Page 99 of Oleander
Since my mother thinks I’m wasting my time at the academy, it didn’t take much to convince her to allow me to skip a few of the boring, introductory-level classes that I’ve mastered.
Skyler was also allowed to skip a class after winning the Hunt and showcasing his own magical prowess. Our first lesson of the day is Advanced Magical Combat on the sophomore level, right along with Zephyr, Hawk, Leo, and Flame. At least, I’mhopingmy twin shows up today. I haven’t seen him in over a month, and I’m starting to worry.
We stretch our muscles, and I shake my hands out, preparing to call upon some of my magic. I gaze around the room as the sophomores begin to warm up their own magic. There are quite a few Fire Fae in this class, and I watch in amusement as a Water Fae next to one of them extinguishes his flame with a swat of her hand. Steam comes out of his ears, and I roll my eyes at the literal hothead.
A gust of air whooshes by me, and I grab Sky’s arm, steadying myself as I spin us around. We’re temporarily blinded by flashing lights and tiny white orbs swirling around a female with long periwinkle hair. She disappears in the blink of an eye, and I have to stifle my gasp. I’ve never seen an Air Fae vanish like that before. The air where she was standing shimmers with magic before she reappears.
“Damn.Invisibility power,” Skyler says in awe, voicing my exact thoughts. I’ve never seen anyone with that amount of strength and control before.
My fascination is dashed away when I see my brother’s honey blond head enter the gym. I’m not waiting until the end of class to talk, so I make a beeline for him, Skyler hot on my heels. I grab his shoulder, roughly spinning him around. “Flame.Where the hell were you for winter break? We missed you at the Solstice dinner, and Mother has been worried sick.”
“I was traveling, brother. Don’t worry about me.Seriously.” He shrugs my hand off his shoulder and stalks away. I glance at Skyler, who doesn’t look convinced either.
We once again take our spots next to our friends while Flame skulks in the corner as usual. I shake my head, wishing he would cheer up and quit being angry all the time.
Coach Slate storms into the gym, and we all groan, not looking forward to another semester with the jerk. “Yeah, yeah.Happy to see all of you, too! Now, stretch!”
Gaia prances in next, immediately getting an attitude with Slate just to push his buttons. “Why do we need to stretch if this is magical combat,notphysical combat?” She rolls her eyes, strutting past our professor in bubblegum pink shorts and a matching tank. “Sky!” she squeals, running over to him and jumping up with a big hug. She wraps her legs and arms around him like a cuddly koala, and I can’t help but smile at the adorable image they paint.
I’ll admit that I may have slightly abused my power by requesting that both Gaia and Nerine join the rest of our group in this sophomore-level course. But I won’t be sorry because now that I finally have close friends, this class sounds like it will be a lot of fun.
“It’s so good to see you, Skyler. Hi, Oleander!” She waves at me, and I smile back.
“How was your break?” I ask, genuinely curious.
Before she can answer, Slate shouts at us yet again. “Stretch!”
“Ugh!He’s starting already?!” Gaia growls and spins on her heel to complete her warm-ups.
Suddenly, the double doors at the front of the gym bang open, and we all turn around to see who’s coming in late and disrupting class.
“Coach Slate is gonna be pissed,” Skyler chuckles next to me, but I’m distracted. The stale air thickens, clogging my throat and nearly choking me.
How? Am I hallucinating?
Inky black hair is swept away from angry, drawn features.But those eyes.Those cerulean blue eyes are ones I’d recognize anywhere.
River.
My lungs seize, paralyzing my breath. Traumatizing memories attempt to push their way to the surface, but I’ve come too far to allow that to happen.
He’s here? He’s really here, at the academy, in our Advanced Magical Combat class?
I guess spring semester is starting off with a bang. And we probably won’t get the drama-free second half of the year that I was hoping for.
Fucking fuck.
Everyone here knows River, and they all look as stunned as I feel. A soft murmur moves through the gym, and I peer over my shoulder, watching as the crowd parts for Flame. The shock and hope on my brother’s face are clear, but when I glance back at River, the cruel smirk on his lips is so unlike the sweet boy I remember as a kid that I’m actually worried for my brother.
“Where the fuck have you been?” Flame’s voice nearly breaks, and it seems to bring some sort of twisted joy to River’s eyes. His dark hair is slicked back, and his skin is eerily pale as if he hasn’t seen the sun in years. Silver hoops line both of his ears, all the way to the tips, as well as a single hoop that hugs his bottom lip right in the center.
“The Shadow World,” River growls in a sinister-sounding whisper that’s meant to chill us to our bones.
And he succeeds.
Flame’s face loses all color, and a bitter coldness skitters down my spine, making me shiver. Skyler puts a comforting arm around my shoulders, pulling me close.
He’s lived in darkness and fear for five years?
