Goody magic academy year.., p.4
Goody Magic Academy Year Two, page 4
Footsteps echoed all around, as if a group of people were pursuing me. I sprinted down the hallway so fast that the sound of my footsteps drowned out the noise of my hammering heart.
I could sense my pursuers’ presence behind me, getting closer with each passing second. My blood thumped between my ears as I desperately searched for an exit so I could get back to my comatose mother at the Enchanted Eldercare Center. The comforting scent of my mom was all I could think about, but each time I turned a corner, I was met with another hallway with no exit in sight. I was caught in a devilish maze.
And all the while, the footsteps were getting closer and closer.
I turned another corner, and my heart skipped a beat as figures emerged from the shadows. I knew instinctively it was the Bloodborne Brotherhood. They wore dark robes that billowed behind them, and their faces were hidden by the folds of their hoods.
One of them stepped forward and hissed, “We know your shameful secret, Peyton.”
My blood ran cold. I recognized that voice. It belonged to someone I’d always known would betray me in the end—Jaxon Reyes.
He stepped closer and pushed his hood back, revealing his silky brownish-blond hair and deep, dark eyes.
“No,” I whispered. “It can’t be.”
A surge of fear coursed through me and I tried to turn and run, but my feet felt like they were glued to the ground.
The rest of the Brotherhood encircled me, their faces obscured by their hoods, their hands raised high as if to cast a malevolent spell.
All except for Jaxon, who was removing a jeweled dagger from his robe. “This spell requires a blood sacrifice.”
“You are not one of us,” another voice declared, her voice laced with venom. “You are tainted: part dragon, an abomination to our kind. You need to be destroyed.”
I knew that voice, too. It was the high priestess.
Heat flared within me, a searing force fighting to break free.
Jaxon stepped closer, the tip of his blade pointed directly at my heart.
“You do not belong here,” they chanted in unison, their voices rising in a cacophony of condemnation. “You will never be one of us.”
They began to chant something else, maybe an incantation, but I couldn’t make out the words.
“No, stop,” I begged, but my pleas fell on deaf ears. Not even Jaxon showed any mercy.
The group began to move in a circle around me, chanting in this language I couldn’t understand. As their voices grew louder, a tangible energy began to swirl around and converge upon me. It was as if my body was being pulled apart from the inside, first burning in searing agony, then turning numb with an icy coldness. My dragon spirit fought against this foreign force, but it felt like pieces of my very soul were being ripped away, leaving behind a hollow emptiness that threatened to consume me entirely until I imploded.
Jaxon seized my right wrist and placed the blade flat against the back of it. It burned, as if he was branding me—
I jolted awake, screaming and thrashing on my bed.
6
Someone was shaking my shoulders hard. “Peyton. Peyton, calm down. You were having a nightmare.”
My eyes slowly focused, revealing Twyla hovering anxiously over me. “Twyla? Is that you?”
“Yes, it’s okay. You’re safe now,” she said softly, sitting beside me on the bed and taking my hand in hers. “You were screaming in your sleep. I was so worried when I couldn’t wake you.” Fear tinged her voice.
I inhaled deeply, trying to steady my racing heart. “A nightmare?” I whispered, my voice still trembling. “Are you sure?” That’s when I felt it—an intense, searing pain on my wrist, as if burned by an invisible flame.
Twyla gave me a concerned nod. “Must have been. You’ve been asleep for quite a while.”
Midnight pressed her fuzzy little head against my thigh, offering silent comfort. Then my gaze shifted to my wrist, and a sense of dread washed over me. There, emblazoned on my skin, was a mark unlike any ordinary burn or scar. It was a complex, enigmatic symbol, composed of intertwining lines and curves that formed an intricate pattern. It resembled an ancient rune or sigil, its lines twisting into shapes that suggested both the elegance of nature and the precision of geometric design, and hinted at a deep magic far beyond my comprehension. Strangest of all, the symbol glowed with a faint, otherworldly luminescence.
