The Galway School of Dragons book 1: The Death Dragon

Chapter 14

The next morning I wake with a start and stare around around the unfamiliar room. They moved me while I was sleeping! I push myself up and glance around. The room had a light pink wall colour and I'm sleeping in four poster bed. Silk sheets cover my body and a thick carpet covers the floor. I slip to the floor and call out, "hello?" Nobody answers.

Finally I walk to the door and stick my head out from the room. I recognize it as the teachers quarters, but why am I here? I glance up at the plaque on my door which reads, "Albany; Special Student" I glare at the plaque as I walk down the hall. Finally I find dads room and knock three times.

"Oh, Albany, good morning." He says with a yawn after answering the door. "Why am I a 'special student'?" I ask. To my surprise he laughs. "That room is only temporary, until you get better and this threat is over with." He says, patting my shoulder. "Am I going to classes today?" I ask. Dad shrugs. "You can if you want, it's Friday, right?" I nod.

"Okay, well, go get dressed." He says before muffling another yawn and turning around to close the door in my face. I wander back to my room and start looking through the drawers. All my stuff is there. I pick out a pair of thick cotton pants and a tight corset to wear. Once I dress I head down to the dining hall for breakfast.

I find Rebby and Luce and sit down with them, telling them about my new room. Then they head up and I head downstairs to grab my books, then I meet them back in the foyer to walk to math class. Once we get there we sit down at the same table just as the teacher walks in and start babbling on about square roots.

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At lunch we head down to the dining room, Rebby pulls a glass bottle with blue liquid from her bag. "Your potion, you should drink it." She whispers, handing it to me. I pull the lid off and chug it all in one. My vision automatically goes blurry and people start to get a blue shining light that appears to be shining behind them. I swing my head back and forth and turn to Rebby. "How long will this last?" She shrugs. "Probably until about 9 pm tonight." She says throwing the empty bottle back into her bag.

"That's a long time..." I point out. Then we all fall into silence waiting for everybody to enter the dining hall then leave. By the time the lunch bell rings I have studied about 300 people. Nobody has a red outline. I go on the rest of the day, and nobody has stood out. That night at about 8 pm I decided to walk up to Ima and I's dorm to get a few things. When I walk in I sit down on my bed.

Seconds later Ima walks in and I almost pass out of surprise. Her outline is not blue, but instead a piercing blood red. I freeze and stare in shock at her. "Hey! Albany!" She says. Flashing me a large smile. I physically shake my head and stand up, I grab my stuff and leave without a word. The judgement radiating from Ima follows me down the hall.

I run right up too Rebby and Luce's room and knock loudly on the door. My fist stings. Luce answers the door, sees my pale face and the tears dripping from my eyes and invites me in. She sits me down on the bed and Rebby joins us seconds later. "What happened?" She asks. "I-it's Ima." I sob. "Ima? Are you sure?" Rebby says, handing me a mug of hot chocolate.

"Y-yes." I murmur. "Oh." Luce says, the words hang in the room. "Avoid her, please." Rebby begs I nod. "O-of c-c-course." I reply, my body shaking. "Okay, c'mon, we will sleep with you in your room tonight." Luce says, grabbing a few things. After that they accompany down stairs, I pull extra sheets from the cupboard and set them up on the thick, plush carpet.

"We should make a plan." Luce says from beside me. The room is pitch black I sense Rebby get up from her place on the carpet. Light suddenly blinds my vision and I'm left staring at two pale, tired faces. "But..." I trail off. Luce gives me a hard look. "We will sleep in here with you for the next couple days." Rebby says.

"Don't tell anybody... about Ima I mean. They might tell her." Luce whispers. "But we have to confront her eventually..." I point out. Luce shrugs. "True, but.... what if?" She asks. I sigh and run my hand through my hair. "She could kill you, Albany." She says, frowning and coking her head to the side.

"Yes, I know." I mutter, my stress levels rising quickly. "Okay, well." And from that forward, we create a plan.

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The next morning all three of us grudgingly climb down the stairs and in for breakfast. "Good Morning, my school." Professor Död says, I flinch at his voice. "Today, we have a special announcement!" He exclaims, but only his voice doesn't change pitch. "We have decided to fly every student mother and father in for Easter break, which is in... 2 or so months." He says, cracking a evil-looking grin.

The whole school sits In silence, and I get a strange feeling that I'm the only one excited. I slowly start to clap, and soon the whole school is clapping slowly. Professor Död gives me a shy look and shows his rotten teeth. "Continue eating, then!" He whispers. A muted conversation breaks out between two older students.

"Never done that before." One of them whispers. "Probably gonna kill them all." The other whispers. "Probably." The first guy says with a shrug. "What do you mean?" I ask, looking towards them. "Professor Död might kill your parents." The second one says. "No, just your mother." The other one says, pointing over to my dad.

"He wouldn't kill a teacher, would he?" The  second one says. They both stare at me, then their eyes both light up. "I don't think I've ever met you." Guy number one says. "Me neither." Number two says. "My names Johnny, and this here is Tom." Guy number two says, introducing his friend. "We are in Ima's year." Tom says, smiling at me.

"She's too happy." Johnny whispers. "Hello! Albany!" Ima suddenly squeaks, jumping onto my shoulder and into the empty seat between Tom and I. "Oh my." Johnny says, blushing and giving me a pleasing look. I giggle.