The Fae & The Fallen: Gifted Fae Academy - Year One

by Brittni Chenelle

  “What’s wrong?” Oden asked.

  What’s wrong? I seethed, already reaching the end of the stacks, my feet never touching the ground. What’s wrong is that bastard. I was certain when they started dating that it wouldn’t last long, but this was ridiculous. I was losing her. I didn’t realize things between them had gotten so serious and now it felt like every second that passed was one where Reina was slipping away from me and into the arms of Oden. To think he’d been touching her like that all this time made me sick, and I glided out the front door of the student center, hoping the cold air would numb the pain. I felt the cold reach my bones, and my teeth began to chatter. How many books had I touched on my way through the library? I pictured the tidal wave of books crashing down on Oden as he tried to scramble free from the falling tomes. I had to win her back. I couldn’t lose her, not like this.

  Carter walked by, strumming his guitar as two girls I’d never met followed him and Quan not far behind them. If Quan was being dragged into this, I knew where they were going. He caught a glimpse of me. “Oh, bro, I need you to stay out of our room for the next…” he eyed both girls who were already undressing him with their eyes, “minute and a half.”

  I bit back a laugh. At least someone was doing well with women. I nodded to him, and my appreciation for him lingered long after he entered Blue House with the two transformed guys and Quan, who headed back towards the student center a minute later.

  Quan grinned at me. “Meeting in five,” he said.

  “Don’t think I’ll make it,” I said, trying not to let my anger into my voice.

  He shrugged and headed back inside. I shook as the image of Reina with Oden replayed in my head. I clenched my fists, looking for an outlet for my fury. He was a better man than me, but I wasn’t ready to let her go. I wanted him to hurt.

  My chance came the next day, when our combat professor, Mr. Cordovan, unwittingly paired me with Oden.

  Oden grinned at me across the arena like we were friends. Like he didn’t know how much danger he was in. I wasn’t being overconfident either. Since he’d been dating Reina, he’d been too busy to put in extra hours of training like I had. He was slipping and this was the perfect opportunity to dethrone our school’s king in front of everyone.

  Zone six, where our battle was set to commence, was a city block packed with sharp metal that I was eager to make use of. I wanted nothing more than to smack the smile off his pretty boy face. A guy like this, Elite with something flashy and good looks to match, was on a one-way train to become Fae from birth. Riches and fame all showering on him along with a license to kill. There was something unjust about how his dice were loaded, and I was going to set it right.

  Professor Cordovan’s voice shot through the speakers, “You may begin.”

  I took off running away from Oden until I had no breath to spare. It wasn’t a manly move, but I needed to buy some time. I leapt into the air and let my gift carry me. I slipped in and out of vacant buildings until I was sure he didn’t know where I was. A crash rattled my bones as Oden smashed the glass on a building he thought I was occupying. I used every second to touch loose objects on the ground. A steel pipe, a plank of wood, anything that my gift could pull free as Oden mindlessly created more debris. One building after the next, I clouded my gift with all manner of objects which I left undisturbed in their various locations in the arena.

  When I was nearing my limit, I closed my eyes to catalog my haul. It was the largest number I’d ever captured and I felt the strain of every one. It was time to make my move.

  “Don’t be a coward, Kaito.”

  Now. I propelled a shard of glass from the far side of the zone at the sound of his voice. He deflected it with ease. “Good. I was worried you weren’t even going to put up a fight today,” he said. “Look, man, I didn’t know how much you liked Reina. But I like her too. I’m not going to mess it up.”

  I seethed.

  “No one is forcing her to be with me. We just like each other.”

  I stepped out into the street and he turned to me to finish his speech. “Can’t you accept that?”

  I chuckled.

  He smiled. “What’s funny?”

  “What’s funny is you’re out here lecturing me like some arrogant prick, and I’ve already won.”

