by G. Bailey
"We've had six lessons now, and I've been gentle with the close combat. I feel you need to learn how to trust your instincts," he explains to me.
"How am I meant to do that?" I ask.
"In the same way you trust your powers to protect you, you need to learn to trust your instincts. We aren't human, nor do we have their instincts. We are supernaturals with increased strength and senses. Those senses keep us alive more than our powers ever could," he explains to me. I guess it makes sense. I should have had serious injuries from the amount of times Roger has dropped me from the ceiling or thrown me into walls at this point.
"I don't understand how to use those," I reply, because seriously, I don’t.
"That's what I'm here for," he says and pulls out a long piece of black fabric from his pocket.
"You are going to blindfold me?" I nervously ask, stepping back.
"Yes, and then you are going to defend yourself from my attacks," he replies, a playful glint in his eyes. He is liking this way too much.
"I can't do that. I'm just going to end up in bruises," I say, shaking my head. I'm not some secret ninja, and there is only one thing that will happen if he attacks while I can't see, and that is my butt getting hurt.
"You can and will. Don't worry, you just need to trust me and yourself," he says, holding the blindfold up. I eye him carefully, knowing I don't have a massive choice in this. I nod once, trusting Noah to guide me even when I can't see a single thing. Noah walks behind me, placing the blindfold over my head, and I hold it in place for him as he ties it up. After he finishes tying the blindfold, he steps away, leaving me alone. The odd thing is I don't hear him walk away, he is silent like a cat.
"Focus," Noah warns me, and I squeal when what feels like a ball flies into my thigh. I know it's a sphere of light that Noah can make as he’s used it to train me before. It doesn't burn; it just feels warm. I spin around, placing my hands out and trying to see where he’s going to send the next one from. A second later, my arm is hit, and I jump backwards. I don't know how long this goes on for, but after a while, I hold my hands up in the air.
"Enough! I give up," I protest, rubbing some of the sore areas he hit twice.
"If I were a dark tale, I would have killed you by now, and you can't give up. We don't give up, Madi. Now focus," he demands and throws a ball of light right into my ass. “Tobias gives up, he always does, and it drives me crazy. Like right now, he has disappeared again, most likely high. You are not Tobias, and you are not giving up already.” I try to ignore the instant worry about Tobias and the fear I can sense in Noah’s voice, but it’s not easy. Dammit, Tobias. When he reappears, I’m knocking his ass out and getting Knox to throw him in the other dimension.
"Stop throwing them at my butt!" I shout at him, and I only hear him laugh in response. Right, I need to focus. Maybe I should call my power and just not use it? When I call my powers, it's like a wave of cold water is thrown on my body, and it makes me focus in a way that I'm not usually focused. Maybe that's what Noah means. I lower my hands to my sides, flattening my palms against my thighs in case I call dust by accident. I find the source of my power, and it instantly washes over me, making me more aware of everything, of every part of my body and my surroundings. The world seems to freeze for a second, and then I hear it. Something coming towards me. I spin around slamming my hand into whatever was aimed at me. The sphere of light crashes into my hand and disappears without hurting me.
"Impressive. See, Madi? You can do this. Now let's continue this for a few hours." I smile and nod my head, before letting my powers take over. I think I'm finally getting good at this “being a little different” thing. Hopefully, I'm good enough to keep myself alive.
Chapter 27
"Are you excited to see who she puts you against today?" Tavvy asks as we run, getting near to the end of the last lap. At least I’m not completely out of breath now. After all this running, I’m slowly getting used to it—slowly being the key word there. I’d happily stay in bed, dreaming of Doritos, which I miss so much.
"I'm excited that Miss A isn't chasing us today because she is too busy chatting with Mr. Newman. That's about it," I reply to Tavvy, glancing quickly over to see Miss A laughing with her hand on Mr. Newman’s shoulder. They are definitely dating or something, not that I know if Miss A is engaged or ever has been. She is still “Miss,” so I doubt it. Maybe teaching is a profession that means you don’t have to get married or something. I will ask about that later, because at this point, I’m happy to teach my whole life away rather than be forced to marry anyone.
