"Okay this shit is crazy. We've officially entered the crazy center of this crazy ass place," I told Luna through our private link. I had made sure to put my walls up careful so no one here cold get into my mind. "These people are officially off the rails." I looked over my shoulder, Collin and Ashley were sitting side by side, she was laughing while Matthew went back to his corner. Luna and I found our own corner to make our own plan.

"It makes sense from what I know. Others at training have spoken about Conandus. He is said to be fierce and unforgiving."

"Of course, you know that from training, " I rolled my eyes. "I think the real issue here is that even when that fucking little egg doesn't hatch for me, the Queen will be too busy with this Conandus guy to let us get back home."

"I don't believe she would have let us leave otherwise," Luna acknowledged my greatest fear.

"Please don't say that. I need some kind of hope," I turned back to her.

"Forgive me," she blinked slowly. "I know how you long to return back to Earth."

"Yeah and now it's looking like my only options is Serena. Wh-.. Where is Serena?," I looked around finally realizing she wasn't here. "She should be here, right? Even though she is being punished, she's still an Earth Rider. The Queen would still want to keep her safe, right? She could still be the Skulblaka Ebrithil."

"Yes," Luna surveyed the room. "She should be here."

I moved towards Ashley and Collin," Hey, where's Serena?"

Ashley stopped laughing and looked at me," I dunno."

"She's on her way," Collin told me.

"Why isn't she here though, didn't she leave before us?"

"I don't know," he turned to Ashley. "Why didn't she fly with you?"

She shrugged," We were told to go, so we did. Serena maybe was told later? You know she's always in Ilirea, they probably had to find her first."

Collin nodded," She does go off and explore a lot on her own. If she isn't here by tomorrow, then I'd be worried."

Ashley wrapped her arm around Collin and started to talk about how he was definitely going to be announced as the dragon master, so I went to Matt next. Even thought Matt and I had a bad experience a few days ago, he was still the smartest guy here, for sure.

"Do you think Serena is just running late?," I asked him.

He kept his back to me," Serena is always late, it's not a surprise."

"You're not at all worried? I mean, aren't we here because someone wants to like enslave us?"

"Not me," he grunted. "And I doubt Serena is the Skulblaka Ebrithil."

"You don't think it'e me either... who do you think it is?," I looked to Ashley and Collin.

Matthew spun around," It'll be Collin. Always is the narcissistic entitled kid that gets an untold amount of responsibility, maybe it'll help him grow up a bit."

"Sounds like the plot to a bad movie."

"Life imitates art," he turned back to the corner.

"I...I don't get it. Why would the Queen send us all here," I leaned against the wall next to Beloiuhn. He grumbled as I nodded to him.

"Alyson, don't ask questions, it makes it harder."

"I'm just saying... if I was Queen, I would have put us all in different places, make it harder to find us."

"The Queen has her reasons," Matthew said shortly.

I glanced to Luna," What does that mean?"

She moved her shoulders in the form of a shrug. I could tell Matthew was getting annoyed, so I left him again and went back to my corner. The day's events weighed on me, they made me tired, my eyes lazily closed and I feel asleep against Luna. I woke up, it was dark and I could feel Luna breathing against me. I crawled out from her side and waited for my eyes to adjust. I could only see the outlines of the bodies scattered around the cave: Ashley with Diamond, Collin and Razor on the other side next to Matthew and Beloiuhn. Weird they aren't sleeping together... I looked between Ashley and Collin as my eyes got better and I could see them more clearly. Matthew has casted some spell over the cave so no one would look twice at it, but hopefully Serena could find her way.

I need her, she is basically my last hope. The Queen will be mad and if we fail, I'll probably be killed, but if she turns me down...

I rubbed my eyes and yawned, Dang, I need to go back to sleep.

I wandered back to Luna and collapsed. The next time I woke up, was to the noise of people talking, of course it was Ashley and Collin. I lifted my head lazily to see them preparing something for breakfast. I got up slowly, Luna stirred and lifted her head as well.

"Morning comes too soon," she groaned.

"You go that right," I stretched.

