At first, Kaylee didn’t think anything of them. Her mind was on Dani, and Jade, and Edwin, and how he seemed to be having as much fun as she was tonight, and how she wished she could do this more often, and the strange, almost scared look Dani had given her, and the way Jade had been almost flustered when Kaylee had brought up all the stuff she’d bought from Maddox and—
“Next!”
She ordered and took the drinks. The game must have started again, because when she turned around the ground floor had cleared out. She was alone.
Except for the two people still behind her.
There was blurry movement. The two people each grabbed an arm and pulled her down a narrow passage behind the bathrooms, rushing her out of sight before anyone could see. It took Kaylee’s mind half a second to catch up to what was happening. Another half for her training to kick in and assess the situation as Jade had taught her.
She was being kidnapped. By Slayers.
Finally.
Once Kaylee controlled her initial terror she felt only relief. Here she’d been waiting, wondering, watching for them, always unsure of what they’d be up to next, and here they were, dragging her away beneath the stands, while the muffled cheers of the crowd thundered overhead.
Kaylee slowed her breathing and let herself be taken. Her heart thudded but her muscles tensed. She wasn’t the same clueless girl she’d been the last time they’d attacked. She’d wait until there were no witnesses.
Then she’d make them pay.
The tugging hands paused when they entered an open concrete space far below the bleachers.
“Hey, Z, we got—”
Kaylee threw her hot chocolate. Most had spilled during her abduction, but the rest of the burning liquid coated the nearest Slayer. He let out a cry of pain. Kaylee could almost hear the satisfying sizzle.
The Slayer’s partner tried to re-double his grip on her but Kaylee spun away and delivered a punch to his gut, her scale-hardened fist meeting with soft flesh. The man stumbled back with a squeak of pain. Kaylee went to finish him.
But they weren’t alone.
Kaylee wanted to smack herself. Of course they weren’t bringing her down here by themselves. Two Slayers would never be enough to take down a dragon-kin.
They’d brought her to their friends.
Slayers materialized from the edges of the darkness, becoming illuminated in the pus-colored maintenance lighting. Kaylee was on the nearest one before they could come any closer. The first she downed with a swift front kick, the next a punch to the face. Her elemental magic strained to be free, but she couldn’t risk it. Not yet. Not with so many innocents nearby.
But it didn’t seem like she’d need it. These Slayers sucked.
Kaylee beat back two more. There were shouts of alarm. Chaotic voices. Frantic cowering.
Yeah, these Slayers definitely sucked.
Then a fist launched from her left. Kaylee failed to move in time. The blow glanced off her ribs, but she managed to grab it and pull her assailant close, raising her claws for a counter-attack.
A boy’s terrified face stared back.
Kaylee’s arm hovered mid-strike. “Who’re y—”
Another blow landed on her shoulder blades. Kaylee threw the boy away and spun on her new attacker, not holding back this time—
Claaaang.
It was like hitting a street pole. The shock reverberated back on her, sending shock waves of pain up Kaylee’s spine.
“We meet again.”
Kaylee stared. It was the girl she’d run into at school. The one with the crazy hair and infuriating smirk.
“Not as much of a weakling as I thought. Good. I was worried,” the girl said. She shoved against Kaylee, forcing her to dig her heels in to avoid getting thrown back.
“I didn’t think Slayers left their dirty work to children,” Kaylee spat.
A flash of movement as the girl brought her other hand up. Scaled-claws shone in the light, gun-metal gray.
Kaylee blocked in time, but the attack knocked her back into the center of her assailants. The circle closed in around her.
“Enough!” The girl yelled as a few of the older kids lunged for Kaylee again. “No reason to have her kick your sorry butts again, idiots.”
“But Z—”
“I said enough.”
The circle reluctantly widened. Now that the frenzy of battle was gone, Kaylee could see these weren’t Slayers at all. A girl just a bit younger than her wiped a trickle of blood from the corner of her mouth. A couple kids—no older than her little brother—were clutching their stomachs.
