Maya's POV
As I smashed through the opening onto the main platform of Sky Wing Academy, someone yelled, "INCOMING!" Phoenix fell next to me as I rolled across the stone floor. My head was spinning from everything that had just happened, and my entire body hurt from the magical journey.
"Maya?" My guts dropped when I heard a familiar voice. "Is that you, Maya?"
When I looked up, I saw Aria Swift standing above me with a fake worried expression on her face. Tom and my other old classmates were standing behind her, all of them feigning worry.
Tom said, "We heard you were dead," but rather than showing relief, his eyes showed disappointment.
I mumbled, "Sorry to disappoint you," as I stumbled to my feet.
"Maya!" I turned to see Jake Storm running in my direction as another voice called out. However, there was a problem. Although his eyes were different, this Jake showed a striking resemblance to the Jake from Underground Academy. colder.
"Jake?" Uncertainly, I said. "How did you arrive here so quickly?"
He paused before me, panting heavily. "I'm glad you're safe, Maya. I believed you were gone forever when Master Frost attacked the mountain.
I said, puzzled, "But you were just with me two minutes ago."
Jake's face went blank. "What are you saying? I've been waiting for you to return to Sky Wing Academy for weeks.
My heart began to race. "That isn't possible. I just needed your help to get away from Master Frost.
"You're not making any sense, Maya," Aria said sweetly. For months, Jake Storm has been a student here. He never went away.
I turned to see everyone looking at me. Although everyone looked worried, something felt terribly off.
"Phoenix," I muttered. "Tell me what you see."
The portal jump had left Phoenix's golden eyes empty. "Maya, I'm having trouble feeling anything at the moment. My truth vision was jumbled by the magical journey.
Jake reached out to touch my arm and said, "Maya, you're frightening me." "What happened down there?"
I felt it as soon as his fingers touched my skin. A tiny flash of wrongness. Jake wasn't here. Jake's face was being worn by someone else.
I backed up and said, "Get away from me."
The fake Jake said, "Maya, what's wrong?" but his voice had a weak echo that the real Jake's never had.
"You're not Jake," I yelled. "You're not Jake Storm, but I'm not sure who you are."
Aria chuckled. "You're being ridiculous, Maya. He's Jake, of course. While you were away, we were all learning together.
"Prove it," I told the fake Jake. "Tell me something that only the real Jake would understand."
The phony Jake's smile was too perfect. Too much practice. " We talked Master Frost's practice of robbing students of their magic. Together, we planned to stop him.
"Anyone could know that," I noted. "Tell me a personal story."
The phony Jake's smile faltered. "I... we... you mentioned that you enjoyed my storm magic."
"Wrong," I said as energy started to surge through me. "The real Jake told me that Sky Wing Academy couldn't handle his wild storm magic. He claimed that he feared using it to hurt others.
Aria's voice sharpened as she said, "Maya." "You're acting strangely. Jake is Jake. Perhaps you imagined things because of the stress of being removed.
I said, closely watching their expressions, "I wasn't really expelled." "The expulsion was staged to keep Master Frost away from me."
Tom's eyes widened in what looked to be real surprise. "What? However, Master Frost told us—"
"Tom!" Aria lost her rage. "Avoid—"
"Don't what?" With my suspicions growing, I asked. "Don't tell me what you were told by Master Frost."
Aria's face turned white. "I meant the teacher, Master Frost. He told us that you were actually expelled.
I said slowly, "Master Frost isn't the headmaster." "He is the bad guy who has been robbing students of their magic."
The fake Jake said, "That's crazy talk," but he was now turning away from me.
"Is it?" I turned to face my old friends. "How many of you have been sipping Master Frost's special tea? "The tea that was meant to boost your magic?"
A number of pupils looked uneasy. Some even gave a nod.
"Maya," Aria uttered frantically, "you're puzzled. Master Frost is a nice guy. He has been helping us in improving as learners.
"By stealing your magic bit by bit," I answered. "As he did to me."
Tom said, "That's not true," but his tone was unsure.
"So why do you all appear so worn out?" I inquired. "Why do you have such weak magical auras? You were all so powerful when I left Sky Wing Academy. You look to be barely hanging on now.
I was right. For the first time, I could see how tired they all appeared when I looked at them closely. Pale skin, shaking hands, and dark bags under their eyes.
I said sadly, "He's been using you." "Everyone. While you thought you were growing stronger, Master Frost has been stealing your magic.
Aria said, "You're lying," but her eyes were watering.
"I wish I was," I answered. "But consider it. How recently have any of you used truly powerful magic? How recently have you felt truly strong?
There was an eerie silence.
"Maya," the phony Jake said, his voice totally altered. "You're more intelligent than I thought."
His appearance suddenly started to change. The Jake disguise vanished like water, revealing a man with ruthless eyes and pale skin dressed in dark robes.
