Rosemary Johns - Rebel Academy - Curse

Always.

I sobbed, stumbling to the window seat that overlooked the bailey. How many times had I sat here as a child, watching the Rebels who I wasn't allowed to even play with? Who I had to witness being beaten and couldn't protect? Who I couldn't love, until Robin?

Father had taught me equality, fairness, and friendship. He'd suffered for it, and Robin and I had died in their name.

I knew now: I didn't regret any of it.

Paper Robin raised his hand, and I licked away the salty tears on my lips, as I in turn, raised mine to meet his paper likeness.

It should've been enough.

It wasn't.

It could never be enough. I'd forever lost the feel of his warm chest as he caged me beneath him, the feel of his lush lips, and the rapid thud of his heart against mine.

But I had this, Hecate above, I had this . And it was more than I'd ever thought that I'd have again.

"I love you." I leaned into Ghost Robin's cool embrace, as I traced his paper twin's cheek, "I've always loved you. When I first saw you down in the bailey, transforming into a cute squirrel, before I even knew what a shimage was, I knew that we belonged together. And by the way, I'm more than aware about ghosts. I'm still partly dead. Wait, that didn't sound particularly seductive."

I melted my legs to black mists, and Paper Robin’s eyes lit up.

"Only you could talk about hanging between life and death so casually. Believe me, you've never needed to attempt seduction with me. You're beautiful, in spirit, mind, and body."

"My, are you flirting?"

Paper Robin barked with laughter. "I wouldn't even try, unless I wanted to make a mage's prick out of myself." Then he sobered. "Did you wait for me?"

I stilled. Ah, was now the time to explain the whole non-Victorian view on virginity...?

" Ehm , there's a philosophical and a technical answer..." I hedged. Then I leaned forward, kissing the page. Paper Robin gave a gentle laugh, as my lips sucked over his entire head. Ghost Robin kissed down my cheeks in kissing retaliation. "I'm sorry," I whispered. "You were walled up, and I couldn't... I'm sorry, sorry, so—"

"Stop," Paper Robin ordered. His emerald eyes gleamed with anguish but also determination. "What happened to me wasn't your fault. I died willingly for you, and I would again. I loved you as a friend, and if I'd been more than a mage, I'd have asked you to marry me. It was wicked of me to crave more than my station deserved. Yet I hoped... Perhaps, change in witch and mage relations could've started with you. Your dad, who was a good man, he hoped it too." Then his lips curled into a smile. "Now I'm a ghost, did I miss my chance to marry you?" My magic burst out in confetti sparkles. Paper Robin smirked. "Is that my answer?"

Why should I not take this happiness now and steal a long-awaited love?

Who was there to stop me now?

Was it karma that mother was fully dead, while I was enough alive to go against her wishes?

My knuckles whitened around the book. "Well, as I'm half ghost as well, it's not conventional, but we'd match. Yes , oh witching heavens, yes, yes, yes ..."

Ghost Robin wrapped around me like he'd never let go.

Never let go.

Paper Robin's eyes widened, and he paled. "You mean that? But I can't even touch..."

"Neither could I, but the Immortals still loved and resurrected me. Why should we not have this too?"

Paper Robin looked at me searchingly. "You're bolder now. I like it. Before, you could only tell me that you loved me through the art of Glove Flirtation."

"I was a proper lady then."

Paper Robin snorted. "Says the witch who went swimming naked in the lake with me."

"We were eleven!"

Paper Robin tilted up his chin. "And who was seventeen when they went climbing trees with me in the Dead Wood?"

"I wanted to know what it felt like when you were in Mr Tailsy form. You were training me as an honorary squirrel."

He smiled at me fondly. "You made an exceptional squirrel, and I promise to make an exceptional husband."

This time, I didn't try to stop the tears. But then, movement in the cold darkness of the courtyard below caught my eye.

I frowned, as I glanced out of the window.

The Duchess who was wrapped in a sweeping coat stalked past the statues of the three Hecates towards the exit of the academy.

Black cats, she was tall.

Behind her, trailing like a smaller shadow, was Bask. His shoulders were slumped, and his head was ducked. He looked...crushed. He dragged a large suitcase behind him through the snow.

I stared at them for a moment. Then it struck me. Damelza had promised to free one of the winning side from the academy. Yet she'd never had any intention to truly free them, only return them into the hands of their cruel families, who'd first sentenced them to the academy.

I couldn't let Bask return to the incubi harem and the succubi who'd broken him. How could I fail to protect him like I had Robin?

The Duchess had said that she was inspecting Bask today but wasn't she staying for the Enchanted Ball? I'd thought that I had time to break the wards. Time to save Bask. Time to save the Princes. Time to save all my lovers.

I stood, as rage flooded me. At my side, Ghost Robin rushed around the Bird Turret in agitated gusts. The robins called out in alarm; Hecate's Tree reached its branches towards me.

I dropped the book onto the window seat. My eyes glimmered; my magic sparkled along my skin.

I'd gained Robin but I was losing Bask.

I. Would. Not. Lose. Bask.

My magic tore from me, wild and unleashed. I wrenched at it, but I wasn't in control. Was this how it'd been for Willoughby?

Would I at last become truly wicked? Was this the chaos moment?

I didn't care.

This was for my lover. I was wicked, and I'd pull down the storm if it meant protecting Bask.

I hollered, as my magic burst from me, dragging at the threads that ran through the entire academy. I was connected to all of it at the same time. Nature screamed with me, answering my despair.

Roots burst up around the Duchess, and she wailed, trapped.

Bask stumbled back, but my magic surged through him, calling to the bond inside. If we bonded, then no one could take him away.

Even out of control, my magic held back, before Bask's magic answered the request to bond, binding eagerly. He tipped back his head, and his ruby gaze met mine. They gleamed with worship and thanks.

This was it: he was mine now, forever.

I married ghosts, was the first ever female Rebel, and loved mages. I gave a witch's tit for tradition or rules on who could bond with incubi.

Bask was mine and safe from the bitch who'd broken her own bond with him, and I'd never be parted from my lover.

All of a sudden, Bask collapsed.

Shocked, I banged against the glass. My magic continued to surge through the academy.

The Duchess screamed.

Ghost Robin entwined around my magic, soothing and calming the whirlwind. But I was lost to the storm, and it was tearing me and the academy apart.

I ached, rising from a dark in which my Soul had been torn apart. And let me tell you, that was worse than a punch to the dick. My slinky self wasn't broken, however, because, I'd been remade with a glowing pink magic that tangled around me.

Wow, it was beautiful. Perhaps, I was beautiful inside now as well as outside...?