Page 16 of Rejected Darkness

"She doesn't?" My eyes widen as I look between her closed bedroom door and Isis. "Well damn, she got lucky. Alright, let's go and get you your pancakes. Some scrambled eggs also sound good to me."

The second I walk into Psychic Magic, I know I will enjoy it. There aren’t any desks in the classroom, instead pillows are set up around the room so we can be comfy. Having the freedom to move around the room and not be confined to a desk excites me. The whole ambiance around the room is calming. The lights are lowered so the room appears dark and the windows are covered by black curtains.

"Please take a seat wherever you'd like," Dominion Lailah calls out as I enter the room. Some of the cushions are already taken up by students so I grab the first one I see toward the back of the room. I know I will be called out again to display my powers just like yesterday, but the back of the room feels safer. It means I can let the other students file out before I leave when I fail miserably.

"Hi," a male's voice states the second I sit down. The voice startles me, and I turn cautiously toward it, not expecting anyone to have the guts to speak to me. Guess this guy did.

"Hello?" I question, raising my eyebrow at him in confusion. When I turn to look at him fully, I realize that he's a fallen angel and actually speaking to me. I stare at him trying to figure out why he is speaking to me. The fallen sits beside me, brown eyes staring at me with intrigue. His black hair is short, not quite a buzz cut. He’s wearing a dark blue t-shirt that clings to his skin and black jeans. I can’t tell how tall he is for sure, but he is definitely taller with me. I’d think he was hot if he wasn’t a fallen, and I wasn’t worried about what he wants. Half of me wants to shut up, turn to face the front, and completely ignore him. That's what my father would expect me to do. Instead, I don't. I keep my focus on him, waiting to see if he will say more. I’mcurious about what he wants and even more curious if he can help me find answers to my questions. Only time will tell with that though.

"It's not as scary as you think. This class is actually pretty fun. I'm Phoenix, nice to meet you," he explains, holding out his hand in greeting.

"Phoenix," Rhys hisses from his other side. "Stay the fuck away from the angel. She's the problem, not the damn solution."

I have no idea what he's talking about. I agree that angels are the cause of some of the problems, but it doesn't mean that I am. If anything I'm more lost and confused than I ever have been. Phoenix gives me a soft smile before turning to look at Rhys. I can't hear their conversation fully, but by Phoenix's posture and tone, he isn't too thrilled. I'd say it’s more of a mix of anger and sadness. Turning back to the front of the room, I push the interaction to the back of my mind and ready myself for what is to come.

Conversations take place all around me as I fiddle with my hands in my lap. I’m not really sure what to do or what to expect. I know I will have to at least try to control my power of prophecy while here, but I’m not sure what else will be asked of me. That, what else, is what I am most focused on.

"Class, please settle down," Dominion Lailah calls out after clearing her throat. It doesn’t take long for the class to listen, silence filling the darkened room. I had Dominion Lailah as my teacher for basic magic class yesterday, so I already know some of what to expect today when it comes to having her as a teacher. "Thank you all for making it to class today.

“I want you all to close your eyes and take a deep breath. Focus on centering yourself and calming your breathing. Tune out the world and just focus on yourself," our teacher's voice explains calmly. “Instead of having our newest student show off her powers, I will place you with a partner so you can practiceyour skills. Share with your partner and tell them what you are capable of. I want to see everyone practicing. If I see you messing around, you will be switching partners, and no, you can't choose your own," she scolds before walking around the room.

As she walks, Dominion Lailah places all of the students into pairs. There are eleven of us in total, which means at some point, there will either be an uneven group or someone will be assigned to work with her. Looking around the room at my options, I hope to just work with our teacher for today rather than being the odd person out.

"Rhys, Phoenix, usually I try to separate the two of you, but for today, I'll allow you to be in the same group," she explains as she reaches us in the back of the room.

Yes!I mentally shout, excited that there's a possibility I'll be assigned to work with her. Better chance of that than with Rhys, anything to keep that psycho far away from me, the better. I wouldn't have minded being paired with Phoenix, he seems nice enough, but knowing he is friends with Rhys the Asshole, yeah, I would be passing on that friendship.

"Arabella, you will be placed with Rhys and Phoenix. Rhys, I expect you to help her and not hinder her," our teacher scolds as she stares him down. It takes everything in me to not chuckle because it looks like his eyes are about to pop out of his head. “Arabella, both of them are some of the best at psychic magic in this class, and this should be able to easily help you with whatever power or powers you choose to practice today.”

