by Alicia Fabel
“Ian, I’m not Julie. I’m Annessa.” Annessa shook him harder. “I need you to wake up.”
His eyes glassed over and then he blinked. “Annessa? No, I need to talk to Julie. I need to explain.”
“Who’s Julie?”
“You know who she is.” Ian jumped up and paced.
“I don’t know who she is,” Annessa said. “Can you see me?”
“Of course I can. I made you,” Ian replied.
“Made me?”
“It’s my dream, but I don’t understand why I can’t change you back into Julie. I need to talk to Julie.”
“Ian, I’m not in your dream.”
“Yes, you are,” he insisted.
“No, I’m not. You didn’t show up for our riding lesson, and then Quinn said you missed your tutoring session too. So I came to make sure you’re okay.”
“I haven’t missed my tutoring session. That’s not for two more hours.”
“You did miss it,” Annessa insisted.
Ian stopped in front of her with a scowl. “Bring back Julie.”
“I can’t, Ian.”
“Then I will make you bring her back.” He wrapped his hands around Annessa’s arms, and her breath caught in her throat. Without even realizing she was doing it, her body moved, stepping into him and then twisting free as Elion had taught her.
Ian stood dumbfounded, blinking at her like she was a mirage. “Annessa?”
“Yes,” she said warily.
“Then why can’t I hear anything in your head?”
“Because I’m in a building full of mind readers.” Annessa let the shields drop, and Ian stumbled back like her thoughts were a wave crashing into him.
“I’m so sorry, Annessa. I didn’t realize it was you.”
“I told you it was,” she said.
“Yeah, but my dreams tell me things all the time.” He looked at the clock. “Shit! I need to get to the library.”
“Quinn’s not there.”
“So that part wasn’t a dream either.” Ian dropped onto his bed. “What did she say to you?”
“That you’d better have a very good reason for not being there. And based on what I just saw, you definitely do. This was the side effect that you were talking about, wasn’t it? The dark side of the Tapper Legend.”
“You can’t tell her,” Ian replied.
“She’s going to be pissed at you unless you do.”
“She’s always pissed at me,” Ian said. “She’ll get over it.”
“I don’t understand why you can’t just explain that it was out of your control.”
“Because I don’t want her to know.” Ian gave Annessa a harsh look. “So can you keep it to yourself, or should I erase the last fifteen minutes from your mind?”
“Whoa. First off, don’t be a jerk,” Annessa scolded. “I was just trying to help. And second, wouldn’t using your ability more right now be a really bad idea?”
“That’s the only reason I haven’t already done it,” he admitted.
“If you don’t want me to tell anyone, I won’t.” Annessa plopped down beside him. “You’re already keeping my secret, so it’s the least I can do.”
“Thank you.”
Annessa hesitated, wondering if she should ask who Julie was.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” he said.
“I didn’t ask,” she pointed out.
“You were going to.”
She was. But she didn’t. “Want to get out of this room for a bit?”
“You’re just using me for my bike, aren’t you?” he asked, regaining a little of his normal composure.
“Busted,” she teased back. “But seriously, you’re not the only one who had a heart-wrenching afternoon. I could really use some brain-deadening wind in my face.”
“We’re both pathetic today,” Ian mused.
“We should start a club.”
“Nah, I can only fit two on my bike, unless you want to give up your seat.”
Annessa bumped his shoulder. “Forget I mentioned it.”
“Already done. Now, let’s go.” Ian grabbed a jacket. “I have a new place to show you today.”
“On campus?”
“Yeah, I learned that lesson. Besides, I wouldn’t take you off campus when I want you to show me what you can do.”
“My magic thing?” Annessa asked.
“It’s not magic,” he contradicted.
“It might as well be as far as I’m concerned.”
“Fine, let’s go make some magic.”
Annessa cringed. “That sounded dirty.”
“It was supposed to.” Ian winked and held the door for her.
20
“There are a lot of psychics here,” Annessa murmured to Sam later that evening.
“It’s a psychic college, what do you expect?” She bumped Annessa’s arm. “You’ve been here for almost three weeks, you should be used to it.”
“Usually, everyone isn’t in one big huddle like this.” Annessa surveyed the growing crowd of students gathering for the bonfire.
“So this isn’t about psychics, it’s about you freaking out because people are in your bubble,” Sam concluded.
“A lot of people,” Annessa confirmed. “All squashed together in one big mass of people-ness.”
“They’re huddling because it’s getting cold.” Sam looped her scarf around her tawny neck an extra time for emphasis. Her wavy raven hair was piled on top of her head in a messy bun for the night.
“I noticed that.” Annessa scanned the darkening sky as if it would explain something. “I thought it didn’t get cold here.”
“Have you noticed the lack of flutterfires the past few days?” Sam asked.
Truthfully, Annessa hadn’t been paying attention. She’d had a lot going on.
“They don’t live forever,” Sam informed her.
“Let me guess, the bonfire has something to do with resurrecting bugs.”
“I told you it was going to be exciting,” Sam said, leading Annessa to one of the rows of benches in the amphitheatre. Being a good friend, Sam chose a bench close enough to see, but far enough back that people weren’t sitting on top of them.
