11. Ivy #2
Turning my attention to the group still disconnected from their abilities, I spot about a dozen of us. A pile of bags has been dumped to the side while everyone lingers near the molten rock. Eager to blend in, I do the same, slipping my bag from my shoulder before I inch closer.
“Professor Carbon won’t be long, but you might want to get comfortable by the lava. It will make sense when she comes. That’s what I had to do,” a guy explains, brushing his brown hair off his face as he speaks, and my jaw falls slack.
That’s what I had to do.
Does that mean he didn’t arrive when we did? Like, he’s been here longer and still doesn’t know?
I gulp, not liking those odds as I move with seven others to stand awkwardly to the side.
Instead of wallowing in worry, I fix my gaze on the rest of the room, watching it come alive with a touch of magic.
It’s all happening at the far end of the cave, where those with more experience train.
Jealousy doesn’t creep in this time; instead, awe tingles at the corner of my mouth as I stare in amazement.
A girl takes a deep breath and points her palms at the ground before slowly rising, similar to how Professor Carbon did, but she doesn’t have a layer of rock beneath her.
She wavers when she reaches about a meter off the ground, arms flailing before she crashes down in a heap.
Her friends quickly help her up, brushing dirt off her shoulders while smiling and offering words of encouragement.
Excitement and hope nestle in my chest as a flash of red catches my attention. It takes me a moment to realize two guys are playing catch with a ball of… fire. My fingers curl around my throat with nerves as they laugh, the distance between them growing wider as I blink in disbelief.
I’m completely enraptured, but not fast enough to react when one guy throws it a little too far left and it comes hurtling toward me.
Panicked, I yelp, barely managing to sidestep the inferno heading my way before it collides with the igneous rock behind me, diminishing into nothingness before my eyes.
My hand drops to my chest as I try to calm my breath, but my attention quickly shifts when I hear a ring of laughter flutter through the air.
As I slowly turn my attention away from where the fire was moments ago, I find everyone staring at me. I clear my throat, the only one not laughing, as I realize I’ve become the entertainment.
The guy behind the wide shot jogs toward me, a mischievous look on his face as he smirks down at me. He stops when we’re face to face, producing another fireball in his hands as he gazes at me through the flickering flames.
“There’s no need to dodge fire when you are fire,” he murmurs, and understanding washes over me.
I grimace, dragging my hair over my shoulder to hide as I blink up at him. “Thank you for that detail,” I breathe, and his eyebrows pinch slightly.
“I thought since one of your fated mates is a Fire Protector, you would have known already,” he states, and I clear my throat, heat rising across my cheeks as I force a smile.
“He likes to keep me on my toes,” I mutter, the words faltering as I struggle with my composure.
One part of me wants to slip into Angel mode, accept my mother’s strict training, and handle everything gracefully, but the other part of me, the real me, wishes the floor would open up and swallow me whole.
I don’t know how to share an honest part of myself without feeling like a fraud. So I do the only thing I can think of: I shield myself from the world.
“Thanks again,” I say with an even wider smile, and he nods.
“Catch.”
I hesitate, hands instinctively reaching out as the fire dances in the air between us at his command, and a shiver runs down my spine when I feel the heat in my palms, but no pain.
Mesmerized, I don’t move, watching the embers flicker before me.
“You’re a pro already,” he muses, and I dare to look at him through the flames. His smile is easy, just like Teddy’s, but there’s no array of emotions behind his gaze that leaves me with questions I shouldn’t want the answers to.
There’s also no sense of betrayal in the air.
Smiling, I flip my hands up, and the fire moves a few inches before it falls, but he manages to catch it before it hits the ground.
“Nice. I’m Silas, by the way.” He holds his ball of fire in one hand while extending the other toward me.
“Ivy,” I reply, reaching out toward him in response, but before I can make contact, another hand slaps mine away.
Startled, I blink at the hulking figure between us, and my blood runs cold.
“Archer,” Silas murmurs, raising an eyebrow at him as he drops his hand. “I was just explaining to Ivy here that she doesn’t need to dodge the fire. I’m surprised you haven’t already taught her that.”
Archer’s hands ball at his sides as he glares at the man before me.
“Silas, do us all a favor, and fuck off,” he bites, the warning clear in his tone as my new friend scoffs.
“It doesn’t feel like a favor to me, does it feel like a favor to you, Ivy?” he asks, snapping his attention to me with that same mischief dancing in his eyes.
He’s trying to provoke him, and it’s working.
I shouldn’t encourage it. I need to put as much distance as possible between Archer and me, but he’s already spent enough time getting under my skin.
I’m immediately reminded of the vow I made to myself yesterday, one rooted in vengeance and determination to make my fated mates pay. And I’ll take a small win in any form.
Not that it even matters to Archer, who I do and don’t talk to. Assuming that’s what this is about.
Nevertheless, a burning sensation swirls in my gut, fueling my confidence as I stay true to my words.
“No favor at all, Silas,” I breathe, refusing to look at my fated mate as my new friend winks at me.
I smirk, my pulse pounding in my ears as I turn to walk away from both of them, but not before hearing Archer’s snarly voice.
“Stay away from what’s mine, Silas.”
I spin on the spot before I think better of it, finger aimed his way as I snarl. “I’m not yours, Archer. I was never yours. You made sure of that. So before you continue to try and control me, remember that your actions have consequences.”
Enraged, I turn away, almost colliding with Professor Carbon, who stares down at me with distaste.
“Is there an issue here, Miss Hayworth?” she asks, cocking a brow, and I quickly swallow the tirade that threatens to spill past my lips, shaking my head instead.
“Good, then there won’t be a problem with you actually participating in the class instead of causing unnecessary drama.
You do have two years worth of classes to catch up on.
Unless I’m wrong?” she proceeds, and I gulp, shame flooding my thoughts as I muster a tight-lipped smile.
“Of course,” I breathe, my throat raspy as the echo of mocking snickers floats from behind me.
“Good, follow me,” she commands, but before I take a single step, I glance over my shoulder, determined to torment myself as I spot the same girls from yesterday. The ones who tried to tear me down after the gathering.
Taking a deep breath, I turn away before I make the situation worse, but not before hearing their loud whispers.
“Worthless whore.”
My spine stiffens and I force the walls Ember insisted I try to drop firmly back into place.
Screw them.
Screw everyone.
I may seem worthless now, with no powers to my name and a cloud of shame hanging over me, but that’s not all I am, and I’m determined to prove it.