by Ciara Graves
Or hopefully, at least, be able to sit and talk with him until it was my turn to go inside, so I had something to take my mind off my nerves, which were growing worse by the second.
I felt bewildered by the strangeness of my new surroundings and did my best not to do what had become a horrible bad habit of mine whenever I felt uncomfortable—randomly talking about whatever came to mind, usually coming across as a crazy person or someone who just didn’t understand social cues.
I’d already managed to gain the attention of one guy, who seemed entertained by upsetting me as much as possible. I was a few steps away from the handsome guy on the bench when I realized I was probably going to start babbling like an idiot no matter what I told myself. I pivoted to turn back, but all of a sudden, there was someone behind me.
I staggered back a step. Hands reached out, catching my arms as I sank down.
And onto the very comfortable lap of the guy I was just trying to walk away from, before I could do something horribly embarrassing. Like falling into his lap. Yeah, that could count as embarrassing.
His lips were curled up in a smile, and he made no move to shove me off his lap. I felt no need to try to move either.
I started to laugh at what should’ve been a terribly awkward situation and held out my hand. “I’m Rori Griffith, and you look like you could do with some company.”
He grinned and shook my hand. His other arm was busy holding me upright. Still in his lap.
“Not very shy, are you?” He laughed quietly. “I’m Brogan Bailey.”
Our hands stayed clasped for a long moment, until I felt heat rising in my cheeks. I was still sitting in his lap. I fumbled to get upright without elbowing him in the face.
I sat down beside him, folded my hands over my folder of papers, and cringed. “Sorry about the whole sitting-on you-thing. That, uh, that wasn’t my intention.”
“You can feel free to sit on my lap anytime you want.”
I burst into laughter, then slapped a hand over my mouth when several other recruits looked our way. “Sorry. Wow, I told myself not to act like an idiot today, and it’s happening anyway.”
“Eh, I think we’re all allowed to be a bit nervous. Trust me.” He glanced up and down the hall, his gaze definitely more on the anxious side. “I’m not really used to being around so many people.”
“Good to know I’m not alone. On both counts, I mean,” I added quickly.
“Nope. I bet most new recruits are more on the shaky side. You’re in good company.” He pointed to the back of my hand. “Mage?”
I nodded and glanced at his. An image of a thundercloud with lightning shooting, encased in a circle of feathers. “Shaman? I’ve never met one before.”
“We’re not terribly exciting.”
I shook my head. “I read up on all the classes. What you can do, it’s incredible. Being so in tune with nature on that intense a level. You can control lightning, call up thunderstorms. It’s insane magic compared to what I can do,” I rambled before I could stop myself.
He was smiling still, but I wondered if he was merely being polite. “And you can’t do amazing things? Mages control the elements. You manipulate them to your will. Hell, you get familiars.”
“Other mages do, maybe,” I muttered. “All I’ve managed to do so far is nearly burn down the bakery. And the house. And practically freeze everything in sight. Like the water in all the pipes. Mom was not very keen on that trick ever happening again.”
“Everyone’s different. And I’m sure you’ll be able to reach your true potential here,” he said as he grinned in amusement.
I laughed. “Pretty sure that’s what the recruiters are supposed to tell us once we get all registered and ready to start our training.” I swallowed hard, remembering all the Vanguard personnel I saw earlier. Those were not recruits. “I didn’t realize this was a base.”
“I didn’t either. Bit intimidating, isn’t it? Seeing what we’re going to be turned into.”
“It is,” I agreed, not liking how definitive that sounded. Turned into. I didn’t want to be turned into anything, but there was no other option, unless I wanted to be on the run for the rest of my life. Or locked up somewhere.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to bring down the mood.” Brogan rubbed the back of his neck. “I tend to overshare when I’m in a new place.”
“You said you’re not used to being around a lot of people?”
“No. Shamans go live on their own for three years after turning eighteen. Helps us become one with nature, understand the force that resides within and outside of ourselves. I mean, in reality, I’m living in a cabin on family land. But I didn’t see anyone unless something went wrong.”
“So for three years, you’re by yourself? Sounds nice to me,” I murmured. I loved Mom, but we lived in a small town, and in small towns, people talked, gossiped. Everyone knew the second I was a mage. I was never able to escape their looks or the crap they said. “I wish I could’ve had an experience like that before being thrown here.”
“It had its ups and downs, but it did give me a chance to figure out who I am.”
“And who is that?”
He shrugged, leaning back on the bench. “Someone who does really well at passing off that he’s good at being a shaman.” He winked.
I found myself relaxing beside him. I wondered if it had anything to do with what he was, or with his easy grin. “I’m sure you’re going to do just fine here,” I assured him. “Me, well, that’s another story, entirely.”
“That’s not true,” he argued.
“And how would you know? You just met me. Remember?”
He nodded slowly. “I pride myself on being very good at reading people.”
I narrowed my gaze, shifting so I could really see his face and those dark brown eyes. Eyes filled with a mischievousness I hadn’t noticed before.
