Goody Magic Academy, Year Three

Chapter 8

Chapter

Eight

A s the first light of dawn painted the sky with soft hues of pink and gold, the sprawling expanse of New Orleans unfolded beneath us. Jaxon’s words echoed in my mind—dragons flew faster than planes. He had been right. A journey that would have taken hours by conventional means had passed in a blur of starlight and rushing wind. But it hadn’t been easy, not by a long shot. My wings shook with fatigue and my dragon energy was slowly fading, like a leak in a gasoline tank.

The mighty Mississippi River came into view, a silver ribbon snaking its way around the city, its surface shimmering with the first light of dawn. The Gulf of Mexico stretched out beyond it and after that the ocean, a canvas of blue-green meeting the lightening sky at the horizon. The sun peeked over the water’s edge, casting long shadows across the awakening city.

My wings ached and fatigue weighed heavily on me, my dragon muscles trembling with exhaustion. The last hour had seen our speed dwindle, our once-swift progress reduced to little more than a labored glide.

We had only stopped once during our journey, a brief respite that felt like a lifetime ago. Somewhere over the rugged peaks of the Appalachians, Rose, Jaxon, and Valentin had grown tired. Even their vampire stamina had its limits. And so we had paused on a mountaintop, allowing them to shift from their bat forms back to their human ones, carrying them for the rest of the flight.

Now, Jaxon and Twyla rode on my back, their combined weight a constant, nagging presence between my shoulder blades. I could feel Jaxon’s hands gripping my scales, his body tense and alert despite his fatigue. Twyla’s occasional gasped and muttered words of awe reminded me of the incredible nature of our flight.

To my right Finn soared high, his red scales gleaming in the early morning light. Rose and Valentin were perched on his back, their forms so small against his massive frame. I could see the strain in Finn’s eyes, the determined set of his jaw as he pushed through his own exhaustion.

Kamaron lagged behind us, his flight still unsteady and lacking confidence even after hours of practice. His wings beat in an erratic rhythm, his body dipping and rising unpredictably. The decision not to have anyone ride on his back had clearly been a wise one; even now, I found myself watching him anxiously, ready to swoop in if he faltered.

As we approached the outskirts of New Orleans, the city slowly stretching awake below us, a mix of excitement and trepidation bubbled in my chest. We had made it this far, but I knew that our journey—and our challenges—were hardly over. With heavy wings and weary bodies, we began our descent into the heart of the Big Easy. Rose had said we should go to Red Rose Academy. She was sure that Costin Tarus, the headmaster there, would help us.

Rose and Valentin shifted into bats and led us to the academy, located right in the heart of New Orleans. They flew over an ornate gate and then past a bubbling fountain covered by roses of every color. All the buildings had white Corinthian columns and looked like something straight out of Gone with the Wind .

They flew toward an antebellum mansion set among some trees. A tall, slender man with a bald head opened the door as if anticipating our rival. Rose and Valentin had told me back at the academy that Headmaster Costin Tarus was loaded. This had to be his butler.

I landed right in front of the white columned home and Jaxon and Twyla climbed off my back.

Jaxon looked at me and smiled. “Just shift. I’ve got you covered. Literally.” He held up my clothes.

The last thing I wanted was for the butler or anyone else to see me naked. Why did vampires get to keep their clothes on when they transformed? Not fair at all.

I closed my eyes and concentrated, feeling the familiar tingle of magic coursing through me as the shift back began. The thick scales covering my body began to soften and shrink, becoming smooth human skin. My elongated snout receded, and my features rearranged into a human face.

A series of muffled cracks and pops signaled my bones shifting and shrinking. My massive, leathery wings disappeared into my shoulder blades, muscles and tendons twisting to pull them in. Compared to shifting the other way, the process was not that painful, but the sensation of my body reshaping itself still freaked me out. I didn’t know if I would ever truly get used to it.

My tail, a powerful rudder just a few minutes ago, slowly retracted into my spine. My claws dulled and shortened into human nails, while my four dragon limbs transformed into arms and legs. The immense strength of my dragon form receded.

