by Kristie Cook
I tell him what I have learned about the prophecy. That not only will I most likely break the curse, effectively unleashing the foulest creatures in the world back upon the Earth, but there is also a possibility that I might die. Surely that would be enough to upset any girl. And I hope he thinks it’s enough, because I can’t bring myself to tell him about what happened in the labyrinth with Grey.
“Seriously? And perish but for the Grace of the Lark?” he repeats with a grin. “Lark? Seriously? Man, I am better at picking nicknames than I thought.”
“Did you know of the prophecy before? Is that why you call me that?”
“No, of course not! Why would you think that?”
“You swear?” It’s time like this I wish I could see auras too because then I would know whether he was telling me the truth.
“I swear to Sl that I’ve never heard the prophecy in its entirety before now. Dugan only gave us limited information,” he promises sincerely and then with a smirk he adds, “I’m just that good at picking nicknames. It must be fate.” He winks and grins broadly like he is exceptionally proud of himself.
I glare at him, apparently unconvincingly because he just laughs at me.
“I wonder if that means there is a way to avoid your untimely death?” he thinks out loud while pacing around my bedroom. I’m barely able to keep my eyes open but something about that catches my attention.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, it says they will bring Light to the Dark. Only to perish but for the Grace of the Lark. Maybe it means that you...” He falters as I give him the evil eye again. “I mean, maybe it means that whomever the prophecy is referring to, needs someone else to help them. To save them. Maybe this isn’t a bad prophecy at all.”
Although I think he is being overly optimistic, it still gives me hope. Maybe I’m not a lost cause after all.
“But I’m tired of always having to be saved,” I yawn loudly. “Just once, I want to do the saving. Maybe there is another Half-blood child out there that Alberico doesn’t know about?”
“I wouldn’t count on it.”
“You never know, those Light Elves have been known to be quite promiscuous. I’ve had the displeasure of being told all the sordid tales. It was all part of my ‘training’.” I emphasize the word training with finger quotations. “All the kings had mistresses and stuff. It was pretty messed up. For all I know, I could have twenty other siblings out there.”
“Alberico doesn’t strike me as the type.”
“No,” I yawn again and close my heavy eyelids. “Probably not.”
Jacoby stays way later than is proper, but nobody ever comes to enforce a curfew. He hums Maddie’s lullaby for me softly until I can no longer keep my eyes open. Before he leaves, he tucks me in, kisses me gently on my forehead, and whispers, “Good night, my Lark.”
Chapter Eighteen
The sun streaming in through my window awakens me the next morning. I always like waking up to the sun. It’s far more preferable than the sharp beeping of an alarm clock. I allow myself to lie in peace and enjoy the comfortable, honeysuckle and cinnamon scented bed for a few more minutes before I get up and start getting my things together to go back home today. I am looking forward to seeing Maddie, my Mom and Paul, and Hannah, but I am a little worried that they will be able to see a change in me. Alberico told me I can’t tell them anything about Á lfheimr. I wonder how I’m going to blend the normality of my old life with everything I now know?
Alberico is busy with his council planning various offensive and defensive strategies so I don’t get to see him for breakfast. Though I’m supposed to eat lunch with him before I go back home, but my morning is free from any other obligations. I choose to spend it roaming aimlessly around the castle grounds enjoying the sunshine. About an hour before lunch, I make my way back up to my room for a quick nap. My strength still isn’t one hundred percent, but it’s much improved.
I am just about to fall asleep when I hear a knock at my door. No one is there when I groggily open the door, but a small silver tray sits on the floor right outside my room. It holds a box of chocolate dipped chocolate chip granola bars and a note with a single word written in elegant handwriting that I would recognize anywhere:
Sorry.
