At eleven thirty I got back out of bed. Kicking myself for my incessant nosiness, I pulled on a pair of dark jeans and a black tank top. I couldn’t just ignore the invitation. I had to go and find out what this Immortal’s Club was all about. That late at night the halls of Waterstone were deserted. It was a small blessing there wasn’t even anyone sitting downstairs at the study tables. I whispered a spell I learned in primary school to see if there were any alarm spells on the front doors. Nothing. I had to wonder if the professors really cared if the students snuck out at night if there weren’t even wards on the door. Careful not to make any noise, I opened the door and slid out, closing it softly behind me.
The night air was cool, but I was so anxious to get to the meeting place I didn’t even notice. Everything was bathed in inky blackness as clouds covered the sky. I made my way across campus, I realized that my eyes were adjusting to the dark. Soon I could see just as clear as in the daylight.
“Neat trick,” I murmured to myself. I enhanced my hearing, too. The pond sat on the very edge of the Animage Academy property. A perfect meeting spot for a clandestine club.
There was no one around the pond when I arrived. I checked the new watch my parents had sent me. It wasn’t as fancy as my smart watch but at least I could tell the time. It was a quarter until midnight. I found a tree close to the pond and settled in to wait. My nerves hummed and every gust of breeze made me jump.
Midnight came and went. Still nothing. This was ridiculous. The crunch of grass underfoot caught my attention. Someone was standing beside the tree. The newcomer was Kylee. I scoffed and walked toward her. She jumped when I stepped on a twig and spun around.
“Well, if it isn’t the dragon. What are you doing here?”
“Nice to see you, too.”
“So, how does it feel to be a dragon? Is your daddy finally proud of you?” Heat flooded my body. I clenched my jaw to keep from responding.
“Do you feel all great and powerful? Much better than all of us underlings that don’t have the might of the great Council on their side?”
“Shut up!” I growled. “I’ve never done anything to you, Kylee. Leave me alone.”
Kylee took a step closer, so we were eye-to-eye, “Your very existence annoys me. You and your father and the Council force us to live our lives in hiding. It’s because of you my mother felt like she had to hide who she was, felt like she could never be free. It’s because of you she’s dead.”
“I’m leaving.”
“No one is leaving.” We whirled around to see six people in black cloaks behind us. I kicked myself for letting Kylee get under my skin and distract me. My dragon uncurled inside me. Kylee growled. The newcomers had surprised her too. My skin vibrated, my hold on my human form was slipping. I wouldn’t be able to hang on much longer.
“Move,” My voice echoed in the night. So that was how Dad did it.
“No,” was the only reply. A melody arose on the wind, it caressed my ears. The adrenaline flowed out of my body like water. My dragon curled back inside. My eyes were heavy. I was so sleepy. This wasn’t right. The ground approached rapidly as I fell to my hands and knees.
“Don’t close your eyes,” I called out to Kylee. A gentle snore told me she was already gone. I had to resist. But it wasn’t working. My eyelids shut against my will, surrounding me with darkness.
My head was so heavy I couldn’t lift it. Something thick and rough was in my mouth. I tried to spit it out, but it wouldn’t budge. Slowly, my senses began to respond. The ground underneath me was damp. Water seeped through my jeans and shirt, chilling my side and my back. My arms wouldn’t move. I couldn’t move my ankles either. Thick bands of panic gripped me.
My eyes flew open. I was still next to the pond. All I could see was the dark water stretched out before me. My heart beat rapidly in my chest. Sounds were muffled in my ears. I realized my hearing was normal, not enhanced like I was used to. It felt like I was deaf. The rapid beating of my heart drowned out everything else. Cool water lapped the bottom of my pants, soaking my feet and ankles. I twisted as much as I could to get a better look around. me. Now I was facing the dark water. I was so close to the edge; the water was getting my pants wet. I tried to move my head and look around. Kylee was next to me in the same situation. Her eyes were wide as she struggled.
I couldn’t think. Anxiety flooded all my senses and made it impossible for me to focus. I tried to reach for my dragon. She wasn’t there. The panic escalated. The gag in my mouth prevented me from using any spells. I thrashed against the ropes, but they were knotted tight.
I reached for my dragon. She was there, but I couldn’t budge her. My heart started to race as panic began to set in. I couldn’t use any spells with a gag in my mouth. I growled my frustration.
“Good, they’re awake.” The voice behind me sounded familiar, but I couldn’t place it. If I was going to get out of there, I had to quit panicking. It was hard to focus when I was scared out of my mind, but I tried anyway. I pushed past the fear
