Legacy Heir: The Ash Academy Series Read online

  “Demetri, seriously, I’m not joking, slow down,” she called again, getting out of breath. She grabbed at his arm just before he got to the bridge. Still he didn’t turn around.

  “What is wrong?” she asked his back, as he determinedly did not look at her.

  She circled him and looked at his face to see that his eyes were shut, and he was breathing slowly. His hands hung by his side clenched so tightly that she could see the whites of his knuckles.

  “Look at me,” she said softly, raising her gloved hand to his cheek. She was seriously starting to worry about him. She hadn’t seen him this upset since he admitted to lying to her.

  Taking her hand off his face she removed her glove and placed it back on his cheek. Her worry clouded all her other emotions, so much so, that she couldn’t enjoy the skin to skin contact that she could only have with Demetri.

  “Look at me,” she repeated softly, staring at him, waiting for his eyes to open.

  The air seemed to burst out of him and he appeared to deflate as he lost the tension that had been holding his body so tight. His eyes slowly opened and the ice blue colour mesmerised Ava just as they did when they first met.

  Without moving they both stood for a long time looking into each other’s souls. They both needed this contact.

  “I’m sorry,” Demetri said brokenly. He wasn’t sure what he was sorry for anymore. It seemed that with Ava, he had done everything so wrong that he could never say sorry enough to even touch the edges of the pain he had caused her.

  “I’m sorry,” he repeated as his hand covered hers on his face, afraid that she would break their contact.

  “What happened? Why did you storm off?” Ava questioned him.

  “Was the girl okay?” Demetri changed the subject, not wanting to explain to Ava that she was the reason he stormed off. Ava looked at him, tilting her head to one side assessing whether to go with his obvious avoidance tactic or to call him out on it.

  “She’s fine. Her friends managed to convince her that you weren’t worth it if you couldn’t even be bothered to look at her whilst rejecting her,” Ava joked, and Demetri felt his bad mood drift away, as the corners of Ava’s mouth lifted into her bewitching smile.

  “Do you want to go for a walk?” he ventured, not commenting on the girl he had just jilted.

  “Sure, lead the way.”

  They walked down the familiar path into the woods. Ava occasionally broke their comfortable silence with random chatter about things she had seen at school, or mused on something they had been taught.

  Demetri stayed mostly silent, relishing the joy that Ava felt in most situations. Feeling the calm wash over him that the woods and her presence created.

  “Do you still want to meet with my parents next weekend?” Ava questioned randomly once they were deep into the woods. It was something she had been thinking about since Demetri asked her to set up the meeting.

  It was a few weeks ago since Demetri admitted that his parents were murderers. Ava’s father had been the one to uncover this and as the only individual powerful enough, had executed them for the safety of their people. Her parents had kept Demetri’s parents name out of the mud by not correcting the rumours that her Dad had murdered his parents in cold blood. This had caused Ava to be brutally bullied in her first months of school. To try and protect Ava from this inevitability, her parents had kept her secluded from the rest of the Gifted society until she was old enough to go to the Academy.

  Demetri had said he wanted to come clean and tell the world what his parents had done and clear Ava’s family name.

  As time went by, Ava managed to calm down about the deceit and betrayal that his omissions had caused. She realised, now that him coming clean would do nothing but absolve him of his guilt. The damage had been done and Ava had survived the worst of her peers judgement. Not only had it made her stronger it made her find friends that would always see her for Ava and not her family.

  They hadn’t spoken about it beyond Demetri admitting his desire to speak out, and Ava suggesting that he discuss this with her parents first.

  She avoided the topic with Demetri out of fear of upsetting him. However, she had spoken to her parents about it nightly for the past few weeks. They had agreed that for Demetri to come out with the truth now would not help anyone. Ava wanted her parents to be the ones to convince him of this because she knew that he was more likely to listen to them, out of respect to their position.

