Chapter 9

Return to High School

Ky had evidently been shopping on his little expedition, as the next morning, he was eating breakfast in Arelyshian clothing. "Whoa. Who are you and what did you do to Ky?"

"Good morning to you too. You look nice." This morning, I had woken up early to check on the egg, and had looked what I was going to wear. The short black skirt looked really cute with the sky blue halter I had chosen. The kitchen was clean, and breakfast was already made.

"Thanks. Ready to catch the bus?"

"Why don't we just fly?"

"Because we aren't Dragons here. We are just regular teenagers waiting for the bus."

"Fine. How's the egg?"

"She's good. Moku and Arishka awake yet?"

"Arishka is, but Moku is still snoring away."

"I figured. We have to go now. Do you need help getting to the main office?"

"I should manage."

"Okay. I see you at lunch. Make sure they put you in sixth period lunch."

"Will do."

I grabbed his hand, and we walked to the door. Jewel and Coral were already there, and looked at us open-mouthed. "I thought you had mono?" Jewel looked worried.

"Yeah, but I'm a fast healer. Have you guys seen Amara recently?"

"Yeah, we saw her yesterday. When did you see her?" Coral was chewing on her nail nervously.

"She dropped by yesterday."

"Sorry that we didn't warn you. She asked us not to." Jewel frowned and looked sad.

"It's all right."

"So, who's this?" In all the madness, I had completely forgotten about Ky. I smiled at him apologetically and laced my fingers through his.

"This, my friends, is Ky. Ky, this is Jewel, and Coral."

"Pleasure to meet you. Alya has told us a lot about you."

"She speaks very highly of you."

"Oh, here's the bus. Is Ky going to school with us?"

"Yeah, he'll be here for a while."

Once the bus had pulled up, and we were inside, Ky motioned for me to sit in the seat behind Coral and Jewel and slid in beside me. "Okay, here's what you do to get to the main office. You take a left at the student room and follow the first corridor to the back of the school. It'll be the first door to your left. Here's a map to find your classes," I handed it to him, "And I'll meet you outside the lunch room for sixth period lunch."

"And I'm supposed to remember this..."

I laced my fingers through his again and squeezed lightly. "Trust me, you will."

"Yeah, well, if I don't make it to lunch, try searching the halls. I'll be in the gym, looking lost and confused."

"No, you won't. I have faith in you."

"You'd better, because our lives may depend on me finding you quickly if necessary."

I pulled out my blue highlighter. "If you're going to be a wet blanket about it, then here are my classes." I marked in blue where they were.

"And how am I supposed to know where you are at what time?"

I sighed and waved a hand over the paper. Little black numbers appeared in the corner of the boxes corresponding to my classes. "There you go. Any more complaints?"

"Yeah, just one."

"What is it now?"

"Just that I haven't kissed you yet today." he leaned over, and I made sure to fulfill his complaint, even with the whistling jocks in the back cheering us on.

When we arrived, we parted ways, and I headed off to class. "Alya! Nice to see you back. The room has been strangely dark without you here."

I smiled at Mr. Kenyon, and went for my seat in the back of the room, next to Coral. We all talked until Mr. Y came in, and the room was quiet. We all stared mindlessly at the blackboard until the bell rang, and we all headed off to class. There were no hallway encounters on my way to accelerated English, but all I could think about was Ky. Hey, how are you holding up so far?

Fairly well. I have a surprise for you.

What?

If I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise. You'll find out soon enough anyway.

He broke off the connection before I could pester it out of him, so I just went in the door to English. Pierre was absent, so I just sat next to his empty seat with Jewel and Jacques.

"What's wrong with Pierre?"

"He has the flu. He will be back tomorrow, hopefully."

We waited for about five minutes, until Mrs. Ludwig walked in the door late. "Okay, class. Before we start, I have an announcement. We have a new student joining our class. He will be here for a while, so get used to him being here. Be nice. Okay, you can come in."

She motioned to the door, and in walked the last person I expected to see. Right in the entrance to the classroom was Ky, in all his Arelyshian-looking glory.

What are you doing here?

I told them you were the only person here that I know, and they put me in all your classes. That's my surprise. Don't you think that's great?

It's really great. I didn't mean it to sound like I wasn't happy to see you.

I know.

"There's a seat beside Alya. You can sit there. Pierre will have to be moved to beside Jacques. He was asking to be moved anyway."

I wonder why?

"Now that that's settled, we can start our class. Would anyone like to tell me the correct use of the adjective run in a past perfect sentence?"

