Dragon Slayers

by Kristin D. Van Risseghem

  “I saw that you helped Reist. Can you tell me what you did?” He steps away from the kids and motions for me to follow.

  “Uh, I noticed him struggling.” I wring my hands, a nervous gesture I picked up when I was young. “A feeling washed over me, and I knew he could do it if I helped him.”

  “But how did you know?” He leans on the windowsill, his long legs extending out. “What did you see?”

  Keeping my head down, I mumble, “His aura changed. His body glowed with magic and when I touched him, it sprang forth.”

  “So, you’re telling me you can see the magic in people?”

  “Well, I’m not sure if it’s all people, but in him, yes.”

  “Look around the room and tell me what you see.”

  At first glance a few pairs of eyes are on us, but then they go back to their task when Mr. Lorimer clears his throat. My magic hums. It comes faster the more I use it, call for it. I bite my lip and anticipate seeing the wonderful blue light from everyone in the room. It doesn’t show on all the students. Some are dim, while others are vibrant. I look at Mr. Lorimer, and his shines the brightest.

  “I can see your magic, Mr. Lorimer.” It pulses similar to the colors of the sky and encompasses his whole body. No one else’s is like that. It must mean that his is advanced. “Not all the students have it though,” I whisper.

  “Will you write their names on a piece of paper?”

  “I don’t think I can do that.” He looks at me like I’ve disobeyed him. In a way I guess I did. “I don’t know all of their names.”

  “I see. I didn’t want to do this publicly, but I don’t think I have any other options. Let’s walk then, and you write down each one who does not have magic and what they are wearing. That sound good to you?”

  I nod and follow him to the front of the room. He finds me a clipboard and paper. We stroll around the room and as discretely as I can, I jot a few notes:

  Female: dark brown hair, red top.

  Female: brown colored hair, black striped shirt

  Male: blond hair, jersey

  Male: light brown hair, black shirt

  Male: black hair, black shirt

  Male: dark blond hair, blue shirt

  I hesitate writing the last description. I know her. I can’t say her name out loud. Poor Noelle.

  Noelle: blond hair, jean jacket

  I hand the board back to Mr. Lorimer, who fills in their names behind my description. I’m glad he didn’t make me point them out or say something about them. I don’t know how they would react. I’m sure if it were me, it wouldn’t be pretty.

  “Thank you, Brooklyn.”

  “May I ask what you’re going to do with the list?”

  “We’ll watch their progress and see if it’s true or not. I’ve never known anyone who can sense people’s magic. I didn’t know there was such a thing.”

  “And if it’s turns out to be true?”

  “I won’t let anyone retaliate against you because of this, if that’s what you’re worried about.” I wring my hands again and stop. “One step at a time. For all we know, the seven percent of your Level will get magic. And if not, then I don’t know. It might be out of my hands by then.

  “Okay.” It’s not really, though. At least Sax is not on the list. As for Noelle ... how am I going to tell her? If others found out what I could do, I know they’d hate me. It just shows how much more of a freak I am. “If some of these kids don’t have magic, then how are they going to see them while out on missions?”

  “There are enough others who do in their group, the advanced Levels, and instructors. The non-magicals will be able to draw from them. But really if by the beginning of Level Three their magic doesn’t appear, they’ll be pulled from missions for their own safety. And they’ll never be used for patrols.”

  “Thanks,” I mutter and walk back to my group.

  I sit in silence and ignore the prods from my teammates about what Mr. Lorimer and I were discussing and what exactly I did to Reist, who is now sitting next to me.

  My eyes linger on Brian’s tall flame resting above his open palm. It’s mesmerizing and pulls me into the flickering dance. Without thinking, I open my hand and gaze at my spark. Reist follows suit with his own light. Of the six of us, half of us have completed today’s task.

  Then both girls show me their flames.

