13. Creed

THIRTEEN

CREED

Watching Raven adapt to Brax’s magic was unbelievable. When she asked to try the mirror magic with us again, I thought we would be taking much smaller steps than we already were. I could see the challenge in Brax’s eyes when he said to high-five her. Even that was pushing it, yet I should have known she’d smash it.

She’s incredible. Awe-inspiring. She’s Raven.

I can’t wait to see her weave my magic and control people’s minds like me. I want to see her do it all. To just be in the vicinity of her greatness is a gift; to watch her not even realize just how special she is makes it that much more memorable.

Glancing toward her, she’s already looking in my direction, a hint of concern on her face as we continue down the pathway to the main academy building. Our knuckles brush and I engulf her small hand in mine, squeezing with what I hope feels like reassurance to her. A soft smile spreads across her lips, and I grin back at her for a moment before focusing on the path ahead.

Students move around us, heading in the same direction, but the somber air is far more noticeable today. We’re pawns at the hands of the enemy, strung along like puppets and helpless to do anything other than what they say.

What causes me more stress is being in the presence of my father. My not so dead father. Even now, I can remember all the nights I would cry myself to sleep, desperate to dream about my father returning to us. I can say with absolute certainty that I never dreamt it like this.

He was never the enemy, and I was always filled with a sense of relief and love at his reappearance. The two things that are impossible to feel in his presence now. Now, I’m riddled with anger, deeper than what rooted me mere days ago, and it’s all raging at his existence.

I don’t know why it disappoints me, but there’s no avoiding it. Instead of letting him see how he turns my insides, I’m going with the more volatile approach and swallowing it all down.

Fuck him. Fuck Erikel. Fuck all of it.

“Are you okay?”

I glance down at Raven as she pulls me from my thoughts and nod. The way she quirks her eyebrow at me makes it very clear that my response isn’t quite up to par with what she’s looking for.

“I’ll be okay, Raven. With you by my side and the others here with us, nothing else matters.”

She nods as she purses her lips, aiming those bright blue eyes at me. “I don’t want you to bottle everything up, though. If you need to talk, please, just… don’t get trapped in your head with it all.”

Fuck.

She’s too damn sweet once you get the luxury of digging beneath her tough exterior.

“I won’t, I swear.”

The words slip from my lips before I can stop them, solidifying my trust in her, because there is no way in Hell I would make a promise to her and break it.

Never.

“Creed.”

My spine stiffens at the sound of my name and my steps falter. Only for a split second, but I feel it enough to worry that it is noticeable to others. I consider continuing on, letting him go unheard, but the child in me can’t help but seek out those familiar onyx eyes.

My father.

He stands off to the left side of the double doors that lead into the academy building. His gold armor glares at everyone who passes, making the unspoken statement I assume it’s intended to.

“It’s your choice, man,” Eldon murmurs, coming to a stop behind Raven as Brax glances back over his shoulder at me. Zane remains plastered to Raven’s other side as I try to find the words.

It’s not my choice. That’s the point. Making a big deal out of speaking to him will only bring Erikel amusement, revealing the sore spot my father now leaves on my soul, and they don’t deserve to see my weakness.

“I won’t be a minute,” I murmur, squeezing Raven’s hand one last time before I head off to the side. My father turns before I reach him, heading toward the same tree he lured me to last time.

When he comes to a stop, I make sure to keep a few inches between us as I glance around, surprised not to see Erikel and his men watching us like last time. It’s hard to decipher what is and isn’t a test right now, and I don’t want to be blindsided by my father’s proximity.

“I thought I said to keep your distance from the necromancer.”

“Hi, Father, how are you? I’m good, despite the circumstances. What circumstances, son? Oh, you know, it’s just the academy that I’m trapped in is now being ruled by the leader of the Basilica Realm, who is basically the enemy. To top it all off, he seems to have brought a blood relative back from the dead, but shock, they’re the enemy too.” My chest tightens, my anger getting the better of me.

