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Chapter 24
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2024-10-29 19:42:56GWEN
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When I awake, the first thing I become aware of is a parched throat, then slowly other details unblur into focus. A freezing room, harsh leather strapped to my wrists and ankles. A metal enclosure with large, transparent tubes dotting a corner of the room.
I look forward and still.
In a glass pool, a man--no, an animal?-- floats suspended in a body of liquid.
Tearing my eyes from the haunting sight, I drag in a breath, the smell of formalin strong in my nose. I peer up at the metal ceiling and the memories come rushing back, Malcolm's expressionless face as I was dragged away, Ivar's cruel smile, the prick of a niddle at my
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That cruel smirk is in place. "Hope the traitor isn't giving you any trouble, Trehan?"He shakes his head, drawing away from me quickly like being caught with me was a felony. "No, sir.""Good," Ivar says. "I don't want to have to go through the stress of breaking her and bending her to my will," he concludes in a bored tone.When he's nearer, I strain against my bonds without thinking, frustration bubbling within me at being unable to claw at his face. He notices my dilemma and laughs. His tone is pitying. "Poor thing. Even now I can still hear wedding bells in that thick skill of yours. I mean, what did you think? That a Shifter, not just any Shifter--but one of the most powerful in the world, was going to mate with you? A pathetic human? He'd be a lau
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I float in and out of consciousness and in strange flashes between reality and a dream-like haze, I find myself experiencing scalding pain. I'd see Rylan holding on to my hand, then his young face would morph into an angular visage and then it'd be Malcolm staring down at me, shaking his head slowly. Once, I heard him speak, but the voice that came out of his mouth was different. "....No mind the cost. But you know one thing? Fate will find a way to take its due."Countless times I'd come awake, remember everything that'd happened, then I'd fall back to sleep and come to, wondering where I was and why I wasn't in Malcolm's arms."... I think so.""We can't lose her.""I--I know, Ivar. It's jus
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With a clap of her hands, a line of women dressed in similar drab gowns file in. Hands pry the chains away from my neck and I'm led out. My arms are draped over the shoulders of two women weakly and I lean heavily on them, the tips of my toes dragging along stone floors.We go down several flights of stairs with wrought iron rails, then out through a wide entrance. I wince against a burst of light, the sun overhead burning into the sore flesh around my neck. It dimly registers that people around my age start to trip out, summoned by some unspoken command. The women wear similar hideous dresses, the men garbed in shirts and pants of the same threadbare material.They form a procession, marching down to what looks like a wide stream. They stand around the body of water, expressionless faces facing up ahead. There are about a hundred of them.Sweat drips down my temples as I'm pushed down to a kneeling position. My head bows and I breathe harshly against an onslaug
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I am heading to my room that evening when I catch Umber's chestnut hair down the empty hall. "Hey!" I call out. "Umber!"Her back goes ramrod straight. After a quick glance behind, she hurries onward, disappearing into the adjoining hall. My teeth lock. I'll be damned if I let her slip out of my grasp. She might be the only hope I have of understanding this cult-esque hellhole and running away in one piece.I hurry after her."Umb--"I stop short on seeing numerous people in the hall. But that's not what is strange. Where they had been silent in the dining hall, they were animated here, chattering away.Eyes on Umber's retreating back, I start my chase, walking quickly, not daring to run unless I attract undue attention.So focused on Umber, I don't see the leg set out for me.I go tumbling down to the laughter of several others.&
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The next morning sees I and Umber splashing around in the solar above one of the grand towers. What started off as stiff, rigid labour was now transformed to squeals of laughter and undiluted fun. I didn't believe I could have this much fun in my situation. Neither could Umber too from the looks of it.She looks like she hasn't laughed in years.Mid-day rolls in and after trimming the shrubs in the deserted east gardens, we lay on our backs in the tall grasses, looking up at the smiling sky. Once, I would have worried over the sun burning my face and leaving more freckles, now I couldn't find it in myself to care. I turn to my side. I laugh when a dragon fly flutters close to Umber's nose and she sneezes.She smiles at me, laughing as well. When we quiet, I turn my attention back to the sky. "How did you end up here?"Moments drag by before she admits, "My father.""He let that creature bite you?"Her chest rises and falls. "He had my
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Even though one of the Herras banged against my door till my eardrums threatened to explode, even though I had a tasteless meal dumped into my plate, and even though at present I stand under the harsh glare of the sun alongside other intakes, I don't feel bleak. A sense of purpose engulfs me.I could control water. It is a lever I have over most of the sphinxes. But like Umber--or Sandra--said: you can't particularly fight with water. But I am sure I'll figure something out.My eyes flit to Gillespie. They're already narrowed on me.None of the Herras had asked to see me, which could only mean she didn't tell them I could shift. Thank God. I wasn't keen on becoming another test subject. I would thank her, but I have a suspicion I'm only in the clear because she doesn't want all the attention taken away from her and any chance of her enlistment.The flinty brown eyes holding mine grow colder. Umber comes to stand beside me, breaking our staring contest. "T