“Still not forgiven,” I mutter under my breath, but I take a bite of the familiar chocolatey goodness anyway. I can’t believe he would remember something so simple. It is a sweet gesture, but I am not sure what it means. My head is spinning as I overanalyze Grey’s actions, so a nap is definitely out of the question now. I figure I might as well get dressed for lunch. I check out my massive closet for a dress that I haven’t had a chance to wear yet. Which isn’t hard to do since there are easily more than a hundred different varieties and colors. It comes down to a toss-up between a pretty green one adorned with silky ribbons or a silver empire waist number. The latter is stunning, but I go with the first one since it brings out the green in my hazel eyes.
After I’m dressed, I open my balcony windows to soak up the sun and enjoy the fresh floral scent from the gardens. It’s like I can’t get enough of the fresh air. It really is beautiful here. If I didn’t have Maddie and my mom, I would probably want to stay here forever.
“Hey, Lark.”
I jump at the voice that has snuck up behind me. Jacoby laughs as I try to calm my racing heart.
“Don’t sneak up on a girl like that!” I gasp.
“It isn’t my fault that you are completely unobservant. I knocked three times.”
“Sorry, I was out here enjoying the sunshine. It’s still going to be freezing in Kansas.” The thought alone makes me shiver. I am not looking forward to it. I idly wonder if I will catch a cold jumping back and forth between the pleasant weather here and the wintery mix back home.
“You ready for lunch?” Jacoby asks. “Or did you fill up on...What the hell are these?” He picks up my now empty box of bad-for-me granola bars in disgust.
“Chocolate-dipped chocolate chip granola bars. They’re sorta addicting.”
“You ate the whole box for breakfast?”
“Kind of,” I blush. “But in my defense, I stretched breakfast out for a couple of hours so it’s not like I just sat on the balcony stuffing my face or anything. Who would do that? Gross.”
“You are lying.”
“No I’m not,” I say as seriously as I can manage.
“Aura, remember?” He taps a finger to his temple and gives me a knowing look.
Arrogant butthead.
“Oh, shut up! Let’s go to lunch!” I grab his hand and drag him out of my room. He seems surprised at first but then slides his fingers in between mine. Our hands fit together perfectly.
Not that I notice or anything.
“How can you still be hungry?” he mumbles, shaking his head in disbelief.
We enter the dining room still hand in hand, attracting a variety of reactions from the elves sitting around the table. Embarrassed, I quickly release his hand and take my place beside my father as Jacoby takes the seat across from me. Alberico glances at Jacoby, then me, looking a little surprised but not angry. Some of his council look disgusted and glance warily at us. They are still trying to adjust to me as Alberico’s newfound illegitimate heir, and now here I am getting cozy with another Half-blood who not only used to live with the Dark Elves, but actually helped them to kidnap me. Throw in the fact that we’re both Spirit users, and well, I guess I can’t blame them for their less than warm reception. Isobel smiles kindly as usual at me, but then her green eyes focus solely on Jacoby. She studies him, somewhat perplexed, as though trying to recall a distant memory.
Grey is looking everywhere but directly at me and his expression is cold. I feel the flush on my cheeks and try my best to ignore him and the waves of tension that radiate from him.
“Are you all packed, Mia?” Alberico asks me.
“Yep, I think I have everything. Of course, I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon in case I have forgotten a
nything.”
“Ah, yes. That reminds me.” He gestures to one of the servants standing against the wall who immediately walks over and hands him a small silver box. Alberico opens it and lifts out the most beautiful necklace. As he fastens the silver chain around my neck my fingers caress the smooth pale blue stone.
“It’s a blue lace agate. It is said to offer protection as well as awaken talents. I thought it would be the perfect amulet for you.”
“Thank you,” I tell him sincerely. I’m honored to receive such a rare gift.
“It will make transporting back and forth easier. Plus, if you are ever in trouble, you will need it to make a quick escape. Especially now that Dugan knows you are a healer. He will stop at nothing to get to you.”
The thought sends chills down my spine, and I shiver in response.
“We need to be prepared for anything. Jacoby, I’d like to ask you a few questions after lunch if you don’t mind? Pertaining to your time with the DÖkkÁ lfar.”
“Of course,” Jacoby replies. “I am finished now if you are ready?”
