Chapter 14

14

ARIA

T he weeks following the announcement of the Trial of the Stone Sentinels passed in a blur of intense training and heightened emotions. Each day, we pushed ourselves harder, honing our newly awakened abilities and strengthening our connection to our Dracarian heritage. The weight of our task - to awaken ancient dragons and save two worlds - hung heavy over us all.

But amidst the grueling training sessions and the constant worry about what lay ahead, I found moments of unexpected comfort. My relationships with the others in our little group had deepened, evolving into something that felt like family. Lydia's quiet strength, Zephyr's mischievous humor, and Chris's unwavering support had become anchors in this strange new world.

And then there was Ossian.

The vampire had become a constant presence in my life, seeking me out in the communal area whenever I found myself there alone. As the days passed, I found myself looking forward to our conversations.

Ossian was a wealth of knowledge, his centuries of existence giving him a unique perspective on history and human nature. He told me tales of bygone eras, of the rise and fall of empires, of art and music long lost to time. I found myself fascinated by the way he spoke, the elegant cadence of his words painting vivid pictures in my mind.

"Tell me about the Renaissance," I asked one evening, curled up in an armchair as Ossian leaned against the fireplace. "What was it like to see it firsthand?"

A wistful smile played at the corners of his mouth. "Ah, the Renaissance. It was a time of such vibrant energy, such hope. The air was thick with possibility. I remember walking the streets of Florence, watching as Leonardo argued passionately about art with a friend, he was working on the Battle of Anghiari mural. The world felt... reborn."

"You knew Leonardo?" I gasped.

"Not deeply, he was a fascinating man with quite the artistic talent. I knew a vampire at the time who was smitten with him."

"Wow, that's crazy," I breathed as he continued to recount his time in Florence.

As he spoke, I found myself studying his face, the way the firelight played across his features. He was beautiful in an otherworldly way, all sharp angles and pale skin. But it was the depth of emotion in his eyes that truly captivated me.

"You must have seen so much," I mused. "Does it ever get... overwhelming? All that history, all those memories?"

Ossian's expression sobered. "At times," he admitted. "The weight of centuries can be a heavy burden. But moments like these," he gestured between us, "conversations with someone who truly wants to understand... they make it bearable."

I felt a warmth bloom in my chest at his words, a flutter of something I wasn't quite ready to name. It was moments like these that made me feel guilty, remembering the heated kisses I'd shared with Chris, the growing connection between us.

Most days, Chris sought me out after training, wanting to spend time with me and get to know me, but we often found ourselves hanging with the group instead into the late hours, where we'd then part ways. The few days we'd wound up together, we'd shared close moments, more kisses. Our latest evening, things had gotten quite heavy with a full-blown make-out session, but alas, as if the universe was against us, there'd be a commotion in the hall as two werewolves butted heads and got into a brawl. Chris had gone out and helped break it up, and the moment was gone as tensions rose amongst the group.

Our daily training sessions had taken on a new intensity since the announcement of the Trial as well, which had taken all our focus. Not only were we honing our physical skills, but we were also delving deeper into the magical abilities that came with our Dracarian heritage.

It started small at first - tiny sparks of elemental energy that we could barely control. But as the days passed, those sparks grew into something more substantial. I watched with a mixture of awe and envy as my friends began to manifest their elemental powers.

Chris was the first to have a breakthrough. During a particularly grueling session, his frustration peaked, and suddenly, the ground beneath his feet trembled. Small rocks began to levitate around him, responding to his emotions. Earth magic, raw and powerful.

"Did you see that?" he exclaimed, his eyes wide with wonder. "I did that!"

Lydia was next. Her affinity turned out to be water. She could manipulate small amounts at first, creating shapes and patterns in the air. As her control grew, so did her power. Soon, she was able to pull moisture from the air itself, forming it into shields and weapons.

