Dragon Fire Academy 2: Second Term

by Rachel Jonas

  I followed him out of the building, and we parted ways at the end of the sidewalk. I would likely be the last one to class, but spending time with him had been worth the negative mark on my attendance.

  ‘Headed to see Chief now.’ Still not entirely used to hearing them speak inside my head, I stopped. Kai was trying to reach the other Omegas, but there was no answer.

  ‘What’s going on guys?’

  I started walking slowly, only to avoid looking suspicious if he turned and saw me at a standstill. I glanced over my shoulder, though, cutting across the courtyard. He’d come to a complete stop when the only feedback he got from his brothers was silence. My body tensed, remembering they’d been on patrol. What if something went wrong? What if someone was hurt? What if all of them were hurt? It was insane how fast my heart raced even considering it.

  ‘I hear you,’ Rayen finally answered, ‘but barely.’

  Barely? What did that mean? It wasn’t like communicating by cell phone, where there was sometimes spotty reception. Their tether should have never been weak, only strong and solid. At least, that’s how it always was for my parents. Maybe their connection was different, though, which I supposed could have been the case.

  Kai was walking again, apparently satisfied to have at least gotten through, but to me, something felt off. The day, in general, had just been a weird one.

  Chapter Nine

  Kai

  Sitting in Chief’s office was always unnerving. Had been since I was a kid, forced to wait my turn to speak with my own father, just like the rest of our people. One thing no one could ever accuse the man of was showing favoritism for his own family. Even my two siblings who’d chosen to become members of our Council had earned their seats with no favors.

  I glanced around his office, noting how he still kept no photos or personal effects visible. I’d only ever known him to be cold and distant, hyper-focused on work. While he kept my brothers, sisters, and myself at arm’s length, it was a completely different story when it came to my mother. She’d always been his pride and joy. But then again, there wasn’t a person who’d ever met her who didn’t love her.

  Where my father was cold and aloof, Mom was warm and accepting. Always. My grandmother liked to think they balanced one another out, but I saw things differently. When the time arrived for me to be a father, I would never leave room for my children to wonder if I loved them. A real man never should.

  “Malakai.” My name was uttered sternly when he entered the room.

  “Chief.” I stood as it was customary to do, not resuming my seat until he’d taken his.

  “What brings you here today?” He clasped his fingers before him on the desk while asking.

  A deep breath left my mouth. “It’s about Noelle, Sir.”

  His brow quirked when I said her name. “I’m listening.”

  My mouth opened, but no sound came out. There was a plan the others and I came up with. Chief was owed an update that we had located our queen, and we agreed that I ought to be the one to deliver the news, but … the words wouldn’t come out. It wasn’t fear or intimidation that stopped me.

  It was suspicion.

  “She requested to leave the island several weeks ago,” I forced out instead. “You denied this request. Why?”

  There were several things Chief Makana did not tolerate. Just beneath threats on that list, was opposition. When his shoulders squared and his eyes narrowed, I knew he hadn’t appreciated my question or my firm tone.

  “Why?” he repeated. “Because it was my decision to make and the answer I saw fit to give was ‘no’.”

  He stared unwaveringly, as if he’d interpreted my question as a challenge. The deeper I considered it, maybe it had been just that.

  “Is this why you requested to see me?” he asked. “Is this why you’re taking up valuable minutes that I could be dealing with any number of pressing issues on my agenda?”

  There it was. He never ceased to make it clear how low I fell on his list of priorities. But I wasn’t a kid anymore. I stopped wishing he cared more a long time ago.

  “As the ones you’ve put in charge of looking after her,” I continued, “I think we deserve an explanation. What reason could you have possibly had for not letting her go? Her first transition could have very well been disastrous for all of Sanluuk, but I’m guessing you already knew that.”

  The look he leveled my way could have cut glass, and when he stood to stare down on me, there was no mistaking that I’d stricken a nerve.

  “Has the small taste of authority granted to you by Spirit gone to your head, boy? It would be wise to mind your tongue and remember who truly rules over you,” he seethed. “Questioning my decisions is way above your paygrade.”

