9. Nine
During the weekend break from school, Finn graciously invites me to sit outside in the back garden with him while he pulls weeds. Since it”s such a beautiful day out, and I have nothing better to do, I take him up on his offer. I plop down on the cushioned bench nearest him and watch as he slips his worn leather gloves on and meticulously tends to his bed of herbs. There are tiny white labels sticking out of the dirt identifying each one and it puts a smile on my face. He has an eye for detail, and a passion for organization and cleanliness that I fully appreciate.
”So,” he flicks his eyes up to meet mine quickly before refocusing on his plants. ”How are you liking school so far?”
”It”s fine,” I shrug, taking a sip of my lemon water. ”Everyone is nice enough.”
He tosses me a look over his glasses, not bothering to abandon his work. ”But?”
”It”s a lot to take in.”
”Talk to me.” He digs into his bucket and procures a second pair of gardening gloves and extends them to me.
I grab them and my heart soars from the realization he wants to include me in something he loves to do, and I slip the oversized gloves over my hands. Happily, I follow his lead and begin to pull weeds from the garden beds. ”I find Professor Riggs interesting,” I say as I kneel next to him. ”His lectures are far more palatable than Master Kaius”. Headmistress Radcliffe seems to be a very no-nonsense type of person, although when she looks at me, I can”t help but feel as if she believes a strong gust of wind will cleave me in two.”
”And that upsets you?”
I nod, not bothering to look over at him, keeping my hands busy with the task at hand. ”I”ve always been seen as delicate and not someone to take seriously. I”m tired of it. She even told Atlas to be gentle with me.”
”To be fair, Shaye, you are still new to the magical world. Even though you know some basic self-defense, she”s probably concerned for your safety.”
I sigh, ”Yeah, well it”s not like Atlas actually listened to her anyway. He has me training like he”s preparing me for war.”
”He probably is,” he says simply.
I lean back on my haunches, my knees digging into the stone pavers, and stare at the side of his face. ”Did you know he had been assigned as my instructor before I started?”
Finn sits back on his heels, mirroring my stance, and shakes his head, pushing his frames up the bridge of his nose with his wrist. ”Honestly, I was surprised you were assigned to him. Granted, he has more field experience than the other Magical Warfare professors, since he is sent on top secret missions, but he is normally headed over first through fourth years.”
At least Nyx”s story checks out.
”Technically, I”m a no-year,” I say.
”You are an anomaly and will always be treated differently.”
Nyx and his experience at the school flashes in my mind and even though I”m nervous he”ll shut me down, I want to hear more about Finn”s time at Magikos Grammata.
”Nyx told me about his days at school. Were yours just as hard?”
Finn returns to his work, but doesn”t miss a beat when he says, ”None of us had it easy there. Being the first shadow wielder in a thousand years put Atlas in the awkward position of being both loved and feared. He never bought into the legends and lore though. I would say Nyx had it the toughest. There were a lot of students and faculty who were mesmerized by the boy-who-couldn”t-be-killed. They tested his limits more so out of curiosity than anything else. What they seemed to forget was that even though he was invincible, he could still feel pain. It angered me that they hurt him. So much so that I let my rage build and when I couldn”t control myself, I unleashed my power.” His hands quit moving but he”s stuck in stare mode, his eyes glossed over. ”I can still see them writhing in pain on the floor, begging me to stop torturing them. But I couldn”t. I physically couldn”t release them once I”d gotten them in my clutches. The only person who was able to stop me was Atlas.”
”Atlas stopped you?”
Finn bobs his head, finally meeting my gaze. ”He put himself in harm”s way by grabbing ahold of me and screaming, Temnos. It means, Know Thyself. It brought me back every single time I lost control of my abilities.”
”And you never hurt him?”
”I always hurt him, but he never let that stop him.” Neither of us says anything while Finn plucks a few of his herbs and places them in the wicker basket beside him. ”I decided during the last couple years in school that it would be best for me to understand my magic, my triggers, and learn to control it,” he continues. ”I choose not to use my affinity because I don”t want to hurt people. For as long as I can remember, I always dreamed of helping people, healing them, comforting them. Unfortunately, I was born to do the opposite, but it doesn”t mean I have to accept that path.”
”And in Bava,” I say, and his shoulders tighten, ”when you used it to save me?”
”I made a choice to save you. Simple as that.” He exhales and glances at me, like he”s unburdening himself of weight that”s drowning him. ”I”m just a man, Shaye. I have my limits. Inflicting torture upon someone, even my enemy, doesn”t interest me. But if I”m faced with the choice of losing a piece of my soul by using my magic to save a loved one or letting them perish, then I will forfeit my soul to do so.”
”Kitarni!” Nyx calls out to me from the back door. ”A package came for you.”
Finn and I exchange a look before I strip the gloves off, wipe the dirt from my wrists, stand from my crouched position and make my way toward Nyx.
”A package from who?”
Nyx shrugs, very disinterested. ”Not sure. I put it on the dining room table.”
