Page 12 of Rejected Darkness

"Do you want me to change quickly?" I mumble, not really wanting to, but if it makes her feel better, I will. If I hadn’t gotten more sleep, I probably would have put more effort into my outfit for the first day, but I was just trying to toss clothes on this morning and not think about it.

"No, we don't have time for that. Maybe just take your hair down and let it flow naturally. You have some really pretty waves in your hair that will frame your face nicely and help your blue eyes stand out just a tad bit more," she explains right before moving behind me and pulling the hair tie out quickly.

"Thanks," I say before following Harper out the front door. I learned quickly this weekend that it is easier to just give in to what Isis wants than argue with her on most things. So far, she has seemed cool to me, and I hope we can continue that through our school term.

Together, the three of us take the elevator down and head outside to make the ten-minute walk to the main building where our classes are. I think about mentioning that we can just fly to class and skip the whole walk, but I decide to just keep my mouth shut and follow their lead. Either way, we will get there.Isis made sure we left with plenty of time to find our classes, despite my spending all yesterday staring at the campus map so I knew exactly where my classrooms were. All magic classes for every species are held in the same hallway. It shouldn't be hard to find the one marked for Angels, or at least follow the other angels into the classroom.

Ahead of me, Harper and Isis talk, but I ignore their conversation, choosing to take in the scenery on our walk. I’ve always loved nature and the silence it brings with its beauty. I will be out here again shortly for combat later this morning. Despite how much I’m enjoying the scenery, I’m not looking forward to it. At least it is a nice day out, better than a rainy day. I sure as shit don’t want to train in the rain.

"Who has basic magic class this morning?" Harper asks as we enter the back doors of the main building. Isis holds it open long enough for me to enter before letting it close.

"I do, and then combat right after it," I answer, following her to the first set of stairs. "What about you, Isis?" It didn't occur to me until Harper asked, but I have no idea what my roommates’ schedules are. I wonder if we should maybe mark them on a calendar or something so we can keep track of where each other is.

"Nope, you two are on your own for that one. However, I will see you in combat class later this morning. We have that together at least, and you two better be at lunch so we can talk about our morning and see where we are going this afternoon. Whoever is first to the cafeteria grabs a table for us all, got it?" Isis turns to face both of us, her hands on either hip as she stares us down waiting for us to agree.

Harper and I quickly agree before Isis turns around and disappears down a different hallway from us when we reach the top of the stairs. I should have asked how Isis knew each of our schedules, but she was gone before I could think of asking.

Together Harper and I head down the hall for all the magic classes looking for the room marked for basic magic. Students from different species are lingering in the hallways, either leaning up against the lockers chatting away, or trying to get through the crowd to find their classes. When we reach the end of the hallway we finally find our classroom. Standing near the door are two other angels I have never seen before. Both girls are chatting away, paying no attention to Harper and me, or at least that's what I thought until one of them sticks their foot out to trip me as I walk by to enter the classroom.

I see them laughing out of the corner of my eye as I catch myself so I don't fall flat on my face. That is the last thing I need, falling in front of all my new classmates. I have no idea why they tripped me, but I have a feeling that I'll know soon enough, and it will probably be, for some reason, completely out of my control.

"You okay?" Harper whispers when we find open seats near the window on the far wall.

"Yeah," I mumble, taking my seat. "No idea what any of that was about. I don't even know those angels."

"You might not, but clearly they know you. Think it has to do with your dad?" she asks, leaning over so no one overhears our conversation. The room is loud enough that I doubt anyone is paying attention to us, but I'd rather not talk about this here.

"Can we talk about this later? I'm nervous enough about this class and what will be expected of us. I'd rather just keep my head down and try to blend in as best as possible," I answer, changing the subject. Blending in never really worked well back in Aeris but I had to have faith it would work now. I really didn’t want a target on my back on my first day.

"Got it," she smiles at me and slides back into her seat. I appreciate that she doesn’t push the subject, instead choosing to let it drop.

A few minutes later the girls from the hallway enter the room followed by a couple of fallen angels who claim the remainder of the open seats. In total, there are eight people in the class. Much smaller than I was used to back in Aeris.

