by Ford, Lizzy
Like a light switch, Connor’s cooperativeness switched off. His features grew shuttered.
“No,” he replied. “I can’t talk about that.”
“God. There’s more?” Beck asked, astonished. Morgan already had every excuse in the world to run away. The idea that something else – something worse, by Connor’s reticence – happened to her made Beck almost sick.
Connor said nothing, the gleam in his eyes telling Beck he wouldn’t.
“She’s such a sweet girl,” Beck said. “I can’t believe she’s been through hell.”
“Sweet,” Connor cocked his head to the side. “Something happened. Either you asked her out or she set your dog on fire or something.”
Beck allowed a smile to escape. “Do you really want to know?”
Connor studied him. He was troubled yet hesitant.
“No,” he said finally. “I think if anyone can help her, you can. But, Beck, I swear to everything holy, if you hurt her, I will drag you into the Dark with me.”
Beck’s heartbeat quickened. Connor had just given him permission to see his sister, after entrusting him with her secret.
“My intent is never to hurt her,” Beck replied. “I’m afraid she and I aren’t really able to go out.”
“Why?” the protective brother demanded, his guard back up. “She’s poor? Not blonde?”
“No,” Beck said, chuckling. Morgan’s defiance was on Connor’s face. “I’m dealing with some issues of my own that I want to protect her from. It might require me to wait before I consider asking her out.”
“Your court stuff?”
“Yeah, and a psycho, Dark ex-girlfriend who happens to be behind the kidnapping of my last girlfriend,” Beck said.
Connor frowned.
“I like Morgan. A lot,” Beck said then added to himself, too much.
“So be her friend,” Connor suggested. “That way, I don’t have to kill you, and you can still hang around her. I’d really prefer that, anyway. Don’t get involved.”
“That might work.” Beck smiled. No way in hell. What other option did he have? He wanted to be around her. He had to protect her. He thought quickly about what might’ve happened in the forest earlier that made her get into a fight. He could think of nothing that made sense; the earth, however, might tell him. “Is she okay?”
“Yeah, she’s great,” Connor said, face softening. “Still the best person I know. She deserves someone who can appreciate that.”
Beck heard the unspoken message. If he wasn’t serious about her, he needed to walk away. He was afraid to venture down that path.
“Okay. I’m going to find out about the forest incident,” he said. “If there’s anything else, you know where to find me.”
Connor grunted in response. Beck trotted away into the forest. He paused when he was far enough away from the sounds of the boarding school to meditate. The earth cleared a spot for him, and he knelt with a deep breath.
“Tell me what happened with Morgan,” he instructed the earth.
There was a pause while the magick swirled through him. Then, images formed. They were out of sequence, another of the challenges with communicating with the earth. It started with fire then cleared to show Morgan. Morgan running through the forest, after the fight, then actual images of the confrontation itself.
Beck tensed, waiting to see who was in the forest with her.
Alexa.
His eyes flew open as he saw the familiar face of Dawn’s most loyal lackey. Morgan kicked Alexa’ ass – that much was clear from the earth’s memories. Beck wasn’t concerned about this confrontation.
He was beyond worried about the next. Dawn sent Alexa as a message to Morgan, and Morgan was sending one back, whether or not she knew it. Alexa returning with her tail between her legs would infuriate Dawn.
He pulled out his phone and saw a message from his father. Ignoring it, Beck sent a note to his twin.
Hey – can you track/sense Morgan and Connor and any other in-betweens?
He sent it then opened his father’s.
Forgot – your mom says to remind you about the Winter Charity Fundraiser Wednesday. Your tux is ready.
Beck perked. He loved dressing up for the annual fundraiser his father hosted at a local lodge. A lot of wealthy people came to ski this time of year, and his father knew most of them in the area. The charity dinner had been a part of Beck’s winter holiday plans since he was ten.
The introverted twin Decker hated them.
Awesome!!!! Beck texted to his father.
