Page 25 of Trivium

She poked around Kumani’s toiletries for her classic red lip stain and rubbed it onto her lips with her finger. Kumani would be annoyed that she used it, but she would get over it. She finished the look by decorating her neck, wrists, and ankles with some of Kumani’s gold jewelry.

By the time she arrived at the Gala, the Academy’s courtyard was packed and she set out to make some friends. She was an Alva after all; most people would kill to even be associated with her. And maybe, just maybe, one of them would lead her to Park.

16

AHMINA

Ahmina clenched her fists. Despite the whimsical and celebratory surroundings, she was still on edge.

Standing in the middle of the courtyard, she looked around, taking in the scene. After ordering Ahmina to save their spot by the fountain, which Rory had deemed the only place in this party where you could breathe properly, Rory and Artie had gone off to get them each a glass of mulberry wine. Students sipped their drinks and smoked around her, the smell of sweet herb hanging in the air, clinging to her curls.

The Academy knew how to throw a party, she thought, watching the crowd pulse with laughter and excitement. Not that she had been to many. In fact, this was the first time she had ever worn a proper gown, and she kept pulling at the seams, trying to make it feel right.

Jarrians loved colorful fashion, and although their day-to-day clothes tended to be simple and airy, their party clothes were extravagant—bright silks, velvets, and tulle decorated with intricate beading, jewels, designs, and patterns. The men wore gold buttoned jackets with colorful embroidery and delicate silk. Such a beautiful contrast to their masculine frames, she thought.

She wore a fuchsia spaghetti strap gown that hugged her ribs in the bodice and spread out down to her ankles. It featured paper-mâché-style flowers made of stretched tulle that she kept running through her fingers, and a long slit up her right leg that reached the crook of her hip. Her ears were decorated with small gold hoops matched by jewels she had clipped into her hair. She had freed her hair from two tight braids, and it waved freely down to the center of her back. The gown and matching jewelry were beautiful, but they were handed down to her from an older student at Anastasia, and Ahmina felt like she was wearing someone else's skin.

“That dress looks good on you; I don’t know why you keep pulling at it,” Loveleena said, appearing out of nowhere. She was a few inches taller than Loveleena, but somehow, she felt small beside her. She had a way of taking up space in a room.

“It’s not mine,” Ahmina said, like that explained it, before quickly changing the subject. “Your dress is stunning.”

“Thanks. It’s not mine,” Loveleena replied, smiling. Ahmina thought that odd, considering Loveleena’s family was wealthy, but she returned the smile anyway and a small gesture of understanding passed between them.

“Hey, you haven’t seen that tall brooding man from Trivium, have you?” Loveleena stood on her tip toes to see past Ahmina, over the heads of other students in the crowd.

“Ren?” Ahmina spotted him standing with Lennox and Emerson at the corner of the courtyard. “Over there.” She pointed in their direction.

“Thanks!” Loveleena said, before pushing through the crowd. One student cried out as Loveleena walked by, and Ahmina could just barely hear her chirp back, “Well move out of my way then.” Finally, Loveleena made it to the men, and Ahmina watched as they spoke for a moment before Lennox looked up, his eyes flickering over her dress before meeting her gaze. She quickly averted her eyes, pretending to be fascinated by something on their left.

“Drinks are here!” Rory yelled as her and Artie stepped into the gap beside her.

Ahmina gulped hers down, desperate for a reprieve.

“Good evening, students.” Professor Barrow stepped beside her and his arm brushed hers, leaving goosebumps in its wake. “You all look well.” His eyes stopped for a moment longer on Ahmina’s dress, and she took another sip of her drink.

“Professor.” Artie nodded. “Good to see you.”

“Tell us, Professor,” Rory cut in, “What’s our first lecture going to be like tomorrow? You’re not throwing us to the Hydra, are you?”

Professor Barrow laughed, tossing his head back. “No, but I do have a surprise for you all.”

“A surprise?” The question was out of her mouth before she could stop it. She loathed surprises. Professor Barrow nodded, his back straight. “You didn’t think we would start you off gently, did you?”

“We expected nothing less, Professor,” Rory said confidently. “Do your worst.”

Ahmina shot her a pointed glare.

“And you, Ahmina? Are you prepared for the worst?”

Ahmina’s throat was dry despite having almost finished her entire drink, and she scraped out some version of yes. She had memorized everything she could about creatures and the Academy. She went above and beyond in her Academy prep courses. She did everything within her power to be ready for whatever they threw at her. But prepared for the worst? She questioned if she was even prepared for the best.

“I will take that into consideration,” he said, nodding to each of them and disappearing back into the crowd.

“He eyed you up a little too long, Mina,” Rory said, frowning.

“He was just being friendly,” she said in an effort to dismiss it. So, Rory had felt it too. His eyes did linger. She hadn’t imagined it. A chill went up her spine, and she took solace in polishing off the rest of her wine.

Artie watched Professor Barrow disappear into the crowd, his chin dipping slowly to the wine he held at his collarbone. “Everyone’s weird in their own way.”