To be King...

Chpt. 2: They're Back

AN:// I'll apologize now. My dialogue skills are shit. 

 All she can seem to do this morning is ache. She'd pushed herself too hard last night during training, got too emotional, and now she's paying the price. Each fiber of her muscle, every joint, every cell, throbs with a weary ache. Her head pounds behind her eyes, the lights are too bright, and she'd kill for a full 8 hours of sleep, but so much for wishful thinking. Wincing, she puts her books in her locker and remembers what drove her to this state for the fifth time this week .

The moon is the only source of light they have tonight, she'd driven him out of the range of the torches and still fought against him, staff's clashing as she uses her magic to upset the earth beneath his feet. She can feel the shift in his body against the wind and barely manages to block a blow to her neck. In doing so she leaves her side unprotected and Erik manages a strong strike that will undoubtedly leave one of many bruises. Grunting and dropping to a knee she manages to knock his legs out from under him, sending him to the ground, he's up just as fast as she is and they go back to circling each other. She reaches out with her magic, feeling the structure of the the tree behind him and manages to wrap him in the branches, binding his right arm tight, causing him to drop his staff. His own magic begins to reach out, different in structure and source, but she manages to push it away with her own as she advances. In her triumph her magic spreads out thicker without her notice, taking root in the earth and the wind. It shifts all around her, being pulled and warped by her magic. She rests the end of her staff in the hollow of Erik's throat, his inhuman yellow eyes glaring at her, brown hair pulled back in a small ponytail. When she feels her magic pulsing in her veins, feeding off of her adrenaline, she takes a moment, calming each element and wave of magic bit by bit. By the time it's over she's crashing from the power high, leaving her sensitive to the power rolling off of Erik as he picks up his staff and guides her back to their torch lit clearing. He does not allow her to go home early, pulls her through each form and stretches her magic until she's dead on her feet. She doesn't get home until a sun has started to lighten the sky.

"Hey Diry, why the hell are you so tired this week?" Becka says, opening the locker right next to hers and pulling her out of her memory.

"Oh you know, the usual. Senior stress, mom's putting more pressure on me than usual, and with the SAT's coming up I've been studying like crazy." The lie falls easily from her tongue as she leans back against the cool metal of her locker. It provides little relief to her aching muscles as they soon start their stroll down the hall. The hallways, normally so busy and cluttered, seem to be moving at double speed, the voices lower, but energies high. She almost misses Becka's reply as she watches a bunch of girls gasp at whatever had been told to them, and hurry off in a flurry.

"Oh puh-lease, your test scores have always been crazy! I don't know why you stress yourself out so much." Becka says, nudging her shoulder and smiling. Becka had been with her since middle school, when everyone was too scared and too cautious to talk to her. Their mothers had been as close as sisters and they used to spend summers together. Then Becka's mom, Maggie, decided to move closer after the incident and Becka was her only support.

"I know Becks, it's just important, you know? I have to get a good score to get into a good school. Don't act like it doesn't worry you either." Adira says, running a hand through her brown bangs. It's true that the thought of the SAT worries her, but there are things that worry her more. Like what has the whole school in such a buzz, and what Erik is going to say when she skips training tonight and tomorrow night.

"I know sweetie, and I know you try to be 'The Good Daughter' for your mom and all, but your still a kid. Social interaction is a part of life, it's healthy. You need to get out more." And Becka is right, completely right, but between school, work, home, and training, she doesn't have much time to spare.

A kid walking past them bumps into Adira hard, pain radiating from her right side as she bites her lip. It takes her a lot longer than normal to calm down and temper her magic. It's not the first time someone has bumped into her and not apologized. Sometimes they don't spare her a glance, as if she doesn't exist. Becka sneers a dirty comment at the retreating form of the offender, but she's too tired to really listen and appreciate the insult in her defense.

They walk in silence for a moment, but soon enough someone crashes into Becka, causing a full stop in the center of the hall.

"Hey Becks." A voice says, almost too happy to be from anyone awake at this early in the goddamn day.

"Oh, hey Tommy." Becka says, a breezy air in her tone as she looks at the blonde behemoth before her. Adira recognizes him as Thomas Milo, the stereotypical dumb athlete and Becka's boyfriend. He and Becka had been an "On Again Off Again" thing since sophomore year. By Becka's cold demeanor they were certainly "Off" at the moment.

This, however, didn't seem to deter him. Instead he stepped up closer to Becka's right side, cutting her off from Adira, and trying to form conversation.

"Have you heard?" He asks in a conspiratorial tone. Interest peaked by juvenile gossip, Becka stares at him for a moment before shaking her head.

"I don't know what your getting at Tom, but I have to get to class." Adira almost laughs when the 6'2" wrestler is pushed to the side and Becka pulls her along. They get a few steps in when Tommy shuffles down to them.

"You don't know!? That is so like you!" He scoffs scornfully, and Adira wants to shove his nose into his brain for trying to belittle her best friend.

"Don't know what Tommy? It's not as if you have anything actually important to say." and Becka: Sass Master has entered the building.

"I don't know if I should tell you, being such a bitch anyway." Adira stiffens up, barely managing to keep moving down the hall. Becka's hand tightens around her wrist, and in a show of support she wraps her arm through her friend's and marches along. Becka has always preferred to fight her own fights, and even though Adira burns with hate, she lets Becka handle it.

"Then don't tell me Tom, not like I care what you have to say anyway. I'm certainly not the only one who feels that way either." and Adira covers a laugh at the boy's expense.

"The Cabot's are back." Tommy says, with almost pride in his voice. Pride at knowing something Becka doesn't, how immature.

"Again, nothing important to say. I've known all morning." Becka sighs dramatically, and walks around him as his face falls into confusion.

While Becka's interest may not be peaked, Adira's is. The last time she had seen a Cabot boy was out the car window, driving away from the hospital when she was 11. She looks around, almost expecting to see them walking down the hall right at that moment. Instead, she's jerked inside of a classroom and gets the full Becka freak out face.

"I can't believe they're back!" She squeals just as the bell rings and they're ushered to their seats.