Page 94 of Group Studies
We slowed as we approached a side entrance. Another dizzy spell popped in the back of my head and I clung to Ashe to stay upright. He gave me a concerned look, but I waved him off. It didn’t seem any worse than the last.
As it ended, Saffron opened a side door and led us down a set of dark halls. Mercedes followed directly behind me, Ashe bringing up the rear.
I tugged my phone out of my pocket.
“Talk to me, Dot,” Beryl said after picking up on the first ring.
“Mercedes needs to call her dad,” I blurted. “And we need to hide her.”
Beryl didn’t respond for a moment. “Are you sure you don’t want to hand her over?”
I tried to tug on my braid, the one she destroyed. I could still feel the weight of my magically modified bookbag on my back and the eyes of the institute judging me based on her comments. But where my little flashback ended was a few moments ago: Mercedes' body shaking with uncontrolled rage as someone tried to force his will onto her. Something flared to life in my chest.
“I’m sure,” I said, surprised at how calm my voice sounded. “It’s not just Mercedes. We need to take control of our lives. Mercedes is popular. Students will rally behind her and Saffron.”
I heard Beryl’s smile over the phone. “My little Goddess, are you planning a coup?”
I snorted. “No, call Mercedes’ dad.”
“He’ll want to talk to her.”
“Then where should I meet you?”
Beryl paused. “Hand the phone to Boy Scout.”
Saffron held my phone away from his ear as if Beryl’s voice was poison but hung up shortly, handing the device back to me.
“This way,” he said. “Can we blindfold the MA agent?”
Ashe snarled. “Fuck off.”
The Greek God gave him a hard look and shrugged.
We slipped into a classroom. Saffron fumbled around a wall at the back corner before finally hitting a stone which sunk at his touch. The outline of a door appeared, and slid back. A moment later, Mercedes and I found ourselves sandwiched between Saffron and Ashe as we felt our way through a dark tunnel. I knew Ashe could make a light, Saffron probably could as well, the fact we walked in the dark didn’t reassure me.
It didn’t take long for Saffron to pause at another intersection and fumble around again.
My sight easily adjusted to the dim light of what looked to be some type of storage room. Mercedes passed Saffron, already holding out her hand to Beryl.
He handed her a small phone in a pink case before gliding to my side and wrapping me in his arms. He captured my lips. I clung to him—my rock.
Ashe’s grunt pulled us apart, though Beryl’s arm didn’t leave my waist. I looked between three of my four lovers. Beryl’s usual carefree face had a pinch to it. Saffron looked ready to punch Beryl in the face, while Ashe’s grimace showed through his mass of messy facial hair.
Right, I couldn’t find four mages who already liked each other, I had to find complete opposites.
“Well, this is exciting,” Beryl said, interrupting the murmur of Mercedes’ chatter with her father. “Very public display earlier, Boy Scout.”
Saffron frowned, but he eyes bore into me. “It had to be.”
I wiggled, now that Mercedes was safe, and let myself enjoy the moment just a little.
Saffron’s mouth quirked up into a half smile at my reaction. He straightened his shoulders and turned to Beryl with his old confidence back. “We need a safe place for Mercedes to stay.”
“I’m tapped out,” Beryl shrugged. “I don’t know what’s compromised and what’s not. The MA have the original blueprints for the castle. They’ve been destroying my hidey-holes one by one. If items get destroyed, that’s one thing, but people are a different matter.”
Saffron scoffed. “You do not care about people.”
Beryl let go of me and took a step toward Saffron, flexing his chest. “You don’t even know what I care about! You’re as blind as Dot, with none of the excuses. Look past yourself for once.”