A shiver ran through me. This symbol, now a part of me, seemed to pulsate with an ancient power, as if it held secrets from a time long forgotten. How could a mere figment of my imagination born from my nightmares manifest so vividly in reality?
“Twyla, look,” I said in a hushed tone, extending my arm toward her.
Her eyes grew wide with astonishment as she examined the glowing emblem.
“I’ve never seen anything like it.” Her eyebrows scrunched together in concern as she gently examined the strange mark. “Are you sure you didn’t get this last night?”
“No. I swear I didn’t.” I shook my head.
She gave me a dubious look. “Are you absolutely sure?”
I paused as a sense of panic rose briefly in my chest, then I squashed it down. “I’m positive.”
She flashed me a suspicious look. “Did you see Jaxon over the summer? Maybe he did this and you just don’t remember?”
That was totally far-fetched. My stomach dropped at the thought of Jaxon hurting me. “No, I didn’t see anyone from Goody over the summer, including Jaxon. You really think he would do such a thing?”
“I one hundred percent do. Is this mark connected to the secret you’ve kept from me these last couple of months?”
I covered the wound against her prying eyes and shrugged. We fell into a heavy silence, broken only by Midnight’s gentle breathing. This was no ordinary trace of a dream—it was a mysterious and arcane enigma, one etched into my very skin, a cryptic message that beckoned me to uncover its hidden meaning.
And if I didn’t, I had sinking feeling I would live to regret it.
I met her worried gaze. “Twyla, what if someone cast a spell on me when I was asleep?”
A look of horror flitted across her face. “You mean like the high priestess?”
I gritted my teeth. “Why not? She’s out to get me and I wouldn’t put it past her to toss even more evil mumbo-jumbo at me.” I couldn’t keep the resentment out of my voice.
“If that’s true, what are you going to do?”
I thought about it for only a moment and then threw back my quilt. “I have to find Professor Eastey. He’ll know if this is a spell or not. Plus, I think he would remember if I had gotten this mark last night.”
“I’m coming with you,” she said as she jumped off my bed.
I opened Midnight’s crate and pointed. “Crate.”
Midnight immediately went inside, and I rewarded her with a chew stick. “Good girl.”
“I just need to freshen up,” I continued.
“You look fine.”
“Sure, if I was trying to be Lily Munster.”
I stood in front of the bathroom mirror, vigorously scrubbing my teeth with minty toothpaste and splashing cold water on my face. I added a touch of concealer to try to hide the dark circles under my eyes that betrayed my sleepless night. But even with makeup, my pale complexion and bloodshot eyes still made me look like death warmed over.
Twyla was waiting for me by the door. Ivory was back in her cage too, happily munching on a carrot.
Twyla put her hand on the doorknob. “You ready?”
I squared my shoulders. “Yeah, let’s go.”
We walked out of our room, and Bianca and her posse immediately caught my eye in the hallway. Her fiery red hair, tightly pulled back, accentuated her sharp features, and her form-fitting attire looked deliberately chosen to intimidate.
Her sneer as I approached sent waves of anger through me. “Well, well, well, the little slut is back from summer break,” she spat venomously.
Her words struck me like a sledgehammer. My fists clenched, heat surging through my veins. It was the same terrible rage that had pushed me to transform into a dragon the night before. The only difference now was the strange tattoo on my arm, which began to sting sharply.
Stay calm. Don’t shift, I pleaded with myself desperately but silently.
“Shut up, Bianca,” Twyla snapped as she grabbed my arm, pulling me away.
I focused on my breathing, inhaling and exhaling slowly, attempting to douse the flames of my anger. Each breath was a battle, a struggle to keep the dragon within at bay, but I seemed to be succeeding.
Bianca called after us, her voice dripping with scorn. “Yeah, you just keep walking, Peyton. Finn will never be yours.”
Her cruel words threatened to send me over the edge but I gritted my teeth, fighting the urge to unleash my dragon. Not here, not now, not yet, I reminded myself.
