Page 153 of The Holy Academy of Witches

“Something bad is going to happen soon. Not just bad, terrible. And Cillian… I can’t bear it. I can’t bear to lose you… Any of you. Don’t leave me to bear it alone.”

“You have me, Sage. I’m here. I’ll always be here. And I’m sure Theo and Adeline would say the same.” He said, stroking my hair in an attempt to soothe me.

“We don’t know that for sure Cillian, not unless we leave. If we all leave right now there might still be a chance. My parents could hide us, people owe them favours, pay them to ward secret places, we could find one, hide until all of this is over.”

He stayed silent, still stroking my curls as I shook in his arms. “You can’t see anything specific?” I clutched him closer, unwilling to speak the possibility into existence. “If we were to leave… Survive alone. What would happen to everyone else?”

Shaking my head, I refused to answer. That would be my burden to bear. Mine alone if it meant we’d be safe. I knew him too well, he’d put himself in harm’s way.

“Would Theo really leave? Or Adeline? Do you see them agreeing? Or me? Tell me Sage, do we?” He cupped my tear soaked cheeks and leaned in till our foreheads were flush. “I know you’re scared, little tempest. But you’re not alone. Not any more.”

He wove his fingers in mine. Closing his eyes he held me through my hopeless sobs before adding, “and we might be needed, to stop whatever is coming.”

“They’d only want me for my visions.”

“Then fuck them.”

I chuckled wetly.

“I need you Sage. All of you. Your fear, your curiosity, your daring and determination. I need your ability to see and love people for who they are. And I need your love like I need air to breathe.”

“I can’t watch you die again, Cillian.”

“So what then? You’d rather part ways now? Cut the cord instead? If so, say it now.” Despite his words he brought me closer, our lips a whisper away.

I saw the flash of his injuries burned into my retinas. Along with the realisation that while I might be able to get away from whatever was coming, the cost was not one I was willing to pay. Something twisted inside me then, some part of my soul screamingenough, at the fear that had paralysed me for so long. I took a shaky breath, revealing the truth of me.

“Just for once, I wish evil was straight forward, that it wasn’t complicated or understandable. Not so I could be a better hero. No, I’m still a coward, but fear has been the armour that’s kept me alive. But now I have more than myself to care for, the armour is changing. Now, I’m simply terrified of what is becoming more and more clear. That I would gladly become the world’s villain to save any of you three.”

“Promise me you won’t.”

“Why?”

“Because you love me, and I couldn’t bear it.”

“Then promise me you won’t die, that you’ll find me if we’re ever apart.”

He drew a necklace out of his pocket then, at the end of the chain hung a red bass pick engraved with a golden cherry. He draped it around my neck, closing the clasp with little trouble before watching it settle above his shirt’s drooping neckline.

“I’ll always find you. Stay with you through it all.” He swore, his hand over his heart.

“Together then.” I swore, placing my hand over his.

“To the end,” He murmured, sealing our vow with a kiss of fire and wind.

Eighty-One

Adeline

Iswayed back and forth to the music, the beat vibrating through me as I let my body move however it wanted. The alcohol I’d consumed made me feel like I was moving underwater. The bass pulsating around the room, sweat trickling down my cleavage as other dancers pressed closer to me. The dance floor had become more crowded since I’d arrived. I wasn’t entirely sure how long I’d been here… Only that I couldn’t sleep and if I’d stayed at the Academy I would have resorted to doing what I was always doing these days… And even I was beginning to realise I was pushing it too far. My body was at its limit but I needed to escape. Get out of my own head. Do something reckless… Well, getting drunk and dancing in a nightclub with a bunch of mortals was certainly a stupid thing to do.

The song morphed seamlessly into another, faster and louder. Girls flipped their hair and gyrated their body’s in time to the music. Pills and saliva were traded freely, hands roamed over my body as I closed my eyes letting the music twist and turn me.

I opened my eyes and froze, the arm currently wrapped around me - belonging to some hairy guy I hadn’t even looked at - didn’t even notice as they continued their perusal of my tiny leather dress. Theo was staring back at me across the dance floor. In a tight black tee and fitted jogging bottoms he looked like he’d come straight from the gym. His biceps flexed as he watched me, his eyes never leaving mine. I swallowed as I pushed off the sweaty man draped over me and squeezed my way through the crowds of people either dancing or kissing.

I pushed between two people and he was there, his chest level with my face, even with heels on. Why was he here? I looked up at him. His blonde hair hung over his forehead. Slightly curling at the end as it kissed his eyelashes. My hand raised of its own volition to touch one of the strands but he caught my wrist with one of his large hands. The music picked up tempo as it blended into some dance version of a popular song and I was pushed forwards by some eager strangers behind me. The atmosphere was contagious. Music pumped all around us, filling my body to the brim. I let my eyes drift shut as my head tilted, my hair falling down my back in waves as I moved my hips to the music. I turned on the spot feeling the heat of his body pressed against my back. His vanilla scent was everywhere, intoxicating. I let my head fall back against his chest and continued to writhe and roll my body. At his groan, I spun around throwing my hands out to catch myself against his broad chest. He gripped my elbow to steady me and as I looked up at his face. His eyes drifted down to my lips. My tongue swiped across my bottom lip, wetting them in the process. His pupils dilated at the action, his grip on my arm tightened painfully as he grit his teeth. Steering me from the dance floor, I stumbled on my heels twice before he let go of me completely. I followed him all the way outside.

He was pacing on the side of the street, his hand pushing his hair out of his face as he looked up at me.

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