The tears she held back began to fall, and her lip quivered. “What if Zyacus was lying to protect Aric?” Her voice was barely audible through her wavering, breaking voice. “What if… what if…” she couldn’t go on.
My own eyes stung at the possibility she could be right. That Aric was this monster who drinks blood to survive, the person who killed Finnick. Zyacus could have lied, and he had been so adamant on knowing what happened when Aric touched me. He already suspected I had other gifts because of my parents, what if he thought I saw Aric for what he truly was?
I closed the book and replaced it on the shelf. “What are you going to do?”
Shaking her head, Legacy dropped her face into her palms. “I don’t know.” She looked back up at me with a tear-soaked face. “He never felt… cold when I touched him. I just don’t know if he could be one of those things. He’s so—kind.”
I tapped my finger on the hilt of my sword. “Cold blooded animals aren’t always cold. Their bodies adjust to the temperature of their environment.” I pursed my lips for a moment. “Literally the only thing we have to suspect is that birthmark—”
“It’s a human skull,” Legacy blurted. “It doesn’t get much more sinister. The blood drinkers who can go into daylight will be marked by magic. That’s what the book said.”
I didn’t want to admit she was right. “Maybe we should give it some time before—”
“No, I’m breaking up with him and then we can tell Madison and your Papa what he is.”
I shook my head. “I already told her my suspicions and she doesn’t think he’s a monster. If we want to figure it out, we’re on our own.” Without another word, Legacy hurried out of the book cove and started down the ramp. I jogged after her. “You’re breaking up with him right now?”
The glare on her face would have been answer enough. “Yes, I can’t kiss someone, or even be near someone that may have murdered Finnick right in front of us and then pretended like nothing happened. Thankfully we don’t have classes together.”
“What are you going to tell him?”
Her face was set in a rage and I didn’t think there was any convincing her that we could be wrong. “I’ll tell him that it’s over. Period. I’m not even going to talk to him in person, I’m sending him a note.”
If we were wrong then Aric would have a broken heart and might be fated to die but if we were right, then my vision when Aric and I touched was more likely to be my death than his. I felt like I might throw up.
∞∞∞
After the whispered spell and paper burned in the flames of the candle, I expected Aric to write back to ask why at the very least, but there was no return note. Maybe he needed more time or maybe he’d approach her in person demanding an explanation. That’s probably what I would do in his situation. All she wrote was:
It’s over between us Aric. Please leave me alone.
Legacy
Even with suspecting what he might be, I still felt sorry for him. All he’d ever been was nice and fun, a friend. I walked up the stairs looking for an open spot for us. I had been right, most of the academy gathered here, hundreds of bodies filled the stands. “Do you see Taz or Lora anywhere?” I asked.
Legacy shook her head, her usual exuberance diminished.
“Oh, there’s an opening,” I said. We squeezed in between a group of Hesstian and Delhoon students on a bench in the fighting arena, an indoor colosseum in the underground level of the academy. It was nearly bright as day with the white light magic orbs floating above.
I looked over when the boy beside me bumped my shoulder. He was switching spots with someone nearby. My eyes widened when the blue-uniformed, dark hair boy turned around and smiled.
“Hello, Princess. Didn’t expect you to wind up next to me,” Zyacus said.
“I didn’t expect to either.” I snuck a look at Legacy. I wondered if he’d spoken to Aric since she sent the breakup note. Had I known Zyacus was nearby this spot I’d have gone elsewhere to avoid that conversation.
“Oh, and here I thought you picked this spot because of me.”
“Hardly,” I said.
He smirked as if he enjoyed my rudeness, then offered a paper, “It lists who’s fighting tonight.”
I guessed he hadn’t spoken with Aric otherwise he’d surely say something. He wasn’t the type to keep quiet about his opinions. I took the roster and as I read the list of names I knew some of the Delhoon students. Conner Goldheart, he was the best from my academy in Delmar, Delhoon. Destiny Darva, she would do well too. Others I read sounded familiar but I couldn’t remember their faces.
Zyacus leaned over, and lightly cleared his throat. “Who do you think takes this tournament?”
I glanced down at the paper in my hands. “Conner Goldheart.”
“You seem pretty confident in that.”
“I’ve seen him fight in Delhoon.” The first two contenders stepped into the ring to meet Madison at the center. “Who do you think will win?”
“Someone from Delhoon, as much as I hate to admit it. Your kingdom has been at this a long time. So I’ll go with Conner, too.” He turned to his friend, “Put me down for five on Conner Goldheart.” His friend wrote on a piece of paper that when the ink set in, it disappeared. It would go to a larger betting scroll that someone had set up and the coins that Zyacus dropped in the pouch would also be spelled to go to a large pot somewhere. This way no one could back out of their bets or
