Bloodwing Academy, #1
On Wings of Blood
by Briar Boleyn
Contents
Chapter 9
Overview
Regan publicly compels Medra to climb the Black Keep’s dragon statue, humiliating her before the student body. An unknown woman’s voice in Medra’s mind identifies the attack as powerful compulsion and hints at anti-compulsion magic. Headmaster Kim intervenes, overpowers Regan, and then uses his own authority to force Medra down, exposing the hierarchy’s coercive reach.
Summary
Medra, under Regan’s unseen compulsion, pushes through the crowd and climbs the Black Keep’s black stone dragon. Her body obeys against her will while her humiliation mounts, wounds opening on her scraped hands as students jeer.
High above the courtyard, an unknown woman’s voice in Medra’s mind argues that the force is precise, vampire-specific compulsion and suggests anti-compulsion training that would take time Medra does not have. Regan intensifies the humiliation, making Medra roar for the crowd.
Headmaster Kim cuts through the laughter, commanding the attack to stop. He enters Medra’s mind, his authority clashing with Regan’s until Regan abruptly withdraws. Kim’s will replaces hers, leaving Medra freed from one controller but bound by another.
As Theo Drakharrow watches, silently apologetic, Kim invokes “the Blood of the Pure” and compels Medra to get down. Unable to resist, Medra leaps from the dragon’s head to the stones below, the scene laying bare how easily those in power can seize her body and agency.
Who Appears
- Medra PendragonProtagonist; compelled to climb the dragon statue, publicly humiliated, then forced down by Headmaster Kim.
- ReganHighblood student who secretly compels Medra, then withdraws when confronted by the headmaster.
- Headmaster KimIntervenes, overpowers Regan’s control, and compels Medra to descend using the Blood of the Pure.
- Theo DrakharrowWitnesses Medra’s ordeal; makes eye contact and mouths an apologetic “Sorry.”
- Unknown woman’s voiceMysterious presence in Medra’s mind; identifies compulsion and mentions anti-compulsion magic.