Bastial Explosion (The Rhythm of Rivalry: Book 3)

by B. T. Narro

  “No. I didn’t feel right letting it get that far.”

  “Why?” Reela’s question held no judgment, just curiosity.

  “I’m still trying to figure that out.”

  “Well, it sounds to me like whatever happened with him has caused your attack. How do you feel about him? How does he make you feel?”

  Even before Effie knew that Brady had left the marks on her neck, she’d been angry at him. It felt too strange to say aloud, though, for she didn’t know why. By morning, she had a reason to be mad—something she could see. But what had he done before that to upset her? No ideas came.

  “I don’t know,” she told Reela. “I feel confused by the whole thing.”

  “I wish I could help you, Eff.” Reela was interrupted by her own yawn. “But I would just be guessing, blindly reaching in the dark for who knows how long before I found something, and I’m terribly tired.”

  That’s all Effie needed to hear to know it was time to shut up. She maneuvered her body against Reela’s and wrapped her arms around her for a hug. “Thanks. I’ll figure it out later.”

  “Good night.”

  But before Effie got out the door, Reela stopped her.

  “Oh, Eff, I forgot. I was going to tell you this later but might as well now.”

  “What is it?”

  Reela sat up. “Brady’s hiding something, and it’s big. I sensed it with psyche, but it was buried so deep that it was as if he’s had the secret for many years now and has gotten used to ignoring it.”

  Effie knew enough about psyche to realize that Reela had no way of knowing what this secret was. So all Effie could say was, “I see.”

  She’d fallen asleep quickly when she’d returned to her bed, calm and relaxed. But now that it was morning, the realization settled in that she was on her own with this issue. Another attack could come at any moment, so she’d better figure out what had gotten her so upset, and fast.

  But all she could do was focus on the bruises on her neck and the anger that burned within her every time she looked at them.

  “Brady, you bastard!”

  Having time to herself in the morning, Effie was determined to make at least some progress examining what had caused her attack last night to be so vicious. But her thoughts quickly became distracted when she realized that Cleve would’ve been up by now if he were there with them.

  She missed walking to the dining hall with him. Cleve was like a wise old man at times, except he never seemed interested in offering advice. He chose his words carefully. But at the same time, he spoke as if he was forced to do so—as if his opinion wasn’t worth hearing.

  Effie often took it as a challenge. She wanted to deceive Cleve, to peel him open and get him to admit things he didn’t want to. But she’d never succeeded. Effie would resort to teasing, trickery, even dishonesty. But it just made her feel that instead of peeling him like an orange, she was trying to grind him into a pulp with his skin still intact.

  Still, she would get a laugh every now and again, even learn something new about him that Reela hadn’t figured out yet. But Effie knew she couldn’t open him up like Reela could. She’d seen them together, and Cleve always seemed like a different person when he was with Reela. Luckily, Effie had no feelings for him, so she didn’t mind.

  She was nearly to the dining hall already and she’d done nothing but wonder about Cleve. It hurt not to know whether she would see him again.

  A thought suddenly stopped her. I should’ve checked to see if Zoke was up yet.

  Actually, she was somewhat relieved she’d forgotten. Effie had been enjoying his company less and less recently.

  But he’s still my responsibility. She sighed and started back toward the house. Who knows what would happen if he went to the dining hall alone.

  She knew that Alex had taken him for lunch and dinner yesterday, but Zoke was an early riser, like she was. He would be hungry before Reela and Steffen awoke and were ready to accompany him.

  Alex was the one she really wanted to sit with during breakfast. She rubbed the bruises on her neck at the thought of seeing him.

  Ironically, he probably would have the answer as to why one of her worst attacks came last night…if she could talk to him about Brady, which of course she never would.

  Alex offered advice all the time, unlike Cleve. Effie was sure he could make her feel better. But all he’d do now was stare at the marks on her neck and probably steam with jealousy.

