As Carmen and I continued to walk through the halls, I noticed a few eyes glance in my direction, but when they landed on Carmen they quickly turned away. No one wanted to mess with her, even before Tristan’s death, and now that she seemed as if she wanted to freeze someone to death with just a look, they didn’t even want to make eye contact with her.
I followed Carmen into the lecture hall and down a few steps to our row of tables, then over to our seats. We were early as normal and waited for the rest of the class to fill. What wasn’t normal was the silence between the two of us. Carmen usually would talk about our last lesson or something related to learning because that’s what she loved to do. She was a great fighter and would make an amazing collector one day, but she loved the technical stuff. When Carmen wasn’t helping me train, she was studying.
I took a deep breath and offered her a smile. “So, what do you think we’ll be going over today?”
Carmen didn’t look at me and continued to stare forward, causing my smile to fade. “I’m not sure.”
My eyebrows drew together in concern. “Well, what did we go over the last lecture?”
“I don’t remember.”
I licked my lips and sighed, turning away from her. I could still remember the pained expression in her eyes the night she told me that Tristan was dead. I had never seen her like that before, and I had never held her－or anyone－the way that I did with her. She cried for hours that night, and I couldn’t provide one comforting word. The loss of our friend made me feel pain that I never knew I could feel, but it did something to her, and I was afraid that I couldn’t help her.
I swallowed. “Carmen…”
Carmen turned her head to look at me with cold dark eyes with an almost accusatory expression. “I’m okay, Rayah. I just don’t get over things the way that you do, but I’m okay.”
My eyebrows steadily formed into a frown, instantly offended by her words. Carmen didn’t bat an eye and faced the front of the class again. I couldn’t believe that she had just said that. I didn’t just get over Tristan. It was killing me inside to know that he was no longer living, but I couldn’t mope around about it. I didn’t have the time or the energy.
But I did have Soren to console me, where Carmen had no one besides me. And she clearly didn’t want to speak to me.
Soren didn’t ask me why I was so upset after Tristan’s death, but he tried to comfort me anyways. I stood in front of him in the blue tinted forest with tears glossing over my eyes, and once his set on mine, he pulled me into his arms. I wanted to sob－ to scream, but I couldn’t. I just let my head rest on his chest and took in his warmth. At the time, it was all that I really needed.
Carmen gave a deep sigh. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay,” I said in a low quick voice while facing the front of the class again.
We didn’t speak for the rest of the class session, and once it was over neither of us said goodbye to one another. I wanted to, but when I noticed the cold and distant expression on her face, I hesitated. She just turned her back to me and walked away, probably not even thinking about how doing that made me feel.
—
I sat through Math class alone, as I had been doing since Tristan was collard, and patiently waited for it to end. I was excited to go to my next class, because it was the only place in the academy that I was considered an equal, and also somewhere that I could blow off some steam. Combat Training was next, and light energy wasn’t allowed to be used during that session, so I had no trouble fighting against the other students.
I quickly made my way through the halls, avoiding all eye contact and possibly Artemis. I was trying to hide in plain sight, but it was hard to do so being the school Null. Some students didn’t think me worthy of being in their presence without a slave collar, and others were angry that I was given the time to redeem myself. I was the only one given time to level up, and that was all that they knew.
Only the council, Carmen, the Professors, and I actually knew the conditions of my being free. There have been rumors of me having relations with the Major, and some believed that I was part of an experiment. When people asked, I only told them that I was an exception, which was what I was told to say. If others knew that a deal was made between the council and my parents, then there might’ve been a chance that someone else would try and make the same deal, and eventually, there would be questions about a law change. I was a risk to the Lytonian laws, and they didn’t want to take any more of them.
I noticed three girls taking their time to get to their classes in front of me and attempted to get around them. As I tried to pass them on their left, the red-head on the right end stepped out, causing me to bump into the back of her shoulder.
“Sorry,” I said, slowing down and turning to her.
“It’s ok—” When she recognized me, she frowned. “Watch where you’re going.”
I took a deep breath and gave her a blank stare. If it wasn’t me that bumped into her, then she would have been polite about it. It made me wonder what her real, less hateful, personality was like.
“I said sorry,” I said, calmly.
Looking at the other two girls, I noticed that Lithaly was among them. She was a student in Combat Training with me, and someone that I tended to learn from. With no powers, I needed to be able to fight, and what better way to learn than to go against the best?
“Ugh,” the red-head brushed off her shoulder. “I don’t care. I can’t believe that you actually touched me.”
I only stared at her. Inside, I was beginning to boil, but outside I seemed calm and collect. Something I’d practiced over the years.
“Lithaly, how can you train with this Null?” the red-head asked.
Lithaly’s dark eyebrows furrowed, and her lightning blue eyes glistened. “I don’t mind.” Her two friends paused and narrowed their eyes at her. Lithaly only smiled and shrugged. “Well, I’m going to be late for training guys. Rayah, care to walk with me the rest of the way?”
The two girls turned to me with disgust and confusion on their faces, and surprisingly, that only made me want to laugh. Still, I continued to hold a straight face.