Zephyr, unsurprisingly, had an affinity for air. His natural fae magic seemed to blend seamlessly with this new ability, allowing him to create miniature whirlwinds and gusts of wind strong enough to knock an opponent off their feet.

Even the vampires showed elemental affinities, although all of them seemed to have an affinity for fire. Ossian was the only one capable of manifesting it from thin air, while all the others needed an open flame, which they could then wield and manipulate.

As for me... nothing. No matter how hard I concentrated, how deeply I reached for that well of power inside me, I couldn't manifest any elemental magic. I had the enhanced strength and speed that came with our Dracarian blood, but beyond that, my abilities remained frustratingly dormant.

"Don't worry, Aria," Elowen said during one session, her voice gentle but firm. "Everyone develops at their own pace. Your power will manifest when the time is right."

I nodded, trying to hide my disappointment. But as I watched Chris create a wall of stone with a wave of his hand, or Zephyr ride a self-created gust of wind, it was hard not to feel left behind.

One evening, after a particularly disheartening training session, I found myself unable to sleep. The frustration of my dormant magic, combined with the constant worry about the impending trial and my complicated feelings for both Chris and Ossian, left my mind racing.

Seeking solace, I made my way to the communal area, hoping to find Ossian there. I wanted to talk to him, to voice my fears and doubts. Perhaps his centuries of wisdom could offer some comfort or insight. Either that or he could offer me some different guidance than what Chris and my friends had provided in their attempts to assist me. I was willing to give anything a shot.

The room was empty when I arrived, the soft blue glow of the fireplace casting long shadows across the floor. I settled into one of the plush armchairs, gazing out at the stunning landscape of Dracaria through the large windows.

Lost in thought, I didn't notice the figure approaching until it was too late.

"Well, well. What do we have here?"

I looked up to see Marcus, his eyes glinting dangerously in the dim light. He sauntered closer, a predatory grace in his movements.

"The animal blood bags they've given us taste terrible," he stated, his voice low and menacing. "I've been dying for the real thing. And here you are, all alone."

Crap. I tried to steel my expression as the fingers of danger snaked over my skin, making it prickle as he smirked at me.

Fear gripped her claws in as he moved closer, my heart pounding faster.

Was he going to drain me dry? His compulsion wouldn't work here. What was he planning on doing with me?

"Marcus, please. You don't want to do this."

He chuckled darkly. "Oh, but I do. Don't worry, it'll be our little secret. But if you tell anyone..." His voice dropped to a whisper. "You might find yourself having an unfortunate fall in your bathroom."

What the fuck? The threat hit hard, and I knew it wasn't one to be taken lightly as he closed in, and I debated running. Even with my newfound speed, it was nothing compared to a vampire.

What was I supposed to do? I couldn't even conjure up magic to protect me.

Just as panic threatened to overwhelm me, a shadowy creature materialized between us. It was grotesque, with glowing red eyes and razor-sharp claws. Marcus stumbled backward, his eyes wide with shock.

Without hesitation, Marcus attacked the creature, his hands passing right through it. The shadowy form dissipated like smoke, revealing it to be nothing more than an illusion.

Zephyr stepped into view from the fae hall, a grim smile on his face. "I wouldn't do that if I were you, Marcus."

Zephyr. The sight of him flooded me with relief, but then unease took its place. He'd used illusion magic. Unlike other fae, he didn't have a magic that could be used offensively. Sure, he had his air magic, but I wasn't sure how an elemental fight would go down here. And fire seemed incredibly dangerous combined with air.

Marcus snarled as the realization set in, and he moved for Zephyr as I shot to my feet. But before he could retaliate, Ossian appeared, moving so fast he was just a blur. In an instant, he had Marcus pinned to the floor.

I moved quickly to get closer to Zephyr, and he crossed the space between us instantly, wrapping an arm around my shoulder protectively as we both stared at the two vampires.

"Aria is under my protection," Ossian growled, his voice colder than I'd ever heard it. "Remember that."

