Chapter 13 The Visitor #2
"Where are we supposed to get ballgowns and stuff? I don't know if you have a fancy dress like that stashed away somewhere, but I don't. Maybe it's a good thing you only reminded me of the dance now. If I'd remembered it was approaching, I may have spent all my time going into a panic."
"The Academy has a seamstress."
Amber jumped a little when the voice spoke behind her.
I hadn't seen Cleopatra come in either. I had no idea how long she'd been standing there, but she'd obviously heard part of our conversation.
It was a bit embarrassing, given how little she could relate to our predicament.
I was certain that the daughter of the Empress didn't have to worry about where to find a formal gown.
Even here in the hospital suite, Cleopatra looked like a creature drawn from a fairytale. Her long, purple hair glistened, and she had such a graceful way of carrying herself. That magical aura, always present, made her seem otherworldly.
"On the fifth floor, in the South Wing. I can show you where she is if you'd like?" She said it as if it wasn't a big deal, just her being helpful. Sometimes she seemed so arrogant. Other times, like now, she seemed like any ordinary woman.
Amber and I stared speechlessly at Cleopatra as she walked up to my bed.
"Uhm, I think the healer said I can only have one visitor at a time.
" I didn't know what Cleopatra was doing here.
We had never been friends. From the first moment, she had made it clear that she was here to study, to prepare for joining the Void Wars.
I didn't think she even had any friends outside of the Archangel, who was her mate.
Since the start of school, she'd been cold and aloof, business-like and singularly focused. I never took her attitude personally. She was like that with everyone, but I was certain she didn't think much of me.
"Ethel will have a fit if she comes in here and I have more than one visitor."
"She's sleeping," Cleopatra said matter-of-factly and turned her strange eyes on Amber. "I peeked inside her office when I came, and she was conked out in her chair, poor woman."
The timer next to my bed went off, and a high-pitched buzzing noise like a swarm of bees filled the room. Cleopatra reached over and silenced it.
"That's my cue, anyway," Amber said, giving me a pointed look.
It was clear that Cleopatra wanted to speak to me in private.
Amber was trying to tell me to be nice and to fill her in on what Cleopatra said to me later.
She got up and leaned over to give me a hug. "I'll see you early tomorrow morning."
I nodded dully, sort of intimidated by the thought of being left alone in a room with Cleopatra. When the door closed behind Amber, she sat in the now-empty chair.
"I came to see if I can offer you my assistance.
I'm not as well-trained in healing magic as I'd like to be, but if I summon him, I'm sure there's something Asau can do to increase the speed of your recovery.
" She regarded me carefully. "Though it seems to me that the fall shouldn't have harmed you at all.
What really happened out there? Did someone try to harm you in any way? "
"Why would you want to do that? I mean, summon your mate to heal me, even if I was hurt, which I'm not. You're right, I don't really know what happened out there today, but what's it to you? Why would you want to help me, anyway?" I was honestly baffled by her offer.
"You're the Trinity. The only one worthy of being any sort of rival. It seems I enjoy the challenge. I enjoy pitting my skills against yours to see who will be the better one in the end."
I gave a loud snort. It sounded rude, but I just couldn't help myself. "Oh, really? You've seen what it's been like for me since I almost killed everyone. I'm hardly your opponent, Cleopatra."
She sighed, and I realized she was exasperated with me.
"Yes, well... I suppose there's that. If it wasn't for that damn prophecy, I could have written you off as nothing more than another student, but there's the fact that you're supposed to be powerful beyond anything the world has ever seen.
I think your very first demonstration gave us all a little glimpse of what you could be.
Since then, you've been scared, and that's affected your magical abilities. "
I rolled my eyes, remembering this was very similar to the speech the Principal had given me at the beginning of the term. If Cleopatra was going to mention anything about me being "called to greatness," I'd have to laugh.
"You don't agree?" She stood up and looked like she was leaving. "Then I shan't waste my time giving you another thought."
I felt myself flush in shame and didn't know why. Because I had disappointed another person?
At the door, Cleopatra looked back at me.
"Most of magical ability is intent. Remember that.
Whether you think you can, or think you can't, you'll be right.
You didn't want this, I get that, but you'd better start realizing you're in this now.
There's no turning back for any of us. Your stupid reluctance to use your powers just proves you're not worthy of them, but it's not like you or I had a say in the matter. "
"You're probably right. It should have been you who was chosen as the Trinity. Why would you want me to compete against you? You're so much better than everyone else. You've already proven that. You've won. What more do you want?"
She gave a derisive little laugh, tinged with so much bitterness that it surprised me.
"I haven't won anything. I don't know what winning means to you, but to me it only means something if I've competed against the best. I suggest you rest now and get that loser mentality out of your head if you're going to mean something to yourself before this damn term comes to an end.
I've changed my mind. I'm not summoning Asau. Not for the likes of you."
She opened the door and slammed it shut as she left, with so much force that it rattled in its frame.
Ethel appeared a few moments later, her hair twisted into crazy cowlicks. "Was that Princess Cleopatra I saw storming out of here, angry as a pack of hellhounds?"
I nodded dully, and Ethel clicked her tongue disapprovingly.
She obviously didn't think someone like me should be arguing with royalty.
I stifled a giggle, and she looked at me with one eyebrow raised.
"I think it's time you slept. If you want to leave the hospital wing tomorrow morning, you'd better get your rest."
She switched the light off and closed the door behind her, leaving me in the dark with only my thoughts to keep me company.
Cleopatra had given me lots to think about. Still, I was feeling lousy and guilty.
I remembered my confrontation with the monster this afternoon. Illusion or not, I had performed the firebolt spell perfectly, without giving it a second thought. As if it were something that came naturally to me, like breathing. That's the way that Vaerath had described it.
Was it possible that Cleopatra was right? Had the only thing stopping me these past few days been my own fear and insecurities? My own feelings of being unworthy?
There was still a whole month and a half left before the term ended for the holidays.
Soon, we'd all be heading home to spend time with our families.
What would it be like to have to explain to my family that I hadn't even managed to progress one level?
I knew the separation was difficult for my parents, for my brothers, and for my little sister.
They were making this sacrifice because they didn't have a choice, but believing it served a purpose at least made the longing less painful.
That's what they kept telling me in their letters: they looked forward to seeing me and realized I was where I was meant to be.
I didn't think my failing to perform spells would necessarily disappoint my family. What I did think was that I shouldn't be wasting this time away from them.
Determined to make the last demonstration of the term count, I was glad that Cleopatra had stopped by, if only to anger me enough to kick my ass into gear.