The Shock of Survival by Nicole Field

Author:Nicole Field [Field, Nicole]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: LGBTQ, Urban Fantasy, Romance
Publisher: Less Than Three Press, LLC
Published: 2016-11-09T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Two Years Before

"The three of you have extraordinary gifts, gifts that no other children your age could hope to attain." Headmistress Blackthorne's blank expression gave no indication of any other, contrary thoughts she might have. Certainly, none of them mentioned the trepidation with which she'd always spoken of such power in the years leading up to this. "You have these gifts for a reason. It is your responsibility to the school and to magicians worldwide that you use the gifts you have to give back to our community."

There seemed no doubt in her voice that the three children in front of her would do other than what she wished. She wasn't asking, not really.

Benedict had arrived first in Blackthorne’s office. Eagerness hurried his step. He believed in the righteousness of what was being asked of them. They had been given these powers, just as Blackthorne said, and the three of them were going to do something great with those powers.

Dylan had arrived shortly after. He believed in the glory and also in the superior gifts that everyone said they had. How could they lose?

Ophelia came last, with dragging feet and lowered eyes. Of the three of them, she was the only one who didn’t want to be here. There was too much cynicism in her to believe this could be easy. This was a war. In wars, people died. They could die. She glanced over to Benedict and his shining eyes. He could die.

Benedict was the first to speak. "We'll do it." He made the statement with a quick bob of his head to punctuate. It didn’t occur to him that the other two would be less than excited to be called.

Dylan looked towards the dark-haired boy, his friend, but didn't gainsay him or even open his mouth to speak. "You're right. We have these gifts for a reason. It would be ungrateful if we didn't use them."

Ophelia’s shoulders hunched over. She felt overwhelmed by the decision, as if it had already been made for her despite her not having spoken. How could she speak up against it now that both Benedict and Dylan had cast their hats into the pit? She felt very small, suddenly.

"Ophelia?" Benedict frowned, taking half a step towards her. He realised, too late, what he’d overlooked in his initial excitement. "I—"

Her peripheral vision caught his movement and Ophelia’s gaze darted up. She took her own step away from Benedict, almost bumping into Dylan. His hands came up to steady her even as she regained her balance, but her eyes were still wild.

"Fine," she said. "I'll do it too." But she wasn't happy about it.

Benedict’s gaze burned into her, willing her to look his way. She didn’t.

*~*~*

Present

Benedict washed down his thoughts with another shot of bourbon, before pointing his finger at the empty glass. "Another." There was nothing he could do to change the past. He was wasting the present, and he knew it. He just wasn't strong enough to face up to the consequences of his own choices and actions.

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