by Ember Hollis
By the time I reach the dining hall, Sybil is already half-way through breakfast. I spot her immediately in our usual place behind the potted palm, and quickly grab some food before heading to join her.
“Everyone’s talking about Briley and Vivette,” I say as I sit down. I’d already glimpsed their usual clique, huddled in the hallway and gossiping about the two harpies. Apparently it didn’t take much to tear the two girls down from the top of their pyramid. Even though Christian helped them get rid of most of the stings, the speculation on why he’d left them with the brand on their foreheads was already spreading like wildfire around the school. Needless to say, things weren’t going in their favor at all. “I don’t think they’ll be bothering us anytime soon. Did you leave the dolls with Pandora’s secretary like we planned?”
“Yeah I did,” Sybil smiles at me. “Pandora was actually there, so I managed to speak to her too. I don’t think she bought the story that we were using the wasps to clear our pipe because we thought they were stuck, but I think she decided to let it slide when she saw the Kolossus. She’s already given instructions for those pictures to be taken down.”
I glance at the walls and see that indeed, all the horrible posters of me are gone.
“Awesome,” I grin and pump a fist in the air. “Pandora’s such a cool headmistress. This almost makes up for missing the angel emissary.”
“Yeah, and speaking about Pandora,” Sybil shoves a sheet of paper under my nose. “Check out what I picked up at her office.”
“Ooh, the schedule for Bacchadelia!” I skim through the schedule, ignoring the numbers representing the times and dates to head straight to the description of the events.
Almost immediately, my eyes are caught by the words ‘dance’ and ‘mating’. Concerned, I re-read the lines out loud: “’Unlike a typical celebration of Bacchanalia with three nights of unrestricted and unmonitored debauchery, throughout Samhain,’” this must be Amelie’s fore-mentioned ‘Feasting, fighting and fucking’. “’The celebrations for Bacchadelia will last longer, and are structured so as to focus and harness the energies generated to protect our school. It is therefore the duty of all who call Pandorax their home to participate in at least three out of the five events. The first event is a Masquerade. In the days preceding to and on the night of the Masquerade itself, all parties interested in ritual mating during Bacchadelia must present themselves to their chosen by asking for a dance. All requests that are accepted are magically binding for potential fulfillment during the Hunt (see below), and will be sealed by dancing on the night of the Masquerade.’”
“Oh no…” I raise my eyes to stare at Sybil, horrified. This was what Christian had been referring to. And I had already gotten myself roped into it.
“Read on,” she says with a nod. “Go on, there’s a whole lot more.”
“’The next event following the Dance is the Dinner. This is a chance for those who wish to challenge any opponents they deem worthy. To proceed, inflict a small cut on yourself and fling the blood onto your target. There is no need for a formal acceptance, all challenges are magically binding, so be very careful on the day and be intentional with your movements.’ My God,” I shake my head, thinking of how many times I’d been spit on by blood-thirsty girls who hated me. All they needed to do to challenge me was to make sure they bit their tongues first.
“I don’t think I’ll survive this festival,” I groan. Then I see the expression on Sybil’s face. “Don’t tell me… there’s more?”
“Yup,” she says, handing me the next page. “The best part, or so they say, is yet to come.”
I take a deep breath and read: “’The third day of Bacchadelia will mark the height of the festival. Students of High Elven heritage will take the lead to initiate the rituals of the Wild Hunt, which will imbue our Academy’s grounds with the raw energies created by the fighting and mating promised during the Dinner and Dance. The Hunt will take place throughout the night so be sure to conserve your energy for the chase. Unscheduled mating and fighting will also be allowed, but I request that you still follow the appropriate fore-mentioned rituals of the Dance and the Dinner immediately beforehand to ensure the energy is properly collected. In addition, scheduled encounters will take precedence over unscheduled, so be timely in the pursuit of your prey.’”
“Are they even allowed to make us participate in this?” I demand, when I’m done reading the paragraph. “Normal schools would kick students out just for one of these activities, let alone a whole scheduled night of it. It’s going to be absolute mayhem!”
