CELINE'S POV
I stared at the guard in shock. "He said that?"
"Yes, so please go away before I make you go."
I spun around, my hands shaking. Eryx had helped me in the hall. Why did he insist I should not be allowed to see him?
Guilt weighed on my shoulders as I walked through the somewhat empty school. Everyone was at dinner, and I glanced at the hall. The smell of meat wafted to my nose, making my mouth water. I go the opposite way instead, heading for the training room.
The training room was even bigger than I expected. A long black painted wall with mahogany wood, big windows lined up in perfect height, and a single chandelier that was off in the middle. All sorts of weapons lined the walls, from swords to chains. Knight armour hung, with one in a glass case. I touched all of it, my mind reeling from seeing so many weapons in one room.
I found a bucket and a mop and started scrubbing the floors. After a few minutes, I stopped, my eyes going back to the wall.
Losing one wouldn't hurt.
My heart called out to a particular sword with red and green rimmings. I pulled it out of its sheath, the steel glinting in the dark. I had never swung a sword before; those were weapons only accessible to the nobles.
I widened my feet a bit. As a maid, I had a bad habit of spying, so I had seen the nobles practice a lot with it. It could not be so hard, if lord Deric could swing it too. The sword felt heavier than I had expected, but I still gritted my teeth, raising it till it was eye level.
I made a stab in the air, the way I had seen a million times, but my feet hit the bucket, causing me to fall and the sword slip out of my hands, landing a few feet away from my legs.Gracious heavens. I quickly stood up, grabbed it and put it back in place. I returned to my bucket, my stomach growling from hunger as my strength depleted.
"I need a distraction," I mumbled. My mind goes to a song, and I hum beneath my breath, my hands tired while I had only gone halfway through with the cleaning.
Just like I materialised, I heard someone call out my name. "Celine," Kiera sing songed. "Celine?"
I stuck my head out a window. " I am here."
Kiera walked into the training room. "Wow."
I looked up at her. "I know. It's so big." I said.
"No, I meant wow, I thought there was no way you would be starting your punishment this early, but I was clearly wrong. What is wrong with you?" she asked, dragging a stool from the side to sit down.
"geez, maybe not this distraction," I mumbled.
"What did you say?"
"Why are you not in the dining room? Everyone is having dinner, but I deflected the question.
"I am not really much of an eater," she answered, shrugging. "Besides, I figured you would need company, seeing you were the only one punished for something that could have happened to anybody."
"But it happened to me," I replied, swishing the water, "imagine my luck."
"Plus, the food was not great, I mean, I grew up on a farm, right? We slaughtered a pig for dinner and drank fresh milk. I think the meat was killed days ago," she whispered, as if we were not alone. "I was in charge of cleaning the meat," Kiera continued, sighing, "and looking after my three younger sisters. They were so rowdy, but I guess at that age, what should I expect?"
I bob my head, nodding to her ramblings. "Are you scared about the ascension?"
"Not really," I replied. "Are you?"
"A bit," she answered. "With your display in the hall, I think you are as strong as the princes. I have not seen a light so bright, and yours burns," she whispered. "I assumed you would be scared."
"It does not matter," I said honestly. " I came here to win the Ascension. That is all I plan to do."
Kiera clapped. "I admire you," she said. "I already know I am going to fail, but I figure even if I do, I might make some friends here," she smiled at me.
My eyes watered, but I blinked it away. "Thanks for that," I said, hiding my choked sob behind a short laugh. "I really hope you make a lot of friends. You deserve that."
"Oh, your water is no longer foamy," Kiera announced, getting up. "Let me go get some for you. I should have some spare in my room.."
She sprinted away before I could tell her not to bother. I chuckled to myself, finally alone with my thoughts. It was so lovely to come to this academy, and all you wanted were people that you could be close to.
I continued cleaning the floor, my eyes adjusting to the darkness. The sounds from the hall spilled over to here, and I wished I could be there, away from the sound of my mother forbidding me to come here.
The air grew colder suddenly. I straightened up and looked outside. The leaves of the trees were calm, but my neck still tingled, like there was someone in here, someone standing behind me.
I spun fast, a soft gasp escaping my lips. Cassian stood at my back, his breathing even, his eyes dark. When had he entered the room? Why was he staring at me like that, like I was a rabbit he wanted to chase?
Before I could scream, his hands circled my neck, lifting me by my throat, and he moved so quickly I almost passed out, slamming me against the wall.
I cried out, in shock and pain, throwing me off balance. Before I could mutter a quick question, asking what he wanted, he slammed me again, his grip tightening as he bared his fangs in my face.