by Megan Linski
The doctors told me the first twelve months of the infusions would be awful, as the medicine was still working on getting all the junk and germs out of my system. I couldn’t imagine feeling like this for twelve months straight. But once the year was over, I’d feel a lot better. I’d crave the infusions instead of hating them, and the side effects would stop. My body would get used to the medicine and would eventually feel off without them, like I was being charged like a battery.
Next year couldn’t come fast enough. Not to mention this shit was making me gain weight. I needed to retain a figure for the ice, but the medication was ruining it. Didn’t have a choice, though.
I couldn’t imagine doing this every week for the rest of my life. It was hard to think of, in that moment. I wondered if I’d ever grow used to it.
There was a knock on the door. I wanted whoever it was to go the hell away, but they kept on knocking. I sighed and got up. No easy feat, either. My feet felt like bricks. I dragged myself to the door and opened up just a crack, so I could peek my head out but the rest of my body was hidden. I didn’t want everyone in the dorm halls to walk past and see me.
“Hey, Emma,” Odette peeped. “I was wondering, do you wanna go for a walk? It’s beautiful out today.”
I was allowed to go places with my infusion pump in. I could just throw it in the bag it came in and walk around with the pump on my back, allowing the treatment to work its magic while I roamed where I pleased. I could go with Odette today. It wouldn’t be a big deal.
But I wasn’t ready yet. I didn’t want people to see me like this— walking around school with a bunch of tubes coming out from under my shirt. They’d ask questions, and they wouldn’t understand when I explained. They’d think I was different. Like some kind of freak. What’s wrong with you? I didn’t want to say.
“Maybe tomorrow,” I said. “I’m kinda feeling tired.”
“That’s okay, I just have some free time, so I figured I’d offer,” Odette said. “Theo wanted to go to a recital later tonight. So let’s hang out at noon tomorrow, kay?”
I nodded and shut the door quietly, feeling queasy. I gently lowered myself back onto the bed and resumed frying my brain with more TV.
Two hours later, and I. Felt. Like. Shit. The medicine had finally finished infusing, and my stomach was swollen from all the plasma it absorbed. I took the needles out and placed four bandages over the insertion sites. I glanced at the mirror and had a thought I looked like a little kid.
I threw the needles into a plastic medical box before rushing to the bathroom. I spent fifteen minutes over the toilet gagging, but no food came up, even though I’d been munching for awhile. I’d eaten through all the food in my dorm. The infusions made you like that— inhale everything in sight.
The brain fog was major right now. I could barely string two sentences together… barely remember my name. It was like everything was one major duh. I felt like little birds were tweeting in a circle around my head. I didn’t even turn the TV off before I curled into a ball on my bed and pulled the blanket over me, closing my eyes.
I woke up from my nap about an hour later. I felt a little better— more energized, though still kind of groggy. Maybe those infusions really were working.
That was one thing to be grateful for. I did some research on magical races that could heal. Healing magic was rare, and the few races that had healing magic at all didn’t have infinite power. There was only so much they could do. They weren’t miracle workers, and couldn’t tackle the kind of illness I had. Magic wouldn’t heal my body, so I’d have to rely on the powers of modern medicine.
I was only a month into these infusions and I was already tired of them. I needed comfort. I wanted to go to the rink, but right now, there was just no way.
The scariest thing about my disease right now, at least to me, was my struggle to continue being active. I had to leave the ice early the other day because my body just couldn’t keep up. The look on Gabby’s face was so smug.
I’d been an athlete all my life. I didn’t know who I was without skating. I wouldn’t let my disease take that away from me, too.
I needed some fresh air, to clear my head. I wished I’d taken up Odette on that walk earlier, but at the same time, I just couldn’t. I wasn’t ready.
Ethan had told me not to go wandering off on my own, and I’d promised him not to. But I couldn’t sit around here. It felt like the four walls were closing in on me. So I resolved to stay inside school grounds where it was… mostly… safe.