“Perfect.” Alberico stands up and walks over to me. “Mia, I don’t want you to worry. We will do everything we can to keep you and your family safe. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“Now, I will see you tomorrow, correct?”
“Yes, I promise. I’ll be here tomorrow after school.”
“Good girl. I won’t keep Jacoby too long. You may leave after we are finished,” he says, kissing the top of my head before gesturing for Jacoby to follow him.
After we finish eating, Grey escorts me to my room in complete and utter silence. Not wanting to be rude, I thank him for the chocolate cereal bars.
He just nods.
“I ate the whole box,” I state proudly.
He almost smiles. I see it in his eyes but he catches himself and maintains his stoic stare. Maybe he’s upset over my affectionate display with Jacoby at lunch?
Oh well, I tried.
I throw myself on my bed, determined to enjoy its luxuriousness one more time before saying hello to my lumpy old twin at home. I wonder if I could spend my nights here in this comfy bed and just transport back to my room every morning before Mom wakes up. The thought is tempting.
I hear the door close and look up to see if Grey really just left without saying a single word, but instead I find him standing right next to my bed.
“We never finished our conversation from the other night.”
“Really? Because I’m pretty sure we did. I think we established that nothing is ever going to happen between us. This back and forth is getting exhausting and I’m done with it.”
“But you didn’t let me explain why.”
“I don’t need you to explain, Greyson. I just need you to leave me alone and stop messing with my head.”
A pained look flashes across his face as though I just slapped him.
“Hey,” I hear Jacoby say as he sticks his head in the door.
Perfect timing Jacoby. I wonder how much he heard. “Oh sorry, am I interrupting something?”
“Nope, nothing,” I say too quickly. I feel my cheeks flush because I know that I can’t lie to Jacoby, but thankfully he doesn’t push me for answers even though I’m sure he is dying to know why Grey is sulking in the corner. He tilts his head to the side wearing a mildly curious expression on his face. My blush deepens as I turn away from his knowing stare, willing one of them to say something, anything.
But they don’t.
A knock on my door saves us from the awkward silence. Freya docilely enters my room.
“Excuse me, Greyson? His Majesty needs to see you for a moment,” the fair elf announces shyly. He nods once to her, then excuses himself.
“So what’s going on?” Jacoby asks me as soon as Grey is out of the room. “Trouble with the boyfriend?”
“He isn’t my boyfriend,” I quickly retort.
“Really? Because I think Mr. Intensity is under the impression that he is.”
“Well, sorry to disappoint you, but you are mistaken. There is nothing going on between me and Grey. He has made that perfectly clear from the very beginning. Just friends.”
And barely even that any more.
“Good. You might be surprised to know that fact doesn’t disappoint me in the least. He isn’t right for you anyway.”
“Oh, yeah? And who is right for me?” I challenge.
“Me, of course.” The words are spoken nonchalantly, but the blaze in his eyes speaks otherwise, and my heart constricts.
“What are you talking about? You barely know me.”
“You are right.” He approaches me, and the closer he gets, the harder it is for me to breathe. He gently tucks a strand of hair behind my ear and brushes his fingertips down the side of my face, stopping at my mouth. “But I do know that you adore your baby sister. That you would do anything to protect the people you love. I know that you twirl your hair around your finger when you are nervous or deep in thought. I know that you like wearing green the best because it brings out the flecks of olive in your eyes. That you can eat an entire box of chocolate breakfast bars in one sitting and still be starving by lunch. I know that you are strong and kind. But most importantly, I know that I would do anything for you. And that has to mean something.”
The sincerity of his words catches me off guard, and I feel a warmth spread through my core as I stand in front of him, locked in his gaze.
“Why?” I ask, slightly embarrassed that he can so easily captivate me.
“Why what?” he replies as he tilts his head playfully to the side. I hate it when he does that.
But I kind of love it too.
“Why will you do anything for me?”
“I have my reasons,” he smiles slyly. “Isn’t it enough that I will?”
“You are awfully annoying.” I narrow my eyes accusingly at him, which only makes him laugh.
