Fire Born Dragon (Rule 9 Academy Book 1)

by Elizabeth Rain

  “Not one word.” I muttered.

  Fern took a drink from her own water bottle and then capped it with a swat. She never listened.

  “I knew you had it in you.”

  I glared at her. “He’s such an ass. He baited me on purpose and then when I fought back and kicked his butt, he couldn’t handle it. Typical.” I ground out, refilling my bottle for later.

  Fern covered her mouth. Was she laughing at me?

  “Yup, a real jerk. I don’t think he should probably be allowed to work with the students. Too rough. I’ll talk to Professor Chang for you and file a complaint,” she said, starting to move away.

  I growled. “Oh stop it, will you? I get it. You are such a witch!”

  This time she couldn’t control the giggle that escaped her lips. She held up a hand. “I am. You’re right. Guilty!”

  I glared at her. We looked up as our instructor, Professor Chang, motioned for the rest of us to gather up, storing our waters and moving to join.

  I WALKED FAST, BUT not fast enough as I headed back towards the dorms and a shower before the dinner hour. I was starving. Apparently using my powers, no matter how small, made me hungry.

  Nick caught me within a few strides, keeping pace as we moved out ahead of the rest of the class.

  “Where did you learn to do that?” he asked. I sent a glare in his direction and walked faster. Any second now I was going to be forced to break into a jog.

  “Oh, come on. Lighten up. No need to be in a snit.”

  “If it gets you off my back, I’m fine with it. I don’t want to talk,” I finished.

  Nick kept pace, looking intrigued.

  “That was an elemental magic, earth magic? Powerful stuff. I heard you were good with fire...”

  I glanced at him sharply. “Who told you that?” I asked, snapping my mouth shut. Ignoring him Cross, remember?

  “Would you believe a little birdie told me?”

  “No, because I’d have to shoot it. Besides, finding things out about me and talking about them behind my back is something you’re good at.” I slapped my hand over my mouth. I hadn’t meant to say that. Would you just shut up, Sadie?

  His eyes narrowed on me. “What are you talking about now?”

  In for a dollar and all that...

  “Jerry Waverly. He said you came to see him...”

  He sighed and reached out to snag my arm. “Slow down, will you? We’ve been on the field working out for most of the afternoon and I’m tired of running.”

  “Good for you!” I snapped and pulled my arm free. But I walked slower. I was exhausted too.

  “I went to see him. But I wasn’t trying to be sneaky or anything. I just wondered if there was a better way of dealing with the Demon wolves and Macu rather than draining you like some vampire.”

  What was with the vampires? “They don’t exist,” I stated firmly.

  “What? Oh sure. Whatever... The fact is, it worried me. I didn’t mean to make you think I was going behind your back.”

  It was probably the closest thing to an apology I would get from him.

  “How are the scratches? Did you end up with stitches from the other night?”

  I shrugged and pulled up a sleeve. He reached out and ran his fingers over the light white line, all that was left of the five stitches I’d received three days ago.

  He grunted, frowning in wonder. “You heal crazy fast.” I shrugged and slid my sleeve back down to conceal the goosebumps his fingers had raised.

  We walked on in silence, the wet grass dampening my boots and the muddy path sucking at the soles. I’d need to clean them when I got back.

  “So, when did Jerry tell you I’d been by?” he asked.

  “This last weekend. Thomas and Sirris and I visited. Not that I mind that they are using my blood, but the poison isn’t enough anymore. There are too many of them. Something else has to be done. More and more I think we’re missing something; or someone.”

  Nick nodded. “I talked to dad last night. We agree that in order for that portal to exist like that, someone has to be holding it open; and widening it so they come faster too.”

  “When we were down there? I felt something when I looked in that room.”

  Nick nodded, grim. “Me too. I was so tired I thought I’d imagined it, but I didn’t, did I? Magic leaves a signature behind of the one who used it. Kinda like a fingerprint.

