Page 41 of A Curse So Cruel (Fated Mates of Shadowbone Academy #1)
“I don’t know what I saw, but whatever it was, no one has summoned their creature during their first lesson,” Izzy points out. “Maybe the new girl isn’t as weak as we thought. What if the professors see something in her that we don’t?”
“She has a point,” Paiton adds. “Professor Knox was pretty angry earlier when you fought her during offensive training.”
Satine’s top lip curls, and she seethes as she stares at her reflection.
“Professor Knox was the one who paired us for the fight. More than likely, he couldn’t help but feel sorry for the feeble new girl.
When the professors realize what a dead weight she is, and how she’ll never survive on a battlefield, she’ll be cut loose like all the others. ”
Now, that part stings. Only because I know there’s truth in Satine’s words.
I’m not made for the battlefield, and worse than that, I might possibly be the one person who can make us lose this war.
A heavy knot forms in my stomach, but I have no time to feel sorry for myself now.
I see the exact moment Satine notices me.
Her entire expression changes when she stares in the mirror, no longer looking at her reflection, but at the lump of clothing piled on the bench in the middle of the room.
Distinct leather clothing with black feathers poking out from the pile. Oh, crap.
Satine turns, and there’s a sinister gleam in her dark eyes. She gestures to the other two, and their lips form twisted grins as they realize what Satine’s just discovered.
“No,” Izzy giggles like it’s too good to be true.
“Oh yes,” Satine says, stalking toward my shower stall. “Looks like there’s a little birdy who’s been listening to us, and it’s no other than the little troublemaker herself.”
Troublemaker? That’s a bit rich considering she’s the one who seems to enjoy creating drama, but whatever.
Shit, I need clothes. I just remember about the ring on my finger as they approach, and I hastily try to use magic to conjure up something, so I’m not caught standing there naked and vulnerable.
Pain races through me, but my concentration is broken when Satine stops in front of my stall and yanks the door open.
I give them a sheepish grin as Paiton and Izzy move to either side of Satine. “Oh hey,” I say awkwardly, because I have no idea what else you’re supposed to say when someone barges in on you like that.
“Oh goodie, it is you,” she says in a sickening voice as a cruel smile spreads across her eager face. She looks me up and down and snickers to her friends. “Ugh, she is disgusting. What is that?”
In my defense, I didn’t have enough time to make my magic form a full outfit, but I don’t bother pointing that out because it’s obvious Satine doesn’t care. Black feathers sprout from odd places on my body, uselessly placed and not at all covering anything.
Paiton and Izzy laugh, staring at me like I’m the gross sludge from the bottom of their muddy boots. Charming.
“Why don’t you get out here and join us?” Satine croons. “Seeing as it’s obvious you want to join in on our conversation.”
“Whaaat? And leave here?” I peer around at my stall. “Thanks, but I’m totally happy in my, uh, space.”
Satine’s smile falls, her expression hardening.
“I insist,” she says coldly. Reaching forward, she grabs hold of my wrist and yanks me out of the stall.
My bare feet slip on the wet tiles, and she releases her grip as I topple, landing hard on the floor near the bench.
Pain vibrates up my knees as they slam to the ground, and the three girls circle me like vultures closing in on a carcass.
Oh great, now I’m imagining myself as carrion. “Look I don’t know what you were talking about,” I say, smiling innocently. “I was just minding my business, getting clean.” I reach for my clothes. “And now that I’m done, I’ll be heading on my way.”
Satine lifts her foot, planting her boot on my clothes before I can grab hold of them. “Minding your business?” she scoffs, and her eyes flare with anger.
Honestly, I don’t know what’s going on with this girl, but she has serious anger issues.
“Before you came here, things were running smoothly, and now you turn up and the professors are acting all weird.” Her nostrils flare, reminding me of a bull about to charge.
