Page 17 of Rejected Darkness

"Leave her alone, Rhys," Phoenix scolds softly. "You know psychic magic is different and takes its time. Let her go at her own pace."

"We don't have time for her little games. Either the power is there or it isn't," Rhys retorts, "if she hasn't done anything yet then it isn't going to happen and we can move on."

"I'm sorry," I state, opening my eyes. "It's just not happening. The magic is there, but there are no prophecies. I can't call upon them on demand."

"It's okay, Arabella, you tried, and that's all that matters. We can try again next class," Phoenix smiles. "Rhys, since you have been so impatient ,why don't you go ahead?"

The rest of the class I listen to both of them go back and forth. Rhys is patient and calm with Phoenix but if I offer any sort of suggestion he just cuts me off and tells me to sit there and try to not look so ugly since I can’t do anything else. Instead of focusing on them, I focus on the rest of the classroom. So many different powers are being practiced and I am in awe at the amount of control others have. Some people are almost experts with their powers, but others struggle just as much as I am. Seeing the range calms something inside of me, and I know that I’m not alone in the way my father has made me believe.

"Of course, a Fallen like you would think that," Stark chuckles darkly. "You Fallen think that you can get away with anything and that you're above the rules."

"Really," Rhys laughs. "I think you have it turned around there Angel." He emphasizes the word Angel like it's disgusting to say. "You all make rules that fit you and you alone. Us Fallen couldn't mean shit to you because we won't conform to your stands. So yeah, I guess we are better than you because we don’t ask others to conform to a set of standards."

"Those 'standards' as you call them are there to keep us all safe and are why we are the top species. You Fallen are a disgrace to the Angel race," Stark scolds.

For the past ten minutes since Angel Etiquette class started, Stark and Rhys have been at each other’s throats. What started as a simple conversation has now turned into a full-blown argument over the difference between angels and fallen angels. Their fight has been low enough to not draw the attention of the teacher, or at least it was at the start. Now our teacher is staringat them, and of course, I'm stuck right beside them, having to hear it all.

"Fallen Rhys and Angel Stark!" our teacher shouts. "I have had enough of you two arguing. Split up now."

"Of course, I get blamed for just trying to defend myself," Rhys groans, as if he wasn’t part of the problem, which he most certainly was.

"Enough!" our teacher calls out. "Seraphim Arabella, move to a seat between them. If I hear another word from any of you, all three of you will end up in detention."

My jaw drops open as I stare at him, confused about why I'm being brought into the middle of something I had no involvement in. All I was trying to do was pay attention to what he was teaching. Now, I'm being treated like I was part of the problem.Great, just what I needed.

As to not earn any more of his ire, I get up and collect my books to switch seats. Standing beside Stark I wait for him to gather his items and move so I can have his seat and be between them. He gives me a death glare before gathering his stuff and moving so I can slide into the seat.Join the club, dude. I didn’t want this anymore than you.

Opening my book to the page we are supposed to be learning today, I keep my attention forward and try to focus on the lesson. I can feel Rhys and Stark glaring at each other, and it takes everything in me to tune it out. We just need to get through this class and then I can be free to go hide in the library until dinner. Thank the Divine that Tuesdays and Thursdays are just morning classes with my afternoons free.

"Now that the disruption is done, how about we get to the point of this class?" Dominion Haniel asks, his glare focused on us before he looks at the rest of the class. The warning is there. Either shut up and pay attention or get detention. I know which one I am choosing, I just hope the others do as well.

At least I could say this was the first time I've ever been threatened with detention and twice in one day at that. I knew being rejected was the start of a huge life change for me, but now I feel like everything is different. I thought by coming here I would be able to keep my head down, and do what was expected of me just like I did in Aeris. What my father expected of our family name, even if he said he was disowning me when I got rejected. After today, I wonder if I need to take a different approach. Isis said I would have a choice to make, if I wanted to keep following my father's rules or to have a chance to discover who I truly am. I'm starting to think following my father's rules isn't going to get me far here. No, I need to find out who I am instead.

"Arabella," a voice calls out softly, startling me from my reading. I had been in the library for hours and was engrossed in my third book. I still haven’t found anything helpful about the prophecy I overheard Phoenix and Rhys talking about, which frustrates me. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you," Phoenix states when I look up and realize he's standing on the opposite side of the table. "You look engrossed in whatever you were reading, but it's getting pretty late, so I wanted to check on you."

"How long have you been standing there?" I ask, closing the book I had open and placing my hands on the cover to hide the title.

"Not long, but I have been on the other side of the library for the past hour and a half and noticed you haven't moved in that time. The librarian even announced the library would be closing in thirty minutes, and you didn't even flinch. So, I figured I would come check on you," he answers as he pulls the seat outacross from me. "We have about five minutes before the doors are sealed."

"Thanks," I mumble with a soft smile. "Where's your shadow?" I ask, looking around to see if Rhys is somewhere nearby. I haven't seen the two of them without one another until now.

"Probably in the dorm room, wondering where the hell I am," he laughs. "What? You think I can only stay with him and not wander off on my own?"

"Yeah," I laugh. "Something like that. He seems to be the boss of you. No offense," I add quickly when his posture stiffens.

"I guess from the outside it would seem that way. Just remember not everything is what you see," he shrugs. "Now, how about we head out before we're locked in for the night? I'll walk you home." Phoenix stands, pushing his chair back as he puts his hand out to me.

I ignore his offer but I do push the seat back and begin stacking the books up to place on the nearby cart. Phoenix waits patiently at the table while I put the books on the cart and then move back to the table to gather my bag. I wanted to put the books back myself so as to not draw attention to what I was looking for, but with Phoenix waiting for me, I wasn’t going to be able to without him seeing what I’ve been reading. He doesn't ask about the books, but he does tell me he will be escorting me back to the dorms. All I can do is give him a questioning look, but I follow him downstairs and out of the library. The librarian, Sasha, smiles and waves as we exit and close the doors behind us.

Neither of us speak as we do the ten-minute walk through the woods to the dorm. I thought it would be awkward, but it isn’t. The silence is nice, and it gives me time with my thoughts. I should be questioning his motives, questioning why he waswatching me or intrigued but I don’t. Instead, I let the night air refresh me and clear my mind.

"Have a good night, Arabella," Phoenix softly states as he stands outside my dorm room door. He walks me right up to my room but hangs back just a little when I tell him it’s my room, almost like he is afraid to get too close.

"Thank you for the company during the walk, Phoenix," I answer as I open the door. Turning my back, I walk inside and see my roommates waiting for me, staring me down like I lost my head. They're right, I think I have.

"You have some explaining to do," Isis scolds, her hands on her hips as she stares me down. I can tell she has a lot to ask me about and give her opinion on. I know I’ll be lucky if I can walk away before she spouts off with them all.

"Could we do this in the morning?" I question. "I don't think I can answer your questions right now."

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