NOTICE: Due to getting published, chapters 27 onwards of A New Era have been removed from Wattpad. This is because of copyright reasons as well as Amazon guidelines.
Dominique awoke to a buzz of voices and the sound of things being dragged along or banged against each other. Groaning he rolled over, willing the noise to stop. Yet when it did not he opened his eyes slowly. Finding himself staring at a fuzzy world he reached up a hand and rubbed his eyes with his palms. Once the world swam into focus he found himself staring at a wall. Someway above it was a small window through which sunlight streamed and the noise was coming through. The noise confirming that the city was already up and about.
Turning to the other side Dominique caught sight of the empty hammock across of him. For a moment he stared blankly at it before he remembered who was supposed to occupy it, Akira. Groaning he sat up and placed both his feet firmly on the ground. Had she not done her disappearing act so many times before Dominique would have gotten worried, yet by now he knew that she wouldn't be far away, probably downstairs eating breakfast if anything.
Running a hand through his hair he caught sight of Akira's bundle of things placed carefully on her hammock. His eyes wondered down to his feet to see his boots lying there. Leaning down he pulled them on before he stood on his feet and stretched. He yawned and did not bother to cover his mouth, before he walked over to his things. Grabbing the tube he always carried with him, he stuck it out of sight under his shirt, before he grabbed a bag full of coins and dumped them into his pocket. Satisfied that he had everything he made his way out of the room, making sure to lock it before he headed downstairs.
When he reached the staircase he paused at the top, staring down at the room below and wondering at the difference in it. The stage was empty, with not an instrument on it and other than a few murmuring voices, coming from the few people that sat scattered around tables eating breakfast, it was actually pretty silent. The lights that had flashed the night before where no longer on, leaving the entire room to be light up by the sunlight from outside, which actually gave the whole place a homey look.
Dominique scanned the area below, his eyes seeking out Akira. He frowned as he searched but did not catch sight of her and an uneasy feeling filled him. She had not gone off on her own, had she? That was when he heard the familiar laughter coming from the other side of the room. Relief flooded through him as he turned his head to see Akira sitting at a table, laughing at something that the blond haired girl across from her said. It was Savannah.
Making his way down the stairs Dominique reached the bottom just as Savannah spotted him. "Dominique!" her voice rang through the empty room.
Shaking his head Dominique made his way over to her, shooting a look at the girl that sat beside her. She had brown hair and gray eyes and actually was somewhat attractive, yet there was something about her, something that would make anyone think twice about approaching her. Dominique recognized her from a time he had met her before, her name was Anita. While Savannah and Akira were smiling she sat there with a bored expression on her face, seeming uninterested. Dominique saw Akira shoot her a curious look yet she said nothing.
"Hey," Dominique said as he reached the table.
Akira slid over in the bench like seat, making room for him, and Dominique sat down beside her, opposite of Savannah.
"Finally awake, are you sleepy head?" Akira teased.
Dominique shrugged in reply, his eyes scanning over the rest of the room, following the path of a lady carrying a tray before his eyes continued on their previous path. He was searching, wondering where the guys Savannah was usually with were, for he was sure that he hadn't been completely forgiven for their last run in, and as he couldn't afford any trouble at the moment he wanted to keep his distance.
"They're out," Savannah said as she immediately picked up why Dominique was looking around. "Don't worry," she smirked, "They wouldn't try anything in here anyway, not after the warning you guys got last time for the damage you guys caused here. Though I still can't figure out who got hurt more, the table you smashed with your back, or you."
Dominique saw Akira shoot him a curious look yet to his surprise she didn't ask what Savannah was talking about. Dominique's gaze wondered down to the empty plate that sat in front of Akira, two identical ones in front of Savannah and Anita. Obviously they had already eaten their breakfast.
"You were still asleep," Akira told him softly. "I didn't know when you'd come down and I didn't have any money on me so Savannah paid."
Dominique nodded and turned to Savannah. "How much do we owe you?" he asked.
"You two are so CUTE together," Savannah giggled. "How much do WE owe you," she mimicked, "Are you sure you aren't a couple?"
Dominique didn't reply yet out of the corner of his eyes he saw Akira frown and he couldn't help but wonder why. Was she not happy with what Savannah had said? Was the idea of her being his girlfriend not to her liking? Maybe she was still clinging stubbornly to the belief that Seth existed and was her boyfriend. Dominique ground his teeth at the thought, realizing that he wanted more than ever for Akira to see the truth and forget this nonsense she believed. Yet he knew that unless he proved that it wasn't true she would most likely never give up, and the only way to prove it was to steal the piece of armor from the academy. Determination filled Dominique, determination to succeed and bring Akira to see the truth.
"How much?" Akira asked Savannah, repeating Dominique's question.
