I was in deep thought and didn’t realize I got slammed into the mats again, until I felt a sharp pain on the back of my head. I opened my eyes and waited a second for my vision to clear
Terrence helped me up, giving me his regular lopsided grin.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, I think so.”
“Skylar! Quit being distracted!” Katarina said, hitting the mats “you’re fast, use that to your advantage and land a hit! Go take a break”
“She’s so enthusiastic about watching kids beat the shit out of each other.” I said, as we took a seat.
Terrence laughed, “That’s because she probably thinks you’re worth her time, all of the other girls get distracted by my model good looks.” He batted his lashes and took a swig of water.
“Oh, yeah?” I said, rolling my eyes.
She waved us over; I tightened my ponytail, and prepared myself for another beat down when Tatiana walked in and sat on the bottom bleacher.
Well, great. It’s bad enough to get my ass kicked in front of the class…
Terrence must have seen the look on my face because he grabbed the back of my neck and pulled me, closing the distance between his mouth and my ear.
“It’s okay if she’s watching, use the anger you have for her on me.” he whispered, I was slightly distracted by how his warm breath tickled my ear.
“I’ll still get my ass kicked anyways“ I retorted.
“Just do it.”
“Go!” Katarina cried.
He immediately tried to grab me but I ducked and rolled out of the way.
Okay, think about how much I hate Tatiana, think about how much I hate Tatiana, think about how much..
That odd sensation returned, the low buzz, and Terrence wasn’t moving as quickly as he was before, in fact it seems like he was moving in slow motion, but I was able to move normally. I ducked again and saw an open spot on his shoulder and slammed into it sending him backwards.
He didn’t stay down long, he gracefully rolled onto his feet, but the important thing is that fact I managed to get a damn hit on Terrence.
He face spread into his signature grin. “See, I told you it would work.” Tatiana apparently saw enough because she was gone.
“Yes!” Katarina said, grabbing me and giving me bone-crunching hug. I mouthed thanks to Terrence over her shoulder.
“You have a promising future, my dear!” She said, letting me go. I didn’t know why she was getting all excited about me landing one hit, it’s not like I beat the shit out of him.
“Thanks.”
“Class is dismissed.” Alexei said, monitoring another pair’s mock-combat.
“So how’d you know that I hated Tatiana?” I asked Terrence as we walked out.
“Are you kidding me?” He said laughing, “Anybody could tell you hate that woman. But why?”
I shrugged. “I don’t really know, she didn’t do anything in particular to me, just..she gives off bad vibes I guess.”
He opened a door and walked inside, I was going in behind him but he stopped and turned around.
“You can’t come in here.” He said, smiling.
“Why?”
He closed the door a little and pointed to the sign that said Boy’s locker room.
“Oh.” I said, turning red.
He laughed, “But If you really want to come in your welcome, unless-“
“Ahh, its okay” I said backing up, “C’ya”
“Bye.”
I changed back into my uniform, and headed to the dorms until Tatiana stopped me. Grea
“I just want to tell you I am pleased with your fast improvement, in your studies as well as your powers. Have you been reading the book I gave you?”
“Yeah.” Lie.
“Good.”
Then she walked away, she’s so freaking weird. She seemed like the kind of person that, if she weren’t a principal, she’d be hold up inside her house with a hundred cats.
I arrived to my room to find that Isabel lying on her bed, she look kind of pale.
“Hey,” I said, squatting next to her bed, “Are you okay?”
“Peachy.” She replied, “Just fucking peachy.”
“Chill, girl.”
“Sorry, I just have really bad cramps.”
“Oh, want me to grab you some Advil from the nurse?”
There was a knock on the door and it was Ivan. What the hell?
I stood there for a second wondering why in the hell would he been standing in my doorway.
“Aren’t you going to let me in?” he asked.
“Frankly, I don’t want to.”
“Be nice!” Isabel said from the inside. “Let him in.”
I gave him a glare, let him in, and watched him walk to Isabel’s side and hand her Advil and a water bottle.
“Thanks!” She said, gulping down the water.
“Your welcome.” And then he “smiled” for the first time in front of me; showing of pearly straight teeth. I felt my mouth drop slightly. I felt a pang of..jealously?
She stood up and gave him a hug, and he hugged her back! My mouth dropped a little, then he whispered something in her ear and she giggled. I guess they looked good together, but it was so weird seeing him being intimate with another person, didn’t know he had it in him. And when did him and Isabel get all buddy-buddy? And why him? Ok, enough of this. I cleared my throat, intentionally loud. They didn’t respond.
The door was open and Terrence and Micah walked in. Wow, this is turning into a mini party. When he saw Isabel and Ivan his eyes widened. “Woah!,” he said, backing up out of the door, but Micah grabbed him and pulled him back in. After few moments of watching the Ivan-Isabel show we gave.
“Okay, get a room.” Micah said, rolling her green eyes.
“Seriously.” I muttered.
They finally parted, their arms still intertwined.
“Dude, are you sick?” Terrence said, furrowing his brows. So he was as confused as I was.
"No, why would I be?” He said, grinning at Isabel. Ew.
“Uh,Good, cuz we gotta go.”
“What’s going on here?” a voice said into my ear. I jumped and turned around to see Kingsley with a grin on his face.
“Jesus, Kingsley, you scared the shit out of me!” I said, swatting at him.