“I’ve sacrificed too much to become the head of our class, and I won’t have you messing it all up and making a joke out of everything. ”
I go to stand, but Paiton comes up behind me. Her hand slams down on my shoulder, keeping me kneeling as she clicks her tongue disapprovingly.
My heart stutters. I’d figured Satine would want to scare me, but panic starts filtering into my veins. Kenzie had warned me that some of the students will do anything to make sure they’re the ones who come out ahead. It’s funny what the prospect of power and immortality can do to a person.
“Pssh.” I make a dismissive face. “You have nothing to worry about. I’m no one.” I’m trying to appease her ego, but I know better than to think it’ll work.
Her eyes glitter. “You’re quite right,” she muses. “I won’t have anything to worry about. At least, not when I’m done with you.” Reaching at her side, she slides out a single, wicked dagger.
“Careful,” Tarlaz rasps in my head. “This one’s more dangerous than I thought.”
“You think?” I mutter back, still salty that the shadows hadn’t warned me the moment they’d detected Satine and her minions. Not that it probably would have helped.
I try to stand again, but Paiton holds me down, her strength keeping me there.
“Look, I think we got off on the wrong foot,” I start.
“I mean, it’s great that you want to graduate.
From the sounds of it, we could use more shadow warriors, but maybe you could try a different approach?
Perhaps, you could be a little nicer instead?
” With every word I say, Satine’s expression darkens even more, like she’s taking everything I say as a personal attack.
“You have no idea what I’ve been through,” she snarls through clenched teeth.
I struggle against Paiton, trying to stand for a third time. “Okay, maybe not. But if you just?—”
My knees are barely off the floor when searing hot pain burns through my abdomen.
Truthfully, until that moment, I had still thought Satine was all talk.
I stare down in shock, blinking slowly at the blade that’s buried deep in my stomach.
The sharp, tearing pain reminds me of something, and a memory pushes at the edges of my mind, but before I can grasp at it, Satine yanks the knife out.
Blood pours from me, slipping down my stomach and splashing on to the tiles, and the forgotten memory slips away as my knees slam back to the floor.
Instinctively, I press my hands to the wound, watching as my blood trickles through my fingers.
Time seems to stand still, and everything grows silent around me.
There’s so much blood… I mean, it’s not like I haven’t seen my share of war, and blood, and gore, but this is different.
This is my blood. How did I go from being eaten out in an arena to being stabbed in the washroom? My life is so fucked up.
I’m vaguely aware of Satine still standing there with her knife, and a familiar haunting melody begins blaring from a speaker box high up in the corner of the washroom.
“We shouldn’t be late to dinner,” Izzy rushes out, and there’s an uneasy waver in her voice. I’m not na?ve enough to think it’s because she feels bad that I’m bleeding out in front of her.
“She’s right,” Paiton adds quickly. “I’ve heard that a few of the professors will be attending again tonight.”
Satine curses, though I swear her hand is trembling. Then again, my vision is starting to blur, so it could just be my imagination.
A circle of red is around me now, blood swirling with the water on the floor, making pretty patterns. I have the random thought that Blake will be so pissed at me when she hears I died like this, then I remind myself that she’ll probably never find out, and that just makes me sad.
Paiton removes her hand from my shoulder, taking a step away from me, and I sway on my knees.
“I’m really doing you a favor. You never would have survived until graduation anyway,” Satine tells me, though she needs to work on her pep talks, because she doesn’t sound that convinced herself. “It’s better to end your misery now.”
“Gee thanks,” I murmur sarcastically, but Satine isn’t listening. The three of them hastily leave the washroom, eager to get to dinner before the professors.
When they’re gone, I shuffle breathlessly on my knees, getting even closer to the bench. Come on, Shade. Gripping the end of the wooden bench, I try to lift myself up, but my arm buckles, and soon the tiled floor is rushing at me. And then all I see is red.
“Hold on, girl,” Elgen’s voice is the last thing I hear. “Help is coming.”