Master Rostova grunts. “We need those items, Serena. You will enter whatever this trial is, and you will win. And I’m to assume that you will be given the object for a period?”
I look to Lore and she nods, fluffing her wings. “The winner gets the item for twenty-four hours,” I say, hating the queasiness flowing through my stomach.
“Then you need to win, Serena, and then hand over the item…” He trails off and begins to mutter to himself. “No, that won’t work. We will need to stage a fight where we physically take it from you so they won’t suspect you and you can continue the mission.”
My heart sinks in my chest.
“Find out what this trial is and when it is, Serena. And then enter yourself into it. I won’t tolerate failure or excuses,” he growls before the line goes dead and the blood rushing through my ears falls in time with the beeping coming through the phone.
I drop it onto the bed and close my eyes. “Lore, I… I don’t know what to do.”
Her wings flutter, and she lands on my thigh. “You have to do what you must to survive, Mistress. I will find out what I can about this trial, and we shall enter. And once you hand over the object, you can complete the rest of the mission. And then we make our escape.”
Thoughts of my goddess flow through my mind. Since that day, she has remained absent from my thoughts. Initially, I had banished her out of anger, but now my heart aches to talk to her, to hear her musical voice in my mind and the warmth of her love. I open my eyes and push those thoughts away, focusing on the plain wall opposite.
“You will have to talk to her eventually, Mistress.”
“I know, Lore. Just… not yet. I can’t forgive what she made me do,” I whisper, and Keaira chooses that moment to hop onto my lap, meowing loudly enough to make Lore shriek and flap into the air.
“Oh, that devil! She does it on purpose!”
“I do not. You are simply a chicken. Easily scared.” Keaira says, and my jaw drops to the floor.
“Y-you can talk!?” I shout, but quickly quieten myself.
Keaira sits at the end of my bed and licks her paw before bringing it up to scrub at her ear. “No, I can project my words,” she says. “I cannot speak out loud, but everyone can hear me if I want them to. I simply haven’t felt the need to speak until now.”
I pinch myself, just to make sure I’m not asleep, and hiss at the bite. Nope. I’m awake. And I have a talking cat.
“Our goddess admits Her actions that night were not in your best interests, but She has Her reasons, which I’m sure She’ll reveal to you in time. Ariella told you to be wary of your Master, and I will reiterate that warning. You were meant to win that night.”
I sit up at her confession and eye the cat closely. “But how can she know that?” My eyebrows pull apart as I turn my gaze to the sunset beyond my window. “And if she does, why can’t she tell me why? What’s next? Why am I even here?”
Keaira shakes her head. “That is information I am not privy to. You will have to ask her yourself.”
I clench my jaw. “Maybe later…” I mutter. Then look back at the lynx. “I’m going to have a hard time explaining to the guys why my cat is calling them stupid. So, what are you, exactly?”
Keaira tilts her head in what I can only say is a cat’s interpretation of a shrug. “True. I would do that. But I am known by many names, just as your kind is.” She gives me a pointed look as she says this, and I shift in my seat. I glance up to my mirror where Lore has perched, and her eyes narrow on me; not even she is aware of that little secret.
“In essence, I am a child of darkness and chaos, as you are, but I was born from an earthly lynx as you were born from a human.”
“So, why are you here?”
Keaira rises to her paws before stretching and letting out a soft purr. “Because Mother believes something is amiss, and She can’t meddle. She also misses you. And She wants me to tell you that She loves you and understands why you shut Her out. And that She’ll be there whenever you’re ready.”
My chest clenches at her words, and I stare out of my window, focusing on the moon rising in the dusk sky. She wouldn’t interfere when I needed Her the most… She told me to… She begged me to kill them. And I did.
I glance down at my hands and clench them into fists to ease the shaking. Their blood is on my hands. And I know She can’t meddle in the affairs of Earth, but that doesn’t quell the anger flowing through me. It doesn’t stop me from wishing she could have protected me. Or for hating that she gave me up.
