Chapter Fifteen
Ender
Abaseball-sized marble hovered above my palm, using more air magic than a tennis ball would need, due to its weight. I shut off my magic and it dropped into my hand before I tossed it in the air again, circulating my magic around it and causing the marble to swirl.
“I’m meeting up with Gwen and Ivy and then we’re heading to the fountain.” Nick hopped off his bed, openly staring at me. “Bro, you’ve been doing that for over an hour. You coming?”
“I’m good.” The academy was throwing its twice a year informal social, Night Out.
It was Friday, and they’d play a movie and have elemental games on the front lawn by the dragon fountain.
It was one of the few times the dorms and entire back end of the academy were quiet. I was content with not going.
“Suit yourself, man.” Nick waved me off. “A certain someone might be there.”
With that, he left, and I let the large marble fall back into my hand.
I hadn’t talked to Selene or seen her the last half of this week, and something heavy weighed in my gut.
I sat up and tossed the marble to the foot of my bed, its weight sinking into the stripes of my grey comforter.
I checked my phone and didn’t see a response from Selene, although she hadn’t been thrilled when she found out I had convinced Vivian to give me her number.
I stood and tossed my sneakers on, intending to find Selene, who I presumed would be anywhere but at the front of the academy tonight. My first thought was the library, but something about it felt off. I went with the small feeling in my gut and headed to the gym.
The heavy wooden gym door made an echoing noise when I opened it. The massive space closely resembled a normal school gym—besides the stone walls to keep magic training sessions contained.
Selene was in the far corner, her uncovered fists striking a sandbag that hung there. Her hits were rushed, uncalculated. She glanced at me as I approached, lowering her raw knuckles. The heaviness in my chest dissipated but didn’t entirely disappear at the sight of her.
“Following me, are we?” She grabbed her water and took a drink, her chest heaving up and down.
“I’m starting to think you just end up at places where you think I’ll be at.” I gave her a lopsided smile.
She lowered her water and narrowed her eyes, her chin tilting the slightest in defiance—a look that was growing on me. Her gaze lingered on my joggers and shirt, no doubt validating that I had truly intended to come to the gym. She set her water on the floor and put her hands on her hips.
“Want a live punching bag?” I nodded at the sandbag she’d been taking her frustration out on.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why not?” I waved my hands in front of me and walked closer. “I’m dressed for the part. Almost.”
I tugged my shirt over my head and tossed it to the side. I never liked training with a shirt on and part of me was pleased to see her blush as she averted her gaze. She muttered something under her breath and it sounded something like, Cocky, are we?
I couldn’t hide my amusement.
“Fine.” Selene waved for me to come closer.
For the first time, I could see the shadows of dark circles underneath her brown eyes, and her hair was only half up, covering parts of the collar of her jacket, which had been zipped all the way up like a turtleneck.
She seemed like she was hiding, constricting herself—being something she wasn’t.
“One second,” I said and turned toward the door.
“Tapping out already?” she called after me as I took a few steps.
“I understand what it’s like when you can’t use your magic, and I have a feeling you haven’t truly used it in the last two weeks.
It’s a painful itch you can’t scratch,” I tossed over my shoulder as I locked the door with my air magic and turned back toward her.
The back door was already locked. “So, use it.”
The corner of her mouth turned up in a small smile for a fraction of a second—one that I couldn’t quite get a read on.
“Why do I feel like this is a trick?” she cocked her head to the side, studying me. She was a level five earth mage and most likely hadn’t been able to use her full power since the rock creatures.
“It’s not.” I opened my arms, metaphorically showing I had nothing to hide. “I’m not sure what your story is, Selene, and it’s not mine to ask, but I understand pain.” And loss. That pain had resurfaced recently, though I didn’t have a reason for it to.
“While that sounds like fun—and obliterating—let’s have a match with no magic use.” She crossed her arms as if she was challenging me, and I grinned.
I nodded and she charged, not giving me any time to think.
Her knee lifted in the air, preparing for a kick.
I pivoted so the blow would land on my stomach, but her kick never came.
A knifed hand came at my neck and I adjusted automatically, barely blocking her attack.
Her first move had been a decoy and her true attack stayed hidden until the last second, something that takes practice.
