by Olivia Ash
Just as I stand up and dust myself free of the little blades of grass sticking to me, Soren turns and starts walking toward me.
As soon as he is within hearing range, he says, “Training is over. Use this time wisely to practice. I’ll see you here tonight.”
I go to salute him, and he stops me. “Don’t. Just don’t. A simple answer will suffice.”
“Okay.” I roll my eyes.
I watch him rejoin the headmaster and they walk off together before I make my way back to my shared room to shower and change. There’s a library calling my name, and I’m sure I can squeeze in a good half hour of research before I’m called on again.
My mind is occupied with where to look next as I mindlessly move through the halls and stairways toward my shared room. As soon as I make it to the front of the castle, where the stairway to my room is, I hear a voice I would much rather forget.
“You looked really good out there. Shame Soren beat me to you.”
I turn my attention to the sound of the voice and look into the cold grey eyes of Anderson Stone. I groan. “What do you want?”
He shrugs. “Only a little of your time.”
“Oh, is that all? Or would you like to take more of what doesn’t belong to you?”
He smiles and leans against the wall with his hands in his pockets. “Whatever do you mean?”
I raise an eyebrow. “Leave me alone. I mean it.”
As I start to walk away, I hear footsteps whisper behind me, stepping in sync with my own. I stop, look behind me, and groan. “Why are you following me?”
He shrugs, boyish smile plastered to his face. “I’m going in this direction as well. But if you want, I can walk with you instead of behind you. Mind you, I rather like the view.”
Ew. I roll out my shoulders to cover up me forcing back a shiver of disgust and stop mid-step, quickly stepping to the side to keep him from bumping into me. I don’t know how this stealing energy thing goes, so I don’t want to take the risk of him touching me again.
“I would prefer it if you didn’t follow me or walk with me. I would prefer it if you left me alone completely.” I wait for him to move.
“Aww, I’m just wanting to be a friend. Nothing more. No strings attached.” He smiles.
My lips curl as a thick ball forms in my throat. Stomach acid burns through my stomach. If he doesn’t stop, I may just vomit all over him. I stuck in a deep breath and let it out slowly to calm my nerves and ease my upset tummy. However, it’s done nothing good for my rising anger.
“Not. Interested. I’m too busy for friends and I need to go, so please, move it. I don’t want you following me.” My voice is starting to raise and carry down the hall, and though I try to keep my temper in check, it’s getting very difficult to do. I scan the hall behind Anderson to see if anyone is coming, and it’s deserted. The other side doesn’t look favorable for me either.
Damn. Something has got to get this guy to give up and move on. I’m not freaking interested.
“You’re cute when you are angry. I get it, though. One of Soren’s talents is bringing out the beast in everyone.” He gestures for me to continue walking.
I don’t move. I cross my arms over my chest and wait for him to go.
He smiles, chuckling under his breath. “How about you let me take you to lunch. Maybe a coffee? We can talk about what he did and maybe form a bond over a shared hatred.”
“I have plans,” I say. This man is infuriating. It’s like my turndowns are motivating him to continue. Nothing I say fazes him. I don’t get it, but I’m tired of standing here, waiting for him to leave me alone. I start to walk off as I sigh heavily, nearing a groan.
“Come now.” He steps closer and reaches toward me.
I skirt out of the way of his hand and snap, “Don’t touch me.”
He sighs, clearly feigning disappointment. I don’t buy it though. “All right. But I will keep asking until you give in. Because you will give in. Eventually.” He gestures to himself. “I’m not the bad guy, Wren. I just want to be a friend. Offer a reliable shoulder and listening ear. Maybe a little more someday. But not immediately. I’m around, if you change your mind.”
He walks off with his hands in his pockets and his head lowered.
Damn he’s good.
But not good enough. I can see straight through that act and I’m far from having forgotten what he did to me. Taking my energy without my permission is the very last thing I will forgive of anyone. As far as I’m concerned, my coming around eventually is wishful thinking. Something he’ll have to square with someday.
Perhaps I should give up on the library and spend the rest of the day in my room. But then, I can’t let a guy like Anderson Stone get the best of me. Finding out more about my magic is top priority if I’m going to survive here at Blackbriar Academy.
Chapter Fifteen
I peel myself from my bed as my muscles scream at me.
After the hunt, the fight with the trolls, and training with Soren, I’m freaking sore.
Groaning, I force my legs over the side of the bed. At the very moment my toes touch the carpet, Jesse walks out of the bathroom working a towel through his head and brushing his teeth. The froth of the paste encircles his mouth. I force back a chuckle at the sight. He’s just so darned cute.
The upper half of his body is bare, exposing his deliciously tanned arms, abs, and pecs. Only a towel covers his lower half. Even though my body protests the very movement, I look him up and down. My mind wanders and I imagine running my fingers through his long, wavy hair before trailing the tips of my nails along the curves of his sculptured body.
He smiles and bobs his eyebrows, clearly catching me in the act of checking him out. I blush and quickly look away. The motion makes me groan again.
“Did you get the license plate of that truck that hit me?” I ask.
