Page 13 of The Blackened Blade

But he quickly freezes, and the grin stretching his lips fades as he gazes at my face.

“Try…” I grit out, “And you’ll regret the thought ever having crossed your mind.”

His eyes slightly widen, before quickly curving upwards, a heavy and mocking laugh falling from his lips, with his two lackeys joining in.

“You're serious? You think you're something now?” Chuckles Jake.

“Who the hell put that thought in your head?” Jeremy pulls himself straight, a mocking smile stretching his lips. “You’re pathetic and weak, and can’t do anything for yourself.”

He jabs his meaty finger into my shoulder, a sharp sting searing from it and from the hit just moments ago.

“Fuck Micai, you don’t even have a drop of magic in you, do you?” He shakes his head and shrugs, “What the hell couldyoudo to anyone? I’m sure even ahumancould knock you over with ease.”

Jake steps closer. “You’re nothing, don't forget that. We tolerate you, that's all. But if you step out of line, well…” His grin falls, his eyes hardening, “I wouldn’t want to waste my time having to deal with you, but I will if I have to.”

Such dark threats from such small boys. I’d seen and fought bigger beasts that would have them wet their pants and leave them balled up in a foetal position.

I try to pull myself up, ignoring the pain searing down my back and shoulder as I stand up straight, my gaze never leaving Jeremy and Jake.

Jake pulls Jeremys shoulder, “Let me handle her–”

His words are cut short as a stream of cold liquid and lumpy clumps of brown are poured over my head.

The brown liquid falls down my hair, trickling onto my face, and down my uniform until it reaches the floor. The lumps and chunks roll beside it and down my face and clothes. It leaves a trail of rotten sludge down my uniform and a smell so foul and rotten, it has Jake and Jeremy stepping back and as far away from me to avoid it.

A laugh rings out beside me, before a small carton hits the top of my head and then tumbles toward the floor. More laughs and chuckles resound out around me as Jake and Jeremy join in with the new group that's arrived. Their laughter echoes around the corridor as a voice giggles from beside me.

“I kept thatjustfor you Micai. Aren’t you grateful?” The petite redhead smiles mockingly at me as a group of boys surround her.

“It's chocolate milk, don’t you like it?” She laughs, as more droplets and chunks of the spoiled milk fall down my face, while the boys around her chuckle and sneer at me.

The redhead is Ivy Harris, a classmate of Seria’s and her easily manipulated pawn.

This tiny green eyed witch relished male attention and wore way too much make-up,trying, and failing to cover up the hatred she had for her natural freckles. Her small stature, and heavy hand with dark eyeshadow and eyeliner always reminded me of a particular dumpster diving pest. Well, I guess the boys around herweretrash.

I brush my hand through my now wet and stench-ridden strands, pushing them back as a smile stretches my lips with the thought.

“What are you smiling at?” Ivy sneers, her petite face quickly twisting with her fiery temper. “Did your lonely, pathetic life drive you crazy already?” She begins to laugh again but soon stops.

“Maybe.”

I couldn’t really call myself ‘sane’ anymore, not with what I had been through, and crap like this was juvenile to me now, almostcuteeven. Not that it meant I would take it all lying down anymore.

“So maybe you should be more careful from now on, Ivy.” I meet her gaze as the laughing around us fades. An incredulous look contorts Ivy's face and wrinkles her brow, a huff of air falling from her lips before they open again. “Who do you–”

The bell rings above us, signalling the start of class.

Ivy's eyes flicker toward the classroom and then back to me before tightening at their corners.

“This isn’t over.” She hits off my shoulder as she passes me, heading into the classroom with the group of boys trailing after her.

I try to roll my shoulder out, the pain making me slightly wince. I’d had worse, but hopefully it would heal quickly. It looked like she wouldn’t be leaving me alone anytime soon, and if I remember correctly none of them had the personality to drop something when it came to messing with me.

I’d have to train and get stronger fast.

A throat clears behind me pulling me from my thoughts.

A blonde woman stands behind me, with a stack of papers in her hand pressed against her floral print dress.

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