Serena

Chapter 4 Broken Songbird

January 20th 1737

Serena

Fair is foul, and foul is fair. Hover through the fog and filthy air.

Fair is foul, foul is fair. I mulled the words over in my mind.

"Serena."

I snapped Xavier's copy of Macbeth shut as Alexandra sauntered towards me. She looked as untouched by this place's darkness as ever. How she remained so positive and unscarred escaped me.

"Alexandra." I sat my book down.

"I have heard word that you'll be in lessons today." She looked at me as if I should be pleased, excited even.

I certainly didn't smile.
Alexandra's smile receded and she toyed with her hands in front of her nervously.

"What?" I looked up at her.

She bit her ruby lips. "It's nothing."

I continued to stare at her.

"You'll be the next one to go. It's just a rumor." She looked down at her hands. "A rumor that the instructors were sent to take girls with potential, but to keep us in the dark they took the other girls at random."

I eyed her for a while before answering. "I haven't anything more stupid, in my entire life." Anger embodied my tone. Alexandra truly despised me, she saw herself as better simply because she was stronger. I hated her.

"I told you it's a rumor." She looked hurt.

"A convenient one."

"Time to get up."

Alexandra and I looked up as a pair of women arrived to get me out of bed.

"I assure you, I don't believe it."

I trusted Alexandra as far as I could throw her. Which unsurprisingly wasn't very far.

The women each grabbed an arm and hauled me to my feet, my legs wobbled.

"Take her to class." One of the women ordered Alexandra before they both just left me standing there.

I reluctantly followed Alexandra outside.

I met Xavier's eyes. He walked over to me and handed me a bow and a quiver of arrows. His face bode no emotion as he gruffly told me to shoot at the targets set up.

My arms ached as I pulled the bowstring taught before loosening an arrow. I hit the target at its very edge.

I suddenly felt a body lean into my back. I froze.

"You're holding it wrong." Xavier turned my body to the side with his hands on my waist.

My heart did a flip as he then proceeded to adjust my grip on the bow by moving my fingers individually. His hand lingered on my wrist and I felt heat rush to my cheeks, which was an effort considering I had lovely sun kissed skin.

"Relax your shoulders." His rough hands slid from my waist to my shoulders and I swear if he kept them there for any longer I would melt right there.

I relaxed my shoulders and Xavier moved his arm around and helped pull back the arrow. This time when I let the arrow go it sunk into the centre of the target. A smile crossed my lips for the first time in my life.

"Keep your arms steady and eyes focused." His breath touched my neck.

I sighed heavily once he left. I felt all mellow and light headed. I could still feel where his hands had touched my skin.