Chapter 18
I flip the glistening elven daggers back and forth between my hands.
The silver metal feels light to touch, but its blades are sharp to the tip.
The two daggers blades are covered in ornate elven letters.
What they meant I’m not sure, but usually with elves it's a blessing on the weapon.
Which means they were a well-made and loved piece.
I grip the dark grey metal hilt in my hands, the cold material feeling smooth against my skin.
Elven weapons were known for their intricate designs and perfect functionality, but they were scarce to find and expensive when one did.
I had snuck into the weapons shed on the training ground and jimmied the lock.
Thankfully, there were only a few protection spells on the door, ones that would flare when magic was used, but not against some blunt force.
I guess the other Defence instructor, Mr. Hampton, didn't think much of a student breaking into his weapons shed and borrowing them.
Well I guess that probably had something to do with him being almost seven foot tall and built like a tank. And usually you wouldn’t cross a black bear shifter. They were known for their short tempers and protective tendencies.
I twist the delicate metal in my hands.
These must belong to Mr. Valor, he was afterall an elf. He must have left them there by mistake. I’ll return them straight after I deal with the beast.
I swing forward, thrusting one blade out to my right. It slices through the tree I'm standing beside, flowing through the bark like a knife would through butter.
I look down toward the glistening daggers in my hand.
They felt cool against my palms, the blades so light in my grasp.
Maybe he wouldn’t notice they were missing?
Who was I kidding? You couldn’t forget these beauties.
I headed deeper into the forest, the music from the dance and laughing voices fading in the distance the further I crept.
I had been searching through the forest as soon as it had gotten dark enough to go unnoticed.
Placing the elven daggers into the black straps on my hips and pulling the tight black hood over my hair, I quickly fasten my black face mask behind my ears.
The one good thing about a Halloween Dance was that no-one looked twice at a girl walking around dressed fully in black combat attire and looking like some assassin or ninja.
I freeze, hearing the rustle of leaves. I crouch down in preparation for some beast or attack, reaching for the daggers on my hips, when suddenly a squirrel pops out of the bush a couple of metres from in front of me.
It scurries past me, holding what looks like a chocolate bar in its small paws, before dashing up the nearest tree.
My brows raise with the small forest creatures' cartoon-like antics. It seemed almost as comical as my week. Taking third place at least.
First was Annex turning up to ‘World History class’ in the last few minutes, and making Mr. Finch almost wet himself for suggesting he ‘Try to arrive a little earlier’.
In fairness, it was a look that promised more than just a little pain.
Mr. Finch didn’t utter a word for the rest of the class, and just stared at the board the whole time.
The second– annoying as much as it was comical –was when Adam came to me and asked me to go with him to the dance. Like in my previous life.
And exactly as he did before, he told me how he knew Seria, and how she told him I had no partner for the dance yet. He had laid it on thick about how he didn’t want me to be alone or miss out on important memories that we could make together with everyone else.
And even before I had the chance to reply, he gave me a huge grin and told me he would pick me up on the night. As if there wasn’t even the slightest possibility of me rejecting him.
I’m not sure how I managed to keep a straight expression, let alone not sock him square in his slimy, smug face. How had I fallen so easily for this crap before?
I clench my fists, pushing down the itch growing there with the feeling of wanting to wipe away the pompous smirk he wore that day. But it would have ruined the plans I had for him.
The music changes in the distance, a quicker paced song playing out as the lights shine from the direction of the academy.
A dance Adam couldn’t possibly be attending in his current condition.
Since he enjoyed drugging other people's drinks so much, I took a page from his book and added an extra ingredient to his drink this morning. It was a little tasteless concoction that mixed seamlessly into his favourite protein shake.
It was a handy little herb mix that would make his lower part swollen, before growing murky green welts that would itch and pus when touched.
After a few days– and a few strong medical spells –the welts and swelling would slowly heal, but without the proper antidote to the herbs, he would be left permanently limp.
A small chuckle leaves my lips at the thought of his frustration and discomfort. I hope he thoroughly enjoys his night of scratching.
A groan from the area to my left pulls my attention.
