Usually, I’d protest, because I was a loner who liked my private time, but true worry shone in Ethan’s eyes. He had a good point, too. There were murderers walking around the school. I could be next.
“Okay. I’ll be careful.” I waved a hand in farewell. I watched the rolling of his shoulders as he strode away, until he was out of my sight. An uncomfortable weight settled in my stomach once he vanished from my view… like it always did these days. Whenever Ethan was around, I was at ease, carefree. The second he left me alone again, anxiety rose in my gut. It was like I knew he’d protect me if more shit went down, like it had with themeluza.
As much as Ethan and I argued, he was my friend. I liked him, despite the fact that he could be a total jackass. He was always helping me in Monster Hunting 101. Thanks to him, I was somewhat competent with a weapon that wasn’t my mouth.
And I worried about him, too. The Black Claw was after the throne, and he still wanted to enter the King’s Contest. I bet the local terrorists would love to eliminate a prince from the running for the crown.
I finished off my breakfast and booked it to Introduction to Flight, my mind still on the murder.
I’d gone out several nights looking for the Phantom, but hadn’t seen any sign of him since our last encounter. If anyone could solve this mystery, it was him. I bet he was already on the case.
I pined for him in a way that was embarrassing. I saw him in my dreams almost every night. I approached him slowly, raising my hands to lift the wolf mask off his face so he would reveal himself to me for good. But before I could glimpse his face, the dream ended.
Every. Freaking. Time.
It was maddening. Enough to drive a girl crazy. I knew the Phantom felt a pull to me as I did him. Sooner or later, he had to show up in my life again… and I’d yell at him for staying away for so long. I wanted to get to know him, the true him. The real person behind the mask, instead of the superhero everyone said he was.
I knew he had a dark side and was no saint. He couldn’t fool me. And I had fallen for the dark side of him just as easily as I’d fallen for the hero. I obsessively read every article I could find about the Phantom and all the speculations about who he could be. It was all gossip and hearsay— nothing substantial to go on.
I hoped to the Seven Gods he wasn’t eighty or something. Shit, that’d be my luck. I could deal with ugly, but I didn’t do age gaps well.
I walked into Flight class right on time, which was surprising, because being late was my specialty. Flight class was held in a giant glass bubble in the inner courtyard of the palace grounds, one that was circular shaped and at least a hundred feet tall. It was called the Conservatory, and it was one of the most beautiful places in the school. The temperature in here was controlled at a warm seventy degrees, and inside, a variety of magical plants grew that Marked used in potions. Palm trees that were purple in color and had long, purple fronds that moved like arms sat placed next to ferns that had tentacles for leaves. Signs were put next to Venus flytraps, which were the size of small dragons, warning people not to get too close or risk being being swallowed whole. The greenhouse caretakers fed them steaks daily to keep them happy, and prevent them from actively seeking out students to feast on. Large puff mushrooms got up and hopped around, while toadstools played leapfrog and swam in the green pond. Lily pads whose roots took the shape of women rose out of the water, dancing as we walked by.
Professor Mara was at the center of the Conservatory, surrounded by Marked and Companions alike. This was one of the few classes where boys and girls were put together, as everyone needed to learn how to fly. In the middle of the bubble was a stone fountain with the sculpture of a dragon, alicorn, griffin and wolven woven together. Each of their bodies had wings that melded into one another. It was a gorgeous fountain, at least twenty feet tall, and at the base were all kinds of swirling circular designs, with a Malovian mantra carved into the bottom I couldn’t yet read.
Arcanea were obsessed with circles for some reason. Hell if I could tell you why.
“Line up, class,” Professor Mara said. “Today, I’ll be demonstrating the basics of flight, as well as techniques you can use to bring out your own wings. I know many of you are freshmen, and that some wolvens and Marked among you do not yet have their wings.”
Her face remained impassive. “However, if I deem that by the end of this semester you have not made significant progress in at leastfindingyour wings, rest assured that you will be back in this class next semester. I do not award points to people who do not try.”
I felt a paralyzing fear flood through me. We’d been mostly studying flight in the classroom. I didn’t know we’d actually have toflyto pass this class. I was still doubting I had wings at all. Okay, sure, I could do magic, big whoop. This lady was going to have to do a lot of convincing to make me believe I had giant hidden wings on my back.
I joined the long line that surrounded the stone fountain. Professor Mara stood in front of us. “Watch closely.”
She spread her arms. Yellow wings, like those of dragonflies, appeared behind Mara’s back. The classoohedin appreciation. She raised her arms higher, and her wings fluttered, lifting her upward until she was flying easy circles around the fountain.
“The trick is to treat your wings like any other limb,” Mara called down to us from above. “Trust that they know what to do and how to carry you, and you will not fall. It takes practice using your wings, like building up a muscle. Imagine yourself light as a feather, able to be carried away by the slightest breeze. But if you doubt yourself in any way, know that you will never get off the ground.”
Professor Mara landed. “One last note. Be sure not to look down— it’s the most certain way to fall. To fly, you must always look up. I don’t wish to be scraping anyone off the ground today.”
A couple of people chuckled, but I felt nauseous. She was kinda serious.
Professor Mara clapped her hands. “Right. Those of you who can fly, I’d like to see what you can do. Up, up! The ones left on the ground, I’d like you to try summoning your wings. It isn’t as hard as you think it is, girls— and boys, for those who are wolvens. You just have to believe, for whatever you truly believe in will become your reality. Everyone’s wings are different. They take on different appearances due to your personality, and are truly unique to you. Once you have a clear understanding of who you are, they will emerge beautifully.”
Believe, believe. It was like a mantra here at Arcanea University. I never used to think that you could believe yourself into a new reality until I got here. I should’ve believed I’d win the lottery back home and I’d be a gazillionaire right now.
In minutes, dragons, griffins, and alicorns were flying around the Conservatory like this was just a blow-off class to them. If it was any consolation, most of the Marked were still left on the ground, though a couple of them had managed to bring their wings out. Companions came down and flew by their side, coaching them as they rose higher.
I closed my eyes and tried to concentrate. I tried to make big-ass, badass wings come out of my back so I could show everyone I was cool, too, but when I was sure I felt fluttering, I reached behind me and brushed nothing. I jumped into the air a couple of times to experiment, but it felt more like warming up for the ice. This was getting nowhere. My wings just wouldn’t come.
Gabby was smirking at me from the other side of the room. She could tell I was having trouble. When I finally got tired of her obvious staring and went to send a sneer her way, she took it as an opportunity to show off. Great, translucent wings like those of a bat’s, blood-red in color, emerged from her back. She rose into the air with a smile so huge I longed to slap it off her face.
The only small joy I got from watching Gabby buzz around the room was that she was pretty shaky, and she couldn’t go very high. I bet she’d just gotten her wings yesterday. Beside her, Morgan sprouted wings that looked like a Monarch butterfly’s, and rose to flutter beside Gabby. She shot me a smug look and spread her wings wider, like she thought that would impress me. Melissa stayed on the ground and made faces as she struggled to conjure her own wings.
I forced myself to turn away from her and the twins and try again. My concentration was broken by a couple of wolven boys who were wrestling and laughing nearby. It was clear they didn’t give a shit about flying. They wouldn’t pass this class.
It was disheartening to watch more and more people get their wings as the class went on. Marked grew beautiful wings of gossamer, wings that sparkled and shone rainbow colors. They seemed to come in every shade and shape.
