“The story we learned is true?” asked Suzie. “But if she died—”
“She didn’t die,” said Hinara. “They tried to burn her, yes, but Orryn saved her.”
“She was rescued?” asked Suzie.
“And she wasn’t alone,” added Hinara. “She and Orryn had a son: Gesayn. The Deaths tried to kill both in the flames. Orryn saved both his wife and infant son, but the boy was maimed. Gesayn lost a hand, but the family lived. They went into hiding, only emerging after the war.”
“The Deaths won the war,” said Kasumir. “Yet though the Elementals were neutral, we were treated as enemies. That is when the enslavement began, the hatred of my kind. Male Elementals were forced to work at the College for a million years, up until the Styxia revolt. A revolt you helped inspire, Susan.”
“Me? I didn’t have anything to do with it.”
“News that a female Death had returned started the Elementals thinking. And I had a vision.” Kasumir waved toward her darkened eye sockets. Did she have eyes, or were they holes?
“Lovethar’s line did not end with her son, Gesayn,” said Kasumir. “Gesayn’s sons were forced to work for the Deaths. For a thousand generations, the Elementals continued to grow. Lovethar’s blood ran thin. She was forgotten in all but name, as each new generation of male Elementals started their work with the College. Until a clever boy named Gesayni became frustrated. Named for a distant ancestor he himself had long forgotten, he disguised himself as a Death and joined the College. He eventually stole a scythe and escaped to the Mortal World. He lived and raised his own family there. Suzie, you are his granddaughter.”
“What? That’s impossible,” said Suzie. She knew three of her grandparents. One had passed when she was young; a man she had heard was an orphan, a man named…
“Giuseppe Sarnio,” said Hinara. “Who came to America as an orphan. In truth, he came to your world as a refugee: an Elemental seeking to escape the Deaths. His blood flows in you as well, Susan. It is no accident that you’re here.”
“But I belong in the Living World,” insisted Suzie. “Even if everything you’ve told me is true and honestly, I don’t believe it.” She paused, her head spinning. “Even if it is true and I’m a descendent of Lovethar and Elementals, it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t mean anything to me. I want to pay Sindril back for killing my friend. I want to show the Deaths that he shouldn’t be in charge, and I want to go home. We came here to ask for your help in that. This other stuff doesn’t matter.”
“You’re wrong,” said Giri. “We want to help you because of who you are. We want to take down Sindril for what the Deaths have done to us. Don’t you understand? You can’t leave. You belong in this world, Suzie. Our blood has come home. You must finish what Lovethar tried to do a million years ago, and bridge the gap between Elementals and Deaths. It’s why you are here.”
“I’m not here for some grand purpose,” shouted Suzie. Her cheeks reddened. This hadn’t gone the way she’d planned. The smell of strawberries made her sick, as did the three ’Mentals spouting nonsense in front of her.
“Wait,” said Suzie. “Let me make this clear. I don’t buy your story. I’m an ordinary girl. Sindril is a creep, and I want to make him pay. We’re going to create a diversion, and I’m going to sneak into his office. I don’t care about what happened a million years ago. Maybe I was curious when I first got here, but that’s ancient history. Will you help me do something that matters now and stop worrying about the distant past?”
Billy took her hand and squeezed. The gesture was reassuring. Could she be part ’Mental? Is that why Cronk had brought her to the World of the Dead in the first place? Is that why Plamen, if it was Plamen, kept showing her visions? Maybe that explained why Athanasius had given her the cake and tried to help her during the coup. Many pieces made sense, and yet she couldn’t believe it. She didn’t belong on this world, she belonged with her parents.
“We will help you,” said Kasumir. “What exactly is the plan?”
Billy smiled. She forced herself to smile back.
Chapter Twenty
East Tower
“How’d it go?” asked Jason.
They’d snuck back during the night, following two Elementals who helped hide them. Given the overwhelming powers of the ’Mentals, Suzie didn’t understand how they’d ever been subjugated, although the scythes were powerful as well. She shuddered as she thought of the blade in her hand, tearing downward, eating the threads of Elias Stoneridge’s soul. The blade had a terrifying living quality, which was ironic considering its use.
