by Lucy Auburn
As I watch Professor Pete laugh, end the conversation with the students, and start to rummage around on his messy desk looking for something, I consider what it must be like to have a twisted tongue like Wyatt does.
There are other ways for him to speak—writing things down, learning sign language, talking very slowly—but they all require that other people be patient for him or accommodate his needs. Most people aren't willing to wait around while someone scribbles a sentence on a dry erase board hung around his neck. But if you ask me, Wyatt's friends should do something to make it easier for him to carry on a conversation with him. It's what I would do, if he asked me to.
"Alright, everyone, let's get sorted out." Professor Pete strides to the front of the room and motions for the students at the back to close the wide doors that lead into the classroom. "It looks like you're all here—finally." The room chuckles, and with a wry smile he adds, "What can I say, our Class isn't known for the ability to show up places on time. It's one of our weaknesses, lacking Mental and Emotional strength as we do. Ah—but here's a student who won't have that problem. Ellen Arizona, how nice of you to finally join us."
All eyes turn to me, and I frown. "I was kind of, uh, kidnapped."
Not much reaction or sympathy from the two dozen or so killers around me. Apparently getting kidnapped is, around here, about as exciting as breakfast. Maybe even less so.
"I suppose since you're a Brutus, you think you're above studying one Affinity over the other." Professor Pete sure does manage to sound very judgmental for a guy wearing a purple plaid button-up with the top and bottom buttons undone. "But rest assured, even those with talents like yours need training. Maybe even more so. Half-assing your Physical Affinity is the best way to wind up in trouble—especially because it's the best Class to get you out of a sticky situation, or if you're untrained, the Class most likely to accidentally harm an innocent."
His little speech makes a certain amount of sense, but I'm not so sure about the last part. Sure, my telekinesis could go wild and knock the wrong person out, but you could say that about any power. The intra-Class dynamics here seem to be strong, though, because most of the students are nodding along sagely, looking absolutely certain that their Class of Affinities is the most powerful and expert-level of them all.
I have the feeling that this is going to be a theme in all the classes today. Hopefully no one tells me that they doubt my commitment to Sparkle Motion.
"Today, I want to try something new." Professor Pete's eyes flick to me, and I get the sinking feeling that I'm about to regret my lack of truancy. "Ellen, you have telekinetic abilities with a moving force field, correct?"
"Yes."
"Have you ever held your force field still in front of you, without releasing it or pushing it towards a target?"
I'm not going to like this. "No," I reluctantly admit. "I don't know if that's possible."
"Let's find out. Ellen, step into the combat space. Let's see... Trina, Colton, I want you two up here for this exercise. We're going to see if Ellen can hold up a force field long enough to stop your attacks completely—without attacking you in return."
I bite my lip to resist asking why, the pertinent question. Better skills with my Affinities will protect me and take my further, I have no doubt—but in the meantime, the urge to whine is strong with this one.
Following Professor Pete's motions to stride towards the left side of the classroom, I watch as the other students he named get up and take position opposite me. Trina is a black-haired girl with deep brown skin and a long sleek ponytail, while Colton is a lanky, pale string bean of a guy who barely looks like he can make a fist. Neither of them embody the Physical Class the way Wyatt does, but that doesn't mean their powers aren't strong enough to take me down.
I glance over at Wyatt for reassurance, and he just gives me a calm, easy-going smile. It'd be useful right now to know what Trina and Colton's powers are, but I have the feeling that I won't be that lucky. Seems like the not-so-laid back Professor Pete wants to throw me into the fray right off the bat and test my skills.
"Alright. Ellen, form your force field. Trina, you're up first. Remember to recall your ability if there's any break in her shield."
"Got it, Prof."
All eyes turn to me, and I wonder what the fuck I'm supposed to be doing. The professor steps in, calmly saying, "Now, remember Ellen: Physical Class Affinities are all about instinct. The flow of the body as intention becomes movement. Imagine the force field in your mind, form it with your hands, and hold your intention clear."