“They’ll be fine,” The girl said. “And the lesson will be good for them. Morons. Told ‘em about a million times to never underestimate an opponent.”
“And you are?” Kaylee said. She took a moment to get a good look at who she was dealing with. Only this girl was older than her; the rest of the kids ranged anywhere from ten to fifteen-years-old, dressed in a variety of clothes. Some wore rags, while others had outfits that could have been pulled from a department store mannequin. Some kids carried magic in their palms, while others still had dragon scales. “What are you?”
“Pip. Gunner.” The girl waved a hand. “Go keep watch. Holler if somebody’s coming.”
That broke the stalemate. The two hurried off while the other kids took more relaxed positions around them.
The girl’s hand shifted back to normal and she stuck it out. “Zaria.”
When Kaylee didn’t take it, Zaria rolled her eyes. “You don’t like getting attacked? Violence is our standard greeting. Get used to it.”
Kaylee gripped her hand then, pushing a small jolt of electricity through her arm. It stopped when it hit Zaria’s arm, as if hitting an impenetrable block.
“You’re a metal dragon-kin,” Kaylee said.
“What gave it away? Was it the metal claws?” Zaria released her hand. “And you’re Kaylee Richards, the often-blabbed about storm-dragon-kin.”
“Blabbed about?”
“Underground won’t shut up about you. Not that they want to do anything to you. That’s the Slayers shtick. Most are just curious.”
Kaylee swore the tips of her ears were burning. Just how many people knew about her? And how had she not known?
A sudden realization hit her. “You’re the rogue dragon-kins.”
“And the lightbulb appears,” Zaria said, giving a mocking bow. “Technically dragon-kin and Merlins, if you care to know. Dragon-kin recruitment numbers are a little thin lately, so we had to bolster our numbers.”
“Gee, I wonder why. Maybe because their leader orders all her ‘guests’ to be kidnapped.”
“Hey! Show Zaria some respect!” one of the older boys yelled, the one Kaylee had splashed hot chocolate on. Kaylee shifted her hand to claws and held it up to him. The boy backed off.
Zaria chuckled and lounged on a steel bracing. “I don’t blame you for what you think of us. I’d hate us too if I believed all the lies the Convocation spread to keep other young dragon-kins from joining.”
“They say you’re dangerous and don’t follow Convocation rules set out to protect our kind. So far I’m not seeing anything disputing that.”
“We’re dragon-kin, not beasts to be ruled by laws or others of our kind. Tell me, when Randall Conners arrived in town—”
“How did you—?”
“What was Alastair’s condition for him if he wanted to stay?”
“He…had to follow Convocation rules.”
The others let out a hiss.
Zaria leaned forward. “And do you know why they wanted that? Fear. They’re scared of what he can do. Just like they’re scared of any one magic user having too much freedom.”
“That’s so nobody gets hurt. What would happen if dragon-kin were allowed to use their powers whenever they wanted?”
“Freedom.”
“Chaos.”
Zaria waved her hands. “Sometimes those things are closer than you think. What is
freedom, if not the chaos to do as you please?”
“Zaria,” one of the younger girls said meekly. “You’re…talking all confusing again.”
“I hope you aren’t here to debate me on philosophy,” Kaylee said. “Seems you already do what you want anyway.”
“Darn right we do. We do what we want, free from the Convocation that abandoned us.”
That caught Kaylee’s attention. “What does that mean?”
Anger flashed in Zaria’s eyes. “This may come as a shock, Kaylee Richards, storm dragon-kin of the Scarsdale Convocation, but most dragon-kin aren’t as important as you are. Like I said, I’m a metal dragon-kin. Impressive, but nothing exceptional.”
She pointed to one of the younger boys who was wiping his nose with sleeves far too long for him. “Another wind dragon-kin. I think you already have one here. Only difference between these two is the Convocation where he was left him to die when he was captured by Slayers.” A girl came next. “Merlins, too. Slayers want dragon-kin dead, but they’ll happily kill all who oppose them. Marica was left homeless after Slayers killed her family. And guess who never bothered to help? Guess who saw the risks as too great for the life of one, weak, puny girl?”