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We go down the mound of earth, crouching low to lift one of the trunks. The moonlight glints off the planes of Umber's face, highlighting the strain on her features."So what's the plan?" I grunt with effort. We deposit the bark on one end, lining them up. I count four.Umber dusts her hand, straightening. "What you see here are pieces of my plan--were. They were abandoned. You asked if I've ever tried escaping Mount Ilya before. The truth is right there." She motions to the fallen trees.I blink. "You were going to chop down trees to escape?""No. I was going to build a boat of some sort."I think. "Well, to do that, we've got to consider where we are, whether or not the boat--or we--are going to hold up under days, or weeks, of travel.""We're far across the Adriatic sea. It'll take a week, at most, to get to the borders of Croatia.""What about food and water?""We'll stock up from the kitchens.""Just a t
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"....Never happened before.""What could this mean?"Another voice intersects, "What else could it mean?""When Ivar told me about the girl, I doubted... But now my suspicions are proven. She really is an asset. The main asset."Standing in front of the huge library doors, my stomach churns when I wonder what this could mean for me. The corridors are quiet, all the intakes having moved to the library for the afternoon. Would I have a close watch put on me?Would this affect my escape plan with Umber?The door opens and Herra Melicia looks out, countenance severe as ever. "You may go now. Head to the library. Tomorrow you meet with master Ivar."She watches my face, as if searching for a reaction. I don't give her one.When she closes the doors once more, I start down the hall. I will be seeing Ivar tomorrow? My fingers throb and when I look down, I see short claws have shot out. A rush of dread. I fold my hands and fist them to
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RYLANShe takes wild jabs at me, stabbing the air each time I leap away. Now I land behind her and she spins around, face red from exertion and just the littlest bit of irritation. Falling into stance again, we start a slow dance around each other. My lips twitch."You won't be laughing for much longer," she says. She lunges, focused ruthlessly on my shoulder. Last minute, I block, knocking her wrist with the heel of my palm. The dagger falls to the ground and when she makes a dash for it, I grab her, pinning her to me with just the slightest pressure on her neck.I lean down. "Always," I say against her ear, breathing hard, "have your full attention on your opponent, not on only where you aim to attack."Her elbows come down on my arms and she wrenches out of my grasp. I grin. "Impressive."She picks her blade off the ground, coming at me again. This time I attack, feinting a right just to place the tip of my dagger against the smooth line of her throat.Time suspends.When my eyes s
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RYLANWhen the sound of crushed leaves sound, I look down from my high vantage point. Emmaline.Through the darkness, I watch her advance forward. Her head snaps around, looking for sign of me. Unnoticed, I use the time to look at her. She's dressed in all black, but had forgotten to hide the most important thing. Her blonde beacon of a hair. I stifle an eye roll. She really did choose the right colour.When I jump down. I hear her gasp. But she turns around and releases a loaded breath on realizing it's just me."You sacred me," she breathes."I'm sorry."I notice there are bags under her eyes and there's an air of sadness around her that I can't explain. "Are you okay?" I find myself asking."Yes. Of course."I shrug. Fine then."Come on."We walk for what seems like an eternity. The pen is located at a really remote part of the school. The gatekeeper really took his privacy serious.We walk by moss covered plants, the scent of fresh water and evergreens strong in the air. I look ba
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Once I enter the dinning hall the next morning, I wish I didn't.Sophie is sitting with a group of girls. Among them is Sharlene.I grip the strap of my bag on reflex and start to walk past them, hoping I looked indifferent. But soon that is all I become consumed with. How do I make them realize that I don't give a f*ck? Do I wave at her? Act like I don't see her?Am I waking too straight?My anxiety vanishes. It's replaced with something acidic, and painful. I see Rylan.He's with Sabrina.The wall I'd erected around myself threatens to crack. When I slide into an empty table, I feel irritation at myself well. Why did I think anything between us had changed?He's only helping me out of some misguided responsibility and not because, heaven forbid, he likes me. A hysterical laugh bubbles to the surface but it morphs into a lump and lodges at the back of my throat when Sophie's table breaks out in laughter.What are they talking about?Is it me?My stomach clenches. Did she tell them wh
