Finally, I stepped up to the beginning line, trying to ignore my hammering heart. I barely even noticed Eleanora beside me until she tossed her blonde hair and smirked in my direction. I ignored it; she was just trying to put me off, fixing my sights on the point where I’d figured I needed to drop to my stomach.
Jett blew the whistle, and we were off. I pushed my legs harder than I had the first time I’d run this course, and I knew I had an advantage; she hadn’t bothered warming up or practicing since the last time we’d run.
I reached the nets and dropped to my stomach, remembering the bite from the wire from last time. I scrambled frantically, coordinating my limbs so that I was constantly moving. Mud flicked at my face, but I ignored it.
A few strides ahead, I stood up from the nets and in the same movement leapt onto my rope. It swung out over the water, me clinging to it like a hitch hiking insect. I sailed with it to its apex, and then dropped into the water below me. I’d figured out that last time I’d done myself a disservice by trying to make even more ground by trying to jump forwards. As it was, I hit the water with my arms wide and scissor kicked at the same time, like I’d been taught in the human world. My head stayed above the water and I began to stretch out for the other bank, my strokes slicing through the water. I reached the bank a good ten seconds before she did, but now I was faced with my biggest adversary, the wall.
I wound the rope around my hand and began to pull myself up. I could feel new muscles shifting beneath my skin, and to everyone’s disbelief, including mine, I gripped the top of the wall with one hand, and then the other. I sat atop it for just a second, revelling in my success. Then I dropped neatly to the other side, waiting for Eleanora to appear. She did a few seconds later, a murderous expression on her face.
“Quit smirking,” she snapped at me, which only prompted me to grin wider.
I changed with the other girls, and whilst they were keen to get their muddy shirts off, the cold water that dripped down my plait and pressed my shirt to my skin felt like hard work paying off, and I would savour every little bit of it.
~Chapter Seven~
We were having dinner in the mess hall when Iain entered. Everyone stopped talking immediately; it was strange to see him in our eating hall.
“Good evening, everyone,” he said loudly. “I trust you’ve been hard at work with your studies.”
We all blinked up at him, but no one answered.
“I’ve come to announce to you all that in two days’ time, we will be holding a celebration called the Knight Ball, to bring in the new term and wish luck to you all. Everyone is expected to have partners and it is compulsory to attend.”
He left, and everyone began talking at a million miles an hour. I turned back to my table, and we all stared at each other blankly.
“This ought to be fun,” Yasmin said, but her voice was strained as she looked at me.
The next two days passed a lot more quickly than I would’ve liked and I grew more and more frustrated with my poor attempts at trotting. I’d given up trying to complete homework; once we’d had riding lessons, I was too sore to sit down to study.
On the day of the ball, I scrambled up to my room before Dena or Theresa could ask me who I was going with. I entered my room, surprising Larni in the act of laying a dress bag out on my bed. I closed the door behind me and she looked up.
“Your dress for tonight, miss.” She said, lowering her gaze.
“Thanks,” I said, slinging my school bag to the floor. “But I’m not going.”
Larni looked up, curiosity sparking in her eyes for just a second.
“But everyone else is going,” she said. “And it’s compulsory.”
I flopped down onto my bed, avoiding the dress bag.
“So? I‘d rather do detention again if it meant I didn’t have to see him with her.”
“Who?” Larni asked curiously.
“Phoenix,” I said, and my stomach flipped over.
“Are you having troubles with him?”
I looked at her. She looked back at me, genuinely curious.
“Yes. He doesn’t speak to me at all, or even
acknowledge that I exist unless I force him to speak to me.”
“Ah, I’m sure it’ll work out in time, miss,” Larni said, suspiciously happy about it all. “So who is this ‘her’?”
“Eleanora.”
“The one that you got into the fight with?”
Larni knew more than I’d been telling her, but I suspected the servants knew more about the Academy and its inhabitants than they let on.