  With a clap of my outstretched hands, I hurled every object ensnared in my gift at him, but instead of striking, I swept them into a whirlwind around him and watched as one of the pipes scraped him. I spun a thousand objects into a tornado, with him at the center. He crouched, using his gift to shield himself from the blows. The objects that struck him bounced off and it took almost no effort to yank them back to the cyclone and tighten its twirl. I walked toward him and felt the shudder of his gift as his endurance gave way. Nails, glass, metal, wood, thrashing at his skin, whittling away his strength. Then I saw the first cut draw blood. He yelled and started frantically punching the objects, but there were too many, moving too quickly, and each time he swung he left an opening for me to strike another blow.

  I bared my teeth as he fell to his knees, his eyes pleading at me with terror and surrender. I pushed the objects tighter and he yelled in pain. Nearly satisfied, I walked up to him and all at once I let the objects drop from the air around him, the severity of his injuries on display for the first time. I cocked my arm back and punched him across his jaw, the pop echoing through the zone. He stared up at me with alarm as blood dribbled down his cheek.

  Professor Cordovan’s voice shot out through the speaker. “Congratulations, Mr. Nakamaru. That was very impressive. You didn’t even get a scratch on you. I’ve called Dr. Azul for you, Mr. Gates. Can you stand?”

  Oden never broke eye contact. Not until the zone was overrun by our fellow classmates. Only then did the weight of what I’d done settle in. Whatever kindness he’d shown me in the past, including me in the Nobles and vouching for me on the media, was gone.

  By the end of the day, my name had jumped to number one in the school ranking and I had eight missed calls from my mother. Unsurprisingly, it seemed they wanted me as a son again.

  I could barely move without being swarmed by students wanting to hear the story of my victory, and no one seemed more proud or supportive than Carter and Zane. The adrenaline from the battle stayed with me all day, and it was almost enough to help me forget about what I’d seen in the library.

  Even Quan congratulated me before he urged me to visit Oden in the hospital. Oden would be there for a while. Today was for celebrating and tomorrow for apologies.

  After a wonderful day filled with positive attention, I headed back to Blue House. I walked with my head held high as if there wouldn’t be consequences. That’s when I saw Reina.

  “What the fuck, Kai?” she said. She had on a jacket but was shivering enough for me to guess at how long she’d waited outside Blue House. “That was messed up, even for you.”

  I scoffed. “I didn’t break a single rule. It was a battle and he lost.”

  “That’s not what I heard. I heard it was personal. I heard it was frightening.”

  I pushed past her. “You’re ridiculous.”

  “Why are you even here?” I asked. “This school is for future Fae. You seem much more suited for The Fallen.”

  “Those are pretty harsh words for someone who went from a shy virgin to banging in the library in zero point two seconds.”

  Her mouth dropped open. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, Kai. We were just kissing and it’s none of your business anyway.”

  I ran a frustrated hand through my hair. “It didn’t look like just kissing to me.”

  “Well, it was. We’re waiting for—” She stopped herself and silence grew thick between us.

  “For what?” I whispered.

  She stared down at her feet, fiddling with the charm on her necklace.

  “For the dance?”

  She shook her head. “He wanted it to be special.”

  “Yeah, because that’s no
t cliche as fuck.”

  “You know what, Kai,” she said, her voice heavy with emotion. “You’re awfully invested in my personal life. Do you want to tell me why?” She stepped toward me, her chest nearly against mine.

  My breath caught. My heartbeat dashing.

  “There are only two possibilities here. Whichever it is, tell me and I promise I’ll believe you.” A tear slipped down her face and I felt my misplaced anger break. She continued, “Either you have feelings for me or you can’t stand the thought of me being happy.”

  I was paralyzed by her obvious pain. It seemed like no matter what I felt for her, I always ended up hurting her. I looked up to the glow of the half moon and felt the cold seep through my jacket. I didn’t want to hurt her anymore. My heart beat, Please be with me instead. She was only a few words away from knowing the truth, and the weight of that kept me suspended. She was right about one thing—I was no Fae. How could I ask her to choose me when I’m so unworthy? She had the chance to be with someone whole. Someone who was programmed for kindness, and I was planning on asking her to wreck it. For me. I was asking her to choose her tormentor over her savior. I clenched my fist. Reina, I promise this is the last time. “You’re right,” I said. “I don’t want you to be happy. I can’t stand the thought of a Serf like you sailing through life.”