“It went well,” said Billy. “Look.”
Anil and Ilma, the two Elementals who’d guided them, appeared suddenly. It was a trick of the air, which they manipulated to make themselves invisible. Suzie didn’t understand it, but they’d slipped back to the Ring of Scythes without detection.
“Wow,” said Jason. “Frank will be excited.”
“Where is he?” asked Billy, looking around the secret library. Suzie glanced around the room as well. This room she’d discovered; it was her safe haven, maybe even her home.
“Luc was making a fuss about you guys being sick for a week,” said Jason. “Frank went to take care of it. To shut him down before it became a big deal.”
“Are you cold?” asked Billy as Suzie shuddered a second time. Frank had taken care of Luc. What had he done to the albino? Why was it always Frank who took care of these situations?
“I’m fine,” she said. Billy gave her a look, his scarred eye contracting. He turned back to Jason. The more she looked as his disfigured face, the less it bothered her. Billy had stayed by her in the village of the ’Mentals. He’d been the first Death who was nice to her. And the kisses. She wasn’t completely sure how she felt about Billy, but she liked the kisses. Billy had warmth, a comfort she didn’t sense anywhere else in this world. When she passed her Final Test in a couple of weeks, she’d be sure to come back and take Billy to the Living World with her. Maybe she’d take Jason and Frank too.
“The plan’s set,” said Billy, “Exactly as Suzie proposed. The ’Mentals will storm the College at noon tomorrow. The campus will erupt into chaos. Suzie, you have to be in Sindril’s office when all hell breaks loose. You’ll find what you need and get out. If he catches you stealing, or realizes that you took anything…”
“He won’t,” she said. “I’ll find the proof I need, grab it, and leave before he even gets back. The ’Mentals will help us spread the word of what he’s done. He’s up to something, and once the Council finds out, they’ll have to fire him. If I can get rid of Sindril before I leave this world, Athanasius and the other ’Mentals won’t have died in vain.”
Jason let out a long, deep breath. “It’s a long shot,” he said. “But we’re all in this now.”
“All for one and one for all,” said Billy. “Like the Musketeers.”
“The trick is making sure I’m in his office before noon,” said Suzie. “If I go too early, I’ll have a hard time staying, but if I go too late it will look suspicious.”
“Give yourself fifteen minutes,” said Billy. “Any more and he’ll get suspicious. But any less and it’ll be cutting it too close.”
“What exactly are you looking for?” said Jason.
“I don’t know,” said Suzie, “but I’ll find it somehow. Anything about the Dragon Key might be good, or something that shows he’s up to something.” She frowned. It was still hard to believe that the ’Mentals had no idea what the Key was. Was it only a rumor? If it had been a ploy to attack Lovethar a million years ago, why would Frank’s friend suffer for mentioning it?
Too many questions remained. Even if everything the ’Mentals had told her was true, and she was descended from ’Mentals and Lovethar, it didn’t explain why Sindril wanted her here. Bridging some gap between Elementals and Deaths sounded noble and grand, but the ’Mentals hadn’t brought her, the Deaths had. Somehow, she doubted Sindril cared if ’Mentals and Deaths got along. She’d see
n his parade, where ’Mentals were whipped like slaves. No, something else was going on, something darker.
“We attack at noon,” said Anil. “Good luck, Suzie.”
* * * *
The East Tower loomed in front of her, blocking the sun. She’d pictured this day as dark and stormy, but now that it was here, the sun was shining and a refreshing spring breeze blew wisps of fallen petals across the canyon courtyards of the College. Deaths milled about the campus in short sleeves. A pair of Deaths tossed a boskery ball back and forth. Birdsong lingered in the air, which smelled of strawberries. Would anyone else notice the strong smell?
She glanced at the East Tower again. The massive pillar of writhing stone stretched far into the clouds, covered in tiny windows. Gnarled fingers of stone pointed skyward from every level of the gigantic stalagmite tower. The enormous doors were open, but a white-haired Death she’d never met stood at the entrance.
