Yemoja Roux’s gaze moved to me, but she didn’t say anything. She smiled softly and turned her attention back to the muted TV screen. She was waiting for me to be ready. I was grateful for what she’d done, how she’d rescued me from myself; and though I wanted to say so, the ache inside me was so strong I knew that a single word would set me off again. I focused on the steam rising from my tea, because I was safe in the home of Yemoja Roux, beside my best friend, and the silence suited me just fine.
4
Kaito
I didn’t know I was asleep until a knock at my door jolted me awake. I dragged myself across my apartment and swung it open. Carter stood in my doorway, his guitar at the ready. “Nice digs, man.”
Oh, fuck no. I swung for his face, but with a quick run of his fingers his gift soared through the musical notes, halting my fist. I strained against it, but as he strummed through a smooth melody, each note was a new layer of his gift to push through.
He smiled brightly. “Whoa, what’s with all the hostility? Not happy to see your old roomie?”
“You killed someone,” I hissed.
He raised his hands in surrender. “Hey, I didn’t work alone. Besides, I’m just an underling. You’re the leader of The Fallen.”
A fist collided with Carter’s jaw, and I felt his gift drop along with his body. Zane stood over him. “Back the fuck off, man,” Zane said, adjusting his glasses. “DT won’t be happy if he finds out you’re messing with Kaito.”
Carter ran a hand through his blonde curls and adjusted his jaw, clearly taken off guard, but a smile soon followed. “I was just congratulating him on being chosen.” He stood, checking his guitar for damage as he slunk back down the hall. “We’re on the same side, man,” he muttered before clicking the button for the elevator.
I turned to Zane. “I don’t need your help.” I tried to shut my door, but he caught it.
“I know, I just hate that guy. He takes everything too far.”
I sighed and headed back into my apartment, leaving Zane the choice to come in or leave. He followed, and I prepared myself for the lecture he had cooked up.
I slumped down on my couch and watched as Zane took a quick scan of my apartment. I had to admit that the open floor plan and black furnishings suited my taste much more than my parents' house. It was the kind of place I would have chosen after I graduated. It was situated in a skyscraper in a crime-riddled part of Ancetol, perfect for a new Fae. I swallowed... but I would never be Fae—not now.
Zane’s voice broke me from my pointless thoughts. “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t know the whole story. I knew you came with us to save the school, but I thought once you spoke to DT that you’d come around to our cause. I should have realized when he postponed the rest of the assault that you’d worked out some kind of deal.”
I pressed my fingertips together, trying to get a read on him. I wasn’t worried that DT had told him about our deal, but about what Zane might’ve let slip during their conversation.
“But you know, Kai, the Academy will have to fall eventually. It’s a big part of the system we’re trying to—”
“I know. I just need some time.”
Zane nodded. “So, it’s not about the school then.”
I stood. “DT needs to believe that it is.”
“And you’re hoping to drag this out until she graduates? It’s a bad plan, Kai. She’ll become Fae and be an even bigger target than she is now.”
He’d always been weirdly observant, but his accuracy about Reina was unsettling. How many other people knew? Did Carter? Fear licked at me like a flame reaching for dried wood. They’d target her if they knew. They could use that information to control my every move. I tried to remember my time with Carter. How much had I told him? I have never been so grateful for not being the type to share my feelings. Still, I had to know. “Who else knows? Does Carter? Did you mention it to DT?”
He shook his head. “I didn’t mention it, and I won’t. I’m not trying to screw anyone over, I just… believe in what we’re doing here. I don’t know about Carter. Maybe...” He tucked his hands into his pockets. “Never mind.”
“What is it?”
“Maybe we should hang out with him.”
I sighed. “Like, keep your enemies closer? Don’t you think that’ll just give him the same opportunity?”
He shrugged and rustled his blue hair. “I actually came here to show you something.”
“You mean you didn’t stop by just to punch Carter in the face?” I asked. I felt a slight tickle running up my arm between my wrist and my elbow.
He smiled. “That was just a bonus. Come with me.”
I stared at my arm as my tattoo vanished, the gift’s time running out, returning to my unmarked skin.
Zane eyed it. “Bummer. You going to get a new one?” he asked, opening the front door to my apartment.
I followed. “You mean like The Fallen arrow you had at the bus stop?”
He grinned. “I needed to get your attention somehow.”
I bit back a laugh. “Yeah, that fucking did it all right.”
5
Reina
Bri gaped at me, her purple locks bobbing in the messy bun on the top of her head. “He… he said that?”
I mindlessly stirred my tea. It seemed like every time I told my version of what happened at the winter ball, it made less sense.
Yemoja Roux leaned forward, her magenta hair pulled into a braid as she sipped her tea. “That is strange,” she said. “I think it’s all too fresh for us to see clearly.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, sipping my tea.
“He actually said that?” Bri said.
I nodded.
Yemoja’s gaze drifted up to the left. “Well, I didn’t know Kaito, really. But he once accused Zane Blaque of being a member of The Fallen during a lecture I gave.”
I said, “But… Zane is a member of The Fallen.”
