Chapter 6
Cethin
I look up from my book and out of the window, surprised by how late it's gotten.
I should get back to my room before it gets too late, or I'm going to be tired for my early morning lecture tomorrow.
Not to mention that this part of the academy isn't supposed to be open to students at this time of night.
I close my book and slide it into my bag.
I open and close my hand, bringing forth a puff of purple smoke, sending it out in front of me.
That should do the trick of telling me if anyone's around.
The last thing I want is for one of the academy staff to run into me and end up being punished when I had every intention of not being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
There's always a chance that my spell won't be enough.
I don't know what magic most of them have access to, and that could mean that they ended up spotting me just from the spell I did.
I can't worry about that now, though. If I get caught, I get caught.
There's nothing I can do about it, and I'll just have to deal with the consequences if I do.
I'm sure they're not going to throw me out of the academy for being in the wrong place one time.
I pass the opening to one of the courtyards and feel a strange tug in the pit of my stomach, urging me to stop and head inside. I don't think I've ever felt anything like that before and find myself turning without thinking about it.
A pale figure with flowing silver-white hair and a long white shirt appears in the archway at the other side of the courtyard, and for one horrible moment, I think I'm seeing a woman's ghost.
The woman stumbles into the light, illuminating familiar features and causing the urge to enter the courtyard to deepen.
Anja.
Mate.
An urge to protect her rushes through me as she almost falls into one of the walls. Without thinking twice about it, I rush forward with more speed and strength than I think I normally possess, reaching her just as she trips.
She falls into my arms with a small shriek, and her eyes fly open, only for them to be filled with confusion.
She must have been sleepwalking.
"It's me," I whisper, hoping we've spent enough time with one another for my voice to soothe her. If she feels anything like the way I do, it stands a chance of working.
She frowns and blinks a few times as she looks up at me. "Cethin?"
I nod.
"But I'm in bed. Am I dreaming about you?" She reaches up and touches my face.
She trails her fingers over my cheek, and it makes me wonder how many times she's dreamt about me to be reacting like this.
A part of me wants to find out, and to discover exactly where this could go, but I know I shouldn't take advantage of her when she's in a state like this. I don't want what isn't given freely.
I clear my throat to rid myself of the inappropriate thoughts. "You're not in bed, and this isn't a dream." I help her to her feet.
"Why am I outside?"
"I didn't kidnap you from your room, if that's what you're worried about," I half-joke, though there is a part of me worrying that she's thinking that.
She frowns. "I'm not, actually."
"I think you were sleepwalking."
"Oh. I don't think I've done that before." She sighs and rubs her temple. "Great."
"What's wrong?" I ask, leading her over to a bench.
"I was dreaming, I think. It's hard to explain."
"Try me."
"You don't really want to hear about my dreams." She looks away as she sits down.
"Anja, I want to hear it," I say softly.
"Why?"
"Because I just found you out here wandering around with no idea what was going on. I might know something that can help you."
Something like hope blooms in her eyes, and I regret saying that.
"Might," I stress.
A shiver runs down her spine. Probably because it's cold out here and she's only wearing a shirt. I shrug out of my jacket and hand it to her.
"Are you sure?" She eyes it warily.
"Please take it. You're freezing."
"What about you?"
"I'll be fine," I promise. "I'm not the one walking around in my nightshirt."
She nods and slips her arms into the jacket. The sight of her in her nightshirt with only my jacket over the top makes it difficult for me to think straight, but I force myself to.
"Why are you fully dressed?" she asks.
"Disappointed?" I quip.
A blush rises to her cheeks, only made more prominent by the paleness of her skin and the silver of her hair. "That's not what I said."
"But you are." Satisfaction sings through me.
"You're putting words in my mouth," she responds. "So, why are you still here? We're not supposed to be in this part of the academy at night."
"I was reading," I respond. "And I didn't realise the time. I was trying to sneak back to my flat when I found you in the courtyard."
She wraps herself up inside my blazer and takes a deep breath. "What were you reading?"
"The Doctor's Monster."
"Are you going to tell me that you connected with the monster?"
I let out a small laugh. "No, I promised my sister I'd help her with her coursework when we go home for winter break. She's supposed to be doing an essay on The Doctor's Monster, so I'm reading it."
"That's sweet."
"Thanks. So, the dream?"
She sighs and runs a hand over her face. "They're probably just dreams."
"They?"
She bites her lip and nods. "They started after I turned twenty-one. At first, it was just one a week, but now it feels like I'm having them every night."
I frown. That's not good. "Are they always the same?"
"Variations of the same," she says, looking off into the distance. "There's always an eerie mist and a river. Can we not talk about it?"
I nod. "If that's what you want." As much as I want to help her, I know I have to let her tell me things like this in her own time.
For a moment, I think she's going to change her mind, but she just keeps staring out into the courtyard.
I want to ask her more about the dreams, especially because it sounds as if they've been plaguing her for a while, but I know better than to push her on this.
If she wants to tell me, then she will. I can't protect her if she doesn't want to let me near her.
I have to earn her trust for her to tell me about her dreams.
Another shiver travels through her.
"Come on." I get to my feet and hold out my hand to her.
"Where?"
"Trust me, and you'll find out."
She lets out a small laugh, already seeming more like herself now the dream has been shaken away. "What if I don't?"
"You do."
"Yes." She slips her hand into mine, and I feel as if something clicks within me.
I'm not sure precisely what's happening right now, but I'm grateful for it, especially when it means I'm getting to spend time with her outside of the Potions lab.