IVY
Flames flicker to life in people's hands around the room, offering a gentle glow and the opportunity to see into the pits of darkness. My gaze darts down to my hands, considering whether or not I should join in, to add a touch more brightness, but I quickly decide against it.
I place my hands behind my back instead, not trusting myself or my ability to set everything on fire when my hand comes into contact with Sax’s. It's only then that I realize how my mates have taken a protective stance around me.
Sax is right behind me, Baron to my left, Teddy to my right, and Archer has somehow leapt over the table, standing on the other side with a flame flickering in his hand.
Tension thickens in the room as everybody glances at one another, and unspoken accusations shimmer in their eyes.
“Our power grid is growing more fragile,” Professor Carbon declares. "I say we call the event and put an end to this madness,” she declares.
“The consequences,” Silas snaps.
“Fuck the consequences,” Francesca interjects.
“We're already dealing with them. Let's focus on the matter at hand, shall we?” my brother states, his voice cutting through the air like thunder, or it might be actual thunder that ricochets outside, based on his magic and mood.
“Protocols first,” Viola declares, concern pulsing in the air.
“Protocols?” I breathe, but the question goes unheard as everyone starts to speak at once.
“I’ll take the perimeter.”
“I’ll take the academy building.”
“I’ll take the shoreline.”
“The sky is mine.”
“I’ll take you home,” Teddy declares, and I rear back, staring at him with wide eyes.
It's hard to make out much of the room, but up close, with Archer’s help, I can see Teddy enough to see confusion in his eyes too.
“What? Why? I want to help,” I insist.
“Anyone who has attended for the first time today is not to partake,” Professor Viola declares, putting an end to my plea before I can even really begin. “Return to your dorms immediately.”
The sound of someone clearing their throat outside of my wall of hated mates gains my attention, and my eyes latch on to Silas's, but he's too busy looking at Teddy.
“You take the water, I'll take her back to the Fire Protectors’ building.”
“No,” Baron grunts, the closest one to him. “Teddy will take her and head down to the water afterward.”
“Someone should stay with her,” Silas insists.
“That's not your concern, and the task has already been assigned to one of her mates. He'll return to her as soon as possible,” Baron reiterates, but Silas doesn’t buy it.
Shaking his head, he wags a finger in the dragon rider’s face. “No, I—”
“Stop arguing. We need to move. Now.” Hugo's voice is like a knife, cutting through the argument in one swift move, leaving no room for debate.
“Maybe someone around here will start talking sense eventually,” Archer grunts.
“Don't hold your breath,” Sax whispers.
“I can take her,” Francesca offers, and Baron growls beside me.
“You can fuck off before I permanently shut you up.”
“You're different, Archer. Letting people talk to me like this,” Francesca screeches, and Archer's eyebrows rise in surprise.
“No, I'm just not playing games with my mate's safety.”
“Everybody move out. Now,” Hugo grunts, ensuring there is no room for anybody else to complain.
I move with Sax’s hand at my back and Teddy’s fingers laced with mine, and I reluctantly let go of Baron to be carted out into the night air.
As soon as we make it outside, everybody disperses in the direction they need to go, while Teddy remains at my side. I falter, staring up at the sky in awe of the moon, which is illuminated even more so by the simple fact that there is no light pollution from anywhere.
Uncertainty envelops us.
Sax disappears with the others, leaving the two of us as we take off, keeping a steady pace as we move quickly, without all-out running, toward the Fire Protectors’ building.
It feels like the wild flowers are glowing underneath the moon in a way I've never noticed before, but my whimsical thoughts are quickly eradicated as the distinct scent of remnant fire wafts in the air and we draw closer to the dorms. One glance at the Fire Protectors’ building, and it’s clear the power outage is really happening when I spy no fire protecting the entryway.
Students take off in every direction, but most of them seem to be laughing, all joyous and heading in the direction of the beach for another impromptu party. That’s the last thing on my agenda tonight.
With my heart racing wildly in my chest, I startle when Teddy comes to a stop.
His nostrils flare, his entire body stilling as he tears apart our linked fingers.
I look to him for guidance, and he nods in the distance.
Instinctively, I fold my arms over my chest as I try to follow his line of sight, and my gaze snags towards the Water Protectors’ dorm, where a familiar frame leans against the side of the building.
I remember seeing her only once before, the night of the sleepover.
His mother.
I didn't get a good vibe from her last time, not the way she left Teddy, the way she spoke, the fact that she slapped him, so I don't like that she's here.
My stomach twists. Nothing good will come from this.
“She can't see what you mean to me,” he breathes, his hands flexing at his sides as confusion takes root in my gut. “She'll use you as a weapon,” he declares.
“Teddy, I—”
His gaze finds mine, fear in his stance. “If I walk you to your building, I'm going to live to regret it because of her. If I don't, and some harm comes to you, I'm going to live to regret that too.”
Even under the moonlight, I can tell all the color has drained from his face.
“Does she need escorting?”
A shiver runs down my spine.
How does this guy always show up at the worst times possible?
