"Why aren't they attacking?"
"What are they waiting for?"
As soon as Baylen heard those words leave my mouth, the fire in his eyes erupted into a glowing mess of flames trapped burning behind a glass door. They're here. Baylen and I had returned to our group to inform them the Kellso were near. The air around us became tense with the mix of emotions.
"Are you sure they're here?"
Although I could hear the conversation around me, I was too busy focusing on controlling the shadows that clawed at my skin. I felt like I was going to be ripped in half by the pressure they built inside me.
"Navi?"
The shadows lashed out like a wild cat defending itself against a predator, all tooth and claw. I reined them in, but the pressure inside of me continued to build as I wouldn't let them escape my hold.
"Navi." Fire touched my skin, lighting my insides with the warmth of a blazing wildfire. I almost relaxed at the touch, but the shadows wanted to devour the flames. "Focus, Navi. You need to get yourself under control."
My eyes, I didn't realize I had squeezed shut, opened to peer into a gleaming inferno of red and orange. Baylen's eyes were as bright as I had ever seen them. The flames trapped within his eyes had completely snuffed out the darkness his eyes normally held. And as Baylen looked into mine, I could see his frown deepen.
"Navi..." My head snapped to the voice that called my name. I felt an erratic wind hit my face as I stared at Ton. "Your eyes are pitch black."
I turned my face away from everyone as I stared at the ground in shame. They were already panicked as it is. Seeing me in this state most likely didn't help their worrying. Get a grip on yourself, Navi. I scolded myself.
"Twoleg," Naxan called through the bond. "Swarm is moving."
My breath hitched as I realized the suspense the Kellso had created was coming to an end. They were here but waited for what seemed like forever to put their plans into action. They were marching, and we were their target.
"Naxan told me they're on the move now." My voice was shaky and quiet as I spoke. The boys around me became rigid. I took a deep breath in as I felt the shadows inside of me sway with delight. They wanted this. They wanted a fight, a war to explode in front of them. I felt disturbed by their need for action that would result in bloodshed. But really, I had to force myself to feel disgusted by these thoughts. I was just as guilty as feeling their desires and wanting the same as well. What have I become?
"Is everyone ready?" Baylen asked as he straightened to his full height. I looked around at everyone's faces and could tell they were physically ready. I knew they were carrying weapons somewhere, just as I was, but their mental state was crumbling away in masses of fear and panic. They were terrified of what was to come, and so was I. I couldn't deny that part. But when I thought of the blood and guts that would soon be on the end of my sword, why did the shadows within me purr with satisfaction? It was sickening. No, I was sickened by the fact I had to force myself to feel negative emotions toward the thought of blood and war. I realized now I was no longer myself and that my powers were slowly tainting my mind with the horrors from their past.
Once Baylen overlooked our group of people, he began to list where everyone should be until the Kellso arrived. He had us take different positions at each door and window, so we covered the entrances where they may come from. My biggest concern was the largest window in the room which took up the majority of the wall. Baylen, Aelric and I were on this part while the rest of the group covered the large and wide archway. There was only one entrance to this place, but the Kellso may decide to break open the window and come from there.
As I stood at my post, I couldn't help but think of all the battle tactics Alec had shown me throughout this year. I was glad Alec had trained me prior to coming to the Academy. I was well versed in the art of "staying alive," as he put it. He's taught me so much, but I knew there was more to learn. If I were to become a better warrior, I would need more years of training with him. I hoped this wouldn't be my last night seeing him.
"Focus head," Naxan growled dangerously as he felt my emotions. "Focus on battle."
I pursed my lips as I watched the window behind me. He was right. I needed to clear my thoughts if I was to stay alive.
"Am always right."
I rolled my eyes even though Naxan couldn't see my reaction. He was too cocky for his own good.
My conversation with Naxan ended as my hand was stolen into someone's grasp. "Kayne?" I questioned as I looked to who the person was. He guided me onto the dance floor as the musicians played a slower song. "Where have you been? Everyone's been looking for you." He didn't respond right away as we danced to the melody floating around us.
"I needed to get some air. What you told us was not easy to take in." For some reason, I didn't believe what he said. From what I knew about him, he wasn't one to scare away from a fight. In fact, he was one of the braver people I knew.
Instead of pushing on the manner, I kept my mouth shut. There were too many things I wanted to say to Kayne, but I wasn't sure if it was the right time considering there was an army of demons marching towards us. Dancing wasn't the right thing to be doing either, though. I felt uncomfortable with the situation. I felt the need to be alert and focused, not dancing.
My eyes made their way to Baylen's, and when I looked at him, he seemed to be lost in deep thought as his blank stare went right through us.
As the song ended, Kayne still kept dancing as if the song never stopped. I pulled away to look at him. "The songs ended."
Kayne stopped moving but didn't release me from his grasp. His fingers tightened around my arm as he held me in place. "I'm sorry, Navi. I hope you can forgive me one day."
Confused, I stared into his electrifying gaze. "Forgive you for what?"
He dropped his arms to his sides and walked backwards into the crowd. He left me on the dance floor in the middle of moving bodies with my question unanswered. It hung over my head like a looming cloud, wavering and unknown of what it could be.
As I turned away from where Kayne had disappeared into the crowd, my eyes immediately snapped towards the large window. At first, I thought it was the trees moving with the wind, but the way the shadows rippled and darted back and forth, I knew it wasn't so.
Before I could shout out a warning, the glass made a sickening crack as something smashed into it. It felt as though the entire Academy swayed with the movement. There was something out there, and I knew what it was. But the crowd around me didn't. I didn't know which fear was worse. Knowing what was out there or having imagination take over to guess what had made such a large crack in the glass.
