Dragon Freak- Book 1 of the Freaks Series (Complete)

Eleven

Journal of Frankie DragonSpire

Dear Diary,

Something is wrong; I can feel it. There is a smell in the air, a sign of bad things to come. I know the others sense it too; we are all on edge and not just from the transition. I wonder what it is, the Dragon inside me is growling, she wants to get out.

Frankie DS

That evening in Witchcraft class, Miss Grimly dictated to us about ritual structures and the reasons behind them. She led us through the inner workings of magic and told us that you could not work any kind of witchcraft while you are staring down your nose at it. During this lesson, she taught us about Sabbaths.

Yule and Candlemas are inceptions. Beltane and Ostara are birth and growth. Midsummer is maturity. Lammas and Mabon harvests. Samhain is death and its subsequent spiritual transformation. Each ritual represents and celebrates one portion of the circle of life. I was so engrossed in what we were learning that I did not hear the gong sound.

"Frankie! Are you coming?" Kadina tapped me on the shoulder. I startled and looked up from the page I was working on.

"Yeah Kadina, what's up man?" I asked, confused as to why she was standing over me instead of sitting in her chair.

"Gong went, it's lunchtime." She told me, laughing. I groaned.

"I didn't hear it," I answered sheepishly. Her smile widened.

"Figures, you were pretty into that book?" She muttered, looking down at my copy of the ancient grimoire open in front of me. I nodded stuffing my books into my bag and standing at the same time.

"Yeah, it's interesting, you know. It gives me something to connect to." I said, tried to explain and by the look on Kadina's face, failing. Mr Hipolostus walked around the corner as we were leaving class he waved me over eyeing the others with unease.

"I'll meet you in the dining hall," I called over my shoulder. Kadina nodded, slinging her bag over her shoulder. I walked up to my music teacher.

"Good evening sir, what can I do for you?" I asked politely. Mr Hipolostus smiled at me warmly.

"Your dear Grandmother called, she informed me that the piano you have at home is in a state from underuse. She told me the last she used it was possibly last century and that you were unable to complete the task I set you, is this correct?" he asked kindly. I nodded.

"Yes, sir, I tried to play Grandma's piano, and it was awful. To be perfectly honest with you sir, I forgot about it until tonight. I can still do the composition; not one I recently learned though, I found it a couple of years ago, would that be alright? I know it's not exactly what you wanted me to do, but I found myself at a rather loose end." I explained. Mr Hipolostus face split into a bright grin.

"Of course, that would be splendid Miss DragonSpire, wonderful. I knew the moment you came into my class that you would be a great student. Wonderful, wonderful, if you are showing advancing works, I am happy. Off you go then to lunch, and I shall see you in class." I forced a smile until he had disappeared around the corner before I allowed it to drop, turning I made my way back along the hallway.  Magnus was leaning against the wall just down from our witchcraft class. I paused in front of him.

"What doing?" I asked as he scooped up his bag. He shrugged.

"Nothing, Z felt that he should wait for you, he had a bad feeling about something. I offered to stay he had to use the little vampire's room." I nodded, smiling a little. Magnus put the back of his hand to my head.

"Frankie, your skin's hot, are you feeling alright?" He asked, concerned. I started walking again.

"Yeah, I'm fine, I keep getting, like hot and cold waves roll through me, it's more irritating than anything. I'll ask Poppa about it when I get home." I told him as we hit the central stone staircase.

On the stairs, I was dreaming about the food I was about to consume when I happened to look up, and thankfully so. Magnus grasped my elbow, pulling me up short someone was standing in my way.

"Sorry I almost barrelled right over you, excuse me please," I said, moving to step around him.

"What's wrong DragonSpire feeling a little sick, are you? Was the transition too much for you? I thought DragonSpires were meant to be tough." He taunted. I straightened groaning silently; it was the male with the grey eyes. Five others were standing behind him.

"Is this male supposed to intimidate me?" I asked the changeling standing behind me. Magnus put his hand on my shoulder, his fingers clamping down.

"This is Tristan Falcon. His father is on the council; he has had it in for Z since the first day. He's not worth it, Frankie, just keep walking." I peered over my shoulder and nodded slightly in acknowledgment to Magnus's whispered introduction. Falcon's friends urged him to retaliate. His eyes grew colder.

