BABYDOLL
Yep, and trust me, I know how you feel. Hearing his name alone exhausts me. LMAO.
What does ‘LMAO’ mean? Luckily Murder’s An Option?
I share those sentiments, LMAO, on an everyday basis.
BABYDOLL
It sucks more for you since he’s your brother. But what can you do? Anyways, I was just checking on you. Making sure I didn’t hurt you during training. LOL.
Another abbreviation but this one is familiar. I think Angie said it means Leaning Over Laughing. An exaggeration of a cheerful moment.
Surely you don’t believe that. LOL.
BABYDOLL
I don’t. Maybe. All I’m saying is, you trained me well. And I look forward to the day you’re lying beneath me, in my grasp, and begging for me to release you.
A small picture follows her text. A purple face with horns, smiling. Does this mean she is thinking with a devilish mindset? Hinting at unleashing her murderous ability? I find myself smiling, knowing she won’t hold back in the future, and I welcome the challenge.
I look forward to seeing your many ways of bringing me to my knees. The day you pin me, Kyra, is the day I’ll submit to your every command.
Seconds pass without a response, and I summon a sigil, figuringshe second guessed the idea of taking me on when my phone pings again. No words, just a single, small picture of a yellow head with wide eyes and a hand covering its mouth.
Pride swells knowing I’ve rendered her speechless.
I nearly forgot. No training tonight. Everyone’s heading to the hangout spot to celebrate another week’s passing. Angie will give you the directions. See you there.
Not a bad week with only four students losing their lives. I stuff my phone away as darkness surrounds me, and I vanish.
Silence has beenour companion as Ethan and I finish up in the ‘Missing Room.’ He sits in the back at his desk, scrummaging through papers whilst ‘LMAO’ tempts my hand.
This hideout allows an undetected, safe passage for fays going on covert missions. It’s surrounded by layers of cancellation magic. Anyone inside these walls is rendered powerless from their traditional magic. Which means no sigils, spells, or incantations. Neutral ground.
Only those who have sigil magic, and know of its location, can transport in but not out, leaving just two ways of exiting. Through the door, or using a transport ring, which is granted to those designated for that specific purpose, transporting items, intel, or goods.
It’s been said, when the wards over Rebirth were placed, a forgotten Elder enchanted this room, using it for all sorts of nefarious reasons. A blank spot so diminutive, it’s unseen by the Queen’s High Council’s radar as though this rectangular anomaly went missing. Hence the name created by Angie.
“Where is it?” My voice echoes as I face Ethan who scribbles away.
“Here. Next time, retrieve it yourself.” He scoffs, holding out a hand without bothering a glance.
“I was busy instructing, so unless you’re suggesting you handle our training sessionslittlebrother, stop pestering me.”
Retrieving the contents, I see him shift his attention and growl with a loathsome, hooded leer. But I’m beyond these child-like qualms and return to my desk.
“Have you taken a look at these numbers?” I plop down, rechecking the information. Over fifty thousand glooms are reported across Valirene. Which, this intel does not include nor reflect those underground or elites. Osiris is building an army, and at this rate, a war can manifest at any time. Impossible. How have they gone unnoticed?
“Of course I have. Who do you assume this letter is for? My trust in magic delivering this to our Queen is less than none.”
“And what of the fay spying on Osiris?”
“We spoke. He states they’re planning on converting however many shifters before targeting the four lands, going after weaker fay or those traveling alone and in small groups.” He sneers, “And you, dearest brother, have decided against killing those weaker. Allowing them to depart these walls and become a target for taking. How many of our kind have you faced?”
I turn, meeting his scowl with my own. “Don’t lecture me on my ethics, Ethan. For even a weaker fay can be just as deadly under the right teaching. After all, our eldest brother took a chance on you.”
He leans back and smiles. Not in a forgiving way, nor a truce or declaration of defeat. No. I know my brother’s expressions. He is envisioning my heart at the end of his spear. A cacophony of my screams in the many ways he will end me.
