Alayne's mouth swung open, but whatever words she thought she was going to say had disappeared. She could only stare at him in astonishment.
Kyle's face was shadowed in the darkness, but the hope in his blue eyes couldn't be hidden.
“B—but,” sputtered Alayne, vexed with herself for stuttering, spilling out the first words she could think, “Kyle, we're only eighteen.” What under the blue skies did he think he was doing?
Kyle stood again, pulling her closer. “Eighteen years is long enough to know what we want, Layne.” He kissed her now, not waiting for permission. His lips were hungry and forceful; it was the first time he had ever kissed her like that.
But he moved in, backing her up against the tree, his hands on either side of her neck and face. Alayne tried a gentle nudge to push him away, but he was past hints. She planted both hands on his chest and shoved.
He broke free, gasping, his eyes shocked.
Alayne drew three deep breaths to calm herself. “Kyle,” she began with a croak, and she cleared her throat. She tried again, her mind searching frantically for words that would cause the least pain. “Kyle, when we broke up, you told me that I needed to make peace with Jayme's death. That I needed to put him to rest before we could make a relationship work.”
“I know what I said, Layne,” Kyle broke in, “but—”
“Wait, I wasn't done.” Alayne pulled in another deep breath. “I need to tell you a story, and please don't interrupt me until I'm done, or I might not get through it all.” She dropped her gaze to her fingers, watching them rub restlessly together as she told him first of her conversation with Manders in the library and then of her search at Jayme's grave, which resulted in not even a trace of remains. “So, you were right, Kyle. I need to put Jayme to rest before I can do... anything. In all honesty, a relationship with you wasn't helping you as I had first hoped it would. I wanted to... pull you out of your depression, help you get back on your feet again. But I need to find Jayme. I... need to find out whether or not he's truly alive, and if he is, to find out why he has never come back.”
Kyle stared at her, astonishment vying with disbelief in his expression. The life flickered out of his eyes. Only the sounds of bullfrogs in the river and nearby crickets kept the silence from overwhelming them.
Alayne could only stand it so long. “So? Aren't you going to say anything?” She hated the look on his face. Death itself looked more alive.
“What else is there to say?” Kyle asked through gritted teeth. “You've already told me that there's no chance in CommonEarth that this—this thing between us will ever work. You continue to hold out hope for a dead man.” He shook his head and looked away. “Skies, Alayne, maybe he is alive, but even if by some miracle, he didn't want you, there would always be me, Second Choice Kyle, standing by, dancing on the ends of your puppet strings, fulfilling every wish, except the main one, of course, which would be that I go away forever and leave you alone with him.”
His bitterness rankled. It sent a shaft through Alayne's defensive layers directly to her heart.
“Kyle, you know better than anyone that I—I care for you. You're one of my best friends—”
“Friends,” Kyle muttered in disgust. He refused to meet her eyes. “We've already had this conversation. Come on, we'd better get back. It's going to be a long day tomorrow, and we'll need our rest.”
Alayne's eyes burned. She wished she could soothe the pain she'd just inflicted, but she knew if she gave Kyle any hope at all, the pain would be worse in the long run. She had to be true to herself. She reluctantly broke into a jog, keeping ten feet behind Kyle the whole way back to the spire. He ushered her into the chute first. “Go on up.” He didn't meet her gaze. “I'll be outside.”
Alayne nodded miserably, stepped into the chute and watched the doors shut in front of Kyle's closed face. He turned away from her as she pressed the button for the common room. Her heart bled with pain.
As she stepped into the dark common room, she trudged toward the staircase with rounded shoulders. Somehow, she just couldn't get it right. Making this decision hurt someone she loved, and she could hardly live with herself. But on the other hand, if Jayme—
She stopped herself. She was tired to the bone of the agonizing. If Jayme could be found, she'd find him. Meanwhile, exams were tomorrow, and she didn't have the mental energy to devote to that task yet. Enough was enough.
“Hey.” Daymon's tall form materialized in front of her.
