by M Guida
The ornate library was on the third floor where all my second-year classes were held last year. Classes would be changing for another half hour, which gave me time to get lost in the music department.
The librarian, Professor Hob, was sitting behind a large reference desk, and as usual she seemed to be cataloguing something into a computer. The computer only had access to anything on Legacy campus. Some kind of spell kept the computer from accessing the whole internet.
I glanced up at the five-petaled Tudor Rose and the Fleur di Lis that were hand-carved into the wooden ceiling, which always took my breath away. Not many college or high school libraries were so ornate.
Today Professor Hobbs was wearing her long black hair down, and I was surprised to see it almost reached her hips. She had on her usual black robe embroidered with red roses. Hobbs was a vampire and with her distinct robe, I suddenly found myself wondering if she had attended Red Rose Academy rather than Legacy.
My tennis shoes sank into the thick red velvet carpet that muted any footsteps. When I reached the reference desk, I cleared my throat. “Professor Hobbs.”
She turned away from the computer. “Raven. Why aren’t you back in your room? I heard about what happened last night.”
My cheeks heated. “Wow. Bad news travels fast.”
“Well, we are a small community.” She frowned. “Does Anton know you’re out of bed?”
“Yes. He gave me permission to come here.”
“You won’t mind if I check with him?”
“No,” I gritted my teeth. “Go ahead.”
So, so, stupid.
She pressed an intercom button.
“Yes, Professor Hobbs,” Anton answered.
“Headmaster, I’m sorry to disturb you, but Raven Erickson is here, and I wanted to make sure she has your permission to be.”
“She does, but she must return to her room by 5:00 pm.”
That gave me less than two hours to listen to music. I wanted to scream and tapped my foot impatiently.
“I’ll see that she returns to her room on time. Thank you, Head Master.”
“You’re welcome, Professor Hobbs.”
Professor Hobbs crossed her hands. “Now, what can I help you with?”
“I need to listen to some music.”
“For what purpose?”
Another dreaded interrogation, seriously? I didn’t have time to play twenty questions. My cheeks burned hot as I lowered my voice. “I need to find which music will soothe my dragon.”
“Oh, that’s very important.” She came out from behind her desk with some headphones. “We have a terrific music room. What music are you looking for?”
“Opera and Broadway musicals.” I handed her my list. “Specifically those. My mom…” My voice croaked. “I’m sorry. I have a frog in my throat.”
She gave me a sweet smile of understanding. “Of course.” She stretched out her arm. “This way.”
I followed her into a large studio that was in the back of the library and had a beautiful bay window that looked out to the courtyard and the mountain peaks, one of them being Mt. Elbert. Large stuffed recliners were scattered throughout the room, and some of them faced the window. The room was gorgeous. Why hadn’t I ever been here before?
“Now, Raven, you can get whatever songs you want by plugging into the recliner. It works similar to iTunes, but instead of that or Amazon Music, we have Legacy Lyrics.” She beamed, and I wondered if she came up with the alliteration.
I picked a chair that faced the bay window. “Thank you, Professor.”
“I’ll come and get you when it’s close to 5:00 pm.”
“Thank you, Professor.”
She turned and left me alone. I plugged the earphones into the chair and pulled up the catalog. I started with the Broadway musicals. In my senior year in high school, Mom had gotten us season tickets to the Buell Theater in Denver. I didn’t think I’d like it, but I fell in love with the singing and the costumes.
Les Misérables came up first. The musical always left me in tears. Listening to every single song wouldn’t be an option, not in less than ninety minutes. I decided to listen only to the first few phrases of every song. I wasn’t sure what my dragon would do, but I assumed I’d feel something.
So far, nothing.
I went on to Jesus Christ Superstar, but I had as much luck as I did with Les Misérables. Nothing triggered anything inside me. My dragon didn’t stir.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat had the same lackluster impact on me. Maybe the music Mom and I shared had nothing to do with me finding the music that would soothe my dragon.
Only a half hour left before the warden would come and get me. I put my elbow on the armrest and rubbed my forehead. This was pointless.
Phantom of the Opera started to play and goosebumps ran up my arms. I was mesmerized and all I could think about was Mom. We’d dressed up in black gowns and Mom had even bought me diamond studded earrings for the event. Phantom had been my first Broadway musical, and Mom had taken me to a fancy restaurant before the show.
But the play… Christine began to sing Think of Me, and my dragon flashed in my mind. She turned around and curled up. Like mine, tears glistened in her eyes. All I could do was think of Mom.
I swayed to the song, and my heart soared.
Our song, my dragon said. Play it again.
I reset the song, and this time, I was compelled to dance to the music. The pain in my thigh was forgotten and all I could think of was the music, the orchestra, her sweet voice…
And Mom…
Think of Me, Think of Me Fondly
When we’ve said goodbye
Remember me, once in a while…
“Mom, I’ll always think of you,” I whispered in a choked voice.
Someone took my hand and twirled me around.
I gasped and stared up into Lucien’s passionate eyes. “As I’ll always think of you.” He brushed his lips over mine, and I slid my hands up to his neck.
