Tales & Time (Lost Time Academy #1)(19)

“Good time with Noah?” she asks, sitting up and closing the book.

“Sort of,” I say, putting my bag down on the floor before going to sit on my bed. I pass her the envelope, and she accepts it, frowning down at it.

“It smells like the sea,” she states. “Let me guess, mermaid girl gave you it?”

“We are invited to a party, apparently,” I explain to her, leaving out that I kinda invited Tavvy to come with me. There is no way I am going alone. I open up the wardrobe where I put my clothes this morning and pull out my comfort hoodie, pulling it over my head and pulling up the hood.

“Ah, so she thinks being your friend will get her in the Tale brothers’ pants,” she says, laughing. “It makes sense in a messed up way, I suppose.”

“Is it bad I got jealous at the idea of them being with her? I mean, I haven’t even spoken with Tobias and Knox in three years. Noah is strange with me, and Oisin only spoke to me once at lunch,” I say. “You were there, you saw how awkward it was.”

“It’s not bad. Complicated maybe? Sure. Though the Tale brothers could have slept with most of the girls in the school by now if they wanted to, but they don’t fuck around or even seem interested. I always thought there must be a girl who stole their hearts first, and then I saw how they looked at you,” she says, and I shake my head at her.

“They don’t like me that way,” I explain to her. “I’m more like a little sister to them.”

“Totally clueless,” she says, laughing her head off as I glare at her. She tuts at me as she opens the envelope in her hands. I jump back as dozens of mini paper butterflies explode out of the envelope before flying into a key shape, moulding together until the key drops to the floor.

“Urgh, how tacky. The nymph twins must have been helping her make the invites. They specialise in making flying and glittery stuff that annoys everyone,” she says, pulling the letter out of the envelope while I go and pick up the white key.

“The key is entrance to the party. It is being held in the attic which is perfect for you to sneak off to the roof and call your human lover boy,” she says, putting the letter on top of her book and dropping it on the desk. “I’ve never been to one of their parties, but the wards make sure the teachers don’t know it is happening.”

“Well, you are going with me and keeping me from throwing something at the mermaid chick if she touches the brothers,” I say, joking. Kinda.

“You got it. I’m going to shower. If you want to come with, I can show you where the towels and hair products are. The academy keeps it stocked up for us,” she says. “Don’t worry, the showers have separate cubicles.”

“Okay, I want to go and shower, but I can’t keep what you said about the shower room being creepy out of my mind,” I say, and she sighs.

“Okay, so a girl was killed in there by a dark descendant who managed to get into the academy,” she explains, making a shiver drift over my skin when I feel a little fear. Not about the shower room, but about how a dark descendant could get in here.

“What? They can get in?” I whisper in horror, and she shakes her head.

“No, not usually anyway. Someone has to let them in. This girl was dating a dark tale and paid the price for it. She knew what she was risking, but the shower room freaks people out because that is where he killed her and escaped not long after,” she says.

“Why would she date a dark tale?” I ask. “Was she crazy?”

“People do crazy things when they are in love with someone. Who knows why she risked her life other than she likely loved him,” Tavvy answers. “I didn’t know her, it was before I came here, so I’m clueless.”

“Why would he kill her?” I muse. “If they were in love, it doesn’t make sense that he would hurt her.”

“They can’t help themselves, usually. I’ve never seen or heard of a dark tale walking away from one of us before. The original goddesses made us enemies that cannot help but want to kill each other. It’s almost as natural to us as breathing,” she tries to explain to me. “I saw one once, just before he was killed, and the rumours of the draw to kill them are real. It floods your mind and makes you want to end their lives. Apparently, it is worse for them than it is for us.”

“I hope I don’t run into one of them then,” I humourlessly chuckle and stand off the bed. “Though I’m not creeped out by the shower room. In most houses or places, someone has died in over the years. If I were scared of somewhere that people died, I wouldn’t be able to go anywhere.”

“I like you. I thought the same,” Tavvy says and walks to the door, pausing before opening it. “Because I like you, I’m telling you what my mum and dad told me before I came here. One day, you will meet an enemy who was born to kill you. Make sure you’re the one that comes out on top. Dark tales are out there, Madi, and you will meet one. So learn your powers that are your gift, and learn to fight back.”

“My mum told me not to trust anyone,” I quietly tell her.

“Seems our parents are pretty smart,” she says sadly. “I think your mum was talking about the Tale brothers. A broken heart is likely the least of your problems if you’re not careful with them.”

“What do you mean?” I ask her as her hand goes to the handle of the door.