Decker’s response popped up. Nope.
Beck rolled his eyes. His brother was the king of brevity. He tucked his phone away. Any hope he had of Morgan being under Dawn’s radar was now gone. He had a choice to make: confront Dawn and tell her to back off or try to keep Morgan close to him.
Confronting Dawn sounded like a great idea, if she was capable of rational thought and not carrying his daughter. Of course, staying at Morgan’s side might prove almost as challenging.
But who else deserved the protection of the Master of Light more than a witchling caught between Light and Dark? He thought again of Summer, of how she’d gone through so much pain to free herself from the Dark. Was Morgan’s battle as difficult?
She deserved better than he’d given her thus far. She deserved a chance to succeed. He just had to figure out how to give that to her.
Beck sat, deep in thought, for a long while. At last, he returned to the school, his resolve solidifying.
He’d keep her close and pray with every ounce of Light in his body he was able to keep her safer than he had Tanya.
Chapter Ten
For the first time since she arrived, Morgan was paying attention in class. Her workout that morning left her alert and tingling from head-to-foot from the full-body contact with Beck.
“Everyone who did their homework, pass it up, before we head to the Dark Campus for the rest of the day,” Amber said from the front of the class.
Morgan dug the small glass ball out of her bag and handed it to the girl in front of her, who nearly dropped it. Morgan caught it. The flames inside the ball rendered it hot.
“Amber, I don’t think you want mine,” she said, raising her hand.
“Oh, you mean you did your homework?”
Morgan flushed. Amber’s friendly wink showed there were no hard feelings. Sonya giggled from her seat beside Morgan.
Amber walked to Morgan. In her hand was a basket in which she was collecting the assignments from others.
“It’s a little warm,” Morgan explained.
“Your interpretation of the instructions is … unique,” Amber said, studying the ball in Morgan’s hand. “The theme for this one was winter.”
“It’s a star. Kinda,” Morgan said. She looked at her project. It didn’t look much like a star, but she couldn’t yet manipulate the fire magick into shapes. It sort of did what it wanted. The star she tried to make was a funnel-shaped flame instead.
“Alright. I’ll give you credit,” Amber replied. “It’s a lovely winter fire tornado. In the basket.”
Morgan set her pitiful project in the basket with the others. She’d been put in Advanced Magick, because she had a good handle on her fire. The only thing she really lacked was the ability to control it. It responded to her emotions, which were usually all over the place, instead of her commands.
“Everyone up, grab your jackets. We’re headed to the other campus,” Amber said cheerfully.
Morgan rose with the others. She hadn’t paid attention last week, when Amber originally explained the reason for the visit. Something about touring the new campus. At least she couldn’t fail any more projects, if she was there. She went into the hallway, tugging on her coat, and joined the rest of the girls milling in the living area. A sixteen-passenger van was running in front of the schoolhouse.
“Hey, Morgan, wait up.”
She turned. Summer smiled brightly, dressed in a fluffy pink jacket that matched the p
ink tint in her cheeks. Her eyes glowed; they always did, and Morgan envied her. If she had to guess, Summer glowed because someone loved her. Beside her was another girl Morgan vaguely recognized from class.
“This is Biji,” Summer said. “She’s an air witchling like me.”
Biji grinned. The small girl was beautiful, with long, dark hair that reached her waist and a darker complexion that marked her Indian heritage. She wore bright teal, and her dark eyes danced. Her features were delicate and small, her petite frame wearing clothing nice enough to be in a magazine spread.
“Morgan,” Morgan said.
“I like your fire project,” Biji said. “Mine is so boring!”
Morgan smiled at her overdramatic sigh. Biji smiled again.
“We’re going to see Decker!” she said cheerfully.
“I know!” Summer flushed.
“Is your brother coming?” Biji asked Morgan.
“Connor?” she asked blankly. “I don’t think so. I have no idea.”
“He should come, just so I can stare at him,” Biji said.
