Page 55 of A Dark Prophecy's Heir

It took her another second longer to realize the ringing wasn’t just in her head. She froze, hearing it again. She put on the nearest robe and raced toward the cave entrance, where she was met with dark clouds and a bit of rain. The sound had stopped, but she already knew what it was.

Alarm.

Sapphire returned to the cave, finally finding her dress with its pockets of potions. She donned it hastily, then paused when her gaze landed on scales glinting dimly on the ground and leading a trail outside. She picked one up, recognizing Klaus’s signature black color. Before her fluttering nerves could figure out what it meant, a shadow was on the cave entrance, quietly moving in.

“Klaus.”

Relief washed over his expression at the sight of her before he noted the way she wrapped a strip of cloth around her arm in preparation.

“We have an intruder,” he said.

“I figured that. Does everyone hear the alarm?”

“Just the castle, the underground, and the cave. It’s silent for the rest.”

“I can hear it wherever I am. I don’t know why or how, but I can,” she confessed. “Come on.”

“Saph.”

“How’s your visibility?” His non-response told her just how bad it was, so she nodded more decisively. “I have potions just for that and my magic. Witch ally, remember?”

“I know, but…”

“It will help you find and get rid of the intruder faster.”

That erased his reluctance as he made up his mind and crouched on the ground. When he was halfway into his dragon form and still crouched, her mouth dropped open.

“Hurry, Saph.”

“Are you kidding?” Then, “You’re not kidding. Oh, man.”

But she didn’t argue, understanding there was no time to waste. Bracing herself, she inched toward him and gingerly sat on his back, wobbling when he pushed off the ground and continued his transformation.

“Hold on tight and do your thing,” he instructed. “I can’t speak in dragon form, but I’ll keep you hidden.”

That was all the warning she got before they were zooming their way out of the cave and into the skies, where she gripped tightly and willed herself not to fall. A cold blast of wind hit her face when he flew to the clouds, slapping away whatever nerves were left in her system. It gave her focus, as she managed her shivering with some light energy before she gathered the rest in her hands.

Just as predicted, there was zero visibility below, the fog covering most of the island—the perfect weather for people with bad intentions. Sapphire waited until he was closer to shore before she took out her potion, enhanced her magic, and muttered her chants. Seconds later, her vision sharpened and the fog disappeared before her eyes, even though technically, it was still there. She hurriedly scanned the area until the fog returned.

“Nothing,” she announced.

He flew in an organized circle, drawing closer to the island’s center each time. She repeated her potion-use and chants until she could dissect every visited corner and tell him it was clear. Near one of the thicker patches of forest, her breath caught in her throat.

“There’s someone there. A creature. It’s flying away to the back of the island.”

Specifically, it was flying toward where the raging waves were and would pass the last underground exit along the way. She gasped when he abruptly lowered his body until she got it.

“Stop by that tree. I’ll jump. Hurry!”

There was no time to feel her nerves again as she needed to jump quickly and allow the dragon to get on its way and race after the intruder. Sapphire held her breath as she leaped, arms flailing about until she snagged one of the branches. There was a slice of pain and a dizzying sensation, but the remaining branches were soft enough to give her a relatively cushioned landing. Mud squelched on her shoes and the fog shrouded the entire forest floor. But she knew this was where the upright door to the underground sanctuary was located, so she started walking in search of it.

Above, the rain hadn’t let on and the clouds got thicker. There were no sounds coming from Klaus, but perhaps that was a good thing. She continued moving around until she spotted the hazy door, which Bernard or someone else had already covered with vines. But there was a head peeking out from bushes to its right, giving her pause until she realized she recognized it too.

“Angela,” she called out when she was close, then frowned when a small hand tugged on her leg. She ducked until she was leveled with the crouched teenager. “What are you…”

The hand pressed over her mouth, silencing her. Sapphire threw Angela a bewildered look, then froze when she took in the tense, frightened expression on the teenage girl’s face—not just ordinary fright, but one that indicated the girl knew what she was facing. Seconds later, Sapphire felt it: a surge of energy, not hers and not familiar, but its existence in Broom’s Isle so common that her heart stuttered. Wordlessly, her hand slipped into her pocket for her remaining vials.

Her hair stood on end when a growl came from the energy’s direction, low and menacing. The sinister feel extended beyond the sound, and she knew she had to get it away from Angela and the door immediately. Tapping the girl’s shoulder, she gestured quietly.

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