Curiosity alone propels me into the dining room. As soon as I push past the swinging kitchen door, I spot a small parcel wrapped neatly in brown parchment paper with a green ribbon tied into a fancy bow. The white card slipped beneath the ribbon has Strenlys scrawled across in the neatest handwriting I”ve ever seen and beckons me forward. It”s obvious who the package is from and excitement ripples through me as I slip my fingers under the bow and carefully slide it off the parcel and unwrap a black box. Lifting the lid, I see another note laying inside and open it to see a message in a different script.
”Clever girl.” – A
Atlas.
I slide the handwritten note in my pant pocket and peel the wispy white paper back to see a pair of black, fingerless fighting gloves. There is an intricate design etched into the leather, similar in style to Atlas” tattoos, but I have no idea what the symbols mean.
”Everything alright?” Finn asks, startling me. I hadn”t heard him come inside.
I extend the box to him when he places his basket of harvested herbs on the table. ”It”s from Atlas. My prize for pinning him the other day in class.”
Finn looks oddly impressed and nods in approval.
”What do these symbols mean?”
”May I?” he asks before lifting the gloves from their nestled spot. Once I grant non-verbal permission, he flips the gloves in his hands, inspecting them before placing them back in their box.
”Well?” My curiosity is getting the better of me.
”They”re ancient Tronovian runes. Atlas is quite fond of them, as I”m sure you can tell from his tattoos.” I bob my head and he continues, ”They”re protection runes. The belief is having them on your person will keep death from taking you.”
I slip them over my hands and relish the powerful feeling they bestow upon me. I”m not sure if I believe in such superstitions, but I also won”t snub my nose at any extra protection I can get. It”s just like Atlas to give me what I asked for with his own spin on it.
”It”s quite impressive when you think about it,” Finn snags my attention once more as he lifts his basket to retreat to the kitchen.
”What is?”
”You managed to be on the receiving end of not one, but two gifts from a man who only gives them to his mother.”
I snort a laugh. ”Only because I won it fair and square.”
”Right. Fair and square,” Finn winks and slips into the kitchen.
When I noticed Atlas” gloves during one of our classes, I saw how powerful he looked and immediately wanted to be seen in that manner too. If I had the proper attire for hand-to-hand combat, perhaps my knuckles wouldn”t bruise so easily, and I”d be seen as a serious threat. I wish I could pinpoint the desire for Atlas to see me as his equal – to see me as a force to be reckoned with – but what it ultimately boils down to is I refuse to be treated as a delicate flower that has no value other than looking pretty and being silent.
I nearly cackled when I saw the surprise on Atlas” face when I told him I wanted fighting gloves for pinning him. He probably expected me to ask for a tiara or three dozen roses or a dress with a train that stretched an entire city block. But I”m realizing I only loved those things because I was conditioned to. They never brought me true happiness. All I ever wanted was to be seen, to be loved, and to be treated with respect. I couldn”t recognize what I was actually craving until I was plucked from my cushy life of luxury and thrust into a do-or-die situation.
The Tronovians have changed me. They”ve inspired me. They”ve made me feel seen and heard and I”ll be damned if I go back to being the silly, spoiled princess I was before they kidnapped me. Before they saved me.
The swinging door flies open and Nyx trots out, sinking his teeth into a juicy green apple.
”You!” I point at him, stopping him dead in his tracks.
”Me,” he says, wide-eyed.
”Teach me how to fight.”
”I”ve already taught you basic self-defense moves and Atl -”
”No!” I interrupt him. ”Everyone at that school looks at me like I”m fragile and I”m tired of it. Teach me how to fight like you. I don”t want to defend myself; I want to bring men to their knees.”
Slowly, Nyx stalks toward me, taking another bite of his afternoon snack and looking at the gift his brother sent me with a knowing smile. He smacks his lips together, a wicked gleam in his eyes. ”Would this new-found urge to learn hand-to-hand combat have anything to do with Atlas?”
I fold my arms over my chest, returning his mischievous grin with a narrow-eyed glare. ”And if it does?”
”Then, I”m all in, Kitarni. Let”s hit the mats.” He jerks his chin upward and I beeline up the stairs to the fifth floor, tying my hair back on the way. ”Someone is eager,” he teases when he makes it to the sparring room.
He sets his half-eaten apple to the side before dragging the black mats lining the wall and tossing them on the wooden floor.
”First things first,” he beckons me to join him. ”Stretching.” He bends forward, wraps his arms around his legs, and rests his forehead against his shins.
”Stretch?” I crinkle my nose. ”What does that have to do with fighting?”
”If you aren”t limber or flexible, your range of motion will be useless and the chance of you injuring yourself is higher.”
I stare at him blankly, unsure of how to proceed.
”Have you not stretched before?”
”I mean… yes…”
Nyx stands up, quirking a curious eyebrow. ”So, that”s a no.”
”I used to stretch before swimming.”
”I mean really stretching. Can you do the splits?”
”Nyx,” I warn and frown at him, not sure if he”s making some kind of sexual innuendo until he holds his hands up in surrender.
