Chapter twenty:

Michael and Gavin have been flying for a good while.

Michael glances back to the storm as he sees a flash of lightning then a loud boom of thunder. He turns back to Gavin. "That storm looks really bad." He mentions to the other who keeps flying though moves his eyes back as if to look to Michael. He looks back again trying to see if the storm is moving quickly. He swears that it is remaining on their tails. He turns back around when Gavin screeches at him. He spots the castle coming up in the distance. He brightens at the sight. "We are almost there!" His smile fades as he turns to look back at the storm hearing a powerful boom of thunder. "We gotta get there before we are caught in the storm." He turns back to look forward and checks on how the other is doing. He knows that they can keep going so he doesn't tell the other to land.

The two of them keep flying even as the storm is starting to get even larger. They are finding that more clouds seem to be coming together to join with the storm.

Gavin keeps going hoping to get to the castle in time.

Soon the storm ends up right on top of them as the two of them are pelted with rain.

Michael can hardly see through the rain though he is sure that they're still going in the right direction. "Maybe we should land and wait it out." He tries to suggest but Gavin turns giving him a determined look even as lightning flashes above them. "Okay. If you're sure." He knows that he needs to trust his familiar.

Gavin nods then turns in the direction that they are going.

Michael leans close to Gavin starting to get cold from the wind so he is trying to stay warm using his familiars feathers and body. He is willing to get sick if it means reaching the castle in time to get help. He jolts when a lightning bolt almost strikes them. "Gavin. We need to land. This is too dangerous."

After the near miss Gavin nods though before he can swoop down he notices something flying towards them. He stops and stays in the air in the spot as he and his witch watch the figure.

Michael takes out his wand ready to defend them. He blinks as a large snowy owl stops a little in front of them. He can make out the form as the owl gets a little close to them.

A woman peeks out from where she is on the back of the snowy owl. She has brown hair, a blue unzipped hoodie, a red scarf, brown eyes, and black pants with black runners. She looks to be a young adult and her hat has old feathers from her familiar covering the ribbon usually on the hats; since bird familiars do sometimes have to preen themselves. "Who are you?" She questions the two as the snowy owl familiar stays in the one spot. "And why are you here?"

"My name is Michael and this is my familiar Gavin." Michael introduces the two of them putting away his wand figuring that they must be from the castle. "We come from the school run by Burnie." He explains. "There is trouble. Familiars and witches are being taken. Most likely to be used as an army by an evil group. We were sent to race to the castle to get help."

The woman sees the seriousness on their faces and nods. "My name is Tina and this is my familiar Delilah. We are the head of the royal guard. We were notified that a witch and familiar were heading towards the castle. I'm glad we spotted you because that is serious." She gestures for them to follow her. "Let's go."

The two fly together heading for the castle and Tina gets Delilah to land on a platform.

Delilah changes back to human form after Tina gets off. She has black hair pulled into a ponytail, kind yet strong amber eyes, a black long sleeved shirt, a white ribbon on her hat, black pants, and dark blue boots.

The two make sure that Gavin has enough room to land which he does then he lets Michael off, who also gets the supplies off of him, before turning to his human form. They lead the two new comers into the castle where it is nice and warm not to mention dry.

Tina stops and uses a magical spell with her wand, that has a yellow diamond shaped stone at the tip with the round top surrounded by the branch as though it is wrapped around it, to help them all dry off so they won't make much of a mess or get sick. She puts her wand away then leads them straight to where the throne room is.

At the doors stands two guards in suits of armour. They both have on silver metal armour that seems to allow them to still be able to move. One has blue eyes and the other has green. With their helmets only on it is hard to tell whether they are witches of familiars.

With Tina and Delilah leading them they go past the guards who don't move an inch. The two get them to a spot where the four of them face Spire and another who is in the throne next to him.

Spire has dark brown hair and light brown eyes, his hair is cut to hang down handsomely at about the middle of his ears in length. He is wearing a royal looking red top with yellow and black royal shoulder pads, black pants, and black boots. He has his crown on his witch hat.