“I prefer charming.” He smiles mischievously. “And devilishly handsome.”
I just shake my head and smile to myself. Who am I to deny the truth?
“Are you going to tell me what happened between you and Grey?”
Way to change the subject and ruin the moment.
“I don’t really want to talk about that right now,” I say with a little too much force in my words. The idea of talking to Jacoby about everything that’s happened between Grey and me feels wrong. I can tell he isn’t satisfied with that answer but he doesn’t push it. He sits down on the bed and pulls me down to sit beside him, placing an arm casually around my shoulders. I feel comforted by his closeness. It’s strange to think just a week ago how different things were. We remain seated in a comfortable silence as we wait for Grey to return. Every once in a while, I sneak a peek at him to find that his expectant green eyes never leave my face.
“Are you ready?”
I jump up at the sound of Grey’s voice and feel an unexpected twinge of guilt, like a child caught sneaking a cookie from the cookie jar. I step away from Jacoby and take a deep breath, trying to slow down my ferociously beating heart.
“Yep. I’m ready.”
Chapter Nineteen
“Okay, class. Try not to screw it up. Begin.” Mr. Shilling announces with a wave of his hand.
“This man is a total dick.”
I hear Jacoby speak inside my head during Chemistry. I have to stop myself from giggling and focus on getting the necessary materials ready for our lab today. I’m starting to get used to these random interruptions from Jacoby. He somehow managed to enroll in five of my seven classes this semester, so I see and hear, a lot of him during the day.
At least he has resigned to keeping his less than polite comments inside my head. Jacoby learned the hard way that calling teachers names and back-talking them is a sure-fire way to land yourself in a heap of trouble. His presence at MHS has caused quite the stir among the female student body. Of course, who could blame them? But even the guys seem to like having him around. The teachers, how
ever, not so much. His snarky comments during class the first week of the semester naturally earned him a laugh from the students, but they weren’t so well received from the teachers. We are only two weeks into the spring semester and he has spent more time in detention than not.
Jacoby’s antics aside, everything is pretty much back to normal. Or as normal as it can be, at least. I go to class during the day and try to maintain some semblance of the good student reputation I had before Jacoby showed up and started distracting me. I still work on the weekends, but I spend my afternoons in Á lfheimr training with Jacoby and Grey.
As it turns out, Jacoby is surprisingly well-suited for teaching, even if he isn’t exactly a star student. He seems to think my powers will mirror his own since we are both Half-blood Spirit users. I am not so sure. I still haven’t even been able to see auras yet. And he hasn’t been able to heal anything. But the two weeks that I have been training with Jacoby, I’ve noticed that using magic isn’t as draining as it was before, which means I must be getting stronger.
No one has reported anything about Dugan and the DÖkkÁ lfar yet. No suspicious disappearances or murders. But I’m afraid it’s just the calm before the storm. I refuse to feel even slightly optimistic about the matter. I don’t know how to explain my fear exactly, I just have a bad feeling that something terrible is waiting to happen the second we drop our guard. So I refuse to do so. I have been training hard, and next time I am face to face with Dugan, or any Dark Elf for that matter, I will be ready.
Hannah is chattering away about something that happened this weekend, but I am finding it difficult to pay attention to both her and the lab we are supposed to be working on.
“Mia!” Hannah shrieks. “Turn it off!”
I immediately return to planet earth and realize that while I was supposed to be gently heating the beaker, I have brought it to a full-fledged boil.
“Oh my God!” I exclaim, instinctively grabbing it to remove it from the flame.
With my bare hand.
“Crap!” I drop the scalding hot glass beaker, shattering it into a million pieces and immediately cradle my hand to my chest, tears threatening to stream down my face. Before I can blink, Jacoby is by my side, shouting something about taking me to the nurse, but I can barely focus on anything except the excruciating pain in my right hand. Surely this warrants a trip to the emergency room, and Mr. Shilling must have said so, because Jacoby has me out of the door before anyone has a chance to stop him.
