by L. L Hunter
“What just happened?” he asked her, concerned. “Did you remember something?”
“Yeah, but I don’t know if it’s a memory or a dream. There was a fire when I was a baby…”
Dyston tensed and pulled her close, wrapping his arms and wings around her.
“Dyston, what’s wrong?”
“Listen to me. I want you to keep your Trait hidden, for now. There are people out there who would do anything to get their hands on you.”
“Who?”
“I can’t say right now. Just please promise me, don’t stand out, be a part of the crowd.” He took her face in his hands and then stepped back, taking something out of the hem of his jeans. It was glimmering and beautiful silver dagger. It lay balanced across his palms. Scarlett gasped. “I want you to have this,” he told her. “I want you to carry it with you at all times and only use it at precisely the right moment.”
“I promise,” she breathed, and then he kissed her. It was quite unexpected, but she went with it because she didn’t know what else to do. His lips were like ice and hers like fire. They balanced each other perfectly. Whenever she felt as if she were burning up, Dyston’s touch would cool her right back down. She smiled against his lips knowingly. She had just figured out his Trait.
Emer bounced around helplessly in the air.
“I can’t do this.”
“You’ve been here a week and you haven’t even tried, Emerald,” Professor Anna, their instructor for Aerial Ability, told her. She was a short woman with blonde hair, petite but with good muscle development. She was built like a ballerina.
“Why don’t you show her, Joshua? You seemed to pick this up easily on the first lesson.”
“Okay.” Joshua climbed into his harness and the other students hoisted him up into the air. Then he stretched out his arms as if he were flying.
“It’s fun, Emer.”
“It’s scary.” She swallowed back hard as she watched him soar gracefully around the room, coming close to her several times.
“Don’t do that!” she cried out, squeezing her eyes shut.
“Take my hand, Emer. It’s okay.” She opened her eyes slowly.
“Don’t go too fast.”
“I won’t, promise,” he told her, reaching out for her. She reluctantly pushed off the platform she was perched on and grabbed hold of his hands. She screamed and closed her eyes.
“Shh. It’s okay. Open your eyes, Emer.” He held her close to him, his arm wrapped around her waist. Emer opened her eyes one by one.
“Oh, my goodness,” she gasped.
“See, it isn’t so bad,” he told her. But she didn’t reply. She just gripped his hands tighter. When they touched the ground again, Emer let out her breath.
“You were amazing up there,” Joshua told her as he took off his harness next to her.
“Really? I thought I was a screeching banshee.”
“Not quite,” he laughed. And that was when she noticed his eyes.
“Hey, you have green eyes like me,” she smiled.
“Um, yeah,” he replied nervously, looking down at his hands.
“Hey. They’re nice. They’re more lime green though, while mine are em…”
“Emerald,” he finished for her, and they both laughed.
“Hey, do you want to watch a movie with me tonight after dinner?” he asked her, fiddling with his curls.
“Um… will it be just us two?”
“On the date, yes. In the cinema, no.”
“I thought you had a thing for Kat? I saw you watching her. What happened?” she asked.
“Didn’t you know? Kat likes someone else.”
“She what? Okay, I thought she was my friend. And how do you know?”
“It’s just something I’ve come to observe,” he said, as they helped Professor Anna put the equipment away.
“Okay, you have to tell me everything tonight,” she pleaded, as they left class together.
Exactly a week had passed since she had met Dyston, and already Scarlett felt as if fate had brought them together. All the things he had said were swirling around in her brain as she lay in bed, unable to drift into sleep. Her father might be an Archangel, and she had been born in a blaze of Heavenly Fire. Had her mother known? Scarlett looked over at her nightstand and took Dyston’s feather that was sitting there, leaning against her copy of The Chronicle, its golden leather cover so worn that it was almost falling apart.
She only had to think of him, and he was right there beside her, so silent. She wondered randomly if he was a good warrior.
“Why can’t you sleep?” he asked.
“Just going over everything in my head.”
“I shouldn’t have told you. It’s too much of a burden on you. I’m so sorry.” He reached out to touch her, but she pulled away and sat up.
“What’s wrong?” he asked
“Why do I feel like I know you, before this past week?”
“I sent you the dreams.”
“No. It’s more than that. I feel like we have this connection I can’t explain.”
Dyston rose from the bed and walked over to the balcony. Scarlett followed him.
“Dyston?” She asked. She was almost afraid to touch him, his expression scared her. Then he turned to face her.
“It was my Task to find you,” he said.
“This was before I came here, right? I mean, you’ve been sending me the dreams for years.”
“Five years. I first found you five years ago, when you were sixteen.”
“Now you’re starting to sound like a creepy stalker. How?”
“There were reports of unexplained fires, so my father sent me to investigate.”
Scarlett buried her face in her hands. “The school fire. How did your father find out about that?”
“He had a source there. He marked you down as ‘one to watch,’” he told her.
“So your father knows about me?”
“He doesn’t know what you are, just that you’re connected to the fires.”
“But he’ll figure it out, right?”
“Maybe, if we don’t keep your Trait hidden,” he told her, as a warning. Scarlett went back to her bed and sat down, pulling her legs up under her.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked, watching her.
