Duality Read online

  I pull my hair up in the towel and put my clothes on, before heading back into the room. Litha is sitting on her bed, laptop in her lap and she looks up as I come back in.

  “Bane messaged me. They’re meeting us downstairs in ten minutes. We’ll have to pick up breakfast on the way.”

  “On the way where?” I try to dry my hair a little more, before putting the towel over the back of a chair.

  “The headmaster wants to see us. All of us, apparently.” She puts the laptop aside and gets up, grabbing some clothes. “I’ll be right back.”

  “Sure.” I put my fingers into my hair, pulling my magic up and drying my hair with the heat of the magic, shaking it a little so the curls fall nicely. When I open my eyes, Litha is staring at me, her mouth open. “What?”

  “Wow.” She blinks. “That’s... That’s actually pretty cool. Is that your magic?”

  I nod, feeling a little awkward. It’s just some small use of it, making life easier, nothing really special.

  “Can you teach me too? I don’t know how to use magic yet.” She colours, glancing away from me.

  Oh, right. “Sure.”

  She nods, and goes into the bathroom quickly.

  Of course, she has no idea how to use her magic, she didn’t grow up here. But it also makes me worry. If she has no idea and she still has to learn everything... How is she going to survive here?

  ‘You’ll teach her.’ Of course, that’s the moment Ember decides to turn into my familiar, instead of a fluffy cat. ‘Hey, don’t wanna spook the new girl, you never know how she’ll react.’

  I shake my head, grabbing my bag and stuffing a couple of things in it. I guess breakfast plans have changed.

  Litha dashes out of the bathroom, grabbing her own bag as she lunges for her phone, taking a look at it. “Ah, they’re already here.” She glances at me. “Are you ready to go?” Her hair is a little less wild than before, and she’s wearing a pair of black jeans with a tight dark red top. She looks so sexy... Which, bad thoughts! Not supposed to be going there!

  “Eh, sure.” I take my bag. I’m just going to go with it, because this is totally new territory for me too. I’m not usually involved in all the politics and things with the princes while I’m on campus, but it seems that I won’t be getting out of it anymore, not with Litha here.

  “Good.” She nods, grabbing her keys. “Let’s see what’s up this time.” She sighs.

  ‘This time’? What? What has happened in these last days while I wasn’t here? How much did I miss? Way to drop things on a girl!

  3

  The guys are already waiting outside as we step out of the door to the staircase. They all glance at Phoenix like they don’t know how to deal with her. Right. Whatever. Not the time for that right now.

  “I still need breakfast, and so does Phoenix. Can we go to the store before we go see your dad?” I look at Bane, who smiles softly as he reaches out, touching my arm for a moment. “What?”

  “Dad is taking care of the breakfast, don’t worry. We’re not meeting at his office but at his apartment on campus.” He nods in the other direction.

  “Oh. Okay.” I look down at myself, did I dress nicely enough to go to the headmaster’s place? Then I glance at Rune and Kit, who are standing as far away from each other as possible, Kit has his arms crossed in front of him and he’s frowning while Rune mostly looks awkward being so far away from Kit. They’re apparently still upset with each other. I have no idea what went wrong, but everyone seems on edge, even Bane and Finn.

  “We’re okay.” Rune’s rumbling voice feels like it’s sort-of soothing, but when I meet his eyes, he still looks sad. “We really are.”

  I nod, but the heavy feeling in my chest doesn’t go away. Why does he say that when they’re obviously not okay?

  “Let’s go.” Finn smiles softly at me and then slides his hand into mine, squeezing a little. “I bet we’ll all feel better after some food.” He tugs on my hand softly, turning me towards a road to the back of the campus.

  I catch Phoenix glancing at our hands, frowning, looking a little confused. On impulse, I reach out to her, taking her hand too. “Food. Let’s have some. I hope they have coffee.”

  Phoenix nods, letting out a breath and her hand feels a little hot in mine. Is that normal for her? Then I glance up to her face and she seems to be blushing brightly. Oh...

