by Amanda Ashby
Unlike in Emma’s last dream, her mom wasn’t dressed in her slaying clothes but in some freaksville 1950s housewife dress. Even her straight brown hair had been piled up in some sort of conservative mom hairstyle. The only thing Emma recognized about the woman in front of her was the familiar crystal necklace clasped around her slender throat.
Mom. Emma raced over to her. I don’t know what’s going on with all your weird clothes and hair, but please, you have to tell me what you know about this thing. I can’t kill it. You have to tell me what to do.
Darling, if you can’t deal with one measly fairy on your own, you don’t deserve my help, her mom said as she idly reached up to the necklace and touched it with her long fingers, callused from years of holding a sword. Then, before Emma even knew what was happening, the creature was on her, its giant talons aimed straight at her heart, slicing their way through her chest before she could even open her mouth to scream, and—
Emma woke up with a start as she realized it was a dream.
Just a dream, she repeated as she sat up in bed and glanced around. But there was no darkhel there, just the morning sunshine filtering in through her half-drawn curtains. She quickly got up and flung them open, eager to push the dream out of her head, but despite her best efforts, the vision of her mom refusing to help her played over and over in her head.
How did she know the darkhel? What was the connection?
Emma felt a lump rise in her throat. When had things gotten so difficult? She thought that nothing could’ve been worse than losing her mom, but these dreams and the discovery that her mom somehow had a secret life was a million times more painful. How many other secrets did she have?
For a moment she toyed with the crystal pendant that was hanging forlornly in the window. She had put it there almost six weeks ago, promising herself that she wouldn’t wear it again until she was inducted as a dragon slayer. The fact that her mom was wearing the necklace in the dream was still disturbing her, and Emma let her fingers run along the smooth, cool surface of the crystal as it threw a weak rainbow of light that radiated out in lines around the room.
Emma froze.
Radiating out in lines? She had thought that same expression last night when she was looking at the drawing of the dragon guarding its hoard. Emma lunged for the textbook and flipped through it until she came to the right place and once again studied the dragon, though this time she wasn’t looking at the beast itself, she was looking at the jewelry hoard that was spilling out of the chest at its scaly feet. Then she held the crystal up next to the picture and studied one of the necklaces that was in the far corner. They were identical. It couldn’t be a coincidence. Her mom had given her the necklace for a reason. Now she just had to figure out what the reason was.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
So what are you supposed to do with it?” Loni asked half an hour later as she and Emma hurried toward the cafeteria, stopping only to touch the statue of Sir Francis on the way. The large room was full not only of students eating breakfast but of Burtonwood staff starting to make the preparations for the formal dinner that would be held there tonight to kick off the induction weekend celebrations. The two girls ignored the bustle completely.
“I have no idea.” Emma tucked the crystal back into her pocket as they each grabbed an orange tray and joined the end of the line.
“What if it’s just a coincidence?” Loni asked. “Maybe we’re overthinking this?”
“I’m sure it’s connected,” Emma said in a firm voice. She hadn’t told Loni about her disturbing dream or how it had led her to the necklace in the first place, but the fact that her mom had also highlighted it in one of her old books was all the proof that Emma needed. “We just have to figure out how.”
“Maybe it gives you some kind of luck?” Loni pondered.
“Yes, except I wore it on the day Kessler gave me my designation and all I got then was bad news. Not saying that I wouldn’t like some good luck, but if that’s what it does, then it hides the power really, really well,” Emma said as the woman behind the counter passed over their plates, piled high with food, and they made their way over to where Tyler was waiting for them. Emma couldn’t help but notice that there was no sign of Curtis next to him.
“Okay, so cross that one off the list. I wonder if any of the teachers would recognize it?” Loni suggested as she jumped out of the way before two giggling sophomores went crashing into her.
“Good idea.” Emma nimbly sidestepped the girls without spilling any of her breakfast. “I’ll start asking if anyone knows anything about it.”
“Knows anything about what?” Tyler asked as he finished reading a text message and looked up with interest.
“About this,” Emma said as she put down her tray and handed him the crystal necklace. “There was a picture of it in one of my mom’s books, and the words ‘found it’ written next to it.”
“Yes,” Loni continued. “That’s why we think it’s a clue; we’re just not sure what it means. I’m thinking good-luck charm.”
“Or it could be superpowers,” Tyler offered up as he eyed their breakfasts with interest.
“Thank you, Tyler. And anytime you’re ready to actually help, just let us know,” Loni said sarcastically.
“I’m serious,” Tyler insisted as he stole a piece of Emma’s toast and took a bite. “You said the crystal was in a picture of a meskret dragon’s hoard. Why was it there?”
“Because it’s shiny and pretty?” Loni blinked at him, looking none the wiser.
“Because it has power.” Emma widened her eyes as she realized where Tyler was going with this. It was true that all dragons liked gold and gems, but most of them liked objects of strength as well. Especially mystical ones. “So you’re thinking that maybe the dragon had it because it was more than just a crystal?”
“You might actually be on to something,” Loni marveled before she turned to Emma. “So from now on you need to keep that crystal on you at all times.”
