humans.”
In a fraction of a second, the dragon turned and grabbed me in its claws before leaping into the air with ease.
Get back to the room. I spoke into my friends’ heads. I can get away from him, but I need you safe first.
I let the dragon carry me nearly all the way to Draconian’s castle before I engulfed myself in flames. Once I did, I slipped out of its talons.
A deafening roar filled the air, followed by a burst of flames. “You tricked me!”
“And, you fell for it. You should’ve listened when I told you I was a powerful magician.” I teleported back to the place where the dragon had ambushed us. The others were gone. I breathed a sigh of relief before teleporting to my room. I expected them to be waiting for me, but when nobody else was there, I contacted Aurelia. I need your help, I said trying not to sound too desperate.
What is wrong?
We were ambushed. I tricked the dragon into taking me instead, but the others aren’t back. We need to find them!
Dacia, Draconian’s voice filled my head.
Aurelia, Draconian is in my head.
Wait for me, she said. Do not do anything until I get there.
>
What do you want? I asked. Anger squeezed my chest and curled my hands in tight fists.
Bring Nefarious to me, and you can have your friends back.
What makes you think I won’t walk in there, right under your nose, and take them back? I filled my voice with as much arrogance as I could muster.
I considered that scenario, so I decided to take it out of play. Your friends are in three separate places, each of them guarded by one of my most ferocious pets. If you even try to rescue one of them, that dragon will signal the others, and your friends will pay dearly for your insubordination. You can’t save them all. Don’t keep me waiting for too long. My dragons do get hungry.
Let them go!
No, I don’t think I will. Their insignificant lives are in your hands. Bring Nefarious to me!
I sounded defeated when I relayed the news to Aurelia. Draconian has them, and they’re not all in one place. If I try to rescue one of them … my thought trailed off. I’m scared, Aurelia.
Wait for Arion and me. Do not do anything without us, Dacia. We will get them back. I promise.
Hurry! Please.
While I waited for Aurelia, I paced the room, chewing my fingernails. Then I plopped down on the couch, hugged Cody’s pillow to my chest and breathed in his scent. I fought the urge to go to Sarah’s office and force her to tell me where she’d hidden Nefarious. Clutching Cody’s pillow to my face, I screamed into it.
When I pulled the pillow down, Aurelia stood in front of me. “What took so long?” I shouted.
Aurelia stood in front of me with her hands behind her back. She was dressed all in black, and I wondered how she thought that would help conceal her. Sparkly skin tended to stand out.
“I am sorry, Dacia. I should have stayed with you today,” she said, completely ignoring my question.
“It’s not your fault.” All of my anger drained away, leaving me weak. I tossed the pillow down and put my head in my hands. “I couldn’t keep them safe.” Tears pooled in my eyes, blurring my vision. “I had one job, and I couldn’t do it.”
“Dacia, we will get them back.” She sat beside me.
“Why?” I tried to keep my voice from cracking. “Why did he take them?”
Wrapping her arm around my shoulders, she answered, “He is testing you—your determination, your strength, and most importantly your abilities. He is trying to see how far he can push you before you give up or decide to stand against him.”
“So … Draconian won’t leave them alone until I hand over Nefarious or die?”
She narrowed her eyes. “If you are this negative, it will be more difficult to win.” She squeezed my shoulder, and I winced at her strength. “You were chosen for a reason.”
“They weren’t.” I raised my hands and dropped them again. “I can’t let him hurt them.”
“We can always hope he will grow tired of this game.”
I sat there, feeling sorry for myself. Then my resolve hardened. I’d given into grief. Now it was time to act.
“We need to hurry.” I sprang to my feet. “We can’t leave them with Draconian any longer than we have to.”
“We will get them back.” Aurelia patted the couch, but I didn’t sit. “I am sorry for making you wait. I spent the day trying to find help.”
I tucked my hands into my pockets and paced. “And … did you have any luck?” Why are we talking about this instead of freeing Cody? I winced at the thought. And Samantha and Dan.
“Not as much as I would have liked. Hopefully, it will be enough.”
The way she said it gave me a bad feeling. I stopped in front of her. “Who or what is helping us? Do you have a plan?”
“They are called grigs. They are small enough we can send them into Draconian’s castle without the risk of being seen. We will have the grigs search for Cody, Dan, and Samantha. Once we know where they are, we will teleport in, grab them and get out. If we synchronize it, we should be able to get in and out before they know what is happening. Because they are under Draconian’s control, the dragon’s reflexes are slower than they normally would be. That should give us a small advantage.”
“Well, that’s a scary thought.” I shook my head and sighed. “Their reflexes are so much faster than mine. How fast would they normally be?”