“Yeah. Her.” I said heavily.
She patted my hand.
“It’ll all work out,” she repeated and began to head for the door. “I still think you should go, miss.”
She left, leaving me with a heavy heart and a dress bag.
Night fell, and I could hear the other girls heading down to the Main Hall. I didn’t answer the door when Dena knocked, even when she called out for me.
I was plonked at my table, finishing a report for Professor Watt when someone else knocked at my door. I looked up curiously; all of the other girls had gone down already. I opened the door cautiously
“Oh… Hi, Dustin.” I said, surprised to see him, considering my cold dismissal at the river.
He frowned at me.
“You’re not going?”
I looked down at my uniform, noticing for the first time that he was wearing a pale yellow lace-up tunic over a white shirt with black pants and black leather boots. He looked quite nice.
“Didn’t have a date,” I said, smiling sadly. “I thought I might catch up on my homework, though I can’t sit down.”
I clamped my lips together hoping he didn’t notice the last bit.
“Well coincidence just so happens that I don’t have one either. You might’ve guessed that Phoenix and Eleanora are together, so when you didn’t show up at the start of the night, I thought I’d come and find you.” He smiled nervously.
“Did you now?” I asked, quite pleased.
He nodded.
“Will you come down with me?” He asked and held out his arm.
I mulled it over. He obviously hadn’t noticed me talking about my sore butt.
“Give me five.” I said quickly, closing the door.
I untied the dress bag Larni had laid out and lifted a long green dress reverently from its depths. I stripped down and stepped into it, somehow managing to do up the back. It was strapless and fell to the floor, the chiffon waves falling from an empress waistline. I brushed my hand over the spectacular embroidery that embossed the waistline, unable to believe that I was wearing such a beautiful garment. I pulled my hair up into a bun, quickly plaiting a section that wrapped around the bun. I couldn’t find any make up in my room – not that I’d have any idea how to use it -, but I did find a pair of long green earrings that lightly brushed my shoulders. I found green heels with a little strap that went around my ankle in my dresser and put them on.
Satisfied that I was done, I opened the door again, half expecting to see Dustin gone. He wasn’t however, and smiled when he saw me in my dress.
“Don’t say anything.” I said warningly.
“I was just going to say that you look beautiful,” he said, something in his eyes making me turn a deep red.
He offered me his arm again and I took it. We descended the stairs and headed for the Main Hall, talking avidly about classes, people, Phoenix and Eleanora. I neglected to tell him about the fact that Phoenix had only spoken about a dozen words to me in two weeks.
We entered the hall, and stood at the top of a large flight of stairs that descended onto a dance floor. Tables lined the walls, draped in white linen and rose petals. Tall branches of candles lit the hall with a soft golden light and a band occupied a raised dais at the opposite end of the hall. I frowned; I didn’t recall either the stairs or the dais being here. It wasn’t until I spied Iain at the back of the hall, chatting to Professor Alena,
that I realised he’d created the stairs; all the better for a dramatic entrance, I supposed.
A hush spread throughout the crowd below us as Dustin and I began to make our way down. I could see Eleanora glaring at us, and I lifted my chin higher. Out of the corner of my eye I spied Phoenix standing close to her. I quickly averted my eyes.
I saw Dena and Theresa sitting with the rest of my group, gaping at my dance partner. I couldn’t hold back the huge grin that I beamed at them, though I winced as I realised everyone was still staring when we got to the floor. Music filtered through the air, and eventually everyone began to talk and dance again. Dustin and I avoided Eleanora and Phoenix, and headed towards Dena and everyone.
“Nice dress, Sky.” Petre said laughing.
I glared at him, but then laughed as he pretended to be frightened of me. I introduced Dustin to the others and they welcomed him eagerly, Petre and Ispin especially; I think they’d been feeling a little overwhelmed by women.
