Fate's Demand (Twisted Fate, Book 3)

Chapter Forty-Eight

Inside my dorm, my boredom was approaching the brink of insanity.

When Marcus still hadn't returned by the next day, I escaped by the time breakfast began. My anxiety began to simmer as I made my way to the cafeteria without feeling like an exhibit in a museum. Either Deryk had said something or my presence had lost its novelty for the students. Nobody said anything or openly stared, giving me the freedom to wonder where Marcus was.

I wanted my answers and patience was a thread ready to snap.

Stupid secrets.

"Aly!"

My head jerked up from my bowl of cereal to find Justine barrelling towards me through the aisles between the lines of tables in the cafeteria. Her smile was contagious, and her energy drew attention. Thankfully, that was short-lived when she sat down across from me and everyone went back to their own food or conversations.

"Did you hear? There's going to be a training session today!" She squealed and clapped. "I've never been to one before. It's so exciting!"

She was excited to fight?

Justine's eyes, too wide and innocent to be dark, sparkled with joy. Her size, as well as the jean overalls with a short-sleeved baby pink blouse that sported ruffles at the collar, screamed her inexperience. If she were blue, she'd be a Smurf, she was so dainty and little.

"Have you ever fought anyone before, Justine?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. "It's great, but it isn't easy. Winning is fun. Training until your body is so sore you are crawling on all fours the next day? Not so much."

"You trained?" Her eyes widened again.

Nodding, a dry laugh managed to escape. So naïve. "I did." I shifted. "I boxed before I came to Glory Academy and joined a couple of classes once I arrived. Mike—he's one of the Brothers—helped me with extra practices."

Her eyes went wide, and she nodded. She slowed her speech, dragging out every syllable as she said, "That is so cool."

"Cool? Sure." I laughed. "It's also painful."

"Weren't you any good?" She blinked, seeming to come out of her you're-so-cool adoration.

"Well, I wasn't bad," I said, "but nobody wins against Mike. Beating on someone hurts almost as much as being beat on. If you want to learn, take it slow, okay? Learn the basics so you can keep it as clean and as painless as you can."

She nodded, pinching her mouth so her lips formed a straight line. "Can you teach me?"

"I don't think I'm qualified for that, Justine. I'm sorry. I'm sure whoever is leading the training session can do a much better job."

"Of course, he's qualified!"

Right. Stupid question.

Even if I hadn't said that, I could see that Justine was too excited not to go. After all, it was the first for her. I'd been just as anxious for my first lesson with Gus until he started. Endurance training wouldn't be introduced in a first session unless more were planned, so there was that. Justine would be lucky to avoid it. Maybe it would be more fun for her than it had been for me. Besides, because she was so tiny, she ought to learn to defend herself.

"So, will you come?"

"Huh?" I shook my head, realizing that I'd zoned out while she had continued talking.

"To the training. Will you come?"

"Oh, I-I don't think—"

"Come on, Aly!" she urged, cutting my refusal off before I could verbalize it. "It'll be fun, especially since you already know the basics. Besides, Marcus is like, a God around here. Did you know he was the first Dark Soul? He's been fighting a long time. Even before he died."