Fairy Bad Day(13)

“Emma, I think you’re forgetting yourself,” Principal Kessler said in a commanding voice. “This assignment still has to be done, no matter what you think of it. End of discussion. Now I’ve got to go join in the briefing.”

She stared in openmouthed frustration at the door Principal Kessler had just walked through. Up and down the corridors she could hear the sound of running feet as students prepared for the mission, which just made her feel even worse. But her pity party was interrupted by a coughing noise next to her.

Her eyes narrowed.

“This is all your fault,” she said, spinning around and glaring at Curtis. Her eye was a little less fuzzy but it still hurt like crazy, and there were now all sorts of shadows dancing in front of it.

“My fault?” he started to say before he frowned and studied her face. “Hey, Jones, are you okay? Your eye looks really sore and your face is pale. Maybe you should see Nurse Reynes.”

“No thanks.” Emma shook her head and immediately regretted it as the world started to swim, but she did her best to ignore it. There was no way she wanted to go back to the infirmary. Infirmaries reminded her of hospitals, and hospitals reminded her of her mom.

She shut her eyes to try to hold back the memories that were starting to seep out. The ironic thing was that after risking life and limb battling dragons every day, her mom had been in the hospital for a simple concussion and had ended up catching an infection that spread to her lungs and killed her. All within four days.

“Are you sure? Because it really doesn’t look that good.” Genuine concern seemed to be etched across Curtis’s chiseled features, and for a moment she felt like he had read her mind and knew the real reason she didn’t want to go.

“I’m fine,” she said in a tight voice as she reminded herself that he was the person standing between her and her goal. “Besides, if you really want to help me, you can go and tell Kessler to change his mind about the designation.”

Curtis tightened his jaw. “Look, I know you’re bummed, but you can’t keep taking it out on me. It wasn’t like I planned this.”

“Oh, really?” Emma narrowed her one good eye at him. “Well, it’s funny that up until five weeks ago everyone thought it was my spot. I mean, for the last seven years, I’ve topped dragon studies, but you wouldn’t know that because you didn’t take any of the classes, yet suddenly you’re an expert?”

“It’s not that simple.” As he spoke he leaned forward so that his brown eyes were staring directly into hers. His tanned face suddenly seemed far too close to her as she watched his white teeth bite into the fleshy part of his full lower lip.

“Is that right?” Emma blinked as she realized she had been staring at him. She dragged her gaze away, almost as annoyed with herself as she was with him. For a moment Curtis looked like he was going to answer, before he suddenly shut his mouth and clenched his jaw.

“Look. I know you’re not happy, but this isn’t the ideal situation for me, either.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Emma demanded, before realizing she knew exactly what he meant. How embarrassing to be stuck with the laughingstock of the entire Academy. As if reading her mind, he didn’t bother to reply as he awkwardly got to his feet and flicked his tie back over his shoulder before reaching down for his crutches. As he did so, his white school shirt strained with the effort. Emma ignored it. Just because he had big muscly arms did not mean he was a better dragon slayer than she was. Once he tucked the crutches under his arm, he paused and seemed to study her for a minute before merely shrugging. As if he was so above her that he didn’t even owe her an explanation.

“I’ve got to go and get changed for the assignment, but then I’ll meet you in the office so we can get our pass-outs, okay?” he said in a businesslike voice. Then, without another word, he swung his way out into the corridor, leaving Emma seething with indignation.





CHAPTER SIX





You know, as much as I like to listen to you complain about Curtis, I’ve got to get ready,” Loni said fifteen minutes later as Emma watched her friend race around her tiny dorm room, excitedly packing her slaying kit. “And if you’re going to just sit there, you could at least make yourself useful and pass me that subsonic blaster.”

“Yes, but it’s so unfair,” Emma insisted as she obediently reached over and handed her friend the small handheld weapon that was sitting on the dresser next to the bed. Then she returned to her brooding. “I mean, why is Curtis getting such special treatment anyway? Maybe he has some compromising photos of Kessler. Probably bought them on eBay and decided to use them as blackmail to get my spot.”

“Yeah, that’s definitely it,” Loni said sarcastically as she continued to methodically pack her weapons, her brow knitted in concentration.

“Or, maybe his parents are mega rich and promised to donate a new wing to Burtonwood?” Emma continued. “Oh . . . or the retinal-scanning machine that turned up last month? That could’ve been from them.”

“Yes, or it could’ve been from the Department, like we were told when it first arrived,” Loni said as she unsheathed one of her knives and held the blade up to the light. Once she was satisfied, she added it to her bag and turned her attention to a pile of wards that was sitting on her comforter, looking like metallic buttons. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but you can’t blame Curtis. Besides, we all know what an amazing fighter he is.”