“You are clearly well trained.” I shifted on my feet, preparing to defend myself.
“So are you.” She nodded at my stance. I had shifted my weight to the balls of my feet, just like Priscilla had taught me.
I shrugged. “I’ve had training since I was—”
Selene attacked again, this time partially succeeding at getting a knee to my stomach. I smiled. This will be fun.
A good thirty minutes passed with us sparring back and forth, no successful takedowns and only soft blows on both sides—if they weren’t deflected.
Despite the anger she was clearly carrying and her firm strikes, she hadn’t landed anything bruise-worthy.
The first day I saw her train, I had sworn I saw her pulling her punches and leaning into her blows.
Now, I was positive that was exactly what she had been doing.
“Why are you really here?” She breathed, and I evaded her kick to my midsection.
“You’re refreshing.” I went to grab her ankle before her foot descended, but she dodged it. She was fast and efficient, and I had to admit I was tiring. But the hint of sweat across her brow told me she was too.
“Refreshing?” She quirked an eyebrow.
“Yes,” I said between spars. “You don’t fangirl over me, and you’re not afraid to put me in my place.” It wasn’t solely that pull, or whatever it was, that led me to her. She was different. Beautiful. Exciting …
My back slammed against the ground as Selene straddled me, having taken me down in the fraction of a second that I had let my mind drift, her forearm braced against my neck.
“That’s why it seems you can’t leave me alone?” She grinned—playfully.
I looked up at her. The overhead mage lights illuminated behind her, causing a slight shadow across her face.
Her grin faded as we stared at each other, our match briefly on hold.
It was like I could hear her heartbeat with the same rhythm as my own, and each area of her body that touched mine was fire.
“There’s something else.” I studied her, her pupils widening. “You feel it too.”
I took her moment of hesitation and grabbed her hips, flipping her over and gaining the upper hand. We switched positions and I bound her hands over her head.
“It—” The joke that had been on my tongue slipped. A ring of blue and purple around her neck caught my attention. With this angle and her neck more exposed, I could make out the fresh bruising.
I glanced at her wrists and gently pushed the rest of the fabric up her arm with my thumb. Matching bruises wrapped around each of them.
“Selene …” I got off of her but stayed on my knees next to her. “Who …?”
I couldn’t get much more out because I bit down on the inside of my cheek, blood pooling in my mouth. I hadn’t meant to draw blood.
“I’m fine.” She sat up and brushed off her pants as if we had been rolling around in dirt.
“Who did this to you?” I tried to keep my voice soft, but I couldn’t help the edge of anger that laced it. I hadn’t known …
“I’m okay.” She stood and offered me a hand. “Really.”
I took it, surprised at the gesture despite us both knowing I didn’t need it. Hot rage flitted through my veins and I searched her face for any give, hoping she’d tell me who had attacked her. They had a death wish.
She glanced at the floor, then back up at me, sucking in her bottom lip.
“Vines,” she said, and I patiently waited for her to elaborate. Her magic and fighting skills were powerful—I couldn’t imagine another student being able to do this to her.
After a moment, she continued. “I was running in the woods when I was attacked. I didn’t see who it was.
” She sighed. “You wouldn’t happen to know how to find all earth elementals that have attended or worked, or still do, at Fives Academy, and their levels?
Basically, anyone that would have access past the wards? ”
I thought for a moment and glanced over my shoulder out of instinct. “There’s an archive of students and the academy staff that’s updated at the end of each school year.” That was one of the meaningful things to come out of Ivy’s yammering.
“Where’s the archive? Headmaster John’s office?” Selene took a step forward, a glimpse of hope in her eyes.
“The library.”
“Okay,” she said and grabbed her water, brushing past me.
“Selene.” I grabbed her arm gently, and she whipped her head around. I half expected her to punch me in the throat for touching her. Instead, she stared at me, despair in her eyes as if she could not only hear, but also feel the doubt in my voice. “It’s in the basement.”
“The locked and warded basement that is completely off-limits and dangerous. That basement?” She nodded at her own question in understanding as she spoke. “Noted.” She headed for the exit, not bothered at all by the impossible mission she was embarking on.
This girl was going to be the end of me.