I see a dark place with a few torches lighting the walls, casting eerie shadows onto the stone walls. A man stands with his back to me. I furrow my brow, watching as he turns around. He has long flaming red hair and a short beard of the same colour. His arms and legs are scarred and a steely look dominates his face, his posture straight and proud. He wears a grey cloak and chain mail, as well as other sleek armour.

There's no doubt in my mind that he was once a Hermaōr Viking. He's too slim and his armour is too refined for him to be a normal Viking.

"What do you mean dragons can kill the demons?" he demands, his voice more on the bass side.

My gaze pans downwards to see a shorter Viking standing in front of him. He quivers beneath his master's glare.

"Lord Alrek, I beg of you, please be calm," he pleads. "I didn't say dragons, I said one type of dragon can kill the demons."

A seed of hatred bubbles in me as I stare up at the redheaded Viking again. This is Alrek, the man responsible for tearing my life apart.

"Then spit it out! What type of dragon is it?" Alrek roars.

"Um, well, it's-"

"SPEAK UP!" The man's jaw clenches as he seethes. "I've spent too long training these demons to listen to me. I've endured much suffering to get where I am. These dragons will ruin everything."

"The dragons are Night Furies, my lord." The Viking trembles and shields his face, as if expecting something to be thrown at him.

My eyes widen and my hand claps over my mouth. I know the men can't see me, yet I still find myself wanting to stay quiet. My heartbeat speeds up.

"Ah, thank you for finally telling me," Alrek says, his voice laced with sarcasm. "Now, I want you to get everyone together. We must find every Night Fury there is and destroy them."

"Every Night Fury, sir? That's-"

"Are you questioning my authority?!"

"N-No sir," he squeaks. Before he turns to leave, he swallow. "And...w-what of the DDS?"

"Those fools don't realize what they've gotten themselves into. We'll attack their village, make sure there are no survivors." He flashes a shark-like grin that makes my stomach churn. "I want especially for Sigrid and Thord's precious little girl to die. You know that they were the ones who initiated my banishment from the Slayers."

"But sir, they still know you're out there somewhere. They'll know that you'll try something."

"Which is why right now, we focus on destroying every wretched Night Fury in this place. Every...last...one." Alrek exhales, looking content. "Their village will have to wait till later."

I back away, horrified. The scene in front of me blurs all too quickly, sending me tumbling into darkness with Alrek's sinister laughter echoing in my ears.

I bolt upright, breathing hard and my head pounding with new information. My necklace stops glowing, activated by my frenzied thoughts, and I clutch it against my heart as I calm myself down.

I run over what I've discovered in my head over and over again.

Night Furies can kill demon dragons. Alrek killed them all because of this. He planned the attack on my village purely for the purpose of killing my parents and the other DDS members. My parents instigated his banishment.

My parents were more important than I realized.

The other thing that's scaring me more than I'd like to admit is that Alrek didn't plan for anyone to make it out alive, but I did. I escaped against all the odds opposing me.

I get up, my hands trembling and my skin crawling with goosebumps. Nightstar, Emerald, and Thunder Song still sleep soundly, my footsteps failing to disturb them as I walk to the window. It's barely light out, the sky still taken over by the curtain of black. I rub my face, taking deep breaths as I fidget with my loose hair.

I grimace as I realize that I'll have to do more explaining tomorrow at training. I can just see the expression on Hiccup's face when I tell him about the Night Furies and why they've all disappeared.