As we moved away, the burning sensation from the tattoo lingered, a constant, painful reminder of the wild, untamed power that lay just beneath my skin, waiting for a moment when I lost my self-control to break free.
“If Finn ever gets together with her,” Twyla said. “I’ll be highly suspicious of his IQ score.”
I didn’t answer her. I was too busy trying to control my dragon that was still trying to escape so it could turn Bianca into a Hot Tamale. What was it about this place? All summer I hadn’t once been tempted to shift, but ever since I stepped through these doors, it seemed like my dragon was clawing to get out.
We hurried down the stairs, our steps echoing in the vast, vaulted corridor as we made our way toward the Great Hall and out to the courtyard. The faculty apartments lay just past it, and I silently prayed Professor Eastey was at home. Venturing to the staff quarters uninvited was against the rules, but this was an emergency.
“Peyton,” a voice called from behind, halting me in my tracks.
Jaxon.
A shudder rippled through me. He was the last person I wanted to face, especially after that haunting dream. Could he be part of it? A collaborator in some sinister spell that had been cast by the high priestess to strike fear into my heart?
Well, it had worked.
His heavy footsteps grew closer. Twyla threw me a worried glance and whispered, “He’s not going to give up. Do you really want him to find out we’re heading to the faculty apartments uninvited?”
Before I could respond, Jaxon was upon us. I turned to face him, my heart pounding in my chest. His dark brown eyes bore into mine, his lush brownish blonde hair falling perfectly into place. His strong, muscular arms flexed as he crossed them in front of his broad chest. I struggled to focus on the conversation at hand, mesmerized by his presence.
He flashed his gaze over me. “Long time no see. You’re looking good.”
I tried not to fall under his spell again. “What do you want, Jaxon?”
“That’s cold, especially since I haven’t seen you all summer.”
I kept my mouth shut and folded my arms across my chest.
“Peyton, we need to talk,” Jaxon said, his voice low and urgent. There was a seriousness in his eyes that I hadn’t seen before that made me nervous.
“What about?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
He glanced around, ensuring no one except Twyla and I were in earshot, then leaned in closer. “I overheard the high priestess this morning. She was...” He paused, searching for the right words. “Conjuring a spell. And I think it’s connected to you.”
I felt the blood drain from my face. “Connected to me how exactly?”
Jaxon’s eyes widened when they darted to the mark on my wrist, then he glanced back to me. “I’m not sure about the details, but it sounded ominous. And after what happened to you last night, shifting and all, I think you should be careful.”
Twyla and I exchanged a nervous glance, the full weight of his words sinking in. My transformation, the nightmare, and now this revelation—it was all too much, too fast.
“Why are you telling me this?” I asked, my words laced with suspicion.
“Because,” Jaxon said, looking earnestly into my eyes, “whatever is happening, I think you need to be prepared. And maybe...I can help.”
His offer hung in the air between us, fraught with all kinds of implications. Trusting Jaxon was a big risk, but if he was right, then this was a warning I couldn’t afford to ignore.
Either way, I couldn’t give him a definite answer right now. I just wanted to get out of here.
He clasped my arm. “Please, Peyton. I want to help. You can trust me.” His voice sounded genuine but then again, he was Jaxon and I wasn’t sure if his name and trust should go in the same sentence or even be in the same dictionary.
“Maybe,” I drawled out slowly. “But right now, we’ve got to get going.”
He edged in front of me. “I haven’t told anyone, if you’re wondering.”
I tilted my head. “I said maybe.”
Jaxon snorted. “That’s not an answer.”
I stiffened and gave him an icy glare. “Well, it’s the only one you’re going to get right this minute. Come on, Twyla. Let’s get out of here.”
She glanced over her shoulder and then leaned closer to me. “He knows your secret? And yet you won’t tell me?”
“It’s not what you think, I swear,” I said helplessly with a shrug. It’s not like I wanted to shift for the first time in front of Jaxon. It just happened. I didn’t even know I was half dragon. Mom kinda forgot to tell me that part. Why would she do that?
