Page 86 of Trivium

She pulled open Loveleena’s wooden nightstand drawer as the smell of the stew that sat atop it met her nostrils. It must have been fresh because it still smelled delicious.

The old Zeina would have inhaled it, grateful for anything of substance. But now that Zeina was well-fed, the urge had lessened. It was still there, though, in the back of her subconscious. A fear of scarcity that could never be unwired. It whispered to her to eat as much as she could because she didn’t know how long she would be without.

She took a deep breath, reminding herself that things were different now.

Inside the drawer sat a wine-colored book with gold inscription. Her reading had improved, but the cursive made it more challenging. The Ancient Untold History of Magic. She sounded it out slowly, piecing together the words.

Zeina had been practicing her reading and learning from the books in the library. Some texts were too complex for her comprehension level, but she tried to read them anyway, absorbing as much as she could. And despite her initial resistance, she had eventually caved and allowed Lennox to help her. She read out loud to him each night before they blew out their candles, and slowly, day by day, it became easier.

But this book drew her in, pulled at her soul, unlike any other book she had laid her hands on. She ran her fingers over the inscription before picking it up and clutching it to her chest.

In its place, she set the truth potion wrapped in a velvet satchel.

Loveleena didn’t seem like someone who would read casually. Surely, she wouldn’t care if Zeina borrowed it just for a little while.

Realising that if she left the potion here, Loveleena would know the book was missing, she pulled it back out of the drawer and placed it under Loveleena’s pillow. She would return the book soon enough anyway, and Loveleena would never know.

Besides, once she lay her head down and felt the glass vial beneath her pillow, a book would be the last thing on her mind.

59

AHMINA

By the time they arrived, the party was in full force. Two men guarded the entrance to the Slayer dorms, and Ahmina recognized them as second-year Slayers who often sat together in the mess hall. Candles had been placed in colourful lamps which lit up the dorms in pink, purple and blue hues, completely transforming the space.

“Bar is on the right, dance floor on the left,” one of the party guards closest to her instructed as they passed by. Behind them, he exchanged a quick dap with Lennox, who had walked Ahmina and Rory over from their dorm. Down the hallway, Ahmina could see people shuffling in and out of several dorm rooms. Music boomed, and as soon as they entered, they were swallowed up by the crowd.

Rory fit in naturally with the Slayers. Combat came easily to her because she had been scrapping with kids twice her size since they could walk. She especially looked the part tonight in her black crop top, leather skirt, and combat boots. Ahmina, on the other hand, looked completely out of place. Now, looking at what everyone else was wearing, she deeply regretted her decision to remain in school uniform.

“I see him. I’ll be right back; stay with Lennox,” Rory said before her auburn hair disappeared into the crowd.

“But—” Rory was already gone. Ahmina could see Kit across the room, towering over most of the crowd. He looked relaxed and lit up with a smile when he spotted Rory coming toward him.

“Yeah, so…” She turned to Lennox, who looked around the room, scoping out the scene. “I need to leave.”

“What do you mean leave? We just got here,” he said, eyes still focused on the crowd.

“Look at me.” She ordered and he turned his head. “I look…” She didn’t want to admit it in front of him. “Stupid.”

His eyes dragged up and down her body, and he rubbed his chin, tilting his head as if trying to decide if he agreed with her or not. “Here.” He grabbed her shirt and tore at the sleeves, before pulling out his dagger.

“What are you doing?” She squirmed.

“Stop being stubborn and let me help you.” He cut the fabric around her ribs, turning her shirt into a crop top. “Now let your hair down.”

“But—” He stepped behind her, fingers working through her braids with unhurried care, sending a shiver up her spine. Time slowed and the room faded as his fingers grazed her neck. He untangled the last three strands and pulled apart each section so that her wavy hair fell around her shoulders. She glanced down, taking in her new look. In seconds, Lennox had transformed her from proper Academy student to hot Slayer girl.

She held the fabric scraps in her hands and looked them over. “I needed this. For a thing called school.”

“We both know you sweet talked the faculty into giving you extra uniforms so that you would have a perfectly pressed outfit for every day of the week. I’m sure you’ll get over it.”

Ahmina scowled at him. “How do you know that?”

Her question unanswered, Lennox took in her appearance. “You look really pretty.”

“Well, you just cut off my clothes,” she said, nodding to the fabric in her hands.

“It’s not that.” He shook his head, his eyes soft. “You look brighter… happier.”