Chapter 35
C lasses had been cancelled the day before the Winter Ball. I guess prestige and money spoke louder in the academy than the actual education of its students. As it seemed the students getting their hair and nails done was of more importance than actually attending class or learning something.
But why it would take up so much time–even needing its own day–I still had no clue. A quick shower and a bit of mascara and I’d be done.
I shrug, watching from my room's window as groups of students make their way out of the gates and to readied cars for their primping and preening. And probably a few towns over.
The town nearest here and the ones around it weren’t really known for their trendy boutiques or spa facilities.
I grab my black hoodie and head toward the forest and old training building.
I pat my stomach as I zip my hoodie up. I ate too many pancakes doused with syrup and strawberries for breakfast this morning. I’ll be lucky if I don’t have any issues fitting into the dress Ezra and Annex bought me.
I had awkwardly thanked them through a mouthful of pancakes, which had them both chuckling and saying ‘They would take that as a yes then’ .
They seemed even more enthusiastic than I thought they would be about a school ball, spending most of breakfast talking about ‘coordinating’ and ‘matching styles’.
We all agreed to meet in the courtyard in front of my dorm just before the ball started.
It was a peaceful breakfast until Annex and I got into a debate over who could eat the most pancakes…I obviously won. Nine pancakes to his seven, but the grin on his face looked nothing like a loss, he even called me cute .
I’m pretty sure there was nothing cute about me munching down nine pancakes, but Ezra actually agreed with him. I guess their idea of cute was a little warped, but what could I expect from guys nicknamed the Infernal Four.
I make my way through the forest and down the old abandoned path. I would have to do some heavier training and add a quick run, to be able to burn through all those pancake calories. Still worth every fluffy bite.
I head into the old building, the place I’ve claimed as my personal gym and am met with two deep forest green eyes.
Gadriel flips two daggers between his fingers as a small soft grin tilts his lips.
“I thought you would come.”
I pull off my hoodie, throwing it on a nearby tree branch as he throws me one of the daggers in his hands. I twist the blade between my fingers, a small smile stretching my lips as I sprint toward him. His stance quickly changes to a defensive one.
Just what I had expected.
I drop to the ground, sliding beneath him and aiming to kick his feet out from under him.
But he quickly twists into a flip and lands behind me.
His blade lashes out toward me with the movement, but I swivel, dodging it and thrusting my own blade out to meet his.
Our blades collide as they meet time and time again, sparks flying in every direction as we move around the old building.
We go back and forth in what has become our regular routine every other day. We would jump straight into sparring, our fists or weapons clashing against one another for hours, losing track of time and becoming lost in our own little world here.
I didn’t need to restrain myself with Gadriel. I could spar with him and not have to hold back my strength. It benefited me more to give our sessions my everything and he in return did so too.
I had seen the surprise in his eyes the first time I let loose before it quickly turned into something else; a look of anticipation and excitement, with a small glimmer of something else I couldn’t quite read.
The academy bell rings in the distance, pulling us from our own world, the sky above us now falling to dusk with the laughter and chatter of returning students more clear in the distance.
I wipe the sweat dripping down my neck as Gadriel puts his dagger away in a large black duffel bag he’s brought.
I flip the dagger in my hand before heading over to him and handing it back. He takes it but flickers his gaze between me and the blade. He opens his mouth, but closes it quickly again, his brows furrowing before he finally begins to speak.
“Micai, are you…going to the Winter Ball?”
My brows raise a fraction. Why was he asking? Had there been more rumours about me going around? I had thought it had been too quiet lately.
But I’m sure no-one knew that I was going with Annex and Ezra, and they both didn’t seem like the type to talk about it with others so easily.
Annex just had to look at someone for them to turn tail and run.
And even Ezra had been acting differently lately.
He wasn’t wearing his signature smile around people anymore or spending time with any girls that were trying to be overly nice to him, even going so far as to outright ignore them at times.
“Here.” Gadriel takes out a small black bundle, pulling me from my thoughts.
He hands it to me, a hesitant look in his eyes as he watches me open it.
“I thought it best if you had something with you…just in case.”
I unfold the small bundle; inside sits a black strap attached to a small black sheath, with a silver handle poking out.
I pull it out, my eyes going wide at the beautiful curved blade.
I grip its handle in my palm; it was so small and light but its blade looked razor sharp. On the blade itself sat small ornate and delicate carving… in Elvish.
My eyes go wide. This couldn’t be.
I shake my head, my eyes flickering back and forth between the blade and Gadriel.
“Is this…an Elven blade?”
The responding smile he gives me is breathtaking, a light humour bleeding into his gaze as he opens his mouth. “I had hoped you would like it.”
How could I not like it?
The smile I give him must answer any questions he has, because the slight tension in his shoulders instantly seeps from them when he sees it.
He points to the small black sheath and strap.
“You place this on your thigh, and make sure no-one sees it. It makes for a better surprise if anything were to happen. And should you need it, don’t be afraid to use it.”
My brows scrunch together, this wasn’t for sparring?
Then it hits me. He had asked about the dance.
He must take my expression for confusion over the sheath and how to put it on instead, because in the next moment, he's taking it from my hands and kneeling in front of me.
He opens the strap and places it loosely around my calf and starts to slide it up toward my thigh. His movements slow until they stiffen the further up my thigh he gets.
