Chapter 1
Chapter 1: Hatching Trouble
My feet echo against the pavement. If only they could see me now, ready for college and a new chapter of life! I guide my blonde hair out of my face. Memories of college applications and sweaty, nervous days pass me by. Every time I imagined something horrible happening passes by too. I never knew how wrong I was. My tour guide chirps, waving his large hand as we pass another building, “This is the science building. We do all kinds of…” My mind trails off and I imagine my ideal roommate. “Ms. Sky?” I whip my head around to see everyone else has gone to the dorms. I blush and rush to grab my dorm assignment. He grits, eyes narrow and fist tight, “Learn to respect your elders.” I nod and he shoves the assignment into my chest. Oh boy, today has started off great.
*
“Home sweet home.” I flop myself down onto my mattress in our apartment and moan. I close my eyes, but my skin prickles. After my first day, I was hoping to be able to sleep through to supper. My boss had other plans. I flick on the furnace. Sleep soon consumes me.
*
My fingers scramble through my bag as I run towards my first class. How did I manage to sleep for over a day? I shake my head and snatch up my lip gloss. Something catches on my foot and I tumble down a set of steep stairs. My bones ache as a hazy figure towers over me. My brain swims in unshed tears as I whisper, “The heck?” A smile glows out from under a thick hood. Fangs glare down on me.
“Hmmm… What to do with you? Clumsy, weak, humans don’t fit in well here.” My eyes widen. My fingers graze the tile floor as I push myself back. “Oh, sweetie, I won’t hurt you right now. Run along to class.” With budding tears, I climb onto my feet and head straight to class.
*
“Miss Sky! How dare you?” I cringe as I stand before a steaming tomato. Its eyes are squished under the weight and have a fist like a judges’ gabble. It slams into the desk over and over, screaming my fate. “Late on the first day? We, as staff, have meticulous plans for every lesson! Didn’t you know I spent hours last night preparing this?” I drop my gaze as my hand stings. “You can’t look at me, can you? I bet you feel so guilty right now!” My lips roll into my mouth as I reverse towards the door. “Oh, is my class not good enough for you now? Decided to leave without hearing everything I have to say?” My hands shake as they ball up. My vision blurs and I close my eyes. “Are you serious? You have no right…” The door slams closed in her hard face. Her voice carves threats and valleys in my ears as I dash back towards my dorm room. “Monster! Freak!” I shake my head, making a break for the light of day. A cold hand clasps my shoulder.
“Hey!” I whip around. My fist extends and I brace my feet. Cold fingers lock over my hand. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have grabbed you from behind.” A girl with soft black curls in her hair and chestnut skin smiles softly at me. Her hair is short, but not boyish. A black cloak is tied loosely across her shoulders.
I whisper, loosening my fist and lowering it, “I accept your apology.” I shuffle my feet and try to puzzle out why she stopped me.
She comments, gesturing behind her, “My name is Rye. My friend, Larry, was in class and heard what happened. Everyone walked out after you left. Apparently, this isn’t the first time. Wanna grab some coffee?” I nod and she grins. I squint when I almost see two fangs poke her smile. They’re gone before I blink, so I shake it off.
I mutter, refusing eye contact, “My name is Lemony Sky. Most people call me Lemmy.”
Rye smiles broadly, locking her arm around me, chirping, “Well, Lemmy, let’s introduce you to the crew! You’re gonna love it here.”
We wander the halls for a short while before we take a sketchy detour. My skin crawls again. I tug on my arm, but it’s stuck. Rye grins, guilt swimming in her pale eyes. “I’m sorry, Lemmy.” I rip on my arm, but the world starts to sway. “It’s for the best, really.” My childhood best friend smiles at me, coated in blood. I scream, but my throat fills with fluid. “Lemmy, hush.” I struggle, finally breaking free. My eyes dart around. A thousand eyes burn into me. My legs burn when I stagger to my feet. I turn in a million circles. My breath catches.
“Lemmy? Where are you?” My heart pounds as I bolt. My feet make miles. The end is no closer. “There you are.”
*
I scream, throwing a hard fist, “GET AW…”
“Fuck, Lemmy.” My hands shake as my best friend sits in front of me with a hand over his bloody nose. His amber eyes glow in the lamplight as he stares with a guarded expression. He shuffles to the sink. His hands are washed and he puts a piece of paper towel against his nose.
I whisper, rocking back against the cheap headboard, “I’m sorry, Kalon.” He sighs, eyes glassy and tired. He stares at me for a moment, frozen by the footboard. “I didn’t…”
He moves to sit beside me and mutters, “I don’t blame you, Lemmy.” He pulls me tight and I rest my head on his shoulder. “I just wish we could find something better.” He rubs my shoulder and smiles softly. The window in this tiny apartment becomes an angry rattlesnake in the wind. My eyes drift to the two dragon eggs resting by the furnace, wrapped in towels. He follows my gaze and laughs, “Soon, eh? The riders won’t have a choice then. They have to take us!” I smile comfortably.
I whisper, anchors drowning my hope, “They’ll take you, Kalon. I know they will.” His eyes harden, and his fists clench. His head sweeps over to stare me full in the face.
He growls, eyes narrowing, “They’ll take us both. Both or nothing, that’s my deal. They’ve talked to me already about our situation.” I nod and he whispers, pulling me closer, “All or nothing. The fair is gonna be a breeze.”
