I WOKE UP IN in a cold sweat after one of Queen Catherine’s dreams. Pushing the covers back I got up from bed, walked to the fridge and took out a soda. Walking across the plush carpet I made myself comfortable on the couch and just stared at the black big screen mounted against the wall.
I felt like screaming, not knowing why she haunted my dreams and kept ordering me to go into that forest. Missing Lucian and worrying about him made it ten times worse.
The only thing I had was my foretelling. It’s just got to be linked to Paul and claiming him. As I thought about it I just knew it would reveal so many truths; that Wyverns could change, that they were dragons too. King Albert believed in that strongly and so did Master Longwei. The more I thought about King Albert, the more I wished that I’d had the privilege of knowing him, the way the people of Paegeia had.
‘Magical’ was what Lucian had called him. It was crazy to think that his love for his people had somehow conjured those creepers. Their purpose was to imprison Goran, nothing else.
His beliefs were going to become mine soon. If Master Longwei was right about his mark theory and Paul was destined to be my dragon, then the two of us would find a way to lead the Wyverns into the light.
I giggled to myself. That thought would have to go into the file of Elena’s secrets, with all the rest of the things I silently wished for, because my friends would definitely kill me if they knew about any more life threatening missions coming up.
The next morning, I found Paul’s eyes on me as I entered the cafeteria. I gave him a smile which he returned with a wink. My stomach flipped and I stopped in my tracks. I didn’t feel that way about Paul, although he was a dish, I loved Lucian. I looked at Paul again. It could only be him doing this. He was sitting next to Blake again and they were in a deep conversation, chatting with the boy with the green stripes in his hair─ funny how I’d never gotten his name.
He was a Green-Vapor, like Tanya the Queen’s dragon. Lucian, however, had said that they had the ability of persuasion and I wondered if Paul’s telepathy could lead to something as powerful as persuasion.
“You still hear Paul’s voice?” Sammy asked as she saw me staring at his table.
“No, he’s been quiet lately. Don’t know why.”
“Maybe he doesn’t like someone in his head?” Becky teased.
I laughed at Becky but couldn’t stop wondering if Paul had made my stomach flip when he winked at me. If it was him, I didn’t like it one bit.
Later that day, Anatomy turned out to be a really fun class. Professor Gregory had an entire lecture about the Green-Vapors. How freaky was that?
After he drew their stomach with compartments on the black board, he opened up a candy bar and took a huge bite out of the chocolate. Some of the students started to laugh. “One of you could have the other one if you can tell me where the Green-Vapor keeps its chlorine.”
A couple of hands went up, except mine. I didn’t have a clue.
“Tracy,” he pointed at one of the girls I used to battle with to get the sword I needed in Art of War.
“His…left…lower compartment?”
Clearly a guess.
“Nope, you’re out.”
“Derrick.”
“Right lower compartment.”
“These compartments have names people.” He went back to the board. “This is the ‘Superiorem Stomachus’.” He drew a huge circle around the upper right corner of the stomach. “Right next to it, you have the ‘Sinister Venter’. The one below,” he said drawing a third circle, “is called the ‘Inferiorem Alvus’ and right next to it, the ‘Dexter Alvus’.”
“You really want us to remember those names?” Al, a red head asked from the second row.
“Yes, it’s one of my favorite questions on the exam. So, again, who can tell me where the Green-Vapor keeps its chlorine?”
I was sure Riley would’ve known the answer, but she’d finally Ascended. She could manipulate acid, which meant that her dragon was a Night Villain. It came as a shock to all of us, Riley, and one of the most dangerous dragons there was? I didn’t know who I felt more sorry for, her or the dragon.
The picture on the board flashed inside my head. I looked at the board, then another picture, one that wasn’t drawn on a board, flashed into my head. It was not the stomach or any of its compartments but the part above the stomach, the throat. I smiled knowing who had sent me the answer, and I lifted up my hand.
“Elena,” Professor Gregory asked.
“It’s not one of them. The Green-Vapor’s chlorine is located just above the stomach, close to its throat.”
He started to clap his hands. “Well done. You are the first ever to get this right.”
I barely caught the Kit-Kat as it came sailing my way. Classes were going to be so much fun from now on.
