Chapter 16 Nyx #3
Every day after that revelation reveals more than the last. I’m no longer able to hide behind the veil of willful ignorance I’ve desperately clung to.
I walk the campus paths and the biting cold sinks into my bones, but it’s the aura of “otherness” that sends chills down my spine.
The Foundation Stone no longer gleams, it looms. A sentinel, searching for secrets hidden behind too-wide smiles and hungry eyes.
Shadows follow me around corners, nipping at my heels.
When I step outside, it’s like I’m back in Lynden—my body tensing from the preternatural instinct that danger lays just out of sight, waiting to drag you into the darkness.
So I respond like I’ve always done: watch, and learn.
Learn and adapt.
Adapt and survive.
I learn that only the most powerful pure-blooded sinful demons have the ability to transform into heinous forms reminiscent of their demonic progenitors, created and corrupted in the fires of Hell.
Elemental demons like the Heirs are a different breed entirely.
As descendants of the angels that Fell alongside the Devil, they were resistant to the same corruption the sinful demons faced.
Instead of twisted masses of sinew and teeth and claws, they became the monsters that fueled human legends: the gargoyles of House Aeris, the werewolves of House Terra.
The Leviathan of House Aquae. It’s hard to imagine Thane transforming into giant snake the size of a football field, but from this point onward, I won’t question it, or any of the other fucked up things I see.
I can’t survive here if I hide from the truth.
Finally, the fire-wielding demons of House Ignis.
Instantly, the memory of Roth’s black eyes as his hands wrapped around my throat on my first day makes my heart stutter.
Whereas the sinful demons bred for purity, the elemental demons bred for power—a pedigree designed to create the perfect predator.
As both the Heir to House Ignis and the Legacy of Wrath, Roth is the shining example of their success.
With his mother’s fire, his father’s Wrath, and a healthy dose of witch ancestry, he’s…
fucking terrifying. And from what it sounds like, the other Heirs are just as formidable.
Even Luther, though he’s technically the spare.
I’d never mistake him for anything but lethal, especially as I face him yet again on Thursday.
It feels like my body only just recovered from the beating he gave me last week, and I brace myself for whatever he has in store.
He grunts instructions at me, but otherwise we don’t talk.
I don’t bring up his little stunt, and begin to suspect that my silence bothers him as class goes on, which is ironic considering he doesn’t say more than five words to me the entire hour and a half.
By the time Carrick signals the end of the period, he’s practically vibrating and I’m close to tears with pain, skin already mottled with bruises, but fuck him. He’s not worth it.
He hates me when I talk?
He hates me when I don’t talk?
Pick a fucking lane.
It’s not until I limp into Brandt’s office afterwards that I feel like I can take a breath for the first time since last weekend. The tea he serves again barely takes the edge off the worst of my aches and pains, but anything is better than nothing.
“How are things, Nyx?” I peer over the rim of my teacup with a look that draws a rueful smile out of him. “That well, hmm? If it’s any consolation, it could be much worse.” Laughing under my breath despite the pain in my ribs, I start to relax as the tea begins to take effect.
“I’ve gotten through the list you sent me last week. Sorry again about missing our session. Here’s my paper.”
He brushes my apology away as he takes my homework. “It’s no matter. Did you have any questions from the reading? Or from your classes this week?”
“Not really. The readings you assign usually cover any questions I have from classes.”
“Excellent. So,” he steeples his fingers, elbows resting on the arms of his worn wingback chair as he looks at me expectantly, “what did you make of your first elemental rotation? Did Professor Payne review any of the fundamental principles?”
“You know, I’ve been calling him ‘Professor Handlebar’ this whole time.” Brandt chuckles, sipping his tea. “He mostly just yelled at everyone while I tried to avoid getting my ass lit on fire.”
“Ah yes, his method of instruction is somewhat unorthodox, however no student’s ever died so he must be doing something right.” He shrugs, and I snort at how death seems to be the litmus test for success. “No signs of your magic, I take it?”
“I’m not even sure what I’m supposed to be looking for.”
“It differs between affinity, Order, and so on, but most describe the initial feeling as a buzzing in the back of one’s mind, an itch under the skin.”
