Chapter
Thirty-One
A few minutes after Kamaron left to rally the others I started to get ready. The simple act of getting dressed felt like donning battle armor.
I ran my shaking fingers through my hair, deftly weaving it into a tight braid. The familiar motion was steadying, a small ritual of preparation.
I splashed cold water on my face, hoping to subdue the puffiness around my eyes. It wouldn’t completely erase the evidence of my grief, but it didn’t matter now. I was done crying.
Memories of Jaxon fueled my resolve. He wouldn’t want me wallowing in self-pity. There would be time to grieve for him properly when this was all over. I inhaled deeply and reached for the door handle, ready to face whatever awaited me outside.
I pushed the door open and looked at the hallway stretching before me. I started down it, hearing muffled voices drifting from the dining room that grew clearer as I approached.
The conversation abruptly ceased as I entered the room and multiple pairs of eyes settled on me. I took in the familiar faces, noting the mix of emotions—concern, wariness, and something harder to define. But two strangers stood out among the group.
My gaze locked on a man with furled golden wings. Even without them being fully visible, there was no mistaking him: this was the Golden Demon Lucien Acosta, that I had caught a glimpse of before. The anguish etched into his features mirrored my own.
Beside him stood an imposing figure—tall, muscular, with long dark hair and a neatly trimmed goatee. There was an air of gravitas about him, and vast wisdom was reflected in his piercing eyes.
I stood my ground, my chin lifted slightly. Whatever judgment or anger these two newcomers might hold toward me, I was prepared to face it. The time for hiding was over.
But then unexpectedly the imposing figure smiled, catching me off guard and momentarily easing the tension in the room. “You must be Peyton,” he said, his deep voice resonating with warmth. “I am Anton Lange, a vampire. I am also headmaster of Legacy Academy.” The introduction was like another ray of hope, hinting at resources and knowledge now at our disposal.
His hand moved to the broad shoulder of the man beside him. “This is Lucien Acosta, Raven’s mate.” The words hung heavy in the air, laden with unspoken grief and worry.
His breath hitching, Lucien’s voice burst forth, raw with emotion. “When you left... Was she alive?” His anguished gaze bore into me, desperately seeking any shred of hope.
His worry loomed over us like gathering storm clouds. “Yes,” I managed, struggling to meet his eyes. “But she was in great pain. I think she was fighting very hard.”
Rose spoke up. “The tracking spell says that the Dragon Nexus is still in the bayou. Raven is probably there, too.”
Headmaster Lange’s words cut through the heavy atmosphere. “Indeed. This may actually be an opportunity for us.” His tone held a glimmer of strategic hope.
Headmaster Tarus stepped forward, his presence commanding attention. “I agree. The high priestess will have to use every scrap of the Dragon Nexus’ power on Raven. The silver dragon is too powerful to succumb easily.”
Shame and inadequacy washed over me. “You mean like I did,” I mumbled, my gaze dropping to the floor.
“I mean nothing of the sort, Peyton,” Headmaster Tarus corrected me, his voice firm but not unkind. “Raven Acosta is our most powerful supernatural. Do not compare yourself to her.” His next words sent a jolt through me. “Although… You have proven yourself to be a formidable opponent against the high priestess. Well done.” The praise was unexpected, a balm to my battered confidence.
A surge of determination swept over me. They saw potential in me—saw me as an asset rather than a liability! It was time to live up to their faith, to channel my grief and anger into action.
Headmaster Lange’s gaze locked with Headmaster Tarus’, a silent exchange of strategic thought clearly passing between them.
An excited grin spread across Headmaster Tarus’ face, like that of a kid in a candy store. “I am not sure, but I believe it will give us time to attack.” The cautious words carried a glimmer of optimism.
“But I’m not strong enough to battle the Nexus,” I admitted sadly. The memory of being used as a weapon against my will sent a shudder through me.