“That’s not fair,” Collin complained. “You said it was in one of the compartments.”
“Well, this way, you will never forget it, Collin.” Professor Gregory raised his eyebrows and we all laughed. We would never forget it. It was a trick question and that was how our class on the Green-Vapor with all its weird-named organs started.
I shared my Kit-Kat with Paul in Art of War. He was so surprised that I’d gotten it. He said he had wanted to test how strong our bond was, but not to expect him to help me cheat.
I laughed at his comment. I had to admit, it was pretty cool and he did sort of help me stop worrying about Lucian, even if it was only for a couple of hours a day.
DURING LUNCH, Becky and George were in deep discussion. I only caught a part of it as I was walking up to the table.
“Why didn’t any of you tell us?” She sounded upset and scolded George with her eyes.
“Because they both said it was for the best, besides they were the best option dealing with the Council.”
I took a seat right next to Sammy. “Dealing with the Council? What for?”
“Elena, it’s better that you don’t know,” Becky chirped at me, before she looked back at George. “You still should have told me. I’m the one you share secrets with, not withhold them from.”
My mouth gaped slightly at Becky’s remark. “I want to know Becky, tell me. Who dealt what with the Council?”
She sighed. “Lucian and Blake. Someone had to explain why we went on that crazy trip.”
“When was this?” I looked at George.
“Right after Blake came back.”
“What did they said.” If they took the blame, both of them will get a punch from me.
“It doesn’t matter, it’s over,” George said.
“What did they say?”
“What do you think, Elena? They told them the truth. That we had a plan about going into the Sacred Cavern and everything. Just between you and me, your name won’t get onto that brass plate with all the rest of them. The Council felt that it wasn’t legit, since your Dad was a dragon, and that you are part dragon.”
I fumed. Going into that Cavern was the bravest thing I’d ever done. Not getting recognition for it? Now that was a hard pill to swallow. Anger sent bile up into my throat. I wanted to scream. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, hoping that it would take my disappointment away. I looked at the scar the Keeper of the Cavern had given me. At least they couldn’t take that away. “It’s fine,” I said as I looked at George and Becky again.
“Elena it’s not fine,” Sammy finally said. “You could’ve died. My brother gave them a good argument when they made their final decision on that. I guess that speech of his at the exhibition ticked them off.”
“So now I must pay for his actions. That is so not fair.”
“Elena?” Sammy said.
Without answering her, the bell rang and I got up and left for Enchantments. I found Paul in one of the rows. It was written all over his face that he knew what had happened.
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered as I slid behind the desk.
“How long have you known about this?”
“I listened in when I saw something wasn’t right.”
I nodded. How could they not put my name onto that plate?
“It’s just a name.”
“Are you reading my mind?”
“I don’t have to. It’s clear what you are thinking.” He gave me a side hug and pulled me into his chest. “You’re disappointed about not getting recognition when it matters the most, but know this, everyone does know about that. Blake made it very clear at the Museum, or so I’ve read.”
I started to laugh. “They should’ve told us about the hearing.”
“It was the Rubicon and the Prince of Tith. You would’ve only ticked them off.”
“You don’t know that.”
“C’mon, Elena. I do. You are exactly like me. Believe me it was for the best to let them deal with the Council.”
Exactly like him?
The door opened with a loud bang and Professor Georgiou stepped in with huge steps. She looked upset about something.
“If my classes are too difficult for you, please, feel free to leave.”
We all looked at one another. What the hell happened?
“I’ll find out what’s wrong,” Paul whispered. “Professor?”
“It’s nothing, Paul.” Professor Georgiou clipped the bridge of her nose, and took a huge sigh. “Constance is just on my case about pushing you guys so hard.” She started telling us everything in detail, things I didn’t think we were supposed to know. I looked at Paul and his eyes twitched. Paul was doing this?
The fact that he was able to force her to tell us all scared the living crap out of me, but at the same time I was in awe of him.
“So I’m asking you guys again, if my classes are too much for you, please, feel free to change your class. I’m pushing you for a reason. Danger doesn’t wait for anyone. When you find it, you need to be prepared. I’m sure Elena and everyone that was on that mission can relate.”
I thought about her words. If Professor Longchester had prepared us better last year we might have been able to save Brian.
The class fell super silent.
