This time I woke up to sun streaming through the window and a sleeping dragon on the floor... but also loud banging on my door. I whipped it open angrily, thinking it was Quinten or Collin back to talk about pointless things, but there in my doorway was Corin and my stomach fell when I saw him.

"Don't look so surprised," he smirked.

"What-... What are you doing here?!," I peeked out into the hall, but no one else was there.

"I have come to collect what is owed to me."

"What?"

"You."

Oh christ... that stupid fucking bet.

I sighed and that earned a smile from Corin.

"Get dressed promptly and I see you in the eastern garden," he said before walking away.

Eastern garden? Where the fuck is that, I closed the door. I went to my closet and looked to see all I had left was tunics, so I chose an all black one and left my room. Luna had gone already, probably to dragon training, while I was stuck in the mess I had made.

Eastern garden? who the fuck talks like that? I don't even know where that is? Would it be this way, I walked down the tight spiral case to the bottom floor. Maybe I could fake an injury? Just say I sprained my ankle or something, lie to him. No, he'd know I was lying... and what about Tholus. Where is he? Why isn't Tholus here?

I went outside, but I didn't see Corin, so I went back in and turned right, down a long corridor hoping to find another exit. Why does he like to torture me? I don't get it. He tortures me because he is a psycho. A complete nut job. He doesn't even like me, he likes my title, what does that even mean? I don't even have a title... besides dragon rider... but he's a dragon rider too, it doesn't make sense.

I exited another door, but still no Corin.

WHERE THE FUCK IS THE EAST GARDEN!

I finally found a guard and asked him, he directed me back the way I came. I wanted to scream as I stormed through the hall. Fucking east garden!

I passed the first door that I had went out and went all the way to end of the corridor, opening the door. And there stood my nightmare and his dragon.

"Glad to see you finally arrive," Corin spoke dryly.

"It's not my fault you speak like were in the 18th century."

Corin cocked an eyebrow," It would be wise for you to watch your tone."

Here we fucking go.

"And it would be wise for you to know who I am and what I can do," he spoke directly into my brain.

I jumped and covered my ears, what the fuck.

He grinned, pleased with himself," Shall we be off?"

"Where?," I asked.

"You speak when spoken to," he glared.

"But you asked me a question?"

"Silence!," he bellowed before turning to Valor.

I wanted to think something mean and harsh, but he could hear it. I needed to block off my thoughts from him, so instead of being angry, I focusd on putting up a wall in my mind, slowly, brick by brick.

"We will go to my villa," Corin told me.

"Oh, well, Luna is at training..."

"You will ride with me."

WHAT!? I stopped myself from screaming in my head, focus on the bricks. I kept building the wall.

"For the day I own you, I am your master. You will address me as such, am I clear?," Corin sounded so pretentious.

"Yes."

"Good. Get on," he said before mounting Valor.

I came up and sat behind him, not wanting to be any closer than necessary.

"Where is Tholus?," I asked him adjusting in the uncomfortable saddle.

"You speak when spoken to," he said absentmindedly, not listening to me.

"Part of the bet was Tholus get's the day off."

Corin sighed," You are going to have a very difficult day if you do not listen."

"Where is he?," I asked sternly.

"He is back at my tent."

"Well, I want him in the palace while I'm with you, just so I know he is safe."

Corin turned to look at me," He is safe where he is."

I crossed my arms," I'm serious. I want him to be in my room where I know he'll be all day."

"That was not the bet."

"I'm changing it."

"It's too late," he said just a Valor pounced into the air.

I almost shit myself as he pierced through the sky like arrow, as if there was no resistance. I felt like I was slipping and gripped the sides of the saddle, but my hands were clammy and I still felt terrified. Corin didn't look back, he didn't even notice that I almost fell off and I wish I had, then maybe I would have been done for the day and he would leave me alone. I fought the urge to scream as we zipped through the sky, everything was a blur, nothing like how Luna flew. I couldn't even see which direction we were going, if we were nearing the academy or the city. Valor slowed and began his descent, which allowed me to loosen my death grip on his saddle and look around. All I saw was sand, nothing else. Just sand and more sand, but as we neared the ground I saw a small dark purple tent, the closer we got the less small it seemed.

