Karma?

Elyra’s POV

I held on to the resistance bands even tighter, doing another rep, the muscles still hurting from the game the night before. But I knew, Kaelen would smoke me the next time we meet on the ice. Sweat dripped down my temple as I pushed through my last set, counting under my breath.

“Ten more,” I mumbled to myself. "Nine. Eight."

I was so concentrating on my form that I didn't realize that there was a young lady standing a few feet away watching me. I completed my set and released the band from my hand, and faced her.

"May I assist you in anything? I asked, rubbing the back of my wrist on my forehead.

“The name is Veyra Soren," she said. "I'm Darian's girlfriend."

I blinked at her. "I'm sorry, what?"

"Darian," she repeated. "I'm his girlfriend."

I placed the resistance band on the bench next to me, and said, "There's some kind of mistake. I'm Darian's girlfriend."

There was some recognition on Veyra's face, not surprise, but confirmation of something she already knew in her heart. “I know… and that is why I am here.”

“Look, I don't know who told you what , but—“ I started.

“I found your number on his telephone," Veyra said, cutting me off, her voice calm and level. “One night when he was intoxicated he mentioned your name and I've been watching you for some time now because I knew there was something going on with the two of you.”

My stomach twisted. “You're wrong, Darian and I have been dating for nearly a year. He wouldn't—"

“I'm not here to debate with you," said Veyra, raising his hand. “Darian's cheating on you. I don't expect you to take my word on this, since I'm a stranger.”

“Good," I said sharply, "I don't.”

She repeated herself, her tone not affecting me, "I'm not asking you to. I simply offering you the opportunity of experiencing the truth yourself.”

I folded my arms, was tight with my jaw. "And how exactly do you plan on doing that?"

"Tonight," Veyra said. "Stay in your dorm, keep your cell phone close, I will text you.

"This is ridiculous."

"Maybe," she said. “But what do you have to lose by waiting for one message?”

I didn't have a good answer to that. I was there, staring at her, trying to think of all the reasons why she couldn't possibly be correct, why it must be some sort of misunderstanding, some girl who was being jealous and getting her facts wrong.

“Fine,” I said at last, more to get her to go away. “You have one shot, don’t mess it up.”

Veyra gave me a small nod, as if she'd anticipated just this. "I'll be in touch."

She turned around and walked out of the gym without another word and I was left standing with my heart beating harder than it had during any of my training sets.

I attempted to complete my workout. I really did. I picked up the resistance band again and did another set, but my mind kept going back to Veyra's face and the certainty in her voice when she told me that Darian was cheating on me.

I said to myself, "He wouldn't do that," so I put down the band and picked up my water bottle. "He wouldn't."

But there was a little, niggling part of me which I could not shake off entirely. I remembered the past couple of weeks — when he was less clear on his intentions, when he's been taking longer than usual to respond to my texts at night. I said to myself, "Well, that's nothing. People got busy. There was a life before, and during , relationships.” I mumbled as I looked around hoping to see a camera and Veyra jumping out to tell me it was a prank.

But there was no camera , and the uncertainty remained and did not want to go.

I put away my gym kit and left with my cellphone in my pocket and soon it vibrated. I took it out, thinking it must be from Veyra, but it was a call from someone else.

My mother.

I answered. "Hey, Mom."

"Elyra!" The voice of Seraphine was warm, somewhat out of breath. “Congratulations on the victory, honey! I heard it was amazing!”

“Thank you for coming,“ I said, intentionally.

“I'm sorry for not coming my love, I really wanted to be there.” She sighed. “Alaric's curse struck again yesterday, it was a hard night, but he's recovered and is resting.”

“I’m glad he is now okay.” I mumbled.

“Tonight I hope you will come over to dinner,” Seraphine said. "I want to know everything about the game, and I miss you too; I haven't seen you in weeks because you are so busy training. I miss my little girl so much, maybe a girls sleep over?”

I checked my phone screen, half hoping that Veyra would have sent me a message already. “I’m sorry mom but tonight can’t work. I've got something I need to do.”

