Conjured

Chapter 6 - Trust issues

The Next Day

I wake up in my room with Jacquie beside my bed doing crosswords. "Oh thank goodness you're awake dear. How are you feeling?" Jacquie asks smiling warmly. "Really sore but not dead so thank you" I reply gratefully. "Everything should be fine now. The aches will go away after a few days. I've told Blair no physical training for the next 48 hours though. If you have any issues come right back to see me dear. I have to go now," Jacquie says getting up. "Thank you again I really appreciate it," I tell her. Jacquie stops and looks at me strangely. "You're a one of a kind Miss Starr. Don't let anyone ever tell you you're not special," She says abruptly. Jacquie's out the door before I can ask what she means.

I see the box from Mark open on the end of my bed as I left it. I pick up the star necklace and slip it on before hopping out of bed. I get dressed quickly but as I pull off my top to change I notice a large scar across my stomach, as if it had been ripped open. Nathan must've kicked me harder than I thought. I head to breakfast and see many people are injured, wearing casts or showing large bruises. They all stare at me as I enter and it's like my first day all over again.

I grab a breakfast of bacon and eggs on toast and see Emily, Henry and Blair sitting in the corner of the hall. I head straight over and they all look at me with relieved expressions.

"Willa thank God," Emily says pulling me into a hug. I make a small groan as the hug hurts my stomach. "Sorry forgot about that. You were very lucky to survive last night Willa," Emily says seriously. "I know, I didn't quite realise my guts had started falling out. How hard can that guy kick?" I say sitting down. "Very hard. He has a mutation that makes his nails as sharp as knives. I'm so sorry Willa we should've just stayed in my room last night" Blair says apologetically. "No Blair it's my fault. I never should have sent you away Willa, I'm so sorry. If I hadn't sent you away you could've hid with me and Emily" Henry says sounding upset. "Wait it was Emily in your room last night?" Blair says looking like she's about to laugh.

Everyone besides Blair goes red.

"I don't want to know. We have more important stuff to discuss anyway," Blair says obviously trying to hold in her laughter. "I slipped in a pile of blood last night, and there was a lot. Did someone die?" I ask suddenly starting to remember last night more vividly. "No but a lot of people were seriously injured. Nathan is a psychopath. I find it so strange to think he used to live here and train just like the rest of us" Henry says with a shiver. "Who is he though? And how did he know about me?" I ask them curiously.

"Nathan was kicked out of the camp after he murdered 20 young conjurers in their sleep. He said he thought we shouldn't exist and we're all creations of the devil himself. I suspect that's why he especially wanted to find you. I mean if we're creations of the devil, a sorceress must be something even worse in his eyes" Emily answers.

"But the big question is, how did he know?" Blair says after a mouthful of cereal.

"That is what the council is currently trying to figure out. I suspect we'll all be questioned in the following days," Henry answers. "Hey guys? Did you hear all the commotion last night? It was crazy!" Says Spencer animatedly as he sits down. "And that's my cue to go. No session today Willa, just take some down time" Blair says getting up. She gives me a quick smile and gives Spencer a cold glare before leaving.

"She really doesn't like me" He says frowning. "She doesn't like anyone I wouldn't take it personally" I say sniffing as I push some eggs around my plate. "I wouldn't say that Willa, she's been pretty good to you recently" Henry replies. I look up at him and realise he's right. "I never thought about it. I just thought after you talked to her when she stormed out on me during training that she decided to behave but she has actually been pretty nice to me" I say. "Well normally she's a massive-" Spencer begins but Emily cuts him off. "Not necessary Spence. She's nice to Willa and she's being civil to Henry and I for the first time in years. Just leave her alone for a bit," Emily says coolly.

Spencer lifts his hands up in defence. "Sorry I didn't realise we're all massive Blair fans now. So do you guys know what went on last night?" Spencer asks. Henry explains to Spencer quietly and Spencer nods and slowly begins to look at me more and more. "Well it sounds like you're pretty lucky to be alive kid," He says shuddering. I nod. We all take our plates back to the counter and head to our rooms but Spencer grabs me on the way back.

"Hey Willa, do you feel like doing something fun today since you can't train?" He asks. "Yeah sure what do you have in mind?" I ask in return. He grins and says, "follow me". Spencer leads me to a part of the camp I've never been to but as soon as he opens the door I recognise what it is. "The arena. Thought you might like to watch todays fight, they can be pretty entertaining!" Spencer says excitedly.

We sit in the stands to one side and watch two young men walk out from opposite sides of the arena. They shake hands and an official stands off to the side and blows his whistle. "What's the aim?" I ask Spencer. "Pretty simple really. First to knock the other out wins," He says watching closely as one man body slams the other hard. "Blair almost sent me here after my first training session because I pushed her" I tell Spencer. He snorts and shakes his head. "I don't give a sh*t what Henry and Emily are saying. Blair is psychotic and if she's being nice to you I bet there's nothing good behind it" He murmurs. "It is a bit strange. I mean, on my first night here she tried to make me think I had demons after me and now she's giving me boyfriend advice" I say wondering more and more.

"She was giving you boyfriend advice? That's pretty funny considering she doesn't even like guys" He scoffs. "Really? How do you know?" I ask. "Because there was a point where I rather liked Blair Grey. I thought I'd be able to melt that icy exterior and get her to go out with me but she made it very clear she has no interest in guys and especially not 'annoying d*ckheads' like me" He says sarcastically. "I don't think you're a d*ckhead if that makes you feel any better" I say in response. He laughs, "thanks Willa, it's nice to know at least one of the girls in this place doesn't think that".

The men finish with the one who body-slammed the other earlier being knocked out after his opponent used speed to create a little tornado around him until he couldn't breathe and passed out. Spencer and I leave in high spirits talking excitedly about the details of the fight. When we get to my door Spencer becomes serious as he says, "Be careful of Blair, I wouldn't trust her for a second even if she is being friendly. I think she's up to something," Spencer murmurs. "What do you mean by up to something?" I question him.

"Let's just say there's no way Nathan Marx got in on his own last night. And the fact she chose to lead you to where he was waiting... I dunno it just seems like something else might be going on" He says scratching his head. "Thanks Spencer. I'll keep it in mind" I respond. He nods and heads down the hall.

I go into my room and sit on my bed for a bit,contemplating what Spencer has told me. Blair has been really nice to mecompared to when she first met me, is it just to gain my trust? I think aboutlast night and how Blair pushed me behind her protectively. She's been like anolder sister to me since the talk with Henry, I just can't see her wanting tohurt me or being friends with Nathan.

I sigh unsure of who to trust and groan into my pillow...



AUTHORS NOTE: So can we trust Blair? Or is she in league with Nathan Marx? Leave comments on what you think below!