Page 72 of Stealing Embers
Sable’s office feels smaller with seven bodies crammed into it. Nova is perched on the window seat, sitting with her arms and legs crossed. She leans against the sill, checking her nail polish for chips. She’s the picture of boredom.
Greyson and Sterling are propped against the built-in bookshelves behind me. I haven’t turned to look at them since entering the room, but every once in a while I hear a book crash to the floor. My money is on Sterling.
Ash flanks my left side like a silent sentinel. Her hand drops to my shoulder and gives it a light squeeze when I recount the more intense parts of the story, but besides that she remains silent.
I’m seated in one of the two chairs across from Sable’s desk. I squeezed a mini-nap in while Steel carried me back to the academy, and now I can actually keep my eyes open. My energy seems to be returning exponentially—I almost feel normal again.
Steel is spread out in the other chair. His head is tipped back as he studies the ceiling.
Sable is seated behind her desk, her hands steepled under her chin as she listens. Aside from a few clarifying questions, she lets me relay the story in its entirety—well, most of it anyway. There are a few choice details about Steel and myself I’m not going to be retelling to anyone. Ever.
“So, that’s pretty much the whole of it,” I finish. I glance at Steel to see if he wants to add anything, but he’s still scrutinizing something on the ceiling.
It’s completely quiet for a full minute before Sable speaks. “So, you completed your metamorphosis early. And the pain you experienced when you phased back—that shouldn’t happen again. The first time you phase back after metamorphosis is known to be particularly grueling.”
“That’s what I was thinking,” Steel adds.
Grueling?
I suppose that’s one way to put it. That is if you consider feeling like your skin is being burned off and limbs are melting from the inside out to begrueling.
“I’m going to have to alert the Council of Elders.”
The room erupts.
Ash leans on the desk and yells at Sable. Greyson and Sterling abandon their posts behind me and surge forward. They alternate between arguing with each other and shouting over Ash. Nova fidgets on the window seat, but even she looks alarmed. Her eyes are wide and bounce between the shouting forms in the room.
Sable does her best to calm my friends down, but so far it isn’t making much of a difference.
Only Steel seems mostly unaffected by the news, his gaze introspective. I can’t get a read on him.
I’m simply confused.
I’m not sure what a metamorphosis is, or why it caused me to sprout wings. I’ve heard mention of the Council before, but I’m not sure what the fuss is all about.
“Enough!” Sable bellows, shooting to her feet. “You all know there are rules we live by. We report to a governing body, like any other group. We can’t just go around doing whatever we want without repercussions.”
“But Sable,” Ash argues, “you know what they’ll do to her.”
Whoa, don’t like the sound of that.
“What will they do to me?”
“They’ll send you away,” Greyson answers.
“Or experiment on you,” Sterling adds.
“What? Are you messing with me?”
“Sterling.” Sable pinches the bridge of her nose. “You know that’s not true.”
Sterling rounds to the side of the desk. “We don’t know that. They just might. She’s already an anomaly. Who’s to say the Elders won’t want to open her up to see how she ticks?”
I jump up so quickly, the heavy desk chair falls to the ground. I dart toward the doorway, my flight instinct having kicked in big time.
I’m not letting anyone cut me open.
Steel jolts from his seat and bars my exit. I skid to a halt only a few inches from his wide chest.