Chapter 7

7

ARIA

I woke with a start, my heart pounding as if I'd been running. For a moment, I couldn't remember where I was. Then it all came flooding back - Dracaria, the Void, the revelation that we were all part of some ancient bloodline. And... Ossian.

My fingers drifted to my lips, remembering the unexpected kiss we'd shared in the dark hours of the night. I shook my head, trying to clear the memory. How had that even happened? One minute I was crying by the fire, and the next... I'd kissed him. We'd been talking about him, how he was around six hundred years old, and then he'd touched my cheek, and I'd reacted.

Was it just the overwhelming emotions from this entire situation erupting in some weird impulse? That was my only explanation, and yet, thinking of it had my heart fluttering.

Had he been disgusted or hated it? Crap, I had no idea, he'd just left me there, looking rather startled and confused.

Yep, I'd just scared off a centuries old vampire.

Go team.

I sighed, pushing myself up in bed. The events of the previous day swirled in my mind, a confusing mix of fear, wonder, and uncertainty. After dinner, I'd sat with Chris and Zephyr for what felt like hours, trying to process everything we'd learned. Lydia had left early, the weight of separation from her family clearly heavy on her shoulders.

I'd wanted to comfort her, hating how lost she had looked as she'd walked away.

Chris's words echoed in my memory: "Let her go. She'll likely find another feline shifter to grieve with. Sometimes, it's easier to be with your own kind in moments like these."

We'd talked late into the night, dissecting every bit of information we'd gleaned. Chris had mentioned overhearing some Dracarians referring to us as "tainted ones" when they thought we couldn't hear. Something Eirian had called us as well.

"There's some clear disdain for us," he'd said, his jaw clenching. "Which is absurd, considering they want our help."

Eventually, we'd all retreated to our rooms. I'd found myself standing on the balcony, feeling just as lost and overwhelmed as everyone else. That's when I'd decided to go back to the communal area, hoping to find... well, I wasn't sure what. Company? Comfort? Instead, I'd ended up crying alone by the fire. Until Ossian appeared.

A sharp knock on my door jolted me from my thoughts. "Dining hall for breakfast!" a voice called out. "All must attend!"

Great, now we were on a damn schedule. Then again, being around others sounded good right about now. Anything to distract me from it all, and my embarrassment with Ossian.

I clambered out of my bed, casting a look outside to the fantasy world I was now in before I hurried to the shower. As the warm water washed over me, I tried to focus on the day ahead, pushing thoughts of vampire kisses and world-ending threats to the back of my mind.

Yeah right, there was no way I could shove that shit aside.

After drying off, I noticed a stack of fresh clothes on the bed - they hadn't been there the night before. It looked like some kind of uniform or gym outfit, all in shades of gray and blue.

Had someone come in while I was in the shower? Not creepy at all.

I pulled them on, surprised at how well they fit.

The dining hall was buzzing with nervous energy when I arrived. Everyone was dressed in similar outfits, creating an odd sense of unity among our diverse group. I spotted Chris and Zephyr at a table and made my way over to them, feeling a flutter in my stomach as Chris smiled at me.

"Morning," he said, his hazel eyes warm. "Sleep okay?"

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. There was something growing between us, a connection I couldn't quite name. It made my moment with Ossian fade away.

As I sat down, I caught sight of Ossian across the room. So much for the memory fading away. Our eyes met for a brief moment before I quickly looked away, heat rising to my cheeks. I could've sworn he'd smiled at me, but I wasn't about to check. My heart had skipped a beat, and right now, it felt like I was back at high school.

I glanced around, spotting Lydia with some others at another table, including the tiger shifter who'd snapped at Chris when we'd first arrived. So she was with other shifters like her.

She caught my gaze and offered me a small smile.

Elowen's voice cut through the chatter, commanding everyone's attention. "Good morning," she said, her otherworldly beauty somehow enhanced by the simple training clothes she wore. So unfair, but I couldn't hate on those blessed naturally. Mine didn't exactly fit terribly.

