Page 22 of The Holy Academy of Witches

He chuckled darkly, “Someone’s wound up a little too tight I think. You asked me for proof that it’s safe to spill your secrets, and I’m pointing out that no self-serving bastard, like myself, would endanger their life debt before it’s paid in full.”

“Thanks, I’m brimming with confidence now.”

“Sure, sure, anytime. Now are we getting on with this or am I divulging all to Theo? I do hate anything that disrupts the peace.”

“I’m a seer.” I blurted, wondering if my parent’s horror stories of the past seers’ fates had been exaggerated in the slightest.

He began looking me up and down as if something about my wilting uniform would confirm the fact. The fact I might be the only one alive who had come into her powers without being captured. The energy shifted and I stood, ready to bolt if he was about to make good on my parent’s threats.

“Why?”

“How should I know?”

“No, imbecile! Why would you tell me something that could get you killed? in return for keeping a secret from your brother? The two are hardly equal. Or are you blind??”

“They’re equal to me.”

“How? Your life for his peace of mind? Do you really think him so fragile?”

I remained blank. Not one speck of emotion or memory allowed onto my mind’s stage. He was muttering and pacing now as he ran his fingers through his hair. I saw his star was glowing and looked toward mine, it looked unchanged.

“Fine,” he said, “I will keep your secrets, but should you fail to keep them secret yourself I consider this deal null and void, do you understand?”

“I’m not an idiot, you know.” I said, reaching for his outstretched hand.

“You’ve yet to prove it actually,” he murmured as our hands clasped. Riotous tingles shot up my arm at the contact. Letting go quickly, I narrowed my eyes. The shock was not quite enough for me to miss the insult.

I quietly gathered my things as he returned the saplings to their original form. I had nothing left to say, the bargain was struck. Walking back the way I came, I dropped all pretence of a calm retreat after I met the treeline. Then I ran. I ran until my breathing felt like swallowing daggers. I ran until the tears, which were streaming, froze on my face. And I ran until I couldn’t feel his lingering touch. He was just another trap. Another person that underestimated me. If it was a demonstration he wanted, it was a demonstration he’d get.

Twelve

Sage

Iwas usually in better control of my emotions, yet now they were streaming around my mind. The reds of anger, the greys of frustration, and purple… always the purple of fear - the usual telltale signs of an impending vision. Letting my curls fall to hide my face, I prayed they would be enough to hide the glow. That I simply looked to be a girl crying and no one stared at me too closely.

The door swung wide at my approach and I scrunched my eyes tightly till my emotions were firmly in check. When I opened my eyes, Melody was staring at my wrist. My eyes darted around the room to find we were alone. She stood, pointing a shaking finger at the mark.

“Since when have you been life bound?”

I held my hands up in placation as I edged into the kitchen. Grabbing some water, I gestured to my throat and waited for her to nod her understanding. I drank until I could speak without pain, all the while watching, ensuring she wasn’t using the phone in front of her.

“Are we alone?” I asked.

“Yes,” she raised her chin as if daring me to question her word. I didn’t.

“It’s new…” I said, grabbing her phone before sinking into the lounge chair in front of her.

“Who?” She demanded.

“A boy…” I said. Her approval meant too much to me already, I felt pain as I saw it slipping away. She knew I’d broken the rules.

“Tell me who or I’ll have you removed from the dorm.”What kind of compromise was that?

“Why would I do that?”

“I can’t trust you not to hurt us with that bit of magic tying you to some mystery.”

“The bond doesn’t work like that. I just have to save him and it’ll go away,” I replied.

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