"Oh don't be silly," Savannah waved her hand as though dismissing the question. "It's not like it cost a fortune. Besides, I always buy breakfast for my friends."
Seeing an opportunity Dominique grabbed it, "Well in that case..."
"Excluding you," Savannah told him dryly as she cut him off.
"Hey!" Dominique protested. "I am a friend, aren't I?"
"Yes," Savannah told him patiently, "But to pay for you would mean that my pockets would be emptied of every last draco by the end of the meal!"
Akira giggled while Dominique glared at Savannah. Anita sat, still the same bored expression on her face.
"So, what are your plans for today?" Savannah asked.
Akira shot Dominique a questioning look, obviously not entirely sure of how she should reply.
"Well," Dominique leaned back in the chair and put his hands behind his head. "I have some business to take care of in town."
"I'm coming with you," Akira jumped in quickly.
"Nah," Dominique replied, remembering what he had thought about the night before, "Why don't you stay here and hang out with Savannah? I'm sure it will be more interesting."
"Yes!" Savannah's eyes lit up at the thought, beside her Anita rolled her eyes at her friend's reaction to the idea.
Akira shot Dominique a questioning look, obviously confused as to why he was suggesting that she stay behind. He just shook his head at her and mouthed "Trust me" when he was sure that neither Savannah nor Anita were watching. Akira did not look convinced but she did not bother arguing and Dominique was glad about that. He had realized the night before that it would be easier and faster to travel with just one person on his dragon than two, they would also be less noticeable that way, which was exactly what he needed if he wanted to get near the academy to scout it out. Besides, today was only the first day, he would probably end up not doing much other than watching the academy to try and figure out what the guards changed and what system they used to guard the place.
"We can do SO many things!" Savannah blabbered on, "There's this really neat place I know......"
Dominique decided that this was a good time to go and he slipped out of the seat. He remembered something and quickly pulled the metal card from his pocket and put it down beside Akira, knowing that their room key would probably be safer in her hands than his as he was more likely to lose it with all that he had planned. He turned and walked towards the exit when a lady carrying a tray stacked with toast, walked past.
As his stomach growled at the sight of food Dominique reached out and snatched two slices of toast as the lady walked past. She noticed and turned to confront him.
"Hey!" she protested.
"Just charge it on my friend," Dominique told her smoothly pointing over at Savannah and grinning wickedly before he took a large bite out of the first piece of toast. He reached out his hand and grabbed another piece. Shaking her head the lady turned and continued on the way she was going.
Dominique continued on his earlier path and by the time he had reached the door leading outside he had finished all three slices of toast. As he stepped out the smell of the city, a mixture of odors consisting of food, dirt and waste, hit him full on. Taking a deep breath of the air Dominique grimaced as he headed for the stable area.
"Morning," he told the same man from the night before that had been guarding the stabling area.
"You heading out?" the man asked after nodding in acknowledgment.
"Yup," Dominique replied as he slipped through a smaller door in the large one leading into the stable area. He walked past pens, ignoring the dragons in them, until he came to the one he knew Breeze was in. Slipping a metal disk into the door he opened it.
"Room service," he joked.
There was a snort in reply from inside as Breeze appeared. "Finally you decide to turn up. I thought you'd left me here to die of old age," Stiffly he walked past Dominique.
"Someone woke up on the wrong side of bed," Dominique replied teasingly.
"Please, with all that noise coming from your building I doubt one dragon slept a wink in here. What were you doing last night anyway?"
"Partying," Dominique replied with a shrug as they walked towards the large door that the bold man was currently pushing open.
"Humans," Breeze thought dryly.
Dominique didn't reply but nodded a thanks at the man as they passed him and walked into the daylight.
"Where to now?" Breeze asked as Dominique smoothly swung himself onto his back.
"Well," Dominique began, "How about we get a proper breakfast and then go to the academy."
"And do what?" Breeze asked as he turned and began to walk down the road. "Sit and watch the academy the entire day until we die of boredom?"
"Come on Breeze," Dominique replied as they turned into a road which was filled with dragons and riders, all heading about their own business, "You know that we need to figure out what we can about the academy. Starting with watching and seeing what goes on on the outside is a good place to start. It may be boring, but at least it might get us somewhere," he continued. "Besides," he grinned, "We won't just be watching, we'll be watching AND eating."
In reply Breeze stomped extra hard on the ground as he walked, drawing confused looks from passersby. Dominique just grinned, enjoying the feeling of excitement while it was there, for he knew that after watching the academy for a while he just might do what Breeze had said and die of boredom.
Akira was not sure why Dominique had told her to stay behind and she felt somewhat annoyed at the fact. For a moment she wondered if he wasn't really going to help her get into the academy but then she had brushed those feelings aside, assuring herself that he had a plan and that maybe staying behind for the day was better. She might just get in the way if she went along after all.
