day was spent going to my regular classes. By the time the day was over, I was exhausted and beyond ecstatic that I had flown and used magic in front of the other students. Things were finally starting to look up here at the Woodsong Academy.
At dinner, I sat with Lisa. “What’s going on in that head of yours?” I hear her ask, as she sits down beside me with a warm smile.
I shake my head, trying to clear it and bring myself back to the present.
“Nothing,” I say.
“That’s a lie,” she laughs. . “I bet you are either thinking about Ace, Finn, or flying,” she giggled.
Well, she’s partially correct. I still wasn’t sure what I was going to do about Finn and the dance was coming up very quickly. Everything seemed to be spiraling out of control.
Just then, Ace made his way into the cafeteria and, I swear, I felt my heart tremble. It was crazy how he had this intense effect on me. I wasn’t sure what it was, but all I knew was that I liked it. Spotting me, Ace nodded to me and then tilted his head toward the hallway. I could tell he wanted me to follow him. It was all wrong; I knew that toying with two boys’ emotions was wrong, but I had never been so conflicted before in all of my life. Finn was sweet, kind, and incredibly gorgeous. But Ace was… there really were no words to describe Ace. I had to seek this out and see what my heart and soul were telling me to do. Especially, now that Ace believes that we are fated to be mates.
I quickly finished my dinner of a delicious roast and mashed potatoes and then said goodbye to Lisa. Hurrying, I walked out of the dining hall and found Ace waiting for me near the staircase, in the little alcove he had taken me to the night before. Finn was busy talking to his friends and didn’t see me retreat from the cafeteria.
When I approached Ace, he reached out from the darkness of the corner and pulled me to him. “Hey,” he breathed.
“Hey,” I responded.
“I saw what you did today in class,” he muses, trying to stifle the smile that wants to form on his serious face.
“I know, I saw you watching,” I responded.
“I saw the way you reacted, too. I don’t want you getting any ideas about coming back out with me again,” he says, his voice taking on a stern edge.
Anger floods me and I feel like I am an angry volcano about to erupt. I’m not sure what makes me more upset: the idea of him telling me what to do or the fact that he knew what I wanted to do.
“You have no idea what you are talking about?” I state, crossing my arms across my chest in defiance.
“Yes, I do. Remember, I know more about you than you think. I saw that glimmer of hope in your eyes when you blew that hole in the wall. When I go out again, I will be alone. It is too dangerous for you, too,” he states.
A cough from behind us both startles me and I gasp when I turn around. Standing with angry faces is Electra and two guards.
Ace and I exchange nervous glances before turning to face the entire group.
“Don’t you dare try your little stunt again,” Electra warns.
“You don’t understand…” Ace attempts to say, but she cuts him off.
“I do understand. I know that both of you lost your parent’s at the hands of the Trackers. They have caused us all great loss and sadness. However, going out without the support of the Academy is a death sentence. You must wait here for orders,” she demands.
I opened my mouth to argue, but Ace gives me a look that tells me not to. I wish I could take matters into my own hands, but right now, I am helpless.
Ace storms off with Electra, and I’m left standing in the hallway alone. A few students scatter out of the cafeteria and walk around me, oblivious to my strange emotional state. A tap on my shoulder startles me and I stifle a scream.
“Hey, I didn’t mean to scare you,” Finn’s smooth voice says.
I regain my voice as I stand there and face him. “Oh, it’s ok. I’m just a little jumpy today,” I say, sheepishly.
“I’ve noticed,” he says, though he is looking at me strangely. “Can we talk?” he asks.
Nodding, I follow Finn as he leads me out of the main hallway. We head toward the atrium where the Witches grow herbs for their potions. The room looks like a large greenhouse centered in the castle. Glass panes cover the walls and ceiling, allowing the sky to feel like it is just to my reach. As we step inside, Finn sighs and then startles me when his voice grows deep and agitated.
“What is going on with you and Ace?” he asks, accusatory.
“What do you mean?” I ask, trying to fake innocence.
I know that the rumors being spread around school are that Ace and I have been spending too much time together. It’s hard to dispel those rumors when we are seen so many times sneaking off together. Guilt washes over me as I stare back at Finn.
