by G. Bailey
“So down here are all the classrooms, and at the end of this hall is the lunch room. On the right is the head teachers office, the reception rooms, and to the left is the toilets,” I say, pointing in each direction as I explain them. He nods, looking around as students walk past us, all watching him. He pulls a piece of paper out his pocket, looking at the table on it.
“I have double English first, what about you?” he asks.
“Same,” I say, and nod my head down the corridor, “it’s this way.”.
“Isola!” I hear my name shouted, and turn around to see Michael running over to me. Michael has gold blond hair and massive build from all the training he does for football. He towers over me when he steps near me.
“Hey Michael,” I reply briskly, wanting to get to class. I need the time to spend thinking of new ways to get the guys to remember me.
“I heard from Hallie that you’re finally coming to one of my party at the end of the month?” he asks, stepping closer. I look over as Elias wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me to his side.
“We will be coming, I’m Elias,” Elias says tensely, holding out a hand for Michael. Michael looks between us, anger flashing over his face but he instantly schools his expression, shaking Elias hand.
“You should come and train for the football team, I’m the captain. You have two brothers, right?” he asks.
“He does,” Dagan’s cold voice comes from behind Michael, just moments before he and Korbin step next to Elias and me.
“Cool. Anyway, can’t wait to see you at the party…and your friends can come too,” he says, confusing me a little. I flinch when he steps closer, wrapping his arms around me as he pulls me away from Elias and dragging me to his chest. I swear I hear someone growl, and I can only hope it was one of the guys and their dragon.
“We are going to be late for class,” Dagan says, and you can hear the hostile tone in his voice. Michael lets go, grinning at me before walking away.
“Who is that?” Elias asks.
“Just this guy that goes to school here, Michael," I reply. All the guys watch Michael until he gets to his classroom and disappears from view. I place my hand on Elias shoulder.
“We really will be late for class,” I say, not really caring about being late, but I know I need to distract him from whatever he is thinking. Dagan and Korbin look at me once more before walking off, and Elias steps closer, putting his arm around my waist.
“What are you doing?” I ask, though I don't push him away. This close, I notice he still carries the smoky scent of his fire dragon, and it makes me want to press myself closer to him.
“Mine,” my dragon whispers and Elias eyes widen in surprise. He grabs my chin to look at me closer as I feel my eyes fade back to their normal blue. He saw them silver, he must have.
“Let go,” I demand, and he narrows his eyes at me.
“Your eyes, they changed colour,” he exclaims.
“You’re seeing things Elias,” I reply nervously.
“Don’t lie to me, I don’t like it,” he demands and lets go, stepping back and shaking his head.
“Eli?” I whisper, watching him hold his hands to his head for a few moments. When he finally looks back at me, he seems so lost.
"Class. We need to go to class, and then we will have a long chat tonight," he orders. "I don't like lies," he repeats, and I turn around, walking the rest of the way to class.
“I know, but I don’t have any choice," I whisper to myself.
Chapter 7
Isola
Issy, come on, we are going shopping, remember?” Hallie asks as soon as I step out of our final class. I feel Dagan, Elias, and Korbin follow me from the room. Someone has arranged it so we all have the same classes together. Probably the same person who made it possible for them to live with me. Something is going on, and I’m starting to feel like a puppet on a string, yet I don’t know who it is that is controlling me. The guys haven’t spoke to me much, not even at lunch, though they sat eating their food next to Hallie and me. It’s awkward between us all, but I’m clueless to why it feels that way.
“What?” I ask her, snapping out my thoughts.
“Shopping? We made plans to go tonight,” she says, and I vaguely remember making plans with her in my fake life last week.
“Alright,” I concede. When I drop the book I'm holding, I stop to pick it up, and someone slams into me. We both fall to the floor, and I land on something hard. I open my eyes to see Dagan underneath me, his hands on my waist and a serious expression clouding his eyes.
“Are you always this clumsy?” he asks. This moment reminds me of when we first met, how he jumped on me to save me back then. Not that he is saving me this time, but still.
“No… well, yes. I mean, I can be. I try not to be if that helps,” I grin, and he shakes his head at me as I get off of him.
“Here,” he hands me my book, but doesn't let go. He stands there, still staring at me with confusion written all over his face.
“Thanks Dagan,” I say, as he finally lets go of the book and steps away, rolling his lip ring. He always does that when he's thinking about something.
“No problem, kitty cat, see you at home,” he replies and turns around, walking over to where Korbin and Elias are waiting for him by the door.
“At home? What have you not been telling me?” Hallie gasps dramatically, pushing her long hair behind her shoulders. I sigh, watching the guys disappear through the doors.
“They all moved in yesterday. Apparently, they need a place to stay for a while, and Jules is completely okay with it,” I say, and her eyes widen. I walk to my locker, letting her process the shock, and shove my textbooks inside, before closing it to face her.
“Holy fucking shit!” Hallie exclaims, whacking my arm and making me laugh. I actually like this girl.
“Please, please say you’re going to sneak into at least one of their rooms…like naked, so they can’t resist,” she begs, and I laugh.