  “Bastial hell, Brady!” Effie couldn’t help but shout, forgetting where she was momentarily.

  A student walking by gave her a strange look.

  I would too, if someone was talking to herself as loudly as I am.

  She had a feeling her anger at Brady was the reason for her attack. If she just could figure out why she felt this way, she probably would have her answer.

  Is it how forward he was with me? No, I’m used to that by now. Could it be this secret of his that Reela sensed? No, I was angry with him before Reela told me about that, and everyone has secrets.

  Then she remembered what Reela had asked: “How does he make you feel?”

  Besides angry, Effie realized now that she’d felt a loss of control around him last night. Actually, he'd always made her feel that way. That’s probably why I kissed him the first time we met. I wasn’t thinking. In fact, I never feel like I am in his presence.

  She felt a chill run down her spine—knowing she’d figured it out.

  Effie used to believe she needed a night out at the bars to fight her breathing problem, figuring it was the uncertainty and danger that distracted her. But it wasn’t a distraction she was looking for—Alex had helped her realize this on the way to the Slugari colony. Effie needed control, which is exactly what she felt going out to bars at such a young age.

  But after I met Brady at that bar, I had an attack when I got home. It was the first time she could remember getting one after a night out.

  He makes me feel like I’m someone else, and I don’t like that girl. But the thought of driving him away was even more terrifying than all her previous thoughts. It wasn’t that she treasured his company, nor did she feel that she would miss him. It was just that she didn’t feel capable of letting him go. And this—being incapable—was the worst feeling for her.

  Part of it was because she didn’t believe there was such a thing as being incapable. If it was physically possible, then she should be able to do it. But for some reason, just the thought of denying Brady made her knees weak. It seemed easier to go without food than to confront him.

  My Bastial stars, I don’t know if I even like him. How has he made me feel affectionate toward him without even knowing him?

  Effie started to wonder how many people ended up together simply because one person was attractive and assertive. It was a dangerous combination, she decided.

  She felt as if she’d been deceived, won over by trickery, and now marked as his prize with the bruises on her neck. I should slap him, she told herself. It was a comforting thought, though she knew she’d never actually do it.

  Zoke was just closing the front door after him as Effie got back to their student house. He froze at the sight of her, watching and waiting for her to react as if they’d spotted each other in the wild and didn’t know whether the other would attack.

  “What’s wrong?” Effie asked.

  “Nothing,” the Krepp grumbled in an even lower voice than usual.

  “Then why are you looking at me like that?”

  He scowled, making Effie realize she shouldn’t have asked. There were some things with Zoke that she had no hope of understanding.

  “Never mind,” she said. “Were you about to walk to the dining hall?”

  “Yes. I’m hungry. Will they still feed me?”

  “Of course. Come, I’ll take you there.”

  “I know how to get there.” Zoke walked around Effie, keeping a brisk pace that made it clear he was avoiding her.

  What’s wrong with hi
m? Effie chased after Zoke. “I was going to the dining hall as well,” she informed him. “Let’s go together.” So I can make sure you behave.

  Zoke stopped, then took in a slow breath. He seemed to turn his body away from Effie when she reached his side. It made her even more curious, her eyes examining his naked chest for clues.

  She was surprised she hadn’t noticed it earlier, but the Krepp was covered in cuts and bruises.

  “What happened?” Effie pointed without thinking.

  “Nothing.” Zoke sped up to keep in front of her.

  He’s embarrassed, she realized. “Did that happen to you on Warrior’s Field?”

  “I can beat any Human here!” Zoke spun to face her, sticking out his chest.

  Effie tried to hold in a giggle, but she couldn’t. “It doesn’t seem that way.”

  “I lost many times during team combat,” he muttered. “But I won’t today. I’m prepared for sneaky bastard Humans.”

  An image came to mind of Zoke thrashing about with his wooden sword to keep multiple warriors at bay. He was shouting in frustration as they poked and prodded him with their weapons, retreating too fast for him to retaliate. “Stop being cowards and face me, you sneaky bastards!”