Keaira moves to the pillow next to me before sinking into the softness. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to sleep. We have much to talk about, but that can wait until tomorrow.” A deep purr escapes her lips as she closes her eyes.
“Are you going to believe her?” Lore asks as she flies toward me, landing on my arm where her tattoo usually appears.
I shrug and lie back against my pillows as I stare at the ceiling. “She was sent by the goddess, Lore, so I have no choice but to accept her. But I feel like she isn’t telling me everything.”
My arm tingles as Lore sinks into my skin, and I can feel her exhaustion and relief at being home. “You’ve been venturing out more. Are you sure you’re okay? You feel exhausted,” I say.
Lore laughs in my mind, but sighs as she yawns. “We need to know everything there is to know about these objects and this school. There is much we don’t know, like why Rostova wants them, or what he’s going to do with them. And I want to know this before we hand them over without a second thought. That man is pure evil, Serena.”
I nod as our conversation plays in my mind. “He is, but you don’t think he’s going to do anything too bad, do you?”
“If you truly believe he’s going to do anything good with them, you are burying your head in the sand, Mistress. Nothing that man does is ever good, so whatever his plans are, they don’t bode well for anyone.”
Rolling over, I stare out of the window and to the moon. I know I’m not good, but I don’t want anything bad to happen to the guys. They don’t deserve that.
My mind fills with all of the possible scenarios, but one thing is abundantly clear, I’m no longer the soulless woman I thought I was. I care about them. And that means I’m in deep shit.
Damn it all to Hades.
As I pack up the last of my books, I feel the weight of Dane’s eyes on me, but I don’t look up.
“You should go on ahead. I have some things I want to discuss with the professor about our assignment,” I mutter.
His aura brushes against mine, and I try to shove down the sourness that’s been sitting in my stomach for most of the day. I couldn’t get past it, or let it go, for some reason. After the incident in the teacher’s lounge, and stealing Declan’s hair, and just plain old lying to them, it doesn’t make me feel good. And that’s not an emotion that I like.
I’m supposed to be evil. I’m supposed to live on catharsis, but I don’t like this heavy feeling in my stomach.
Dane doesn’t say a word, but his lips pull into a sad smile, and he leaves the greenhouse, the door closing softly behind him.
“Everything okay, Serena?” Ariella asks, her voice soft, the way that someone would approach a wild animal in the forest.
And I guess I kind of am.
I huff and glance up to see her shift into her dryad form. She fluffs her vines and the flowers in her hair brighten as she sighs. I guess I’m not the only one having trouble hiding who I am.
“So, what’s on your mind? You seem lost.” She leans against the desk and crosses her bark-like arms.
Maybe it’s that she’s a dryad, or that her aura is a soothing reminder I wasn’t always this way, but for the first time in a very long time, I want to confide in someone. To actually have someone give me advice that isn’t “slaughter your foe, kill the weak, or torture them until the screams are music to your ears.”
But I can’t confide in her—or anyone—about what I’m really doing here. Running my
fingers through my hair, I draw in a deep breath and let it out, the smell of the greenery helping to ease some of the tension in my stomach.
“Do you know anything about the Trials or how they work?” I ask and glance up to see her eyes widen.
She opens her mouth and closes it several times, and I’m not sure what she sees on my face, but she nods. “They’re a test of endurance and power. They’re supposed to be the hardest experience a student will ever go through, not just in their youth, but in their lives.”
My stomach sinks. “And what of the relics? Is there any way to get access to them before the Trials? Besides the hidden staircase and the creepy-as-hell dark blackness?”
She stares at me for a few moments and shakes her head. “Serena…” she warns, her lips forming a grimace. “Please tell me you aren’t going after what I think you’re going after, because that would be dangerous and reckless.”
I laugh and shrug. “Dangerous and reckless are my middle names.” Picking up my bag, I throw it over my shoulder. “But thank you, Ariella.” I head out but stop as she touches my arm.
