Rise of the Dragon Princess

CHAPTER 12

~SAGE~

For the three years I have been at the academy, I haven't seen anyone being treated as special as Wren is. None of us have any idea where she is from or even what she is. All I know is that I am responsible for her until she fits in. I didn't ask to be her friend but I can't go against Commander Alistair's orders.

The truth is, I'm afraid. I'm scared after what I saw her do but I can't afford to show it. Anger has to be her trigger or fear. I'm not really sure which is part of why I am trying to get close to her. From a young age, I have been taught two major lessons. Do not let your fear control you and learn as much as you can about the threat or the enemy.

Wren is harmless by appearance. I should have no reason to distrust her but I'm not sure trusting her will be that easy. I can tell that she has secrets. I can't push her to tell me everything because that's suspicious but I can make her trust me by being her friend just like Alistair suggested.

This conversation however has me almost shaking. Her voice is clipped, her eyes hold a scary look and I'm not sure sitting next to her is safe. Maybe she is right, maybe she has a darkness greater than any of us. I recollect myself and gather my thoughts before deciding to ask.

"Did you hurt someone?"

"Yes." Her response makes my heart s***h across my throat. Its pounding is so loud that I'm afraid she will hear it. And then she adds, "Me."

"Um..." I exhale trying to find the right words. "How?"

Wren stares at me for a while. I can't tell what's going on behind those eyes but I know it's something deep. I manage to hold her gaze without looking away until she gets up suddenly and starts pacing. I sit up and follow her movement.

"I can't tell you that," she states. "But I can show you."

"Show me?" That is supposed to be my inside voice. I don't realize how the question comes out.

She sighs and stops pacing. She takes off her shirt right in front of me and then goes ahead to unzip her pants. I'm about to ask what she is doing when she exposes the horrible marks across her thighs and upper arms. My mouth drops in shock. I'm not sure what to say to her.

"The voices started coming several months ago. I couldn't fight them," she begins.

I stare at the wounds, some are healed now nothing but scars but there are recent ones. Probably not older than two weeks.

"The only way to get rid of them was by cutting myself or burning my skin."

"Oh my God! Wren... I don't..." I sigh heavily and get up to join her. "These voices... Do you hear what they say?"

She shakes her head, "Not really." She pulls her shirt back on and I help her. "Sometimes they just call to me like in the field yesterday."

"You never told anyone about them?"

"I couldn't. I was afraid they would send me to a mental illness institution. I thought they were taking me there until I got here." She chuckles wearily. "You are the first friend I have made in years."

I swallow hard and look away. Friend. Can I be her friend and still be afraid of her? The definition of that word is different in our heads and I feel guilty because it is not what I have in mind. At least not as purely as she thinks.

"Can you promise me that you won't tell anyone all that?" she asks.

The reason why Alistair wants me close to Wren is to gather information for her. She doesn't say it in so many words but I know it is. And she is not the only one who wants to know things. I however nod positively after a while.

"Yes, I promise."

She nods with a trusting smile. I'm a bad friend. I can feel my conscience betraying me but what choice do I have? We head out to explore the larger school grounds, down by a creek running right through the school. I learn that she has a younger sister, the biological daughter of her adoptive parents.

Wren is nice. I can say that as long as she is not throwing us through the air and wanting to burn us alive or narrating about her darkness. She is good-natured and her input on mundane things is exciting and interesting. Liking her is not so hard but that makes my guilt grow triply.

We are seated by the creek when a twig breaks behind us. We both turn around quickly but see no one. Wren looks at me questioningly. I am sure it's no outsider so whoever it is is trying to scare us. We both stand on alert.

"I know that scent," Wren whispers. "I have felt it before on you."

"Tucker?" I call out immediately knowing it can't be someone else. "We know it's you, come out."

He steps out from behind a tree. I'm surprised by Wren's ability to tell that but Tucker's presence doesn't give me a chance to ask how.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were going out with Roman all day."

"I am, I just had to see you first before leaving." He looks at Wren suspiciously but doesn't address her. "Is it bad timing?"

"Yes," I respond bluntly and see a hint of disappointment flash across his face.

We don't get enough time for ourselves because we are afraid of Roman finding out which is tougher. After all, he and Tucker are always together. I know I should be nicer to him. Truth is, it hurts me whenever I hurt him but I don't want him to know that. He loves me but I'm afraid if I admit that I love him too, it will be the end of us because then we can't hide it from Roman anymore. And Tucker doesn't want that.

We haven't had a moment together since Wren interrupted us. I feel bad about it but I have to put my emotions in check. I am the head of the witches because I know how to separate personal feelings from everything else. Tucker knows that which is why he doesn't insist.

"Okay, I'll see you later then?"

"Yeah, maybe."

He is not contented with the answer but he turns to leave. Wren steps closer to me as we watch him leave.

"Hey, go talk to him. I will be fine," she says softly.

"No, it's better this way."

"Why? You two seem so good together and Tucker is nice. Way nicer than Roman."

"True, but he will always choose him over me regardless of how he feels," I state trying hard to keep my voice from breaking.

"You are in love with him, aren't you?"

My gaze remains on Tucker's retreating back. What's the point of admitting that? It's safer if I know that inwardly and never let it out. I have managed to for so long, I don't know why it feels harder now. Maybe what I need is a distraction and I have got one right in front of me. I will focus on Wren and push my issues behind, if possible bury them.