Chapter 30
At breakfast, Maeve scribbled ideas in her journal. Thoughts about memories, the mind. Anything to ease her own mind. She hadn’t been able to jump in months. And nothing was helping. That strange sensation still lingered across her spine from time to time. And if she focused, she could feel Kietel’s hand around her neck. Choking her. Killing her.
She was desperate to jump again.
Abraxas took a seat across from her without speaking. They sat silently until Abraxas could stand it no longer, and he inhaled to speak.
“No,” said Maeve. “We’re not talking about it.”
Abraxas let out a loud sigh. “I wasn’t even going to.”
Maeve eyed him and returned to her writing. Abraxas crossed his legs one way and then the other way. He fiddled with his fingers and played with a groove in the mahogany table, sighing a few times.
“Sweet Merlin, what is it?” Asked Maeve. “You’re in knots.”
“What did you and Mal talk about after the party?” Asked Abraxas hurriedly.
“I knew it! I knew that’s all you wanted to talk about. You’re so nosey.”
Abraxas rolled his eyes and waited.
Maeve scowled at him and shook her head.
“Fine then,” said Abraxas. “Suppose I won’t tell you what he told Roswyn back in the common room then.”
Maeve’s head whipped up from her paper. “What?”
“You heard me,” said Abraxas haughtily. “You first.”
“You’re evil,” said Maeve.
“Yes.”
“Shut up or leave,” said Maeve.
Abraxas sulked out of the Hall.
Maeve hated that she wanted to know what Mal had said to Roswyn so badly. That smug prick.
She stood, forgetting her breakfast, and hurried out of the hall. She rounded the first corner and Abraxas was already there, leaned casually against the wall waiting for her.
“I told him I was tired of being excluded when I’m better than all of you at everything,” said Maeve quickly.
“He told Roswyn if he stuck his nose in yours and his personal business like that ever again, he’d break it.” Abraxas exhaled loudly.
“Did he really?”
“Roswyn hates you. What’s that all about, you think?”
“I don’t care,” said Maeve cooly. “He’s an idiot with a temper.”
“He was the second strangest until you came around. It seems he feels you’re a bit of a usurper.” Spinel appeared at their feet, chirping loudly. Abraxas picked him up. “For what it’s worth,” said Abraxas, “I wish you were there, with Hummingdoor and the rest, I mean.”
Maeve smiled at him. “Thank you. I know it’s silly, but it’s so frustrating. All I wanted when I was younger was to be in Serpentine. But I understood why I wasn’t. And now, things have changed so much, I thought I would be offered a seat at the table.”
“You want to be in the limelight with him.”
“Yes,” admitted Maeve, playing with his ring around her neck.
