Rise of the Dragon Princess

CHAPTER 3

~WREN~

The sound of the door closing alerts me. I turn around sharply thinking that someone has walked in on me changing. No one. I walk towards it and open it. No one is in the hallway even though I can feel like someone is watching me. Or something. Whoever closed that door. Maybe it was the wind or it's all in my head. I shake off the feeling and close the door again.

I'm creeped out. I know I shouldn't be because they are supposedly just people only that they have powers but being the only person who doesn't makes me feel like that nerdy girl in school with no friends and no life whatsoever. I'm trying to fit in. I'm trying to convince myself that I'll be okay but I'm not so sure. I can't explain the feeling but something about this place just feels dangerous.

I can't stay in my room anymore. My thoughts will kill me even before anything else does. I'm used to being a loner but that was back when I knew every cut and corner to disappear into in my former school. I walk out and decide to find Sage. She might be too talkative but I need her to show me the laundry room so I can do my cleaning.

It's not hard to find her room because her name is written on the door in bold. She is the dorm captain and head of the witches' guild. Is she the most powerful witch in the school? I wonder as I stop outside the door. Just as I'm about to knock, I hear a growl coming from the room. My heart stops for a moment then jumpstarts again but my hand is suspended in the air. The growl comes again more intensely, more aggressively.

"Sage!" I shout and kick the door open convinced that she is in danger. "Sage, are you okay?"

"What the hell, get out!"

A male voice shouts throwing a pillow in my face. I dodge it but stop in my tracks caught in the circus. Sage lies on the bed still and completely naked, her arms strung on the headboard on each side. We are both caught up in surprise but she is smiling.

"Hey!" she exclaims.

"Who is this freak show?" her partner asks pulling a cover over his naked body.

"Her name is Wren and she is not a freak show. She is the new student," Sage explains then somehow gets herself out of the chains and pulls on a t-shirt. "You need to leave, Tucker."

"Bu... but babe-"

"You need to leave, now!"

The guy scrambles for his clothes quickly and then leaves the room in a hurry. I wouldn't say it out loud but the look on his face is quite satisfying. I would laugh at the whole thing but I hold myself as Sage walks to me.

"I'm so sorry... I didn't mean to interrupt," I apologize quickly.

"All I'm going to ask of you is to keep this to yourself. Don't tell anyone about what you saw, especially not Roman."

"Why would I even be talking to him? The guy is a snob!" I say without thinking.

Sage looks at me and chuckles. She pulls on some sweatpants and sits back down on her bed.

"You are a daring piece, I'll give you that," she states. "Every student in that hall was expecting him to harm you, it's not the first time someone has talked to him that way and it didn't end well for the poor students. But he didn't harm you. I wonder why."

"He is a bully?"

"More like a very unfriendly dog to strangers. One wrong move and he will tear you into pieces."

"Why would you all let him do that? Don't you all have powers that could stop him?" I ask, furrowing my brows.

"Girl, you have a lot of heat. But I'll ask you to tone it down a little. Roman Grayson isn't just someone you can stand up to. We might have powers but no one dares to cross him. I mean, his best friend won't even tell him that he is dating me because I'm a witch," she sighs heavily. I can tell that the last part affects her in a way she doesn't want to show. "Anyway, just keep your head down when he is around. You will be just fine."

Just fine? That's what they all settle for. I mean, I was just fine in my former school but at least then I didn't let anyone walk all over me. Now that's what she is asking me to do? I guess I have no choice and because I am defenseless here, I have to keep my head down.

"Did you need something?"

"Oh, uh... yeah," I nod. "I needed access to the laundry room to do some cleaning."

"Okay, let's go."

She leads me down the hallway towards the end of the dorms. Barely before we get there, a blaring alarm rips through the air. Sage stops in her tracks, alarm written all over her face. I stop next to her suddenly feeling queasy.

"What is that? What's going on?"

"Come on!" she grabs my hand and drags me outside to the field where more students are gathering in a hurry. She leads me through the crowd heading to the front. "You stay here, don't follow me!"

I don't get enough time to respond as she heads forward quickly leaving me standing there in confusion. I'm not sure what to do and I have no idea what's going on. All I know is that my heart is racing too dangerously and the urge to follow her is too hard to fight. I hear whispers calling to me, irritating my ears.

Somehow I manage to get to the front but freeze on the spot. Ahead of me, a group of students stand fighting against creatures I can't describe. They look almost invisible except for their glaring green eyes. They glide through the air like planes producing morbid sounds and screeches. What are they?

One of them turns towards where I'm standing and sniffs. It screeches ominously and starts towards me. My heart jumps to my throat and a whimper escapes. I step backward trying to get away but something behind me trips me. I fall on my ass moments before the creature stops in my face screeching. I scream as the echo strikes my ears causing a searing pain through me.

"Come on, get up!"

A commanding voice alerts me as a rough hand grabs me and lifts me off the ground. I look up at the person who just saved me. Roman Grayson. Our eyes meet once again and hold. Several seconds pass and he doesn't let go of my arm. Time seems to stand still for us as the gaze intensifies. I feel squirmy. Maybe because of what Sage warned me about but it doesn't really feel like it. I'm not afraid of him. In fact, I feel safe in that hold but I pull myself free and look away.

"Are you hurt?" he asks taking me by surprise.

Why does he care? Isn't he supposed to be the big bad wolf I'm supposed to run away from? Something in his eyes is different. Subtle but it is there.

"Are you hurt?" he asks again, more sternly.

It is then that I feel the sting in my palm. I look at it and see blood. I must have cut myself when I fell.

"It's nothing I can't handle," I dismiss him quickly expecting him to walk away but he doesn't.

Instead, he takes my hand and takes a look. He trails his thumb across the bruise gently. His touch feels so good. My heart thumps in my chest and I look up slowly. I study his face as he calmly examines my bruise. He is nothing like everyone describes him to be.

Sage's words echo in my head. I can't let him do this. I shouldn't be standing here. I try to pull my hand out of his grasp but he holds on. I furrow my brows and look up at him meeting his intensive golden eyes. I part my lips to say something but only one word comes out.

"Roman," I manage trying to keep my voice even.

"You should head back to the hostels," he responds calmly. "It's not safe for you out here."

"Why?" I challenge him without stopping to think. He glares at me, his eyes glowing a shade darker. My heart skips. Maybe I shouldn't have asked him that.

"Because I said so," he responds firmly. "This is no place for a human," he adds and starts dragging me across the field heading back to the hostels against my will. I should be here, I can feel it and I'm not about to let him haul me out of there.

"Let go of my hand!"