28. Ivy
IVY
We return to campus with a thud, the hostile air between Baron and Alaric palpable, neither one of them willing to concede.
My mind is swirling through too many thoughts all at once to deal with their tension as well.
As scrambled as my mind is, the trip to see Rapture is just what I needed, even though it hasn’t come with a definitive answer.
Instead, it's come with a pathway leading to more questions, offering a fork in the road with signs aiming in completely different directions.
And as much as I hate to admit it, Francesca was right the other day.
We need to stop reacting and start acting.
“Do you have Hugo's contact information?” I ask once I reach the bottom of Alaric's wing, offering an extra stroke in silent compassion as Baron joins me.
“I do,” he states, cocking a brow at me, and I nod.
“Perfect. Can you tell him we need a meeting immediately?”
His brows dip, furrowing instead as he peers at me. “We don't get to call meetings,” he states, and I sigh.
“Call my brother.”
He runs his tongue along his bottom lip, eyeing me curiously as he pulls his device from his pocket, doing as I ask.
It rings three times before my brother's familiar voice comes through the line.
“What do you want, fucker?”
“It's Ivy.”
“Oh, what do you want, Angel Face?” he corrects, and I shake my head.
“A meeting. Now.”
He sighs heavily down the line.
“I went out on a limb for you last time, and look how that turned out. I'm not putting my neck out there again, Ivy.”
“It's different this time,” I insist, hoping to reassure him, but he scoffs.
“I’m sure you'll say that every time,” he corrects, and I snatch the device from Baron's palms.
“I need you to listen to me, Hugo. Our mother paid me another lovely visit, only this time… she killed me.”
“What the fuck?” he grunts, and I wave him off with my hand as if he can see me.
“It doesn't matter, but after another trip to see Rapture and a conversation on the matter, I—”
“Another trip to the dragons? What are you talking about, Ivy?”
Frustration boils inside of me, my mind muddled with all the information. “Please, just call a meeting. The arena again,” I state, ending the call and handing the device back to Baron, and the second it's in his palm, it vibrates, making his eyes widen in surprise.
“Apparently, we've got ten minutes to get there, Firefly,” he breathes, and I nod, spinning on the spot to head directly toward the arena.
It's not lost on me that I'm still dressed in Teddy's clothes, the joggers and t-shirt, completely oversized, but I try to adjust the waistband once again to hold it in place as I trudge across campus.
Baron, thankfully, remains quiet at my side, giving me space to think, and to my surprise, when we arrive at the arena, we're one of the last ones there.
Teddy, Archer, and Sax are waiting for us outside, and when they catch a glimpse of me, my Fire Protector charges toward me like a man possessed, pinning me to his chest as he curses in my ear.
“I left you alone for two fucking minutes, Ivy. Are you okay?”
“I’m weirdly okay,” I admit as he leans back to rake his eyes over me, but the second he’s done with his assessment, Sax steps up to do his.
“Sunshine,” he breathes, and I smile.
“It’s like you were destined to have a hard couple of days,” he grumbles, and I hum in agreement.
“I’m more baffled by the fact that I died and I’m still here without having to recuperate,” I mumble, and he nods, squeezing my shoulder.
“So there are no repercussions at all?” he clarifies, and I twist my lips nervously.
“My magic is a little weaker because of it, but I’m okay otherwise,” I explain as Teddy appears at my side, pressing a kiss at my temple before we fall into step, heading for our usual spots around the table.
Unlike last time when I called a meeting, Professor Viola is already waiting, seated in her spot, likely to ensure I don't try to take charge as I did then. But my emotions are different this time. For now.
“Miss Hayworth. You're making this a habit,” she states, steepling her fingers together, and I hum.
“I wish I wasn’t,” I offer, accounting for every filled chair before I continue. “But the fact of the matter is, we've got to adapt to the changes.”
“How so?” she asks as my gaze lands on my brother.
I take a deep breath and explain the past hour of my life.
From my mother killing me to my conversation with the dragons.
I lay it all out for everybody in the room, unfazed whether they're an enemy or an ally, because the fact of the matter is, it might affect only me right now, but it's going to affect everyone eventually.
And even I wouldn't wish this pain on my worst enemy, my gaze lingering on Odesa as I think it.
