Page 60 of Trivium

“Since the first day. Ahmina never goes to lectures without her textbooks.” His lopsided smile appeared as he said her name. “She’s such a stress case like that. But I couldn’t ask you until we were alone.”

Zeina looked around; there were no other students or creatures in sight.

“Plus,” he continued, stepping toward her. “Ahmina is failing Alchemy, and you’re the best in our class.”

He was almost close enough to grab her. To capture her.

So, Zeina did the only thing she knew how to.

She launched her dagger as hard as she could into the soft flesh of Lennox’s thigh, and she ran.

She ran until her lungs burned and her legs cramped. Even as she heard his groan carry through the trees, she didn’t look back.

She ran and ran and ran.

43

AHMINA

Ahmina, Rory, and Kit had been walking for hours and still hadn’t come across a single creature. Water leaked into Ahmina’s boots and her socks were drenched, squishing with every step. “I think we should head back. We’re almost out of time.”

The three of them sat down on a fallen log to rest. Ahmina thought about taking off her boots to drain the water, but it seemed pointless. Mist clung to her hair, making the curly strands that had fallen from her braids stick to her neck. But worse than discomfort, the weather shrouded the landscape in fog, making the entire journey feel eerie.

This was it.

Her last chance to prove herself. If she failed this assessment, she would be ordered to leave the Academy by morning.

Her teeth ached from tension in her jaw, and she rubbed the side of her cheek as she watched Kit and Rory beside her. Ahmina had been so focused on her own shortcomings, she had barely noticed how close Rory had become with her Combat partner from day one. Was she really that horrible of a friend? Had she been so blind, so self-centered, she missed her best friend falling in love? Kit was a large man with a tough exterior. Like all Slayers, he had a formidable, unshakable level of confidence. But next to Rory, he looked childlike, giggling freely at whatever crass joke she had made.

Of course they could sit and laugh; their entire future didn’t hang on this assessment alone. Rory had been given a pass on the first assessment. Technically, she walked back and completed the assignment. While Ahmina received a failing grade because she returned unconscious. And while Rory was determined to do well on this assessment, it wasn’t critical. Ahmina sighed. She was happy for Rory; she deserved to be happy.

She checked her watch again, counting down the minutes to when they had to return—until this would all be over and she would have to accept her fate. It was then, as she watched the tiny hand tick, that she felt the shadows descend from the tress. At first, she couldn’t make out what she was seeing, the fog a thick disguise. But as they drew closer, the shadows took shape.

Slyfoxes.

All three of them were already on their feet, weapons ready. Ahmina glanced at Rory. Her smile was quickly replaced with narrowed eyes and a set jaw. Kit mirrored Rory, assessing the situation as the pack surrounded them, leaving no opening for escape. The three of them pivoted, their backs to each other.

“Lying Slyfoxes,” she yelled over their yipping and yowling. “They show up and disappear again, faster than human eyes can follow.” Before she finished her sentence, the foxes had already moved, popping up in the trees above them.

“They came out of nowhere,” Rory said, her eyes darting.

“It’s all you, girls,” Kit said confidently. “My orders are to prevent you from dying; otherwise, your kills are on you.”

A few of the foxes had materialized on the ground again, their dark rusted fur damp from the rain. They ran, taunting them as they wove through the bushes, their bristling copper tails slapping the leaves as they went.

“What’s their magical ability? Illusion, right?” Rory asked, as she attempted to slash her dagger at one of them. It disappeared, resurfacing above them in the canopy.

“Yeah! They create illusions to confuse you,” Ahmina said, her breath ragged. Was it just in her mind, or were the foxes multiplying? Rory’s attempts at wounding them were fruitless, and they flew from the trees to the ground repeatedly. Every time Ahmina spotted one, it disappeared, and another fox showed up in its place within seconds. It was starting to make her dizzy.

“Kill them!” Rory yelled over the foxes' cries. “At least one!”

“I know!”

Ahmina tossed her chakram at one, its razor edge splitting bark, but the fox was gone in the blink of an eye. Behind her, Rory had the same amount of luck. The Slyfoxes closed in on them.

Out of nowhere, Lennox appeared from the trees.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” he said before letting out a loud, odd whistle. The whole thing felt surreal, and Ahmina started to question if she was imagining it. Slyfoxes make you see things that aren’t real.