It was as if an unseen force was carefully reshaping my body, sculpting every detail until I stood there in human form again. Transformation complete, I opened my eyes and took a deep breath, getting used to my infinitely weaker human senses.

The grass tickled the bare skin of my feet, a sensation so different from the way it felt against my tough hide. I flexed my fingers, marveling at their dexterity compared to my claws. A light breeze caressed my skin, and I suppressed a shiver, missing the warmth insulation of my scales.

Not looking at anyone, I did my best to cover my nakedness with my hands. My face heated up so fast I thought it would melt. I would never get used to stripping in front of God and everyone to shift into my dragon.

“Here.” Jaxon handed me my clothes.

I couldn’t even look him in the eye. For a moment, I thought I had seen a flicker of admiration or perhaps even lust in his gaze.

“Thank you,” I murmured as I quickly stepped into my panties and put on my bra.

In a flash, I had on my shirt and skirt too. I smoothed down the fabric, my skin still tingling slightly from the transformation.

I avoided Jaxon’s gaze and hurried over to Twyla. She always made me feel so safe, like a sister I never had.

Twyla opened a bag that I hadn’t even realized she’d brought and tossed Kamaron and Finn their clothes. She must have gathered them up when they shifted back in the empty apartment. I avoided looking at them in their sculpted naked forms. It was like I was in the Hot Guys aisle at Sinful Bodies R Us.

The bald man bowed slightly. “Now that everyone is properly attired, Headmaster Tarus awaits you in his study.” His soft voice magnified my embarrassment, making me want to crawl into a hole somewhere.

“Thank you.” Rose clasped his hand. “It’s good to see you again, Ethan.”

He gave her a fatherly smile. “You too, Rose. We miss you a lot.”

Rose and Valentin entered first, followed by the rest of us. I kept my eyes down as I passed Ethan, unable to look at him. Maybe he was used to shifters showing off all their glory, but I sure as heck wasn’t.

When I stepped into the headmaster’s home, my embarrassment dissolved and turned to awe. Antique furniture adorned the space, complemented by plush leather couches. Beautiful, haunting paintings hung on the walls, their subjects almost looking like they were watching us as we moved through the rooms. It was as if we had entered a museum rather than someone’s home.

Rose clearly knew this place well, confidently leading us down a hallway with a gleaming hardwood floor to a study. It was equally as grand as the living room, but it was the striking man sitting behind a magnificent mahogany desk that truly took my breath away.

His long dark hair was pulled back into a man bun, and he wore a tight-fitting black shirt that clung to his defined muscles. His piercing green eyes sized us up shrewdly, and I found myself sucked in by his gaze. It was as if he had seen centuries of horror over the course of his life, his eyes speaking of vast experience I couldn’t even begin to fathom.

My attention drifted back to the room’s decor. Three full sets of shining medieval armor stood in perfectly gleaming condition, keeping silent watch over our meeting. A glass case nearby housed an array of swords. Were the armor and swords from the time of the Crusades? Had this man been there to witness those events firsthand? And was he friend or foe? So many questions. I shifted uncomfortably.

Jaxon had a wistful look in his eyes as he scanned the headmaster’s beautiful home, lingering on the expensive, handcrafted antiques. He ran his fingers over the grandfather clock lovingly as if he recognized it. I flashed him a what-the-hell-are-you-doing look, and he shrugged.

Jaxon had always claimed to be royalty. Could he really have lived in a home with antiques like this? Or was he completely delusional and just wishing it were true? As I watched him, I speculated again about the truth behind his claims. He never mentioned his parents, or if he had any siblings.

A warm smile spread across the headmaster’s face, his eyes crinkling at the edges. “It’s good to see you, Rose.” He got up from his desk chair, the leather creaking softly, and embraced her in a warm, fatherly hug. “I’ve missed you. How have you been?”

Rose sighed, her shoulders sagging slightly as she pulled away. “Fine, Headmaster…” she said, her tone belying her words.

