Shades of Power

Chapter Fourteen

The Library was located on the opposite end of the keep.  After we'd passed through the first few corridors, and were well away, Master Shurra slowed his pace, but only a little. 

The shortest route took us through the grand entrance hall.  This was another area that had been invested in.  Sunlight glinted off the polished ice-stone of the floor, sparkles of gold and silver giving the open expanse a semblance of opulence that was absent from the rest of the Academy.  Groups of robed Aspirants, Probationers and Masters were scattered around.  Their voices blended into a low murmur that permeated the air, creating a feeling of both intimacy and distance.

The first time I'd entered the Academy, it had been magic.  Not the magic or the power of the Elements, but of promise and hope.  This space had glowed.

It had also been my first encounter with Niall and Liam. 

I'd walked through the doors of the entrance and stood there.  My new home for the next few years, until I achieved Probationer status.  I'd had my entire future mapped out.

Aspirants jostled me as they, too, arrived.  Robes of every hue filled the space, flowing together, then parting.  It had looked like a complicated and intricate dance.

"Move."  A low voice sounded behind me and I stepped to my right, straight into a hard body.

I jumped back and turned to the man I'd run in to, lavender robes filling my vision.

My gaze met ice-blue eyes.  I wanted to apologize, but the words wouldn't come out.

"Is there something wrong with you?"  I turned to the man who'd told me to move.  He was attractive, bright blue eyes glowing out of his pale face, dark hair just long enough to curl at the ends. "Well?"  He raised his brows.

Attractive but annoying.

His eyes roved over me, lingering slightly on my chest.  "Actually, I'm not seeing anything wrong with you.  What's your name, love?"

The giant next to him let out a huffing laugh, and I snuck another look at him.  His short blond hair matched the sparkles in the ice-stone of the entry floor.  Pretty.

"Ela!  There you are!"  David hurried over to me.  He engulfed me in a hug, and I wrapped my arms around him in return, squeezing tight.  He pulled away.  "Where are your bags?"  He looked around, and finally saw the two Spirit Aspirants that stood there with me.

"Ela?  That's a lovely name."  His smooth voice washed over me.

I wanted to roll my eyes.  "Jaenela, actually.  Jaenela Pior."  I offered my hand.

"Niall Mirbue," He murmured as he took it, raising it to his lips.

I snatched my hand back just before his lips met my skin.  A Mirbue.  With the influence his family had over our region, this was either very good, or very bad.

He smirked at me.  I almost slapped him.

This was very, very bad.

"We're having a get-together tonight, just a few people, to celebrate the start of a new year of classes, and the arrival of new friends."  The emphasis he put on friends told me a different story.

"Is that so?"  I raised a brow and his smirk turned into a grin.  "I am sorry, but we are going to have to forego your... celebration.  Tomorrow is an important day, and we don't want to be at a disadvantage."  I bowed my head.  "Good day to you."  I gripped David and half dragged him to where I'd dropped my bags to the side of the entrance doors.