Zaria pushed off her spot and stalked closer. Kaylee backed up, one hand at her side prepared to shift, but holding back.
“And me,” Zaria said softly. “A dragon-kin just important enough to warrant the Slayers taking…special interest in me. But still not enough for the Convocation to consider stepping in when I was taken.”
She whipped up her arm. Kaylee flinched, but Zaria merely pulled down one sleeve to reveal a line of quarter-sized pock marks in her flesh, roughly shaped like dragon scales. “Did you know metal dragon-kin scales are fun to study? So many fascinating properties and uses. The applications were truly endless. Until the person they’re taking them from has enough and decides that help isn’t coming, that they didn’t care enough to save her, and the only person you can really rely on is yourself and those who have been through exactly what you have.”
Without meaning to, Kaylee found herself rubbing the spot on her arm where Brendan had taken a scale of her own for the Slayer’s spell last year. Losing one had been painful enough.
“I’m not going to say sorry,” Kaylee said after a pause. “You don’t want my pity.”
Zaria grinned, then patted Kaylee on the shoulder roughly. “You’re right, I don’t. Pity died along with our childish ways. I have a new family now. One I love and who loves me.”
“Then what do you want with me?”
“You,” Zaria said. “We want you.”
Kaylee tried not to show her surprise. “Why?”
“Like I said, you’re tougher than I thought. I’m looking for a little extra help for something. There’s a spot that needs filling in our ranks and I thought you’d fit nicely.”
“That didn’t answer my question.”
“I don’t have an answer to your question. Not here.”
“Then where?”
But at that moment there was a disturbance in the hallway. Feet shuffled. Voices rose.
“Hey! This part’s closed! You can’t—”
“Hey!”
“Back up! I’m warning you—”
“Aserath Vevan caji!”
There was a bright flash of light and the snarl of offensive magic. The two people Zaria had sent to keep watch were blown into the room, stunned. The smell of singed clothing filled the air.
Edwin rushed in, an expansive orange screen of light held in front of him. Kaylee had never seen him conjure anything quite so solid before. His eyes found her and he visibly relaxed. Then tensed again when he saw Zaria.
“Kaylee’s coming with me.”
Zaria gave Kaylee an amused look. “Overprotective boyfriend much?”
“Everybody just stop,” Kaylee said as those around her began to close in on Edwin. “Put the magic away, Edwin. They just want to talk.”
Edwin didn’t move, but Zaria casually waved a hand. A couple of the older kids helped the stunned ones up. The group began trickling into the hall.
“We’re done talking for now,” Zaria said. “If you want to know more about my offer then we need a little more privacy. Find me when you’re ready.”
“How?” Kaylee said.
“You’ll figure out a way if you want to badly enough. Or maybe ask that uncle of yours.” Zaria smirked. “I’m sure he’s hiding all sorts of things the Convocation doesn’t know. Until then.” She gave a small salute and joined the rest of her group, the younger ones warily sidestepping Edwin who kept his shield up.
The second he was sure all of them were gone, Edwin dissipated his shield with a relieved sigh. It was then Kaylee was able to see how much the effort had drained him.
“Are you okay?” he said.
“I’m fine, Edwin.” Why was everyone always asking her that? Like she was a house of cards, brittle and ready to collapse at any moment. “Why are you here?”
Edwin looked slightly hurt. “You were gone a long time. I wanted to make sure nothing was wrong.”
“Well nothing was.”
Edwin jabbed a finger towards where Zaria had just stood. “Clearly that’s not true. Were—”
“Edwin.” Kaylee rubbed her temples as sudden pain hit her head. The events of the last few minutes were catching up to her. She didn’t know why, but something about his concern was annoying her right now.
“Did they say anything? Anything about the Slayers?”
