by K L Rymer
Her eyes leak and I palm my face. I don’t need this crap right now, not before my private class with Myrddin. Unbeknownst to the faculty, Myrddin has secretly been giving me my powers back during our lessons. So long as the bigshots on top don’t find out, we’re good.
Next period is free after all. So I’m going to use the time to train.
So Zahara will have to keep an eye on the pixie for me while I’m away. Not that she’s not capable. If Felicity thought I was harsh...
I move my hand away from my face, feeling those familiar, gray eyes and shiver. Carefully, I peer over my shoulder at that Audacious table.
Matthew Humphrey is staring at me, trying to catch my attention. He wiggles his brows next and I peer away bright red.
He’s been acting weird since we got paired up. Perhaps he’s looking forward to dancing with me too, but I won’t lie... I’m loving every moment of it.
He looks at me like I’m the only girl in the world lately, and I bite my lip, playing with my hair like a typical love-struck teenager. I sense another set of eyes, and these ones are hostile now.
Angelina glares across the room at me, her eyes ablaze. She sits with her fellow Ingenious today. She hasn’t sat with Matthew since the night of the assembly. Maybe she’s not talking to him. It’s not like it’s his fault after all. She’s just being petty.
Matthew couldn’t seem to care in the slightest; he only has eyes for me now. So I give her a wicked smirk and place a French fry into my mouth, and her eyes burn bright azure.
Mattie catches our exchange, and a lustful smirk grows over his lips. I drop the fries.
Oops... I didn’t mean to make that look so sexual.
I check my watch. Time for my private class with Myrddin. “Gotta go.”
The others don’t reply. Nora keeps gazing at her merman, Zahara’s too into her burger, and Fel stares down at her uneaten food with silent tears running down her cheeks.
I shake my head then toss my backpack over my shoulder. On my way out of the dining hall, I catch Matthew staring at my ass and smile.
At least all life’s not so unbearable at the academy.
...
I stand on a rock in another one of Myrddin’s secret pocket worlds, balancing a flaming red ball between my palms.
This world possesses strange floating lights that dance around the trees, giving me the heebie-jeebies. I think they are forest spirits, and every so often one will give off a little sound like a child’s laugh.
It’s like they’re mocking me. Not that I blame them. I look pretty stupid right now, squatting my legs as if I’m about to take a dump. I’ve been standing like this for god knows how long, and my legs ache.
I just better have an ass firmer than a peach when all this is over.
The idea is to balance my magic along with my body’s strength. If I can hold this stance long enough, I will be better equipped to handle my powers. That way my magic won’t get so out of control the next time I’m on my period. Maybe then I won’t hurt anyone. Least of all Matthew.
A clog forms in my throat, and I almost lose my balance at the thought of hurting Mattie again.
I really do hope things change between us. The last thing I want to do is put a dent in that handsome face, and I’m pretty sure Mattie feels the same way about me.
I think he does anyway. His new behavior toward me indicates a change of heart. Matthew doesn’t want to hurt me either, despite the prophecy. Instead, he wants to become friends with me, and possibly more.
I hope it leads to more.
My heart thumps and I take deep breaths, keeping my posture.
Myrddin leans against a birch tree, and a few woodland animals scurry around at his feet. They all greet him like he’s an old friend, and I’ve never seen anything more adorable.
There are rabbits, red squirrels, deer, hedgehogs, and birds.
I’m not surprised he has an affinity with animals. If I recall, he became a nature recluse at one point. Or so one of his many legends proclaim.
The headmaster keeps an eye on his pocket watch. “Your hour is almost up.”
Thank the almighty Zeus. I’m about to pass out, and I totally need a pee.
“I have to say... I’m very impressed, Miss Williams.”
I smile. “This is nothing, Professor. I could do this on one leg.”
He chuckles. “Marvellous idea. Next session, we will have you balance your magic on one leg.”
Why did I open my trap?