Sibyl just shrugs and says, “Supernaturals. This is the way we live, plus the most potent energies always come from the rawest of emotions. You’re almost at the end now, so carry on.”
“’The penultimate day of Bacchadelia is a day of Sanctuary. All fighters who survived the Wild Hunt unscathed, and all dancers who found and satisfied their would-be suitors are not allowed to be attacked, harassed, or otherwise engaged. These wily and lucky few are to spend the day in silent spellwork and contemplation to magnify and tune their energy and magic in preparation for the last event on the final day. The day of Sacrifice.’”
That sounds foreboding. I take a sip of water as my heart starts to pound in anticipation. I’m a little glad that there’s still a way to survive through this crazy collection of rituals without letting Christian get what he wants and descend into debauchery and chaos. But if getting through the Wild Hunt means I’m in for something worse… then maybe it wouldn’t be worth the trouble after all? Once I’m ready, I take a deep breath and speed read through the last paragraph.
“’On the day of Sacrifice, all the sacrificial candidates will be brought to the heart of Pandorax. Once there, you will participate in the ritual alongside your peers, as well as Madam Wilkins and me, to use your own energy plus the energy gathered throughout Bacchadelia to restore the Dome’s integrity. This is a powerful and potent ritual that is usually only performed by elite magic-users once every hundred years. While you will likely be pushed to the limits of your power and possibly risk burnout (see list of disclaimers at the bottom of the page), you will also have the rare chance to gain any latent abilities that you may have hidden in you while acting as a conduit to channel the magical energy. All sacrificial candidates who complete this ritual will also be granted a gift of magic, to be fulfilled with remaining magical resources (if there are any), and within limits of what is within our powers and capabilities (see list of disclaimers again).’”
“A gift of magic!” Sybil repeats excitedly. “Think about it. You could wish for almost anything, and they might be able to grant it! Well, except death, that’s on the list of disclaimers,” Sybil gives me a sympathetic look that’s quickly obliterated by an eager expression. “I mean, Madam Wilkins alone is renowned all over the world for her knowledge of magic, let alone Pandora, who’s been living since the dawn of time!” she gazes at me with starry eyes. “I already know what I want. Don’t you?”
“Uhm…” I frown. Sybil seems to have skipped over all the other events on the schedule and gone straight to the end. “What about getting through the Wild Hunt? Wasn’t that bad enough when it was just Bacchanalia? Now it looks like it’s going to be all three days squeezed into one night!”
“But it’s good, because it’s shorter. More intense, but we can handle that. We’ll just set up one fight, a small one that we can definitely win,” Sybil replies, already looking distracted. “Maybe with one or two of the weaker girls who’s been following you round. If we put our minds to it, we can definitely get there, you’ll see.”
Easy for her to say. She didn’t have as big a target on her back, nor was she as inexperienced with magic as I was. Still, I can already see that it’s no use talking her out of it.
“I’m guessing your boon will be to have your petrification ability removed?” I ask her sympathetically.
“No,” Sybil says, surprising me. “I’ll ask if my brother’s tail can be healed.” Sh
e gazes at me with such a hopeful look that I can’t help my heart from going out to her. “It will mean taking a risk to finish the ritual, but it’s worth it. I’m sure you understand. You too have something you would give anything for, don’t you, Heaven? I mean, you could ask them to help you attain Grace. It might be a long shot, but your odds would be so much better if they helped you.”
I nod reflexively, more taken aback by her answer than anything else. I’d thought Sybil hated her powers. But apparently I’m alone in my unease over who and what I am.
“Absolutely,” I say anyway, just to reassure her. When Sybil turns happily back to the schedule, a sinking feeling settles in me as I consider her words. If I really don’t want Grace, what do I have to wish for in the world?
Hardly anything… actually.