Headmaster Tarus’ response came swiftly, his tone filled with conviction. “You’re forgetting, Peyton, there’s not just one dragon here. There’s three: you, Kamaron and Finn. You will be their leader. The high priestess will be battling all of you plus Raven Acosta. I doubt that the Dragon Nexus could wield that much power.” His words were both thrilling and terrifying.
“You don’t know that for sure,” I countered softly, unable to fully embrace the hope he offered.
Headmaster Tarus’ eyes narrowed, a note of frustration entering into his voice. “No, I don’t. But since the Nexus was taken from me and given to her, it’s our only chance.”
His words were like a sharp slap across the face, reopening the wound of my guilt.
Headmaster Lange’s voice cut through the tension, admonishing but gentle. “Do not chide her, Costin.” His understanding gaze swept over me. “Would any of us have done differently if those we loved were threatened?” His words were a balm to my raw emotions. “The die has been cast. Let us move now while we have time.”
Lange’s declaration galvanized the room, infusing us all with a sense of purpose. I took a deep breath and met the gazes of those around me, seeing determination reflected back. We might not have all the answers, but we had each other. It was time to face the high priestess head-on and stop her before she could wreak even more havoc.
I looked at Finn and Kamaron. “Are you with me?”
“All the way,” Finn said. “Let’s burn this witch down.”
Kamaron’s face lit up with a familiar mischievous glint, unable to resist the opportunity for levity even in this tense moment.
“Let’s do it,” he quipped. “Or should I say, let’s give the high priestess a real dragon down!”
The room filled with a mixture of exasperated sighs and reluctant chuckles at Kamaron’s signature dad joke. I just rolled my eyes, a small smile tugging at my lips. “Really, Kamaron? Now?”
“Hey, someone’s got to keep our spirits up,” he retorted with a grin. “Besides, I thought it was pretty fire, if I do say so myself. Geddit? Dragon…fire?”
I sighed and shook my head.
Kamaron and Finn followed me out the door and outside into the cool air of the Red Rose Academy grounds. We stripped off our clothes and then the familiar process of shifting began as our bodies responded to the call of our dragon forms. My transformation came easily, black scales swiftly replacing skin. Beside me, Finn shifted with equal ease, his red dragon quickly taking shape.
Kamaron’s transformation was slower and more laborious, his concentration evident. I watched him closely, ready to offer guidance if needed, but his progress, while not swift, was steady. Finally he completed his shift, joining Finn and me in our dragon forms.
Twyla darted forward, quickly and efficiently gathering up our discarded clothes and allowing us to focus entirely on the task ahead. She climbed onto my back as we waited for the others to emerge from the headmaster’s quarters.
We launched into the air, powerful muscles propelling us skyward. The ground fell away beneath us as we climbed higher into the bright, open sky.
Sunlight danced across our dragon forms, in contrast to the shadowy figures of Valentin, Rose and the two headmasters who had now transformed into large bats.
Lucien’s majestic golden wings unfurled, their shimmering beauty catching the light as he joined us in flight. His presence was a poignant reminder of what was at stake.
Our dragon forms cut through the air with surprising speed, outpacing our vampire and Demon allies. The landscape was a blur beneath us as we soared over New Orleans, its familiar streets giving way to the wild tangle of the bayou.
As we approached St. Louis Cathedral, a faint sound reached my ears: a distant shriek, barely audible over the rush of wind but unmistakable.
Raven’s cries were a chilling reminder of the ordeal she was enduring. The pain in that sound was heartbreaking, even at this distance. It made us push ourselves harder, wings beating with renewed vigor. Every moment counted now, the distance between us and Raven feeling both terrifyingly vast and tantalizingly small.
The cathedral loomed ahead, its once-peaceful silhouette now a symbol of the battle to come. With Raven’s cries spurring us on and our allies close behind, we readied ourselves for the confrontation ahead.
