Chapter Eight #2
Ryder’s voice taunts in my mind again - ‘There’s something off about you’ - But I shake it off.
The next activity is knife throwing. I walk down with the rest of my group. I gaze back at Combat. Nala is on the platform. I hope she kicks some ass.
“Fancy seeing you here.” River distracts me from my thoughts.
“Is there anything you don’t do?” I raise an eyebrow at him and fight the urge to smile at seeing him again.
“I know, right? Books, good looks, and now knife throwing. What can I say? I’m a man of many talents,” he brags while running his fingers through his silky blonde hair.
“Well, shouldn’t you be teaching us those talents instead of showing off?” I smirk and gesture at the rest of the group congregating behind me.
He smiles widely and leans in close to me. “I’m sure I can make the time to teach you a few things.”
I look down, trying to hide the blood rushing to my cheeks.
“I’m glad you have all survived your first combat session.
” He looks around at each of us before holding eye contact with me.
“The last skill you will practice today is knife throwing. Knives are excellent weapons. They can be used in close-range combat and from a distance. Today, I want to see how each of you throws. As you can see, there are five wooden human figures lined up. Your job is to hit them.”
He points to the humanoid figures standing in front of us. “I don’t want to see any non-fatal hits.” His eyes lock with mine as he says this. “Chest, torso or head; anything below the waist does not count, unless it’s the femoral artery!”
His head moves in next to mine. “Let’s see what you’ve got, princess.”
I feel a strand of my hair move out of my face and tuck behind my ear again.
“Don’t you have any new tricks?” I pick the strand from behind my ear and let it rest on my forehead just to spite him.
He bites his bottom lip into a smile.
“I can also do this…” He points his finger at one of the wooden figurines, and three knives bolt through the air like lightning, wedging themselves neatly in various places on its head.
The students around me praise him in awe. I am also impressed, but I hide it well on my face.
“Careful, people might think you’re trying to impress me,” I banter.
“Now it’s your turn.”
He summons back the knives, and they uproot themselves from their wooden crevices and glide into his hands.
I pluck one of the knives out of his grasp and toy with its weight in my palms. The handle is steel and smooth.
I run a finger over its sharp edge and press the tip of my finger gently into its point.
I tighten my grip around the handle, but I still feel it slip a little.
My dad taught me a trick. ‘When it comes to throwing knives, the most important thing is having a good grip.’ I hold the knife out and give it back to River.
“Can you hold on to this for a second?” I ask.
His eyes widen as he looks at me with curiosity. “If you can’t throw the knife, just say so.”
“Oh, shut up.” I give him a sarcastic glare while placing the bottom section of my t-shirt between my teeth.
I pull at it gently until a long piece of fabric rips off.
He looks at me, genuinely confused now. I take the fabric and the knife and begin wrapping it tightly around the handle.
I tie a small knot so it does not hang loose.
I grip it now. It doesn’t slip. I take a moment to level myself with the wooden figure and close one of my eyes to line up the shot.
I pull the knife back behind my head and fling it in the direction of the figurine.
It launches through the air like a bullet and lands proud, in the centre of its head. Bullseye.
I can’t tell whether River is impressed or a little scared. He looks at me with intrigue.
“You never cease to surprise me, Asha Calloway.” He pauses for a moment, clearly thinking about his next sentence.
“There’s a party tonight down in the archives.
The potion students make their own liquor.
Don’t get me wrong, it tastes like shit, but it’s pretty lethal, and the teachers never go down there…
You should come along, I mean, if that’s your thing?
” He gazes at me with want as he hangs on my reply.
“And there I was thinking you were a stand-up student,” I give him a sarcastic smile.
“Looks can be deceiving, princess,” he retorts. “Although I’m seriously rethinking that nickname now I’ve seen you with a knife.”
I narrow my eyes at him and let out a small laugh. “As you should.” I turn to walk away from him.
“So I’ll see you at the party?” he asks.
“I’ll think about it.” I flick my auburn curls away from my shoulders and carry on walking.
“Second courtyard at ten p.m. I really hope you’ll be there,” he calls after me.
I can see Nala walking over towards me. She must be done with Combat, and I don’t see any major injuries, which means she must have done well.
“I heard that you took out Alex!” she says as she runs the gap between us.
“Wow, news travels fast,” I laugh. “Not without its hardship,” I add, gesturing to my now swollen eye.
“That’s quite the shiner you’ve got there.” She grabs my face and examines it closely.
“You should see the other guy.” I’ve always wanted to say this.
“I heard his knee snapped in two,” she says with an unsettling amount of joy in her voice.
“Don’t believe everything you hear,” I wink at her, and she laughs.
“Come on, let’s go get something to eat. I’m starving,” she begs with doe eyes.
“You’re always starving!” I prod at her stomach as I say this, causing her to laugh loudly. “We both survived combat today, and I think that’s worth celebrating… don’t you?”
I raise my eyebrows at her and smile widely. “Party tonight down in the archives. You in?”
“Are you kidding me! Yes, I’m in!” She grins wider before saying. “Wait, how did you even…”
“Remember library boy?” I bite my lip.
Her eyes widen, and she nudges my arm.
“Super-hot third year that’s been making eyes at you all day? How could I forget!”