Page 39 of Broken Lands

“Oh girls, I’m glad I caught you.” He said a little breathlessly. “I’ve canceled class today. I’m needed over at B Station. They’ve caught one of the creatures that attacked last night. It had been injured and hid inside the tower. They have it alive, too weak to fight against the vines used to move it. I’m heading over now to study it.”

“Is that safe?” Bee asked her father, reaching out and swiping a hand over his head to flatten his hair in a gentle, affectionate gesture.

“I’ll be fine, darling.” He said reassuringly, the corner of his mouth quirking in the corner as he leant down to kiss her on the top of her head before turning to me with a small smile. I guess I’d have to wait to pepper him with questions. “Professor Darmon would like to see you, Riley. Can you head down to his office?”

“Oh, of course.” I said, my stomach sinking as I wondered why he wanted to see me. Had something else happened? Was it about what I’d done last night?

“I’ll come with you.” Bee offered, glancing at me from the corner of her eye, somehow sensing my unease. “I’ll call you later, dad.”

Reardon waved as he bustled off down the hall, leaving Bee and I to make our way to the Professor Darmon’s office.

“What do you think he wants with me?” I asked Bee, fiddling with my locket as we walked along.

“I’m not sure.” She answered honestly, her face set in concern. “Maybe it’s about the attack last night? No one has checked in with you yet, have they?”

“No, you’re probably right.” We arrived outside the office, and I raised my hand, knocking softly.

“Come in.” Professor Darmon called.

Pushing open the door, Bee and I stepped inside. Professor Darmon was sitting behind his desk, pouring over some papers and looking every bit as frazzled as Reardon had. Everyone seemed rattled this morning. Not that I could blame them, I was too. Word of last night’s attack must have reached the entire academy by now. I wasn’t sure what repercussions the attack might hold for the people within Danann, but it was clearly unexpected news. Unease settled in my stomach at the thought.

I took a seat, Bee plopping down into the twin chair next to me. We sat in silence for a long minute, while the Professor finished reading the document laid out in front of him.

“Sorry, girls. Thanks for waiting.” He said, straightening his papers and placing them to the side. “I was just finishing the report from General Brand about last night’s attack at B Station. I understand you were present, Riley?” He asked, his steely gray eyes settling on me.

My fingers found my locket, fiddling with it again, tracing the intricate engraving on the front as butterflies danced in my stomach and I nodded. Why had the attack occurred at the exact time I was there? “Yes, I was. I was with Co—General Brand.”

He nodded at me thoughtfully, standing from his chair and beginning to pace back and forth behind his desk. There was a nervous energy emanating off him, setting my own nerves on edge. As if they weren’t frayed enough.

After a few minutes of awkward silence, Bee cut in. “Why did you summon Riley here, Professor?” She asked, tilting her head to the side as she watched him pace curiously.

He paused, clicking his tongue and turning to face us.

“I am breaking protocol by speaking to both of you, however I am concerned for your safety, Riley, and would be remiss not to make you aware of the potential threat.” He took a heavy breath and sat back down in his chair.

I risked a glance at Bee, raising a brow in question. She shrugged, clearly not knowing any more than I did. Was this about the Resistance? Could they have something to do with a void creature attack?

“I don’t believe, and neither does General Brand, that last night’s attack was the random act of Void creatures acting alone.” He looked between the two of us, his expression drawn and serious. “We know there’s a threat against you, Riley. And that the Resistance knows of your existence and is interested in having you join their ranks. I would hope you do not consider that an option, but that is not what I called you here to discuss.” A shiver ran down my spine at the mention of the Resistance. They had attacked us and killed one of the fae guards transporting me to Danann. I had never, and would never, consider joining them. They were ruthless, soulless, their agenda unclear.

“The General and I believe there may be a group within our own community hoping to get rid of you, Riley. The Elders have been quite vocal about their desire for you to be sent back to Sommers. They didn’t want you here to begin with, despite King Ronan giving his approval.” He looked at me apologetically. “People tend to fear what they don’t understand. It is often easier to ignore these things, will them away, than to take the time to understand them. We are facing many more challenges here on Earth than we ever expected, and there is a fear that you will grow to be one of them. My personal belief is that you will be our salvation. One way or another, I believe you will help us save these lands, these people, and help our own kind return home.”

His steely gray eyes captured my own, and I quickly swallowed the lump that formed in my throat at his words. His expectations of me were great, and the fact there may be fae wanting me out of here… it was a lot to take in. The power in my chest thrummed, reassuring me it was there, that maybe I could protect myself. That was the problem, though, wasn’t it?

“I…” I didn’t know how to respond to his declaration, to the idea that there were fae angry enough about my presence that they might order an attack on me. Was that even possible? “Do you think someone targeted B station while I was there?” I asked. “That they had enough control over the void creatures to do that?”

The Professor nodded as he stood again, clasping his hands behind his back and taking up the same path he’d been pacing earlier.

“Yes. That is exactly what I believe. I need you to be careful until we figure out what it is we are up against and how best to protect you from it. I would ask that you do not wander around alone, particularly outside the grounds of the Academy, and that you do not leave Danann at all—even with the General, it is too dangerous and you have very little training. You did brilliantly last night. You proved that you have a natural affinity for wielding your elements and more. Some of that is likely luck, and we do not want to risk that luck running out.”

“I can do that,” I replied, straightening in my chair as I tried to hide the tendrils of fear taking hold of me.

As much as I wanted to explore Danann, I didn’t really need to leave the academy grounds. And I really hadn’t been alone very much since I’d arrived here. It shouldn’t be hard to make sure I was always with Bee or Stefan. I just hoped I didn’t become a burden on any of them.

“I’ll help, too.” Bee said, twisting slightly in her chair to face me, her green eyes dancing with some untold emotion. “You are meant to be here, Riley. I feel it deep in my soul. We need you. Dad believes it too.”

Warmth spread through me at her words. Perhaps there was a faction of the fae that didn’t want me here, but those that did made me feel more at home than I ever had before.

After meeting with Professor Darmon, Bee and I spent the morning in the library working on the assignment Professor Burns had set.

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