Chapter 12: Heaven
I spend the next few days obsessing about the conversation that Sybil and I had had. The realization that I really don’t have anything to aim for anymore makes me feel somewhat sad, and I wander through the halls as if on autopilot, hardly taking note of anything else. Now that Briley and Vivette are hiding in the hospital wing with Madam Kahili, I don’t even feel the need to strive for revenge, since the usual mean girls are all vying with each other to take over their positions and don’t spend much time harassing me.
The only things that still occupy my attention are the Four, who are as dangerous and hostile as always, and the fact that I’m also realizing just how far back I am in my lessons compared to everyone else.
The latter issue becomes all too clear when I find myself in Basic Spellwork, standing at my desk and staring down at a passage in my textbook with no idea of what I’m reading… or even how to read it.
“Miss Ramsey,” Professor Hinako sighs. “I understand that you have only recently learned that you are supernatural, but your knowledge of magical glyphs is appalling. I simply can’t hold the class back to let you catch up, nor can I allow you to graduate to Intermediate Spellwork next year without a solid foundation. From today onward, I’m assigning you extra classes after school with our teaching assistant. Hopefully that will help you catch up.”
The gray-haired Professor comes over to stand beside my desk and hands a slip of blue paper to me.
“Sorry, Professor,” I say as I take the paper and glance over it. “I’ll work as hard as I can to—wait. Your teaching assistant is Bane Holloway?” I can feel the blood drain from my face as I look up at the gray-haired Professor. “You’re not serious?”
“Completely and utterly,” she replies with a kindly smile. “Bane is one of our best at spellwork. Madam Wilkins works with him regularly, and she only teaches the Advanced and Superior classes, as you know.”
I nod slowly as I plump back down into my chair. The last time I’d had a one-on-one encounter with Bane, I’d wrapped myself around him and sucked his face like a deranged octopus. Now I was expected not only to spend a significant amount of time alone with him in a room, I also had to focus on learning obscure glyphs and spellwork?
The bell signaling the end of class rings and I numbly gather my things and head to my locker.
“Hey Heaven… earth to Heaven… HEAVEN!”
I blink as Noah snaps his fingers in front of my face.
“Stop that,” I grab at his hand, and he grins. “What do you want?”
“I just wanted to see how you were. It’s been days since I saw you, I wanted to make sure you were all right after everything that happened,” he looks at me expectantly. “Not still shell shocked are you?” He places a hand on my forehead and makes a mocking frown. “Yeah, no, just as hot, hot, hot as ever!” He makes a sizzling sound and pretends to stick his fingers in his mouth.
I chuckle and roll my eyes, a little flattered and a little embarrassed by his antics. “Haha, Noah, very funny. But I’m okay, just pre-occupied. Where have you been?”
“Someone had to escort the unicorns to their sanctuary,” he says, swaggering a little. “Naturally, the school requested the services of yours truly.”
“Well, they have to have the best, don’t they? After all, they’re our last few unicorns.”
“Yeah,” Noah subsides a little, catching the trace of sadness in my voice. “But don’t worry about it. They breed like bunnies, you’ll see. We’ll be up to our ears in unicorns this time next year.”
“Sure,” I say, smiling though I still can’t help but regret what had happened and my role in it.
Noah looks down at me for a moment, then leans in close. “You know, strictly between you and me, I don’t think we’re entirely devoid of unicorns here,” he says. “I noticed that Triton and Bianca weren’t with the herd I escorted. In fact, I distinctly overheard Chiros mention that Bianca’s newly pregnant, so you know…”
“Noah, are you sure you should be telling me this,” I push him away. Inwardly, I’m ecstatic at the news. Bianca was the unicorn I literally lost my wings to save, and the fact that she’s all right and having a baby? This is the best news I’ve heard all day, and I can’t help grinning like a loon because of it.
“No, but I’ve a feeling the secrets safe with you,” Noah winks at me. “Just don’t tell anyone okay? The official story is that they’re all gone. I’m sure they’re keeping Triton around somewhere secret just to have some unicorn blood at hand—he’s the oldest and strongest you see—but unicorn pregnancies always go best with the father accompanying his mate, so that’s the only reason why Bianca’s still here, even in her condition.”