Jesse holds up a finger and makes his way back to the bathroom. I hear him spit into the sink and the sound of rushing water. The knobs squeak as he twists them to turn off the water and he reappears within seconds.
For a moment, I think he’s actually going to write down a license plate number.
He says, “I have just the thing for you. It will help ease the ache in your muscles.”
“What is it?” I ask, a little wary. Not that I don’t trust Jesse, I just think he would take the opportunity to prank me given the opportunity.
“Let me get dressed and I’ll show you.” He starts to walk away, but stops mid-step, and points at me. “You may want to change too. We have to go to the kitchens.”
I throw myself onto the bed. “Oh man! Do I have to?” in my most kid-like, whiney voice. But I already know I have to. I have to meet Soren for training. Again.
Once dressed, we walk to the kitchens and Jesse works his charm with one of the lady workers. She blushes and grabs what he requested. I didn’t pay attention to what he said, I was too caught up in her reaction and the sheer size of the massive kitchen.
Five ovens and stoves seem a bit excessive on a normal day, but this place is far from normal and it makes sense with how many people probably live in this castle. I can’t even process everything I see before a steaming cup of an herbal potion sits in front of me. It’s a dark, murky green color and far too thick for any regular potion I’ve ever heard of. I look at Jesse with a raised eyebrow.
“Trust me,” he says with that devilish smile of his. “I promise you’ll feel better.”
I sigh and pick up the cup, still not convinced, but he’s never given me a reason to not trust him. And that is saying a lot considering we share the same room and he just loves to mess with me in all the right ways.
I’ll never tell him that, but still.
I breathe in the smell and almost gag. “You’re trying to kill me.”
“Good medicine doesn’t taste great, love. Drink.” He pushes on the bottom of the cup, forcing it to my lips, and I hold my breath as I gulp the steaming liquid.
It’s… not
that bad. Just smells horrible. A bit earthy and minty.
I chug down the last of it, and I can already feel the tension and ache in my body fade. Setting the cup on the counter in front of me, I face Jesse and say, “Thank you.”
Yeah, he’s not so bad of a guy.
“Oh, you owe me one for that. Payment is due at time of service.” He presses a finger on his cheeks and leans forward.
I shake my head and smile. My magic’s reaction to him works through me, further soothing my body. Combined with the warm potion in my belly, it’s a pleasant mix of hot and cold. Like a hot summer day with the right amount of cool breeze.
He laughs, drops his hand, and shrugs. “Hey, can’t blame me for trying.”
“True,” I reply. “I can’t.” I gently slap him on the shoulder and say, “Better luck next time, eh?” I wink then turn and walk away.
He groans and I giggle to myself. That was fun. I’m gonna have to do that more.
As I head out of the kitchen, I have about an hour before I have to meet Soren for more of his ‘So Fun, I Just Can’t Get Enough’ training. But before that, I have to brush my hair and teeth. Especially after that potion.
Once that’s finished, a knock raps on the door and I answer it to find two men dressed in formal all black with a burgundy sash over one shoulder. Each of them has a different house symbol on them. One Winterwolf, and one Kraken.
The first one with light brown hair and blue eyes and the Winterwolf emblem says, “Wren Blackwood, you are called to the first trial.”
The second one has the same color hair but light brown yes. He says, “How do you answer?”
Sheesh. So much formality.
“How am I supposed to respond? Just a simple yes?”
The nod and say, “Follow us.”
Oh. Okay. Guess I will see Soren later.
But if I’m honest, I’m not really bothered by that. I mean, he’s hot as hell, sure. Just leaves a lot to be desired when he hates the very fact I’m me.
I step out of my room and shut the door behind me. They do an about-face and walk in time down the hall. I follow them as I try to ignore the curious onlookers, and the nervous anxiety rushing through me.
This is it. No turning back now. And I certainly won’t be going back to the trolls. Do or die, I will pass these trials.
Well, not die. But the gist of it is there. After all, I will either keep my spot here and go on, or I lose my memories of this place and lose everything I have gained.
“Don’t be nervous,” the Winterwolf guy says.
The Kraken guy snorts. “Says the one that nearly fainted when the escorts came.”
“Point is,” Winterwolf guy says as he gives his partner a disparaging look, “we were all nervous for our first trial. It’s all downhill from here.”
I nod, not that they can see it. “Good to know.”
I become lost in my thoughts, following the two men like a drone until the garden comes into view and Lady Alene stands, waiting for me with a smile on her white marble face.
“It’s lovely to see you, Wren Blackwood,” Lady Alene says.
The two men step out of the way just before the entrance of the garden, standing at either side of the walkway to allow me to move forward. “It’s lovely to see you as well, Lady.”
“Are you ready for your first trial?”
“I am.” I try to stand still, to keep from wringing my fingers together, but it’s difficult. Nearly impossible.
“Nervous?” she asks as her eyes take in my obvious anxiety.
“A little,” I admit.
She softly laughs. “Don’t be. This is an easy trial based on your knowledge. You already have what it takes to apply your magic in any situation. And in the three scenarios you will go through, you will be able to demonstrate that application.”
I nod.
“Be warned, dear one, there is a limitation of time. The quicker you act, the better.”
Awesome. No pressure at all. “Thank you, Lady Alene.”