“Is that so?”
He bobbed his head.
I tugged on one my braids, caught myself, and stopped. “Alright then, read me.”
His eyes widened slightly as he coughed. “Well, you’re just putting me on the spot here, aren’t you,” he mumbled. “Right then, let’s see. May I?” He held out his hand, and I frowned. “Your hand.”
“I guess so.” I placed my hand in his palm.
His thumb rubbed gently over my knuckles, then he flipped my hand over and ran his fingertips over my skin, sending a pleasant thrill down my spine. He squinted, and I was about to ask him what he was doing when little crackles of lightning sparked across my hand. I jumped, startled, though they didn’t hurt. They fascinated me more than anything.
I wasn’t sure what he was doing, but I was not about to look away. The lightning seemed to darken parts of my hand while leaving others untouched. Brogan pulled one hand back, his other still holding it, and blew a warm breath over my palm. He tilted my hand slightly one way, then another, whispering unintelligibly under his breath.
“Well?” I asked impatiently, waiting for him to tell me something.
“You’re a hard worker,” he said slowly. “And though you seem uncertain of yourself, you have the potential for greatness. If you stop holding yourself back. You also have a terrible habit of tugging on your braids when you’re nervous.”
I expected him to let go of my hand, but he kept it in his, watching me closely.
“You could tell all that from my hand?” I asked, my voice a bit shaky.
“That. And a few other things.”
I blinked a few times then, I noticed his lips twitch in a grin. “I see,” I said, playing along, since he read absolutely nothing from my hand. “And do you have any suggestions for me to get over being in my own way?”
His hand tightened subtly around mine as he scooted closer. “I can think of one thing.”
“Tell me. I’m dying to know.”
“You could find someone to help build your confidence up. Let you know that you have no reason to be worried about what everyone thinks of you.”
<
br /> “And who would that person be?”
He shrugged, and I thought he was going to let go of my hand, start laughing and call me a gullible girl for letting him suck me in with that damned charming smile of his. Instead, he leaned in.
I stopped breathing for just a moment. His lips brushed against my cheek and butterflies filled my stomach.
“Not sure,” he said softly. “Could be the guy whose lap you fell into.”
“Could be,” I managed to say as he pulled back. “Hmm, this was not how I saw my first day going, but I’m glad it’s how it ended up.”
He chuckled warmly. “I’m quite glad I was here to catch you.”
“Same.” I fiddled with one of my braids, feeling those smoldering eyes watching me. “That lightning trick was pretty smooth. You use that to pick up all the girls?” I tried not to look straight into his eyes. His gaze was filled with that growing glimmer of mischief and the promise of sharing more than just a peck on the cheek. How did he manage to make me all wobbly after just meeting him? On the bright side, I was no longer as intimidated by being here now.
“Only on those that attempt to assault me on first meeting,” he said with a serious face.
“Assault you, huh? Didn’t think I landed on you that hard.”
“Think I’m going to be bruised for days,” he said dramatically. “But I’ll live.”
“Are you sure about that?”
He shrugged one shoulder and waggled his eyebrows. “I could use some help, you know, something to speed the process along.”
I rolled my eyes, but just when he turned away, looking a bit disappointed, I kissed his cheek. “How about that? Does it make up for crushing you?”
“That it does.”
I smirked at the blush creeping up his cheeks. “What else do you use aside from lightning?” I ran my fingers over my still tingling palm.
“That is my specialty, at the moment. Though I am quite proficient at totems.”
“For what?”
“Healing mostly. A few that can disrupt others’ abilities, if need be. But they tend to fizzle out pretty quick,” he muttered. “Need a lot more practice. I can meditate quite well, too, minus the times I wind up just falling asleep, of course.”
“Of course,” I repeated, laughing with him. “Sounds like you’re on the right path.”
“Hey, you’re a mage. Don’t sell yourself short just yet.”
“I appreciate that. Without any magical influence in my life, it’s been a bit rough these past few years,” I explained, not wanting to make it sound like my life was terrible. But when you’re a mage, and you have no idea what you’re doing, it would’ve been nice if someone in my family had known magic.
“What about your parents? They didn’t carry it?”
“Mom doesn’t have magic,” I told him. “And Dad, well, he’s just not in the picture.” I hoped he would pick up the tone in my voice and not ask anymore about that particular subject.
And thank God he did, changing the topic immediately. “What does she do, your mom?”
“Baker,” I said proudly. “She has her own place and everything. I helped her run it since I was old enough to see over the counter. And I didn’t burn anything too badly.”
Brogan grinned. “I can just imagine you wearing some bright pink apron and covered in flour.”
I crossed my arms, unable not to smile. “For your information it was purple.”
“Ah, purple, my mistake. I’ll remember that in the future.” He glanced up and down the hall.
One more recruit disappeared into the office as another exited. She didn’t look worse for wear, but my imagination still threatened to run away with me, and I gripped my folder until it started bunching. I quickly released it and smoothed it back out.