Valor landed beside the tent and Corin jumped off and without looking back at me told me to clean Valor.

I took a deep breath and jumped of his back and saw that the cleaning stuff was all set out for me, which was a blessing see as I had no idea where anything was. I grabbed the material and stood beside Valor for a moment, already sweating in the intense sun.

"Get on with it," his voice grumbled in my head.

I started with his neck, worked down his torso then the front legs. I then scrubbed his back, avoiding the saddle and the back legs, I then carefully extended one wing at a time to gently rinse them off. When I was done Valor simply walked away from me and I was left standing in the middle of the desert. I set down the bucket and went inside the tent.

"Did I say you could enter?," Corin said with his back to me.

"Well, I'm done. What else do you want me to do?"

"I want you to watch your tone," he said sharply.

This fucking sucks.

"What was that?," he echoed into my brain.

I had forgotten to build my mental border and now Croin was back into my mind.

"Nothing," I said aloud.

"Good," I could hear the grin on his face as he talked, even though he was turned from me.

I looked around the tent, it was the same one he had when I first met him. It felt so long ago when I first arrived but it had only been a few weeks. I wasn't sure what he wanted from me, was I supposed to read his mind and know what I was supposed to do. I noticed that Tholus was nowhere to be seen.

"Where is Tholus?"

"I will not tell you again. You will not speak unless I speak to you. Can you understand that or must I retreat to physical measures," Corin peeked over his shoulder.

"I understand," I said.

Physical measures? Like he'll hit me or something. Oh, I fucking dare him.

I then felt a slight panic, remembering he could read my thoughts, but Corin said nothing, so I worked on rebuilding my defense.

"You're next task is to polish my armor, I need it for this afternoon."

"Okay... where is it?"

Corin sighed," it will be in the farthest stables. Have it done within the hour."

I left, this is weird... I expected it to be different, more weird and him being all creepy towards me. This was just run of the mill stuff: clean and polish. Still nothing I would condone for a child. I found the stable and saw the pile of dirty armor, it was huge. He can't be serious? Can he? I found a rag and some weird smelling stuff I hoped was soap.

As I polished I thought of what I would say to the Queen when I saw her next. I knew she would be coming for me to see he egg, I would have to stand up to her. Tell her I was going home whether she liked it or not. I really needed someone to sit me down and tell me the rules of this place, I still wasnt sure where they sat with randomly killing one another.

"Miss?"

I turned to see Tholus standing in the doorway.

"Tholus!," I smiled and went to him, hugging him tightly. "I'm so glad to see you."

"What are you doing here miss? And with master's armor?"

"I'm just cleaning it for him," I said casually.

"But those are my duties miss?," Tholus was confused and I saw a spike of fear.

"Don't worry. I talked to Corin, he said today you could have the day off. Just play and relax," I smiled.

"Play?"

"Yeah, uhm, maybe a game or with toys...," my voice faded realizing that he probably didn't have these things.

"But my chores, master will be cross if I don't do them."

"I'm going to do them," I told him.

"But miss... you're a dragon rider."

"Yeah, I am," it felt weird to accept that title.

"You shouldn't have to do those things."

"Well... I think I should. But if you want, you can come and keep me company while I clean."

Tholus grinned," Okay! I can polish too!"

My heart tore," No, I'm going to polish today, you can just sit and not do anything and Corin won't get made at all."

I sat down and grabbed another piece of armor," Is his the polish I should use?," I asked and Tholus nodded. Good, I thought. "So Tholus, what else do you do besides chores."

"I sleep."

"Is that it?"

"Master gives me food and I eat too."

"Oh... what's your favorite food."

"I like bread, when it's soft and warm."

"Me too, I like to put butter on it," I smile.

"Miss, what should I do?," he asked me.

"I... well... you don't have to do anything."

"But I want to do something."

"Okay... I want you to... run around the stable as fast as you can."

"I'm really fast," Tholus jumped up with a grin.

"Okay, you better prove it," I chuckled. "Go!"

Tholus bolted out the door, he was impressively quick for his age and in no time he was back.

"That was really good," I praised him.

"What next?," he asked.

I moved on to another piece of armor, it felt wrong to boss him around. I wanted him to make is own choices but I knew he had never gotten this opportunity to do this before.