My father gives me a pointed look, making it clear that my snark doesn’t impress him, but I don’t give a fuck. He acts like he can express his thoughts and I will take them as law, and it’s laughable.

“You’re putting yourself in danger,” he states, opting to ignore my outburst, and I shake my head in disbelief.

“No, you’re putting me in danger. You and the rest of the Basilica Realm you brought with you. I have no interest in your bullshit. If you would like to fuck off back to where you came from with your fearless leader and his lackeys, then please, be my guest. I’m sure you will see how much danger I would no longer be in.”

His tongue runs over his teeth as he assesses me, coiling my muscles even tighter. “What are your magical abilities, Creed?”

My head rears back, my eyebrows rising in surprise at his question. Is he fucking joking right now? “You should have been around a few months ago when I turned eighteen. Then you would have been able to see for yourself. Otherwise, you can look at the academy records; I’m sure the details are written down there.”

“Don’t waste my time, Creed.” His hands flex at his sides, his irritation clear, but his annoyance isn’t greater than mine at the sound of my name repeatedly on his tongue.

“I won’t.” I turn, taking a step toward Raven and the others, who are watching inquisitively from the doors, but I don’t make it two whole feet before a hand clamps down on my shoulder, stilling me in place.

“Why the fuck do you even care?” I snarl, unable to contain my fury at his gall.

“I don’t,” he snaps back, his fingers flexing on my shoulder, and I feel completely overwhelmed with the mixed signals floating around me. It can’t be right, though; he’s nothing more than the enemy now.

“Then my magic shouldn’t matter to you any more than everyone else’s,” I state, glancing back over my shoulder at him with a cocked brow, and his eyes narrow at me. “If we’re done here, I’m leaving.”

A beat passes, followed by another, as our matching onyx eyes battle with one another until his hand drops from my shoulder. His chin dips ever so slightly and I take that as my cue to leave. I don’t bother to look back, not wanting to give him any satisfaction that he’s gotten under my skin.

When I reach Raven, she wordlessly takes my hand as Brax leads the way inside. The five of us move as one, and thankfully, no one tries to pepper me with questions about whatever that bullshit was back there.

I haven’t heard anything from my mother since she left. I’ve never had to reach out to her through the academy before, or her to me. We tend to keep to ourselves really, but it surprises me that she hasn’t attempted to since my father is here.

It’s no shock as we arrive at our first class of the day to find Erikel’s men standing at the door. They’re not letting anyone inside, which stirs my gut with uncertainty.

“I wonder what fun they have planned for us today,” Zane murmurs, nodding at the assholes, and I hum in agreement.

“Hey, can we get in there?” Genie asks, pointing over their shoulder, and they just smirk at her in amusement.

“We won’t be needing the classroom today. Once everyone is here, we can head out.”

“And your name is?” Genie plants her hand on her hip, raking her eyes over him from head to toe as she waits expectantly for a response.

“Roma, now get the fuck over there and wait for us to call the next orders,” Erikel’s man grunts in response.

“Genie might be a hardcore bitch, but at least she got the name of one of these fuckers,” Raven murmurs under her breath, and I nod in agreement.

A few minutes pass as more and more students gather, and I spot Leila at the other end of the corridor, her father murmuring something into her ear before he nods and disappears again. She looks our way a few moments later but doesn’t approach us, which would mean crossing paths with Roma and his men. Instead, she offers Raven a subtle wave, which my girl returns.

“Something tells me today is going to be… interesting,” she states, a heavy sigh quickly following, and I have no words with which to respond because she’s right. Today already feels like a fucked up day, and it hasn’t even begun.

“Okay, we’re heading to the Gauntlet. Let’s go.” Roma and the two men flanking him turn toward us, parting the students as they head our way. I don’t move like the other students, and one of Roma’s muscle men shoulders past me, but I don’t falter.

It doesn’t stop Raven from getting angry, though. “That motherfucker,” she snaps, moving to step around me, but I squeeze her hand, keeping her at my side.

