by K L Rymer
The mage bursts into another crazed cackle, and now his gray eyes dart around the corridor. If I’m not mistaken, they even land on Gelert, which is impossible. Only Angelina and I can see him.
“Go on then, kill me! But don’t think that will be the end. Do you really think my father will stand down after you defeat me?”
“Not unless we just kill him too,” Angelina responds. “Seriously, Mattie, you’re outmatched. One of us is the son of the frigging Devil for crying out loud. I thought you were smarter than that.”
Matthew grinds his teeth. “Shut up, slut!”
Angelina hisses. “Don’t call me a slut, bastard!”
The vampire flips him upside down, and now she’s going to kill him by making the blood rush to his head.
Damien sighs, stepping forward. “Angelina... let him go.”
She shoots him a dagger. “Are you fucking crazy, Hellborne?”
The demon’s eyes give off a red flash. “Just let him down, blood-sucker, so I can finish him off for myself. There will be a special cell for him in my father’s unholy kingdom when I’m through with him...”
Both Felicity and I gasp.
I stagger forward. “No... I... I won’t let either of you kill him.”
Damien glances my way, nonchalant as always. “We can’t just let him go, Bryn Bryn. He’s a danger to us all.”
Desperate, I meet those pained, gray eyes of Mattie’s once again, holding back another sob. If only Myrddin were here... he could just take his powers instead of killing him.
Unless... I use my feminine charms. I know Mattie’s still inside there somewhere. Thank god I’m dressed as the sexy Ms. Claus. Don’t think I didn’t catch that wicked gleam in his eye.
I saunter toward him. The others watch me confused as I stop beside his face, leveling myself with his eyes. He’s still upside down as Angelina levitates him, and now I grab his cheeks, kissing him like Mary Jane kissed Spiderman in 2002. So romantic.
Mattie melts beneath me as I help myself to his gorgeous lips, but it wasn’t as if he was in a position to stop me anyway. He’s completely at my mercy.
The others watch us with a mixture of expressions. Angelina looks disgusted while Damien appears to be amused and slightly aroused (the creep). Felicity has her hand on her heart.
I don’t stop. I continue exploring his delicious mouth, and I lap up every moment, savoring every taste.
I’ve missed these lips.
Finally, we come to a stop, breathing into one another’s mouths. Matthew hangs in the air silently, a blissful look across his handsome, chiseled face.
He opens his eyes at last, and those storm clouds have finally cleared. “Bryn...”
We stay that way for a while, and I can’t help but smile.
I... think I got my Mattie back.
Unfortunately, a winged beast smashes through the high window next, and now the giant form of Gwyneira crashes into the hallway.
Damien covers Felicity once again, but all I can do is gape at that beautiful, terrifying she-dragon.
“Step away from him, whore...”
I shiver as that ice-cold, feminine voice drips through my veins, turning my blood to frost.
It’s Gwyneira’s voice.
I never thought I’d be called a whore by a dragon of all things.
Angelina bares her fangs. “Which whore, you prehistoric freak.”
So, it’s not just dragon riders who can hear a dragon’s thoughts then. It appears vampires can too.
The dragon’s arctic eyes find Angelina’s, and if I hadn’t seen a more even match...
“Release him, you parasitic leech, or I will burn down this whole school.”
Angelina’s lip quivers at the insult. That was a low blow. A leech? Sheesh. Gwyneira better be careful. Angie can always make her float after all.
Just as the vampire extends her free arm, a shadowy figure teleports into the room, and now my eyes land on Zahara as she wields her longbow, aiming for Gwyneira.
“There you are,” she croons, curling those twisted, black lips. “Thought you could get away from me, hey, Lizzie?”
The Unseelie lets the arrow go, and it punctures the dragon’s right cheek. Gwyneira roars, setting her blue eyes on Zahara. I cry out, telling the fae to move, but then the dragon dives toward Matthew and gobbles him up in her giant maw.
I gasp, dumbstruck.
Did she just eat him?
Luckily, Matthew hangs precariously from her lips, and I see she was just recusing him.
