‘That late?’ questioned Emma, surprised by the time.
‘Yes, it is quite late,’ agreed Mystic, hopping up onto his feet and starting down the road. ‘I say it’s about time we go visit Professor Ripley.’
Emma quickly followed him as they left the turnaround and clock behind. Houses were more common than shops or restaurants on this road, but Mystic was walking too fast for Emma to have a real glance at any of them. She saw many riders wander by though. Some were dressed in normal clothes, while others were sporting their riding suits. Dragons followed none of these street racers, but some carried collars in their hands or long poles almost the length of themselves. Mystic was quick to comment on that.
‘Assault weapons,’ he explained, keeping his voice low. ‘Rods carried with riders when they take long journeys to the east. Not many travel that way,’ he added quickly.
‘Why is that?’ questioned Emma, glancing down at the cat, who – in turn – looked back up at her.
‘Why do you require so much information?’ he inquired. He glared down the street. ‘You are such a curious girl. Are all humans these days like that, or just you?’
‘Who don’t you ask someone?’ suggested Emma tartly.
‘My, my … what a sharp tongue you have,’ murmured Mystic, but he seemed quite amused by it.
Soon they came to a house much larger than the others. It had that same white exterior, but its roof was not slanted or peaked. It was flat with a giant, stone dragon standing on its back legs on top. Its great wings were extended and its mouth wide open, showing all of its long, pointy teeth. Its eyes seemed sad and forlorn. Emma shuddered.
‘Is that like a guard to scare people away?’ she asked.
Mystic did not look at her. He only stared up in awe at the dragon. ‘I would say it’s more of an attraction to draw people in,’ he said. ‘Come on.’
As they neared the door, Emma noticed that even the handles were carved in the design of tiny dragons, their tails twisted downwards. She grabbed one of those tails and turned it, the door clicking open as she did so. Mystic slipped quietly inside and she followed him, silently closing the door behind her.
They were in a long hallway, completely white with tiny lights hanging from the walls. Two plants in pots stood next to the entrance door, and two at the very end of the hall, where Emma saw a desk with a woman sitting behind it. She was stapling together papers when the two visitors approached her. Her long, black hair and dark eyes made Emma wary of the secretary, but Mystic – bold as ever – leaped up onto the desk counter, making the young woman jump in surprise.
‘Good afternoon,’ said the tabby.
‘H-hello,’ stammered the secretary. She straightened her suit jacket and cleared her throat. ‘Yes, welcome to the Dwenin Dragon Committee. Do you have business here?’
‘As a matter of fact,’ said Mystic slowly, glancing up at Emma, ‘we do.’ He turned his gaze back to the secretary. ‘Could you please tell Professor Ripley that his messenger has arrived with … his guest?’
‘Oh, of course,’ said the woman quickly, pressing a button on her desk and picking up a headset. ‘Professor? Hello? Oh! Yes, sir … no, of course.’ There was a pause and Mystic rolled his eyes at Emma. ‘Right away, sir … and sir? Your messenger is here.’ The secretary wrote something down on paper with her pen. ‘Yes, sir.’ She looked up at Emma for a brief second. ‘I think … no, of course not. Right. Yes, sir. Good bye.’
‘What was that all about?’ whispered Emma to Mystic, but she straightened up when the secretary turned her attention back to the two.
‘He says to come into his office,’ she reported, and pointed down a hallway to her left. ‘Behave and keep your manners about you.’
Mystic snorted and jumped off the desk. ‘Does she take us for animals?’ he retorted.
At the end of the hallway there was a single door. The handle, like the ones outside, was in the shape of a dragon. Mystic sat down in front of the door and looked up to Emma, who took the hint and knocked.
‘Come in,’ said a deep and raspy voice.
Emma gulped, hesitated at the handle, but then decided to open the door and venture inside. The room was small and dimly lit, as the window shades were pulled down and only a single light hung overhead. A few plants occupied one corner of the room and a shelf took up the space of another. Emma studied it for a moment, taking in the sight of a dozen or so awards and plaques. An oak desk sat in the middle of the room, which was completely bare except for a tiny stone dragon sitting on a metal box.