"You got something to say, Venturi?" He challenged. I grinned slowly showing off my new extended addition pearly whites. Falcon's friends took a step back. I placed my hand on the male's hard chest, wrapping my hand in his shirt. I pulled him towards me. One of his large hands rested lightly on my waist.

"I suggest you find somewhere else to be. I am not going to play your game. The only bloodshed your buddies are going to see is their own. Do you know how my bloodline came to be named?" I whispered my lips, brushing his cheek as I spoke quietly into his ear.

"No, enlighten me." Tristin murmured, his mint breath fanning my cheek.

"There was a Dragon, have a guess what she did to the occupants of the castle, using only its spire. Just think about what I could do with only a pencil." I chuckled softly releasing his shirt. Tristin stepped back, his amused gaze drilling into mine. Falcon's friend's faces had paled; they swallowed convulsively. I lifted my hand in a half-hearted wave over Falcon's head; my fangs slowly began to recede.

"Hey Mr Ravenstone, how are you doing this rising?" I called cheerfully. The headmaster smiled from across the hall; he changed direction coming over.

"Francesca, Magnus, I am well. Thank you. A better question is how you are both tonight, Zoric is looking for the license plate of the truck he reckons ran over him last night?" Magnus and I grunted in agreement.

"Whoever claims the transition doesn't hurt is either a liar or numb from the brain down. I don't think there was an inch of me that wasn't on fire." I grumbled.

"I agree, the transition is not something to laugh about."

"I meant to thank you for yesterday, sir, I needed Zoric with me. Thank you for trusting that we knew what we were talking about." Mr Ravenstone smiled warmly the lines on his face that had formed during our transition, were fading but still present. The transition had been hard on him as well.

"You're welcome, Francesca. Well, it is over now. Go and eat.  Mr Falcon, you will only get one warning this term, am I understood, do not make me call your father again?"

"Yes, sir. Miss DragonSpire, it was an absolute pleasure to meet you." Falcon grinned. He and his goonies made a gap so that we could pass through.

"Oh, I know Mr Falcon. I thank the gods every rising for not depriving Breed-kind of my magnificent self." I called over my shoulder as Magnus, and I crossed into the main hall. Magnus chuckled beside me.

"Damn, Frankie. If I didn't know you, I would have believed that little spiel." Mag whispered.

"Oh look, our people," I said. Kadina stood up, waving us over. I planted between Casper and Zoric.

"Hey, you alright I said goodbye to you in craft, but you were engrossed?" He whispered into my ear. I groaned.

"I'm fine, just tired. Aunt Selene's demon dog Vane attacked Casper and me in my bedroom this rising, we have no idea how he got in, and we kind of did this morphing thing in the foyer which took it out of us." I replied, pouring coffee and sugar into a mug. I sipped the hot liquid slowly before filling my plate with roast vegetables and Lamb.

"Your Aunties dog, you could have torn its head off with one hand, what kind is it?" Zorics lips twitched. I rolled my eyes; Poppa had said the same thing.

"It's one of the big poodles; basically, if you dyed a rabid greyhound white and put bright pink sheepskin on it, you'd have Vane," I answered savagely.

"Pink. Damn, if I were made to go out in public with pink hair and my butt hanging in the breeze, I'd attack someone too." Zoric replied, giving me a nudge with his elbow. The action forced me to smile. I nudged him back.

"Mag and I just met Tristan Falcon and his buddies on the stairs," I told him quietly. Zorics eyes narrowed small flames appeared to be dancing in his gaze, his eyes flitting to Magnus who scowled. I clutched his hand, willing him to calm down. I felt him shudder once before he relaxed again. Releasing him, I picked up my mug.

"You alright?" His voice took on a deep tone. I nodded and rubbed the back of my head; it was throbbing.

"Oh yeah, your dad came along; he is my new knight in shining fangs," I replied relaxing when Lucian changed the subject.

"Your Grandma still up for this weekend, or is she worried?" Lucian asked Casper. She nodded grinning.

"Yeah, I asked her again this rising, and she said it was alright with her, on one condition. All boys, sleep in one room and all girls in another with a locked door and Dorian between us." We all rolled eyes and shook heads.

"Parentals!" Someone muttered. We laughed. I saw Magnus wink at Zoric. What were they up too? I thought suspiciously. I leaned in close to Zoric.

