Dancing Darkness

- chapter nine

"You're going to love Violet. She's smart and stubborn. Reminds me a lot of you, actually. You just have to remember when you meet her; she's not her mother." — RECOVERED CORRESPONDENCE OF CADET LIAM MAIRI TO SLOANE MAIRI.
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Sloane stared out of the metal-lined carnival glass, the moons light warping her face into a mask of oranges and golds and greens and reds that mixed together to change her cold expression into something warm; something I haven't seen on her face before.
My jaw tightens on its own— why do I care?
Because she's my teammate and might affect my performance.
That's it.
I tilt my chin up, looking down my nose at her. "Clean yourself up before training tomorrow," my monotone reply is foreign— colder than usual. "Don't make a bad impression on the first month here, Mairi."
Her eyes are digging into the back of my skull as I turn on my heel, stalking back towards the women's chambers.
But as I toss in the too-small cot and watch the sun rise again, I can't stop thinking about her eyes.
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Aaric is so nervous he could puke. I stand at the side of the wide black mat, watching Sawyer beat the ever-loving shit out of his opponent. I had finally remembered most of the relatively important people's names, and they were not just a blur of faces now.
It's a guy from Second Wing, and it takes almost no time for him to get him into a headlock, cutting off his air supply. It's a move I had seen him teach some of the other new recruits— and forced him to drill into Sloane.
"He makes it look so easy," Sloane says to Aaric as he stands at her side, a scowl on his face.
He scrunches his nose at her. "He makes it look easy because it isn't that hard," Aaric bumps her on the shoulder. "You're just slow."
She bared her teeth at him, and I took a discreet step between them. I didn't want to break them apart like a few days ago, when we all had been partnered for a research project. I never want to work with those— pardon my language— dumbasses again.
"Their going to try to kill you." Aaric murmurs, sending a pointed look to a few mats over.
I glance up.
It's Xaden's posey. They don't know me— yet. If he spots me here, which he will eventually do, they will especially try to cut my head off. If they want to try.
"Who?" I said sarcastically, letting my attention fall back on Ridoc and the man from Second Wing.
"Your opponent, obviously," Sloane drawls. "I overheard Imogen and a few.. friends."
I quirk a brow at her, my lips quirking at the corners because of her sarcasm.
That damn mouth..
Her eyes narrow. "Everyone thinks you're a liability to the wing thanks to the rumors there spreading faster than live." She shakes her head, blonde hair swishing with the movement. Alaric's gaze snaps back to Garrick, who's sizing me up like I'm a fox that walked into a hen house.
But the familiar twinkle in his eyes makes me grin.
"They won't believe that for much longer," I countered, because that's my mantra for the rest of this year. I only have a five daggers on me, and if Luck chooses to be on my side today, I'll have one more to add to my collection.
The Second Wing second-year passes out, and Ridoc rises victorious as we clap. Then he leans over his opponent and removed the dagger at his side. "Looks like this is mine now— enjoy your nap." This remark makes Sloane chuckle.
"Not sure why you're laughing, Mairi," a sneering voice calls out from behind me.
I twist around and see a women from First Wing— I believe her name is Elara.. Elira?— standing with her feet apart against the wood-planked wall about ten feet away, wearing a smile that can only be described as pure evil.
"Fuck off, Armani." Sloane gifts him the middle finger.
My eyes narrow slightly, my hand slowly reaching for a dagger strapped against my waist. Well, I was, until Aaric grabbed ahold of my hand, shaking his head rapidly.
"I hope you win todays challenge," Her eyes dance with a sadistic glee. "It would be a shame for someone else to kill you before I get the chance. But I wouldn't be surprised. Mairi's are such breakable things, don't you think?"
I saw when the verbal blow hit Sloane.
She snarled, the sound sadistic. "You bitch," she whispered. "I going to—" I grabbed her waist, holding her in palace as she attempted to jump out of my hold and murder El.. you know what, I'm not going to try to remember.
I'll remember her face anyways.
I shove Sloane towards Aaric, who has to force himself in-front of her just to make her pause.
One of my daggers are unsheathed before I can blink, and I flick it in her general direction in one fell swoop.
It doesn't matter if I hit her, it's the warning that I want to get across.
Fear widens her eyes as she moves away quick enough for it to graze her ear, the blade almost hitting the left of her skull.
I stalk forward to retrieve my dagger, which is now protruding out of the wall. My hands clasp around the worn handle as I lean down so close that my lips graze Armani's bloodied ear.
"Touch a hair on her head again and I will show you what happens when you touch what is mine." I growl in her ear.
I feel the tremble in her shoulders as I tug my dagger out of the wall, turn on my heel, and walk back to my post near Sloane and Aaric.
I attempt to focus on the new fight, but I don't miss the way Sloane shamelessly grins at Armani, wiggling her fingers in a mocking wave.
"Eralynn," Aaric hisses as Armani steps away from the wall.
"You'll pay for that." She points at me and stalks off, but the rude and fall of her shoulders is a little choppy.
Fear is a motivating factor.
It motivates people to stay away.
Aaric looks astonished. "What the hell was that?" He whisper shouts, shifting to Sloane after being on the receiving end of my glare. "I told you to lay low when it comes to those other cadets, and you..." He just stares at Sloane like she's stupid— which is still up for debate. "You just piss then off  even more?"
"Laying low wasn't getting me anywhere," she says with a shrug as Rhiannon's opponent is carried off the mat. "She needs to realize I can bite back." Determination laces all of her words.
"Sorrengail." Professor Emetterio glances at his notebook and raises one bushy black brow before continuing. "And.. Riorson."
I feel all the cadets in the room shift their attention towards me.
It's amazing how invisible you can be when you hide in the darkness for all your classes.
I watch Sorrengail swallow, her Adam's apple bobbing. I step onto the mat opposite Sorrengail, who looks a bit pale. I don't blame her— I have atleast a foot on her. But that doesn't mean I can underestimate her.
She's a Sorrengail, after all.
I've prepared the best I can, wrapping my hands so I can throw punches if needed.
"Don't take this personally," she says as we start to circle, both of our hands raised. A slight quirk is on one side of her mouth. "But you'll only be a problem for the wing— no. The academy."
I feel one of my eyes-brows raise. "Do you think that I cannot beat you, Violet Sorrengail?"
She hesitates for a moment. "Yes."
A wild grin streaks across my face. "Underestimate me," I murmur, teeth flashing.

"That'll be fun."