She turned to Billy. “What time is it?”
“Eleven thirty-five. Still haven’t learned how to read an hourglass, even after all this time?”
She looked at the enormous hourglass built into the side of the courtyard. She counted the lines. Yes, it was a little after eleven-thirty. They’d start in five minutes.
“You ready?” asked Billy. No one paid any attention to them.
“Tell me honestly, do you think this will work?”
“It’s hard to say,” he replied. “A lot depends on luck. You’re a smart girl, Suzie. I think it’s a good plan, and if anyone can pull it off, it’s you. You’ll do great.” He looked her in the eyes, and she felt that familiar tug as her mouth approached his. At the last moment, she turned and kissed his cheek.
“After this is over, I’m going to miss you,” she said. “If other Deaths found a way to sneak to the Living World—”
“Your grandfather was a ’Mental, not a Death. Even if I did find a way out of this world, I’d keep losing weight. I’d become skeletal and die. Besides, nothing’s left for me in the Living World.”
“I’d be there,” she said.
“Yeah.”
“It can’t be over for you. What if you ripped your contract?”
“Suzie, this isn’t the time to worry about that.”
“The Final Test is only two weeks away. I still want to go home, but I don’t want to leave my friends. I don’t want to abandon you and Frank and Jason.”
“We’ll be fine,” said Billy. “Whatever happens, Suzie, I’m glad I had the chance to meet you.”
“Me too.”
“You should go now,” he said. “You have five minutes to get into his office. Then you have fifteen minutes before the ’Mentals come.”
“Are we still doing what we planned?”
“With that guy at the entrance, I think we need to.” He gave her a wink and counted down from three on his fingers. They’d been standing in a corner, now she screamed and ran into the courtyard.
“Leave me alone,” she yelled.
“You’re a stupid girl,” said Billy in a loud voice. A few heads turned. “You don’t belong here.”
“Your face looks like someone puked acid. Why don’t you go away?”
Billy shoved her. He pushed her lightly, but she fell back as if he’d thrown her with all of his might. She staggered away and ran to the entrance of East Tower.
“Please,” she said to the white-haired Death at the entrance. “This guy’s been teasing me, like all the other boys. Headmaster Sindril told me I could come to him for help. I’m sick of the taunts.” Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Billy turn and run away, pretending to be scared of retribution. She was on her own now.
“You are the female Death,” the white-haired Death said. He adjusted a pair of glasses to stare at her. “Yes, yes, who did you want to see?”
“Headmaster Sindril,” she said. “He told me to come to him for help.”
“The Headmaster, yes? Hmmm, doesn’t sound much like the Headmaster. He told you that you—”
“May I go to him?” she asked. This was taking too long; she needed to get to his office now.
“Yes, yes. Fine, go ahead.”
“And which office is his?” she asked.
“Didn’t you say that he sent for you?”
“He told me to come to his office. This is my first time. Please, which office is it?” Was this Death stupid or senile?
“Hmmm. Yes, yes. Hundredth story, below the Council chamber.” The Death adjusted his glasses and continued to stare at her as she walked around him and through the double doors.
She went to the elevator, trying not to sprint. She pressed the button and waited. Glancing back, she noticed the white-haired Death still watching her. He smiled a disturbing, half-toothless grin.
The elevator arrived with a ding, and she got on, pressing 100. It rose for a full five minutes, higher and higher. The doors opened on to a dark hall. White flowers started to glow, and soon an enormous golden chandelier filled with the flowers lit. A solitary pair of doors stood at the end of the hall. They were dark red, bordered by ornate gold carvings. Door knockers in the shape of human skulls stared at her with ruby eyes. Beneath the left skull, a small sign said Mark L. Sindril, Headmaster of Deaths, Junior College and Senior College.
She looked back at the elevator. It was now or never. Did she still want to do this? She remembered her first time in the library and pictured Sindril’s voice.
“And what of the girl herself?”