"If you could do anything in the world, what would you want to do?"

"Anything?"

"Anything."

"I...," he looked down. "I would want to see my momma."

My heart tore and I felt like I was going to cry, no, you are not crying!

"Where is your mom?"

"She's back at the old home."

"The old home?"

"Where I used to live with Momma and Takra."

"Who's Takra?"

"My sister," Tholus said.

"Oh... how old is she?"

"She's a baby."

"It must be fun to be a big brother."

Tholus shrugged.

"I... I miss my mom too," I told him. "I don't see her very often either."

"Where is she?"

"She's... at my old home."

"I miss my old home," Tholus told me.

"I miss my old home too."

The flap opened and Corin walked in, I looked to the pile of armor I still had to polish. I grabbed Tholus putting him behind me, I knew Corin likes to punish physically and Quinten said he wouldn't hurt me so Tholus was still in danger.

"Well, it seems work has not been done," Corin circle the pile of armor.

"I'm working on it."

"The evidence proves otherwise," he replied flatly.

"It hasn't been an hour."

Corin looked up," Boy, leave us."

Tholus tugged on me, I didn't want him to go.

"I have to leave miss," he pulled away and ran from the stable, leaving me once again alone with Corin.

"I see this is not your strong suit," Corin mumbled, finally making his way to me.

Being a slave? Of course not!

I didn't say anything, I didn't want Corin to lash out again.

"But of course, you know this is not why I brought you here...," he faced me, his eyes narrow and serious.

I felt the fear build up in the back of my neck, he was so creepy. Corin crossed the rest of the space between us, and bent down so we were face to face. I made an effort to not look intimidated by him, I kept my face still and eyes calm.

"You know why I have brought you here," he stated it like a fact but I could tell he wanted a response.

"To clean."

He squatted down," Of course not. I have the boy for that. No, tell me why you are really here."

Oh god, he's not going to kiss me is he? I might be sick! Holy shit. Holy shit.

"I'm done with the games," his sly smile was now gone, he was serious. "Tell me why the Queen sent the Earth Riders away."

Wait, what?

"Huh?"

"Why did she sent you all on a quest, tell me what the purpose was. What did you find?"

He was so intense, practically barking his orders at me. I flinched as his voice got louder.

"Nothing, we just left. It was like a group bonding thing," I lied.

He leaned back on his haunches," Without your dragons?"

"It wasn't my idea," I told him, convincingly pulling off the lie.

"It was also rumored you attacked your convoy, is this true?"

"No, w-..."

"Don't lie," Corin cut me off with a strict tone. "I am your master now, and you must tell me the truth."

The fuck you are.

"Why do you care? It has nothing to do with you."

"That is none of your concern. Tell me now."

"It was a stupid bonding trip," I replied through gritted teeth. Corin stared at me, his face inches from mine, his eyes were searching mine for the truth, but he ran out of time to find it.

"Master!," Tholus ran in. "Master, there's a dragon approaching."

Corin broke our eye contact first," Come on," he grabbed me and helped me stand. "Boy, finish this work," he took the rag from my hand and tossed it at Tholus. Corin then hurriedly escorted me out of the stables, I looked up and saw the dragon approaching. It was Erea, I knew from the Caribbean blue green tint in the sky. It's Quinten! Why is he here? Corin didn't let me stop he shuffled me into his tent.

"Who all knows of our bet?," he demanded an answer.

"Uh, I-I told Quinten," I admitted.

Corin scoffed," And here he comes to rescue you."

"I didn't tell him to come here," I argued.

"Silence," Corin paced the floor, I could tell he was racking his brain with a way to get out of this trouble.

I heard the familiar landing of a dragon and then moment late Quinten opened the curtain and came in. He looked right at me," Come on, we're leaving."

I didn't not fight that, I stood up and followed him to the door then looked back," Hey." Corin looked up at me," Tholus still get's the day off."

"Leave," he sneered and turned away.

Quinten pulled me out into the sun and guided me to Erea," Get on," he told me and then went back into Corin's tent without another word.

"Are you alright?," Erea's sweet voice asked.

"I'm fine. I'm fine. Why are you here? What is Quinten doing?"

"The Queen has summoned you," Erea told me.

"Oh shit," I mumbled. "Does she know about this?"

