Courting Chaos

                  Chapter one

   “It is forbidden.”

   “But why?”

   “Because it’s evil!”

   “But why is it considered evil? Because they tell us it is?”

   “No, Solomon. That’s my final answer.”

   “Why not, Freya?” He sighs dramatically.

   “Where would you like me to start?” I snap in response. “It’s entirely not allowed. Do you know what they would do to us if we were caught?”

   He nods with a roll of his eyes and that small movement just makes me talk more, my eyes  narrowed and angry.

   “We be banished, Sol. Not just from our home, but from this Realm. We’d be banished to the Nox – and you know what happens there, right Sol?”

   Of course he does. Everyone within the Tower knows what happens within the Nox, especially to Mages.

   “We’d be fodder for the demonic beings that roam and even if we survive out there, eventually we’d go mad, the darkness of the Realm strips a Mage of their light. You know this… do you really want this?”

   “Obviously not, but –“

   “Then no but’s. We’re not doing this,” I bark and turn away.

   “We could get out of here… be free, Freya. Just think about it like that,” he calls softly after me.

   I don’t stop walking, don’t turn back to him. I can feel my hair, pulled into a tight ponytail, brushing along my lower back, swishing from side to side as I stalk forward, terse and angry almost.

   It’s wrong, I know this, but I can’t stop myself from thinking of Sol’s words. All my life I’ve been brought up to follow the rules, to do as I’m told – there’s no way I’m going to throw it all away, destroy all the trust from my mentor’s that I’ve worked so hard to build over the years.

   Solomon might have been my friend for a long time – as long as I can remember, he’s always been there, but that doesn’t mean nothing else matters to me. This place might seem more like a prison than a home most of the time, but it’s not all doom and gloom. This place has just as many good memories as it does bad.

   I find herself strolling through the dimly-lit halls without a faltering step… thinking how if Solomon wasn’t my closest friend – I’d report him to the Head Mage.

   He’s talking about Black Magic. No matter what I say to him, he doesn’t seem to fully comprehend just how dangerous it is to mess with such a thing.

   We’ve always had the privilege of living within the Lux – the Realm of Light. I’ve never seen inside the Nox, only ever heard stories of it and by the sound of it, it’s more terrifying than anything imaginable.

   I’ve never heard of someone returning after being banished, it just doesn’t happen.

   I pause outside the door leading to my room. The halls are almost empty, except from a certain familiar face.

   He stands tall and straight, entirely unwavering and irresistibly handsome and charming in his shimmering armour. His brown hair is cut short across his forehead, enhancing his gorgeous features, sharp cheekbones, strong jaw, bright green eyes and tanned, flawless skin. Smooth like caramel.

   I bite my lip and hesitate, already feeling my mood lighten as I slink across to him.

   “Hello Eric,” I purr, standing before him.