Page 11 of Unshaken

“That door hasn’t opened for anyone since—”she says as the door slams shut and disappears with a pop, as if it was never there. Of course, she was cut off and I didn’t get to hear what she had to say. Was going through that door a good or bad thing? I guess I will find out sooner or later.

I put my key back around my neck and tuck Rook safely out of sight.

My gasp in surprise is involuntary as I take in the world around me.

A nice breeze kisses my skin, cooling my hot, exhausted body, and I send a prayer up to whoever is listening for the reprieve. This is much better than the sweltering swamp and hotbox of a forest I was in only moments ago. The door brought me out into a beautiful, secluded garden. I wonder if each door will take you to a different location within the Academy and if I lucked out with my particular door choice. Tall, lush green hedgerows line the perimeter of the garden, boxing the place in except for a grey cobble stone path that leads from a wooden gate all the way up to the gazebo I am standing in. The gazebo looks ancient, Roman or maybe Greek. Unless I take a closer look, it is indistinguishable due to the vines and green ivy climbing up each column, the foliage extends all the way up to the dome. The entire place feels wild and alive. I grab my luggage and begin to move down the step, the vines and ivy move aside to clear the way for me. After everything that I have experienced so far, none of this surprises me anymore. Magic is ripe in the air. In here it’s tranquil, calming, and quiet, swirling around me in welcome, and it makes me eager to see the rest of the place. Moving down the path towards the exit, I see hummingbirds beat their tiny wings all around me as they fly between the bright red poppies, white lilies, and black dahlia’s growing out of the ground. I make a mental note about the flowers as I walk away.

I have a feeling nothing here is a coincidence.

Seven

MICAH

The gate closes behind me with a soft click as I step on to a well-groomed graveled path that leads in two directions. Lamps line the path on either side, and the trees are cut back about a foot away from the edge, allowing you to see through to the other side. I can just make out a few buildings and more ivy-covered stone ruins in the distance to the left. To my right, through the break in the trees I can see a large lake, the water sparkles as the sun light reflects off the gentle waves. I want to go right but choose to go left remembering that someone could be waiting for me once I reach the campus.Left it is,I say to myself as I pull my bag behind me.

Now that I am out of the garden, the surroundings come to life around me. The birds chirp, the sound of my boots crunching on the rocks beneath me, the swaying of the trees, and the falling of leaves is a welcome respite from the silence. Give me all the noise. I will take noise over silence any day. My experience was unnerving, to say the least, but I guess that was another part of the so-called test they put me through. I move as fast as my feet can carry me. I am ready for civilization. Hell, I am ready for bed. There isn’t a person in sight, yet I can hear faint sounds of conversation in the distance as I move along.I have to be getting close. I eye the end of the path in the distance.

Where were the other students? How much further do I need to walk before I come across anyone? I continue down the path, opting to stay focused instead of getting distracted by asking Rook. My key remains quiet as well, in fact he hasn’t said anything since the door opened from the reception room. Maybe he is just as wary as I am. Something tells me I need to be alert and ready for anything.

Movement above me has my head snapping up looking at the trees that curve over the walkway like a canopy. I stop in my tracks, mouth falling open in shock, completely caught off guard by the person languidly lounging over a branch. He smiles Cheshire cat-like, looking slightly excited, and maybe even a little manic, showing nothing but bright white teeth.

I can feel his eyes as they rake over me from head to toe, possessively taking in my hot mess of a sweaty body. I don’t know what powers he possesses but I stand transfixed, my eyes locked on this misfit of a man in front of me. His afro is wild and unkempt in a way that lets me know he spent hours achieving the tousled look in the mirror. He has smooth dark brown skin, with one eye so dark it is black, while the other is white. I stagger back into my suitcase, I hadn’t realized I let go of it, not out of fear but rather shocked curiosity. The iris of his left eye shines like an opal, a white one, with specks of iridescent colors, rimmed in black. It’s startling. I have never seen anyone with eyes like that, never in my magical research had I read about it. Obviously, I don’t know enough. My reaction only makes him smile wider as he sits up, swinging his legs over the side of the branch he jumps down to the ground.

It isn’t until he starts stalking towards me that I go into a defensive mode, bending my knee to get ready to engage and keeping my feet shoulder width apart, just like I’ve been trained to do. Yet, I am not afraid. As he gets closer, my key begins to heat, warming my skin almost painfully. I try to ignore it as best as I can while he approaches me. I feel a little too desperate to take in every inch of him just as he is doing with me. His tall lean body moves with the grace of a cat. His white button-down shirt is rolled up to his elbow revealing so many tattoos, they are a story in itself. His black slacks are almost comically oversized, held up by suspenders, the cuffs of his pants are tucked away safely in his white combat boots with black skulls painted on them. He is quirky, fucking handsome, and I feel a tug or pull in my chest urging me forward.