Behind the desk – sitting in a black, leather chair – was an old man. His short, white hair matched his beard and shirt, and on his hands were a pair of brown riding gloves. His eyes were soft, yet very pensive.
‘Welcome back,’ he said to Mystic, and then gestured at the two other chairs in the room. ‘Please, take a seat – both of you.’
Emma nervously sat down in the right chair, while Mystic jumped up onto the arm of the left one. He laid his head on his paws but did not shut his eyes, as all normal animals did in that position.
‘Thank you, professor,’ he said. ‘It’s a pleasure to be chatting with you again.’
‘Ah, always a pleasure,’ agreed Ripley. ‘It has been a long time since I have last spoken to you. How many years …?’
Mystic cleared his throat. ‘Perhaps now is not the time for reminiscence,’ he said shortly. ‘We have other matters at hand.’
‘Right, of course, Mystic,’ murmured Ripley, sounding a bit disappointed. ‘Another time would be better for storytelling, I suppose.’ He straightened in his chair. ‘So, tell me about the girl.’
Mystic looked cautiously towards Emma and then back to the professor. ‘Her name is Emmaline Reeve,’ he explained, ‘and she holds in her possession the Sapphire Stone.’
Professor Ripley raised both eyebrows in surprise. ‘The Sapphire Stone, you say … and in the hands of an outsider?’ he mused, rubbing his chin. ‘Well, it could have been worse, I suppose.’
‘Yes, it certainly could have,’ said Mystic, a tiny bit of irritation leaking into his voice. He glanced sideways at Emma. ‘I see no problem in trusting this girl, however, even if she is only a simple sort of creature.’
Emma glared at the cat, but he ignored her.
‘Really?’ said Ripley, a bit surprised. He looked towards Emma and held out his hand. ‘The necklace, Emmaline … may I see it?’
Emma seemed reluctant even to reach for it, but a reassuring nod from Mystic forced her to lift the chain around her head and pass it over to the professor.
‘Amazing!’ he exclaimed, as he studied the stone in his hands. He looked excitedly towards Mystic. ‘We all thought it had been lost from existence, but here it is! Perfect … not a scratch on it … a long lost piece of our world’s history.’
‘Yes, it is lucky we have found it,’ murmured Mystic. ‘Though, I do not intend it to be used as something to be put out on display for all to see.’
‘No, no,’ agreed Ripley. ‘Of course not. This stone shall be protected and hidden.’
Mystic bent his head forward. ‘Hidden?’ he questioned carefully, slowly rising to his feet.
‘Well of course,’ continued Ripley, as he reached for the metal box his tiny stone dragon sat upon. ‘You can’t possibly expect that I’d let the stone remain in the possession of an outsider. The stone is part of our history. Therefore, it shall remain part of it. You really don’t believe that the stone’s care would be better off in the hands of this girl, do you? That doesn’t sound much like you at all, Mystic.’
‘Perhaps not,’ agreed the cat, ‘but I think it’s time you handed it back over to me.’
Ripley only smiled. ‘Why is that? This relic of the past belongs to the people of Dragonis.’
‘The stone belongs to the dragons!’ snarled Mystic suddenly, his violet eyes flashing and his teeth exposed.
Emma was not the only one who was startled by the cat’s abrupt actions. Ripley j
umped back in his chair, the Sapphire Stone falling from his hands. Mystic took the chance to jump up onto the table and swipe the chain up in his teeth. He hurled it towards Emma, who barely managed to catch it before it flew over her head.
‘Now,’ growled Mystic, face-to-face with the professor, ‘I would like for you to give me some answers.’
The professor gave Mystic a deep frown. ‘Whose side are you on?’ he asked darkly.
‘You should know by now that I serve no one,’ snapped Mystic. ‘I believed us to be allies, but I cannot side with someone who reveals such greed in his eyes when shown the Sapphire Stone. This new discovery has given us the chance to rid the world of Vanyir forever! Will you destroy that chance just for the sake of your own desires, whatever they may be?’
Professor Ripley now seemed to be glaring at the black cat. ‘Do not take me for a fool, Mystic,’ he grunted. ‘I know why you came here now, but trusting her?’ He shot Emma a doubtful look. ‘That is bending the rules too far. You know the customs of our world. She already knows too much, has seen and heard too much. We must send her back at once and erase her memory.’
