chapter 6

I did start to make my way to the apartment but before I could even change floors, I overheard James and Zee heading in the other way.

"Where are you going?" Zee was saying.

"Take a wild guess."

"But we were told not to."

"Yeah, I heard."

Neither of them seemed to notice me and James didn't stop walking.

Zee looked back once then followed him. "Wait, I'm coming with you."

I tried to look the other way. Tried to keep walking. But I could still see the afternoon's events playing out and had some burning questions going through my head.

I must've stood there thinking about it for quite a while because by the time I got back outside, the other two were nowhere to be seen. I'd slowed only once to take off my school blazer, not even noticing that as I did so, my hair fell out of its ponytail.

"Hold on a sec." Jay's voice.

"You can't stop…" I started, before actually turning to see him.

"I know. I just thought you might want a quicker way." He had Buddy by his side - the golden hippogiff that was a gift from his dad. I actually grinned at him with anticipation. I couldn't deny I had been wanting to know what it was like to ride one of those but I also knew that it wasn't without dangers.

He helped me onto Buddy's back first, before climbing up in front of me.

"Hold on."

I squeezed my arms around Jay's chest. It felt more comfortable placing my legs under the wings, plus the feeling of its wings pressing my legs to its body made me feel more secure.

With a small yelp, we were off. I had to hold on even tighter after feeling the whoosh of wind and slipping slightly on the feathers. I began to understand why Jay had changed into leggings and put on his hoodie. Even if I had dared to look, I wouldn't have been able to tell where we were going but I trusted Jay's senses to guide us and his connection with Buddy was like an empathy link.

Just as I was hoping Buddy wouldn't actually be taking off flying, I felt the change in terrain and chances opening my eyes a little. There in the mountains.

Thankfully though, instead of flying up the mountain, Buddy veered off to the side, heading towards a steep slope that twisted up and around the side of the mountain.

It wasn't long before I spotted the clearing, a cluster of trees behind it, a tall figure standing in the centre of it, with two other figures on the ground in front of him.

Before Buddy had even stopped, I'd jumped off his back and was running towards them.

"Wait!" I placed myself between Iktheor and the others.

His metal face was expressionless but there was frustration in his voice. "Get out of the way."

"You said you wouldn't hurt me."

"I don't want to." He said, after a small pause, before pointing his blade at me . "Don't make me have to."

But I stood my ground. "I just want answers."

That was all either of us had time to say before a crash and a roar sounded from the side. I turned in time to see a giant Dragul charge out from the cluster of trees. The same Dragul that had escaped and fled into the mountains when the zoo was attacked in the summer. I'd almost forgotten about him I managed to think before I noticed it was pouncing towards me. I gasped, was able to take a small step back and raise my arm slightly before it was on top of me. A sharp, intense stinging pain exploded down my arm and I screamed.

I opened my eyes once and saw a blade in the beast's chest.

I heard someone cry out "No!"

And then I was in someone's arms.

Dad?

I could make out dark brown hands and the ends of short dreadlocks. James.

"You use the memory of my wife against me!" But that was definitely my father's voice. "You don't deserve to even speak her name!"

"Her memory? Is that what they told you? That Isynier is gone."

After hearing the name, I began to see flashes of the cave again. Of this man coming out of a tunnel.

"Isynier is alive!"

I sat bolt upright, only to flinch back down again clutching my arm. It was covered in blood and stung like hell. Only then was I able to hear my own sobs and feel my own tears. I was suddenly glad the school uniform shirt was short sleeved.

"Go on. We can take it from here."

I saw my father crouch down beside James and me but when he knelt, it was more like a stumble.

James was talking to him. "It's only the arm. Nothing serious was hurt."

My father went to hold me. I noticed he was shaking.

"Dad." I placed my uninjured arm around his shoulder. "You still hurt."

But he only shook his head.

"She's right." Was that Maggie? "We need to get all of you back. Quick."

I could feel my father's arms around me, firm but not tight. Oddly enough, the pressure on my blooded arm seemed to help with the pain. But slowly and ever so tenderly, I was lifted away. I had a feeling Maggie was the only one he would give me up to.

"Wait." Jay. "Let me take her back. Same way we got here. It'll be quicker."

This time he held me bridal style on Buddy and instead of galloping back, he went at a steady trot. Opening my eyes, I could see the tops of buildings come into view then drift away behind us. It was somewhat relaxing to watch them but I also had to stifle a chuckle. Quicker huh.

I was almost disappointed when we got there and it came to an end.

Jay took me straight to the infirmary. Once I was laying on my back on one of the beds and my uninjured hand was free, I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Can someone please explain to me what just happened."