“You're that new girl? Why wasn't I informed of this before?”
“Everything is still a bit chaotic after last night, but it doesn’t matter. At this point, it’s still just a rumor.” Mr. Jensen looked at the ground for a moment before he spoke.
“Well young lady, what do you have to say about all this?”
“It's true,” said Morgan.
“Okay, that's fine. But those are bold claims. Dangerous claims, even. Do you have any proof that she’s your mom?”
“She told me that she can prove it. That's why we came to you,” said Miss Norcross. They all stared at Morgan, waiting for an answer. It was dark now, but Morgan could see a big smile on Tabby's face. Likely that she was already thinking about how she would use this moment to ridicule her for the rest of the year. For the next four years.
“What sort of proof are you looking for?” asked Morgan.
“I don't know, a birth certificate, a confession from Miss Hunt, a similar spirit animal. Solid evidence of some kind,” said Mr. Jensen.
Now would be a good time for your plan, thought Morgan, hoping that the dragon was listening. Miss Norcross began to give a speech.
“You see, it's one thing to spread rumors, but it's quite another thing to…” without warning, something huge dropped out of the night sky and landed behind them, making the ground rumble. Mr. Jensen stumbled back into the water as the other three spun to see the gray dragon standing on his hind legs behind them. He was possibly two stories tall, with smoke rising from his nostrils.
Is this good enough?
Yes, I think so.
The dragon took off almost as quickly as it had landed, leaping into the air and flying upwards. They all just stared as it flew away.
“Is that what you were looking for?” asked Morgan. Mr. Jensen was sitting in the water. Perhaps he had been ready to duck under.
“That's something that I always dreamed of. A real dragon in Airborne. How did it happen?” asked Mr. Jensen.
“I'm not really sure. I just know that he's my spirit animal now.” Tabby was still looking at the sky, but Norcross was the one frowning now.
“Well, I'm happy to have you in Airborne, Miss Rossi. Very happy,” said Mr. Jensen. Morgan turned to ask Miss Norcross if she was satisfied, but she was already headed toward the farmhouse with Tabby in tow. Morgan started to follow her but the dragon gave her a sharp response that began the bond of vengeance.
Let her go.
Why?
She was there when your mother was shot.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
WHAT DO YOU MEAN, when my mother was shot?
There was a pause. Mr. Jensen was trying to ask her a question but Morgan was already walking away.
Are you sure you want to talk about this right now?
When would be a better time?
You're right, there isn't a good time. Yes, your mother was shot.
By who?
That's the question I've been asking myself for 16 years.
Wait, so was she shot just after I was born?
No, it was before.
When she was pregnant with me? How did I survive?
I don't know the answer to that one. It happened during a raid on the witches. There was blood all over. They brought down one of the captured witches and told her to save your mother. She put your mother in a coma and managed to keep you alive inside of her until it was time for you to come out.
Morgan was walking in circles now in the yard outside of the farmhouse.
I'm not following. My mom was pregnant when she was on a raid of some kind? Was she nuts?
She was doing what she thought was right for your people. She was recently pregnant, I believe.
Morgan was trying to decide what to ask next when Max and Jordan ran up to her.
“What happened? When Norcross and Tabby came down without you we figured something bad had happened,” said Max.
“I found my spirit animal.”
“You did? Where is it?” asked Jordan. He was looking around in the sky.
“He’s not around anymore. He's a dragon.”
"He's a what?" asked Max. It occurred to Morgan that she wasn't 100% on it being a male dragon, but it seemed more male than female.
“I said he’s a dragon.”
“A dragon!” screamed Jordan causing several passing students to look their direction.
“Shut up!” said Max as she slapped him in the stomach. “We should get moving. Airborne hour is starting over at the lake.”
They hurried to where Mr. Jensen was standing on shore while kids all around them whispered about a dragon. Birds of all types were flying around in the air and landing on many of the student's shoulders and arms. She realized that she was the only one not wearing a leather guard on her forearm.
“Calm down, we have to get started. We're going fishing tonight so I hope your Airborne animals are feeling hungry.” Mr. Jensen bent low and spoke to Morgan. “It would be best, just for now, if your spirit animal didn't participate tonight. You understand, right?”
“Yes, I get it.” The whispers started up again as Mr. Jensen returned to his lesson. Morgan stepped away from the group to talk to the dragon again.
Are you far away now?
Yes, I'm going to take a nap. And you were correct, I’m a male dragon. My name is Loric.
Nice meeting you, Loric. Where can you sleep?
There are some good places in the nearby mountains.
Morgan remembered seeing large mountain ranges around the school and she looked out but she couldn’t see them in the darkness.
How far away can you go before we lose this connection?
I’m not sure, but it's quite a ways, and it will increase with time.
Why has it taken so long for you to tell me about my mom?
I didn't want to overwhelm you. I understand that your father hid this part of your life from you.
Yes, he did. I want to talk more but I should probably pay attention to the lesson.
I will be close by. If you need anything, just let me know. Just don't ask me to eat fish.