“I don’t think I need to do that, besides, I have a date with Korbin on Saturday. It's a long story, but I kind of lost a bet," I tell her.
“Then we definitely need to find you something tight and sexy to wear,” she wraps an arm around me and leads me to the door. We go in Hallie’s car to the shopping centre, parking up, and walking in. I look at Hallie, trying to find something from our fake past to ask her about. It's getting harder to remember, the memories becoming more distant.
“Are your mum and dad still arguing?” I finally ask.
“Yeah, and when it’s over you, you can’t help but feel bad,” she admits, and I remember how her father wants her to join the family business after school, and how her mother is completely against it.
“It’s not your fault,” I reply gently.
“It really is though. I’m their only child, and dad is head of their business. Mum lets me work with him sometimes, but she still hates what he does. I’m not a fan, but understand it’s needed. It’s just complicated at home,” she sighs.
“What is the family business? I can’t remember,” I ask her.
“My dad works for the government and has his own facility, but I can’t tell you what they do. It’s all top secret and whatnot. I have told you this before,” she laughs. I laugh it off with her because the truth is, I don’t remember asking her that before. The fake past is slipping from my mind faster than I thought it was.
“I know, I thought I’d just try asking again. But seriously, it’s not your fault. You can be anything you want when you finish school,” I tell her.
“Not when you have to keep your parents happy, and have responsibility thrown at you from birth,” she says and then shakes her head. “Anyway, less depressing talk about things we can’t change, and more shopping.” I smile at her, and let her lead me towards the clothes shops we usually buy from. We have a lot more in common than I ever knew. Both of us never really had a choice about our futures and what we get to do. Freedom was never an option for us.
I walk up the stairs quietly, holding three bags at my sides, and make my way into my bedroom. I put the bags on the floor by the door, shutting it, and switching on a light as I go. I turn around and jump at the sight of Elias on my window seat, smoking a cigarette out the open window.
“What the hell are you doing in here? You have your own room,” I exclaim. Internally I groan when I realize my plan to sneak out later, and go to the woods to let my dragon out won't be happening. I feel her grumble in my mind, her annoyance isn’t too bad though.
“I said we would talk, and I meant it. I don't forget things," he says, and I mentally cringe. He has forgotten things, he’s forgotten everything. Everything that makes him Elias Fire, the deadly dragon guard I know. I watch him finish his cigarette, flicking it out the window and shutting it before facing me. I keep my back against the wall near the door, unsure whether to approach him or not.
“What do you want me to say?” I ask, knowing I can’t tell him about the real reason my eyes changed colour, or why I lied to him. I have a feeling Elias knows when I’m lying, and at the moment, I'm having to lie about everything. How I feel, what is real, what isn’t, and my entire life.
“I dream about kissing you, not in a made-up dream, but an actual memory. I remember kissing you. How is that possible? We have never met, but I know your mine. That dream fucking haunts me even when I’m awake,” he tells me as he gets up and stalks over to me, never taking his eyes off mine. Every step he makes to get closer to me is dangerous, because of what I’m feeling, what I’m thinking. I don’t want to lie to him, and yet, I can’t let him closer. I can’t tell him anything, but he doesn’t remember enough to save himself. He pushes me further into the wall, his body pressed against mine. I close my eyes, knowing I can’t be trusted to look at him.
“I know if I kiss you right now, you will taste as sweet as a peach, and more addictive than anything I’ve ever tasted in my life,” he growls, and I feel a finger tracing down my cheek, towards my neck. His hand slides to the back of my head, gripping my nape and angling my face towards his. Even then, I still don't open my eyes, not even when I feel his warm breath on my lips. I know he is inches away from me and if he kisses me, I won’t have the power to stop him. To fight what feels right.
“Open those eyes and tell me the truth,” he urges, yet it feels like a demand. A dark, seductive one that sends shivers through me.
“I can’t,” I whisper, freezing when I feel his hand tighten on my neck and his lips ever so gently brush mine.
"Soon then," he promises, and lets me go. He steps back, and I release the breath I'd been holding. I open my eyes, seeing him open the bedroom door and walk out without another word.
What the hell am I doing?
Chapter 8
Isola
I can’t stand this anymore,” I yell, slamming my hand into the stone wall. Korbin looks up as he does another sit up, and then rolls back into a crouch.
“Keep it down, Elias never gets any rest. Work out, keep yourself occupied, do anything but think. It’s what I do,” he snaps, nodding a head towards Elias sleeping in the corner. I look into the other dungeons, seeing the other dragons in here. Most have no idea why they were taken, other have said they side with the ice throne, and its true leader. Isola isn’t here to save them, or to be on the throne, and she needs us.
“It’s been two years! Two years of living in this cage, stuck in this dungeon, while we wait for him to bring us food!” I growl, though I quickly lose my bluster. Sighing, I lean back against the wall and think of the only person that makes all this worth it. Isola.
“I miss her too, and the connection makes separation painful for us all,” Korbin says as he sits down next to me. I don’t reply, I don’t need to confirm how I’m feeling. We all know, because we're all experiencing the same emotions. When we saved her life, we didn’t expect to be separated from her.
“I can’t even connect to her,” I growl again.