I ride out the last ten minutes, and when Myrddin calls out for me to stop, I put my magic out and collapse onto the grass. The little floaty lights glide toward me, planting themselves on my aching body, and my energy returns. It’s like they give me the kiss of life.
Now I stand to my feet. “What should we do next, Professor?”
He puts his pocket watch away and beams broadly. “We discuss plans for the upcoming Valentine’s day ball.”
I groan. “I’d rather balance on my leg...”
Myrddin chortles and places an arm around my shoulder, and now he leads me to a swirling portal. “Nonsense, Miss Williams. Balls are a time for excitement!”
I snort, trying to keep a straight face. He really should have chosen his words more wisely. For an all-knowing wizard, he can be a little clueless at times.
He ignores me and goes on with his spiel. “After all, when one gets to dance with the best-looking boy at school, what is there not to be excited about?”
“Maybe you should dance with Matthew instead, Professor?”
Yeah, I just cracked a gay joke to my headmaster. Not smart. But with all his talk about balls, how could I resist?
Myrddin catches on this time and now he throws his head back, releasing a loud guffaw. “Aw, the youth of today.” He ruffles my hair, and I fix my fly-away strands.
We pass through the portal, and soon we’re back in Myrddin’s office. His toy train whistles upon our return, continuing its course around his office. I notice then it gives off a little puff of steam. How cute.
He seals up my magic then and offers me a cup of tea, and I oblige, sitting across the desk from him. I still have some time before my next class.
“So, tell me, Bryn,” he says, taking a sip. “How are you really feeling about the upcoming ball?”
I chew my lip and blush, and Myrddin gives another hoot. “I knew it!”
I look up suspiciously. “Knew what?”
A playful spark flashes through the wizard’s eyes, and I put my cup down on the table angrily (though not too angrily. It’s real china).
“You did set us up, didn’t you?”
Myrddin takes another sip. “Whatever are you talking about, Miss Williams?”
I growl. “Don’t play dumb with me. You had that whimsical look in your eyes when you were fishing out our names. Yes, that one right now!” I point at his bearded visage.
The headmaster’s smile vanishes, and now he puts on an air of authority. “Nonsense, Miss Williams. Everything was merely by chance. Fate decided that you and Matthew should be joined together for the Valentine’s ball. Not me.”
“Yeah, just like fate decided that we should kill each other one day in battle too.”
My chest aches again, and I rub my temples. Screw fate. She was the true bitch, not karma.
Myrddin exhales deeply and places his cup down. “Maybe fate has granted you both a chance to try and see eye to eye. After all, prophecies can always be altered. No one’s future is truly decided. As they say, you can’t change the past... but you can change the future.”
I lean back, massaging my eyes. “I... I guess...”
“Besides, I’ve seen the way he looks at you. I think it could work.”
I perk up, and my heart pounds. So it wasn’t just me who noticed?
“W-what?”
Myrddin grins. “He likes you, Bryn.”
It’s my turn to laugh now, but it’s more nervous laughter than anything. “Please... as if he would be intere
sted in me. He has Angelina. She’s like a photo-shopped model, but in real life.”
Myrddin makes a disgusted face. “Trust me, any man with a shred of common sense would choose you over Angelina Ambrose. After all, you are beautiful yourself. Don’t ever tell yourself otherwise. I would say you were even prettier than Miss Ambrose. Tall and athletic gets boring after a while, especially if that’s all there is...”
My cheeks flare. Getting compliments from your headmaster is weird.
He takes his tea again and gazes out the window thoughtfully now.
The pendulum swings in the grandfather clock, ticking away the awkward silence. Then the bell rings for the next class and I jump to my feet. “Well, I best go. Thank you for the lesson and the tea.”
He beams. “It was my pleasure, Miss Williams. Until our next meeting.”
I nod and hurry out of the room. Before I leave, I turn back and he looks up at me expectantly. “Sir... about Damien Hellborne. I’m sorry... but... we don’t think he is coming back.”
