Fire Born Dragon (Rule 9 Academy Book 1)

by Elizabeth Rain

  “What? We’re all thinking it.” She turned to Marcus Tannon and gave him a brief rundown of our own encounter with the Demon wolves earlier that summer.

  Marcus nodded. “It was a superficial wound, right? It’s possible it wasn’t deep enough to kill you. Instead, it just made you sick. Thomas did the right thing by getting you into that lake. The healing powers of a Mermaid, especially in the water, are well known.”

  I wondered if it might be something else. “They weren’t the same.”

  Puzzled eyes swung down in my direction.

  “What got Sirris and then attacked me were not the same. I know the Demon wolves are enormous. Those other things, the Macu? Tiny. But remember, it’s the little scorpions that are deadliest.”

  Nick spoke up. “Then that brings us full circle, doesn’t it. Why aren’t you dead?” I frowned.

  I remembered something else. “I killed one.”

  Thomas snorted. “Yeah, we all did. We killed them all more than once.”

  I shook my head and winced. My head was pounding, and I was getting tired.

  “No, I mean I killed one, and it stayed dead.” I had everyone’s attention. They waited for me to explain.

  “The Macu Demon didn’t get back up. It convulsed like the guards and its eyes clouded over, like I poisoned it.”

  “What did you hit it with?” Marcus asked.

  “My knife. Just my knife. It kept coming, and I kept hacking at its swinging claws, and then it grabbed me and I knew I was done. Then I wasn’t. It dropped like a stone and started seizing, just like the guards.”

  Everyone started talking at once and I waved my hand to hush them up. I didn’t have the answers. I didn’t know why it happened, only that it had. Sirris had been trying to say something. She had an odd look on her face and I remembered whose daughter she was. A scientist’s daughter.

  “Sirris, what did you say?”

  “It’s the blood, Sadie. You said you sliced its hands up good and then it grabbed you. It grabbed your bloody arm with its clawed hand—its cut, clawed hand.”

  I watched dawning realization emerge on several faces. I thought about it.

  Marcus interrupted, not as convinced. “If that were the case, then several of them would have died. My soldiers whacked them up good and plenty of blood flew in both directions during that fight.”

  But not everyone nodded at Marcus. It sounded good. If our blood was poisonous to them, more would have died. But I thought of something else. What if our blood wasn’t poisonous?

  Maybe mine was.

  I opened my mouth to say something and caught Lucas Seul’s eye. He gave a quick shake of his head and I halted what I was about to say and closed my mouth. The same gleam simmered in Sirris eyes, and I knew she’d made the connection too.

  I leaned back further into the pillows. The headache that had been threatening had arrived. I couldn’t prevent the low moan as I massaged my temples.

  “Okay, I don’t think I’m as recovered as I seem. I’m exhausted and can someone get the doctor? My head’s about to split in two.” Sirris nodded and left.

  Nick moved closer and looked down at me. He cleared his throat and focused on something near my left shoulder. “Um, I’m glad you’re all right.” He said.

  He stepped back before I could respond, earning a sharp look from his father.

  My vision was blurring by then and the doctor had arrived to give me meds to control the pain. I took them gratefully.

  He shooed everyone from the room and left with them, promising to check back in two hours.

  As my eyes closed, I realized Sirris was close by. She’d hung back somehow. She leaned down and whispered in my ear.

  “It’s not our blood that kills them, Sadie. Dragon blood is special. The blood of a Druid Dragon the most special of all.”

  I felt the warm kiss of affection she pressed to my forehead as she left. I struggled to hold on to the words she’d whispered, but they faded as I slipped into unconsciousness.

  WE WERE GROUNDED. ON house arrest complete with increased security to make sure we made it to our dorms on time and didn’t leave after curfew.

  There was gratitude for you. Nobody was surprised. We’d broken at least a half dozen rules in spectacular fashion.

  We sat in the Common’s cafeteria several days later, my first day after leaving the infirmary. Thomas, Sirris, and I crowded at one end of the table, several feet away from the rest of Thomas’ family. Fern was there too, somehow being a part of our table and all alone at the same time. I caught her eye, drifting our way several times.

