Page 139 of The Commons

Today is The Sachiselection.

If I can get the opportunity of being selected by a teacher as a Sachi, I get more power in The Commons.

There are ten of us in here. Only one can be selected.

Whispers encroach around me as a crowd of new students gather in the Commons Stadium. “Who are all these new students?” Jordan asks, turning to Zavish.

Zavish frowns, looking away from the crowd. “They’re from The Seventh Zone, dimwit.”

Justice Emmanuel walks past them, whispering to Doctor Val, “Be careful, Doctor Val. We need to be vigilant. There are many among your people who are calling this an insurrection. There is a rumor among the Aristocrats that De Londe is planning a bloody revenge. And Patron Lenon may be leading the rebellion.” He disappears into the darkness before she can respond just as a flash of lightning surges through the skies.

I gasp as rain pours down, striking into my skin. But the Earth Patron, Lenon, is nowhere in sight. A strange feeling is surging through me, but I snap out of it and try to focus on this Sachiselection round before I am disqualified.

The teachers surround the arena with wary eyes and only one flag in hand. This is everything to them. Sachis are like their gifts to Patrons every year. And this year, Patrons need to be appeased more than ever because of all the controversy around Patron De Londe. And the only token a Patron will accept is a formidable student to add to their zone of study. Apparently, it is proof of a teacher’s competence and relevance, as they can live vicariously through us.

It’s my turn to compete.

I’m fighting against Ciaro and Zavish, who are now in the Oratory Zone: Swin, Science Zone, and several formidable students from The Seventh Zone who are determined to win—because winning is power, and power is influence, and influence is change, and change is on the horizon.

I am surrounded by the leery eyes of Shay and Madam Dey. I’m not close to any of those teachers, so Doctor Val is my only bet. But she’s looking at Swin with glee.

Swin has gained quite an outstanding reputation since his enrollment. But the achievement I am most grateful for is that he eventually figured out a way to remove Levon’s inscrutable tracker. It took weeks of working everyday, but it was nothing for him to crush the shackles that had followed her all this time. And now… Levon’s eyes loom over me disagreeably. It seems to say that I should not be doing this, putting myself in harm’s way. Good to know we’re on the same page. Then there is the steady, unimpressed glare of Pesh. It basically says, if you embarrass me today and don’t win a teacher’s favor into my zone, you will never see my sun eyes again. Not really. But it’s fun to assume.

My eyes dart to the right, fist curled up, ready to fight.

Here goes nothing.

Just as I approach my testing pod, Pesh appears and pulls me around the corner, out of sight. He grips my waist before my eyes can even see him, like a flash of sunlight breaking through the dark clouds, surrounding me like a whirl of warmth, and then… all at once, it’s hot. It’s boiling hot, and I’m on fire pushed against the wall, facing his all, but not for long.

He flips me around, turning my back to him. My face hits the wall as he grips my hands behind me, clasping something cold and firm around my wrist.

“Pesh!” My lips utter his name.

“Shh,” his deep voice whispers like an addictive mist to my skin.

He lets go of my hands and flips me back to face him. He stares so gently, the golden sun reflecting against his sculptured skin. And my eyes can’t help but glide up into the depths of his soft gaze, before I look down to see that he locked a golden band on my wrist.

My mouth opens to ask him about it just as the rain dies down, but he grabs my tongue before my words can escape, kissing me mercilessly. It feels so vigorous and addictive at the same time. His presence is a drug that I crave, and he’s using this drizzling rain in his best interest, seeing that I am drenched.

His hands are flying all over my body, the deep of my waist, the depth of my curves, consuming every part, swallowing every part. I don’t know how he can aim so precisely and yet get everything at the same time. I had better win now.

My eyes look up into his. Gosh, he’s so intense. My lips mutter, and I don’t know why it comes out in a whisper, “What was that for?”

“When you win, you become my Sachi.”

“You’re placing your bet on me?” My eyes spark.

“When you win.” Emphasis on “when.” His hand caresses my blushing cheeks.

Why are my cheeks blushing? Why is red showing through my sunkissed skin? My first bet. Wow. But Patrons don’t even bet on Sachiselection. Teachers are the ones who hand us to them. The pressure is on. Just breathe, Shantavia. You can do this.

“I thought Patrons only bet on Lerod selections?” I say.

“So did I. So don’t owe me.”

“Mm…” I nod, eyes lowering to the ground, and my head continues to nod. Then I realize, and stop. “Thank you!” I say, looking up into his eyes.

His rays trace me. Dearly. Strongly. He leaves.