Semaj

by Amari A

Chapter 11

  “Semaj! Semaj! I will be coming for you soon. When you least expect, it I will take everything from you. Your family. Your friends. You will lose everything.”

  I open my eyes and stare at the ceiling. This was the second night in a row that I had this dream and I wasn’t a fan of it. I used to dream…well, about nothing really. I would go back to those days in a heartbeat, though. At least then I wouldn’t be waking up in cold sweats, because princesses don’t sweat. Today was the day before my fifteenth birthday and I was still grounded and my best friend was still in the hospital. I get out of bed and pull on some clothes. I’m going to see Brenden in the medical ward to make sure that he’s okay. I slide on some shoes and begin the long walk over. In the hallway, I pass paintings of all the other great kings we’ve had, including a painting of my dad. I usually stop to look at them, but today I just continue walking. I’ve seen them a thousand times already and knew every story behind them.

  I push the doors open to the medical ward and see one medical aide sitting off in the corner. She smiles at me as I walk to Brenden’s bed. I look down at him and see that the burns he had on his chest have healed up nicely. As dragons, with rest, we tend to heal faster than most creatures. I sit on the edge of the bed and he turns to look at me and smiles.

  “So, I see you came here early today,” he says.

  “Yeah, well, it’s not like I could sleep with the nightmares and all,” I say.

  “Nightmares?” he asks with a raised brow.

  “Yeah, but there’s no need for you to worry about it. You need your rest.”

  “I know and I’m really sorry about attacking you. I was trying to fight it, but that potion overpowered me.”

  “Don’t worry about it Brenden. You’re forgiven. I know that it wasn’t your fault.”

  “I know, but I still needed to say sorry.”

  I smile. “Okay, Brenden. Well, get some rest. I know you’ll need it.”

  He smiles. “What are you doing for your birthday tomorrow?”

  I shrug my shoulders. “Nothing. I’m still grounded after our little adventure.”

  “Your dad isn’t holding back huh?”

  “Who you telling?”

  “Lock down?”

  “Full lock down. Nothing is going on. No life zone.”

  He laughs and then winces a little. “So, are you in dragon world full-time now? I didn’t get the gossip about you going home.”

  “Yes, I’ve been here since the incident. No more human realm. Not that I’m complaining, because it means no more high school.”

  “I know you’re happy.”

  “More than you know, but I really have to get going. No need to be in more trouble than I already am. I’ll visit you again after dragon training.”

  “Okay. Don’t go off on any adventures without me.”

  “You know that I won’t,” I kiss him on the cheek and head out of the medical unit. I close the door and as soon as I turn around, I bump into my dad. He looks down at me and smiles, which is something he hasn’t done towards me in the past two days.

  “Good morning, Semaj. How’s Brenden doing?” he asks.

  “He’s doing better,” I say.

  “Come, talk with me a bit,” he says as he places his arm around my shoulders.

  “Uh, sure, okay,” I say.

  He leads me towards the study. He hasn’t really spoken to me since he grounded me. Just pulled me out of high school and said that I was to start intense dragon training. He opens the door to the study and I see his advisor Simon sitting in a chair. I know this can only mean two things. They are either going to lecture me extensively about something or pump me for information about Velshkar. They never really talked to me about him and I had already been home for two days. My dad took the seat in the middle and motioned for me to take the seat beside him.

  “So, Semaj, since you will be fifteen tomorrow, you will be starting your intense dragon training,” says my dad.

  “I kind of already know that,” I say.

  My dad shoots me a stern look and I remain quiet. “Simon here is going to teach you.”

  I look at Simon, but don’t say anything. As long as I’ve known him, which has been my whole life, I’ve never seen him smile. He always looks so serious and, from what all of the other dragons have said, he’s the toughest teacher of all. This meant no taking it easy on me because I was a princess.

  “Okay,” I say, trying to hide my resentment and a serious eye roll.

  “Okay. And sweetie, I think that it’s time that you tell us what happened in the forest so that we know what we’re up against,” he says.

  Simon leans in closer and so does my dad and it makes me nervous, but I know that I have to get it out for the sake of the kingdom. “Well, as you know, Brenden and I went off to save the kingdom. He said that whatever was affecting the dragons was probably coming from the river because everyone drinks from that. So we went there and ran into a golden dragon and a creepy dude pouring stuff into the water. Then he gave us some quick lessons in defense. Gave Brenden a potion that almost killed me and then you came. Oh and yeah the potion is supposed to turn the dragons against you so you might want to put a ban on river water.” It was the condensed version of the story, but I hit every point.

  Simon and my dad stare at me and don’t say anything for a while and it starts to make me uncomfortable. I mean I know that they’re old and possibly hard of hearing, but geez! Say something already.

  “What do you mean he gave you self-defense training?” Asks Simon.

  “He taught us how to defend ourselves. Somewhat, anyway. I’m pretty sure that he was doing it to unlock my powers,” I say.

  “What powers?” asks my dad.

  “Well, apparently I can deflect fireballs with my mind and can pull up a protective shield. Oh and Brenden and I can communicate with each other through our minds,” I say.

  My dad and Simon once again stare at me in disbelief and I roll my eyes. I was so over them staring at me like I was the last piece of food on earth and they wanted to eat me.

  “So, you have powers?” asks Simon.

  “Yes, but they only come out when I’m threatened,” I say.

  He nods his head. “I can teach you how to control them in dragon training.”

  “Okay,” I say.

  “Now, what about this potion in the water?” asks my dad.

  “Well it’s supposed to make dragons stay in their dragon form so that he can control them and turn them against you,” I say.

  “And you’re sure about this?”

  “Did I not say that Brenden tried to kill me because he drank it? Of course I’m sure.”

  He nods his head and looks over at Simon. “Thanks, sweetheart, you can go back to your room now. Simon and I have a few things to handle. And no dragon training today. You’re clear until you start with Simon after your birthday.”

  “Okay dad,” I say as I stand to leave.

  “Have a good day, sweetheart,” he says.

  “You too, dad,” I say as I leave out of the room.