Within their dreams (Reverse Harem)

Chapter 30

Ivy's POV

"Rise and shine little girl."

My eyes barely flutter open before a boot meets the soft tissue of my stomach and I fall from the window ledge, landing on the hard wooden floors with a thud. I double over in pain, unable to catch my breath as I bring my knees to my chest to avoid another blow. From the floor, all I focus on is the female shoes standing over me. I cast my gaze up higher, up her slender frame covered in a midnight blue that's almost black. Dark leaves are embroidered in metallic thread, almost invisible unless bathed in sunlight. When my eyes rest on her face, I see she's one of the elders who waited at the door for me yesterday. Her face seems young, barely in her thirties but her eyes show her true age. As I stare at her, I wonder how many children it took for her to retain her youthful exterior. Ten? A hundred? I shudder, wincing at the bruise that's surely forming between my ribcage.

"Up," she commands but doesn't bother waiting for me to right myself. She takes a strong grip on my arm and drags me from the room as I attempt to bring air back into my lungs. The sharp sting of pain from her nails digging into my upper arm helps distract me from the ache whenever I inhale, but only slightly.

I'm brought to another room, this one slightly bigger than the room I was made to sleep in, but just as ominous. One side of the wall is covered in a large cabinet filled with various herbs and jars of weird liquids. On the other side is a long table with books piled high, yellow with age reminding me of the books Willow used to carry. Among them is also a collection of instruments that make ice drops of fear tingle through my fingertips. Dark spatters cover the ground in odd patterns that make my stomach twist. A lone chair sits in the corner of the room yet I'm directed to the center. There are no windows in this room.

From behind me, I hear another person enter the room and my spine stiffens.

"Thank you, Erica," Simon murmurs in a low voice. She nods at him, finally releasing her harsh grip on me. I assume she will leave, but she simply backs a few steps away from me, her eyes downcast, hands clasped together in front of her.

"I trust you slept well?" He asks. "You will need your strength for what we'll be doing today."

"I slept just fine," I say, my eyes straying to Erica as another tinge of pain hits me.

He regards me thoroughly, taking in my messy hair and crumpled clothes, still in only Owen's shirt. I tug it lower, humiliation heating my cheeks. One of my hands holds my stomach protectively and I think I spot a small smirk pulling at his lips.

"Erica, go find Ivy something to wear, this is clearly inappropriate attire for training in." She nods again and leaves the room so it is just us.

"What will we be doing?" I ask but he waves a hand, making his way to the chair and sitting down comfortably.

"All will be revealed in time. But what's most important is understanding how much power you hold and how much of it you're able to control independently. No one marked for sacrifice has evaded us before or had their abilities buried away for so long. Children in the coven begin honing their craft from infancy and yet you've had access to your full capabilities for what, a month a most?"

I stay silent as a cold smile takes over his face, showing far too much teeth.

"Tell me, have you practised your craft at all?"

"I had the support of a witch," I say, not wanting to name Willow directly for fear of bringing her into this mess.

"Hmm, yes. The young one with all the hair. She's not exactly an expert in dealing with someone such as yourself." He leans forward, his hair falling to his forehead, dark eyes gleaming.

"You're a very unique case. Very unique indeed."

Erica steps back in, carrying a small pile of clothes. They don't belong to me but she gives them to me anyway and guides me to a bathroom adjacent. She enters the room with me, staring at me unapologetically. I turn from her to provide myself with as much modesty as possible and tug them on quickly, worried she'll punish me for taking too long. It's a plain black dress that flows to my ankles. The dark fabric becomes translucent black down my arms, with slits down the side so my skin peeks through before gathering at the cuffs. It shows off more of my chest than I'd like, highlighting the swell of my breasts. The bodice is covered in similar embroidery to Erica, with intricate flowers blossoming across the front and disappearing in the lower fabric. The back is fastened with satin buttons and I struggle to do them up myself. I hear Erica huff and stamp over to me, her brutal fingers tugging the sides together as she quickly secures the dress. More than once, her nails scratch at my spine enough to burn but I don't make a sound.

Once she's finished, she drags me back into the room. Simon is still lounging on the chair, regarding me in my new attire. He nods at Erica, who remains at my side but once again turns her eyes to the floor.

"So what exactly will my training entail?"

"Well, I promised your boy toys that I'd keep you in one piece, which I will," he sighs, leaning back in his chair.

"But, the children here are taught a little differently than your friend would've offered you." He stands, fixing his suit. He steps closer, tucking a stray hair behind my ear before I flinch away from him. He simply smiles, as if my hatred amuses him.

He walks over to the table covered in books. Picking one up and flicking through its pages leisurely.

"Make flowers grow in the centre of the room." He doesn't look up from the book as he says it, just tilting his head where he demands my magic to form. I roll my eyes, trying to conjure the vines I created at the ball. The magic crackles down my arms like pins and needles, flowing from my fingers in golden sparks. Wave after wave flows through me, and I feel it tug on me like it's trying to pull me under. I stumble back, holding my arms to my chest as I let the power drain back through me.

In the centre of the room, there's now a huge Oak tree, its branches bent by the ceiling. Leaves cover most of the ceiling, casting shadows in the room. Flowers bloom along the trunk, twining themselves along the bark. I stare at it in awe.

"Nice, but not quite what I asked," Simon tuts, waving a hand towards the tree. It shudders, slowly withering, the leaves and flowers turning black. The tree dies, falling to the floor in a heap of dust that Erica hastily cleans up. Disappointment flares in me.

"Your power is so strong, that it can overwhelm you. If you cannot perform smaller, more intricate spells, you let it take control. But you must always have the upper hand on your own magic." With that, he opens his palm and a single, black rose sprouts from his hand. Just as quickly as it formed, he closes his palm, crushing the flower along with it.

"How can I do that?" I ask, my curiosity overtaking any misgivings I have of him.

"It takes patience and a skill most hone from an early age. You, with so much magic and so little tutelage, are at a disadvantage. Not only must you learn spells that most of the coven learn before they can walk, but you must also learn a far higher level of control. The elders will teach you spells just as I did and you must perform them exactly as instructed. You will also have one on one sessions with me. If you do as asked, you will be rewarded."

"With what exactly?" He smirks at me.

"You would like to see your mates while you're here, yes?"

I narrow my eyes, ignoring the way my heart pounds at the thought of seeing them again.

"And if I perform the spells in the manner I just did?"

His expression turns grim.

"Like I said, I promised you would be returned to the princes in one piece. But I never said that my methods would be completely above board either. We have a rather, extreme lesson plan for you."

I swallow, the drips of fear that I had when I entered the room now pouring down my back like a waterfall.

He puts down the book, nodding at Erica who takes hold of my wrists, binding them together silently. The glow in his eyes brightens.

"Let's begin."