The dragon flaps her massive wings, sending a gale throughout the hallway, and now all I can do is stand there helpless as the love of my life leaves me for a second time.
I... I almost had him. I saw it in his eyes.
He still loves me...
Silence reigns over the hallway as we remain in complete shock. Damien continues to hug Felicity to his chest, keeping her safe, and I writhe with jealously.
If only I had my own man by my side to protect me from the scary monsters of the world. But he just left in the giant, smelly mouth of a murderous she-dragon.
The school falls quiet, and one by one the rest of Mendacious arrive. Nora and Thomas run straight to my side.
“Bryn, are you all right?” Nora cries.
“We heard Mattie’s back!” Thomas gasps.
Jack towers behind them, and I meet his solemn gaze. He gives me a curt nod, and I do the same.
“I... I’m fine. Thank you, guys, for fighting Gwyneira.”
Everyone peers around at me confused.
Whoops... I guess I forgot to tell them that she had a name. I don’t even think Angelina knows. To them, she would just be The White Dragon.
It’s about time I told them everything about the prophecy. It only seems fair. They all risked their lives fighting tonight. Just after we find Myrddin, I will tell them.
“It’s... it’s time I finally told you guys. You all have a right to know after all. We just need to find Myrddin first. Then I can tell you. But... just... just give me a moment... I... I need to...”
I collapse to the floor, burying my face into my hands. I’m technically still drunk, so cut me some slack.
What a night to get wasted in the end, hey? Mad Friday indeed.
Gelert patters over to my side and Thomas growls. I was always aware that his wolf could sense the dog’s presence, but to everyone else, Gelert’s just air.
Well, that’s until Zahara blurts out, “Where the hell did that dog just come from?”
Alarmed, I look up at my Unseelie friend, and her black eyes are focused on Gelert. She’s not the only one. All my Mendacious housemates see him now. They look pleased. Felicity even cries “Puppy!” even though Gelert is the size of a horse to her. But Thomas’s wolf continues to snarl, and now his eyes glow bright gold.
After all, this dog is perfectly capable of killing a wolf. Thomas has every reason to be wary.
The poor dog dips his head with a whine and now I gaze into his guilty, brown eyes.
“Well, it looks like the jig is up, Gelert. They all see you now.”
Chapter 13.
We found Myrddin unconscious in the end in the kitchen pantry. I have no idea how Matthew managed to take out the powerful wizard, but considering how he put a knife to my throat earlier that night, I could put two and two together.
The mage is resorting to good old-fashioned violence now. No powers, no magic, just fists. Oh, and knives too. Let’s not forget.
At two hundred years old, Matthew is physically stronger than Myrddin at the ripe, old age of a thousand and five hundred, so I guess the wizened wizard was no match when it came to sheer brawn.
We teleported him directly to his office then placed him down on the couch by his fireplace, and now we hover around the room as he nurses his bruised head with an ice-pack, sipping generously at a cup of tea.
“Ah, really hits the spot... Who knew being knocked unconscious would take it out of you, hm? Sure none of you want t
ea?” His green eyes dart around the room.
We all decline. Well, except for Zahara who kindly helps herself, taking a seat on Myrddin’s right. He passes her a plate of sugary cookies and she smiles, picking up a sweet snack.
“Don’t mind if I do, Professor.”
I watch her incredulously. I know he offered, but she really is taking liberties. None of the rest of us dares to be so bold. Not even the anti-Christ, who looks extremely uncomfortable right now. He’s not the only one. Nora’s hair wiggles, Thomas’s eye glow as he still snarls at Gelert, and Jack’s jaw ticks. Felicity grips tight hold of Damien, hiding inside his coat. All I can see of her are her sparkling blue eyes.
I don’t know why they’re so tense. Myrddin’s a good guy. But I do genuinely believe that this is the first time some of them have been called into his office.
Angelina glares at the Unseelie, shaking her head as the fae stuffs her face with cookies.
It comes to my attention then that all of House Mendacious are present in this room, and I can’t help but be proud.
