Inner Darkness (Book 2 of Dragonfire series)

Chapter 13

I walked down the hallway, knowing who I must find. People who passed me kept their distance. I saw Stella ahead of me, and smiled. She, however, had a different reaction.

"Damnit Alena! Kokel!" My smile faded and I rolled my eyes.

"Why'd you have to ruin the fun Stella? Are you scared of what I'm capable of?" She transformed and stood defensively while her eyes focused on something behind me.

"Kokel, how nice of you to join us, welcome to the party." I slowly turned around and saw the confused look on his face.

"Alena what happened to you?"

"I learned the truth about me and who I really am. I'm done pretending to be like every other Fia in here because you and I both know I'm a hell of a lot stronger than that." He furrowed his brows and looked to Stella.

"Get Professor Waylon and tell him it's urgent." Stella nodded hesitantly before flying to a different part of the castle. I held my palm out and formed a small flame in my hand. I slowly fed the dragonfire into it.

"It's been nice talking to you, but I have somewhere I need to be." I threw the fire at him, but was taken back when he caught it in his hands.

"Alena you don't have to do this, let me help you." How pathetic.

"Ha! Help me? All you want to do is train me into being your puppet. Sorry, but I obey no one." I threw another fireball at him, and made him stumble backwards. He took a defiant step forward and aimed a ball of energy at me. Ok, that one hurt. I growled and lifted myself into the air and summoned my power. A black dragon rose behind me as I formed an energy ball in my hands. It glowed viciously, casting shadows over my face.

"Goodbye Kokel." Just as I pulled my left arm back, ready to throw, a voice called out to me and broke my concentration.

"Alena, stop you need to listen to me!" Stella called out from behind me. She was standing next to Professor Waylon. I was about to attack when I felt it, stronger than ever.

"I don't think that will be necessary Stella." Waylon took a step behind her. She slowly stepped away from him as he lowered his knee to the ground. Dark red light surrounded him, temporarily blinding us all before fading and revealing his true form. Waylon had wings like an Angel, but appeared to be made of metal-like feathers. Black lines ran up his neck and reached the edges of his face. He wore a black and red outfit that made him look very handsome. He flapped his wings and joined me in the air.

"Come Alena, Lord Damien is waiting for you." He held out his hand and I took it boldly. A ball of energy encased us before disappearing and revealing a cave lit only by large sconces filled with fire. My head scanned left to right as I took in my surroundings.

"Hello Alena, I've waited a very long time for this moment." My eyes lit up, literally, as he approached us. Damien was a tall man who was thin, but toned. He wore black pants and a formal black shirt accompanied by a black cape, which in my opinion was a bit much. His skin was a rich, red color.

"Lord Damien I presume?" An evil grin grew on his face as he scanned me up and down.

"Please, call me Damien. Allow me to show you around my home." He offered me his arm and guided me towards his castle. It reminded me of Kronborg, but much older.

"How did you find me? What am I even doing here?"

"I've been keeping an eye on you for a while now, actually. I need you to help me get something. There is a legend of an unstoppable power hidden within another dimension. In order to access that dimension, I need five things; the four element stones and a magic pure enough to open the door."

"Well, in case you didn't notice, I'm not so pure anymore. I've changed into what I really am." A slight laugh escaped his lips as we entered what appeared to be an office.

"The only reason you changed is because of me. Professor Waylon, as you call him, really works for me. I hired him to work with you and train you into what you have now become. When he thought you were ready, he triggered it and brought you here. Despite your appearance, your magic is still pure."

"What if I don't want to help you?"

"You have to, you're sired to me. You feel as if you are in debt to me and will do whatever I ask of you." As long as he doesn't try to pull anything, I don't mind staying here for a while. A creek from the door behind me caused me to quickly turn around and frown in disgust.

"Hello Aradia, Kiora, Ravyn." I could see the anger bubbling up in them from my presence. Ravyn growled angrily and started rushing towards me.

"You little-" Before she could reach me she bounced backwards and held her head in pain. Ravyn gingerly extended her arm until she brushed the force field with her fingertips.

"Nobody is allowed to touch her except for me, do you understand? If I find so much as a mark on her body you witches will have hell to pay." Damien took a defensive stance before me, blocking my view of the witches. I heard the clicking of their heels get further and further away before he turned to face me. "I apologize for that, they are still cranky that you put them in prison." A foreign sounding laugh escaped my lips as I took a step back and leaned against his desk.

"It's not my fault their powers are weak," I said nonchalantly. He stepped closed to me and brushed a piece of hair out of my face.

"Don't worry love, they will be gone soon enough." His hand trailed down my arm, but pulled away before he reached my hand. He went behind his desk and sat in his chair. "You should probably go to your room, you will need all the rest you can get." I nodded obediently and returned to the room he assigned for me. I'll help him enter this other dimension, but he's a fool if he thinks I'm not getting something in return. I will see to it that I get a taste of this "unstoppable power".

Lots of feedback and new readers! I'm a very happy author :)