Page 16 of Two Who Live On

Chapter Seven

We’d returned to the auxiliary gym many times since the warlock incursion; however, this was the first time I stood by the open arena that linked different terrains for training and recalled my near death so viscerally. My chest tightened. Images of my bloody pale body filled my head, and I wheezed in unison with my dying memory. Wet, red hands pressed to my exposed neck, funneling magic not meant to save a life. I ran my fingertips over my cheeks, making certain the teardrops of the memory weren’t actually running down my face.

Carter stood beside me, trembling. This was his memory, too, his terror surfacing.

This memory haunted him, so much so he fixated on improving his branch this semester, fueled by a drive never to let anyone fall to harm, but Carter’s root fundamentals floundered in the process. Among those who hadn’t banished any fiends, he was at the top; I wanted to change that.

The idea of combat frightened Carter in a way it hadn’t before the warlock’s arrival. This could be a case where he was on the wrong pathway and the reality of the industry was too much for him. But I believed this was my fault, like throwing a toddler into a crashing river filled with alligators and wondering why they feared swimming. I wanted Carter’s bravado to return. Of course, I’d immediately deflate it like I would with any student, but first, I needed to build him back up for success.

Jennifer stepped close to Carter. “We got this.”

Her black hair covered her eyes but not the soft smile she gave him, something she rarely displayed with anyone else at the academy. She adjusted one of her spiked bracelets and kicked her steel-toe boots against the dirt.

We weren’t the same by a mile or a hundred, but I understood her style and perhaps a small inkling of her connection to Carter, since using her magic to soothe his nerves while the pair had saved my life.

“What?” Jennifer grimaced when she caught me eyeing her. “Save the butterflies for someone who gives a shit.”

And with that, all my sympathy vanished.

“Since you both look ready, you can start us off.” I furrowed my brow and glared at Carter and Jennifer. “The objective’s simple. Banish the fiends before they devour the wisps andattempt to ascend.”

A few students tensed, hiding their trembles. I wouldn’t be releasing enough wisps for any fiend to reach the level of power needed to create an actual demon. It was impossible to do with the academy systems in place, anyway. Still, they didn’t know that, so when I pointed for Carter and Jennifer to go to the starting line leading to the rock terrain, they hesitated.

“This must be part of the academy making preparations for the potential demon threats,” Caleb thought, beaming his theories loudly. “They’re always ahead of things, and given the recent surge Enchanter Evergreen’s been handling, it makes sense his boyfriend would…”

Christ. Seriously, Caleb? I fought a scowl as he practically paraded toward Carter and Jennifer.

Why was everyone freaking out about demons? Chicago hadn’t had an actual demon scare in over a decade.

I froze, and my mind reeled back to that threat, that devastation they caused. I took a breath, listening to the unsteady beat of my pulse in my eardrum, desperate for it to replace the buzzing thoughts of students. After a few shaky breaths, I reminded myself that Enchanter Evergreen, along with so many other enchanters, would never allow that kind of carnage again.

I composed myself, inadvertently glaring at Caleb. Considering he was such a fanboy of Milo’s, he should have paid more attention to the news. Milo already handled the fiend outbreak. It ruined our date, which in all honesty wasn’t the worst outcome.

“This’ll be awesome. We’ve totally got this,” Caleb said, leading his coven mates ahead. “I’ve handled real fiends and real warlocks. Time to remind everyone why I’m a real threat when it comes to the ranking challenge.”

“Actually, you’re not going first,” I said, burying a twinge of guilt for shattering the excitement booming from him. This kid always got to me—his belief, his curiosity, his hope for everyone. But this wasn’tlast semester. His life wasn’t at risk, his future wasn’t in question. I frowned. “I’m changing up your teams.”

Caleb sighed as he returned to our group, and Carter and Jennifer sulked their way toward the starting line.

Each of my students had adapted well to their particular group the first semester, more so when their lives were at stake; however, part of the ranking system was determined by a witch’s ability to collaborate with any coven combination. If I wanted them to be the best of the best, if they sought to eventually partner with witches in any guild for any possible job, they had to learn how to seamlessly work with all the members of their homeroom.

This was one of the biggest challenges I had at Gemini. My telepathy should’ve made it the easiest of lessons, but my instructor knew then how reliant I’d become on Finn and Milo’s minds and magics. Like all the things in my life, it was a lesson that involved a lot of falling headfirst. I’d prepare these kids, even if they nosedived this semester.

“Jamius, Yaritza, go join your team for today’s practice.”

“We’re going first?” Jamius squeaked, turtling his neck into his blazer with his shoulders raised high.

“That’s what he said!” Yaritza squealed, delighted and attempting to drag Jamius along. “Come on! We got this!”

Jamius puffed his cheeks, producing three copies that pushed him ahead to join his eager teammate.

I’d paired those two with Jennifer and Carter because they’d encountered fiends, yet neither used their banishment that day, relying instead on their skilled branch magic control and leaving the fundamentals to Tara.

“I’m gonna obliterate those fiends with explosions!” Yaritza twirled in the air, levitating above everyone and releasing flaming pebbles.

They cascaded across the arena, forcing her classmates to weave around them. A pebble struck Gael’s sandal.

“Caliente.” He swatted the strap around his spikes.

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