Riven

Fear rushes through me as I chase after the little pixie. What was that thing? I've never seen anything like it. We've learnt about hundreds of different demons and creatures in class yet I've never heard of one that's made of shadows.

I run faster. Quickly gaining on the little sprite. I put my dagger away. What was I thinking? What's a blade going to do against a shadow?

The shadow whips around her. It pauses against her shoulder as if it's watching me.

I snarl. Fear overtakes me, It's taunting her.

Octavia stumbles and begins to slow.

I lunge forward grabbing her arm and pinning her against the nearest tree. I press myself against her back, feeling the trembles through her body as she pants in exhaustion.

"Calm down." I command. "It's just me."

She tenses more if possible and that cursed phantom curls against her shoulder. I freeze. It's next to her throat.

"What is that thing." I hiss. The shadow swirls around clearly agitated but it makes no moves.

"What?" she rasps.

"Don't move," I say again. "There's some kind of shadow following you."

The little pixie quickly began struggling against me. I tighten my grip, panicking. Why is she fighting? Doesn't she understand it's going to hurt her? I begin shaking in rage. Desperate to keep her safe somehow.

The shadow curls around her ear. She stills, her body rigid against mine.

My breath is coming in ragged pants, I can feel my heart racing as sweat drips down my brow.

"Riv," I still. "Riv it's okay" She soothes. Her body goes pliant against mine.

"There's no danger. The shadow isn't going to hurt me." Her voice is silky smooth. I feel my grip loosen.

Slowly as if afraid of startling me the little fairy turns. She's looking up at me. Her blue eyes shine with worry.

"Riven." She whispers, hand reaching up to cup my face. Small, I realise, she's small in comparison to me. She just reaches my shoulders.

"Riven look at me" Because I'm not. I can't stop staring at the shadow curled on her shoulder. "It's not going to hurt me" Her voice is stern and strong.

I let go of her waist. Pixie lowers her hands, slowly dropping them to her sides.

I blink. She smiles hesitantly. I freeze. Looking down at her I only just realise that I still have her pinned against a tree. The only difference is she's facing me this time.I watch as her eyes dart down to my lips. Well there's my confidence back.

"What are you thinking about sweetheart?" I tease. Smirking down at her, my attention still on the shadow. Distracted. I need her to be calm and distracted.

She scoffs, rolling her eyes as she pushes me away.

"Get over yourself." She snaps, I tense. She faces me, raising an eyebrow in mock questions. "Or shall I send one of my shadows after you?"

A grin lights up her face so bright that I can't help but stare. I pause. She reaches a hand up and brushes the shadow off her shoulder.

"That shadow thing could have hurt you!" I cry out. Shock over taking me as I realise how oblivious she was to the threat. "What were you thinking jus-" I stop.

"YOU'RE shadows?" I demand

Octavia

Shit.

Shit. shit. Shit. This is not good.

You're the idiot who told him.

Shut up. I snap.

I didn't dare question how easy it felt to tell him. How it was almost impossible to lie to him. Riven's staring at me, shock evident on his face.

I chuckle nervously. What the Hades am I doing??? Bloody hell, I've faced burned ones, Drea's training and Rosalind's traps and this - This - makes me nervous. I straighten up. Pulling on that beautiful cold mask of indifference, ignoring how hard it seemed to do so.

"Is that a problem?" I drawl. "Yes, my shadows. You said it yourself - I'm a fairy"

He stiffens. Eyes narrowing."I've not heard of a fairy who can control shadows. I thought you lot were more toadstool tea parties and meditating" He mocks.

Could he be more basic?

Mistress, nearby-

Not now. I snap

I fight back a snarl at the lack of respect. At riven or the shadow I don't know. My irritation must show because Riven's smirking at me.

"What?" he asks mockingly

"I just thought show a little more respect with how much you were shitting your pants a second ago" A satisfied grin fills my face. I can feel the shadows hum in agitation.