It was around three o’clock. I forced myself to roll out of bed and get a shower. I put on a white sweater with an oversized flannel scarf, dark-wash skinny jeans, and knee-high boots. I left my purse, as I didn’t think I would go anywhere I’d need it, and left the dormitories.
I shuddered as I passed the place where Professor Waldron’s body had been found. It’d been long since cleaned up, but if you looked closely, you could still see where the spear had been embedded in the wall. It was really messed up. I’d barely been at this school for a month and a half, and already, murders were taking place on campus.
Well, I guess that was one good thing about Arcanea University. You’d never be short on gossip, and there was no possibility you’d be bored.
I passed through the gardens. I noticed Ethan playing frisbee with his dragon friend, Stefan. Ethan changed from a wolven and back again as he and Stefan tossed the frisbee back and forth.
I smiled. It was nice to see him enjoying himself. He seemed really pent up after what had happened.
“Hey, onawilke,” Ethan called as I passed. He jogged over. “Where you off to in such a hurry?”
I didn’t know I was hurrying. “Just out. Is it any of your business?” I teased.
Ethan blinked before giving a wide smile. “Perhaps I’ll make it my business.”
He changed into a wolven and bared his teeth. “You better run, onawilke.”
I gave a yelp and made a run for it. People laughed as Ethan gave chase throughout the school grounds. Stefan cried out for us to get a room as we ran past him.
Usually, I didn’t like the attention, but with Ethan it was different. I liked messing around with him. It made me feel better when he wasn’t taking life so seriously. It made me feel like I should be that way, too.
I left the main gardens and went to a part of the school that was more secluded— the outer grounds. They were still surrounded by the school’s fencing, but it was such a long walk to the palace that practically no one came out here. I laughed and ducked behind a hedge as Ethan spun out while trying to catch me. As he launched himself upward, I took the opportunity to hide next to a wolven statue.
I had to hold my hand over my mouth to keep from laughing. If he heard me, he’d catch me.
I heard the sound of Ethan’s giant footsteps before I felt his large shadow looming. I squealed and tried to bolt, but I felt huge paws on my back and I went face-first into the grass.
I turned over. Ethan was on top of me, back in his human form and laughing. I punched him in the shoulder and pushed him away. He rolled off, still snickering as he stared up at the sky.
“So I can’t outrun a wolf. Big deal,” I said, though a large smile had spread across my face.
“You could if you had wings,” Ethan said. He sat up, brushing leaves off his jacket. “I’m sorry to say I’m stuck on the ground.”
That wiped my good mood away. My smile fell off my face, and I said, “You’re not the only one. Flight class is currently sucking ass right now.”
Ethan gave me a quizzical expression. “Having trouble finding your wings?”
“Yeah. And Gabby is making sure to rub it in my face at every opportunity.” I sighed as I pushed myself to a sitting position.
“We could take you to a cliff and throw you off of it. Fly or fall,” Ethan teased.
“Ha, ha,” I said dryly. “Sure I’ll fall.”
“You wouldn’t have to worry. I’d be at the bottom to catch you.” He
winked.
What was up with him? He was being so sweet lately. I hoped he didn’t ask me to be his chosen so he could participate in the King’s Contest. I didn’t want any part in that crap. I was no queen. And Ethan was definitely not my prince charming.
I preferred the Robin Hood types.
Ethan got to his feet. He held out a hand to pull me up, and I took it. He almost threw me into the next century with the force of his pull. I shook my arm out and said, “I just want to get my wings. I need to pass this class.”
“You will,” Ethan promised. “Give it some time.”
We started on the way back to the main campus. The skies had turned in seemingly moments… it’d been sunny and cool only moments before, but now the winds had developed a strange chill to them, and grey clouds that were nearly black in color blotted out the sun. It looked like it was going to rain.
“Strange,” I said. I held up my hand as I felt raindrops hit my head. “Do you think it’s going to storm?”
