I park near the exit so I can make a quick escape. When I’m halfway to the door, Max appears beside me out of nowhere.
“Hey, you okay?” He bumps into me, wrapping his arm around my shoulder as he leads me inside the school.
I nod. “Yeah, everything’s great.” I wipe at my eyes, making sure there are no tears escaping, and break away from Max with a small smile as I head to my class in the opposite direction.
I dump the books I won’t need into my locker. My shoulders ache from carrying around extra weight lately. Especially when there is still bruising from the night Ruxsiu threatened my life, though the marks are barely visible anymore, and it feels like a lifetime since it happened.
Slamming my locker shut, I turn the lock and tug, making sure it’s secure.
“Hey!” Max says, appearing beside me before leaning in and giving me a kiss.
I’m relieved to see it’s Max, and not a stranger jumping beside me. I’ve been hearing every insult involving dragons all day. I had hoped that the online campaign would die down. Instead, it seems to have only gained traction.
His arms wrap around me, his fingers pressing into my sides, the only place I’m ticklish. I giggle, a little taken aback by his playful mood.
He kisses me again before smiling at me, and I’m lost in his enchanting green eyes.
“What are your plans for the rest of the day?” he asks.
“Well, I was going to hit up the library, do some homework, a little research, and then—” I pause, because I almost slipped and told him I’d be visiting Yackros. “Going on a hike.”
“That all sounds very routine. How about we ditch those plans and go do something together?”
“What about wrestling?”
“Coach Boggs is sick, so there’s no practice today.”
I weigh the look of excitement on his face against the urgency I feel to help Yackros. I’m exhausted from the constant research, never making progress, and never spending time with my boyfriend.
The battle between us did more damage than I ever wanted. I think this is why Yackros specifically told me not to throw away my other relationships. Would he resent me for going with Max?
“Please? We could go see a movie. My treat.” He’s beaming, bouncing on the balls of his feet.
“Okay. It’s a date.”
Having lost precious time yesterday, as soon as the final bell rings, I’m out the door. I throw my bag in the passenger seat and peel out of the parking lot, hurrying to the library before all the good spots are taken again. Luckily, what I’ve come to deem as “my table” is still available.
Hours later, I bury my face in my hands, tired of reading the same books over and over, digging through the same information. My homework is spread across the table alongside all my notes regarding dragons.
I’m deciding which to work on next, having just finished the Irish Tales of Fortune book mostly on leprechauns, though there was a mention of dragons stealing their gold.
“Ahem.” Someone clears their throat.
“Yes?” I say before looking up, shocked to see the evil librarian standing there.
We share a moment of awkward silence before I finally add, “Can I help you?”
“Is that your boyfriend?” she asks.
“What?” I look around, noting the lack of Max anywhere.
“On the phone,” she says, pointing disdainfully to the small device beside my elbow. I look over and realize the screen is lit up with a picture of Max.
“Oh.” I hit ignore, which I feel bad about, but I’ll call him back. I don’t really want to talk to him with Evil Librarian right here. “Yes.” I draw the word out, a little uncomfortable with her asking me that.
“Hmm.”
“Is that all you wanted?” I ask, trying to pack up my things discreetly.
“Is this the book you were looking for the other day?” She holds up the very one about scales of the sea and sky.
“Yes. Where did you find it?” I jump up, reaching out my hand for it.
She holds it back, away from my reach. “I will give you this under one condition.” She looks completely serious.
“Oh? What’s that?” I restrain myself from leaping forward and snatching it like an animal.
“Explain that chart to me.” She points the flowchart I have spread out with other bits of research.
The word “dragons” looms in thick black lines at the top.
My shoulders tighten. “I think it’s pretty self-explanatory. What do you want to know?”
In a surprising gesture, the woman sits down across from me. “What is the point in all of this research on dragons? Are you writing a book? Just having fun? Is it a bet or dare?”
“Do you question everyone who comes in about what they’re doing and what it’s for?” I ask, tensing even more.
She smirks. “Of course not. But I can’t help but be curious as to why you are so determined to find evidence that dragons exist. Surely you don’t believe it?” She runs her hand along a drawing of Yackros half covered by my flowchart.
“What if I do? Are you still going to give me the book?”
“You seem so determined. It’s almost like you know they’re real. And now you just need a way to show someone else because if you can’t find someone out there who believes you, you’ll lose your mind. You are resilient. Every single day you come in here, pulling more books from the shelves, searching out even the remotest possibilities. I have to know what has you working like this.”
“And what if I said I had seen a dragon, that I knew they existed? Would you believe me? Or would you demand some kind of proof?”
“I suppose that assuming I was a normal, rational human being, I would want proof.”
“So then it doesn’t matter what I say here and now. Until I can prove it, whether I’ve seen one or not, it doesn’t make a difference.” I shrug, and I can feel the weight of the matter on my shoulders because I just said the heart of it, didn’t I? Until everyone else sees dragons with their own eyes, no one will believe me. Not Max, not my parents, not the jerks at school, and certainly not this cantankerous old librarian.