Mistress, there's a bo-

Riven's smile drops his face turning cold, eye blazing as he takes a step closer. I take a step back.

The world tilts-

Oct-AVIA

I'm falling faster than I thought possible.

Riven lunges forward and reaches out to grab me but it's too late.

I slam against the ground. The air being knocked from my chest.

.....We tried to warn you.

"Bloody Hell" I pant, unable to stop my old accent from slipping. I look up at Riven and freeze. There's pure horror in eyes as he stares at whatever I tripped over. I quickly sit upright to look down at my leg.

Rotten flesh. Twisted and burnt.

I gag.

It looks like a hand but it's so disfigured I can't tell. I can't breathe. Panic claws at my throat. Another body. One filled with burns and a knife in it's chest.

"Shit. SHIT." I see Riven grab at his hair in frustration in the corner of my eye. I can't look away.

Mistress? Little shadow questions hesitantly.

"Sweetheart," I look up at Riven, mind whirling with thoughts. "Let's get you up, yeah?"

Riven slowly reaches down and pulls me to my feet. I stare at him unseeing. The screams fill my head, it looks just the same as they did. Their bodies I mean. They died the same way. Riven guides be over to a felled tree. Resting me against it with horrific gentleness. I can't see the body from this angle. It doesn't matter. I can still see theirs.

"I'm going to call Silva okay?" He sounds like he's trying to calm me down- it's not working. "He'll know what to do" he continues on.

I think he's trying to calm himself down. Darkling whispers bitterly.

I can hear Riven on the phone but the words have no meaning. He's pacing in front me. His hands are shaking as he pushes one through his hair.

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

I don't know how long we sat there. Riven came and sat next to me when he got off the phone. His side is pressed against mine. We're as close as possible. I'm trembling but the full blown shakes have stopped. I can think again. Words still feel foreign. I can't get Ricky's face out of my mind. How mangled she looked.

Silva and three specialist approach.

The shadows have been quiet. I've known them for years and this is one of the few times out of Rosalind's little games that they've ever sounded so.... Gentle.

"Silva's here." I whisper in a broken voice, so quiet I wonder if Riven can hear me. He sighs as he straightens next to me. Riven quickly stands up, dusting the dirt from his trousers.

I look up as Silva and the others jog into view. Their faces are blank, bodies tense and their eyes scan the surroundings with trained precision.

"It's over there" Riven's voice is tired and flat as he indicates to the body. Silva motions for the specialists to go over. I watch as Silva walks over to Riven. He brings a hand up to clasp the younger boy's shoulder. I look away, feeling as though I'm intruding.

"Are you okay?" Silva's voice is soft. Comforting even. He's done this before, asked this question before.

He was terrified when Riven called him. The two are close.

Not like Sky and Silva. Another Shadow continues.

They could be, Little shadow whispers. But somethings stopping them

I don't hear what Riven says but it must be enough for Silva as he steps away and looks towards me. I stare back. For a second I think Silva is going to say something but one of the specialists calls him over.

"Take her back to the School." Silva commands Riven as he walks away. Riven nodes.

I look up at Riven.

"C'mon Pix." He says gently, reaching down to help me up. "Let's get back to Alfea"

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

We make it back to the school and I quickly stride off in search of Stella. She's probably still in her dorm avoiding the orientation party.

You should go to it.

The orientation party we mean

It could be a nice distraction.

Sighing, I walk towards the 'party' full of first year students. I reach the outskirts of the courtyard. The place looks lovely, sandy tones, big glass windows and doors. There's bunting draped across the roof and rows of food tables laid out in the centre.

Slowly I begin to walk around the edge of the group, weaving in and out of students as I go. I pause against a pillar, resting myself in the shadow it provides.

Stella's roommates are by the food table.