Ethan was looking upward. His gaze had changed from carefree to concerned. “I don’t know. Something’s not right.”
The minute he said that, a haunting figure emerged from the trees. Her feet floated several inches above the ground, and a haggard old hand extended out of a tattered and ragged brown robe. From beneath her cloak’s hood I could see a large, crooked nose, decaying flesh, and warts that spread all over her ancient body. She was hunched over, and had a wizened face with so many wrinkles that you couldn’t count them all. She looked to be hundreds of years old.
I knew what she was— a hag. Lord Lucien had taught us about them in our Monster Hunting 101 class. They were witch-like monsters created by users of dark magic. What was one doing on campus?
“Emma, get away from her.” Ethan planted himself in front of me. He changed into a wolven and snarled, snapping his jaws in warning.
The hag didn’t seem bothered by Ethan’s threatening stance. Instead, her old eyes sought me out. She pointed at me, and spoke in a wheezing voice. “You. It is you the one the gods have sent.”
“Me?” I squeaked. Ethan curled around me protectively, but the hag made no move to advance. She kept on speaking in that strange, unearthly voice.
“And there shall be a sorceress who is above all Marked,” the hag chanted. “She will be written as destined and cursed, for there is not one who is as strong as she, nor one who is so damned. Realms shall bow to her will, but never shall she escape her cruel fate. She will be known as the Worldweaver. She who holds the power of the Arcanea will be their final end, for when the wolf howls, the Worldweaver who rules over reality itself will surrender her magic… and die.”
“When will this happen?” I asked. I felt the blood leave my face as a chill ran over my spine.
The hag bobbed her head. “Before the first of the snow melts away at the end of the fourth winter, you shall meet your death.”
I put a hand out to grasp Ethan’s fur, so I could remain standing. Four years? That’s all I had before I died?
“You sure you’ve got the right girl?” I asked weakly. Ethan’s growl remained low in his throat.
“I bear a warning, Worldweaver. Hags are the keepers of foretelling and future, and we will be your guides as you approach the coming end,” she spoke. “Beware of the one they call the Hidden King, for he will bring your death.”
“Go now! Be gone!” Ethan shouted. He leapt forward, jaws wide, to sink his teeth into the hag. She vanished in a flash of light and black smoke. The moment she disappeared, the grey clouds cleared and sunlight came back into the area.
I was left shaking. Ethan turned back into a human. He tried to hide it, but worry and concern devastated his features.
“I’m gonna die?” I peeped. Shit. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to come to this school after all.
“Don’t listen to her, Em. Hags can’t be trusted,” Ethan said firmly. He brought his arm around me, and held me tightly to him. “They’re monsters, and we’re Arcanea. We can’t take anything she says as the truth. It was probably some kind of trick.”
“Well, she seemed to know exactly what she was talking about,” I protested.
Ethan frowned, and said, “What I heard was a lot of gibberish. Worldweaver? I’ve never heard of such a thing. And Emma, I don’t mean to hurt your feelings, but…”
He took a deep breath. “The hag said that this woman could harness extreme magical power, and onawilke, you haven’t even gotten your wings yet. It doesn’t sound very much like you.”
The statement didn’t sting at at all. I didn’t care about being the weakest Arcanea alive if it meant I got to keep my life. “But why would she come to me at all? It doesn’t make any sense. Plus she mentioned the Hidden King. That’s kind of a big deal.”
Ethan shook his head. “Why do monsters do anything? It was probably just to scare you, get you off your guard. Who knew what might’ve happened if I hadn’t been here? She was trying to distract you, so she could get a quick meal. That was all.”
I nodded, but I was more or less agreeing with him because I wanted some validation that what the hag said wasn’t true… even though I was terrified that it might be.
He nudged me. “Come on. Let’s go back to school and get some dinner in you. You look as pale as a ghost.”
