Going Down In Flames: Bridges Burned Part 13

"Sorry, I have orders to keep everyone here."

Bryn growled in frustration. "I have to do something."

The woman looked Bryn up and down. "If I tell you to stay here, you're going to sneak out, aren't you?"

"Yes."

"That's what I thought." She pulled a sheet of paper from her clipboard. "This is a list of students who are unaccounted for. Take it to the medics and find out how many of them are patients and how many are still missing."

Bryn exited the building, shifted, and flew toward the science building where the medics were housed. No sign of Zavien outside. In the medical center, she found Medic Williams and her colleagues treating more than a dozen injured students.

"Bryn, we're spread thin. I could use your help for the minor cuts and sc.r.a.pes."

"I can do that, but first, I'm supposed to ask if any of these students are being treated."

Medic Williams took the list. "Five of these students are here." With quick efficiency, she checked off the appropriate names. Zavien wasn't among them.

He'd been by her side during most of her trips to the clinic. She'd thought for sure he'd be here. "So, no sign of Zavien?"

"Don't worry. The professors enlisted some of the older students to search the rifts. I'm sure Zavien is helping." She pointed toward a group of students who sat on a bench in the hallway. "The minor injuries are over there. Ask if they mind you healing them, since you aren't licensed yet. If they have issues, tell them it's a forty-five-minute wait.

Bryn approached a red-haired girl cradling her right arm.

"Medic Williams asked me to help. I've had some training. I can cure minor cuts."

"This doesn't feel minor, but do what you can." The girl extended her arm, which was covered in a blood-soaked towel.

Bryn lifted the cloth and discovered a six-inch laceration on the girl's forearm. She closed her eyes and visualized her life force as a ball of white fire in her chest. Opening her eyes, she pictured the fire flowing down her right arm into her fingertips. As she traced her fingers back and forth over the girl's wound, she imagined the skin undamaged. After a few minutes, the edges of the cut began to come together. The skin closed until all that was left was a pink line.

"Better?" Bryn asked.

The girl's shoulders relaxed. "Much better. Thank you."

"Can you drop this at the Black dragons' dorm on your way out?"

The girl took the paper and left.

A Blue male sat next in line. He held a cloth to a wound on his forehead. Before she could speak, he said, "I'll wait for the real medic."

"Are you sure? It's going to be a while before anyone else can help you."

"Positive."

Jerk. "Your choice. Anyone else want my help?"

A Green male pointed to the girl leaning against his shoulder. "Help her."

The dark-complected girl held out her arms, which were covered in superficial cuts and abrasions. Healing the minor damage was easy. Doing this felt right. This was what she wanted to do. Feeling sure about one thing in her life was a relief.

She healed three other students and sent them on their way, then she checked with the stubborn Blue. "Change your mind yet?"

"No." He scooted away from her like she was about to force herself on him.

"Stop being an a.s.s and let her heal you," a familiar voice ordered.

Jaxon came to stand by her side. His clothes were uncharacteristically wrinkled and mud-splotched, but she didn't see any blood.

"Are you injured?" she asked.

"No. I was sent to check on our missing students." He pointed at the Blue with the head injury. "Heal him so I can take him back to the dorm."

Bryn turned to find the Blue still wearing the expression of disgust, but he dropped the cloth from his forehead. Jaxon must outrank him in some way. The cut was shallow, and she healed it with ease.

Before Jaxon could leave, she said, "Have you seen Zavien?"

The blond gave her a look that was part pity and part scorn.

"Don't judge me," she snapped. "Just answer the question."

"I haven't seen him." Jaxon raised a brow. "Do you think he's asking anyone where you are?"

"Jerk."

He feigned confusion. "Are you referring to me, or Zavien?"

At this point, she didn't know. Making her way over to Medic Williams, Bryn asked, "Heard anything about Zavien?"

The woman didn't look away from the wound she was closing. "No."

"I'm going to find him."

No one tried to stop her. Bryn left the science building and came up short when faced with the devastation to the campus grounds. She closed her eyes and inhaled, hoping to catch Zavien's scent. All she detected was the sharp smell of green gra.s.s and the loamy scent of freshly turned earth.

Vivian and Octavius worked to repair the damage. Half a dozen adult Orange dragons labored alongside them.

Where had the Orange dragons come from? Had Octavius contacted his Clan and asked for aid? Mr. Stanton seemed to be supervising the cleanup. Curious, she walked out to meet him.

"Be careful, Bryn. The ground is literally shifting under our feet."

A loud rumble reverberated through the soles of her shoes, and part of a nearby fissure closed.

"Who do you think did this?" she asked.