Alayne looked up at him. She wondered if he had seen her exchange with Kyle. Of course he had.
“It'll be okay, you know.” He glanced down at his feet and scuffed his shoe on the carpet. “Sounds cliché, but it'll work itself out.”
Alayne nodded miserably, tears puddling in the corners of her eyes. She didn't protest when Daymon wrapped her in his arms and held her gently as she watered his shirt.
* * *
When Alayne arrived in her room for the night, Marysa wasn't there. Alayne readied herself for bed, listening for the curfew gong and wondering when her roommate would show up. She didn't have to wait long.
Marysa breezed in the door, excitement written across her face. “Alayne, Rachyl and I just got done talking with Professor Brinks about the exams tomorrow. Of course, Sprynge had made the announcement that we were going to do something more hands-on to replace the written examinations. Brinks filled us in on some of the details. She said she wasn't really supposed to, but how cool is that? Anyway, it's going to be dealing mostly with water, and she said we'll be facing off with each other. The more face-offs a student wins, the higher their score. We'll be taken to an examination area somewhere outside, and they count down on the buzzer and then release us, and we see who can last the longest. Doesn't that sound like fun? I can't wait—this is so much better than written exams.”
At last Marysa paused long enough to see Alayne's face. “Honey, what's wrong?” She hurried over to sit on Alayne's bed.
Alayne shook her head, wishing her expressions were not quite so visible on her face. “Nothing but the same ol' same ol'.”
“Kyle?”
Alayne nodded. She took a deep breath. “He asked me to marry him, Marysa.”
“What?” Marysa's eyes widened in shock. “He did not.”
“I turned him down.”
Marysa was actually speechless for ten seconds. Finally, she found her tongue again. “Well, I should hope you did!”
“You do?”
“That's way too intense for right now. I'm surprised he can't see that. You still need to put your ghosts to rest, and he needs to let you do that.”
Alayne let out a breath of air she didn't realize she'd been holding. “I agree. But Marysa, his face. You'd think I'd killed him and then resurrected him for another brutal sword stab.”
Marysa's face softened. “I can't say I've ever really liked Kyle, but I will say this: I think his feelings for you are genuine. I feel sorry for him, poor guy. Not sorry enough that I wish you'd have given him a different answer, but sorry that he has to deal with that. Still, it's not fair to him or to you to accept a proposal of marriage if your heart is somewhere else.” She didn't say Jayme's name, so Alayne mentally wrote it in.
Relief flooded her. It was what she herself felt, but she had second-guessed herself on the feeling multiple times. It was heavenly to feel the support from her best friend.
Marysa stood up and kissed the top of Alayne's head. “Go to sleep now, Layne. You need full powers of concentration tomorrow. It's gonna be a big day.”
Chapter 22
Morning arrived, but Alayne could hardly welcome it. Sleep had eluded her most of the night; she'd tossed and turned as she remembered over and over again the look on Kyle's face when she rejected him. The pain, the anguish that had sliced through his features twisted her stomach into a painful knot. It was akin to drowning a puppy, watching him struggle. And she was the cause of it. She whimpered as she pulled the pillow tight into her torso and turned her
face to the wall.
Marysa was already awake, standing in front of the mirror as she braided her hair. “I think I'll put my braid up and around my head today,” she murmured, whether to herself or Alayne, it made no difference. “If it's going to be water elements mostly, who knows how much swimming I'll have to do and it'd be good not to have long hair floating around behind me getting hooked or caught on anything.”
Alayne peeped at her from under a sheet.
“What do you think?” Marysa asked, holding her heavy braid up and curling it around the back of her head. “Do you think it'll stay put?”
Alayne blinked at her. “Sure. And it's heavy enough that if you need an anchor, it'll keep you at the bottom.”
“Bottom of what?” Marysa turned back to the mirror and studied her reflection.
“I don't know, a lake? Who knows what they'll come up with?”
Marysa shoved a bobby pin into her braid and reached for another one. “You were really restless last night, Layne.” Her eyes in the mirror were concerned. “The usual dreams?”