"Come on, smile, you might be against me!" Tavvy says with a creepy happy grin.
"Considering you are a badass, and I know you well enough to know you won't take it easy on me, I'm not wishing for that," I reply to her.
"True. Plus, I like kicking Ella's ass," Tavvy says, winking at me. I laugh, a breathless laugh as we get to the end of the lap and stop. We get to wait a few moments before Miss A calls us all over to gather around her. I go to stand next to Knox just as the main door slams open and Tobias falls into the room, just about managing to stop himself from falling flat on his face. Tobias grins, pushing his hair out of his eyes as he walks over, swaying as he struggles to stay standing. He is high again, just like Noah suspected.
"Who is fighting me today then?" Tobias shouts, just as he gets to my side and wraps an arm around my shoulder. He stinks of women’s perfume, and there is lipstick on his neck. Tobias also has black dust around his lips and nose. Overall, he looks a fucking mess, and I put my hand up before his brothers can say anything. I don’t know if it’s jealousy or anger that makes me want to fight him, but it sure isn’t that I feel sorry for Tobias.
"I will."
"Fuck no, Madi," Knox interrupts, storming over to me, but Miss A places a wall of water around Tobias and me, blocking him. Knox glares at her then at me, and I shake my head. Noah and Sin look between each other before giving me a nod, letting me do this.
"Madi and Tobias, fight fair, and whoever wins may have the rest of the day off," Miss A states, and I nod at her, walking back a few paces as Miss A keeps all the students on the other side of the wall, making sure they can't interrupt. I can't look at them, so I keep my focus on Tobias instead. I need to win this, to show them I'm not weak, and to knock Tobias out so he can sleep this off. If his brothers do this, then he will get hurt, and that isn't going to help anyone. I stare into Tobias’s dark brown eyes, seeing the silver specks in them that I've always loved.
"Do you know what powers I have, Sleepy?" Tobias asks as we start circling each other, though he is moving slowly. He is making this too easy.
"No. Something to do with the moon," I reply as his hands start to glow white. "I assume it's more than just making your drugs so you can forget everything."
"It is," he tightly replies and smiles widely. I cry out as pain slams into my head for only a moment before it fades. I look up to see Tobias holding his hand out, which is glowing a silver colour. The silver glow is spreading from his hand like string, and it is tightly wrapping itself around my wrist.
"You will stand up, and then slowly dance your way to me," Tobias whispers into my mind, and my legs lift me up without me even realising it. My arms lift above my head, swaying as my hips move to an unknown beat that plays in my head. I scream in my head as I get closer to Tobias, who is curling a finger towards me, the silver string spreading all over my body like rope. I hear his brothers shouting at me, Tavvy is shouting something too, but I can't hear their words. I can't hear anything but Tobias and the lure he whispers into my mind. I get closer and closer until I'm right in front of him. He smirks happily, like this is all over. It isn't.
“Now kiss me,” he whispers.
"NO!" I scream in my head, pushing my own powers to my hands, with all the strength I can possibly gather. I lift my one hand the moment the silver string falls to the floor, his control fading, and Tobias is gaping at me in shock. I won’t be forced to do anyth
ing. Before he can make a countermove, I punch Tobias hard in the face, dust blasting out of my hand. He falls backwards, collapsing to the floor with a loud thud as my knuckles sting. Thank you, Noah, for teaching me how to punch.
"Well done, Miss Dormiens." Miss A claps and the whole class cheers my name. I stare down at Tobias as Tavvy gets to my side first, followed by Knox, Sin and Noah.
“I don’t have a clue how you did that, but man, it was sexy,” Sin tells me and winks at me when I look up at him. A smile tilts my lips up, even when I’m worried about Tobias.
"What are we going to do about him?" I ask no one in particular.
