Brighde redefined, p.5
Brighde Redefined, page 5
I thought of my friends back at home, Annabelle, Bri, Cole. I missed them tremendously. My parents’ faces danced through, but all I did was push a few gray clouds around. I reached deeper and unlocked the special chest just for Trip. A little of the misery he had caused me slipped out, causing the sun to be blotted out by a dark cloud as thunder and lightning struck. Rain poured down, dousing the fire as well as our clothes.
“Enough!” Eden laughed as she wrung out her hair. I remembered my sessions with Cay, Neit, and Logan, the private jokes my friends and I shared. The rain eased, and the sunshine was back.
“Not bad,” Eden said approvingly. “We do need to play catch-up, but you’re not as far off as I had originally thought.”
I sent a warm breeze to help dry us off.
“How are you able to do all this if you don’t know the basics?”
“I wasn’t training for basics. I was training for battle,” I answered.
“Have you had to battle a lot?”
“Not a lot,” I admitted. “But I did need to be prepared for any sudden attacks.”
“Who trained you?”
“My cousin, Cailean mostly, and…” I didn’t want to say who else taught me.
“And?” Eden prompted.
“Trip … my ex.”
“Ah, your competition. Well, they trained you well. Those were some impressive moves for someone who doesn’t know the basics.”
I smiled ruefully. “Cay was a formidable trainer.”
“Do you miss him?”
“Terribly. He’s not just family; he’s my closest friend.” I stayed quiet for a minute, realizing how badly I missed everyone from home.
“Let’s take a break from this for now. I have some other stuff I’d like to talk to you about.”
For the rest of the afternoon, Eden broke down the rules of the house and the classes, leading up to my eventual graduation from this place.
The rules were simple: Breakfast was at seven o’clock sharp. If you didn’t make it, you didn’t eat. Then we headed to our scheduled lessons, followed by a break for lunch, immediately followed by a round of afternoon classes, a break for afternoon tea, then homework before dinner. Curfew was ten, lights out by eleven, rinse and repeat.
“After you pass your basic trials, your second trials, and the finals, you can graduate,” Eden said.
“How long does that usually take?”
She shrugged. “It depends on the person. Most students are out in a year, but since you’re a little more advanced, I don’t see you staying here longer than six months.”
Six months! That would be loads of time for Trip to find the other piece. My skin crawled with anxiety for the hunt. The Amulet half on my neck sent little comforting pulses like it was saying, It’s okay! You still have the advantage.
“Chin up,” Eden said, “It’ll go by faster than you think.”
As I climbed into bed that night, my brain felt overwhelmed with all the new stuff I was going to learn. Snuggling under the covers, I forced myself to let go of the stress by focusing on how comfortable I was in bed and soon drifted off to sleep.
“Where is it?” I screamed, bursting into the room.
“I don’t have it,” Brighde said as the blizzard outside our window grew fiercer with each gust.
“Liar!”
She smiled, drawing the corners of her mouth up as she tilted her head down. “Now you see, now you understand what it’s like to miss the one thing that could help.”
Lugh yawned loudly from his chair in the corner. “Are you two done with this nonsense already?” He stood. “I’ve given you suggestions and ideas on how to fix your mess without the help of the Amulet, and you stupid cows refuse to kiss and make up.”
I whipped around to face him and sent him a vicious look.
“Be careful, dear sister,” Lugh said. “Your face may freeze like that.”
Brighde didn’t even bother hiding her smile.
“Get out,” she told me. “You’ve already spent too much time in my presence, and I no longer wish to breathe the same air as you.”
Snow and wind whipped at the window, rattling it with every hit.
“Be careful, Brighde,” I threatened. “It’s winter now, and I am in full power.” I made the wind howl again to prove a point.
Brighde copied Lugh and yawned. “You be careful, sister. Lugh and I have searched all over this world for my Amulet piece. When you do the same and prove our innocence, who else will you be able to blame for your failure?”
I screamed in frustration, instantly coating the outside in the thickest layer of snow the world had ever seen. Storming out of her room without another word, I sent an icy blast into the window, allowing the blizzard to drift in.
I woke with a start and then groaned. The dreams were back and even darker and angrier than before. I felt the raw, vicious fury buried in Beira’s chest, which made no sense. My dreams were normally from Brighde’s point of view, so seeing it all from Beira’s eyes left me confused and tired. Groggily, I dragged myself out of bed and to the restroom for a shower before breakfast.
“Trip!” I heard someone call from down the hall. I whipped around, wondering if my ex was standing behind me. No one was there, except a girl running around in soaked pjs.
“My ceiling is leaking! Water’s dripping on my bed!” she told me, rushing past to head downstairs, leaving wet footprints behind her.
Shaking my head, I was confused as to how I kept thinking I was seeing him. First at graduation then here. Girl, get a grip.
Since there were no classes today, I was able to grab a small bowl of cereal before heading back upstairs to take it easy. A small stack of postcards was sitting on my desk near my homework. I took out my phone and pulled up my list of addresses. Mom and Dad were first.
Dear Mom and Dad,
Having the best time here at summer camp! Miss you terribly, but I’ll see you soon enough! Hope you’re having a great summer missing me, too.