  Heat rolled through me and I clenched my jaw. The flare of rage in my chest made it impossible to stay seated while he stared down his nose. Rising to meet him at eye-level, I didn’t blink.

  “I just pray no one means to do her any harm,” I warned. “Because if that happens, the Omegas will rain down hell on this entire island and no one will be able to stop us.”

  Chief’s eyes widened with surprise as silence filled the room. I’d never spoken against this man a day in my life, but I’d never been more certain of any promise.

  “Is that a threat?” he asked with the hint of a smile. “I could have you arrested for treason so fast your head would spin.”

  “It’s only a threat if you have something up your sleeve that’s gonna put her in danger,” I reminded him.

  That wicked smile of his grew when he leaned in closer, placing both hands on his desk.

  “My, my, look how my son has blossomed into a man,” he grinned. “And all it took was finding his queen.”

  I didn’t release the breath I held, and he seemed to notice.

  “What’s the matter? Didn’t think I knew about that?” he asked with renewed confidence. “I’m Makana Sigo, long-reigning chief of the island of Sanluuk. Nothing takes place here without me knowing. I have eyes and ears everywhere, and you would be wise to remember this the next time you forget who’s in charge.”

  “Who told you?”

  “Trivial details, son,” he answered dismissively. “What you should be questioning is whether it was even Spirit who gave this girl to you.”

  When he leaned away, there was a look of satisfaction on his face that sickened me.

  “What are you talking about?”

  A casual shrug lifted his shoulders. “Just look at history,” he reasoned. “Never once has a hive been given a queen not born on this island—a woman unfamiliar with our customs, one who might not be readily accepted and loved by our people. How easily do you think your beloved Noelle will be brought into the fold by the tribe when you present her? Or, better yet, how do you think she will respond once she knows how our island has managed to co-exist all this time with The Darkness?” He crossed both arms over his chest. “The hard decisions we’ve had to make? The sacrifices? Do you think she’ll still be as enamored by you four then?”

  My gaze lowered and I considered it all, every dismal word he’d spoken.

  “Spirit blesses, The Darkness curses. I suppose you’ll know soon enough which she’ll be to your hive—a blessing or a curse,” he shared. “In the meantime, I challenge you to invite your betrothed to the Firelight Celebration next month. If she doesn’t condemn us all for our sins after finding out the truth,” he paused to shrug, “then maybe Spirit really did send her. But I suppose we’ll all have to just wait … and … see.”

  He drew those last syllables out and each one grated my nerves.

  “Now, if you’ll excuse me, my guests have just arrived on the island, and they’re waiting to be properly greeted,” he announced casually as he rounded his desk, headed for the door while I stood in silence. “Have a good day, son. Ano-Luana.”

  Chapter Ten

  Noelle

  “Who’s up for a pop quiz?”

  Ms. Audrina’s announcement was met
with a cacophony of groans and complaints. The day was so close to being over, so it stung a bit more knowing we’d narrowly escaped.

  “Oh, come on,” she grinned. “We’ve been back at this for seven weeks, and this is the first test I’ve given all term. Besides, I think you’re gonna enjoy this one. Partner up.”

  With the only familiar souls present in Sorcery-102 being Blythe and Tristan, I decided to try my luck with a stranger. Smiling at the girl seated beside me, I gave it a go.

  “Partners?” I asked.

  She smiled a skeptical sort of smile that told me everything I needed to know.

  “Ah, so you have heard of me,” I joked when the truth became evident.

  “Sorry,” she said, shrinking into herself a bit as her freckled cheeks tinted red. “I didn’t mean to cause any offense.”

  I lifted my hands. “None taken.”

  There was a brief moment that passed, and I thought I’d have to sit out on this lesson. However, the girl whose name I knew to be Jessica surprised me when she turned on her stool, facing me where we sat at our shared lab table.

  “It’s not that I don’t want to work with you. It’s just that … your reputation precedes you a bit.”

