Alpha Academy: Misfit's Rise

Chapter Twenty-Six: The Leap

They gave me an official date three days before I was supposed to leave, which meant I only had two more to figure out how to change their minds. They didn't even tell me in person. They slipped a note under my door with a brief letter and the date written in big, fancy letters. I must have read those few words and that bold-typed date a million times, as if that could somehow change it.

As far as I was aware, the seniors hadn't attacked Sedna yet either, considering she was still breathing and her skin wasn't covered in burns, but it was only a matter of time. I caught them whispering together a lot, dashing my hopes that they'd realized how insane their plan was and had moved on. I had to be careful though. Helena caught me staring at them a couple times. If I wasn't careful I might be taking Sedna's place.

The best I could do was to hang around the library as well, and at least notice if they ever slipped away sneakily. Not that I had any idea what I would do if that happened. There was no way I was strong enough to stop this eternal fire of theirs, not yet.

Anyway, that was how I found myself spending what could be my last Saturday locked away in the library, frantically trying to figure out how to amplify my magic. I was so caught up in my study, I didn't notice who was sitting in the study room across from me, not until I came up for air.

Lucian was just as absorbed in his book as I was, though I was going to take a stab and guess he wasn't under nearly as much pressure. Seeing him there, completely oblivious to my existence, brought up that familiar burning feeling. There was one thing this equation was missing, one thing that could tip the odds in my favor, but he had made it clear how little he cared about me.

I shouldn't do what I was about to do. I was too angry to think, and it would only make things worse, but three days from now I wouldn't have another chance.

He didn't notice as I got up and walked over to him. He didn't even look up until I threw open the door to his study room and it banged against the wall.

"Billie." To say he looked shocked would have been an understatement. "What are you doing here?"

I didn't answer. I was too focused on keeping my hands from shaking as I stalked forward and threw the notice in front of him.

Eyebrows raised, he slowly grabbed the paper. He scanned over it, and his jaw tightened as he reached the date. At least he had the decency to look guilty.

"You know, Lucian, you are a lot of things, but I didn't think hypocrite was one of them."

He sighed. "Billie, I know you're angry—"

"You make all these big, pretty speeches about how you're different than everyone else here and you don't care what people think about you." I balled my fists so he wouldn't see the way my hands shook, but I couldn't keep the shaking out of my voice. "But when it comes right down to it, you're just as pathetic and self-absorbed as they are."

Something flashed in his eyes, but he did a much better job of controlling himself than I did. "It's not that simple, Billie."

"Oh, I think it is. You couldn't stand the fact that there was something you couldn't do. I was just a reminder of your failure."

There was no missing it this time. His grey eyes looked almost black and he had to take a moment to swallow. I'd struck a nerve with that one. He managed to relax, but his voice was still tight as he said, "Despite what you think, I was in this for you."

If this had been remotely funny I would have laughed. "If you were in this for me you would have been with me these past couple weeks."

"Billie, I told you. It's ov—"