Unfamiliar (Unfamiliar Series #1)

Chapter 46

We spin in unison to see that, of all people, Eleanora is walking across the graveyard towards us. A black, wool coat is buttoned over her, the collar flipped up as she gives us a cool look, one that sends goosebumps prickling across my skin. There was...disgust in her gaze. Her hair is pulled back in a tight, pleated braid and something about it signals that it's for a purpose. 

"Ellen, what are you doing?" Astrid asks, though her tone already holds the answer.

Something is wrong.

Eleanora, who looks too much like Astrid in that moment where she rolls her eyes but also not, simply shakes her head slowly. Her head tips to the side, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly as she observes us with pursed lips. Fear writhes down my spine as I instinctively reach for my magic. I can feel the others do the same as the air is suddenly fraught with an electric charge.

I breathe lightly through my mouth, tasting the tension on the air like the tang of blood.

"Astrid, I had hoped to keep you out of this," Eleanora says in a low voice.

Her words chill me to the bone as I watch other students come up the hill to flank her, their faces pale in the pre-dawn light. I recognize Violetta among the dozen or so hooded students and even Blaize.

This is bad. 

We were exposed, outnumbered, and no backup. 

"Ellen, you're not making any sense," Astrid almost sounds afraid as she looks from me to her cousin.

"She's an abomination, Astrid, she's dangerous," Eleanora urges her, but her face is emotionless.

Blank.

I was merely vermin to her.

"You're wrong," Tessa spits as she steps up to my side.

"She's not, Tess," someone from the gathered students says as they step forward and push back their hood.

My heart shatters to pieces in my chest.

No.

Luke stands before us, his face calm and his eyes focused on me. His lip curls to the side in what could maybe be a snarl of disgust. Tessa draws in a sharp breath as her hand reaches down to grab mine and squeeze. I feel like I've been punched in the throat as it's hard to breathe but I steady myself.

I have to focus.

"He must be enthralled or something," she whispers to me, like she's trying to reassure me from the truth.

But I know that it's not the case as I warily eye him.

He did this on his own.

No amount of trying to rationalize would take away from this. 

"Your friend made the right decision, now you need to as well," Eleanora says as she gives me a sharp look before she glances past me and I can guess that she's looking at my sister.

Indigo is suddenly at my other shoulder, her hands clenching into fists, "Kara, you need to run."

I startle at her voice in my head, surprised by the link that has been opened.

"Indi-."

"Get help, Kara," Indigo says, her hand flying to her waist where her wand is tucked.

Astrid shoves me backwards as Indigo quickly fires off a bolt of lightning with her wand. The silvery tendril hisses, crackling as it splits through the air towards Eleanora, lighting up the grass. Eleanora merely summons a translucent shield that deflects the spell with ease. There's a clap of thunder and Astrid pushes me harder in the other direction.