As the night wore on, Dustin and I danced many times and I decided I was quite enjoying myself. The rest of the time I sat with my group at our table, joking and laughing with them. Right next to us was an enormous vat of mead that was slowly being consumed. I danced with everyone, including Petre, Ispin and the red headed guy who’d been struck by lightning on our first day of classes.
The music ended around one in the morning, and Dustin towed me back to my room; I was dizzy from too much mead. As we were walking down the darkened hallway, I realised two people were standing at the bottom of the stairs, dimly illuminated by the low burning torches.
My heart plummeted as I realised it was Phoenix and Eleanora. His arms were around her and it took me a second to realise they were kissing.
I felt like I was going to be sick. They broke apart and looked around at us, Phoenix avoiding my gaze.
“Dustin!” Eleanora said, and I could tell she was embarrassed. “Uh, we were just-“
“Yeah, we saw.” Dustin said coldly.
He took my arm and led me past them. I felt like my heart was breaking, and tears began to fill my eyes.
When we reached my door, he stood looking at me for a second.
“Tonight was fun,” I told him, trying to hide how upset I was and swaying slightly. “Thank you for taking me.”
“It was my pleasure,” he replied honestly. “Thank you for coming with me. It’s every man’s dream to take a beautiful woman to a dance.”
“Maybe in this world it is,” I said, laughing in spite of myself. And then, quietly, “You think I’m beautiful?”
“Of course I do,” he said softly. “Ever since I saw you in the Entrance Hall when we first arrived. I was just too nervous to speak to you.”
“You should’ve,” I said, looking up at him. “I’m sorry for how I treated you when you saved me the other day.”
“Don’t worry about it,” he replied, tucking a stray piece of hair behind my ear.
He took a deep breath as though steeling himself and then leant down to kiss me. His lips brushed mine, and I closed my eyes, letting him take me into his arms.
Ok, here’s the truth. I’d never been kissed before.
I could smell his aftershave, and his upper lip was rough with stubble. He had one hand on my neck, his thumb caressing my jaw line.
When we broke apart, I desperately wanted to continue. But then I thought about Phoenix and something made me step back.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Dustin said, and took my hand in his. He brushed my knuckles with his lips. “Goodnight, beautiful woman.”
“Night,” I said softly.
~ I woke the next morning, feeling light headed but not too bad, considering. I remembered the night before and groaned at the memory of Eleanora and Phoenix at the bottom of the stairs. I found the memory of saying goodnight to Dustin very interesting too. I realised that I had quite enjoyed the Knight Ball, and it would be interesting to see the aftermath.
I hauled myself from my bed and found more clothes in my dresser. I dressed in brown breeches and a baggy green shirt, enjoying the looseness of the shirt after the tight school shirts. I rolled up my sleeves, pulled my boots on and pulled my hair into a ponytail, determined to have today off. After marching downstairs to find Jett, I found the castle completely empty and realised everyone had the day off anyway. I met Dena on the stairs going back up to my room.
“How you holding up?” She asked with a grin. I smiled back.
“Not too bad, considering how much I drank.” I replied. She laughed.
“A few of us are heading down to a water hole that
Rain knows about,” she said, and I perked up my ears. “It’s a nice enough day for swimming, do you want to come?” I grinned widely at her.
“Of course,” I said eagerly. “Where should I meet you?”
We arranged to meet at the bottom of the stairs and I barrelled back up to my room. I grabbed my bath towel and changed into soft cotton shorts and singlet, then almost fell down the stairs trying to run down them too fast. Dena laughed when she saw how excited I was and grabbed my arm.
We both ran out of the double doors, through the grounds, and into the forest. We followed a trail a short way, soon hearing shrieking and the splashing of water. We came across a clear pool with a small waterfall crashing into it, and several of our classmates paddling around. Someone had found a rope and tied it to an overhanging tree. People were swinging themselves into the water, sometimes doubling up. I dropped my towel next to Dena’s and we ran to the rock ledge that surrounded the pool. There was no way of easing ourselves into the cool water, so I grabbed Dena’s arm and jumped. The water was cold, cold enough to make us gasp.