Serena still wasn't here, but she could still be on her way. I hope she didn't get captured!

"Alyson, Cornandus has yet to penetrate the border, Serena is still safe."

"Well, she needs to get here," I grumbled.

A large chunk of meat was taken out of a back storage and passed to all the dragons who ate it happily.

"The place is well socked," Collin told me. "If we needed we could probably stay here for at least a year."

"Ew, never say that again," Ashley scoffed.

"I agree," I took my breakfast. "Serena should get here today?"

"Yeah, I bet she'll be up and on her way soon, she's kind of a late riser."

Ashley giggled at the comment.

"So what do we do all day?," I asked.

Collin shrugged," Well, we can't leave the cave. The only reason this place is safe is because no one knows we're here."

"So, we just sit here and wait until someone comes to tell us the egg hasn't hatched."

"I'm guessing so, I know about as much as you do."

"Matt seems to know something more," I added only to Luna.

"Yes, he and Beloiuhn both seem very secretive."

"Well, you should get friendly with him, see what they're hiding."

"I doubt he will be that easy to infiltrate."

"Maybe you should try being seductive, turn on the charm," I smirked to myself. "Who knows he could be your mate."

"He is as much of my mate as Matthew is yours," Luna sounded disgusted.

"Ew, okay, yeah you're right. You can do better," I looked over to them. "I just wonder what he knows."

There was movement outside the cave and everyone got quiet. I heard Razor growl deep in his throat as my heart started to race. Collin swiftly moved to grab his knife, crouching near the fireplace.

"Guys, it's Serena," Matt walked to the entrance and waved his hand, there was shimmer in the air that parted and revealed Serena and Verona on the other side.

"Hey guys," she walked in and I took a deep breath.

"Serena, glad you made safely," Ashley smiled to her.

"Got to admit, I did get lost. Flew right past and had to turn around."

"My apologies," Verona bowed her head.

"Just glad to see you're okay," Collin went back to his food.

"Serena, any word?," Matt asked.

"About?," Serena sounded lost.

"Conanadus. Has he attacked?"

"Oh... no. Not that I've heard, but I've been flying for like 3 days so, I'm not sure."

Matt turned and went back to his corner, grabbing food on the way. I put plate down and went up to Serena," I'm glad you made it," I whispered.

She grinned," Thanks," she whispered back. "Why are we whispering?"

I looked back and pulled her into my corner," I need to talk about.. the thing."

Her eyes flashed with understanding," We can't talk about that here," she whispered while watching the others.

"Just tell me... is it 100%?"

"Of course," she said with certainty. "I trust it with my life."

I nodded and pulled back.

"So is it true? You saw the egg?"

"Unfortunately," I groaned. "Feel like forever ago... but still not long enough for it to know it's not mine."

Serena nodded," So it's not Matt?"

I shook my head.

"Crazy, I really thought it would be him."

"I think it's Collin."

Serena looked to him," Better him then me."

"Exactly," I looked to Serena and smiled.

"This is nice. I like to talking to you without fear of more punishment," she rolled her eyes. "Guess I'm kind of lucky that Cornandus is trying to invade us."

"Just don't say that to them."

"Yeah," she nodded. "I'm starving," she made her way over to the food.

"At least she's safe," Luna came back over to the corner.

"Yeah," I sat down.

The days passed slowly, we'd been there for 4 days with no news of anything. Even though I had been and idiot and forgotten my phone, Collin had his and I got to all my mom.

"Hey mom."

"Good morning," she sounded happy.

"Hows it going there?"

"Alyson, she's killing us! Send Help!"

"S.O.S.!"

My brothers shouted in the background.

"I'm making them clean the house," my mom clarified. "It seems when you're not here, they treat this place like a barn."

I miss those idiots, I thought with a smile.

"I want this place to be just as clean and neat as you left it. I'm so excited you'll be home in tomorrow."

"Mom, my flight won't be until Friday," I did the math in my head again about the days I'd been gone.

"Really? I could have sworn Thursday..."

"That's not why I'm calling mom, I kind of had big news..."

"Big news? Bigger than go off to Maine?"