The other in the second throne must be Spire's hyena familiar as told by the hat. Her hat has a pink ribbon on it with a few real rubies placed on it. She has light brown hair, dark brown eyes, a black dress that goes down halfway past her knees, and black heels. Her hair reaches a little past her shoulders and she moved the ends to be on her right shoulder.

"And what brings you two here today?" Spire inquires with curiosity as the four bow in respect.

"We have some terrible news." Michael explains as the others let him do so. "Witches and Familiars are being captured and unwillingly used to most likely create an army. We were sent to race over to get help. They are most likely using dark magic but got to the scrolls before we could. It is all being lead by a female witch."

"It can't be… Could it?" Spire questions to himself frowning in concern then he sighs heavily. "I guess there isn't really anyone else known for this." He glances up somberly. "Darcy has returned and no doubt wants revenge." He closes his eyes changing his expression to serious then he looks to those bowed before him. "You will have the royal family's help."

"Right you are son."

They all turn and standing in the doorway with a beer in his hand is Gus.

Gus heads further in and stops by his sons throne that used to be his. "Darcy is dangerous. And if what I overheard is true then we must act." He takes a swig of his beer before continuing. "This time we'll finish what should have been done in the first place."

Michael and Gavin are happy to hear that there will be help with this.

Ryan slightly glances around as it is well into the night. He looks to the door to his space that they put him in. He tries to nudge it open but a lock rattles. He freezes and glances around though those there seem to be sleeping. He transforms into his human form and carefully opens the lock as it's just a sliding lock. He keeps the door closed quickly becoming his dragon form again at hearing voices. He pretends to be sleeping listening as two people enter the area.

"Man night shift sucks. I wish I could sleep like all of them." One grumbles in a male voice as he walks past the familiars.

"Yeah but we gotta do it. Don't want anything happening while the others are asleep." Another male voice reminds the first.

"Yeah yeah I know."

As the footsteps head away Ryan peeks at them. He sees them checking the area then he pretends to still be asleep as they head back around. He lets them pass and leave to outside. He turns into his human form once more and opens the door he unlocked. He carefully closes it behind himself to not raise suspicion right away. He carefully moves along heading for the way out. He stops at its entrance and peers out. He doesn't see anyone though it is dark. He hurries out heading into a dark area to hide. His heart pounds in his chest as he barely sees two other guards walking around. He waits for a bit then ducks behind a tree at seeing them light their wands like flashlights. He stays still as a light shines on the tree for a few moments before moving on. He heads off in the opposite direction then transforms into his dragon form. He spreads his wings taking off into the air. He glances around trying to quickly get his bearings. He needs to figure out which way he's supposed to go. He doesn't have enough time and starts flying off in the direction his heart tells him to go. He keeps going then shivers as he passes through some kind of magic. He hears alarms ringing behind him and tries to fly faster away after hearing that. He should have known that they'd have something like that set up. He glances back to check if they see him.

A bunch of people can be seen racing towards the direction he is going in.

Ryan turns back and keeps going trying to fly quicker. He blinks as suddenly lights are shone up into the sky revealing him. He can hear a commotion then some magic flies past him. He keeps trying to go to get away. He has to get away. He has to. This is his only chance to get away and warn the others. He then feels something wrap around his neck pulling him down. He tries to break free but ends up crashing into the ground as he is yanked down. He closes his eyes as his breath is knocked out of him from the impact. He is tied down by black ropes as he struggles until he knows that he can't get away. He tries to transform into human form as a final attempt but is interrupted as a foot is placed on his snout. His attention was taken off what he was doing. He looks up only to see Darcy standing over him.

"So, you managed to break free from the spell did you? Impressive." Darcy comments in which Ryan growls at her though it only makes her laugh. "And don't you think that you're going to be let off easy." She snaps her fingers and wands another waves his wand as she moves back.

Sparkling dust seems to move over Ryan's face and for Ryan everything goes black.