by Unknown
Her heart sank. She learned that she and Rexajon were on the No-Fly-List. There, as plain as day, her and Rexajon's pictures flashed on the screen along with the words, “If you see something, say something.” She felt as though she could cry again.
This planet was her home for the last fourteen years, and still, it was like she was a stranger to it. It was a terrible feeling.
“Next!”
The security officer ripped her away from her terrible thoughts. “S-sorry,” she apologized as she hurried to the screening machine. “I was reading about those dragons.”
The officer waved her through. She spread her arms so she could use her wand to scan her. “Yeah, ironic that they put things with wings on the No-Fly-List, but I don't make the rules. Apparently, they had plane tickets for today."
“Crazy,” she mumbled.
The security officer hummed her agreement. “Alright, you're good to go. Don't forget your belongings.”
“Thank you,” Solana said softly. She walked to the conveyor belt and grabbed her items out of it.
She slipped her shoes back on as she waited for Rexajon to go through security.
Soon, he was through, as well, and they were able to breathe at least a little easier.
“Did you see the screen?” Solana asked once they were among themselves again.
Rexajon sighed as he led her to a seat near their terminal. “It was hard to miss,” he replied. “Don't let it get to you. You'll be back in Wizteria soon enough, then you won't have to worry about them anymore.”
Solana shook her head. Somehow, just leaving was dissatisfying to her. “No, that's not the answer,”
she explained. “If we just leave, they continue to have all these preconceived notions about us—about every magical creature out there. And people like Evelyn have to live in hiding for the rest of their lives. The humans know we're here now. This may be our chance.”
“I thought you were scared, Princess.”
“I was—I am,” Solana admitted. “But this is our home. It's been our home for the last fourteen years. Are we really going to let them run us out of it?”
Rexajon's eyes met hers to see a fire of determination burn anew. He smirked. “That driver got to you, did he?”
Solana grinned. “Maybe a little.”
Soon, the plane arrived and the passengers, Solana and Rexajon included, boarded without incident.
Once on the plane and in their seats, they relaxed and mentally prepared for the long flight.
* * *
The flight was eight hours long, but Rexajon swore to maintain his razor-sharp focus. Solana and many other passengers fell asleep, but he refused. Dulling his focus is what led to the train fiasco that
left his princess so distraught. Never again.
Six hours into the flight, he was grateful he did. The glamour that disguised Solona faded in and out.
He winced and hurriedly covered her with a blanket before anyone else on the flight could catch on.
He lifted the armrest between them and pulled her until she laid on his lap. He sighed. He should have known this would happen. She was so new to her magic and had very little of it. Of course it would be difficult for her to maintain. For hours. While sleeping.
Still, she needed the practice and he needed his energy on standby. This was the way it had to be.
When she fell short, he would be there to support her and keep her going, but she needed to learn how to do these things if she wanted any chance of saving Wizteria.
Solana did not wake until the pilot announced to the plane that they would begin their descent shortly.
She rubbed her eyes and pushed the blanket off her head. Rexajon stopped her before it could fall. “You should get your face on first, Princess,” he said quietly and as discretely as he could.
Solana immediately picked up on his meaning and tucked back under the blanket. The next time she pulled it off a few moments later, Katelyn looked at him with a smile. “Better?”
“Much. Look, we're here.”
He gestured to the window and allowed Solana to climb over him a little to see. She gasped in wonder at the tropical sandy beaches and the deep blue water. "Beautiful," she breathed.
“I'll bring you back one day,” Rexajon promised. “When everything—and everyone—settles down.”
Solana smiled. “I'd really like that.”
Rexajon chuckled. “Sit down and put on your seat belt, alright?”
Solana nodded and climbed back to her seat. She snapped her seat belt into place and waited excitedly for the plane to land.
Rexajon watched her with entertained eyes. It was impossible to see how anyone would antagonize the
girl bouncing in the seat next to him. She was so full of life. So fun. She did not have a malicious bone in her body.
Perhaps she was right. Perhaps people would be able to see beyond the dragon exterior and get to know the soul underneath if they're just given a chance to know her. Perhaps, with her as the face of magical creatures everywhere, they could change the narrative of magical creatures on Earth. If anyone could do it, it was her.
Solana shuddered a little as the plane's descent made her stomach dropped. She grinned. “It's almost like riding a slow roller coaster.”
“Ironic, since it's faster than a roller coaster.”
“Is it faster than you?”
“A little faster. And I don't use as much energy as a passenger.”
“Is it faster than me?”
Rexajon frowned. “I don't know,” he admitted. “You flew very slowly as a child. You were the only child I've ever met that preferred to walk. Maybe because you were so slow.”
Solana scoffed. “Or because you kept teasing me. I remember.”
“I was only there a week before you left Wizteria,” Rexajon chuckled. “You were slow way before I had anything to do with it.”
“I was two!”
“Two miles per hour.”
Solana laughed and rolled her eyes. “Fine,” she said. “I challenge you to a race.” “I accept.
Anytime, anywhere.”
Solana smirked. “After I touch the fourth orb, Wizteria.”
“You're on. Prepare to lose, Princess.”