After class, we went to my locker, and I grabbed my books. He swept one hand out. "After you."

We walked to my geography class, and during a lecture on the history of the Mesopotamian cultures and religion, Ky was called down to the office. "Probably a printed up version of my schedule." He whispered in my ear as he walked out the door.

The class ended with him still in the office, and I began walking to my History and Protocol of Magic class, when out of nowhere, I was slammed gently against the lockers, and Ky was smiling down at me. "Hello."

"Hi."

Before I could ask where he had been, his lips were on mine, and we were kissing like we had never kissed before. He pulled back suddenly, and when I opened my eyes, Matt was holding him by the collar and pulling him back. "That's my girlfriend you're kissing there, you idiot! What did you think you were doing?"

"First of all, Matt, I am not your girlfriend. I would never make that mistake twice. Secondly, let my boyfriend go. You're hurting him."

"So this is your new squeeze? Better guard your balls, kid. She's a nut cracker."

"Don't you have any manners? You don't talk like that around women, especially around my girl."

"Girl? Man, she's a whore. She's been out with every guy in this school at least once."

"I have not!"

"I'm warning you. Don't talk about her like that." His green eyes flashed, and I saw scales begin to appear on his neck. I grabbed his arm and pulled him back.

"It's all right. He's not worth it. Calm down." I stroked his back, and whispered in his ear until the scales were gone, and the Ky I knew was back. "Why would you do that? He's done nothing to you! Pick your fight with me!"

"What fight? I have no fight. People just need to know that you're a cheating tramp."

"Okay, first of all, I'm no tramp, whore or slut, cheating or otherwise. You're just making up shit to piss us off. Second, don't mess with me unless you want your family jewels frozen onto the top on Mount Everest. I'll even make sure that you can still feel them."

"You wouldn't dare."

"Why does no one think I have any nerve? I'll say it again. Try me." I glared at him, and put a hand in the air, my fingers in my usual spell-casting position.

He raised his hand to slap me, but someone behind him caught it.

"So, tough guy, want to tell me what you're doing?" Mr. Kenyon was right behind him. "Tell me you were not about to strike a lady, let alone Alya, who's done nothing to anybody?"

"He called her a whore, and was messing with her boyfriend to get Ky to hit him."

The freshman I had saved from Anora, Alex, spoke up, and smiled at me. I smiled back and looked at Matt viciously. "You ever try to harm me or Alya again, and I will make sure that you are not going to see the light of day for a long, long time." Ky spoke from behind me and I leaned back against him to get him to calm down, since his Dragon claws were digging into my waist.

"Mr. Leevy, head to the principals office. He's expecting you. Tribiani, Kragin, you'd better get to class. I'll make sure that Mrs. Micheals knows why you were held up."

"Yes, Mr. Kenyon. Thank you, Alex."

"Anytime, Alya. I owe you."

I reached for Ky's hand and we walked off to History and Protocol together. "So, what happened at the principal's office?"

"Arishka called. She wanted to let us know that our egg is fully hardened and healthy as a Dragon full-term should be."

"That's good news. You wouldn't have attacked me like that over the hardening, though. What else did she say and why didn't she mentally contact us?"

"That was all Arishka said, and she said that she was too tired to get a hold of us."

"So why are you so happy?"

"Simply because I'm in love with the most beautiful girl in the world, and she is flawed enough to love me back."

"Okay, quit it with the sucking up. What really happened?"

"Fine. Tartea got a message from Moonily that the Dragon is not only a girl, but she is Goddess marked."

"What does that mean?"

"That means, my dear, that you are the mother of the most powerful Dragon in the history of the world."

"You're not telling me something, but I'll let it go for now. I have my ways of making you squeal."

"Oh really?"

"Like a baby pig." I nipped his ear again, and walked into class while he was still dumb-founded outside the door.

Coral was already sitting in her seat and when I sat down, she moved over a seat and motioned for me to sit where she had. "Why did we move?"

"To make a seat for Ky. Where did you snag him, anyway? He's a total babe."

"Yeah, he is. I met him at the Green Dragon temple." It was the truth.

"Really? When did you go there? And why was he there? Is he all right?"

"Yes, really. I went the day before I was out, to ask for something. He was there a lot, apparently, and he's as healthy as a Dragon." Again, all the truth.

"What did you ask for? And why was he there a lot?"

"That's between me and the Green Dragon, and he spends a lot of time there for some reason. He didn't tell me." Totally truthful. He didn't have to tell me he was the Green Dragon. I figured that one out on my own.

