Inner Darkness (Book 2 of Dragonfire series)

Chapter 23

I woke the next morning trying desperately to remember my dream. I remember it was important...what was it! I laid there angrily as I racked my brain for any sort of clue as to what I envisioned. After a solid five minutes of furrowing my brows, I gave up and got out of bed.

Kokel gave me a few days to take it easy before returning to my classes. My teachers graciously exempt me from any tests or projects that were due while I was kidnapped by an evil King and held in a creepy cave. Some girls actually complained that I was exempt from the work. You know, why don't you try getting kidnapped and forced to turn into the evilest parts of you and open some crazy ass dimension to steal a power that makes you practically invincible and use it to fight your kidnapper in an effort to to save your friends then kill someone, and after all that, watch your boyfriend die and have to bring him back to life you little bitches. Despite my thoughts, I held my tongue and decided it was best to not socialize with those not in my immediate friend group.

During the day while my friends were at class, I snuck up to the third level of the castle and sat in my old spot by a window in an unused room. I stared out at the courtyard, hoping to remember my dream from the previous night. I feared it had something to do with the witches, seeing as the last time I saw them was after I came out of the portal. They must have slipped away while my friends and I were running from Damien's Phoenix form. How nice of them to use me as bait for their escape.

Finally, the last bell rang and I went to Stella's room.

"Alena, have you ever considered the thought that a bad dream is exactly that, just a bad dream? With no foreshadowing darkness behind it? It's normal to have meaningless dreams by the way." I threw a pillow at her and slouched back against the remaining pillows on her bed.

"I know Stel, I just have a feeling this one had something to do with the witches. I had those weird dreams in the past and they actually happened! What if I dreamt something about the witches? About them coming to Kronborg or destroying something? They are still out there you know..." I suddenly became aware that I had been staring mindlessly out her window for the past few minutes. I blinked rapidly and tears flooded my eyes, giving me my sight back.

I looked over to Stella who had stopped listening when she started painting her nails. I chuckled and decided to go and talk to Kokel about the matter.

"Hey where are you going?"

"Nowhere, I'll be back in a little bit." I walked at a brisk pace to Kokel's office, eager to share what little information I had.

"Come in Alena," Kokel said just as I was about to knock on his door. I hate when he does that. I walked right up to his desk and started ranting.

"Ok, so I had a dream last night and I know it was something really important but for some reason I can't remember it. I've had a bad feeling all day and I think it's somehow connected to the witches." Kokel sat up straight and took off his glasses.

"The witches? What makes you so sure it is them you dream of?"

"It's just a guess but it wouldn't surprise me, I mean, do we have any idea where they are? The last time I saw them was after I came out of the dimension with the magic in my hands. They disappeared at some point during my fight with Damien. They are the only threat still out there." Kokel shook his head and stood up.

"Alena dear, you need to stop worrying yourself and get some rest! Do you not hear what you're saying? You are too paranoid, allow your mind to just relax and feel safe. I will look into things, but after I do, I expect you to give it up. No more looking for answers you do not want to know. If the witches wish to remain hidden, then allow them to as long as they don't harm you or anyone else, alright?" Before I could answer, he gently placed his hand in my back and guided me out the door, clicking it softly behind me. I cannot believe he just said that! Relax?! Is he crazy! Does he have temporary memory loss? Did he forget I was kidnapped and forced to change into some gothic moth? I seethed silently as I walked back to my room.

After dinner, as I laid in bed reading a book, Cullen came in and sat on the edge of the mattress.

"Hey, I heard you talked to Kokel today..."

"Ha! I didn't really talk as much as I listened. According to him everything is perfect and I'm just paranoid because it's so impossible that someone who may or may not be the witches are out terrorizing people while I sit here reading and taking baths all day." Cullen rubbed the back of his head awkwardly, like he always does when he doesn't know how to say something. I hate when he does that. "You know what, you don't have to say anything. I can already tell what you're about to say." He gave me a look of pure confusion, completely oblivious to his body language.

"I was just going to say that even though I don't completely agree with Kokel, I don't completely disagree either." I laid back in bed and sighed, obviously not getting my point across.

"Fine. I'm going to bed so maybe I can have another dream and remember it this time to prove you all wrong." Cullen stood and left without saying a word. I admit, I felt bad for being so cold to him but it's offensive when everyone treats me like I'm making something up. It's not like I have a bad track record for predicting things!

I forced myself to lay back and relax before allowing myself to doze off.