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By the time I showed up at the gate, people looked like they were ready for blood. Rophan was at my side, his magic tingling against my skin as he kept us hidden from them. I stood there and observed, noting those who were stirring up the trouble.
They were sly, I gave them that much credit at least. They slipped into the crowd and muttered small things that were enough to get others questioning our intentions. Slippering remarks like “Why haven’t they allowed anyone inside?” or “They could be training the children to create an army and we’d never know, could they?” They were creating doubt, letting simple statements fester inside of the reporters’ impressionable minds.
“Think I can get away with calling them all idiots?” I asked, looking up at Rophan.
His expression told me he didn’t care either way.
“Well then,” I said with a smirk. “No big brother to stop me this time. Please release your spell when we get in view of everyone. Let’s give them something else to talk about other than the fact that we are aiming for world domination, one academy at a time.”
“You shouldn’t go out there.”
I patted his chest, doing my best to ignore the hardness underneath my touch. If I didn’t know better, I’d have thought he was a gargoyle instead of a warlock. “This is all part of my job. And it’s my favorite part, don’t take it away from me.”
“They won’t listen to you. You can preach all you want, but they will only hear what they want to hear.”
I frowned. “Is that your policy?”
His brows furrowed as he tried to understand what I meant.
I licked my lips and gave him a small smile. “Is your policy to remain silent because you think they won’t hear you?”
“It’s a waste of breath.”
“Is it though?” I asked. “Someone dear to me once said that he spoke up as often as possible with the truth because if he could cause favorable doubt in at least one mind, then he did his job. I am aiming for that one mind, that one person who isn’t a sheep. Because when shit falls down creek, at least they won’t be one of the ones to shove us into the shitty part of the river.”
“They change their minds all the time.”
I smiled at him. “I only need them to hesitate. That’s enough in my books.”
Rophan sighed, resignation written all over his face. I held back a laugh. The man was learning. He’d probably thought this was going to be an easy job. I was more than happy to prove him wrong.
The gates were connected to tall brick walls to keep them from getting a good view inside. Between that and the spell on the gates themselves to distort their views, they really didn’t know what the academy looked like. They only had speculation to keep them warm at night.
I wasn’t about to break that illusion either, no matter how hard the Purists wanted me to. I climbed up the brick wall, pushing back the pain from my bruised chest. Once settled at the top, hands resting on the edge as I swung my feet back and forth, I took in the view. Whispers floated up as they shifted around.
Rophan met my eyes, and I nodded the go-ahead. The magic that had been pressing against my skin disappeared, and I stared down at everyone with a small, friendly smile.
It took the reporters a few moments to realize I was even there. Not many thought to look up in life. It was an unfortunate flaw in our instincts. The sky was beautiful to look at on any given day and had a way of putting everything into perspective. While the sky was endless, our lives weren’t. We were insignificant, and they’d all know that if they looked up more often. They’d also see me sitting there, watching them.
Slowly, a hush came over the crowd as they realized I existed.
“Adeelah Neutral!” Someone called out, recognizing me, and that broke the spell. Questions were thrown my way from all directions. They demanded answers, wanting to know if we were training assassins or terrorists. One thing I’d learned through the Unveiling was that reporters loved tossing that word around. Terrorists.
“Would you like to repeat your question again?” I asked an older man with silver hair at his temples.
“Rumors are spreading that you’re training terrorists. Now, I don’t want to make assumptions, but all these secrets about what is really behind those walls draws suspicion. What light can you bring to this current rumor?”
“Terrorists have political gain. What political gain do you think we have?” I asked.
“You want to wipe out the humans, take over the government, have free reign over our country,” someone yelled out.
I tilted my head to the side as I contemplated that claim. I met the eyes of the person who owned that voice, taking in his pale skin and narrowed dark eyes. What I really wanted to say was that if that were true, we already would have. The humans didn’t understand the depth of the Natural world. Instead, I asked, “If there are any terrorists here, it is the Purity Party.”
Oh, that got a response. A large chunk of the crowd did not like that claim.
“You guys are reporters. Have you not been following the news? Have you not recorded the hate speech the Purists have poured into the ears of the impressionable? Have you not seen the deaths they have caused, the misery and pain? You say we want to claim power?” I shook my head and frowned. “We want peace. That has always been what we wanted. You guys forget that time and time again, more willing to listen to people who’d shoot your children without a blink of an eye to get their way. Then believe them when they scream about Naturals being beasts, going on killing sprees. Have you not looked at the statistics? I can say with confidence that it’s the Purists who have killed more than any other group of beings.”
“That’s bullshit,” a female called out. “We only want the truth out there, your true faces unmasked. You’re the one hiding behind walls, refusing to let anyone see what is behind that wall you sit on.”
