Suppliant

by Laura Tree

  Chapter 28

  I have a few hours before dinnertime, so I make my way to the library. I had set out on the task of finding out more about the Suppliant blood lines.

  On my way through the stacks, I run into a few students that I know from class. We exchange casual hellos, and they leave me with my books.

  I snuggle up in the reading corner, the bench under the window, and flipped open the first book.

  Through my research I discover that Suppliants normally choose Light or Dark based on their ancestors. Great, now I’m really stuck. I don’t have any clue what line my mother came from. It’s harder to piece the information together because I was raised in the human world.

  By my logic I could have come from either Light or Dark. Either previous Suppliant could have birthed me and transported me to the human world, and because of the difference in time between the Zeather Realm and the Mortal Realm, it’s impossible to determine. I need more to go on.

  I’m hopeful that my mother wanted me; she probably only gave me up to protect me. If that’s the case then she must have come from the Light line.

  I flip through the textbook until I find the history of the Light line.

  The Light line of Suppliants came from the most powerful of White Witches, Melinda. They are associated with the Light Queen and pride themselves in doing well. This also must be why the prophecy said I would find the Pendant for the Light side.

  White Witches have special powers of healing. They are able to heal strangers and have worked for many years as apothecaries.

  They also specialize in herbal medicines. They believe that their powers should be used only when necessary, and only for the greater good.

  The White Witches, although a dying breed, are equally as powerful as the Dark Witch line.

  There were two Dark Suppliant lines originally, and both originated from the Dark Witch line of Hazen. The lines split when identical twin Suppliants, Yelsa and Desorto, came of age. Yelsa and Desorto had a falling out and went their separate ways. The line of Yelsa has since withered and died.

  The Dark Witch line typically presents with the power of necromancy, or brining the dead back to life.

  They are associated with the Dark Queen and use their powers freely for a purpose that suits their needs.

  The Dark Witches specialized in making potions and casting spells. The grimoire of a Dark Witch is said to be one of the most powerful tools in all of the realms.

  The blood lines of a Suppliant are very important to the breed. The powers that manifest in a young Suppliant help her identify with their predecessors, and ultimately declare a side.

  I have both the powers of the White Witch line and the Dark Witch line. That doesn’t rule out either line. I just want to know more about my birth parents. I need to know more about my powers to find a clue.

  Frustrated, I shelve the books and head back to my dorm.

  ...

  It’s already dark outside by the time that Damien, Zeke, and I make our way to the dining room. I’m expecting the typical buffet of food, but surprised to see that there’s a chef doing hibachi--style food.

  I make my plate and head to our table.

  It’s a clear night. The stars twinkle in the sky, but I don’t recognize any of the constellations. Shortly, Damien and Zeke join me at our table.

  We are engaged in a conversation about my broken ribs when Trish walks up with her tray.

  “I figured I would find you guys here. Isn’t it crazy how we always eat at the same time?” Trish is her bubbly self. I swear nothing can knock her off her game.

  Damien reaches for my hand to play the couple in love. As much as I enjoy his touch, it confuses me more. I give him a smile, and he returns his with a wink.

  I’m watching Trish out of the corner of my eye to make sure that she is taking the bait. Lucky for me, Trish watches our every move. I think she must have a crush on Damien, but doesn’t want to admit it.

  “Why is it that every time I see you guys, Zeke is still hanging around? Don’t you get sick of watching all of the lovey dovey stuff?” She turns and looks at Zeke, awaiting a response.

  I’ve never thought about it. It must look pretty odd to her.

  “Damien is my friend. It’s part of being a good friend,” Zeke says, skipping around the truth. I’m sure that he does get sick of Damien always playing the boyfriend role, especially since he has the exact same connection to me.

  “I still think that it’s weird that all of the girls are always watching you and Damien, and you never seem to notice them. I can understand Damien’s oblivion; he’s completely taken with Layla,” she says. I can’t help but think that she has a good point. I can tell that Trish isn’t going to drop it, and I don’t like where this is headed. I hope she doesn’t suspect anything.

  Zeke just shrugs his shoulders and puts another forkful in his mouth.

  I knew she would start to question our relationship. We spend too much time together, Damien thinks to both of us. We need to do something.

  Like what? Say that Zeke is gay? I pipe in.

  I am clearly not gay. I understand where she’s coming from though. To the rest of the world, I’m the third wheel, Zeke thinks.

  What should we do? Zeke needs to be around me for protection, I think. I still need to get to know both of you.

  He needs a girlfriend. Leave it to Damien to think it.

  It makes sense; if I have a girlfriend and just hang out with you guys as friends, no one would question it, Zeke puts in.

  I don’t like it. You will have to pretend to be a good boyfriend, which means choosing her over us, I say. You would have to sit with her and spend time alone with her.

  I don’t like it one bit. Zeke will lose focus on his mission. Deep down inside it must be bothering me that Zeke is going to give his attention to someone else, but I can understand the logic. I just don’t want to lose Zeke before I have him.

  I could make her part of our group, like Trish, Zeke thinks. I wouldn’t spend that much time with her, and I would always make sure Damien was there when I’m not. I’m your Protector first, Layla.

  You should do it, and do it soon. You don’t want Trish asking any more questions. Damien’s decision is final, but I still don’t like the thought of Zeke getting pulled away.