She places the book in front of me and gets up. “It is a pity that so many people are normal and rational,” she says as she walks away.
I snatch up the pamphlet and glance at the author’s name.
R. Ebony. I open up to the last page, hoping for a bio or picture, or better yet, both. Instead, there’s nothing.
So why did the librarian say it was a “she”? Was the old lady messing with me? I wouldn’t put it past her.
I start again at the beginning, flipping through the pages quickly, trying to catch a glance of anything that might be helpful, but my hands are shaking. Finally, I take a deep breath and force myself to calmly read it cover to cover, including the stuff about mermaids. If Yackros is right and the book is a smoke screen, and the author is aware of dragons’ existence, maybe what they’ve written about mermaids is real too.
About twenty pages into the mermaid section, there’s mention of a pearl.
Just like the dragon pearl I found on that website.
Unable to help it, I skip the rest of mermaids and go straight to looking for any mention of a pearl in the dragon section. It’s there, about halfway through. The Dragon King’s Pearl. The king of dragons must be in possession of the pearl or they will not be able to rule the kingdom of dragons, which spans the world rather than being in territories such as countries.
Yackros never told me the king I was looking for was king of the whole world.
I shove everything into my backpack and head straight for the counter. Before I even reach it, the old woman waves me by.
“You don’t need your library card for this,” she says, calmly turning the page in whatever giant book she’s reading. “That book is part of my personal collection. If you return it in less-than-desirable condition, the police will never find your body.”
I don’t know whether to laugh or
be disturbed. I settle for leaving quickly.
When I arrive on the mountain, the sun is bearing down relentlessly. The walk is long and hard. It’s got to be at least ninety degrees out here. Sweat is dripping down my back, which is gross, but I must see Yackros.
Though I suppose I won’t get to. But at least when I’m there, I’m closer. Somehow it helps, knowing he’s just inside an invisible barrier, just on the other side of a tree or bush. So close I could touch him, only I can’t.
“Yackros?” I ask aloud, leaning against the Runavelius tree to catch my breath.
“Yes?” he answers almost immediately.
“I finally got the book. Is the Dragon King’s Pearl a real thing?”
“Tell me what that book says about the pearl,” he commands, which I suppose is my answer.
I open it to page number fifty-seven, and I suddenly have the eerie sensation that someone is watching me. I look around, but all I see is desert.
Without knowing for sure, there really isn’t much I can do, and I don’t want to spook Yackros, so with a sigh of resignation, I run my hand over the page, my forefinger over the words as I figure out where I was, and read for Yackros.
“‘The dragon king shall not lose his pearl, for only the true carrier of such a precious gem can rule over his charges. With that pearl, wisdom is given that reveals unto His Majesty all things that need to be known. As such, the pearl is also a compass for morality. For an unjust king, the pearl shall burn, calling unto the dragon whose heart it knows to be true and pure. Like a fire burning, the phoenix reborn from the ashes, the pearl shall become a beacon to those who need it if their intentions be pure.’”
None of this is really making sense to me, but I try to keep track of the information, noting everything in my mind as I go. I clear my throat and continue.
“Be forewarned that the pearl may be corrupted. Only with the darkest powers, provided by someone with the greatest strength, across the spans of time, shall the pearl cling unto him, and no matter the darkness of his purpose, the pearl shall let him lead.” A chill runs down my spine, and I’m not even sure what the book is talking about, but I know it has something to do with Ruxsiu’s power.
“Yackros?” I ask, not because I have a question or wish to comment on the contents of this book, but because I need to know he’s still there. For a moment, it feels like all hope has left.
“Yes, Alita?” He sounds as disheartened as I feel.
“Please tell me that whatever this means, whatever this pearl is, it hasn’t lost that battle yet. Please tell me that King Fyazum, the true ruler of dragons, has it in his possession, and that he’s okay.”
I close my eyes, envisioning Yackros, the way he shakes his head ever so slightly. And I realize I’m feeling what he’s feeling. Doubt. Fear. Everything I was feeling on my own. A deep understanding of what’s to come if that pearl is being corrupted.
“It’s not gone yet, but Ruxsiu is working on it, isn’t he?” I ask, encompassed by the dread filling him.
“I should have known, Alita. I should have seen this coming. It only makes sense. Already half the dragons follow him, believe in him. They follow his orders without hesitation, even when those commands aren’t given with our well-being in mind. I did not think he would stoop so low, only that he wished for power. But to steal the pearl and corrupt it, it would take—”
I feel the realization settle into his very bones. “It would take what?” I ask.
“It would take several hundred years or so.” His voice has gone quiet. And his emotions, while still heightened and taking over my own, have become muddled. I can feel what he’s feeling, but none of it is distinguishable.
“How long has Fyazum been missing? When were you told he was killed?”
“Nearly two hundred years. No more than a month after we went into hiding.”
Those words come with a deep silence so heavy in the air, it’s as though I could reach up and rip apart the dense horror that hangs over us. The pearl, something I knew nothing about an hour ago and now holds my future hostage, is being corrupted. Slowly turned to evil, allowing a monster to rule where he has no place doing such.