  “What did Mr. Lorimer want?” Noelle asks as we leave class. The two hours of practicing wiped me out. I dig into my satchel and grab the green apple. As I munch on it, I shrug. There is no way I’m sharing this with anyone. Let alone someone I met yesterday. She seems nice and genuine, but yeah, I have trust issues. “Fine. Don’t tell me what you’re up to. Sax and I are going to the Lounge for a while before Skills. You up for it?”

  “Naw, you guys go on. I think I’m going to walk around for a while.” I can’t tell her what I saw about her aura. She has no magic, and I don’t know what to do. Is it just buried, or will she never get it? I have to do something, maybe extra training with her. In the meantime, I’ll make sure that either Sax, Reist, or I are near her when we’re out on missions.

  “Okay. Don’t get caught out in the rain,” she says.

  Noelle ambles away and runs to join Sax. She nestles against him as their arms entwine around each other’s waist. They do make a cute couple.

  “Do you want to be alone?” Reist asks. I didn’t hear him approach. “Because if you do, I understand. Thanks for helping me in class. I didn’t get a chance to say that to you.”

  “Yeah, if you don’t mind. Today has been ... trying for me. I think I need to get my head around it all and sort through it, you know?”

  “All right. I’ll see you in Skills.”

  He hangs his head down and lingers for two seconds, then walks away. I thought he was going to try to persuade me that I needed to be around people. He really is a nice guy, but I don’t get the butterflies like when I’m around Manny.

  Or Bronx.

  Since Noelle reminded me of the coming rain, I take her advice and head toward the tunnels that run under the entire campus. Some of them are open to the public, and by that, I mean the normal humans who attend Columbia, and some are closed so only slayers can use them.

  The passageways are packed with students who are dodging the coming rains. I veer off into an empty one that I’ve never been down before. It’s not like I hid down here during the first eleven months of school. No, I stayed in my room with the small comforts and running water. Besides, it’s dark and dank. It always gave me the chills the few times I had been here.

  I call my magic and let it whirl over my body and then bring forth my flame. It’s easy peasy now. I could’ve used the flashlight on my phone, but this is better. Practice does make it perfect. I’m focusing on controlling the flame. It burns brighter as my feet take me deeper into the tunnel system.

  After making a couple more turns, I find an offshoot that has no working overhead lights. I walk a few feet in, and I slouch down to the cold ground. Bringing my knees to my chest, I breathe in as I extinguish the flame. My eyes adjust to the darkness, and I finish eating my apple.

  Then I hear whispers coming from the far end. Hushed male voices. They’re angry. I can’t make out the full conversation, but I can hear the frustration. It’s pitch black around me, and I don’t want my presence known. Slowly, I rise and take a few steps closer, inching my way farther into the passage.

  I stop and listen. The voices are louder and ring with familiarity.

  “Is he going to be okay, though?” That’s Manny’s voice. Why is he down here and with whom? “He seemed okay when we left.”

  “He’ll be fine after a few more days of rest.”

  Whose voice is that?

  “I didn’t know she would follow us,” Manny says. “If you wouldn’t have barreled in on us and toned down your antics, maybe she wouldn’t have.” They’re talking about me. “Look, I’m feeling her out. I don’t know if she will or not. She’s my girlfr
iend. So be nice to her. The situation is already delicate.”

  Are they talking about McQueen, the naked guy from last night? What situation are they talking about?

  “Is that what Bronx is trying to doing, too?”

  The other voice must be Staten.

  “I doubt it,” Manny says. “He’s doing it to piss me off.”

  “But you can’t deny that they have a connection, too. I’ve seen the way they interact. It’s almost as strong as yours and hers.”

  What connection? And do I have one with Bronx?

  “Just let it be for now. You do what you’re good at, and leave everything else to me and Bronx.”

  “I’ll hold you to it.”

  The voices and steps fade. I slink back the way I came. Are they both playing me? They seem sincere. Manny and Bronx have managed to weasel their way under my protective shield. How the boroughs did they do that? I hope it’s not because of their hot bodies, pretty faces, or sweet words. A guy shows me interest and if they’re somehow playing me ... I fist my hands to my sides. I won’t be part of their games.