  “Yeah. The last thing I want to do is something that will put you and your family in a worse position. So, I want to discuss the best way to tell the truth about my family,” Demetri explained softly, unaware that Ava and her parents had already decided how the meeting was going to go.

  “They said they would be happy to meet. I think my mother is excited to see you again under better circumstances,” Ava said smiling, knowing that her mother was a force to be reckoned with.

  Demetri had met her parents a few weeks before when Ava had run away because her Gift of Death by a single touch had almost killed Billy.

  He was nervous about meeting them under different circumstances. Yet, he knew how important Ava’s family was to her, and he wanted to be a permanent fixture in her life, so it was vital that he impressed these honourable people.

  “It’s all happening so fast. I keep wanting more time. More time to grow up and be better, before I have the responsibility. More time at school, so that you and I can explore what we have. I just wish there was more time,” Demetri said with a sigh.

  Frustrated with himself and the situation he had put himself in. He only had six months left at school and he wasn’t prepared. He wasn’t ready to take on his role as the Legacy Holder. Before he met Ava he just wanted school to be over. He had longed for a chance to make a change. But since meeting her, he still wanted to make those changes, he still desired to liberate the Norms and lower classes from the cruel treatment they had been receiving, however, he also wanted to be better. He wanted more knowledge and more integrity so that he could be the leader the Gifted needed.

  “There will never be enough time,” Ava said softly, looking at Demetri with worry in her eyes.

  “We will always want to be better, faster, stronger. That’s just nature, wanting to always improve. No one is expecting you to be perfect.”

  “Aren’t they?” Demetri said in disbelief.

  “You’ve been sheltered from it, but the houses will rip me apart the moment they smell weakness.”

  Ava sighed and continued to worry about Demetri as he spoke bitterly about the other houses.

  “You’re right, I don’t know the houses like you do. But I have seen how deep their hatred and loyalty lies,” she said gently, determined not to upset him further by drawing his attention to the bullying she received from people trying to rise through the ranks of their society.

  “That’s nothing compared to the adults. Where do you think people like Jade learnt that from? Or don’t you remember the torture chamber I showed you,” Demetri exploded at Ava.

  “I haven’t forgotten anything you’ve shown me. I also haven’t forgotten the loyalty and love people have for you. You’re so busy seeing the bad in the world around you that you can’t see the good. You can’t see how much people adore you. How they hang on your every word and are constantly vying for your attention.” Ava’s own anger was rising to match Demetri’s.

  He took a step closer to Ava, his chest rising and falling in time with hers, his cheeks flushed red in anger, his fists clenched in frustration.

  “How long do you reckon that will last? Until I make my first mistake? Until I pass the first law which will no doubt upset a lot of powerful people? Or maybe it won’t even last that long, as soon as they find out about who my parents really were and what they did. I bet their loyalty won’t be quite so unquestionable,” he spat out.

  His fury had taken on a life of its own. Ava was starting to understand Demetri’s anger and frus
tration. This wasn’t the first time he had lashed out, frightened, to the point that reason was clearly not an option for him.

  Sighing, Ava stepped closer to him, reached out and pinched his arm as hard as she possibly could.

  Instantly Demetri’s head snapped down to where Ava had pinched him. The haze of his anger was clearing, and sense started to return to him. The fear and argument of a moment ago still very much present in his mind, but the fury had ebbed. Immediately he felt ashamed for letting his anger out, especially as it was at the last person he meant to upset. He was trying to win her over and this was certainly not the way to go about it.

  “I’m sorry,” he mumbled. Thoroughly ashamed of his behaviour.

  “And so you should be,” Ava said smiling, waiting until his eyes rose to hers so that he could see she was smiling playfully at him.