I’m wearing black leggings, so I can feel each touch and graze of his large fingers against my thigh, with a slight shiver making its way up my body with the small contact and a small heat creeping into my cheeks.
His eyes slowly look up, reaching mine as he tightens the strap, but whatever he sees has him freezing for a slight moment before quickly shaking his head. He pulls away from me and straightens himself, pausing for a brief moment before turning back toward me.
“Hopefully you won’t need to use it, but…
it's better to have it with you anyway.” His expression becomes more serious, a slightly colder tone as he continues.
“Don’t let anyone hurt you. I know it's a ball and not a battlefield but…” His eyes flicker toward my feet and then wrists, “You can never be too careful.”
Now I understand. He was worried that something like before might happen again.
I brush a hand gently across the sheath and blade’s handle, before looking back toward him. “I’ll use it well. Thank you.”
He gives me a small nod. “Hopefully you won't have a need to. And…make sure you have fun tomorrow, Micai. I’ll be around if you need me.”
His gaze lingers for another brief moment before he turns away and heads through the old forest trail. He had told me before that he had to leave and help the other faculty members to check the barriers around the academy for the Ball.
I unstrap my beautiful little Elven blade and tuck it under my hoodie after putting it back on. No need to explain what it is to the dorm's head or anyone else if they saw me.
I don't think they would be as impressed with it as I am. And if anyone tried to touch it or take it from me, I might have to take a note from Annex’s book and get all stabby.
After all, it was an Elven blade .
I head over to the cafeteria, grabbing an apple and a cold ham and cheese baguette, having already missed dinner time.
I’m making my way out of the empty cafeteria, when I come to a sudden stop.
There was a group of students in front of the exit; Ivy Harris, Aiden Hopps, Pearse Mattews and Cody Dalton, all first year warlocks.
They were blocking the exit as they surrounded Ivy, Aiden's hand was on her thigh, sliding higher as her lips locked with Cody beside her. Pearse is to her other side, his hand sliding back and forth his front pants and… gross .
A bit of bile makes its way up my throat. I’ll have to bleach my eyes when I get back to my room.
I loudly clear my throat just as Aiden's hand slides under Ivy’s skirt. Not on my watch.
I didn’t need to see how monkeys copulate. That's probably a bit harsh…on the monkeys.
Ivy flinches, pulling her skirt down and pushing away from Cody, but none of the assholes around her budge. Well other than Pearse, who thankfully removes his hand from his pants.
All three boys turn, glaring toward the interruption as Ivy tidies herself before turning and freezing. Her worried face quickly twisting quickly into annoyance.
“What, so now you're a perv watching people? Enjoying the show Mic–”
“If I wanted to see animals fuck, I’d go to the zoo, Ivy.
” I give her my best deadpan look. “But I probably wouldn’t feel as nauseous…
normal animals don't disgust me.” I turn to look at the three pairs of eyes slightly widening.
“Besides,” I turn back to Ivy, taking a step closer, “I’m not the one blocking the exit with my body.
You should probably take your little show somewhere else…
” Her small nose scrunches up, her eyes narrowing and lip flattening into a thin line.
“Unless you want people to see you.” I pull back, shrugging. “But…whatever you're into.”
Her mouth opens, her nostrils flaring slightly, as a large hand lands on my shoulder.
“You asking for an in, Micai?” Smirks Cody before I push his hand away. How did he come to that conclusion from what I just said?
Ivy’s eyes narrow toward the boy who moments before had his lips all over her. He notices her glare and takes a step back from me, his hands raised in a pacifying manner as Ivy scowls.
Then she turns her rage toward me, a vicious glare coating her small features as a bitter chuckle leaves her lips.
“Can’t get your own man, so you throw yourself at other girls' partners? Just like you did with your sister.” She sneers, “Or did the Infernal Four finally see you for what you really are?” She looks me up and down a scoff falling from her mouth as she trails her gaze up my oversized hoodie and toward my messy hair.
She smiles, but it's anything but pretty.
“It makes sense, the Infernal Four have taste. They also never go to dances or balls…or did you think you were the exception?” She laughs, an annoyingly high-pitch sound falling from her thin lips, that quickly grates on my ears.
“Poor Micai. Of course you're no exception. I’m sure they had their fun with you, but hopefully now you can find some self-respect and realise you're not up to standard. Not theirs. And not ours.” She smirks as I squeeze the baguette in my hand, probably ruining it beyond repair.
She sneers again, taking a step toward me, “It's sad really. All you’re worth is your basic looks and what's in between your legs–”
I slam my hand against the door behind her, pinning her against it.
“Unlike you, I wouldn’t fuck trash and my worth…can’t be measured by the likes of you.”
A hand grips my shoulder again, trying to pull me back as another reaches from my side.
I easily shirk the hand gripping me off and dodge the other incoming one.
I kick the door behind Ivy open, sending her falling backwards and onto her ass. She knocks over a trash can as she falls, all the dirt falling out and on top of her as I make my way past.
I head to my dorm, hearing her screams even as I make my way inside.
I head to my room with my now squashed baguette, the apple now missing. It’s probably rolling in the cafeteria hallway somewhere.
The image of Ivy’s shocked face and her sprawled on the ground replays in my mind as a small chuckle leaves my lips. She was exactly where she belonged, with the rest of the trash.