Falling Into Place

by Brandy L Rivers

  * * * *

  Liz stepped into the hall and was met with golden brown eyes. The Magister’s dark hair was pulled back from his face. There was a patch of hair on his chin.

  “Elizandra, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Draecyn Montgomery.” He held out his hand.

  He had a firm grip but quickly let her go as his eyes lit up.

  Something about his magic felt familiar, which made no sense to her. She ignored that though. There were any number of reasons why that could be.

  She didn’t understand why a high ranking Silver Council Enforcer was wasting his time on the new student at the academy. He was the one who assigned cases to the enforcers. Tremaine had mentioned him enough times.

  Her stomach plummeted. Did he know where she came from? What she did?

  His voice snapped her out of her thoughts. “I hear you are talented beyond your years as a mage. I would like to enroll you in our accelerated program.”

  She frowned. “Why?”

  “You are doing things that the accelerated students cannot even do.”

  “I’m not in trouble?” she stammered.

  Magister Draecyn chuckled. “Why on Earth would you be in trouble, my dear?”

  She shook her head. “It’s nothing.”

  Something flashed through his warm eyes, something filled with sympathy and secrets. “Please, let’s get you settled into your new class.”

  She followed Magister Draecyn across the campus, and into another building that smelled of ozone and smoke. There was a crisp chill to the air. Magic flowed through the hall.

  He paused at the door and turned back to her. “Now, Elizandra, it is an honor to be moved ahead, and then added to the ranks of our strongest pupils. You more than deserve this.”

  He swung the door open and ushered her inside with a flourishing gesture. She stepped over the threshold and locked eyes with the only familiar set in the room.

  Robert sat in the front of the class. There was only one empty seat, and that was next to him. He sat up straighter, a pleased smile spreading on his face.

  Her stomach did that flip flop again and she drew in a breath before tearing her gaze away. Someone snorted, but she didn’t look back, she knew she’d be trapped in those stormy blue eyes once more.

  “Instructor Barradin, this is Elizandra. I believe you were waiting on her?”

  “Yes,” the young woman, or seemingly young, stepped around the desk and took her in. Her eyes held doubt, but she looked up at Draecyn and nodded. “Please, Elizandra. Take a seat next to Robert McCallister. If you find yourself falling behind, he will hopefully be able to help you.”

  “I don’t think that will be necessary,” Draecyn said sternly. “Though a familiar face might do her good.”

  She wanted to groan. If anything, Robert would be a distraction. There was something about him that comforted her when nothing else seemed to, and it was dangerous.

  * * * *

  School was finally over, and Robert hadn’t managed to get Elizandra to look his way. Something was bothering her, more so than usual. He was willing to bet his brother and sister were behind her distance.

  Emily had been nothing but nasty to Liz who simply ignored her. James was constantly trying to get a rise out of her, either through insults or flirting, which made Robert see red. It wasn’t that he was jealous, but Liz clearly wasn’t interested in James, and he obviously made her uncomfortable.

  Robert stood next to Elizandra’s desk, waiting patiently for her to look up at him. She didn’t. She scooped up her bag and started for the door, completely avoiding his gaze. His heart thudded in his chest as disappointment washed over him.

  “Geeze, Robert, don’t be rude.” Preston nudged him. “Introduce me to your new friend.”

  Robert closed his eyes and let out a heavy breath. “Elizandra,” he said timidly, his hands in his pockets. For a second he thought she would keep going until she escaped the room.

  She paused a second, and then turned back with that blank stare of hers. What would it take to make her genuinely smile?

  “Elizandra, this is my friend Preston.” He nodded at Preston and rolled his eyes.

  Her brow arched as her hazel gaze flicked to Preston.

  A grin spread on Preston’s face. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet someone who isn’t like everyone else.”

  Her head tilted to the side as she looked back at Robert.

  Preston frowned. “Did that come out wrong? I swear I meant that as a compliment.” He brushed his hand over his face before holding his hand out as he took a step forward. “I mean it, I’m glad you aren’t like any of our stuffy classmates.”

  One corner of her mouth tipped up before she took his hand. “Nice to meet you, Preston.”

  He looked back at Robert who was doing his best to keep his face a pleasant mask, but an uncharacteristic sense of possession had swept through him. His hands were fisted in his pockets as he stared back at Preston with a frozen smile.

  “Come on, Robert,” Preston goaded. “We have a project to start on, and Mrs. Barradin did suggest the three of us work together.”

  “Right,” he answered on an exhale, and then started for the door. Robert turned back to Elizandra. “Please say you’ll join us?”

  “Of course,” she answered, but her expression was gone.

  * * * *

  The diner was quiet, but there was a vibrant energy that settled into Liz, welcoming her. There was magic beyond that of mages in the place. Liz preferred it to the stifling energy in the academy.

  Preston watched her as she skimmed through the book. Robert was also reading the text. No one in the class had figured out the assignment.

  She didn’t figure she would solve the problem any easier than Preston and Robert, who were both gifted mages with a lot more training than she had.

  Her focus was mostly on averting her attention from Robert who made her tingly all over. She didn’t want to think about the way she wanted him to wrap his arms around her and hold her, among other things she refused to even consider.

