5. An enemy to my friend is my….?
An enemy to my friend is my….?
ANGIE
Approaching the boardroom for debriefing, I pause outside the entrance, contemplating their plans, since normally I’m not allowed inside.
Even with my status as Holland often reminds me.
Besides, I’m not keen on occupying a room filled with some of our most powerful fay.
Everyone has a point to prove by showing their dominance over the other. Males with egos.
“What’s with the hesitation?” Ethan startles me.
“Damn it. You have to stop doing that, and don’t correct my language.”
“Come now, they’re waiting for us,” he says, returning an asshole-ish grin.
Pushing against the massive marble doors, his arm muscles expand, bulging against the seams of his black button-down like they’re going to rip through at any moment. A clear sign these towering slabs separating us from our Elders are entirely too damn big.
A resounding boom signals our presence as the doors collide with the walls, and Ethan gives me a wink before vanishing. All attention falls to me as his golden sigil fades .
“Asshole,” I whisper while entering. The doors slam behind me, and a frightening jump follows. My phone buzzes, and by the Gods I swear it’s a sign I shouldn’t be in here. Of course it’s ‘him’ who messages me.
Ethan
Language. I heard that.
“Fuck off,” I mutter as my phone slides into the thin pocket of my leggings.
A parroting of low chatter spreads about, and I have an unsettling feeling that it isn’t about me.
Time expands slowly, yet only half a minute progresses since my feet crossed beyond their doors.
The rules dictate I wait to be called forward.
Holland’s way of demanding order regardless of how ludicrous these rules seem.
He needs the notion of control, or he’ll flail around, throwing a fit like a newborn fayling.
Beyond these thick walls, other students pass, undoubtedly prying around campus to see what new additions were added, when a sudden knock interrupts the order.
The doors glide across the now smooth path, no doubt by magic, and Kyra stands beside Elizabeth, wearing a contagious grin.
It’s nice seeing my bestie back on her feet without a scowl masking her emotions.
“Come in, girl, and stand before us,” Holland demands. So much for that smile . I walk back and retrieve her, returning a forced grin. Like Kyra, I too would rather be elsewhere.
“It’ll be okay. We’ll answer a few questions, then leave,” I explain, trying to ease her mind. She steps inward, and the thick slabs close behind us.
Advancing further, we now stand in the room’s center, surrounded by six chairs on the second floor, and one in front of us. All above chairs are filled, minus one, and after a swift inspection, I know exactly who is missing.
The lights brighten, and every elder murmurs with their sights cemented on Kyra. She responds with a distasteful glare and accepts my hand, reaching out for hers.
“Settle down, everyone. Settle down,” Holland projects, pacing to and fro. “We’re here to discuss last night’s events in the mortal realm.” Those seated up-top watch him intensely, hanging on to every word. “The three before you may have intel on our enemy’s motives and whereabouts.”
Wrinkles beneath his eyes stretch to the sides of his face, tattling on the level of sleep he has been receiving. From where I stand, it’s borderline zero.
“Three? There’s only two with you. Where is the third?” one of the above elder’s shouts. Holland turns, and an empty chair lays bare. Irritated, he clenches his fist then snags me into his resentful gaze. His aura hits me like a fierce wave crashing into the rocks during high tide.
And I love swimming.
His demeanor darkens. “Girl, where is he?”
“Sir, I don’t know. I assumed he’d be here by now,” I answer low and non-hostile with a minor shoulder shrug. “If you like, I can–” A gust of wind spawns from Holland’s palm, hitting me head on, and sends me aloft towards the entrance.
In anticipation of pummeling against the thick marble, my muscles clench, holding a breath so it’s not stolen after the collision. But such a moment never transpires, and I come to a complete halt, midair.
“Are you okay?” Ethan asks. His tone, low and gentle, masks a murderous grumble.
“Yeah. He caught me off guard, is all. I’m fine. And I–”
“I know. You don’t need protecting,” he says, with an annoying smirk.
Placing me down feet first, Ethan disappears without a blink. Similar to when he fought against the gloom. He reappears shoulder to shoulder with Holland and faces those seated above. His height is grander, and he is more physically fit, which in our society, plays a key factor in winning a battle.
Holland, on the other hand, is wider and stockier. He boasts a broad chest with a stomach as hard as it is round, and hair bulges from the top of his brassbound shirt. Between the two of them, it’s like watching a tiger stand beside a warthog. Maybe I’m exaggerating a bit.
