Page 29 of Crimson Shadows
Ignatius grins, a mischievous glint in his amber eyes. “Everyone knows who you are, Adelaide. The mysterious daughter of one of MistHallow’s founders suddenly appears after being hidden away for years. You’re the hottest topic on campus.”
Great. Just what I needed - to be the centre of attention.Wait! What? One of MistHallow’s founders? Well, he fucking kept that quiet, didn’t he, the fucking arsehole.I guess that makes sense, though, seeing as how he’s managed to get me in here, given me what I think is the best room and this orb thing that Lyra was so envious of.
I take another bite of steak, chewing slowly as I consider my response. “I’m just here to learn,” I say finally. “I’m not interested in shaking things up or being a topic of gossip.”
“Fair enough,” Ignatius says. “But you might not have much choice in the matter. Especially with certain people taking an interest in you.”
I narrow my eyes. “Certain people like Corvus and Zephyr, you mean?”
He nods, looking impressed. “You catch on quick. Yeah, those two don’t usually pay much attention to new students. But you’ve got them intrigued.”
“Lucky me,” I mutter sarcastically. “I guess that makes you the, what was it now? Oh, yeah, ‘really cute fire elemental’?”
Ignatius laughs, the sound warm and genuine. “Aww, who told you about me?” As he speaks, I notice the air around him seems to shimmer slightly, like heat waves rising from the pavement on a hot summer’s day.
“I was warned about you,” I correct him, “and that is none of your business.”
“If someone is talking about me, I want to know who it is.” His amber eyes bore into mine.
“Do you now? Well, now you know how it feels.”
He grins. “Oh, touché, Miss Black. You’re a firecracker, aren’t you?” He holds out his hand, and sparks dance around his fingertips.
“And you’re a bit of a show-off,” I state, shovelling the last piece of steak into my mouth before standing up while I’m still chewing. The plate disappears, and I pick up my coat and put it back on, feeling the weight of the bottle in my pocket.
Ignatius stands up, too, his amber eyes glinting with amusement. “Oh, come on, don’t run off. We were just starting to have fun.”
I roll my eyes. “Your idea of fun and mine are probably very different, firestarter.”
He steps closer, lowering his voice. “Prodigy. Great song, but I wouldn’t be so sure about that, Adelaide. I think we could have a lot of fun together.”
The air around us seems to crackle with energy, and I feel a flush of heat that has nothing to do with his elemental powers. For a moment, I’m tempted to stay, to see where this banter might lead. But the memory of Corvus’s compulsion and Zephyr’s touch makes me wary.
“Thanks, but no thanks,” I say, stepping back. “I’ve had enough ‘fun’ with supernatural beings for one day.”
Ignatius holds up his hands in mock surrender. “Fair enough. But just remember, not all of us are like Corvus and Zephyr. Some of us actually know how to play nice.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I mutter, turning to leave. As I walk away, I can feel his eyes on me, that strange tugging sensation in my chest growing stronger for a moment before fading back down to a soft simmer.
Outside the dining hall, I take a deep breath, trying to clear my head. Between Corvus, Zephyr, Zaiah and now Ignatius, it seems like I can’t go anywhere without running into trouble. I just want to focus on my studies and figure out what the hell I am, not get caught up in whatever games these supernatural beings are playing.
“Why aren’t you more concerned about all of this?” I mutter to Orby, who is happily floating along next to me. “Do you sense danger? Or are you just a magickal guide, slash companion, slash, key to my room?”
Not unsurprisingly, he doesn’t answer me.
As I make my way back to my room, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m being watched. The corridors seem darker, the shadows deeper. I quicken my pace, eager to get back to the relative safety of my room.
14
IGNATIUS
Adelaide leaves the dining hall,her long black hair swinging behind her as she strides away. I smile as I savour the lingering heat of our encounter. She’s certainly not what I expected - and that’s saying something, given the rumours swirling around MistHallow about Randall Black’s mysterious daughter.
As I make my way back to my table, I replay our conversation in my mind. Her quick wit, the sharp retorts, the way she didn’t back down or simper at my flirtations like so many others do. It’s refreshing. Intriguing.
I settle into my chair, absently conjuring a small flame in my palm. The fire dances between my fingers, a reflection of my restless thoughts. Adelaide Black. A force to be reckoned with in her own right, regardless of who her dad is.
The warmth of the flame is an extension of my skin, a comforting sensation that’s been with me since I first discovered my abilities. I’m a fire elemental, but not just any run-of-the-mill pyrokinetic. No, I come from a long line of fire wielders, my bloodline tracing back to the ancient shamans who first learned to harness the raw power of the flame.
