When I finally came to grips with the fact that this was actually my room, I took my trunk into the closet.
The closet was nearly as large as my old room. Hanging up already were two types of uniforms, on the floor beneath them two pairs of black work boots. Against the wall opposite the uniforms was a massive, dark-wooded chest and a stand large enough for a dragon-sized saddle. I put down my trunk and opened the chest. It was filled with a variety of dragon-care products - brushes, scale wax, flame feeder, blunting cream, and a bunch more.
Once I was done rummaging through the chest, I unpacked my trunk and realized that I was still wearing my singed shirt and the shawl Mother had given me to cover it. I changed into a clean one and went back into the bedroom with the few books I'd brought from home. My trunk had only been big enough to store my favorite volumes, but I didn't think I would run out of reading material. The bookshelf was already filled with volumes about combat, history, dragons, and battle strategy. I put my books up on the top shelf and took down one of the ones on combat to see what it was about.
"Are you unpacked already?" Liz asked from behind me. I jumped and spun around, nearly tripping over Leera's tail. Liz was standing in the doorway.
It took me a moment to remember what she'd asked. "I just finished," I answered. A second later, I smelled smoke and dropped the book I'd been holding. The scent went away, but my fingers were still too hot.
"Are you okay?" Liz asked.
"Of course I am. Is that all you wanted to ask?"
"We were going to go flying before dinner," she said. "Do you want to come?"
"Sure," I answered.
"Meet you in the entrance room, then," she replied, skipping out the door. I picked up the book after Liz had gone and put it back on the shelf. It was slightly singed, but the cover was still readable.
I left the bookshelf and went back around Leera to stand by the desk. She was looking at me again with her keen, amber eyes.
"Up," I commanded, gesturing for Leera to stand. She didn't move.
"Come on, we're going flying," I said, gesturing again. She snorted and laid her head down on her front paws. "Get up, not lay down." Why couldn't she just listen to me?
"Please get up," I tried. No response. It had to be because I was a paltor; there was no other explanation. I couldn't let my dragon be the one who gave it away.
"Just get up, you big lizard," I barked, snapping my fingers. This time, she growled and spit a thin stream of fire at my feet. Jumping back, I decided that we wouldn't be going flying. I went to the hangar room to tell the others that I'd decided to stay. When I came back, I couldn't get the door open. The knob turned fine, but it was like something heavy was pressing against the other side. After a monumental push, I managed to get the door open maybe half a foot before it slammed shut. I'd seen green scales through the gap.
"Let me in!" I hissed, pushing harder on the door. Leera growled back, and I kicked the door. Giving up, I sat down against the wall. Frustration and fear boiled inside me, making me wish more than ever that I was normal, that I could just go and fly with my friends without the threat of discovery looming over my head.
But I was what I was, a fact that wouldn't be so crushing if I'd just done what my parents had said and stayed home. One stupid mistake, and I could never go back to how I'd been before. Yes, I'd had powers, but they hadn't surfaced every single time I got upset. They'd never really been a danger to me before. Now they were, and there was nothing I could do about it.
For some reason, I felt oddly cold. I started shivering as I wiped away tears.
"Is something wrong?" Sarafin asked. I hadn't even noticed him come up the stairs. He was wearing a flowered apron that almost made me smile.
"No," I lied, starting to stand. He came over and offered me a hand up. He was wearing black leather gloves, which I thought was odd. When I took his hand, he looked surprised. I quickly stood and let go of his hand.
"Are you sure you're okay? You feel so cold."
I crossed my arms and looked at my feet. "I'm fine. Why are you up here anyway?"
"I was getting a bag of flour I brought with me from Marysburg," he answered. "Why are you out here?"
"It's just... Leera won't let me in my room," I explained. When I said it like that, it sounded ridiculous. Not that having a giant lizard sleeping in my room wasn't already absurd, but still.
"Have you spoken with her about it?" he asked.
"She won't listen to me," I admitted.
"Leera wouldn't act like that if she didn't have a reason. If you talked it out with her, you could probably resolve your problems," he suggested. I couldn't imagine how he expected me to get a dragon to understand why she should open the door for a paltor, but I didn't ask, not wanting to let on about what Leera's problem with me was.
"I'll try that," I said. He nodded and went into his room to get the flour. I pretended to be talking at the door with Leera until he went back downstairs. Then I went and hid in Tawny's room.
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