I took in the scene unfolding below. Raven had retreated to the bayou. The high priestess stood facing her, the Dragon Nexus aimed directly at Raven’s chest. Even from this height, I could see the strain etched across the priestess’ face and the way her arm trembled with exertion. Hours of sustained effort had clearly taken their toll.
The thought that even a momentary lapse in the priestess’ concentration could turn the tide in our favor sent a surge of hope through me. Balthazar’s presence at her side, however, was an ominous reminder of the dark forces we were up against. The hellish blade in his hand gleamed with malevolent purpose.
A firestorm of fury ignited within me and my dragon trembled with barely contained wrath at the sight of my father’s battered form. Blood dripped down his face in crimson rivulets, each drop delivering a hammer blow to my heart. His mouth had been busted open making every breath likely painful, and his eyes were swollen shut from repeated blows. The thought of him trapped in darkness, unable even to see his tormentors or guess that there was now some hope of rescue, made my blood run cold.
The urge to roar in outrage and unleash my dragon’s fury upon those who had hurt him was nearly overwhelming. Every fiber of my being screamed to dive down, to snatch him out of their grasp and carry him to safety. The effort to hold back so we could maintain our element of surprise almost caused me physical pain.
This sight, more than anything, solidified my resolve. We weren’t just fighting for Raven or to stop the high priestess—we were fighting for my father, to avenge every moment of pain he had endured in his years in captivity.
Through the haze of emotion, the cold, tactical part of my brain noted the positions of all the members of the Bloodborne Brotherhood, seeking weaknesses we could exploit when we attacked.
We continued our descent, and with a subtle signal to Kamaron and Finn, I prepared us for the attack. The image of my father’s broken form burned in my mind, fueling the inferno of rage and determination building within me, the fire in my belly growing to a crescendo.
Then, with a deafening roar, I unleashed a torrent of flame upon the Bloodborne Brotherhood, making the air shimmer with its heat.
Their sudden panicked cries of “Dragons!” filled the air as they scattered, abandoning my father in their haste to escape.
The high priestess’ face contorted with fear as she aimed the Dragon Nexus at me, its evil power reaching out to me like tendrils, and I felt the veil of its control descending, my body shaking as I fought off its influence.
Twyla’s voice rang out clear and determined, cutting through the chaos of battle.
“By earth and air, by fire and sea,
Shield this dragon, protect her from thee.
Ancient powers, heed my call,
Let no evil upon her fall!”
A shimmering barrier materialized around me. Twyla’s quick thinking and magical prowess had formed a protective cocoon that enveloped me, providing an extra layer of defense.
The spell’s energy pulsed through me, reinforcing my own resistance against the Nexus’ dark influence. I had regained control.
Although her limbs shook and her movement was slow, Raven got up from the ground and approached the high priestess, forcing the high priestess to aim the Nexus at her.
Raven lowered her head, as if trying to shield herself from the powerful, dark veil.
I let loose another stream of fire, igniting the grass around the high priestess. Panic flooded her eyes. “Balthazar—help me.”
But the demon did nothing and simply stood there, as if waiting for something.
The high priestess aimed the Dragon Nexus straight at me again. The evil veil descended over me once more, and I trembled. But then Raven threw her head back and let out another shriek. She got closer and closer to the high priestess, forcing the high priestess to turn the Dragon Nexus away from me and aim it at her.
Finn released a plume of fire at the high priestess, and she aimed the Nexus at him, causing him to falter in midair as he battled it. Kamaron came up behind the high priestess and let out another stream of fire. She screamed as it ignited her robes, then cried out a spell that extinguished the flames.
All three of us converged upon her, sending a wall of fire straight at her and the Dragon Nexus. I could feel its evil trying to survive. Raven joined us and released a white blaze of fire.
The Dragon Nexus turned black, cracked, and shattered into smithereens. A dark cloud burst out of the fragments and swirled around the high priestess. Then she screamed in agony, burst into flames and melted away to nothing, just like the wicked witch in The Wizard of Oz .