Alayne grimaced. “Sort of. Kyle, this time.”
Marysa shoved the last pin into her hair and surveyed it critically. “At least you didn't throw together any weapons last night.” Bits and pieces of small weapons had continued to appear in Alayne's bed most mornings, particularly when her dreams were especially strong. She'd collapse them immediately into the elements again, but it was getting ridiculous. This morning, at least, the sheets were clean.
Alayne shoved back the covers and got out of bed, ignoring her usual braid and whipping her hair up into a ponytail.
“Rachyl and I might team up,” Marysa said as she pulled the quilt up over her pillow.
Alayne's mouth tightened, and then scolded herself for the spark of jealousy. It was petty and childish to say that Marysa was her friend... but it was true. Sometimes Rachyl felt like an intruder. She shoved the jealousy aside as Marysa turned to face her. “You know you can come with us if you want.”
Alayne shrugged. “Thanks, but I think I'm gonna strike out on my own like I did last year.” Her nerves stood on end. She didn't want to endanger her friends at all. It would be best to stay by herself until she knew more of the examination setting.
“I guess Daymon'll be with you,” Marysa commented as she tied her shoes.
“Maybe.” Alayne's voice was muffled as she pushed her head through the collar of her t-shirt. “I didn't tell him he had to be, but—”
“But he will anyway,” Marysa finished. She stood and crossed to the mirror to stand behind Alayne. She wrapped her arms around her and squeezed. “He's a good guy, Alayne. I'm glad you have him.”
Alayne's eyebrows rose. “I—don't—what are you—Marysa, I don't—have him.” She was furious with herself as she watched her cheeks color a brilliant red in the mirror. “He—he's—it's the Vale—he's responsible for the—Marysa, that's all—”
“Skies, Alayne, relax.” Marysa laughed suddenly as comprehension lit her eyes. “I was just saying I'm glad you have him to watch out for you.” Her lid dropped in a wink as she moved to the door and opened it. “Although, he's not a bad candidate for more than that, you know, Alayne.”
Alayne snatched a decorative pillow from the foot of Marysa's bed and hurled it at her. Marysa dodged it and ran into the hall, laughing. Her voice trailed back to Alayne. “See you in the common room!”
* * *
When Alayne found Marysa and Rachyl sitting on a couch in the common room, she sank down on the arm of the sofa, smoothing her sweaty hands over her shorts as nervous chatter filled the air all around them. A tense excitement wrapped the atmosphere as most students looked forward to their trips back home after the close of examinations. But the unknown factor of the exams kept the excitement to a subdued hubbub.
Daymon appeared through the crowd of students as he threaded his way toward them, his eyes shuttered. Alayne wondered what his plans were, and she wanted to ask him, but couldn't make her tongue move. When his gaze met hers, the tense line of his shoulders relaxed. He sank down onto the floor in front of the couch and leaned against it, lacing his fingers together around his knee.
Rachyl's voice caught Alayne's attention, and she glanced at her where she sat in earnest conversation with Marysa. Rachyl caught the glance and looked up at Alayne. “Don't you think so, Layne?”
“Sorry, I didn't hear. What did you say?”
Rachyl gestured to the commotion throughout the rest of the common room. “I know I've only been here for one semester, so I have a skewed view, but I thought that the whole purpose of this school, of our schools—Andova, too—was to figure out a way for Elementals to work together. Right?”
Marysa broke in. “Yeah, Layne, your dad has pounded it into our heads over and over that Elementals are supposed to work together to bring order to the elements, fire and water to heat our homes, earth and water for the farmers, and all.”
Rachyl leaned forward. “But this year, Sprynge and Pence especially have been pushing us to work against each other. Competition. You've seen it all year from what you've told me, and I've seen it at Andova, too. Now, it's all coming out in the exams.”
Alayne shifted uncomfortably. “What are we supposed to do about it, though?” she asked. “It's not like we can do anything on our last day here.”
