this time she wasn’t looking at the beast itself, she was looking at the jewelry hoard that was spilling out of the chest at its scaly feet. Then she held the crystal up next to the picture and studied one of the necklaces that was in the far corner. They were identical. It couldn’t be a coincidence. Her mom had given her the necklace for a reason. Now she just had to figure out what the reason was.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
So what are you supposed to do with it?” Loni asked half an hour later as she and Emma hurried toward the cafeteria, stopping only to touch the statue of Sir Francis on the way. The large room was full not only of students eating breakfast but of Burtonwood staff starting to make the preparations for the formal dinner that would be held there tonight to kick off the induction weekend celebrations. The two girls ignored the bustle completely.
“I have no idea.” Emma tucked the crystal back into her pocket as they each grabbed an orange tray and joined the end of the line.
“What if it’s just a coincidence?” Loni asked. “Maybe we’re overthinking this?”
“I’m sure it’s connected,” Emma said in a firm voice. She hadn’t told Loni about her disturbing dream or how it had led her to the necklace in the first place, but the fact that her mom had also highlighted it in one of her old books was all the proof that Emma needed. “We just have to figure out how.”
“Maybe it gives you some kind of luck?” Loni pondered.
“Yes, except I wore it on the day Kessler gave me my designation and all I got then was bad news. Not saying that I wouldn’t like some good luck, but if that’s what it does, then it hides the power really, really well,” Emma said as the woman behind the counter passed over their plates, piled high with food, and they made their way over to where Tyler was waiting for them. Emma couldn’t help but notice that there was no sign of Curtis next to him.
“Okay, so cross that one off the list. I wonder if any of the teachers would recognize it?” Loni suggested as she jumped out of the way before two giggling sophomores went crashing into her.
“Good idea.” Emma nimbly sidestepped the girls without spilling any of her breakfast. “I’ll start asking if anyone knows anything about it.”
“Knows anything about what?” Tyler asked as he finished reading a text message and looked up with interest.
“About this,” Emma said as she put down her tray and handed him the crystal necklace. “There was a picture of it in one of my mom’s books, and the words ‘found it’ written next to it.”
“Yes,” Loni continued. “That’s why we think it’s a clue; we’re just not sure what it means. I’m thinking good-luck charm.”
“Or it could be superpowers,” Tyler offered up as he eyed their breakfasts with interest.
“Thank you, Tyler. And anytime you’re ready to actually help, just let us know,” Loni said sarcastically.
“I’m serious,” Tyler insisted as he stole a piece of Emma’s toast and took a bite. “You said the crystal was in a picture of a meskret dragon’s hoard. Why was it there?”
“Because it’s shiny and pretty?” Loni blinked at him, looking none the wiser.
“Because it has power.” Emma widened her eyes as she realized where Tyler was going with this. It was true that all dragons liked gold and gems, but most of them liked objects of strength as well. Especially mystical ones. “So you’re thinking that maybe the dragon had it because it was more than just a crystal?”
“You might actually be on to something,” Loni marveled before she turned to Emma. “So from now on you need to keep that crystal on you at all times.”
“That’s right,” Tyler agreed. “Because . . . hey, Em, are you listening?”
“What? Oh, um, I, um, yes, I’m listening,” she stuttered as she realized she had actually been scanning the cafeteria for Curtis.
“Do you have a neck cramp?” Tyler asked as he flexed his fingers. “Because I know this amazing Thai massage thing that is guaranteed to get rid of all cramps. In fact, I bet that if your sore neck hasn’t gone in five minutes, then—”
“Oh please.” Loni rolled her eyes at him. “Since when can you do massage?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Tyler waggled a finger at her, which only caused Loni to roll her eyes some more, but their bickering was interrupted