"No," she assured me.

"What is he doing?," I turned to the tent.

"I am not sure."

Quinten came out quickly and mounted Erea," Hold on," he told me and she lurched into the air. I didn't hesitate and wrapped my arms tightly across his stomach. I don't think I will every get the hang of this, I thought as my stomach felt like it was crumpling like a piece of paper. Erea whipped through the sky skillfully and we made it back to the castle in no time. When she landed, I let go of Quinten and he slid off easily, helping me down.

"She doesn't know," he whispered to me as we walked into the castle. "Keep it that way."

"Why does she want to see me?"

"I'm not sure, I was just supposed to fetch you," he led me through the halls to a set of large oak doors. "This is her study, this is where she will see you."

My stomach dropped, I was so scared. I looked back at Quinten.

"It's alright," he assured me and then the guards opened the doors to let me in.

The Queen was across the room sitting behind a large desk, she looked up to me as I entered.

"Hello, Final Rider," she gave me a warm smile and stood up. "I wish they would have told me of your arrival, I would have met you there," she circled the desk and crossed the room to me.

"Met me where?"

"It is your time," she told me.

My time? Time for what? What does she-... Oh god. The egg! THE FUCKING EGG! It's my time for the egg! She can't be serious? She can't mean that!

"What? Are you sure?"

The guards opened the doors and we walked out into the hall, Quinten was still there.

"There has been no movement at all on behalf of the egg, nothing. That means that it has not come into physical contact with it's Rider," she explained as we walked down the hall, the guard on either side of us and Quinten trailing behind. "Now, I wish it to be you who visits the egg, to see if you are in fact the Skulblaka Ebrithil."

I don't want to be that, I thought as we took some stairs down to lower levels I had never been to.

"The egg is under constant watch by 50 armed guards," the queen told me. "Once you touch it your job will be done and it will be monitored."

"So all I have to do it touch it then leave?"

"Yes," she told me as a guard opened a secret passage from the cobblestone wall and we walked trough the entryway into another hall.

"But why me? Why not Collin or Ashley?"

The queen did not looked at me, she kept walking," I see your desire to return to your own world. I do not know this feeling as I live where I belong," she explained. "I do not want you to be a prisoner here on this world, I want you to make this feel like home, which may be too much for you. I do want to help you," she glanced to me. "But first this must be done."

Does that mean, she'll let me leave? Oh god, that's what it sounds like, I felt excited. We reached the end of the hall.

"Beyond this door," the Queen told me," is the egg." My breath caught, I really did not want to go in there. "I wish you luck, I will wait here."

I took a deep breath and looked at the door, I reluctantly opened it and stepped inside. The room was not as big as I imagined, everything else in the place was huge. It was a circular room, the guards lined the walls, shoulder to shoulder, all looking a the center which was the egg sat on a cushioned pedastol. I stood for a moment, looking at it, it was dark gray, it reminded me a lot of Luna's shell. It looked like a rock, smooth and beautiful. Please don't hatch, I thought as I walked over to it slowly. Please, please, please. I can barely handle one dragon let alone two. I stood in front of the egg, it was larger than Luna had been, it gleamed in the light that was displayed upon it, it was so pretty and much less intimating now that I was looking at it. I closed my eyes and thought of Luna, she was so stunning and elegant, she was all I could ever want and all I could ask for. Vision of our times in the woods danced through my head and I reached out and felt the cold stone before me brush my fingertips.

It was like ice, it sent a chill up my arm and I pulled my hand away, holding my hand close to my chest. It knocked the air out of my, I was left gasping, I stepped away from the pedastol staring at the egg. It's just a rock, I tried to convince myself. Just a rock. I turned and left the room without looking back.

The Queen greeted me with a small smile, "Now it is done," she then looked to my arm. "Are you hurt?," she asked.

I was still holding my hand to my chest, I left my arms drop," No, I'm fine."

"We should know within a week or two if the egg calls to you. But for now, think you should continue your training... I have heard that things are going well for you."

"Thank you," I said, even though it didn't fit in with the conversation.

We emerged from the secret passage back into the castle.

"Your Majesty, this way," her guards lead her down the hall and left me alone.

Where did Quinten go... He wasn't there when I got out of the room? I need to talk to him about Corin.