I wanted to shoot back that he didn’t have a lot of color in his cheeks, either, but I was too shaken up for playful banter at the moment. Ethan kept on reassuring me on the way back to the palace, but to be honest, it felt like he was just giving me excuses.
“Before the first of the snow melts away at the end of the fourth winter, you shall meet your death.”
I had a rotten feeling in my stomach that Ethan Nowak wasn’t telling me the truth.
Chapter Thirteen
Ethan
If there was ever a time to be worried, it was now.
Hags were monsters, sure. They were known as the bringers of misfortune and woe. But despite their horrid appearance, they were subjects of the gods. In many Arcanean legends, the god king Tomir often sent hags to his heroes, usually before they were whisked off on some incredible deed or quest.
Many of whom never returned.
The fact that the hag hadn’t harmed us, either, also wasn’t a good sign. If she was hunting, she would’ve attacked first and spoken later, if at all. But she’d appeared suddenly, spoken her warning and left, as if she’d been sent to deliver this prophecy specifically to us.
I made excuses for Emma because I didn’t want to scare her. Yet I knew what the hag had spoken would come true. Within four winters, Emma would die.
Unless I did something to stop it.
I wasn’t sure how to prevent the future, or even if I could, but I had to do something. I couldn’t let my mate perish due to some strange oracle. It didn’t make any sense. Perhaps if I got some more information, I could change what was to come.
The hag had spoken about the Worldweaver. I didn’t know what that was. I’d never heard of the term before. I was sure anyone I could consult on the topic would think I was talking nonsense. I’d gone to the library and scanned for books on the subject, but nothing came up. It was a dead end.
Two names. The Worldweaver and the Hidden King. The hag said that he’d bring her death.
So I’d have to find out who he was, and kill him first.
The Hidden King was associated with the Black Claw, according to the note left behind by Professor Waldron’s murderer. That made things simple. I’d have to find a member of the Black Claw and interrogate them until I found out who the Hidden King was.
The idea of torture sickened me. But I would do it, if it meant protecting Emma.
For several nights, I searched the city and the woods for Black Craw tributes, but didn’t find any. The fuckers had been everywhere only a few nights ago, but now, they’d all but vanished. I couldn’t locate them anywhere. Similarly, the disappearances in the city had stopped. It was as if the group was pulling back— waiting for
something.
The end of October neared, and I hadn’t gotten my teeth into a single Black Claw tribute. I wasn’t giving up, but I had the feeling that I needed to change my strategy. I was going about this wrong, but at the same time, I had no idea on how to proceed.
The Friday before Halloween, Professor Victor stood at the front of the Interspecies Cooperation class and made an announcement.
“We’re going to be trying something a little different today,” he said. “Now, as you know, most freshman Marked aren’t introduced to their Faction powers until their second semester, but Professor Lunesta and I think that this year’s recruits could use a formal introduction.”
His smile widened. “So, we’ll be mentoring them today. Everyone, follow me to the training arena.”
Some people groaned, but most guys were excited. It was nice when you got to spend class time with some girls for a change.
I didn’t get why we were doing this. Professor Lunesta taught Introducing the Monarchy, which had nothing to do with Interspecies Cooperation— or Faction magic, for that matter. Was this some new thing the school was introducing?
The training arena was outside, in the woods. It was more or less a large, circular patch of grass surrounded by trees. When I got there, I saw a long line of freshman girls waiting in the arena.
My heart immediately jumped when I saw red hair. I didn’t know Emma was in this class. That was a bonus.
Professor Victor shouted over the noise, “Partner up, everyone! Pick someone of your own Faction, please!”
I immediately made a beeline for Emma. She scowled as I poked her in the side and said, “Picked you.”
“Of course you did. Can’t let me meet anyone new, can you?” she asked.
“Why do you need to meet anyone new? I’m the best there is,” I said. She rolled her eyes.
Elijah gravitated toward Gabby like they were magnets. They gave slight smiles and looked each other up and down, like they were about to do it right there on the lawn. Total sex eyes.