  I was still on reduced activity per the doctor’s instructions, but only for the rest of the week.

  “I’m just thankful they didn’t expel us for good.” Thomas admitted, on his fourth piece of pizza. Sirris nodded in agreement, plowing through an enormous piece of salmon and fresh roasted veggies.

  Not that I wasn’t relieved. It had been a near thing and even I had to admit what we had done was foolish. But an entire month seemed like forever.

  I chafed under the restrictions. They had derailed every move we might make after school hours and especially past dark. On the upside, I’d managed to Skype mom and dad. Each thought I was passing all my classes and making new friends and I liked school. I left out the part about being on house arrest for breaking the rules. Though it would have surprised neither of them.

  Sirris shrugged. “True. At least we don’t have to worry about getting eaten by the Demon wolves or the Macu, right?” She sucked a finger clean and went back for more fish.

  I picked at my sandwich, peeling small bits of bread off my everything bun and nibbling as I thought about what had happened.

  “Anybody catch the numbers?” I’d been too busy fighting to count.

  Thomas shrugged and looked up. “Well, I’m not sure, maybe five or six and an equal number of those gargoyle things, the Macu?”

  Yeah, that was the sense of what I’d gotten too.

  “Not that it will matter now. They’ve tied our hands for the next month. Even after that, we’re going to be under the council scrutiny. They don’t trust us.” My eyes narrowed on Sirris.

  She continued to put significant quantities of fish away, her mood light. Thomas pushed his tray away and glanced my way, unconcerned. Something was up.

  “Start talking.” I demanded.

  “Dessert. I need dessert.” He got up from the table and grabbed his tray, looking our way. “Anybody want me to grab you something while I’m up?” I scowled at him. Since when did he think of anyone else but himself when it came to food?

  I glared at Sirris. “Give and don’t you dare get up from that table.” I ground out.

  Sirris giggled. I ground my teeth together. “Well, we are stuck during the week. Weekend nights are limited too. But we can go where we want during the day.”

  “That doesn’t help for what’s going on. That won’t save the Guards on patrol, now will it? Heads in the....” I complained, working myself up to a fine snit.

  “Hush and listen. I’m telling you I think it’s time to pay a visit to the family.”

  I blinked. “What?”

  “Family. I want to go visit daddy and I want you and Thomas to come with me. I miss my dad and he loses weight when I’m not around. He forgets to eat. Who does that? I mean, it’s not like he can afford to lose—”

  “Sirris!” I yelled. Cringing when most of Thomas’ family and several students at neighboring tables looked our way. “Sirris, get to the point. Do you really believe this is the time for a family visit?” I hissed, lowering my voice to a whisper.

  “I think it’s time to see my dad, yes. I have some questions for him. And you should too.” No hint of laughter remained in Sirris voice. “Not all battles are fought on the battlefield, Sadie. Sometimes the fight starts somewhere else. It’s time to visit my daddy’s lab.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  My grades were improving. Endless hours with nothing to do and no
one to do it with gave me ample time to study. That I was going stir-crazy was an understatement. The awaited invitation to go with Thomas and Sirris had not materialized.

  Sirris was acting strange. A Sirris who refused to talk and didn’t smile was the exact opposite of what I expected from the happy mermaid who never failed to lift my spirits and make me grin.

  To top it all off, Nick Seul was avoiding me. Why? I’d given him no reason to seek me out, but he was treating me like I had the plague. Wherever I was, he made sure he wasn’t. He wasn’t seeking me out as a sparring partner in War and Combat. Instead, he ensured he was at the opposite end of the field.

  During lunch I cornered Sirris. “What gives? I thought we were all going to visit your dad?”

  Sirris frowned and ripped a tiger roll in half, stuffing both pieces in her mouth. Manners were not Sirris strong suit. She spoke around a mouthful of fish and rice.

  “I thought so too. When I asked, he told me now wasn’t a good time. First time he ever told me that.”

  More fish, more chewing. “He’s keeping something from me. We don’t hide things from each other.”