“What could be a more important event than supper with your Mom?” She teased and I imagined she’d be pouting by now.

“I’m sorry mom but it’s really important and I can’t cancel. I have to take care of this.” I answered.

"Elyra—"

I gently cut her off, "I’ll cook next time. I promise. We will have dinner soon, OK?”

The other end had paused, too, Seraphine didn't seem pleased with that answer, but after some time, she sighed once more. “Be careful, just get in touch with me if you need anything.”

"I will. Love you."

“Love you too, honey.” She said.

I hung up and continued on to my dorm, lost in a jumble of thoughts about Veyra's warning and my mother's concern. I was just about to reach the gate when I got another text on my cell phone.

A message from my coach.

“Ice rink. Now. It's important.”

I looked down at the screen, and swerved around at once. Whatever it was, it had to be done soon.

When I arrived the rink was empty and the lights were dim, with a man standing near the boards, a sharp black coat, which seemed an odd choice for a skating rink.

As I approached, he asked me, "Elyra Veyne?”

"That's me."

"Ronan Vale." He gave me his hand, and I shook it. He was the talent scout for the biggest and best Hockey team in the world.

My heart skipped. “It's a pleasure to meet you.”

“I watched your game yesterday,” Ronan said pointing me to sit on the bench next to the boards. “Girl let me be frank, I've been watching tapes of a couple of your previous games this season.”

"Really?"

"Really." He retrieved a small notebook, turning a few pages. “Your instincts on the ice are great, your read of the game, particularly in transition level is higher than what I would typically see at the academy level, your shot selection needs to be worked on a little bit, and when you get tired on defensive plays, you tend to over commit.”

I was in shock, my heart pounding in my chest, my eyes wide open, but my face still frozen.

“I'm not here to give you a contract, matte of fact, no one knows I am here," Ronan said, and my stomach sunk a little as I heard that. “But I want you to know that the team is keeping a close eye on you and if you continue to do what you've been doing, there's a good chance we'll come out with an offer after you graduate.”

“Thank you," I said, my voice slightly unsure with excitement. “Thank you so much , I won't disappoint you.

“Continue training as you have done,” Ronan said, closing his notebook. "Work on that shot selection. And Elyra—" he finished, with a nod of satisfaction. “Keep it going the way you did yesterday – that's what we want.”

“I will!” I said.

Ronan nodded at me and picked up his book and walked out, leaving me sitting on a bench, grinning at nothing, my whole body humming with the kind of happiness I hadn't dared hope for.

I was on the verge of screaming but I controlled myself.

---

I was half way to my dorm, still repeating myself every word that Ronan said when my mobile rang once again.

An unknown number.

It was a picture.

A man walking into a restaurant with his hand on the back of a woman.

Veyra.

The woman was Veyra and that hand tattoo… I know that hand tattoo anywhere! It was Darin’s!”

My stomach hit the ground! With shaking hands I had checked the time on the picture.

It was from 3 minutes ago.

I didn't think, and immediately dialed Darian’s number. I pressed my phone to my ear so hard it hurt, as I paced around, not caring if anyone saw me the I was.

He didn’t pick up the call the first four times I tried it. “Darian no no no. Don’t do this.” I mumbled, my eyes filling with tears as I tried his number for the fifth time.

“Hey, babe." He said, picking up on the fifth ring.

"Where are you?" I spoke, trying to keep my voice from shaking.

“Uh, back at home, actually,” said Darian. “My sister is not feeling well, I came to check on her.”

“You’re back at home? Your sister is not feeling well?” I mumbled, desperately fighting the urge to remind him he is an only child.

"Yeah. Why?" He asked, growing impatient.

I said quietly, "No reason. I'm just checking on you.”

“I'll call you later, I can't talk right now.” He said and hung up.

The line went dead before I could ask him any other question.

I lowered the phone slowly, looking straight ahead of me, chest tight, a knot forming in my throat as my vision became blurry with tears.

Soon, my cell phone vibrated again.

Another image. Unknown number.

I didn't open it.

I just looked at notification, my thumb poised on the screen and wondered.

“What now?”