  Effie knew she shouldn’t be laughing, but that image only made her laugh harder.

  “It’s not funny,” Zoke said.

  “I wish I had time to watch,” she admitted.

  The sun was up by the time they reached the dining hall. It was peeking over the Academy’s walls, touching Effie’s skin with indulging warmth. She wondered if Zoke would comment about the bruises on her neck. But then she realized he probably wouldn’t even notice them.

  Zoke’s yellow eyes hardly ever seemed curious, usually settling in one spot as he talked. When they’d first met, he’d studied each of them so closely it was as if he was assessing a threat. But ever since leaving the Slugari colony, he seemed to care so little that Effie wondered if he’d even notice if one of them was naked.

  It was still too early for most students, but those who were in the dining hall stared at Zoke nonetheless. Effie wanted to blame them, but she knew she would be staring too, if she didn’t know Zoke. He was too different from anything they’d ever seen. How could they not look, especially after his incident at Redfield?

  His introduction hardly could’ve gone worse. It made Effie remember something that she needed to ask him.

  “Yesterday after breakfast,” she said, “you left with Marie Fyremore. What happened?”

  There were plenty of empty tables, so they sat at one in the corner after they got their food. Effie decided not to mention silverware this time, letting Zoke eat with his hands, scooping up the hot eggs and bread and shoveling both into his enormous mouth.

  “We talked. She made me tell her all about my past and how I ended up here. She’s forcing me to meet with her again this evening for more talk.”

  There was something off about Zoke in that moment, and Effie soon figured out what it was. The Krepp’s voice held disdain by the time he’d finished his last sentence, and every time he used to speak like that he always spat—or at least looked like he was about to spit and then swallowed instead. But he made no motion to release his saliva this time.

  Is he just pretending to be upset about talking with Marie? Perhaps he actually likes it? Effie decided not to pry.

  “She’s cooking for me as well,” Zoke nearly whispered. “What does this mean?”

  “Well, I don’t think it means anything in this case.”

  “But what can it mean in other cases?”

  Effie shrugged and answered without thinking. “Usually one person offering to cook for someone else means they like them.”

  “Like them?”

  “You know…romantically.”

  Before Effie realized what she’d said and could correct herself, Zoke started coughing wildly. He stood and thumped his chest, now gasping instead of coughing.

  Effie jumped over and began slapping his back, unsure if it would even help a Krepp.

  Soon Zoke’s coughing returned and Effie could hear he was breathing again.

  After they were both reseated, Effie said, “I don’t mean that Marie Fyremore is interested in you romantically.”

  “Are you sure she isn’t?”

  Effie had never seen Zoke so worried before. His long eyes were so wide they’d become circular.

  Something told her this would be the perfect opportunity for a joke. Effie considered pretending Marie was interested in him that way, but she started laughing before she could compose herself.

  “What do you know, Human?” Zoke stood and asked in a panic. “What’s so funny about this?”

  As her giggling died down, Effie let out a sigh and covered her face in a poor attempt to hide her wide smile from Zoke.

  “There’s absolutely no chance that Marie, let alone any Human, will have those kinds of feelings for you.” She gestured for him to sit. “Relax, Zoke.”

  “I’ve come to understand that you joke a lot,” Zoke said, sitting back down.

  “Me specifically or all Humans?”

  “You!” Zoke pointed a claw at her, his voice surprisingly loud.

  Effie leaned back. “I do, I suppose.”

  “But are you joking now?”

  “No, Zoke. There’s nothing about a Krepp that a Human would find attractive. Plus, you stink.”

  Zoke grumbled. “I bet if I could smell, I would think you Humans stink as well.”

  “I guess we’ll never know.”

  On her way to battle training, Effie planned to ask what Marie was doing spending so much time talking with Zoke, but Effie forgot all about it the moment she stepped onto the sandy training grounds behind the Group One classroom and her instructor started talking at her.

