Wicked Games Academy

CHAPTER 15

Knowing that I was not only wanting Clive for a friend made me disappointed in myself. I knew he was attractive and that day we swam together I was peeking at him whenever I could, and it stirred up something in me seeing him kiss another man.

The truth is I wanted Clive, what was there to do? And we were lovers at that point, but I didn't want to gloss over how I'd hurt Clive.

We went on another mission that week, breaking into an abandoned house's cellar to capture three rebels. It was enemy territory but we both agreed to break in through the front.

The three rebels standing in the dark immediately screamed as I lit up my lantern and they pulled out weapons. My rage front last week rekindled against these rebels and Clive was back to back with me as we fought them. There was a flurry as they ran to us in their last screams and we slashed through them with swords this time.

Usually I took my rapier but tonight got me thinking swords were much, much more useful.

We stood over each dead body, then both of us were standing over the last one.

"He looks like he's only seventeen," I said to Clive. It was quiet on his side. "Clive, I'm sorry about everything. I'll never say such hurtful things again."

Clive scoffed. "You can't promise that. Maybe one day you would get possessive again and lose it and kill me."

"Hey!" I barked. "You're the one who smacked my head!"

"Because you hurt me!"

"Because you kissed someone that's not me! I was hurt too!" I argued, glaring at him.

Both of us were blinking hard at each other to not be the first to cry and then Clive turned away. He sniffled quietly into his cape and I hugged him. I remember the nights we hugged one another through sheets or even at the dormitory and felt so nostalgic.

"I won't kiss them then," Clive whispered nasally.

"I won't say anything hurtful about this matter," I agreed.

"Are we lovers again?"

"Of course."

"My muscles ache. I was sparring seriously against you all week long."

"No wonder, we really ended it fast, didn't we?" I asked as I sheathed the swords. "I guess we improved."

"Then I'll start sparring seriously against you," Clive said, wiping his tears and giving me a look I couldn't quite read. Eyes narrowed, lips set in a line. Was he glaring at me, or just looking at me through a semi glare?

It wasn't like the smiling Clive I was used to.

"Are you mad?" I ventured softly.

"No." His answer was strangely quick and devoid of a smile. I decided to not ask about it anymore.

We walked home, this time both of us dripping blood as we walked back. Due to the snow outside we wore thick boots and pulled our capes tightly around us as our horses made their way back.

The journey back to Graycotts must have been only ten minutes or so, but we used to talk—or Clive would talk, and it usually was fun. After the initial mission going home was a relief in contrast.

Only now, going home was disturbingly quiet and made the murders continue to weigh on my mind. I hadn't even had time to look over the men I'd killed, and say say a short prayer in my mind. I only have thought of the last men, the one who asked for a kiss. His eyes had seemed so alive and bright that night, I remembered. He really did seem as though he had saw an Angel of Death.