Page 75 of Crimson Shadows
“Lyra Scott, for Troy Captain.”
The crowd cheers as I clap half-heartedly.
“And our Rome Captain is Asher Stanton.”
Corvus growls loudly, but I ignore him and turn away, defeated and embarrassed. Why did Zephyr get it and not me? We both worked hard for this hunt, and we won. Together. It makes no sense.
As the crowd begins to disperse, I slip away, needing to be alone. The night that had started with such promise now feels hollow. I’ve proven myself in so many ways tonight, pushed my abilities further than I ever thought possible. But in the end, it wasn’t enough. Alone in the cold dead of night, as I make my way back to my room, I wonder if it will ever be enough.
33
ZAIAH
Makingmy way across the MistHallow grounds, my feet barely touching the earth, I shiver. Something is coming. Something dark, something powerful and something that sets off my senses like nothing else.
The scavenger hunt has just ended, and I feel the excitement and disappointment coming from the students returning to their rooms. But there’s one emotion that cuts through all the others, sharp and painful: Adelaide’s disappointment.
Our bond, still new and not fully formed, pulses with her anguish. It’s a sensation I’m still getting used to, this constant awareness of her emotions. Her pain calls to me, drawing me towards her, impossible to ignore.
As I approach her room, I pause, considering my options. I can’t get in unless she invites me in through normal channels, however, I’m anything but normal. Instead, I close my eyes, focusing on the pocket dimension I created in her room a few days ago. With a thought, I slip into the space between realities, observing Adelaide unseen.
She’s sitting on her bed, still in her clothes from the hunt, her hair dishevelled and her eyes red-rimmed. In her hands,she’s toying with the small, ornate bottle I left for her. My breath catches in my throat as I watch her fingers trace the intricate designs on its surface.
Will she open it? The question hangs in the air, charged with possibility. I’ve been waiting for this moment, wondering if she would take this step, if she were ready for what it might mean.
Adelaide turns the bottle over in her hands, her expression full of curiosity and trepidation. I can see the battle raging in her. The caution that’s kept her safe, warring with the thirst for knowledge and power that’s brought her this far.
Finally, with a deep breath that visibly steadies her, she uncorks the bottle.
The effect is immediate and breathtaking. A soft, golden light emanates from the bottle, enveloping Adelaide in its warm glow. I watch, fascinated, as the light seeps into her skin, her eyes flashing with power.
The change in her is subtle but profound. Her posture straightens, and her eyes become sharper, more aware. I can feel her abilities expanding, growing in ways she probably doesn’t even realise yet. It’s a heady sight, one that fills me with cautious pride.
I’ve seen what power can do to people, how it can corrupt and twist. But with Adelaide, there is a strength in her that goes beyond mere magickal ability.
As the golden light fades, Adelaide looks around her room, her gaze seeming to penetrate the fabric of reality. For a moment, I think she might have sensed my presence in the pocket dimension. But then her eyes move on, and I relax.
It’s time, I decide. I can’t keep watching from the shadows. She deserves more than that.
“Adelaide,” I call softly, my voice resonating in the space between dimensions. “Can I come in?”
She starts, her eyes widening as she searches for the source of my voice. “Zaiah?” she asks, confused. “Where are you?”
“Yes,” I confirm. “I’m in the pocket dimension connected to your room that I created the other day. I can enter if you give me permission.”
There’s a moment of hesitation, and I hold my breath, waiting for her decision. “Yes,” she says. “You can come in. Were you lurking?” Her accusation comes with crossed arms and a really cute, annoyed expression.
With a thought, I step out of the pocket dimension and into her room. The air shimmers around me as I materialise, and I see Adelaide’s eyes widen at the display of magick.
“Who, me?” I ask with a smile meant to disarm. “I never lurk, babes.”
“Humph,” she mutters but drops her defensive stance.
“Hi,” I say softly, suddenly feeling awkward now that I’m face-to-face with her. “I felt that you were upset. I wanted to check on you.”
Adelaide’s expression softens, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “You felt it? Through our... bond? Is that the right word for it?”
I nod slowly, moving closer to her. “Yes. It’s getting stronger. I can sense your emotions more clearly now, especially when they’re intense.”