“Bullshit?” I laughed at that. “I like you. You’re funny.”
Her cheeks turned red with anger. Oh, she did not like being teased.
“Why would I share with the very people who wish Natural children harm the layout of a place meant to protect them? Think of this place like a woman’s shelter. Battered women go to a shelter for protection and help. The people working there are sworn to secrecy and aren’t allowed to share who is there. I’m not going to give you the blueprints of the one place Natural children can be safe while they get their education.” I jumped up to my feet and glared down at them all. “Maybe before you start making accusations and pointing fingers, you should ask yourself why there is a need for a Naturals-only academy. What does society lack? Once you’re able to face that, then maybe we can finally go toward peaceful solutions that will benefit humans and Naturals both.” I allowed the sadness I felt to slip through. So many lives that didn’t need to be snuffed out had been lost. “I would love that, to someday see humans and Naturals working alongside each other in peace. Until that day, this academy will be for Naturals only.”
I jumped down, grinning at the gasps that rippled through the crowd. With just enough magic, I landed softly, and straightened. “I ask that if you are part of the Purity party, to remove yourself from the premise.”
“We have the right to be here,” the woman who had talked about ‘unmasking’ us said with a snarl that lacked the true oomph of a Natural. She looked more like a pouting child throwing a tantrum.
“Technically, our property started about a mile back, so no, you don’t have the right to be here. We have showed kindness by letting you guys come up to the gate, but don’t think we won’t force you back. Let me rephrase this. If the Purists do not remove themselves from our premises, no one will be allowed here. Everyone will be forced to leave. They have fifteen minutes to remove themselves before the guards remove everyone.”
I turned my back to them, my eyes meeting Rophan. He had a curious expression on his face, but it quickly disappeared when his eyes met mine. The gate opened enough for me to slip through, and I laughed as arguments broke out. The reporters were going to remove the Purists because they didn’t want to lose their chance of being so close.
We were almost back to the south campus with all the admin buildings when a black car pulled alongside us. I had already heard the tires crunching against the gravel as they approached. I glanced at the car and grinned, leaning forward as the window rolled down.
“About darn time,” I said to Gaerlan. “I thought we were going to have to send out a search party for you soon.”
“Why are the reporters fighting at the front gate?” Gaerlan asked. He turned off the car and jumped out, not caring that he was leaving his car in the middle of the road. He joined my walk back.
“They’re kicking out the Purists for me.”
“How did you manage that?” he asked.
“A well-placed threat can achieve a lot.” I elbowed him. “Seriously, what took you so long? Did you find him?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“And it’s taken care of.” Gaerlan’s expression was completely blank as he talked. “He’ll never touch you again.”
“Was he working solo?” Rophan asked.
“Yes. He was a mage who didn’t like the idea of an academy.”
“Are you sure?”
Gaerlan whirled on Rophan. “Are you questioning me?” he asked in a dark voice.
I raised an eyebrow and stepped back. A surge of excitement ran through me at the thought of these two going at it. Who would win? The prodigal son, or the prodigal apprentice of my father’s? I wasn’t so sure.
“Fight! Fight! Fight!” I cheered.
That caught their attention. Gaerlan raised an eyebrow.
“Why is my sister bloodthirsty?” he asked.
“I need action.” I sighed.
“The mob gave her an adrenaline rush,” Rophan muttered.
“Days!” I huffed. “All week it has been meetings after meetings after meetings.” I went up to Gaerlan, popped out my lip into a pout. “Big brother,” I said in a begging voice, adding in a childish tone. “I wanna train.”
He gulped and glanced at Rophan.
“Please,” I said. “I need to relieve stress.”
He sighed. “Fine. Meet on the training field.”
I nodded and went to my tiptoes, kissing his right cheek. “I knew you were my favorite brother for a reason.”
“I’m your only brother,” he muttered. “That doesn’t mean shit.”
I laughed and ran back to my apartment, changing quickly. I grabbed a bag I kept tucked away in the closet and pulled out my favorite set of weapons.
“What the hell are you doing?” Rophan asked.
I looked up to see him in the doorway, with his signature irritated scowl.
“About to train,” I said innocently.
“With weapons?”
I sighed and straightened. Some of my irritation slipped in as I said, “I get you’re my guard, but you need to remember that I’m from the Neutral family. It’d be a disgrace if I can’t handle some pointy objects.”
His jaw tightened as he gritted his teeth. He turned and walked away, leaving me to get ready.
Humming, I threw on my black Spanx that ended low on my thighs, my sports bra, and a light blue tank top, fitted to the curves of my body.
Rophan waited for me on the small front porch of our townhouse.
This was going to be fun.
