“Ender!” a small, raspy voice came from behind me.
I turned to see a tall, slim older lady pushing a custodial cart. She smelled faintly of spring flowers and a touch of dirt. Her sleek grey hair was pulled back into a tight bun. I had seen her around a few times. She was the head groundskeeper—inside and out. It was logical to have someone in touch with nature as a groundskeeper, considering all the ornate greenery and flora lining the interior and exterior of this entire place.
“I have something for you.” She rummaged through a purse-looking bag hanging off the side of the cart and pulled out an elegant cupcake garnished with flowers that was safely kept inside a clear container. “Happy birthday!”
“That’s lovely.” Ender gave her a warm smile as she handed him the cupcake. “Thank you, Miss Lee.”
The older lady’s smile brightened as he took the container and then her gaze drifted to me. “And who is this?”
“This is Sal.” Ender waved at me, and I swiveled, surprised he’d used my nickname. “She and her sister started about a month ago.”
“It’s very nice to meet you, Sal.” Miss Lee held out a hand, and I took it. She looked back at Ender. “I’m sorry I missed your birthday on Friday.”
“Your birthday was Friday?” I asked, surprised he hadn’t said anything. They both glanced at me. “I’m sorry. I just hadn’t realized we shared the same birthday.”
“Oh. Ender here is humble. I doubt he’s told anyone the date of his birthday since he’s arrived.” Miss Lee rubbed her hands together. “Well, this academy isn’t going to clean itself with all you kids running around.”
“Thank you for the cupcake, Miss Lee,” Ender said. She nodded, smiling brightly, and left.
“That was odd.” I watched as Miss Lee left the library. “I haven’t seen anyone bring you a cupcake or flowers.” With the amount of girls fawning over Ender, one would think they’d be lavishing him with gifts.
“She always does.” He laughed.
“And she’s the only person who knew it was your birthday?” No one had said it once to him that night, and if students showed up to mine—even if it wasn’t for me and was for the party itself—I imagine a party for him would have been massive.
“I don’t care for the attention, so I don’t mention it. Birthdays had come up in a conversation a while ago with Miss Lee. She spent a lot of time helping me. I would be out late in the garden and she’d have to kick me out.” He waved a hand in the air, mimicking getting booted. “She eventually realized I wasn’t in there to just fool around but was trying to remember what forsaken plant was what. She helped me pass my botany science class in ninth grade. I had been failing.”
“That makes sense.” I headed over to the chair and sat down. That explained her subtle earthy scent.
“It makes sense?” He grinned as he strode over to the table. “That I was failing Botany class?”
“Oh.” I was the definition of being socially inept. “Umm, no. Just the relationship between you two. Everyone else here seems to either hate you or wants to bow down and kiss your feet. Granted, she’s probably triple your age.”
Ender raised an eyebrow, and I internally cringed.
“I meant in a mentorship relationship,” I said.
He laughed as he pulled out the chair opposite me and sat. I eyed him. Was he really going to sit with me while I studied—well, did research?
He gave me a small grin before grabbing a random book that had already been on the table and opened it.
Neither of us spoke until it was time for me to head to my Elemental History class.
Chapter Fourteen
Selene
Twodayslater,Iwas wishing Thursday was Friday. I had already attended my Elemental Laws in the Human World once this week and couldn’t bear it again today. So I went for a run. All the classes I had been enrolled in felt moot. Vivian and I had been taught year-round; we were way ahead of the academy’s curriculum. My mom’s wealth of knowledge was far greater than I had realized.
The fresh air did nothing to suppress the anxiety rising inside my chest as I ran. Based on the knowledge Ivy had given me in the library two days ago, someone was trying to kill me. It meant someone had found me.But who?Viv hadn’t been attacked—yet. The culprit had to be inside the academy if they tampered with the creature spell book. Was it a dark mage?
But thesomeone trying to attack mewasn’t the main perpetrator of my stabbing, piercing anxiety—Viv could be in danger, and I had no idea from who.
My stomach twisted at the possibility of the academy no longer being a safe haven and at the old memories of Mom. I pumped my arms faster, pushed my legs harder. The brush blurred by as I dodged hanging twigs and jumped over knobbed roots. The quarry wasn’t too far from my location, and I hoped to clear my head there.
Something hit my ankle and I fell, my hair snagging on a branch. That hurt. I flung my hands out just in time to save my face from hitting the ground, my palms and knees burning. This all felt too familiar, like déjà vu—except this time, my face wasn’t almost skewered. I rolled over to see what I had tripped over, but there was pressure around my ankle. Then suddenly, I found myself being dragged through a prickly brush.
An emerald green vine was snuggly wrapped around my ankle, and it was pulling me. I lashed out with my magic, sending a sharp fragment of rock slicing through it. The vine turned black from the inside out, decaying until it had crumpled into dust, which meant it had been created.