“Oh, kitten, I think my brother has broken you.” I turn around at the sound of feet hitting the ground behind me, and then I turn again, my eyes blink rapidly, because I am seeing double.

I hold out my hands to stop them both from coming any closer as my words tumble out of my mouth. “Wait. You both? Identical. Exactly the same.” I lean forward to peer at them closer. “Wow, even your eyes are the same. Except, your right eye is white, and his left is—both like opal stones. Beautiful.” By the time my brain catches up with my mouth, I’m officially mortified. I called them both beautiful. I mean, they both are, but I don’t even know them. My key flares to life again, the burn causes me to rub at my chest, but I am not taking my eyes off these two, just in case another one drops out of the trees.

“Yep. I think she’s broken,” twin number one says as I turn to him, and then back to his brother again in disbelief. If this is a spell, then I am going to be pissed.

“Trys and Ty Larrieux.” The second twin named Ty introduces them both and they bow in unison. His voice sends a shiver down my spine as I recognize his French Creole accent, as it washes over me it makes my stomach flip with butterflies. Oh hell, the accent alone makes me want to drop my panties right here and now.Seriously, vagina. This is not the time.

“Please forgive my other half, he can be a bit dramatic,” Ty says as he steps closer. I automatically step away from them, keeping them both within my line of sight. They look exactly alike but Ty is the complete opposite of Trys. Black t-shirt and jeans with a linked chain as a belt. Black shiny military style boots, shoulder length locks, with a black beanie that hangs limply over the side of his head.

“Micah-Micah Jones.” Again, my words come tumbling out of my mouth and I internally berate myself for being so off kilter. I don’t usually respond this way to men jumping out of trees, or who appear out of nowhere, normally both of them would be flat on their asses by now.

“Micah,” Trys says my name in wonder, and I swear I can see the cartoon hearts in his eyes. I mean, he has got to be kidding me with his response right now.

“Who is like God,” Ty says, shaking his head at his brother as they have a silent conversation just between the two of them. I mean, they are twins.

“I’m sorry?” I ask them. They’ve completely lost me in their exchange.

“Such a perfect name for a Light Guardian. Don’t you agree, brother?” Trys asks, while his eyes never leave my confused ones.

“Perfect in every way, such a shame really. I can’t wait to tarnish it.” I shift my focus to Ty then, his tattooed finger strokes his lips as he studies me. I need to get away from these two. I am distracted by an unwanted attraction that shouldn’t be possible considering I don’t know them. After the day I have had, these two are too overwhelming. But maybe distraction is not a bad thing.

“OK, I’m calling time on this.” I wave my hands wildly between us and continue. “Why the hell were you both sitting up in trees as if waiting for me?” I ask, then quickly change my mind. “Wait, no, scratch that, I don’t want to know. Look, I am not a Light Guardian, I am just Micah. I am nothing special, and can you please stop calling me kitten.”

“Kitten, you are so much more than you think you are,” Ty croons. I am not sure what any of that means, but his smile is doing things to me right now. “I bet you are soft and cuddly, and I guarantee you will purr for me.” He winks, which only makes Trys laugh with glee. I stare at them both with shock. I am surprised I’m not choking on an insect my mouth has been able to catch. What in the fuckity fuck is happening? I should be kicking their asses, not swooning.What the fuck is wrong with me? Get your shit together, Micah. Focus,I urge myself as my poor neck suffers from whiplash. Both of them demand my attention, and for some reason, I can’t help but comply.

“Oh, we hang out in trees all the time,” Trys says, like it’s an everyday occurrence. Well, shit maybe it is. “We’ve heard so much about you. I feel like I already know you. We couldn’t miss your arrival. Too much temptation.” Trys approaches me slowly, his ringed fingers grip his suspenders as he taps out a beat on his chest. That’s when I notice his Anchor key. White, like bleached bone, the bow the shape of a tiny skull, with tiny glyphs written in black all over it. I turn to Ty and see his key is on display as well and note it is exactly the same. I thought they were specific to the wearer but then they are twins. Ugh, I know nothing. I hate being in the dark. The sooner I can get some books in front of me the better.

The heat from my own key has become unbearable, I shriek from the intensity. With fumbling fingers, I reach into my shirt quickly and pull it away from my skin and they both stop as they watch my Anchor settle into place over the fabric of my t-shirt. Two of the figure eight symbols on the bow are glowing red hot but instantly begin to cool now that it’s not trying to burn a hole in my flesh. I wanted to keep my key hidden but if I left it any longer, I know I would have third degree burns. I have no idea what the burning means and why Rook didn’t engage in conversation about it. He has been mouthy all day; now I can’t talk to him at all.

“She feels it too, brother.” Ty saunters closer, talking to Trys as if I am not standing right there.

“The Soul Tether. Unbelievable. She’s meant for—” Trys says, and for the first time he frowns.

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