The crowd screamed in terror as they moved away from the glass wall. Every nerve in my body willed me to move away just as they did, but I was a dragon rider. I was a warrior. This was my fight.
Another sickening crack spidered through the glass. Small shards fell to the floor, but the window held strong from whatever assaulted it from the other side. The Academy shook as something let out a guttural growl from behind the window. I couldn't see what made the noise, but it sounded like an angry dragon. The unsettling part was if it was one of our own or if it came with the army of Kellso.
The headmaster came up from behind me as the crowd began to dwindle in size. He stood in front of the crackled window, silently examining it. Whatever was on the opposite side had stopped its assault for now, but I was smart enough to know it had not left. Whatever was out there, hiding within the shadows, wanted in.
The darkness outside was obliterated as a fire began to spread through the trees. Lit up clearly now, I could see moulted scales of a white dragon. Its eyes looked dead and hollow, lacking any sign of life. The dragon turned away from the window to face the fire where two large dragons came out of. I recognized the green scales of Hames's dragon and the blue scales of Colin's dragon. I turned my head away as the dragons clashed together. Even with the thick stone walls separating us, I could still hear the gut-churning sounds of the fight.
A sudden commotion behind me pulled my attention from the headmaster. The group consisted of multiple men carrying weapons. What I didn't expect to see was my mother also carrying a sword in her hand. I stood in my spot for a moment, feeling quizzical about the person I was looking at. This woman was a stranger to me. I knew her as the woman to hate having weapons in the house or even being near one. She detested the thought of me going out to watch the men train or hunt while I was to be learning how to keep a house. Cooking and cleaning, that's what she taught me.
"Mom?" I called out when she came closer to me, and behind her followed Ronan, Chay, and Keaton. These three I expected to see in this room fighting alongside myself, but never my own mother.
"I might be a little rusty," Mom said as she gripped the sword beside her. "It's been some time since I've used one of these." It was hard to keep my face in a neutral tone as I stared at the woman before me. She came closer to my ear as she whispered, "You're not the only one who Alec taught how to use one of these."
"Who knew mom was so badass?" Keaton said as mom straightened her back. She gave him a disapproving look, to which he cringed away from. She opened her mouth to add on, but the words never left her mouth as the Academy tremored.
"The walls of this Academy won't hold for long," The headmaster spoke as he turned to face the crowd. Their bodies mimicked the walls of the academy as shivers ran through them. "They will eventually get inside, but we'll be waiting." I could see the wheels turning in his head as he looked at his miniature-built army. I clenched my fists together as I listened to the formation he was assimilating. Everyone got into their assigned groups, each having at least one experienced fighter in it. I was with Ronan while Mom, Chay, and Keaton went their separate ways. I gave a small smile to Aelric as he came to stand beside me, but it soon faded as I recognized the unfamiliar person I met earlier today. For some reason, he caused chills to run through my spine.
"The famous female dragon rider," He said as he came to stand in our group. "I never had the chance to introduce myself." He put out his hand for me to shake. "Danazzo Mattis." As I gripped his hand, I realized I knew that last name. He was Kayne's father. As I released his hand, I fought back the urge to wipe my hand on my dress. My skin felt like it was crawling after only moments of touching his hand.
My group fell in line behind Baylen's as everyone started to leave the room. Headmaster Colin, Hames and a few others stayed behind to keep watch over the breaking window. As my group left the ballroom, the noises of the fighting dragons dimmed down to a faint noise in the background.
My eyes landed on Baylen's as my group made their way towards the winding stairs. He gave me a small nod of his head as I smiled. Be safe. I wanted to say, but I never said a word as I climbed the stairs.
I felt anger boil in my blood as Naxan fought tooth and claw against the Kellso army. His own anger projected through the bond, settling within me as he grappled with a dragon. I knew I couldn't do anything to help him, but I wished I could.
We checked each level to see if there were any breaks in the windows or walls but came up with nothing as everything seemed to be secure. By the end of the long and twisting staircase, Ronan was slightly out of breath. I felt a joke bubbling in the back of my throat as I remembered my first week of hell going up and down the stairs. My voice remained silent as I watched the dark halls around us. I couldn't be bothered to summon the energy my voice needed.
I scanned the familiar halls of my living quarters, but nothing came jumping out of the shadows toward us. I wasn't willing to use my powers right now. I couldn't afford to pass out in the middle of an invasion. But something didn't sit well with me on this level. Whatever it may be, made the shadows within my stir. The more time I remained on this level, the more frantic the shadows became. They hissed venomously and lashed out as they sensed something was near.
"Doesn't look like there's anything up here," Aelric said as he circled our group with a slight skip in his step. His head swivelled back and forth between the two hallways leading in opposite directions.
"Don't be so sure," I whispered as my eyes scanned the dimly lit hallways. Upon hearing this, I noticed Aelric slow his steps until he was at a complete stop. He gave me a knowing look. If I sensed something was up, he knew it was no joke.
I took in a deep breath as I extended my mind into the shadows around me. Even though this terrified me to no end, I needed to know if there was something up here. As I slowly made my way through each and every shadow that lined the walls, I came up with nothing. There was nothing living lurking in the darkness.
I was wrong. There was nothing up here. Frowning, I slowly withdrew my mind from the shadows but stopped once I sensed something disturb the darkness above. My breath hitched in my throat as I viewed what was on the roof. In a sudden snap that was faster than intended, my awareness came back to my body like a whip slashing through the air. I gasped in a lungful of air from the pain running through my body, and as I cringed from the pounding in my head, I managed to squeeze out what I had seen.
"They're on the roof."