I glance over. Terra and two other girls are there. The taller one is wearing a blue sports track kit with her hair braided and tied back. She appears to be pilling food up into a napkin. Free food I guess. The other girl is shorter, shes got a red jacket and has a pair of large blue headphones. Good quality ones too. And- damn, shes managed to get her hair into two buns on the top of her head. I've always wanted to do that.

The girl in red is Musa, a mind fairy.

The one in blue is Aisha, she's a water fairy. Her family is a major player in solaria's water supply and system. Even your mother would avoid screwing them over. Darkling reports.

I slowly walk closer, tuning into their conversation as I go.

"Who- who even found the shepherd's body." Terra asks nervously. "Maybe he was just old, old be just die"

I reach the group and stand next to Terra tensing up as I realise they're talking about the body. Panic threatens to creep upon me. The beginnings of tremors and shakes overtake me and-. Damn, that food smells good. I know the whole dead body thing is awful and I'm totally going to have nightmares about it for weeks but I am so hungry. I completely forgot to have lunch amidst all the carnage of the day. Trauma makes a girl hungry. I quickly reach out to grab a croissant covered in chocolate.

I guess avoiding the trauma with food works too, mistress

"That old-age decapitation really sneaks up on you" Musa mocks causing me chock on my pastry. A grin lights up Musa's face.

"Happened to my nan right in the middle of bingo." Aisha continues on as she munches away at a breadstick. "Just thwop, thwop, thwop down the table"

I can't stop the chuckle that bursts out of me. I look up seeing Musa chuckle at Aisha.

Terra's uncomfortable. She doesn't like that they joke so easily about the body.

No- she doesn't like that she's not included in the joke.

"No judgement, but..." Musa indicate to the pile of cookies and sugary treats that Aisha is taking. Terra tense beside me.

"I eat a million calories a day." Aisha says, as she picks up. "If I didn't swim I'd be massive"

I see Terra's face drop beside me as I take another bite of food, ignoring how my stomach clenches at her pain.

Inconsiderate bitches Little shadow hisses.

I choke on my food.

"Are you okay?" Terra asks hastily as she turns towards me. I see Musa's eyes flicker to purple as she glances at me.

She's trying to read your emotions.

Rude.

I pause as I regain my breath. I look up at Musa as she tilts her head in confusion.

"Why are you more than one person?" She demands bluntly. Aisha's gaze darts between us.

"Excuse me?" I question hoarsely.

"Your emotions," Musa continues. "It's like their swirl and shifting and reflecting others."

She means us.

We can block her out if you like.

Then she'll get suspicious, idiot.

"Sorry," I say, smiling tightly at her. "I'll block them off for you."

Musa looks shocked at the statement but I pay her no mind as I focus on building a wall around me. It was stupid to let the mental shields drop in the first place but I haven't had a reason to use them in months. Not since Stella found me. I quickly pull up my shields, ignoring how much of a chore it feels.

Well it looks like someone's out of practice. Asmodeus mocks

"How's that?" I ask as Musa looks shocked.

"How did you-" She begins to ask.

"I have to go." I quickly bite out. "I'm supposed to meet up with Stella" I turn away walking as fast as I can out of the hall in search of my sister.

"On that note," Aisha says as I see her turn away to leave too out of the corner of my eye. I move on, eager to avoid bumping into her.

I move through the crowds but the party seems to be filling up faster than I realised. Looking around for Stella I saw Bloom enter the party. She's talking to a familiar blonde specialist in one of the archways. For a second white hot anger surges through me. I shake my head quickly, trying to get rid of the jealous thoughts that clouded me. Stupid, so stupid. Sweet Helios I have lost my mind. I've known him barely a day and I already feel possessive.

Awwwwwwwww. You like him. Darkling mocks

He is handome your little mat-. Asmodeous says before being cut off.

Hush, both of you. I think it's sweet. He likes her too. Replies Little shadow

Why don't you go talk to lover boy. Asmodeous mocks.