“I was thinking about…” She turned to face him. His wings weren’t showing, so he looked like a twenty-five year old human. “About why you always smell like rain.” This made him smile.
“It’s my thing, my Trait. I can make it rain anytime I want,” he said, moving to sit beside her.
“That’s better than setting things on fire. Can you show me?”
“Not right now, later. Now I want you to sleep.”
“But my brain is so active at the moment, I just can’t.”
“Would this help?” He leaned close and pressed his lips against hers, then trailed kisses up to her forehead. It immediately cooled her heart and her soul. His kiss had the most amazing calming effect on her that in no time she was asleep.
He couldn’t bear to leave her, not with how sacred she was. He kissed her head one more time and leapt out the French doors, unfurling his wings mid-air.
He didn’t expect to have anyone waiting for him on the Dome as he landed. Lakyn was there, sitting and waiting, looking out over the city.
“You called?” Dyston asked, annoyed.
“Have you found the Legend yet? Rumours are that she’s a Legacy, as well.”
“No. I haven’t,” he lied.
“I have a feeling you’re lying to me, to us.” Lakyn was now on his feet.
“I’m not. I haven’t found her.”
“Are you sure, little brother? Because I know when you lie, your eyes flare up.” His face was now really close to Dyston’s. “Which one is she, hmm?”
“I told you, I don’t know.” Dyston quickly turned away and faced the city.
“I bet it’s your flame-haired girlfriend,” added Lakyn
. Dyston spun back around to face his brother.
“You leave Scarlett out of this!” Dyston replied in defence.
Lakyn chuckled. “How sweet. You’ve fallen for your assignment.”
“Scarlett’s not my assignment,” Dyston growled.
“I don’t want to fight you, little brother, because it will be an easy fight. Plus, Dad won’t agree with spilt blood on his pretty glass dome.”
“You can spill my blood, but you will never spill Scarlett’s!” spat Dyston.
“Whatever. This is the reason you will never be welcome into the Realm of Fire again,” Lakyn replied, as he pushed his enormous wings back and took to the air. “I will find her, Dyston. You can’t keep her locked away forever.” With another flap of his marbled-black and silver wings, he blended in with the night sky.
Chapter Five
Chemistry
After class, Scarlett and Kat walked back towards their dorms.
“So have you got plans for tonight? Maybe with Jacob?” Scarlett teased.
“Shut up, no.”
“Come on, you can’t deny there’s something there. I see the way you two look at each other, you have so much chemistry.”
“He’s practically my teacher. Our teacher,” said Kat.
“He’s more like a substitute,” replied Scarlett.
“Speaking of chemistry—what about you and Dyston? The way you gaze at each other like star-crossed lovers… it’s the most intense thing I’ve ever seen.”
“Nothing really has happened yet,” Scarlett replied awkwardly.
“Really? ‘Cause I saw you in the library earlier. He hugged you.”
“Yeah, he’s kind of intense. I don’t know. I’ve never had a boyfriend before. It’s awkward, yet I feel like I’ve known him my whole life.”
“That’s deep. I say go for it. He doesn’t seem like a lot of other guys.”
“He’s unlike any guy I’ve ever met.” They reached Scarlett’s door and paused. “Go see what Jacob’s doing tonight. Okay?”
“Fine, and you see what Dyston’s doing.”
“Okay, deal.”
“See ya.” When the girls parted ways, Scarlett unlocked her door and stepped inside. Something crinkled underfoot. Scarlett looked down and saw that someone had slipped a note under the door. It was slightly scrunched, but she smoothed it out and read it.
“Can I take you out tonight? If yes, meet me out in front of the Academy at six.–D.” It was written in a beautiful intricate calligraphy. Her stomach did a little flip and butterflies used it as a flying space. Dyston had just asked her out, officially. She cursed to herself. She didn’t have a clue what to wear. Casual, smart-casual, or formal, she didn’t know. Where would he be taking her on a Friday night? She decided she needed advice, and fast. She booted up her laptop and clicked on the messenger icon.
Bing! She already had one instant message.
“What are you doing? I thought you were going to find Dyston?” it read, it was Kat.
“I thought you were going to find Jacob?” Scarlett typed back her counter offensive.
“Yeah,” came a delayed response.
“You’re chicken, aren’t you?”
“No!” she said. But a few seconds later, she added, “Yes.”
“Well… Dyston asked me out!” Smiley face.
“OMG! That’s great! Wait, you’re the one who’s scared now, right?”
“No, well, yes, I don’t know what to wear. I don’t know where he’s taking me.”
“Easy, I always go for smart casual, something sexy yet practical when I’m not sure.”
“Okay, so skinny jeans and vintage blouse?”
“Sounds perfect.”
“Oh, and what shoes?”
“Those kick-arse boots you were wearing yesterday. I love them,” said Kat. She added a heart and smiley face emoticon.
“Thanks, Kat. How do you know so much about dating?”
“I have two brothers. Plus, I’ve been on a few dates before.”
“So you should be confident enough to woo Jacob?” Scarlett asked.
“LOL. Who says woo anymore?”