“Prepare to eat your words.”
“Prepare to eat my dust.”
They joked and teased each other until the plane landed and the passengers started to deplane.
Solana stood first and worked her way into the aisle. She started to move with the crowd off the plane.
Rexajon followed as soon as he could.
As they got off the plane and walked into the airport, Solana was a few feet ahead of Rexajon, but he kept an eye on her the entire time. That means, he saw the exact moment Solana's glamour fully dissipated and revealed her golden hair. He saw the exact moment the child immediately behind her realized who she was. He saw when his eyes widened and when he tugged on his mother's shirt to alert her as well. He saw it all in slow motion. Then, he reacted.
He pushed through the crowd with total disregard for anyone save Solana. He ignored their grunts, gasps, and protests as he pushed them aside. He took Solana into his arms and ran as quickly as he could. “Yeourtian!” he yelled.
He did not know where he was teleporting to. He just knew that he had to get out of there. They disappeared instantly.
He ran as soon as they appeared outside of the airport and in the tourist square, disregarding everything in his haste. He roughly pushed people out of his path, knocked over suitcases, and even knocked over a table.
Solana winced at the trouble he caused in the name of getting out of the airport. “Sorry!” she apologized quickly to one of the people that shot them a dirty look. “I'll fix that!” She used her magic to set the suitcases and table back upright.
Soon, though, Rexajon's speed paid off, and they were safely hidden in an alley. Once she was hidden from view, he put her down. “I need Katelyn, now,” he growled.
Solana concentrated her magi
c until her disguise returned. “Sorry about that,” she said.
“If anyone connects Katelyn to Solana, we'll have reporters and maybe even an angry mob on us the entire way up the volcano.”
Solana nodded and looked at him with sheepish eyes. "I know," she replied. "It was a slip-up. It won't
happen again." She decided to keep quiet about the little magic she did literally behind his back.
Something told her that she would not like his reaction.
Rexajon sighed and relaxed a little, trying to regain his composure. “Good. Come. We have a long way to go.”
Solana summoned at a map of the area. The yellow dot revealing the location of the next magical pole glowed brightly. "No kidding. This is quite the hike, Rexajon. A seventeen-mile hike uphill."
“20 miles,” Rexajon corrected. “We have to take the road less traveled. We can't risk running into tour groups.”
Solana groaned. “There has to be an easier way.”
“No,” Rexajon stopped her before she could even suggest it. “We can't use magic here, Princess.
The reporters need to think we're still in Wisconsin. If they get wind of our abilities to teleport and cloak our appearances, the hysteria will be even crazier than it is right now. It would be harder for you to talk sense into them.”
"Oh," Solana said. She had not thought of that. She bit her lip in regret at her show of magic at the airport. She meant no harm. She just hoped the rest of the people saw it that way.
Rexajon ruffled her hair, pulling her out of her thoughts. “We need to get going. We have a long hike ahead of us.”
“We'll need food and water. Bug spray.”
Rexajon nodded in agreement. Together, they walked to the nearest convenience store to get the supplies needed for their long journey.
Once inside, Solana split away from Rexajon to do her own shopping. She sent a friendly smile at the clerk, then walked down one of the aisles to look at the available snacks.
"Let's see...," she mumbled. "Honey-buns or brownies... Honey-buns..." She frowned as sudden dizziness hit. "Honey..."
The dizziness intensified until she could not see straight. No, this was far from normal. She needed to
get Rexajon. Fast. What was his stupid fake name again? Oh, forget it. She just had to find him. She took one clumsy step after another, using the merchandise shelf to balance herself upright.
She groaned and every step became more uncoordinated than the last. She accidentally knocked over products in her wake, but she could not find the strength to care.
The clerk cared. She heard him shouting at her in anger, but his voice sounds distorted and distant.
Rexajon rushed over at the sound of the commotion. “So—Katelyn?” he said in concern.
Oh, Rexajon. Good. Before she could get any words out, she groaned again and collapsed. Rexajon hurriedly caught her in his arms. He tried to shake her awake, but she did not respond.
“Should I call an ambulance?” the clerk asked, phone already in hand.
Rexajon pressed a hand to her forehead. She was burning up. Her spell would fail again soon. He had to get her out of there. “No,” he finally responded to the clerk. “They can't help her.”
He picked her up bridal style and dashed out of the store. He stopped and scanned the street for the nearest hotel. When he found it, he broke into another run, skillfully dodging tourists and cars with his unconscious princess in tow.
He rushed into the hotel and to the front desk. “A room. Any room, please.”
The elderly front desk clerk looked at him, unimpressed, then looked back at his computer. “Do you have reservations?”
“No,” Rexajon answered quickly. “Any room you have available will do. My sister is not feeling well. I think she got...” What was a believable human disease? “Rabies.”
The front desk clerk sighed and typed slowly on his computer, unknowingly driving Rexajon insane with every keystroke. After what seemed like forever, he finally looked back at Rexajon. “We have one room available—.”
“Great, we'll take it. I'll pay in advance for a night.” He shifted Solana and pulled his wallet out of his pocket. He put the cash on the counter.