By this time, Ky had explained to the teacher why he was there, and was sitting right beside me, holding my hand under the desk. He pushed a note into my hand and let go. I wondered why he hadn't just asked me mentally until I opened the note. It wasn't from Ky, but from a girl in the front of the class that I had spoken to once about signing up for cheerleading. Her suggestion, not mine. Those air-headed bimbo's aren't my crowd.

Sorry to contact you like this, but I figured that you and Ky were close. I saw your display in the hallway, and thought that he could get this to you without raising suspicion. I need to talk with you. It's important. If you would meet me in the freshmen girls bathroom after sixth period, I'll fill you in on what you need to know. It's nothing harmful, but it may be important to whether or not you stay alive in the next few weeks. Sorry if that freaks you out.

Rednalla

I handed the note to Ky, who read it over. It's not the Black Dragon.

How do you know?

It's not his style to give warnings. Besides, he wouldn't know who you are yet. Menoly would never tell, and she's the only unprotected Dragon.

The answer hit me like a train. I clapped myself on the head, and caused Coral to look at me as if I were to be committed to the mental institution. Ky! My handmaiden! She saw us! She could have told the Black Dragon who we were. They aren't under oath of loyalty under torture!

You're right, but I doubt it is him. I think you should go.

I will, but I want you to come with me.

What about class?

We have a break after lunch, and if you're worried about it being a girls toilet, you can just cast an invisibility spell.

I won't need to cast an invisibility spell and use up all of my strength.

Then what will you do? What will Rednalla think if I bring a boy in with me?

I never said I would be visible. You know how you can change into any animal?

How can I forget?

My power is to turn invisible without a spell. You'll never have to cast the spell again.

Cool.

So, I nodded to Rednalla, and turned my attention back to the lecture.

After class, we coasted through the next three classes in a haze. I got no notes written, and couldn't remember anything past "good morning, class" in any of the three lectures. Ky had the same blank look at the beginning of lunch that I suspected was mimicked on my own face. We headed to the entrance of the girls bathroom, and when we were sure that noone was watching, Ky disappeared, and I could feel his hand on my back as we walked through the door.

Inside were the usual girls fixtures. Three sinks, four stalls, five mirrors, and a couch, should the need strike us to take a nap between class. Sitting on the red couch, her royal purple shirt clashing horribly, was Rednalla, a grim smile sitting on her lips. I locked the door behind us, and made sure there was noone in the stalls. After making sure we couldn't be overheard, I turned back to Rednalla, and felt Ky's hand brush my own. "Why did you bring me here?"

"You mean us, don't you? Ky, you may come out, it's safe." The voice coming from the teenage girl wasn't the same one that had tried to convince me to join cheerleading. This one was different. It was ethereal, and I felt completely at peace. Ky reappeared and took my hand. We both looked to the strange girl and waited for her to speak again.

"I'm sorry to bring you here this way, but if I show you who I am, they will find me, and in turn, find you. I know who you are. I should, seeing that I am the one that assigned you."

"Can you prove it?" I asked respectfully, because if she was who she implied she was, she deserved all respect.

"Alya, the Blue Dragon, bonded to the dragon Ultimatra, and mother of the second Blue-Green offspring, and adopted mother of the Original. And Ky, the Green Dragon, bonded to the dragon Tartea, and father of the second Blue-Green Offspring."

I was convinced, but Ky still looked skeptical. "Are you the Goddess? That is the only way we will be able to trust you."

Suddenly, Rednalla's lower body conformed into a frog's before disappearing completely. "Those are the only two I can show you at the moment. This body is constricted. Do you believe me now?"

"We do." Ky and I chorused.

"Then hear this. You are in danger, as are your offspring. For today you are safe, but they will attack on Sunday. You must be gone by then, the little ones with you. There is a war coming upon us, and it is coming swiftly. Get out of here now if you want to survive. The only safe place is in the Lost Temple of the Goddess, and you will need special access. "

"How will we get in?" I asked carefully.

"Just take the egg. It is goddess-marked, as are you. The combined markings will open the door in the center of Lake Meridia, and noone else shall be allowed access unless they are touching you and the egg."

"And Moku and Arishka? Will they be safe?" Ky sounded worried.

