Jax took off his school jacket and draped it over her shoulders. She pulled the jacket around her tighter, "Were you ever friends?" Jax stared at his hands, "Once. There was a time when Aliana, Sam, and I were inseparable." Winter twiddled her thumbs. Now she knew why Jax hated Sam so much. What he believed he did. Winter cleared her throat, "Is that why you got so sensitive about the sword?" Jax shrugged, "We used to share that sword for practice. It was kind of like a bet. Whoever bested the other was allowed to use it." Winter nodded, "It was like a trophy of your friendship." He scowled, "And then he turned around and tarnished it." Winter scratched the back of her head, "How do you know for sure?" He grimaced, "What do you mean how? I saw it with my own eyes." Winter avoided his gaze and thought, "Yeah but you don't know the full story since I'm still here." Winter paused, "You and Lucas are soulmates right?" He furrowed his eyebrows at the sudden change in topic, "Yes?" She pried, "Like you've felt the soulmate bond?" He threw his head back and sighed, "Why are you asking?" Winter shrugged, noting that he didn't answer her question, "Curiosity." She stood up, "You should head back to class. I'm going to go to my dorm and let the wounds heal." He grabbed her arm, "What's with you today?" Winter stared at him intently before removing his jacket and placing it over his head. She patted his hair over the jacket, "Same thing as everyday. I'm just looking for answers."
Winter put a hand to her forehead and rubbed it. She couldn't go to her dorm now, Della would look for her there. Her only choice was to go to the secret room. She cringed at the thought, but it was the only option she had. Winter skulked to the library vigilantly to avoid anyone's detection. She walked down the stairs and flopped back onto the couch. She let out a loud sigh. Her fingertips grazed the fresh scars that Darren had left her. That sadistic creep was a problem Winter would have to deal with later. She shut her eyes and rested peacefully.
Winter had the dream again. She was playing with Sam in the gardens when the other little boy approached them. "Aliana, Mom said it's time to train." She got closer to the boy, now able to make out his features and gasped. She bolted upright, wiping the sweat from her brow.
Sam sat at the table, his back facing her, "What are you doing here?" Winter blinked, hesitating, "I needed a place to hide." He got up and walked towards her slowly, "How did you know about this place?" Winter swallowed. A run in with Sam was exactly what she wanted to avoid. He grabbed her arm and roughly dragged her towards the stairs when she blurted, "I know about Aliana." Sam slammed her against the wall and wrapped his hand firmly around her neck, "I thought I told you to never say that name." Gasping for oxygen, Winter croaked, "I can explain." Sam shoved her up the stairs, "Get out." After he let go, Winter gulped for air, "I know you didn't kill her." Winter watched as Sam stilled. She got closer to him, "I also know what they use the bracelet that's around your wrist for." Winter looked down at her own. Her eyes widened as she held it closer to her face to inspect it. The lesion her magic had created was gone. The bracelet had repaired itself. She cursed under her breath. Sam sat at the table and rasped, "Speak." Winter went back on the couch as Sam glared at her, "Jax told me about Aliana." She twisted her ring, "About how she died." Winter looked up at him, "How you killed her." Sam banged his hand on the table. Winter glanced at him sidelong, "Did you kill her?" When he said nothing she prodded, "Tell me how she died and I'll tell you what I know." He turned his back to her. His smooth voice broke a little as he recapped the events that lead to her perceived death, "During the second mock war someone told me Jax needed my help so I turned away from her for just a moment. When I turned back around, it was too late. I watched as a woman in a black suit put a dagger through her heart." Silence filled the room before he continued, "Jax blames me for her death, and he has every reason to." Their stories were different but the bottom line was the same. Both boys believed that Sam was responsible for her death. Winter picked at her nails, "She's still alive." Sam's head snapped to her, "What?" Winter licked her lips, he wouldn't believe her if she revealed it now. He still couldn't recognize her. Winter shook her head, "You don't need to know." In a split second his hand was in her hair, yanking it back. Winter winced, putting her hand on her head. "I asked you what you said." Winter swallowed, "I said Aliana is still alive." He let her go and walked back over to the table. Sam spoke in a low voice, "I may not have killed her, but if you're lying I will kill you." A minute passed in silence before he asked, "Where is she?" Winter wanted so desperately to say, "I'm right here Sam," but instead she stayed quiet. She needed answers first, "That bracelet, where did you get it?" Sam glowered at her as he spoke through clenched teeth, "After I watched her die, I lost it. My powers went haywire and I woke up in an unfamiliar room with this bracelet around my wrist. I've tried to get it off every way I could think of." Winter made a mental note. The three of them had the bracelets put on after they lost control of their magic. It was possible that when they lost control, something about their powers was discovered. So they were given the bracelets to be monitored. Winter paused. Or to be controlled.