“Who sent you here, human?” James asked in a suspicious voice. His eyes swiveled to Charles, for the first time realizing I had a guard, not a fellow classmate. If there was one thing Charles did not need help with, it was operating a sword.
Either of his swords, actually. Just ask him.
“That’s classified?” I hedged.
“As you can see,” Charles spoke up, vaguely gesturing toward the hole in the ceiling, “she is a danger to herself and others. We identified her and had to bring her here until trained.”
“Oh, great, a dangerous pet. Who was the idiot who found her?”
I scowled at that sandy haired twerp who couldn’t keep his yapper shut.
“Me.” Charles straightened dramatically, the tattoos peeking out from under his shirt sleeves. Easily the tallest in the class, and certainly the most filled out, Charles was a stack of destructive muscle with a dangerous edge. His smoky gray eyes flashed with danger, his striking face drawing eyes. “I was doing my job as the Watch Captain.”
A few girls gasped and more than one guy shifted insecurely. When Charles wanted to put on a show, he stopped traffic.
“Class, class.” Clap, clap, clap. “Let’s get back to it. Sasha, you are excused. You are too dangerous for this class. Tell your master you will need to wait for Mira.”
My intestines iced over. Not only did he assume I had a master, like a slave, but he was sending me away without instruction. If I wasn’t taught, I’d surely fail. If this guy turned me away, the next instructor probably would, too. “But, I need to learn this…”
“That isn’t my problem,” James retorted, unconcerned. “I can’t have you killing a student because you can’t listen. Out you get.”
“James, really look at her for a second,” Charles murmured. “Take a big whiff.”
Before I could ask what that was about, James indignantly surveyed me. He leaned forward and inhaled. “What…” His eyebrows rumbled, prompting closer examination. “Why does it smell faintly of…”
Suddenly his face drained of color and he took a step back. “Mmm, yes, higher-level, I see.” He turned to Charles and offered a light bow. “She should probably stay. It isn’t distinctly clear that this is his property, hence my not noticing it at first, but…yes. I apologize—I was not aware the Boss took a pet.”
Ice turned slowly into fire. I needed instruction, yes, but I had my pride. Which this man, and Stefan, were stepping on.
I’d had enough. Of all of this. My whole life I’d tried to keep half of myself from people. Tried to hide and save face. Feared to completely be myself.
Well, screw that. I was sick of it. I didn’t lose my old life to end up in the same rut!
Fire surged, feeding off the last week of fear and uncertainty.
One big tear wobbled down my face. The redheaded girl laughed and said, “Uh oh, poor baby’s going to run to her master.”
Yes, I sure was. I was going to pull this weed out by the root. Then I might come back and punch her squarely in the jaw.
I pushed the pain of defeat down; let it harden my resolve. Let’s dance, Stefan!
“Where are you going?” Charles asked as the knuckles around my dagger turned white.
“To light some fireworks.”
If I didn’t stand up for myself, then what did I have left? Nothing. I’d be useless and broken.
My sword flashed a bright gold, my wobbly emotions not applying the brakes to the flow of magic.
“Sasha,” Charles said, warning in his voice. “Crying is probably better.”
My dagger started to smoke. Charles worried that too much magic was trying to force its way in. It wasn’t. For some reason I couldn’t explain, I had complete control. But then, I was heading into danger. That had always been the recipe, had it not? I rose to the occasion when there was surviving to do.
Didn’t matter why, though; I had an agenda.
Passed reason, I turned to Charles, my blade deepening in color. I opened myself up a crack more. Smoke billowed now, the blade grinning madly as its color pushed into a deep gold.
“If I were you, I would get lost. This is probably one of the stupidest things I’ve ever done.”
“Then why are you grinning? You know I can’t, Sasha. Don’t do this,” Charles pleaded.
Before I exited the large classroom, I leveled with him. “Do you think I’m his pet, Charles? Do you think I’m here because he has a sexual interest in me?”
The large man hesitated, glancing back at the spectators.
“All rightie, then. Good chat.” I about-faced.
My blade turned a molten, burnished gold. The color of Stefan’s power. Let everyone see we were equal.