"Well this week at orientation, they've been talking about an advanced summer program, a way to hit the ground running while I'm here."

"What does that mean: advanced summer program?"

I could just imagine her, moving the phone to her other hand, putting her now open hand on her hip with a scrunched look on her face. I bet her hair was in a messy bun and she was wearing her California sweater, that what she always cleans in.

"Well they've been talking about it all week, it starts right after orientation, I'll begin some classes to give me a edge up on other students. I didn't know about it at first...but I think I want to do it," I kept my voice legit, trying to sound hopeful and excited while I bounced my leg with anxiety.

"Honey, you don't need an edge. They already gave you a full ride, believe me, you don't have to do anything else."

"Mom, I have to prove myself, you know. Show them I'm worth it. Besides, they're going to let us all stay in this really nice apartment building next to campus, it's fully furnished and everything! Then I can stay in it all year round."

"What about the dorms?"

"I mean I still can but this is so much nicer, and Serena is going to stay too, so I'll get to live with her," I tried to sound like a hyperactive 8th grader, I even squealed when I said it so I could sell it. It was hard, I just wanted to brek down, but I had to keep up the charade, If I was going to be stuck here, there was nothing my mom could do about it. Even if I broke and told the truth, it wouldn't change things. She couldn't get to me and I couldn't get to her.

"Does that mean you won't come home Friday?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat," No, I'll have to stay, move in and get my books and stuff."

"Not coming home?"," Asher repeated.

"Are you serious? All this work for nothing!?," I heard Ajax moan.

I smiled," Tell them they better star licking the floor so when I do come, it's spotless."

My mom chuckled," I wish you'd come home... if not Friday when?," my mom's voice was sad.

"I'll come home during Labor day weekend. We'll have 3 days!"

"Alyson, that's so far. You don't have any clothes or anything!"

"Mom, I'm fine, I promise... You can trust me."

"I know. I know. It's just... you're my baby. You're the last one I expected to leave the nest..."

"I mean, I don't have to do it mom," I made my voice low, guilt tripping her into submission. "I can come home and just start my classes in August."

"No, no, no. You should do it... it'll be good. You're father and I might have to come visit sooner though. I'm just.. I'm so proud of you, off at college, a full ride... I told you high school grades were important."

"I kniw," I let a real smile slip onto my lips. "And you've got a deal! Just let me know in advance so I can clear my schedule. At least a week in advance," I stressed to her.

"We can do that," she chuckled. "At least you're having fun up there. Making friends... really growing up."

I looked up at the cave I was currently in, the people around me and the huge lie I was drowning in. I'm in a made up world, with my dragon and other people who have dragons hiding in a cave from a evil King because there is a possibility that I can have multiple dragons in which case I will have the powers of a God...Not I would not say I'm having fun or really even making friends. But I was growing up, from what everyone was saying it sounds like a war is about to start here and I'm going to be stuck in it.

"Yeah, I'm having fun," I lied.

"Try to call back later when you're father is here, okay?'

"Sure thing mom. Love you."

"Love you too."

"I know you miss them so," Luna laid her head beside me.

"Yeah... this just sucks. It's like I'm at camp... but I've never went to camp before... if camp had dragons and kings and curses."

"Camp?"

"A place where kids can go for the summer to do outdoorsy things," I told her.

"Well you had your own camp just outside your door, the woods. I know your childhood was spent among the trees."

"You're not wrong. I was always out there."

"If you had not been, we never would have me."

I smiled," That would have been the worst thing I never knew was possible."

"You flatter me," she chuckled.

"At least I bought us so more time... just a bigger lie."

"This will give us time for a solution."

"I fucking hope so... I wonder if there really is war starting out there," I switched to our link instead of talking out loud and looked to the sealed entrance of the cave

"It is my wish that there is not."

"Matt said it's the Dragon Riders that give us some leverage... but what if they die?"

"In wars, casualties are seen on all sides," Luna almost whimpered at the thought.

"I know... but people we know, dragons you've trained with. Like Jesada… or Quinten."

"That would be untold sorrow."

Quinten... I wonder where he is... I hope he's okay. I hope they all are.