"Who are you?" I insisted.
With a sly smile, the man identified himself as Master Frost's apprentice. "Here at Sky Wing Academy, he sent me to watch his little spies."
"Spies?" I glanced at my old friends. "You're all spies?"
"Not all of us," Tom mumbled. "Just the ones he's been using the tea to control."
The apprentice explained, "The tea doesn't just steal magic." Students become more dedicated to Master Frost as a result. They won't question anything he asks of them."
When I understood what this meant, my heart ached. "How long have you been drinking the tea, Aria?"
Aria muttered, "Since the day you left." "Master Frost claimed that it would allow me to lead my team. But I had no idea it would, Maya. I didn't mean to.
"Mean to what?" Despite my fear of the answer, I asked.
"The things he made me do," Aria said, her eyes welling up with tears. "The pupils I misled. I sent him messages to help him in locating the Underground Academy.
"You assisted him in his assault on the mountain?" Horror-stricken, I asked.
Aria cried, "I couldn't stop myself." "The tea makes you want to win his favor. It gives you the idea that his concepts are sound.
"How many students does he have control over?" I questioned the apprentice.
"Half the school," he stated with pride. "And it'll be all of them soon."
As golden power began to surround me, I said, "Not if I stop you."
The apprentice chuckled. "You? A young girl and her baby dragon? This has been planned for years by Master Frost. He has enough stolen magic to level this entire school, dozens of controlled kids, and armies of stolen dragons.
"So why hasn't he launched an attack yet?" I inquired.
The apprentice explained, "Because he's waiting for the right moment." "The instant you feel totally vulnerable and alone."
I said, "I'm not alone." "I have Phoenix."
The apprentice smiled coldly and asked, "Do you?"
Phoenix wasn't there when I looked around for her. Someone had taken her in the middle of the commotion.
"Where is she?" I insisted.
Aria said, "Safe," but her voice sounded odd. Far away. "Master Frost wants to make sure that when he claims her, she won't be hurt."
I begged, "Aria, resist the tea's influence." "This is not as strong as you are."
"I can't," Aria muttered. "I'm so sorry, Maya. I'm at my breaking point.
Dark energy started to swirl around the apprentice as he raised his hand. "Maya, Master Frost sends his thanks. It's time for your last lesson, he says.
"What lesson?"
The apprentice stated, "That trust is a weakness." "And that you will eventually be betrayed by everyone you care about."
When he pointed to my old friends, they all moved forward. The apprentice's dark power was shining in their eyes as well.
"Maya," Tom said, his voice resonating weirdly. "Master Frost requests that you accompany us in silence."
"And if I refuse?"
Magical energy crackled around Aria's hands as she said, "Then we'll make you come." "Even if it hurts."
Children who had once been my friends were all around me, under the power of Master Frost's magic. Phoenix had disappeared, most likely taken prisoner. The real Jake and my parents were trapped in a crumbling mountain. I was all by myself.
The apprentice said, "Maya," his voice getting closer. "You have a message from Master Frost. Telling you that your parents didn't actually make it off the mountain is what he says.
My blood froze. "What do you mean?"
Aria stated, "He means they're dead," in a voice that was now completely emotionless. "Everyone at Underground Academy was killed by Master Frost, including them."
"You're lying," I mumbled.
"Am I?" asked the apprentice. "So why are you no longer able to sense their magic? Why are you unable to spot the true Jake Storm?
He was right. I was unable to feel them. The enchanted bond I had shared with Jake and my parents had disappeared.
"They're all dead, Maya," the learner went on. "Everyone who ever showed care for you, including your parents, Jake, and Professor Raven. Master Frost ensured it.
Even though I knew it was stupid, I said, "But he promised to spare them if I cooperated."
"Master Frost lies," the apprentice stated clearly. "He lies all the time. You will now find what happens to young girls who put their trust in the wrong people.
As their magic grew stronger, the controlled kids started to approach. I had no idea where Phoenix was, no one to help me, and nowhere to run.
But just as I was starting to feel helpless, I heard a sound that stopped my heart in its tracks.
From somewhere high above, I heard a familiar voice calling my name. "Maya! "Duck!"
When I looked up, I saw a figure riding a dragon that was burning with golden fire leaping down from the clouds.
Jake was the one. The real Jake. And he was still very much alive.
He swooped toward me and yelled, "Hold on!" "This is going to get interesting!"
However, the apprentice lifted his staff and aimed a dark magic bolt straight at Jake's dragon before he could get to me.
"No!" As the blast hit its target, I let out a scream.
Out of control, Jake and his dragon crashed toward the platform at a dangerous speed.
And I had to pick between saving myself and seeing Jake perish or saving Jake and allowing the controlled students to kidnap me.
I had three seconds to make up my mind.