“Poppy just reminded me of something.” Sam turned to Annessa and said, “You will be safe.”
Annessa narrowed her eyes. “That doesn’t make me feel safe at all.”
“Yeah, well Poppy was just recanting my first bonfire, after no one thought to warn me. I thought it was the start of the apocalypse.” Sam scowled at the space behind her. “It wasn’t that funny.”
“So what’s going to happen?”
“First, the mesmer students are going to strip naked,” Sam said. “And then they’ll sacrifice a wolf before dancing around the fire ring, pleading with the demons in the mountain to send us the fires of hell to keep us warm.”
Annessa swallowed hard and then Sam keeled over with laughter. Tears streamed down her cheeks. Annessa was certain she high-fived Poppy too.
“Look who’s not funny,” Annessa muttered.
Sam wiped away her tears. “You really thought I was telling the truth.”
Annessa scowled. “How should I know?”
“Umm, because you and I were best friends for years, and I can’t even eat meat let alone sit here and watch them sacrifice an animal.” Sam snorted.
Annessa’s scowl cracked. “To be fair, you’ve changed a lot since last spring.”
“I haven’t changed that much.”
“Good to know,” Annessa said as the mesmers began to spread out in the front. “Are demons really real, though?”
Sam couldn’t keep a straight face. “No. They’re going to mesmerize the fire elementals in the earth and get them to come to the surface and help us out.”
“You mean compel them?”
“Not at all. Elementals seriously love those guys and will do anything for them. But that goes both ways. Mesmers adore elementals too. It’s kind of symbiotic.”
; Annessa realized something. “Did you say, come to the surface?”
“Yep. This mountain is a little volcanic.”
“A little?” Annessa wanted to accuse her friend of lying again, but this time she knew Sam wasn’t making it up. Wonderful. She wasn’t living on just any mountain. It was a volcano.
“Don’t worry,” Sam said. “The mesmer guild has a healthy relationship with the local elements. We’re completely safe.”
“So long as no one pisses anyone off,” Annessa finished.
The center of the fire ring began to glow red and then orange. Lava bubbled from the ground. Annessa squinted from the flare of light and noticed others were wearing sunglasses, even though it was dusk. And then the glow spread but not normally. It squirmed and twisted.
“Uh, Sam?”
“It’s totally fine,” Sam assured. “Just stay right where you are.”
And then the mass of lava began to split. Streaks of red darted out like bottle rockets. They raced past, spreading out over campus. “Magmamanders?”
“Yep.”
“How do they not set the flowers on fire?”
“They aren’t here to destroy anything, so they don’t,” Sam said simply.
“But you’re saying they could,” Annessa prompted.
“They could but they don’t. They find where they want to live and burrow into the ground. They’re happy and we get to stay nice and toasty.”
Just then, the flutterfires began to float into the air like embers and flit around.
“What happens if they fly into town?” Annessa asked.
“They stay close to the mesmers, so that’s not an issue.”
The fire at the center of the ring grew as the air warmed around them. Annessa tipped her head back to marvel at the sparks in the air.
“It’s beautiful.”
“Just wait.” Sam skootched closer. “There’s supposed to be a big snow storm in the area tonight, so the show’s not over yet.”
More students worked their way through the crowd, headed away from the fire. They spread out over the athletic field. Bee Girl was with them. The swaths of snowy blooms began to multiply. In the background, the vines thickened and grew up the brick walls, covering everything with the illusion of piles of snow.
“What guild are they?” Annessa asked
“Charmers.”
“I thought charmers read and manipulated emotions?” Annessa pushed back the memory of the Phyton charmer with his knife.
“It’s more than emotions. That’s why they get assigned duties at the health center and stables. They can reflect strength into tissues the same as they can reflect someone’s emotions.”
“That’s how I was healed after Ian and I were captured,” Annessa concluded.
“Yeah.”
“But when I got back to campus, I didn’t have any good vibes for them to magnify.”
“They reflected someone else’s on to you,” Sam said.
“Whose?”
“Mine.” Sam bit her lip. “I sat with you until they sent me away to rest.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“I didn’t think you’d appreciate it at that point,” Sam admitted.
“I appreciate it now.” Annessa squeezed her hand. “Although, I’m not sure I understand how that makes the flowers grow like that.”
“The plants around here are well-cared for,” Sam began.
“Yeah, I’ve heard a lot about Wilfred,” Annessa said.
“I’m so glad I didn’t get assigned to his crew for my work study,” Sam said with a little shiver. “But since the plants are happy and healthy, the charmers can amp that up, and voila. Flower power on steroids.” Sam laughed at Annessa. “You seem stunned.”
“I didn’t expect to find anything here beautiful or amazing,” Annessa admitted.
“Hey, I resent that.”
Annessa bumped Sam’s arm. “I meant besides you, obviously.”
“Obviously,” Sam agreed. “But why does this seem to upset you.”
“I’m leaving,” Annessa explained. “And I didn’t want there to be anything here to miss.”