“I’m staying Professor,” Ed answered. It was followed by a couple of other students’ discussing it and it ended up that no one wanted to leave.
The lesson was a hard one, one I struggled with. We were supposed to keep a piece of paper afloat in the air, but everyone, including mine, dropped. When the bell rang, exhaustion consumed me.
“We can practice if you want,” Paul said.
“That would be nice. I really don’t want to suck at classes anymore.”
He smiled and walked with me to my room.
We said goodbye and the minute my head hit the pillow, I drifted away.
It wasn’t that long before the same hill found its way into my dream. I plunged myself down at the bottom of it again and hoped that she would leave me alone this time. If she wanted me to face her again, then she needed to give me some answers. For one, I wanted to know why she kept haunting my dreams.
I felt a warm breeze of air blowing through my hair. It was followed by a weeping, hollow sound. My skin crawled as my stomach did a hundred flips. She was pissed off because I’d done this again.
I lifted up my head slowly and saw two huge talons digging into the ground. It belonged to purple scaled claws laying one over the other. I looked up and had to bend my neck backwards to get the full picture.
My body trembled inside as the most beautiful purple dragon I’d ever seen looked down at me. Its eyes were an icy green and they were locked on me as it lowered its head to lie on top of its paws. I just stared at the beast as it closed its eyes. Its wings were folded over the lower part of its body. While two soft horns and frilly ears lay on top of its head. Its head was diamond shaped with soft curves. I couldn’t recall if I’d ever seen a breed like this before.
I reached out my hand to touch it when it vanished, twirling into dust as it was sucked up by a person in a black cloak. I woke up shocked and rubbed my eyes. Why was I dreaming this shit, and how did a dragon got into them?
I was drained the next day. I didn’t know if it was from the Professor Georgiou’s classes or trying to find out what my dreams meant, so I took a nap. When I woke up I found a note from Paul. He’d left it with Becky. The note read that I should meet him at our tree for practice when I woke up.
I found him leaning against the branch, watching me as I made my way to him.
His stares did all sorts of crazy things to my stomach and his dark eyes felt as if they could penetrate my soul. Seek out the secrets that he will have the answers to. That was something I was sure Paul knew.
“Hey, you,” he said as I reached him and he gave me a hug. He smelled amazing, sweet with a hint of oak.
“So are you ready to practice? I brought a piece of paper.”
I laughed. “Let’s do this.”
He stood by me and held the paper gently between his forefinger and thumb. When he let it go, the paper stayed in one spot. He kept staring at it, like it was the most natural thing in the world. Then it moved a bit higher.
“Get ready,” he said.
I took a deep breath and moved my eyes onto the piece of paper dangling in the air.
“Ready?” he asked. “Three, two, one.”
The piece of paper fell down to the ground.
He looked at me with a raised eyebrow, and a slight twitched play around the corners of his lips. “You need to concentrate woman.”
“I am concentrating. It’s not as easy as you think.”
He laughed. “It will get better, I promise.”
He picked up the piece of paper again. In three seconds it lingered in the air once more.
By the tenth time the piece of paper hit the ground I wanted to scream out of frustration. I didn’t keep it up once. Not even for a small second.
“I think that is enough for now,” he said, pretending to rub his ears.
“Sorry,” I said, knowing that he’d heard my silent frustration.
“Don’t worry, you’ll get there. We can practice again tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
We started to walk back to the cafeteria. For some reason I didn’t want to say goodbye yet. I really enjoyed his company and I loved finding out how strong his ability was.
“Has Sir Edward told you guys about the Elemental dragons yet?”
“No, but Cheng mentioned them once.”
“Cheng?”
“The coolest geek I’ve ever met that helped me with history a couple of months back.”
He laughed.
“He’s got a lot of theories and stories.”
“Let me guess, he’s a Crown-Tail.”
I laughed. “Yes.”
“Well, I found something nearby in a cave. I would like to share it with you. Join me on a horse ride this Saturday?”
“Sounds pretty awesome, deal.”
We parted our ways by the cafeteria and I found myself really looking forward to Saturday.
Lucian didn’t phone that night and I said a small prayer to keep him safe. I just hoped it was enough to return him to me.
