Page 8 of Spark of Sorcery

I feel a darkness fall across my face, one she must read.

“She manufactured it, manipulated things somehow, didn’t she?” she says. “I was told I’d been in the maze for two hours.”

“Two hours,” I repeat, my voice catching in my throat.

How did Veronica do it? How the hell did she do it?

And why? She knew I would find out. Is that why? A provocation? A warning shot?

“She seemed to be under the impression I was keeping secrets from her and she tried to force those secrets from me with violence.”

A deep growl rumbles in my chest as heat pours through my soul. “How?”

A shiver transcends down her spine and she senses the danger, even if she doesn’t register it.

“With lightning.”

My eyes flick across her face. Those aren’t bruises. They are burn marks.

“I will kill her,” I whisper.

“Why?” she says. “Why are you going to kill her?”

I scowl at her. “You know why.”

She tilts her head to one side. “Do I?”

The sound of her heart pounds against my ear drums, and the rush of her blood all around her body is like the fierce rapids of a river. Even the whisper of her breath is like a yell in the silence of my room.

Behind her, the fire cracks. She waits for me to speak and when I don’t, she turns her head to stare back into the flames.

“Wouldn’t it be better if we just reported her?” she says, her voice full of sarcasm. “I mean, I know this academy isfucked up, but surely even teachers aren’t allowed to torture students.”

“Veronica can do whatever the hell she likes,” I mutter.

“But surely the Head–”

“I’ve worked here for years now, Briony, and I’ve not met him once. We all know it’s Madame Bardin who runs the school.”

She shakes her head in disgust. “If the Empress knew–”

“And how exactly would she find out? And even by some miracle, you were to get a message to the Court, whom do you think the Empress would believe? Some girl from Slate or the woman she has placed her trust in running the academy?”

“I know,” she snaps. “I’m not stupid, Professor. I know how the system works. I know it doesn’t give a shit about someone like me. That doesn’t mean that I have to be happy about it. Happy that any moment she could come for me again.”

“I won’t let that happen,” I whisper, and the earnestness in my tone has her turning her face back towards mine. “I won’t let her hurt you again.”

“I don’t see how you can promise that. You said it yourself – she’s untouchable.”

Which is correct. Veronica is untouchable if you’re prepared to stick to the rules, if you aren’t prepared to risk your own position and your own life. But I know in that cold heart of mine, I’d be prepared to risk both to keep this girl safe.

“Are you hurt, Briony?” I ask her.

She hesitates and then shakes her head. I tut in annoyance and let the shadows stream from my fingers towards her.

“You don’t have to …” she begins but the words are lost to a sigh, her eyelids drooping closed as my magic connects with her skin and steals away all the pain and brings it into me instead. I feel the burn of electricity, the stab of it through my body and my muscles, I smell burning in my nose. But it isn’t the only hurt; sharp thorns slash at my skin and a monster, its fangs drooling with foam, chases me through the maze.

I let the pain ravish my body, not moving, not making a sound, simply watching as the pain leaves her face, the creases on her brow melting away, the hardness of her jaw softening.