Marcus's face contorted with rage, but he remained silent.

"Understand?" Ossian ground out.

"Got it," Marcus spat, his gaze drifting to me for only a second before Ossian yanked him to his feet. He didn't let go though as he turned to Zephyr. "Take Aria back to her room. Make sure she's safe."

Zephyr nodded, gently guiding me out of the communal area. As we walked back to my room, the adrenaline slowly drained from my body, replaced by a bone-deep weariness.

"Are you okay?" Zephyr asked softly once we reached my door.

I nodded, still a bit shaken. "Thank you for using your magic. Were you already coming out to the communal area? It's pretty late," I mumbled as I looked back the way we'd come, grateful to find no one following.

Zephyr's expression turned sheepish. "I, uh, may have put a warding spell on you. I noticed some of the vampires showing interest, so I cast a spell to reduce your scent and alert me if you were in danger. It's the only protective magic I know."

"Zephyr, that's... that's incredibly sweet of you. Thank you." I smiled softly, touched by his need to look out for me.

He smiled, a hint of his usual mischief returning to his eyes. "Well, I've grown quite fond of you. Couldn't let anything happen to you, could I?"

For a moment, we just stood there, gazing at each other, my heart skipping a beat oddly as his smile softened. He blinked, as if realizing he was staring, and cleared his throat. "Well, it seems I'm not your only knight in shining armor."

I frowned, confused by what Ossian had said. "What did Ossian mean about me being under his protection?"

"Ah, that," Zephyr nodded. "It's a vampire thing, he's extended his protection to you. Any vampire who wants to hurt you will have to go through Ossian first. Most won't even try - they know a vampire offering protection will not hesitate to kill for their protected one."

"But why would he do that for me?" I asked, a chill coursing through me. Why would he have offered up such a thing? Sure, we were growing closer, but that sounded heavy.

Zephyr shrugged, a strange expression crossing his face. "Maybe not all vampires are bad." He frowned slightly, his eyes sweeping over me in a way that made me feel suddenly self-conscious. "Goodnight, Aria. Stay safe."

With that, he turned and left, leaving me alone with my swirling thoughts. As I entered my room and closed the door behind me, I couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get even more complicated than they already were.

I sank onto my bed, my mind replaying the events. Marcus's threat, Zephyr's timely intervention, Ossian's fierce protection - it was all so overwhelming. And beneath it all, the constant worry about my dormant magic and the looming trial.

As I stared at the ceiling, I found myself wondering about Ossian's declaration of protection. Why me? Was it just because I was the only human here and the vampires needed to be kept in line, or was there something more to it? And what about Chris? Our growing connection, the heated kisses we'd shared… he believed I was his mate, and yet, here I was, feeling things for Ossian.

Then there was Zephyr. His protective spell, the way he'd looked at me before he left - it hinted at feelings I hadn't even considered before. Was it possible that he, too, felt something more than friendship?

I rolled over with a groan, burying my face in my pillow. Surely I didn't have three men vying after me. Chris, yes, but the other two, no. It was likely just my mind messing with me because I'd not had much experience with men in my lifetime. Just my high school boyfriend and then Jason.

How had my life become so complicated? Just weeks ago, my biggest worry had been making rent and dealing with difficult clients at the community center. Now, I was caught in a web of supernatural drama, ancient magic, and world-ending threats.

And at the center of it all was my heart, pulling me in multiple directions at once. Chris, with his steadfast support and the promise of a deep, instinctual connection. Ossian, with his ancient wisdom and the allure of his dark, complex nature. And now, possibly, Zephyr, with his playful spirit and unexpected depth.

As I drifted off to sleep, my dreams were a confused jumble of shadowy creatures, ancient stone dragons waiting to be awakened, and three pairs of eyes - warm hazel, fathomless black, and mischievous green. Whatever the coming days would bring, one thing was certain - nothing would ever be simple again.