Felicity’s heartbroken face flashes up before me, and I sigh. For her sake, I hope Damien comes to his senses and does return (and so I can totally kick his ass too). But mostly it’s because it has not been the same without his gloomy presence. Our Mendacious family is not complete without him. We were seven but now we are six.
What would the seven dwarfs do without Grumpy? What are the seven deadly sins without wrath? And where would the days of the week be without Monday?
Headmaster Myrddin closes his eyes. “I see...”
I can tell he is sad about losing a student. I know it’s not like Damien died. Well, he did go to hell, but to be with his dad, of course.
But to Myrddin, it means he has failed as headmaster. He cares about his students. Of course, there’s all the bullying he seems to let slip by. I think it’s to help us build character, but deep down, he does care.
I scratch the back of my head, wondering if I should tell him the next thing on my mind. He seems to be an expert in these matters, playing Mister Matchmaker and whatnot. (Well, he did say he used to know Cupid and had once employed him at this very academy.)
“Sir... my friend... Felicity Thorn... she’s been beside herself with grief ever since he left. They... sort of had a thing...”
To be honest, I don’t know what those two had, but there was an attraction from both ends. As far as I know, they never kissed. I’m pretty sure Fel would have told me anyway like she tells me everything.
Myrddin grins. “Strange pairing indeed... but... rather adorable. But I guess the most you can do is be there for her. Make her feel loved. That is all. She just needs the time to grieve. If she wants to be alone, then let her. If she wants to hang out with the rest of you, let her...”
Shit. Zahara and I shouldn’t have forced her out of her room. Maybe tough love isn’t always the best.
Now I feel bad about forcing her back into her chair earlier. What a shitty friend I’ve been.
“If it helps, you can ask her to come along and talk to me. I am a certified counsellor, too, after all.”
I wonder if Myrddin had been there for Arthur too when Guinevere totally cheated on him with that accursed knight. Did he take him for a tankard of mead at the local inn?
“I will, Professor. But she’s a little shy. She’d want me to accompany her.”
“No problem. You let Miss Thorn know that my door is always open.”
I give another nod and finally leave, heading to class. Fel will be there.
Hopefully, she has cheered up and forgotten about that gloomy asshole for the time being.
Chapter 24.
The day of the ball arrives, and the whole school is abuzz. At least the female half of the student body.
Me... I couldn’t care less about sparkly dresses and high-heeled shoes. Well, ordinarily. But when the dress fitters arrived at our rooms at seven o’clock in the morning (seriously), I did squeal on the inside when I first laid eyes on the fabric.
It was red silk encrusted with orange gems in the shape of flames, and I wonder if Myrddin had given me red on purpose to go with the color of the dragon that I’m destined to wake.
Thank god they didn’t choose black because I’m Mendacious. We Mendacious girls all deserve to wear colors that match our true essence after all. Not some color or code the school shoehorned us into.
I can’t wait to see Felicity, Zahara, and Nora’s dresses. I wouldn’t mind seeing Jack and Thomas in their suits too, but really this day belonged to the girls.
At least Fel was having a good day. The whole castle probably heard her squeal when the dresses arrived.
After they took my measurements, sticking pins to tighten a bit of material here and there, we were allowed to go for breakfast. We all decided to keep the details of our dresses a secret until the ball. That way we can experience the moment together.
Only Zahara acted the least bit interested, declaring how disappointed she was in me for being into something so superficial. Her words, “And I thought you were different...”
Look, there’s nothing wrong with a girl wanting to look glamorous every once in a while. I know I said I was the little girl at the princess party who would rather dress up as a hotdog than Cinderella, but not today.
Besides, Zahara dressed as Snow White for Halloween, but in her defense she considers Snow White to be scary...
It’s since my crush on Matthew started that I’ve been into such superficial girly things. I’ve been twirling my hair for goodness sake whenever he looks at me, and he’s noticed, too, always giving me that sinful smirk.
God, that smirk... It definitely brings out the woman in me.
The academy has given us the Friday off (and luckily I have no classes at Bangor too), so we have all day to relax before the big night. Normally, I would spend my days off doing work for both of my schools, but I decided to give myself a break.
