Sax #2
Struggling with the memory, I’m quickly distracted by the sound of footsteps on the other side of the door again, and when the shadow casts through the glass, I lurch to my feet when it doesn’t quickly disappear.
But as the door opens, I’m disappointed to see Professor Viola standing on the other side instead of a medical professional.
I’m not the only one discontent with her arrival as the air thickens and irritation threatens to run high.
She runs her hands over her navy pants with a sad smile on her lips. “I see our phoenix hasn’t risen yet,” she states, and Archer climbs to his feet too, standing closest to the door.
“She’s not our anything.”
“Of course,” she replies, a fake smile on her lips as she opts to soothe him instead of barking back like she did the first time she made an appearance.
“Any updates?” she continues, spinning her attention to Hugo, who shakes his head.
“I’m sure she will rise when she’s ready,” she adds, lacing her hands together as she clears her throat.
“I must speak with you all about the important matters at hand. I was hoping to wait until Ivy was also present, but that’s not possible, and it mustn’t delay any further. ”
“Maybe at least have the mindfulness to ask us to step out of the room. Considering the circumstances, I don’t think this is the appropriate place. Do you?” I grunt, cocking my head at her, and her eyes narrow a millimeter, but I see it.
“If you will,” she murmurs, stepping back outside.
The room closes in on the five of us: Archer, Teddy, Baron, Hugo, and me.
“I’m not leaving her side,” Teddy bites, his nostrils flaring as he eliminates the distance between him and Ivy, taking a firm position at her side. “The rest of you should go. Ember will keep me company,” he adds, looking toward the sprite perched at the end of Ivy’s bed, nodding with certainty.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to argue, to demand to stand here too, but he’s feeling it worse than the rest of us, and the quicker Viola says whatever she has to say, the faster we can all be back in here.
With a nod, Archer leads the procession out of the room, while I hold up the end of the line, glancing over my shoulder briefly at Ivy’s sleeping form before I close the door behind me.
“Professor?” I ask, encouraging her to get to it as we fill up the small waiting area outside Ivy’s room.
The same gray chairs we’ve claimed in her room are lined up against the cream wall, while a small television plays in the corner on an old wooden bookcase.
Viola smiles, rocking back on her heels as she peers at each of us. “A phoenix,” she breathes, making my spine stiffen as I cock my head at her.
“We’re all aware of what she is,” Archer grunts, and she waves him off.
“That’s big for the academy, for the kingdom, for The Fates to bless her with such strengths,” she rambles, and my eyes narrow, but before I can speak, Hugo beats me to it.
“I agree with all of that, but this is going to be far bigger for her than anyone else. Adaptation and grace are what is needed now, not the weight of the academy, the entire kingdom, and The Fates.” His voice is firm as he replicates my thoughts.
“Of course,” Professor Viola nods, that same tight smile on her lips. “But we must begin considering the bigger picture to ease her pressures.”
“You mean so we can guide her when she’s ready?” Baron grunts, and she nods, earning a huff from my brother. “You have met her, right? Whatever good you think that’s going to do is going to have the opposite effect.”
Her eyebrows pinch. “I don’t quite follow.”
“Of course you don’t. Because you don’t know her,” I add, irritation flooding my veins as I understand my brother’s statement perfectly.
“Ivy Hayworth has to think for herself and make her own decisions. Guidance, no matter how good the intention, is misconstrued because of the control she’s been under most of her life.
Whatever it is you’re trying to plan here won’t work. ”
Hugo drags a hand down his face, eyes wide as he blinks at us. “So you do know her.”
“It’s impossible not to,” Archer mumbles, and I fight a grin despite the circumstances.
“I understand what you’re saying, but Ivy’s magical abilities are heightened. No wonder we felt such a magical pull from her when completing the Rejuvenating Ceremony,” she says, almost to herself as she shakes her head.
“She needs to come to terms with everything first,” Hugo reiterates, and Viola nods.
“I can work with that, but we have to bring her in. She has to sit on the board with you. There’s no doubt about that,” she insists, and my spine stiffens.
Ivy’s magic was brought up at the last meeting, but didn’t seem like much of a big deal. Now it just leaves me twisted and unsure.
Rubbing my chin, I exhale slowly as uncertainty burns deep inside of me.
“If that’s what she chooses, we will support her,” Baron declares, startling everyone as Viola shakes her head.
“There’s no—”
“If. She. Chooses. We. Will. Support. Her,” he bites, each word sharper than the last.
“But her abilities are—”
“Hers. Her abilities are hers,” I interject. “How about you update us on her father, or Leonardo Corrigan, for that matter.”
Her eyes widen a fraction as she gulps. I’m sure she wants to scold me for arguing back with a superior, but it’s clear nothing more will come of the matter right now.
“We don’t have any leads at this time,” she admits, eyes dipping to the floor, and Hugo balks.
“No leads? You don’t know where either of them might be, yet you’re standing here demanding things of my sister when you can’t even commit to finding those who brought her harm?” he growls, and Professor Viola lifts her hands in surrender.
“Hugo, it’s not as simple as—”
“Don’t tell me what is and isn’t simple, Viola.
I lost my fated mate for this kingdom. I almost lost my sister, and you have the audacity to stand here demanding more.
Well, I’m insisting on more from you. My father put a bullet through his own daughter’s skull.
That was intentional. How would my father know to do that?
Why would he have Leonardo there with him?
These are all questions we need answers to, and you don’t have a single one.
The quicker you make progress, the more prompt we may be in aiding you with Ivy, but for now, we’re done. ”
Viola blinks at Hugo as I inhale his confidence, the air thick, but in the best way.
I can stand in discomfort as long as it’s for the right reasons, and this is most definitely for the right reason. Every word out of his mouth is correct. He’s putting Ivy first, as she should. The kingdom can wait.
“Hugo, I—”
I take a step forward, lifting my hand. “At this time, we refuse to engage in politics while she’s unwell. Hopefully, you will find a lead or two to chase in the time it takes her to fully recover.”
Spinning on my heels, I turn back toward the door at the exact same time a flash of red barrels through it, panting for air as she stares at us with wide eyes.
“She’s awake.”