  The building where the headmaster stays looks a lot like the other halls, just bigger, and fancier. It’s located at the far end of the campus, close to the wall and the forest.

  “All the teachers have an apartment here.” Bane pulls a key from his pocket and opens the front door. We step into a big hallway and he guides us up a set of stairs. “Dad’s on the top floor.”

  I’m still holding Phoenix’ hand, though Finn is walking in front of us now and I have a great view of his back and his ass. The guy looks delicious. I want to touch him, but I know it’s not a good idea right now.

  We go up two flights of stairs and then we’re greeted by a lovely woman who has the same colour hair as Bane and the same soft smile. “Welcome, welcome.” She hugs Bane and then Finn, before looking me over. “You must be Litha. Welcome. I’m Bane’s mother.” She comes closer and takes me into a strong embrace. “It’s so nice to finally meet you. Even under these circumstances.” She lets out a deep sigh.

  “It’s nice to meet you too.” I nod, a little overwhelmed and still not very awake without my coffee.

  “You seem well, which is good.” Then she looks at Phoenix, before hugging her too. “Phoenix, you’ve grown up a lot, but you’ve still got that same unruly hair.”

  Phoenix lets out a light laugh and my heart does a little flip. God, that’s adorable. “It’s good to see you again too. You’ve not aged a year, I promise you.”

  “Flattery will get you everywhere, dear.” Bane’s mum laughs, then she hugs Kit and finally Rune. “Let’s get inside. My husband is a little impatient and the food will get cold if we stay out here too long.” She herds us into the apartment and the insides look as luxurious as the rest of the building. All dark woods and old furniture. It’s very classy. “Keep walking,” she laughs again, behind us. “We’re eating in the living room.”

  I follow the others, as I glance around. There are pictures of Bane with his parents, and of Bane with the other guys on the walls and finally, on an otherwise nondescript dresser, I find a picture that brings tears to my eyes. It’s of my parents with I presume Phoenix’ parents, if I go by their hair colour and her mother’s smile, and Bane’s parents. Bane’s father is holding a baby, and so is Phoenix’ mum, while my mum is heavily pregnant. They look so happy. They look happier than I’ve ever seen them, so much younger too. I’ve never seen pictures of them from before I was born, before my birth ruined their lives...

  “Ah, you’ve found it.” Bane’s mum stands next to me. “This was taken just weeks before you were born.” She smiles, a loving look in her eyes. “That was a great summer.”

  “Did you know my parents well?” I swallow hard, missing them so much right now. I wish they were here. It wouldn’t make things easier, but I’d at least have people here who’ve known me for a long time. It’s hard being around new people all the time.

  “Pretty well. They lived in our kingdom, just like Phoenix’ family. And all being part of the governing families... We knew each other pretty well.” She touches the frame of the picture carefully. “I never dared to take this picture out, trying to protect you and your parents as much as possible. But with you here... I guess I felt brave enough.” She puts her hand on my arm. “If you need anything, even just to talk to an adult. I’m here, we’re here for you. I wish us finally meeting you would have been under better circumstances, but we can’t decide the circumstances, just the outcomes.”

  I nod, my eyes burning, and I rub at them. She’s sweet, and I can see that she’d be great friends with my mum, who is just like her. My heart hurts, feeling lost. “Where is the bathroom?” I don�
��t want the others to see me cry like this.

  “Second door on the right.” She points back into the hallway, her eyes now sad. “We’ll be in the living room. Take your time.”

  “Thanks.” I flee to it, closing the door behind me as the tears stream down my face, my whole body hurting.

  I ruined their lives. I miss them so much, but suddenly I’ve also started to realise how lonely they must have been, having left everything they’ve ever known behind. My birth ruined everything for them. They were so happy, and then I came along. They never showed any of it, they never told me anything, keeping this all a secret, this whole world, their friends, their family, but it must have been so hard.

  I want to talk to my parents. I need to see them again, I just need to know that they’re okay. But I know that that probably won’t happen any time soon, which hurts even more.