"I don't know...but he deserved that punch. Maybe it will knock some god damn sense into him. Sin, help me carry him back to our room where he can sleep it off," Knox says. I link my hand with Noah as we watch Knox and Sin carry Tobias out the room. I can't help but wonder if anything is going to be enough to stop Tobias from getting high on moon rocks when it's linked to his powers. Maybe nothing anyone can do will make him forget. Maybe I’m too late to save him.
Chapter 28
"No way, he can really do that?" I whisper to Noah who is sat at my side as we both stare across the dinner hall at a boy Noah promises can stretch any part of his body and change his body into any animal as well. It’s crazy to think all these teenagers can do a million different things, and I’m learning how to use my own power. I only wish the damn dreams of ravens and Quin would stop. I’m pretty tired all the time, thanks to them. It makes me miss Quin and feel guilty for my…well, whatever it is with the Tale brothers.
"I've heard Ella likes to visit him because he can stretch something down below," Tavvy adds in, waggling her eyebrows at me. I laugh with the guys who shake their heads at me, all of them except for Tobias who is still in his room after fight class yesterday. I feel guilty for hurting him, but I’m more concerned with why he took the drugs this time, since he was trying to stop. Guilt is a funny thing, something I’ve only had to feel once or twice over simple things I did wrong. Tobias thinks that he killed his fiancé and that it is all his fault. I understand why he would want to forget the world, but not this way.
"Did you say my name?" Ella asks, stopping right behind my seat. Speak of the devil. I turn my head back to see Ella glaring down at me, her long red hair covering her shoulders. That's all of her body that is covered though, considering she has a tiny tube top on and skinny jeans that barely cover her hips, let alone her ass. It makes me wonder if she is shopping for the wrong size or just wants to look like this. It's most likely option two.
"Yes. Now go away," Tavvy suggests, shooing her with her hand before tucking into her food, pretending Ella has taken her advice, which of course she has not.
“Ella, what do you want?” I ask her as she leans over the table, blocking my view of Noah. Her long red hair falls into my face, making me lean back in my seat.
“You may fuck them now, new girl, but it will be my bed they will all be in at the end of the year. They are engaged to me, not you. The Masters just told me,” she says, a smug expression on her pretty face.
I push out my chair, ignoring Tavvy and the brothers’ advice to ignore her. The dining room goes deathly silent, and a few people run out the room just in case. Ella only backs up, crossing her arms with that stupid smug look.
“They aren’t marrying you, dumbass,” I remark, watching how red she goes, almost the colour of her hair.
“They are! You have a fiancé, so why don’t you leave mine alone!” she shouts at me, pointing a long red-nailed finger into my chest. I push her away, and she steps back, huffing before looking at the brothers. “Aren’t you going to defend your fiancé?”
“No.” Knox is the only one to reply, and it’s a tense reply at that. It makes Ella look even more embarrassed.
“Just leave them the hell alone, you whore!” Ella screams in frustration. This is a real shame, I was starting to think we could be friends.
“Make me,” I suggest, and she almost sweetly smiles before running and slamming herself into me. We fall to the floor, with Ella on top, but before she can do anything, I grab her hair, pulling tight as I wrap my legs around her waist. She screams, pushing me away as I call my power and push my hand into her face, feeling warm dust on it. Her hands tighten on my neck for a second before Ella collapses with wide eyes, her head banging into my shoulder with a puff of dust that makes me cough. I look over her to see Knox standing over us, shaking his head with his arms crossed. Noah, Sin and Tavvy are laughing their heads off though. All I can think of is how Ella is damn heavy.
“What is going on in here!” Miss Noa’s strict voice beckons across the dining room, and I quickly push Ella’s passed out body off me and crawl to my feet. I look over to see Miss Noa place her hand on the ground, her eyes going white for a moment before she straightens up.
“Miss Dormiens, I did not expect you to be such a troublemaker,” she remarks and looks behind me. “Mr. Tale, any of you actually, can take Miss Wateredge to the medic bay. Make sure the healer informs her when she wakes up that she has detention tomorrow night.”
“I got this,” Knox says, picking Ella up like a sack of potatoes and carrying her out of the room.