"What are you up to?" I asked in a falsely sweet tone. Zoric did not appear intimidated in the least for all he did was a wink at me too and change the subject.

"I was meaning to ask, what the hell happened last rising? I have never heard of multiple transitions before and nothing about wings and changelings." Lucian said softly leaning in so all of us could hear. Zoric put his arm around my shoulders.

"Has your Grandmother or Grandfather said anything else, like an old wives' tale he heard or anything?" he asked in my ear.

"No! Poppa has not told me anything. I can feel that he knows something, but my dear grandfather is playing his cards very tight against his chest." I answered, feeling that I had let them down.

"Hey, Frankie, how are you? I heard you went through your transition. Are you feeling better, was it scary?" I turned to see Kelvin Coli standing just over my shoulder. I smiled.

"Yeah, Kel I did. Honestly, I was terrified, but I came through it, wasting a good worry for nothing. Thanks for asking. How about you, are those jerks still giving you a hard time?" I answered, turning in my seat. Kelvin screwed up his face a little.

"They are, but not as much as they were before." He admitted honestly, that was what I liked about him.

"Kel this is Zoric, you already know Kadina, the others are Magnus and my cousin Casper and Lucian. Guys this is Kelvin Coli he's a mate of mine and a first year." I called up the table. Five heads bobbed in greeting. Kelvin looked like I had just handed him the keys to a new car.

"Did Frankie just mention some guys ragging on you?" Zoric asked his deep voice startling the poor first year. Kelvin nodded, his eyes wide, I saw his throat work when he swallowed.

"Ah, yeah, because I'm friends with Frankie now they don't put my head in the toilet anymore. She threatened to bite their noses off." He murmured nervously. I arched one brow. Damn brats, I thought.

"Point them out Kel, the boys and I will deal with them," Zoric told him getting to his feet. Kelvin gaped staring up at the huge fourth year. His eyes flashed to mine. I nodded, patting the seat next to me. Kelvin turned and pointed to three males huddled together laughing; they were pegging potato at a small female with glasses. Magnus and Lucian joined Zoric in his stalk across the room.

"Ah, Frankie, what are they going to do?" Kelvin asked nervously. I handed him a plate of chicken; the bullies had tipped his food over his head, as he had gravy stains on his shoulders and pumpkin in his hair. Casper reached over with a napkin; she cleaned the bright orange streaks from his blond curls.

"Teaching them a lesson I expect; do you want peas with your potato and pumpkin?" I asked casually, filling a plate.

"Um, y-yes please, Frankie." He answered softly, still staring across the room. Zoric, Magnus and Lucian stood over the three first-year bullies. They looked down at the small female covered in potato.

"Hey Kel, stay with Kadina and Casper, I'll be back." I stood up, handing him, his plate. He grinned, chewing away happily.

"Are these the potato throwers?" Magnus asked. All three looked very intimidating. I shook my head and sat down next to her. Startled, she looked up, her eyes wide.

"You ah, do you know Kelvin?" I asked, pointing back to my table, the female turned slightly. Kel waved. She relaxed, nodding.

"Yes, he and I are friends." She murmured.

"Yeah, he's a cool male; I'm Frankie why don't you come with me we'll get you cleaned up while the boys here deal with the idiots at the end of the table. What's your name?" I asked, getting to my feet.

"I'm Vicky Bracken; I just have potato on my jacket. Are you really a DragonSpire?" Vicky's voice took on a tone of awe. I checked her hair; she was right; the jacket had taken the full brunt of the potato attack.

"Yup since birth, hey Vicky why do you let them throw potato at you?" I asked, confused. There was a racket over my shoulder. Zoric, Magnus and Lucian had picked the three bullies up by their feet, put the huge bowl of potato on the floor and took turns dunking their heads in it. Vicky stared transfixed.

"Well, Frankie, it's not a matter of letting them do anything. My mother told me to ignore any bullies; after a while, they would get bored and go away." She replied softly, clearly distracted. I turned my head Kelvin was grinning widely his plate empty. He ran over to stand next to Vicky.

"That is so cool; I can't wait to be a senior." He whispered.

"Gentlemen, what do you think you are doing?!" Mrs Vapour demanded from the doorway.

"The thing is Mrs Vapour, these three are bullies, and we caught them throwing potato at this nice young female here."

"Vicky." I supplied.