“Sorry,” he laughed, holding me back, “Tatiana sent me to tell everyone she wants us in office to tell us something “important” he said."
We all piled into the principles office, It was obvious it wasn’t built to fit seven people. Isabel sat on Ivan’s lap, I was squished in an overstuffed chair with Micah.
“I try to make this quick,” Tatiana started, “we have received an invitation to co-host the Souls Ball this year, by our sister school, the Allen Institute. The head master has requested the presence of you, the Student Council members, to meet with theirs to plan.”
This was obviously a big deal because everyone started talking. She noticed my lack of a reaction.
“The Souls Ball a two day event, the spotlight concert, followed by the ball. And an extremely long standing tradition. It is usually only an event for each exorcist school exclusively, but because of budget cuts were are forced to improvise. It is also a chance for you to embed yourselves in the Exorcist society. You will leave tomorrow, and you will stay at the Allen institute for a week so pack appropriately.”
“Yeah, field trip!” Terrence said.
“I heard they’re are hot guys at Allen.” Micah said, grinning.
“And hot girls.” Kingsley added.
“What’s the spotlight concert?” I asked.
“Its is an event where each council member showcases a classical skill.”
“Like what?”
Tatiana smiled, “Well, why don’t you ask your peers what they will be performing.”
“I do ballet.” Micah said.
“Opera singing.” Isabel said, that wasn’t a surprise, because she was avidly involved with choir back home.
“I play the trumpet,” Terrence said.
“Piano.” Ivan muttered, oh so he wanted to be an ass now.
“Sax.” Kingsley said.
“oh, wait what the hell am I going to do?” I said.
“Aren’t you going the play the cello?” Kingsley asked.
Aww, hell.
We went to dinner and then we returned to our dorms and packed for the next week.
“Okay Isabel, what the hell is up with you and Ivan?” I asked, getting into bed.
“Nothing,”
“Nothing?”
“No, I just like flirting with him cuz he’s nice to look at.” She said, pulling her red curls into a bun, “But enough of me, why are you so scared to play the cello? You’ve been playing since you were, like, six.
A knot formed in my stomach, i really didn't feel like thinking about it. “You know why. Good night.”
“Nite.” She answered. Turning off the lamp.
Flurries of colorful dresses were moving gracefully across the dance floor and excitement was buzzing through the air. Despite the fun atmosphere, the new power couple, Catherine and Eugene, seemed unhappy, like they knew something dangerous was coming, soon. “You look beautiful.” Eugene whispered in Catherine’s ear attempting to place his lover’s mind elsewhere. His statement was true, however, for the moonlight blue gown made the blond-haired beauty even more ethereal. “Thank you, but it is not working Eugene. I am scared,” she answered, a frown appeared on her heart-shaped, blood red lips. “No reason to be scared, love, I’m here.” She looked across the ballroom feeling envious of her twin sister, Sarah, carefree and beautiful dancing with handsome gentlemen. How she longed for her and Eugene to be in the same place, she didn’t understand how or when she gained all of these burdens and worries, for she was only nineteen…
My eyes popped open, I’m still a little freaked out when I see Catherine’s face, or rather mine, but from so long ago. I’ve been having more flash backs lately, in my dreams. I have a feeling I’m going to remember something that I don’t want to.
We all got up at five am and ate breakfast; Tatiana forced us to wear our uniforms. “You have to be a good representation of St. Victors Academy.” She said. After piling all of our bags into a limo with the school crest on the side, we got in and I fell asleep.
“Hey we’re here.” Terrence’s voice said. I opened my eyes with his face leaning over me, grin on his face. I realized I was lying on his lap. “Sorry.” I said, my face heating.
“It’s alright.”
We all climbed out at weren’t surprised when their school had the same gothic feel to it, only theirs had strands of ivy growing down and around the length of the building. People in maids’ uniforms began to take our bags inside. A girl walked out of the entrance and towards us; she was pretty and had long, wavy light brown hair and was tall and skinny. She had on a uniform similar to ours but in green and navy. “Hi I’m Laurel.” She extended her hand to me, looked me up and down, and grinned. She reminded me of someone.
“Skylar.” I said, shaking her hand. “Oh and this is Isabel, Kingsley, Micah, Terrence, and Ivan.”
“Nice to me you all, follow me, Head master wants to meet you.”
We followed her into a huge arched entrance and into a wide- open hallway. A bell rung and soon it was filled with Allen Institute students. Of course us wearing our school uniform caught attention. We followed Laurel in a spacious room with a floor to ceiling window on one wall. The others were occupied by tall, wide bookshelves that probably held hundreds of books. A huge oak desk placed in the middle of the room, the swivel chair set behind it was turned so that it’s back was to us.
“Father. The Council from St. Victors is here.” Father?
“Good.” A familiar voice said.
The swivel chair turned and revealed the person sitting in it. He didn’t look any different after 4 years, the Black hair and gray-blue eyes that we shared. The square jaw, and lightly tanned face with no wrinkles.
“Dad.” I said, trying to swallow the knot in my throat.
“Skylar, you’ve blossomed into a beautiful young lady.” He said, smiling.
I stifled the hop over the desk and choke him. Laurel came and stood in front of me, Ah, I know why she reminded me of someone. She had the exact shade of blue-grey eyes that I have.
Wait. She grinned. “Hello, little sister.”