  I shrugged. “Sounds normal to me. My mom and I? Not the sharing type. I miss her, sure; but most days we just struggle to remain civil, you know?”

  She swallowed and stared at me; her light blue eyes dull. “Yeah, well my dad and I aren’t like that. We talk about things. Everything. He even shares what he’s working on with me most of the time, I just don’t share what he does with anyone else. He trusts me. At least I thought he did.” Hurt swam in her eyes and I patted her arm. I was not the warm, fuzzies kind of girl.

  “You should go anyhow. Surprise him. Even if we don’t go with you.” I suggested. She immediately shook her head.

  “No, Sadie, you need to go too. Especially you.”

  I sat back. She was suggesting something, and I wasn’t too sure I wanted to know what it was.

  “Besides, we base our relationship on trust. He trusts me to do what he asks.”

  I couldn’t prevent the look of startled hurt on my face.

  Sirris eyes widened. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.”

  I waved her concerns away. I based my relationship with my mother on a lot of things, but trust and mutual admiration wasn’t it. Why make it into something it wasn’t?

  Thomas arrived and interrupted our ramblings when his tray landed on the table with a clatter, silverware jumping.

  We looked at his stormy expression. Seemed we weren’t the only ones in a foul mood. I looked at his tray with interest. Steak, done rare and a mound of potatoes to feed three. With vicious strokes he used his knife to slice off a thick sliver and shove it into his mouth.

  So he doesn’t have to talk to us. I thought and then felt a twinge of bad. He was welcome to his mood, the same as us.

  I wondered if part of his poor temper was due in part to the recent round of rumors circulating around the academy. Another guard had died. That brought the count up to three and the student body was no longer in the dark on what was happening. The mood at Rule 9 was changing and an underlying fear was sinking deep.

  Sirris wasn’t as willing to pander to Thomas’ foul mood.

  “Thomas, stop shoving food in that maw of yours long enough to talk to us. What’s going on?”

  Thomas glared at her and moved another bite towards his mouth. He wasn’t quick enough as Sirris nimble fingers plucked it from his hand. I watched his eyes darken as his hand flashed out and grabbed hers as she clutched the utensil out of reach.

  I wondered if they would grapple for the fork, both staring daggers at the other. Without a word, Thomas let go and got up. Sirris reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder, and he froze.

  “Sit Thomas. Talk to me. Don’t shut us out.” She pleaded, eyes intent.

  He sat and pushed his tray away, running his hands through his hair until the tight curls uncoiled and frizzed. “That’s just it. I don’t know. Something doesn’t feel right. I spoke to the Major. Without myself and my brothers and sisters, he’s alone on the farm except for the hands he hires to see to the chores when we’re at school.

  “Dad says the attacks on the livestock have been escalating. They’re losing stock during the day now.” He looked at us both with scared eyes. “That’s not all. Because of our isolation, we make a special note to keep the lines of communication open between the other families that live on the mountain. As of yesterday, a family that lives near the base of Shephard’s Mountain missed their check-in. No one has been able to raise them by CB, either.

  “It doesn’t look good. Tuttle Council sent a detail up the mountain to check on them. But we haven’t heard back yet.”

  I stared at them both. There was nothing for it. “I repeat, being grounded sucks!”

  THE KNOCK ON MY DOOR startled me and I swore as the lead on my pencil broke and smeared across the page. Damn.

  A glance at my phone had my brow furrowing in confusion. It was ten after nine, and past curfew.

  The knock came again, and I unfolded my legs and pushed my chair back; the rollers coming to a halt against my dresser. Room was at a premium in a dorm room.

  I padded to the door in my stocking feet, glancing at Fern, asleep with her mouth open and the comforter all but pulled up and covering her head.

  I hesitated and then swung the door open. I blinked in surprise.

  Jerry Waverly was on my doorstep. At his side was Lucas Seul, looking pale and grim beside him.

  “Um...wow. Who died?” I asked. Nobody laughed.

  “Let’s hope, no one else.” Was Mayor Seul’s flat reply.

  “We need you to see something Sadie.” Jerry replied, smiling in the kind vacant manner he had sometimes when his mind was miles away on something else.

