Page 31 of Midnight Reign
He grins, and we make our way to the next class, the corridors of MistHallow are crowded with students around us, going about their nightly routines, but there’s an undercurrent of tension, of watchfulness.
13
ADELAIDE
The Practical Defensive Magickclassroom is more of a gymnasium, with padded floors and various obstacles scattered around. Professor Waldron, a burly werewolf with more scars than unmarked skin, greets us with a growl.
"Alright, pups," he barks, his voice carrying easily over the chatter of students. "Recent events have made it clear that theoretical knowledge isn't enough. Although this should’ve been kept for terms three and four, today, we're going to put your skills to the test in a practical scenario."
A ripple of excitement and nervousness runs through the class.
"You'll be working in pairs," he continues. "One offensive, one defensive. Your goal is to either incapacitate your opponent or successfully defend against all attacks for five minutes. Black, you’re on attack, with defensive Nethershade."
I turn to Zephyr, and he gives me a smile that scares the shit out of me. He won’t go easy on me, not that I’d expect him to. Too bad, I have literally no offensive magick unless I use his and turn it back on him. Do I have the guts to do that, though?
I guess we’ll find out.
"This should be interesting," he murmurs with a smirk as we take our positions on the mat.
"Remember," Professor Waldron calls out, "this is a magickal duel. No physical contact. Begin!"
My eyes widen as I realise I can’t touch him. So how the fuck am I going to do this?
Zephyr and I face each other. The chemistry is like a living thing between us. For a moment, neither of us moves, each waiting for the other to make the first move. The rest of the class has already begun their duels, the air crackling with various spells and counter-spells. But here I am, frozen, unsure how to proceed.
Zephyr raises an eyebrow, a challenge in his mischievous purple eyes. "Come on, Addy," he taunts softly. "Show me what you've got."
I take a deep breath, trying to centre myself. That's when I feel it - a faint pulse of energy emanating from Zephyr. It's his magick readying itself for defence. Is he giving it to me? I raise an eyebrow back, but his face is expressionless.
Focusing on that pulse, I reach out with my mind, tapping into my Vesper abilities. Well, my fully vampiric powers now, I guess. It's like grasping a thread of smoke - elusive but possible if you know how to touch it. I pull gently and feel a trickle of Zephyr's power flow into me.
The sensation is exhilarating. Dark Fae magick courses through my veins, and I gasp. Without thinking, I hurl it at Zephyr.
He smiles, that slow, half smile that makes me go damp between my legs. "Clever, princess," he murmurs.
Emboldened by my success, I reach out again, drawing more of his power. This time, I form the shadows into tendrils that whip through the air towards him. Zephyr counters with a shield of darkness, absorbing the attack.
Shadows gather around his hands. "Good, but weak. Let's see how you handle this."
The shadows coalesce into a swarm of dark creatures, their forms indistinct but menacing. They surround him, a wave of darkness protecting him. For a moment, panic rises in my throat. Then I rememberher.
“Okay, cuntface. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
Is that any way to talk to the creature who is going to save your arse in this class?
“Look, lady. You want to be the class star. You need to help me. I don’t know if you’re reliving your glory days or if you’re making up for being a loser in the Academy back in the day, but now’s your shot to show these fools who you are.”
Oh my. You know how to rile a girl up, don’t you? But let’s be perfectly clear. It was glory days. I ruled this fucking dump.
“Then quit yapping and do whatever it is you need to do to get me, no wait…usout of this.”
As the shadow creatures swirl around him, I feel her take over. She is not in control, so much as guiding my actions. She taps into Zephyr's power, but also actively draws it from his creations. The creatures begin to disintegrate as she pulls their energy into us.
We are very much an ‘us’ right now. I’m not sure how I feel about that, but she doesn’t want to hurt me.
Yet.
I am not a fucking idiot, and I’m starting to get what she wants with me. She wants my body. She wants to take over completely, so that she is me and I am… nothing.
