Page 63 of Above
“You’re pathetic,” I hissed, bending down. I lifted up on my toes, folding my knees and placing my elbows onto them. Peering down at him, I realized how sure I was that he wouldn’t lunge for me. So confident that he couldn’t get me that I further teased and tortured him. “As always, you prove that I’m not the only mistake in Elite Academy. Have fun getting back. Maybe I’ll get lucky and you’ll die when you try to shadow walk. Honestly, I can’t believe you were even able to get us here.”
Altair began chuckling, the sound manic and deep, almost guttural. He rolled over, letting his back flatten against the hardpavement below. With perfectly white teeth glittering red from the blood, he smiled. “I wasn’t trying to take us here, actually.”
Huffing, so annoyed that it began replacing the anger, I muttered, “Of course you don’t care about your life either. Why am I surprised?”
I stood, not bothering to spare a second glance, and turned, ready to head home. The night was still young, and I had a feeling they’d be eating a late dinner now that Mama had to work my hours.
“Bye, Snake, see you tomorrow. If you live.”
I made it no more than ten steps before Altair’s irritating voice rang out. “You know, if you leave me here and I do successfully get back home, I’ll tell everyone that you leave.”
Halting, I instantly let the panic overtake me. My chest heaved, a ferocious ache forming behind my eyes. With a few deep breaths, I tried to think through the stress. He had no proof I left. He was the one who took me here. I couldn’t show my cards. “Who said I leave?”
“I have somewhere to be. I’m running late.”His voice was higher pitched, as if mocking me. I had said those things. Why did I insist on being an utter idiot? “Sounds like you’ve been leaving quite often.”
“It’s not explicitly said that we have to stay on the island,” I argued, knowing it was futile. Altair had me.
He shook his head, still on the ground lying flat. “You know you’re not supposed to leave, or else you wouldn’t sneak around. It doesn’t need to be said because it’s a ridiculous thing to do. Why leave at night and lose sleep we all desperately need? No wonder you always look so tired and hideous. It’s hard to even see you.”
“Then stop fucking looking!” I shouted, instantly regretting it. I didn’t want anyone to notice us. Didn’t want to draw attention to the core boy and the of eadi above him. Peoplewould spin it. They’d blame me. And I couldn’t cloak myself with my mind a mess. It was hard enough to do with all my focus. I couldn’t count how many times I had failed at it. But I had to do something about the despicable snake at my feet. Fast.
Considering my options—of which I had few—I tried to decide if any of them would lead to me not getting caught. If he did tell on me, would I get in trouble?
Yes. They attacked me in front of everyone without a second thought. What would they do if I actually deserved it? I couldn’t risk it, but was there any possible way to keep Altair silent?
Maybe if he were just as ashamed as I was. But what would make Altair want to keep this secret? I didn’t exactly kick his ass. I only got him down because he drank himself witless. So that wouldn’t be enough. I tilted my head back, staring at the stars.
Please, for once, help me out.
It hit me then as I stared at our rulers in the sky—a possible threat. One that might not work, but I was low on options and each of them were far worse.
Walking back to him, I bent down once more and grabbed his cloak, willing us to the shops in the Sham District—willing us home.
We appeared in front of a glowing shop, one I had visited on many dark nights. As suspected, he was open. His loss of sleep was my gain tonight.
Using all my strength, I began hoisting Altair to his feet, his groan of pain further irritating me.
“Stop, you’re fine. You’ve had worse.” Not that I knew for sure, but I imagined any amount of training that had him so lethal would have hurt twice as badly.
Another nonchalant chuckle left his lips, sounding gravely as it crawled up his throat. “I have actually. What are we doing here?”
“You need new clothes if you want me to help you. You can’t be wearing this where we’re about to go and I can’t manage cloaking you.”
“My clothes are nicer than anything I’ve ever seen you in,” he said, his lips close to my temple and his arm tight around my shoulders.
“You’ve only seen me in the provided elite wear.” I grunted beneath his weight as I risked using one of my hands to shove his face away.
“Exactly,” he scoffed, his breath hot against my skin once more. “Your inability to style anything you wear is absolutely horrendous.”
“I am wearing the same thing you’re wearing now.” Why I was arguing with him, I didn’t know. He wasn’t worth the breath.
“Then what’s the problem with me wearing them too?”
“Because yours are decorated with snakes and jewels and stars know what else,” I hissed out, my patience long gone. “Even if they don’t recognize what the snakes mean, they’ll know you aren’t some poor boy I’m trying to help.”
“Stars forbid these ominous people think you keep decent company.”
“You are the farthest thing from decent I have ever met.”
