The Afterlife Academy Saga

Chapter 14

14

I couldn't sleep. The worry of the day kept me awake in a restless tumble of sheets and pillows. How would I face my class tomorrow? How could I call myself a Valkyrie without a wolf companion?

Well, it wasn't a definite rejection yet, but it wasn't a good sign either. My wolf bit me... And next week, I'd have to see all the others play with their pup while I didn't even know whether I had one.

No. I couldn't let that happen. I'd be an even bigger laughing stock than I already was.

I had to do something. Like sneak out and forge the bond already.

Actually... That wasn’t a bad idea. The wolves would just be asleep in the Barn, just like everyone else in the school. Nobody would ever be able to figure out I snuck in a little extra nightly session. They'd see me with an imprinted wolf, just like it was supposed to be.

So... Why not?

Bubbling with excitement, I tossed and turned a bit more. I needed to make sure everyone was deep asleep before I crept through the abandoned school and to the Barn.

A little longer and I'd have my own dusk wolf, exactly how it was meant to be. Just a little longer.

As I waited for the deepest part of the night, I watched a small stripe of moonlight creep into our room through the window. The silvery shine danced with the grains of the wooden floor, almost making it come alive.

It was beautiful. And a little boring. I had places to go and things to do. If I had to wait any longer, I would go crazy. I'd just make sure to be quiet, but I needed to go. Right now.

With my eyes used to the darkness, I pushed my sheets away and put my feet on the cold wood. A shiver ran through me as I threw a dark hoodie over my head and slipped into a comfortable pair of shoes. If I got caught, I'd surely face detention, maybe even expulsion. But that didn't matter. Without a wolf, I'd go home in disgrace anyway.

I needed to make this right.

As silent as I could, I tip-toed from the bed to the door.

"Ouch."

Shit. I ran into one of the wardrobes. I hadn't been here long enough to develop the muscle memory that allowed me to walk in total darkness.

"What are you doing?" Ryoko's sleepy voice sounded from her bed.

"Nothing," I denied.

She yawned audibly and sat up, rubbing her eyes. "You're up? Is it morning?"

"No, umm... You're dreaming. Go back to sleep."

The Dragon opened her eyes, revealing the golden rings around her irises. "I'm not dreaming, Ylva. What are you up to?"

Should I tell her the truth? Lie? Sneak out without giving an explanation? Damn, why did I run into the wardrobe? I could've avoided this.

"Ylva? Tell me."

"I'm going to see my dusk wolf, okay?"

Even in the dark, I could see her frown. "The one that didn't imprint on you?"

"That one. I just need to see it before it completely rejects me. I need to fix it."

"And the best time is in the middle of the night?" she asked, her voice filled with scepticism.

"No. Yes. No. I mean, who's going to catch me? If I can forge the bond, I'm caught up with the others for next week. It'll be easy," I defended myself, even though I knew this could get me in a lot of trouble. I shouldn't care this much, not when it didn't matter what others thought of me. Not when I could serve perfectly fine without one.

But I cared. I didn't want to go down as a failure. I didn't want to be different, or weird, or 'special'.

"I'm sure it's a bad idea, but I'm doing it anyway,” I admitted.

"You could get in serious trouble," Ryoko protested. Her concern was touching, but it wasn't enough to stop me. I had to do this.

Stubbornly, I shrugged the doubt away and reached for the door. Begging, praying that the dorm halls would be empty at night. Nobody could see me, nobody could hear me. It was already shady that Ryoko knew what I was up to, but I trusted her. She wouldn't tell anyone.

"Fine." Sheets rustled and the sound of footsteps echoed until a figure bumped into me.

"What are you doing?" I whispered, pushing her back into the room and closing the door.

"I'm coming with you," the Dragon replied, not budging.

She was standing so close to me, I could feel the heat radiating from her. She was hot, like the kiss of sun. Despite myself, I reached over to touch her skin. I wanted to know whether I could feel the scales or if I'd get burned.

"What are you doing?" she asked, her breath tickling my cheek. The scent of summer brushed past my nose, only adding to the warmth welling up in my chest.

She had a strange effect on me and I couldn't figure out if it was the Dragon part of her or... her.

"Ylva?"

"Sorry." Quickly, I stepped back, pressing myself into the door just to put some distance between us. She clouded my mind and I couldn't think when she was this close.

"You're weird. Are we going or not?"

"I am. You're not."

She clacked her tongue. "I want to go."

"Why?"

Her eyes lit up. "Adventure. Besides, I want to see your dusk wolves."

"Adventure?"

"Yes. I'm curious."