"Today, we begin your training. Being in Dracaria means you now have access to the magic lying dormant in your blood. Our studies indicate that you should be of the same tier as soft-blood Dracarians."

"What does that mean?" Zephyr asked, voicing the question we were all thinking.

Elowen paused, seemingly considering how much to reveal. "In Dracaria, there are different classes of blood. The high-borne, like myself and Eirian, are descendants of the purest lines from the first dragons. We possess the strongest abilities, including the power to shift into dragon form. Soft-bloods have diluted but still potent Dracarian heritage, although not quite that of the ancients. They cannot shift, but they possess enhanced strength, speed, advanced senses, and the ability to manifest claws when needed. Then there are the low-borne, who have the least Dracarian blood. They've lost all supernatural abilities."

She paused, letting the information sink in. "Our belief is that most of you should have abilities similar to soft-bloods, though the mixing with various supernatural races may produce some... unexpected results."

A hand shot up from the crowd. It belonged to a tall, lanky man. "If we're supposed to be like soft-bloods, what makes us special? How are we different from the soft-bloods and low-borne already here in Dracaria?"

Elowen nodded, as if she'd been expecting this question. "An excellent inquiry. Despite the dilution of your bloodlines over generations, you somehow carry strong traces of pure Dracarian lines within you. It's these traces that allowed our magic to track you when we opened the portals to seek you out. In essence, you have the potential to access abilities that have been lost to most soft-bloods and all low-borne in Dracaria."

A murmur rippled through the crowd at this revelation. I caught Chris's eye, seeing my own mix of surprise and skepticism reflected there.

Another voice called out, this time from a woman near the back. "How long do we have? Before we have to... you know, battle this Void thing?"

For the first time, I saw a flicker of uncertainty cross Elowen's face. She quickly masked it, but not before I caught it.

"Based on our calculations and the increasing frequency of shadow creature sightings, we estimate we have several months before a full-scale invasion begins," she said, her voice steady. "It's not as much time as we'd like, but it should be sufficient for your training. We will make every day count."

"Several months," Zephyr muttered beside me. "To learn how to save two worlds. No pressure."

I nodded, a knot forming in my stomach. Months seemed like both an eternity and no time at all. How were we supposed to become powerful enough to face an otherworldly threat in such a short time?

As if reading my thoughts, Chris leaned in close. "Hey," he whispered, his breath warm against my ear. "We've got this. Together, remember?"

I managed a small smile, grateful for his reassurance. "Together," I echoed, trying to believe it.

Why we'd come together and gotten so close was beyond me, but I was grateful. It was like we'd just clicked in a way I hadn't clicked with anyone since Dana.

Dana… how worried she must be. What was she thinking and doing right now? What about my dad?

Elowen's voice cut through my thoughts, announcing the start of breakfast.

Attendants filed in from a doorway to the side, and there'd already been food set out on the tables when we arrived. They added some more meats and what looked like scrambled eggs, and we began eating in tense silence, soft murmurs all around.

Elowen's words were enough to squash my hunger, but I forced myself to eat something.

After an uneasy breafkast, Elowen led us out of the dining hall and through a series of winding corridors. The deeper we went into the Keep, the more I felt like we were descending into the heart of a mountain. The air grew cooler, and the walls seemed to pulse with a faint, bluish light.

Finally, we emerged into a vast cavern. The ceiling arched high above us, disappearing into shadows. The floor was covered in some sort of soft, springy material that reminded me of moss but felt more substantial underfoot.

"Welcome to the Training Grounds," Elowen announced, her voice echoing slightly in the cavernous space. "This is where you will learn to harness your dormant abilities and prepare for the challenges ahead."

