Page 33 of Goody Magic Academy: Year Three

My mind raced, weighing various options and risks. The door was out. Even if I could overpower a guard, any commotion would alert others. An icy chill ran down my spine as I considered just how many witches might be lurking on the sprawling estate. Despite my recent success, I knew my control over my dragon powers was tenuous at best and taking on an army of experienced witches seemed like a fool’s errand.

And then there was the Dragon Nexus itself. According to the headmaster, if I shifted, Simon or Marsha could use it on me, and I could become their slave.

No. Not happening. Ever.

My gaze drifted to the window. There were bars on the inside, but beyond that just glass. Possibly bulletproof, but could it survive dragon fire? A spark of hope ignited in my chest.

I approached the window cautiously, my bare feet silent on the cold floor. The bayou stretched out into the distance, a tangleof cypress trees and murky water. No visible guards, but that didn’t mean they weren’t there, hidden in the shadows.

I placed my trembling hands on the bars, their chill seeping into my skin and making me shiver. Closing my eyes, I reached deep within myself, calling upon not just my dragon power, but my elemental magic as well. Fire had always been the power I connected with best, my strength. Now I needed it more than ever.

Believe, I told myself. Just believe.

At first, nothing happened. Doubt began to creep in, whispering that maybe the manacles had been a fluke. But then I felt it: a tingle. It started in my fingertips, a gentle buzzing that quickly intensified. The sensation raced up my arms, spreading through my body until my very blood felt like liquid fire.

Heat radiated from my skin, the air around me shimmering. I gritted my teeth, focusing all my will on the bars beneath my hands.Melt, I commanded silently.Burn.

For a long moment, nothing changed. Then, with a soft hiss, flames suddenly erupted from my palms.

The fire licked at the metal, which began to glow a dull red. Slowly—agonizingly slowly—the bars began to soften. Molten metal oozed between my fingers, but to my amazement, my skin didn’t burn. It remained unscathed, protected by my power.

I strained to listen for anyone coming because they smelled the bars burning, but it was silent as death.

The acrid smell of melting metal filled the air, making my eyes water, but I didn’t dare stop. With each passing second, the opening grew larger. Freedom was so close I could almost taste it.

Sweat beaded on my forehead and my arms trembled with the effort required to maintain the intense heat. But a fierce determination had taken hold within me. I was not going to be anyone’s slave or prize. I was going to escape.

As the last of the bars gave way, I allowed myself to indulge in a shiver of triumph. The glass of the window was now the only barrier between me and the wild bayou beyond. My reflection stared back at me, my eyes gleaming with an almost feral light.

I flexed my fingers, marveling again at the absence of burns despite the molten metal that had flowed over them. Power thrummed through me, wild and intoxicating. For the first time since this nightmare had begun, a smile—fierce and determined—spread across my face.

The next phase of my escape lay just beyond that glass. The Dragon Nexus was somewhere in this house, and I was going to find it. But first, I had a window to shatter and a leap of faith to make.

I took a deep breath, centering myself. The real test was just beginning. I wiped my sweaty palms on my thighs, leaving damp streaks on the fabric. My heart pounded in my chest, a frantic rhythm of fear and anticipation. I placed my hands firmly on the cool glass.

For several terrifying heartbeats, nothing happened. Panic clawed at my throat. Had I exhausted my newfound powers?

“Come on,” I whispered. “Please work.”

Just as despair threatened to overwhelm me, I felt a familiar sensation washing over me like a hot desert wind. Relief flooded through me, quickly followed by a surge of determination.

Sparks danced around my palms, tiny pinpricks of light that grew in intensity. The glass beneath my hands began to change, darkening to an inky black that spread outward from my fingertips. The transformation was accompanied by a soft crackling sound, like ice forming over the surface of a pond.

I glanced nervously over my shoulder, half-expecting to see guards bursting through the door at any moment. For now, though, the room remained blessedly empty, but I was sure my time was limited.

Turning back to the window, I steeled myself and I pulled my right hand back, forming a fist. With all the strength I could muster, I slammed it into the weakened glass.

The impact sent shockwaves up my arm, but I barely felt them through the rush of adrenaline. A web of cracks spread out from the point of impact, like a fragile spider’s web, but the window held. Damn it. Not quite enough.

I glanced back again, expecting someone to burst through the door. Nothing.

I struck again, putting every ounce of my fear, anger, and desperation into the blow. This time, the glass gave way with a satisfying crash. Shards rained down onto the ground outside, glittering like diamonds in the dim light.

The sound seemed impossibly loud in the quiet room and I cringed, listening just for a moment for any sign of approaching guards. There was no time to wait longer to see if anyone had heard.

Moving with a speed born of pure survival instinct, I scrambled toward the broken window. Sharp edges of the remaining glass threatened to slice at my skin, but I barely noticed. Freedom was just inches away.

I wriggled through the opening, feeling the cool night air on my face. It was a tight squeeze, and for a moment I feared I might get stuck. But then, with one final push, I tumbled out onto the other side.

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