“Sky!” Dena yelled indignantly.
I laughed and swam away from her on my back, splashing her. She raced after me and leapt on me, pushing me under. We wrestled for a bit and then swam to the sides and heaved ourselves out onto the warm stone. We lay on our towels laughing as we watched Petre and Rain swing out on the rope and fall into the water.
I was feeling a little lonely as I watched everyone with their soul mates, and was therefore relieved when Theresa pulled at my arm, asking me to swing on the rope with her. I did so, and found that swinging on a rope into water is more fun than it looks. After half a dozen of swings with Theresa, I took to jumping in again.
As I balanced on the edge about to jump in, arms picked me up from behind, and threw me in. I broke the surface to see Dustin standing on the edge, roaring with laughter at my expression.
“Jump in, you coward!” I yelled to him, grinning at him.
“Nope, too cold for me!” He called back.
It was an invitation I couldn’t resist. I climbed out of the pool and went running after him, wrapping my arms around his torso and getting him all wet.
“Aw, c’mon, Sky, this isn’t fair.” He complained, albeit grinning at me as he tried not-so-much to pry my arms from him.
I sighed.
“Alright.” I let him go, only to shove him into the water that I’d manoeuvred him next to.
He yelled when he hit the water, and then splashed me. Everyone on the shore shrieked as the water hit them, and Yasmin went running after him for getting her wet. Petre picked her up and threw her in and she plunged into the water for the first time, having been sun baking on the rocks. I grabbed Petre from behind and, catching him off guard, managed to shove him in. Rain then pushed me in, Dena pushing her in.
All of us eventually ended up in the water, splashing each other and screaming. Dustin put me on his shoulders and jumped in with me, starting a round of shoulder wars. Dustin and I won before everyone else gave up.
It was a new experience for me, having Dustin around. Every time he touched me, whether it was to push me into the water or pick me up, I felt exactly where his hand had made contact with my skin, usually coinciding with a barrage of butterflies in my stomach.
As everyone sunned themselves on the rocks, Dustin and I climbed perilously up the w
aterfall, finding a ledge that over looked the water hole.
“You miss him, don’t you?” He said quietly.
“How can I miss someone who doesn’t like me?” I replied heavily. “Do you miss… her?”
He nodded and silence fell between us.
“It’s such a beautiful view from up here,” I said, looking around at the sunlit forest, the water sparkling below us and bubbling past us.
“I would have to agree,” he said softly, but when I turned to look at him, he wasn’t looking at the view at all, but at me instead.
He leant in to kiss me again, and I responded shyly, the butterflies going crazy. We would’ve stayed up there for hours, if I hadn’t heard Dena say in surprise below us: “Phoenix!”
I broke away from Dustin and crawled to the edge of the waterfall, peering over. My heart did this funny wobble as I saw him emerge from the forest, only wearing shorts with a towel slung over his shoulders.
“Can I join you?” I heard him ask Dena, who nodded mutely.
I climbed quickly down the waterfall again, sending an apologetic look to Dustin, who just nodded, his eyes expressionless. As I walked towards Dena and the others, Phoenix looked up at me, and to my disbelief made eye contact with me.
“Hello,” he said.
“Hi,” I replied automatically, too stunned to say anything else.
He dropped his towel on the ground and set off for the water before anyone could say anything else. As he jumped in, I turned to Dena and was met with the most gormless expression I’d ever seen on her face.
“What?” I asked.
Yasmin and Theresa also wore the same stunned expression. I turned and watched Phoenix climb out of the water as a new game of shoulder-wars began.
“Wow.” I managed to say hoarsely.
“Tell me about it.” They chorused back.
His upper body was extremely muscular, and whilst that was what the other girls were admiring, I was looking at the assortment of scars across his body.
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