I sighed. Was it worth kicking up a fuss that could potentially draw attention to us or did I just give in? If she wanted to tag along... why not? She could stand guard and make sure nobody disturbed me while I was busy with the pup.

"Fine, you can come. Just... Be quiet and stay behind me. You've seen what the bite of a dusk can do."

Even in the dark, I saw her roll her eyes. "Noted. As long as you protect poor little me."

"Are you mocking me?"

"I am," she chuckled.

"Cheeky," I replied. Somehow, I should've been offended by her, but I wasn't. In fact, she was right to tease me. I didn't know anything about Dragons, but she certainly wasn't a helpless girl. She could take care of herself and my implications were offensive on their own.

With Ryoko following me on the heel, it was hard to ignore the heat bouncing off of her. Same with the intoxicating smell that surrounded her. Was this a Dragon thing or was it unique to her?

I had so many questions, but those were for a different time.

The school was abandoned, almost creepy in its silence and emptiness. The silver light cast strange shadows across the marble floors, ones that if I looked long enough, I was sure they'd start moving.

Every turn of a corner had my heart beating rapidly, worried that I'd run into someone or something. It didn't help that Ryoko seemed to make more noise than an army of Wind Children. She kept bumping into me, tripping over own feet, and making weird clicking sounds with her tongue.

She certainly wouldn’t be my first pick for a stealth mission.

"Can you be any louder?" I asked, glaring at her as we stepped out of the building and onto the earth path leading towards the Barn.

"Sorry. I'm not used to being silent."

I snorted. "Really? You're almost invisible when we're in our room."

"That's different."

"How?"

"I'm not trying to be quiet."

"Fine. At least we're already here. But please be careful, okay? The mother wolf is highly aggressive during the day, she'll be even more prone to violence at night." Slowly, I pushed the heavy door open and stared inside. Met with the red eyes of the dusk, the bite in my wrist started tingling. Almost like a warning of what they were capable of.

But it didn't matter. I needed to do this.

"I hope you're not squeamish with raw meat. We need to offer the mother some offal."

Ryoko nodded. She followed me into the barn and closed the door, trapping us inside with the darkness and the wolves. If Grey was feeling extra angry today, this would end badly for both of us.

Maybe this was a terrible idea. Maybe I should turn back now that I still could...

"They're beautiful," Ryoko whispered, admiration audible in her voice. She crouched down in the hay, making herself comfortable. "Oh, they're so cute."

"I know."

"Which one is yours?"

I peered into the darkness, trying to visually untangle the pile of fur and tails. "Ummm... I think that one? No, that one. Wait... There, the pup in the corner. It's got that little grey spot on his nose."

"Aww. She's so tiny."

"Or he. I don't know what it is."

The Dragon sank on her knees and reached out to the pile of fur. "It doesn't matter, they're so cute!"

"Careful!" I yanked her away before Grey could snap her arm like a branch. I just warned her.

"I'm sorry, they're just so fluffy. I want to cuddle them all."

"Well, you can't. All of them are imprinted, so unless you have the permission of the Valkyrie, they'll attack."

"Awww," Ryoko pouted. "I know! Make friends with yours and then tell it I'm cool."

I chuckled in disbelief. I always thought she was coolheaded and reserved, but the moment an animal came onto the scene, she completely changed. It was the same with her weird dust bunny.

"Please, Ylva. I want to pet its little head." Her voice filled with excitement, she practically bounced up and down in the corner of the Barn. It was a little endearing to see her like this. Part of me shared that same feeling when it came to dusk wolves. I loved them.

Most of that excitement was just squashed by the pressure of what it would look like if I couldn't make it work. The idea of a companion had overtaken my love for them. Maybe that was why the dusk wolf hadn't imprinted on me yet. I wasn't coming at them with the right intention...

Ha.

Maybe...

Carefully, making sure to stay out of reach of Grey, I sat down in the ticklish hay. I needed to chill out and stop obsessing over doing everything perfectly.

"Oh, we're sitting now?" Ryoko thudded down next to me, grunting softly as she swayed back and forth.

"What are you doing?" I hissed.

"Taking off my sweater. I'm too warm," she said, wrestling with her hoodie.

Why did she even bring it? She was burning hot like the sun.

"Just be silent."

I really shouldn't have agreed for her to tag along. But she seemed so excited and kicking up a fuss wouldn't have been much better either.

At least there was someone to drag me away if I got bitten again? I'd rather not, but anything could happen. I just needed to figure out how to connect with my wolf pup. Somehow, anyhow. I wasn't going to be the failure of my family.