Sedrais Academy

Chapter 1

"So, in other words, you're planning to hide in a place you've never even heard of before, all because you feel like it?" The owner of the raspy voice was not pleased, evident from the frown on his usually jubilant face. However, Aster couldn't care less. While the old man may have once been the closest thing to a father in her life, she had made up her mind ages ago, and refused to be deterred by anyone. Especially him.
"So what if I am?" She leaned back as her emerald eyes locked onto his, challenging him. She would not take no for an answer. Not when her freedom was on the line. Not after she had just escaped. And never in a million years would she ever trust him again. Fortunately, he recognized the unyielding glare with which she pierced him. He relented.
"You are a fool, Aster," he said calmly. Her nostrils flared, and she bit back a sharp retort. "But I will not stop you," he continued. She stood.
"Then this conversation is over."
"Must you be so cruel?"
"Stop stalking and spit it out already," she glared, her hand twitching. She wanted to get out of this wretched room. Far, far away, to a place where there were no reminders of what she had lost.
"You know they will hunt you down. Run and hide as much as you want, but they will find you," the man stood now as well, his eyes flashing a violent threat. Aster snarled in return, wanting nothing more than to rip out those very eyes.
   "And will you be the one to tell them where I am?" Rage seared through her, her every word more venomous than the next. "Are you going to betray me just to save your own hide?" She was shaking. Shaking so badly. She didn't know if she would yell or cry. She wasn't even sure if she could cry anymore.
   "I had no choice, Aster! But this?! You're going to get even more killed by your selfishness!" He was in her face now, his throat within reach of her hands. Her vision clouded, and red danced across her eyes. She could feel the fire in her bones clawing at her sides, desperate to tear into him. She wanted to scream. She hated him. Every time she saw his face her mind screamed coward. Coward.
"I'll kill you," she muttered. Yet, even as she said it, her fire calmed within her, and buried the yawning chasm deep within her. And when he disappeared, she was instantly numbed. Tomorrow, she would begin her new life. But for that night, she stared at anything and everything, regretting every single breath she took that her brother could not.