"And if I can't do that?" I look over at Trina as she steps up across from me. "What if I fuck up and accidentally throw the force field at her?"
Trina bares her teeth. "Then you'll find out what it's like to fight someone in the Physical Class." Glancing over at Wyatt, she adds, "You fought Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual during your initiation, but not Physical. Consider this a chance to prove yourself."
Instead of calling Trina off or admonishing her for fighting words, Pete nods his head enthusiastically. "Indeed. What better way to prove that you belong among us than to show the class your skills? After all, a Brutus is meant to be superior in every way. Surely a simple force field isn't beyond your abilities."
I'm finding Professor Pete less and less funny by the second. He's not some laid-back cool dude, that much is clear. But another look at Wyatt settles my nerves, and I tell myself that if I could deal with being kidnapped by a psychopathic lunatic, I can take on one graduate student with a chip on her shoulder.
After all, how hard can it be to form a force field with my powers? I've done it dozens of times while drilling with Eve. All I have to do is not throw it at my target. Easy as pie.
Slowing and deepening my breathing, I plant my feet shoulder width apart just like Eve taught me and think about my intentions. A force field isn't just a blast of power that disarms attackers and takes down targets. It's a wall between me and the fighter opposite me, a shield to protect me from their attacks.
Because I'm not quite sure what to do with my hands, I let the power surge into them and form a kind of flat circle in front of me. Cringing at my motions a little—I feel very wax on, wax off right now—I let the power wobble out of my skin and come to rest in front of me.
It doesn't feel right. Throwing my powers at a target, or even a person, was easy compared to this. Letting them out and holding them back as a form of protection—not so much. But I try to think centered, calming, very intentional thoughts, and hope that the rest will follow.
After all, how hard can mastering my Physical Affinity be if someone like Professor Pete can do it? He can't even button his shirt right.
"Whenever you're ready, Ellen," the professor says. "Trina, for the first few attacks, wait for her signal. After that, it's anyone's game."
"Got it."
Not wanting to seem weak, I firm my form of a shield in front of me and nod sharply at Trina. "I'm ready."
She doesn't wait a single second after I give her the signal. Clapping her hands together, Trina pulls power between them, somehow soaking up kinetic energy in the room. It feels almost like I'm briefly pulled towards her, like I'm in a hurricane being drawn towards its center.
Then she pulls her hands apart, a strange half-opaque white energy forming between her palms and sticking to them like toffee or cobwebs. The further apart she pulls her hands, the more the energy grows—and takes form, changing shape and moving.
I lick my lips nervously, trying to hold up my force field, as a ghost-like dog made of energy leaps from between her palms and barrels towards me. It has immense strength and power, a creature made out of the energy in the room. The size and shape of a doberman but much bigger, it snaps its jaws and leaps straight towards me.
My shield falls to its teeth and paws, and I windmill back, trying to think of some way to fight a fucking ghost made out of energy. It seems vastly unfair that I'd have to go up against this without warning. At the las
t second Trina snaps, and right before the energy dog's ghostly fangs are about to make minced meat of my neck, it dissipates into nothing.
Trina, of course, has a smirk on her face. "Guess a Brutus isn't all they're cracked up to be. Here I thought I was going up against a descendant of Caesar's killer. Guess not so much."
Gritting my teeth, I tell her, "Now that I know what I'm up against, you won't catch me off guard again."
Professor Pete surveys me. "You formed a force field, Ellen, so clearly you're capable. But fear and nervousness are no emotions for a killer to display. I expect better from a Cain student. This isn't undergrad, after all." Motioning towards Trina, he tells her, "Again."
This time I barely even get the chance to throw up my force field before Trina is clapping her hands together and setting a beast loose. Instead of a dog, she throws a sleek panther of energy at me, its form small for a big cat but still plenty large enough to tear me in two.
Clenching my jaw, I throw up the force field—too late. The thing barrels right towards me and gathers its haunches to pounce. It's already gotten past my defenses and is leaping right at me when Trina snaps her fingers and it disappears.
