Page 42 of Dark Embers

“It’s nice of the school to do this feast thing the night before, though, to get us in the mood,” Ashlyn said, idly flipping the pages of her textbook with the pad of her thumb. “Are you staying here for the long weekend?”

My throat constricted. All the other students had families to go home to for their celebrations. I had no one and no home to go to. Shea had graciously invited me to join her and her Gram for dinner, and while I knew I should accept to keep from dwellingon my own loneliness, I hadn’t been able to bring myself to say yes.

I shrugged and looked back down at my screen. “Eh, I don’t know. But probably.”

She looked at me in that way I hated. That look that said, “Poor Arya.”

What about you?” I asked, quickly getting the subject off myself. “Spending Thanksgiving with your dad?”

“Unfortunately.” Ashlyn sighed and leaned back in her chair. “He wants us to ‘bond’”—she air quoted with her fingers—“in a non-school environment. But I’m free on Black Friday! Want to join me in the craziness of pre-Christmas shopping?”

My mood significantly brightened. “Actually, I would love to! Nothing like a day of splurging with a friend to forget your problems.”

Ashlyn slapped a hand on the table. “I know, right? Maybe we can even get our nails done. I’m in desperate need of a manicure.” She curled her fingers in front of her and inspected them, her resulting frown offering confirmation of their lackluster.

I snickered, then looked at the nearest clock on the wall. “We’ll talk about it later. I gotta go. Letti isnota patient tutor.”

“Oh yeah, how’s that going by the way?” Ashlyn asked, closing her textbook as I stood up and gathered my things.

“Honestly, not horrible.”

It had been three days now that I’d been practicing shifting with Letti. After the first few minutes of each session where we still remembered we hated each other, things progressed pretty well.When Letti wasn’t being a nasty, conniving sea witch, she was actually quite helpful. She had a very technical view of her skills, so she was able to explain tasks in a very clear, easy-to-follow way.

I had fully shifted outside of water for the first time yesterday. It didn’t last long, and I had to flop into the pool to keep my tail out, but we both considered that a win.

Our goal for this evening’s practice was water manipulation.

“I’ll see you at dinner,” I said as I waved to Ashlyn and headed out of the dining hall.

I hurried to the training room, passing by students who were all excitedly chatting about their Thanksgiving plans. I really had no idea what I was going to do. Going home was absolutely not an option.

While the state was holding the title until I turned eighteen, it did technically belong to me. But it would never feel like home again, not after Mom had been murdered there. Why would I spend four days there alone only to be haunted by those awful memories?

Although, the idea of being the only student in these empty halls for four days straight wasn’t exactly appealing either.

There was always Shea’s offer. I liked her grandma. She was a sweet lady, and she made amazing food. But the last time I’d seen her, I didn’t know she was a witch, and she didn’t know I was a mermaid. Things might be different now. While Shea didn’t shun me for being a shifter, I didn’t know if witches felt the same way about shifters as shifters felt about them. My heart couldn’t take any more rejection.

Maybe it was better to stay here. I could curl up on the couch in the mermaid common room and have the TV all to myself for the long weekend.

I put those thoughts on the back burner as I opened the training room door and went inside.

“We’re going to have to make this quick, today,” Letti said as soon as I walked inside, rolling her thick black hair into a bun. “I’ll be leaving early tonight to catch a plane home. Mermaids don’t exactly celebrate Thanksgiving, but my parents relish any mandatory days off from school to spoil me.”

I scowled at her. I shouldn’t have been surprised at her bragging about her parents and rubbing my nose in the fact that I didn’t have any, but those words in her snotty tone were like nails scraping down a chalkboard.

My mom might have kept secrets and dragged me all over the country, but at least she taught me how to be a decent person. Growing up, I’d been spoiled with love, not material possessions. I had to earn those things, and I was grateful to Mom for teaching me the true value of things.

So, rather than responding to Letti’s bait, I went to change into my swim top. When I came out, she was floating in the pool, making the water jump into the air and twirl around like a ribbon. It was beautiful to watch, though I was a bit irked by Letti showing off.

“You gonna teach me how to do that today?” I asked as I padded barefoot across the tile toward the pool’s edge.

Letti snorted. “Not likely, but all I can do is try my best.”

I gritted my teeth, thinking it best to ignore the snide remark and get as much as I could from this lesson.

I lowered myself to the floor, ready to slip into the pool.

“Uh-uh, transform first,” Letti said. “Until you can shift at will perfectly, you need to practicebeforegetting in the water. Every. Single. Time.”

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