9. When life gives you lemons #3
“Oh yeah, what to expect during the Awakening.” She places a gentle finger beneath her chin, and my arms fold.
“You and the others will meet above the Temple of Absolute and be tested for your magic’s order and House.
Don’t worry, the temple is underground.” She catches my concerned expression.
“It’s painless, but everyone here will be in attendance, witnessing who has what magic, and how many orders are amongst those who haven’t Awakened them yet. ”
“Anything else?”
“Nope.” Her grin isn’t comforting. Angie checks her phone, and I catch Ethan’s face linked with a few hurrying messages. I give myself one last mirror check and exit my bathroom. “Where are you going?”
“Downstairs to face the impatient asshole.” Those last few words are spoken for my ears.
She peers down at my feet, then back up before responding. “I suggest you come stand beside me if you’d like to keep looking your best. ”
Now thinking about it, she is right; traversing those stairs in heels won’t end well. Point made, and with that, a white sigil appears beneath us. Her hand lands on my shoulder, and we transport into the cool, crisp air outside.
“Shit, it’s cold.” Facing the building, I contemplate changing. Not even a full five seconds have passed and I’m regretting leaving my room.
“Calor,” Angie recites, flicking her wrist, and a blanket of warmth incases me in a discrete cocoon.
Mouthing, “thank you,” I hear footsteps approach from behind, and we both rotate.
My softened gaze meets Ethan’s hardened stare almost instantly, and the breath in my lungs turns into a veil of mist. He is almost unrecognizable, donning a suit, which fits every inch of him with precision, matching us in all-black with a lighter shade button-down underneath.
His hair resembles a Viking style. Both sides of his head have a single braid, knitted tight, and going back, with the top forming a larger braid, also pulling back and tying the two sides into it.
My lips narrowly part, gazing at the moon’s tint streaming over his defining cheekbones and toned ‘V’ jawline. Hints of warm blue speckle over his monolids, contrasting with his eyes. A sea of fire and gold cooled by the moon’s touch. Dangerous…Alarming…Magnetic…Nefarious.
This is not the fay hell bent on ending my life, or at least he is not appearing to be so.
“Took you long enough,” Angie’s voice slices at the stale tension. Yet, Ethan remains motionless, withholding all acknowledgement of her speaking and forcing an uncomfortable heat to stir within my palms. “Uhh, do you two need a moment alone?” She peers over to me.
“What? N-No,” I stutter, and on cue, Ethan clears his throat.
“I would love nothing more than having a moment alone with her.” His tone is sharp. Piercing. Deadly. A threat or promise? The gleam of his eyes warns me to run, but his words keep me still.
A sinister smirk eats at his lips, and whatever he is thinking can’t be good.
“But we’ve wasted enough time, despite some considering me an impatient asshole.
” Ethan maneuvers past, relinquishing a growl meant for my ears, and memories loiter from the night he appeared in my room.
Being alone with him may very well be my last day living .
“Let’s go. You shouldn’t be the last to arrive,” he demands.
“Right.”
My head lowers, unsure of what transpired, but this heat around my palms is now spreading throughout my body, no longer requiring the incantation Angie placed over me.
Seeing him has burned an image into my mind, and I’m not sure why I’m finding my potential killer to be attractive. Stop, he’s Angie’s man. What is wrong with you?
I move in haste to walk beside her. “Hey, I’m not sure what happened back there, but I’m sorry,” I voice low in her ear.
“I didn’t mean to upset you or create a false illusion of me coming on to him.
I’d never cross that line with my friends.
Going after their man. Plus, the whole, he wants me dead, and I hate him, thing. ” Shame makes it hard to look at her.
“What are you going on about? Ethan and I aren’t a couple. That’s gross.” She frowns.
Grabbing her arm, I stop us abruptly.
“What do you mean, that’s gross. I’ve seen how you act around each other. He is always protecting you and trying to murder anyone who offends you.”
“Right. It’s so damn annoying.” She looks towards Ethan, and I can feel my makeup squeezing between my clenched brows.
“Explain. Because from my perspective, that’s bullshit.”