In Merlin’s dark hour of need, it was the school outcasts who were there to save the day. You don’t see anyone of House Audacious here, do you? No. Macson and the others are probably hiding somewhere right about now, crying.
Myrddin chuckles good-naturedly, and now he looks up at the rest of us with a cheery smile on his face. You wouldn’t think he’d been knocked out for the last two hours, and again I wonder where he finds the strength to be so enthusiastic. It’s all natural too and has nothing to do with drugs or magic.
The headmaster is just an all-round, happy-go-lucky guy.
“Now... where do I begin?” he starts, clicking his tongue. “Yes... Matthew Humphrey. What are we going to do with that bothersome fool? It seems my protection charms around the school weren’t enough to keep him at bay in the end. Such a shame. I worked hard on them all summer.”
“Don’t sweat it, Professor,” Zahara says, biting a biscuit. “Everyone makes mistakes.”
Angelina scoffs, flipping her long, bleached blonde hair. Zahara does have a lot of gall sitting there, talking to Myrddin like he’s her old friend, but still. I can’t help but feel that her remark was directed at Angelina.
The two girls still don’t see eye to eye after all.
Myrddin gives the Unseelie his wrinkly-eyed smile. “Why, thank you, Zahara.”
She beams, helping herself to another cookie.
Now we continue in silence.
No one moves for a while though I do catch Nora and Felicity petting Gelert in the corner of my eye. They haven’t left him alone since they found out that he exists, and now the dog’s lapping up every moment of his newfound attention.
I step forward, taking my place in front of the fireplace. “It’s about time I told you all. Professor, I hope you don’t mind, but I think it’s long overdue that I told all my friends about... well, you know...”
He waves his hand dismissively. “Not a problem, Miss Williams. I agree, too, that you should tell them. In fact, I think you should have told them all from the very beginning...”
Wow, what a way to make me feel even guiltier, old man.
I suck in a deep breath, and at once my eyes fall on Angelina and Damien. They both already know, of course, so I don’t really have to explain to them. One figured it out all by herself because she’s ingenious, and the other eavesdropped in the shadows because he’s mendacious, but still. It’s about time everyone knew.
“I’m...I’m the one destined to wake and ride the Red Dragon and... d-defeat Matthew.”
Zahara spits out her tea, and we all stare at her aghast. She looks up at me stunned. “You’re that human borne child? The one from the prophecy?! Wow... I knew you were special and all, Bryn, but this... this!”
I raise a brow. It’s hard to tell whether she’s serious or not.
I turn to the others. Felicity’s eyes couldn’t be any bigger; she even steps out from Damien’s coat just to get a better look at me. Nora’s hair is flapping like the wind. Thomas continues to spasm as he still resists Gelert, and Jack is quiet. Too quiet in fact. I’ve never seen the titan look so... baffled.
Felicity is the first to speak. “Bryn is... is it true? Are... are you really the one to... to wake...” her pupils dilute and now she trembles, “the Red Dragon?”
There’s no denying the terrified squeak in her tone. She’s the living embodiment of all my fears right now. Deep down, I’m just a petrified little pixie too who quakes at the sight of her own shadow.
Considering how Gwyneira clearly hates my guts (she called me a whore), I have no chance in hell of winning Brynmawr over. He already told me to keep away from his hillock. He doesn’t want me anywhere near him after all.
I squeeze my eyes. “His... his name is Brynmawr. It means “great hill” in Welsh. The White Dragon’s name is Gwyneira. I... don’t know what her name means...”
“Means “beautiful snow” in Welsh,” Myrddin answers for me, sipping leisurely at his tea.
Beautiful snow? How poetic.
Despite how terrifying she is, I’ll admit that Gwyneira’s scales are breath-taking. So white, silvery, and luminescent. I’ve even seen them from the molecular level too, and they truly are exquisite.
So beautiful and she knows it. Reminds me of someone else I know...
My eyes land on Angelina. She watches me carefully with those fierce, burning eyes, and I know I’m not going to be able to leave until I confess everything. The vampire will make absolute sure of it.
How considerate of her. I never even knew she cared so much for the rest of our house.
