The Crystal Trials

19 Nik

A knock sounded at my door after dinner. I had washed and just pulled a shirt over my head. With wet hair, I answered the door. Ahren was there smiling politely. I peered up at him, confused. From behind him stepped my mother. I glared at her. What was she doing here? Before I could protest, Ahren spoke.

"Your mother and brother arrived a few minutes ago. They have nowhere to go Nik."

I went white, finally seeing my mom's broken nose and black eye. Anger and sympathy waged a war inside me. Mom's eyes filled with tears. I didn't know she could still cry. Her sudden emotions effecting my own. I opened my door more to let them in. I looked for Zayden. Alden was sitting with him on the couches outside our rooms. He winked at me then returned to occupying my brother, creating a lion out of water in midair. My heart clenched. I shut the door behind me, joined my mom and Ahren at my seating area, and waited.

"He came back. Just like you said Nik," my mom sniffed. She attempted to fix her matted hair to no avail. Gods, had I looked like that when I first came to the university? "He found the money you had sent Zay and me. And I fought him this time. I did. But he went after Zay for the first time. And I went crazy. I jumped on his back and punched him in the head and-" she trailed off and cried for a while before continuing. Neither Ahren nor I touched her. "Anyways, he ran off with the money. I grabbed your brother and we walked here with only some of the dried meat you had left us."

I said nothing, still. I didn't know to react. I looked to Ahren for help.

"I offered your mom and brother my apartment still. It's not far from here. Just on the edge of the market. It's one of the few homes not built above a shop. Zayden can finish his Undergrades here and I'm sure Lambert wouldn't mind the extra hands in the clinic." Ahren was so wonderful. I couldn't help myself. I leaned over and hugged him. He went stiff, then relaxed and wrapped his arms around me in a tight squeeze. Mom bawled.

"My friends and I are going shopping for costumes for the Night of Nix tonight in just a few minutes. I can grab you and Zay some things."

"Well, we won't hold you up any longer. I will show your mom and brother to the dining hall for a good meal, dinner should still be out. Then I will bring them to my apartment."

I gave them both another hug before walking to the Prime's common area. Alden was juggling a ball of water making Zayden giggle as he popped them over his head. Alden's usual slicked back knot had come undone and was now falling over the shaved sides of his head. He went from sexy to devastating. His laugh from his own water magic drenching his clothes was joyous and bright.

Zayden finally noticed me and ran to give me a soggy hug. I laughed and held him. He peered up at me with his large knowing eyes and nodded. Everything was going to be ok now. He blinked in understanding and took a deep breath. My brother was safe.

I met the girls in the foyer as planned after changing from my soaked clothes. Down the road of the market commons, I stopped to get a new bag and trashed my old one. Taury grabbed a similar one to hold more books. We both chose beautiful leather ones, but the white one called to me as it matched my gauntlets. Taury's bag matched her deep brown ones.

We window shopped many clothing stores and even went into a few. I bought a couple outfits for Mom and Zayden, finally catching Taury up on the events. She decided to chip in and added some nice toys to the load. At the next shop, Emyr fell in love with a shirt that read "Play with Fire" and Lilta bought some beads for her hair that swirled with trapped water magic.

The first clothing shop dedicated to the Night of Nix that we went in to was catering to dressing like gods and goddesses. The dresses were extravagant and beautiful. We tried a few on without really falling in love with any but feeling the expensive fabrics against our skin was luxurious. Before going to the next shop, we stopped for some sweets and shared our pickings, giggling at the rich flavors as our feet clicked on the white stone ground.

"Look at those," Zither drooled. She was pointing at store with costumes of demons. Seraphina grabbed her hand and yanked her inside. We joined them, licking our fingers clean.

Inside were leather bodices, full skirts, ruffled blouses, and too many accessories to count. The woman running the shop explained that most girls want to dress up as the gods. We grinned accepting the challenge. I found a black striped skirt and leather bodice to match. Wanting to fit the part of demon, I found a red lacy blouse. We took turns trying on demon clothes, excited for the next girl to show off their choices. Seraphina emerged in skintight leather pants and a long coat. Gods. Zither stared. We all did. We told her in chattering excitement that that was the one she was going to wear.

When it was my turn, I looked in the mirror and liked what I saw. My face had filled out and was free of bruises for the first time in years. My ears were starting to peak to a point, just like Ahren had said. The scar on my neck, now white. The stripes on my back couldn't be hidden in the outfit, but I had decided I was done hiding. I walked out and froze. No wonder the girls had gone quiet. The boys had found us.

Dath was looking at me in a way I had never seen before. He was all sex appeal as he devoured my outfit with his eyes. I took a breath of surprise. When did that happen? How had I missed it? He didn't shy away, didn't hide how he felt. It was sudden and new. It was raw and gods it was hot. I smiled back full of sin. He blinked. Then smirked with promise.

"So, you girls aren't going to play fair then?" Alden asked and I tore my attention from Dath.

"Why would we do that?" Rayze challenged.

"Alright," Garren chimed in, "We will be gods then?"

"The best-looking ones," Ameer smoldered at us.

Lilta twisted her braid around her wrist looking sexy, "We will see about that, when you're the ones chasing us down in a couple weeks."

Theboys all growled, their inner animals taking over. The Night of Nix was goingto be fun.