She holds my gaze as she says, “Whatever is happening, Serena, please be careful.”
I nod, giving her a reassuring smile that I don’t think reaches my eyes. Heading out of the greenhouse, I walk along the path and through the forest. My heart skips a few beats as the darkness envelops me. I play with my braid and hum a quiet song to distract myself.
Our house comes into sight as I continue to walk along the cobbled trail, and a black, feathery ball comes flying toward me, letting out a deep hoot.
I chuckle as she lands on my shoulder and nuzzles my cheek. “I missed you too, Lore. Good day at the office?” I whisper as I climb up the steps to the house and walk inside.
Silence settles around me, which is odd, considering the house is usually filled with laughter and boyish banter. When I step into the living room, I pause as the guys remain silent on the corner couch, their faces devoid of emotion.
Seeing them, I swallow. Is this what I’m like when I don’t want to feel? When I shut down? Dropping my bag behind the couch, I grip the backrest and gaze around the room. “Is everyone okay? You look like someone died.”
They share a look, and it’s Dane who glances at me. His eyes soften. “Serena… what’s going on with you?” he asks, and I frown, my head cocking to the side. “We can handle the crazy, the cocky, and the slightly terrifying Serena, but the Serena that’s quiet and withdrawn? The one that will barely talk to us or look at us? Frankly, that’s scarier than anything you’ve shown us so far.”
I swallow around the dryness in my mouth. “I… I don’t know what you—”
“Cut it, Serena. I can literally feel your emotions. What’s been going on with you?” Dane’s eyes narrow on me, and I open my mouth to tell him off, when a deep meow rings around the room.
Keaira struts in, her claws clicking across the ground. She is no longer the small cat from a few days ago. She is now the size of a small dog as she comes to my side and leaps onto the sideboard next to me.
“She’s… grown?” Paxton asks, his voice coming out strong, but underneath I can hear the worry lining his words.
“Er… yeah…” I say, thankful the attention is off me for a moment. “Turns out she’s not a cat, but a lynx, and she’s a gift from my goddess.”
“But… our deities aren’t meant to give us anything,” Rory says, his head tilting to the side as he glances to the others for confirmation. “It promotes favoritism,” he says.
“Not… exactly,” Declan says. “Our deities aren’t meant to give us anything unless it’s of astronomical need.” His eyes meet mine, his gaze searching. “Is there something we need to know?”
The silence in the room is deafening. Sighing, I rub at the emerald jewel at my neck, not realizing I’m doing it until a familiar warmth swirls around me, and I immediately drop my hand.
“I came here with the best of intentions,” I say. “But She seems to think that something is brewing. She can’t tell me what, or when, or why, but She’s tasked Keaira to be my guide and my protector.” I scratch Keaira behind the ears to conceal the unease making my hands so restless.
Declan laughs. “The lynx is your protector?”
“If I were you, I would keep my mouth shut. You don’t know what might have sharper teeth than you.”
Silence proceeds Keaira’s retort, and all eyes land on her. She tilts her head in that shrug-like way again and resorts to grooming herself.
“She talks now?” Dane says softly but with a slight hitch to his voice.
“I didn’t know until recently.”
The guys continue to stare at Keaira, and she pounds her little paw on the table. “I may be small, but I am powerful. And if you annoy me, I will eat you.”
Declan sighs. “Trust you to get a pet that somehow has more attitude than you,” he mutters. “Serena, I know we won’t see eye to eye about a lot of things, but if your goddess has sent you a guardian, you need to stop going out alone.”
I open my mouth to give him my usual smart-ass attitude, but nothing comes out as I take in the genuine worry in his eyes. I run my hands through my hair and over my messy as Hades braid. “I know. But you guys can’t be with me all the time, and to be honest, I may kill you if you try to join me in the shower,” I joke, but it falls flat. I mull over what I need to say next.
