Girl of Dark Flames | DISCONTINUED

Four: Light Like Glass

"May it be a light for you  in dark places when all other lights go out."

- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

―

FOUR: LIGHT LIKE GLASS

The path that we walked upon was beaten, dusty, and well-worn.  Disintegrating footprints lined the path, following our steps.

I pushed a strand of dark hair out of my face.  "What am I supposed to do here?"

Ezra glanced back at me.  "Magic, of course," he said, as if it was obvious.

"Ah, I see."

The building loomed closer, rosy golden stone and pale ivory granite.  It must have cost a fortune to transport all of the beautiful, heavy stone all the way here.  A fair amount of students walked through the grounds, sitting outside, walking between buildings, talking to friends.  It, at least, looked normal enough.

But how many of them were magic-users?  All of them?

As we entered the courtyard, something caught me off balance.  It was some sort of force ― hard and soft, forceful and gentle, shallow and deep.  A taste filled my mouth ― salt and pine trees.

"You feel it, don't you?" Ezra asked, turning to me.  "The magic?"

"I think...I think I do.  The magic."  I should have been more surprised, but I had gotten more used to the feel of magic, the taste, the smell of magic.  It was different but the same everywhere.  It contradicted itself.  But it was always magic.  Different, but the same.  Opposite, but identical.

I started to followed Ezra wherever he was going, but instead of leading me somewhere, he called over a girl.  The first thing that I noticed was her warm red hair, rich and beautiful and what I always envied.  The second thing was her eyes ― deep blue eyes and contrasted nicely with her hair.  The rarest combination and she was drop-dead gorgeous.

"You could've at least sent word.  I was worried," she said, searching his eyes.

"You shouldn't have to worry about me," Ezra said softly in response.

"I still do.  I always do," she said, and turned those eyes to me.  "Is this Cassandra?"

Ezra nodded.  "Can you show her to the professor and a room?  Healing wasn't as good as it could have been."  The girl stepped closer to him ― Were they close friends?  Siblings?  No, too close to be friends, and her red hair contrasted his dark enough that I knew the answer.  It was confirmed when they leaned together for a quick, brief kiss.  Then Ezra murmured something to her and strode away.

"Kira," she said, indifferently.

"I'm Cassandra."

"I know."  Kira glanced at me and started towards the doors. 

I followed close behind, tired and sore.  The excitement of Ivyport had worn off, and exhaustion had set in.  I was filthy and and more than a little short-tempered.  "Where are you taking me?" I asked, maybe a little too demanding.

"To meet with someone."  Kira hardly even spared me a glance as she opened the door.

I didn't bother asking who it was because I knew she wouldn't respond.  "Why?"

"Because they can help you."

I felt like reminding her that I was burnt, sleep-deprived, running on the streets, and discovered magic, all within two days.  But then again, I kept things to myself ― out of exhaustion or simply because she probably already knew.  "How so?"