Dark Descent: The Arondight Codex - Book One, R Nicole [best feel good books TXT] 📗

“Wilder hates me,” I declared, my limbs going all wibbly wobbly. I was still over sensitive after my Light mishap. Yeah, that was it. I’d only woken up a few hours ago, so it stood to reason.

Romy laughed as we climbed the stairs to the upper floors. “He’s shown an interest in you. He never shows an interest in anything other than killing demons, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s assigned as your mentor.”

“My what?”

“Mentor,” she replied. “He’ll train you. Probably. You’re a special case. A late bloomer, so they say.”

“You think Greer and the others will ask me to become a Natural?” I blinked as if the repetitive motion would teleport me out of the Sanctum and back in time to the moment right before I met Wilder outside of 8-bit. I could use a do-over.

“Everyone’s saying so,” Romy declared.

“There’s gossip about me?” My cheeks heated and I started to fret. I didn’t do well being the centre of attention. I liked to melt into the background where it was safe, and no one judged me for being slightly off-centre. That’s why I liked working at 8-bit, the pub where I was so fired from.

“Of course there is,” she said as we finally turned into a hallway I recognised. “A strange woman shows up in dramatic fashion with the Sanctum’s black sheep? That’s given us fodder for years to come and that’s not even a quarter of what’s happened in the last few weeks. Ah, here we are.”

She opened the double doors before us and gestured for me to go on ahead while my stomach fluttered with a slew of new butterflies. Talk about constantly being judged.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward into an unknown future.

* * *

The library looked completely different during the day.

The windows were awash with light, drowning the rows upon rows of leather-bound books in a warmer hue. It didn’t feel stuffy in here at all with the reflection of the stained glass playing across the floor. Even the macabre items in the display cases weren’t so scary now that the sun had risen. I wished I could say the same for the three people waiting in the reading area in the back.

The room had been cleared for the occasion, and the spaces between the shelves were devoid of other Naturals. It didn’t stop me from feeling as if a thousand pairs of eyes were scrutinising my every step, though. If I knew where the closest toilet was, I would’ve bolted right towards it.

By the time we reached the end of the room, my heart was beating so fast, I’d stopped my search for the loo and was looking for a defibrillator.

I was surprised to see Wilder draped over a leather armchair, a look of complete annoyance etched on his face. He hadn’t bothered to dress for the occasion, his knees showing through tears in his jeans and his hair had likely been scraped back with his fingers with a bit of spit to hold it. He looked like he’d just rolled out of bed and threw on whatever was lying on the floor. His lack of respect for the Naturals’ chain of command was on full display.

Brax was glaring at Wilder with an air of disapproval as I approached, and the others—Greer and Aldrich—were watching me closely. I wondered where my nerves measured on the Richter scale—probably a twelve point seven.

“Thank you, Romy,” Greer said, lifting her hand gracefully. “You are dismissed.”

Romy nodded slightly, then strode away, her footfalls silent on the carpet.

“We trust you’re feeling much improved?” Aldrich asked.

“Yes, thank you.” I shuffled from foot to foot. “I’m sorry. I didn’t understand what I was doing, and… Well, I had to do something.”

“There’s no need to apologise, Scarlett,” Brax said. “It was unfortunate you had to use your Light so openly, and in such a manner, but what’s done is done.”

I was fairly sure he was telling me off, but it was so passive-aggressive that he almost had me convinced that I was off the hook.

“One thing is very clear about this situation…” Aldrich began. “You can’t go back to your old life, Scarlett. It’s far too dangerous.”

“You’re saying I can’t go home?”

“It would be unadvisable.”

“So my only option is to stay in the Sanctum? I can’t leave at all? Well, this blows.” I blew a strand of hair out of my eyes.

“You came to us wanting to become a Natural,” Greer stated. “Has that wish changed?”

My breath caught, and I forced myself to keep eye contact and not glance away. Be strong, Scarlett, don’t show them any weakness. I’d dismissed Romy’s earlier assessment as pure speculation based on gossip, but it seemed like it was true.

“I don’t understand,” I began with a note of skepticism in my voice. “I was under the impression my hesitation nullified my chances.”

“You must forgive my harsh response,” Brax said. “But it was necessary.”

“To your bait scheme,” I shot back without missing a beat.

He nodded, pursing his lips. It seemed Brax didn’t like being talked back to. Duly noted so I could challenge him again.

“And what about Jackson?” I demanded. “What will happen to him if I refuse?”

“This conversation is about you, Scarlett,” Aldrich stated. “Your concern for your friend is admirable, but what do you desire?”

“I…” I glanced at Greer, but she was as stoic as ever.

“You spoke with great conviction when you last approached us,” Aldrich went on. “Do you still wish to fight the creatures who’ve tried to harm you? The creatures who’ve harmed your friend?”

I turned towards Wilder, but he wasn’t looking at me. He was picking at his fingernails, looking bored out of his mind. Honestly, it was a little insulting.

“What other choice to I have?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

“You can choose to do whatever you please, Scarlett,” Greer replied. “If what you truly want is to go back to your old life, we cannot stop you. We don’t recommend it, but you’re free to go