"Two defeats in a row." She raises her chin, tossing her ponytail over her shoulder. "Guess I should've put my name in to fight you in the arena, since someone changed his mind."
Her eyes flick briefly, dismissively towards Wyatt, and I get the sense that there's something underlaying the surface that I don't understand. I never did ask him why he refused to fight me in the arena during initiation. I assumed it had something to do with wanting to defy Grayson, or once I met him, that he was just too nice to beat me with his fists. But now I wonder if there's some other deeper reason—something I'm not in the loop about, clearly.
Wyatt's eyes reveal no secrets when I meet his gaze. He frowns at me a little, giving me a slow, steady nod of his head as if to say: you can do this, just try harder next time. Show them what you've got already. Now I know I must be fucked in the head, because I'm imagining entire conversations out of a simple head nod.
As I look at Wyatt, though, I start to feel a bubble of something familiar in my chest. At first I think it's that same old familiar rage I've felt dozens of times since I killed Jack, the other, more primitive Ellen rising up to take control with violence when necessary. But after a moment I realize it's not rage I'm feeling, but power, surging within me and suffusing my limbs with warmth and energy.
Trina squares off across from me, her hands up in front of her, a smirk on her face. She's clearly ready for the next round already, and isn't going to wait for any kind of signal, from me or the professor. Every eye in the classroom is on her—clearly everyone thinks that she's going to win the next round too. Only Wyatt is looking at me, sure and steady, his gaze never wavering.
Something flickers to life inside of me. That other Ellen, maybe, coming to take control. Smirking, Trina claps her hands together.
Falling into the stance Eve taught me, I clap mine.
Second by second, as Trina's hands part and energy forms between her palms, I build a force field in the places where my fingers touch. By the time she's made a leaping wolf out of her Affinity, I've made a knife of energy out of mine.
As the wolf bares its teeth and comes for me, I create a force field between me and its snapping jaws. But my force field isn't a wall that runs parallel to my body and between me and Trina's wolf. It's a dozen sharp points jutting out of the ground, thin blades to cut the wolf in half.
It skids on its little wolf-energy feet, trying to turn around too late. One of my force field bars slices it right in half. As it dissipates into a cloud, I smirk at Trina—then double and triple my force field, until I've got three entire rows of sharp, edged spikes between me and her.
Glancing over at Professor Pete, I tell him, "It's not moving, so it counts."
"You'll get no argument from me. This is Cain University's graduate program—the last thing we believe in is stifling creativity." Jerking his hand towards the now-scowling Trina, he tells her, "Step aside, and let Colton take your place."
While they switch places, I look over at Wyatt. He's got a grin on his face and mirth in his eyes—he liked watching me take on Trina and send her packing, even though it took me a few tries.
Whatever this stringy-looking Colton guy has up his sleeve, I'm sure I can take it on.
I'm Ellen Arizona, after all. They don't make another like me. Whatever this place throws at me, I can take it—and then some.
"Ready?" Colton asks.
"Are you?" I challenge him.
When he starts throwing balls of fire at me, which turn into heat and ash at the last second before they can burn my eyebrows off, I almost have a loss of confidence. Then I remember: I'm Ellen fucking Arizona. Nothing can knock me down for good.
So I change my force field into a tightly woven wall of criss-crossing stripes, and Colton's fire falls to my powers.
Looking over at Wyatt, I feel a thrill go through me. He's beaming at me. Some of the other students are even starting to look at me with admiration, too.
"Better," Professor Pete says. "Maybe we'll make a Physical Class expert out of you yet."
Chapter 11
1:00 PM: Spiritual Class with Professor Killington
Professor Killington's mom had to know he was going to turn into a killer. It's basically like if a porn star were named Randy Dick.