Erase my memory! Emma suddenly stood up, her legs weak, but her mind determined. She would not stay here any longer. This place was dangerous. She knew that now for certain, and they would have to chase her to the very top of the mountain where the magic door was to stop her!
‘Sit down!’ barked Mystic, turning to face her now instead. ‘You will go nowhere without my saying so, understood?’
Emma gritted her teeth together. ‘Do I look like your pet?’ she snapped. ‘I won’t just stay here, like a helpless little girl, and have my memories erased one by one! If I knew it would be like this, I would have never followed you to this stupid world!’
‘It’s too late for that!’ said Mystic heatedly. ‘Either you sit there and listen or I shall let the professor have his way! Do you understand me?’
Emma slowly sat down and shut her mouth, but continued to glare at the cat, whose eyes had now almost gone black instead of purple.
‘Do you not remember any of the old stories?’ shot Mystic, now looking at Ripley.
The professor grimaced. ‘I don’t believe in foolishness,’ he snorted.
Mystic slammed a paw down against the oak desk. ‘Those stories are not foolishness!’ he growled. He paced the surface of the small table. ‘The first person to ever touch the Dragon’s Tear was an outsider. He kept it, helped the dragons, and tried to rid the world of Vanyir.’
‘Yes, and do you know what happened?’ retorted Ripley. ‘He failed. End of story.’
‘He came closest to bringing peace to our world,’ continued Mystic, ignoring the professor now.
‘He also disappeared off the face of the earth,’ said Ripley, leaning back in his chair. ‘Or that’s how your fairy story goes.’
Mystic turned on Ripley, his eyes flashing once again. ‘Do not belittle the history of our world, professor,’ he snapped. ‘You, of all humans, should know the details of the fabric. Do you think it funny that a girl from the other world should stumble upon this stone and come here? It is as though fate guided her to this very situation!’
At this, Ripley broke into a fit of laughter, which made Mystic hiss and snarl. ‘What, may I ask, is so funny?’
The professor pointed a crooked finger at Emma. ‘This girl?’ he questioned. ‘You think this girl, a human from the other world, can save the dragons and defeat Vanyir? It was you who guided her here, not fate!’
He broke into more laughter, which caused Emma to lower her head and flush in anger. Of course Mystic’s ideas were completely ridiculous, but for this man to have such little faith in her ability to help made her both angry and upset.
‘Stop laughing!’ snarled Mystic, pounding his paw once more upon the desk. ‘If my plans seem so laughable to you, then what are your great ideas for this world, hmm?’
Ripley slowed his laughter into just a few chuckles. ‘My plans would certainly not include this outsider,’ he replied, crossing his arms. ‘Dragonis is fine on its own. We’ve never needed help from them before, and we certainly don’t need it now.’
‘You are as stubborn as Vanyir himself,’ snapped Mystic, turning slowly and leaping back into his chair. He placed one paw on the armrest and looked towards Emma. ‘This man has not offered us the help I had hoped for. We are to stay here no longer.’
Professor Ripley suddenly stood up from his chair, both hands placed firmly on his desk. ‘Do you think I’m just going to let you walk out of here with the Sapphire Stone?’ he said.
‘No,’ replied Mystic, motioning for Emma to stand up. Ripley watched them both with burning eyes. ‘I’m expecting you to let us not just walk, but stroll out of here with the Sapphire Stone.’
‘You won’t get far, you haughty monster,’ growled Ripley. ‘The city’s guard will give chase at my order.’
Mystic clicked his tongue. ‘Is that a threat, my old friend?’ questioned the cat.
‘That is your first warning,’ replied Ripley. ‘Dare I make another?’
The tabby seemed amused by this exchange of words. ‘I think you should wait outside, Emma,’ he said evenly. ‘You may not want to stay …’
‘You aren’t going anywhere!’ roared Ripley, jumping out of his seat.
‘Run!’ the cat shouted at Emma.
She did not have to think twice. She did as she was told, narrowly escaping as the professor’s hand reached out to try to snag her by the hair. She heard a terrible howl of pain behind her as she left the room.
