No, no, no! This couldn't be happening. Darren couldn't be doing this as well. That would make four people in my "service" and that was scary. What if I messed up? What if they grew to hate me?
"Maddie?" My eyes snapped open to look at him. He was still kneeling. "Do you accept my offer?"
Even though my head was telling me no, my gut and heart were saying yes. I knew whatever my gut said had to be right. So I nodded.
"Yes, I accept," I barely whispered.
It was enough for him. He jumped up and hugged me, swinging me around happily. When he set me on the ground he was smiling.
"Let's get you back to the dorm," he said.
I merely nodded.
We were half way to my dorm when a thought hit me.
"Darren, who's Merlin?" I asked.
The second I asked, his face closed up. "He'll let you know who he is when he's ready. Don't go looking for him. It won't be pretty."
"Okay," I muttered dejectedly.
"Maddie, stay safe. I'll see you tomorrow." With a quick kiss, he strode across the walkway and disappeared into his dorm.
I kicked the snow and went inside. This hadn't been my night at all.
When I woke up, Beca was sitting at the foot of my bed looking like a stalker. Luckily she had been gone when I came in last night. I was asleep when she came in so we didn't talk. Thank goodness because I probably would have told her I kissed her brother. Not a conversation I want to be having yet.
She watched as I stumbled from the bed and into the bathroom to shower. I looked at my face as the water heated up. The wounds were healing but they would leave scars on my upper lip and jaw. It was something I couldn't help so I didn't worry too much.
My gaze shifted to my chest. The jagged scar didn't look too bad now, not after I had let Darren see it. I still wasn't certain if that had been a good thing, but it had to be done or he would have continued blaming himself. It was a tragic love story that wasn't over.
After a quick shower, I dried off and slipped into my uniform. Beca was still there when I came out to grab my bag. She was copying my homework for biology. I shook my head at that then snatched it.
"Hey!" she complained indignantly.
"Do your own homework," I replied as I stuffed it back in my bag.
"I needed the last two questions."
"They were essays."
"I was looking over the questions."
"You have until second class. Finish it in English like you normally do."
She cast me a goofy look then we walked out the door.
Like yesterday, Parker was waiting on us. I didn't say anything when the girls cast me a dirty look. Parker was now a hated enemy because he had defected from Casey's little group. I guess it meant I was hated as well. My peaceful days at school were
coming to an end.
It wasn't quiet this time. We were talking and acting like, well, friends. As we neared the main building, things slowed down. When I walked into the cafeteria, I was an open target but there was nothing I could do about that. People were going to talk and I couldn't stop the chatter.
Parker took the lead and opened the door for us. I smiled and nodded at him. He smiled in return and let the door close behind him.
I ran into someone when I turned around. It turned out to be Darren. He smiled down at me, really smiled. His eyes actually lit up with his smile, so much so they twinkled. I couldn't help it; I smiled back. Then he did the worst thing he could do.
He bent his head and kissed me right there in front of everyone.
Beca squealed in delight as her brother pulled away and smiled down at me with mischief in his eyes. I was floored at his audacity but I couldn't find the words to tell him. I couldn't even hit him.
"Oh, my gosh, when did this happen?" Beca asked as she looked between us.
"What are you talking about?" I questioned.
"This? When did you get with my brother?"
"We're not," I said at the exact same time Darren said, "Last night."
I looked up at him sharply. "Darren?"
"What? You didn't think I'd let you go right?" he asked. I didn't answer so he bent his head so his mouth was next to my ear. "You said you wanted me to love you, Maddie. Well, I kinda need to be with you to do that."
When he leaned back, I frowned at him. His assuming I was with him because of last night was really stupid, but he had a point. I shook my head at him and went to get my breakfast. This time people were gawking as I walked by. Of course they were remembering Casey's threat about taking Parker and Darren from me. Apparently that threat had only driven them closer to me.
As I sat down, I had a thought. I turned to Parker simply because I knew he wouldn't shoot me down before it left my mouth or he heard me out.
"Hey, Parker," I said. When he looked up at me, I noticed his eyes were guarded. "You know swordsmanship, right?"
"I know fencing and a little bit of sword play. Why?" he asked. My question caught him off guard and he was interested.
"Well, I want you to teach me. Duh!"
He smiled at my sarcasm. "Maybe you should ask your head guardian first."
I frowned. Head guardian? "Who's that?" Beca and Parker pointed their spoons at Darren. I followed that and groaned. "Ah, hell. Seriously?"
"Seriously? He was Camelot's guardian and now he's yours."
I turned to Darren. "Is it safe for me to learn swordsmanship?" I really hated asking permission. That would change soon.
Darren adopted this serious thinking face. It was so annoying that I wanted to hit him. Then he smiled and shrugged. "I guess so. It actually seems like a good idea to me."
"Gee, thanks." I picked at my breakfast then. That's when the thought hit me. "You're going to ask Simon aren't you, simply because he's the oldest of us?"
"You would be right."
Beca made a face. "Who's Simon?"