She bows her head and says, “Just do your best. I will see you again soon.” The Lady nods to the men behind me (I assume). A blindfold is placed over my eyes, and they lead me to a location that seems like it’s miles away.
Birds chirp and things I can only guess at move through the trees around us. Before long, the stone path softens into dirt and little bits of rock pushes against the bottom of my shoes as we walk.
I try to keep track of the direction we walk in, but after a couple of turns and some stairs, I’m lost. But that’s probably the point, right?
Right.
Finally, we stop, and the blindfold is removed. I blink away the blinding light and the blur of the scenery around me. Before long, I stand before a small stone building that reminds me of a mausoleum. But this one is built into the cliff face.
A breeze wraps around me and I look around to find myself alone. I suck in a slow breath and let go of it as I face the door. Reaching out a steady hand, I open the door and step inside the room. The door shuts behind me and the only light I have to see by seeps in through the cracks around the door. I see four sconces in the corners of the room, but the shadows seem to move between them like ink. I can’t see where I’m going, where I’m supposed to go, much less know what I’m supposed to do.
If this is a test of knowledge, I’m going to fail without light to see by. I don’t have a lot of time, despite not really knowing how much I have to begin with.
I take a casting position and pull on the light around me. My hands glow with magic, my conduit illuminating as well. The light starts to warm, and I know within moments I can light the sconces and have light to see by.
In moments, the heat is strong, and I touch each sconce with the magic. They burn to life. Slowly, the wall across from the door I entered through absorbs the light and another door takes shape. A puzzle forms. A symbol that looks like a maze of sorts.
Underneath it reads:
Whether you go high or low, magic is the purest flow.
Beautiful, yes, but deadly too, for its potential is up to you.
What is taken, must be given.
To find your way, you must pay.
A memory pulls at the back of my mind, where my father taught me everything I thought there was to know about magic. The days when life was simple, innocent, and sweet. We did fun little activities to teach me the rules of magic.
A demonstration of all magic coming with a cost. To make a flower grow, I had to give it life by spending my energy. By giving a part of myself, I was able to give life to something new.
“All magic comes with a cost,” I say out loud.
Nothing happens. I stare at the symbol on the door and wonder if I’m supposed to do something with it to make the door open. Biting the corner of my bottom lip, I press my right hand over it. I slowly let my magic bleed into the shape, filling all the crevices.
“The cost is my energy.”
Once done, I stand back and the magic seeps into the shape and the seal around the door breaks. Wind blasts into the room, dousing the sconces. Before long, the next room is open to me and I step through.
Water rushes underneath me, but I can’t see the bottom of the cavern below. Beams of sunlight shine into the room, pouring light onto the bridge stretched out in front of me. At the end, I know is another door.
I blow out a raspberry and analyze the bridge in front of me, but I need to be careful and not spend too much time figuring this out. Not knowing how much time I have really sucks. The bridge is just a long platform. No sides. And with the breeze flowing into it, I’m sure it could blast me over the side and into the pit below. If I stabilize my legs and balance, I will slow down. That is the cost. To get across, I have to sacrifice time. Or fall.
My choice is simple, but risky. Because, again, I don’t know how much time I have, how much has passed, and that could create a problem. But to be safe, I need to get across without falling off.
I cast a stabilization spell, a
nd my legs feel heavy, glued to the ground, but I can move. And with the clock ticking, I make my way across the bridge. My hair blows in front of my face. I tuck the strands behind my ear and wobble. Thanks to the spell I cast on myself, I don’t fall.
As soon as I reach the door, there is another riddle to solve.
Raw power, fiery flame, must be shaped and must be tamed.
Not by force of will, nor by hand, but through an object of the land.
Take special care without this.
Darker than shadows your soul will twist.
My heart drums harder. I know what this is. This is the very thing I’m trying to figure out while I can.
“All magic must be cast with a conduit.” My words echo and a handle appears on the door.
Simple enough.
I grip the knob and twist, but the door doesn’t move.
Maybe it’s not as simple as I thought.
To get through the last door, I had to use magic. That must be how to get through this one. As I call on my magic again, my conduit starts to glow, and I try once again.
The knob gives way, the door opens, revealing a tunnel that looks as though it goes underneath the castle. It’s arched, and there are small gutters on the side of the path for run-off.
This is it. The last room. I just have to get through this room without running out of time, and the first trial will be done.
I already know what this is going to cover. The first two were the first two main rules of magic.
There’s just one more left.
“Okay, Wren. Let’s go. Time’s a wasting.” My voice carries through the tunnel and I know that not all is as it seems. But maybe it is. I can’t overthink it though. Not this close to being done.
I step forward, bracing myself for anything to happen.
Every step I take echoes through the tunnel and it’s hard to tell if I’m going the right way. I let my intuition guide me. If getting back to the castle or out of the tunnels is the goal, I need to keep my ears open for signs that I’m coming to an end.
I arrive at a “T” intersection and strain to hear a difference between the directions. Movement in my periphery draws my attention. A gnome, working diligently on whatever it is they do, is running off to my right and I figure, they are throughout the castle. Why not go in that direction?
