The Mistress

Chapter 8

It seemed to be a rather sleepless night, considering the fact of earlier events. The large doors of the training room, swing on their hinges as I push one open carelessly. It seems so much bigger than usual. It was as if that a whole other sector was opened and revealed to our souls. As the familiar surroundings fill my eyes. I notice that there is are a couple of a rather large swimming pool and training pool. Above the pools, a simple, rather big timer is situated above them in a menacing manner. There are also a few of the small tanks filled to the brim with water, those of which we were in for the previous challenge. And next to these tanks there are yet more timers. One for each tank. Thirteen tanks, thirteen timers. One for each person, as it was before. Theo is seated in a large black leather chair with the orange stipe along the side, to match every outfit in the room. He spins around like every villain is stereotypically associated with.

"I have been expecting you" he clasps his hands together and swings around, an evil grin upon his face, he then begins to laugh "You know I have been wanting to that for a while! Well, students, welcome to challenge five, you have test within the next few minutes-" Makenna interrupts Theo and roars: "TEST?! WHY DO WE HAVE A TEST? NO ONE HAD EVER INFORMED US ABOUT A TEST!"

"Makenna, I am informing you now, please go and get changed into your swimsuits, and meet back here in four minutes twelve seconds." Each of us in turn, step towards the tanks again with seats placed by them with our swimming gear placed upon them. There is a mad rush of students as they rush to get into their costumes, pull on their goggles and attach themselves to the weights and chains. It was eminently clear that the air was full of a nervous energy and almost silent mutters were shared between few of us, in order to take away the edge of the fear. I took my swimsuit and change into it. As I walk towards the centre of the room, I feel James' eyes upon my back. I turn slowly to the left, in the direction from where I know James is situated. He smiles and pretends that he was not staring. This made me grin foolishly to myself. As the last of us reaches the centre, silence is golden once more. The only sounds are that of the water in the tanks and the pools sloshing up against the sides gently, and that of the generators to warm the water slightly, and finally, the sounds of breathing and energy from the lights above, buzzing loudly, well they seemed to be buzzing loudly at least! My heat is thudding in my ears as it sinks in that we still do not know what the challenge is. As Theo steps forward into the middle of the circle, I feel my pulse rising to a level of which I thought it were possible not. "Students, now that you are all changed, the instructions of which I am about to give you are very important. Before your task is issued, however, there is one thing that no one has warned you about, if what it takes for you to be 'expelled' from BlueBlood. So I am telling you now. If you fail a challenge thrice, or if you fail three challenges separately then I am afraid, you will be no longer a student here." The silence that followed was both tense and eerie, it was even worse for me, considering the fact that I had basically failed one, leaving me with only two more chances. And if these fail, then I am done for. No more BlueBlood. No more dormitories. No more Marigold. No more Jadis. No more Makenna. No more Mistress. Though the one that strikes me hardest is the last, a thought that has haunted my darkest thoughts ever since we met. No more James.

"Students" Theo's voice is to be heard once more. "May you please step into your tanks, you shall be tested for the amount of time to hold one's breath. The same challenge as you took before your change in body. This is just a precaution that we must take a glance at, in order to make sure that it has indeed worked, and that there is no further rejection taking place inside. Once the klaxon sounds you shall delve into the water and remain under until you can take it no more. Good luck. You will need it." I haul myself over the side of the tank and begin to float just above the surface of the water. My heart is so loud that I fear that I will be unable to her the klaxon over its noisiness. If it were not for my eye sight I would barely have noticed James in the opposing tank struggling to make contact with anyone. It was obvious that he was fearful, you could just tell by the looks in his eyes. Those deep pits, full to the brim with fear and anxiety. Theo holds up the klaxon so everyone can see. Taking in deep breaths, I wait until the last moment until taking in my final breath as the klaxon sounds.

The cool, blue yet transparent water, covers my body, sweeping over my head, I try not to look up at the water flowing swiftly above and around my anatomy. It is a simple test. All you have to do is hold your breath. Simple. Really simple. Laughably simple. The question is, how long for? Gods knows how long has passed since I first let the weight pull me down to the bottom of the tank. It is only as this thought crosses my mind, that I feel the strain upon my lungs, I need air, I have the need to breathe, though I can't, just five more seconds. I plead to myself. I barely noticed the others sitting upon their chairs, cold, wet and shivering as I were still floating around in the water aimlessly. As those five seconds come to a close, I allow myself to slowly rise to the surface. The craving for fresh oxygen has become to big, I need to get out. I push up and out of the water. Taking in a little water as I breathe in the sweet air. Choking a little, I hold onto the sides of the tank and cough up the rest of the water that has seemingly made its way into the base of my lungs. Once my coughing fit ceases, I pull myself over the sides and drop to the floor, picking up my towel and attempting to dry myself a little. I sit upon the little black chair and look up at the timer, that is situated by the chair. I stare at it blankly, failing to really register the time upon its face.

Theo grabs my arm from what seems to be from out of nowhere, and says "Iris, come with me immediately" I am so confused, feeling the stares upon the others faces I question Theo.

"Have I done something wrong? Did I fail? Do I have to retake? Oh no I have to retake don't I?" His grip tightens and his walking pace quickens, resulting with the original walking speed to quicken to a slow run. We exit the training room and turn a corner where he backs me up into it and releases his grip, beads of sweat have formed upon his brow, and he is stressed.

"Iris, do you know what it means?"

"What does what means?" The only logical explanation that I could have said there.

"What your time means?!"

"No, what was my time again?"

"Iris, you were over the average by two minutes fifty-five seconds. That is longer than the average human can last without essentially losing their life. Iris, Salem was right, you are special. Now that the class has witnessed your actions, you cannot let anyone else know. You just keep quiet. Pretend it was fluke."

"I don't understand Theo, what was bad about my time, you still haven't told me what it was either?!"

"Seven minutes fifty-five seconds. Iris, seven minutes, fifty-five seconds, that is almost eight minutes! Gods knows how you did that!"

"Theo...."

"Iris, do you even know how exposed you have now become?"

"No I-"

"Good. Get back to your friends, and say nothing of this conversation. Well done." He turns on his right heel and begins to walk away from the training room.

"But Theo, I still do not understand! Theo, THEO!"

"Class dismissed!" He shouts and continues in the opposing direction. He gave me no answers, just yet more questions. And so he left me to ponder upon my own thoughts, actions and his words.