ALMIRA THORN- Knowledge of Another Kind. [Editing]

Chapter 19- A Change in the Tide.

After being told the carriage would arrive at nightfall, the day was spent analyzing every detail of Tom’s childhood and mine. Again. Every crack and detail explored to figure out what was going on. With barely a day to prepare for the ball, Lucy and Nina were sent to organize attire and masks…. I hope they get along. As the thoughts and worries flooded my mind, I threw it in the now very full draw of issues to face alone, along with another issue I had grown to fear.

I could feel an itch, something that my body ached to do. The only thing that tamed the feeling were the weapons that I trained the others with, but my need to drive the blade into something became a thirst that frightened me. It took all of my focus to contain the urge but it was getting worse, the need to fight an enemy and draw my blade knowing it would collide with others had my heart beating, the blood pumping around my veins faster as the morbid thought kept my control easier to handle. I couldn’t tell the others, they’d lock me up if they knew the struggle I began to face, they would question how long my control would keep and it was a question I had no answer for.

 By the time we’d left to train with Ray and Michael, I was feeling the toll of being parted with the weapons, desperate to feel the weight of it again. Tom walked beside me, brushing his arm against mine, occasionally letting his fingers come into contact with my skin, sending shivers through my body. As the door to the training room came into view, Tom halted and blocked my path, staring at me and showing me the mercury in his eyes.

“Look, we need to come up with a plan.” He murmured.

I looked at him, my eyebrows merging together in confusion, “What are you talking about?”

He swallowed, “Once we…dispatch the Order, we need to find somewhere to go, we can’t stay here.”

I halted my breath. Of course he was right, we were guests and eventually our welcome would be over stayed. I guess with all the events that had happened, I’d not really given it much thought. All the same, I was growing attached to these people, this house and its endless hallways.

“Look-“ I cut off my words just as I heard the door open.

“What are you two standing around for, we have training to do!” Michael replied in a mocking tone. But as I looked at him, a grin was plastered onto his face and it kept me at ease, calmed me down and made me once again feel welcome, despite the doubts Tom had brought to my attention. I smiled in response and nodded, brushing past Tom and into the hall.

The light shone through the windows and cast a glow on all the weapons, as if they were a beacon of hope and the dangers to come. I walked up to the table and halted, the sword I’d grown accustomed to was not in its original place and the space looked empty and haunted. I panicked, desperate to find it until I remembered I was not alone.

“Looking for something.” I heard chuckled behind me.

I smiled and let go of a breath I didn’t realize I was holding, turning to face the grin I already knew would be placed on his face. Ray looked happier, the dark circles under his eyes now gone and his hair neatly arranged, the curls slightly longer, the gold shining in the sunlight as the purple of his eyes shone like lavender in spring. His clothing was much like the previous training days, his shirt hung loose and his leather breeches fit him like a glove, the leather boots adding a harsher tone to the attire and making him look almost intimidating with his muscles visible through the fabric. Placed in his hand was the sword, his grip on it firm as he raised an eyebrow.

“Is my choice of weapon becoming a little predictable?” I laughed. He joined in and smiled.

“Only…slightly. Looks like you will just have to take it off of me.” He chimed, beginning to make a stance and circle me, much like a shark to its oncoming prey. I chuckled and raised my own eyebrow, not too sure what he was playing at, but willing to play all the same. I began to walk towards him and feigned right, quickly moving left when he leaned the other way and standing behind him. He swore under his breath and turned back to face me, striding backwards to give space, the grin still showing through as I began to taunt him, changing the tide of events. I stepped forward and he stepped backward, keeping the sword by his side with the tip facing down, his pace already improving from the previous lessons.

 After what felt like a few moments, I strode towards him, moving faster as he stood and smiled, confidence oozing from his pores as he threw the sword high in the air and leaned into my stride, grabbing me in his arms and turning me around, letting his lips brush my cheek as he moved forward and caught the sword. I felt the tingles on my cheek spread and bring colour to my skin as I laughed at his confidence. He mirrored me for a second, then his expression dropped and he turned, obviously hearing something.

I looked in the direction and saw Tom advancing, his fists clenched and his gaze all focused on Ray.

“Are you insane? You could have dropped the sword onto Almira!” His voice came out through clenched teeth as he grabbed me and put me behind him.

I stared in shock, “Tom, it’s fine. Ray is good at that sort of thing, you needn’t worry about me.” I responded as I tried to pry his hand off of my arm, but his strength was far stronger as he kept his gaze fixed to Ray, his grip digging in and making my bones ache, the ache beginning to bite like ice. Ray was now also staring at Tom, his jaw clenched as he took note of his firm grip.

“Let her go, Whitehill.” He said calmly, trying to keep controlled. Tom turned to look at his grip, then at me, the anger fading from his gaze as he let go and stared at his hand.

“I-I’m sorry, I didn-“ He faded the words out as he looked at me with apology. I gripped his shoulder and looked into his eyes, “Look, it’s okay. I’m fine and you just misunderstood the situation, that’s all.” I smiled and tried to comfort, but it was no use as he moved away from my touch and out the door. I began to go after him before Ray gently grabbed my arm.

“He’s adjusting to the change, give him time.” He murmured. I shook his grip off, “I don’t care, I can’t let him leave like that.” I responded, moving past Ray and out the door, brushing past Michael outside the hall, muttering about being back as he asked what was wrong, only wanting to catch Tom, refusing to let him slip away again.