“Sure,” I answered, turning around.
Lithaly chuckled to herself as she continued her walk to class beside me. When I turned to her, I admired her slick black hair and wondered what it looked like when it was down. I bet that it was long like mine.
“What?” Lithaly asked, looking at me.
“Oh, nothing. Thanks for that.”
“For what? I just needed someone to walk to class with, that’s all.” She shrugged. “Don’t think I’m giving you any special treatment because you’re a Null and all…Nully.”
I sighed with a smile. Only Lithaly could call me a Null without causing a deep stinging in my chest. I figured that was maybe because she only used the word playfully. Not in the way that everyone else used it. Like I was some kind of annoying and disgusting bug. “You know, soon you won’t be able to call me that anymore. My light will show.”
Lithaly gave a gorgeous smile. She always smiled when I was around for some reason, and it was actually genuine. Her smile was one reason that I liked her so much. “Do you really believe that?”
Lithaly and I stopped outside of the training room’s door.
I really didn’t know how to answer her question. I hadn’t shown any light before, and the first time that I actually felt something, I ended up knocking myself out. There was this red and blue spark that I remember seeing, like little sparks of lightning, but I couldn’t be sure if it was from the blow to my head or if I actually did something.
To be honest, I hoped that it was just from the blow to the head, because having a red light would make me a Gods Daughter, and those were killed on the spot once found out.
Lithaly offered a smile. “If you do believe that, then it’ll happen, but if you don’t…Well then I don’t know what to tell you. Start believing.” She walked into the class.
I chuckled and shook my head, then fo
llowed behind her. Ever since I met this girl, she’s been nothing but straightforward with me, and I was nothing but appreciative.
Since today was Monday, we were only going to spar against our opponents and then go over something more specific the following day. Lithaly and I had become partners, because we matched each other the best. I noticed that I was getting better after every sparring session with her, but I still couldn’t seem to beat her. It was like she knew my every move and would counter it right when I thought I had her.
Lithaly threw a side kick at my head, but I blocked it with my forearm. The force of her kick caused me to stumble to my left, but I remained on my feet. The level six Kali Bright was determined to put me on the ground and started coming at me with punches that were too fast for me to see.
I backed out of the way, trying my best to avoid getting hit, but once it seemed like she was growing tired, I stopped backing off and threw a punch right at her lip. I noticed that she was bleeding, but that didn’t stop me from fighting. I wanted to take her down for once.
Now, I was the one throwing blows, connecting with some and missing many. The crucial one that I missed was a jab to her jaw. Lithaly regained her ground and slipped out of the way, then welcomed my jaw with her fist instead. The impact dazed me, and I slowed down, but I still didn’t fall. Instead, I balled my fist and threw an uppercut right at her chin, connecting with a crushing force.
Lithaly grunted and stumbled back. I used that moment to throw out a kick but froze when she caught my leg and smiled. She used her strength to take me to the floor, and once I was on my back, she mounted me and was about to throw a blow to my face when the trainer stopped the class. I stared up at her with a smile forming on my lips and noticed that one was forming on hers as well.
“I beat you again, Nully,” she said, pushing herself to her feet and holding her hand out to me.
I gratefully let her help me up. “Yeah, well I’ll get you next time.”
“That’s what you said last time.” She chuckled. She pushed back a few loose strands that were hanging out of her bun. “So, what you got next?”
I sighed, dreading my next class. “Power Training.”
Lithaly’s smile only slightly faded, understanding my dread. “Well, you get those powers to emerge. Make that training session count.”
I wiped the sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand. “I’ll try.”
The both of us walked into the hall together, but before we separated, Lithaly grabbed my shoulder. I turned my head to look over it.
“Hey.” She offered a warm smile. “I just wanted to let you know that if you need someone, then you’re welcome to come to me. You and I aren’t so different.”
I gave a half-hearted smile, grateful for the gesture, but wasn’t the type to talk about my feelings. Most of the time, I didn’t understand them myself. “Thank you.”
Lithaly’s smile remained, but it seemed less genuine somehow. It wasn’t as if she were being fake, but her smile seemed half-hearted now. “You’re welcome.” She nodded, and then turned around to walk away.
I watched as she walked down the hall before turning back around to head for Power Training.
—
Like every day, Power Training was a failure. I practiced hundreds of times outside of training, so what were the chances of my light emulating during the actual class? Even in my Lighter Form I wasn’t able to use my powers. Soren told me that it should’ve been easier for me to draw my light in that form than in my real body, but of course, I couldn’t.
Power Training always had a way of bringing me down. Of course, I naturally kept my chin up, but it was becoming frustrating. I only had but so much time to reach level six and was still only a level one. The thought was terrifying.
I went back to my dorm to do some studying alone. I didn’t pay much attention during my classes, but that was because I already knew most of the material. I made sure that I was on top of things when it came to the basic classes, because a failure in one of those was the last thing that I needed.
Once I was done with my studies, I went to the best place to be alone on the academy grounds. The rooftop. There, I could forget of everything that went on inside of the building, and mentally prepare myself for the next day.