  I hate to admit that I am starting to like our arrangement. Both Zeke and Damien are spending time with me, paying attention to me. I was never the center of attention at Grant High; I was never the popular kid, but now I am. I hate to say that I don’t want to lose that.

  “Anyone up for seconds?” Zeke and Damien stand to go get more, leaving me with my thoughts, and Trish.

  “I guess they need it after the workout we had in Combat today. By the way, I saw Damien pounding on you. I couldn’t believe how hard he was hitting you; it looked painful. You must be bruised.” Trish sounds concerned.

  “Nope, it looked worse than it was. I don’t have a bruise on me,” I say.

  I don’t want to tell the truth and raise her suspicions. She doesn’t know that my life is in danger, because if she did, she would want to know why. I can’t risk that becoming public knowledge right now, so I settle for another half--lie. I hate this. I wish I could really confide in her.

  “So tell me about Powers today. The whole school is talking about it,” Trish says. I guess she really loves gossip, especially if it has to do with me or Damien.

  “It was just an accident. I was practicing shooting orbs when I got distracted and let one go; it accidentally hit Professor Dylan. Thankfully when I got there, he was fine. I just knocked him out for a second.” I hope she will accept my explanation and not push it.

  I can’t tell her how I pulled his soul back, with the tip of my fingers. I can’t risk telling her how much power that took, or the pain that it caused. I can’t tell anyone.

  “That’s not what I heard. I heard that you killed him and brought him back to life,” Trish
says.

  Great, there’s not a chance in the world she’s going to drop it now.

  “All right, Gossip Queen. I’m going to start calling you GQ. The professor is fine, and it was an accident. I already feel bad as it is. Please don’t push it,” I plead as Damien, Zeke, and a stranger appear in my line of sight.

  Who is that? Don’t tell me he found a candidate for a girlfriend that soon. Oh jeez, Zeke, I was at least expecting to have a few days to adjust. I guess Trish was right; women are always staring at them.

  She’s average height, with shoulder--length bottle blond hair. It’s curly at the end. Her eyes are green. She has a long, straight nose, high cheekbones, and a prominent chin. She is really pretty. I hate to admit that she looks good standing next to Zeke.

  “Anna, meet Layla and Trish.” Zeke points to the table and takes a seat next to her.

  Damien swings around and takes a seat next to me.

  “You must be Damien’s girlfriend. The whole school is talking about you guys as a power couple.” Great, another gossip queen, just what our group needs. Be positive, Layla.

  “It’s nice to meet you. How do you know Zeke?” I try to put on my best smile.

  “We have a class together,” Anna says, soon saved by Trish and her GQ tendencies. Trish jumps right in and starts drilling Anna before I can.

  After dinner, Trish and Anna go their separate ways, and the three of us head back to the dorms.

  ...

  I’m getting ready for bed, already in my pajamas, when there is a knock on the bathroom door. Damien and Zeke stroll through, with only a moment’s hesitation. I’m glad I’m already dressed.

  “Layla, we have some news.” Damien says. “Queen Nema attacked the Vampires. She will soon find out that you sent her there on purpose to throw her off of your scent. We need a plan for protection.” Damien starts pacing the second he crosses over the threshold into my room. At least they aren’t trying to keep secrets from me.

  “She will be coming after you soon, and we agree that one of us needs to be with you at all times.” Zeke looks worried; so does Damien for that matter. They are both pacing the room. If this continues, they’re going to wear a hole in the floor.

  “Guys, I’m nervous,” I admit. It takes a lot for me to say that; I’m not used to admitting my feelings to anyone other than Ava. Too bad she’s not here right about now. She would go crazy with all of the crap I could tell her. Thanks to the connection, I feel comfortable enough to confide in both of them; besides, if my wall slipped, they would feel it anyway.

  They both stop and look at me. “We are your Protectors; we won’t let anything happen to you,” Damien says, taking a step in my direction. “I promise. I already spoke to the Dean, and he recommended that one of us be placed in each of your classes. We just have to work out the details.”

  After a thirty--minute debate on schedules and who can be in what class, it’s worked out. Damien will come to first period Magical History with me, Zeke will be in second period Witchery, and Damien will be in third period Potions. Zeke is already in fourth period with me, and they both are in Combat.

  “Now that that’s settled,” Damien says, “I wanted to let you know that I asked Kale to assist us with private combat training tomorrow at the beach. We will meet there at ten.” I want to ask Damien about his relationship with Kale, but know it isn’t the time to do so.

  They bid me goodnight and leave. When the door closes, I start to cry. I can’t help it. I am so overwhelmed. I just want to get this over with. For a few moments, I allow myself to think back on my life before this. It seems like years ago.

  At the time, my life was so complicated with school and work, and all of my teenage drama. I long to have that simple life back, where my biggest problems were what to wear, getting good grades in school, and how to make new friends while being unpopular.

  I hate how many lies I have to spin, and how I can’t really be a friend to anyone here, except for Damien and Zeke. But then I remember why I’m doing all of this. I want to find my real parents. I want to know why they gave me up. The only way to do that is to find the Pendant.

  I close my eyes and drift off to sleep, enjoying the comfort I feel with my two Protectors so close.