ON SATURDAY I had to find Blake first as I’d made a promise to Lucian. One of the guys in fourth year told me where his room was and I felt stupid when he told me. I should’ve known that he and Lucian shared a dorm. I knocked on the door and Blake’s left eyebrow raised as he found me standing in his doorway. He only wore boxers and I had to force myself to look away from his perfectly built chest.
“What?”
“I’m taking a horse ride with Paul.”
He frowned. “Why are you telling me this? I’m not your babysitter, Elena.”
“Lucian…forget it.” I turned around and went back to the elevator. Blake really made me so furious but I counted to ten fast a couple of times so that it wouldn’t ruin my day.
I found Paul at the stables busy mounting the horses and putting saddles on top of Ginger and a black beauty. I tapped Ginger gently on her nose. “Blake said that she is the calmest and she just told me she wants to run with you.”
I laughed. “That is so good to know, Ginger.”
The horse looked at me as if she understood every word I said.
“She said for ten extra cubes of sugar she will be extra careful.”
“Deal,” I told Ginger, as Paul walked over to her saddle to make sure that it was secure around her waist.
“You really speak to horses?”
He laughed. “No, but I’m good with sensing what they want.”
“Like a horse whisperer?”
“How odd, a Wyvern that can calm down horses.” He did a funny thing with his eyes and lips which made me laugh, right before helping me on top of the saddle.
I took the laces from his hands as my heart pounded. I’d never sat on a horse by myself before.
“It’s not a far ride, just up ahead. We will be back before lunch.”
“So what is it you wanted to show me?”
“It’s got to do with the Elementals,” he said as he jumped cowboy style onto his horse.
As we began to move, Ginger kept her word. She was really gentle. “What do you know about the dragons?”
“We haven’t covered it yet. Cheng just mentioned that they turned back to stone after they protected Paegeia, and will free themselves again when they’re needed.”
Paul laughed. “Old wives’ tale.”
“They won’t wake up?”
He shook his head. “They turn to stone when their time is done. It’s almost the same way with Wyverns, just slightly different. We turn to ash and the wind takes our remains wherever it goes.”
“Wow, really?”
“Yup.” He clicked his tongue and his black beauty started to walk. Ginger followed his lead without me having to do anything.
Paul turned his head slightly back to me. “There are four Elemental dragons; fire, wind, water and earth. They are all magnificent creatures and really beautiful, the Chinese still use them in their art.”
“Wait, are they those long dragons with small feet?”
Paul laughed. “Yes, that’s them.”
I really thought that it was only the Chinese way of drawing dragons. I never thought in a million years that they really existed.
“The wind dragon is called Spiritus. The fire dragon, Ignis, Terra and Aqua are the earth and water dragons. Only one was born to each of their elements a very long time ago.” He smiled as Ginger walked right next to his horse. “It’s one of my Pappy’s stories. In the time before time even existed, the four dragons roamed the earth. When there was war between good and evil, all of them decided to sacrifice themselves and become one. They formed a mighty dragon that would fight to gain back the balance, and is what we know as the Saadedine. He is all the dragons in one.”
“Like Blake?”
“Exactly like Blake.”
“And they will fight evil?”
“If it’s great and no man can destroy it, yes.”
“But we have the King of Lions weapons.”
“Ah hah, now you know how long ago Elementals roamed the earth. They don’t feel the need to hatch anymore.”
Ginger’s mane swayed in the wind and I saw how a muscle close to her neck jumped. I didn’t like it one bit, but I was sure it was natural for a horse’s muscles to move while carrying someone.
“Why are you telling me this?” I asked as I took my gaze of Ginger’s neckline.
“It’s linked to what I wanted to show you in the cave.” He smiled and tapped the horse gently with his laces to run a bit faster. In less than ten seconds Paul was a couple of paces in front of me.
“So what, I’ll just meet you there?” I yelled after him.
He stopped a few hundred meters in front of me, turned the horse around and I could see the broad smile across his face. “It’s fun, just tap Ginger softly and move with her rhythm.”
“I’ve never ridden a horse by myself.”
“It’s easy. Trust her.”
I grabbed her laces a bit tighter. Ginger started stomping her feet and neighing like mad. I let go of the laces thinking she didn’t like being controlled but grabbed them again as she lifted herself up onto her hind legs.