I sat at the edge of the rooftop with my feet dangling over the sides and gazed up at the night sky. Admiring its beauty. There was a full moon on my left and a full moon on my right, both surrounded by large twinkling stars. The sight brought back distant memories…
“Mommy, look!” I remembered being so fascinated with the night sky. Especially, on the night of the full moons. They would shine over the land below them, tinting it with blue and white.
I was looking out of her bedroom window that night. Below the moon and the stars was the city coated with dark blue. People tended to turn off their lights on the night of the full moons just so that they could only use the light that the moons provided.
Lighters loved full moons, and as a monthly tradition the city goers would stop using their powers, climb onto their rooftops, and sit in the dark light, taking in the light energy that the moons had to offer. Two full moons were the equivalent of one sun for us, but we appreciated them more because of the beauty that they granted.
“Oh, wow. It’s beautiful.” My mother got down on one knee beside me and rested her warm hand on my shoulder. The moonlight shined in on her, causing her face to glow in the darkness.
I reached out and touched the ends of her loosely curled red hair. “Yeah…beautiful…”
When she turned to me, she slightly cocked her head to the side and smiled. I loved when she looked so free this way, in her non-uniform attire and her hair down for me to feel. Tonight, she wore my father’s t-shirt and boxers. She was so young, and vibrant, and beautiful, and my father and I loved her for that…
Now when I look up at the full moons, I wondered if she was still the same? She was currently Artemis’ slave in my place, probably enduring more pain and torture than what he inflicted on me. As an adult slave, what your master could do to you was unlimited.
I lay on my back and let my eyes lower. “I’ll get you out of there, Mom…”
I promise.
Chapter 3
“Guilt can slowly tear away at a person. It rips away until nothing is left. In my brother’s case, he had his family to help him recover, but many don’t receive the same treatment. Many disappear.” — Sora
When I opened my eyes, I was blinded by a small golden orb that hovered over my face. I still couldn’t figure out why the orbs were always so attracted to me but figured that it had something to do with my temporary glowing.
I lifted my hand over my head and watched as the golden glow around the outline of it dimmed down to nothing. Lately, the glowing effect of jumping in my Lighter Form had been dimming down faster and faster with every trip. It kind of upset me, because it was the only light that I could ever emit, and lately, I hadn’t been able to just sit and admire it.
I’ll be able to use my powers soon.
If I could just be positive like Lithaly, then everything would be okay. At least, I hoped that it would.
When I dropped my arm, the orb went in circles over my head before gliding off elsewhere. I took that as my que to sit up and see where I had jumped to. The last few jumps I had awoken in different places, but they were each pretty close to Soren’s Village. Sometimes, I would even appear right next to Soren, which had proven to be a little awkward each time, but slowly we were adapting to it. I wasn’t sure why I always seemed to end up by him, but since he was my friend, I didn’t really mind. If anything, it made me feel more connected to him.
Looking around, I noticed that I was up on a familiar hill. It was the hill that I escaped to the second time that I jumped to Soren. I was skeptical of him back then, because he was a Gods Son, but then I learned that he wasn’t an evil being. He was actually kind and loving. In many ways, he reminded me of Tristan, but what differen
tiated the two was the fact that Soren was born free, so he acted free. He was full of life.
“You finally made it,” Soren said from behind me.
When I looked over my shoulder, my heart stopped, and I stiffened. Soren was walking up the hill, shirtless and in a black pair of shorts with his blond curls hanging over his shoulders. The ends of his hair were tickling at his broad chest, proving to be even longer than mine.
Soren flashed a handsome smile. His happiness caused his own eyes to flash lime green, and then continue to glow. It was a quality of being a Gods Child, confirming that I wasn’t one. I once thought that I was, but with no powers and no glowing eyes－How could I be? Still, there was the situation with them turning black. I did my research, and that had never been heard of.
“Sorry, I’m late.” I nervously got up to my feet, but since I just jumped to the Wild Lands my legs hadn’t adapted yet, and my knees gave out. Of course, Soren caught me from behind, causing butterflies in my stomach. Without doing much of anything, he had this way of making me feel a bit skittish. Funny thing about that was that I enjoyed the feeling. It was something different compared to the worthless and saddening emotions that I experienced on a daily basis at the academy.
“You alright?” Soren asked, helping me stand upright.
“Yeah.” I nodded, straightening. “Where’s your sister?”
Soren pushed his hands into his front pockets. “Watching the moons with Grandmother Emerald. You’ll see Sora your next jump here.”
I bit my lower lip and nodded. “Good.”
Soren took a deep breath and dropped his head back to watch the night sky. “I was afraid that you wouldn’t have jumped here, because then I would have been stuck looking for you all night.”
I shrugged with a chuckle. “Somehow, I always end up jumping to the right places.”
“It’s subconscious, I guess.” Soren lowered his chin to look back down at me. “But you’re smart. You’ll eventually be able to control your jumping. For you to jump in your sleep, that only means that it doesn’t take much effort for you to do it. Controlling your jumps? Now that’s another story, but I believe you’ll get it.”
The Calling Page 2
