Trial By Fire (Going Down in Flames #3)(52)

Bryn smacked her fork down on the table and spoke through clenched teeth. “That rat-bastard.” She managed to keep her voice down, but just barely. “This whole thing was a power play. He wanted to show us what he could do if we went against him.”

“Like giving me a chemical lobotomy?” Clint stated in a normal tone of voice. “And yes that statement should have come out angry, but I can’t make that happen right now which makes this all the more terrifying.” He took a deep breath and blew it out. “It’s like Ferrin is controlling something in my head, changing my emotions and reactions, and it’s pissing me off.”

“We’ll make sure you never wind up in a position where Ferrin will doubt your loyalty to the Directorate again,” Bryn said. And she meant it. No matter what, she would never involve Clint and Ivy in her investigations again.

Ivy sighed. “I finally understand why you were afraid to share everything with us.”

“I hate that you get it now, and this was the cost.” Smoke drifted from Bryn’s nostrils. “And I really hate that Ferrin seems more dangerous now than ever.”

Students scraped chairs across the floor as they stood to head to first hour.

“The most important thing,” Valmont said, “is that we’re all okay and we now have a better and far more terrifying understanding of what lengths the Directorate is willing to go to assure compliance, and we will act accordingly.”

…

The next day in Elemental Science, Bryn noticed another one of Mr. Stanton’s seating charts on the board. Today she was grouped with Octavius, Rhianna, and Garret. It was probably the first time in a month she hadn’t been grouped with Jaxon. Maybe fate was finally smiling on her.

“Class, today you will learn to work together with your fellow dragons using your different breath weapons to solve a problem.” Mr. Stanton walked around the room and placed wooden boxes on the desks grouped together in sets of four. “Figure out the most effective ways to solve the puzzles. You want to open the boxes without destroying them or the object inside.”

Valmont pulled a chair up to sit beside Bryn. Octavius nodded at them. Rhianna smiled in greeting. Garret immediately picked up the box and studied it from all angles.

“How do you know it’s okay to turn the box upside-down like that?” Rhianna asked.

Garret paused. “Mr. Stanton turned the box over and around after setting it down which means whatever is inside isn’t bothered by motion.”

“I knew you’d have a reason,” Rhianna said, “I didn’t know what it was.”

The corners of Garret’s mouth turned up in an amused grin. “I am a Green. We rarely do anything without thinking about the repercussions first.”

“Did you think about the repercussions of forming a mixed Clan group?” Octavius asked.

Garret set the box down. “Yes, both negative and positive.”

This line of conversation was almost more interesting than the locked box. Bryn leaned close and spoke in a quiet tone lest Jaxon hear their conversation and throw some sort of hissy fit. “Which reaction have you seen more of?”

Garret traced his fingertips along the edge of the box before answering. “More positive, I think.” He flashed a grin at Rhianna, who returned the expression.

The old fear that Rhianna might run off with Garret, stranding her with Jaxon came knocking at Bryn’s subconscious.

“Back to the box,” Bryn said. “Anyone have an idea?”

“There’s a keyhole.” Octavius pointed at the side of the box. “I could direct a small sonic wave into it and see if it sets off the locking mechanism.”

“Has that worked for you before?” Bryn asked.

Octavius nodded. “Sometimes Orange dragons use keyless locking mechanisms which can only be opened by a particular pattern of sonic waves.”

Garret set the box down with the keyhole facing the Orange dragon. “Interesting. I’ve read about such things, but I’ve never seen it done. Give it a try.”

Laying his hand on top of the box, Octavius concentrated. Since his waves were invisible, Bryn didn’t see anything, but she felt vibrations go through the desks. The box however remained locked.

“That would have been so cool if it had worked,” Valmont said.

“Could the key be something hidden on the box?” Rhianna asked. “Like a recessed button of some sort?”

Garret waved at the box, indicating Rhianna was free to investigate. Funny how the Green dragon took charge when it was a puzzle of logic. Maybe that was innate to their Clan.

Rhianna inspected the box, running her hands over it. “I can’t find anything.”

“Could we make a key?” Bryn asked.

“Try using ice to fill the keyhole,” Garret said to Rhianna. “Maybe by adding a bit at a time you can jimmy the box open.”

Rhianna did as he suggested. When that didn’t work, she shoved the box toward Bryn. “Your turn.”

“What can I do that none of you can?” Bryn asked.

The sound of Valmont unsheathing his sword startled her.

“Calm down, I’m helping you assess your resources.” He held up the sword. “Think of it as a giant lock pick.”

Bryn laughed. “Why not?” She touched the tip of the blade to the seam where the lid met the rest of the box.