Shadowborn Academy_ Year One (Dark Fae Academy #1) - G. Bailey Page 0,7
children, including my own parents, she might never look at me the same way again.
I might be a monster, and I deserve to rot for eternity for what I did, but I don’t want to lose the only person I’ve got left. Without Sage, all I would have left are the demons feasting off the darkness growing stronger within me. Not even Pitch would be able to save me then.
“I came here when I was a kid,” I answer honestly, ducking under the branches curving over our heads. “This is where I died and got my powers. It’s just…hard for me to be here, you know? Makes me remember things I’d rather not.”
Sage reaches out and squeezes my free hand reassuringly, her lilac eyes glowing like amethyst jewels. “You don’t have to face this alone.”
Tears prick my eyes and I quickly blink them away. “Thanks. So, all we’ve gotta do is find the Evening Star and follow it to the academy? That sounds too easy.”
“Yeah, there’s got to be a catch,” she agrees, letting go of my hand to flick through her book.
“Isn’t there something about a starlight fountain? I remember reading about it and that it’s supposed to sit right under the Evening Star, reflecting its light for people to use as a guide. Maybe look for that,” I suggest.
Sage pauses and flicks through her book, the shards of moonlight bathing her face in a soft, silvery hue. “Oh, my gosh, yes! The Mirror Fountain…” She points to one of the cream pages, and reads the text aloud: “As the Almighty Goddess of the Moon, Selena, walked through the forest at twilight, admiring her many creations, she came across a shard of glass gleaming on the forest floor. She used this to create the Fountain of Mene which allowed her to see whatever her heart most desired and to guide her down whichever path she sought in darkness.”
Turning to the back of the book, she searches for the fountain on the index, then looks for the page. “The Fountain of Mene, also known by magics as the Mirror Fountain, is one of the first creations of the Zorya Sisters and has remained at the mouth of the forest since the dawn of time. Once you have absorbed the elixir from the fountain, your path will be illuminated for you, but shadowborns must be wary of this fountain for it has led many to their destination as well as their doom.”
She looks up at me, her eyes widening into saucers.
I quirk an eyebrow and huff under my breath. “That was cheery, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah. Sheesh. But if the fountain is at the mouth of the forest, it should be someplace close by,” she says, looking up at the stars through the dense canopy of leaves rustling above. “I’ve never been good at astronomy. Which one is the Evening Star again?”
“I imagine the Keepers will have hidden it. You know, to test our navigation skills,” I grumble bitterly, shaking my head. “They want to watch us scramble around like rats in a maze. Damn sadists. But not on my watch!”
Branches snap behind us, and we both turn around, our hands raised into tight fists. It’s just a couple of students that have caught up. I’m not sure how much they heard of our conversation, but they’re more focused on following something on the ground than from the book. They go in the complete opposite direction, their wands held out like torches. Once they’ve disappeared entirely, I turn back to Sage.
“Let’s start by going west. It usually sets there after sunset.”
She nods, tucking it under her arm. “To the west we go!”
I giggle, linking arms with her again, and we step deeper into the forest. It takes tremendous effort not to look over my shoulder at the shadows I know are watching.
These ones don’t just spy from the treetops—they’re everywhere, and they are not my friends. Not anymore.
Letting the shadows of the forest hide me, I watch a girl with midnight blue hair step out of the carriage. Her silver eyes scan the forest, so full of wonder, her expression reminding me of a child who has just been read their favorite fairytale. But this isn’t a fairytale.
This is war.
And that girl who laughs with her pink-haired friend is the key to everything.
My hands itch to reach out, to touch her and feel the fight of the magic in her soul that is so addictive.