The mage’s gaze flicked from Ender to me, worry creasing the corner of her eyes as her milky eyes widened. Did she realize her magic had opened to me like a funnel? I slammed the funnel closed, ignoring the powerful sensation to draw her dark energy from her. I didn’t want to be her and closing it had been harder than I would’ve liked to admit.
She suddenly went rigid. Something else happened when I cut off the funnel. The top layer of her skin turned into a hazy, frothy fog, as if something was moving it. Heat radiated from my skin and a burst of energy echoed from me, sending the mage flying into the cafeteria wall. Not only did it send her backward, but it sent Viv and the others, who had been making their way back over, to the ground again.
I dropped to my knees, gasping for air and using my hands to keep me upright, the cold tiles welcome against my sweatypalms. Soft white fur rubbed against my bare arms, providing warmth and comfort and motivating me to look up. Aura’s eyes were almost black like her nose before turning a shade lighter. It took me a moment to realize she too was covered in dust, and dark blood stained her muzzle. She shrieked and flitted her gaze to the dark mage.
The mage tried to stand, wobbly in her attempt, as fury flared in her now obsidian eyes. Before she could fully stand, she was engulfed in flames. Her screams filled the room and then ceased as she fell to the ground.
“Sal.” A hand rested on my back. “Are you okay?”
I looked up to see David, his brow creased in worry. The hand that wasn’t on my back was bare—no glove.
I think I’m okay?But were the others okay … Was …
“Viv!” I shot to my feet—too quickly—and the cafeteria began to spin.
“She’s okay.” David helped steady me as I found Viv in the rubble with the others. They had cuts but overall appeared to be fine as they regained their bearings.
I turned to find Ender slumped against the stone and I panicked at his stillness.
“No!” I ran to him, Aura leaping over uprooted stones as she kept pace with me.
Once I reached him, I found his pulse. I let out a long, shaky breath that helped release a ball of panic that had threated to burst inside my chest. Aura rubbed up against his hand on the ground, her eyes fading to black again. I brushed Ender’s hair from his forehead, sand falling from it. He stirred and his eyes fluttered open, taking in his surroundings.
After a moment, he opened his mouth. It took him a second try before coherent words came out.
“I think I like this new cafeteria remodel.” He forced a half grin.
My gaze roamed over his disheveled state. His magicfeltdifferent, almost like it had been awoken yet attacked. Like his magic had been siphoned? And why did I feel so in tune—
Viv crashed into me.
“You’re okay.” She squeezed me tight, and I winced at the aches across my body.
“You are too.” I hugged her back, debating never letting her go.
John stepped into view with a few guards behind him. I wasn’t sure when they had arrived, but dust and sand coated the blood and scrapes they wore. I pulled away from Viv and glanced back at Ender, who grunted as he tried to sit up.
“Don’t move.” I tore a piece of my shirt and held it to his shoulder wound. “You’re making it bleed more.”
Ender looked at me with a lopsided grin that wavered slightly as he placed his hand over mine. “It’s just a scratch.”
“Ender?” A worried voice came from the side door where Miss Lee stood assessing the room. Sun filtered through the broken windows, reflecting off the broken glass scattering across the ground-up stone floor.
“Miss Eleanor Lee.” John stepped out in front of us.
“Yes?” Miss Lee entered the cafeteria, her gaze on Ender.
“We will be addressing your true identity further.” He motioned for the guards to contain her, and they placed enchanted tungsten shackles on her wrists. Once locked in place, the nullifying cuffs glowed green, making her magic unavailable to her. It was the first time I had seen the magical cuffs in person.
“What are you doing?” Ender slowly got to his feet, using my arm to steady himself.
I stared at Miss Lee. Her vines … her show of power … It had confirmed the suspicions I had been hoping weren’t true.
“She’s the one who’s been trying to kill me,” I said, glaring at her with new eyes—she was a strong earth mage who—for somereason—had a vendetta against me. Had she let the dark mage in?
“Someone has been trying to kill you inside the academy, Sal?” John turned his attention to me.
“Yes.” I didn’t want to give him any details. He wasn’t on my People I Can Trust List—my really small list.