"Welcome, class," an older female angel calls out as she walks through the door to the class. Her gray hair is up in a tight bun on the top of her head. She's wearing a pair of large rectangle glasses that take up a good chunk of her petite face. She's only about five foot four, and her white wings stand taller than her. "We have some new students in the class today, so before we begin, I just want to recap what we have been working on. Dina, please explain," the teacher states as she stands behind her desk.

"Last week we began working on the powers that we struggle with the most, going back to basics with our partner," Dina explains. Turning around, I look to see who is talking and see it's the same girl who tripped me.

Good to know she's also the teacher's pet, I sigh.

"Perfect. Thank you, Dina. Now, for our new students, I am Dominion Lailah, and I teach not only the basic magic class but also assist with the psychic magic class, so you may have me for both classes if needed. Now," she claps her hands together moving toward the wall of windows I am sitting against. "Angel Harper and Seraphim Arabella, I would like you to come up front and demonstrate your powers as I call them out."

Rising out of my chair slowly, I follow Harper to the front of the classroom and wait for our instructions. I try hard to pick a spot in the back of the classroom to focus on and begin tuning out everyone around me. I hate performing in front of others, especially when judged on something. I also know that when I’m under pressure, my powers tend not to listen to what I say, and that is the last thing I want to happen to me today.

"Now I know some of your powers are different. If what I call out isn't one you have just wait until you do," Lailah explainsas she leans against the ledge of the windows. "Let's begin with something simple, elements. All angels have an infinity to at least one element. The more powerful the angel, the more elements they have a sense of control over. Begin with fire, then water, earth, and finish with air."

Neither Harper nor I begin, waiting for our cue to start. In our classes before, the teacher always told us when to start and stop, so it's muscle memory. Silence fills the room as everyone stares at us, waiting for something to happen. I have no idea why the teacher is torturing us like this, but I really hope that she tells us to start soon.

"Well, do neither of you have any elemental powers?" Lailah questions, her gaze one of annoyance when I look over.

Fumbling to lift my hands, I close my eyes, reach for where my power sits in the center of my chest, and call just a small amount forward, focusing on the fire element. Controlling fire has always come easily to me. Anger is a good fuel for it, and I have plenty of that. Opening my eyes, I see a small flame sitting in my open palm. I could have made it much larger, but this small one is easier to control, especially in this environment. I don't want to show off, only complete what is asked of me. Holding the flame for a few more seconds to ensure Dominion Lailah sees I can control it, I let the power fizzle out in my palm and focus on the next element. Water and Earth follow suit, easily controlled in my palm one by one. When I get to call on Air, I'm not able to control it as well as the others. I don't think anyone notices the waver in the small tornado I made in my palm, but it takes me a lot more effort to focus and control it than the other elements. My control over the air has always been weaker despite how much practice I've put in.

"Good, your control of the elements is where I would expect for angels your age. Take a breather, and we will move on to the next set," the teacher explains as she walks from the windowto the back of the classroom, where I am focused on trying to avoid everyone's gazes. Despite how much I try, I can’t ignore the shocked looks I get when I use each element. It's a known fact Seraphim can control at least three elements, but from what I know of, only two on the Seraphim Council can control all four. The fact that I can control four is always something my father liked to brag about to bring more attention and power to our family.

The break doesn’t last long before she calls out instructions. Over and over again, we circle through the basic powers most angels have: teleportation, telekinesis, healing, energy manipulation, slowing time, and prophecy. Harper can perfectly execute her power over air, healing, and telekinesis but struggles with controlling water and slowing time. Energy manipulation, healing, and slowing time are easy enough for me to control in a short span as requested, but when it comes to prophecy, I struggle. It's always been the power that gives me difficulties. I’m surprised energy manipulation cooperated as well as it did since I usually struggle with that as well.

"Thank you both. You may return to your seats. For now, I'd like you both to work together. Next class, I will pair you both with other partners who may be more at your level."

Both of us rush back to our seats, ignoring the looks around us, and try to focus on the task at hand. By the time we take our seats, everyone has broken into their assigned pairs and begun working on their powers.

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