“It is true, Felicity. And... and I have to be the one to put a stop to Mattie in the end... and... kill him...”
I rein in a sob, covering my mouth. Our kiss still flashes through my mind. I can even still taste him on my tongue, and I pinch my eyes tight shut. Despite my best efforts, the tears fall.
Felicity is the first to respond. “Oh, Bryn... I... I never... I’m... sorry...”
The pixie runs to my side at once and throws her arms around me. I collapse into a chair, crying into her soft, white hair. “F-Felicity...”
Nora comes to my other side, placing her arms around me too, and now she cries along with us. Of course they can empathize with me. Both girls were truly meant to be in Magnanimous after all. They feel pain right along with me.
“We’re so sorry, Bryn. If... if only we knew...” Nora weeps, and her hair deflates now. It often does when she’s sad. It’s only when she is nervous or excited that they wiggle.
Gelert joins them too, and now I hold on to all three of them. Zahara puts her tea down and offers me words of comfort. No “Suck it up” or “Pull yourself together”. For once, she allows me this one cry.
Damn... it feels good to let it all out. This has been festering away inside me all year, and I really should have told them sooner. Maybe then they could have helped me and I could have saved Matthew before it was too late.
But I decided to bottle it all up and deal with my problems alone. I had these amazing friends, no, this family, and I kept them all in the dark.
I will never suffer in silence again.
Before long Jack joins in too, and he lets me hold his thick tree trunk of an arm. Then Damien comes along and pats my head, warming me up with his fire powers. I am shaking like an uncontrollable leaf. I must look freezing.
Thomas caves at last, and finally he wins over his wolf and offers me words of reassurance. “Don’t worry, Bryn. We will find a way. All of us. There are hundreds of books on the dragons of Dinas Emrys. There’s got to be a loophole somewhere in the prophecy. One that doesn’t involve hurting Humphrey.”
I smile up at the shifter. His eyes still shine gold behind his glasses. Gelert sniffs his butt and Thomas spasms. But then he gets a hold of his wolf once again, and now he gazes down at the dog curiously.
“That’s the dog from the legend of Beddgelert, isn’t it? The one the profes
sor told you about during the sorting ceremony?”
I look upon the dog in question. Even Angelina figured it out. Thomas should have been in Ingenious himself too. I guess they truly are enlightened.
I laugh. “He is. Don’t worry, Thomas. He won’t hurt you. Not all wolves are bad after all.”
Thomas keeps his gold eyes on Gelert. The ghost dog pants up at him now, giving him a sweet doggy smile.
The shifter grins. “It’s fine, Bryn. I’m quite fond of babies anyway. Gelert has nothing to fear...”
Zahara regards him strangely. “You really are weird. Babies? Ugh.”
Gelert seems to appreciate the sentiment though and now he barks up at Thomas, climbing up to lick his face.
Aw, they’re best friends now.
Angelina steps forward at last. Even though she’s become my friend, I still don’t expect her to give me sweet words. It’s just not her style.
The vampire folds her arms. “I think you’re forgetting one more thing, Bryn.”
Confused, I peer over at Myrddin. What else could I possibly be forgetting?
The wizard shrugs, pouring himself another tea. It looks like I’m not going to get an answer there.
I sigh. “What?”
Her expression falls deadpan. “Tell them all that you’re Myrddin’s daughter... Oops, too late. I already did it for you.”
Satisfied with herself, the vampire strolls out the door in her PJs and slippers, and now the room turns deathly quiet.
Myrddin stirs his tea, shaking his head in disappointment. “Oh, Bryn... Whatever are we going to do with you?”
I burn bright red now, throwing my hands over my face.
Thanks a lot, Angelina.
Chapter 14.
“You’re all staying at the academy for Christmas?”
I gape at my housemates in shock. It’s been two days since I confessed to them all that I am the human borne child destined to wake the Red Dragon, and they have been super helpful.
Super, super helpful in fact.
It’s also been two days since Angelina blurted that I was Myrddin’s daughter, and I’m still going to get her back for that. The honor should have been mine after all.
