Chapter 10 #2
Finnley is pulled into conversation by a few other first years. It honestly feels a bit surreal. I take the opportunity of his distraction to push a little farther through the throng of students and get a better view of our surroundings.
Fire crackles in the air around me. Numerous firepits burn throughout the training field, casting students in their warm shadows.
The sound is comforting in a way. It has a very peaceful ambience to it.
A striking contrast to our weary and depleted forms. So many of us are streaked with dried blood and varying injuries.
In fact, a dark reddish-brown coats my knuckles.
The sting has dulled, but it probably wouldn’t hurt to visit the medical wing first thing tomorrow.
Again. Various places on my face and neck also sting from being pulled through the hedge.
My once pristine uniform, along with most of the other first-years’, hangs in various states of disarray.
It’s hard to tell how many we lost this trial, if any, as so many Veils and Noctryns are scattered among us. I try to let the warmth of the flames chase away the frigid sting of disappointment.
He isn’t here.
I’d have seen him by now. He stands taller than most, and I’d have easily spotted him. Disappointment buries itself all the way to the bone, and I can feel the pressure of tears behind my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall.
I’m done crying over the people in my life.
He won’t take my pride along with everything else he’s stolen. My heart included. There had to be a valid reason he couldn’t make it.
Sharp feminine laughter pulls my attention back to Finnley. He now has an arm slung over the shoulder of a petite brunette wearing a Noctryn uniform.
That’s probably not going to end well.
She tucks her head and giggles at something he says, causing her short hair to partially conceal her face. He must really be laying on the charm.
My lips pull up into a small smile. It’s good to see him thawing out and returning to his usual self.
I just hope he’s not putting on a mask and burying his inner turmoil.
“Disgusting, isn’t it?” a female voice asks out of nowhere, her tone instantly causing my smile to drop.
I turn my head slightly to face her.
The Veil captain Ambrose was arguing with before I entered the final trial is standing right beside me. She keeps her face forward, watching Finnley nuzzle the other student’s neck.
“The affection part or the fact a Noctryn is fornicating with someone who might end up not being a dark wielder,” I ask reluctantly, not really wanting to participate in this conversation.
“Both,” she deadpans.
I shake my head. “Was there something you needed? I doubt you’re here talking to me for the sheer pleasure of it.”
She doesn’t look like the type of person to do anything for the sheer pleasure of it. Her lips are still pulled down in a disapproving frown, and she has yet to remove her glare from the two cuddling across the field from us.
“I saw you looking for him. He isn’t here, by the way,” she delivers sharply. “Which is why I am.”
“Thanks for the clarification.”
Her eyes cut toward me and narrow.
“I’m here because he asked me to, in order to congratulate you when you completed the last trial. Congratulations.” She offers the monotonic praise like some kind of accolade. “He also wanted to be informed of your success should you achieve it, so I’ll be on my way now to do just that.”
He knew he wasn’t going to be here. That’s why they were arguing before I even entered the last trial. He was asking her to come for him. Something she clearly didn’t want to do.
I don’t even reply. I’m mentally tapped out and just can’t find a fuck to give.
Certainly not enough of one to give to her.
She turns and casts one more repulsed look in Finnley’s direction before stalking off.
Her mahogany ponytail swishes in rhythm with her angry strides.
She’s heading toward the Gothic structure that’s to be my home for the next four years.
That must be where Ambrose is. It looms in the distance, a colossal reminder of what has come between us within the last year.
The Veils must be having their own celebration.
I mentally shrug, burying the disappointment.
Seems I’ve been put in my place where I rank in the overall scheme of things. I’m sure the upperclassmen are glad to be done with babysitting duties this week. The professors rely heavily on them during Asylamation week, especially since they still have courses to instruct.
Laughter surrounds me in complete odds with my demeanor.
I rub the sting from my eyes and scan the faces surrounding me for Mallory and Mayline, but they could be anywhere. In fact, they’re probably already celebrating somewhere.
As they should be.
I start walking toward the academy. Each step is deliberate but slower than normal.
A drunk Veil gives me a mock salute as he stumbles past me, almost landing face-first in one of the many firepits. There are going to be a lot of people hurting tomorrow morning from hangovers or injuries. It’s a fifty-fifty shot, honestly.
I throw one more look over my shoulder to make sure Finnley is still being kept busy when I spot Mallory through the flames running up and hugging him tightly. She pulls back, raising her hands to his cheeks as if she’s confirming he’s real.
It looks like we all made it. Gratitude swells in my chest.
However, I’m going to skip out on our little soiree. Exhaustion and disappointment are my companions tonight, and I’d rather enjoy their company alone.
I tip my head back and stare at the stars one more time.
The only bright side to today is that it can’t get any worse.