Page 25 of Veiled Wings (Sciathain Academy 1)

We walked the short distance to the sidelines of the field and sat down to watch the most amazing sight ever. At least in my life. There were no targets. The fliers were shooting at each other, although I noticed there were blunted tips on the arrows. They seemed to hurt, though, when they hit, judging by the squeals and curses, threats of retaliation. I wanted to do it, too, even if it meant I ended up covered with bruises.

“Alara, why haven’t I seen other flights? Don’t fairies fly? Don’t you?How can you keep from doing it?”

“During the orientation period, flying is limited. It’s a tradition. Wait until fall. You’ll see everyone on the wing!”

“Hmm.” I wrapped my arms around my knees and watched the battle. “That’s good to know. I have another question.” As long as I was asking.

“Sure. Oh ouch!” An arrow hit a girl in the shoulder and she spun downward, just saving herself from hitting the ground. “Could have torn a wing. That’s a really bad thing.”

“I’ll bet. Do they heal?”

She shrugged. “Depends. What was your other question?”

“The veil. Why does Bain keep yanking me away from it? It’s so pretty and enticing.”

“Good question. You know some of us come from there, right?”

A few of the fliers landed and moved to stand near us, and I lowered my voice. “Yes, I thought so. Then why, since I am a fairy, can’t I step through?”

“There are things there that should not come through. They are much more dangerous here, and if you were to stop, say, halfway through, or if something were to make you stop, they could use you as a conduit. To get here.”

“I’d be holding the door for them? Sort of?”

She nodded. “That’s a good way to put it.”

“He should have told me that.” It was like going to a foreign country being here. Of course, I might be in a foreign country. After all the excitement, I was tired. “Thank you, Alara. I’m going to miss you.”

“We’ll see each other soon.” She elbowed me. “We can fly all around together.”

Maybe…

Chapter Twenty-Two

“I can’t believe we didn’t even get to hang out much or have an all-nighter. But that’s what happens in these summer sessions. They go too fast. It’s like this.” Alara snapped her fingers and bounced on top of her suitcase, trying to close the damned thing enough to zip it. Yeah, she had shopped in town only one time, but her suitcases looked like she had shopped once a day from the way they wouldn’t close.

“Do you need some help?” I asked, laughing at her antics.

“Nah, I still have another empty bag, I was just too lazy to take it out and stuff it. I’ll be fine.”

I was taking my time packing my own things. The truth was, as much as I wanted to go home and drill my parents about all things fairy and veils and dark things that whispered and tugged at my soul, I kind of liked this place. My thoughts flip-flopped between staying strong and toughing out another semester and staying home and relishing that normal human life, no matter how boring it was. The latter seemed like giving up, like throwing in the towel.

Plus, it would mean never seeing Bain and Zephyr again. I rolled my eyes at myself. They were just boys who lit my thighs on fire. At least, that’s what I was telling myself. Under the surface, the thought of never seeing either of them made tears well in the corners of my eyes.

I had a hard decision to make and only a few weeks to make it.

My phone buzzed in my back pocket just as I’d zipped up the last bag and was pulling my hair into a high, messy bun. Despite the fancy car and plane I’d soon be on, I’d chosen my typical outfit of tank top, jeans, and flip-flops just to remind myself I didn’t belong here.

Or did I?

This place had given me the head trip of the century.

“My ride is here.” I turned to face Alara. She was the only friend I had in this place, or the only female friend, and I would miss her. Goodbyes weren’t really my forte.

“Oh, but we’ll see each other soon. Those weeks will fly by, and I did a thing…I hope you’re not mad at me.” She had almost embraced me but then pulled back. Her hands were cupping my elbows.

“What did you do?” In this world, little would surprise me.

I hoped it was shipping me a case of the school’s muffins.

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