“As for you, Miss Dormiens, I will see you in detention tomorrow,” she says, and I have a feeling I’m not going to like detention, nor is it going to be like detention at my human school when I could just run out when the teacher wasn't looking. I should have at least slapped Ella, then this detention would have been worth it.
Chapter 29
"Good luck," Tavvy whispers to me as I pull the door open and glance back at her. "It can't be as bad as you are thinking."
"I don't trust this school, and either way, I'm going to be stuck alone with Ella for hours," I whine.
"Don't kill her," she says with a chuckle, before snuggling back into her bed. I look longingly at my own bed before leaving the room, knowing it is just best to get this all over with. Detention is going to be bad, no matter how much I try to put it off. I cross my arms against my chest, thankful I have my comfy hoodie on and my favourite joggers. At least I will be comfy during this torture. I get to the top of the stairs, where Ella and Miss Noa are waiting for me. I walk down, pausing as Knox, Sin, Noah, and more to my surprise, Tobias walk over.
"Miss Dormiens and Mr. Tale, all of you are late," Miss Noa tuts, and Ella keeps her glare firmly fixed on me as she tugs at the casual clothes she has on. It must feel weird for her to wear actual clothes. I frown at the Tale brothers before placing my hands on my hips, waiting for an explanation. Noah comes over first, wrapping his arm around my waist.
"We made a mess in the science lab and got detention. Shame that," Sin states and fist bumps Noah.
"You all got detention on purpose to spend time with me?" I ask, because that is pretty romantic, if you ask me.
"You guys are all sickly sweet about her," Ella huffs, flipping her hair over her shoulder as Miss Noa clears her throat. We all follow after her as she takes us behind the staircase and unlocks a rusty door. After a few pushes, the door creaks open, and Miss Noa wipes the cobwebs away that cover the door. Ella makes a disgusted sound and steps back, wiping her arms like the spiders are on her or something. Miss Noa brushes the wall of dust, finding a switch, and clicks it on. Dozens of wall lights switch on one after another all the way down the staircase. Miss Noa starts walking down, and I follow after her, hearing the guys and I'm sure Ella after us.
"This is the old library, which has been out of order for many terms. We want to clean it up and get it back to its original way. Your detention is to spend three hours cleaning and dusting all the books," Miss Noa explains.
"God, someone save me," I hear Ella mutter, making me smile as we get to the last step and into the big stone room. There are dozens of boxes, covered in white sheets, littering the room. All the walls have bookcases with no books in, and there is a large statue of two women with benches around them. The women are made of white stone,
which is carved to show off their long dresses and very long hair. The women are holding each other's hands, looking up at the ceiling and the light right above them.
"The statue is of the goddess that made our kind. Both the sisters," she tells me, and I look at their faces, wondering if they would even care about the war they created. Their children who are fighting it every day.
"What about the goddess that made humans and gave life to the world?" I ask her, because she started all of this, so surely she should be the one in the middle of the sisters.
"We do not know who made the statue or how old it is, so I have no clue why there aren't three sisters in the sculpture," Miss Noa explains to me, though she seems sad about it. "Now, I am going to lock you in here, and I will be back later. If you mess around and do not work, you will all be back here tomorrow night." We are all silent for a moment as Miss Noa walks back up the steps and slams the creaky door shut, turning the lock.
"Right, girls open the boxes and clean the books with the dusters. We will start lifting the heavy ones and bring them over to you. Then put the books away," Noah makes a plan, clapping his hands once and dust goes everywhere in a puff, making us cough.
"Sounds good," Knox says, stepping over some boxes and going to the big pile of them in the back.
"I'm going to pull the sheets off everything and give the girls some to dust with before joining you," Tobias says, flashing me a guilty and sad look. I want to say something, but I'm not sure what. The last thing I did was punch him in the face while he was high as a kite. It's pretty awkward between us, and I'm still waiting for an apology I doubt I'm getting. Tobias never did say sorry, not ever as kids or teenagers.
"Why don't we sit on the benches, there are enough of them, and start opening boxes?" I suggest to Ella, because we might as well use the only seats in here.