As I walk into class, stomach full, I wonder what's in store for me now. Physical Class training has me sore and slightly singed, but hopefully Spiritual Class training won't be nearly so hard. My Spiritual Affinity has been like the ghosts I'm able to summon ever since that day in the arena—it just up and went poof. The fact that it's tied to my most ornery of Conduits, Grayson, doesn't help. Maybe Levi, who's mostly just an annoyingly handsome annoyance, will be able to give me Spiritual Affinity pointers.
This classroom, unlike the last one, has very little open space, no weapons racks, and just a few targets, all of which look like their paint is brand new, as if nothing has ever hit them. Instead of benches with worn cushions, this classroom has large, soft-looking, multicolored poufs arranged in circular rows for us to sit down on. A few students are already perched cross-legged on their poufs, and one in particular is sprawled back across two of them, his hands behind his head, an ankle resting on his knee.
Levi Ward looks like Peter Pan in repose, with a sparkling of silver fairy dust in his hair. Long and lanky, he's stretched out so thoroughly that his shirt is pulled up from his shorts, revealing the surprising flared V of a muscular abdomen. He may be lithe, but apparently Levi is no lightweight in the muscle department—as a killer, he would have to be fit, after all.
I hesitate, watching him from a distance. Unlike me and Wyatt, there's no confident rapport here. Levi and I don't have anything between us—not even the physical loneliness-fueled connection I shared with Mason the other night, or the fiery anger and frustration that makes just standing in a room with Grayson feel like teetering on the edge of a cliff.
There's technically no reason why I should sit next to him. Sure, I know him better than the other students, but that's not saying much. And his Spirit Affinity boosts my Physical Affinity—our connection won't be of use here at all.
My eyes slide to the other side of the room, where two of the seated students are facing each other now. Eerie laughter leaves their mouths as they pass silvery spirit-like forms back and forth. A finger seems to trail down the middle of my back; jumping, I turn and stare at a ghost-like figure standing right behind me, only this isn't a ghost, it's the girl sitting on one side of the room. Her eyes are closed, her body completely still, almost like... almost like her soul isn't in her body anymore, because she's projecting her own spirit out of her body to spy at me from behind.
Yep, not sitting with the creepy creeps. Trying not to look too spooked, I hop over a few rows of the goofy-looking pouf-chairs and nudge Levi's hip with my toe.
&nb
sp; "You're taking up a lot of room," I point out, as he stretches his feet down to a third pouf and his hands up towards a fourth. "Could make space for someone. Say, a new student who's being haunted by a living specter."
Sitting up, Levi looks over my shoulder towards the girl's projected spirit and laughs. "Lila! Leave Ellen alone. You'll give her the heebie jeebies before we've even gotten started."
Her spirit disappears, and the girl who she belongs to suddenly opens her eyes. For a moment they're milky white, but then the spirit flies into her, making her irises and pupils reappear. Smirking in my direction, she turns away, towards one of the boys on that side of the room, to no doubt do spooky things together.
"Thanks," I tell Levi, still feeling strange standing next to him. "I, uh, I guess I could sit—"
"Sit next to me." Yawning, he stretches and folds himself up onto just one of the poufs, the action somehow slow and graceful yet making all the noise of an old man getting his back cracked at the chiropractor. "Just promise not to fart. Or elbow me in the gut. Or start some kind of angst-filled discussion with me—Grayson has been all moody since yesterday, you know."
"What makes you think that's my fault?" I ask, bristling.
He shrugs. "Besides the fact that you two argued like ten feet from the rest of us in that red-skied place yesterday? Which was not subtle, by the way. Wyatt said Grayson muttered your name in his sleep. Then again, maybe he was just dreaming about killing you. Never know with that one."
"How reassuring." I take a seat next to Levi, feeling unsettled at the thought that he might've overheard any part of my discussion with Grayson. "It wasn't angsty. Just—he doesn't want to find out what it's like not to have his weakness, for some reason."
"Yeah, well, he'll get over that one during training practice with Abarra." Levi cracks his neck, which makes so much sound you'd think his spine was severed. "We're all supposed to hold your hand like middle schoolers. It's all very nauseatingly cute."