We both looked at her as we realized our mistake. "Uh, Simon is Headmaster Alexander's first name," I said.
Her face went from curious to downright shock. "The headmaster's a knight?"
"Shut up, Beca," Darren scolded as her voice carried causing others to look at us.
"That's so cool!" she whispered excitedly. I felt her stomp her feet under the table. "We have the headmaster on our side. Who is he?"
Darren looked at Parker. "He's Galahad."
Parker slumped. "I thought I felt his presence."
I must have looked dumb because Beca said, "Galahad was Lancelot's son."
Then I knew. When Lancelot had betrayed Arthur, Galahad had remained faithful to his king. I could understand Parker's hesitation. Before I could stop myself, I placed my hand on his. He looked up into my eyes.
"Don't worry. Not everyone holds grudges."
He smiled slightly. "I hope you're right, my lady."
I retracted my hand and looked at the three sitting with me. "Listen carefully. We have to get along. From now on, do not bring up the past. I won't hear it. We start with a clean slate."
I watched their reactions carefully. Beca was the first to nod in agreement. I could count on her definitely when I needed her. Then I looked to the guys. They were staring
at each other. Very slowly, Darren nodded. Parker followed closely after. I could see the relief just roll off him.
"Good. Darren, talk to Simon about teaching me swordsmanship. I'll talk to Mr. Yeats about teaching Beca and me archery," I said.
"That's not a bad idea. I know Mr. Yeats is head of the Archery Club. Bruce belongs to it," Parker admonished.
"He'll happily oblige. There aren't too many girls on the team," Darren stated.
"Do you blame them?" I asked. "It's too masculine."
"And the equestrian team isn't?"
I pointed my fork at him and waved it as I spoke. "I love the feel of riding a horse. There's nothing more exhilarating than sitting atop a powerful steed whose muscles ripple under your thighs. So shut up."
"Wow, Maddie," Drew said as he plopped down. "I didn't know you were so sexual."
Beca punched him in the shoulder as I turned my attention to him. "It has nothing to do with sex, Drew. It has to do with the fact that I feel free when I ride a horse."
He smiled his understanding but I knew he loved to pick on people so I wasn't too mad.
"Where have you been?" Darren asked, successfully changing the flow of conversation from me to the new guy.
"I was talking to Alexander."
"What about?" I asked before I thought it. When I did, I ducked my head. "Sorry. Didn't mean to pry."
"No, don't worry about it. It was simply about classes I should take in college. Because of my eye, I lost my sports scholarships but I still have my academic scholarships. He thinks I should take physical therapy courses or criminal justice. I think he's got a good point." I frowned, wishing I didn't know what I was about to say. He tilted his head at me. "What?"
"You're lying," I stated simply, not ashamed that I brought it up.
He looked shocked. "What?"
"How can you tell?" Beca asked.
"It's a quirky trait I have. I can tell when someone lies to me. It has something to do with the change in a person's voice and posture. I'm not quite sure honestly. Anyway, you, my friend, are lying."
Drew's eyes narrowed almost fractionally, but I caught it. Something swirled around him. It was a good something but he was agitated and that made it deadly. I saw a flicker of fire in his eye and wasn't sure if it was directed at me or himself for getting caught in a lie.
As fast as the cloud came over him it was gone. He was back to joking around with Darren and Parker and cuddling with Beca. It left me biting my lip as the sword burned hotly against my skin.
The cooks called last call for breakfast. I was done so I slipped out on my own. Everyone else was too busy talking to notice. They were supposed to be my knights… Oh, well. I could always use time to myself.
As I walked past Audrey Hall, I was in deep thought. Why had Drew gotten angry? I simply told the truth. Then the sword had burned hotter than it ever had before.
I stopped at the old oak tree in the middle of the campus and looked up at it. This tree was old, older than the school. It was one of the best parts of the campus. It provided shade and peace.
Peace.
That one word was looking less like my friend these days. I wanted it so badly but I was not going to get it. I backed away from the tree and continued to Humanities.
I was on autopilot as I headed to the third floor. I didn't notice anyone around me. Not like it would have mattered. Everyone was still murmuring about Casey's threat. I was worried about it. I was afraid she would take everyone away from me and leave me alone..
I had never been or felt alone. Not when my mother died, not when I started high school and not when I transferred here. If something happened to anyone around me, I didn't know what I would do. These people had become my friends and family in such a short amount of time that I was dependent on them; Beca for her friendliness, Parker for his trustworthiness, Darren for his steadfastness, Drew for his quirkiness, and Bianca for her motherly tendencies. If something happened to them…
I didn't let that thought linger as I walked into the room.
I was sitting at my desk with my head cradled on my arms when Beca walked in. She looked slightly flustered. When her eyes landed on me, she sighed heavily. She said something as she sat next to me but I didn't hear her. My funk had returned with a vengeance.
Pierce walked into the room right on time and started her lecture by closing the door. For the next four hours I had something to preoccupy my mind before lunch, before I had to face the rest of my group about what had happened at breakfast. Right now I was going to focus on The Iliad and dream of Brad Pitt as Achilles.