Chapter 7 Elodie
ELODIE
Disappointment claws through me.
Kael is gone.
He left without saying goodbye, and as much as everybody tries to comfort me, it doesn't take away the ache in my chest.
Sitting on the sofabed, refusing to get on with the day, I play with the hem of the oversized t-shirt I'm wearing. His t-shirt.
He's risking himself for me. An act of selflessness I don't feel I deserve. I’m blaming that on some of the trauma that continues to poison my mind, but labeling it doesn’t make it go away.
Thorne appears at my side, jarring me from my thoughts, with a mug extended in my direction. It takes me a second to realize they actually have a mini kitchen set up in here.
I mumble my thanks as I take it from his hand, only to find a hot chocolate warming the ceramic. A lump lodges in my throat as I hate, yet secretly love, how I feel seen from such a small act. My stomach churns, but I take a sip regardless, letting the sweetness soothe me the best it can.
“We're going to get through this, Petal,” Rion says, hands on his hips as he stands fully dressed by the door.
“I hope so,” I rasp, looking at him over the rim of my mug, and he shakes his head.
“No,” he retorts firmly, but the softness in his eyes stops my defenses from rising. “The attitude we have is, I know so. And for that, I’m going to need backup. So I'm going to get Ocean,” he declares, turning on the spot and disappearing a moment later.
I take another sip of the hot chocolate, basking in the deliciousness with the hopes that it will help lift me from the pain I’m sinking into.
The moment I remove the mug from my lips, Thorne grabs my chin, tilting my head back for me to meet his gaze.
“I’m sorry this is hurting you, Echo,” he says, and I gulp, offering a subtle nod.
The gentleness in his eyes wraps around me like a soft blanket, attempting to keep me safe despite the storm we now face.
I manage a tight smile, my mind swirling with so many conversations I’ve yet to have with each of them—especially my vampire—and the fear of something getting in the way of that fills me with more terror than I can even begin to understand.
“That self-centered, grumpy-ass, knobby little vampire,” Ocean rants as she barges through the door. Rion is hot on her heels with his hand over his mouth, trying to suppress the laugh that threatens to part his lips.
“He probably thought this would be better,” Thorne says calmly, releasing my chin as he turns his attention to my best friend, who scoffs.
“It's selfish. So classic Kael. Really, should we have expected anything else?” she grumbles with an eye roll, and a warmth blossoms in my chest as I shake my head at her.
That little movement earns me her attention as she points a finger in my direction.
“And you, my little badass bestie, are the only reason he is nice. Genuinely. That fucker is beyond insufferable, until it comes to you. So we're going to buckle up, we’re going to unite, and we’re going to get through this, but let it be known that the first time I see him, I'm gonna clip that motherfucker upside the head. Okay? You do not need any more stress.”
I nod.
She slaps her hands down at her sides with a huff before hurrying toward me and taking the seat next to me on the sofabed.
“Oh, hot chocolate? Is there any left to spare?”
Thorne rolls his eyes, moving back to the makeshift kitchen without a word as she beams at me with an outrageous smile.
“So what are we supposed to do now?” she asks, adding a new lease of life in the solemn room, and I can't keep up.
Rion clears his throat. “We didn't get this far into the plan,” he admits, and I hum in agreement.
“I was too consumed with worry over Kael,” I explain, my chest tightening once again as I admit another truth. “I still am.”
Thorne reappears with a fresh mug, offering it to Ocean, who whispers her thanks before taking a sip.
“I think we need to solve the riddle,” he blurts, eyes focused on me as my jaw falls slack. “It will be the perfect distraction.” I press my fingers into my temples as I try to take a deep breath. “But before that,” Thorne adds, making me still. “We need to go about our day.”
My eyes widen as I rear back to gape at him. “You mean, go to class?” I grouch, and he nods. “Why? Is that even necessary anymore?” I push, and Rion crouches before me, placing his hand on my knee as a soft smile ghosts his lips.
“So we don't draw attention from The Sanctum. They're just as bad as Jude, remember?”
“You're not wrong,” Thorne adds, agreeing with Rion despite the scathing look I’m giving him. “And right now, we must keep our heads down because they're going to be coming for us too, and if we want Jude to bring the Rebellion, we need to make sure nothing is out of the ordinary.”
I sag in defeat. “I hate you,” I grumble into my mug, and Rion squeezes my thigh.
“No, Petal. You hate that he's right,” Rion declares, and Ocean snickers.
Peering through my lashes, my gaze connects with Rion. He must sense my reluctance because he pulls me into his embrace a moment later, with my hot chocolate wedged between us. His lips find my forehead, offering me a silent strength as Ocean barfs mockingly.
My wolf levels her with a devilish glare, earning a chuckle in response.
I can’t deal with the two of them.
They’re both equally insufferable.
“You need to dress, and we need to head out now,” Thorne murmurs, glancing at the time, and to my surprise, Ocean leaps to her feet, handing her empty mug to the shadow fae as she all but skips to the door.
“I’ll meet you back here in two minutes,” Ocean says, disappearing a moment later as Rion offers me his hand.
Taking it, I settle on my feet and almost move to follow after her before I remember all of my belongings are in Rion's closet.
I make a mental note that we still need to address this matter, but in the meantime, he swoops my mug from my grasp and pats my ass, guiding me toward his room.
He doesn't join me as I step inside, leaving the door slightly ajar, giving me a moment of space and calmness as I get myself dressed for what already feels like the worst day of my life.
By the time I make it back to the door, ready to face the day, I’m firmly in agreement with what they're saying. I have to be onboard; it makes sense, despite how icky it all makes me feel inside.
