Page 53 of Dead Wrong

“Did you mean it when you said that you wouldn’t let the madame send me away?”

“Of course I did. You’re very important to me, Azzy. You’re my best friend.”

The boy’s cheeks flushed red, and he kept his eyes trained on the ground between us. “Okay. You can count now.”

I nodded, letting out an exhale to try and calm my stuttering pulse. Azzy stepped closer to me, the toes of his shoes nearly touching mine. And before I could question it, the boy leaned it, pressing his lips gently to mine. My heart stammered, then pounded against my chest like a caged animal.

“Thank you,” Azzy said as he pulled away, cheeks even more ruddy.

“For what?” I asked, breathless.

“For choosing me. You didn’t have to.”

I started back at the boy, confusion knitting my brows together. But before I could question him further, the door opened again, and I nearly fell over at the sight of Mother standing in the doorway.

“There you are, Tobias. You’ve kept me waiting for our lesson.”

I stepped quickly in front of Azzy, silently wishing for him to turn invisible. “Mother, my apologies. I didn’t realize how late the day had grown.”

Mother’s eyes narrowed as she looked through me to the boy who stood defiantly behind me. “Distractions can have that effect, Tobias. I would hope to avoid more of them in the future. Is that understood?”

“Yes, Mother. I’m ready to join you now.” I stepped forward but paused as Mother held out her hand, her eyes still locked on the Unseen boy.

“Would you care to join us, Azrael? It would seem Tobias may need a hand with this afternoon’s lesson.”

“Yes, madame,” Azzy replied, bowing to her. His eyes landed on me, and I could only shrug as we followed Mother from the room and down the hallways towards her office.

We dared not speak so close to Mother, but I allowed my hand to brush against Azzy’s as we walked, my mind replaying the moment our lips touched over and over again. The thrill it sent down my spine kept me from dwelling on whatever was awaiting me at Mother’s lesson.

The doors to her office swung open of their own accord as we approached, and there was not a hitch in her stride as she entered, quickly taking her place behind the long wooden desk.

Azzy and I hovered awkwardly on the opposite side, awaiting further instructions.

“It’s time for you to practice the most sacred of Adored magic, Tobias. Do you know of which I speak?”

Ice flooded my veins. I nodded, afraid that my teeth would chatter if I unclenched my jaw. Mother had taught me many of the minor magics by now, but I had little experience when it came to wielding the Command.

“Good. You’ve already selected the perfect partner for this exercise, as the Unseen hardly have a will of their own to begin with.” Mother rounded the desk, propping herself on the corner as she folded her arms across her chest. “Now, what shall the order be? Something simple… ah, of course. I want you to command this boy to kneel.”

“W-What?”

“Was I not clear, Tobias?”

The tone in Mother’s voice was a warning. Azzy gave me a quizzical look, not understanding what it was Mother asked for me to do. I swallowed down the nausea rising in my gut, then turned back to Mother, giving her a quick nod.

I squared myself, reaching deep within to wrap the aura of my magic around me before projecting it outward. Azzy bristled at the touch of it, his eyes finding mine once more, now shining with a glimmer of hurt.

“Kneel,” I merely whispered, the word burning hot in my throat.

Azzy sucked in a breath, his nostrils flaring, but did not move from his standing position. I flinched at the crack of Mother’s whip.

“Again, Tobias. With feeling.”

* * *

“Azzy!”

The name tore from my throat, ringing out into the empty sanctuary and reverberating against the pallid walls. The details of the memory sank further as I clutched the back of the long bench that served as my bed, muddling with the events of the previous night.

---