“Don’t give them what they want, Raven. This is all about power plays, remember? You show them that they’re successfully getting under your skin, and they’ll only do it more. They already know we’re a soft spot for you. Let’s not give them anything more to go on.” I lift my other hand to cup her cheek and her gaze settles on mine.

She searches my eyes, for what I don’t know, but she must find whatever she’s looking for because a moment later, she nods, and I drop my hand from her face.

Brax signals that he’ll go first, but he doesn’t take a single step until the rest of the students are gone and only Leila remains. I don’t release Raven’s hand and Zane keeps close to our girl’s other side, silently confirming that she can fall into step with us, but neither of us is moving from Raven’s side.

“Do you have any idea what this is about?” Raven asks, looking at Leila, who nods softly, twiddling her fingers nervously.

“Yeah. My father overheard them discussing that they wanted to get a visual of our magic. I don’t know in what capacity, but the fact that we’re going to the Gauntlet doesn’t bode well,” Leila admits, and the adrenaline that started pumping through my veins when my father called my name reignites.

“I won’t hurt a single creature in the Gauntlet. I swear it,” Raven states, her voice solid like steel as she grits her teeth.

“Let’s see what they have in store for us before we start getting too worked up, Dove,” Zane says, attempting to calm the worry and anger already radiating from Raven, and she nods reluctantly as we head outside and take the path to the arena.

Concern is thick in the air as the other students mumble among themselves. The second we step into the arena, all noise ceases, though the memories of the last time we were here register in my brain.

“The last time we were here, you met Ari.”

Raven looks at me with a softness in her eyes which only appears at the mention of her familiar.

“The time before that, however, was shit,” Brax grunts, recalling when we had to face the Gauntlet and Raven’s magic hadn’t come to fruition yet.

“At least I don’t have to keep my magic a secret. Those fuckers know what I can do. If I’m bringing someone back, it will be for the right reasons, I hope,” Raven says with another heavy sigh.

As the domed area at the center of the arena comes into view, I notice there’s nothing filling the space. It’s just Erikel standing front and center with my father a few steps behind him.

Excellent.

If what Leila said was right, and my father is here, why would he bother to ask when he’s going to get a front-row seat anyway?

“Please, everyone, take your seats. Where, I don’t care. When your name is called out, I expect you to come forward,” Erikel announces, flinging his hands out wide as his usual fur cloak drapes over his shoulders and down his back.

I can’t see any other year groups in here, so he’s either fixated on the first years or he will put us through our paces one year at a time. Either way, we’re about to be on display for him in some way. I fucking hate this. More than seeing my father. When you give men like this a glimpse of your magic, they then believe it’s theirs to wield, and we’re not his weapons.

Brax leads us down to the fourth row of seats, pointing at Zane to take the end seat. Raven drops into the spot beside him, and I take the space to her left while Brax forces his way into the row in front, and Eldon climbs back a row, just like we did last time; she’s covered.

Leila tentatively takes the spot beside me, nibbling on her lip nervously, and I sigh. Lifting Raven’s hand to my lips, I press a kiss to her knuckles before letting go and standing. I signal for Leila to move up, and she smiles appreciatively at me as I trade places with her.

Getting comfortable, I’m acutely aware of where everyone and everything is. Roma and one of the other guys remain at the top of the stairs at the entry point. My father and Erikel remain in the center of the room while four more of Erikel’s men hover on another set of stairs.

“Fuck, let’s just get this over with, shall we?” Brax grumbles, rubbing his palms over his thighs.

As if hearing his words, Erikel lifts his hands in the air again, garnering everyone’s attention. “We will begin with Miss Leila Fitch.”

A noticeable gasp sounds from beside me, followed by a lodged gulp as I turn to see the worry in Leila’s eyes. She rushes to her feet quickly, tucking a loose tendril of hair behind her ear as she moves to the end of the row and descends the stairs toward the center.

“Miss Fitch, your magic,” Erikel says as she comes to a stop a few meters away from him.

“What do you want me to aim at?” she asks, her voice barely audible from here, but the tremor is clear enough.