She remembered the sentence, and the chill that’d gone through her spine. He is planning something, something about me. He might even want to kill me…
She pictured Athanasius. He’d told her that she was important.
“Susan,” said Athanasius, “is far more precious than you realize. She is—” He stopped suddenly and turned his head, but it was too late. A scythe flew through the air and landed in his neck. Athanasius fell to the stone floor in a pool of blood.
Athanasius had died for her. Sindril had murdered him in front of her. The blood, the golden eyes, and her own scream echoing in her ears. She clenched her fists and reached for the knocker.
Yet she hesitated. The man behind these doors terrified her. He killed Athanasius himself, he could kill her too. He was too powerful. She’d be gone in a couple weeks anyway. She’d never have to worry about Sindril again. Maybe she should leave.
As she paused the gold on the door seemed to melt, and the red paint turned to red flames. A pair of green eyes stared at her; eyes like Giri’s.
“You are strong,” said the eyes.
She felt their heat, and the comfort of the flames.
“Plamen?” she asked in her mind.
The eyes looked surprised and they vanished. The flames disappeared.
Suzie reached up and grasped the knocker. She knocked a single time and the door opened. Sindril stood on the other side, pulling up his monocle. His angular face frowned and then opened into a smile as he scratched his beard.
“Susan Sarnio,” he said, “what a surprise. Come in.”
He led her inside a luxuriously decorated suite. Lush oriental carpets covered the floors, and large, intricately-carved sculptures of birds and Dragons surrounded her as she walked forward. A wooden screen separated a smaller room with couches, and doors painted bright colors led away from her in either direction.
Sindril led her to a massive oak desk and sat down. He gestured for her to sit in one of the large leather chairs in front of it. Large bookcases, filled with hundreds of books, and reminiscent of her secret library, stood on either side of the room. Behind the desk, a large circular window looked down on the College like a massive eye. Three golden telescopes pointed to different parts of the window. The top of West Tower rose in the distance, but below them, the ground was a blur beneath the clouds. An eagle flew by.
Sindril leaned back in his chair. The room was dim. The bright window behind him surrounded Sindril in a halo of glaring light. The effect was intimidating. He mov
ed a few sheets of paper on his desk, pulled out a black cloth, and started polishing a crystal ball.
“Well, Suzie, what brings you to my office?”
“I’m sorry to interrupt you, sir.” What time is it? She’d taken too long to get here; the revolt could start at any minute. Yet, did she have to stall? “I was teased again today, this time by my own housemate.”
“Teased?”
“At the beginning of the year you told me you’d help if the Deaths bullied me. I wanted to come sooner, but I’ve been afraid. I’m sick of it.”
“And you come now, two weeks before your Final Test?”
Sindril tossed the cloth onto his desk, folded his hands together, and frowned. She looked away and swallowed hard. He wasn’t buying it.
“I was nervous,” she said. “You’re male too.” His eyes narrowed, and she hoped she hadn’t crossed a boundary. “I didn’t know who to trust.” She dug her fingers into her leg, hating what she had to say next. “But after you saved me from that terrible ’Mental, I realized you were on my side.”
“All right,” he said.
“It’s probably too late, but I wanted to come here and get away. I doubt I can get through these next two weeks at this rate. And many people fail—”
“Which housemate bullied you?”
She bristled. This was a mistake. She didn’t want Billy to suffer.
“He said one thing,” she said. “But it wasn’t a problem. Punishing him won’t matter. It’s Luc, one of my classmates. He’s been the worst. He even interfered with my last Reaping and had to be sent back early. He’s bullied me every day since I arrived. I hate Luc.”
Sindril’s eyebrow rose. He glanced at some of the papers in front of him. “Luc is the reason you came here? You’re tired of him picking on you. He’s Francois’s brother, isn’t he? How has his brother been?”
“Frenchie was rough at first, but he’s changed, or so he says. He stopped picking on me after that Reaping. It’s Luc who’s the bigger problem.”
“Interesting,” he said. “I will take care of Luc. He won’t bother you for the rest of the year.”
School of Deaths Page 21