  This was true, and I was starting to get used to being the odd-girl-out. No, I didn’t like being stared at, but the gossip had at least been kept to a minimum. Thanks to Paulo sending such a loud message through one Mr. David Sinclair Junior.

  Or, as I still heard being whispered around campus, Sir Piss-A-Lot.

  A warning like that wasn’t likely one anyone would forget soon.

  “It’s fine,” I assured her. “You can pair up with someone else. I’m sure Ms. Audrina has an alternate assignment I can do for credit.”

  I faced forward, silently encouraging myself to be okay with Jessica’s honesty. Besides, I couldn’t exactly blame her.

  A heavy sigh stole my attention and I turned to meet her gaze again. “Know what? Screw it,” she concluded with a grin. “I’m feeling brave today.”

  Apparently, Jessica had quite a set of balls on her.

  “You sure?” I asked, giving her one more chance to back out. After all, we still didn’t know what the assignment would be.

  “It’ll be fine,” she said with newfound confidence.

  So, with that, I had myself a partner.

  I peered up, watching Ms. Audrina take slow steps around the room while we prepared. She got to Tristan’s table, and that’s when I noticed how he watched me. We hadn’t had much to say to one another since break ended, and I kind of hated that he kind of hated me. But, like Ori said, he likely needed time to process the idea of me being with them.

  I knew firsthand how strange it was to think of one woman being mated to four men. However, feeling so strongly for them all, it made perfect sense to me now. Hopefully, one day soon, Tristan would learn to accept it.

  Realizing I’d caught him staring, he quickly looked away, resting his elbows on the stone slab surface. Ms. Audrina passed in front of my line of sight and I refocused.

  “Okay, so today’s quiz is relatively simple. In fact, you won’t even be graded on your performance, so think of it as more of an assessment of your abilities,” she explained. “You’ll be casting positive emotion charms on your partners.”

  Jessica’s long, blonde ponytail whipped through the air when her eyes left Ms. Audrina and were suddenly fixed on me. She forced a smile, but I didn’t miss the look of panic that filled her expression. Apparently, the idea of me casting any kind of spell on her was terrifying.

  Couldn’t even blame the girl.

  “This will be no different than the blissful charm I demonstrated on the class last week. The words are simple, and you need only focus your energy on evoking a positive mood toward your partner, and that should be it. Now, link hands, please.”

  The metal legs of our stools scraped the tile when we all adjusted ourselves to face the ones with whom we paired. Jessica took my hands and offered another one of those ‘I’m-not-scared’ smiles that didn’t quiet reach her eyes.

  “The words are right here on the board,” Ms. Audrina announced as she finished the last phrase and placed her dry-erase marker on the ledge. “Take turns repeating them three times each, and report your emotional response when you finish.”

  “I’ll go first,” Jessica rushed to say.

  I nodded. “Cool. Okay.”

  Confident, she smiled and did a quick shimmy on her seat to get comfortable. I stared when she closed her eyes and recited the spell. The third time she spoke it, a warm breeze passed between us and I was filled with an inexplicable sense of calmness.

  “Did it work?” Jessica asked, her perky tone sounding hopeful.

  I nodded. “It did.”

  “Yes!” she celebrated. When Ms. Audrina glanced her way, Jessica gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up to signal her success.

  “Ok, now … your turn, I guess.” That smile melted right off my partner’s face, but it was obvious she was also being mindful not to hurt my feelings. “Remember, just say the words with the intent to evoke positivity,” she reminded me.

  “I know,” I assured her. “Your hands, please?”

  Large, brown eyes blinked at me, and then my partner finally gave in. With her palms flat on top of mine, I let my eyelids fall closed and murmured the words I had just committed to memory. I can admit, I wasn’t quite sure how to intentionally ’evoke positivity’, but I did my best, thinking happy thoughts and whatnot. When I finished, I had really high hopes that I’d done as well as Jessica.

  However, upon opening my eyes, I realized that likely wasn’t the case.