I grab my daggers and stealthily make my way through the dark forest and toward the noise. It becomes louder, almost like a pained grunt.
I push through the trees and bushes and freeze.
On the forest floor lay two boys, both dressed in what I think are supposed to be angel costumes. Their large fake wings sit broken beneath their large and limp frames.
I edge nearer, noticing their pained groans and erratic breathing. Sheathing my daggers, I rush over to the nearest body. I flip him over, my new strength making light work of moving his huge frame.
His ash-grey eyes meet mine, a slight tremble in them as my brows scrunch together. His face seemed slightly familiar.
Was he in one of my classes?
His eyes flutter again, and I could see he was trying to keep them open.
His lips open slightly, a mumbled incoherent sound falling from them “...Mmm…mmgg…nn.”
I shake my head as he tries again, making the same jumbled sounds.
“Sorry. I don't know what you're trying to say.”
His eyes slightly shake as they search mine for something. And I could tell that whatever he was trying to say was important. His body stiffens, his jaw tightening as his eyelids begin to flicker, looking as if he was fighting to stay conscious.
My eyes narrow toward his lips as a small white liquid trickles from the corner of his mouth as he tries again to speak.
“Mm…gg…nnn.” He slurs, trying to form words as I lean in closer.
I place my hand on his arm, his pulse abnormally quick but slowly steadying more and more as I listen.
His eyes meet mine again with a more exhausted and desperate look in them as they gaze toward me. What could he be trying to tell me?
I look around the area and toward the other body across from us.
He's lying face down, and if not for the slight tremor in his hands as we talk, I would almost think he was dead.
I take a breath and focus, and using my heightened senses, I zone in on his chest and quickly listen for the sound of a heart beat. His chest rises and falls with the beat of his heart growing louder in my ears, but like his friend beside me, at a slightly abnormal pace.
But thankfully both of them weren’t in any immediate danger, and were fighting whatever was in their systems by themselves.
I look around the area as the boy below me grunts again. There were a couple of large whiskey and vodka bottles, the expensive stuff too.
Was it alcohol poisoning? No, the bottles weren’t even half gone. They sit on a stump in between the two boys' bodies, with a few other small items and three red plastic cups.
Three?
Then I see them…a pair of white high heels and a small white feathered clutch.
I turn back toward the boy, his eyes fighting to stay open as his fingers slightly twitch.
“A girl?” I call, and his eyes whip toward me.
Just then, a scream rings out from the distance.
I let go of his arm and pulled myself up, closing my eyes to let my senses take over and listen fully to my surroundings.
Music plays in the far distance, students chatting and laughing around the academy, animals moving around the forest…
and light footsteps running quickly through the forest, with a much heavier footfall chasing behind them.
They sounded like they were heading toward the boys dormitory.
The body below me grunts and shakes as the one across from us joins him. They wanted to move, to save her.
Their fingers shake, their voices and groans grow louder and clearer with each move, and their eyes flicker open a little wider each time they try.
Another shout peels out in the distance, pulling my attention back to her.
I had to hurry, she might not have long, especially since she's all alone.
“They’re nearing the boys' dorm. Head there when you're both able.” I pull the daggers from the straps on my hips, a sharp ‘shing’ sound falling from the blades as they’re pulled from their sheaths. “I’ll help her in the meantime.”
Ash-grey eyes slightly widen as I rush off following her footsteps and laboured breathing, her movements slowing the longer she runs. I had to move quicker.
Another shout rings out in the distance as I push into a faster run, the forest becoming a blur around me as I try to make my way to her a second sooner.
She wouldn’t die this time, she wouldn’t be maimed.
This time, I’ll change both our fates.
I was given a second chance, so I’ll give one back.
I break through the forest and straight out into a small area, just metres from the boys dormitory. I watch, just a mere few metres away in the treeline, as a familiar raven-haired girl stumbles while running, and falls onto the academy's gravel.
Morgan.
She crawls toward the dormitory, her face pale and arms and legs covered in cuts and scratches.
Her white silky dress is ripped and tattered in dirt and small bits of blood as she tries to make her way to safety.
A growl pulls both our attention, as the creature stalks from the forest and slowly toward her.