  Because of me, all because of me.

  “Litha?” Bane softly knocks on the door of the bathroom. “Are you okay?”

  “I’ll be right there.” My voice is all rough and I clear my throat. “I’m fine.”

  “I’ve brought you something. Maybe it’ll make you feel better.” He doesn’t move, I can’t hear him walk away, so even though I’m ignoring his words, he’s staying.

  I guess I’m too curious not to want to know, so I stand up, wiping a towel over my face before I open the door. Bane is standing in front of it, a mug with brown liquid in his hands, his eyes sad as he’s trying to give me a soft smile.

  “They didn’t have caramel, but I guessed that sugar should be fine too?” He hands me the mug with coffee.

  “Thanks.” I carefully take it, cradling it close. Then I eye the door to the living room, where I can hear people talking and being loud, and I close my eyes, not wanting to go there yet.

  Bane touches my cheek, putting my hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering, warm and soft. “Let’s go to my room, it’s quieter there.”

  “Your room?” I blink, a strange feeling in my stomach, nervousness and excitement at the same time.

  He softly smiles. “I promise not to do anything they wouldn’t show in a kid’s movie.” He winks. “I’ve got my own room here. I’ve spent quite a lot of time here when I was young. So I do have to warn you, it still looks like a ten-year-old’s room.”

  I can’t help but smile too. “I guess that’s okay.”

  He carefully takes my hand and pulls me across the hallway, opening a door which has ‘Bane’ in coloured wooden letters on the door. Cute. The room itself is a dark blue, with posters of the stars on the walls and there is a single bed on one side, with lots of shelves with books on the other side. “It’s not much, but it was mine.” He walks over to a poster at the end of his bed. “This was the night sky on the day I was born.”

  I carefully sit down on his bed. Somehow it’s still made, and it doesn’t look all dusty, so it must have been made recently. Someone is still keeping this room neat. “You like the night sky.” It’s a simple statement, and he nods, slowly sitting down next to me.

  “Yeah, I do.” He blushes a little. “I’ve always been intrigued by it. How the stars and the moon, and the sun, influence things like magic and also my powers as a wolf. There is so much out there, it’s... daunting to think of, but also comforting, knowing that this isn’t the only place in existence.”

  I nod as I take a sip of my coffee, the warmth calming me down a little. “I guess.”

  He smirks at me, the little boy gone but the sexy prince looking at me instead. “You’ll find that out soon enough in class.” He winks and my stomach flutters. How does he do that? Change in front of my eyes and send all these sensations through me...

  4

  I’ve been in Bane’s parents’ apartment before, but it feels different now. We used to spend weekends here instead of on campus when we were little, primary school little that is, camping out in the living room in blanket forts with mattresses on the floor. It would let us be little boys for a couple of days, no responsibilities or people staring at us, which has always happened. But we’re grown up now, we’re older, and I’m looking around with the eyes of a much more cynical guy. The apartment isn’t actually as big as I remember it, just a handful of rooms, but it’s still as calming and comforting as it has always been. It almost feels more like home than my parents’ place, which, honestly, not that hard.

  Bane just went to check up on Litha, she didn’t follow us into the living room, and Bane’s mum said that she’d gotten a little upset over a picture of her parents, that she needed some time. But it’s been over twenty minutes, and she still isn’t here, so Bane went to check on her.

  “How are your parents, Phoenix?” Bane’s mum hands her some bread.

  “They’re good, thanks. It’s been... a little hectic with the burglary and all.” She pulls her shoulders up, her eyes serious. “But they’ve been good. And the summer has been fairly calm for them, luckily.” She seems so relaxed around Bane’s parents, even though I’ve never seen her here before, or anywhere near us really. We’ve always existed on different planes.

  Then what Rune said last night pops into my head. We’ve never really interacted with Phoenix, but her grandmother spoke the prophecy which got us into all of this in the first place. Have we been mistreating her? Should we have gotten closer to her when we were young?