“Of course they seem fast to you. You must remember you are talking about creatures that are centuries or even millennia older than you. They have had hundreds of years to perfect their abilities.”
“Who else is going in with us?”
“Arion.”
“I didn’t realize he was here. I can’t feel his presence.”
“He is bringing the grigs. He should arrive any minute.”
“Tell me more about them while we’re waiting. I’ve never heard of a grig before.” I couldn’t bear the sound of silence. I knew it would cause my mind to wander, and I would imagine my friends being tortured.
“Most people have not. They are mischievous little sprites who love playing tricks on people.”
“And we’re supposed to trust them?” She couldn’t be serious. Could she? My friends were in danger, and she was sending in tricksters.
“Yes, Dacia, we have to trust them. They are all we have. They promised to be on their best behavior.”
“I hope so.”
“Grigs have a head, body, and arms like you would expect to see on any fey creature, but their legs and wings are cricket-like,” she said. “Their hearing is exceptional, far superior to that of a human.”
The creatures my imagination conjured were hideous. I shook my head, deciding I should just wait to see them. “That should help them find my friends.”
“Yes, it should.” She pulled a gold strand of hair off her shoulder and incinerated it. “Unicorns will fight to the death to protect the grigs that live in their forests.”
“Have you seen unicorns?” I cocked my head. “Are they really overrated?”
“Yes, I have seen them, and though some tend to be excessively vain, they are extraordinary creatures. Arion was trying to get a reaction from you when he told you they were overrated. Most young girls dream about seeing unicorns, and he knows that.” She smiled. “Shall I continue?”
“Yes, please.”
“Grigs enjoy playing pranks on unsuspecting passersby. They do not ever intentionally harm anyone and always make up for their tomfoolery. They are mischievous, not cruel.”
When Arion arrived with the grigs, Aurelia explained her plan. While she did, I couldn’t help but stare at them. All three of them had wild, dark green hair. Their skin was pale blue, except for their legs which were brown and hairy. They were a lively bunch who didn’t seem to have a care in the world. When they talked, their voices were shrill. I had to strain to understand what they said.
“Dacia, this is Persimmon, Okapi, and Tinamou. They have generously agreed to help us rescue your friends from Draconian,” Aurelia said, sounding very formal.
“Thank you so much,” I told them.
“The pleasure is ours, Big One,” Persimmon said in a screechy voice. She was the only girl. She had on a bright purple shirt and skirt that clashed with her hair. A tiny knife hung on a belt at her side.
“It is an honor to be of service to you.” Tinamou bowed. He was more subtle looking in a brown tunic with bright red buttons. He had a knife at his side, but he also carried what appeared to be a tiny instrument.
“Is that … is that a violin?” I asked.
“Actually, it is a fiddle,” he answered. “With it, I have the power to make creatures dance until I cease playing.”
“Does it work on dragons?” I asked in a skeptical tone.
“Most likely, it will not.” Okapi bowed slightly when he answered me. “We shall go now.”
“Be
careful,” Aurelia told them, and with that, they were gone. “Dacia, the grigs would prefer it if you keep them to yourself until this is all over. They do not want word spreading that they helped free your friends.”
“Why not?” I sat on the edge of the chair, but restless energy pulled me back to my feet.
“They are afraid of the repercussions they could face if Draconian found out. They would rather you did not mention them to anyone, including Cody, Samantha, and Dan. They will not come back here after we free your friends.”
“Okay.” It seemed odd the grigs wouldn’t want my friends to know they saved them, but if that was what they wanted, I would respect their wishes. As long as my friends were freed, I didn’t care about the rest.
Flames sparked in my palm while I paced. I’d been slowly building my stamina since Aurelia told me magic was like any other muscle. I just hoped I’d have enough for tonight.
It felt like the grigs had been gone for hours. I pulled out my phone and looked at the clock on it. It had to have frozen. According to it, they’d only been gone for mere minutes.
With each step I took, fear clenched my heart tighter. I let go of the flames. Trying to distract myself, I made electricity dance over invisible fingertips.
Aurelia sat motionless on the couch. Her head was tilted as if listening for something.
Dacia, Draconian’s voice hammered against my skull.
My magic dissolved, and I stopped pacing. I closed my eyes, trying to hold my terror back. Draconian.
Why are you delaying?
The condemnation in his voice twisted my stomach. I hated myself for not being strong enough to confront him, to end his control of the dragons, and to stop him from hurting anyone or anything else.
Why haven’t you brought Nefarious to me? Do you want your friends to suffer needlessly?
My breath caught. He didn’t know about the grigs. Everybody was still safe. Silently, I thanked God. Then I answered, keeping my words confident, I don’t keep Nefarious tucked under my pillow. I have to get him. I’ll be there, but you have to give me time.