“That’s right,” Tyler agreed. “Because . . . hey, Em, are you listening?”
“What? Oh, um, I, um, yes, I’m listening,” she stuttered as she realized she had actually been scanning the cafeteria for Curtis.
“Do you have a neck cramp?” Tyler asked as he flexed his fingers. “Because I know this amazing Thai massage thing that is guaranteed to get rid of all cramps. In fact, I bet that if your sore neck hasn’t gone in five minutes, then—”
“Oh please.” Loni rolled her eyes at him. “Since when can you do massage?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Tyler waggled a finger at her, which only caused Loni to roll her eyes some more, but their bickering was interrupted by the bell. Emma and her friends jumped to their feet and hurried to their first class.
By fourth period Emma was starting to get despondent. She had stayed behind to show the pendant to Professor Vanderbilt, but he had thought it was merely some sort of key ring.
Even worse, she was late to the simulation labs, and by the time she got changed into her sweats, Professor Meyers had already arrived, along with most of the class. But instead of giving her a tardy (thank you, thank you, thank you), the teacher merely nodded for her to go and get her fight gear. Emma scooped up an equipment bag and was just about to head over to where Loni was standing when she remembered that today they were fighting their assignment partners. Which would explain her friend’s pained expression as Brenda was lecturing her about something or other.
Emma shot her a sympathetic glance before heading over to the simulation circle that she had been allocated. There was no sign of Curtis, though. In fact, she hadn’t seen him all day.
“Hey, Jones, don’t tell me you were getting worried about me?” a voice suddenly said from behind her, and she spun around to see him swinging his way toward her, his simulation gear hanging around his neck as he handled his crutches.
“What?” she protested, a little too quickly, her voice breathy as she still struggled to deal with the eff
ect his presence was having on her. Then she realized he was looking at her expectantly, as if waiting for an answer. “O-of course not. I just figured you were too scared to fight today.”
“Really?” He lifted an eyebrow at her as he came to a halt and leaned forward on his crutches so he and Emma were almost nose to nose. “Because I can assure you I’ve been looking forward to it. I just had to go and see Nurse Reynes about my leg. Speaking of which, she asked if I had seen you because apparently you had an appointment with her to get your eye checked.”
“Oh, must’ve slipped my mind,” Emma lied. There was no way she was voluntarily going back to the infirmary because it reminded her far too much of the hospital where her mom had died. Call her crazy, but she found denial worked much better when it was hidden away in a nice quiet corner of her mind.
“Well, she wants you to reschedule with her.”
“There’s nothing wrong with my eye,” Emma insisted as she reached up and gave it a rub.
“I’m just the messenger.” He shrugged as he pulled on his gloves, and Emma found herself marveling at how his navy T-shirt clung to his muscular arms and at the way he chewed his full bottom lip in concentration, which, in turn, seemed to highlight his strong jawline. “Anyway, you haven’t told me if you found anything.”
“Huh?” She stared at him blankly for a moment, trying to figure out what he was talking about.
“You know. Invisible fairy? The books we got from your dad’s house last night? Ringing any bells?” he prompted as an annoying half smile twitched around his lips as if he knew that she had been checking him out.
“Oh, right.” She felt her cheeks brighten again as she scooped the pendant out of the pocket of her sweatpants, showed it to him, and explained what she knew about it. “Loni thinks it might be good luck and Tyler thinks it might have some sort of mystical power.”
“And what do you think?” he asked, his dark eyes drilling into hers, and for one stupid moment she almost felt tempted to tell him about the dreams she’d been having. How real they felt and how, as much as she wanted to think that this was the last they had seen of the darkhel, her gut feeling was that it was still out there. But before she could even consider putting any of her concerns into words, Professor Meyers clapped her hands.
“Okay, everyone, let’s get started.”
Emma quickly put on her goggles and laced up her gloves as she and Curtis moved into the simulation circle. Three days ago if she’d had to fight him she would’ve been determined to beat him at all costs, preferably in a humiliating way, but at that moment, as she lifted her hands into a defensive position, Emma realized that despite the trash talking they had done last night, she really didn’t care if she won or lost.
She watched as he carefully got into position and then dropped his crutches outside the circle just as a red light flashed in her goggles to let her know the simulation had begun. Then she raised her hand to block Curtis’s first virtual move and watched in appreciation as he easily anticipated her shot and countered with one of his own. After all the tension and stress of the last few days, Emma suddenly realized that this fight was just what she needed to burn off some steam. She held up an arm to block his parry and then the fight started in earnest.
Half an hour later it was over, and when they looked at the counter, Emma was surprised to see she had won. She shot Curtis a grateful look.
“Thanks for that.” She took the goggles off her head and put them down on the bench.
“For what?” He pushed his own back up into his blond curls.
“For going easy on me.”
“Jones, I didn’t go easy on you. In fact, I was just going to ask you what you’ve been eating for breakfast because that was some fight.”
“Yeah, right.” She shook her head. “Anyway, something else I need to thank you for is last night.”
“It was nothing.” He shrugged as he busied himself taking off his simulation gear.
