Maya's POV
Just as the dark magic of my parents roared through the kitchen, I threw myself out the back window. I hit the dirt hard as the ground rushed up to meet me. Despite the intense pain in my shoulder, I rolled over and continued to move. I could hear my parents' voices getting more irate behind me.
My father yelled, "She's running!" "Seek her out!"
My mother said, "Maya!" in a sweet but frightening voice. "Return, my love! All we want to do is talk."
I clambered to my feet and dashed into the woods. I couldn't stop, even though my legs felt like rubber and my lungs burned. Not when I was being used as a tool by my own parents. As I crashed through the trees, twigs scratched my face. Behind me, I could hear footsteps coming.
"This is hopeless," I told myself in a gasp. "I can't outrun them indefinitely."
A voice next to my ear said, "Well, duh." "Your speed is comparable to that of a three-legged turtle."
I almost fell after tripping. "Who said that?"
"Genius, come down here."
I hurriedly searched the area but found no one. "Where are you?"
"All right. Here." The voice sounded angry. "On your shoulder. Where have I been for the past five minutes?"
I almost screamed as I turned my head. On my shoulder sat a small dragon. Her scales glistened like purple jewels, and she was no bigger than my hand. She was staring at me with her dazzling gold eyes, as if I were the most foolish person she had ever met.
"You're a dragon," I mumbled.
The dragon said, "Ten points to the obvious girl." "I am a dragon, yes. Luna is my name. And you're in a lot of trouble, Maya Chen."
"This is impossible," I stated while continuing to run. "There are no dragons. They wouldn't be small and sarcastic even if they did."
"Hey!" Luna lost her rage. "I'm not small! I'm small. And the only reason I'm being sarcastic is that you people take so long to figure things out."
"However, how are you able to speak? How am I even able to see you?"
Luna remarked, "Because you're finally using your magic properly." "Magical animals that other people cannot see are visible to Phoenix Mages. I'm lucky."
I jumped over a downed log. "How long have you been observing me?"
"Three years," Luna stated. "Ever since you were removed from that pompous Academy. You were too concerned with feeling sorry for yourself to notice that I've been trying to get your attention."
"I didn't feel sorry for myself!"
"Oh please," Luna said, rolling her eyes. "You sulked about that town as if your favorite toy had been taken. 'I have no magic,' she said in a high-pitched voice. 'Woe is me.' 'I feel so depressed and useless.'"
"I don't sound like that!"
"You certainly do. They have been whining nonstop for the past three years. You know how annoying that is to a dragon?"
I nearly grinned in spite of everything. "You're saying that she believes I'm a whiner even though I've had an invisible dragon companion the entire time?"
"At last! She understands." "I said," Luna said. "However, I like 'magically hidden' better than 'invisible.' It sounds better."
"Why didn't you speak with me earlier?"
"Because you weren't ready," Luna stated seriously. "All of your magic was kept within you. You would have thought I was crazy if I had appeared three years ago."
"I think I'm going crazy now!"
"No, talking to yourself would be crazy. It's just... weird to talk to me."
Behind us, I could still hear my parents crashing through the bush. They were getting closer with their words.
My mother called out, "Maya!" "Stop running! You're just making things more complicated."
I whispered to Luna, "We have to hide."
"No," Luna answered. "We must fight."
"Combat? Are you crazy? Shadow power is what they have! They have an army."
Luna stated, "And you have Phoenix magic." "You also have me. Are you aware of what dragons shine at?"
"Breathing fire?"
"Yes, but I'm not big enough for that. I'm skilled at finding deception and delusions. Additionally, your parents aren't as strong as they would have you think, Maya."
"What do you mean?"
Luna explained, "The shadow magic is eating them from the inside out." "In reality, they are becoming weaker by the day. They badly need your power because of this."
"But they seem so strong!"
"It's all an act," Luna stated. "They act tough to hide how scared they really are; they're like bullies at school."
"What are you afraid of?"
"Dying," Luna said simply. "The user of dark magic is killed. Slowly but surely. Perhaps your parents have a month left before it totally kills them."
I was ill. "They're dying?"