  “Look, I understand you’re afraid and that you have a lot of responsibility on your shoulders. I also understand that the rest of the Gifted are very judgemental, and you’re right, they can turn on a dime. But I believe in what you believe in. I know that behind your hair trigger temper and that surly face, you see the community as a whole. That what you want to do will make it a better place. Not just for the rich, or the noble born, but for everyone. I don’t know what has happened to your self-belief but that is going to be the only thing that stops you from achieving your ambition.”

  Ava delivered her words passionately not taking her eyes away from Demetri’s. Hoping that he could see the sincerity in her eyes.

  “You happened to my self-belief. I thought I knew who I was until I met you. Now I feel so unsure of everything,” Demetri admitted quietly.

  Bewildered, Ava wasn’t sure how to address that. Ever since Demetri had admitted his feelings for her, he seemed so unsure of himself. They seemed so good at hating each other and so good at being enemies. But as friends, or whatever they were, they seemed to just twist each other up and tear each other apart.

  Seeing the sadness in Ava’s eyes, Demetri cursed himself and his hand instinctively snaked behind her neck, holding her in a possessive and reassuring gesture.

  “Since the moment I met you. You have made me feel. For the first time, I feel everything and it’s overwhelming. I question all my beliefs and the world around me.” Frustrated with himself, he saw that Ava’s expression hadn’t changed and he was doing a poor job of trying to explain himself.

  “Ava, my little hellcat, please don’t look so sad. Yes, I am plagued with self-doubt and am constantly questioning my future but that is because I want to be a better person. I want to be a better person for you.”

  Shaking his head, he still couldn’t explain it properly and as Ava was about to talk he spoke over her again.

  “No. Not for you, that isn’t it. I want to be a better person for me and the people I will lead. I guess what I mean to say is that I am inspired by you to become a better person. I see your strength and kindness and it makes me question myself and my character.”

  He finished with a puff of air, still frustrated at his inability to discuss his emotions like a rational person but happy that the sadness had lifted from Ava’s eyes.

  “I think that’s the nicest thing you have ever said to me,” Ava beamed up at Demetri. She felt a warm feeling all over her body, thanks to Demetri’s stumbled admission.

  Using his hold on the nape of her neck he drew her into his body and her hands instinctively went to his chest.

  “You know I’m going to miss you too, when you leave,” Ava admitted quietly. From her position she didn’t see the wince of pain Demetri made at the thought of their separation.

  His feelings for this girl were bordering on obsession. He even struggled on school days being away from her, constantly looking forward to the time they would spend together. He felt like his Gift and magic source missed her too. It felt as though his life-giving power burnt hotter and hotter under his skin until he was able to touch her again and even the smallest touch cooled the burning of his power.

  He hadn’t admitted these feelings to anyone, afraid that they would start to worry about his unrequited emotions. He was just glad that even though they had agreed to being just friends Ava hadn’t raised issue with his continuing tactile nature. If anything, she seemed to seek out his touch more and more too.

  Demetri didn’t speak for a long time knowing that anything he did say, during that moment, would be wrong. He knew that his emotions towards Ava were extreme and that she wasn’t in the same place that he was. Because, for him to say he would just miss her would be an understatement. He couldn’t bear to think about it. Everything had changed since she had been in his life every day. The idea of not being able to see her Bambi eyes and sunshine smile daily, was terrifying.

  Chapter 2

  Ava and Sky were back in the boarding house. It had been a few days since Demetri’s blow up and neither girl had mentioned it to the other. The girls were top and tailing on Ava’s single bed in her small cell-like room.

  “Look, I don’t like talking about Skit to you, but I really need some advice,” Sky blurted out. Ava was surprised by Sky’s change in subject. They never really talked about their romantic situations as they were all friends and neither of them wanted to make things awkward for the other within the group.

  “Talk away. I know you don’t want to bring me into your relationship and stuff, but I’m here for you. That’s what friends are for,” Ava comforted Sky who starting to fidget, accidentally kicking Ava’s shoulder whilst trying to get comfortable, crammed as they were, on the small bed.

