Dragon Fire Academy 1 First Term an RH academy romance - Rachel Jonas Page 0,58
of opportunity to finish what I started.
Protecting the kids.
The commotion on the property had grown so loud, I had to listen that much harder to find them. Huddled in a small bathroom at the end of the hall, several gasped when I opened the door to peer inside.
“It’s okay,” I assured them, knowing I looked like a scary mess after having just fought for my life at the bottom of the stairs.
Still, they seemed to trust me, keeping quiet as I eased inside the dark space with them, positioning myself in front of the door. Keeping the light off to avoid calling attention to us, mumbled words left my mouth at lightning speed. After what I’d just seen, it was going to take more than my strength to keep whatever was out there from getting in. So, I used a spell to reinforce the door.
Hopefully, it would be enough.
“Get into the bathtub,” I ordered the children with a whisper. They did as I asked and didn’t say a word.
I sat there, in the middle of the floor, watching the sliver of space beneath the door. Just as I was beginning to think we were going to be okay, a shadow rushed toward us.
The children let out a collective gasp and I think we all wanted to scream. Especially when whoever was outside the door frantically tried the knob.
“Let me in. Please!” they begged. It was a child, one who was terrified from the sound of it.
“We have to help them,” a small voice whispered into my ear, a young girl who couldn’t have been older than six.
I looped my arm around her waist as she stood beside me, bringing her close. She was shaking so hard it brought tears to my eyes.
What’s happening here on this island?
How do these children even sleep at night knowing the potential danger that surrounds them all the time?
“What’s your name?” I asked the young girl, as quietly as I could.
“Sidney.” She was clinging to my neck now.
“Okay, sweetheart. I need you to keep your voice down and trust me,” I practically begged, hearing the way my voice trembled. “We don’t know who that is at the door, so we’re just going to sit here and be as quiet as we can be. Can you do that for me?”
“But they’re scared,” she pleaded.
“We—”
Just as I opened my mouth to speak, the one outside the door banged both fists against it, with more strength than any kid I ever met.
“Please! I’m scared,” the outsider begged. This time, I was even more certain we shouldn’t let them in. Something wasn’t right.
Not knowing what would come next, I eased Sydney back inside the bathtub with the others, quietly pulling the shower curtain closed behind her. I stood, knowing whatever lurked outside could break through, and I might have to fight to protect the little ones now sobbing behind me.
Sweat poured down my back, and I couldn’t quite seem to catch my breath no matter how hard I tried. My eyes flitted toward the bottom of the door where that shadow remained. Only, now, what looked like black smoke was beginning to surround it, threatening to seep beneath the door. I held my breath, watching.
Waiting.
It was too soon to know if the spell would hold, so I could only pray it had been enough. If it wasn’t, well … I’d given it my best shot.
An ominous green light surrounded the frame and the entire door shook violently. Like it would be ripped from its hinges.
I felt my chest expanding to max capacity as I drew in too much air, so much it made me dizzy. I took steps back toward the tub, stretching my arms wide as if that would be enough to protect the precious lives behind me. Without giving my actions much thought, I mumbled a spell to myself, unsure of what the words were that left my mouth, or what purpose they served, but I couldn’t stop. Not even when a gust of wind swept through the windowless room. Not even when the frightened screams behind me rose to a deafening volume.
Dazed, I was only mildly aware of the fact that my feet had left the ground, and I was now levitating at least two feet in the air. The words leaving my mouth grew louder, and the same burst of the red energy that shot from my hands to subdue Janet downstairs, now flowed from my mouth in visible waves.