Jamie shrugged noncommittally. Experience told him that this might quickly descend into one of Gemma’s rants about her family – one of the few subjects on which she had little to no perspective. He deemed it prudent to change the subject.
“Have you noticed that Eva sneaks out at night? I noticed it the last couple of nights when I couldn’t sleep.” He asked innocently.
Gemma snorted, showering him with muffin crumbs. She choked and gasped for air. Astonished, Jamie gave her a couple of firm slaps on the back.
“Sorry, I’m fine.” She choked out. “And no I haven’t gone mad. It’s just that I forget you’re new here and you aren’t privy to all the sordid gossip.”
“Gossip?” He asked, confused.
“Yes – the really juicy kind. Eva is sleeping with Marcus.”
Now it was his turn to choke.
“What?” He gasped eventually.
Gemma grinned, “Yup, she sneaks around like she’s protecting a state secret, but actually it’s just about the worst kept secret here. Basically on par with the one about Master Marais and the bottle of brandy he keeps locked in his drawer, adding it to his coffee between classes.”
“Ok, but back up – Eva and Marcus? He must be at least fifteen years older.”
“More like twenty-five years older…”
“How long has this been going on for?”
“She’d been after him for years, but to be fair, I don’t think they actually started sleeping together until she turned eighteen and it became legal. Marcus is such an uptight ass that he probably couldn’t bear to break such an important law.”
“God…” Jamie whispered, completely stunned.
Eva and Marcus…
He generally prided himself at being able to read people, being able to form accurate impressions quickly – it was the secret to making friends. But this particular bombshell had managed to sail right over the top of his head.
“Jason hates it…” Gemma added thoughtfully.
“Jason?” He asked.
That had been another major surprise, second only to finding out that Eva had entered the Trials. Marcus’ quiet and capable assistant was in fact only nineteen years old, making him eligible for this year’s Elemental Trials. Jason proved to be a powerful Inferno, both deadly and accurate.
Jamie had quickly pegged him as being the strongest competition – and he wasn’t wrong: Jason was widely accepted as the favorite to win the whole thing.
“Haven’t you noticed that Jason doesn’t ever speak to Eva?”
“I didn’t think Jason ever spoke to anyone…”
Gemma rolled her eyes, “You’re right – he is an bad-tempered prick, but he takes it to a whole new level with Eva.”
“Why does he care? Surely you’re not suggesting he’s jealous? That he wants Marcus for himself?”
“Oh God no – Jason’s female conquests are well documented. In case you haven’t noticed – well, he’s rather easy on the eye. So there is no shortage of girls falling over themselves to get to him. No – I think Jason just doesn’t approve. In my opinion, he believes Eva isn’t worthy of Marcus’ position, that it would hurt Marcus’ standing if the secret got out.” Gemma shrugged, “I guess he’s not far wrong – I’m pretty sure my parents would have a fit if they found out that the Elemental High Master was sleeping with one of the Trial participants.”
Jamie detected just the slightest bitterness as Gemma spoke of Jason and his conquests, “You didn’t… with Jason?” He asked hesitantly.
Gemma shrugged again; the gesture was both charming and self-deprecating. “Am I that transparent? You don’t need to be so polite – I fell for his charms, for one stupid night a year ago. It turns out I’m no different to any of his other silly conquests.”
Jamie wasn’t sure how he was supposed to respond to that. This was quickly descending into ‘girl-talk’ territory, one that he wasn’t particularly comfortable with. “Come on, don’t be so hard on yourself. If we don’t make mistakes in our teens, when are we supposed to make them?”
“I guess… But I can’t help thinking life would be better if I didn’t make that particular mistake…” She was twiddling with a frayed thread on her bedspread; it was obviously a more painful memory that she made it out to be. “Sometimes I just wish I could meet someone great, someone I thought I could spend the rest of my life with – like you and Allyra.”
Jamie’s face clouded over. He hadn’t tried to hide it; there wasn’t really any point. Everyone had known before he even set foot in the dormitory that he was only there because of Allyra.
She was it for him – soul mate, love of his life and all manner of other cheesy movie terms – but what would he be if she died? He couldn’t even bear to think about it.
“Ugh, I’m sorry – I’ve completely dampened the mood.” Gemma said with an exaggerated grimace, noticing his desolate expression. “Forget it – let’s go shoot some arrows in the Arena. Maybe I’ll ‘lose control’ of one and it’ll stab Jason through his icy heart…”
“If only it were that simple…” Jamie replied, glad to be distracted.
“No? Probably not – but a girl can dream right?”
Chapter 12 – Allyra
Whatever understanding Allyra had reached with Alex that first night on Sanctuary Hill evaporated as soon as he started training her. He transformed back into the lethal, unpredictable person she’d run into during those first few horrific minutes as she entered the Between.
As a teacher he was rigid and uncompromising, interested only in improving her skills, making her better or more. He was deaf to her complaints and blind to her suffering.
Alex was as good as his word and training began as soon as she jolted awake the next morning, her throat raw from a half swallowed scream as her mind struggled to make its way back to