“It’s because we’ve been weakened, and she is lost in her own mind. Connecting to her dreams is impossible,” Korbin replies.
“Maybe she is better lost, because when she remembers…it will break her,” I say quietly. She is strong, one of the strongest people I know, but none of us expected Thorne to betray her the way he did. Never expected him to kill her father, to imprison her guards, and take her throne.
“But she will have us,” he comments.
“Yet, she won’t. We can’t escape this,” I mutter back, getting angry all over again. Flames burst out my hands, and I roll them around, forming a dragon. We are silent as I play with the flames, but eventually I put them out and watch the door to the dungeons. Thorne should be here with food soon. He always shows up like clockwork every five days, around the same time of day. Elias wakes up, but stays quiet as he waits for the door to open with the rest of us. The door soon opens, but instead of coming in with the usual two guards, Thorne arrives with the seer at his side. The one that made Isola forget.
“Get up,” Thorne demands as he lifts his hand, showing us keys and unlocking our cage. We all stand to hurry out, but Elias is first through the open cell door. He immediately walks over and drives his fist into Thorne's face.
“What the fuck? I’m getting you out of here, you moron!” Thorne sputters, rubbing his jaw as his nose bleeds.
“That’s for Isola. Don’t even say you didn’t deserve it,” Elias says as they stare at each. Thorne eventually nods, and turns away, walking up the stairs.
“Come on, we don’t have long to get you out. Be ready to fly,” he says, and we follow him out the dungeons.
“And be ready to forget, it is the only way because I’ve seen all your deaths if you just go to her. Including my sister’s, and I will not risk that,” the seer says, just as darkness blurs everything.
“Anything for Isola, even my memories, even my dragon,” is the last words I manage to hear myself say.
I wipe my face and give myself a shake, trying to clear my mind of the dream I've had every night since we arrived. I force myself to focus on the fact I'm in class, and it's not real. I glance over at Isola, staring at the beauty sitting two rows in front of me. Like she can feel my eyes on her, she turns, and her pale blue eyes lock with mine. Everything disappears, the classroom, the school until there is nothing but us gazing at each other. Her blue eyes are like a pool of clear water, they suck you in until you don’t want to escape. Her blonde hair is light, so natural as it frames her face, falling in perfect waves. She is stunning and utterly irresistible, and I've only known her a few days.
“Mr Fire? Do you know the answer?” someone says, and reality rushes back as I realise the teacher was talking to me.
“I completely missed the question, miss, what did you say?” I ask.
“Perhaps try listening next time, Mr Fire. I asked what made Juliet decide to kiss the poison lips of Romeo when she awoke?” she asks me. I look at Isola as I answer.
“Juliet knew she couldn’t live without the one person that made life worth living. She wanted to follow Romeo anywhere, and that included death. She made the choice that he was worth more than herself,” I answer, and Isola takes a deep breath, before turning around and facing the front.
“Correct, Mr Fire. Now can someone tell me what happened when the poison didn’t work?” she asks and Isola puts her hand up, “go on, Miss Dragice.”
“In her utter agony at the poison not working, she picked up a dagger and stabbed herself through the heart. She was certain that the only way to be with him was in death, so she guaranteed it the only way she knew how. Many people were sad and jealous of such a tragic love, that death was the only way for them to be together,” she answers. The teacher claps, turning to the white board as she keeps talking. I don’t hear a word of it as I watch Isola, like I have since I got to this school. There’s something different about her, and there’s something different about me when I’m around her, too. I can’t stay away and I have no plan to
try either.
Chapter 9
Isola
I look up at the gym, the building I’ve avoided ever since I remembered who I was. The place where Jace died, the place that holds a memory I don’t want to replay, but I need to. The final bell rings, and I square my shoulders, holding my head up as I walk in. The normal smells of socks and body odor fills my senses as I walk through the small room and into the main part of the gym. I stare at the spot where he died, seeing nothing other than a newly painted floor. Any sign Jace died here is gone, everything about him is gone from this place. Meanwhile, I'm forced to stay here and pretend everything is normal. Ignoring my teacher's shouts for me to return, I turn around and leave the building. I can’t act normal in that class, in that room. It’s too much. I wipe my tears away as I walk out the school and head towards the bus stop. I just want to go home, and feel like shit for the rest of the evening. Everything is just so fucked up, and damn if I have a clue what I’m doing.
“Hey!” Dagan shouts, and I slow down so he can reach my side.
“Skipping class? I didn’t think you had it in you, kitty cat,” Dagan says as he catches up to me on my way to the bus stop.
“It’s been a shit day,” I tell him dryly, looking away as I can't deal with trying to get him to remember right now.
“So, I have Jules’ car today as she wants to me to do a food shop for her. Problem is, I have no idea how to find the supermarket," he says, grabbing my arm gently so I stop walking. “Would you show me?”
“Why are you shopping for Jules, anyway?”
“Apparently the three of us eat too much and keep her busy with all the extra washing we've caused. Jules is tired of constantly having to go to the shops, and told us we needed to start helping,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck and making his shirt ride up. I quickly pull my eyes away, looking up at him and sighing.