Her expression hardened. “Exactly. The two seemed to be at odds, and yet you say they spent a lot of time together after that.”
I nodded, enjoying the objective analysis because it hurt so much less—helped me gain perspective.
She continued, “It’s possible that he became involved with The Fallen at that point, but by then they were already an established group with the capability of killing Fae. Perhaps he joined to sabotage them, not help them.”
“So you’re saying he lied about being the leader,” I added.
Briara rubbed her face with her hands. “Well, if he lied about that, he could have lied about that other thing.”
I shot her a playful glare… although she had a point.
Yemoja said, “I hardly think he would have said those things to you, fought alongside his friends, and protected you, if he was part of the plan. It’s just too... odd.”
I dropped my gaze to my teacup. “Unless… he was saying goodbye.”
A musical sound rang out and Yemoja Roux lifted a finger and mouthed, “Excuse me.”
She sat up straight, lifting her phone to her ear. “Mhmm. Okay,” she said, and I strained to hear the other half of the conversation. “What can I do? I’m on my way.”
She stood so quickly it startled me. Her gaze whipped over to me. “I have to go to the school.”
I sat stunned as Bri asked, “Is everything okay?”
She nodded. “Do you two want to come with, or stay here?”
Stay here? I looked around her apartment. “Would that be okay? Can I stay?”
“Of course. You both can. I was thinking you could crash here for a couple of days to maybe rest, after… everything.” She pulled her hair out of her braid and it fell back into its usual waves.
“Yes. I would love that. Thank you,” I said.
“Me too,” Bri chimed in. “I’ll catch a ride with you so I can grab my stuff. I need my makeup.”
Yemoja smiled then rushed out of the room, and when she returned she had on her pastel uniform. She was every bit the image of t
he idol I’d admired my whole life, with one small difference: I knew her. I knew that the waves in her hair came from her keeping it braided when home; I knew that she loved tea, and had fears just like everyone else; and I knew she was kind, because, when the walls of the Academy had been breached, she offered me a few days of sanctuary.
“Alright. I’m headed out,” she said. “Ready, Bri? We should be back in a few hours. Make yourself at home.”
In a flash she was gone, and Bri along with her. Yemoja’s last word echoed through her beautiful apartment. Home. My thoughts drifted to the orphanage that technically warranted the word, then moved to GFA where I resided, and finally it moved to Kai.
I was angry, but Yemoja Roux had planted doubt inside me. I knew there was some truth to what she said about Kai, but I was tired of having faith in a guy who always let me down. Not this time.
I sipped my tea when a flash at the corner of my eye drew my attention to the muted TV. I scrambled for the remote when I saw the reporter standing outside GFA. This must be why Yemoja Roux was called in.
I frantically clicked at buttons on the remote, unable to turn on the sound. The scene changed to a limousine, and I watched in anticipation as the door swung open and a tall man donning a golden crown stepped out.
He was broad shouldered, his posture rigid. He had a peppered goatee that stood out against his dark skin. And with his handsome but serious face, I instantly recognized the similarities he shared with his son. There was no doubt he was the father of Prince Finn Warsham—the King of Zalmia.
The headline flashed red:
King of Zalmia pulls son from GFA due to recent attack.
I stared and wrapped the blanket tighter around me, but the next headline caused me to leap from the couch and head straight for GFA.
Could GFA be closing its doors permanently?
6
Kaito
Since I’d arrived, I hadn’t spent much time exploring the tower where The Fallen operated. Despite his lethal power, DT was a soft-spoken leader, and only asked that I read his speeches and stay in the tower. He made sure I was accommodated with a nice apartment, and gave me access to the company cafeteria. But I wasn’t an idiot. I knew our partnership couldn’t last forever. GFA would have to fall for their plan to be complete, so I needed to find a weakness in their organization before it was too late. My best bet was to embrace The Fallen to gain their trust so I’d be in a position to counter them when the time came. But seeing how committed Zane was to the cause had me worried that I’d get in too deep and not be able to find my way back.
I also knew the moment I turned on The Fallen, I was a dead man. There were no Fae coming to rescue me, and I wouldn’t last long as an enemy to both sides. Though I was sympathetic to some of The Fallen ideology, the choices I made were to protect Reina and the other students. The moment Quan was skewered, my body moved into hyperdrive. And, although it was a snap decision, it was one I didn’t regret. Once I crossed DT, I’d have no allies to rely on… except maybe Reina. I knew it was a long shot that she wouldn’t hate me forever, but it was that foolish pipe dream that pulled me through. Even if I lost my life in this battle, I wanted her to know, somehow, that my intentions were good.
No matter how defeated I felt, I could no longer spend every spare moment in my apartment alone, trying not to think about all I’d lost. The fight wasn’t over.
Zane pushed the button marked B1 on the panel, and my mind shuffled through the horrors that might lay in the underground floors of a criminal organization. Then, as the elevator lowered, I remembered the glass demons that attacked us at the dance. I knew there was someone gifted that was responsible, but I shuddered to think that those things could be nearby.
We stepped out of the elevator and Zane tossed me a mischievous smile before leading me to a pair of double doors. He nodded for me to enter.