Morgan laughed.
“Summer got Decker, but I still got a chance with Connor, right?”
“Uh, sure.” Morgan exchanged a look with Summer.
“She’s always like this,” Summer said. “She talks big but she won’t actually go talk to any guy.”
“I haven’t found the right one,” Biji said defensively.
Summer rolled her eyes. Their air magick was as playful as the two girls, and it danced around Morgan, lifting her hair. Her fire magick was curious, shy. Her family consisted of fire and water witchlings.
“On the van!” Amber called from near the door. She opened it and counted each student as they went out. “Twelve. Perfect.”
Biji claimed a row for the three of them. Sonya climbed in last, and Morgan felt the cold shoulder the others gave her. She waved Sonya to their bench at the back of the van.
Summer and Biji glanced at her, a little uncertain, while Morgan patted the spot beside her. One day, she would ask why people treated the soft-spoken girl the way they normally did her.
The girls on either side of her were quiet during the trip to Priest River. By Summer’s smile, she was texting her boyfriend, while Biji was playing Angry Birds. Morgan watched the scenery go by, thoughts on Beck. She was almost glad for the trip. Campus seemed too small for the both of them. At least at the Dark Campus, he wouldn’t be there.
Less than an hour later, the van pulled up in front of a modern building on a small campus and stopped.
“Everyone remember why we’re here?” Amber asked.
“Remember that Dark does not mean bad,” a few students replied.
“Right. Witchlings live at peace with one another. Dark or Light is one of many personal choices. We don’t want the separate campuses to upset the relationship between us all,” she said cheerfully.
They piled out of the van and gathered on the sidewalk. Morgan wasn’t surprised to see Decker waiting.
“You our tour guide?” Amber asked him with a smile.
“Yep,” he replied. His eyes found Summer.
Morgan smiled, a familiar yearning filling her. The way they looked at each other, how comfortable they were together…she wondered what it was like.
“Omigod,” Biji said from beside her, rolling her eyes. “I’ll hang out with you for this tour, Morgan. And Sonya. If she wants.”
Morgan glanced at the other girl then back. Sonya appeared surprised by the inclusion. She joined them, though, and Morgan was pleased to see her hesitant smile.
The students walked into the lobby of the schoolhouse for the Dark Arts. It was cheerful and pristine, the condition of the building confirming Amber’s explanation about the campus being completely new.
Amber led them through the building, talking about Dark magick, while the others trailed her. She took them to the magick lab, and even Morgan stopped in place to stare around her. The modern lab was nothing like she’d seen at the Light Campus. It looked like a cross between a kitchen with stainless steel counters and a science lab with containers of students’ projects. Each wall of the lab was painted a color representing an element: red for fire, brown for earth, blue for water, and green for air. The ceiling was grey, the color of spirit.
Each of the elements had its own section of the lab. The students gravitated towards their elements. Fire burned in a glass container that stretched from the floor to the ceiling. A small waterfall flowed in the corner near it. Morgan went to her fire. It sensed her and pressed itself against the glass.
“Why don’t we have one of these labs?” one of the students complained.
“The plan is to bring everyone down here weekly during spring semester,” Amber replied.
Morgan touched the glass and smiled. The flames danced for her.
“Amber says you have problems controlling them,” Decker’s voice was quiet.
Morgan nodded, uncertain how to behave around Beck’s brother.
“There are only two other fire witchlings at school, both Dark. I’m one and the other is Troy, another guy here,” he said. “When she brings you all down in spring, I can help you.”
“You can control it?”
“Yeah. It took some practice, though. It’s instinctive. It reacts,” he replied. “Beck’s earth magick is the calmest. Fire is a purifier like water without the stability.”
“It comes when I ask it to but it wants to do what I feel instead of what I ask it to,” she said.
“It’s a powerful element. It’s easier to learn to use it here than in those stupid little balls Amber gives you,” he said, motioning to the tall flames before them. “You ever combust?”
