School of Deaths

by Christopher Mannino

  “You’ve been to those places before?” she asked.

  “If you mean the Mortal World and the door to the Hereafter; then of course I've been. Have to for the job.”

  “Is that what this is? A job? We’re bringing souls of the dead to…well, to what?”

  “Not our business,” said Billy.

  “Like it’s not our business to ask why the ’Mentals are servants, or why there’s never been a female Death for a million years?”

  “Those are different,” said Billy. “Back me up, Frank.”

  “There are some things no one should know. Like where exactly we’re bringing these souls,” said Frank. “I believe if we found out, it’d make what we do even harder.”

  “But what about the other things?” said Suzie. “I’m sick of questions, I want some answers. Why was Sindril in the old house? Why’d Hann let me off easy after challenging him? How did Luc find the albino? What’s the real deal with the ’Mentals? Why are Deaths afraid of women? And why are the pages torn after any mention of the Dragon Key?”

  “Wait, what?” interrupted Frank. “What was the last one?”

  “I was only wondering.”

  “You’ve heard of the Key?” asked Frank.

  “Sort of.”

  “What’re you talking about?” asked Billy.

  “Lower your voice,” said Frank. “I’ll tell you at home.”

  Billy paused for a moment before describing his last boskery practice with Frank. Suzie half-listened. They walked through the courtyard and into Eagle Two.

  “All right, have a seat,” said Frank. “Both of you.”

  “What’s going on?” asked Billy.

  “Suzie mentioned the Dragon Key. The last time I spoke to anyone about it, they disappeared for a month. When he showed up again, he couldn’t remember where he’d been. His memory had a month-long gap in it. I’ve never spoken about this to anyone since.”

  “Wait, someone got kidnapped and you didn’t tell anyone?” asked Billy. “Who?”

  “You probably never met him,” said Frank.

  “Try me.”

  “Cibran Alfar,” said Frank.

  “Who?” asked Billy. “That’s a weird name. I’d remember a Death named Cibran.”

  “He’s not a Death.”

  “But you said—”

  “Cibran is a ’Mental. He used to work here at the College but now he’s returned home.”

  “You were friends with a ’Mental?” asked Suzie.

  “I didn’t say we were friends,” said Frank. “But to be fair, yes, we shared some moments. He was kind to me when I first came to the College. I’m sure you can relate. You understand what it’s like to be alone.”

  She nodded.

  “This ’Mental,” said Billy. “Cibran. You and he talked about the Dragon Key and he was kidnapped? This still doesn’t add up.”

  “I wanted to go home,” said Frank. “Like any first year, I didn’t want to be here. I was complaining to Cibran about the contract and the Final Test. He told me about a third way to leave, a secret he’d overhead.”

  “The Dragon Key,” said Suzie.

  “Supposedly,” said Frank. “He claimed he’d heard a few senior Deaths talking while he was planting some new lights. They got angry when they realized he’d heard them and cut off one his fingers as a warning.”

  “Wait, what?” exclaimed Billy. “Who would do that?”

  “He didn’t say. But he was missing his pinky finger on his left hand.”

  “No way,” said Suzie. “I didn’t suspect this was serious.”

  “Cibran took me aside. He made me swear never to tell a soul about the Dragon Key, and never to breathe a word. I promised. We were in the Great Hall, a service entrance near the back, and I think someone spotted us leaving. Cibran vanished the next day, and I didn’t see him for a month. When he finally showed up, he was packing his stuff and getting ready to leave. I asked him what had happened, but he had no idea who I was.”

  “He didn’t remember you?” asked Billy.

  “He didn’t remember anything. I asked if they’d taken him because of the Dragon Key, but he didn’t have any idea what I was talking about. He told me to pick on someone else. I asked him about his missing finger and he told me a dog had bitten him as a child. That was the last I saw him. I’d almost forgotten about the Dragon Key, until you mentioned it, Suzie.”

  “Before he vanished,” said Suzie. “Did he tell you anything else about the Key? You said it was a way to get back to the Mortal World. But how?”