One second I'm standing my the pillar, the next I've shifted through the Shadows towards Sky and Bloom. I'm stood behind the two out of sight. Thank Apollo that Asmodeous was smart enough to not shadow me right in front of them. I shuffle forwards and they turn towards me at the sound.

"Hey, Octavia" Bloom says, eyebrows raised in surprise.

Shit. I'm stood in front of Bloom and Sky.

"Hey Bloom," I smile awkwardly at the red head before turning to Sky. "Sky." I say in greeting. Sky grins at me as he leans back against the archway.

"Is everything okay?" Bloom asks nervously, glancing between Sky and I.

She wants you gone.

Awwwww....she wants to flirt with Sky.

I tense. "Have you seen Stella?" I ask sharply. Bloom steps back in shock at my tone. I look up to see Sky's brows furrowed in confusion. "Sorry, this place is just super crowded. It's putting me on edge being unable to find her." They both relax.

"I haven't seen Stella all day." Sky says his eyes not leaving mine.

"Damn." I say. Stella normally helps me out during parties. She's always been better at playing the game than me. Politics was never my area.

"You can stay with us if you like." Sky says. He smiles kindly at me. I glance at Bloom who takes one look at Sky's smiling face before quickly nodding.

"Yeah of course." Blooms says, she grins at me slightly. "I'm not one for parties myself."

I grin back. "Yeah, I've never had the chance to go to parties. Not like this one anyways."

What, your not counting those royal dinners and balls as parties? Darkling mocks

I was a child under the influence of my sister and mother, I had no taste. I reply

"What, they don't have parties in...Britain" Sky says hesitantly.

I grin, a laugh bubbling out of me. "Oh, he remembers." I say. Sky grins back at me.

"Are you impressed?" He asks, eye bright with joy.

"MeN!" Bloom sighs out dramatically before linking her arm with mine conspiratorially. She turns to grin at me before saying, "They do the bare minimum and expect us to give them a well done gold sticker."

I burst out laughing, cackling at the image she's given me of the male population.

"Hmmmmm..." I reply before grinning at an offended Sky. "I dunno, Sky does seem like such a good boy. Teacher's pet through and through."

"Oh so your saying he listens to orders well?" Bloom taunts. I hear Sky choke as I blush at the new image in my head. Bloom is grinning like the Cheshire cat next to me. I glance at Sky to see him staring at the two of us, his mouth agape with incredulity.

"Oh is that how it is." He demands through laughter. He hums noncommittally as he takes a step closer to us. I crane my neck to look up at him. Why is he so tall?

"I'll have you know-"

Incoming. 2 o'clock

"Sky." I look over to see Stella looking at Sky expectantly. "Can we talk?"

"Stel, I've been looking everywhere for you." I say

Stella gives me a tight smile. She glances down at Bloom and I's interlinked arms and I can't stop the wave of guilt that washes over me. I should be doing this with her. I know she struggles to make friends and after everything she's done for me I should be enjoying these moments with her.

"We'll get breakfast tomorrow to catch up, yeah?"I ask hesitantly. Stella pauses before smiling politely and nodding her head.

"Yeah, that sounds great Tavi." She turns to Sky. "Can we talk somewhere private?"

Sky pushes off the archway and walks towards my sister.

"Yeah, yeah. I know a place we can go." he says, glancing back at Bloom and I. I smile reassuringly at him before tugging at Bloom's arm.

"Why don't you and I find somewhere quieter." I ask her as I begin steering us towards the courtyard exist.

"Actually," Bloom says stopping and pulling her arm away from me gently. "I'm going to find my roommates. My mum will kill me if I don't make an effort to be social."

"Oh."

She smiles apologetically before walking back towards the crowd. Well that sucked.

How you doing there Billy no mates? Darkling mocks.

I sigh, done with the day. Yep. I'm done, I want my bed.

A/N: Hey guys, what do you think of the book so far? This is my first one so please comment on what you would like to see.

Don't forget to comment and vote