Dragon Academy

Chapter 5

'Destiny...it's your destiny...'

Madison fell off her bed with a thump.

'Ow!' she rubbed her head and fought off the tangled covers. It took her a good few minutes to kick them away by which time she was fully awake. Great! Another fantastic start to the day, she thought as she got off the floor.

The dreams were becoming more frequent and, she rubbed her head, more dangerous. On the bus ride to work she listened to her playlist, watching the world go past. Shops, people hurrying to work and empty parks swept past. Summer was turning into autumn and scarves and coats were making their debut again. She lifted her eyes to see the iconic bulk of Edinburgh castle perched majestically on the steep rocky cliff overlooking the modern city below it. Old and new co-existing in what seemed to be seamless harmony. She sighed and settled back in her seat. She loved this view of the castle. It looked so solid, like it could withstand anything. She had always loved history and the stories flitted through her mind again. It felt comfortable. She turned her head to look out another window and caught a curious look directed her way.

The man looked away immediately, redirecting his eyes to the front of the bus. Had it been her imagination? She didn't think so. He had definitely been staring at her, and it hadn't been a fleeting look either. It was as if he had been contemplating her for some time. She shook her head, she was becoming paranoid. She had recently been watching crime dramas. Her mind was now making up its own dramas. She sighed and gathered her things, preparing to leave the bus at the next stop.

She slung her knapsack over her shoulder, readjusted her headphones and walked to the front of the bus, passing the man. She barely glanced at him as she went past. From her stop on Princes Street she walked to Mr. Campbell's shop which was hidden away in one of the smaller alleyways in the old town. It was as though it was trying not to be found by potential customers. And yet they usually had a steady stream of devotees. She really had no idea why when she had first started working there. But for some reason the longer you spent in the shop, the more it grew on you. It felt...safe for want of a better word. There was no other way of putting it. It felt warm and welcoming, sure, but many places felt like that. But this was different. It was a secluded hideaway where people could be themselves. Like a clubhouse. She laughed at herself now as she trudged up the Mound, the sweeping steep hill leading towards the old town and the castle, separating modern Edinburgh from the ancient Royal Mile. She cursed her stupidity as her legs started to ache with the strain. What had induced her to wear her knee high boots? But they went well with her short black and white chequered skirt and tights. She sighed. Common sense and fashion did not go well.

'Morning!' she called out brightly, entering the small shop and letting the door clatter shut behind her.

'Ah, lass, you're here.' Mr. Campbell's standard greeting always mad her feel like her turning up every day was a continual source of surprise to him. She smiled and nodded, heading for the basement to drop off her bag.

'Is that shelf almost done?'

Madison wiped a hand across her eyes tiredly. It was past lunchtime and she had been busy organising books again. She wasn't sure why she was still arranging the Medieval shelf, but she didn't want to ask. Mr. Campbell seemed to be a bit distracted today. He had already shouted at her twice when he thought the books had been arranged wrong and when one of the heavier volumes had clattered to the floor when she hadn't held it properly.

'Careful with that!' he had snapped, appearing miraculously next to her as soon as it had thumped to the ground, 'That's a one of a kind! It's precious.'

Really? She had eyed it doubtfully. It looked like a book of fairy-tales from the images of dragons and witches on the cover. She had shrugged, dusted it off and placed it back on the shelf above her head, praying it wouldn't fall on her head.

She nodded now as he peered over his glasses at her. 'Good. Finish it and you can take a break.'

Finally! She moved the step ladder to a different location along the shelf and started dusting the books again. Her back was to the door, so she didn't see the customer that came in.

'Good after...' she heard Mr. Campbell's usual greeting die in mid sentence. Peering over her shoulder she saw a tall man walking slowly towards the counter. Mr. Campbell's eyes were riveted to the stranger, an odd expression on his face, she couldn't place.

'You?'

The man nodded and tilted his head in her direction. Mr. Campbell glanced at her and quickly looked at the stranger again. 'How...can I help you?'

The stranger must have said something because Mr. Campbell came round the counter and led the way to the basement.

'Watch the shop lass,' he called out over his shoulder, disappearing down the stairs.

Before the man followed him, he turned slightly and she caught a fleeting glimpse of his face before he turned away again and followed Mr. Campbell, vanishing from view. Madison frowned. She was sure he looked familiar, but there was no way she knew him. She sighed and kept dusting.