"We don't know. Octavius and Vivian came to me minutes after the attack. We contacted their Clan and they offered aid."

"The Directorate will blame them," Bryn said.

"At first they will. We'll find out who the real culprits are after an investigation."

"Have you seen Zavien?"

"He helped us look for stragglers earlier. I haven't seen him in a while." Mr. Stanton grabbed Bryn's arm as the ground beneath their feet groaned. "You'd best relocate. This isn't a precise science."

Okay. So he'd seen Zavien, and Zavien hadn't asked about her. Frowning, she stalked toward her dorm.

Inside the student lounge, she spotted Clint and Ivy sitting at the small cafe. Ivy waved Bryn over, but her expression wasn't happy.

She pulled out a chair and joined her friends. "What's up?"

"I have news you aren't going to like." Ivy patted Bryn's arm, like she was trying to console her. "Zavien came back twenty minutes ago. He saw us, but he didn't stop to visit."

The ugly truth crashed down on her. "He didn't talk to you, which means he didn't bother to ask about me. How could I have been so wrong about him?"

Neither of her friends answered.

"With all these rifts, it wouldn't be difficult to hide his body," Ivy said.

Clint gaped at his girlfriend. "Don't encourage Bryn, or we'll spend our weekends visiting her in jail."

Chapter Fourteen.

Suddenly, all the students in the cafe and lounge started talking at once. Bryn glanced toward the door to see what caused the disturbance.

Valmont strode into the dorm like he belonged there. Light glinted off the broadsword strapped to his thigh. Was it the weapon or his presence in the Black dragons' dorm that caused everyone's interest?

When he reached Bryn, he sat and grabbed her hand. "I came to make sure you were all right."

d.a.m.n it. Why couldn't Zavien act like this? "I'm fine." Better, now that he was here.

He studied her. "Fine never means fine. What's up?"

She shrugged.

"If you don't want to talk about it, I'll respect your wishes." He turned to Clint. "What did the spiky-haired nitwit do now?"

"Hey," Bryn shouted.

"You don't have to talk about him if you don't want to," Valmont said, "but I still want to know. Clint?"

"After the attack, Zavien didn't bother to check on us or her," Clint said.

The knight squeezed Bryn's hand. "Sorry about that."

"Why are you sorry?"

"It's my job to protect you. Short of running the idiot through with a sword, I can't think of a way to help."

"There are all those nice deep rifts out there," Ivy muttered. "It would be a shame for them to go to waste."

Valmont raised a brow.

Bryn chuckled. "Ivy volunteered to help throw Zavien's body in a rift."

Valmont tapped his chin like he was thinking. "That's not a bad idea."

"Am I the only sane individual left at this table?" Clint asked.

"If Clint won't let us kill Zavien, I guess we need another plan for the evening," Bryn said.

"All three of you could come out to my cabin," Valmont said.

"I doubt we'll be allowed to leave campus." Bryn's stomach growled. Channeling Quintessence must burn calories like crazy. Eating with friends would be nice. "We could order pizza and eat in my room."

A serious expression crossed Valmont's face. "First, I have a question you must answer with utmost certainty. What is your stance on anchovies?"

She made a yuck face. "Anchovies are disgusting."

"Correct answer."

Twenty minutes later, Bryn sat next to Valmont on her couch while Clint and Ivy sprawled out on the floor. The situation seemed surreal. It was like someone removed Zavien from a photo and Photoshopped Valmont in his place to restore balance to the picture.

"Why are you frowning?" her knight asked.

Bryn grabbed another slice of pizza while she fabricated a response, because he didn't need to know how strange her brain truly was. "I was wondering who's behind the attack."

"Who has the most to gain from upsetting the Directorate?" Valmont asked.

"Someone who wants to start a revolution," Bryn answered. "I'm not sure who that would be."

Ivy rearranged the pepperoni on her pizza in a symmetrical pattern. "The radical Revisionist dragons in the forest talked about affecting change. I'm pretty sure that's code for 'let's start a revolution.'"

Pizza sauce dribbled down Bryn's chin. She wiped it off with a napkin. "I'm not sure how effective the regular Revisionists' pet.i.tions are, but war seems extreme."

"There isn't much middle ground with the Directorate. It's their way or no way," Valmont said. "Maybe war is inevitable."

"That's not a cheery thought." Ivy moved closer to Clint and leaned against him. He kissed her forehead.

Envy shot through Bryn. Zavien should've been here to comfort her.

Warm fingertips brushed against her cheek. "You're not alone," Valmont reminded her. He leaned in and whispered, "I can be whatever you want me to be."

Well, that offer was wide-open to interpretation. He seemed to be waiting for an answer she didn't have. "Thank you. But right now I'm a mess."