  “He’d heard the key was a way back,” said Frank. “I’m not sure if he believed it himself, but the thing sure scared him. Whatever he heard was serious.”

  “And now you found out about the same thing?” asked Billy, looking at her. Suzie blushed.

  “I found some books,” she said. How could she hold out any longer? These were her friends, and she needed the help. Her time at the library hadn’t answered anything, only created more mysteries. “Wait here,” she said. “I’ll be right back.”

  She went to her room and pulled out two of the books from the library.

  “I have more in my room,” she said, putting the books on the table.

  “What are these?” asked Billy.

  “I found them,” she said. “Look. This page has a picture of the Dragon Key.”

  “Where did you get these?’ asked Frank.

  “Remember how I ran from the albino and saw Sindril, before the Scythe Ring closed on me?”

  “Yeah,” said Frank.

  “You said it was Sindril,” said Billy, “when you heard someone.”

  “It was Sindril. I also found an ancient library, hidden behind a bookcase. I found these books, and there are thousands more still in the library, probably tons about the Dragon Key.”

  “You found Sindril in that library?” asked Frank.

  “No. I was coming back. I heard a voice and hid behind the bookcase. The wall hides it, almost like magic. You can’t see behind the bookcase from the room. Sindril was talking to someone. He never noticed me. It’s true, I swear.”

  “I believe you,” said Frank.

  “I don’t know,” said Billy.

  “I can take you,” said Suzie.

  The door opened and Jason walked in.

  “Hey guys, what’s happening?” he asked. “How’d the trip go? I’m nervous about mine tomorrow.”

  “Sit down,” said Suzie, “and promise you’ll never mention to another soul what we tell you.”

  “What?”

  “It’s for your own good,” said Frank.

  “We’re in this together now,” said Suzie. “And this weekend, I’d like to take you somewhere.”

  “The library you found?” asked Frank.

  She nodded. “It’s not my secret to keep anymore. Whatever’s going on, we’re in this together.”

  “And what if Sindril shows up again?” asked Billy.

  “I’m not afraid of him,” she said, trying to sound brave.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Styxia

  “This one’s got nothing new,” said Billy. He pulled another book from the pile. Jason was staring at a rock with images on it. Frank sat in the corner of the library, looking at scrolls.

  “I’ve got another Dragon Key drawing,” said Suzie. “But nothing new here either.”

  “We’ve been looking for over a month,” said Jason. “When you first showed us the library, it was the coolest thing ever. But now—”

  “It’s like we’re not looking for anything,” said Billy. “We’re just looking. Frank and I should get going soon, we have a game tomorrow.”

  “We’re trying to figure out what the Dragon Key is,” said Frank. “We need to find out if it’s why Sindril was here, and what this has to do with Susan.”

  “It has nothing to do with her,” exclaimed Billy. “I’m not even sure Sindril was ever here. We’ve been coming to the library as a group ever since you showed it
to us, Suzie. But come on, what have we found?”

  “Lots of drawings of the Dragon Key,” added Jason. “We've seen lots of torn pages and many references to Lovethar.”

  “Yeah, and it’s fascinating,” said Billy. “It is. But it’s almost Styxia. We’ve been spending too much time down here. Let’s take a rest until the new year.”

  Frank sighed. “Maybe Billy’s right,” he said. “We have no real proof Sindril was ever here. And all we learned about the Key is that lots of people draw it.”

  “And tear out pages,” said Suzie. “Don’t give up now. Remember Cibran.”

  “And look how he turned out,” said Jason. “I’m ready to go, at least until after the holiday.”

  The holiday. Suzie had been in the World of the Dead for three months. It was November back in Maryland. Had Mom and Dad given up hope of finding her? Did they assume she was dead? What about her friends? Suzie found she was starting to forget details. What did Joe used to say when she forgot something? She couldn’t remember. The Living World, the home she was trying to get back to, was fading into a blur. It frightened her to imagine a day she might not even remember home. No, she’d get back. She’d go home to Mom and Dad after she passed the Final Test.