"They will not attack the Gold and Red Dragons. You need to get to class quickly, and get to the house as fast as you can. May your journey be safe for as long as possible." Rednalla's form began to glow purple and she collapsed to the ground as the purple rose. She looked up a few seconds later, and was almost astonished by what she saw. "Alya Tribiani?" Her voice had returned to normal, and Ky had returned to his invisible state.

"Yes, you collapsed as you were coming out. Luckily, I was here to catch you."

"Thank you, but I have to go to class. I'm sorry for falling on you."

I quickly unlocked the door with a spell behind my back. She walked through the door, and was gone. I watched her retreating back and sighed. "What's wrong?" Ky's disembodied voice asked over my shoulder.

"Could you reappear? This is giving me a headache, and I feel like an idiot talking to the wall."

He reappeared two feet from my face, and smiled. "Then you should feel right at home, huh?"

"Funny. How are we going to get home early without raising suspicion?"

"I have an idea. Which way is the nurses office?"

"You take a left and follow the hall. What are you up to?"

"That's for me to know and you to find out, love."

He kissed me on the cheek and walked out the door ghostly and invisible. I splashed warm water on my face and tried to recall all that "Rednalla" had run by us. There wasn't much, but enough to confuse even Einstein. The bell rang, indicating lunch was over, and I walked down to my History of Magical Creatures. Everyone thinks that the teacher, Mr. Krawley, was a complete loon, and thought that nymphs and fairies were real. I used to think so about his theory on Dragons, but right now, I wouldn't be surprised at all if a fairy revealed itself as my godmother. As soon as I walked into class, Mr. Krawley shook his head and pointed toward the door, "Alya, you're wanted in the office. Apparently, there is someone waiting for you there."

There were choruses of "ohhh" coming from the class as I walked toward the door. Suddenly, before I opened the door, Mr. Krawley shouted, "Stop!"

I jolted back around and stared at him. "What?"

"Where did you get that tattoo on your ankle?" I looked down, and the tattoo was evident on my ankle, despite the illusion spell I had cast early that morning to rid myself of any Dragon-like qualities.

"I had it done while I was sick. My mom thought it was a good late birthday present." I put on my best innocent face and used every ounce of my acting skills.

"Why that one?" he looked suspicious, as though I were some kind of murderer.

"I thought it looked cool. It's my favorite color, too."

"You realize that's a Dragon tattoo, right? It means water. And what's the name written under it?"

"I think its Ultimatra, but I was never sure. The artist thought it fit with the tattoo, and I let him do it."

"That's funny. It looks identical to the pictures of the tattoos of Dragons of the past."

The class erupted in laughter. "Mr. Krawley, everyone knows that Dragon's don't exist. They're people appointed to the role by the Zarbor, and they can't even transform! They are totally fake." Someone in the back called out in his most Duh! voice.

I clenched my fist at my side and fought the urge to spill my most guarded secret. I walked out of the class with a shrug and a giggle, and walked to the office. Inside was Ky, and he looked awful. I rushed in, and put a hand on his head. It was burning hot, and he looked up at me. His eyes were sparkling, and he slight smiled, teeth glinting.

What are you up to?

Getting us out of school without raising suspicion.

Just then, the principal walked out to the main office, and looked sympathetically at Ky. "First day here, and you're already sick as a dog. Since Alya's mother can't make it here, I'm having Alya take you back to her house."

"Mother?" Mother wasn't due back home for two more weeks.

"She said her name was Arishka." The principal looked slightly suspicious. That seemed to be happening to me a lot lately.

"Oh. She must have gotten back." I smiled innocently at her, and batted my eyes. I helped Ky up, and helped him out to the street, where he was instantly better.

"Nice. I thought that you were really sick. What did you do?"

"Illusion spell, with a heat spell."

"But that's really dangerous. It could have caused more brain damage than is already there."

"Haha. But seriously. We need to get the eggs, and fly out of here as fast as we possibly can. The only way to do that was to have Arishka say she couldn't make it out of her "meeting" and that you would have to escort me home."

"Good thinking, but next time, just use the illusion spell. Maybe make yourself throw up. Nurse Realy hates the sight of vomit."

"Good to know, but I'm not planning on coming back to this school. The teachers are mean, the classes are hard, the ex-boyfriends are assholes..."

I laughed and grabbed his hand. He relaxed and we walked home to find it falling apart. Not literally, although it was a mess. There were candy wrappers scattered all over the living room, and the dishes in the kitchen were stacked up to the ceiling. "MOKU!!!!! What did you do to my HOUSE!!!!!!"