Love you,
Bridget
One down, and I had what felt like three hundred more to go.
Chapter 3
I’d wished more eventful things would happen at school for the first week, but besides going over the basics with Eden, learning chapters from the Book of Brighde, and feeling slightly homesick, life was bland. I barely made it to Thursday but was incredibly grateful for the extra two hours of sleep I was able to grab before rolling out of bed to forage for breakfast.
I was more homesick than I’d first realized because the following week was filled with extreme weather. There were reports of flooding from the Engstligen River near us, roads were closed due to downed branches, and despite the rain gear, people arrived at their destinations drenched.
“This isn’t your fault,” Eden said to me one soggy Thursday. I had dropped my book on one of the study tables, eliciting a loud thunk from the walls.
“Isn’t it? This is my season. I should be able to turn it off.”
“Bridget,” Eden said gently, “your sadness is amplified because we’re in summer, but the Amulet is the truest form of control you can have.”
“I guess,” I mumbled, feeling more pity for myself than anything else.
“Is there a way we can cheer you up?” She looked so hopeful that I felt bad telling her no.
“Maybe?” I sighed. “I don’t know anymore.”
Eden moved to sit next to me on the loveseat. “What has you so down?” she inquired.
I shrugged. “I guess … I miss my friends.”
“Haven’t you made any here? I see you sit with Ginger, Franny, and everyone else for the meals.”
“They’re nice,” I conceded, “but we aren’t making pinky promises or anything. Mostly, I sit with them, so I have a place to eat.”
“I’m sure they don’t feel that way about you.”
I shrugged again. I desperately missed my girls. Bri was always the first to know the best gossip at Ocean City High, and Annabelle was the first to remind Bri not to get caught up in others’ business. They kept me sane and grounded when my life was a hurricane, which it sometimes literally was.
“I just miss my friends,” I said, feeling bummed out.
“Have you reached out to them?” Eden asked.
“I mailed postcards out last week, but since they think I’m touring the country, I don’t expect to hear from them any time soon. And I can’t find my phone charger, so I haven’t seen any texts or calls.”
Eden didn’t say anything but gave me a hug. Comfort and warmth radiated from her, seeping into me. I felt like I just wrapped myself in my favorite blanket. For the first time in two weeks, the rain outside lessened. She pulled away with a big smile on her face.
“I think you’ll be okay,” she said. “Things will change, but first, let’s order you a new charger so you can reach your family and friends.”
She grabbed a tablet sitting on a table and started shopping. I smiled. With Eden, I’d be able to survive this place.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
After talking with Eden, I headed to dinner, unintentionally missing afternoon tea. I was starving and couldn’t wait to see what was on the menu. Dinner was sweet potatoes with butter and cinnamon, roasted turkey with gravy, crescent rolls, and green beans. It was a callout to an American holiday meal. My heart and stomach were happy.
My favorite thing was their rolls, crunchy on the outside, soft and slightly sweet on the inside. It reminded me of Mom’s baking and helped me miss her a little less.
Grabbing a plate, I got in line, inching my way to the dinner rolls. When I finally reached the end, the basket was empty.
“Sorry,” Rose said, looking at me with a smirk.
I raised an eyebrow at her as she waved the last roll in my face.
“You should get here earlier,” she said. “Maybe you wouldn’t miss it.”
I straightened my shoulders and kept my face as neutral as I could.
“No matter.” I looked her in the eye. “I should actually be thanking you for taking on the extra carbs, so I don’t have to.”
Rose’s cheeks flushed red, and she narrowed her eyes at me. She turned and stalked off but not before throwing out the uneaten roll.
The score was now tied, one to one. Don’t worry, Rose. I won’t let you win.
“I don’t understand why she thinks she’s so special,” Franny said to me as I sat. She was nodding in Rose’s general direction.
I shrugged. “The day I figure her out is the day the kitchen whips up a Sam’s Special.” A pang of homesickness stabbed me as I remembered how greasy and salty that New Jersey Boardwalk sandwich was.
Franny frowned and tilted her head, light-brown hair falling down her shoulder, as everyone else joined us.
“How’s dinner tonight?” Oliver asked as he placed his tray on the table.
“Delicious,” I said, digging in. We ate in silence for a minute, filling our stomachs. I lowered my fork to my plate when I saw something underneath my potatoes. Nudging the potato over, I saw a fat, white maggot squirm out. Trying to keep my cool, I snatched my napkin off the table and spit out what I was chewing.
“Ew!” yelled Mat as she put her plate down. My food was moving all over now, sliding left and right as more maggots popped up. I launched myself from my chair, knocking it backward, and ran to the garbage can. The room was quiet at my outburst, until the only sound was my violent retching. I willed the image of wriggling bugs out of my mind, hoping it would calm my rolling stomach.
“Are you okay?” Ginger asked gently, handing me a napkin.
“Not yet,” I replied weakly, taking the napkin and wiping my mouth.
“Bridget,” Oliver said, coming over. “Those weren’t real.”
“They looked real enough.”
“That’s the idea behind the spell. It’s just a simple illusion trick. Anyone with basic magic training knows how to do that.”