  “I don’t know what I’ve done wrong. He’s acting all moody and won’t talk to me,” Sky confessed in typically dramatic fashion, with an added sigh of frustration at the end for extra emphasis.

  Taken aback, Ava hadn’t even noticed that the two were having any type of problems. They had all hung out only hours ago, Sky and Skit acted like they usually did, always physically touching the other, sharing private jokes and conversations every now and then.

  “How long has it been going on?” Ava tried to sound as neutral as possible when she asked.

  “Almost a week now. Around the time he found out his family were coming to town. I know he’s probably nervous about seeing them, but he tells me about that. It feels like there is something more,” Sky explained, relaxing more with each word. Pleased that she was able to talk about this with someone.

  “I didn’t realise his parents where coming to town?” Ava couldn’t hide her disbelief this time, she was shocked that she didn’t know something so important. She thought that they shared everything but clearly not talking about their romantic relationships had left big gaps in their knowledge of each other. It was surprising to Ava that the gaps had become so large.

  It was no secret that Skit had a strained relationship with his parents. The way he explained it to Ava was that his parents were social climbers, constantly trying to get away from their tarnished name. No matter what Skit did he would never be enough for them. They wanted to be able to use him as another way to better themselves and their family’s name, but Skit wasn’t like that. They never failed to let him know that he was a disappointment.

  “Yeah, I probably shouldn’t have said anything. I know he was going to tell you in his own time. I guess he doesn’t really want to think about it, but it’s pushing us apart. I can feel a distance growing between us.”

  “Do you think there’s more that he’s not telling you? Or maybe he has just gone into self-protect mode, and he just isn’t sure how to include you in that?” Ava asked, trying to help Sky, as her friend was clearly worried about this.

  “Honestly, I do think there’s something he’s not telling me,” Sky confessed worriedly. She sat up to look at her friend. Her panic about this situation had been growing and she hadn’t said anything to anyone, not wanting to push Skit. Still, she needed some reassurance.

  “Well, you have two options. You can either ask
him point blank and go from there, or, you wait him out and let him come to you in his own time.”

  “I have been waiting, he is not telling me, and he knows I know something is going on,” Sky huffed, frustrated as she got out of the bed and started to pace.

  “Maybe it’s something that’s taking him a while to work through,” Ava suggested, really at a loss as to how to help her friend. Patience wasn’t exactly Sky’s strength. She usually liked to tackle things head on. Ava worried that in certain situations Sky’s ‘bull in a china shop’ approach wouldn't work.

  “What if it’s bad news? What if his parents know about us and have forbidden him from seeing me? Or what if he’s dying and not telling me?” Sky was getting hysterical and Ava had to suppress her eye roll.

  “He isn’t about to die, you are fine,” she said quickly, to stop Sky going further down that train of thought.

  “But how do you know? How do we know anything if he won’t tell us?” Sky’s voice was rising as she challenged Ava.

  “Look, calm down. It’s not like he is always closed off, or that he never tells us anything. There might not be anything to tell, and he is just worried about his parents. If there is something he hasn’t told you then it’s probably a tricky issue for him, and your reaction is what he is afraid of,” Ava spoke quietly, not wanting to criticise her friend, but rather wanting to support her in the best way possible. She could see this thing with Skit was really upsetting Sky, melodrama aside, Ava could see sadness and panic in her eyes.

  “You’re right. I know it’s not all in my head, I need to cool it. I just don’t want him to feel like he can’t talk to me about this stuff,” Sky said her whole body deflating as she collapsed on the bed.

  “Have you tried saying that to him. Maybe you just need to show your support and that will be enough.” Ava squeezed Sky’s leg reassuringly. Sky nodded in agreement.

  The dam seemed to be open now, Sky started opening up more about her relationship with Skit. Going into gruesome detail as to how far they had gone physically. Ava tried to discreetly cover her ears when Sky gave her a play by play account of their adventures to third base.