Brogan took it and did it for me when I couldn’t seem to get my fingers to work right. “You’ll be fine here, Rori. Nothing to worry about.”
I wanted to believe him. I felt his intense eyes staring into the deepest parts of me. I loved the way he made me feel comfortable and nervous, all at the same time.
The moment didn’t last long. A sudden hush fell over the hall, and I frowned at Brogan, wondering what we were missing that had everyone else freaking out.
Then I heard the heavy steps and spotted the three figures moving, not slowing down, their eyes aimed straight ahead, not caring if any new recruit got in their way. Their shoulders were thrown back, and they wore black leather jackets with emblems on the shoulders. They stomped past, two women and one guy. The guy was a mage, one woman was a priest, and the other was a shaman. The women’s hair was slicked back into perfect buns at the back of their heads, and the guy’s was cut very short. The amount of power that flowed off them brushed everyone they passed.
I gasped, feeling as if a sudden weight had settled on me, but the moment they passed, it disappeared.
“Who were they?” I gasped to Brogan.
“One of the Elite Guard teams,” he whispered.
“But there were only three,” I said slowly. “What happened to the fourth, a druid you think?”
He shook his head. “From the looks on their faces? I’d say if she or he is not here, then it’s not good. I heard they were sent out a few days ago.”
“To do what?” I asked, unable to keep the fear out of my voice. Where had they been sent where one of their numbers did not return unharmed. Or worse. Was the druid dead? I gripped my folder until my knuckles turned white. I wanted to think I was safe since I would never be good enough to become part of such a group, but that could always change.
Brogan and I were quiet for the next few minutes, while my imagination ran away with me. Brogan stared after the group.
Finally, we were the last two in the hall.
I glanced up at him.
“You can go first. I’ll hold down the fort.” He tried to smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes this time.
Numb, I rose to my feet and told myself they weren’t going to send me to the front lines to face whatever was currently threatening the magical community. It was bad enough we had to walk on pins and needles all the time, so we didn’t set off any of the crazy anti-magic groups, but the government always seemed more than ready to clamp down on us if we stepped out of line. The government knew about all magic, including the dark creatures and those who used twisted magic to cause harm. They knew that was why the Vanguard had been established so many years ago. Why there were teams of Elites walking around, but still the government felt the magic community was going to rise up one day and take over.
I’d been happy to live in my small town and be ignored. The people there hadn’t been so much into the political arena of what magic-users should and should not be able to do. They just ignored us.
Here? I was being thrown in head first.
I stepped into the office and found myself face to face with three people at a long table.
“Name, please?” the woman in the center asked with a polite smile. “And your papers.”
“Yeah, right,” I said, giving myself a little shake and handed the folder to her.
She passed it to the woman on her right.
I added, “Rori Griffith.”
The woman’s hand stilled as she looked up at me. “Beg pardon?”
I wasn’t sure if she just hadn’t heard or if I mumbled my name, so I repeated it.
“Griffith.” Her brow had risen.
“Yes,” I said slowly. “Is something wrong?”
She glanced at the woman beside her, then at the man to her left. All their faces wore the same expression of confusion and concern, then the first woman smiled at me and wrote down my name as the other one looked through my papers.
“Is something wrong?” I repeated, waiting for them to kick me out. Or worse, arrest me for something I didn’t even know I’d done.
“No, not at all. I just hadn’t been expecting you.”
“Why not?” I asked, now really confused. “I’m supposed to
come here, right? This is the closest facility to where I live.”
“Yes, it is, I just hadn’t realized so much time had passed,” the woman said gently.
“Time? For what? What am I missing?”
“Nothing at all, dear, nothing at all,” the woman said, but this time her voice had a tinge of sadness to it. She stamped the insignia on the official mage form I’d received from the government, slipped a few more pages into the folder, and then handed it back to me. “You’re all registered. Your itinerary for this first-year is in there, as well as the schedule for meals and any other information you may need. These papers are very important, so do not lose them.”
“Thanks. I won’t,” I said, still unsure about what just happened. I took the folder and walked out of the room, hearing them whisper behind me until I was out in the hall again.
“Rori? You alright?” Brogan asked as he walked up to me.
“Yeah, just… that was weird,” I muttered.
“What was?”
I was ready to tell him, but didn’t want to make him worry about anything. I shook my head and smiled. “Eh, nothing. Think I’m still just a bit shaky is all. Go get yourself registered. I’ll wait for you out here. Maybe we can walk around the campus together then? I’d like to see it all before tonight.”
“Right, the power display,” he said. “Sounds like a good plan to me. I’ll be back.”
I aimlessly flipped through my folder, glossing over what was going to be my day-to-day life for the next three years. It was all centered around mage training, with one or two other classes thrown in to give me better insight into how the magical community functioned.
My mind kept going back to the three in that office, as soon as I’d said my name, they all looked as if they saw a ghost. As far as I knew, there was nothing special about my last name. I wasn’t a legacy. I paced up and down the hall anxiously, waiting for Brogan, worried about what I’d just gotten myself into. And on my first day here.
