Chapter 20: Anger
Jade’s POV.
“Zara! No!” I screamed back to her. I didn't know if it was in our mind link or out loud. Either way, it didn't matter. I jumped out of bed and ran to the closing portal. I was too late..
“Zara! No! Zara!” I desperately clawed at the floor where she had disappeared from sight. “No!” Sobs shook my body as a very sleepy Grisket and Thorn run in.
“What is it? What happened?” A glow fills the room as a light is turned on. I hear gasps of shock from my friends.
“ There was a portal! I was too late!” I gulp air in “I was too late!” I sob harder and pound on the floor. “Too late.. I was- Too late..” I hang my head in shame and fear. Hugging myself I look at the floor, hoping the portal will open again and spit Zara out, back into the room.
“Jade! What is wrong?” Grisko’s snide voice alerts me. I look up and send myself into hurried speech again.
“They took Zara!” Grisko blinks at me, he looks as if he is unable to comprehend what I've said and looks at the bed. When he sees nothing but crumpled sheets he runs over to the bed and begins to throw pillows and sheets off the bed, shaking each pillow and sheet out. As if she is going to be hiding in one of the seams.
“What happened!” I look up at the snide and angry face and just mouth wordlessly. I don’t know what to say. I try to speak again.
“Medusa, Lucious- Portal- I was too late-” I dissolve again, unable to accept my failure.
“Thorn, Grisket.. Grab her and go into the living room.. Flame and I will have to set up new magical defenses.” Grisko’s words are stiff and nonchalant. Rage fills me.
“How can you be so calm! How can you act like this is no big deal!” Grisko glares at me and I quell under his eyes.
“I must keep a calm head in order to get her back. I do not have time to panic and claw at the floor like a helpless infant. Don’t you ever suggest I don't care for her. You will regret it.” More tears slid down my face at his words.
“I- I’m sorry..” It comes out as a whisper. “
“Grisko.. That isn’t what she meant..” Grisket’s tone is reproachful. As we walked through the emporium Thorn whispered to me.
“It isn't your fault. It could have been either of us in there with her too.”
“I’ll make us all some herbal tea.. I don't know about you two but I'm hungover..”
“Same here.” Thorn and I say in unison.
Flame’s POV
“No! She was supposed to be safe! How did this happen!” I yelled. Grisko growled low and loud, as emerald green shimmering scales erupted up his arms.
“Portal.”
“What the fuck! Didn’t you say you had anti-portal magic set up!” His growl was louder and more threatening now.
“Yes! I did! It was overpowered!” It was my turn to growl. My dragon was boiling to the surface. With anger, came shifting. Scales had begun to spring up on my arms now. We were both enraged and could hardly contain our dragons. I couldn’t do this right now. I needed to fly. To try and find her. To see her. Standing here bickering was torture. Turning, I ran down the stairs of the castle, ripping my shirt off as I went. I run out into the cool night air. Closing my eyes, I let the shift take me. My pants and shoes shred as my bones expand and crack. Red and orange scales replace my golden brown skin. Large leathery wings unfurl from my sides. A deep breath told me I was fully dragon. My sense of smell was stronger and mixed with the smoke from my dragon's fire. I leaped into the air. My wing’s flapping hard. Soon, a glistening emerald green dragon just as big as me joined me. Grisko. Black smoke curled out from his nose in anger as he growled a low and angry growl. Telepathic communication was something all shifters could do. But some shifters could only do so in their shifted forms. Another downfall to being a dragon..
“It was medusa. She clearly has her magic back. I don’t understand why she still wants Zara. I am worried.” I growl back in response and nod my huge dragon’s head. Grisko I don't think sees because with no warning he dove down and roared his loud dragon’s roar. As I glided down after him perplexed, my nose caught Zara’s scent on the wind. I picked up my speed following it and Grisko.
“Grisko, search around here.” I say, continuing past him. The scent stops at the portal back to the evergreen forest that Zara’s pack had lived in. I stop to sniff around it hoping she is around here but I can’t find her scent anymore. Grisko hurtles through the barrier, completely blowing past me. Shocked, I zoom after him. As I make it through the portal my body jolts and I drop a few feet. I take a deep breath to steady myself and the smell of the evergreen trees assaults my nose. I look around and see Grisko hovering in the air over a group of trees clustered together.. Flying over I peer down into the grove of trees. In the middle of the trees sits a clearing, illuminated with a green glow. It has a magical shield around it. It must.. Grisko is full of rage. I can tell by the furls of dark smoke rising from his nostrils and the low rumble in his chest. I share his feelings. Taking a deep and strong breath into my lungs, I belch a long and hot stream of fire at the clearing's green covering. It bounces back at me, swerving to avoid it. I growl my displeasure at the barriers' strength.
“It’s no use.” Grisko was even more angry now. “That is Medusa's magic. It must be. We will need a witch to break through it.