A girl needs one from time to time. So I decided to take the girls to Bangor High Street for some much needed retail therapy. Not the best since it’s February, and the weather is bitter cold, but we still make the most of it.
Besides, this was the most Nora and Felicity had seen of the human world, being country girls and all who don’t get out much. Zahara is well-traveled, which is surprising given the fact she lives in the Unseelie realm. She has been to New York, Paris, Barcelona, and even Las Vegas.
It’s a hell of a lot more than me. I barely saw outside of Texas.
As we walk down the street, arms filled with shopping bags, we bump into two familiar faces. Megan and Sophie.
Megan gasps. “Bryn! Where the hell have ya been?!”
I haven’t spent much time out of the academy. I’ve still gone to all of my classes at Bangor, maybe skipping the occasional 9 am lecture, but still...
It feels like forever since I’ve seen these girls, and I feel bad for deserting them. Megan had me stay with her family for Christmas. Her Nan still messages me on Facebook, and look at how I’ve repaid her.
She doesn’t seem bothered though. In fact, she even seems to understand. I no longer have ease of travel since moving out of the city. (Well, that’s what they think. They totally don’t know about my teleportation pin).
Plus, the workload and recommended reading have piled up since the second semester (and combine that too with the work load from both schools).
“Hey, Meg. Hey, Soph. How have you both been?”
Meg shrugs. “Same old. So, I see you’re with the drama gang. Everyone all right?”
She’s talking directly to Zahara, Nora, and Felicity. Only Zahara replies. Nora and Fel look at me bewildered.
“Yeah, we’re good,” Zahara says, holding onto her one shopping bag. She’s not that into shopping.
Megan’s grin widens, and then she nudges Sophie. “Last time we all saw each other, it was Halloween. That night was so fucked up. I can’t even remember how it ended. What about you, Soph?”
The spectacled girl shakes her he
ad. “Drawing blanks here.”
Zahara and I exchange a glance and smirk. It makes sense they don’t remember since Myrddin wiped their memories.
Megan looks my way again, and I peer into her bright blue irises. “So, how’s Jack these days?” Sophie snorts and Megan shoves her shoulder. “Shut it.”
I don’t want to tell her that Jack is currently sprucing up to date a sexy succubus, so I say something else. “He’s... the usual. Quiet, brooding.”
The redhead bites her lip. “Yeah, thought so... What were the names of the other two again? Thomas, was it? The cute nerdy one? And the sexy pirate who kissed Rachel. What was his name?”
“His name is Damien.”
The small voice comes from behind me, and I turn around to find Felicity glaring at Megan.
Uh oh.
I whirl around and look down at Megan’s feet. Thank goodness. She still has her shoes. Felicity makes a point of stealing shoes when she’s pissed (despite the fact she bought a stack of them today in children’s sizes).
Megan just called Damien sexy. Too far.
The redhead barely notices her sharp tone and smiles now. “You know, Jonathan hasn’t shut up about you since. You’re his sexy Tinkerbell...”
Felicity blushes. “Oh...”
That’s right. Fel and Jonathan made out at Angelina’s Halloween party. I’m still going to kick his ass for that. Right after I kick Damien’s.
Megan turns to the clock tower behind us and sighs. “Well, it was nice catching up, Bryn. Don’t be a stranger these days, all right? If you need anything, give us a call.”
They hug me, and as I watch them disappear down the street, a heavy feeling grows in my stomach. I really have abandoned my life at Bangor. I need to make up for that. I’ve just been so preoccupied with Matthew and everything else.
We head to the hill, the weather gray and miserable, and soon we’re back at the academy.
...
I stare at the strange girl inside the mirror. Who is she and what has she done with Bryn?
I look so beautiful, and I grab the folds of my silk dress and twirl. My dress makes a swishing sound and I giggle, clapping my hands.
Normally I’d balk at such feminine displays like my good, dark friend Zahara, but today I’m channeling my inner Felicity.