  “You’re lying,” she said, tears pouring down her cheeks. “Tell the truth.”

  Her eyes turned angry as her gift struck me. I saw a purple glow in them and on the tips of her fingers. We hadn’t even touched, yet I felt the truth surge to my lips. She was strong and everything I couldn’t say to her was desperate for release. I don’t think I’m good enough for you. You’re the only one who understands. Please don’t go. Don’t give up on me. I love you, Reina. The urge to say the words was intolerable, but I fought it, leaning on my own gift as my final line of defense. I was losing. Tears pricked my eyes as my will gave way. Desperate for a way out, I bit down on my bottom lip hard, until it split, blood running down my chin.

  I must’ve been a sight because Reina cupped her hands over her mouth in fear. Her gift let me go. Then, as if resigned, she wiped her face. I swallowed hard and she shook her head, her gaze slipping between sad and angry. “Okay, Kai. Message received.”

  41

  Reina

  I never told Yemoja Roux that I used my gift on Kai. I was ashamed that I broke my promise and how quickly my ability corrupted me and I knew, if she ever found out, that would be the end of my training. October gave way to November and Kai and I could barely look at each other when we passed in the halls. My anger from our last conversation burned hot without any sign of abating. He was still in the same place in my heart he’d always been, but now his presence was a dagger that on some days made it hard to breathe.

  I visited Oden in the infirmary as often as he’d allow, but it took longer than Doctor Azul predicted for him to get well again. It was as if losing his rank had broken his spirit, and I missed his sunny disposition. I didn’t care how long it took him to recover, I would be there for him and not because my mind endlessly reminded me that I was responsible, because I cared. He was surprised when I first came to see him and seemed to think that his rank had anything to do with how I felt about him. Like I’d jump ship to Kai now that he was the new top student. But even the thought of Kai made me sick. I wanted nothing to do with him.

  By mid-November, Yemoja Roux had me in decent fighting shape. Defense was well enough, but the day she taught me to use my gift offensively, I finally felt like I could become Fae.

  “Concentrate on your arm,” she urged. “Let the truth swallow it.”

  As the purple shade of my gift engulfed my arm, I was alarmed to discover that it felt heavy, like it was encased in metal.

  “Good, now sharpen it,” Yemoja Roux said, pacing around me.

  I visualized its edges coming to a point. With just a few swipes of my arm, my muscles grew fatigued, but I pushed through. I slashed at the practice dummy and felt delighted when the edge of my blade sliced into it. Losing my concentration, I gaped at my ordinary hand. My troubles with Kai felt minuscule compared to the satisfaction of raw power. I whipped back to Yemoja Roux. “Let’s try it again.”

  She smiled at me proudly. I reveled in the chance to show her my progress or even talk about life. In a short time, she became a fixture in my life—something I hadn’t had in some time. One day, when I was on a high from spreading my blade to my elbow, I worked up enough courage to ask her if she’d ever been in love. Her eyebrows rose in surprise but her expression softened, and her voice came out as a whisper. “Yes, I have, once.”

  I watched as her gaze turned distant and she appeared to transport to a memory she wasn’t ready to share. Then she turned to me. “Why do you ask? Are you in love?”

  To my dismay, my thoughts went to Kai before Oden. I threw my hands up defensively. “No, I don’t think so. I mean, how do you know exactly?”

  She pulled back her hair and started to work it into a braid. “I think it’s different for everyone.”

  My heart squeezed in my chest as the next question escaped my lips. “Do you think love is a choice? You know, something you go into with both eyes open? Willingly? Or is it something that happens to you? Like an intense feeling you get swept up in?”

  She pursed her lips. “It seems you already know the answer to that, Reina.”