  I admitted. “That’s what we were talking to Jerry Waverly about, sorta. What we’re doing now? It doesn’t solve the problem; it just puts off the ending. We’re going to lose and that shield is coming down if something else isn’t done.

  “Synthetic blood? That wasn’t a bad idea, but it’s still just a band aide. We need to wipe them out and prevent any more from coming through.”

  He looked interested. “I like it, but how?”

  “We want to close the portal for good. We need to know who’s betrayed us and is pulling the strings. I wish I could get a closer look at that portal too; a glance wasn’t enough.”

  Nick looked uncomfortable suddenly. He cleared his throat. “Um. I don’t suppose you’d be interested in coming on a fact finding mission with me?”

  He leaned in to whisper the words, looking around to make sure we were still ahead of everyone else.

  “What are you talking about? The last time we were anywhere near there we almost died.” I reminded him.

  “Besides, I don’t know if Thomas and Sir—”

  “—no others,” he interrupted. He softened his words, still whispering.

  “Look, I’ve been practicing. I can create a concealment spell to hide us. I can’t hold it forever, and I can’t make it big enough to cover that many people. I might be able to conceal the two of us.”

  I stared at him. “Are you kidding? What, are you like Harry Potter all of a sudden?”

  He rolled his eyes. “Pay attention Cross. It’s a spell, not a blanket, and it doesn’t last long. Maybe ten minutes, tops. But if we’re quick, it might be enough to get inside that room and examine that portal closer. Maybe we’ll get lucky and see who’s behind it all too.”

  He shrugged, looking uncertain. “Probably wouldn’t work, anyway.”

  I thought about it. It was way risky and the chances of not making it were good. It sounded like my kind of odds.

  “No, I like it. I don’t love it, mind. But it could work. Are you sure you can hold it?”

  He looked grim. “I can hold it. But the question is, for how long?”

  I nodded. “Right then. Let’s do it.”

  BY UNSPOKEN AGREEMENT, I led. Male ego had no place where we ventured. My night vision was better, end of story.

  Briars pulled at our clothing and I remembered that the East side of Shepherd's mountain was more open to thorny patches that pulled at tender skin and made me wince. It was slow going and more than once we stopped to listen. It would have been bad news if we walked up on a group of Demon wolves or Macu in the dark. Nick could only hold the concealment spell for a few minutes, until then we walked through the night unprotected and exposed.

  After several wrong turns caused us to backtrack I admitted that I missed Thomas’ keen sense of smell, so much better than mine.

  “How long does it take to bring up the concealment?” I whispered over my shoulder.

  He leaned in close, and the whisper of breath over my neck made me shiver.

  “A matter of seconds to bring it up. Holding it...”

  “Well, let’s hope that you do. I would like to be able to tell everyone that it did.”

  He grunted, and we moved on through the woods, coming into the clearing that led towards the cliff ledge. I frowned at the bright round orb of the moon, lighting the clearing more than I liked.

  When we moved onto the ledge everything but the roar of the falls was silent. But we’d only gone a matter of feet when I heard voices ahead on the ledge, and I waved frantically for Nick to turn around and go back. We barely made it off and to the cover of th
e woods when three dark figures materialized through the heavy fall of vines and continued up the trail past where we hid. They never paused, intent on getting somewhere in a hurry.

  “That was close!” he hissed in my ear. I started to rise when his hands gripped my shoulders and held me still with a small shake of warning. Falling rocks caught my attention, and I watched as four Macu came snuffling along, following behind the three Demon wolves at a distance. Their snouts lifted and quivered as they stopped to scent the air in the open moonlight.

  Several seconds passed as the largest froze, head swiveling to point down the mountain. With an excited phlegmy giggle, he trotted off, followed by the others.

  “Could they smell us?” Nick whispered. I shook my head. “It wouldn’t matter if they did, I don’t think. They aren’t very smart. Energy demons want one thing. They’re headed for that shield and trying to figure out the fastest way to get there.”

  Once more we emerged into the open and made for the cliff ledge. This time we both listened for anyone else further along its narrow edge than we were.