“Brie, don’t act like you have no clue as to what I am talking about. Besides him being your guide, is something more going on with you two?” he says, searching my eyes for the truth.
Gulping, I try to remain grounded and not be bothered by his question. We really haven’t placed a label on what we are. Sure, we’ve hung out a few times, but as far as I am concerned, I am single and free to talk to and date whoever I please.
“Finn, I like you–I really do, but we haven’t ever discussed what we are. What’s going on between me and Ace is…complicated,” I say, biting my lip and fidgeting with the hem of my skirt.
“How complicated can it really be? I mean, he’s an animal and forbidden from mating with other Supernaturals. Regardless of what little crush you two may have on one another, it can never lead to anything more,” he growls out.
This is a side of Finn that I’ve never seen before and I don’t like it at all. Gone is his sweet demeanor and in its place is a cold, jealous guy.
“Honestly, that’s none of your business,” I bit out. “Now, I don’t feel comfortable having this conversation with you anymore,” I state angrily. Moving to leave, I turn and begin to storm out of the atrium.
Forcefully, Finn grabs me by the arm and stops me from moving. He yanks me back around and I feel a pain seer my arm as his nails dig deep into my flesh. Fear took over as his fangs clicked and his eyes began to glow a menacing red.
“You don’t get to turn away from me,” Finn hissed. Pulling me so that our faces were inches apart, I could feel the icy coolness of his breath. “Now, I have been chasing after you since you first arrived here at the academy. I will not allow my efforts to be for nothing– especially, when a filthy dog seems to have captivated your attention. You are foolish to not choose me and I will not be made into a fool. We will go to the dance together this weekend. I forbid you from seeing Ace outside of his guard duties,” Finn roared.
A raging storm seemed to ignite deep in my soul. Never had anyone talked to me this way. I wasn’t some servant he could order around. I didn’t belong to anyone and I refused to allow anyone to disrespect me this way.
I went to pull away, but Finn’s grip only tightened. “Let go of me,” I screamed, trying to fight him.
“You will be mated with me,” he yelled into my face, causing my heart to beat wildly against my chest.
He moved in and realization took over. In a flash, Finn’s fangs were at my neck and I was trapped in his embrace, unable to fight against his strength. If he bit me, he would weaken my powers. It was against the school rules for the Vampires to attack others and he was about to do an unthinkable crime.
“No, Finn. Please don’t,” I cried, trying to plead with him.
“I will make you mine even if I have to drain your body of blood to do so,” he said, placing his sharp fangs against my trembling flesh.
I felt a sharp pain as one of his fangs cut through my skin. I whimpered and squirmed, but it was no use. He was just too strong for me. Would he kill me? Leave me weakened and to be found by someone else? Tears blurred my vision as I felt the pain as his fangs sank deeper in my skin. Closing my eyes, I brace myself for the unbearable and traumatizing pain. I can’t breathe or think or even cry. I await my death, but it never comes.
“Get off of her,” a fierce roar fills the room, and I am instantly thrown onto the cool, marble floor below.
Pain slices through me and it takes me a moment to realize that I am free from Finn’s grasp. However, what I see standing above me has me terrified in an entirely different way.
In his full, white wolf form, Ace has Finn pressed up against the glass wall of the atrium. Tiny cracks spidered across the glass and I feared it may break into a million little pieces, slicing each of them. Finn was trying to fight free, his fangs glowing brightly against the illuminating lights hanging just outside. The hissing and growling was so loud, I swear the entire academy must hear their sounds.
I lay on the floor, breathing heavily as I watched the scene unfold. “Let me go, you mutt,” Finn managed to spit out.
Ace’s sharp nails were digging into Finn’s arms and I watched as a thick, crimson red blood leaked out of his veins. It was tragic and evil, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from them. In his wolf form, Ace was the most powerful thing I had ever seen and seeing Finn in this light made him the most evil and sinister being I’d ever encountered. Now, I couldn’t believe that I had ever had any feelings for Finn. He wasn’t the guy I thought he was. He had practically been using me as a way to find an easy mate. I doubted he even liked me; this was just all a ploy to not allow a wolf Shifter– Ace– have a Supernatural.