  “Suzie, we should head out,” said Billy.

  “They’re right,” said Frank. “Things will quiet down after Styxia. Once we get through midterms, we can focus on these mysteries.” He smiled.

  Suzie wondered why they were here. The Key interested Frank, but they’d found nothing. Billy and Jason always came along, but not out of curiosity. Maybe they wanted to watch her fail. No, don’t start thinking like that. They came because they’re her friends.

  “We’ll come back after Styxia,” she said. “Let’s go.”

  Styxia. The one holiday on this world. Styxia commemorated the victory of the Deaths over the Dragons in the Great War. In History, they’d spent three weeks talking about the great revolt, when the Deaths won the right to transport souls of the dead to the Hereafter. The role had previously belonged to the Dragons. Lovethar tried to help the Dragons, turning on the Deaths, and her capture was the turning point in the War. Suzie had heard the story week after week, yet something always seemed false. She wasn’t sure why.

  “You’ll like Styxia,” said Frank. “We have a big parade and a banquet. Everyone gets dressed up.”

  “Not to mention the boskery finals,” said Billy. “First time the Gray Knights have made the finals. The team that wins is guaranteed placement in the Upper College, which would help down the road.”

  “It’ll be tough,” said Frank. “Giant Tamers and Widow Makers should neutralize each other. It’s the Dragon Seekers I’m worried about. Will you come Suzie?”

  Suzie hadn’t been to a single game, and now the final one was approaching. All four teams would face each other in the final boskery match, as part of the Styxia celebration. She’d been avoiding the field, ever since her embarrassment during try-outs. Billy had pressured her before every game. He and Frank would return from their games with the Gray Knights limping and bruised, but smiling. She’d said she’d go to several games already, yet always snuck off to the library instead.

  “I’ll be at the game,” she said.

  “Sure you will,” muttered Billy.

  “You should,” said Jason. “The last game was amazing. You should’ve seen Frank jump over a guy to score. He looked like he was flying.”

  “I’ve been silly,” she said. “Try-outs were a long time ago, and these are the finals. Besides, if this is required after first year, then someday I might have to play.” No, she’d only be here a year.

  She put the last book down and started up the winding stairs. The library looked nicer than when she’d first found it. Jason had swept the stairs and around the corners, getting dust off the flower lights. Billy and Frank had straightened up the books, organizing things into categories. This way they’d remember which books they’d already looked at.

  “Quiet,” whispered Frank, turning suddenly. He put a finger to his lips. The others froze on the stairway behind him.

  “What—” Suzie started to say, but Frank shook his head. He walked to the bookcase and looked out, without opening it. Billy crept to his side.

  “I understand,” said a low voice. Suzie barely heard it through the wall. She couldn’t see a thing. Frank and Billy watched, while Frank held out a hand, telling them to remain still. Time froze as Suzie tried not to breathe. A tiny piece of paint fell from the ceiling, flittering past Jason’s head and landing on the steps by her feet. Her heart beat loudly, pounding against her ribs. She expected Frank to tell her heart to be quiet. Minutes passed.

  “He’s gone,” whispered Frank. “But let’s wait a bit.” Suzie ran her sweaty palms over her pants. Her heart thundered in her chest.

  Billy nodded first, and Frank pushed the book. The bookcase swung open, and they walked into the house.

  “Who was it?” asked Suzie. “Was it Sindril?”

  “Couldn’t tell,” said Billy. “They had their back to us the whole time. The robe was black.”

  “Sindril was in a black robe when I saw him,” she said.

  “I never fully believed the story until now,” said Billy.

  “I believed you,” said Frank, “but this was still big. We caught him, Suzie. He’s planning something.”

  “We saw someone,” said Billy. “They could’ve been doing anything.”

  “But now we have proof something is going on,” said Jason. “Maybe we should stop looking for this Dragon Key stuff and start focusing on whoever was here. We shouldn’t come back. We don’t want to be caught.”

