Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Selene
Islipped inside the dark dorm room. Sydney’s back was to me as she lay in her bed, her body only moving with her slow breaths.
Once the grounds had been cleared after the attack, all students on campus who didn’t actively need medical attention were to remain in their rooms. I didn’t know what time Sydney had made it back to our dorm.
She most likely had a quick visit to Nurse Adair.
Sydney didn’t stir as I retrieved my escape pack underneath my bed. Behind the bag was the box safely storing Mom’s ashes. Viv knew where her urn was, and we had decided Mom would stay there until we found a more permanent location for her.
Next to my bed was Mom’s yearbook. As a last-minute decision, I decided to toss the book in my bag. I slung the grey pack over my shoulders and had almost made it to the door when Sydney’s bed creaked and the glow of fire lit the room.
“No goodbye?” She sat straight up in her bed, holding a small ball of fire like it was a candle. Her gaze flitted to my bed. “Not even a note?”
“Sydney.” I faced her, unsure of what to say.
“Is Viv leaving too?” she asked.
“No.” I squeezed the strap on my pack. “The dark mages are after me, not her.”
“Because she isn’t an ether mage.” She stayed where she was, frowning.
Everyone who had been in the cafeteria now knew I was an ether mage, and soon, the entire academy would hear about my existence—and then it would spread to the entire elemental world.
“You think leaving will keep her safe? Rubbish. This is the best place for her and you to be! All the guards and teachers will—”
“Will what?” My voice rose and my chest started to heave. “Not let a dark mage hurt any of the students? Just like earlier today? We’re lucky a student wasn’t killed.”
Sydney stared at me, frozen in place. I had known a guard had been killed, but I wasn’t sure if other students had been informed.
“I’m sorry.” I hadn’t intended to lash out at her. I was tired and all my earlier composure I had with Viv slipped. “I need to do what’s best for my sister.”
“Does Viv know?” she asked.
“Yes.” And I should leave before she changes her mind.
“Will you be back?”
“When it’s safe.” I wasn’t sure of my entire game plan besides leaving the academy, hopefully preventing any further dark mage attacks, and finding a sliver of closure.
Sydney sat a moment before giving me a curt nod of understanding.
“Thank you.” I meant it and turned to head out the door.
“Wait!” Sydney hopped off the bed, letting the fire travel to a small wall torch—which was a violation for us to have—and hugged me.
“Keep yourself safe, will you?” Her voice sounded like she was on the verge of tears.
“I will.” I pulled away. “You too. Don’t let the panic attacks control you.”
She sucked in her lips and nodded. I squeezed her arms and left.
I stepped out onto the terrace in front of the dorms, looking out into the darkness of the night. The wonderful scent of cedar and bergamot drifted through the night breeze and my heart beat faster. It was a scent that had begun to get more potent lately.
“Following me?” I spoke to the shadows.
“How do I know you’re not the one following me?” Ender stepped out from behind a pillar. His hair was wet from a shower, and I assessed his stance. He didn’t seem to be in too much pain from the attack. Good. “Last I checked, I was out here first.”
“And last I checked, you don’t own the terrace to the dorms.” I brushed past him, careful not to hit his injured shoulder and ignoring the ache that yelled at me for more contact.
Ender laughed his deep-belly laugh. Ugh. I kept going. I couldn’t let whatever beautiful thing we had growing between us keep me here.
“Selene. Wait.” His hand grazed my arm and I froze at the intense burn there. “I’m coming with you.”
“No. You aren’t.” I didn’t bother coming up with the lie that I wasn’t leaving. It was clear what my intentions were—it was late, we weren’t supposed to be outside, and I had my bag with me.
Ender let out a grunt.
“You aren’t going alone.” He dropped his hand, but his voice was stern. Playful Ender had been replaced with Serious Ender.
I faced him and laughed—and not a cute laugh. A crazy, unhinged laugh. All my composure around Ender just vanished. And that was irritating.
“You don’t get to choose whether you’re coming with me.
Plus, you need to recover. You were stabbed less than five hours ago!
” Not to mention a dark mage began siphoning your magic.
A flash of worry flitted across my face before I masked it, and I brought my hands to my hips in a not-so-flattering look. “I am leaving. Without you.”
“I can’t let you do that.” Ender stood tall, ignoring the entire part where he had been stabbed. There was fire in his eyes, but it wasn’t hate. It was … protection? Worry? Lust? Maybe it was just stubbornness.
“Then try to stop me.” I took a step forward, daring him. My gaze dropped to his lips and I could feel my anger sizzling out into something else.
Ugh. I needed to get control of myself.
“How do you plan on leaving?” Ender took a small step forward, lessening the already small gap between us. I could stick my tongue out and reach his nose if I wanted to.
Where the heck did that immature thought come from?
“Easily.” I planned on hijacking a teacher’s car.
Options would be limited because most staff were escorted by the guards, but I’d return it—eventually.
If that plan went south, I could always ask John if a guard could take me.
By halfway through the trip, I should know if I could trust them enough or if I needed to ditch them.
Why didn’t I think of that before? I debated calling John. Maybe his plan was the best.
The corner of Ender’s mouth turned upward into a sly grin, as if he was reading my thoughts—or intentions of borrowing a car.
“The guards will be on you before you can drive out of here. All the guards’ and teachers’ cars are alarmed.
Even if you manage to take one, I’m sure they have tracking software in them, and they’ll be on you by morning. ”
John had said he couldn’t stop me from leaving, but I’m pretty sure stealing a vehicle would put me on some sort of wanted list by the academy.
I wasn’t worried about the tracking. I believe he had turned on some type of tracking in my phone settings, but I had no clue how to check.
He could track me. He already knew where I was headed, and I had permission to leave; I was just supposed to have someone come with me …
I stared awkwardly at Ender.
“I’ll drive.” He started walking. “But we take my Jeep.”
I watched him for a moment before jogging to catch up to him. “You have a car?”
He grinned and kept walking.
Not many students were allowed to keep their car here, but I shouldn’t have been surprised the popular guy had his own car at the academy.
“You’re still hurt.” I eyed his collar, where part of the bandage showed itself.
“I’m fine,” he said. “Do I look ill and like I can’t drive a vehicle?”
He actually looked great considering all that he had just gone through. I sighed. I couldn’t believe I was doing this.
“Okay. We’ll take your car.” I told myself it was for his vehicle and his aid, but I secretly also wanted his company. Plus, it might keep John from hauling me back even though I was positive he didn’t mean for me to leave with Ender. “It could be dangerous … and you aren’t packed.”
“I keep a bag in my Jeep.” He glanced at me from the side, no doubt reading the surprise on my face. I hadn’t expected Ender Hart to keep a ready-to-go bag like I had. “So where are we going?”
I sighed then asked, “Do you have a passport?”
“Yes?” He tilted his head. “It’s in my Jeep.”
“Good.”
“Hey!” a guard shouted behind us. “All students are supposed to be in their dormitory rooms.” The guard caught up to us, assessing my bag and glancing in the direction we were headed, toward the staff headquarters and garage. “Where are you going?”
“The obvious. The woods for a midnight stroll and picnic,” Ender said.
The guard narrowed his eyes and pulled out his phone, dialing someone.
“Headmaster John. I have Selene Thomas and Ender Hart on campus grounds and out of their rooms. They appear to be headed in the direction of the garage.” There was a pause. “Yes, sir.” The guard pocketed his phone and looked at us. “I will escort you to Mr. Hart’s vehicle.”
“What?” Ender blinked. “Can you please repeat that?”
“Follow me,” the guard said.