Page 28 of Tempest Awakening
"What's a human doing here? Seems like the standards really are dropping around here," a silky voice cut through the air, followed by a ripple of laughter.
My words died in my throat, heat rising to my cheeks.
"Must be lost," another voice chimed in. "Humans don't belong in places like this."
Pippa's usual vibrant smile faded, her brows knitting together. She leaned in close. "See the woman with the raven hair? That's Selena Nightshade."
I turned slightly, my gaze landing on a figure that seemed to draw light into herself. Midnight hair cascaded down her back, framing a face of ethereal beauty. Her eyes, a piercing blue, met mine. One perfectly sculpted eyebrow arched in challenge, her lips curving into a smirk.
As if summoned by our whispers, Selena and a towering man beside her began to move towards us. They glided between the tables, their very presence parting the crowd.
"Well, well," Selena's voice cut through the air, sharp as a blade and dripping with false sweetness. "What have we here? A new face amongst us mere mortals. And a human, no less."
I met her gaze steadily. "I'm Tess Whittaker, the new librarian," I said, my voice clear and firm. "And you must be Selena. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Selena's eyes narrowed slightly, perhaps surprised by my composure. "A librarian... honestly, I'm surprised they let you in here. A magicless human? It's almost cute."
Her words hit me like a splash of cold water, reminding me of my outsider status. I felt my confidence waver, but I pushed through. "Magic isn't everything," I replied, aiming for a casual tone but hearing a slight defensiveness creep in. "Knowledge has its own power."
The man next to Selena let out a low chuckle. "Listen to her, Selena. She thinks she belongs here."
I swallowed hard, feeling my earlier bravado start to slip. "And you are?" I asked.
"Valen," he growled, his red eyes gleaming. "Remember it, human. You'll be hearing it a lot."
I took a deep breath. "Well, Valen, Selena, I'm here to work, same as anyone else. I don't see why that should be a problem."
Selena's laughed. "Oh, it's a problem because you're out of your depth, little human. This isn't your world."
Her words struck a nerve, echoing my own doubts. "Look," I said, hating the slight tremor that had crept into my voice, "I just want to eat my lunch in peace."
"Peace?" Valen sneered. "You'll find precious little of that here, human. Not when you're pretending to be something you're not."
"Why don't you pick on someone your own size?" Pippa's voice cracked like a whip, startling me. Her usual cheer had vanished, replaced by a steely edge I hadn't known she possessed.
Selena's eyes glittered with malice as they flicked between us. "There's no need. Little Tess here needs to learn the pecking order before she gets hurt."
"You don't get to decide who belongs," I managed to say, but the words came out as barely more than a whisper.
"Oh, Miss Whittaker, you really are something," Selena sneered. "Thinking you're equal to us."
I felt myself shrinking inward. I was acutely aware of every pair of eyes on us, every whisper, every judgmental glance. It was as if all my fears of not belonging were being confirmed.
Suddenly, from the corner of my eye, I noticed something strange. The air seemed to shimmer slightly, and I saw a wisp of shadow move across the floor—subtle yet distinct. It coiled around Selena’s ankle with an almost sentient fluidity.
Was I imagining things? I blinked hard, trying to clear my vision.
A moment later, Selena stumbled, losing her balance and crashing into one of the tables, sending plates and cutlery clattering to the floor. Gasps and murmurs rippled through the dining hall as all eyes turned toward the scene.
Selena's face flushed a deep crimson as she scrambled to regain her composure, glaring daggers in my direction. "You'll pay for this," she hissed. "See you around, Tess."
With that, she and Valen stalked off, leaving a tangible chill in their wake.
I sat there, stunned, my mind racing. What had just happened? That shadow... had it been real, or just a product of my stressed imagination? And if it was real, who or what had caused it?
Pippa's hand on my arm brought me back to reality. "Are you okay, Tess?" she asked.
I nodded slowly, remembering Selena’s final threat. "I think so. That was... intense."