”I know I joke a lot, but I”m being serious this time. Can you do the splits?”
”Can you?” I shoot back with a little more attitude than necessary.
”No need to get testy, Kitarni.” He tsks, flips his hair over his shoulder, and plops down. Stretching one leg in front of him and the other behind before he rotates his hips and splays his legs wide to the sides in a full split. ”Come on.” He pats the available space beside him. ”Show me what you can do.”
My cheeks heat. I know I won”t be able to do a split like that. Not even close. I”ll be lucky if I don”t split my pants attempting it. My range of motion is limited. I”ve never been expected to be physically fit, so other than a light swim when I felt like it, I lived a sedentary life.
Not wanting to shy away from a challenge, I sit next to Nyx and stretch my legs apart as far as my body will physically allow. My legs are pointed in a V-shape – nowhere close to the degree Nyx is at.
I groan. ”Well, this is embarrassing.”
”Why is it embarrassing? I”ve been stretching for years. Flexibility didn”t happen overnight for me, just like it won”t happen overnight for you. The point is, you”re willing to try and ready to learn. I can work with that.”
”Really?”
He nods.
”Can… can our training stay between us?” I ask, sheepishly.
”Before I say yes, can I ask why you want to keep it a secret?”
”Because when you tell people what you”re trying to do, a lot of them won”t support your decision. I don”t want anyone trying to stop me. I”d rather surprise them once I”ve mastered it.”
Sadness suddenly clouds his face. ”Is that what you”re used to in Midori?”
I have a lot of fond memories of life in Midori, but being free to explore new hobbies or develop new skills wasn”t encouraged.
When I don”t immediately respond or meet Nyx”s awaiting gaze, he taps my foot with his and says, ”Your secret is safe with me. Let”s surprise the hell out of everyone.”
I smile up at him. ”Thanks, Nyx.”
”You”re welcome, Kitarni.” He hops up and crouches in front of me. ”Now, let”s whip you into shape.”
I”ve never sweat so much in my entire life. And that”s saying a lot considering I grew up in the desert and survived the Necropolis of Bava.
Over the next hour, Nyx doesn”t let up on me. If I thought Atlas was a taskmaster, Nyx is showing him up tenfold. He won”t allow me to make any excuses, quitting isn”t an option, complaining is frowned upon, and any attitude I give him is ignored.
My knees are wobbly, my back aches, and I”m pretty sure I”ve simultaneously activated and aggravated muscles I didn”t even know I had.
”Ok, Kitarni.” Nyx motions me forward and I reluctantly stand to my sore feet and crack my back as I straighten to my full height. ”Let”s practice the moves I showed you one more time and call it a night. You can get washed up for dinner.”
Dinner.
That one word alone has my stomach roaring and my mouth salivating. Finn”s homecooked meals are so much better than anything I”ve ever eaten in Midori, and I know I”ve been spoiled. No one”s cooking will ever compare and I honestly dread the day I”ll leave these shores and return to my homeland.
My heart sinks imagining life without the Harland brothers and Eris by my side. It”s only been a few weeks, how have I come to care for them so much? A tightness lodges in my throat and I shoo the unwanted tears away.
Turning my focus completely on Nyx, I take up my fighter”s stance, keeping within the imaginary box he told me to visualize.
”Begin.”
The first combo I know by heart because Nyx had me practice the moves Atlas taught me in class the other day. With little effort and great speed, I block his blows and spin, using his momentum against him. I drive my elbow into his back, and he grunts.
”Good, Kitarni!” he praises. ”Do you think you can add in the rest of what we practiced at the same speed?”
”I can try.”
We take our starting stances and run through the moves once more. Our arms are flying. Blocks, jabs, thrown elbows. It”s all so fast and yet, after an hour of practice, I”m keeping up. Doesn”t mean my arms aren”t aching with each blow, but I”m determined to improve and if that means soreness and bruises, then I”ll take it. Nyx sweeps his leg under me, and I hop over him. I drop to the mat and attempt to sweep his legs out, but he expects the move and not only avoids me, but lunges on top of me, pinning me to the mat.
”Damnit,” I hiss, knowing I”ve lost.
He slides to his feet and extends his hand. ”You did a damn good job.”
I accept his help and he hoists me up. A deep-set frown mars my face. ”I hate losing.”
He points a finger at me with a grin so wide I”m afraid his face will split in two. ”There it is!”
”There what is?”
”The competitiveness. You want to be the best and you will be one day.”
”How can you be so sure?”
Nyx folds the mats up and places them against the wall. ”Because you won”t stop until you are.” He jerks his chin toward the stairs, wiping the beads of sweat lining his hairline with the back of his hand. ”Dinner?”
”Shower first. Then dinner.”
He pats me on the back. ”In a few months, you”ll be keeping up with the rest of us.”
”From your mouth to the Father”s ears.” I don”t have years to master my skills or my magic, so I can only hope and pray I pick up on my lessons quickly, so I”m of use if and when I”m needed.