  “Tenred will have many mages in addition to their archers,” Marie said. “Once you get a good grasp on manipulating SE, you can make a wall strong enough to block arrows.” The old woman sucked in a quick breath and then snapped her wand to demonstrate.

  Effie recognized the emerald green color of Sartious Energy right away. Marie had made a floating square of it.

  “Touch it, and hurry. Even I can’t hold it for long.”

  Effie tapped it with her knuckles. “It feels like wood.”

  “Steel is more like it.” Marie let down her wand and the wall shattered into dust, quickly thinning out into the air. “But I have to see some thick Sartious shells from you before we start your training with walls made of SE.”

  Then Effie noticed Marie’s eyes wandering down to her neck. The old woman had a teasing grin. “Did you injure yourself during training last night, Effie Elegin?”

  Effie hunched her shoulders and turned away. “Don’t worry, it won’t happen again. I’m going to make sure of that.”

  Marie laughed. It was a skeptical cackle that made it clear the old woman didn’t believe her.

  When it was time for lunch, Effie was exhausted. I may not have the stamina to confront Brady by the end of the day.

  But fortunately, he found her shortly after she arrived at the dining hall.

  She was just getting in line for food when he came up from behind. “Effie, I need to talk to you.” Luckily, his voice was low enough not to startle her.

  “I need to talk to you as well.”

  “I have food at my house.” He seemed to be in such a rush he didn’t even hear her. “Can you come?”

  Is this just a trick to get me into his bedroom? “I have to get back to battle training after lunch.”

  “I’ll be done telling you what I need to by the time you finish eating.”

  Still, she was hesitant. Effie had never seen this side of Brady—completely serious…maybe even worried about something.

  “Please,” he urged.

  She realized something then. “Were you waiting for me in here?”

  He opened his mouth to answer, but no words came out.

  That worried Effie
even more. “What’s this about?”

  “I’ll tell you soon.” He checked over his shoulder as if expecting someone to be listening. “Will you come?”

  “Fine, but this better not be some sort of trick. Look what you did to my neck already.”

  Brady waved his hand dismissively and started walking. “Sorry about that.”

  “You don’t sound sorry.” She stopped.

  “Effie, I’m serious. It’s really important. Let’s go.”

  She sighed and followed, sure then that she wanted this to be the last she saw of Brady.

  Being nearly a foot shorter, Effie practically had to jog to keep up with his pace. “You have to give me some sort of hint as to what’s so important,” she said.

  “I can tell you’re upset with me, but there’s something more important going on than our relationship—or lack thereof.”

  “So this isn’t about us?”

  “No.”

  Brady said no more until they were enclosed within the walls of his two-bedroom student house. She knew he didn’t live with his girlfriend anymore, but she wasn’t sure who his new roommate was, nor did she care because this would be the last time she set foot in his house. Curiosity was the only thing keeping her there now.

  As Brady prepared a plate of bread, fruit, and cheese, he asked over his shoulder, “Are you able to make fire without your wand?”

  “Not safely. Why?” Effie felt the sudden need to make sure her wand was on her belt.

  Brady pointed to the iron pot in his fireplace. “We’re going to need some boiling water.” He glanced over to see she now had her wand in hand. “Oh, you brought your weapon in here.” Brady seemed strangely disappointed. “Well, can you use it to light the fireplace?”

  Effie stood and placed her wand in a crevice between pieces of wood. She pushed Bastial Energy through it so that it mixed with the Sartious Energy already in her wand, making fire. Brady came over and adjusted the iron pot, pouring in a thin stream of water from a pitcher when he was done.

  Brady then opened a cupboard and took out a glass jar containing green lamwin leaves. Effie knew they were used for making tea, as her mother had favored lamwin tea over the years. It was known to help ease the nerves. But Effie wasn’t sure she wanted that in this moment.