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No one speaks, not even Leila as she keeps close to my side. A few students move around us to get to class, too, each one side-eyeing me like I’ve either slapped them in the face or hurt their feelings somehow. I’m already desperate for today to be over. I think I would rather handle Erikel than this drama. I don’t owe these people anything and I’m more than willing to aid them in fucking off out of my sight.
As we near the double-doored entrance into the academy building, the crowd thickens and our steps slow. Once we’ve integrated into the gathered student body, it doesn’t take long to realize what the hold-up is.
Erikel.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
He’s blocking the entrance with the students he brought with him, making it impossible for anyone to get past. The students are wearing the same uniform as they’ve been in every day, a complete contrast to our blazers and pressed pants or skirts. Instead, they look ready for the Battalion with their black-on-black outfits and sheaths.
“Good morning, Basilica,” Erikel projects, sending an overwhelming burst of fear across the crowd. He’s not in Basilica, not now, and he knows it. This is just another part of his elaborate plan and I have no care for it.
Shouldering through the crowd, Creed grips my hand, trying to pull me back a step or two, but the man of the hour locks eyes with me and the fake smile on his face becomes more genuine.
“My little shadow dancer, I’ve been waiting for you.”
“I’m not your anything,” I bite, nostrils flaring with an instinctive bout of anger. My rage only seems to fuel his delight, which, in turn, makes me even more furious.
“We shall see,” he murmurs, waving his hand for the sea of students between us to part. Without a word, they do, but once the pathway is clear between us, not one of us moves closer to the other. “You’ve seen little of this world, I assume.”
I don’t bother with a response as I continue to look at him with a neutral expression. The anticipation and worry kick up a notch around us with every passing second, but no one dares move. I’m quite sure there are a few people present who aren’t even breathing at this moment.
The student to his right flexes his biceps, stretching out his back as he eyes me. I catch the movement out of the corner of my eye, but I still don’t move. I’ve spent long enough being in uncomfortable positions. I’m more than happy to bask in awkward silence.
“Are we done here?” The student to Erikel’s left asks, rolling his neck as he glances at his leader, and Erikel’s mood sours. Not at his student, though, at me. His lip curls in anger as he takes a step toward me, a ring of gasps echoing around us as everyone watches him. Erikel doesn’t inch any closer, though. That one step is all he’s willing to take, but it’s still one more than me.
“You’ll do as I say. You’remylittle puppet,” he grunts, pointing a slightly crooked finger in my direction. “I know exactly who to hurt if you don’t follow my orders,” he adds, his eyes glancing from one Bishop to another, and my gut clenches at the foolishness I displayed last night.
Fuck.
I never should have let him see my weaknesses, but I was caught up in the moment, in ultra-protective mode, and there’s nothing I can do to change that now.
My teeth grind as my shoulders stiffen, but I keep my mouth shut, not giving him the taste of my anger that he so desperately seems to crave. He tugs at the ends of the cloak at his shoulders as he addresses the sea of people.
“Classes will continue as normal for now. You’re dismissed. Until I call for you.” His eyes find mine once more and the threat is clear. However, something tells me that the threat is going to become a promise quicker than I would like. “You may find the topics have shifted slightly,” he adds, a knowing smirk on his face, irritating me even more.
“And Burton?” someone asks from the crowd, and Erikel smirks.
“Is still breathing. For now, at least.”
I’ve never detested someone more than I do this man right now, and that’s saying something when there’s Abel and Sebastian to consider. Thinking of Sebastian, I glance around the crowd, but he’s noticeably absent. I can't decide if that's a good or bad thing. Genie, however, is leading the students into the academy as Erikel steps aside.
“All I want to do is set him on fire and watch him burn until all that remains are a few embers flickering in the wind,” Eldon snarls, and I nod eagerly in agreement. I could get down with that, but it’s already clear that it’s not going to be as simple as that. You don’t come barreling into the Elevin Realm’s most prestigious academy without pre-empting their magical abilities.
“Soon,” I promise, eager to get the hell out of here. Instead, we fall into step with the other students filtering into the academy. We’ve barely reached the doors when the thunderous sound of metal hitting stone vibrates and echoes around us, and a moment later, Erikel’s warrior appears before us. He’s still dressed in his golden armor, stained with an array of red hues, and his gaze is fixed on Creed.
“Follow me,” he rasps, turning to the right and walking around the outside of the academy building. The five of us instantly follow after him. I can see the uncertainty on Creed’s face, but I’m sure there are a lot of questions he’s got building up inside.
We don’t make it two steps, though, before the warrior glances back over his shoulder with a deathly stare that casts over each of us before settling on Creed.
“No. Just you.”
FIVE
CREED
Iwas eight years old when they stood on my doorstep and declared my father was gone.
Just gone.
