‘If you’re thinking of climbing the wall, just know you’d probably fall and die,’ she says, her dark eyes lifting to the tower behind me.
‘If that’s some crappy attempt at reverse psychology, just know, it won’t work,’ I reply flatly.
Her lips quirk. ‘Look, I’m about to head inside if you need someone to let you in.’
My eyes narrow as suspicion creeps up my spine. ‘Why would you help me?’
She shrugs, lifting a shoulder. ‘Because it takes guts to stand up to someone like Zain. Not to mention the backbone it takes to stick around after that humiliating display of mat work. You’ve got grit, and I respect that. So do you want my help or not?’
I stare at her for a moment, trying to gauge whether she’s genuine or not. But I need to get inside and if this is my only chance, then I guess I’ll have to take it.
‘I’m not going to say thank you,’ I state.
‘I wouldn’t care if you did.’ She jerks her chin, gesturing me to follow her.
We walk in silence with a healthy distance between us as we head in the direction of the Grand Hall. When we enter and pass the now-empty seats and dais, I spot two girls passing through Opal’s archway and a boy with thick-framed glasses and a heavy-looking book in his hands going through Agate. It’s frustrating how easy it is for them. What the hell is so wrong with me that I failed at this?
By the time we’re tucked inside the cove to Malachite’s gate, my hands have begun to sweat with anticipation. I look up at the slab of stone. My skin prickles remembering the last time I stood here and the words Sebastian said.
‘I’m Lillian, by the way. I’m in third year,’ the girl with the eyebrow piercings says conversationally.
‘Good to know.’ I keep my eyes trained on the stone wall, though I still manage to see her shoulders shake with silent laughter. It’s probably for the best that she finds my bluntness amusing, but it wasn’t supposed to be funny.
‘If you hold onto me, I’ll make sure you don’t fall on your face again.’ Lillian offers her arm.
‘No thanks,’ I reply stubbornly. I’ll have to do this on my own eventually. I’m not going to learn by holding someone’s arm.
She nods, something akin to approval settling in her eyes before she raises a hand and presses it against the stone. I watch in surprise as an orange flame licks from beneath her palm and slowly seeps into the stone, nothing like how Sebastian had sent his fire blazing into it with a raging burst of heat.
Lillian’s element bleeds into the stone, controlled and calm.
‘Go on.’ She juts her chin toward the stone. ‘Walk through.’
I hesitate, giving myself a second to hold my breath and brace for the pulling sensation I felt the first time.
Tentatively, I lift a foot and check that I can go through the door first. My foot disappears and, as if the stone can feel a presence penetrating its surface, the gateway latches on with greedy talons and yanks me into it.
That pulling sensation hits me again, causing my stomach to twist and knot. Seconds later I’m spat out on the other side. My arms flail as I lose my balance. I’m about to fall forward, dizzy from the gate’s magic, but a hand bunches in the back of my shirt and tugs me back up.
Lillian chuckles as she pulls me back. ‘I did offer to help.’
I shrug free, moving a few steps away and dusting my hands over my shirt. ‘I had it.’ I definitely did not.
‘Yeah. Sure.’ Amusement sparkles in her eyes. ‘Look, Nocthare, what I’m about to give you stays between us. If you tell anyone, I’ll take it back.’ She reaches behind her head, and it’s only now that I notice the leather cord peeking out from beneath her collar. Lillian unties it slowly, then dangles it between us. My eyes fall to the stone hanging from the cord – smooth and a deep green that matches the gate we just walked through.
‘It’s malachite. It’ll help you get inside the tower on your own if you press it against the gate. But like I said, if you tell anyone, I’ll take it back. Understood?’
I stare at it, not reaching for it. She’s giving me access to her unit. She’s giving mehermalachite stone. Isn’t that forbidden? Don’t they have toearntheir stones over the years through their training? At least that’s what Lukas said. ‘Why would you give that to me?’ I ask, wary. ‘You don’t even know me.’
She shrugs, though there’s a tightness around her mouth. I can’t quite get a read on her, and something tells me that’s exactly how she likes to be. ‘I was friends with your brother, and I owed him a favour. This is me clearing my conscience.’
‘You were friends with Lukas?’ Surprise hits me hard. I’ve only met one of his friends and that’s Sebastian. He never talked much about the students he met while he was here, as if he wanted to keep that part of his life a secret.
‘Stars,don’tmake this a big deal. Just take the damn necklace.’ She pushes it into my hands, practically forcing me to take it. I don’t complain though, because at the end of the day, Ineedthis necklace. Being able to come and go from the tower without relying on someone else … My hands curl into fists, tightening around the stone.
‘How do I know this isn’t some test or set up?’ I still find myself asking.
Lillian scoffs. ‘You think I have time for that?’