As we spread out across the cavern floor, I noticed several other Dracarians entering from different entrances. They moved with a fluid grace that made them seem far from human. Among them, I spotted Eirian, his red hair a stark contrast to the cool blues and grays of the cavern.

Just then, I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder. I turned to find Lydia, a small smile on her face.

"Aria," she said softly, "I wanted to apologize for leaving so abruptly last night. I just... I needed some time to process everything."

Without hesitation, I pulled her into a hug. "There's no need to apologize," I said, feeling her relax into the embrace. "I understand. We all do. You're not alone here, Lydia. We've all been torn from the lives we know."

"Thank you," she said with a sigh before we pulled apart. "Guess it's time to see what dormant power we have, huh?"

"It will be interesting," Chris mused as he and Zephyr moved closer.

"Look at you, forming your own little misfit pack, guess I should feel special to be a part of it," Zephyr mused, grinning at Chris as he rolled his eyes.

"People are finding their groups here, those they click with. Why not us?" Chris said with a shrug, and I smiled, grateful he'd reached out to me that first day.

Looking at him now, my stomach fluttered, especially with how he glanced at me, his mouth curving up.

Just what I needed, a schoolgirl crush amidst all of this.

"For our first exercise," Elowen's voice cut through our moment, "we will attempt to awaken your awareness of the Dracarian magic within you. Please, sit comfortably on the ground and close your eyes."

We lowered ourselves to the floor, our little group staying close together. The moss-like material was surprisingly comfortable. To my left, I could sense Chris settling in, his presence reassuring. To my right, Zephyr seemed to float down rather than sit, while Lydia sat directly across from me, our knees almost touching.

"Now," Elowen's voice took on a soothing, almost hypnotic quality, "I want you to focus on your breathing. In... and out. With each breath, imagine you're drawing energy not just into your lungs, but into every cell of your body."

I tried to follow her instructions, but my mind kept wandering. What if I couldn't do this? What if I was the only one who couldn't access this supposed magic?

"Don't force it," Elowen said, as if sensing the collective anxiety in the room. "The magic is a part of you, as natural as your heartbeat. You're not trying to create something new, but to remember something ancient, something that has always been a part of you. Being in Dracaria, you will now have a greater connection to it, and the Training Grounds are filled with magic to amplify it and help awaken it."

I took a deep breath, trying to relax. As I exhaled, I imagined tendrils of energy spreading through my body. At first, it felt silly, like I was just playing pretend. But then...

A warmth began to build in my chest, spreading outward. It wasn't like anything I'd felt before - not quite heat, not quite electricity, but something in between. My eyes flew open in surprise.

"I felt something!" someone exclaimed from across the room. Murmurs of agreement rippled through the group.

Lydia's face split into a grin, her eyes still closed.

I looked around, catching Chris's eye. He grinned at me, a look of wonder on his face. "Did you feel it too?" he whispered.

I nodded, unable to keep the smile off my face. "It was... incredible."

"Well done," Elowen said, her voice filled with approval. "That sensation you felt is your Dracarian heritage awakening. With practice, you'll learn to call upon it at will and shape it to your needs."

As Elowen began to explain the next exercise, I couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. This was real. The magic, the power - it was all real, and it was a part of me.

As the initial exercise concluded, Elowen moved among us, offering guidance and encouragement. When she reached our group, her eyes lingered on each of us in turn, a hint of approval in her gaze.

"Well done," she said softly. "You're doing well."

Before she could move on, Zephyr spoke up. "Elowen, I have a question, something I've heard a few Dracarians mention. About us being... tainted ones. What exactly does that mean?"

Elowen's expression tightened almost imperceptibly. "It's simply a term used to describe those whose Dracarian blood has mixed with other species," she said, her tone carefully neutral. "It's not meant as an insult."

"But it sounds like one," Chris muttered, just loud enough for us to hear.

Elowen either didn't hear him or chose to ignore the comment. "Now, let's move on to a more physical exercise," she announced to the group at large. "We'll be testing your reflexes and instincts."

