I try not to show my complete cluelessness about what Matthew is going on about as I pick the colorful petals from my hair.
“Uh, Matthew, I think you may be confused, dear.” Esmeralda hurries over to the warlock and places her hands on his shoulders just as he’s about to throw another bunch of flowers at me. “Sophia isn’t an Unseelie Princess. She is lightbound to the Fae Prince.” Matthew looks confused. “She is a Changeling.” Esmeralda’s raises her voice, as if talking louder will help him understand and shake him from his confusion.
“Oh?” He turns and looks at me over the tops of his half-moon spectacles. “Well, I’ll be damned,” he mutters, frowning to himself. “I didn’t think—“
“Yes, well, Matthew, you know how it is with the Fae,” Esmeralda says, her voice shaking. She suddenly seems very uncomfortable.
“Understood.” He straightens his curved spine as much as he can and grins at me. “Well, I suppose I should get back to it. That Succubus will be back if I don’t. The next thing she’ll be after is my mind.”
Esmeralda and I exchange an amused glance, neither one of us wanting to tell him that based on his kooky behavior, she’s likely already taken his mind.
“Good to see you again, Matthew,” Esmeralda says.
He nods and then turns to me, throwing his hand to his forehead in a mock salute before spinning on his heel, almost tumbling over into the White Wolfsbane.
“And you are a vision, Princess, even if I had mistaken you for—“
“Well, we should go,” Esmeralda interrupts, taking my arm. “Sophia has magical training soon, and I can’t have her showing up late.”
“Ah, well…” Matthew mutters, whistling to himself as he marches bowlegged back down the path.
“What’s up with that guy?” I ask once he’s out of earshot. “And who did he mistake me for?” I look over at Esmeralda. “Does Alexander have other Princesses tucked away down here or something?”
“I would not concern yourself with anything that comes out of Matthew’s mouth,” Esmeralda says. “Now, come, my dear.” She links her arm with mine. “Let’s find this Faerie Elderflower, shall we?”
I’m not sure anyone, in the entire history of the world, has ever not concerned themselves with a thing after being told not to concern themselves with it. Of all people to keep secrets from me, Esmeralda is the last person I would’ve expected. Nevermoor was supposed to provide clarity. But I feel as if I’m more clueless than I was before. As my mood sours, I follow Esmeralda along the path, unable to ignore the ominous clouds forming off on the horizon.
9
I trudge down the hallway that leads to one of the many gyms tucked inside of the Academy. I follow the rhythmic tapping sound that leads me to hook a left and walk a little further until I reach the boxing gym. Myra’s frowns with concentration as she jumps rope. She’s moving so fast, I can barely make out the jump rope as it whistles through the air, sometimes making two full rotations beneath her feet. This woman is not only in tip-top shape, she also has some mad jump roping skills.
After completing her set, Myra tosses her rope aside, pushes her sweaty hair from her face, and greets me with a very enthusiastic high five that sends a jolt of pain tearing through my muscles. I grit my teeth through the pain and try not to wimp out.
“That sore, are you?” she asks.
“I think I’ve been overdoing it,” I admit as I give my leggings a tug. “I understand the need to be in shape, but these rigorous workouts along with this ridiculous diet—“
“Ridiculous?” she scoffs. “What’s ridiculous is how long you’ve survived on processed food, refined sugar, and burgers. Your body is trying to purge all of that crap and absorb some actual nutrients.”
“For what it’s worth, I’ve only been trashing my body since I’ve been back. I ate Colin’s cabbage soup almost every day while I was in Berlin.” I make a face. “There’s only so much cabbage a girl can eat in one lifetime. Give me a break,” I whine.
“What did Ruby say last night at dinner?” she asks, raising her eyebrows and fixing me with a firm stare as if speaking to a child.
“I know, I know. Real food equals real magic,” I grumble as I plop down onto the wooden bench outside of the boxing ring and tug on my shoes. “The diet slogan of the century.”