“If it helps, just remember the beauty comes with darkness,” Sam said.
Annessa hadn’t forgotten. She just wasn’t sure if that darkness was as sinister as she’d first thought. Or if maybe there was hope for change. She watched the students enjoying the bonfire and knew Guilded people were good people. Just like some Phyton were good too. There was just so much painful history between the two—so much darkness, like Sam said. Was she brave enough to face the darkness and advocate for change? More importantly, was she willing to try?
“What did you think of the show?” Ian dropped onto the bench.
“Stunning,” Annessa said.
“That it is.” But is it worth the risking your heart for?
I don’t know.
“Did you get it?” Sam asked Ian.
“Would I be here if I hadn’t?” he replied.
Annessa looked between them. “What are you two talking about?”
“Turns out your friends enjoy a little B&E.” Ian put his hand over his mouth dramatically.
“You’re just jealous that I get away with stuff and you always get caught,” Sam said.
“Uh yeah,” Ian agreed.
“Okay, you two. Explain,” Annessa said.
“On bonfire nights, a few of us break into the pool for a private swim,” Sam shared.
Annessa debated saying no, but the truth was it sounded like fun. Only one problem. “I didn’t pack a suit.”
“That’s a problem?” Ian teased.
“I have plenty for you to borrow,” Sam said.
“You’re coming too?” Annessa asked Ian.
“I wasn’t invited.” Ian pouted.
Sam batted her eyes at him. “Ian, would you like to break in and go swimming?”
“It’s tempting, but I might have other plans.” Ian pulled out a coin and tossed it. Annessa didn’t see which way it landed, but he shook his head. “Sadly, I have to take care of something else. Ready for the code?”
“Didn’t you write it down?” Sam asked.
“Do I look like your secretary?”
“I can’t remember twelve numbers,” Sam informed him.
“Why not?” he asked.
“Because I’m not the Rain Man like you.”
“You take the first six numbers, I’ll take the last six,” Annessa suggested.
Ian rattled off the numbers, wished them well, and left.
“When are we meeting the rest of the gang?” Annessa asked.
“Actually, they didn’t know how you would feel about having everyone there, so they said we can have it to ourselves if you want.”
“No, this is something you guys always do,” Annessa argued. “I don’t want to be the one to keep them from it.”
Sam’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“Then let’s go tell everyone that we have the code and grab some suits.”
“How do you guys not get caught?” Annessa wondered.
“I’m pretty sure Elion has an arrangement with his parents, and they look the other way.”
Just like the arrangement he’d made for her, Annessa thought. And she’d been horrible to him anyway.
Sam misunderstood the look on Annessa’s face and said, “You knew he was part of the gang.”
“No, that’s not… I don’t mind if he’s there.”
“Actually, he won’t be,” Sam said. “He’s got something else to do.”
“You mean the special training because of me,” Annessa guessed.
“You know.” Sam sighed. “You should also know he can get out of training, but he thought you’d be more comfortable if he wasn’t there.”
“He told you that?”
“No, but I’m not stupid.”
This time Annessa sighed. “Why don’t I meet you at the aquatic center in thirty
minutes?”
Sam gave her a knowing smile.
Annessa rolled her eyes. “Don’t give me that look.”
“I’m not giving you any looks.” Sam’s smile grew.
“Shut up.”
“See you in thirty minutes.” Sam skipped away, talking to Poppy as she went.
Annessa made a mental note to tease her about looking like an insane person when she did that.
A sprout speared up through the soil, uncurled, and stretched before bursting into a tiny blue flower. But then the petals fell before Elion could stop the timeline. The flower shriveled and turned black. Elion fell back against the mat with a groan. He’d dusted another flower. It was progress but slow progress. Once he got the timeline flowing, he couldn’t stop it without losing hold of his own.
“I’ll be honest, that was a little freaky,” Annessa said, standing over him.
Elion pushed himself up. “How long have you been here?”
“Long enough to see you sweating bullets while that flower fast-forwarded through its lifespan.”
Elion pinched the bridge of his nose where he was getting a headache. When he opened his eyes, Annessa held out a water bottle.
“Headache?” she asked.
“I’m fine.” But he took the bottle and drained it.
“Still forgetting to stay hydrated, I see,” Annessa remarked.
“Still bossing me around, I see,” he retorted.
“Can’t help that I’m so good at it,” Annessa said. “So instead of murdering flowers all night, come swim with your friends.”
“I don’t have time. I have to figure this out.”
Annessa squatted to touch the flower. It crumpled beneath her finger. She tried and failed to hide her laugh. “Dang El, you killed it good.”
Elion pretended that hearing Ness call him by her shortened pet name didn’t faze him. But his chest twisted with ridiculous pleasure. Especially with her so close. The way she was balanced on the balls of her feet, he could easily reach out and pull her into his lap.
“Maybe a break would be good,” she persisted. Then she shrugged and teased, “Then again, not like you can make them any deader.”
Elion regarded her with narrowed eyes. “Are you just trying to get me out of my clothes?”
Annessa rolled her eyes. “You always did think you looked good in a pair of trunks.”