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Without wasting any more time, I turn on my heels and rush in. The empty room stops me short. Reaching up, I absently start to untangle my hair, drawing out stubborn leaves. My hand freezes mid air when the murmur of a crowd down below becomes audible.I rake my fingers through my hair frantically, desperately hoping I've managed to remove any evidence of being in the woods. Throwing the door open, I rush down the cold halls. The stairwell is suddenly too long, every step I take sending a rush of dread snaking through me.Finally I get to the common room. Following the voices, I make my way to the dinning hall.Up to a hundred pairs of eyes turn to laser on me. I fight the urge to shrink away.The girls wear varying looks of irritation, still in their night wear. Veloria's matron is the last to notice me. The dread in her eyes gives way to shock and then concern before her eyes turn cold. I notice someone shoot up. "Emmaline!"Sophie.She pushes away from her crowded table, heading in
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EMMAShit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.Shit!We leap across another tree, legs pounding down on hard gravel. Rylan still hasn't left my hand, his strong grip steering me relentlessly."Don't let them get away!" A guard yells.When I stumble over the uneven ground, Rylan catches me, wrapping a large hand around my bicep. He hauls me to my feet easily, pushing me in front of him. My breaths tear out of me and the wind whips my face punishingly, sending hair and the scent of evergreens into my nose. Gnarled branches lie low, preventing our desperate escape."Wha--" My gasp is torn when Rylan nudges me in a different direction. The sound of water slapping against boulders become evident.When we get to the raging stream, he shrugs off his bag, throwing it into the river. The practice dummy follows soon after. He spins on me, motioning for my bag. My eyes widen. "My pho--"His voice is unyielding. "Emma. Now."A stab of frustration. When figs crack in the distance, I thrust the bag into his w
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RYLANUsing my boot, I kick off excess gravel and sit. "Our professor says the first step to welding is getting pretty f*cking pissed."She blinks. "Pissed, as in drunk? Or, like, angry?""Furious. Foaming at the mouth."She lifts a brow. "Well, since I don't have rabies, do I still qualify?""Tough, but we'll see."I cross my legs, putting my palms face down on either of my knee in what is known as a thinking pose. Trees sway to the chilly night air, the sound of crickets and crinkling leaves breaking the silence from time to time. Emma mirrors my actions. "So what now?""Take a deep breath."Wrong idea. When she inhales, her breasts jut forward and I feel my mouth dry. "I didn't say suck in all the air," I snap.She trains a glare on me. "I was just following your instructions.""Well, follow them without trying to be a vacuum. Watch."She watches snidely as I inhale. "There," I say quietly. "One small breath in, another one out."She copies my actions for a few minutes then just sto
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RYLAN_"Quiet," I say when Emma starts to speak behind me.Absently, my brows rise in surprise when she does. I fit a key into the lock, opening the door to my room.We both walk in and I catch my gaze flitting around, wondering what she'll think about my space. I hear the quiet thud of her bag hitting the floor. She is dressed in black, her blonde hair standing out like a beacon. Her heavily-lined eyes look around and her footfalls sound as she goes to my bookcase. A finger trails along the spines of my books.When she chuckles, I scowl, feeling an odd emotion slither through me. What's so funny?She starts, "You know, I'd kind of thought that you were some kind of control freak. But seeing this..."An unfamiliar feeling whips through me. I discover it's self consciousness."Seeing what?" I ask, my skin knotting.She starts to point. "Your skate boards have the same amount of space between them, so do the trophies on your desk. I can't find even a speck of dust on your shelf, your bo
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RYLANThe mock tournaments mark the wrap of another semester. It's a series of playoffs done by opposing Houses in preparation for the main sports competitions. In mock tournaments or 'mocks', each team gets to weigh the skills of the counter House by undergoing challenges--in the hopes of mapping out a way to use it to their advantage. So it goes without saying that no one goes all out during mocks.Which is why Malkar's coach wanted to rip my head off when I went at Ezra with everything I had, giving him a black eye in the process.I don't want to look into what it is about the amber-eyed fiend that gets my blood boiling. But I know that with each moment I see him and Emma engaged in unending discussions, or laughing together at something either of them said: it f*cking grew. Each time he spoke to her, I wanted to tear his tongue from his skull."Rylan, are you listening?"I bring my attention back to Cal. "What?"He laughs. "You have a thing for Elmloch boys now?"I lift an unimpr
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"Okay, I can't keep quiet anymore," Soph says.She sits cross-legged on the plush cream rug, burning candles on either side of her. Sunlight spills in through the wide windows, adding a gleam to her jet-black hair. "What happened to the 'I Eat Dick For Breakfast' type gal I saw on the first day."I blow out a long-suffering breath, pulling on a pair of tailored slacks. I slip a checkered vest over my head. "The 'type gal' is right here." I cringe into the mirror once the words leave my mouth."I liked that Emma better," she says. "Now you're like some domesticated poodle."I whirl around. "You did not just call me a dog."She laughs. "Technically, you are. You're an animal shifter."A nervous laugh. "Yeah. Got me there." I go back to arranging my hair. I'd dyed it platinum blonde. I'm just in the process of sleeking the pale strands into a bun when she lets out a frustrated noise."Stupid f*cking wind!"I turn, seeing the drapes billowing. My eyes shift to her. Her candles are snuffed
