Dragon Seekers

Chapter 27

How Jamie stayed standing was a mystery to him.

His body was trembling and his heart was pounding loudly in his head. He wondered if he was going to pass out from this.

He remembered the first time he felt like this. When he was younger, when the bruises started to become visible, his teacher would ask him for the first time about them. How he lied about him tripping at home.

This situation felt much worse.

One teacher at school was fine because he was used to it. However, he had five pairs of eyes staring at him, judging him. All seven occupants were in a square room that has natural sunlight through the windows brightening up the room. The only pieces of furniture were a large round table and seven chairs. On the table were seven crystals; each one red, blue, light blue, green, white, black and silver. Jamie's egg was safely perched on a cushion next to where Nexus sat. The other Island Leaders were also sat down, each sitting at their represented crystals. Only one chair remained vacant. Cassandra still wasn't here. It gave Jamie some relief, but he can't fully relax yet.

"Thank you all for coming," Nexus greeted. He stared disapprovingly at the empty chair between Mori and Magnus. "I realise that there is one more that needs to arrive, but I have no patience for her right now."

The Leaders also looked at the empty chair, their faces contorting to disappointment and a little bit of relief. Jamie felt more relived himself. He has one less thing to worry about for now.

"What are we doing here, Nexus? You know that I'm not partial to the Ground Lands," Magnus complained. "The Ground Lands"? That's one way of describing the world below the Sky Isles.

"I'm sure that you all know of the earthquake that happened yesterday," Nexus enquired, almost brushing off the last thing Magnus said. He obviously used to comments like that.

"Of course we do. It even occurred in the Sky Isles," Magnus huffed. The other Leaders mumbled in agreement with him, recalling the chaos brought to their own islands. Jamie felt a little guilty as he told himself that it was partly his fault. No. He can't think like that right now. He needs to keep himself as composed as he possibly could. Just until this meeting is over.

"And I'm sure that you've all noticed some of the crystals changing colour also," Nexus continued, again ignoring the comments from the Leaders.

"Get on with it," Blaze growled, waving his left arm in the air. Or at least, half of his left arm. Jamie didn't see it earlier as it was concealed the first time he saw him, but Blaze has a stump where his elbow should be. It almost gave Jamie a heart attack when he suddenly saw that. Nexus breathed calmly as he ignored the outburst.

"Most of the reason behind yesterday's event, were because of this egg. The only one of its kind," he explained as he gestured to Jamie's egg. All the Island Leaders looked at the egg curiously, before they became intrigued by it. As they all eyes at it, Jamie had the urge to take it away from prying eyes, to protect it. However, he kept his feet planted to the ground. He feared about what could happen if he did something like that I'm front of these very important people. They'd probably try to punish him for such an action.

"I've seen them before when I was a child. There used to be more than one years ago," Crystal spoke up, her voice being regal. As she spoke, mist drifted out of her mouth.

"You're sure there is only one left?" Mori asked, patient and downcast as he overlooked the egg carefully. The flower on the vine wrapped around his wrist seemed to wilt a little.

"Yes, sadly," Nexus mournfully sighed, before he straightened his back as much as he could. "It's partly the reason why you're all here. So you can tell your Dragon Seekers to help protect it."