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Glacial Ruins

EMILIA

T he Ophiuchus constellation blared down as the Sphere filled with students from both Luna and Veneficus. The golden serpent writhing in the bearer’s hands while sunlight pierced through its belly. Hardly anyone looked up, and if they did, they didn’t care.

This was my cue to leave. I’d been in the Sphere all day for Kinetic Arts training. My progress was abysmal. I could hardly lift a feather, while the rest of my classmates were whirling heavy objects around like nothing. The Air Priestess, Eliza, said I was “blocked”. When I’d pressed the issue and asked for advice on unblocking myself, she’d merely told me to “go within.”

The strength it had taken to not roll my eyes into another dimension left me dog-tired. That, and the fact that I had zero desire to watch or compete in elemental duels with the Veneficus boys. I had yet to participate, and my debut wouldn’t be today. The empty library was calling my name.

I had dreamed about vampires last night, which had stuck with me all day. So, I took it as a sign to put in some time studying “Underworlders”. I’d burned myself out with astrology lore anyway. The stars were confusing, mischievous bastards. I grabbed my water bottle and took a quick look around to make sure no one was watching me before I darted toward the exit and—

A magnetic tug latched onto my spine and reefed me backward.

I soared through the air before hitting the ground hard . The wind knocked right out of me, leaving me aimlessly gasping, staring up at the dome ceiling in bleak confusion.

The new Fire Priestess, Tianlong, who went by Tia, appeared in my line of vision.

She was exactly how you’d imagine a master of fire to be—striking, hard, intimidating. Her hair was as black and straight as mine, though hers hung well beyond her hips. She wore red robes covered in gold Chinese dragons.

Her dark glare stabbed into mine. “You are staying.”

“But—”

“In fact, you are first up in the ring. Get up, Morningstar. The match starts in three minutes.”

Fuck. My. Life.

I forced myself to sit up, my spine aching. Only now did I notice that the Sphere had fallen silent. Everyone had just watched that—and they were still watching. My cheeks filled with horrible heat. I kept my eyes down, swallowing hard as I rose to my feet.

“Shit! Are you okay?” Destiny was right there, her hands on my arms, helping me up.

I fought the urge to swat her away. “I’m fine.”

I cursed my decision to return to Luna Academy as I stepped into the Elemental Ring. What had I been thinking? My heart was pounding loud enough to drown out the noise, and my vision had blurred and doubled, making the ogling faces an intelligible mush. I thought about the window in my bedroom back home, and how snow was probably falling outside of it.

Was Michael here? Would he be watching this?

I didn’t dare to look around and see for myself.

“And who will volunteer to face off with Emilia Morningstar?” The Fire Priestess’s voice rang through the Sphere, thick with a challenge.

The lack of eager responses drew my attention back down to Earth. This time, I did dare to look around. I saw nothing but apprehensive faces, with their eyes down and their mouths shut for the first time in their wretched lives.

No one wanted to fight me.

I barked a laugh. I hadn’t meant to but it tumbled out all the same.

A smirking face stood out to me now. Venus St. Claire. When we locked eyes, she winked at me. It made my heart stutter a little.

I thought she was about to join me up here, but another spoke out.

“I will.” He was tall, blond, and beefy. The murmuring crowd parted for him as he made his way up. He stepped into the ring, towering over me. His blue eyes were bright and smug as they scathed over me, sizing me up like a piece of meat.

I grimaced and took a step back.

“Wonderful!” The Fire Priestess chimed. “Jasper Lovett. Third year fireling. Versus Emilia Morningstar, first year waterling.”

A third-year? Dread pooled in my stomach. I had never dueled anyone one-on-one before. No one besides Destiny, and we were best friends—our duels were more like a playful dance, not a fight. The guy standing before me now did not want to dance. He wanted to drop me in front of everyone and walk away a haughty winner. And my Celestial nature was roaring to the surface now because I did not want to let that happen.

I had no idea how to wield my magic against someone enough to win, but not enough to kill my opponent.

So, I would either lose miserably or end this fool’s life.

It was terrifying that the latter appealed to me more.

I waited for the signal to start.

He didn’t.

A blast of fire came at me, bright and spinning. I shrieked and I leaped to the side, avoiding the blaze by a hair. The hot wind of it burned my arm, setting my heart into a frantic race. He gave me no time to recoup before he sent another one at my freaking face.

I dodged it, and he sent another. Then another.

“Block with your element, Emilia!” the Fire Priestess scorned.

Jasper moved closer to me, his face etched with determination as he cast two flaming cyclones from his staff at me. I shot my hands out defensively, conjuring a sheet of ice that intercepted his fire. Our elements clashed between us and turned to hissing steam. This pissed Jasper off. He grunted and cast endless balls of flame at me, which I consistently blocked with ice shields.

“Fight back!”

“Fight back, Emilia!”

The crowd shouted at me, egging me on, begging me to conjure attacks of my own.

Oh, you guys really want to see me cast spears of ice through this guy’s heart?!

Or flash-freeze him and shatter him into a thousand pieces like I had done to the vampires on Hallows Eve…

“Yeah, Emilia, fight back ,” Jasper taunted, his pointed staff hurling flames at me.

Tempting.

I continued to cast shields, disappointing everyone, including my sweaty opponent.