“Not until I tear your throat open,” Ace roared. “You know not to harm other Supernaturals. But, you didn’t just go after any student… you went after my mate.”
Ace’s voice was so loud, it shook the ground like an earthquake. Part of me wanted to see Ace destroy Finn, but another part of me knew it wouldn’t be right.
“Ace!” I shouted, my voice startling even myself.
Ace didn’t look back, but he replied. “Brie, are you ok?”
Even though he couldn’t see me, I shook my head. “Yes, I’m fine. But you need to calm down before you do something you will regret,” I cried out.
My wings began to tear through the back of my shirt and fire coursed through my veins. My magic was coming to life and I was both relieved and afraid of what it might do.
Another loud roar escaped from Ace and I trembled. “I can’t do that, Brie. He would have killed you if I hadn’t shown up. He can’t get away with this,” he finished, with a snap of his muzzle.
Finn’s eyes grew wide as he saw my black wings emerge. A spark lit and flew out of my fingertips like it had a mind of its own. While I could call on my magic, I was still learning how to control the powers. One of the sparks flew out and hit Finn on his pale arm.
“Ow, you just hit me with fire,” Finn yelled at me. He fought harder against Ace, but Ace shoved him harder and I heard the sounds of the glass finally cracking under the weight and destruction. “I will destroy you,” he screeched.
Ace’s large paws instantly went around Finn’s neck and I heard Finn gasp for air. More sparks ignited from my fingers and I wanted nothing more than to burn Finn at the stake, but I knew that was wrong. From what I had learned at Woodsong Academy so far, we didn’t harm one another. Regardless of what they had done wrong themselves.
“No, I will kill you,” Ace growled out again.
“Let Electra and the others deal with him. Don’t do this to yourself. Don’t do this to us,” I pleaded, tears now streaming down my face. I was fighting to keep my magic at bay, but I feared that if we didn’t stop this fight, I wouldn’t be able to control what happened next.
At my final plea, Ace began to relax and before I knew it, he released Finn and I watched in shock as Finn’s body slid to the ground.
Just then, the pounding of footsteps echoed down the halls and as Electra and several guards entered the atrium. They instantly stormed toward Ace as he was in his wolf form still. Finn lay helplessly on the ground and it appeared as though Ace was the aggressor.
“Wait, it was Finn who attacked me. Ace was trying to defend me,” I cried, stopping them as they all reached for Ace.
Electra spun around and stared at me with wide eyes. “Is this true?” she asked.
“Yes. Finn attacked me,” I managed to get out.
Everyone stared back at me like I had just grown two heads.
Electra shook her head. “That can’t be possible. He knows the consequences…” she trailed off, as she watched Finn begin to pick himself off of the floor.
Finn’s chest was heaving and his eyes burned with an unserved rage. “She believes she is mated with this mutt,” Finn seethed.
Electra gasped and placed her hand over her mouth. The guards watched in shock, unsure of what they should say or do. They just stood there like perfect soldiers. She turned to me and I saw a flicker of something in her eyes.
Pity?
Confusion?
“It may be wrong, but I believe Brie and I are meant to be mates,” Ace began. It was the first time he had spoken since the guards arrived. “Maybe decades ago it was willed to be a crime, but what Finn did tonight was also a crime. Far worse than having feelings for someone,” he explained.
Electra glanced between two of us, as though she were trying to figure out a riddle. Clapping her hands, she turned away from us. “Guards, please take Finn to the infirmary to be looked over by a healer. I will talk with him in the morning,” she stated. Turning back to us, she narrowed her eyes. “As for the both of you. Go back to your dorms and wait until you are called on,” she implored.
“I will escort her as I am still her guide,” Ace stated, though it sounded more like he was going to do it anyway.
I saw Electra flinch and I could tell that she wanted to argue with him, but to my complete surprise, she allowed Ace to lead me toward the main halls. My eyes were torn as I glanced back at Finn. He was snarling as he glared back at me. A cold shiver rushed through me and I felt a spark of fire begin to flare out of my hands.
“Don’t do your magic now,” Ace whispered to me.
Nodding, I tore my eyes away from Finn and kept my gaze forward.