Page 66 of Black Wing and Shadows
The Historians, Healers, and Witches all had their own private chambers regardless of year because they had fewer cadets than the other four branches. Cadets were also known for bargaining their rooms or making deals with roommates to stay away for extended periods.
Climbing the stone ledges to reach level four was quite challenging. They were slippery, and the top ledge was set apart from the others, requiring you to reach behind and let your legs hang before pulling yourself up. Fierce gusts of wind caused shivers to run down my spine. My leather jacket offered no help. It was soaked through. I jumped onto the beam with hanging logs from the ledge, then grabbed the logs and carefully crossed the beam. About halfway across, I heard a sudden scream below. Although the scene was hard to make out, I was sure it was Sadie.
My stomach twisted into a tight ball. I preferred Sadie because we shared a room and had grown close. Still, I couldn’t focus on her. Focusing on her would distract me and slow me down. I kept moving across the narrow beam of logs and climbed up the ladder onto the next beam. This part was my least favorite. Half of the beam was flat and easy to walk on. The other half was a steep incline rising about ten feet. Then, I needed to jump across a gap onto a small, jagged ledge. A running start would be ideal, but the beams weren’t broad and had become slick from the rain.
I took a deep breath. I was pretty certain I wouldn’t make it across this time with the relentless rain and furious wind. If I could get a firm grip on the rugged ledge, I could pull myself up as I had done before. I reached the steep inclined beam and tried to walk up quickly, but the rain made it difficult. I had to adjust my approach because it was the first time we faced this challenge in torrential rain. I climbed about four feet before reaching the ledge, then sprinted toward it. I didn’t quite succeed in jumping onto the ledge, but I managed to grip it firmly. Thank you, Parvaiz. The God of luck had always come to my side when I needed him.
The shorter ropes were flapping in the air with the wind, but I knew it wasn’t about time. It was about making it across. I leapt onto the first rope and slowly made my way across. Thank the gods, when I finally climbed on top of the mountain.
Lorenzo and Jackson sat at the top, their eyes filled with pure defeat. Jackson had tears streaming down his face and was completely still. I sat quietly beside them. Sadie quickly followed and joined us, relief washing over me that she was okay. The rest of our squad settled on the ground, one by one. The original group included seven. Now, only six were gathered.
This was my squad, and I had lost one of them. I swallowed hard at that realization.
When someone died, their body was placed on a sturdy wooden raft, set ablaze, and pushed down the raging, tumultuous river. At the war college, the raft often carried more than one body as we burned it. Everyone silently prayed to the God they worshiped most. Marzana, the fierce Goddess ofdeath, was the keeper of death—she embodied hell. She took life away when individuals proved unworthy of living.
Betha was the inspiring Goddess of life and water, revered as a sacred figure who granted us vitality. Some Fae believed worshiping Betha would lead them to peaceful heavens after death. Few worshiped Marzana, but many cherished Betha. I worshiped both Parvaiz, the fortunate God, and Freya, the enchanting Goddess of love. I was raised to believe that love and luck enabled you to conquer any challenge. Betha was vital because she provided life and sustained us daily through the nurturing forces of nature. She represented a perfect balance among the Gods.
Wymond was the fierce God of war, believed to be the primary source of constant conflict and chaotic upheaval. Panki was the witty God of humor, notorious for his mischievous and sinister ways that often sparked chaos. Pragyan was the wise God of knowledge, renowned for his vast understanding of everything in existence.
We were all sitting there together, silently letting the tears run down our faces as the rain picked up. The struggle between saying something and letting us all sit in shock and sadness was ripping at me.
We needed to start descending the stairs before Professor Quillet began yelling, as the next squad would be arriving soon. “Clara was amazing, and she will be missed. She would want us to take the moment we have taken and honor her life by kicking ass, moving forward. Let her soul rest with Betha,” I told them.
“With Betha,” the five of them said in unison.
The rest of the day felt like a thick fog as I moved through a space that hadn't seemed real. The past few months had worn me down, tearing me apart and overwhelming me. I felt sadness knocking at the door, eager to reveal its ugly face. I refused to let her in. Anxiety lingered with me every day, free of charge, but I didn’t want sadness inside. Tomorrow promised to be a great day. We planned to celebrate and then enjoy a week off from lectures to do whatever we pleased, including visiting the charming nearby village of Chalahana. Rumors spoke of a fantastic tavern there, where we could all drink and relax.
I climbed into bed, gazing out the window, curtains drawn back. The sky shimmered with bright stars that usually brought me joy, but that night they offered no comfort. My mind was empty. Instead of racing thoughts, there was complete silence. My soul ached, exhausted and heavy. Every time I closed my eyes, a painful memory flashed vividly. Tears streamed silently down my face. Silence persisted. Eventually, my eyelids grew too heavy to keep open, and I drifted into a restless sleep.
CHAPTER 26
Zane knocked four times.
I wasn't sure why he knocked. He could walk in or speak into my head. I stood up from my chair, where I had been sitting since I woke up that morning, staring into the abyss. I didn’t know how long I had been sitting there. My mind split in ten different directions all at once. The weight of it all overwhelmed me. Sadness knocked, and I refused to acknowledge her.
I greeted Zane, standing in the doorway with an unmistakably dapper appearance. He wore sleek black leather pants and a long-sleeved black tunic that clung to his sturdy frame. My gaze shifted to his arm, where a forest green item was folded neatly over it, adding a splash of color to his dark attire.
“Hi, beautiful,” he said, giving me a wry smile. I was sure that my appearance caused that smile. My hair was wildly frizzy and unbrushed. I was only wearing a T-shirt and hadn't showered since the previous day.
“That’s sweet, but I am anything but—”
“My Anam Cara, you are beautiful, especially with your messy hair.” He reached out, cupped my chin, and lifted it, making my eyes meet his. Lightning coursed through my body.
“Tell me what’s wrong?”
"Super tired… That’s all. I’ll be okay.” I smiled at him. One, I was sure he could read right through.
“I brought you a gown for tonight if you’re still planning to attend," he said, grabbing the green dress and unfolding it for me to see. It was stunning—a deep forest green. The top was made of a tight polyester fabric decorated with small diamond pendants. The skirt transitionedinto a more sheer material, featuring slits on both sides that reached approximately mid-thigh. It was truly beautiful, and he had chosen this for me. It brought me joy, something I needed after last night.
Watching Clara fall had been painful but pushing her into the moat was terrible. Micah’s cries were so intense that they made me cry alone. Being a leader was tough, and I had been trying hard to stay strong and lead them, but seeing one of them break was hard.
“It is gorgeous. I will shower and get ready. I lost track of time, as one naturally does. You can go ahead, and I’ll see you out there,” I told him with a small smile.
I grabbed the gown and my shower essentials and headed out the door. He grabbed my arm and pulled me back. His mouth crashed onto mine with fiery rage. He wrapped his arms around me and—
Flash. Darkness. Moving through space. Light.
I opened my eyes, and we were in his room. My eyes were wide.