  Her legs were curled up under her, her hand was tangled in her hair to keep it off her face as she pretended to read.

  “Come on, Ace, tell me you figured it out,” Preston practically pleaded.

  Then it clicked. She knew exactly what it meant. One night, when she couldn’t sleep she was playing with different types of energy. Tremaine had told her how to combine two totally different spells to form a new. She’d been doing it ever since, and never figured out the significance. It came naturally, but apparently it was an advanced technique.

  She tapped her finger on the page and looked into Preston’s cool blue eyes. His hair stood in every direction from the many times he’d dragged his fingers through it.

  “It’s not that hard,” she told him. “They want you to combine two different elements to form your own spell.”

  “How in the world do you do that?” Preston slumped back in his seat. “That’s impossible.

  Liz took a look around the empty diner. Preston’s mother ran the place, and most of the customers were Other, so hopefully she wouldn’t scare a nosy human.

  She caught her lip between her teeth and dragged Preston’s empty plate over. Drawing two circles on the plate, she created one ring of fire and one ring of arcing electricity.

  Robert’s jaw fell open, and then he whispered, “How?”

  Her eyes flashed up, but all she saw was amazement on his face.

  Preston whispered in awe, “I’ve only ever seen advanced mages use two elements at once, and never separate at the same time.”

  “You need to concentrate fire to one hand and lightning to the other.” Her eyes lifted to Preston’s then Robert’s. “Now watch.” She dragged her fingers toward the middle and the spells merged, expanding as they zapped and sizzled the salt still on the plate.

  Preston reached out and touched before she could pull her hands away.

  He yelped in pain as he blew on his
fingers. “Wow, that’s insane.”

  Robert chuckled, but when she met his gaze, he smiled back at her. “Can you teach us?”

  She nodded slightly. “Sure. Hold out your hands.”

  Preston frowned, but put his hands out. Robert did the same but held his palms upright. “Like Robert,” she told Preston and then held her own out. “Imagine a flickering flame in one palm.”

  Robert’s right palm flared to life, while Preston’s left did. “Now concentrate and envision the electricity dancing in your other hand.”

  There was a spark in Robert’s. He gasped and she felt the charge as he moved to put his hands closer.

  “Wait.” She closed her hands over his palms before he could meld the spells. His magic washed over her and she barely held back a whimper as their gazes locked. Her voice came out breathless. “You want to be outside the first time you do that. It can cause a big blast.”

  There was another crackle and Preston jumped. His spells fizzled out as he bounced in his seat. “I did it, I really did it.”

  Liz yanked her hands back and shoved them under her thighs as her gaze swung to Preston who was beyond excited.

  He waggled his brows at Robert. “If I thought you wouldn’t punch me, I would lay one on her.”

  “Oh no, thanks anyway,” Liz blurted out.

  Robert glared at Preston, and there was a snarl in his voice. “You heard her, buddy. She’s not interested.”

  Preston snickered. “So, tomorrow,” he swung his crystal blue eyes her way with a charming grin, “we should head to the Old Grove after school, and you can show us how to combine the spells.”

  “Tomorrow then,” she turned back to Robert nervously.

  He glanced down at his watch and his brows rose. “We really do need to get going. We’ll see you in the morning, Preston.”

  He stood and Liz followed. “Please forgive me, this form of travel doesn’t agree with everyone.”

  Before she could answer, his hands landed on her shoulders. Their eyes locked and her stomach fluttered. There was a whoosh of air and then they were standing in the hall between their rooms.

  His voice was gentle, “Are you feeling well?”

  “I am, thank you,” she ducked into her room and dropped her bag and jacket onto the bed before rushing to the washroom to clean up.

  Chapter 5

  James sat at the dining room table, stewing. Elizandra was moved four years ahead. Four. That had never happened in the history of the academy. No one knew where she came from, she had no parents. No background. No official training. Nothing that explained why her power was so incredibly potent for a fresh mage, and there was no mistaking she was fresh because she always looked so surprised when she cast anything new.

  “You should be proud of Elizandra,” his father explained as he took a seat at the table. “Stop scowling, James. It’s a great accomplishment for any young mage. It should only inspire you to do better.”

  His eyes flashed to his father. “I am the best in my class. I was never asked to move up.”

  “You are not doing magic even beyond Robert’s class. You are doing magic a level or two ahead of your own, James. That does not mean you should be moved ahead. Besides, I’m told you are disruptive in class and rarely participate because you feel you are too good to be there.”

  “Elizandra doesn’t even say a word in class unless it’s to the teacher. She acts as if she is better than everyone.”

  He saw Emily’s brow crease as she opened her mouth. “I think she may ignore everyone because no one is very nice to her.” Her eyes dropped to her folded hands. “Not even me.”

  Robert’s voice was low and dangerous. “You should give her a chance. She avoids you because she doesn’t want you to feel as if she is trying to take anything from you. No matter what you think, she is not.”

  Emily’s eyes closed as her head dipped in a nod. James could not wait to punish her for rethinking what he kept drilling into her head. He needed Emily to help tear Elizandra down so she would do as he wanted, just like Emily.