“The next time you feel inclined to showcase your power, don’t. If you move even a tendril of hair on her head again, I’ll kill you where you stand.” Ethan’s fingers twitch. “Furthermore, you’ll address her by name,” he demands before returning to my side.
Chatter stirs the air, and Holland turns red with fury. The aura around him thickens with an orange tint, but an interjecting voice demands the room.
“Are we starting, or should I return later? After you’ve finished this…quarrel.”
Up-top a fay occupies the once empty seat, and Ethan scoffs in disappointment as Holland disperses his aura. Even he knows not to challenge the reputation of Alex.
“This isn’t over,” Holland directs towards us, and Kyra looks back with raised brows. For a split second, I forget she is even in the room as I realize the danger she is in.
Briskly walking towards her side, I notice the pure shock she tries to conceal.
These lights are doing her justice, though–her russet skin contrasts against the shadows lingering over the other half of her face.
She is beautiful–no, she is downright prepossessing.
Her hazel, doe eyes widen as thoughts swirl through them. Yep, my best friend is cute as hell.
Whispering, I share, “I’m sorry, Kyra.”
“No need to apologize. Are you okay?” she asks with sincerity.
“I’m fine. It takes more than a little push to get under my skin.”
Ethan steps around me, taking the empty seat facing us, and gives Kyra an unsettling leer. Holland remains rooted in the middle as he begins speaking, annoyance lacing his dialog. Of course, Ethan is to thank for this.
“Now that everyone is here, we needn’t waste any more time.
” His hand raises from his pocket, grasping a piece of parchment.
Holland tosses it towards the empty space, between him and us, and a blue sigil takes shape.
Shimmers of light fade, and a gloom appears, mimicking the one I fought back in the woods.
At first glance, this one doesn’t have any special abilities, though it’s similar in size and hideous. Kyra shrieks, releasing my hand, then moves back in preparation to fight. Ethan laughs, and I return a menacing leer, mouthing, “Stop.”
“It’s okay, Kyra, it isn’t real. It’s more of a projection.
” Forcing an explanation out, I can tell by her rigid frame that she isn’t hearing me.
Being surrounded by males almost twice her size and facing this hellish enemy, it’s only fair she is a little overwhelmed.
“Weakness gets you killed.” The Elders constantly remind us, but Kyra is not fay, thus, shouldn’t be governed by our laws.
The room grows with laughter at her show of fright. Everyone besides Alex that is, whose attention is welded to Kyra. I clear my throat, and he follows the sound, averting his gaze after meeting mine. What do we have here? My head shakes as a silent snicker wanders out.
He has never shown interest in anyone. Not even the apprentice he was forced to endure. In fact, at first chance, Alex pawned that fay off to someone else. Who, by the way, perished not long after. Did Alex bat an eye? Sure didn’t. His response was, “How unfortunate.”
Literature is the only thing that holds his attention long enough, and thankfully, his personal library is massive. Females here have tried everything to grasp Alex’s attention. So, for Kyra to steal it without an ounce of energy…
That’s a miracle.
“Calm down, child, it can’t hurt you. No sense being frightened,” Holland voices with a cackle.
“I’m not a child,” she scolds back. “Nor afraid. ”
“Of course not.” He is so condescending and pompous.
An urge to shove my fist through his shit eating grin forces my hands into tight fists.
Calm down, it’s okay. I flex them to avoid my intrusive thoughts.
“Continuing, here’s an example of what attacked these two in the mortal realm.
A gloom. Angie was able to defeat it after destroying half of Kyra’s residential area–”
Kyra tsks. “That’s dramatic.” Interrupting, she relaxes her demeanor and continues, “This isn’t what destroyed the park. You–”
“Silence child,” Holland interrupts in kind. “A mere mortal has no knowledge of things such as this. Your injuries are interfering with your recollection. As–”
“I’ve already told you, I’m not a fucking child.
” Kyra steps forward, her tone raw and unapologetic.
Yes, I’m here for this. Get him, bestie.
“My memories are fine. Someone like you , has no knowledge of the mortal realm.” Folding her arms beneath the perks of her breasts, she stands confidently now.
I doubt she understands the difference between realms, but now is not the time to point it out.
Especially since she’s pissing off Holland. Which I’m loving.
“I will not stand here and let a mortal–”