He walked out sheepishly, and looked down at his feet. "He ate it, that's what." Arishka walked into the room with both eggs on a pillow in her hands. I picked up the boy egg, and handed our daughter to Ky. We looked to Arishka and Moku sadly and Moku looked up at me. "What's wrong, Alya?"

"Nothing."

"I know you better than that, Alya. By now, I can see right through you, like a stained glass window."

"You can't even read me like that, and I'm your brother!"

"Well, you're complicated. Alya, however, is simple, and easy to understand. She's like the sister I never had."

"Awww. That's so sweet. But seriously, there's nothing wrong." I ran a hand through my hair and muttered under my breath, "We just have to live under a lake for a while."

"WHAT!!!!" They both screamed at the same time.

"It's no big deal. We'll just be living in the Goddess's Lair, and we'll have to stock up on food, water, and possibly cable TV. Ky, you can step in at any time now."

"I think that you explained it pretty well."

"Thanks, mouse."

"Anytime, love." I glared at him, and he smiled. Funny, he seems to be smiling a lot more lately.

"Well, I think that you both are mentally insane. Are you seriously going to live in a cave together, with only each other?"

"Well, I guess we have no choice."

"You realize that we'll have to visit every once and a while to make sure that both of you are still alive?" Moku smiled at me, and pulled Arishka toward him.

I looked to Ky, who wrapped his arm around me also. I leaned into him, and took our egg. I cradled them into my torso, and waited until Arishka began talking again. After a while of silence, I placed the eggs onto a pillow and disentangled myself from Ky. After setting the eggs onto the couch, I walked into the kitchen and began preparing a bag full of food and supplies that we may need in the temple. I was packing lamps and batteries when Ky walked in. He came up behind me and set the eggs onto the counter. I sighed and sat down by the table. He sat behind me and began rubbing my shoulders. I leaned into him and turned my head to look into his eyes. "I really don't want to leave them, Ky. I would stay here if we weren't in so much danger!"

"I know, love. It'll be all right. We just have to put up with few months of seeing each other 24/7."

"Happy, happy, joy, joy. Why do I have to look at you every day?"

"Because you love me. And, because I have a hold of your neck." He squeezed my neck lightly, and I laughed.

"Well, that's true. I guess I can put up with you for a month or two."

I could feel him smile. "Oh really?"

"Yes, really, although it will be somewhat of a challenge. I mean, there is that morning breath."

"That's dragon breath, thank you very much."

"It's your lie, tell it anyway you want to. All I know is that my breath is nowhere close to that when I wake up."

"Ha ha. Well, obviously you haven't woken up beside yourself. You have the most bloodshot eyes in the morning if you don't wake up after noon. And, you sleep like a rock."

"Excuses, excuses. You're just pulling stuff out of your ass, and you know it."

"Well, none of that bothers me anyway. That just means that I don't have to listen to you whine."

"Very funny."

"Isn't it?"

"So, how was your first day of high school?" I turned around to look him in the eye.

"Let's see. I'm in every one of my girlfriends' classes, her ex-boyfriend is psychotic, and I got to go home sick because my daughter is special. Overall, I can say it was a very interesting day."

"Even for a Dragon?"

"Even for a Dragon." When he said the last bit, I finally got the memory of Mr. Krawley's discovery.

"Ky, one of my teachers recognized Olympia's mark. He might even be spreading rumors in the school right now."

"No worries. People always disguise themselves to look like us, past and present alike. Your teacher shouldn't have a leg to stand on."

The mental picture of Mr. Krawley with only one leg stood out clearly in my mind. I giggled, and Ky looked at me funny. "What did I say?"

I sent him the picture, and he chuckled. "That's not what I meant, but we could always do that, too. What do you think these freakishly large teeth are for?" He had never used an illusion spell to cover his teeth, so they glinted fiercely at me. I removed my spell, and relaxed when the pressure eased out of me at not having to keep my secret safe temporarily.

✵

We set off late that night, under the cover of darkness. We flew to Lake Meridia, the eggs cushioned in a pack between my shoulder blades, away from my sharply spiked wings. Ky had the pack of food with my laptop and all of our necessaries, including bath oils and hygiene products like soap and shampoo. We reached the center of the lake around midnight. I grabbed Ky's outstretched hand, and pulled out my daughter. I closed my eyes and concentrated really hard, and visualized the water parting to reveal a door of some kind. Ky inhaled sharply and I looked down. The water had separated right underneath us, and a hole was exposed. I nudged him, and we went into a nose dive straight into the darkness, not knowing what may lie inside.