The Forgotten

Chapter 1

ADRIAN

Adrian tried his best not to stare at Sephi in the mornings when she walked into class. Usually he succeeded. Today, however, was not his lucky day.

Nobody else seemed to have this problem, though. Not anymore. A few years ago she’d been new and every day had been a fight. The average Legacy was a two-faced snake and it had been to everyone’s surprise when the new little witch had showed her claws.

Maybe it had something to do with the fact that Sephi was the face of innocence. Her features delicate and small, her short frame perfectly unassuming. 

Her first year at the Compound she’d gotten into three fights within her first week. She’d won them all. And by the time the third one rolled around her patience had worn thin. A Legacy boy had been writhing in her grip when she’d threatened to keep going until there was no one left. Every single recruit had backed off after that.

Adrian held his smart pen between his teeth as Sephi walked around the desks in the room toward him–to the seat that always found itself empty beside him. On instinct, he pretended to write something on the screen as he pushed the chair back with his foot. A beat later she was sitting next to him, pushing strands of hair away from her face.

She looked up. And smiled.

Adrian blinked twice before he could mumble, “You’re lucky DeSoto is running late. You know how cranky he is in the mornings.”

“I could always woo him with my witchy wiles,” she said, smirking like a fiend.

Adrian looked around in disbelief. “Who pissed you off?”

“Mmm, no one.” She shrugged and as she settled in her seat with her tablet, ready to take notes, DeSoto strode into the room. “But it’s only 9 AM.”

The lecture on foreign political relations was dull enough, but Sephi had been taking plenty of notes. Unlike him, she had something to prove. Or so she thought. The Governor held her in such high esteem it seemed kind of useless to have her tested to join the Corps in the summer. Soon enough she would become one of the most notorious senior agents of the Force.

When class ended he and Sephi made their way to the Sun Court to get their daily, government recommended, dose of vitamin D. His mood shifted considerably as they made their way quietly outside. The chilly city air filtered in through the vents above the windows and Sephi pulled on her jacket. Flipping her hair out of the collar the familiar scent of lemon and sugar enveloped him, he breathed in his fill.

He was beginning to tell her about a dreadful fancy dinner he’d had to attend over the weekend with his father when Sephi froze on the stairs. She whipped around so fast her body blurred and Adrian couldn’t help jerking away. She caught a football in her hands–a ball that had clearly been aimed at her ass.

Two Legacies from DeSoto’s class looked down at her from several steps back. 

“Look, she can catch! Maybe witches aren’t so bad after all…” The blond one on the left, Miles, slithered over until he was close enough to whisper in her ear, “Or maybe being the little Prince’s bitch taught you some tricks.”

Adrian tensed, clenching his fist on the strap of his bag. Something rippled in Sephi’s eyes. She shoved the ball into Miles’ chest so hard he stumbled. 

He shouldn’t get involved. Any man in his position needed to stay neutral, or so his father claimed. Sephi stepped into Miles’ space, just like he’d done to her.

“Maybe I could do a trick on you,” she whispered, almost seductively, leaning toward his face. Adrian resisted the urge to drag her back to his side.

The Legacy jerked away, face scrunched in disgust. “Keep your scum-filled claws away from me, you Ferox bitch.”

Adrian stepped up this time, the slur ringing in his ears. Sephi stopped him with a hand–probably meant to sit on his chest but she was so short it landed on his ribs.

Sephi rested a hand on her chest, eyes wide. “Oh, now you’ve hurt my feelings.”

She lunged at him. Miles tripped as he stepped back on the last couple of steps and fell onto his back. But Sephi had held off at the last minute and stood completely unfazed exactly in the same spot.

Miles’ lip curled and before he could say anything Sephi floated down the remaining steps. He shrunk away as if she would gut him, his blue eyes full of hatred. Sephi stared right back impassively. She cocked her head in question when the guy wouldn’t move.

Then she straightened, a mocking grin plumping her cheeks, and left.

Adrian’s stomach flipped as her dark curls disappeared around the corner. She wouldn’t even wait for him.

Pride flared in his chest as he watched a guy pull Miles to his feet. He was puffing like a bull, the humiliation making his round cheeks red. 

The Legacy was dusting off his pants when he caught Adrian looking at him. Recruits murmured around them but they all fell quiet when Miles opened his mouth again.

Adrian raised a hand, silencing him. “You did this to yourself.”

He tried to hide his amusement, he really did, but a choked laugh escaped as he made his way through the crowd.

Damage control would have to be done later, but he didn’t care. Miles’ head was about to pop off, he was so red. It only took Adrian a moment longer before he followed after Sephi into the sun.