“At my golden warrior,” he declares, taking a step back as he waves at my father.

He’s the target? Why?

“What the hell is going on? Did your father mention any of this?” Eldon asks, leaning closer to murmur, and I shake my head.

“Nothing. He just warned me off Raven again and asked what my abilities are, but since I didn’t share, he didn’t explain why,” I answer, my hands clenched in my lap.

Would he have spoken openly with me if I had asked? Do I need to swallow my pride and heartache and get close to him to gain answers for all of the things we don’t actually know?

Fuck.

Turning my attention back to Leila, she takes a few extra steps back before lifting her hands in my father’s direction, aiming her icy magic his way. Ice blasts at him, but the second it touches his armor it crumbles to the floor.

“That’s enough, Miss Fitch. Take a seat in the green section,” Erikel orders, making everyone frown as they glance around the room.

“Green section?” she asks, staring at the otherwise gray space.

Erikel rolls his eyes with irritation before snapping his fingers. One by one, colors drape across the back wall and down each section of seating.

Red. Orange. Yellow. Green. Blue. Purple. Black.

Leila tucks her chin against her chest and rushes from the center platform, taking a seat on one of the green rows with her arms folded over her chest.

One by one, we’re called out, and one by one, we’re assigned a color.

Eldon creates a ball of fire in the palm of his hand and is assigned a seat with Leila in the green section. Brax reluctantly goes to the center of the platform, turns half gargoyle, and is directed to the blue section, while Zane is placed in the yellow seats. When my name is called, I hate leaving Raven, but I know it will cause more of a scene than is necessary to stay, so I head to the center and face my father.

“Creed Wylder, your magic,” Erikel orders, waving a hand toward my father with a grin on his face.

Nodding, I contemplate what to do, as I have the entire time I’ve been watching. Everybody else who has mind-based magic has frowned at him in concentration before advising Erikel of their abilities not working, which means I’m unlikely to be able to bring him to his knees screaming in pain. Which leaves me with few options.

I focus on him still, his dark eyes boring into mine as I stare him down. You can always feel the blockers and defensive techniques someone may be using as if they’re untouchable, and as I thread my magic in his direction, I feel the walls instantly.

His eyes furrow at the first tap against his walls, and I let my magic dance along the blocker between us for a few moments, knowing I won’t be able to get inside, but I want to be sure. As I’m ready to retreat and declare my abilities like the others, the barrier cracks, the smallest slither opening for me to pry inside.

Instead of infiltrating his mind with anger and pain, a small whisper lures me closer. Searching his eyes, I try to piece together the murmur, but it’s too difficult, so I close my eyes, hoping to focus a little more.

“I love you, son. I love you, son. I love you, son.”

I stumble back, my heart racing in my chest as the chant continues to echo in my mind.

“Well?” Erikel grunts, tearing my gaze from my father’s, who remains as placid as ever before me, like those words aren’t swirling around in his mind.

“Uh, I control mind magic,” I ramble, sure my chest is going to shatter as the words in his mind continue to consume me.

“Join the purple section,” Erikel orders, turning away from me without a backward glance, and it takes me a second to gather myself enough to take a steady step.

I join the purple section, and search out Raven the second I take my seat. I can see the concern on her face as she stares at me, but I don’t even know what to say. Not that she can hear me from here.

Maybe now I might have a few moments to get my shit together so I can explain, but it seems Erikel has other ideas.

“That seems to be everyone except Raven. Who gets to fill the only seat in the black section,” he announces, waving a hand for her to move to the black section.

She purses her lips but does as he says, and I notice that he’s organized us into the seven categories of magic. Nature-based, divination, conjuring, psychic, medics, shifters, and necromancy.

Surely, our groups were already listed down somewhere since we’ve been divided like this before, but again, this is another power play on his behalf.

“Now, if your name is called out, you are to follow Roma,” Erikel states, not missing a single beat before he starts calling out names. None of it matters to me, I’m locked on my father’s words until the next words from his lips makes me pause. “Creed Wylder.”