“I—” I wish I didn’t tremble in fear. I wish the weight of the world wasn’t on my shoulders. “I wish I could have been there, Yackros. That I could have known you before, in a time when I didn’t have to lie to everyone I care about because they think I’m crazy. I wish I wasn’t afraid of losing you because of things beyond my control.”
I get up, brushing the dirt from my pants. I stuff the book in my bag and sling it over my shoulders. “I wish I didn’t have to worry that I may never see you again.”
“Don’t fall into despair, Little Wingless. I long for all that you do. But it is not so, and therefore I remain grateful we’ve had the time we did.”
“I wish we didn’t have to be grateful for such a small span of time. But I can’t keep wishing. I know it will get us nowhere. I refuse to let this be our end. If Ruxsiu gains control over this kingdom, I know without a doubt that he will kill you, and nothing and no one will be able to stop him. Which is why I am going to do everything in my power to stop him. To get the pearl. To save Fyazum. And to free you.”
“I will tell you again what I told you the last time you made that promise, Alita. You cannot give up your life for me—I am not your whole world. You have family and friends and education that demand your attention. I love you, child. You are a part of me forever. You have given this old dragon meaning again, a purpose in life when everything was lost. I never should have allowed you to entangle your life with mine.”
“And as I told you, you couldn’t have stopped me. I want to be in your life. This is where I belong.”
“The punishment I bear now is one even Fyazum would have had to give me, but my dear, it was worth it. Knowing you was worth this and everything. Appreciate the time we were given. I do, and your image is always in my mind. I can’t risk forgetting your beautiful face. Because as much as I long to hope, dare to dream, I cannot say I believe I’ll ever be free. Not from this prison, or Ruxsiu’s ruling.”
Out of instinct or habit, I reach out to pat Yackros’ scales. To comfort not only him, but myself.
But he’s not there. He’s only in my head.
Something rustles close by, and I glance that direction, but all I see are the large rocks to the side of the path.
“I dare to dream,” I say, resting my hand on the tree, although it’s a poor substitute for my best friend. “I’ll hope for both of us. All I ask is that you believe in me. I will keep my word, and so long as you believe that, you can lie down and rest. I’m coming for you, Sparkles. This isn’t over.”
After I leave Yackros with the intent to go home, I walk the long way around, standing behind a large rock formation and waiting, in pain from barely breathing as I try not to make a sound. Counting to ten as slowly as I can muster, I peek around the edge.
Kneeling down, touching the ground where I was just sitting, and then the tree, is the old librarian.
I watch in horror as the old woman sits where I was moments ago, leaning against my tree. She speaks aloud. “Are you really there? Or is this all the fantasy of some girl?”
I want to confront her. To storm over to her and demand answers. But I can’t bring myself to move. I feel paralyzed. Fear, worry, wondering why this old woman just can’t seem to leave me alone. And what do I do with that? How do I respond to this?
Is this some twisted game to her?
A horrible thought occurs . . . what if she’s working with Ruxsiu?
I shake my head, trying to make sense of all of this. And wanting to see if she says or does anything else before I high-tail it out of here.
As much as I want to be strong and independent, I don’t know that I can bring myself to act. If she is working with Ruxsiu, and I do the wrong thing, will she send word for them to kill Yackros? And if she is not working with Ruxsiu, what is she doing here? What is her role in a
ll of this?
She gets up, brushing her hand along the tree and sighing.
If she knows about dragons and is on my side, why wouldn’t she just tell me? Why play all these games?
I shake my head, sick with fear. How did I get so blindsided by her? Did I fall into a trap? How could I lead her right to Yackros?
The woman looks around once more before turning and coming back the way she came. Sinking to the ground, my back against a large rock, I wait. Just trying to keep my breathing steady.
And when I’m sure she left, I get up and go home.
A cat screeches and tears through the front yard after another feline, disappearing into the shadows. It’s late and I’m exhausted, but I don’t move.
I can’t seem to find the willpower to get up. Or do anything, really. I promised Yackros I would save him, but even after reading that book, I didn’t get any information that would help me on that mission.
And now a crazy woman is following me around. Watching my every move. To say I’m creeped out is an understatement.
Everything is backwards. I’m finding people I want nothing to do with, and I can’t find the one creature I really need.
The king is nowhere. There wasn’t even a mention of him in the pamphlet, or where I could find the pearl. No hint as to where I could start. And an internet search for the author gave me nothing, not even a full name. In fact, the book didn’t exist online—I couldn’t find it sold in even an obscure outlet.
So where did the librarian find it?
I let out a heavy sigh and rub at my eyes.
Maybe Ruxsiu suspected Guthrie’s foul play in my banishment from the start. But if that’s the case, and the librarian is somehow a spy for him, I’m already done for. I’ve already made it very clear I’m searching for dragons, which leaves no doubt that I remember them.
Did the librarian give me this book to lead me on a wild goose chase?
Dragon Wings Page 11