“Short answer, in mortal terms, he’s my stepbrother. Or half-brother. No, play brother. Fuck, I don’t know…Brother. He has his reasons for being an overprotective asshole. Despite my objections.” Her arms fold beneath her breasts.
“Brother? Really? There’s no way you see him as such.”
“Wanna bet?” Her question leaves me no time to answer, and without breaking eye contact, she yells, “Hey, Ethan, after the Awakening, would you like to go back to my room and fu…”
He is fast. The speed at which he grabs her arm, pulling her into his towering shadow, all but leaves me in a confused gasp. The glow of his leer grows intense, and she smiles at the act.
“Are you high, or do you enjoy provoking me? Never speak of such atrocities with my name in the same sentence. You’re my sister, and there’s lines we do not cross.
Am I understood?” His throat trembles with disgust. “As for you,” finding me with hatred swirling amidst his irises, “you will question her no longer on this matter, or consider your insignificant life expired.”
“Fuck you, it was a simple question.”
Anger forces me into defense mode before I have a moment of restraint. He traces down my body, stopping above the tightly fitted fabric covering my breasts, as if he can hear my throbbing heart. Something pushes against me, forcing a retreat against my will, and Angie expels a shrieking laugh.
“Let’s go,” he demands, releasing her arm and stalking away. I wait until Ethan is out of earshot, and another breath passes.
“What the fuck, Angie?”
“See, told ya.” She grins. Never again will I call her bluff or command a dare; she’s insane.
I shake this nervous feeling, fighting perspiration beneath my armpits, and we follow after him. Leaves rustle beyond the forest we head towards, making my head swivel, and I search for glowing, pink eyes. Is someone following us?
We’re marching opposite from where Raine and I met, and the land behind this building is riddled with vast trees. Light is unable to penetrate. Keep calm, you got this .
Not long after resuming our walk, Angie catches me up on what else to expect from tonight, until we halt.
“Here should be fine,” Ethan announces.
Angie nods, grabbing his hand and placing her other on my shoulder as a golden sigil appears before we vanish. Like before, images blur by when a random one stops on me. All sense of time fades from existence, and no matter which way I turn, this daunting image follows.
Structures crumble into dust. Bodies lie slain beyond my feet as embers sparkle from their corpses.
My hands are coated in blood and black liquid while the rain’s downpour mixes into a swirl around my fingers.
Cloaked in darkness, a figure stands close enough to notice, alive, but still out of full visual reach.
I search the crevices of my mind, and this memory has never passed, yet I’m staring at an image which speaks the opposite. Facing Ethan, I find his leer upon me and hatred dripping from his pores.
The image dissolves in an instant.
“Did you see it?” I ask, leaning over to Angie, but the cool air cuts our interaction short as we emerge within an open field, surrounded by stands. Fays are scattered in every direction. All match our black attire for tonight’s debut. “Where are we?”
“The Awakening,” she whispers.
I take it all in while more students appear in formal wear. Stands are filled to the brim with faculty and parents on one side, and students mingle on the other, pointing about. Anxiety raises its voice, and panic runs rapidly from my head to toes. This is actually happening. Oh. My. God.
“In a few minutes, it’ll begin,” Ethan speaks, “and I’m sure Angie has prepared you, so keep her teachings in mind.
Here’s your chance to prove you belong here, or not.
Either way, I don’t care. Regardless, your fear reflects on her, so the least you can do is have confidence.
The stronger it is, the easier it will be for your body to accept its magical order.
Weakness is prohibited.” Is he helping or praying for my downfall ?
“Don’t show fear. Got it.”
I don’t.
“I’d hate to end you on such a sacred night, but then again…” He shrugs, carefree. And there it is, the infamous asshole. I blame myself for having an ounce of hope he’d try helping.
“ We will be close by in case anything goes wrong,” Angie chimes in.
“Good luck, though I doubt you’ll need it,” she smirks, boosting my confidence.
A blaring sound emits over the field, causing everyone to become silent.
“It’s starting. Head over with the other students, and we’ll meet back here once you’re done. ”
Angie points behind me, and life as I know it is about to change. Let’s hope for the better.