Page 4 of A University of Betrayal

“Kendall’s Return”

Nicholas Britell

“She’s still unconscious. The only thing we know is that she survived it.”

Margot’s gaze lingered on me after she finished the sentence. It was only a fleeting glance, the kind she always gave me. Many words were hidden behind it, and to this day, what she didn’t say remained a mystery to me.

Then she picked up her wine glass and drank, looking at Amara.

“The bite has healed,” my aunt began, looking thoughtfully at the black candlesticks that adorned the richly laden table. “She’s strong.”

All I knew about Bayla Adams was that she had been attacked and badly injured by a feral Ruisangor on the night of October 31st.

“Apparently, stronger than many others within the Circle,” Amara continued and Ivy, who was still far too young for such matters, had to grin in my direction, whereupon Grace gave her a warning look.

“It’s time she officially becomes part of us.”

Amara looked at us all with a serious expression.

I could sense her concern, which had been drifting through this house like a thundercloud for three days. I didn’t know Amara like this because she usually managed to keep everything together with her calm nature. But if there was one thing she didn’t like at all, it was a change of plan – unknown events like this.

“That would require the rite of passage to work,” Margot remarked with unease.

“But it doesn’t,” Grace replied harshly. She had been tense the whole time. You could actually say that the whole house was suffering from the tension of its inhabitants. In moments like this, I sensed unfamiliarity. We had all known each other forever, yet it seemed as if I knew nothing about them. And they knew nothing about me.

“It will work.” Amara sighed as she put the glass down again. “Gloria and the Councils have already taken notice. They’re putting targeted pressure on us, which means wehaveto act. Bayla Adams will participate in the rite of passage again under your guidance.”

I looked in surprise at Amara as she looked back at Grace, who paused, stunned.

“I... I’m not even...”

“I wasn’t ready at your age either, and yet I had to do what was necessary to protect our Circle.”

Amara hadn’t said much about her youth, but we all knew that her and Margot’s mother had passed away at an early age, leaving Amara with a lot of responsibility. She had only been twenty years old.

“But...” Grace wanted to begin, but Amara interrupted her.

“Grace.You’re old enough.”

“It’s arite of passage,”Grace blurted out indignantly.

“I had to lead my first rite of passage when I was seventeen.” Amara sounded impatient, probably because it wasn’t usual for Grace to argue when it came to the Circle. At least not in front of all of us at the dinner table.

“I’m so glad I’ll never have to do this,” Ivy snorted, putting down her fork. She was the only one finished, which was because Amara, Grace, and Margot usually led the conversations and I rarely got much down. Especially right now. My stomach was constantly tingling, and I was so focused on making sure my body didn’t unexpectedly take control of this strange magic inside me.

I looked down at my fingers, which were nervously playing with each other, their tips blue. Since the meeting with Erik, a slight shimmer had been growing beneath my skin whenever my body threatened to lose control. Magic coursing through my veins. An intoxicating feeling, but one that I couldn’t allow.

“Ivy, it is an honor to serve the goddess Moenia. Grace was given a special task with her calling,” Margot said calmly to her niece.

But Ivy was right. I couldn’t imagine anything harder than taking over the leadership of a Circle. So many duties, hardly any rest. You were the center of attention and weren’t allowed to make any mistakes, because one misstep could mean the downfall of the entire community. In other words, it was a position in which I would fail miserably.

“I don’t feel ready yet...” Grace tried again.

“You’re going to perform this ritual. And with that, I would like to end this discussion.” Amara did not allow anyone to argue with her when it came to decisions concerning the Circle.Never.

“Mum…”

I looked at Grace in surprise because she had never broken the sister rule before, even telling Ivy off when she didn’t follow it. But the fact thatshewas now addressing Amara familiarly and that as the predicted chosen one of the prophecy and as a future Domini...