As we stood, I caught sight of Ossian across the room. He was watching our group intently, his dark eyes unreadable. When he noticed me looking, his mouth quirked up. Apparently I hadn't imagined him smiling at me earlier. Was he thinking about the kiss we'd shared? If you could even call it that? Heat touched my cheeks, but his gaze was pulled away as a female vampire began speaking to him.

A twinge of unease coursed over me, but I shoved it aside. I couldn't go getting jealous over some silly little crush now.

"I wonder what the exercise will be," Chris mused, snapping my attention back to him.

Ossian wasn't the only one drawing my attention anyway. Chris was quite a rugged sight, and the way he looked at me always sent a tingle through me.

Yep, this was just school all over again, with my hormones running wild.

Wonderful. Maybe I should have dated and messed around a little bit rather than focused on my career and proving my father wrong. Jason had been my last partner, and that had ended horribly, shattering my trust in men. I'd contemplated embracing my singledom and sleeping around, getting some experience under my belt, but it wasn't me.

Damn me and my morals.

The physical exercise turned out to be a sort of magical obstacle course. Shimmering barriers appeared seemingly out of nowhere, and we had to navigate through them using our newly awakened senses.

I hadn't even noticed a change in my senses, but Elowen was sure that feeling our ancient magic flourish would heighten everything.

I stared at the first barrier coming for me, praying that she was right. I was to dodge it, either by jumping over it or going under it. Considering there was almost no gap under it, over was my only option, but it was high, higher than anything I had ever jumped.

There was no way I could do this… Chris and Lydia had done it with ease, but they were shifters, and I'd seen their eyes glow with their animal sides as they'd done it. How could I possibly…

"You got this, Aria," Chris called from behind me. We'd been set up in groups, whether our chosen ones or ones Elowen made, and the other Dracarians were helping create the barriers with their magic for us to practice with.

"You can do it!" Lydia added.

"Use that ancient magic," Zephyr said.

I sucked in a breath, the barrier nearly before me as I prepared myself, readying for the jump.

Fuck it. Let's give it a solid try.

I launched forth, focusing on that power in my chest and willing it to aid me.

To my utter disbelief, I cleared it, just.

"Look at you go, you did it!" Lydia clapped as Chris and Zephyr cheered.

I found myself performing better than I expected as another barrier launched towards me. There was a rhythm to it, a flow that felt almost... natural. As I dodged one barrier and slid under another, I heard a whoop of excitement from Chris.

"Aria, that was amazing!" he called out, grinning widely.

I felt a flush of pride and something else - a spark of confidence I hadn't felt since arriving in Dracaria. Maybe I could do this after all.

We continued taking turns maneuvering through the obstacles launched at us, all four of us excelling incredibly. I was only just making it, unable to clear the jumps with the same exceptionalism as the other three, but still well enough.

As the session wound down, Elowen gathered us all together once more. "You've all shown great potential today," she said, her voice carrying a note of genuine approval. "But remember, this is just the beginning. The challenges ahead will test you in ways you can't yet imagine. It's crucial that you continue to push yourselves, to explore the limits of your abilities."

Her gaze swept across the group, lingering for a moment on each face. "The fate of two worlds rests on your shoulders. It's a heavy burden, I know. But I believe you're equal to the task."

As we filed out of the training grounds, I fell into step beside Chris. "So," I said, trying to keep my voice light, "saving two worlds. No pressure, right?"

He chuckled, but I could see the worry in his eyes. "Yeah, no pressure at all. Just another day, I guess."

We walked in companionable silence for a moment before he spoke again. "Listen, Aria... I was wondering if maybe we could talk more? You know, about... everything? Maybe in your room, if that's okay?"

I felt a flutter in my stomach that had nothing to do with magical training. "I'd like that," I said, smiling up at him. "Just let me freshen up first?"