Don't worry, they didn't invite you.
Figures. They always want to put a fence up between them and me.
Huh?
Nevermind, just let me know when you're ready to talk more.
Talk about what?
About how we're going to avenge your mom.
Morgan stopped walking, too shocked by Loric, and saw something out of the corner of her eyes. In a dark shadow under a tree by the farmhouse, there was a pair of yellow eyes staring at her.
Loric, something’s staring at me.
I know. I can see it through your eyes. Step back slowly.
She took one slow step and heard a low growl. She froze, and the eyes began to move toward her. She wanted to move but her legs wouldn’t budge.
I can’t get to you in time, you need to run!
It was too late. A black jaguar jumped onto her chest, pinning her to the ground. The impact knocked the breath out of her, making it hard to scream but she didn’t need to.
Several large birds landed on the jaguar’s back and began screeching loudly. The jaguar growled again but stepped off of Morgan and rolled on the ground to evade the birds. The flock flew back into the air and the jaguar ran off as several students approached with the teacher.
“Rossi, are you alright?” asked Mr. Jensen.
“I don’t know.”
“It was Miss Norcross’s jaguar. You probably got caught while it was doing a security round. It doesn’t know you yet and it found you away from the class. I guess it got a little excited.”
“I don’t feel so good.” She felt like she had just finished a three-on-one kickboxing match in an elevator.
“I’m not surprised. I’ve seen her pounce on kids in practice. I wonder where Miss Norcross is. Can you stand?” Max and Jordan helped her get to her feet. “You two escort her inside, then come back out for the lesson.”
The three of them walked to the front entrance of the farmhouse.
“I told you. Norcross doesn’t play around,” said Max.
“I wonder where she’s at?” said Morgan.
“I don’t know, but I bet your pajamas that her jaguar wasn’t on any security round,” said Jordan.
“You think it was intentional?” asked Morgan.
“Rounds are always done with both proto and person. We train as a team so that we can work as a team.” Morgan wondered where Miss Norcross was. The answer smacked her in the head when they opened the front door of the farmhouse and saw Norcross coming out of her dad’s room.
CHAPTER TWELVE
ALL FOUR OF THEM froze and Morgan felt like she was being stared down by the jaguar again. The brief moment passed when Miss Norcross turned and began walking toward the elevator. Morgan felt compelled to say something.
“Miss Norcross, can I ask you a question?” She didn’t answer but kept walking away. “Hey!”
"Don't bother. She's a teacher and she doesn't have to answer you," said Max. Morgan stood up straighter and walked to her dad's room. She was afraid of what she would find. Flicking on the light switch, she found her dad laying on the bed as she had left him. She looked closer and saw that he was still breathing. The door to the next room opened and the witch, Miss Koopersmith, stood with her arms crossed.
"Hello, kids. Just here to visit your dad?"
“No, Morgan got barreled over by a big cat,” said Max.
“Come into the room here and let’s see how you’re doing,” said Miss Koopersmith.
“We’re going to get back to the lesson. Marcus has been looking forward to fishing night for a while,” said Jordan. Max and Jordan gave small waves and left Morgan with the witch.
Morgan stepped through into the smaller room and sat down in a chair. Even though both of her parents were close by, nobody would be able to defend her if Miss Koopersmith tried to attack her.
“Okay, hmmm. I don’t sense anything broken. Some bruises but I think you’ll be fine.”
“Just bruises?”
“Yes, light ones. I think I’ll leave them the way that they are as a reminder to watch your step around big cats. Your mother may have wanted it that way.” Morgan was amazed.
“You know all that without an x-ray?” asked Morgan.
“I can see more than you would believe, Miss Hunt.”
“Why did you call me that?”
“I’ve heard the rumors, but I knew the truth from the first time that I saw you.” Morgan wasn’t sure if she should feel insulted or impressed. Being compared to her mom had always angered her in the past, but it was harder to be angry when her mom was in the next room in a coma.
“How did you know that we were related?”
“Besides the resemblance? Like I said, I can see more than you would believe, and it’s obvious that there’s much more of your mom in you than your dad. Did you know that she’s the one responsible for this school?”
“No, I thought that it was created after she had been shot.”
“It was, but it had been her idea, and that’s why it was created in her name, ‘Hunt High.' You could almost say that it had been built for you, Miss Hunt.” Morgan felt a moment of clarity and feelings of sadness came through the bond with Loric like before.
“Thank you for everything you’ve done.”
“You’re very welcome. It’s been a long time, but your mother is a real fighter. I think she could still come out of this. And your father too.” Morgan stood up.
“Thanks, I should get back to the class.”
“Of course. You’re always welcome here.” Morgan gave a sort of head nod and walked back out the front door. It was a little dismaying, but probably a good idea to leave the bruises. She needed the reminder.
She turned to head back toward the lake, but a movement from the other direction caught her eye. In the moonlight, she saw a familiar purple shirt heading in the opposite direction and Morgan wondered where Norcross was going.