No sooner had Dominique left than Savannah had sprung up excitedly, clapped her hands together and declared that they had to get going if they wanted to do all the exciting things she had planned for the day. In reply Akira stood up and stuffed the room key into her pocket. She followed Savannah to the door, pausing only once to glance back and see that Anita had also gotten up and was following, her expression blank. Akira couldn't help but wonder why she never smiled or why, up to know, she still had not heard her utter one word. Yet Savannah did not seem to be bothered by it and so Akira did not ask.
As Savannah lead the way out she grabbed Akira's arm and linked it through her own before doing the same with Anita with her other arm. She lead the way, walking happily down the street as she babbled on nonstop, reminding Akira somewhat of Gina. Akira found out that neither Savannah nor Anita had a dragon, or as Savannah said 'not yet'.
At first Akira had thought that they were going to walk everywhere, but then when they stepped into a large courtyard she realized that Savannah had made other plans. All around them were carts, big ones, small ones, fancy ones, plain ones, some with seats and some without. Yet they all had one thing in common, the fact that a dragon was standing in front, a harness around him to attach him to the cart so that he could pull it, and a rider on top of him, sitting in a smaller saddle than they normally were.
"Anita?" Savannah asked her as they came to a stop by the edge or the courtyard. Akira watched as Anita slid her arm out of Savannah's grip and raised her fingers to her mouth. A moment later she let out a piercing whistle.
The reaction from the dragons and riders with the carts was almost instant. They turned their heads in the direction and two riders urged their dragons towards the girls, racing each other to get their first. Akira's eyes widened as she watched the dragons and carts hurtling towards her and for a moment she was sure that she was going to get crushed. Yet as it turned out, the dragons skidded to a halt, meters from where the girls stood.
Savannah smiled at the first rider to reach them. He was sitting upon a smoky gray dragon that was pulling a small cart with a bench like seat across it and a small half roof over it, covering the back of the cart and the top yet leaving the front open. Without a smile or a word Anita climbed into the cart, sitting down on the bench.
"Come on," Savannah pushed Akira towards the cart, ignoring the other rider who had arrived a split second later and seeing that he had lost to the other rider, turned his dragon away with a huff and went back to where he had been standing before.
Akira clambered into the wagon ahead of Savannah, feeling somewhat unsteady as she sat down beside Anita. The two girls squished over somewhat to make space for Savannah who sat down with a smile on her face.
"Where to?" the rider asked from ahead of them where he sat on top of his dragon.
"Central city," Savannah replied.
The rider nodded before the dragon began to walk. As the cart jolted forward Akira felt herself felling backwards. Reacting fast she grabbed a hold of Savannah who only laughed in glee as the dragon increased his pace, racing so that the cart dipped dangerously. Yet when they suddenly came to a large road full of other dragons he slowed down to a walk and joined the steady flow of dragons. Seeing that this was going to take a while Savannah let out a loud sigh.
"So," she turned to Akira, "What's the deal between you and Dominique?"
Akira furrowed her eyebrows, wondering what exactly Savannah meant.
"How close are you guys?" Savannah explained as she saw that Akira didn't understand.
"Oh," Akira felt surprised, "We're just friends."
Savannah let out a loud snort, "He sure doesn't look at you like you're just a friend!"
Akira frowned yet Savannah did not seem to notice as she continued, "Besides, I haven't seen Dominique hang out with anyone in ages. ESPECIALLY not a girl, and to tell you the truth you two do look like you'd make a great couple cause..."
"I have a boyfriend," Akira quickly informed her before she could go on.
Savannah's face fell. "Really?" she sounded crestfallen, yet then her face brightened, "Maybe this other boyfriend and you aren't getting along?" she sounded hopeful.
"Stop trying to play matchmaker and leave her alone. She already said she had a boyfriend." Both shocked and surprised Akira turned to look at Anita who had spoken, she met her eyes a moment before Anita looked away and back at the pedestrians they were passing on the road.
"I guess so. Too bad," Savannah shook her head regretfully, not seeming to be in the least bit surprised that Anita had spoken after keeping silent the entire time until then.
"If you're interested in Dominique then why don't you....?" Akira began questioningly, yet Savannah let her go no further.
"Na uh," Savannah shook her head firmly. "Dominique's cool and all, but he's not really my type," she shrugged.
"Oh," was all Akira could reply.
"Enough about Dominique, let's do something with our day!" Savannah declared brightly as the dragon rider brought his dragon to a stop. "Come on!" Savannah bounded off the wagon. Akira followed, turning once she was on the ground to see that Anita had paused and handed a coin over to the rider before following.
"Now," Savannah said when Anita was standing with them, "Let's go have some fun!"