The Prophecy ( The Replacement Trials #1)

Chapter 8

Aura's POV

"Who are you and why are watching me sleep?!" I hear Catarina's screeching through the door to our room and I set down the bags I was carrying that were filled with supplies. Pastries, meat, some fruit, paper and quills to write our plans on and I found a new sketchbook because when I was going off to find a quiet space to draw, I realized I had left the one my therapist gave me back at the Academy. Unfortunately, the dresses weren't a success and we decided it'd be better to wait until we hit Orinia anyway. Putting the key into the lock, I turn it and ease the door open. Getting whacked in the face with pillows or something harder was not in my best interest today. To my utter dismay, I see Collin dangling in the air, pushed against a wall and gripping at his throat, which I can only assume is being blocked off so that he can't breathe, Catarina holding out her hand in his direction and I realized that the idiot was already using her magic.

            "Put him down! You just woke up from being unconscious due to using too much magic and I won't be responsible for your death if you use too much at a time." I cry. She ignores my words but releases Collin when she sees Nimue, completely disregarding her health, she jumps out of bed and barrels into the elf's arms. I'm sure that the adrenaline allowed her to move on her own because the second she hits Nimue's embrace, her body sags and Nimue stumbles slightly from the added weight of the girl in her arms.

            "You're okay! I knew I could save you." She tightens her grip on the girl she had successfully kept alive and swayed slightly in her place, the amount of energy she has scaring me given that she was unconscious not too long ago.

            "Thanks for that by the way. Wouldn't want to die before we got to see any real action. But you totally missed Reina's destruction rampage." Patting the witch on her back, Nimue pulls away after leading her friend to the couch so she could relax, and scratches the back of her neck, obviously uncomfortable with the fact that the young girl we had gotten used to was actually the same age as her. Reina had made her way over to Collin's side and was helping him get up. His face was pale, and his hands shook slightly. Being human in a room full of powerful super naturals couldn't be helping his issue with girls.

            "How you doing over there?" I sent him a small smile, not realizing that my fangs were on full display. I always forget that normal people, by which I mean the non-supernatural inhabitants of Druvolain, aren't used to seeing the traits of magical beings. He cringes back but tells me he feels fine, even if his throat is giving him a little bit of trouble.

            "That's to be expected. Anyway, anyone care to tell me why I woke up to a strange guy watching me sleep?" Catarina side eyes Collin and I can't help but notice that a slight blush has made its way across his cheeks. He was making no attempt to hide his infatuation and I was pretty sure he had a little bit of drool on his chin. Catarina didn't find it as funny as I did, but Nimue sent me a look that said she thought it was hilarious that the bard was harbouring a crush on a powerful witch who could set him on fire should she feel so inclined.

            "I'm Collin, I helped your friends get this room quickly because you were sort of passed out in Aura's arms. But they needed supplies, so I was cool with making sure you didn't self-combust or set someone on fire in your sleep."

            "I wasn't going to set anyone on fire. Geez, you accidentally burn someone's hands to the point where they were almost damaged beyond repair when you were young, and everyone thinks you're a pyromaniac." She grumbles and I can feel my eyes widen. How much power does this girl have? Seeing our expressions, she scoffs.

            "He wasn't even that badly burned. He was only in the hospital a few days. And in my humble opinion he deserved much worse. He brought it on himself, doing the one thing everyone knows not to do! The guy ate my chocolate!" She exclaims, her arms splaying wide in front of her. Clearly the fact that she passed out on the bed not all that long ago hasn't affected her as much as I would've expected. Swinging her legs from side to side as they dangle in the air, since her legs are too short to reach the ground, she stands up and wobbles slightly. Collin races over and catches her arm before she can hit the ground. The scathing look she sends him is enough to make him back off and she slowly walks over to us. I can already see the question in her eyes. She wants to know when we're going to keep travelling and she's hoping we aren't going to bring the human with us. I can understand why he'd be a liability to us. Having to watch out for him and make sure he doesn't die would make our lives more difficult but there's no telling if he'll be useful. For what I'm not sure but it could happen. Sure enough, the second she gets to me, she asks me in a whisper whether we can leave now, and I shake my head minutely. Her face falls and her shoulders slump further.