She could just be on a security round.
I thought you were sleeping.
I had to know that you were okay. I’ll make sure to stay closer in the future.
So do you really think that she’s on a security round?
No, but she could be.
That’s what I thought.
It might have been coming from Loric, but she was beginning to trust Norcross less with every passing minute. Why had her panther been out without her? Just to scare her?
Or to watch out for you while she did something to your father.
That was the realistic answer. What had she been doing in her dad’s room? She wasn’t sure how far the school grounds extended but if the place was on lockdown, it didn’t sound like the ideal time for a moonlight stroll.
Morgan was pretty sure that she wouldn’t be missed if she didn’t return to class right away. She decided to follow Norcross and her panther.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
MORGAN FOLLOWED slowly while trying to find the line between being close enough to be seen and losing them.
She’s good, don’t let her see you.
I don’t want to lose track of her. It’s pitch black out here.
Actually, I thought that it was a pretty bright night out. The moon is half full, giving plenty of light.
Maybe for you. Do you have night vision like cats?
No, but that panther does.
Morgan froze in her tracks.
Don’t worry, she’s not looking back at you.
You can see her?
Yes, I’m circling up high. I don’t have night vision, but I can still see like a hawk.
Morgan began to follow again until Norcross and her panther reached a clump of trees in the middle of a field. Morgan stopped short by a bush.
I don’t know what’s going on.
They’re in those trees. By the way, don’t scream. There’s someone walking up behind you.
A bad time to not have her sword. She spun around and saw Max and Jordan sneaking up behind her.
“Get down you guys. What are you doing?”
“We saw, I mean, I saw you going the wrong direction when you came out of the farmhouse. Marcus here spotted you,” said Jordan with his hawk on his arm.
“I told Jordan that you didn’t get lost that easily, but he wouldn’t listen,” said Max as Billy landed next to them.
“Just be quiet and get down. Norcross is in the trees over there.”
“Why? What’s she doing?
“I have no idea. We need to get closer.”
“Marcus can help with that. He can be our eyes and ears,” said Jordan.
“He’ll tell you what he sees?”
“Even better, I can see what he sees,”
“We do it all the time during hunter games,” said Max.
“This will be a piece of cake,” said Jordan as he closed his eyes. Morgan and Max knelt behind the bush and waited for Jordan to tell them something.
“Well?” said Morgan.
“Patience. There are two figures there, but I can’t hear anything yet.” Morgan couldn’t imagine being in the mind of another animal.
Someday you’ll learn how to do it. It can be a lot of fun.
“One of the figures has a staff, or a rake, I can’t tell,” said Jordan.
“Why would anyone have a rake tonight?” asked Max.
“I don’t know, I’m just tellin’ you what I see.” Jordan threw his hands up in front of his face.
“What are you doing?”
“Um, they looked my way. Wait, it’s a broom. The second woman is a witch, run!”
The three of them and Billy moved as fast as they could while looking over their shoulders, but the witch never flew their way. Marcus landed on Jordan’s arm just as they made it to the farmhouse, and they ran inside to the elevator. Once the elevator door was closed, they looked at each other and laughed.
“What are we doing? We’re supposed t
o be fishing,” said Jordan.
“I’m starving. I never ate any of my dinner,” said Morgan.
“I would have saved it for you, but I didn’t feel like scraping it off of the table,” said Max.
“To the board room?” asked Jordan.
“I’m feeling bored, sure,” said Max.
“What’s the board room?” asked Morgan.
“It’s our hangout in Airborne. Games, TVs, that kind of stuff. We can talk there.”
“Any food?”
“We should be able to find something,”
“Cool. I just want to change clothes.”
“Why? Did you crap your pants like I did?” asked Jordan.
“You’re sure you saw a witch?” asked Max.
“I was sure when she flew away. I thought she was going to shoot fire when she saw Marcus.”
“How many other hawks are there in Airborne?”
“Four, but Marcus has a distinct crown. I'm sure Norcross could pick him out.” Morgan frowned. She felt terrible about Marcus getting seen. “Hey Morgan, don't sweat it. It’s no big deal.” It felt like a big deal to her. Whatever was going on, it involved a teacher hiding a conversation with a witch that came onto school grounds. It was all making her sweat, and in the elevator, it was obvious that she just plain stunk.
“I'm going to change quick. I'll meet you in the board room in a minute.” They reached Airborne level and the doors opened as they approached. Morgan remembered that she had to get one of those key cards.
Her room was just as empty as the last time she had been there, and she pulled her bag out from under the bed. She found her clothes and zipped the bag up, then she unzipped it again. Her clothes were there, but the one thing missing was her sword.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“THERE’S NO WAY that she would have had time,” said Jordan.
“She wouldn’t need time. Tabby could have told anyone from Landborne to do it,” said Max. They were headed up to Landborne level, trying to keep up with Morgan. Billy ran after them.
“It doesn’t really matter who did it. I just want it back,” said Morgan.
Dragon Spirit- Bond of Vengeance Page 4