"Ah, thanks, Frankie. Her name is Vicky. Mrs Vapour, you said the first three years of vampire high are the most important and that we should learn all we could. They dumped Kelvin's food over his head and were pelting Vicky with Potato. We were demonstrating to these nasty first years that there is always a bigger fish. I am considering dumping breed tech and becoming a teacher; I believe I have a flair for it." Magnus finished giving his bully an extra-long dunk; I saw potato go up the kid's nose he was pushed into the bowl so deep. Mrs Vapour torn between outrage and hilarity cleared her throat.

"Put them down please gentlemen. You three first years will go to the bathroom and clean up, and then you will report to my staffroom on the sixth floor. March!" The three first years scurried away once their feet touched the floor. Mrs Vapour faced Magnus, Zoric and Lucian.

"Mrs Vapour, this is Kelvin Coli, the first year I told you about. They were the three who pushed him into me; apparently, they have a reputation for being horrible. They like to torture their classmates. We decided because we are older, we should set an example that bullying is not tolerated at this school." I told her casually. Casper tapped Vicky on the shoulder; she handed the little first year a plate of food and told her to sit down again. Mrs Vapour's expression softened.

"You are right Miss DragonSpire. No more potato dunking please gentlemen, it gets everywhere, and it smells terrible after a while, awful stuff to clean up." She called happily; she turned and walked back out of the dining hall. There was a wave of chuckles from the other students.

"Go on Kel, I'll see you later," I told him, he was grinning. I shook my head, crossing back to the table. I sat down to finish my lunch. Zoric slid in beside me.

"Have fun?" I asked quietly. He grinned.

"Nah, it didn't last long enough." He chuckled; my shoulders shook on my silent laughter.

"What were we talking about, before the potato interrupted us?" Lucian called. Kadina cleared her throat, and all eyes turned in her direction.

"My Grandma said there hadn't been a changeling born in so long that they passed from legends into myths. She also said that to have six come into power, and at the same time, either bodes well for Breed kind or disastrous. Changelings were charged with the protection of our kind against something. Grandma said she couldn't remember, only that it was some form of creature the changelings wiped out. She also said that Breed kind exterminated the changelings out of fear and we should be careful. If the council hears about us, we're toast!" We all stared mouths open at Kadina.

"When did she say that?" Magnus asked awed.

"This rising, Grandma called her friend at the archives interested in information after I successfully transitioned. She told her I was doing a school assignment on the topic." Kadina said calmly taking a sip of her coffee. Casper and I chuckled at the perplexed looks on the male's faces. Kadina, it seemed had been saving that tidbit of information for the right time. The gong sounded above us. I stood up and turned around. Kelvin and Vicky waved as they darted out the door. Kadina came around the table.

"Okay, how long have you been choking on that?" I asked quietly as we walked out of the hall. She grinned.

"All morning and it has been killing me, I was going to say something in witchcraft, but you were incommunicado." She whispered, concerned.

"Oh, yeah, I told you I was concentrating. I frown when I think, and if I'm reading something I'm interested in, then it takes me a bit to let it go because I block out everything around me." I replied grumbling. Kadina laughed.

"So, that's what you were talking about that's okay; I forgive you," she said, laughing again. When Kadina moved towards Magnus, Zoric picked up my hand. I looked up at him, shocked and a little embarrassed.

"How'd the thing with your parentals go?" he asked quietly, concerned.

"After this rising, I'll be surprised if they ever want to see me again," I replied with a big grin and a chortle of pure glee.

"Don't look too depressed about not seeing them again." He laughed.

"No chance of that," I replied happily.

"You mentioned a morph at lunch, what kind exactly?" He stopped me before I could scuttle into Mrs Bell Toads classroom. I screwed up my face.

"Well! Casper and I morphed into full-scale dragons this evening and scared the spit out of Aunt Selene, her furred demon and my parents, plus extra points when mum fainted. Poppa and Grandma looked as if they expected it; they didn't even blink." I whispered. Zorics eyes went wide, he swore. I agreed.

"I'll call you at light; we'll talk more about it then. We don't have any more classes together tonight?"

"It'll have to be after light; I think Leon tuned the piano. I have to come up with something new by next week." I was getting another headache. Zoric frowned.

"Why don't you play something you know, give yourself some more time to learn a new composition, that's what I'm doing!" I glanced up sharply. I was already doing that.