  I stalk out of the tunnels and take the stairs that lead to the main lobby of Hamilton Hall. I burst through the doors and run outside into the pouring rain. It’s too late to turn back around. I’m already drenched.

  Flying up the three flights of stairs, I breeze through into the gym and spot my target on the far side of the room. Water drips from my soaked hair and clothes, leaving puddles on the floor with each advancing step.

  “Are you playing some sort of game with me?” I wave my finger at Bronx in accusation.

  “Hey, there. Slow down. You’re soaking wet, and you’ll get sick.” He walks to a bench and grabs a towel and tosses it to me. “You look like a drowned cat, and I prefer the French maid look.” His smile fades quickly after reading my expression.

  “Cut the crap, Bronx. I want to know what your deal is.” I put my hands on my hips.

  “My deal?”

  “Yeah. Why are you always flirting with me and saying rude and inappropriate things?”

  “That’s how I am?”

  “Is that a question or statement?”

  “Statement. What’s got your dragon buzzing?”

  “Look, I just want to know what this is.” I point between us. “You know I’m with Manny. And if he’s like a brother to you, then it’s pretty shitty of you for hitting on his girl.”

  “That doesn’t bother me. You’re free to do to what you want with whomever you wish. Do I want you to do things with me? Sure.” He shrugs. “But I don’t think you’re ready for what I want to do to you.” His brows wag.

  “Can you be serious for once?”

  “Oh, I’m deadly serious, Sweetheart.” He takes the towel from my hand and wraps it around my shoulders.

  “Are you using me to get back at Manny for something? Maybe because he beat you asking me out?”

  “No, it’s nothing like that. Now, why don’t you get out of those wet clothes and into something dry and more suitable?” He checks his phone. “Class starts in five minutes. Unless you need help undressing? Then I’ll postpone class.”

  I gawk at him and know he means it. Scurrying back to the door I came through, I make my way to the woman’s locker room and change. I don’t need Bronx coming down here to help. After I put dry clothes on, I head back up to the gym where I’m almost late. Bronx grins at me when he shuts the doors but doesn’t say anything.

  Good. He has to know that I was being serious. Whatever he’s feeling for me, he needs to articulate it. Well, I guess he did. So that leaves the issue with me.

  Since yesterday we did one-on-one training, today is endurance and weapons. It’s always weapons, but the other two programs toggle to every other day. Once we get to Level Three, we do them all.

  I want to say that endurance training is easy or even fun. It isn’t. Bronx is a mean and evil man. He makes us run around the gym’s track until we’re dying. My early morning extra training does me no good. Not that I’ve been doing it lately. At the twentieth lap, some kids are dropping to their knees. A few push farther, but I can’t any more. Reist, of course, is the lone guy still standing and continues on his merry way down the track.

  With most of us flat on our backs, you’d think Bronx would let us take a break. Nope. Instead, he yells at us to get up and start doing jumping jacks.

  He saunters over to Noelle and me, leaning into my ear. “What I wouldn’t give to have your sweet body beneath mine ... on the floor.”

  Okay, that got me up and moving. My stomach flutters when he says those kinds of things. I know he means exactly what he says. He’s told me many times. Then I think about his brother, Manny, and guilt washes over me. It’s not like I’m cheating on Manny. Bronx and I haven’t done anything. Yet. But I kinda want to see what these feelings for him are about.

  Noelle just shakes her head. For all the questions she’s pummeled me with since Bronx took it upon himself to be my personal flirty stalker, I refuse to tell her anything he’s said. Part of me blushes at his words. And a small part is giddy.

  Fine. It’s about fifty-fifty.

  My legs are jelly after doing so many laps. Sweat runs down my face, but I won’t give him the satisfaction of him seeing me rattled.

  “Drop and give me one hundred pushups,” Bronx says.

  “Is he trying to kill us?” Noelle asks. “You need to fix whatever is going on between you guys.”

  “What’s going on?” Reist asks.

  I glare at Noelle.

  “Uh, nothing that I’m aware of,” I say between lifting my chest from the floor.