"Miss Lailah, I doubt there is anything I can teach a Seraphim Angel that she doesn't already know. Wouldn't it be better if she was paired with another angel, I mean, one more down at her level?" Rhys’s tone is cold as he cuts a small look to me before returning his attention to our teacher and giving her a bright smile. Honestly, if I didn't already know what type of dick he is, I probably would have fallen for that smile myself. Hisblack t-shirt clinging to his skin isn’t helping either, just shows off more of his bicep muscles.

"Nice try, Rhys," she shakes her head. "Behave, or I will see you in detention. Phoenix, please be a dear and control your friend, and help Arabella. You are the top student in my class, so I trust you to help the most." With that, she walks away, leaving the three of us alone.

Phoenix gives me a soft smile as I turn to face them, while Rhys just glares. If he could shoot daggers from his eyes, I'm pretty sure he would right now.

"Let's start with what powers you are capable of and then we can go from there," Phoenix states softly, completely ignoring the death glares his friend is not only giving me but now him as well. I’m thankful that Phoenix is the one who is taking the lead on helping me. He’s much easier to speak with than Rhys.

"Uhh...," I stutter, not really sure how to answer. I know what powers I have, mostly, but there's one I'm terrified to say. Warrick told me to keep it close and not let anyone know. Not even my father knows I'm capable of it. Besides Warrick, my great-grandmother Aurora knows as well. She explained it partially to me, but no one ever let me practice it. Not after Warrick let me try and then decided it was too risky for me to demonstrate it or even learn it. He didn’t want to risk me accidentally calling upon it at the wrong time and someone witnessing it or figuring out what exactly I did.

"I understand not being comfortable showing and sharing your powers with fallen angels," Phoenix begins but is cut off by Rhys.

"Oh get over yourself, Princess," Rhys demands. "We couldn't give a shit what you can and can't do. Phoenix just doesn't want to end up in detention because of you, and I don't either. So practice a power so we can move the fuck on."

"Prophecy. I have the power of prophecy," I answer in a mumble. Gone completely is the confidence I wanted to have when facing Rhys. He's right. I'm scared to share my power with unknown people and even more scared of ending up in detention. Who knows what my father would do if I did?

"Okay, we will start with that. Close your eyes and call upon that power. Give us a small prophecy," Phoenix nods in encouragement. Rhys stares at me in confusion, and it looks like a smudge of anger before he schools his face and just stares at me. I have no idea what that is about, but if I focus on it now, I doubt I'll be able to do anything.

If only it worked that easily. I only said prophecy because I couldn't bring up the other. Phoenix reaches across the small opening between us and takes my hand in his, giving it a small squeeze before smiling at me. "You got this Arabella." His smile was meant to calm me but it also makes me nervous. I can feel butterflies in my stomach as he looks at me. I really shouldn’t be feeling this way.

The second he touches me, I feel my magic jump, like it is trying to crawl to the surface, but it disappears before I can grasp it and try to figure out what exactly it wants. Since my magic wants to come out to play, I close my eyes and focus on my power. I don’t try to pull on one specific strand. Instead, I focus on it as a whole. The power of prophecy doesn’t work like most others. You can’t control it, or call on it at will most of the time. At least not unless you are a prophet or prophetess. They can call upon the magic at will but the more powerful prophecies still only come when they want.

I only know of two angels who are powerful enough to call upon the magic at will. They keep to themselves, secluded from the other angels, except for once a year when the Seraphim Council will call upon them to report the prophecies they had seen that year. My father explained once that they stayed inthe mountain range nearby because if they were with the other angels, the prophecies were too strong, and they couldn't control them. The power drains the angel. The more powerful the prophecy, the more drained they are afterward. Thankfully, all the prophecies I have experienced are small and won’t drain me too much. Now, if only I could call upon one.

"Take some deep breaths and let them out slowly," Phoenix whispers in a calm, even voice. "Clear your mind of all the noise around you. Forget your struggles, and whatever is bothering you. Feel the magic around you."

I want to scoff and tell him how wrong he is. It isn't that easy. My magic doesn't like to listen in that way but something in his voice has me doing exactly what he says. In and out, one after another, I take deep breaths and push aside all the bullshit I've been going through. On the next breath, I push out the fear I'm feeling, and with the last breath, I call my magic up and let it surround me. I have no idea how long I sit there cross-legged as I let my magic surround me, falling into the power and just letting it calm me.

"Anything?" Rhys questions, his voice gruff.

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