Page 59 of Forbidden Magic
A sandstorm whirls around us, shielding us from view. The fire rages on, my skin immune to my own powers, his apparently resisting the heat.
“You don’t think I’d cast a protective spell? You’re a one trick pony, Fire Girl. Now, kneel,” he shouts over the heavy wind.
His shirt falls to pieces at our feet, and his beautiful, black feathery wings sprawl on each side of him. He’s in full Face form, and my eyes can’t contain whatever they are seeing. My salty bubble gum is useless against the iridescent spectacle in front of me. A rainbow of color shimmers underneath his skin, his eyes so bright they’re almost gold. Sweat condenses like rain over his bare torso, dripping down the ridges of his stomach.
Out of instinct, I grip his hand and bite my tongue hard. Black veins crawl up his arms. I realize I’m covered in them as well, the purple-ish streaks covering my forearms. “You kneel.”
We both fall to the dirt at the same time.
The magic wind whips so hard around us, I can barely keep my lids open. A shadow swallows the ground beneath us.
“Your eyes…” His thumb grazes my brow and circles my eye on its way to my cheekbone.
I feel raw. Like I’m wearing my skin inside out.
A thunderous sound echoes directly above us, and a cold heat scatters all the way to the tip of my toes like a million volts of electricity are imploding all at once inside my neurons.
Until there’s nothing but darkness.
23
Faint
The bitterness in my mouth stings on its way down. My arms are numb, and my ribcage hurts. Stiff muscles are throwing a pain-party down my legs. My heavy lids work long enough for me to see the faded blue curtains of the infirmary. Scratchy sheets ghost along my chin, and I groan.
The weak sound is barely audible against the yelling in the next room.
“She assaulted my son.” Celeste Draco’s voice borders on shrill.
My eyes snap open. The three beds next to me are empty, and the doors leading to Dr. Chen’s office and the private room are shut.
“They were dueling,” Mr. Oz says.
“No one is allowed to use infernal magic at the Academy. Especially not a mortal. It’s too volatile,” Celeste says.
“The students are encouraged to use any and all of the skills at their disposal.”
“This barbaric curriculum of yours might need some council overview, Professor Osbourne.”
I shuffle to my feet, the hospital gown falling at my mid thighs. The smell of melted Lycra and burnt cotton haunt my nose, the Duel clothes probably in ashes in the middle of the arena.
Fuck. I hope Flynn didn’t see me naked.
Dr. Chen’s clinical, calculated voice resonates through the empty room. “I welcome all and any Council recommendations.”
Celeste snorts. “I want that witch expelled from my school.”
“That wouldn’t be fair!” Oz shouts.
My stomach sinks. I’ve done it. I’ve managed to get kicked out of the Academy before the end of the first quarter.
A loud throat-clearing sound interrupts them both. “It’s not your school, Celeste, and my girl is not going anywhere.”
Dad! My heart soars and squeezes at the same time. Dad is here, and he’s fighting for me. He’s referring to the stone cold headmistress asCeleste. That ice queen deserves to be taken down a peg or two. Just as I’m about to jump up and down with my Go-Dad metaphorical pompoms, my breath catches.
A furious blush pools on my cheeks. Dad was counting on me to do well, and this doesn’t qualify. I inch forward, my bare feet sticky against the linoleum, and press my eyes against the crack of light streaming through the door.
Dad is standing in front of the doctor’s desk. Celeste isn’t visible, and Mr. Oz is sitting in one of the two chairs opposite Dr. Chen.