  My arms are going to be like noodles tomorrow. How am I going to lift anything? Bronx is pacing the room, watching our form, shouting out numbers. If I have to do one more, I swear I’m going to throttle him.

  “Okay. One hundred. Go grab water and be back here on the mats.”

  Not one of us remotely even tries to run to the water fountains to be first in line. We’re dragging. I can’t wait until tomorrow. One hit from my opponent and I’ll be flat on the ground.

  Everyone waits in line. A shrill sound beeps from the speakers in the room. We glance to Bronx, and he’s running to the weapons table. Manny and Staten come from across the gym.

  “Take all the weapons,” Bronx yells. “Now!”

  No one moves for a second, and then the gym erupts with people running every which way. Is this a drill? From the looks on the instructors’ faces, it’s not.

  Manny and Staten catch up with Bronx. They chat and point as if deciding what they should do and who to bring.

  “Just bring everyone,” Staten says. “They’re going to need our help.”

  The other two nod and return to their sections, shouting instructions. The tables empty of the swords, arrows, and ammo.

  The gym doors fly open and another instructor dashes in. “We need Level Two to be recon out on the streets now,” he says. “Two dragons have been spotted near Yankee Stadium. We need to load them onto the buses that are waiting in the front.”

  “Okay, you heard him,” Staten says. I wonder if he’s the leader of the Kill Shots. “File downstairs and get on the buses. We’ll give you more instructions once we know more.”

  The four teachers congregate off to the corner as everyone walks out. I linger in the back, pulling Noelle with me. She in turn grabs Sax’s arm. They really don’t stray from one another.

  “What are they doing out now?” Manny asks.

  “I don’t know,” Staten says. His eyes flicker to mine. What is his problem? “They usually keep a low profile until night, when darkness is their friend.”

  “So how are we going to do this?” Bronx asks, turning his head in my direction. He waves me off. Noelle drags me through the door, and that ends my eavesdropping.

  Again, we sort ourselves into the three vehicles. This time I do have friends to sit with, but I opt to sit in the front and wait for Manny. Or Bronx. They’ll know what’s going o
n.

  The last person on my bus is Staten. Great. He won’t tell me anything. In fact, I think he hates me. The spot next to me is the only one available. He has no choice, but of course, he remains standing instead of opting to take the seat. Jerk.

  “Are you going to tell us what’s going on?” I ask.

  Silence.

  We travel underneath Amsterdam all the way up to 155th Street, turning right and then cruise over Harlem River and onto Macombs Dam Bridge. The bus chugs to a stop on East 161th Street and opens the doors.

  “Everyone out,” Staten says. “Stay close until the others arrive.”

  Since I’m the first seat, I’m off the bus in no time. I wait for Noelle, Sax, and Reist. They are last.

  “Well, what’s the scoop?” Noelle asks.

  “Nothing,” I say. “Staten didn’t say a word to me.”

  “Maybe that’s good. If he did, he might want in on the Brooklyn sandwich, too. Although, three guys would be difficult to manage. Two, no problem.”

  “Noelle, I’m not going to sleep with them, especially at the same time.”

  “Just keep your options open.”

  “That is never going to happen.”

  “I’m a one-gal kinda a person, so if you ever want to take me for a spin, I wouldn’t object.” Reist swings his arm around my shoulders.

  “What is with everybody today?” I bark, ducking from his grasp.

  “Level Two,” Staten says. “You guys are the scouts and only that.” He looks pointedly to me. “I don’t want to hear any of you taking the kill shot. This is a Level Three unscheduled mission. We don’t know what we’re up against, so be on guard. All we know for sure is there are two dragons lurking around this area. If you spot one, call it in. I hope you all have your phones.” Bronx and Manny come to stand next to him. He signals to them and they break. “We’re going to enable the GPSs.” Our phones beep as one to let us know they’ve been activated. My two Skills teachers sprint off in different directions before I can question them. “I’m leaving you with Mr. Morris. He’s in charge until this is over. Be careful everyone.”