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“Where do you novices think you’re going?” Hondros clapped a hand on Theron’s shoulder. “Food will be served inclass this morning for the next ten minutes. I suggest you make haste.”
There was nothing to be done about it. We followed Hondros to the lessons wing—the guys looking way more put out about it than was necessary.
“Really, Daciana, you can go swimming tonight,” I told her.
She was making her way down the food table at the back of class, but her plate was loaded with stuff I knew she hated. She wasn’t paying a lick of attention in favor of staring at Hondros and the door, the door and Hondros, as if wondering if she could make a run for it without him noticing.
Someone bumped into me from behind.
“Oh, sorry.” Sebastian smiled at me—no trace of his trademark smirk anywhere to be found. “Are you okay...?”
“Aella,” I filled in.
“Of course, Kayla. Nice to meet you,” he said, enthusiastically shaking my hand. “You’re pretty.”
I blinked. “Um, thanks, but it’s Aella.”
I said that to his back. He was already walking off.
Shaking my head, I turned back to Daciana. “Anyway, it’s not a big deal. The lake isn’t going anywhere.”
“It is a big deal,” she said softly. “I’m sorry, Aella. You’re going through a hard time right now. All I want to do is help, but I don’t know how.”
I frowned—at her... and myself. I was exhausted, hungry, stressed, and heartbroken. Now I had a shitty heaping of guilt on top of it. Daciana was worried about being a good friend to me after I spent three days ignoring her. “I don’t need help,” said my undereye bags and ratty hair. “I’m fine.”
“You will be fine.” She squeezed my arm. “It’s hard now, but I promise, you can get through this.”
I swallowed hard, lips trembling. There it was. Another nick in my heart. “Thank—”
“Why does the wolf say these things? What does she know?” Selene barked, shattering the nice moment. “I warned you, girl. You believe because you’re out there and I’m in here that you can test me? You believe my words are to be ignored? Well, if you will not hear me, you will hear this.”
A scream tore through my eardrum. Loud, piercing, familiar, and not Selene’s.
“Mom!”
My plate slipped through my fingers, crashing on the floor. I grabbed the bracelet and half shoved it in my mouth, crying, “Mom? Mom, are you all right? Can you hear me? Mom!”
Silence reigned. From the bracelet, and from the room.
I snapped up, latching on to the wide, incredulous eyes of everyone who saw me freak out and shout into my wrist.
“What the fuck’s wrong with her?” someone whispered.
“Freak.”
“Madwoman.”
“Crazy.”
I shrank, eyes welling. I hated that word. I really, really hated that word.
“Wow. That was a freakish bid for attention.” Sirena clapped, drawing every eye off me. Any other day and any other person, I might have thanked her. “Everyone, up here. I have an announcement.”
I rocked back on my butt, slumping on the floor and trying not to cry. That was my mom. No question. Two years couldn’t make me forget her voice. Twenty years wouldn’t do it. I was so tired, so stressed, working so hard, and Selene was hurting my mom for my failure.
Why should now be any different? I didn’t save her back then. I just stood there while they stole Mom away. Now I’m just sitting here crying on the fucking floor when Mom needs me.
My parents gave me the wrong name. Useless little shit is much more fitting than little warrior.