“No. Well, maybe. I’m not sure yet. They wanted me to visit them and talk more.”
“Which of course you won’t do because it’s clearly a trap of some kind.”
Kaylee glanced at him. His hands were stuffed in his pockets, his pose reserved, yet confident. Reliable. Even now when they didn’t train together anymore, when their lives had begun to drift different directions, he was still the rope tying them together.
“But…” he added. “You’re you, so you’ll probably go anyway.”
“Probably.”
“Which means I’m coming too.”
“I know.”
“Whenever you jump into the fray, I’ll be by your side.”
And it was that, Kaylee suddenly realized, that scared her the most.
Chapter Eight
Christmas swooped in like a hawk on a baby rabbit, full of sound and fury, a blur of talons and training and merciless exams.
December storms had snarled full force the last week leading up to the school break, bringing in cold weather and wind stronger than anything Kaylee could have ever managed to conjure with her magic, shoveling in a whopping three inches of snow over the last couple of days. The pure, glistening white made Kaylee’s relatively short walk from school to Randy’s farm peaceful, as it dampened all noise save for her crunching boots and her soft sighs at the quiet landscape around her.
It also told her Randy wasn’t home.
The front porch creaked as she stepped up to it. Already, Kaylee noticed the usual absence of sound. Usually she could hear Randy banging around inside, or tinkering in the shed, the door locked tight.
“Randy?”
Kaylee stood and tried to peer in one of the windows. Whether he’d meant to or not, Randy had mimicked Baba in that he’d never let Kaylee inside his house without permission, usually meeting her on the porch before leading her to wherever they were training that day.
Nothing moved inside.
Then again, he hadn’t mentioned them having practice today, and she’d gotten out of school half a day early for winter break. That had to be why he wasn’t here. It made more sense than him cancelling lessons because he’d found out about her meeting with the rogue dragon-kins. All week during training Kaylee had watched for any sign that Randy knew what had happened to her. Any sign, really, that he knew more about them than he was letting on. Zaria’s words had echoed in her ears long after the game: I’m sure he’s hiding all sorts of things the Convocation do
esn’t know. But what those things might be Randy gave no clue. He’d just been his usual gruff, annoying self.
Kaylee turned from the window and peered around the farm. The wood was already stacked in place, the drive clear. The shed doors were open.
For a moment she just stared, her mind playing over the consequences of snooping around. The house was empty. Randy probably wouldn’t be back for a while. And although she’d trained with him for over two weeks, she still barely knew anything about the guy save that he loved Chinese food, and loved making her suffer during training.
Basically, she knew squat.
When she reached the shed she took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she’d find inside.
It was empty.
Kaylee walked in and spun in a circle. She hadn’t known quite what to expect, but not this. Not nothing.
She groaned in frustration and kicked the center beam. The rope and worn tack on the wall chattered in response.
There was a spot worn down for Randy’s motorcycle, and racks on the walls that might have held tools, but that was it. Kaylee checked the loft, the back, even stomped for a trap door beneath the dirt and long-sour hay. Nothing. It was as if the man had picked everything up and vanished.
That still left the house.
Kaylee made it to the front door before something stopped her. It wasn’t magic, but rather a feeling she didn’t think she’d ever have when it came to Randy. Guilt. The guy clearly wanted privacy, and here she was, trying to break into his place.
Do it, a small voice said. It’s for your own good. You need to know who he really is.
Some people keep secrets for a reason, another voice answered.
You deserve to know.
Do you?
Kaylee glanced at the vacant road. Randy could be back any minute. Who knew when it’d be before she’d get another chance to look, if ever.
Kaylee shouldered her way through the front door, the long-rusted lock Randy had failed to replace giving way in her hands.
The house was bigger inside than Kaylee had thought, but in a state of complete disrepair. Her feet scuffed the floorboards as she moved down the hall between the stairs and dining room. A gust of wind caused the shutters to knock against the siding. The entire house felt like the thin shell of a long-dead beast rather than a place of comfort.
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