“There’s something else,” I sigh and look up to meet their worried gazes. “In my meeting with Master Rostova, he told me I had to compete in some trial that will be happening in a few months. He said something about proving myself as a valuable warrior for the Dark and to make the Light tremble.” I try to smile at the last part, but my lips don’t cooperate, and it turns into a grimace.
The guys glance between themselves, and I watch in both fascination and annoyance as their auras intermingle while mine just floats around me, longing to join in.
Dane’s eyes meet mine and soften, and I realize he’s reading my emotions. A small curse ball forms on the tip of my index finger. His eyes widen. “Come on, Serena! It wasn’t like I did it on purpose. You project pretty loudly.”
The guys see the ball I’m aiming toward Dane, and Paxton chuckles. “Serena, please don’t curse him. We need him to heal us after combat classes.”
My skin prickles as his voice rolls over me, and I hate it but say, “Fine.”
Dane chooses that moment to snort, and I push the little ball back to him at lightning speed. It hits him square in the chest, and he gapes at me. “You just said you wouldn’t…!”
My power calls to me from within him, urging me to continue with the curse, to make him suffer, even if it’s only for a little while. But I resist, and it buries its way inside him like a weed in a beautiful garden. Just waiting to spread when the time is right. Rising from my chair, I walk past him and the others to the hallway, smiling at their hushed conversation.
“What do you think she did to you?” Rory asks.
“I don’t know. She didn’t say anything, so maybe she didn’t curse me?”
The guys remain silent, but I chuckle as Paxton snorts. “No. She left it there on purpose. I think if you read her again, you’ll be in trouble, man.” The guys chuckle while Dane groans.
“Mistress? Are you sure it was wise to tell them about the trial?” Lore asks, and I pause as I enter my room. Keaira shoots between my legs, and I close the door after her.
“It’s better to bring it up now and slowly increase my insistence than to just spring it on them. And besides, maybe if they get more half-truths, it will help in gaining their trust?”
But another thought crosses my mind; one I don’t even want to admit might be true, even to myself.
I’m not trying to help them catch on to my plan, am I? To protect them? To stop me?
No. Impossible.
Chapter 10
His dark eyes drill into mine, and he slowly replaces the papers he had been sorting onto his desk to face
me fully.
“Why do you want to know about the Trials, Dark?” Professor Worgren spits the word as if it’s a curse. I try to hide my smile, I really do, but the sneaky little thing pulls on my lips.
“Because I find the prospect of being victorious over you Light kids pretty fun.” My grin widens as his nostrils flare.
“I am a professor, you little—”
“I’d be careful how you finish that sentence, if I were you.”
Worgren whips around, searching for the source of the disembodied voice, but upon finding nothing, his eyes flick back to me. His mouth pulls into a snarl, and he jabs a finger in my direction. “I don’t trust you, Dark. I never have, and I never will. I know you’re up to something, and believe me, I will find out what.”
I hum. “And just you wait until I tell the Headmaster how you purposefully hindered the Alliance’s plans to seek unification between the Dark and the Light. After all, that’s why I’m here, isn’t it?” I bat my eyelashes.
“Don’t you dare try to tell me I’m acting against the Alliance. My ancestors founded that institution!”
“And how has that worked out for you?” I say with a smirk. “They were out there fighting for freedom and peace, spilling blood on battlefields, and achieving glory. While you’re stuck in these grounds teaching precious kids how to share punches. The only blood you’ll ever spill is that of the mosquito between your hands.”
This seems to push him over the edge, and he lunges with clawed fingers.
Something brushes against my leg, darting into Worgren’s path. He trips over the large, black cat and face-plants the floor. I dart back a few steps so I’m closer to the door as he struggles to stand. But the moment he looks up, Keaira is in his face, hair on end, hissing. He shrinks back. Who knew a Worgren would be afraid of cats?
Cursed Magic: A Paranormal Academy Romance (Daughter of Nyx Series Book 1) Page 10
