Page 121 of A Whisper of Cinders

“Maily?”

It’s the third time he calls me by my name, funny how that’s something I notice now. I laugh, the sound a little hysterical. I wipe away the tears, lower my hands and notice how they glow, a pattern I can distinct between the scars. Fiery sparks fly all around us.

Breathe in, breathe out.

The shield around us evaporates, and I stand, or at least try to. I feel like a deer on ice, a wave of dizziness nearly making me fall to my knees again.

Conláed pushes himself up on one arm, but it clearly asks a lot of his energy. “Maily, please…”

I ignore him and look around me, the field is swarmed and the chaos and panic is feelable. Professors order the students to return to the academy immediately, casting protective barriers to keep us safe.

I watch as the medics of the Sanctum rush to his side, including Althea, and step back. Mrs Delalune is close too, her gaze focused on the sky, before her eyes find me. There is no judgement, fear or anger to be seen there, only…surprise and worry, but I turn away from her as well and when Aramis stands there with the girls and the rest of the team, I…can’t.

“You just fell from the sky, Conláed, let us check you first.” I hear Althea say.

“I am fine. I need to get to her.”

“No, you don’t and —”

“Mai?” Aramis says my name so carefully, but I jump up either way and walk back, creating more distance between us, between what the hell just happened.

My heartbeat is frantic and although I feel so weak and tired, I keep walking, begging that no one will follow me.

“Let her go, Aramis. She needs a moment.” Mrs Delalune says before I close off all the sounds and search for the one who might have an answer to what I have just done.

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

On the edge of hysteria, my cheeks wet from the tears that continuously roll down my cheeks, I navigate my way through the hallways of the Academy until I reach the door of the classroom where my frustration reaches its peak every single time.

I open the door without knocking, something I will probably feel bad about later. “Seraphe?” My voice sounds so weak, like a scared little girl.

Maybe because I am scared, but I am no little girl.

“Seraphe, please, I…I need your help.”

A sound like the wind whistling past me sounds in my ears and I turn around, seeing Seraphe standing there, yet, she isn’t.

It’s an image of her, created by wind and leaves.

“Maily? Is that you?”

Even her voice sounds like the breaking of twigs.

I start pacing. “Something happened and I…it’s not possible, yet…” I pull at my hair, I don’t even know what is possible in this world. I rub my eyes to chase away the bone deep tiredness. I halt. “I need your help. Please.”

“Calm down, my darling. You are not making any sense right now. What has gotten you so upset?”

The pacing continues as I try to find the right words. “I…I knew something was off. I can’t explain how I knew, I just did.” Her windy image nods, but I barely register it. “It struck him out of nowhere, this green lightning and I knew…I knew that he…” I swallow past the lump in my throat. That image will forever be burned in my mind. “I was so quick and…he wasn’t…there was no…” A sob escapes me and I quickly cover my mouth, trying to push back the tears.

“Maily, it’s okay, you can tell me.”

But can I? Can I tell her that I have brought someone back from the other side? Because he was…dead. I felt it.

“He…he died and I…the fire was just there and…”

“She brought him back to life.”

I quickly turn, seeing Mrs Delalune now standing in the classroom as well.