Page 61 of Dark Bonds

Taking a deep breath, I push the door open. Professor Blackwood sits behind his imposing mahogany desk, his steely eyes fixed on me. Dorian stands to his right, as still and beautiful as a marble statue. His presence as Blackwood’s teaching assistant shouldn’t surprise me anymore, but it still sends a jolt through my system. Dorian’s eyes keep bouncing between me and Blackwood. There’s something off about it, but I can’t put my finger on what.

“Ah, Frankie,” Blackwood says, his voice as smooth as silk but with an undercurrent of something darker. “Right on time. Please, have a seat.”

I settle into the chair across from him, acutely aware of Dorian’s gaze on me. The room feels stuffy, like everyone’s holding their breath.

“Have you checked out where your new classes are this semester?” Blackwood asks, leaning forward. “I hope you can manage to keep up, given your… unique circumstances.”

There’s something in his tone that puts me on edge. I plaster on a fake smile, my brain scrambling for something to say that won’t give me away. “I haven’t yet walked the route, and I suspect they will be challenging, Professor, but in a good way. Last term, I learned to see things from new perspectives.” I glance at Dorian for a moment before focusing back on the professor. “And I expect much of the same.”

Blackwood’s eyebrow arches slightly, clearly not expecting such a measured response. “Is that so? And tell me, have you made any progress in accessing the shadow realm for your classes?”

My stomach drops. Here it comes—the real reason for this meeting. I swallow hard, preparing for what I know will be a difficult conversation.

I shift uncomfortably in my seat, feeling the weight of both Blackwood’s and Dorian’s gazes. “Not yet, Professor,” I admit, hating the weakness in my voice. “I’m still… working on it.”

Blackwood’s lips thin into a disapproving line. “I see. You understand, of course, that your inability to access the shadow realm will severely impact your studies. We can’t make exceptions forever, Frankie.”

His words are quiet, but they still knock the wind out of me. I clench my fists in my lap, willing myself to stay calm. “I know, Professor. I’m trying?—”

“Trying isn’t enough,” he cuts me off, his tone sharpening. “You need results. Perhaps you’re not applying yourself as diligently as you should be.”

I feel a flicker of anger, and for a moment, I consider snapping back at him, but I force myself to take a deep breath, channeling the resilience that’s gotten me through somuch already. “With all due respect, Professor,” I say, my voice steadier than I feel, “I am applying myself, but this isn’t exactly a skill one can master overnight.”

Before Blackwood can respond, Dorian speaks up, his voice low and smooth. “If I may, Professor,” he says, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. “Frankie’s circumstances are unique. Perhaps we could consider alternative methods of assessment? Her theoretical understanding of shadow mechanics is quite impressive.”

For a moment, Blackwood seems caught off guard by Dorian’s charm. I use the brief distraction to collect my thoughts, wondering about the dynamic between these two.

“Thank you, Dorian,” Blackwood says, recovering quickly, “but I believe I know what’s best for my students.” He turns back to me, his gaze intense. “Frankie, do you know what makes me proudest as an educator?”

The abrupt change in topic throws me off balance. “I… I’m not sure, Professor.”

He leans back in his chair, a small smile playing on his lips that doesn’t reach his eyes. “It’s seeing my students succeed, of course. Take my daughter, for instance. She’s always pushed herself to excel and overcome any obstacle in her path. Her determination… well, it’s truly inspiring.”

Something in his tone makes my skin crawl. There’s pride there, yes, but also something darker, something that reminds me of?—

No. I push the thought away, refusing to let my mind go there.

“I don’t mean to compare,” Blackwood continues, his voice dropping to an almost hypnotic cadence, “but I wonder if you have that same… drive, Frankie. Let’s put it to the test, shall we?”

Before I can process what’s happening, Blackwood stands and moves around the desk. “Let’s see you try to access the shadow realm right here, right now.”

Panic rises in my throat, but outwardly, I force myself to remain calm. “Professor, with all due respect, I’m not sure that’s the best approach. Shouldn’t we?—”

“Nonsense,” he says, his voice deceptively gentle but with a razor’s edge. “You just need the right motivation. Dorian, would you mind dimming the lights?”

As the room darkens, I feel the shadows stirring around me, responding to my fear. Blackwood’s eyes gleam in the dim light, and I realize with a jolt that this is exactly what he wanted.

“Now, Frankie,” he says softly, “show us what you’re truly capable of.”

My heart pounds in my chest as the shadows dance at the edges of my vision. Blackwood’s expectant gaze bores into me, and I can feel Dorian’s tension from across the room. The pressure is suffocating.

“I… I don’t know how,” I stammer, my voice barely above a whisper. Internally, I’m screaming at myself to stay strong and not let Blackwood see my weakness.

Blackwood clicks his tongue disapprovingly. “Come now, Frankie. We both know that’s not true. You’ve accessed your powers before. Remember the incident with the eredar beast?”

I flinch at the memory. How does he know about that? My mind races, trying to decipher the implications of his knowledge. Does he have spies among the students? Or is there some kind of magical surveillance I’m unaware of? The thought sends a chill down my spine.

“Focus,” Blackwood urges, his voice taking on a hypnotic quality. “Feel the shadows around you. They are a part of you, Frankie. Embrace them.”

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