Nymphix

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve 

When the smoke finally released its hold and she began to feel the solid ground beneath her feet again, Kat opened her eyes. Had Fox really just... teleported them? Her senses seemed slightly dulled as her heart raced so hard she could hear it in her head and her breath heaved in and out of her chest in exhilaration.

“Shhh” She heard Fox whisper so quietly she wondered if he had actually spoken and then all her senses came rushing back to her in an instant. She was pushed against his chest uncomfortably in a very small closet that stunk of mothballs and a mixture of different perfumes from the different people that had been there. A thin sliver of light shone on Fox’s face, but he was concentrating on something behind her. Trying to ignore the warmth of his body pressed up against her own, Kat turned around as gracefully as she could without bumping into anything and saw the crack between the door and wall that was casting the light. Calming her racing heart and dismissing the foreboding feeling that the walls were getting closer and closer, she leaned and peered through the crack to see an ordinary classroom where Felix and Otis were seated sullenly with Mire standing before them with his back facing Kat.

“I’ve let this go on long enough” Mire’s voice was hushed, but there was no mistaking the anger the rolled off him in waves.

“I’ve waited, hoping you two would sort out your differences in time, but this is it. You two are now disrupting classes, and are at risk of seriously injuring each other”

She saw Felix had hastily wiped the blood off his face but there were still smears painted across his grim face. For once there was no smirk or trace of amusement on his face as he sat slouched staring at the ground. Dirt stained his wrinkled shirt and he clasped his hands together as if trying to hold them down as he moved his leg up and down, unable to sit still. Otis however sat completely still a few desks away with a dark shadow concealing his face. If it weren't for the slight rise and fall of his shoulders as he breathed, Kat would have sworn he was made of stone. 

Mire began pacing between them, his voice inching louder as he spoke

“You are acting like blind children. You both know what is out there right now. Every day that passes, more and more of our own are being captured by the Hunters and tortured and killed. We are fighting a losing battle and we need every single person we can get and while you two are bickering behind these walls we are being slaughtered out there.”

Finally Otis looked up and the shadow passed from his face revealing a dark scowl. He moved his head slightly as if he were about to look at Felix before stopping himself and dropping his head again.

“How long do you think until they invade this school and we’re all dead? You two need to screw your heads on properly and focus on the real enemy here.” Mire looked at both of them in turn, taking in their stiff bodies purposely turned away from each other and sighed, finally softening his voice.

“Look. I’m not asking you to walk around holding hands and being the best of friends. I just need you two to co-exist peacefully. All this anger and rage you two have magically built up towards each other? I need you to channel that into your training.”

Finally Felix lifted his head and inch by inch turned to look at Otis. Sensing this, Otis also turned his head and an unspoken agreement seemed to pass between them in the seconds that followed before they both nodded.

“Now. If I hear another incident between you two, I’m sending you to Crowe.” They both nodded again and Mire shook his head at them before storming out of the room. Once the door slammed behind him, Kat realised she was holding her breath and finally let it out shakily. From the looks of it, Otis and Felix weren’t about to talk any time soon and she didn’t think she could stand the closet any longer. Turning her head she locked eyes with Fox and he seemed to understand immediately, gently placing a hand on her shoulder before swirls of smoke encased them and they began falling again.

This time her landing was a lot less graceful as she stumbled out onto the grass and fell to her hands and knees as her stomach lurched and she tried to calm her spinning head.

“Yeah most people aren’t exactly built for teleporting...” She heard Fox say somewhere above her but her ears were still ringing slightly. Letting herself down onto the soft grass, Kat sprawled out and turned so she could see the sky above her.

“So you think they've settled their differences once and for all?” Kat mused as Fox sat down beside her and plucked at blades of grass.

“Not likely. I mean sure they won’t cause any more trouble; no one wants to get in trouble with Crowe but it’s not likely they’ll stop hating each other any time soon.”

Kat watched the clouds drifting and curled her toes as a soft breeze brushed over her. With the warmth of the sun on her face and the faint chirping of birds in the distance, it was hard to imagine that beyond the school there was a war raging... but there was. They sat in silence for a while before Kat felt someone sit down beside them. Looking up, she saw Otis’ large figure casting a shadow over her face.

“Hey.” He grunted, and Kat closed her eyes and adjusted herself so that she was lying in the sun again.

“You know, I wouldn’t have helped you with your magic if I had known you’d go and beat Felix up.”

Otis mumbled something in response but it was too quiet for Kat to comprehend.

“You helped him?” Fox leaned back on his hands and looked curiously between them.

“Mhmm, but I think I’ve created a monster. We’d better keep a close eye on this one.” Otis glared at Kat before he saw the glimmer in her eye and realised that Kat was joking. It was so strange to see her in such a light hearted mood he could help but attempt to smile back. When he had first seen her wandering around the school she looked so small and lost, but slowly she seemed to be finding herself. It was a very small change, but a change none the less.

“So are you finally going to tell me about Felix-“

“No” At the mention of Felix’s name, Otis’ face hardened again.

“I’m going to find out anyway, so you might as well tell me.”

“Yeah” Fox chipped in, absentmindedly teleporting the blade of grass from hand to hand in small tufts of smoke.

“Unless you’d rather have her hear it from that one girl who’s claiming you and Felix are secretly madly in love, and that these fights are how you let out your sexual frustration towards each other.” Otis snapped his head towards Fox who was trying and failing to conceal the grin tugging at his lips.

Otis straightened his back and looked menacingly at Fox, blocking Kat’s sunlight once more. Just as she was about to move, Otis began talking and she remained still not to break his concentration.

“Felix...” He scowled and ran his fingers through his hair in frustration leaving little pieces sticking out in all directions yet Kat remained still, staring at him.

“Felix was is a Hunter.”