is usually mean to me.
“Which one? Riley and Henry haven’t spoken to me in over two months,” I mutter in annoyance. The same can be said for Ren. I would worry he isn’t around if I didn’t see him every so often as I wake up or in the corridors or in the gardens. The problem is, every time he sees me, he disappears, and it’s frustrating. I’ve always made it so, in my life, I would never once get attached to any ghost, and then Ren floats into my life, and I find myself wanting to be close to him and figure him out. I guess if I’m being honest with myself, there is a connection between us that goes unsaid, and I’ve never had that with a ghost before. But in the end, any feelings I may have for him are pointless because he is dead, and one day he will leave, like all the ghosts do, to go to a better or worse place.
The thought of Ren being in hell gives me a lump in my throat I have to swallow. I couldn’t let him go there; he isn’t evil for starters. No matter what Master Gabriel said about vampires, I know he isn’t evil.
“Boys suck,” she says and bumps my shoulder. “You should stick to girls.”
“Of course that would be your advice,” I say around a laugh.
“Being serious though, have you decided which angel you want to be?” she asks as I get up and place my tray on the bed next to her.
“I want to be a dark angel,” I say, and it’s not a decision I’ve come to lightly, but it is one I know is best for me. I’ve always had secrets to hide, and the price of not being able to lie would be a terrible thing for someone like me. The dark has always called to me from the first moment I came here, and the light never did. “I knew from day one, if I’m being honest. What about you?”
“I like them both, so I’m going to make the choice when I stand in front of the fires. I will see who calls to me,” she tells me, and I think that’s a really good decision for her. I think about me and Vesnia having wings soon and actually becoming angels. I’m so excited for us to learn how to fly on our own. As much as I love flying with Ayda, it still would be so cool to do it for myself.
“I’m excited for us both,” I say, and I really mean it. “Now we best get moving to spear class. She asked us to come fifteen minutes earlier last week, remember?”
“Oh shit, yeah, I forgot,” she says and shoves the last bit of toast into her mouth as I slide my trainers on. I soon figured out trainers go better with the sports gear they make us wear now. Vesnia and I head quickly to the gym on the other side of the castle, but we come to a stop when we see everyone is gathered outside.
“Brilliant, now everyone is here, follow me,” Professor Bates says with calculating eyes. She walks us around the gym and to the end of the island where there are some stone steps going down. Nervously I look at Vesnia who shrugs, and then I search the crowd for Riley. He is right in front, and I can just about see his back. I’m hoping to talk to him today because I’ve heard he is sleeping with some of the light angels, and that might mean his silly crush on me is over. Maybe we can go back to being friends again?
I eye Professor Bates with some mixture of worry and fear as she is crazy, and in every lesson with her, someone has ended up getting hurt. As much as I can figure out, she has no sense of personal space and loves to see people in pain. She walks down the steps and makes it quite clear we all need to follow after her. The steps are a little wet from the rain last night as we head down one by one, and Vesnia holds onto my shoulder. We finally get to the bottom and find a long cave. Professor Bates stops at the other end, standing still even as the harsh wind blows her cloak around her. I shiver as we get into a line in front of her like