I pay more attention to where we are going when we leave the mess, but I highly doubt it will do me much good. This place is massive, with blind corners and dead ends at every turn. I’m wondering if he’s trying to confuse me. In fact, I’m almost certain of it when we go up a flight of stairs just to go down another at the end of a hall. By the time we reach a massive set of black doors, inlaid with protection runes, I’m breathing heavily from keeping up with Ziv’s long-legged stride. On a good note, I don’t feel like my food is creeping back up my throat anymore.
Ziv faces me before he opens the door as if he’s about to say something, but he seems to change his mind at the last moment and just hauls the door open, revealing yet another expansive room with a sleek black desk stationed in the middle and a pretty woman with light hair perched behind it. Her eyebrows lift, but her eyelids seem to lower at the same time, giving her a sultry look.
“How may I help you, Ziv?” Her voice is a husky rasp that instantly makes me feel like I’m intruding.
“Syrinx is expecting us,” Ziv replies flatly, keeping his gaze focused straight ahead on a set of doors that match those we just walked through.
“Let me see if she’s ready for you.” The female behind the desk rises slowly and struts over to the door on sky-high heels. I can’t help but look down at my own tattered pants and socks, which are at such odds with her fitted skirt and crisp shirt. I look and feel like a barn rat. I haven’t even brushed my hair in days.I hastily scrub my shirt sleeve over my mouth while her back is turned, just in case I have some of my breakfast on my face.
Ziv, for his part, remains stoically still next to me. I wish I would have asked him what to expect so I could have prepared myself, but I doubt it would have mattered. The female finally reaches the doors and knocks softly, then she waits a few seconds before opening a door a crack and leaning her head in. “Ziv is here to see you,” she says in a much more restrained voice than she used with Ziv.
“See them in,” comes from behind the door, which seems to be the only prompting Ziv needs to get moving. I stumble forward, following him without instruction. My gaze goes directly to the severe-looking female standing not ten feet from me. Her dark hair is pulled back tightly from her face and secured in a bun at the base of her neck, making her hawkish features seem even more harsh. Her eyes are black as pitch, but I only catch a glimpse of them as I lower my gaze to her long, thin neck.
I get the impression this room is even larger than the one just outside, but I don’t risk looking around, so it’s hard to know for certain. What I do know is Ziv distanced himself from me the moment my feet became rooted to the floor.
“Hello, Briar,” she greets in a raspy voice that feels genuine, unlike the female who announced us.
“Hello,” I reply mostly out of habit. I don’t even realize my palms are sweating until I find myself rubbing them on my pants.
“I’m Syrinx, the headmistress of the institute.” Her chin dips into my view while she speaks, making me think she’s trying to capture my gaze, but I keep my eyes locked on her neck. I do not need her thinking I’m challenging her in any manner. “Why don’t you have a seat? Ziv, you’re free to go.”
I catch myself just as I’m about to look over and plead for him not to leave me, knowing it would be a stupid request. Instead, I cross my ankles and bend my knees as I begin to lower myself to the floor. A tight grip on my arm stops me mid-movement.
“I’ll stay,” Ziv announces and guides me over to a chair in front of the desk before snapping, “Sit in the chair.”
I don’t miss the exchange of looks that pass between Syrinx and Ziv as I place my hands in my lap after my butt hits the wooden seat, but I’m adept enough to know to pretend. Ziv eventually takes up residence behind me, somewhere out of sight, while the headmistress takes her seat behind the desk. I don’t have to see her face to know she’s examining me. I can feel it. My skin is almost crawling with the need to get away, but I sit still, barely breathing. I have a giant at my back and a snake at my front who seems more than ready to strike. I know which of them I fear more, and it isn’t Ziv. I shouldn’t trust him, but I’m beginning to, even if it’s stupid to do so.
“How much do you know about Ivy, Briar?” The way she says my name feels deliberate, like she’s pretending we already know each other.
“Not much,” I hedge. I know they train the elite to be better, but I don’t know why or how.
She nods as if she expected as much. “Ivy Institute is the best training facility Osier has to offer, in staff and novices.”
I nod once to acknowledge the fact.
“We have been looking for someone with your…particular talents for a long while.”
“I’ve never heard anyone call what I do a talent.”
“That surprises me.” Syrinx sounds genuine, but I still don’t buy it. She’s buttering me up. I saw people do it to my father all the time if they thought it would earn them a favor. When the seconds tick by without me responding to her nicety, shechanges tactics. “Although maybe it shouldn’t surprise me, not if the stories of how your father used you are true.”
The food in my stomach swirls, making me feel nauseous. I have no doubt she intends to use me the same way.
“Did he really allow those people totryto use their abilities on you and not train you to harness all your talents?” Her words catch me off guard, and I look up to meet her eyes. A small grin curls her lips in victory. “Did you know there is likely much more you can do, other than render those who try to use their abilities against you powerless?”
“Like what?” I’m skeptical, and she hears it.
“I’m not certain. As I said, it’s been a long time since we’ve encountered one such as you, but I would be happy to help you find out.”
BRIAR
The rest of the meeting leaves me just as confused. Syrinx explained that I would first go through an assessment, then I would be placed with the appropriate instructors.
Ziv kept quiet until the end, when he informed Syrinx that he would personally oversee my training. I was definitely more shocked about that than she was. It’s clear he doesn’t trust me, but I’m not sure what he thinks I’m capable of. Maybe if I can figure it out, I’ll stop being helpless. Syrinx alluded to the fact that there have been others like me, so maybe there’s a way for me to find out about them and, in turn, learn more about myself.
I find myself walking with Ziv again, not knowing how I arrived at the door he’s currently knocking on or even what floor we’re on. “Yes?” A male not much taller than me answers the door, wearing a pair of thick-rimmed glasses perched on the tip of his nose.
“We need some uniforms,” Ziv replies, causing the male to look him up and down.
