One is close to my head and I can almost taste the peppermint.
My pen makes a green dot on the card as I consider what to write.
“Nobody else will see, my darling,” says Francesca in a low, husky voice.
I give her a weak smile and try to shut out the soothing sound of the waves and dolphins playing through nearby speakers. Is she taunting us? I heard the waves last night battering the island, in a stark reminder that I can’t navigate the seas and leave.
“Selkie,” murmurs Oriana under her breath.
“She is?” I ask in surprise. Francesca now has her eyes closed, serene smile on her face as she waves her hands in time with the soundtrack.
“Was. Can’t go back. Obviously, it drove her mad since she’s stuck here vainly attempting to instill this crap into a bunch of juvies.”
Francesca snaps her eyes open. “We do this task in contemplation, Oriana. Let the thoughts flow.”
Oriana rolls her eyes at me and scratches words on her card.
What angered me today? Narrowing that down would take some time. How specific do I need to be? After a few moments staring at the blank space, I look up to see everyone else in the room has completed the task.
Panicking, I scrawl the words ‘Dorian Blackwood’ and fold the card up.
Said person watches me unblinking, twirling his card between his fingers.
I steal another look at the students in the room. Few have introduced themselves and I can’t help play the ‘why are they here?’ game with myself. There’s a girl who’s barely five feet tall, whose larger than average eyes with white irises scare me as much as the sour-faced guy beside her with the scars running across his cheeks and nose, resembling silver tattoos.
Neither look at me.
Besides them, Ethan sits on a red bean bag. Or, as much as he can, because his frame barely fits. He’s perched on the very edge, almost on the floor, elbows on his knees. The pen and folded card rest on the carpet beside him.
The guy couldn’t look more out of place if he tried. His heavy black boots and black clothing contrast the colour in the room and his vibe certainly isn’t rainbows and dolphins.
Ethan looks up and his eyes glint from beneath his fringe. He rubs his stubbled jaw and a smile plays at the corner of his mouth. I quickly shift my eyes away from him. Does he think I’m checking him out?
My self-control fails and I glance back at him. This time I hold his look for two skipped heartbeats before I’m forced to look away. I want Ethan to talk and reveal something about the kind of person he is through his voice and words.
But he’s silent.
“Are we all finished?” Francesca says as she strikes a long match and lights the candle in the bowl. Silence surrounds as some watch and others stare at the ceiling or floor. One or two close their eyes, and I swear the shifter next to Zeke is asleep.
“Lara.” Francesca gestures at the girl from earlier. “Perhaps you’d like to start.”
Lara flicks hair over her shoulder and shuffles forward with a scornful look on her face. Francesca nods and with a sigh Lara mutters, “Take this pain, and peace I’ll regain.”
I suppress a laugh. Seriously? The words cause the flame to burn high, and the edge of the card ignites. The strangest thing about this whole situation is the magic used. Fire magic is banned in the academy. Does Angus know Francesca uses this in her lessons?
Flames lick the side of the card, and before the fire touchers her fingers, Lara drops the burning paper into the water.
The liquid inside swirls with rainbow pattern, as if Lara dropped oil inside. A plume of blue smoke appears and coils upwards. With a sigh, Lara holds a hand above the bowl, allowing the smoke to infuse into her skin.
She shuffles back to her bean bag.
Is that it?
She meets my eyes and makes a gagging sound, which I can’t decide whether it’s directed at me or the smoke.
Several other students repeat the exercise, until my turn arrives. I’ve an idea what to do from watching, but hate I’m doing this in front of people. Will I feel anything? Nobody seems affected so far, although the shifter beside Zeke looks more alert.
The flame moves towards me as I shuffle closer, as if a breeze in the room pointed it my way. I chew my lip and disconnect from the fire spirit