I pulled away, then frowned. “How did you know I was here?”
“I make it a point to know where you are.” He slowly took off the headphones, and they came unplugged. The Phantom of the Opera music still played. “I told you you’re mine, and I never want to lose you.”
Angel of Music floated through the library––Here in this room he calls me softly, Somewhere inside, hiding, Somehow I know he’s always with me––This matched Lucien perfectly. He really was my Angel of Music.
He put one arm around my waist and took my other hand in his. We slowly danced in front of the window, our hearts beating as one. I couldn’t take my eyes off him. He commanded such a presence, and I’d fallen hard under his spell.
Something in the way we wove through the music room captured my heart like no other dance had before. His warm breath sent tingling sensations running over my flesh, igniting a fiery passion for him, and I shivered.
“Are you cold?”
“No.” I couldn’t bring myself to tell him I was hungry for him, for his lips and his hands to be all over me.
“Mina told me what happened. Why didn’t you wait for me?”
I lowered my gaze at his words. “I don’t know. I guess I didn’t really think touching my crossbow to the orb would work. Unfortunately, Anton took the orb.”
“Figures.” He rested his forehead against mine. “What if something had happened, and I wasn’t there to protect you?”
I looked up at him. “Protect me? I thought we protected each other, like at Mt. Elbert.”
He laughed. “Such a fierce warrior, you are.”
I lowered my voice. “I need to tell you something.”
His laughter died away. “What?”
“I didn’t tell Mina and the others everything.”
“You didn’t?” He frowned. “Why?”
“Because they wouldn’t understand.”
He gave me a saucy smile. “And you thought I would?”
“Yes. It�
��s about Mt. Elbert.”
He stopped and his eyes turned serious. “What?”
“My mom said there is a key on Mt. Elbert. I have to go back there.”
He tightened his grip around my waist. “You mean we.”
“Yes. I meant we.”
He put his hands on my shoulders and squeezed tightly. “Promise me that you won’t go back there without me.”
“I said I won’t.”
“Raven, you almost died when you took Dr. Professor Elfiel’s potion. I can’t lose you. It would kill me.” He kissed me fiercely before I could argue. I melded into him and forget everything but his desperation and mine until someone cleared their throat.
Chapter 17
I broke away from Lucien’s kiss and gasped.
Bo had his arms crossed over his broad chest. His eyes burned with anger. “Professor Hobbs sent me to get you, Raven.” His strained voice sent an arrow of guilt straight to my heart.
Bo didn’t wait for us but turned abruptly and left the room.
Neither Lucien nor I spoke. Lucien took my hand, and we quietly left. I had no idea how long Bo had been standing there or if he had heard what I told Lucien.
When we reached the front desk, Professor Hobbs for once wasn’t staring at her computer. Instead, she seemed to be waiting for us.
“Lucien,” she said. “You will take Raven back to her dorm immediately. That is not a request. Headmaster’s orders.”
Lucien squeezed my hand. “And if I don’t?”
“Lucien,” I whispered warningly.
“Do you really want to test that, Prince Lucien Costa?”
She used his full name. That wasn’t a good sign.
Lucien gave her a hard look but luckily he didn’t argue and just escorted me out of the library.
“I’m tired of his damn orders.”
I tilted my head. “Lucien, he’s watching.”
Anton was leaning over his balcony, and his eyes were trained on us.
“Whatever,” Lucien grumbled. “He’d better not make you do another stupid test.”
I hoped he wouldn’t, too. “I do have the trials.”
“So I heard. Four of them, and nobody else has that many.” He pulled me against him and kissed me, which I’m sure was his way of flipping off Anton. That was my Lucien. Always pushing against the rules.
Like me.
I pulled away. “Lucien.”
He grinned and bit my lip. “Don’t like being a spectacle?”
I glanced nervously up at Anton, who hadn’t moved. “No, as a matter of fact, I don’t.”
“Okay. Expect me tonight at your window. I want to test the orb with my sword.”
I blinked. “What? How? Anton has the orb.”
“When has that ever stopped me?”
He strode off quickly, and I followed him blindly with my mouth wide open.
“Lucien, wait.”
He didn’t stop his frantic pace.
“Will you stop?”
He turned around so abruptly I ran into him. “What?”
I lowered my voice, “I know we discussed you using your sword earlier, but when I did it, I set off a disturbance within the magical realm.”
“Afraid?”
I stiffened. “Maybe. What if Ryker does something to my mom?”
He turned away. “I wasn’t going to use it to find your mom.” His soft voice sent my mind reeling.
“What?”
“I know I haven’t talked about him much, but I wanted… I wanted…”
I stepped in front of him, searching his pained face. I thought I saw a few tears in his eyes, but just as fast, they disappeared. “Lucien, wanted what? Tell me.”
“To find my brother, Armond.” His soft voice cracked, and he lowered his head.
“Armond?”
“It’s my fault he’s missing.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Never mind.” He headed toward Wyvern tower. “It’s not important.”
I grabbed his arm and dug my nails into his flesh. “Bullshit.”
This time, he was taken back. He stopped. “What?”
