Twilight Shadows

Chapter 35

With a gasp, I realized who I was. The Healer. The Nymph. The dragon's voice faded away, leaving me back into the clearing. 

"Adoni, I... I must get back home. It was a pleasure meeting you, and uhh I hope to see you again! Well, I must get going..." I quickly mumbled as I hopped on Nightmare.

"Wait, but..." Adoni trailed off as he watched me quickly disappear into the sky. He sighed. "She doesn't know what she's getting into..."

Without any trace of hesitation, I flew into the sky on Nightmare, which was now a brilliant shade of purple, the cool breeze teasing my hair, the landscape getting smaller beneath me.

"Let's get back home, Nightmare..." I patted her head. 

She quickly accelerated, the moisture from the clouds dampening my skin. My hair flew around me, and my eyes watered from the wind.

The shadowy outline of the Twilight Academy fortress flew into view, most lights of the dorm rooms going out, the students getting ready for the night. But there was something wrong with the whole school. Like there was no more... magic. No more Twilight. I shuddered, my skin prickling with goose bumps.

Nightmare flew on, flying silently through the evening, almost unnoticeable due to her black scales. 

We flew over the dark, unforgiving forest that bordered Twilight Academy, a shadowy darkness beneath us. I felt a chill go up my spine, that feeling that you get when you feel like somebody's watching you.

Suddenly, shouts rang out from the forest. An arrow came whizzing towards us, but Nightmare wasn't quick enough to dodge it, and the arrow struck her wing. Nightmare yelped, and tumbled to the ground, bringing me along with her. 

I screamed in panic and surprise, trying to summon my trusty wings. They didn't appear.

Oh, right... I reminded myself. My bracelet is gone. But who took it? And when?

Nightmare and I hit the ground sideways with a sickening thud. I pulled my right leg under her heavy body, and quickly stood up, massaging my leg. My eyes took a while to adjust to the dark, but I still couldn't see anything.

Somebody grabbed me from behind, pinning my arms behind my back. I gasped, but the person quickly covered my mouth. I struggled to get free, glancing back at Nightmare. Somebody had also put a net over her, dragging her behind my mysterious captor.

I tried to kick whoever was holding me, but since my eyes couldn't make out anything, I didn't know where to kick. The person swiftly dodged my attack, snickering. They led me to a small little clearing in the forest.

Nightmare growled and clawed at the net, biting it. She thrashed around, trying to go free. The person dragging the net wouldn't allow her, hitting Nightmare squarely on top of her head.

"Well, well, well... What do we have here?" A dangerously soft voice to my left said. I squinted to see better. I knew this voice. But I just couldn't pinpoint who it belonged to.

"A little girl and her dragon, sir." A gruff voice said behind me. I guessed that it was my captor. I tried to wriggle free, but the grip on my arms was too strong.

"That sounds a bit... familiar." I could tell there was a smile playing across the person's face.

My eyes finally adjusted, and I could see everything a little clearer. Nightmare whimpered behind me, and the person (not my captor) went towards Nightmare.

"I remember this little thing..." The cold voice said, giving Nightmare a harsh kick. Nightmare whimpered more and threw the cloaked person a deadly stare.