Free Reckless Magic by Rachel Higginson Page B

asked,
realizing his absence was strange.
    “ He didn’t want to be late
for class,” Kiran stood to his feet, waiting for me to ascend the
steps.
    “ Me either,” I breathed,
picking up my pace, but brushing shoulders with Kiran as I passed.
As soon as our bodies connected, the strong shocking sensation
seized my shoulder forcing me to grab it with my other hand for
support. I gasped for air and pulled my body away, but I still felt
the impression of his skin hot underneath my shirt.
    “ Are you alright?” he asked,
his English accent sounding more like mockery than
concern.
    “ I’m fine,” I steadied
myself and continued up the stairs as quickly as I could; although
I was still a little out of breath from what felt like tiny
lightning bolts in my blood. The shocking sensation grew to
encompass my entire circulatory system and I cursed underneath my
breath, determining that I would not faint today.
    “ Eden, you are ridiculous!”
Kiran sounded exasperated as he caught up with me on the stairs and
grabbed my wrist with his hand.
    The force of his touch was too much to
handle. The electricity surged through my body at an alarming rate
causing my heart to beat wildly. I forced myself to focus, but my
vision became blurry and a high pitched ringing sound pierced my
ears. I tried to say something but the world became dark around me.
I felt myself falling and wondered for a moment if fainting down a
flight of stairs would hurt.
     
    ----
     
    “ Eden…. Eden…. wake up,
love….” a soft, foreign voice pulled me out of darkness.
    I opened my eyes slowly, but shut them
swiftly when the light from the crystal chandelier was too much. My
blood was flowing at a rapid pace and charged with a strong current
of electricity. My heart was beating quickly, although somewhat in
control and I realized that I was lying in someone’s
arms.
    “ Come on…. let me know you
are all right,” the voice turned stern and I obeyed, I opened my
eyes slower and let them adjust to the light around me.
    I groaned audibly when I looked up to
find Kiran looking back at me. His expression read concerned and
when I was finally able to focus on him, I watched his facial
muscles relax. The piercing aqua color of his eyes gazed into mine
and I couldn’t remember what happened or how I ended up in his
arms.
    “ Did I faint again?” I
mumbled as memories slowly started to come back.
    “ Mmmm…. hmmm….” Kiran smiled
and I realized that we were positioned on the marble staircase
still. He must have caught me before I fell down the entire
flight.
    “ Thank you,” my voice was a
little horse and I found that I was very comfortable lying in his
arms. Despite the temperature and activity of my blood, I was
hesitant to get up. I groaned again, milking it just a little
longer.
    “ How can you really not know
what you are?” Kiran’s voice was soft and soothing and although I
didn’t understand his question, he seemed to find it amusing and
laughed a little.
    “ Mr. Kendrick, Ms. Matthews
I believe you are supposed to be in class right now,” Principal
Saint hollered at us from the middle of the lobby. I wasn’t aware
there was anyone around and my cheeks flamed with
embarrassment.
    I tried to sit up quickly as I heard
Principal Saints’ footsteps come closer, but Kiran held me down. I
looked at him with pleading eyes, mortified by the predicament
Principal Saint had found us in. Kiran laughed again, but slowly
helped me into a sitting position.
    “ I apologize sir,” Kiran
addressed Principal Saint, almost disdainfully; “You see we were on
our way to class, when Ms. Matthews fainted and nearly took a
tumble down the stairs.” I could hear the amusement in his tone and
felt like punching him in the shoulder.
    “ Is this true Ms. Matthews?”
Principal Saint stopped walking when he reached the bottom of the
stairs, and eyed me skeptically.
    “ Yes, it is true.” I
defended, terrified of the consequences I was about to