  Jessica pulled her hands from mine, placing both on her stomach. There was a strange look in her eyes and—

  “I think … I think I’m gonna be sick.” The announcement—although spoken quietly—seemed to gain the attention of everyone in the room. At that moment, I realized this was because we were already being watched. They observed to see if I’d screw this up like I’d done so many other things.

  And, from the way Jessica began to heave, my classmates wouldn’t be disappointed.

  Thick, green-colored vomit went all over the floor, covering my shoes and knee-high socks, too. I suppose I should have been grateful the girl at least had the wherewithal to aim down toward the floor.

  Small favors.

  Panting, and still holding her stomach, Jessica peered up at me with a scowl. “What did you do to me?”

  Confused, I did sort of an embarrassed half-shrug, because I thought I’d done the spell correctly. However, the mess on the floor proved otherwise.

  Suddenly, I no longer had her attention as she seemed to focus her thoughts inward. Tension creased her brow and she stabbed me with a look.

  “My powers!” The words left her mouth frantically, like she’d go into a panic attack any second. “They’re gone! You took my powers!”

  My gaze widened with surprise. “No, I didn’t,” I shot back, feeling defensive as the many sets of eyes fixated on me darkened with Jessica’s accusation.

  She climbed off her seat quickly, taking several steps back, like she couldn’t get far enough away from me.

  Ms. Audrina rushed over just as I was getting to my feet.

  “I didn’t do anything wrong.” I felt like my declaration would fall on deaf ears, but I was innocent.

  “Then why don’t I feel my magic?” Jessica wiggled her fingers, attempting to do a spell, I assumed, but when nothing happened, her fiery glare landed on me again.

  Whispers fluttered all around me and I knew what they were all thinking. The same thing everyone else always thought.

  “Ok, let’s calm down, shall we?” Ms. Audrina said chipperly, trying to diffuse the tension in the room. With the wave of her hand, the pile of puke disappeared, as did the awful smell. My shoes and socks were even clean again.

  “It’s highly doubtful she’s taken your magic, dear,” Ms. Audrina reassured Jessica. “Syphoning or be
stowing magic is an extremely complicated task,” she explained. “It would require several highly-skilled witches, and a boatload of dark magic to perform a spell of that magnitude. So, let’s just settle down. I’m certain this is just a … glitch of some sort,” she added, clearing her throat. “Ladies, your hands please?”

  My lungs filled with air several times before I did as Ms. Audrina asked. Mostly because I was very much afraid I’d hurt her by accident. I spoke out against Jessica’s accusation, but honestly? I wasn’t convinced she hadn’t told the truth.

  Because … there was a sensation I couldn’t describe. Almost as though my hands buzzed with more energy than usual. Maybe … that was what I’d taken from Jessica. Maybe that was the signature of her magic.

  I was frozen in place as Ms. Audrina breathed deeply, and then murmured foreign words to herself. Jessica stared at me with the fury of a million suns and I knew she regretted trusting me. She wasn’t alone, though.

  I regretted trusting myself.

  The room went silent again and, a few moments later, the delicate grip Ms. Audrina had on my hand released me completely. The next second, her eyes found mine.

  “Are they gone? My powers?” Jessica asked in a shrill voice that could have shattered glass.

  “Noelle, I …”

  “Did she take them?” Jessica interrupted, demanding an answer.

  Ms. Audrina ignored the question and her gaze narrowed as she kept it trained on me. That’s when I saw it, the moment I lost the one ally I had in this room.

  “Noelle, what have you done?” The softly spoken words nearly broke my heart as they left Ms. Audrina’s mouth. When I failed to come up with an answer, she turned to comfort Jessica. “I’m sorry,” she said, “I don’t know how this could have happened, but I won’t rest until I find a way to fix it.”

  The next look Ms. Audrina cast my way was one of fear and distrust, joining the ranks of my peers.

  Angry tears streamed down Jessica’s cheeks as her bright red face contorted into a scowl.

  “I knew I shouldn’t have worked with you,” she growled. “You’re a freak, just like everyone says you are.”