She did not stroll – as Mystic had put it – down the hallway, but instead ran past the bewildered secretary – who jumped out of her seat at the sound of her boss shouting – and to the exit doors, pushing her hand down against the tail of the dragon handle and wrenching it open. The sunlight struck her and the stone in her hand glittered. She instantly looped it around her neck and tucked it under her sweater, away from all eyes.
A few dragon statues to her right caught her attention, and she dashed over to them, dropping down behind the largest one and hiding away.
Erase her memory. That was what the professor had said. How could they do that? Was that how the world of Dragonis became so secret? They simply erased all memories of those unfortunate enough to stumble onto their land? How could they even have the right to do something so horrible?
Emma heard the door of the council building creak behind her, and she slid around the side of the dragon statue, disappearing from sight. To her surprise, she saw Mystic walk calmly out, his head twisting from side to side. He was looking for her.
Should I go to him? she asked herself, anxiously chewing at the inside of her stomach. Or should I try to escape back to my own world?
‘What are you doing hiding out here?’
Emma screamed and then jumped in shock, hitting her head off the chin of the stone dragon. She groaned and looked up.
‘Simon?’ she said faintly, rubbing the top of her head. How had he found her?
The red-suited street racer with the gash across his nose smiled sheepishly down at her and offered his hand. ‘You want some help getting up?’ he questioned.
‘Sure,’ muttered Emma, and took his hand. She brushed off her jeans and asked, ‘What are doing around here anyway?’
Simon looked off into the distance and started fidgeting with the strap of his left riding glove. ‘Well, I happened to notice you walk out of that building there,’ he said slowly. ‘Well, more like run, I guess … and then you hurried across the grass like you were under attack.’
Emma flushed and hung her head. ‘Oh, I was just, uh …’
‘Hiding from me!’ growled Mystic, as he ran over to where the two were standing. He slowed to a stop. ‘I thought you had run away! I told you to wait for me, didn’t I?’
‘Cut the girl some slack,’ shot Simon, glaring down at the cat. ‘Why are you even with her?’
‘None of your business, Wheeler,’ snapped Mys
tic. He looked up at Emma. ‘Are you coming?’
‘Where?’ questioned Emma. She wrapped her arms around herself. ‘Can I just go home now?’
‘Home!’ roared the cat. ‘That’s somewhere you should not –’ He suddenly broke off, seeing Simon standing there with an inquisitive look on his face, and said, ‘Don’t you remember the awful company that your father had over?’
Emma gritted her teeth together and glowered at the cat. ‘What now, then?’ she asked.
‘We’re going to meet someone else,’ explained Mystic.
‘Oh?’ said Emma, raising one eyebrow. ‘Someone like the respectable Professor Ripley?’
Mystic gave her an annoyed look. ‘No, someone more like him.’ The cat nodded at Simon. ‘Where’s your older brother?’
Simon looked shocked. ‘My brother?’ he said. ‘What do you want with that lazy –’
‘Leave the sibling talk out of it,’ interrupted Mystic. ‘Just tell me where he is and you can get back to losing races.’
Simon scowled. ‘Why should I bother?’ he snapped. ‘I don’t keep tabs on his daily routine.’
Mystic sighed. ‘Fine,’ he said as patiently as he could. ‘Then take us to your house so that I may wander into his daily routine.’
Simon did not look too happy about the idea, but he went along with it anyhow. Emma followed the two of them, feeling more and more sucked into this adventure as time went by. They passed the clock tower on their way and it was now past four. Her father would be home around six. That was not even two hours away, and when he got back …
Emma gulped. When he got back, he would have every cop in Emburn looking for his missing daughter. How would she ever explain where she had disappeared when she got back?
A tiny voice within her head said, If you ever get back.
~ Chapter Five ~
Brothers
Simon’s house was not in the central area of the city, neither was it amongst any of the other charming houses that lined the roads throughout Dwenin. Instead, the rider led Emma and Mystic down an old road where fences were broken and garbage lay strewn across the ground. It was starting to look like the alleyway Mystic had taken her down when they first came across the old theatre. Even the atmosphere seemed eerie to Emma.
The Secret World of Dragons Page 5
