Chapter 20 CHAPTER 20
The horse was kicking flies away with his long tail as I approached hesitantly.
I had no idea what I was going to do exactly. The only sure part about this unplanned plan is to take the horse and guide it in the general direction of the centre. I turned around and saw the tallest building in the academy so I was sure I had the direction correctly.
I wasn't going to get there of course, just close enough to hide. Then figure out how to survive without getting caught.
The plan was hazy but my goal was clear – hide, survive and when the time is right, I'll go back home.
I turned back to the horse who was now looking at me, and maybe I'm crazy but she looked at me with raised eyebrows.
Like she could… think like us.
Animals aren't sentient, right?
Still, the pull got stronger, taking me towards her even though I knew she could kill me with a strike of her horn or a powerful leg kick.
“Hi,” I waved nervously as I got close enough to smell the heat on her. “He's not cleaned you up in a while has he?”
I lifted my hand up, still shaking from fear.
And then she purred, leaning into my hands. My eyes widened as I rubbed my hand back and forth on her face.
I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face. It was the softest thing my hands had touched in a while and the satisfaction on her face made me feel like I was floating on clouds.
The second I felt my hand aching, she stepped back.
“Oh wow. You're very intelligent,” I muttered, and she whinnied happily, and I couldn't help giggling.
I felt like I was being watched, the sensation coming out of nowhere.
I looked around, my paranoia forcing me out of the bubble of excitement I was in moments ago.
I took a step back, looked at the curtains covering the windows that faced the back area.
It wasn't covered earlier… or was I imagining that too?
I shook my head, focusing back on the matter at hand.
I moved around her face to the side where I was supposed to climb but the dragon rider didn't feel the need to attach stirrups to the horse, hence, I didn't know how to get on.
The horse was calm, which was quite unexpected but I didn't know how long that was going to last so I needed to get my ass on top.
He'd lifted me with some strange shadow earlier so I still had no experience with the horse that was almost taller than me.
I placed my hand on her back, with less trepidation this time since she didn't send me away the first time.
I tried reaching over the other side of Styx so I could try climbing but instead, she did something shocking.
And no, not the disastrous streak I've been on, she'd actually noticed my struggle and lowered herself to my level, kneeling with her hind legs.
“Oh thank you so much Styx,” I squealed, getting on top of her immediately, before she'd get irritated with me.
I adjusted my ass on her back and this time without Principal Draco behind me, keeping me steady and vibrating with need for something I shouldn't want, I struggled to stay on her back.
I didn't know where exactly to hold on to, so I bent forward, grabbing her around the neck but not too tightly.
Like she could sense when I'd gotten steady, she began moving.
At first, she was slow and steady, walking out of the back yard gate and then to a slow trot across the compound that housed the Principal of the Academy.
I held in my shock and amazement at what was happening, scared to think wrongly and piss her off.
But maybe I should have been doing that, I should have established a means of communication too, or asked questions.
Although the door slamming in my face meant I had no one to ask. I have only seen horses across the fence of a ranch I sold once, so I had no idea how to get them to slow down or stop somewhere.
Styx had crossed the compound which thankfully didn't have any gate, only bordered by a stone fence and then she shot off, running as though her tail had caught on fire.
“Slow down Styx, please!” I yelled at the top of my voice but I might as well have been singing instead.
She ran past houses and people, to where I couldn't remember and probably won't even recognize even if I could.
Everything became a blur as I tightened my hold around her neck, and I was just wishing she wouldn't throw me off by mistake.
Until she began slowing down, trotting down somewhere sloppy.
I gradually looked up and I noticed she had brought me back to the academy's living quarters.
And everyone was trooping back from classes, tired, and all eyes were on me.
On the Principal's personal horse.
What will I say? I just seem to keep digging myself into deeper problems.
Styx went to the exact block I was assigned and then lowered herself so I could get down.
If people weren't looking before, they were now.
Horses probably didn't do that around here and especially not one the Principal described as stubborn because he's been with her for years.
I slid down her back, and I rubbed her back again, I didn't want her to think I was being ungrateful.
She nuzzled her snout in my shoulder for a second, her horn grazing my neck, and then she turned around and sprinted off.
I quickly turned around and ran up the stairs, not ready for questions I could see burning in people's eyes.
Nothing I'd planned was working and I couldn't slip away now without raising suspicions.
I got to the door and I was surprised it was left ajar, slightly though.
I walked in like a returning prodigal child, remembering how Erin had promised to come visit me in the hospital.
I also missed classes today, something she treated with such reverence.
Thankfully, they were in here and shouldn't have witnessed my dramatic return. I didn't know how to explain what just happened.
Gerund had explained to me how strict the Principal was. How come he was being so hot and cold with me?
The second I walked through the door, I saw everyone in different states of undress, probably just getting back a few minutes before.
“Your leg –” Erin began.
“You've not even been here a full day and you're already trying to fuck the Principal?” Ekua cut her off, with venom pouring in my direction.
“What?” I gasped, eyes flickering between her and the rest of the room.
“You can play coy all you want,” she continued, “but I know you are going to have your heart shattered.”
“He won't even touch her naked body with a ten-inch pole,” Mira muttered, and then paused, her face brightening. “See what I did there?”
“How did you know how long his inch is Mira?” Erin chuckled, and I took the chance to walk to my own bed.
Hopefully, their attention stays on the playful argument they were involved in.
But of course, Akua was obsessed with me seeing as she walked over to my side of the bed.
“I just wanted to be nice for once tonight,” she said, crossing her arms and looking down at me while I sat, “the Principal is made of the mountain stone. You're not going to get whatever you want from him. You remember how I warned you this morning?”
How could I forget? And how could I forget how right she'd been?
“If you want to finish the rest of this school year, get your panties shredded by some other dragon kin. But the Principal? He's an impregnable fortress. No one has seen him naked, not in the army and not amongst brothels. Just be careful.”
“You don't have to warn me, I'm not interested in him. He just helped me because I was injured and bleeding out and still couldn't find the clinic. I didn't tell him to do anything.”
“I'm simply warning you. Even if something happens between you both, women who have been trying to get his attention will probably kill you. He's untouchable.”
And then she turned away.
Leaving my heart beating erratically and my heart breaking.
Why?
I have no idea.