Book 2 Chapter 7
940 Words
7
Okay, maybe making out with one of my teammates in the middle of a crisis was a bad idea. We weren’t as discreet as I thought either because everyone is acting weird. Hepa won’t speak to me this morning, and Greg is answering all my questions in monosyllables.
On top of that, I woke up to Jordan happily peeing into the reservoir, not bothering to cover up, and apparently not realizing that he was contaminating our only water source.
Hepa and Greg reluctantly refilled their flasks from the farther end of the pool, with Jordan on their heels, apologizing sheepishly.
“Urine is water soluble,” I tell them. “I learned that in non-magical school.”
Hepa gives me the look of death while Greg mumbles something about me making excuses for my new boy toy.
Get it together, Edie, I think to myself.
I’m the leader. I’m the one who has to get us out of this. I went through those portals thinking I’m coming, Mom, then ended up doing everything wrong. I’ve got to get my game face on, or Mr. Zee and Themis won’t ever let me off campus again—which means leaving Mom, Cassie, and maybe even Mavis out to dry.
Mavis would know what to do, I think, brushing away a tear. Back home in Florida she’d hadn’t even blinked when a creepy crawly was in our bedroom. Instead she’d smashed it with a thick book. As official bug killer Mavis always flushed them down the toilet to get rid of them…
And Hepa said that scorpions can drown.
“Hey guys, I’ve got an idea,” I call out, excited to be able to say that at last.
Greg and Hepa might be pissed at me, but I’m still the leader, and they snap to attention.
“We need to get to the portal, and back to campus,” I say, to which Hepa rolls her eyes.
“Duh,” she says. “But you may recall there’s a giant scorpion in the way.”
“Greg,” I ask, ignoring her. “How strong do you think I am?”
“Huh?” he asks. “Um…like…really strong. You have opinions and aren’t afraid to tell everyone what to do. But not so much that it’s a turn off.”
“Dude, it’s never a turn off,” Jordan says, with a wink.
I close my eyes. “Can we focus? I mean physically strong. In dragon form.”
“Oh,” Greg says, suddenly analytical. “Your wingspan is impressive, and you carried both Jordan and Hepa here without any trouble. So, you’re definitely strong, but I don’t know that it’s ever been put to the test.”
“It hasn’t,” I agree.
“Well, no time like the present,” Hepa says. “And you’ve obviously got some sort of plan, so stop beating around the bush and just tell us already.”
“Beating around the bush,” Jordan softly snickers. We all stare at him. With a chuckle, he starts to explain, “Sorry, just thinking about beating around your bushes and…” He finally takes in our unamused expressions and his smile fades. “Right, right. Serious planning time. My bad. Go ahead, leader lady, give us the goods.”
I frown at Jordan, really wishing I hadn’t made out with him last night.
“I’m going to pick up that giant scorpion,” I tell them. “But I’m going to have to be quick—and hold its tail in one claw so it can’t sting me and its claws in the other so it can’t snip me.”
“And then?” Hepa asks. “If you drop it, it will just scramble back to us. Even from high up, I doubt it will do much damage.”
“Not if I drop it in the water,” I say. “And even if doesn’t drown, you’ll have time to make it through the portal, and I’ll be right behind you. If the scorpion doesn’t kill me.”
“You’re going to do this for us?” Hepa asks, something new in her look. Is it…respect?
“Edie, no—” Greg starts to say.
“Look,” I cut him off. “I’m the team leader and this is my responsibility. Now listen up. Here’s the plan.”
I draw in the sand, my team circling around me. A little bit of confidence seeps into my voice.
“He’ll see me coming, so he’ll be looking for the rest of you. Greg, you’re able to fly out of his reach, so you’re safe enough. Jordan, you’re fast as hell in panther form so I know you can outrun the scorpion.”
Which leaves Hepa, our healer.
“Hey, I got a thought,” Jordan says, sounding faintly surprised by this. He turns to Hepa. “Wanna ride me, babe?”
“Yes,” she says emphatically, no hesitation in her voice.
“Wait,” I interject. “Won’t that slow you down? Or tire you out faster?”
Jordan shakes his head. “I told ya last night. This panther’s got mad stamina.”
Greg makes a disgusted noise in the back of his throat.
“Are you okay with, er, riding Jordan?” I ask her.
She folds her arms over her chest. “Yes. I just want to get out of here alive.”
Okay then. I put my hands on my hips, hoping it looks authoritative. “Sounds like we have a plan.”
- Writer