She smiled and nodded. “It freaks people out.”
“I used to terrify my nanny when I was little. She’d walk in and I was on fire.” Decker grinned, reminding her of Beck’s open smile. “It’s also good for um, relationships. Your fire will drive Beck insane. I’m happy about that.”
“I don’t think so.” Morgan flushed deeply. Her mother’s fire magick ensnared men when she walked down the street. Morgan had no idea how to do it, and she didn’t plan on seducing anyone. Especially Beck, who she couldn’t figure out if she wanted to like or not.
“No?” Decker faced her. “Because …”
“I’m not here to date anyone.”
“That’s why this is funny. You’re both so determined.” He winked.
She rolled her eyes.
“Look, when you passed me the flame last night, I was able to see well, your thoughts,” he said, growing serious. “Glimpses of your memories -- of someone who hurt you.”
Morgan ducked her head.
“Beck will never do anything like that to you. I just wanted you to know that my brother is one of the best people I know.”
His words only confused her more. Some part of her knew that about Beck, as much as she wanted the opposite to be true.
“He needs someone like you.”
“To protect him,” she replied instantly.
“Yeah. We fireballs need the earth elements in our lives to keep us sane.”
She followed his gaze and saw he was looking at Summer, across the room at the earth station.
“They need us to keep their lives interesting.”
Morgan returned her focus to the fire, but her thoughts were on Beck. Wrestling with him in the morning had given her a glimpse of what her fire could do to her. It spun her attraction to him into full-blown passion that made her want to invite him behind the boys’ dorm for another kiss.
“Hey Decker, is Beck here?”
She glanced over at the approaching Dark teen. He was tall and lean with blue-grey eyes and medium length blond hair tucked behind his ears. He looked twice at Morgan.
“He didn’t come down,” Decker replied.
“Fire element. Nice,” the newcomer said with a quick smile. “Not many of you.”
His sharply cut features were familiar, th
ough she was certain she’d never seen him before.
“Morgan, this is Noah.” Decker had grown tense. “Dawn’s brother.”
Morgan stared at him, at once recognizing the familiar features. Where Dawn radiated dangerous instability, her brother seemed calm. Nice.
“He’s a water element,” Decker added.
“Is that Biji?” Noah’s gaze flickered towards the air element section of the lab.
“Yeah.”
Noah was quiet for a moment. Decker rolled his eyes at Morgan, and Morgan stifled a laugh. Biji’s delicate features and slender frame gave her an exotic beauty she was completely oblivious to.
“I’ve been gone for awhile,” Noah said. He shook his head. “If you see Beck, can you have him call me?”
“Yeah, sure.” Decker held out his phone in his fist. Noah mirrored his movement, and they bumped fists to exchange contact information.
Noah checked his phone.
“Got it,” he said. “Nice to meet you, Morgan.”
“You, too,” she replied. She watched him start towards the air element students then shift his direction. “He seems so different than his sister.”
“He is. He’s a good guy. Horrible family. They’re nearly bankrupt, which means Beck just has to outlast their funds, and he’ll win custody of the kid,” Decker said. There was no remorse in his tone, just satisfaction.
Morgan was unsettled by the hardness with which he spoke. She knew there was a history with Dawn, but she didn’t know how taking away her child would help. Then again, Beck was more likely to raise the kid right, if what she heard about Dawn was true.
“Let’s gather at the door, please!” Amber called. “Time to move on!”
“Talk later,” Decker said and moved away, towards Summer.
Morgan watched him. Summer’s face lit up when he took her hand, and Morgan wondered how the sweet girl and Master of Dark managed a relationship when they were located on two different campuses.
She trailed the group down a hallway, another thought crossing her mind. She’d seen a few Dark students. None of them were the girl she beat up in the forest earlier that day. It was a complete accident; someone grabbed her arm, and Morgan simply reacted the way she was trained.