I shrieked and grabbed some of her mane hair. When she landed on all fours again I grabbed her around the neck, holding on for dear life. She turned around with the speed of light and started to run back to the Academy.
My ears were deafened from the loud sound that left my mouth. I couldn’t hear what Paul was saying, but I could hear him behind me, or so I hoped it was him and not the rhythm of my heart bouncing inside my chest.
I started to lose my grip around her neck and before I could grab some of her mane, I found myself upside down. My body hit the ground with a thud and a yank I was dragged forward. My foot had gotten caught in the holster and my back ached as the turf burned against my skin. My entire body felt as if it was going to be ripped apart at any moment. Ginger’s hoofs missed me every time by inches and it didn’t matter what I tried to do, I couldn’t get out of this horrible situation. Agonizing screams left my lips as she kept running faster. A thought shot through my mind; one that would leave me with no skin. Just then, Ginger’s back leg kicked my head hard and everything went black.
THREE FIGURES STOOD over me; Paul, Julia and Constance. Julia was yelling at Paul, but I couldn’t hear what she was saying. The ringing sound in my ear was to blame. Paul’s face pulled in all sorts of frowns. He looked down at me and his eyes grew as he saw me awake.
Elena… he mouthed my name, but no sound came from his lips, just the ringing.
Constance’s eyes found mine. My back ached and burned as the smell of blood filled my nostrils. I tried to turn my head to see where I was but it couldn’t turn. The effort left me in more pain, as aching and tearing raced through my entire body.
Constance lips kept moving as she looked at me.
What the hell? I can’t be deaf!
A shriek turned the ringing sound off.
“Where did the horse kick her?” Sound suddenly came back and Constance looked at Paul, her tone was harsh.
“It happened so fast, I wanted to show her a special place when Ginger got spooked. I still don’t know what happened.”
“Paul, she might be deaf. She doesn’t register when we…”
“I’m fine,” I croaked out.
Constance looked back at me. “You can hear me?”
“Yes.” I bit hard on my teeth as the small word made me feel like I was going to die.
“I’m so sorry Elena. I tried to get to you, but Ginger was really fast,” Paul spoke and tears glistened in his eyes. “All of this is my fault.”
“It was an accident,” I spoke out in breaths.
“What the hell happened?” Sammy came into my view, and she looked at Paul with deep disappointment in her eyes. “I trusted you!” She pushed him away hard and they both disappeared from sight.
“It was an accident.” I could hear the begging in Paul’s voice for her to understand.
“Sammy, don’t,” I tried.
“Stay away from her!” She yelled again and came back into my view. “Elena,” she said as worry lines turned her face into agony.
“It was an accident, he wasn’t near the horse,” I managed before my head started spinning.
Everything went black again and all became silent.
When I woke up, Paul was sitting beside my bed. He looked tired with his head rested on one of his hands.
“Hey,” I croaked.
He opened his eyes but stayed in his seat. “Sammy’s right, Elena. This was my fault.”
“You’re my dragon. Stop blaming yourself. My scars will heal and with what I’ve got in store for us, you’ll have to get used to scars.”
He moved forward and took my hand gently in his. They were warm. His lips caressed my knuckles softly before he spoke again “You could’ve died today.”
“I didn’t. Just promise me that next time when you show me something, make sure it’s not on the back of a horse.”
He chuckled and sniffed hard. “So that’s what it feels like.”
“What?”
“To care about someone so much, it hurts.”
I smiled at him, and wished I could move my head. My skin felt as if it was a size too small for my body and when I moved it still burned like hell.
“Good, you’re awake,” Constance said and looked at Paul. “You need to leave now, Paul. I have a lot of healing still to do with Elena.”
He nodded and I could see her hand tapping him on his shoulder.
“It was an accident.”
He gave her an unsure smile and left.
Julia walked to my other side and showed me a tablet that was lodged in her index finger and thumb. “I knew you wouldn’t like the I.V. Take this, it will help.” She slipped a small white tablet into my mouth. I swallowed hard and tasted the bitterness of the pill. If my body would have allowed me to shudder I would have.
The effects kicked in immediately and the pain started to go away. My eyes felt heavy and before the horrible taste disappeared, everything went dark again.