“Fuck off, Silas,” Teddy grinds out, but I can sense the ticking time bomb that threatens to detonate beside me. It vibrates in the air between us, and despite my better judgment, I know we're faced with two options: Silas or Teddy’s mother.
“What's worse?” I blurt, and his eyes narrow. “What's worse, Teddy?” I repeat, and he grimaces, his gaze turning from glowering at Silas to looking at me with thick defeat in his eyes.
“Her.”
I straighten my spine as I take a step back, despite my limbs fighting against me. “Then I'll go with him, or fuck, alone,” I declare, taking the choice out of his hands as he shakes his head.
“Don't make me do this, Princess.” His voice breaks, and it's like a bludgeon to the chest.
“I’m not, Teddy.” Instinctively, I reach for him, but recall how far he jumped away from me in her presence and I quickly drop my hands to my sides. “I don't know what the hell is going on, and if you don't want me to face her, then it’s our only choice. We either ignore her, or—”
“She's already seen me. I can't. I don't know. Fuck. What do I do?”
Silas moves to put his arm around me, but his attempt falls flat when another figure appears, brushing his arm away before his hand can touch my shoulder.
“Don't tell me you're causing trouble again, Ivy,” Dorian states, cocking a brow as he shoves Silas away, not bothering to offer him another sideways glance as he glances at Teddy.
Silas grunts under his breath before stalking off, and a shred of relief washes over me, but it’s quickly fractured by the uncertainty that wars inside of my Water Protector, who is still torn as resignation narrows his eyes.
“Take her home, keep her safe until one of us gets there.” His eyes linger on mine, cutting through to my soul before he charges toward the woman in question.
I watch after him, but only for a moment before Dorian guides me toward our dorm.
There's no hesitation in his movement as he escorts me away from Teddy and out of sight of his mother.
Silas is a forgotten memory as Dorian somehow manages to block the view of Teddy from my vision, refusing to let me see what's going on.
Panic flickers through my veins as the fire remains extinguished at the entryway to our building, causing a twist in my chest as we race up the stairs, only stopping when we reach my door. As I wrap my hand around the handle, Dorian places his hand on the door, pausing me.
“Are you okay with me staying with you?” he asks, and I nod.
“Please, if only for the sake of not having to deal with the wrath of my hated mates later down the line,” I add, a huff of a smile parting my lips, but it doesn’t land.
“Do you want me to check the room first?” he offers, and I frown.
“Why?”
My stomach drops as he shrugs.
“Archer mentioned—”
I don't let him finish as I shake my head. “I’m fine,” I insist, silently cursing my hated mate in question as I twist the door handle and let the wood swing open.
The second I step over the threshold, the energy shifts around me, turning my veins to ice as my gaze immediately lands on the foreign item on my bed. Bile burns up my throat as nerves and panic take hold, despite the fear that threatens to consume me.
I move closer, glaring down at the sprig of ivy and the envelope with my name written across it.
“Ivy?” Dorian breathes before clearing his throat, but I don't turn away from the offensive items. “I’m going to assume they weren't there when you left,” he clarifies, and I shake my head.
“Are you telling me that danger is coming from all angles?” he mutters, and I scoff, reaching for the envelope, despite my better judgment.
The second my thumb presses against the parchment paper, goosebumps prickle across my skin.
I already know it's from Leonardo.
Just like last time.
My dearest Ivy,
it pains me to know you have felt the resurrection surge twice.
I promise that when the time comes, you will not face such dangers again.
I will ensure, with my utmost abilities, to treasure you as you should be treated.
All of your wishes, wants, and desires will be met, along with my own.
Thinking of you,
Wanting of you,
Needing of you,
Leonardo.
The paper falls from my hands as dread curls through my veins, igniting my magic to a higher level as my body burns from the inside out.
Panicked, I dart for the door.
Dorian calls my name, but it’s a distant sound as I race to the exit, searching for someone, anyone to blame, but I don't come across a single soul. Not even Silas.
Scouring the vicinity of the Fire Protectors’ entrance, I come up empty, which feels worse than bumping into somebody random. There’s nothing to quell the burning sensation that flickers through my body.
I feel jittery, on edge.
My magic tightens with despair as I hang in the doorway of my dorm. My neck rolls back, pain blasting through my bones as heat unravels around me. Falling to my knees, my hands slam against the tiled floor and flames erupt, dispersing through the air and lighting me along with it.
The screams don’t come this time.
Stumbling back, my vision blurs, heated in an array of orange and red, but I can see through it more clearly this time, noting that not only do the flames grace my skin, but they also grace the entryway, as if there were no power outage at all.
Heat continues to surge through my body as I gape up at the ceiling in disbelief.
Spent and exhausted, I’m ready to fall asleep amongst the flames for a nap when a shadow falls over me.
The flames extinguish along my skin, steam filling the air, and all I can do is stare up at the man hovering above me.
“Archer,” I rasp, my throat burning, filled with smoke, my voice so gruff I'm unsure if he even hears me.
Unfazed, he picks my naked frame up off the floor, pinning me to his chest as he begins to move.
To where… I don't know, because the darkness takes me, flames and all.