“I’m flattered.” Seren placed her hand on her heart.
Lily laughed. “Perfection isn’t a good thing, Seren.”
A flash of light appeared and quickly disseminated until all that was left was a small piece of brown parchment that left a small trail of smoke as it slowly dipped toward the floor. Instinct quickly replacing surprise, Seren snatched the paper before it could drop past her waist.
Miss Marudas,
Report to my office immediately for your private lessons as previously discussed.
-Professor Atwood.
“Oh, sweet goddess, not you too.” Lily’s voice cut through her to remind her of where she was. Her friend was watching her with barely concealed distaste.
“What?” Seren asked dumbly, crinkling up the paper she shoved it into the pocket of her dress.
Lily sighed and slid off the desk. “Everyone here thinks he’s the gods reincarnated. I foolishly hoped you might be different.”
“Who?” Seren asked even though she knew.
“Only teachers communicate that way and by the way your cheeks just turned brighter than a ripe apple I can only assume,” Lily spoke as she bent down and grabbed her bag.
“He’s supposed to be mentoring me because apparently, I am a threat to everyone or something like that.”
Lily paused, frowning. She watched Seren carefully before crossing her arms over her chest. “And he offered to do that? That seems out of character.”
It was Seren’s turn to be suspicious. Lily showed disdain for nearly everyone at Calami with the exception of Roxie, but the way she spoke about Icarus was different.
“Why do you hate him?”
Lily shrugged, her tendrils of braids shaking with the movement. “I just think that everyone here talks about him and looks at him as if he was something special when he’s not. He’s arrogant and broody.”
Seren considered her words. It was easy to see how she came to that conclusion since he rarely ever wore a smile and those with knowledge often seem arrogant, but there was something Lily was missing. Seren thought of last night in the library when his eyes were haunted and there was something fundamentally lost in him. Another bright light and a new brown parchment began floating down.
Now, Miss Marudas. This isn’t at your convenience.
“You’re right, he is an ass,” Seren said as she tossed the crumpled parchment into a nearby wastebasket.
Lily’s laugh settled over her and she realized with surprise that she never wanted to disappoint the blood witch even as Seren stalked out of the library with fresh irritation to nurture her.
“If you expect me to teach you, Miss Marudas, you will be on time from now on.” His clipped voice began even before she had closed the door to the defense classroom.
The retort she spent her entire walk crafting fell from her lips as her eyes met his. He was in a pristine gray three-piece today and the beginnings of a chestnut beard ghosted around his face. Seren’s gaze drifted over the dark circles under his eyes and flashbacks to that night she had lost control of her magic bombarded her, stealing her breath. She sucked in a breath, willing the memory to burrow back down where it belonged.
Icarus narrowed his eyes and seemed to war with himself before his jaw tensed and he waved his hand through the air, palm up reaching out towards her. The air shifted, and a buzzing filled her ears a moment before the glint of silver flashed from his hands and through the wide space between them. Instinct told Seren to hold out her hand and as soon as she did an intricate silver key filled it.
She looked up from the key to Icarus who waved his hand and a shimmering oak door reinforced with bars of steel appeared. When Seren didn’t move, he gestured to the door. “Time is of the essence, Miss Marudas.”
“It would likely save time if you stopped being so cryptic and spoke plainly,” Seren bit out even as she came to stand at the door. The key grew warmer the closer she came and her curiosity seemed to win against her irritation.
“Where does it lead?” She asked the question that truly didn’t matter.
Icarus’ lip quirked up in what she could only call the beginnings of amusement. “Open the door and find out.”
“I don’t think you quite understand how this teaching thing works.” She pushed the key into the lock and turned, the lock giving way to its master.
The scent of driftwood and sage filled the air as the door creaked open. Ancient and powerful magic danced all around her as if it were welcoming her. Seren didn’t hesitate because if there was one thing she knew it was that she was destined for powerful magic.
Stepping through the door her feet lifted from the wood surface to land on stone flooring. She had seen Calder portal, but she hadn’t considered what it would be like to be in one place and then suddenly another. It was exhilarating and full of possibility.
