The week flies by in a blur. Miles is still ignoring me, so I haven't invited him back into my bed, and Aphelion left Wednesday to go and speak with his father. Zeus wasn't happy to learn from Hermes that Aphelion had called off his engagement to Hilda without consulting him first. From what Beckett had told me, there was no tension between Thor and Zeus and talks of an uprising.
Speaking of Beckett, he and I have encountered a hiccup in our relationship. He still despises Luka passionately, and I want nothing more than to spend time with him, even if he is my professor. Beckett claims it's the bond we've formed that is causing me to want to be near Luka. But I have a feeling it's more. Before our magic bonded, I felt an unexplainable connection to my professor. I want to get to know him on a more personal level. Beckett has outright forbade it. Hence the standstill in our relationship. It angers me that Beckett feels like he can control me, but I won't go against him. If there were a woman I didn't want him to be around, I'd hope he would give me the same courtesy.
I think Luka feels the same pull for me. He takes every chance he gets in class to be near me, and if he can find the excuse to touch me, he does. When our skin makes contact, it feels like I have a raging inferno running through my body. I can tell he feels it, too, because the more we touch, the longer each touch lasts, and the more frequent they become; I find myself secretly hoping that he'll make me stay after class, giving us the chance to spend time together with each other, and maybe act out on some of these feelings that are occurring, but then I feel guilty for feeling that way; it makes me feel like I'm betraying Beckett.
Since Samael is the only one I'm currently speaking with, I brought up the possibility of my bond with Luka being more than simple power-sharing. Samael didn't seem keen on the idea that I might have another mate, but he also didn't encourage me to ignore my feelings.
"If you feel a connection towards him, you should see what it's about. The way your powers merged and continued to merge was more than just a simple power share. Your powers wanted to be intertwined; it was like they were calling for one another. I've heard about power mergers, but I need to understand it before I can tell you more about it." Samael states, "When we visit my home, we can visit the archives and gather information."
"Thank you, Samael. I know sharing me with someone else must sound unappealing to you, but I can't not see what's going on between Luka and me. If I have proof to show Beckett, he'd be more willing to let me talk to Luka and find out what's going on between us." I replied, wrapping my arms around Samael, nuzzling my face into his chest.
"Don't worry too much about Beckett. He grew up very traditional. Poseidon hates any Gods or descendants that didn't come from the original kingdoms. He believes that they're beneath him, and he raised Beckett to have the same beliefs. It's why Beckett can only see black and white when it comes to demons. You're the first grey area he's encountered. The mate bond pulls him to you, and he knows that you and he were created for each other, but he's having a hard time getting over the fact that you're a part demon. He's talked himself into believing that your angel side has taken over your demonic side, which is why you two have been paired together." Samael explains.
His explanation hurts. Beckett's hatred for demons means he hates a part of me. I thought mates were supposed to love each other unconditionally and that we would see the other as absolute perfection, but that doesn't seem to be the case here. Part of me feels like I should relieve Beckett of our bond, but it breaks me when the thought crosses my mind. He is mine as I am his. Even though we haven't fully bonded yet, I can't, and I won't let him go. I'm determined to make him open his eyes and realize that the world is full of colors and that not everything is monotone.
Before I know it, it's the final class of the day, Magical Enhancement. It also seems to be the only class that I am struggling with. I share the lesson with Aphelion, but without him here, I'm too self-conscious to try and practice any of my unique magic skills.
Professor Isis has been strict about us not using our gifted divine powers. She explained that every one of us was gifted a unique ability. She then proceeded to show us her special power, which happened to be morphing sand into glass. It was an exciting power; while I didn't see how it benefited the academy or the four kingdoms, I thought it would be helpful among the mortals. They'd have a surplus amount of glass if Professor Isis ever happened to open up shop. Isis explained how she'd created every glass item in the academy and then demonstrated the different shapes, textures, and colors she could create using her gift.
Throughout the class, I pretended to try and call out my gift and was glad that nothing, not even a spark, occurred. Of course, Hilda and her groupies were in the class with me. Hilda took every moment to taunt me and announce to the class how I wasn't fit to be a ruler of any of the four kingdoms, let alone the highest kingdom, which just so happened to be the Kingdom that Aphelion was heir to. Of course, Hilda found her core magic the first day we learned about it. She was able to project images of the future. She'd only been able to project images of the immediate future. Still, Professor Isis seemed to think that with more practice and honing her skill that Hilda would be able to become a very important seer for the four kingdoms.
