Chapter 6 The Dragon Is an Accomplice

Mia's POV

When I walked out, I kept my head down, but noticed someone standing in the hallway.

It was Draven.

"What are you doing here?"

"I saw you go into the principal's office and got worried something happened, so I waited for you."

I managed to pull together a weak smile. "I'm fine."

"What did you two talk about? You don't look like you're in a great mood."

I didn't want to tell him about Professor Jones warning me to stay away from him, so I just said, "I wanted to find out more about my identity, but Professor Jones told me I'm definitely not a dragon. What I actually am is still unclear."

"I'm sorry. I led you in the wrong direction." He looked guilty.

"It's not your fault. I would have thought the same thing."

He quickly added, "Don't worry, I'll keep helping you figure it out!"

"Thank you." I said it and meant it.

I had a free period next, so I was heading back to the dorm to rest. Draven walked me downstairs.

My mom happened to call on video right then.

I quickly fixed my expression and answered with a smile.

She kept asking how things were going at school.

So I just turned the camera toward Draven's face.

"Mom, I'm doing great. I even made a new friend. He's really good-looking, right?"

Draven looked completely flustered. He awkwardly raised his hand and gave my mom a stiff little wave, his face turning red.

"Hello, um, Lady Davis. I'm Draven Ignis, Mia's friend..."

Mom gasped dramatically. "You already have a boyfriend?"

"He's not my boyfriend, just a friend!" It took forever to convince her.

I felt a little better after we hung up.

I was just about to say goodbye to Draven when Lyra showed up.

Draven picked up on the vibe and excused himself.

Lyra's expression was serious. "Why are you still getting so close to Draven?"

"I've been hearing that same advice all day. If you don't have anything new to say, save it. I'm kind of exhausted."

But Lyra grabbed my arm. "You grew up in the human world, so you have no idea how dangerous dragons really are!"

I shook my head. "Well, how would I know if nobody tells me?"

"Over a decade ago, evil dark creatures appeared in the magical world and started a war. At first, everyone fought against them with everything they had. But then one day, the dragons turned on us.

It was devastating. Dragons aren't like other shifters. There aren't many of them, but they're incredibly powerful. If the dragons had stayed on our side, we would have won for sure.

But when they switched sides, so many people died in that war. Everywhere the dragons went, they left nothing but fire and ash. A lot of people at this academy lost family and friends in that battle.

My parents were killed by a dragon..."

Her voice broke as she said it.

I felt torn. I wanted to comfort her, but I didn't know what to say.

"I'm so sorry, Lyra..."

She cut me off. "The dragon that killed my parents was a Black Death Dragon. He was Draven's father."

"How could that be?" I was stunned. "What happened after?"

"We eventually pushed back the dark forces, but the losses were devastating. It took us years to rebuild."

"And what about Draven's father?"

"Dead, I assume. After the dark side lost, he was never seen again. Anyway, now you know everything. You can't keep standing by his side. You have to choose — are you with the dragons, or are you with us?"

I was even more shocked. "Is this some kind of game? If I choose Draven, you'll never speak to me again?"

Lyra said it plainly. "Yes. We can't coexist. You have to make a choice."

"That's ridiculous!"

"Mia, dragons are one of the most powerful creatures in the magical world, but they're born with a dark side. Even if he's not causing harm right now, his true nature will come out eventually. If you keep spending time with Draven, everyone will turn their backs on you."

I really hated being threatened like this.

Lyra kept going, her voice cold. "And have you ever stopped to think about why your parents left you in the human world but paid for everything at this academy? Maybe they had no choice but to leave you behind. Maybe they died in that war — killed by dragons. Think about that."

With that, Lyra turned and walked away, leaving me alone outside the dorm.

My mind was spinning. I had never once considered that possibility.

My parents might have been killed by dragons. That's why they left me in the human world before the war reached them.

The thought hit me so hard I couldn't move for a long moment.

After that fight with Lyra, I wasn't ready to go back to the room. I just wandered around downstairs, turning everything I'd just heard over in my mind.

Lyra made the dragons sound so powerful — so why would they ever choose to fight for the dark side?

I walked without really thinking about where I was going, and ended up near the fountain.

I was about to sit down on the edge when I felt something cold hit my back.

I spun around. The sea creature in the fountain was spraying water at me.

"What are you doing?" I was annoyed. My clothes were soaked.

"Are you the girl who's been hanging around with the dragon?" The sea creature crossed her arms and looked at me with total contempt.

"How do you know about that?" I was so surprised I almost forgot to be angry.

How does even a statue know about the dragon situation?

She played with her hair. "I saw it! He walked you to the dorm! You're actually getting close to a dragon. You're a real fallen girl!"

Then she sprayed water right in my face again.

What was going on? Even the magical fountain statue was turning on me now?

I wiped my face. "Why didn't you spray him when he walked me here?"

She looked smug. "He's a dragon. He'd burn my hair off! But you're different. You don't even know what form you are. You're such a sad little thing, ha!"

I was furious. How did this sea creature know everything about me?

But she wasn't wrong. I really didn't know what I was.

With her laughter ringing in my ears, I walked back to the dorm completely soaked.

Lyra looked at me for a second when she saw me, but didn't say a word.

I felt awkward too. I just went straight to the bathroom and took a hot shower.

I told myself I'd talk things through with Lyra when I came out.

But when I stepped out in clean clothes, I found Lyra packing her things.

She folded her clothes into her suitcase without any expression on her face.

"What are you doing?"

"Avira has an empty bed in her room. She asked me to stay with her for a few days."

She answered without stopping what she was doing.

Something ached in my chest. She was the first friend I'd made at this school.

If she left, I'd be so alone.

But watching her pick up her bag and head for the door, I swallowed the words before they could come out.

Maybe being alone was just my fate.

After Lyra left, the room felt hollow.

I took out my Croak, not sure who I could even talk to.

Draven's name appeared in the Croak Book.

I wanted to send him a message. I wanted to ask him if what Lyra said was true.

But in the end, I didn't send anything.

I fell back onto my bed and stared at the ceiling, completely lost.