Life - Life & Death Book 1

Chapter 14 - Part 2 - Zivena

We finish our food in silence and, after dumping our trays, walk back to the common room. Before we step inside I grab his bare forearm, pulling him back. When my fingers touch his skin, a shock of heat and energy rush through my hand and up my arm to my chest.

Mictain must feel it too because he tears his arm away. He starts for the door again. I go to grab his arm once more but stop myself.

"Wait," I say. He turns to face me. "You probably won't be interested but Flora wanted to invite you to her little farewell gathering thing tomorrow night."

Mictain stares at me for a second. "Why would she want me there?"

I shrug. "Cause she usually wants to be friends with everyone. If they let her," I add, giving him a pointed look.

"Thanks," he murmurs, walking inside and straight up the stairs to the boys' rooms.

Wednesday night I meet Flora and Vulcan outside in the courtyard, my backpack filled with junk food.

"Zivena!" Flora squeals as I join them. "I'm so excited for tonight! I thought we could go into the forest and have a campfire and eat heaps of food and I bought stuff to make s'mores and we can tell spooky stories," she says in one long breath.

I just stare at her. "How much sugar have you had?"

Flora stops to think, "Probably about four bags of M'n'Ms."

I shake my head and laugh. "Is Aton coming?"

"No, he wanted an early night before the big reveal tomorrow," she replies, jumping up and down on her toes. "So lame! Who needs sleep?"

"When you can have sugar, right?" Vulcan asks with a raised eyebrow. "Speaking of sugar! Should we get going? I'm craving those s'mores covered in chocolate sauce."

"Ooh and with extra chocolate chips!" I add.

"Definitely," Vulcan grins.

"No we can't leave yet," Flora interrupts us. "We have to wait for Mictain."

That pulls me out of my excitement. "What? He didn't seem that interested."

Flora shrugs, "He found me today and asked if he could come with us. Also asked if he could bring potato chips for some reason."

"Ah, the elusive man himself," Vulcan says, looking behind me. "You've finally rocked up, Mictain!"

I turn to see Mictain walking out of the common room door.

"I'm sorry if I kept you waiting," he says and slings his backpack over his shoulder.

Flora shrugs and grins, "That's alright! Let's get going." She grabs my hand and pulls me along after her.

The four of us jump, grab the edge of the fence and climb over. The forest is alive with night time sounds as we trek a well worn path to a small training ground Flora and Aton use. An owl's hoot carries on the breeze, making the trees sway and filling the night with life. Darkness clings to every surface except for the canopy of trees above us. The half moon bathes the leaves in light, making the world around us black, gray and white.

Mictain and Vulcan lead the way as Flora and I follow a little ways behind them.

"Vulcan and Mictain seem to be good friends," Flora says, her head tilted to one side. "I didn't think they would seeing as Vulcan is so lively and Mictain is so reserved."

I nod in agreement. "I thought the same but I've seen Vulcan try really hard to get Mictain out of his shell."

"What about you?"