“It's on the fifth floor—.”
“It doesn't matter, we'll take it.”
“Our key policy—.”
“I'm familiar with the policy, sir. I just need to get to the room, please.”
“Continental breakfast is at—.”
“Sir, I really don't care. I just need the key.”
The desk worker shot him an irritated look, but Rexajon could not find it in him to care. He begrudgingly handed him the key card. He kept his next words short and sweet, “Room 508.”
Rexajon sighed with relief with the key in hand. “Thank you.”
He shifted Solana in his arms again and jogged to the elevator. He pressed the button, decided after a moment that it was too slow, and took the stairs instead. He did not stop running until they were safely in the room.
That was the moment that Solana's glamour faded away. He sighed. He made it with a second to spare.
Now that they were not in danger of being discovered, he could behave more rationally. He walked to the bed and laid her down, then ran a hand through his hair. He finally verbalized the question that was on his mind since they left the convenience store. “How did you get so sick so suddenly?”
He walked to the bathroom and wet a towel with cold water. He returned to her side and pressed the towel against her forehead. Hopefully, this would help cool her down.
He ran the towel over her face, then her neck, then her arms. He froze at the sight of her left arm and frowned. It was faint. Anyone else would miss it, but there was a small mark. A curse signature. In an instant, he understood. He recognized such marks from his time with Evelyn. Someone cursed her.
That was why the sickness spread so suddenly and so fiercely.
He growled a low growl. He did not know who, he did not know where, but someone somewhere was going to die.
He summoned his mother's grimoire and flipped through it until he found a symbol that matched
the one on Solana's arm.
He silently read. From the looks of it, it was a very basic, but very powerful misfortune curse. He growled again but kept reading.
He glanced at Solana. According to the book, it was a fast-moving curse. The first symptoms would appear only five minutes after placing the curse. So, it happened after they arrived. It would have to be cast by someone that knew her name. Unfortunately, that could mean anyone. Solana was a household name since the news exposed their identities.
He read the next line, "They would have to be nearby..."
So, someone here in Hawaii, that stood next to her, that knew who she was. He frowned. It did not make sense. She had a disguise on the entire time.
He narrowed his eyes. Almost the entire time. He growled again, but this time at the irresponsibility his princess more than likely displayed to get them in this situation in the first place. He turned to her and shook her. “Solana,” he said gruffly. “Solana. Wake up. This is important.”
Solana groaned, groggy from sleep and sickness. “Rex..ajon...”
"You used magic at the airport, didn't you?" Solana gave a long groan. Her eyes fluttered back close. He shook his head and pressed her again. "No, no, you can't go back to sleep until you answer me. Did you use magic in the airport?"
Solana weakly nodded.
Rexajon let out a sigh of frustration, but now was not the time to chew her out. In her condition, she probably would not even remember it. “Alright, think back, Princess,” he said, trying to keep her alert and awake. “What did you do? Who did you see?”
Solana groaned again and rubbed her aching head. "You knocked stuff over, so I set them back up.
A few suitcases and a table. A fortune teller's table."
A fortune teller's table. That was a promising start. “Alright,” he whispered. He stood. �
��Rest. I have to run an errand. If you need me, yell. I will hear you.”
Solana groaned once more but managed a nod. She closed her eyes again.
Rexajon, meanwhile, looked in his book again. It stated that the spell could only be broken by the one that used it or with ingredients that he did not have access to in this realm. That is where the book was wrong. Any spell dies if the caster dies. Everyone knew that. He closed the book, and in an instant, he teleported away.
He reappeared a few feet in front of the fortune teller's table. She did not notice him, too busy hurriedly packing. Like she was trying to leave before someone found her.
She was not that lucky.
He walked towards her with fire in his eyes. He slammed his hand on the table.
She gave a little startled jump and looked up at him. She shrank back a little. “I knew you were coming. I saw it in a vision.”
Rexajon hummed and took the seat in front of him. “Let's see how accurate you are, shall we?” He held his palm out to her.
She gulped but accepted it with shaky hands. She looked at his palm, then at his face. "You have a very long lifeline."
Rexajon nodded, his eyes never leaving her and his face stoned. “Thousands of years,” he growled.
“Keep reading. I'm eager to see what else you come up with.”
The fortune-teller complied. She looked at his hand again. "U-unrequited love."
Rexajon nodded again. “That's my love for my princess,” he explained. “I would do anything for her. I would kill for her.”
The fortune teller's fearful shaking started anew. “You're angry.”
Rexajon chuckled darkly. “Come on, now. You didn't need my palm to figure that out.” In one quick move, he grabbed her hand and effortlessly pulled it towards him, almost lifting her out of her seat. “Now I'll do yours.”
He tsked and shook his head. "You have an incredibly short lifeline, ma'am," he said with a sigh.
"Because you dared to anger a member of the Wizterian Dragon Royal Guard. Do you know what you did?"
The fortune-teller gulped again. "I c-cursed the p-princess," she answered weakly.
“You cursed the princess,” Rexajon repeated, his grip dangerously tightening on her wrist. “Go ahead. Explain why. See if it moves me to spare your life.”