Celine's POV
My knees scraped against the rocky floor, but I couldn't stop. Short breaths escaped my lips, and my hand finally found what I was searching for in the darkness.
There was a feeling around my ankle, and soon, I was dragged down by it. "Ugh," I groaned, hitting my head on the ground hard enough, but I didn't stop. I drove the stake straight into the heart of the vampire, a guttural scream escaping my lips.
He looked shocked. Blood cascaded down his open lips, dripping into my mouth, but I pushed the stick deeper, hearing the sickening squelch of his cold, dead heart.
I pushed his collapsed body away from me. Ugh, I deserved this, I cursed internally. Why could I not wait till dawn? Instead, I willingly put myself in danger, making myself prey for vampires.
Maybe I should turn back. I pushed myself up, wiping the vampires' spittle and blood away from my face. My ankle and knees hurt from where he had grabbed me and the scraping against the ground, and I had a raging headache. I was sure the back of my skirt would be torn, but I couldn't focus on that now.
It was still dark, and where there was one vampire, there was more.
I pulled the stick out of his chest. Sighing, I wiped it with the back of my skirt. Going back now was not an option; I had already received the guards by the wall and bypassed the witches' spells protecting the walls, and I knew I wouldn't be so lucky to do it again.
No, right now, I have to hide. Just until it's morning, then I can continue my journey.
This vampire has to have come from somewhere. I walked slowly, my fist tight around the stick, my ears sharp just in case I got attacked again.
There was music. I stumbled towards the sound, a sign of relief escaped me when I saw it was coming from a Tavern. Bright yellow lights shine from the windows, and the smell of cheap ale knocked my breath out.
It was perfect.
I walked inside, tucking my stick close. A girl wearing a skirt with no top knocked against me a bit, sloshing drinks to her bare body, but I did not wait to apologize. My eyes scanned the people, looking for non-hostile people.
Even here, everyone was clearly separated by some sort of ranking. My eyes landed on a table in the back, with two similar faces and high, pointed ears.
"Can I join your company?"
The twin fae nodded. "Why yes," one said, laughing. "We have been telling stories from our land," he slurred. There were at least six cups on the table, and the maid was coming with another tray.
I sat down next to them, settling my back against the wall. They keep talking about themselves in a loud, boisterous manner, causing everyone to laugh a bit.
I nod occasionally, my eyes heavy. The weight of the stick is still heavy in my palms, and I closed my eyes, just wanting to sleep for a while.
"Wake up."
What? I thought. Was someone there?
"Wake up," the person said again. I felt a tap on my shoulder, and I lunged up, my heart racing. "What's going on?" I asked, my stick outstretched.
"It's morning," the man said, turning away from me. I had fallen asleep, sitting down at the table. "Where, where am I?"
The man looked back at me. "Toma," he hissed. "Are you lost?"
Toma. Toma was the last town before the Academy. No wonder I was so exhausted. How did I manage to go that fast? "No," I finally replied to him. "Thank you for your kindness."
I grabbed my satchel and left the tavern, the sun burning my skin. People moved slowly, talking amongst themselves so I joined them, following them into the small town market.
Everything was so strange. I tried to keep my gaze low, and I felt a drool on my chin when I saw a man pass by with what seemed to be perfectly roasted pheasants. The smell of pepper and cloves, along with a sweet honey spice, filled the air, and the market was the busiest I had ever seen.
Toma was the meeting point for most races. Fae, Vampires, Shifters. Everyone was here. Everything was so big, so loud. Two shifters were beating themselves up in a pulp, their claws extended in a half shift, while bystanders placed bets on who would win.
My stomach rumbled, but I kept moving forward, pushing my feet in front. Finally, I saw a kind face. "Hello, ma'am," I said, standing in front of the older woman.
"Yes, child. The bangles go for just three frakh."
I looked down at her beautiful selection. "Sorry, I just wanted directions to the academy."
She glanced up at me. I stretched my lips a bit, hoping I did not look as crazy as I felt. "Go west, through fae quarters."
I bowed slightly. "Thank you."
I followed her directions, and soon, the street was polished clean. Fae had a reputation for loving extravagant things, but I loved how neat they were. Their streets were spotless, and the air smelled cleaner even. I walked through calmly, tugging my hood around my face so I would not questioned. I can sense a tug in my centers, the powers that shaped and built this city, the ones that ran it.
They felt the same, like the day they snatched my father's powers from his body. I ignored the tingling in my neck and walked faster, needing to be out before someone pointed the dirty girl in their clean space.
Finally, I saw the gate to the forest. Surprisingly, the twins from last night were there, talking to a lady. "How can you say you are lost?" She chastised them. "This is the third time."
"Yeah, and we have been going in circles," one of the twins said to her. "Please, can you tell us the way?"
"How do you expect to even make it through the trials?" the old lady asked. They were going to the academy too, I thought, passing them slowly.
They did not smell like nobles. Their clothes were clean, but that was it. Middle class, maybe, but they were not rich. The older lady they were talking to got up from her stool, and she tripped on something.
One of the twins caught her with ease. "You should be careful," he said. She nodded and shook her head. "I am tempted to adopt you both as my travel companions, but I cannot trust two strangers," she sighed.
I stood close to the wall, listening to them. "Hey," one called out, pointing at me. "Do we know you?"
I had been found. "No, You don't."
The twin walked to where I stood. "I think I do. You are so familiar," he said, running his hands through his dark hair. "Do you know where the academy is?"
Should I tell them? Isn't eliminating a few competitors now good?
"Through that gate," I nudged. "You have to go through the forests of Aevril."
"Thanks," the Twin smiled. I walked away, keeping my head low, when I suddenly heard applause behind me.
I turned back, and sure enough, the twins were performing magic. Apples floated up from a cart, and everyone was standing, clapping for them. I stared at it in shock, the ease in their faces, and I felt a sharp pang in my chest.
I turned and started walking away. They had magic, I had none. They were already leading, and I had to get to the academy faster.
I am almost at the forest line when suddenly, I am lifted into the air. "Oh heavens," I shrieked. In the same moment, I was placed back down, but I was no longer on my feet.
"What just happened?" I asked, my eyes wide. I turned to my side, staring into the smug face of one of the twins. The other sat on the opposite side of what seemed to be a moving cart.
"We decided to offer you a ride," the one I was certain had lifted me said. "For giving us directions."
"By that, you lifted me into your carriage? What happened to asking me and allowing me to enter on my own request?"
He dared to smile. "You didn't seem like the type of girl to say yes," he shrugged. "I am Otto, my brother is Felix."
I looked at his thin frame. "How are you that strong?"
"Maybe you are just weak," he snapped back. I sulked and settled back in the seat, my head still woozy from being in the air.
"I cannot believe the spell worked so easily," Felix said. "You know, the floating apples," he said to me. "My brother and I, that's our specialty. We can make different potions that do anything we want."
I rolled my eyes. "Including making apples float?"
Otto laughed. "How bizarre. No, you have the power of telekinesis."
"Yeah, that's impressive," I snorted.
"You sound like people in the village. They say we should stick to medicine. Potions are meant to make people well," Felix said. "We don't think so."
"They think we are dumb," Otto laughed. "My brother and I, yet we have our wits. Do you remember that time when—"
I listened to them drone on again about the fun they had, all the pranks they pulled. They seemed so carefree and unbothered. Soon, I was laughing at their tales, and my worries dissipated slowly.
"We're here," Otto said, peeping outside the carriage. "My God, it is huge."
I pushed my head out of the moving carriage, and sure enough, through the thick cloud and fog that surrounded it, I saw the very top of a building.
The Academy.