"Of course," Chris nodded, a relieved smile spreading across his face. "I should probably do the same. Meet you in about half an hour?"

"Sounds perfect," I agreed.

As we reached the common area, I caught sight of Ossian again. He was standing in a shadowy alcove, his eyes fixed on me. For a moment, I remembered the kiss we'd shared, and I felt a confusing mix of emotions wash over me.

Chris followed my gaze, his expression darkening slightly. "Everything okay?" he asked, a note of concern in his voice.

I tore my eyes away from Ossian, focusing on Chris. "Yeah," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "Everything's fine."

As I headed to my room to freshen up before Chris's visit, I couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get a lot more complicated. Between the looming threat of the Void, our new magical training, and these confusing new feelings, I was in for quite a ride.

I stepped out of the shower, feeling refreshed after the intense training session where I'd worked up quite a sweat. What I wouldn't do for some deodorant, but it seemed the wash the Dracarians had provided had actually stopped me from smelling in the session, which was welcome. As I was drying off, I heard a knock at the door.

That hadn't been half an hour, Chris was early.

Was something wrong?

Wrapping myself in a towel, I called out, "Just a minute!"

I rushed out and quickly pulled on some of the more casual clothes that had been in my room upon my return.

But when I opened the door, it wasn't Chris standing there. It was Ossian.

My heart skipped a beat. He looked... intense. His dark eyes were fixed on me with a hunger that both thrilled and terrified me. A confusing mix of excitement and apprehension coursed through me at his presence.

"Ossian," I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper. "What are you doing here?"

He leaned against the doorframe, his voice low and strained. "The Dracarians haven't provided sustenance for us vampires. Unlike my companions, I haven't fed in quite some time. I hate to admit it, but I fear I will struggle."

A shiver coursed through me as the reality hit me, but I still made myself ask. "What do you mean?"

"I'm worried I could fall into a bloodlust state if I don't feed soon," he explained, his eyes never leaving mine. "It would put everyone at risk. I... I'd appreciate your help, Aria."

My mind raced. So he was here to ask me to help him? To feed him? That was what he meant. What would that even mean? Would he drain me dry? No, Zephyr and Chris had said vampires had learned over the centuries to only take what they needed, and they used a strange compelling magic to make humans forget.

Wait… had he tried to do that to me in the communal area? He'd been odd when he'd first approached me, then seemed shocked. Had he actually tried?

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could form words, I saw Chris approaching from down the hall. Ossian noticed too, and without another word, he turned and strode past Chris back down the hall, not waiting for my response.

Chris reached my door, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Was that Ossian? What did he want?"

I felt a pang of guilt as I lied, "Oh, he was just commending me on my performance in training today." My mind swirled with questions now, questions only Ossian could answer. Telling Chris would mean telling him about our kiss, and the thought of doing that made my stomach flip.

Chris looked skeptical. "That's... weird. I didn't think vampires were the type to give out compliments."

I forced a laugh, trying to sound casual. "Yeah, it was unexpected. Anyway, come in."

As Chris entered, I tried to push thoughts of Ossian and his request out of my mind. Along with my unease now about his motives last night. Had our kiss been something stemmed from him trying to trick me with vampire magic? The thought made my stomach churn, but I focused on Chris instead, on his warm smile as he glanced around my room then focused on me.

He'd been sweet from the get-go, and despite my reservations towards men in general after Jason, I couldn't help the way I felt so comfortable around him already.

"Let's sit on the balcony," I suggested, and he nodded. We made our way outside, settling into the chairs there. The view of Dracaria spread out before us, beautiful and mystical, a reminder of how far we were from home.

"So," Chris said, his hazel eyes soft as they met mine. "You did amazing today. How are feeling about it all?"

I sighed as I let my gaze move to the view before us, so vast and stunning. But as I began to speak, I couldn't quite shake the memory of Ossian's hungry gaze and his troubling request. What was I going to do about that?