Luna remarked gravely, "Unless someone with purification magic saves them." "You're referring to me."
"I'm talking to you. The trouble is, Maya, they don't want to be saved. They have been persuaded by the shadow magic that power is more important than love. Instead of living as regular people, they would prefer to die as monsters."
"That's awful!"
"It gets worse," Luna stated. "They are here for more than just you. Everyone in the village can rely on them. Principal Hawthorne promised them that he would teach them how to steal magic from others if they brought you back. They wish to rob Willowbrook of its people."
"What?" Luna had to grab my hair to keep it from falling off when I suddenly stopped running.
"Everyone," Luna said again. "All the kids, Mrs. Henderson, the baker. All those who have shown you kindness over the years. They plan to employ them as magical batteries."
My chest exploded in anger. When I felt worthless, these people had shown me kindness. They had treated me like I was important, smiled at me, and bought herbs from Grandmother Willow.
"I won't let them hurt innocent people," I vowed.
"The spirit of the Phoenix is here!" Luna said with approval. "But you must understand something else, Maya. Something you were not told by your grandmother."
"What now?"
Luna stated, "You're not the only Phoenix Mage." "There's one other."
"Who?"
"Ethan."
I gazed at her. "Ethan possesses Phoenix magic?"
"Dragon magic and Phoenix magic," Luna stated. "We refer to him as a dual mage. Extremely rare. Incredibly strong. And extremely risky if he ever becomes malicious."
"Is that the reason Principal Hawthorne wants him to?"
"Exactly. The world could be saved or destroyed by two Phoenix Mages working together. The goal of Principal Hawthorne is to control you both."
"Where is Ethan now?"
"That's the million-dollar question," Luna stated. "I haven't seen him since this morning, even though he was meant to meet us here."
"Perhaps he is alright. Perhaps he is simply hiding."
"Perhaps," Luna muttered, "Principal Hawthorne has already apprehended him."
Suddenly, the footsteps behind us stopped. The trees fell silent.
"That's not good," Luna mumbled.
My mother called sweetly, "Maya." "We are aware that you are out there. We are aware that you are not alone."
The voice of my father joined in. "Little phoenix, we feel the dragon. You might as well come out."
"They can see you?" I spoke to Luna in a whisper.
"Not see," Luna uttered, looking anxious for the first time. "However, they sense my magic. When it comes to spotting other magical creatures, shadow magic shines."
"So what do we do?"
"We have two choices," Luna stated. "Stay and fight, or run and hope we can find Ethan."
"How likely is it that we will fight?"
"Terrible," Luna said simply. "However, they will simply pursue us if we run. And while they're looking for us, they'll most likely injure villagers."
"So we fight."
"We fight," Luna agreed. "However, Maya, you must understand something about Phoenix magic. It goes beyond simple cleansing and healing."
"What else can it do?"
"It can bring things back from the dead," Luna stated. "But only if you're prepared to give up a portion of your own life force."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean," Luna stated seriously, "that you could bring back your loved one if they pass away tonight. However, it could kill you in the process."
The trees surrounding us burst into flames before I could ask what she meant. Gloomy fire. Fire in the dark. The kind that burned not hot but cold.
With eyes like terrible stars, my parents emerged from the flaming trees.
"Hello, Maya," said my mom. "You've been sorely missed."
"Time to come home," my dad said.
Principal Hawthorne appeared from the shadows behind them. He had something in his hands. Something that caused my blood to freeze.
Ethan's Academy ring.
"Searching for your friend?" With a sly smile, Principal Hawthorne asked. "Don't be worried. You'll see him soon."
"What did you do to him?" I let out a scream.
Principal Hawthorne said, "Oh, he's alive." "For the time being. However, that is solely based on your cooperation."
Luna sank her claws into my shoulder. "Maya," she muttered hurriedly, "don't accept anything they give you. It's a trap."
"I know," I returned in a whisper. However, I became aware that I might not have a choice as I observed Ethan's ring in Principal Hawthorne's hand.
"So, are you prepared to return home?" asked Principal Hawthorne. "Or should I begin causing hurt to those you care about?"