  “Okay...where is it?” I asked.

  The mayor nodded. “It’s at Mr. Waverly’s lab. Grab your shoes.”

  I stared at them both, opening my mouth before I thought better of it. “Why me, I’m just the student you grounded for the month, remember?”

  Lucas Waverly didn’t respond as I threw my Sketchers on and snagged a water bottle. “The jacket too. Nights are chilly on the mountain.” He reminded me.

  I tossed both into my pack and closed the door behind us.

  I’D WONDERED HOW WE’D make it down the mountain, what with the Demon wolves and the Macu running about unchecked. I wanted to ask when we took the path towards town and ended up on the bluff overlooking Bitterroot, but both Jerry and Lucas walked with ground eating strides. I still wasn’t at 100% from my run in with the Macu. By the time we reached the edge of town and the courthouse, I was huffing. I wasn’t sure where I was going, but this wasn’t the way to Jerry Waverly’s lab.

  I heard a loud rumbling motor as we entered town and pulled abreast of the courthouse. In a town where they were notably not in existence, it was startling.

  Lucas Seul pivoted down a sidewalk that ran beside and around the edge of the building. Jerry and I followed. We emerged into the huge backyard to a backlash of wind that had me tugging on my jacket and pulling the edged closed. The source of the loud whirring engine became apparent.

  A small helicopter sat on a landing pad in the center, ready and waiting.

  The mayor never paused but made for the open door, glancing back to make sure we were following. Jerry met my eyes. “Duck,” he mouthed and bent low. I followed close behind and climbed in, covering my ears. I didn’t recognize the pilot. The volume decreased as soon as the door closed to a shade just below deafening.

  I looked at Mayor Seul. “A helicopter?” I shouted. He shrugged, putting on headphones and handing us both a pair, looking boyish suddenly.

  “I don’t run so fast anymore.” He said, voice sounding metallic through the headset. He grinned as the copter tilted and we lifted off and rose at a slight angle until we were several hundred feet in the air and leveled off. We banked right and headed toward Breathless, just clearing the tallest peaks s
urrounding Drae Hallow. I looked down, but it was difficult to see anything for the swirl of heavy mist writhing below us like a living thing. I frowned and looked at the mayor.

  “I don’t remember seeing that from the ground. It was beautiful today, not a cloud in the sky.”

  “No, you wouldn’t. It’s a part of the enchantment in the shield. It conceals Drae Hallow from anyone looking down from above, even us. We depend on the shield to keep our existence a secret from the locals that don’t know about us. He meant the human population of Breathless and beyond. I looked at Jerry Waverly. Well, a secret from most—but not all.

  The entire trip took less than twenty minutes, but I enjoyed the view once we moved beyond the mountain and flew over the treetops, a dark blush against the night, and angled down the mountain.

  We set down in the back parking lot of Shephard’s Mountain Sporting Goods Store. The town shut down at dusk, but I wondered how many people ran to their windows to see us land. It was a little like being a celebrity.

  I pulled my pack tighter as we walked to Jerry’s. I had to wonder what any of this had to do with me. Was I at last going to get an up close and personal look at the Weis? I remembered the nasty bite Mr. Waverly had tried to hide from me when I first met him. I had no plans to stick my fingers in any of the cages. We locked the front door behind us, heading straight away towards the basement. Jerry switched the major bank of lights on at the top and bypassed the code on the alarm. We descended into his domain.

  At the bottom, he turned more lights on over a massive island that took up the major section of the room, banked on three sides by long rows of top and bottom cabinets.

  Three high-powered microscopes, like nothing I’d ever used in high school, lined the island. Mr. Waverly moved around the lab, preparing slides and arranging something on the middle microscope, adjusting the dials and getting things the way he wanted them while I stood with Mayor Seul, out of the way.

  At last he nodded to Lucas Seul. “Look. Watch close, I’ll be adding something. Watch what it does.” Lucas stepped up and looked down through the twin scope. Jerry waited for several seconds before adding a drop of whatever he had in solution through a dropper to the slide.