“If you want your magic to operate at peak-levels, you’ve got to eat right and hydrate,” she reminds me. “But I get it. I do. It’s a change.” She studies my weary face for a moment. “Tell you what. Let’s skip the boxing today. It doesn’t take Sarah’s ridiculous third eye to sense your level of exhaustion right now.” She pauses. “I understand you’re not supposed to work with my magic until tomorrow.” A slow, mischievous grin pulls her lips. “But what about today? Want to play with fire? She waggles her eyebrows. “Sarah may summon earthy-hippie-magic, Anne may be a total airhead, so to speak, and Ruby’s magic is all water-based…” She waves a dismissive hand. “But fire is by far the most fun to throw around.”
“It also sounds like the most dangerous,” I point out. “I could incinerate myself in a matter of seconds.”
Myra shakes her head. “I won’t let that happen. We’ll start with practice flames.” She grins. “Now, tip number one for fire magic? Fill up your water bottle. As Ruby would say, water and hydration are key.”
“Okay.” I glance at the water cooler by the door. “I’m going to do this without using water from the cooler over there. Ruby showed me how yesterday, but since she isn’t here, I’m not certain I can do it.”
“Well, it would be a lot easier if you had the fabled Black Obsidian Stone,” she sighs. “Alas, it’s a relic that was destroyed centuries ago.” She shrugs.
“And aside from it being, well, gone, I would need access to its magic,” I continue. “It doesn’t just work for anyone.”
“Been doing studying your Fae History, I see.” She gives me an approving nod. “Nice job, Princess.”
“It’s been interesting learning about all the Fae relics. It’s like learning The Legend of King Arthur: Fae Edition, or something.” I turn my focus back to my water bottle. “Anyway, here goes nothing.”
Myra gives me a skeptical glance and takes a step back as I hold my bottle out in front of me, trying to focus on what Ruby taught me about summoning water-magic yesterday afternoon. I close my eyes for a moment and imagine the bottle filling with water. It helps that there is an actual water cooler in the room from which to draw my power. Having Ruby here would make it much easier, though.
I point my index finger toward the cooler and direct the water into my bottle. At first I don’t think it’s working, and then I hear a small trickling sound from inside my water bottle. Delighted, I open my eyes and watch, fascinated, as water slowly fills the bottle.
“I’m doing it,” I whisper, not taking my eyes off the bottle. “How am I doing this?”
She inches toward me, careful not to break my concentration.
“Good job,” she urges. “Keep going.”
The water cooler makes a glub, glub sound, showing that I am pulling water from the cooler to my bottle.
“I can’t believe I’m doing this.”
“Hey, I realize you guys are training in here, but I wanted to tell you, Sophia. Greg, along with everyone else who was taken from that diner, were found alive and well. They’re a little stunned but okay.” Sarah says, popping her head in the door, oblivious to the magical marvel taking place in here.
“What?” I shout.
My concentration breaks. The water jug explodes, sending a small tidal wave straight toward me. Myra jumps back, and Sarah squeals, ducking to avoid being hit in the crossfire. Water slams into me, leaving me drenched.
“Sarah,” I sputter, wiping water from my face. “Wait, come back.”
“I’m here, I’m here.” She steps back into the room. “I’m sorry, Sophia. It’s big news, and I couldn’t wait to share with you.”
“So he’s okay?” I ask, as I slosh ov
er to Sarah. “Greg’s okay?”
“Well, he’s pretty shaken by what he’s been through, but Christoph can fix that.” She smirks at me. “In fact, he’s here now. He wants to talk to you.”
“He’s here?” I ask, wringing the water from my hair. “He didn’t have to come all this way to talk to me. He could’ve just called.” Sarah gives me a weak smile. I get it. No one wants to bring up my rocky history with the vampire. “Give me a minute to change. Tell him I’ll be right out.”
Sarah nods, and I turn to Myra.
“Meet you in the Fire Room?”
Before she can answer, a large black cat with bright yellow eyes darts into the room, releasing a boisterous yowl. Myra glares at the cat, her hands on her hips.
“Hey, have you met Rudolph yet?” she asks, raising her voice to match loudness of the cat’s incessant meowing. “I think he’s trying to get your attention, but I could be wrong.” She rolls her eyes.