“Sorry, bookworm here.”
“Anyway, give me all the deets later. Have fun.” Kat added another smiley face and then signed out.
“See ya.” And Scarlett was left alone to ponder her clothing options.
At precisely 5.55 p.m., Scarlett opened the front door of the Academy and stepped out into the cool twilight air. She was glad that she had worn her military coat. She hugged it tight around her body. No one was around except commuters leaving work and families and couples going out for a Friday night dinner across the street. Where was Dyston? Was he running late or had he changed his mind? She glanced at her watch. She still had four minutes, so she sat down on the steps and waited. Approximately two minutes later, the door opened behind her and out he stepped. She turned and took him in—he was entirely dressed in black with black boots, black skinny jeans, a long black coat, and black and white-striped scarf, which brought out his dark hair and eyes. Scarlett realised she had forgotten to breathe.
“Sorry, I hope you haven’t been waiting long,” he said, giving her a smile.
“No, it’s okay. I barely got here myself,” she said. She couldn’t take her gaze away from his face.
“Part of me thought you weren’t going to come,” he said.
“Why would you think that?”
“I don’t know. But I’m glad you are here. Are you ready?”
“Yep.” He began walking down the steps and paused on the one below her. Turning, he held out his hand, and she took it with no hesitation.
“So where are you taking me?” she asked as they strolled down Flinders Street.
“I thought we would go to dinner first, and then I want to take you to one of my favourite places.”
“Sounds good.” They turned left onto Exhibition Street, past Collins Street, and then right onto Bourke Street.
“Why aren’t we flying?” she asked out of curiosity.
“I like to experience the city on foot as well as by air. Plus, it wouldn’t nearly be as fun since you don’t have your wings yet.”
“You could carry me,” she suggested, flashing him a grin.
“You better not have just given me permission.” He laughed. “You’ll get too reliant on me. And when you do eventually get your wings, you won’t know how to use them,” he joked.
“Ha, ha!” She playfully shoved him, but he shoved her back harder causing her to lose her balance. She would have gone over if it weren’t for both of their fast reflexes. She managed to stop herself and he grabbed her arm at the same time. When she met his eyes, the world seemed to slow down around them.
“Sorry,” he whispered.
“It’s okay,” she managed to say.
“It seems like I don’t know my own strength sometimes,” he muttered as they paused outside an Italian restaurant.
“Oh, Pellegrini’s, I’ve always wanted to eat here,” Scarlett stated.
“Good. Because this is one of my favourite restaurants.”
“It must be good then.”
“Extremely.” Dyston pushed the door open and the scent of pasta overwhelmed her senses. It was crowded, but Dyston managed to find two bar stools along the front counter that looked over into the kitchen. The restaurant was narrow and decked out in a retro design, black and white linoleum covered the floor, and red and chrome bar stools ran along the counter. And the back wall was actually a mirror to give the effect of a larger establishment. It was also covered in artefacts and memorabilia from Italy. Just as Scarlett had just read on the menu, the restaurant was family owned and served traditional home-style Italian cuisine.
“I recommend the Spaghetti Bolognese. It’s fantastic,” Dyston told her.
“Okay, I’ll have that, and a Merlot.” Dyston nodded and ordered for the both of them, in Italian nonetheless. Scarlett was dumbfounded.
After they had eaten
their fill, Dyston paid the bill and they left, continuing down Bourke Street.
“So where’s this favourite place of yours, Apart from Pellegrini’s, that is?”
“You’ll have to wait and see.” He paused on the footpath and looked back up the street and then up into the sky.
“What are you doing?”
“Do you want to fly?” he asked. She could hardly refuse.
“Yes, I’d love to fly.” She smiled. Dyston walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
“Are you sure?” he asked in a low voice right into her ear. His breath was warm and it sounded like he was purring, which made her shiver.
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Okay.” Then in two swift movements he let out his wings and pushed up into the starry night sky.
Jacob opened his door just as Kat had raised her fist to knock.
“Oh, hi,” she said as the door opened.
“Hi.” He smiled back.
“Um, what are you up to?” she asked.
“I just ordered a pizza, but I was heading to the student common room, if you want to join me.”
“There’s a student common room?” asked Kat. Jacob grinned.
“There’s several, actually. One for each year, but you can come in ours. Everyone’s out, so we’ll mostly have it to ourselves.”
“Sounds cool.”
“So, how are you?” he asked when he had locked his door.
“I’m fine, a bit bored since Scarlett, Emer, and Del have all gone out on dates tonight.”
“So, that’s why Dyston didn’t want to hang out.”
“You guys are pretty close, right?” she asked as they walked up the stairs.
“Yeah. We’ve known each other since we were five. Our families are friends. What about you?”
“I’ve never really had a best friend like that, until now. I’ve grown up with my two brothers.”
“You must be good at combat then?”
“I guess I’m okay. Why?” She met his eyes. They were the colour of molten caramel, and Kat couldn’t take her eyes away from them.
“I’ll have to fight you eventually,” he said, and they smiled at each other for a moment, until Jacob pushed open the door in front of them, and she realised that they were there—the Fourth Year Common room.