  “I want to learn what they’re planning,” said Suzie. “I showed you the other room, but can’t figure out who else was in the house.” She walked to the small side room again. It was empty except for the dusty table. A fresh smudge about the size of her fist sat in the dust on the center of the table.

  “Maybe he’s using some device,” said Jason. “Maybe he puts something on the table and talks through it like a phone.”

  “Do you have phones in this world?” asked Suzie.

  “No,” said Billy. “They don’t use electricity the way we do in the Living World.”

  “It could be something we don’t understand,” said Frank. “The Council has items and powers they hide from everyone else.”

  “That’s a rumor,” said Billy.

  “You see that smudge,” said Frank. “Open your eyes. Sindril was here, and he was talking to someone by putting something on the table. He’s trying to keep it secret. That’s why he does it here, and in disguise.”

  “I gotta admit, it’s sounding possible,” said Jason. “He’s up to something.”

  “Even if he is,” said Billy. “What are we supposed to do? You want to risk him finding us here?”

  She paused. It was risky, but she had to find the truth.

  “We do nothing for now,” said Suzie.

  “Suzie,” said Frank. “You’re the one who—”

  “I want to learn what’s going on as much as you guys, but we need proof. We need to figure out what’s happening and why.”

  “Why did you say we do nothing?”

  “We’ve been looking through these books for weeks and have nothing. We find Sindril, or someone, at the house, okay. Who cares? I saw Sindril here and it didn’t change anything. We need a new game plan, a new strategy, and you guys are right, for now we need to wait until things quiet down. Let’s wait until after the holiday.”

  “Then what?” asked Jason. “How is waiting going to make a difference?”

  “It might not,” admitted Suzie. “But you guys were ready to give up a few minutes ago. This doesn’t change things for me. Billy’s comment bothered me the most.”

  “What did I say?”

  “You said you never believed my story until now. If you didn’t believe something was going on, why’d you keep coming here? Why’d any of you come here for
that matter?”

  “Suzie,” said Frank. “Calm down, we’re here to help you. We’re your friends.”

  “Friends believe each other.”

  “Suzie, I’m sorry,” said Billy. “I didn’t mean—”

  “We need a break,” she said. “We need a break as a group. After Styxia, we’ll reorganize and come up with a new plan. For now, let’s remember what happened, and remember that sometimes even girls know what they’re talking about.”

  “Hey,” said Billy. “You’re being completely unfair.”

  “Let’s calm down,” said Frank. “Suzie, I’m surprised at you. This was what we’ve been waiting for, and you flip out and get mad?”

  Suzie walked out of the house and the others followed her.

  “I’m not mad,” she said. “I’m tired. Tired of coming up with nothing. I'm tired of being the only damned girl in this whole world. I'm tired of being alone.” Tears were forming around her eyes, and she walked faster hoping they wouldn’t notice. She didn’t care what they thought now. They’d never believed her; they’d needed to see Sindril himself. Even now, Billy doubted it had been him. These were her friends? No. Who was she kidding? She didn’t have any friends here.

  As she hurried away, the ground gave way beneath her. The sky turned orange, and around her flames sprang to life. Her body burned as a pair of green eyes opened and stared at her.

  “Go away,” said Suzie. “Leave me alone.”

  “Suzie, you will never be alone,” said the voice.

  The flames grew stronger, and her skin started to melt away. Her flesh dissolved into a heap of steaming blood, and her bones collapsed into ash. Her soul stood alone. Stripped of her flesh, she was completely exposed: more naked than she’d ever dreamt possible. The green eyes looked at her. This must have been what Julia had felt like before her eyes. Yet she remained calm.

  “Suzie, these are your friends,” said the voice.

  “Are they?”

  “You are strong,” said the voice. The flames turned from orange to blue. “But you cannot win this fight on your own. This is a battle far bigger than you realize.”

  The naked purity of Suzie’s soul stood amid the blue flames, surrounded by doubt, but also by warmth.