The Awakening of Ren Crown by Zoelle Anne

Author:Zoelle, Anne [Zoelle, Anne]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Anne Zoelle
Published: 2012-08-09T17:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen: Thieves, Pyramids, and Firesnakes

I checked to make sure my headless rock was still holding his pencil and pacing in my backpack, protecting the lavender paint tube I had tasked him to guard, then set off for the fourth circle.

Fortuitously, I ran into Will—who was surrounded by an increased golden glow, making him easy for me to pick out of the crowd. He cast a quick look around us. “I'm on my way to class, but I have something for you. The substance is exactly as described. I tested it against the dust, then converted it to liquid form. I tried it last night.” He grinned, then handed me a capped glass. “And I'm still alive. If you want to risk it, drink it all in one go. It tastes pretty gross.”

I downed it before I could second guess the decision, then shuddered. “I think the word you are looking for is vile.” I could feel the mixture spreading inside of me. I really hoped I wasn't swiping one horrible predicament for another. I used my tongue to swipe all lingering traces past my taste buds as quickly as possible.

He snickered at my facial expression and waved as he jogged off to class.

A student officer popped up minutes later, intercepting my route to the fourth circle. For once, I had actually earned a substance abuse infraction. I wondered if Will had gotten one.

“You have nine firesnake skins to collect?” The officer shook her head, aghast. “I'm not adding more. But there is a note in here that you've racked up too many of the same offense. I am required to take the substance.”

“What?”

The empty glass container flew out of my bag, into the air, and off down the mountain. I lost sight of it when it zipped between buildings one circle down.

“It was sent to the Midlands processing factory for recycling.”

Speechless, I clutched my bag, checking to make sure my rock and paint were still inside. I shakily zipped it. I don't know what I would have done if my paint tube had been taken. I held my bag against my chest, as if she might take it from me too.

Blood would be shed.

“Just so you know, that's going to happen from now on. Please get some help. But more firesnakes?” She grimaced and shook her head. “I'm not adding more. Here, do some cleaning.”

I quickly cleaned the building indicated, bag straps uncomfortably tight on my shoulders, still unnerved by my near miss. I was going to have to be absolutely sure of my warding from now on before using the lavender paint.

Something in me was illogically relieved by this.

I trudged off to my next punishment. The girl's reaction to the firesnake collection made me nervous. It was weird enough that I was going to collect snake skins, I hadn't thought of why I had been assigned such a punishment for an upper level offense.

Touching Will's bracelet and thinking about firesnakes produced an image of beautiful opalescent serpents breathing fire.

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