Hilda, of course, bragged to anyone who cared to listen about how she'd have made a better Queen and how once Zeus found out about her projections, he would force Aphelion to destroy his bond with me and take her as his bride. While I didn't voice it to anyone, I was terrified that Hilda's words might be valid. I haven't spoken to Aphelion since he left. Our newly formed bond allows me to sense him, and I know he's okay; I wish there were a way for me to speak with him. I missed my carefree, playful mate.
"Katrina, focus!" Isis called out once again, "Try to maintain your concentration on your gift. You have four very powerful mates, meaning that whatever inner gift you possess will be powerful."
"Yeah, right," Hilda sneered under her breath, "Soon everyone will find out that she's a power stealing nobody, who managed to trick the four heirs into thinking she's someone that she's not." The people surrounding her snicker quietly.
Every moment I'm near her, I can feel my anger rising. I take deep breaths to calm myself. I can't afford to let my hellfire lose in front of my classmates, but she's gone too far this time. I focus on the way I feel when Miles touches me. I can smell the fresh soil of the earth as I send a blast of dirt her way, coating her head to toe.
"Katrina!" Professor Isis yells. "If you're unwilling to participate in my class and follow the instructions I've assigned you, you can leave. Just because you've become heiress to the four kingdoms does not mean I will give you a pass for undermining me in my class."
I bow my head at my professor. "I'm sorry, professor Isis it won't happen again."
The rest of class is spent with me ignoring the snide remarks coming from Hilda and her posse and focusing on controlling my power of heavenly light. I've promised myself that I'll have complete control of it before I venture out into the world again. I can't risk killing any more innocents.
A bright angelic light flows from my hands and coats the entire room. Since everyone in the class has god-given powers, and my ability isn't targeted at anyone, my light doesn't hurt anyone. The majority of the students look on in awe, and even Professor Isis is shocked by the amount of Heavenly light I can conduct.
"While Heavenly light isn't a unique power to you, I agree that mastering it is something you should work on, Katrina. In the wrong hands, that light can be devastating. I'll permit you to practice using your heavenly light each day in class after you've spent at least thirty minutes calling on your unique gift, "Professor Isis states as she looks toward me. "Oh dearie, is that the time? Okay, class dismissed. Don't forget to practice your other God-given talents throughout the weekend. There'll be a show and tell quiz on Monday."
The class exits the room, and I am excited to see Samael waiting outside the classroom for me. He has my small pink duffel bag slung around one of his shoulders, and he leans back against the brick wall.
"Are you ready, Katrina?" He asks as I walk up to him and give him a quick peck on the lips.
"As ready as I'll ever be," I respond, my stomach swirling with nerves.
"Oh, Mom and Dad will be home this weekend. They want to have dinner together. My mom is excited to meet the new woman in my life." Samael states as he takes my hand and walks me towards Headmaster Simmons's office.
"Uh, wait, I didn't sign up for meeting the parents," I state as I try to pull my hands out of Samael's.
He chuckles at my antics. "you'll have to meet them sometime, doll; Why put it off when you can get it out of the way now; I promise my parents will be the least judging out of the other three."
As much as I want to cancel my trip to the underworld, I know Samael has a point. If we're going to be bonded forever, I might as well meet the family.
"Okay, let's do this then," I reply as I attempt to slip a smile on my face.
When we enter Simmons's office, it is quiet and in the middle of the room is an antique mirror; from the way the glass is moving, I can tell that it isn't an ordinary mirror.
"That's the portal." Samael says as he points towards the mirror, "Professor Isis created it herself. It'll take you anywhere in the world you want to go. We will step through together since this is your first time using one. But in the future, if you decide to go somewhere, just picture wherever you want to go before walking through the portal; once you reach the other side, you'll have arrived at your destination. Although once you arrive somewhere, it'll be up to you to find your way back home. Leaving one of the four kingdoms is easy; Isis gifted each king with a portal for their kingdom.
As we walk through the mirror together, it feels like I have hands clawing at me, trying to trap me in one place; I feel like I'm on the verge of a breakdown when Samael's voice calls to me, "Open your eyes sweetheart, we're here."