“Somehow I don’t think Kessler would’ve seen it that way if he’d caught us. Anyway, I just want you to know that I’m really grateful for what you did.”
“I helped you get some books; it wasn’t like I fought the darkhel or anything,” he said, his voice almost sounding gruff as a flash of annoyance went racing across his face. There it was again. Emma frowned, but before she could figure out why his mood had suddenly changed, the look had gone and he shot her a rueful smile. “Besides, Jones. I told you it makes me nervous when you act too nice.”
“I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again,” she promised as a reluctant smile hovered around her mouth, but before Emma could say anything else, Professor Meyers clapped again for everyone’s attention.
“Okay, that’s it for the week. Don’t forget homework due on Monday. Oh, and try not to celebrate too much this weekend during Induction. Especially on Sunday afternoon at that student party that we don’t know anything about.” Professor Meyers winked, and most of the class started to laugh. However, Emma ignored them as she realized the simulation teacher was gathering up her bag and getting ready to leave. She put her hand into her pocket and let her fingers curl around the pendant before she hurried over to the teacher.
“Emma, that was another great test. Not only was your hand/eye coordination up but your strength has increased by thirty percent. Have you changed your gym workout?”
Emma shook her head. Between exploding food courts and invisible fairies, she hadn’t set foot in the gym for over a week.
“Hmm.” Professor Meyers chewed the tip of her pen for a moment. “Well, maybe it’s the change in routine?”
“I guess.” Emma shrugged as she carefully pulled the pendant out of her pocket. “Actually, I wanted to ask you about something else.”
“Of course. My virtual door is always open.” The teacher grinned. “What’s up?”
“I was wondering if you’ve ever seen anything like this? My mom gave it to me and I was curious to find out if it had some sort of power?”
Professor Meyers instantly pulled her glasses onto her nose and studied the pendant for several moments before shaking her dark hair. “Sorry. The crystal itself looks fairly regular but I don’t recognize the engravings around the edge. Why don’t you try Professor Yemin, since he specializes in enchanted objects?”
“I actually did try him but he wasn’t in his office and apparently no one has seen him today.” Emma sighed; Professor Meyers was the third teacher to suggest him.
“Really?” Professor Meyers wrinkled her nose. “That’s strange. Bob . . . I mean Professor Yemin never misses our Friday-afternoon staff meetings. He really likes the Oreos.”
Emma smiled politely. “Well, thanks anyway,” she said as she put the crystal back into her pocket and hid her disappointment. She hurried to get changed.
A few hours and another detention session later, Emma found herself at the library, where Loni and Tyler were waiting for her. They’d told Curtis about their meeting as well, but he had to go to some special training session with the one of the gym instructors.
“So?” Loni demanded as they hurried across the quad. It was only five thirty in the afternoon but it was almost dark. “Did you find out anything about the pendant?”
“No.” Emma let out a frustrated sigh. “And Professor Yemin, who is apparently the only one who might know what it is, hasn’t been in today. This is just driving me crazy. I know this pendant links my mom to the darkhel but I don’t know how. And if I don’t find out soon I think my head is going to explode.”
“Well, that would be a shame,” a voice suddenly said. Emma turned around as Curtis swung his way toward them with a grin on his face. How he had managed to sneak up on them, she had no idea. Though suddenly she imagined just how lethal he could be tracking dragons when he wasn’t encumbered by his crutches.
“Hey,” she said, some of her frustration instantly leaving her. “This is a nice surprise. I thought you had a gym session this afternoon.”
“I did.” He n
odded before he frowned. “But on the way back I bumped into your dad down by the bottom parking lot.”
“My dad’s here at Burtonwood?” Now Emma was most definitely distracted; although her dad used to do some of the computer work for the Academy a long time ago, he wasn’t a frequent visitor anymore. In fact, before his trip to give her the pendant and the news of Olivia’s pregnancy, Emma couldn’t remember the last time he had visited. Especially not late on a Friday afternoon. “Are you sure it’s him?”
“I only met him last night,” Curtis reminded her as he turned and nodded for her to follow him. “Anyway, you’d better hurry because he said it was urgent.”
Emma felt the blood drain from her face as she turned and started to sprint toward the parking lot. Whatever it was, she had a feeling it wasn’t going to be good news.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Emma hurried over to where her father was waiting by his late-model Volvo. The parking lot was next to the second practice field. People weren’t allowed to come and go as they pleased at Burtonwood, but induction weekend was an exception, and the visitors’ parking lot was already half filled with parents who had arrived for tonight’s dinner. Down on the practice field itself she noticed several groups of students scattered around giving combat demonstrations to interested parents under the glow of the large spotlights that dotted the area.
Loni, Tyler, and Curtis stopped at a nearby wooden bench while Emma covered the rest of the distance on her own.
“Dad, what’s wrong? What are you doing here?”
“Hey, sweetheart.” Her dad hugged her before stepping back and catching her gaze with his pale blue eyes. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you; it’s just, we’re leaving for the airport in an hour and I really wanted to talk to you before we go. I was going to the office to find out where you’d be, but then I bumped into Curtis and he said he’d get you for me.”