“And the dragons tell me my only option is to know what that relic has to offer. Which means I can take one of two routes: seal myself in an invisible, binding contract with someone I don't care to offer that control to, or I turn to The Fates.”
“You can't turn to The Fates,” Professor Viola states, her eyebrows pinching as she stares at me, and I sigh.
“The alternative is going to be me as the Kingdom Champion of the Second Kingdom. Is that what The Fates want?” I press, and Viola shakes her head.
“Of course not.”
I plant my hands on my hips, more to hold my pants up than anything.
“So you are understanding of the matter then? Because I can’t continue to sit around while my mother acts, never mind Leonardo, who continues to push past boundaries like they don’t exist. This is more than me just wanting to chat with The Fates,” I ramble, on the brink of reeling off all of my issues again, but I refrain.
“You can't just simply go to The Fates,” she reiterates and sighs.
“I either go to The Fates, or I go to the enemy, and it seems there are plots against us bigger than we're prepared for.”
“You can't be sure of that, Ivy,” she says with a heavy exhale.
“And you can't be sure of what The Fates want without asking them,” I retort, frustration brimming in my words.
“I say you just accept Leonardo’s offer and go to the Second Kingdom so we can be rid of you,” Francesca states, and I sneer.
“Only if you stand to represent the Fifth Kingdom,” I snap.
“Do any of you even know what it entails to be one of the Kingdom Champions?” Professor Carbon interjects, and I shake my head.
“No, because like many pieces of information, that has yet to be shared,” I bite, throwing my arms out at my sides.
“Ivy—” Professor Viola starts, and I shake my head.
“With all due respect, you are not going to provide information that is important to what we're dealing with right now. So unless you’re going to surprise me, I don't want to hear it. Unfortunately, you are not the one dealing with the direct consequences of this mess. Yet you continue to be the one to make the decisions, even though you’re not in the crosshairs; having these experiences that I'm battling.” Desperation clings to me as the entire room stares back and forth between us.
I’m making a spectacle of myself, but I need someone to listen.
“Ivy, a moment,” Hugo mutters, and I shake my head.
“I’ve had a moment, Hugo.”
“Please, VeeVee,” he murmurs, and I gulp as he nods toward the door.
Anybody else in the entire room and I’d stand my ground, but there’s something in his eyes that makes me relent.
Rising from my seat, I head toward my brother, who makes it to the door first. I can sense the uncertainty from my hated mates, but before I can glance at them, Viola’s voice cuts through the air.
“While you’re out there, maybe reconsider what it is you’re trying to bring to this table.”
I frown. “Trying to bring to the table? I'm not bringing much to the table. It's a simple question really. Instead of acting out of haste or immaturity, I’m bringing my predicament to the forefront because it will affect everyone. I’ve said it already, but I’ll say it again so you can have a chance to mull it over.
Either I use the relic and accept Leonardo’s offer, or I meet with The Fates.
You would assume that a meeting with The Fates would be far easier, since I'm a member of the Fifth Kingdom, open to the connection between all sodalities and following their rules,” I ramble, and my brother nods.
“I agree, but let's just take a moment,” Hugo confirms, amping my confidence as I reluctantly follow him out of the room.
He holds the door open for me, and I charge toward the far end of the hallway, my brother hot on my heels as I lean against the wall with my arms folded over my chest.
With my eyes narrowed, I set them on Hugo, who drags a hand down his face.
“You've been to the dragons,” he starts, and I gape at him.
“Is that what this is about?”
He shakes his head. “Ivy, I'm struggling to comprehend the fact that you've already been through what you've been through, and I don't even know all of it.
I understand that. I understand the predicament you're in, and if they continue to not back you like this, I will understand wholeheartedly if you take the relic and accept what Leonardo Corrigan offers.”
“I don't want that,” I interject, and he nods.
“I know, but it is still understandable if you do take it. What you have to be mindful of is it's not just you anymore. What do you call them? Your hated mates? They are involved now too,” he states, and I sigh.
“I understand that this is always more than just me, which is why I didn't look at the relic to begin with, for them and for me.”
“It's hard when you have a different mindset from your mate,” he murmurs, and my heart stills in my chest.
“What do you mean?”