“He doesn’t seem happy, does he? Probably hates all the water. Sorry, Rudolph.” I reach down to pat the cat on the head. “Minor issue, but it’s fine now. At least, I hope it is.”
Rudolph stretches up and boops my hand with his head, and I notice the white star-shaped pattern on his chest.
“You’re adorable, Rudolph,” I say in my best baby-cat-talk voice. Rudolph flattens his ears before sauntering back out of the room. “Who does he belong to? Or is he the Academy’s mascot?”
“No, he’s Ruby’s Familiar.” She rolls her eyes. “He’s the biggest prima-donna you’ll ever meet.”
“Familiar? As in her magical animal companion?” I ask, fascinated. “I’ve heard of familiars, in TV shows and books, but I had no idea witches really used them.”
“We don’t all have them. But Ruby is a bit…flighty, to put it nicely. Rudolph keeps her grounded.”
“Funny. A water witch who has a cat for a Familiar. Cats hate water.”
“Exactly.” Ruby brightens. “Whenever he senses Ruby is distracted and about to have a mishap with water, he makes a terrible racket, like what you just witnessed. Supposedly, she can understand him, but the rest of us only hear the yowls and meows of an angry cat.”
“Aw, that’s cute. I want a cat-familiar,” I murmur, looking out in the hallway, but Rudolph has vanished.
“Give yourself time,” she says. “If you’re meant to have a Familiar by your side on your magical journey, then one will appear when you least expect it.”
I follow Myra out of the boxing gym. We wind through hallways and corridors until I am so turned around, I have no sense of where we are until we reach the foyer. I’m certain the halls of Nevermoor change daily and never lead to the same place twice.
Chris stands in the foyer, arms folded over his chest, foot tapping as he frowns down at something on his phone.
“Hey, Chris.” I give him a sheepish smile as I wring the remaining water from my damp hair.
"What in the world happened to you, Miss Kelly?" Chris asks, eyeing my wet hair.
“Just got out of the shower,” I answer, grinning at him.
“The water cooler attacked her,” Myra laughs.
“Hey, thanks for covering for me.” I throw a playful punch at her shoulder, but she darts out of my way.
“So, learning to wield elemental magic is going well then?” Chris smirks at me.
I open my mouth to offer some kind of clever retort, but Myra jumps in.
“She’s doing great. We’re on our way to play with fire.”
Chris grimaces. “Should I leave a vial of my blood to use in case of emergency?”
“Ass.” I give him my sweetest smile.
“I do my best.”
He grins back at me, his smile growing so broad, I wonder what’s gotten into him. He’s not his usual grumpy self and is actually in a good mood, his blue eyes bright and more alive than I’ve seen them in months.
“So, Greg,” I say, turning my attention back to the principal subject at hand. “He’s okay? What happened?”
" He's okay,” Chris confirms. “A little banged up. And very shaken by the entire ordeal.” He shakes his head, his mouth pulling into a grim line. "He will require compulsion. That’s part of the reason I am here.”
“Wait, so you're going to compel him this time, unlike last time… " I roll my eyes. “What about everyone else in the diner?”
“They’re okay, too. We have the coven responsible for taking him. They were captured and are awaiting trial before the Council.”
It’s as if a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
“We still have Atticus Drake to deal with, but dismantling his vampire covens is a start, I suppose, right?”
He frowns. “Actually, Miss Kelly, this coven of vampires doesn’t appear to be connected with Atticus Drake at all,” he says.
“Well?” I ask. “Who are they connected with then? Do you know?” He knows. I can tell by the look on his face. “Chris. Tell me.”
“They are drawing their strength from Faerie blood,” he says.
“Faerie blood?” My voice catches in my throat.
“Yes.” He lifts his eyes to meet mine. “It would appear some of Fae are not too keen on you’re being bound to their prince.”
“So they’re sending vampires are me?” I whisper.
A heaviness pulls at my chest. I wasn’t expecting the Fae to fawn all over me and welcome me into their fold, but I wasn’t expecting them to send a bunch of vampires after me either.