Daymon interrupted them. “No, you've already done it, Alayne. The speed-dating club. Your confrontation with Pence in class. The sessions you had in the tunnels. Everything you've worked for is for unity with other Elementals and Naturals.” He pushed himself forward and turned on the carpet to face them, zipping the vest he wore over a fitted, blue long-sleeved shirt. “So it's kind of ironic that the ones trying to tear Elementals apart from the inside is the Elemental Alliance.”
No one said anything; they didn't have to. The truth of his words hit harder than a punch. Alayne curled her legs into her chest, wrapping her arms around them. A student wending through the crowd caught her attention. “Corn.” Alayne stiffened. “What do you want?”
Cornelia frowned at her, but ignored the question. She sank down in front of Daymon, tugging on one of her earrings. “Just thought I'd tell you, Daymon,” she murmured, low enough that Alayne had trouble catching the words, “I saw Simeon Malachi today.”
Alayne leapt to her feet. “What?”
Cornelia shot her a withering look. “I'm talking to Daymon, do you mind?”
Daymon's back and neck had gone rigid. “Where?”
“This morning, early, down at the exam site. He had a group of students with him, looked like fifteen, twenty of them. He had 'em tied up, like.” Her fingers twitched nervously across her knees.
“Tied up?” Alayne snapped. “What was he doing?”
Cornelia ignored her, instead reaching tentatively for Daymon's hand. He jerked it back when she grazed it. She bit her lip. “I—was with one of my other friends, and we were hoping to get a better look at the exam stage. I think he's keeping them—the students he tied up—in the exam arena, who knows why.” She paused, shooting a scathing glance at Alayne, and then turned back to Daymon, her expression softening. “I—just wanted you to be careful, Dee. I—know he and you almost—” She broke off, unsure.
After a moment, Daymon muttered a single word: “Thanks.”
A flush crept up Cornelia's thick neck, blotching her cheeks, and she nodded once. She rose, her fingers squeezing his shoulder. “Be careful.” She disappeared back into the throng of students.
At that moment, all the MIUs snapped on, and Chairman Sprynge appeared in six places throughout the common room.
“Good morning, Clayborne students!” he greeted them. “I hope you're as excited about today's examinations as we are on the faculty and staff. You've all spent much time this year learning your elements, increasing your control over them and polishing your abilities, so today, we will see where that takes us.” He smiled with false benevolence on the student body. Alayne wanted to vomit.
> “I'll give an overview of what is going to happen today. In just a short while, you will be released into the examination area where you will face off with another student in your year. The Elemental who wins the face-off will secure the other Elemental with your own element around their wrists, send up a signal for the faculty, and a shuttle will arrive to transport the captured Elemental back to the facilities here.”
The student body rustled as they listened; murmuring filled the air.
Sprynge's voice interrupted. “Moreover, there will be, in the examination stage, one object that represents each of the four elements—only one of each. Find the object that represents your personal element, and once found, retrieve it and return it to the entryway right here at Clayborne. The first object returned will grant that Elemental and all Elementals in the same element group a perfect score on the examination, no matter how many faults were committed in the examination area itself. So, you see, it may not be so advantageous this year to team up with someone from another element.”
More hushed whispers. Alayne glanced at Daymon, and he raised his eyebrows. She shrugged. Exactly what object would she be aiming for? She represented all four. She glanced back at the screens. Chairman Sprynge raised a hand for quiet.
“To add even more challenge, we have elected to bring in some guests for the examinations. Their sole task will be to incapacitate you as best they can while you're attempting to achieve your goal. Once they catch you, if they catch you, you are out of the competition and will be returned to Clayborne without delay. So, I advise you to steer well clear of them. To represent Fire-Breathers, may I introduce to you: Sylvius Prius.”
Chairman Sprynge momentarily disappeared, and a new man now faced the students. His shiny bald head sported a tattoo over his left ear; his shoulders were thick with muscle. Alayne hadn't heard of him before, but when Daymon sucked in his breath, she shot a startled glance at him. “What?”
Shadows of Uprising (Guardian of the Vale Book 2) Page 26
