He placed a finger in my lips. "Rae, go back to the Temple now."
I blinked up at him. "But, why can't I stay? I want to go with you." I spoke with his fingers on my lips.
"I'm taking Devlin to the Grove."
I breathed out slowly. "Okay, why can't I come to? After all I'm a fairy too. I should know where this place is." I lifted my chin defiantly. "I want to see it."
Breandan risked turning his back on Devlin to grab me by the shoulders, lift me up and set me on my feet. I could feel my face morphing to a sulky expression. He looked me in the eye. "I want to you be introduced to the people with no distractions. Not tainted by his association. Do you understand?"
After a pause I nodded. I could see his point. I would be a great point of interest if I turned up looking like hell with Breandan dragging Devlin behind him. It was frustrating, because it felt like he was keeping me in the shadows. But there was no logical reason for him to do that, so it was just me, silly Rae overacting.
"I'll go back," I mumbled into my shoulder and half turned. "Watch yourself with him, okay?"
Breandan gave me a little shove. "Walk back and I will run. I'll be with you before you can miss me."
Devlin grinned at me. What was so funny? Did he know something I did not?
I shivered, and started off at a slow walk. I was not afraid in the blue and purple forest surrounding me. It was peaceful. As I wandered back, I slid my glamour back on, and tugged at the gaping hole at my back where my tee shirt had given way for my wings. The world became darker and it felt like I was draped under a heavy curtain. My limbs dragged, and my hearing, sense of smell became muted. How had I functioned like this for eighteen years? Finally alone, I took a moment to think on everything that had happened to me. The day seemed endless, and I hoped there were no more surprises in store. I didn't know how much more I could take. I was dying to pee, so I squatted behind a tree and relived my self, humming low in my throat.
Back on the compound, I was reaching for Bayou's door when a heavy hand landed on my shoulder. The hand was warm, human warm, and it spun me around and pressed me back into the door.
"Lord Cleric," I protested and pushed forward, but he held firm.
I was stronger than him of course, but I let him pin me to the door as the Lady Cleric from that morning came out of the shadows. I dipped my head in a show of respect but my mind was racing. This was not good. It was the middle of the night, I was not asleep in bed like the other Disciples, and I looked like I had been to hell and back.
"Hai, Disciple," the Lady Cleric said in a nasal drawl.
She had a slight accent and upward tilt to her eyes. She was a small thing, tiny hands and feet obscured by mittens and clunky black boots. Her mousey brown hair hung straight, severely parted in the centre and cut blunt at the ends, and over her eyebrows in a fringe. She was not attractive, or ugly either she just looked mean.
"Hai, Lady Cleric," I replied.
I didn't know her name, so I simply said the honorific keeping my eyes downcast and my voice small and quiet at an attempt at meekness, whilst I scrambled around my head to get my story straight. This treatment of me was against the rules. This told me two things. One, that they suspected me to be the girl in the forest that morning. Two, they had already tried the official route and had probably been told to take a hike by the Priests. Oh gods. Or they were acting with Sect approval and their orders where to take care of me quietly.
And I'd handed myself to them on a platter.
"Looks like you're doing some hard thinking there," Tu said. "Why so nervous, Rae?"
I looked my teacher in the eye, and could not hide the flash of hate in my glare. He faltered and the pressure on my shoulder eased. I used it to slide away and stand up straight. I felt the wind blow past and sent a chill up my exposed spine. How would I explain my ripped top? I lifted my chin and looked between them.
"Is there something I can help you with? I'm tired after my run, and I would like to sleep."
They shot looks at each other. "Do you often run in the middle of the night?" The Lady Cleric looked me up and down. "Looking sodisheveled?"
I scrunched my fingers into fists behind my back. "Yes, Lady Cleric. I like to run at night. I find it soothing."
"Do you run in the morning?" Tu asked quietly.
I nodded my head. "Sure. The security guy often lets me out in the pre dawn. I circle the Temple grounds and come back.
The Lady Cleric tilted her head. "Sounds innocent enough."
I smiled somewhat tightly. "Do you run, Cleric? If you do you will know how peaceful it can be."
"Yes. I too find it soothing. Killing demons can be stressful."
I flinched, just a little, but enough to confirm their suspicions. Normal people did not flinch at the mention of killing demons. It was seen as a good thing.
"We know all about your morning runs, Rae. But that's not why we are here. It's what led us to you, but not why we're here."
I swallowed a couple of times before I could say. "I don't think I follow you. Led you to me?"
"You know there is an in and out list for the gate?"
I closed my eyes briefly, realizing the blunder before I answered. "Yes, Lord Cleric.
"This morning, you went out as usual, but you didn't come through the gate again." He pointed behind him, where the black iron gates lurked. "You showed up in my class sure enough, and asked a fewconcerning questions. When we came back to the class you looked most preoccupied. Then you skipped all of your afternoon classes. Most concerning."
My hand reached behind me and curled around Bayou's door handle.
"I understand Lord Cleric," I said humbly. "I will come to your classroom tomorrow morning to discuss my punishment."
The Lady Cleric's face twisted. "No, Disciple Wilder. You are coming with us. Now."
I jerked the door open and bolted through it. Taking the stairs two at a time a hand snagged my ankle and I went down. I smacked my head on the stair in front of me, and was half dragged back down by my calf. Flailing to grab the railing rushing by, I caught one and held on. I half turned, and kicked with my other leg catching the Lady Cleric by the side of her head. She let me go and I scrambled up the stairs on all fours. Up the second flight, I heard her close behind me and plucked my key out of my back jean pocket. I heard her take the second flight of stairs, cursing the gods as my hand tried to slot my key in the lock. My hand trembled. As it slid in and clicked, I opened the door and turned to get the Lady Cleric's fist straight square in the face. Pain exploded out from my nose and radiated across my cheekbones. I flew back, and landed hard on my back with a flat thump. The Lady Cleric stepped in and kicked the door closed behind her. Glamoured as human, I could see nothing in the dark, but I could hear her raspy breaths.
I wiped at my bleeding nose. Why was it not healing?
"Demon bitch," she spat. "That's what you are, isn't it? A demon. That was the only way you evaded the dogs, my tracking."
"It's not what you think," I sobbed and crawled backward.
"I knew it was you, but Tu wasn't sure. He tried to convince me it was just a coincidence. That one of his precious students could never be one of them." The venom in her voice made me tremble even harder. "You disgust me, I read your file. You've been hiding among us since a baby. Fooling that old Priest into thinking that you were an abandoned ward."
"No, it wasn't like that." My heart hurt when I thought of the Priest who had found me outside his door. I would never do anything to hurt him. It was him who had suggested I be enrolled at Temple when he saw how I had survived at the orphanage. I shook my head again. "It wasn't like that."
I was afraid. Had I been this afraid when I'd met Breandan? Or when I'd met- I swear, my heart stopped then kicked twice before a cold sweat broke out on my palms. I couldn't even think his name, because then it would be real. The horror of what was about to happen would become a reality, and there would be no taking it back. I hobbled up and pressed myself against the wall.