AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My mom’s family didn’t exist in the village we lived within. It was all my dad’s family. With his lips zipped shut, I didn’t know anything about her family either. But I had pieces Carli didn’t. I had fractured memories of when my mother had been part of my life. She’d been too young to formulate any memories that would grow with her. They didn’t exist in her mind; only a picture of her hung in Carli’s grandmother’s home. It was Carli’s parents on the day they got married. Carli’s mother wore a dress made of flowers, with a wraparound headband to match, and her wings had sparkled in the sun, even in a still picture. Whenever I saw that photo, all I could ever think was how beautiful her smile was. Carli didn’t have a personal photo, and as that was the only one to exist, it was the only way she even knew what her mother looked like. I had more than that. Not that I ever rubbed it in her face. I knew better. But I did feel horrible for her.
Mallory led the way to the training camp. It was near the waterfront tents dotting the ground several feet from it. There were so many rows; with the first one, I counted at least up to fifteen, but I might’ve been off as I could see the row stretching even further. Others who looked around our ages milled about, some on the water edge, but all keeping close to the house. Laughter rang in the air, and sulfur stung my nostrils, the telltale sign that magic was being used. I couldn’t see from my place where it was coming from, but I didn’t look that hard.
Pulling the horses to a stop, I looked at each girl on my side and back to the house. A clear sign sat right smack in front of it, telling us that it was the training camp for medics, foresters, midwives, and plenty more.
“Hello,” a voice greeted in a singsong.
The girl stood next to our wagon, grinning up at us, her hands clasped behind her back. She had the most beautiful blue eyes I had ever seen, set off by the midnight black hair that trailed down her back in waves. She was of average height and had defined curves, a figure I knew would have any guy ogling over with drool running down their chin.
“I’m Amelia; I help with the training. Are you here for it?”
Her singsong voice annoyed me more than I could really express. I didn’t like it, and I instantly didn’t like her. I was pretty sure it was because I knew if Timothy was here, he’d be all over her without really meaning to. I shared a look with Carli, who rolled her eyes in annoyance and knew she was feeling the same way I was. It was a good thing we didn’t have the guys with us.
“Here for medic training,” Mallory explained, her words tripping over her tongue. “She – she is here for forester training, though.”
She was all over the place with her words and hand gestures that waved wildly in Carli’s direction. Mallory leaned forward and over me, doing exactly what I could assume the guys would’ve. I reached out and shoved her back, pinning her to the wagon seat to keep her from jumping out of the wagon and going after the girl. I knew a Veela when I saw one. Or at least, I was pretty sure I could depict them.
We had one that lived in the village but kept to herself. She was married to the local baker, and they had three children that we’d grown up with who had all disappeared at appropriate ages, none wanting to stick around in a little village that stunted their talents and powers. This chick looked so similar to the recluse Veela that I couldn’t help but think it was what she was.
Amelia smiled, her pearly whites shining but showing us the razor-sharp edges. Yes, she was definitely a Veela. They were magnets for males or anyone attracted to their beauty, but the teeth were their weapons.
“That is so great! You will need to sign in. You’ll be given a tent. Training officially starts tomorrow, so you’re just in time. You will need to hand over all your personal belongings except three things. You won’t need any of your clothes though, we will provide the proper uniforms so you can get used to them. If you decide to leave before the training is over or you simply don’t make it through, you will be given back everything you arrived with. If you make it through, you won’t need anything but don’t worry. If you make it through, when we return when you’re fully fledged, you will get all of your items back.” She pointed toward a lone cabin that sat to the side of the camp. “You can sign in there. Good luck!”
With that, she flitted away, practically floating and resembling a lithe faerie’s footsteps.
“She’s really pretty,” Mallory breathed out.
I jabbed her in the stomach with my elbow, and she gasped, bending over to catch her breath.
“What do we do about the wagon?” Carli asked.
I shrugged and looked around, finally locating a barn, and pointed it out to the two of them. “Guess we can leave it there? It’ll get taken home eventually.”
Carli stayed glued to her spot. “We won’t be training together. You do know that, don’t you?”
I did. I knew her training would be far different, and there was no telling with Mallory and me. I had only taught Mallory simple things. There had been no time to teach her harder things. Worry streamed through me at this alone. What exactly were the priorities for moving forward in training? Did I give her enough to use would she be able to learn more here? I squirmed in my seat, watching as the two got down and took the reins from me so I could follow. Water lapped at the beach's edge, and laughter filled my ears, but I suddenly felt so far from anything I had ever known. I was out of my realm, and I didn’t know what the next move was. I didn’t like not knowing the next move.
ChapterEighteen
Iwas not thrilled about our personal items being taken. Just as I suspected, my mom’s purse full of vials wasn’t deemed a personal item, meaning I got to keep an extra one alongside it. I didn’t voice my irritation, though. That was a sure way to start being scrutinized and possibly kicked out before I could even start. I was only here to get into the army, which was it. I didn’t want to sneak my way in, but if that’s what it took, so be it.
I hadn’t slept the night before. Every time I closed my eyes, the shadowy figure came back and so did the Skeletal, reminding me of when I had been five and encountered the one who’d taken my mother. Those nightmares had lasted about three months. I had to squish them now before they could ruin my life. If I got spooked this easily by one measly Skeletal, I would definitely not be good at fitting into the army. I would be giving every reason to be cast back to my village and stuck as the local healer there. All of which I was trying to avoid happening. I had to pretend none of it had happened. It seemed to be working for Mallory and Carli, so it also had to work for me.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” a voice announced, vibrating through the air to reach all groups strewn about and reached down to the beach. “Please come gather. It’s time we get started.”
Carli, Mallory, and I stepped out of the shadows of the tree we had been sitting beneath for the past hour. It was cooler under it and smelled less of salt water. I didn’t mind the scent too much, but it was still pungent this close to the ocean, which made it a bit overwhelming.
“Hollow!” a surprised voice called.
I ignored it as it was calling for someone else, but it was too close for comfort. Wiping off my clothes, I adjusted the bag slung over my shoulder and across my chest, picking up the dull sound of glass clinking within. Before I could take another step forward, a hand slammed down on my shoulder and stopped me in my tracks. Turning my head, I tilted it back and looked up at a pair of bright blue eyes.
Surprise flickered in them as they took me in, eyebrows shooting up. She yanked her hand off my shoulder and stepped back as I turned to face her. Her eyes were a wild looking blue, and she had gorgeous chestnut-colored hair pulled into a high ponytail. It curled at the end, bouncing even when she wasn’t entirely moving. Jealousy flared through me. My hair had curls as well, but the fact it was white annoyed me to no end. I’d tried to dye it once a few years ago, and the next morning I had woken with it white again as if the dyeing hadn’t even happened. Sure, it was a botched dye, and instead of turning my hair brown, it had turned it a swampy color, but it was still a disappointment to wake up to it normal.
“You aren’t Helen,” she stated, truly shocked.
I shook my head, scrutinizing her. “No, but my mother’s name is Helen.”
The woman blinked, her face breaking into a complete overload of shock at my words. “M-mother?” she stammered and shook her head as if she just couldn’t believe her ears.