My mind reeled, trying to come up with an attack that would have an impact but not a fatal one. Tiny glass-like ice shards to the chest? That could work. Or maybe just one giant sheet to knock him on his ass and give me a moment to breathe.

But I didn’t trust myself.

Every fiber of my being wanted to unleash a hailstorm, but here was no way I could deliver something controlled and precise.

And every time I got close to surrendering to the dark, hungry impulse inside me, my sister’s face flashed in my mind.

If I were to succumb to the desire to win and I took it too far, it would only make things worse for my sister.

If I proved myself to be a monster it would be the final nail in Nyx’s coffin.

She would disagree with me wholeheartedly, I knew. She would insist I give Jasper Lovett my worst. I could practically hear her voice in my ear. “Who cares if they have to carry him out half-alive? That’s the Celestial way! He chose to fight you! END HIM!”

I grunted, and cast another shield.

“Fuck!” Jasper growled. His fire fizzled out as he dropped his staff to his side and relaxed his shoulders, stepping away from me. “She’s not fighting back. This is pointless.”

Murmurs rippled through the Sphere.

I breathed hard, not looking at the crowd.

“Fine,” the Fire Priestess called out. “The match is over. Next up is…”

I stepped out of the ring, my head swimming. Some people were booing me. Their voices ricocheted off of me. All they cared about was a good show and I hadn’t given them one.

A headache was now manifesting behind my eyes, my limbs heavy and throbbing. Jasper walked away with a puffed out chest, his eyes extra bright.

I was drained, and he was teeming with magic— my magic. When two Celestials fight, the would winner walk away having grown in power, and the loser was sucked dry. I hated that I’d let that fucker win, but it was better than the alternative. Maybe.

“Emilia.”

My head snapped up. Michael’s dark eyes awaited mine.

Everything stopped. My ears rang.

The look on his beautiful face gutted me. It was nuanced, both pitiful and proud. The roaring in my head drowned out the next words that left his lips. I watched as they moved, though, that silver ring catching the sunlight spilling on us.

He was speaking to me, but his words fell on deaf ears.

“I have to go,” I said, darting away from him, through the crowd.

A wall of fire ignited in front of the exit, forbidding me from leaving. I turned, my entire body vibrating with annoyance. The Fire Priestess was staring at me, shaking her head slowly.

I was forced to stay and watch the rest of the duels. Forced to stay and endure the judgmental side-eyes and harsh whispers.

They all assumed I was scared. Weak.

They were only half right.

Destiny stuck by my side, but she didn’t bother trying to make conversation. Her support was her presence and that was enough.

An internal nudge had my gaze sweeping to my left, where it collided with Venus St. Claire. Clad in her red fighting leathers, she stood with Bianca and Cassi, her arms crossed over her chest. The smirk that tugged her crimson lips made my stomach knot.

The Fire Priestess announced that the session was over and we were free to go. A moment I’d been dying for, but now I made no move to leave.

Venus muttered something that made the other two girls scatter. Then she cocked her head to the side, beckoning me over.

My throat bobbed. I looked to Destiny, who clearly disapproved.

I wasn’t in the mood for any more drama and if I didn’t oblige Venus, that was exactly what I’d get. Begrudgingly, I walked over to her, her smirk growing as I did so.

“Your performance was impressive,” she purred sardonically.

“What do you want?”

“Ouch. Why so snippy?”

“Hmm, let’s see. Maybe because you’ve had me and my friends viciously assaulted multiple times. Forced me into an ‘alliance’ I don’t trust. I also hate the way you look at me.”

She cocked a red brow, dark amusement shining in her eyes. The way a cat might look at a mouse trapped in its claws. “How do I look at you?”

“Like that!” I wailed, exasperated.

She chuckled. “Relax, little minx. I realize I have been harsh with you in the past. I want to make amends. We just need to get to know each other better. I’m not as beastly as some of the things I’ve done. Sit with me tonight at dinner.”

I stared at her, waiting for the punchline. As the seconds ticked by, I realized she wasn’t joking.

I sighed and crossed my arms. “I’m not going to dinner.”

Venus rolled her eyes. “Your little hermit era needs to end. Now. It makes you look weak. You need to show up.”

“I don’t remember asking for your advice.”

“Call it a charitable donation, then.” She stepped closer to me, the scent of cherry incense wafting off of her. “Come to dinner tonight. Sit with me. Show them—” Her eyes flicked over my shoulder and I followed where she looked. Everyone in the Sphere was watching us. “—That you’re not the timid little mouse you were when you first came to this academy. That you’re a formidable creature forming formidable bonds.”

“I don’t care what they think about me.”

“Well, you should. Power is everything. And these two hands?” I jumped at the bolt of electricity that shot through me when she reached out and grabbed my fingers, turning my hands so my palms were facing upward. “Despite the way you held back today, these hands are capable of turning LA into glacial ruins.”

My heart pounded against my ribs. Venus’s words infiltrated my mind, planting a seed deep within me that was destined to grow into a force I wasn’t sure I could handle. I yanked my hands out of her grasp. My skin tingled in the wake of her touch.

“Your sister’s absence makes them feel too safe. Too important. Fill that void, Little Morningstar. Put them in their place.”