Chapter 19: Katrina

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 now 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 with a passion, and I want nothing more than to spend time with him; even if he is my professor. Beckett claims its the bond we’ve formed that is causing me to want to be near Luka. But I have a feeling it’s more. Even before our magic bonded, I felt a unexplainable connection to my professor. I want to get to know him on a more personal level. Beckett has outright forbid 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 was 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. It seems like every chance he gets in class to be near me he takes, 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 each time we touch it lasts longer than the last time. Secretly I’m hoping that he’ll make me stay after class, giving us the chance to spend time together one on one, 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 towards 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, then I think you should see what it’s about. The way your powers merged together and continued to merge, it 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 get a better understanding about it, before I can tell you more about it.” Samael states, “When we visit my home, we can visit the archives and gather information on it.”
“Thank you Samael. I know the thought of sharing me with someone else must sound unappealing to you, but I can’t not see what’s going on between Luka and I. I think 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 reply 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 part demon. He’s talked himself into believing that your angel side has taken over your demonic side, and that’s the reason 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 suppose 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 when the thought crosses my mind, it breaks me. 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 really struggling with. I share the class with Aphelion, but without him here, I’m to 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 power that was unique to us. She then proceeded to show us her unique power, which happened to be morphing sand into glass. It was an interesting power, while I didn’t see how it benefited the academy or the four kingdoms, I thought it would be useful among the mortals. They’d have a surplus amount of glass if Professor Isis ever happened to open up shop. Isis continued to explain 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 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, and Hilda took every moment she could 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 very 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 so far, but Professor Isis seemed to think that with more practice and honing in 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 true. 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 just wish there was 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 posses will be incredibly strong.”

“Yeah right,” Hilda sneered under her breath, “Soon everyone will find out that she’s a power stealing nobody, whose 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, causing her to let out a loud shriek as she tries to frantically wipe away the dirt.

“Katrina!” Professor Isis yells. “If you’re unwilling to participate in my class and follow the instructions I’ve assigned you then 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 focus on controlling my power of heavenly light. I’ve promised myself that before I venture out into the world again, I’ll have full control of it. I can’t risk killing anymore innocents.

A bright angelic light comes flowing from my hands and coats the entire room. Since everyone in class has god given powers and my power isn’t targeted at anyone, my light doesn’t hurt anyone. The majority of the class looks on in awe, and even Professor Isis is shocked by the amount of Heavenly light I can conduct.

“While Heavenly light isn’t a power that is unique to you, I do agree that mastering it is something you should work on Katrina. In the wrong hands that light can be devastating. I’ll give you permission 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 towards me, “Oh dearie, is that the time? Okay class dismiss. Don’t forget to practice you other God given talents throughout the weekend. There’ll be a show and tell quiz on Monday.”

The class exists 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 at some point this weekend. They’re wanting 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 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 just chuckles at my antics. “you’ll have to meet them sometime doll, why put it off when you can just get it out of the way now; and 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 office, it is quiet and in the middle of the room is an antique mirror, from the way 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. Since this is your first time using one we will step through together. But in the future if you decide to go somewhere just picture wherever it is 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 of the Kings 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 into 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.”