Page 5 of In Between Darkness
We circle back around to the Castle to complete the final part of the tour. Miss Worthington leads the students back through the corridor and to the first quarter. She signals to the third set of stairs positioned at the opposite end of the welcome hall.
“If you follow me, I will direct you to the healing quarters.”
We shuffle one by one up the spiralling staircase, its iron steps clanging with each onward motion our feet make. The stairs unfold into another long corridor that wraps around the castle. It comprises great arches with wide-reaching windows overlooking a second courtyard. This courtyard contains a large empty slab of concrete surrounded by stone viewing benches; some students are slouched, reading and chatting in their groups.
I have a good view of a few second-years playing an unusual game of tag down below in the centre of the area, each using their Gifts to get ahead. I watch as one boy throws a fierce ball of light behind him as he tracks in front. The student running behind seems unfazed, simply raising his arm up parallel to his shoulder, stopping the fiery sphere in its tracks. He beckons his hand a few degrees to the left, and the globe of light changes direction, soaring to the left of him. The relentless ball of fire is now hurtling in the direction of a group of girls sitting with their noses in their books on the viewing benches. It’s growing in intensity as it glides closer towards them. They do not move; they have not noticed the bullet of light heading straight forthem. Miss Worthington looks unbothered, as if this type of behaviour is a daily occurrence around here. The orb is still propelling towards them. A girl from the middle of the group stands up gradually, still with her nose in her book, her left hand awaiting the impact from the ball of fire. As it reaches her, it begins to diminish, getting smaller and smaller until it is roughly the size of a tennis ball. She rests her hand under it and envelops it in the palm of her hand until it disappears. She looks pissed off at the smoke elevating off the edges of her book. They exchange some words; I’m guessing along the lines of - “You singed my book, you arsehole!”
She then delivers the boy, still running, a glaring look and tosses her middle finger his way. The boy laughs and sends her a cheeky wink. A second girl from her group stands up and flings her index finger at the boy; he tumbles down. That will teach him.
I gaze to my right, not noticing that the rest of the class is already at the far end of the corridor. I pick up my pace to catch up when a figure emerges from behind one of the podiums supporting the great archway.
“You lost?” a husky voice calls out to me.
I shake my head in response, causing a strand of my hair to become misplaced and rest across my face.
He raises an eyebrow, and my cheeks blush.
“No, I just got distracted watching the show down there,” I smirk and toss a look at the students below, still at war in their game of tag.
A silky chuckle escapes his lips, and his blonde hair bounces in agreement with his head. Hazel eyes twinkle back at me as he fixes them onto mine. His mouth is cradled with a dusty stubble. He must be a third-year.
“You first years, always so easy to please.” His jaw flexes with each word. His eyes stare into mine, and I feel the mislaid hairswoop out of my eyeline and tuck behind my ear. Did he really just Influence me?
“You say that as if you were never one of us,” I defend, “and anyway, you should at least tell a girl your name before using your Gifts on them.” I smile, continuing my way along the corridor. Am I attracted to him? He is kind of cute.
“River,” he states, following in my direction. “Do I get to know yours?”
“Depends.” I turn towards him. “Are you gonna promise not to Influence me again?”
“Why? Do my powers make me hard to resist?” He chuckles, and I scoff in a playful way and begin walking away from him again. “I’m kidding, I promise.”
“In that case. I’m Asha… Asha Calloway,” I respond with a little flirtation in my voice.
“A pleasure to meet you, Asha.” His voice sends ripples down my spine. “Are those real?” His stare averts to my uniquely coloured eyes.
“Yes, they are,” I answer awkwardly, causing my eyes to fall from his. “I know they are strange.” I look down with embarrassment.
“No, not strange.” He pauses. “I think they are rather beautiful.”
His stare becomes more intense as the heat rushes to my cheeks.
“I should get back to the group,” I blush as I turn to walk away.
“I’ll see you around, Asha Calloway,” he calls from behind as if he knows he will.
I catch up with Nala and the rest of the group.
“Where did you go?” she asks. “I was worried a third-year had eaten you.”
A smile springs across her face.
“You could say that,” I laugh and give her a look as if to fill her in later.
“Finally, the healing quarters,” Miss Worthington interrupts.
My eyes scan the room. Rows of beds lie opposite each other, lining the perimeter. Curtains surround each bed for much-needed privacy. Some beds in the quarter must be taken as the curtains are drawn. I wonder how they got injured.
The table at the back of the room is scattered with test tubes and measuring jugs, each one filled with liquids in an array of colours. On the shelves dotted around the room, there are glass mason jars containing all types of oddities preserved in clear solutions.