  We moved back onto the bridge, more cautious but going as fast as we dared. This time we made it to the other end and hid behind the huge boulder in the open expanse in front of the cave doorway.

  The light from the cavern cast the occupants in shadow, the silhouette’s reflecting and changing as they moved on the walls. I shivered, creeped out. There was no way to guess how many gathered in there and we were just going to walk right in.

  Nick lay a hand on my shoulder and leaned in.

  “I can only hold this for about ten minutes. After that, I’ll be notably weaker. So, unless you plan to carry me out of here, I think we better shoot to be in and out in eight?” I nodded and then jumped when he grabbed my hand.

  “I have to maintain physical contact to keep us both concealed. Remember, while the spell will conceal us from sight, it won’t hide any sounds we make.”

  I glanced back. He looked worried. I couldn’t blame him; my heart was pounding like a jackhammer.

  “Let’s get this done and get out of here, hmm?”

  His smile was grim. I watched his blue eyes fade and turn opaque. A shimmer of blue sparks floated down over us, a gossamer blanket in sheer silky mist. I could see everything around us as it slithered over my skin, damp and cool.

  He moved out and gave my hand a tug, and I followed. And then we were in the open and walking towards the cave entrance. My heart was pounding so loud I wondered if they’d hear it. Nick forgot to duck, and his head knocked against the roof of the cave. I had a moment of utter terror as the cloak stuttered and the mist seemed to waver before it settled. We entered to at least a dozen Demon wolves and as many Macu spread out in and around the cavern, talking in their coarse guttural language that always reminded me of razor blades sliding over rough leather. The Larger demons seemed to be focused on what several smaller demons were doing and I wondered if they might be female.

  Nick kept walking, and we skirted the perimeter of the cave, careful where we stepped. We were down the hall and entering the door where we’d seen the portal when two demons appeared in front of us. Nick jumped back against the wall, pulling me with him as they walked past, arms waving and voiced raised as they argued about something. I believe they cleared us by only an inch. The mist billowed in as they passed and I watched as the tips of my worn boots became visible. I jerked them back. Moving once more we entered the portal room. It was empty.

  We stood and stared at the portal itself though, unchanged from what I remembered. Was it larger, though? As before, it stuttered in and out of focus. I strained to see beyond into that other dimension as it shimmered and I got brief glances into that other world. It was dark, and like before I had the impression of low thorny shrubs and open space. Nothing else seemed to move, though.

  The disappointment was crushing. We’d made the trip for naught. We turned towards the door and froze as a shadow materialized and filled part of the entrance. We waited for the figure to move into the room, but something caught its attention and it turned away from us. We had the impression of a cloaked back and hood. Whoever blocked the entrance, held a conversation with one of the Demon wolves and it wasn’t going well. I glanced at Nick. Despite the lack of clear visibility beneath the mist, I had no trouble making out the ashen pallor of Nick’s skin. We were running out of time.

  I held back a sigh of relief when the shadowy figure abruptly strode away from the doorway and back down the hall towards the open cave. It was my turn to lead, and I gave Nick’s hand a yank and we followed. I could make out the cloaked figure as it paused near the entrance to the cave, visible on all sides but the front. Nick scuffed a loose rock, and we watched in horror as it tumbled along the ground and came to rest at the feet of a shocked, then horrified Demon wolf, who scuttled backwards with a squeak of fear. Apparently, they were as frightened of ghosts as the rest of the world.

  We didn’t wait to see any more. Time was thin as we moved along the hall and through the opening of the cave, still following the cloaked figure as it moved onto the cliff bridge. I went first, dragging Nick along, clutching the hand that had gone limp in mine. The mists shimmered as we moved and by the time we had gone three-fourths across; it was more clear than opaque. The enchantment was failing.

