I smile and glance at Darian to see his eyes still glued to the floor. Thorne is beside him with his parents behind him. Callahan next to them with his own parents and sisters huddled in. So many eyes has me shifting in place.
“Well,” I drawl, “at least all the awkwardness is out of the way.” A few people chuckle. I shrug a shoulder and then relax my body. Comfortable with my family behind me. “It’s not like it could – “
BANG.
Did I ever say the universe was against me?
I can imagine perfectly Cordellia leaning in close to me and whispering with a straight face, “You jinxed it, Mavie.” And then she’d burst into laughter because it was always something stupid I jinxed. That explosion that just occurred was not something stupid.
Alarm bells start going off and a ripple of power I’ve felt before hits us. Pushing through our circle and past the crowd, I stand against the stone wall sealing the terrace to keep anyone from falling. The stones were laid mimicking the guards wall of a castle, but it goes with the rest of the architecture of the university.
Looking out over the eastern field though, a line of black mars the edge of the forest. And that wave of power hits with a second ripple.
Devil.
The alarms continue to blare as someone yells, “REBELS!”
It causes a panic for most. There are thousands of people filling this terrace and within the school. Though when I look back I see the celestials with their parents calm and most of them with twisting shadows around. When they clear they leave behind harnesses and sheaths full of weapons.
My fingers twitch with a need to draw my own weapons. I had been told to stay put the last time. Even though the enemycame to me, we didn’t actually fight. That was little more than an altercation between magic.
I glance at Nana who’s just as calm though not drawing any weapons. Ms. Elaycia watches the warriors turn from polite partygoers and councilmen into war-ready. Including Rosemary, who has somehow changed from her oversized sweater and skinny jeans to leather looking pants and a breastplate. Weapons strapped to her and a dark silver colored metal mask that fits the top half of her face.
She holds it in her hand as she walks up to me and observes the scene. Her muscles properly displayed and rippling as she rolls out her shoulders and stretches out her neck. Never straying her gaze from them. The rebels marching over the field on their way here. Their numbers looking a lot more than just a couple hundred.
She smiles down at me and her glamour flickers in and out giving me a glance of her real form.
Warrior goddess.
“Will you be joining us?” she challenges.
“Absolutely not,” a voice answers for me. I slowly draw my gaze up to golden eyes. “You’ve barely recovered from the last time.”
“Last time?” Rosemary echoes. I roll my eyes.
“The rebels attacked two days ago with Kolasi faced against me.”
Out of the corner of my eye I see both Nana and Ms. Elaycia pale. And Mr. Kyros raises his brows high as all the rest of them finish readying themselves and approach.
“You went up against theDeath Devil?” Mr. Kyros asks, almost sounding like he approves. I decide right now that I like him. Even though I’m sure I will be having nightmares for the rest of the week because of his face.
“I think you mean,” I correct, “hewent up againstme.”
He chuckles and there is no condescension or hesitation or disbelief. His eyes light and like his son, his expression morphs into acute curiosity. Despite what is happening right now with rebels attacking.
“I mean no offense, Ms. Tsukkenai, but may I ask how you who I feel no aura from challenged a devil who is one with his true form?”
I smirk as three more bodies approach us. Professors Asier and D’etre are both already ready with the Dean behind them also strapped with twin long swords across his back.
“They have more numbers,” he says by way of greeting. His signature scowl hesitating when he sees me but nodding to the councilmen and Mr. Kyros. “I see you’re all ready. Let’s hope this will be as short as the one before was.”
They all nod and then most of the men disappear leaving only a wisp of shadows and distinct scents. I turn and spot those that shadow twisted already on the field. Darian, the demigod, Thorne, Mr. Arcturus, Mr. Armani, and the Dean spread out around and all of them pulling up shields.
Rosemary folds to behind their defensive stance with multiple people, including Caleb, standing watch at the wall. Their magics coiling around them and most of them feel like mages with offensive magics. A defense in case the rebels make it past the celestials.
Callahan places a hand on my back and when I look up at him his eyes are narrowed at me.
“I am serious, Mavyn. You are still recovering, so just rest.”