“Okay…” I pushed open the doors and threw my hands up in front of me defensively. After a stunned pause, cheers burst through the room. I gaped as I scanned the crowded hall. There were about two hundred people all turned to me, smiles plastered on their faces. Zane patted me on the back, ushering me further into the room. Despite the cramped, windowless room and low ceilings, it was a cheerful party. Most of the occupants had drinks in their hands, and the walls were covered in screens with colorful lights dancing and shooting around the room. At the back of the room, DT strode out onto the stage. He wore a white fitted suit with a purple scarf slung over one shoulder. His musical voice flowed from the microphone. “Welcome, Kaito!” he said. “We’ve thrown this party as a token of our appreciation for your bravery and sacrifice.”
Heat burned my face as I waved off their attention. A party? It was literally the last thing I’d expected. DT left the stage and the crowd resumed their conversations, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that they were all waiting to talk to me. I turned to Zane, hoping to give him shit for setting me up, when a petite girl with a bright grin and a lavender pixie cut walked over to us. Two beer bottles were floating beside her as she motioned them to our hands. I raised an eyebrow. Impossible. “Levitation?”
She shook her head. “I wish. It’s more like strings and a puppet… plus I can only do it with glass.”
I nodded. “Ah.”
“Mr. Nakamaru,” she said, her words jumbled together.
“Kai.”
She gulped, and I could practically see her struggling to form her next words.
Zane cleared his throat. I turned to him and nearly laughed as his face turned beat red. With the tiniest nod of his head, I knew what to do. “Do you know Zane?”
She barely glanced at him before turning her attention back to me. “I’m Ensley and I just wanted to thank you personally. You’re a hero.”
Zane leaned in. “I helped.”
Ensley and I both turned to Zane as an awkward moment passed. I sipped my beer. Oh boy, he wasn’t going to make this easy. “Yeah, well, Zane did convince me to give The Fallen a chance.” Ensley’s gaze brightened. “Well then, I guess I owe you thanks too,” she said.
She turned back to me. “I’m supposed to give a speech. Do you think we can chat later?”
Zane blurted, “I’d love to.”
Ensley gave a pained smile before pushing through the crowd toward the stage.
I grinned, patting Zane on the back as he turned his attention to the floor. “Smooth,” I whispered.
It wasn’t until Ensley reached the stage, and I took another sip of my beer, that a chilling realization dawned on me. Glass? Puppet strings? No. I had to be wrong. There was no way that cute, bubbly girl was the one who killed Quan Levout. Was there?
7
Reina
I wasn’t able to catch Bri and Yemoja Roux before they left, so by the time I made it to the school, there was a mob of media outside the gates. Camera flashes, waving microphones, and gloved reporters were all being kept at bay by four Bronze Tier Fae. I dropped my head, so my curls could hide my face, and snuck my way toward the front of the crowd. I scanned the Fae; they were familiar, but I didn’t know them by name. I hoped they’d recognize me from my meltdown that morning, and I waited until one of them made eye contact. His face lit with recognition, and I lifted a shy hand to confirm. He whispered to another Fae, and the two ushered me through the gate and the school’s new barrier.
It might’ve been that the school’s reinforced barrier was thicker so less light shone through. Or maybe it was the clouds refusing to lift the ominous gray blanket the sky had become. Either way, the school that had once captivated me with a single glance now looked haunted… ghostly. The sheer number of Fae lining the halls of the main building, and the speed with which they ushered me to the back where the campus was located, told me that the King of Zalmia was still present.
I came to a halt when I noticed Miranda shuffling through the hallway toward the balcony stairs that led down to campus. We weren’t exactly friendly, and I didn’t want to engage in any unnecessary battles,
so I slowed to match her pace. I didn’t immediately notice that she was dressed more casually than usual, with sweatpants, an oversized t-shirt, and a puffy jacket that didn’t look like it belonged to her. I didn’t even register the dullness of her usually sleek ponytail. It wasn’t until I heard her sniffle that I realized she was crying. “Miranda,” I called as I hurried over, and she slowly turned, her watery eyes fixed on me as if she was waiting for me to set the tone of our interaction. Even with a pink nose and no sign of make-up, which I’d never seen her without, she was stunning—maybe even more so.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
It was as if those three words broke her, because fresh tears spilled out onto her cheeks as she wrapped her arms around me. Stunned, I rubbed her back as she shook. Her cheek brushed mine. My body went rigid as both my gift and hers awakened. What had Oden told me about her gift? She was a seer? I didn’t see any immediate danger in that, but I didn’t want to take any chances. We were at each other’s mercy. Noticing my tension, she pulled away, wiping her nose with the back of her hand. “Don’t worry,” she croaked. “I won’t do anything. I was thinking we could...” she sniffed, “be friends or something.”
It wasn’t what I expected, but I was in no position to turn down a friend. We’d had a complicated start at GFA, but everyone seemed to be affected by losing Quan. I nodded. “Yeah, that would be... nice.” I didn’t want to push, to mess up whatever we’d just agreed to, but my curiosity overtook me. “Were you close to him?”
The Brave & The Broken: Gifted Fae Academy - Year Two Page 2