Hunting Souls: Taking Flight (2)

Aida-12

"Alanna do you see that up there?" Caleb whispered pointing at the million stars dotting the night sky.

"The... stars? Yea there's lots."

"There are constellations within those, that one over there is Scorpio, the scorpion. This one is Ursa Minor or the Little Dipper."

"Are there stories?"

"Yea I'll have Patch teach you them sometime. There are some that us Pirates know and others don't," he winked.

I gazed at the stars trying to make out the figures he had just pointed out.

"What's that one?"

"That's a seagull," he joked and led my finger to a different set of stars. "This is Calambria, the very first Dragon ever recorded to live."

"What did she look like?"

"She was every color imaginable. When the light hit her scales, every color would reflect off. It was a rainbow of colors."

"What other constellations are there?" I asked eagerly.

"You see the group of stars by the little dipper? Those seven represent Arnasia, the Goddess of Wisdom. I don't know all the facts to this story but there have been accounts of her aiding to those who have proven themselves."

Caleb talked for hours about the different constellations as we sailed. I knew it wouldn't be much longer before I would encounter royalty. Caleb didn't seem too worried about me meeting them. Which I guess meant that he had faith that I wouldn't screw up. I mean how hard can it be?

"Princess?" Patch said shaking my shoulder gently.

"Hmm?"

"There's been an accident, and some of us didn't make it."

"What are you talking about? What accident?"

"Come with me," he urged as we ran up the stairs and I saw the deck filled with flames and debris. How could I have slept through something like this?

"Where's," my voice failed me when I saw Jewel on the ground, her skin burned to a degree that made me blink twice to see if it was her.

"Caleb is dead, Aida." His eyes were dark as I felt my heart give out on me.

I woke up sobbing and felt arms encase me. Making me realize that it was just a dream once more.

"Alanna what's wrong?" Caleb said gently.

"You... died." I sniffled and inhaled his scent just to reassure myself that I wasn't dreaming.

"That won't happen my love."

"This isn't the first time I've dreamed this." I whispered, too scared that if I said it any louder the dream could come true.

"I wouldn't think anything of it Lanna," he kissed my forehead and stoked my cheek reassuringly.

"How are we going to rescue Pyra?" I asked, thinking of a distraction.

"Saraphina will be able to help us once we get to them. No one can match a Dragon's powers."

"Except the Rings?"

"Yea, but no one has ever thought to try their Ring against a Dragon."

I shivered at the thought of a Dragon and their flames being emitted from deep within them. Surely a Ring couldn't be more powerful? Or if the two were banned together... It could make them unstoppable.

Caleb seemed to be reading my thoughts and affirmed my reaction with a nod. "And that's precisely what we plan on doing. If our hunch is correct."