  “That’s good to hear.” Bane’s mum smiles. “I’ll get your mum some of that honey she loves so much next time I’m at our cottage.”

  “She’d love that.” Phoenix really smiles now, taking a bite from her bread with a generous layer of honey on it.

  I want to stand up, check where Bane and Litha are, getting impatient, but the door to the living room opens and Bane steps inside, Litha following him.

  Her eyes are red, she’s been crying, and I’m on my feet in seconds, rushing to her side. I wrap my arms around her tightly and moments later both Kit and Rune also have their arms around her. We’re all holding her, wanting to make her feel better. I hate that she looks so sad, I don’t want her to look upset. I never want her to look like that again. It hurts to see her in pain.

  Litha moves slightly, a small smile on her lips as she gives me a kiss on my cheek, and then Kit and Rune too. “Thank you.” Her voice is soft and there are new tears in her eyes. “This... This means a lot to me.”

  I close my eyes, tightening my arms around her. Of course. Of course, I’ll do this. I’ll always try to help her, to make her feel better, I need to.

  “Boys, I think the young lady needs to eat something.” Bane’s father sounds amused as he calls out from the kitchen door, a frying pan in his hands. “How do fried eggs sound, Litha?”

  “Sounds good.” Her stomach rumbles right on time and we reluctantly let go of her, but she doesn’t let go of my hand and we walk back to the table together, my stomach all in knots, just from touching her like this. Litha sits down in the empty chair between Phoenix and me.

  Then, I realise that Phoenix is staring at us, her eyes wide and her mouth open. Not very charming. She closes her mouth quickly and looks at each of us at the table, frowning. It’s like she’s trying to make sense of something and failing.

  Bane’s dad comes into the living room with a plate, putting it in front of Litha. “Here you go, breakfast.”

  Bane’s mum looks at him, amused. “You said that it was spectacular to watch, the boys’ reaction to Litha, but I didn’t realise the full effect until just now.”

  “Right?” Bane’s dad grins, getting back to his seat next to his wife. “I never expected this either, but I guess we’ve got an interesting future to look towards.”

  Then Bane’s mum looks at Phoenix. “Even the highest priestess’ daughter reacted, though she doesn’t have the enhanced speed of the guys, so she wasn’t fast enough. Right, Phoenix?”

  Phoenix turns a bright red, her frown disappearing and she stares at the table, but then she nods. Even Phoenix had wanted to comfort Litha, in such an instinctive way? �
��It looked a little crowded...”

  Litha reaches out to her, putting her hand on Phoenix’ arm. “Thank you.” Her voice is soft and sweet, and Phoenix nods again.

  Adding Phoenix into the mix, this has only gotten more complicated. Like it was so simple before...

  “Now everyone has had breakfast, and coffee.” Bane’s father looks over the table. “Time to get to why I actually asked you to come over.” He stands up, his face going much more serious, instantly making him look older, and he lets out a deep breath. “I know that I didn’t have much information about the break-in last time, mostly because I couldn’t really tell you the things that I did know. There were things I wasn’t allowed to share back then, because of the investigation, but I do need you to know some things now.” He holds the back of the chair he’d just been sitting on. “Firstly, the investigation about what exactly happened and how it could have happened is still ongoing. But I, and some others with me, don’t feel like the outcome is that important. Not right now.”

  “What?” Bane frowns. “Why not?”

  His father gives him a pointed look. “Secondly, we currently do know that the people who broke in used magic and were either part of one of the royal families, or had somehow gotten access to blood from a royal family member. That room is locked with magic to people who aren’t from one of the royal bloodlines. As it stands now, the magic part seems to mostly be them hiding their tracks really well. We’ve not found anything, including no lingering magic traces.”

  “You think a witch is involved? Or multiple witches?” Phoenix frowns, almost angry, though I’m not sure at who.

  “Potentially.” Bane’s dad lets out a deep sigh.

  “Which means it could have been from any of the kingdoms.” Phoenix lets out a sound almost like a growl, making Litha glance at her. “Or even rebels or insurgents.”