I frown. ‘That sounds painful.’
‘Pain I can deal with. Pain I’m used to. I’ve felt it all my life, Aria. What Ican’thandle is the lack of control I feel when it builds in my chest like that. It drives me crazy knowing I can’t let it out. It’s just … stuck in there.’ A self-deprecating laugh falls from his lips. ‘I’ve never told anyone that before.’
I offer him a soft smile. My skin warms seeing the trust dancing in his blue eyes. ‘Why not?’
His shoulders lift in a shrug. ‘I guess it’s hard to share something like that when you’re surrounded by people who wouldn’t understand. My entire life I’ve watched as my parents, my cousins, even my grandparents wielded fire like it was the breath leaving their lungs. Every Davis for the past century has been a fire wielder.’
‘That’s some crazy genetics. So, you’re the only one who has air as their element?’
‘That I know of, yeah.’ His throat bobs. I have the urge to leap forward and wrap my arms around his shoulders. I sympathise with him. Stars, I understand what that pressure feels like. Lukas left me big shoes to fill and when it was evident I couldn’t measure up to his skill set, my parents – mainly my father – began to treat me differently.
‘You have no idea how relieved I was when I didn’t get in. I almost started laughing right there in front of Malachite’s gate. It felt like the best “screw you” to my family. They all wanted me in the Warrior Unit.’
My gaze falls to his arms, hidden behind his grey long sleeves. A tightness clogs my throat as I dare to ask my next question. ‘H-how old were you when they first …’ I can’t even finish it. I’m almost too scared to know the answer, but he offers it anyway.
‘Seven.’
My eyes fill with hot tears.Fuck. He was only a little boy.
I don’t hold myself back this time. I let go of the tight grip I have around my legs and let them drop. Then propel myself forward, not caring a single bit if everyone sees as I wrap my arms around his neck and hug Xavier tightly.
He smells like parchment and the crisp breeze that coasts over the cliffs near the seaside. ‘I’m so sorry, Xavier. I’m sorry that your family doesn’t see how incredible you are.’ His arms squeeze me back with a fierceness I’m not ready for. My chest constricts. ‘I’m sorry they hurt you.’
His heavy exhale warms my neck and shoulder. ‘Don’t cry, Aria. It’s okay.’
Slowly, I pull back sitting on my heels and look at him. I take in his soft auburn hair, the eyes like crystal blue water that hold so much within them. My eyes fall to the easy smile he plasters to his face and finally I lean back enough to look down at his chest, right where he said it hurts sometimes.
‘One day it’ll come out. That pressure you feel will release itself from your body and I hope I’m still around to witness it. I want to see the look on your face when you feel yourself breathe easily for the first time. I hope your element is stronger than any flame your family can muster. Fire needs air to survive, remember that. You strip away its air and it’snothing. They’ll become nothing.’
After Xavier and I have our heart-to-heart, we focus back on the course work. Professor Fern, a blonde woman in her mid-forties, gave us each our own tasks dependent on our abilities. Xavier and I were placed together because we both can’t access our elements. For the likes of Tilly, who was sitting a little way away, she and her partner were miles ahead and got to work on fun things, like condensing her water element into a shape and seeing how long she could keep it in that form. I watched in awe as she created a wobbly ball of water, rising a few inches above her palm and kept it there for several minutes before it dropped, splashing water all over herself and her lap. I felt a surge of pride when she looked over at Xavier and I with delight dancing in her eyes.
‘I’m sorry, but this isinsane,’ I whisper to him and Tilly now as we walk side by side through the library that’s situated underground. After Tilly’s impressive display, Xavier and I made plans to go to the library together to see if there was anything that could help us learn how to uncork the metaphorical bottle containing our elements. I look around, starstruck, as we walk down one of the hundreds of narrow aisles that stand tall like soldiers, reaching all the way up to the ceiling. Glass lanterns hang between each aisle. The lantern directly above us sways ever so slightly as we walk with quiet steps beneath it, careful not to disturb the eerie stillness of the sleeping books.
When Xavier suggested coming here, I had no clue we would be heading beneath the academy. Nowhere on my map did it indicate that the entrance to the library was not onlyinthe building where we go for our Sympathetic Magic class but locatedbelowit.
Our footsteps echo on the stone floor as we fall deeper into the maze of shelves. My fingers reach out to run along a particular row of dusty spines, leaving a trail in my wake.
‘In my defence, Agate’s side of the library isn’t as creepy or unkempt. I mean look at this—’ He stops and points up to a thick spider’s web hanging limp from a lantern like someone batted it away as they walked past but never bothered to get rid of it. ‘Disgusting.’
‘Agate has its own section! Why don’t we just go there?’ Tilly asks, shuddering as she ducks low to avoid the web then suddenly yelps. ‘Is there something on me? I feel like there’s something on me!’ Her hands start flapping.
My smile spreads wide. ‘If by something you mean the giant black spider crawling up your arm, then yes.’
She flips me off. ‘Ha-ha, very funny.’
‘I wasn’t joking.’ I reach forward and with the back of my hand I whack the spider that’s crawling up her arm before it reaches her shoulders and her locks of curly hair. The furry creature falls to the ground and scuttles away beneath the bookshelf.
Tilly’s face is one of pure horror. Her hazel eyes widen to the point where I fear they’re about to pop out and roll beneath the bookshelf along with the spider. Xavier steps behind her and clamps hand over her mouth just seconds before she lets out what I’m sure would have been a deafening screech.
Tilly reaches up and yanks Xavier’s hand off her face to whisper-yell, ‘I almost died! Did you see that?’ She whirls around to me. ‘Oh my gosh, youtouchedit. Why would youdothat?’
My eyes lock with Xavier’s as our friend wipes her arms and legs with her hands, whacking away the invisible spiders that could be crawling on her. Our shoulders start shaking with silent laughter.
‘Oh good. I’m so glad you both find my near-death experience funny.’ Tilly’s hands land on her narrow hips.
‘I’d make it up to you by taking you into Agate’s library, but you wouldn’t be allowed in.’
That piece of news gives me pause. ‘It’s part of the library, isn’t it? Shouldn’t it be accessible to all students?’