“Who would do that?” I made myself face the room full of people watching my performance.
My eyes landed on Rose. She smiled and winked at me. Anger surged, burning up the remaining nausea, and I stormed over to her table.
“What the hell was that about?” I asked, seething. Rose stood slowly as if she was in no hurry.
“You know what it’s about,” Rose said. I didn’t, but at that point, I didn’t care to find out. A flash of lightning cut through the air and landed at her feet. She jumped, landing in a graceful fighting pose. Of course, she would have the training and skills of a ninja.
I stepped back and flicked my hands in her direction, sending another bolt. She moved to avoid it, but it nipped her in the arm, singeing her shirt sleeve. Blood seeped through the material, confirming the hit.
“What is going on in here?” Norah yelled at the top of her lungs. Rose’s face froze in fear, and I stopped. I wasn’t afraid. I was on the right side of this.
Norah turned to everyone else and said, “Dinner is over. Early curfew is in place.”
Chairs and tables scraped against the floor as people hurried to clean their places and rush to their rooms.
Neither Rose nor I had moved a muscle.
“Both of you, my office, now.”
I followed Rose as she left the hall, steps echoing in the empty room.
Norah waited until her office door was closed before she lit into us.
“I am so disappointed in the two of you; I don’t even know where to begin.”
I sat in a chair, feeling petulant and pissed that I was getting the blame when I hadn’t started this. Shockingly, Rose didn’t speak up, either.
“I will not reiterate how inappropriate, disrespectful, and childish you two are being,” Norah spoke sharply, which was a new level for her.
Her remark was met with dead air.
“You two have nothing to say for yourselves?” she pointedly asked us. I didn’t look at Rose, but I had a feeling her face matched mine: stone cold.
“Incredible,” Norah muttered. “Since neither of you can find your tongues, I’m sure kitchen cleanup will loosen them. Starting tonight.”
Incredulous, my eyes flickered to her face. Me? What had I done wrong?
“Are you ready to speak now, Miss MacNamara?” Norah asked me.
“I didn’t do anything wrong.” I felt stupid saying that, as I clearly could have done differently, but I was at a loss. Still seething and fighting against the growing tantrum in my chest, I leaned back in my chair with my arms folded, as if keeping my wrists pressed against my sternum would keep the anger at bay. Thunder broke out in the sky above our heads.
Rose looked at me curiously, but Norah ignored my storm.
“The dining room will not clean itself.” She stared us down as if daring us to breathe.
Rose and I stood together, not fully sure if we should leave.
“How long will kitchen duty last?” Rose asked suddenly and brazenly. Inwardly, I shook my head at her. If you kept your mouth shut, then there would be less punishment.
Norah nearly laughed. “That is all you have to say for yourself?” She waved her hand at Rose. “Leave now, and maybe you’ll graduate without faintly smelling of rotten garbage.”
Rose paled. We turned to leave as Norah said, “Not you, Bridget.”
My shoulders slumped, and Rose practically flew out the doorway. I could hear her thoughts in the cadence of her footsteps.
Once we were alone, Norah addressed me directly. “Bridget, I know that this is going to take getting used to, but do not stoop to her level. Do not allow yourself to be distracted by silly things such as Rose Cameron.”
“Silly?” I cried, finally finding my voice. “Silly! Norah, she tricked me into thinking that there were maggots in my food! I vomited at dinner, loudly and publicly.”
“I can understand why you retaliated as you did, but we do not condone violence here,” Norah warned sharply.
My frustration bubbled beneath my skin. “I didn’t start this. But if it happens again, I won’t back down.”
Norah slammed her hand on the desk. “You do not understand, child. Do not engage with the Camerons again. They are nothing but a diversion from what your true purpose is.”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. I was just here to save the world at the risk of my own life. Blah, blah, blah. I was so over the speech.
“Yes, Norah,” I dutifully responded. “May I go now?”
I saw a simmer of anger lingering in Norah’s eyes. “For now.”
I turned and walked away.
“But—” she started as I was two steps from leaving, “I will be forced to deepen your punishment if you do continue your methods of retribution.”
I said nothing as I closed her door behind me.
Rose didn’t say a word to me when I walked into the dining room. One half, Rose’s half, was on its way to being clean, while the other side of the room was still slathered in messy dishes and uneaten dinner.
My stomach lurched at the thought of my own dinner, but thankfully, it did nothing else. I silently went to work, dragging the rolling garbage can to each table and scraping the dishes. I stewed in my own anger, mostly directed at myself. I shouldn’t have taken her bait. I knew better. She was like a less evil version of Deidra.
Flashes of my first fight with Deidra jumped across my vision: her hands grabbing at my neck, drawing blood, and turning my thunderstorm into an ice storm. Instinctively, I touched the necklace that never left me.
What was I even doing with this? Why was I the chosen one? What the hell made me so special?
A loud noise behind me forced my brain to redirect its thoughts. I whipped around to see Rose dragging one of the last three garbage bags out to the dumpster. The eerie outdoor light that flickered above the doorway cast an orange glow on the pavement. Looking back at my own mess, I still had two more tables to clean and a pile of dishes to wash. I sighed.