“We will get to the bottom of it, Sophia,” Chris says, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “This, unfortunately, goes with the territory. The Unseelie have come after you before. Remember? This is nothing new.”
Except it seems more personal now.
I nod, trying to ignore the lump forming in my throat. I cannot cry. Chris is right. I signed up for this. And if it is the work of Unseelie, then it should come as no surprise that they want me dead.
“Now, back to Greg…I wanted to check with you to see how far back you want me to take him.”
Does it matter how far back Chris compels him at this point?
“Well, I don’t want him to forget about me, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“Yes, but how much do you wish him to remember? Once the war is over, and you return home…” He pauses, giving me a secretive look. “How much should he remember when he sees you again?”
Return home?
At first, I have no idea what he’s talking about, but then I remember the conversation we had a couple of weeks ago. I was ready to tear my wrist off to remove Alexander’s cuff, wanting more than anything to call everything off, relinquish my magic, and go back to a normal life with Greg. But that was before. Before I connected with the witches. Before I realized I had the potential to harness the earth’s elements. And before Greg stabbed me in the back.
“Oh…” I don’t know how I to respond. “Uh, I guess… I want him to remember me, but maybe not that I’m bound to…”
I stop before I mention his name. Our binding may not have worked the first time, but it’s still weird talking to Chris about it.
“Yes.” Chris makes a face. “I think that’s best. So, take him back to his pre-Berlin attitude toward you?”
I nod. “Basically, remove all his anger toward me,” I say with an uneasy laugh. “Make me look good, Chris. Even if it kills you.”
“And it might,” he murmurs, not missing a beat. “Do you need to see him first? For any reason? Right any wrongs? Mend any fences? That sort of thing? After everything that’s happened, he will probably carry a guilty conscience for betraying you. He won’t understand why, but it will eat at him all the same.”
An excellent question. Do I want to see him? Do I want to forgive him? After all, he betrayed me. Whether it was intentional remains to be seen. And if I saw him and forgave him, I could probably keep that guilt from weighing on him. But I have more important things to worry about than Greg’s guilty conscience.
&nbs
p; “No,” I breathe. “I don’t need to see him.” Chris looks surprised. “Not because I want him to walk around with a guilty conscience. I just…I don’t know.”
“You don’t want to leave us.” Myra drapes a friendly arm around my shoulders.
“Yeah.” I turn toward her. “Maybe so, Myra. I’m on a roll here with all of this magic. I should keep it going.”
“I see,” Chris’s lips tighten.
“And, I’d like to avoid any further vampire attacks on me or anyone else,” I continue. “I am safe here.”
“I see,” he says again.
The smirk remains plastered on Chris’s face, but something over my left shoulder seems to catch his attention. Turning, I find Anne walking toward us, her dark hair swept into a ponytail and dressed like she’s headed out for a date. I haven’t seen her in a couple of days, but I can’t help but notice how radiant she looks.
“Hey,” she says, blushing as she approaches.
“Hey, Anne. Have you met—“ To my surprise, Anne steps in and hugs Chris. “Oh, apparently, you have already…” And it’s at that moment I notice the gray scarf knotted around his throat. “Woah.”
I take a step back, my jaw dropping as I point an accusatory finger at Chris.
“It’s you,” I exclaim. “You’re the vampire she…”
I gape at Anne who stands beside Chris, her hands shoved into the pockets of her black skinny jeans and her posture rigid. Myra stares down at the floor, rubbing the back of her neck.
“She doesn’t know yet, Anne,” Myra hisses through clenched teeth.
“She what?” Anne gasps. “Oh!” She claps a hand over her mouth and moves away from Chris. “Shoot, Sophia. I’m sorry. I-I didn’t mean…”
This is way more awkward than it needs to be. Everyone is staring at me like I'm some kind of ticking time bomb about to explode. But that couldn't be further from the truth. I'm just a little surprised.
“I assure you, what Miss Kelly and I had before is long over,” Chris says, meeting my gaze, an expression of total understanding in his eyes.
“Long over,” I repeat, feeling a tiny stab of something in the pit of my stomach.
Faebound Rhapsody Page 11
