The Echoes of Rivalry & Ruin (The Acamancy Series I)

Chapter 38: Embers After the Flames

The first day of Sparring was even better than I imagined. Damon overheard all about Paxxon's failed attempt to get the other Emmie a replacement for Specials. Despite his cries to his father about how his frail little heart is broken at the thought of her frail little body standing a chance in the tournament, she is fair game during AEEs. Damon is willing to bet that Pelena or I will face her at some point early on, and even if not, he wants us to go far, so he took to working with us. Damon took me under his wing, and convinced Bradley to do the same for Pele. I don't have much experience fighting, growing up Bradley and Damon would wrestle and play-fight all of the time, and I would watch. They never let me play any games with them, so they weren't going to actually let me fight too, but on occasion i got to referee their matches, so i had some idea on what a fighting stance looked like.

Pele struggled more than I did from the start, which of course played in my favor and made me look better. Cindi is a natural fighter, and was even able to take on Jagger and the twins and hold her own for day one. Sparring may have never been a Specials category in AEEs in Acamancy history, and it may not be a course for the Am-c students, but it's nothing new around here. Fam-ac students take sparring lessons weeking in Year 2 so Cindi has a lot of practice already. As a Year One, I don't have much exposure, but occasionally in our BattleField courses we will do some hand to hand combat to give the grounds a rest from all the fire damage. So I was able to handle some punching bag warm-ups, and some slow mo practice sparring matches against Pele and Phoebe. I like my chances against any Year One girl, and even a few of the boys, and Damon was impressed. I call week one a major win.

Damon and I have been hot and cold lately. With how few and far between our Am-c visits have been, we haven't seen Emalyn much. Damon is more distant when she's not around, or when others at Fam-ac are around, but we have our moments. I haven't gotten him to take me to bed just yet, but we've had a few make-up sessions when we are alone. I have been trying to use our relationship to get insider Flamer Information, but he still pushes me out of meetings. He knows all it takes is a wink and a little,

"I'll see you later Emmie Love."

And I melt and run off, giving the boys the space they seek. But following sparring, Damon has been in such a great mood I have decided to press my luck once again.

I follow the boys into the community room and plot down on the couch. I decide that if i dont sit in Damon's lap, like usual, or even right next to him maybe i can get away with him not noticing me. I sit next to the ever-silent twins, on the opposite of the couch from Damon but out of his line of sight. Jagger and Blaze stroll in, neither taking notice of my presence, as they all begin to have side conversations about their odds at winning Sparring. I keep to myself and hope to remain undetected so I can finally figure out what is going on between Damon and Paxxon, and therefore Damon and Emalyne. 

I'm not jealous of the other Emmie. I don't feel threatened by her, or anyone, Dam and I have something real, something special, it's not just a game like Emalyne is. But I still feel this unquenchable thirst for knowledge on their rivalry.

"Ashbluff, did you tell Jag what you told me," Blaze asks, breaking off the side talk and bringing the group into focus.

Looks like I have successfully landed a spot in my first meeting of The Flamers afterall.

"I was getting to that but you assholes are always too busy comparing dick sizes to get into actual important business matters," Damon remarks.

"Oh so that's the way to get your attention, then? Okay well since everyone is finally ready to listen, I have confirmed my suspicions that something is going on with my dad and fucking Philips."

I am so glued to every word that I have to brace myself on the edge of the couch I am sitting on to avoid falling flat on my face. I am inching closer to the edge, and to Damon, with every word out of his mouth.