"You play the piano?"

"Yeah, but I'm playing the guitar this year." He winked. I gaped at him like a fish.

"I play the guitar as well," I replied. He grinned he traced from the corner of my eye to the edge of my mouth with one finger.

"Don't let me interrupt you, Miss DragonSpire. If you can tear yourself away from young Mr Ravenstone, I would like to start my class." Mrs Toad called in a singsong voice from the doorway. I blushed. Oh, damn, sprung!

"I beg your pardon Madam Toad, Miss DragonSpire being late is by no fault her own. I was captivated by her grace and beauty and only wanted to keep her talking a little more. The sound of her voice is like the tingles of small bells and the glow of her skin, like sunlight that burns through the day with its radiance. Never have I known such depth of feeling." Zoric replied with a non-mocking sweeping bow. Mrs Toad sighed as only a true romantic could; deliberately overlooking the fact that she was being played and not caring one bit.

"You, Mr Ravenstone, are a shameless flatterer and a wonderfully talented romantic poet. Now release the captivating Miss DragonSpire and go on to your class, thank you." I laughed silently. Zoric raised my hand and kissed my knuckles. When out of the sight of Mrs Toad, he turned and winked wickedly before disappearing around the corner.

"Sorry Mrs Toad, he's very charming," I told her breathlessly passing through the doors of her classroom. I was breathless with suppressed laughter; I was not going to let her know that though especially after Zoric had gotten me out of trouble. Mrs Toad was fanning herself dramatically with an ornamental fan painted with a sunlit beach scene.

"Yes, dear, I see how charming he is. What he said to you, Miss DragonSpire, I can see why you are drawn to him. What an amazing young male he is with a tongue of silver made to captivate unsuspecting young females like yourself! Just like his father and grandfather." Mrs Toad was all smiles and giggles for the rest of the class. Kadina made me write down Zorics exact words so that she could share them with Casper during Alchemy. He certainly was a shameless flatterer.

Kadina linked arms with me going down the stairs to Alchemy. We passed Zoric on his way to Graphic Design, Magnus, and Lucian on their way to Engineering.

"Ladies! Zoric has just regaled us with tales of a narrow escape from the tongue lashings of Mrs Toad." Lucian laughed, elbowing his friend. Casper arrived sliding under his arm, and Lucian pulled her closer to his side.

"Lashing from whom?" She asked breathlessly obviously having run from her biology class.

"Zoric fought off the fearsome Mrs Toad, on behalf of your fair cousin," Lucian whispered loudly. I laughed handing Casper the piece of paper, where Kadina had made me write all the details. Casper's eyes scanned the page for a moment before she gave it back with an exaggerated sigh.

"That's lovely Zoric, truly beautiful." She cooed, batting her eyelashes.

"You should have seen Mrs Toad, she was fanning herself and giggling the whole time we were there. Saying, Zoric had a silver tongue when it came to be speaking to females such as me." I replied, laughing. Zorics grin slipped as he noticed his father stalk around the corner. He was frowning.

"I'm in trouble," Z muttered dryly.

"Zoric, I just spoke to a very breathless and giggly Mrs Toad. Would you mind explaining what on earth you have been up to?" Mr Ravenstone asked, not amused. Zoric coughed to cover a laugh.

"It was my fault, Mr Ravenstone. I was talking, and Zoric being the perfect gentlemen stayed to listen to me. Mrs Toad came out, and he was keeping me out of trouble. Mrs Toad said that he was charming, and I quote. 'What an amazing young male he is with a tongue of silver made to captivate unsuspecting young females like yourself! Just like his father and grandfather." I said, biting down on my bottom lip. Mr Ravenstone frowned looking down at me; I stared up at him as innocently as possible. A smile touched his face after a moment. Amusement lit his gaze.

"Charming am I. Really, that's what she said ay, well Zorics mother happens to think so. Hmm, charming I like that, you're a good boy. You all have classes to get to if you would excuse me." Mr Ravenstone strode away head held high. We all laughed softly as soon as he was a distance away.

 "Frankie, I have never been able to divert Dad like that. Hail the conquering hero!" Zoric teased in my ear.

"It's a female thing." I grinned. Casper grabbed me by the arm; I was still laughing when they pulled me down the stairs and into dungeon three.