Thorne and Rion join me, dressed in their uniforms, and as we head out into the hallway, Ocean falls into sync with us without a word being spoken. The four of us move as one, leaving Institute Thirteen behind as we cut our way across to The Vale.
I already know I haven't got the strength to eat food or face anyone else, but I get the feeling they’re not going to let that slide. I spend the entire walk talking myself up to make sure I stand my ground, but as we approach The Vale, I don’t get a chance to broach the subject.
A swarm of men surround us, draped in cloaks that scream some kind of connection to The Sanctum. My heart pounds wildly in my chest with the expectation that we've already been found out.
Kael.
As if sensing my panic, one of them steps forward, eyes narrowed and lips tipped down at the sides as disgust coats their entire demeanor.
“Thorne Fata, you are immediately required for further questioning regarding the death of Tiran. Come willingly, or you will be detained.”
“No! You've already taken him once,” I blurt, fear getting the better of me as I throw myself between Thorne and the man in question, but Rion plants his hand on my shoulder, rooting me to the spot as Thorne speaks.
“It’s okay, Echo,” Thorne murmurs from behind me, ignoring the despair I try to convey in my eyes.
He moves around me effortlessly, brushing his fingertip under my chin for the smallest moment.
“I'll be back soon enough. But remember, stay focused,” he reminds me as my nostrils flare and frustration gets the better of me. But before I can make him understand, the asshole who summoned him slams his hand on Thorne’s arm, and they’re gone.
My racing heart doesn’t calm as Rion slips his arm around my shoulder, it doesn’t slow as Ocean ushers me into our first class, and it doesn’t waver when I take a seat in my usual spot. The unease only heightens without my vampire and shadow fae in the row behind me too.
Of all classes I find myself in, of course it’s Professor Grimm’s, but that’s not a matter for now. Not when I remain on edge. My mind reels with the reminder of what happened with Tiran and Willow.
One is dead, the other’s memories are still intact.
She knows what I am.
It seemed like a good idea to keep it that way at the time, but now things have changed, and I'm not quite sure we have the upper hand.
Professor Grimm drones on as I blink at him, his words not penetrating my ears, and I find myself completely lost in my thoughts. The only thing I’m actually aware of is the fact that Willow is also not present, just like Thorne.
As if my stomach wasn’t in knots already, it certainly is now. Who knew this was what my life would come to?
Irritated, I blink, forcing myself to increase my awareness, but all I can manage is settling my gaze on Professor Grimm, who stands at the front of the lecture hall talking animatedly.
I hear something about The Trial Games, and I know I should pay attention, but I can't piece together the words as I sit helplessly in my chair, drowning in my thoughts and fears.
One thing is for certain: he doesn't seem to be under the impression that he's no longer in possession of the Veilstone.
My mind drifts to the other time I had placed my hand against the artifact in question, and I recall the riddle I solved to gain access to it. The racing of my heart somehow quickens, but for a different reason altogether.
I have no mouth, yet I speak. I have no ears, yet I listen. I am born when you call, and I vanish when ignored. What am I?
An echo.
I had to solve the riddle to use the Veilstone the first time. That’s not the usual route to gaining access, but it seems to be a favorite of his. Is that because he’s good at them?
Only those who drink without thirst may find me. Where the water meets the shore, the darkness you shall see. Four elements circle as one. But in your eyes shall they be gone. Look deep inside, and the book shall no longer defy.
I can’t wrap my head around it, but could he?
I startle when a piece of paper is pushed along the table in front of me. Looking up, my gaze darts to the person behind it, only to realize Professor Grimm is standing right in front of me. His head is tilted as he stares at me, concern flickering through his eyes.
Sitting straighter, I clear my throat.
“You seem quiet, girl,” he murmurs, and I gulp nervously under his stare.
“Sorry, lack of sleep,” I grumble, hoping that's enough to pacify him.
He shuffles the other documents in his hands as he continues to study my face. “I’m surprised to see you here at all,” he states, and my spine stiffens.
“Why?”
I can feel Rion’s intense stare from beside me, but I don’t dare look away from the professor.
“With the news of Tiran passing and you being present when it happened, I thought you might be in for questioning or resting from the experience,” he explains, and I make sure to keep my facial features neutral.
“I guess the trials have hardened me,” I rattle off, attempting to shield my panic, and he nods.
“Good.”
He stands there for a few extra moments, staring at me like he’s reading a book that is cryptic and without diagrams, before he resumes his task, handing a worksheet to Rion on my right.
“Why is that good?” Rion interjects as Grimm pauses in front of him. He must understand what he's referring to, because his gaze darts back to me.
It's Rion's question he's answering, but he directs it as if it were me.
“Oh, you know, just because so many magical beings like yourself have struggled with adapting to this world, and no sooner do they arrive do they tend to disappear.”
“Where to?” I blurt, my chest tightening as he shrugs with a sigh.
“Who knows? But I'm glad you're not one of them. The world seems to need someone like you.” He turns on the spot, carrying on down the line without a backward glance, and my attention darts to Rion.
“What does that mean?” I ask, blinking at him, and he lifts his hands in surrender. He’s no wiser than me.
When my stomach aches this time, my mind reels with the idea of sharing my riddle with him, but something restrains me from indulging him, and I have to trust in that. At least not until I've made sense of why he would say those things.
Other magical beings… gone?
Where?
Why?
None of this makes sense.
Another layer of frustration weighs down on me as I struggle to understand his batshit crazy comments on top of everything else I’m dealing with, even as my cell phone vibrates in my pocket.
Excitement zips through me at the hope that it's Kael or Thorne, but as I retrieve the device, I find a message from Jude, suckerpunching the air from my lungs.
Jude: He ratted you out, Little Weapon. Told me your plan. But don't worry, I'll come for you. You’re worth the effort. I hope you're ready.