For Now | Dreaming Trilogy | Book 1 (HEAVY CONSTRUCTION)

Phoenix | "I'm Not Nice."

I took a shocked step backwards as Shane lost focus and the mirror shattered to the ground. What's going on?

"Kayla..." He said in an unsteady voice.

My eyes widened. No! This couldn't happen. I wouldn't let it. No one should feel the horror of losing a sibling. No one should know that pain.

"What?" Shyanne asked, running to his side. I flinched as she touched his arm. "We can still save her." She said quietly.

"D-did we miss something?" Jake asked.

"That's..." Shane finally pulled his eyes away from where the mirror had been. His voice broke.

"That's Shane's little sister." I said quietly. I knew what it was like. I couldn't let someone else feel that pain, especially not a friend.

"Go about your jobs, everyone! Jacki, Joie, Jake... Stay here." Piper instructed. People left all too slowly.

"What do we do? We don't have Jael!" Jacki asked, her voice rising. Shyanne winced, like she'd been trying to deny that as a fact.

"Hush!" Joie scowled at her sister.

"It is a disadvantage..." Piper muttered.

"What if Kayla is the fourth Dreamer? We need her. She is an important piece." Jake offered, stepping forward.

"She will be needed." Jacki agreed.

"I could fill in for her!" Grinned Joie.

Jacki rolled her eyes. "That's impossible."

"Jacki is right. The prophecy calls for people not of this realm." Piper corrected.

"Then we definitely need the girl." Jake said.

"We need someone to take Jael's place as Captain." Piper said, ignoring Jake.

"You should do it. She trusted you most." Shyanne said, looking up from the floor.

"Me?" Piper asked, looking surprised.

"I could totally do it!" Joie shouted.

"Would you shut up, Joie?" Jacki finally snapped. "Piper is better suited for the job."

Piper nodded. "I will accept the responsibility. We will hold the meeting after all this is sorted out. Speaking of, it is certainly a trap. Thousands have died from the Nightmare already. We will not risk our people for one more girl."

Shane looked horrified, and clung to Shyanne, burying his face in her shoulder. I growled, and my body started to glow with raw power. I shook, my vision blurring into flames. "You can't leave her for dead!" I shouted. The dragon fairies flew back.

"I will not risk my people for a child." Piper said, looking me in the eyes.

"YET YOU'D RISK US FOR A WOMAN?!" I screamed. "You won't leave Kayla there! She'll be killed and I will NOT let you kill my friend's sister! I won't let him know that pain! Not after Jael, not after..." I paused. I couldn't say her name. "I won't let this happen." I finally said.

"Please, don't leave her!" Shane begged, looking at Piper.

"Don't do this." Shyanne pleaded.

Piper shook her head. "You three have no power over this. My decision is made."

"Your decision is wrong!" I shouted, angry and horrified by Piper's choices.

Piper turned, making everyone except myself and the other Dreamers follow her out the door.

"Jael wouldn't do this." Shyanne said bitterly.

Piper paused as everyone passed her out the door. She barely looked over her shoulder, and I saw tears rolling down her cheeks. "Well, I'm not Jael, now am I? She's not HERE." She flew out without saying anything else.

There was silence except Shane weeping into Shyanne's shoulder. I was frozen, powerless.

No. No, wait. I wasn't powerless. I tried to summon my sword. Nothing happened. I growled. "Dry your tears and pack up."

He sniffled and looked at me. "What?"

Shyanne gave me a confused look.

"You heard me." I snapped.

"Why?" Shane asked dejectedly.

"Because I'm not going to sit back and let someone die. We're going on a rescue mission." I'd decided this as soon as Piper had given Kayla a death wish.

Shane's eyes lit up. "Really? You'd do that for me?"

I sighed, rolling my eyes. "It's not for you. It's for your sister. And if I hear one word from either of you about thanking me or saying I'm 'nice,' I'll put you through worse than The Nightmare ever could. I'm not nice. I'm a storm with skin."

Shane smiled a little, wiping his tears off on his sleeve. "Whatever you say, Phoenix."

I nodded. "Go pack some food, guys. I'll be waiting."

They both ran off.

Yeah, I can be nice. But I'm not.