He tilted his head, concern etching his features, and gently lifted her chin with his finger. “There’s a but, isn’t there?”

“Sure is,” Valentin burst out, his jaw clenching as he stepped forward. “The high priestess has turned vicious. The school is overrun with members of the Bloodborne Brotherhood. Have you heard of them?”

The headmaster’s eyebrows shot up, his spine stiffening. “I thought they’d been disbanded years ago when the Dark Demon Ryker Khan was in power.”

My heart raced at the mention of the unfamiliar name. Before I could stop myself, I blurted out, “Who is Ryker Khan? And what was the Bloodborne Brotherhood doing to have that happen?”

The headmaster’s piercing gaze swiveled toward me. My blood ran cold, and a bead of sweat trickled down my back as his eyes locked with mine.

I licked my lips nervously, my mouth suddenly dry. “I-I’m sorry. We haven’t been properly introduced. I’m Peyton Storm.”

Rose placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder, squeezing gently. “Peyton, this is Headmaster Costin Tarus.” She turned to Finn, Twyla, Jaxon, and Kamaron, introducing them as well.

As Rose finished the introductions, Jaxon shifted uncomfortably beside me. He mumbled something under his breath, but I couldn’t make it out.

Headmaster Tarus’s keen eyes darted to Jaxon, his brow furrowing. “Is something wrong?” he asked, his voice both concerned and suspicious.

Jaxon’s face twisted with frustration. “You don’t recognize me?” he asked, his voice tight with barely contained frustration.

The headmaster’s frown deepened. “No… Should I?”

Jaxon’s shoulders slumped, defeat written across his features. Had he been hoping the headmaster would recognize him as royalty? He ran a hand through his hair in resignation. “I guess not,” he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Rose gently touched my shoulders, drawing my focus away from Jaxon. “Peyton’s the one I told you about, Headmaster. The one that the high priestess has been torturing.”

Headmaster Tarus’ expression softened, his brow furrowing with concern. “Ah. So you’re the black dragon and the witch.”

I swallowed hard, willing my voice not to shake. “That’s right.”

“I deeply regret that Abigail chose to go down this road.” A heavy sigh escaped his lips as he rubbed his forehead. “During the war, she held similar beliefs to Ryker’s, but once it ended, she swore she had changed.” He lifted his head, his eyes hardening. “She swore that students with mixed bloodlines would be allowed into Goody Magic, just like all the other academies.”

Rose’s lips curved into a knowing smile. “But you didn’t believe her, did you?”

“Call me suspicious, but no. I didn’t.” He leaned back against his desk, crossing his arms. “However, my colleagues did.”

“Do you know who the members of the Bloodborne Brotherhood are?” Rose asked, her voice tight with urgency.

“They could be anyone who believes purebloods are superior to those with mixed blood.” A slow smile broke across his face, mischief glinting in his eyes. “However, I think Raven Acosta would have something to say about that.”

I frowned. “Who is Raven Acosta?”

His smile widened, a note of pride in his voice. “She’s a silver dragon, a Golden Demon, and a vampire. Her mixed blood makes her extremely powerful.”

“Does that mean the high priestess is after her too?”

He shook his head, his expression turning grave. “Not herself personally. I suspect she wants to use all of you to defeat Raven instead. Abigail has never liked Raven, likely due to her outdated belief that mixed bloods are inferior.” He paused, his eyes narrowing. “Not that I can prove any of this, mind you…but why else would she want the Dragon Nexus?”

The hairs on the back of my neck stood straight up. I glanced nervously at Finn and Kamaron, seeing my own shock and fear reflected in their eyes. We were all newly shifted dragons, barely in control of our powers. Was the high priestess hoping to use the Nexus to control us, and defeat Raven in the process?

The room suddenly felt too small, terror stirring my gut. I struggled to catch my breath, my mind racing with the implications. We weren’t just pawns in the high priestess’ game of discrimination—we were weapons she intended to use against someone even more powerful than us.