  I followed the whisper of vines as they rasped against the cliff face beneath the movement of the figure ahead of us. By the time we left the cliff's ledge behind us and stepped onto open ground, the cloaked figure was already entering the wooded trail leading towards Drae Hallow. Nick dragged to a halt behind me and I turned just in time to see the rest of the glittery film evaporate into the night air. He seemed to waver even as his eyes rolled back in his head, and he hit the ground. I looked up just in time to see whoever it was we’d been chasing disappear over the small knoll at the top of the hill.

  I was grateful whoever it was hadn’t chosen that moment to look back.

  “THE COUNCIL HAS A RIGHT to know! It’s our sworn duty to protect Drae Hallow at all costs. We’re supposed to work as a team.” Carol ground out, her body shaking as if a strong wind might blow her away. At her elbow sat Will, grim and nodding, his mouth in a flat line of anger.

  I sat opposite them both, enduring heated glances of distrust from Professor Shamon. Professor Bennett was a bit harder to read.

  I didn’t belong there. I wasn’t a member of the council, and I wanted to be anywhere else. The haggard appearance of Lucas Seul struck me. He looked like he’d weathered a month of sleepless nights. Maybe he had.

  I listened as he tried to explain. “Unfortunately, right now I’m not entirely sure who we can trust. So far, every time, they’ve known we were coming. We aren’t surprising them; they’re waiting for us to arrive. So yes, I’m having trust issues.” Lucas muttered, his voice raising in frustration towards the end. He ran his hand through his long dark hair with shaking hands. It reminded me of Nick when he was angry.

  Carol reared back as if he’d struck her. “Trust? Are you saying you don’t trust me now? How dare you! I took an oath to protect Drae Hallow with my life. Same as you,” she hissed, her face a brilliant hue of red. I watched as it moved towards purple.

  The Mayor closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Yes, you did, as did I. But as Council Leader and Mayor of Drae Hallow, my job is to keep everyone safe—everyone.

  “I trust you. I trust everyone I handpicked to be on that council. But sometimes I have to make decisions that aren’t popular to protect us. It’s your turn to trust me,” he finished, voice rising on a roar.

  Will put a hand on Carol’s elbow. Her eyes swung and bored into his. “I’m sure Mayor Seul is following what he believes is the best course of action. We have to trust he has our best interests at heart and we have to trust he’ll get us through this.”

  If possible, Professor Shamon’s eyes narrowed even further as she considered.

  “Trust? Maybe we should worry about that as well?” she i
mplied, the ruddiness in her cheeks fading as she sat back and continued to eye the mayor with misgivings.

  Will continued. “We have to believe Lucas will do the job we elected him for. I’m sure he’s doing what he can to the best of his ability. We have to let him do his job.”

  With a sudden jerk, Carol wrenched her arm free of his grip and stood.

  She looked at Will, eyes filled with betrayal. “What happens when he isn’t doing his job? When do we step in?” with one last glare in Mayor Seul’s directions she grabbed her bag and made for the door, slim heels rapping angrily against the floor as she left. With an apologetic look, he followed on her heels.

  I watched them leave before turning to Mayor Seul. “Are you doing the right thing? I don’t want to agree with Professor Shamon, but she has a good point.” I’d never seen Carol Shamon so out of control. She’d always shown an acerbic personality, but that was over the top, even for her.

  Lucas tapped his fingers on the table, his eyes holding mine.

  “What I want to know is how they were even aware something was afoot. I never told them I held that information back. I didn’t tell anyone.”

  I threw up my hands. “Well, don’t look at me. Sirris and Thomas haven’t told a soul either. I don’t know. Perhaps one Guard talked, and word spread. It could have happened.”

  He changed the subject. “How are the newest tests Mr. Waverly is running going? What is he calling them? Cell-popping Grenades? That’s original.” A touch of humor touched his voice.

  I rolled my eyes. Jerry Waverly’s cleverness extended to chemistry and science and not a lick more.

  “We’re picking them up tomorrow. He has the smaller ones complete, at least enough to test them out. He’s working on something else, but even we aren’t privy to that information. He’s not spilling until he’s almost 100% sure it will work.