“You don’t get to lay a goose egg like that on me and then not tell me what’s going on.” With each word, I jammed my finger into his broad chest. “Now, tell me about Armond.”
He clasped my arms. “You’re not going to let up, are you?”
“No, I’m not.” Some of the frustration left my voice.
He stretched out his arm and motioned toward the bench in the grove of trees where we first kissed. “Shall we?”
Baron Germaine stepped in front of us. “No, you shall not.”
I gritted my teeth. “Just a few more minutes. Please.”
“You’ve had a few more minutes, and as usual, you didn’t keep your word.” He put his hands on his hips. “It’s almost five-thirty. You were supposed to be back here at five.”
“That was my fault,” Lucien said. “I––”
Baron stuck out his chin. “It doesn’t matter. Raven knows better.” He scowled at me. “Come with me. Now.”
I crossed my arms. “No. I’m not finished talking with Lucien.”
“It’s all right, Raven,” Lucien said, as his wings sprouted out from his back. “We’ll talk later.”
He flew into the air without another word about his brother. Well, he wasn’t getting out of telling me the truth that easily.
I glared at Baron. “Happy?”
He gave me a crisp smile. “Actually, I am.”
“Whatever.” I stormed ahead of him, ignoring the pain now throbbing in my thigh.
Up in my room, I found it empty except for a plate of spaghetti and meatballs and a salad on my desk. My punishment was not to eat in the cafeteria with my friends. I almost threw the plate across the room, but the spaghetti spelled so good, I couldn’t resist.
Just as I was finishing, Mina strolled back into my room. “Hey,” she said. “I see you haven’t lost your appetite.”
“I can’t resist the school’s spaghetti. It’s almost as good as Mom’s.” I smiled sadly. “Almost.”
Mina sat on her bed. “Well, I can’t say the same thing for Bo.”
“Why? What happened?”
“You know how he likes to pig out at every meal.”
I smiled. “Yeah.”
“Well, he came to the table with his plate loaded with spaghetti, sausage, meatballs, a big bowl of salad, and a huge slice of cherry pie, but when Lucien entered the cafeteria, Bo got up and threw all his food away and left.”
I folded my arms across my chest. “Shit.”
“You haven’t talked to him yet, have you?” Her soft voice was like a knife in my gut.
“No. And what’s worse, he caught Lucien and I kissing in the library today.”
She sighed. “That’s not good, Raven. You really need to talk to him.”
“I will. I promise.”
She turned her mouth up and flashed me a skeptical look.
“I will.” I spread my palms. “I swear.”
“He deserves to know the truth, but not like this. You and Lucien are ramming it down to his throat.”
I flung myself down on the bed on my back. “I didn’t mean for things to work out this way.”
“I know you didn’t.”
I bit my lip. “Can I ask you a question?”
“You mean how to do it?”
I shook my head. “No, something totally different.”
She opened up her backpack and pulled out a textbook. “Sure. Shoot.”
“What do you know of Lucien’s brother, Armond?”
“I didn’t even know he had a brother named Armond, but I’m not Lucien’s biggest confidant, either.” She nestled back on her bed with her book in her lap. “Why?”
“He dropped a bomb on me tonight and then acted like nothing happened.”
“Oh, do tell.”
I told her everything.
“That is weird.” She rolled her e
yes. “Baron Germaine is such a gigantic pain.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Do you think Lucien will steal the orb from Anton and come back tonight?”
I gave her a you’re-kidding-me look.
She laughed. “What am I saying? Of course he will. He’s Lucien, and the rules don’t apply to him.
“Do I detect some bitterness there?”
She shrugged. “Maybe a little. He can do whatever he likes and nothing happens to him.” She lowered her head and her purple and white striped hair hid her face. “But it wasn’t that way with my dad.”
“I’m sorry, Mina.”
“It’s okay. Someday I’ll prove he’s innocent, and all these yahoos will have to eat their words.”
“I’m sure you will,” I said softly.
She didn’t answer, and I put my hands behind my head, thinking of Lucien and his brother. He’d only mentioned him once before, but never elaborated. More to the point, all I could think about was what would happen when Lucien touched the orb with his sword.
That night, I tossed and turned, waiting for Lucien to come to my window, but he never came. What if he got caught stealing the orb? Had Anton locked him up in the cells below his quarters?
In the morning, I got the word from Baron Germaine that I could return to classes, but the first stop was breakfast at the Royal Table. Mina and I stood in line and I grabbed French Toast topped with strawberries and blueberries and dripping with syrup, and three pieces of thick breakfast sausage.
I sat down at the table, and the first one to greet me was Xavier. I could never get over his loyalty. Also, his muscles seemed to have gotten thicker. He had definitely been working out. He gave me a big hug.
“Well, look who they let out of jail.” He gave me a kiss on the cheek. “Good to finally see you again.”
I cut up my toast.
I heard another voice behind me. “How would you like a High Tempest to go with your toast?”
I turned my head and flashed him an impish smile. “Rhys.”
He looked incredibly handsome, with his long white hair and the stars flickering in his blue eyes. He winked. “Missed you, girl. School’s boring without you.”
“You just want to watch me screw up.”
