The Skin Thief

Chapter 5

"I assume you know," Connor says lowly as we walk.

The smile falls from my face. "Yeah," I whisper.

He nods his head. "I wasn't expecting to be a wraith when I first joined the academy," he chuckles humourlessly.

"I'm sorry," I gulp, my voice quivering.

"What are you sorry for?"

"If you weren't my guardian, you wouldn't have to join the wraiths with me. You'd get an amazing posting in the special forces, maybe even leadership training."

"I am perfectly happy being a wraith. Plus, you're the one who will do all the spying and assassinating. I'm just there to look after your body when you dream walk."

"You deserve more," I explain.

"Well, I'm happy so that's all that matters," he tells me.

I smile. "I'm glad you're my guardian," I say to him, my voice quiet.

"Me too," he replies, and we both drop the conversation as we approach the other students.

We had trained for the graduation ceremony time and time again. That doesn't stop my heart from racing just before it is about to begin. Connor looks down and smiles at me widely. I force myself to smile back and then let out a shaky breath. My stomach churns and I gulp back tears. I had been waiting for this moment for years, but now it is here I almost don't want to go through with it.

No longer does it feel like a celebration of all my hard work. Now, it feels like a goodbye. My chest aches and I ball my hands into fists as I push down the impending sense of dread.

The first order is bellowed. At once, every student in the march straightens. The drums and trumpets begin to play.

This is it!

The order to march is shouted. My heart leaps into my throat and my body trembles slightly. We start to move. I desperately want to smile and find joy in this situation as the trumpets, drums and trombones get louder as they play the ceremonial song. It doesn't come. Instead, everything around me goes strangely distant. My thoughts spin wildly with the realisation that this is my final day of normality, of safety. I almost don't want to graduate.

Stop, Rowan. You're being a coward. I take in a deep breath and force those thoughts from my mind. I distract myself by focusing solely on marching.

Marching is second nature to all of us. We move as one, like a machine. I copy the person in front. The person behind copies me. Our arms swing at the same time. Our strides are identical as we follow the rhythm of the drums ahead.

The parade ground sits in the shadow of the beautiful academy building. It is huge, and square in shape with concrete floors. Surrounding the ground, are more school buildings. Stone archways and walls are decorated with vines and flowers. For the ceremony, flags of the academy and of Athaine have been hung across the walls. Sitting all around the outside of the ground are the invited family members. Knowing my parents are somewhere watching me somewhat puts me at ease. Despite my fears about the future, I remind myself that this is a day I should be feeling proud. I deserve this and if this is my final day of safety then I should make the most of it.

With that in mind, I focus on instead feeling proud of what I have achieved. When I look ahead, where the entrance to the ceremonial hall sits, I try to forget all about the wraiths. Instead, I focus on how special this day is.

It takes all my strength to keep looking forward and not search for my parents in the crowd. Out of the corner of my eye, I swear I spot my mother's bright red dress next to a horrible blob of miss matching colours. I can't help but chuckle to myself. My tension eases even more as I remind myself that my parents are proud of me, no matter what.