Dragon Academy

Chapter 4

Coming home from work, Madison opened the front door, humming to herself her earphones firmly in her ears. Walking into the hallway, she dropped her bag on the floor, heading for the living room. It wasn't a large house by any means and within a few short steps she was standing next to the closed living room door. She frowned and pulled the earphones away. This door was never closed. Her hand reached for the handle and froze. There were voices raised in argument coming from the other side.

'...you can't keep doing this!' It was an older woman's voice, and one she knew as well as her own. Madison frowned, grandma?

'Why not? We have left that madness...'

Mum? Why were they arguing? Common sense told her to open the door and find out, but something else made her wait and listen.

'Madness? It's a gift Sarah,' her grandmother replied in her haughty voice and Madison knew she had been offended, 'Just because you couldn't or wouldn't use it...'

'I wanted to be normal!' her mother cut in, 'I will not let her go through what I did...'

'And what exactly was that?' The question hung in the air.

'You never understood,' Madison strained to hear the low words, 'I didn't have friends...'

'You had much more, and you gave it up!' There was a pause and then, 'Let her decide Sarah, it's her birth right.'

'No, I won't allow it.'

Her grandmother sighed. 'She will decide one way or another. This is not something that can be hidden forever.'

She heard footsteps coming towards the door and her heart started pounding. They couldn't find her eavesdropping! She scuttled backward, heading for the front door. Inside the living room, Madison's grandmother turned to regard her harassed looking daughter.

'She is at the age of acceptance this year. The family trees have been drawn and the scouts have been searching.' Her clear grey eyes bored into her daughter's horrified ones. 'She is on their list and like it or not she will learn about her gifts.' She smiled then, a small encouraging smile. 'You found it hard. If you tell her now, it will help her prepare...'

'Never!' Sarah shook her head vehemently, making her red curls bounce, 'She will not be part of that world.'

Her mother nodded. 'Fair enough. I've done my part, the rest is up to them.' She opened the door and walked into the hallway to see Madison closing the front door behind her.

Gran!' Madison tried to look surprised, 'What are you doing here?'

Megan Reeve smiled at her granddaughter who looked like a mirror image of herself, only much younger. 'I came by to see your mother, but I'm glad I've caught you.' She hugged her tightly so that Madison could smell her customary perfume. She always smelt of violets and vanilla with a hint of musk. It was an intoxicating scent, one she loved.

'I thought you were leaving?'

Madison opened her eyes to see her mother over her grandmother's shoulder. She was trying to look calm, but Madison could tell she was upset by the way her eyes narrowed slightly and by the way her hands clasped and unclasped.

'Yes, I'm about to.' Megan pulled away from the embrace and smiled at Madison again. 'I have to be somewhere, but I'll visit again.' Her eyes twinkled,' Maybe we'll go have some of that gorgeous ice-cream you love!'

'That would be amazing.'

'Be good, my darling,' she kissed her lightly on the cheek. Madison felt as though she had meant to say something else. Her mother must have thought so too because she walked quickly towards them, patted her mother's arm and led her to the door.

'You don't want to be late, mum.'

'No, I don't want to be late,' Megan paused on the threshold and glanced at Madison before looking at her daughter's slightly flushed face. 'Think about what I said, Sarah.' And with that she left, the door shutting behind her.

'Mum? You okay?'

Sarah turned to see Madison looking carefully at her. 'Of course!' She swallowed the lump in her throat and changed the subject. 'How was your day?'

'Mr. Campbell kept me busy,' Madison shrugged, 'as usual.'

'Uh huh,' Sarah mumbled distractedly, 'that's nice.'

'Uh, mum?' She looked back at Madison, 'Um, why was gran here? I mean, she doesn't normally visit.'

'Oh she wanted to talk about something to do with the family. Don't worry about it,' she smiled, 'I need to make a phone call.' She started walking away. 'Pizza for dinner?'

Madison nodded. 'Sure.'

She watched her mother walk into the small room at the far end of the hallway she used as an office. She didn't believe her mother's explanation. None of what she had overheard made any sense. Everything was weird, even work didn't seem normal. She shook her head and wished she hadn't eavesdropped. If only she had opened the door...