  James glared up at Robert. “Are you worried your little girlfriend can’t handle the fact that she’s nothing and no one?”

  Robert smirked. “Oh, she’s someone all right. She is better than anyone in my class, and I know this after only one day of working with her.”

  “She’s your girlfriend?” Emily whispered in horror.

  Robert’s expression softened as he took a seat next to Emily. “Elizandra is part of the family. She is not my girlfriend, but arguing semantics with our brother will take far too long and never accomplish anything.”

  Emily let out a breath.

  Robert gave Emily a smile. “I do think you can learn a lot from Elizandra, Emily. Perhaps you should try a little harder.”

  Wilhelm gave James a cold look. “Elizandra is one of us now. You should learn to be more respectful.”

  His mother sighed. “She hardly speaks to anyone. It’s hard to welcome a child with open arms when she is less than enthusiastic to acquaint herself with us.”

  Robert’s gaze flicked to their mother. “And have you really given her a chance?”

  “She doesn’t make it easy, Robert. She avoids everyone but you and the new maid.”

  James was about to say something when Elizandra walked into the room. The only open seat was next to James and she quietly took it.

  “Congratulations on your advancement,” Wilhelm said.

  “Thank you, sir,” Elizandra answered.

  “I’ve already told you there is no need for formality. You can call me Wilhelm, even Wil.”

  She nodded. “Sorry, Wilhelm.”

  “Were you formally trained?” their mother asked.

  Elizandra looked to Kathryn. “No, ma’am, I was not.”

  “Elizandra,” Wilhelm started.

  Kathryn interrupted, “No, it’s all right, Wil. She was taught proper manners, let her use them.”

  “How can she feel welcome if she can’t even call us by our names?”

  “Don’t worry, Wilhelm. It’s okay,” Liz said softly as she stared at her plate.

  James didn’t understand why Liz was so soft spoken, but refused to let him near her. She wasn’t nearly as meek as she portrayed herself. He had to wonder what secrets she held.

  Looking to his father, James asked, “Can we eat? Emily and I have yet to finish our studies.”

  Robert added, “Elizandra, please join me in the garden to continue our assignment after dinner?”

  “Of course,” she replied, never looking up, even as dinner was served.

  * * * *

  Liz ate what was on her plate, and before dessert could be served she looked to Wilhelm. “May I please be excused?”

  “Are you not feeling well?” He asked, clearly concerned.

  “It’s not that. I’m just full.”

  Wilhelm frowned as he took her in, but he nodded. “Very well.”

  She ducked her head as she slid out of her chair and hurried past Mrs. Murdock who came in to clear her plate. She slipped out the backdoor, and started for the river. Running was tempting, but she had a feeling Robert would catch up sooner or later, even though she secretly hoped he would forget.

  Liz knew he was trying to protect her, to help her, but he wasn’t. His constant interference put further barriers between her and Emily.

  James wasn’t helping there either. He would open his mouth and Emily would go along with him. Liz didn’t let it bother her. She didn’t belong there anyway.

  There was a pop and Robert was right in front of her with a sad smile. “Don’t listen to them. They don’t understand you.”

  She looked away. “Neither do you.”

  “Not yet, but I want to.” He lightly touched her chin, bringing her gaze back to his. “I don’t care where you came from. You are here now.” His dusky blue eyes searched hers.

  Frozen in place, she tried to figure out what it was she felt. There was a fluttering in her tummy, an
urge to twine her fingers with his, and the need to let him wrap his arms around her. She felt fragile as her heart thumped in her chest but she tore her gaze away. No words would come. Whatever this was couldn’t be good.

  His smile faltered, and he murmured, “One day, you’ll figure out that I’m telling you the truth, Liz.”

  Liz already knew he believed the words. She didn’t want to trust it, but his sincerity was tangible. He had done everything in his power to make her feel welcome and it was starting to sink in.

  “Would you rather be alone?” he asked. Sadness and disappointment filled his eyes, and his fallen smile dragged her from her silent stare.

  “No. I wouldn’t. I guess I don’t understand why you are so different from them.”

  She watched as his hands came up to smooth down his lapels. “I suppose I take after my father, as opposed to my mother. She doesn’t hate you, but she is frustrated because you aren’t more interested in presenting yourself in what she considers a ladylike manner.”

  A smirk twisted her lips. “I don’t mean to be difficult, but she wants me to be something I don’t think I can be. I wear the clothes, and she can do my hair, but it doesn’t change the person I am.” One shoulder lifted in a shrug. “And to be perfectly honest, I don’t care what they think of me. I shouldn’t have to. I’m me, not anyone else.”

  He grinned then. “Well, I like you for you. I don’t want you to change.”

  A rare smile took hold on her face. “Thank you.” She needed to hear that, just once.

  “Preston told you the same this afternoon.”

  She laughed then. “He doesn’t have the same high expectations most of the other mages have.”

  “He doesn’t, and neither do I. He’s the best friend a guy could have.”

  “So are you,” she admitted, finally really believing it. “Let’s get that work done.”