“Well, I may no longer be our Unicorn Whisperer, but you can definitely trust me,” I nod firmly. I’d give anything to keep those unicorns safe.
“Yeah,” Noah smiles gently at me. “I know.”
We continue in a comfortable silence until we reach the end of the hall where an arched doorway leads out to the sports fields behind the castle.
“Hey, I have to go for football now,” Noah says turning to me, “But uh… you know, we never did get a chance to properly see Themis. Are you still up for that? Because this is the first weekend I have that’s totally free, and I thought it would be a good chance for you to do some shopping for Bacchadelia,” he reaches up to ruffle the back of his head, making his brown hair stand up in spikes. “I mean, for the Dance and Dinner, and all that… ‘cos, you’re going right?”
“Yup, everyone has to, don’t they?” I sigh. “And you’re right, I should go shopping. I can’t turn up in my jeans and T-shirt, or my school uniform, can I? I should at least get a dress or two.”
“Cool, so eight at the funicular then?”
I nod and Noah gives me a dazzling grin before running off.
I’ve turned to head to another block of classrooms when I hear Noah calling my name again.
“Hey, uh, Heaven?” he calls, jogging backwards towards me.
“What?” I shake my head at him, amused again.
“Had any invitations for the Dance yet?” he says. “Because I’d like to throw my hat in… if that’s okay with you.”
I freeze, remembering that I’d already promised Christian. But nobody said I couldn’t have more than one suitor.
Though it’s a little surprising that I do have more suitors. Not bad for a girl who’s the pariah of the school.
“Yeah, yeah, absolutely,” I say, before I can stop myself. Then I remember that dancing is just a prequel to other more carnal activities during the Wild Hunt, and my cheeks immediately get ten times hotter as an image of me and Noah entwined with each other beneath the trees runs through my mind.
“Though if we’re going to dance, then maybe you shouldn’t see me in my dress until the day…” I say hesitantly, avoiding his gaze. Why is this different from all the other times I’d played the seducer? Maybe because unlike with those guys, I’ve actually gotten to know Noah enough to sort of… like him. I glance up shyly to see him beaming at me.
“Okay, then we’ll just go together and part ways in Themis,” Noah says. “It’s totally not a date.”
> “Totally,” I laugh. “Ok, you better run or you’ll be late.”
“Ah, the boys will understand,” Noah winks at me. “See you tomorrow then!”
I watch him speed up into a long, loping run, admiring his long legs and tight ass.
“You go girl,” I whisper to myself.
“Go where?”
I almost leap out of my skin when I whip around to find none other than Bane, the Horseman of Death, standing right behind me and looking over my shoulder.
Chapter 13: Heaven
“Uh… n-nowhere,” I stammer.
Bane keeps tracking Noah over my shoulder until he disappears from view around a corner.
Then his cold, purple eyes flick to me. The look in them is so intense, I feel as if I’m rooted to the ground. “That’s a pity,” he says. “Because I’m pretty sure that according to this,” he yanks my arm up so that the blue leaflet Professor Hinako gave me flutters in the air between my fingers, “You’re supposed to be meeting me in the kitchen gardens.”
“What?” I crunch the paper in my fist to stop it trembling, then take a step away to pour over the map and writing on the page. “I could have sworn it said to meet you in a classroom just around the corner from here.”
Bane’s sigh is so heavy, it almost freezes the air between us. “I see you are truly as ignorant as it is possible to be.”
I glare at him and he snatches the paper from me, then flicks it once. Immediately, it straightens out, all the wrinkles disappearing from its surface. The map starts to rise into a three dimensional image, and a tiny glyph beside the time slot and location under Bane’s name glows, drawing my attention. “This glyph indicates changeability,” he explains. “When you see this, always double check the information beside it, because it can change according to the circumstances it’s linked to.”
“Oh.” I reply, feeling incredibly stupid. And surprised. I hadn’t expected Bane to be at all effective as my teacher, but the lesson hasn’t even started and I’m already learning something new.