  I didn’t, but it was nice to have someone to chat with, someone who never pushed me but always listened when I was ready to share. She was making me better, a guiding light brought in when I needed her most and mended things I thought broken forever.

  I saw those improvements reflected in my battle skills as well, and when I could sharpen the truth into a blade and cut with it for more than a few minutes at a time, I began to excel in my defense class—a class that had deemed me helpless from the start and took turns sending me to the infirmary.

  Some of the classmates who delighted in tearing me to shreds a month ago turned green in the face as I deflected the attacks of my class’ best Elites, and my unplanned trips to Dr. Azul’s office stopped altogether.

  Then, on a cold autumn day, my name slipped to the bottom of the class rank. Reina Bennett, 100.

  Ever since Kai took the number one spot, I scarcely dared a glance at the board, but a sudden rush of attention alerted me that my name had made the list. Despite my rapid progress, Yemoja Roux never reported. It wasn’t until my skills started manifesting in other classes that my name rose to it, and the moment it did, I understood why Yemoja Roux had avoided putting my name up. After two days of my name on the list, moving from 100 to 94, someone discovered and leaked that I’d been training with Yemoja Roux. The combat zone was swarmed with students. I had to admit that I enjoyed the release of the secret. I was tired of it nearly slipping during conversations with Briara and, the stronger my gift grew, the more difficult it became to lie. In all the years I dreamed of becoming Fae, I imagined liking the attention that came with it, but it was so polarized between being admired and hated, I longed for the days when I was invisible. I even saw pain in Oden’s eyes when he congratulated me and I wondered if he felt I’d hijacked his spot by his mentor’s side.

  The one lighthouse in a stormy sea of uncertainty was that Yemoja Roux began to take me with her on actual missions in the city. I wasn’t ready for combat but was instructed to protect civilians in the vicinity when Yemoja was stopping a crime. On my first day, I had never been more excited in my life, or more nervous. The only thing that kept me going was Yemoja Roux’s faith in me. Even if all I was allowed to do was guard civilians while Yemoja Roux handled anything dangerous, this was Fae work. As it turned out, I was born for it. Enamored by the whole process. It was the first time I felt like Fae and even had a public stage to do good. I may have been new to my gift, but I had enough power to help and protect alongside the great Yemoja Roux. For a few short weeks, it seemed like everything would be okay. I should have known that my mentor was
keeping me far from any real danger. I should have accounted for my luck running run out because, the moment I got too comfortable, everything changed.

  One night, the air dropped below freezing. Yemoja Roux and I were patrolling the east side of Ancetol covering a wide area waiting for the local precinct to call in when we heard the chilling scream of a young child. We exchanged a glance and tore into the direction of the sound.

  We slipped down an alley when the creak of deformed limbs crackled and from behind a dumpster a black-pointed claw shot out of the darkness and slammed down onto the dumpster with a rattling crash that made my hair stand on end.

  The dark mass stepped into the open alley, its body clinked as if made of shards of black glass, the pieces shifting as its form grew before us. “Go,” Yemoja whispered, but my legs were locked with fear.

  One pointed limb after the other sprouted from its largest heap, like barbed lances ready to impale us. I didn’t know what it was, but I was certain it was responsible for killing the Fae. Without thinking, I lunged forward, sharpening the purple truth into a keen blade and slashing at the enemy. The magical edge caught and the faceless beast devoured it into itself. The glass demon thrashed, and I barely slipped out of its range before a new barb lurched forward to impale me.

  I doubled over. Gasping for air. Reaching inside myself to find my gift, which felt weak and weary, like on training days when I overexerted myself.

  Yemoja Roux slid in front of me. “Get out of here! Now!” she yelled.

  “I won’t leave you here.”

  “You’re just a student. This is my job. Now go, or you’ll put us both in danger.”

  With the last word, her gift filled me with such fear that I cried all the way home. I pulled out my phone, desperate for comfort.

  Me:

  Kai? I was on patrol and something happened.

  Kai:

  Are you okay? Where are you? I’m coming.