Jaxon was one of the last people I would want to know my secret. And yet, here we were.
Twyla gave me an incredulous look as if she could read my thoughts. I could see the hurt and disappointment in her big green eyes. Guilt gnawed at my insides like a rat.
But I knew the more people I told, the more danger I would put myself in, and the closer the Bloodborne Brotherhood might get to me. I could almost feel their icy fingers clutching my neck.
I needed help—and the only person who could give me that right now was Professor Eastey.
7
Twyla and I hurried away from Jaxon, weaving through the crowded Great Hall. We finally reached a quiet corner by the fireplace, where Finn and Kamaron were lounging on a plush couch. I glanced around the room and exhaled a sigh of relief when I didn’t see any sign of Jaxon.
Twyla’s eyes lit up at the sight of Kamaron, her crush. She had gone to the dance with him last night and it was clear she had strong feelings for him. I couldn’t blame her. Kamaron was ridiculously handsome, with striking long, white hair and piercing green eyes.
“Hi Kamaron,” Twyla murmured shyly.
Kamaron and Finn locked their gazes on us. Finn’s expression darkened, his eyes changing color as soon as he saw me, sending a chill down my spine and making me want to disappear.
Kamaron and Finn got off the couch and headed over to us, ignoring my silent plea to just leave us alone.
“Hey there, ladies,” Kamaron said with a charming smile. His eyes lingered on Twyla for a long moment. “You’re looking extra stunning today, Twyla.”
Twyla blushed three shades of red.
“Where are you off to?” Kamaron asked.
I tried to motion to Twyla not to say anything, but I was too late.
“We’re going to the faculty quarters to talk with Professor Eastey,” she said innocently.
Finn folded his arms. “What about?”
Twyla nodded her chin at me. “She had a nightmare and then a mysterious tattoo appeared on her forearm.”
I scowled at her and hid my arm behind my back. This was exactly why I hadn’t told her my secret of being part dragon. Much as I loved her, she just couldn’t keep her mouth shut.
Finn stepped forward, his anger forgotten, clearly intrigued. “A nightmare and a mysterious tattoo? Let me see.”
I held my chin high. “No. Now if you’ll excuse us…”
Finn blocked our path. “You’re not going anywhere until you let me see your arm, Peyton.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Why? We haven’t seen each other summer—”
“Your choice, not mine,” he said as he reached around me, reaching for my wrist. “Besides, I think you’re in danger.”
That was the understatement of the year.
“Finn, please stop.” My heart raced as I pulled away, trying to keep my arm hidden behind me.
But Finn finally managed to grab hold of it, pulling up my sleeve to reveal the strange mark on the back of my wrist.
Kamaron’s eyes widened in shock, and he exchanged an oh-crap look with Finn.
“You got that after your nightmare?” Finn asked softly, releasing my arm, his expression filled with concerned curiosity.
I clamped my jaw shut tight, trying to keep my emotions in check. But Twyla and her non-existent filter couldn’t help but spill everything.
“Yep,” she said nonchalantly. “And Peyton thinks Professor Eastey might know something about it.”
Finn leaned forward, his curiosity piqued even more. “Why him?”
Twyla glanced over her shoulder uneasily and then lowered her voice. “Because Jaxon thinks that the high priestess cast some kind of evil spell on her.”
Finn narrowed his eyes, his golden eyes faded to orange. “You saw Jaxon over the summer?”
I blinked. His eyes were back to normal. I must be imaging it. “No. I didn’t see anyone. I worked all summer as a waitress.”
His gaze softened, and then he focused back on my tattoo. “School’s really not even started, and she’s all over you.”
“Please. I need to go,” I said as I pushed past Finn and headed toward the door that led to the courtyard and the faculty apartments beyond.
“We’re coming with you,” Finn insisted.
I looked to Twyla for support, but she seemed oblivious to my anger. Instead, her eyes were focused on Kamaron and her cheeks were tinted pink as she gazed at him adoringly. I suppressed a growl and turned away before they noticed me staring.