“Sounds delightful,” I murmur.
“Indeed. I suspected it might take more than just observation to trigger any latent magic, so I’ve invited some of my more talented former students to join our session this evening and perform a demonstration.
By exposing you to each affinity in a more relaxed setting, it may help kickstart your awakening.
” I tense immediately, not suspecting Brandt of all people to ambush me after weeks of kindness.
His piercing gaze follows my controlled movement as I set down the teacup. “Before you jump for joy, please trust that I would never intentionally put any student in harm’s way—particularly when that student lacks the ability to defend themself.”
“Well that’s a comfort,” I deadpan, crossing my arms, and lean back in my chair.
“Have some faith, Nyx, you might just be surprised.”
“Yeah that’s the fucking problem,” I mutter under my breath, but a knock at the door interrupts him.
“Right on time.” I shrink back into the chair when he stands and opens the door, revealing four students, three women and one man.
He beckons for them to join us, and I recognize one of Tori’s friends, Danica.
Instead of long, embellished box braids, today she’s got her hair in a complicated crown braid with neon green extensions woven in.
Her grey eyes flash with recognition when her gaze lands on me after greeting Brandt, and she moves out of the way for the others I don’t recognize to follow her into the now-cramped office, though one of the women looks vaguely familiar.
“Nyx, I’m pleased to introduce Danica D’Arcy, second year air witch; Felicity Lane, fourth year earth witch, Adrian Wycliffe, third year water witch, and finally Vivienne Hektreia, third year fire witch.”
“Call me Evie,” she says.
Oh. Tori’s sister. One of them at least. She gives me a wink before closing the door behind her and I’m not sure what to make of it. Who knows what Tori’s said about me. I shake my head at my own stupidity. Tori’s probably forgotten I even exist.
“I appreciate you all spending part of your evening with us, we’ll try not to take up too much of your time.
Now, the purpose of your all being here is to give Ms. Byrke an opportunity to experience each elemental affinity in a less stressful environment in the hopes of triggering her epiphaneia.
I’m sure you can all recall the chaos of your first freshman term—the sooner she is able to wield, the better her chances of success here at Dreadhurst.”
“And if she’s a dud?” Felicity asks bluntly, but fidgets at Brandt’s silent rebuke when he raises his eyebrow.
“If Ms. Byrke doesn’t end up manifesting her magic, then she will still be welcome to complete her education at Dreadhurst, as all students are, regardless of their abilities. Such is the creed of Dreadhurst. Isn’t that right, Ms. Lane?”
“Yes, professor,” she murmurs, avoiding his eye.
“Excellent. Ms. Byrke, I’m going to ask each of our guests to perform a small bit of magic.
I’d like you to focus on each demonstration and try your best to sense the unique magical frequency, for lack of a better term, of each element.
See if you can detect the differences between them, and speak up if you feel anything beyond that—it may indicate what your latent abilities will be. ”
I stare at each of them and wish I could disappear into the floor. Nothing good has ever come from being the center of attention.
“Felicity—if you please.” He motions her forward, and I watch the tall blonde warily.
With a sigh, she holds out her hand and from her palm, a green vine begins to grow and twine around her fingers, then it crawls up her arm until it reaches her shoulder.
Flowers begin to bloom from the vine and a fragrant sweetness permeates the air.
I’m captivated—there’s no other word for it.
I desperately want to reach out and touch the velvety petals, but manage to catch myself before her grin grows more smug.
“Can you feel anything, Nyx?”
Irritation.
Embarrassment.
Shame.
“Nope.” I shake my head.
“Very well then, thank you Felicity.” She picks a flower from one of the vines and hands it to me before returning to Brandt’s side.
Just as I hold it up to take a closer look, it disintegrates into nothing, along with the rest of the vines wrapped around her arm, I realize when I meet her derisive glare.
“Danica,” Brandt orders. She walks up and gives me a small smile, but I don’t bother returning it.
“Hey, nice to see you again.”
“Sure,” I respond woodenly. Her smile dips momentarily before she mimics Felicity and brings her hands together. With a twitch of her fingers, sparks of light begin to form and whirl between her palms.