Page 37 of Fractured Fates

Like this morning, a sports kit awaits me in the changing room, hanging on a peg. A label with my name declares it’s mine, but someone has scrubbed that out and written ‘pig girl’ over the top.

I roll my eyes. Seriously? That’s as original as they can get?

Not reacting to the insult, despite all the whispering and giggling, I take off my hideous uniform and dress in the equally hideous sports kit. The shorts are skin tight and so is the top, fashioned from some shiny lycra that clings to every part of my body. It looks great on the bouncing bunnies, emphasizing all their impressive curves. All it emphasizes on me is my jutting out hip bones and the fact that, unlike everyone else, I’m not wearing a thong. Yep, my panty line is definitely on display.

Winnie takes my hand when we’re both dressed and leads me out into the huge gymnasium.

“Don’t look so scared. Old Coach Hank is actually one of the nicest teachers here, once you get past his bark that is.”

“I’m not scared,” I tell her, just wishing everyone would stop staring at me like I’m some kind of freak. I glance up into the air wondering if I really do have a sign above my head and touch my nose to ensure that snout hasn’t returned.

Winnie leads me over to a group of waiting students. The bouncing bunnies, still styling their hair, aren’t here yet, but it looks like the boys are. And oh, I wasn’t wrong about this lycra not hiding much. I can see every lump –everylump – every butt crack, and every hard-ridged muscle. And oh my lord there are a lot of muscles on display. The men in this college must spend an awful lot of their time working out. I suppose that’s hardly surprising since we’re here to be trained as elite magicals who can one day defend this country if called upon.

As I glance over all the unfamiliar faces, I spot the huge guy and the prince from this morning, and it seems hideously unfair that two people could look that good in such unforgiving material.

An older squat man, with graying hair, waits in front of the group, tapping his foot and glancing at his watch. Then he spots me and beckons me forward.

He takes me to one side. “You’re the new girl.”

“Yes, Rhianna.”

“Nice to meet you, Rhianna. I’m Coach Hank.” He offers me his hand – the first person who has – and I shake it, grimacing slightly as he squeezes my fingers. “I hear you’ve had no official educational training. Were you taught any combat skills?”

“Yes,” I say, happy there’s something at last that I can feel confident about.

“And non-magical combat?”

“Non-magical? What like martial arts?” I chuckle.

“Yes,” he says, no trace of amusement.

My smile drops. “No, none.”

He crosses his arms and nods, clearly thinking. Then he calls over to the group. “Spencer, can you come here, please?”

The huge dude, who looks almost the size of a bear, jogs over to us.

“Yes, Coach,” he says.

“Rhianna here has had no physical combat training, which means she can’t join in with the lesson today.” Spencer glances my way like I must have landed here from an alien planet. Which I sort of did. “I’d like you to run through some basic maneuvers and holds with her.”

“When?”

“Now.”

Spencer groans. “Really, Coach. It’s–”

“You’re my best student at this, Spencer. Best member of our dueling team,” he says to me before turning back to Spencer. “Missing one or two lessons won’t hurt you like it will hurt the others. Besides, I can think of no better person to teach Rhianna here.” He slaps Spencer on the shoulder and points towards some mats in the corner. “You can get started over there.”

Mats? I don’t like the idea of that.

Spencer lets out an irritated huff of air and scowls at me as Coach Hank returns to the other pupils. “Why the fuck don’t you know any combat?”

I shrug. “Because I never learned it.”

“Fucking ridiculous,” he mutters, stomping off in the direction of the mats. Reluctantly I follow, peering over my shoulder and catching the bouncing bunnies scowling at me too. I smile and wave at them sweetly. Then pick up my feet and join Spencer over by the mats.

He peers towards the group of students too, watching as they file out of the gymnasium with Coach Hank, leaving the two of us alone in the echoey space.