School of Deaths

by Christopher Mannino

  “You’re an idealist,” said Billy. “That’s why you go to such lengths.”

  “It’s true,” said Frank. “I’m an idealist, but I’m practical enough to keep myself out of trouble.”

  They turned from the path and started down the winding trail to the house. A crowd stood outside the building.

  “Son,” said Kasumir as they approached.

  “Mother,” said Frank. The two embraced.

  “Son, may I?” asked Kasumir.

  Frank nodded and the white-haired ’Mental touched his forehead. She smiled.

  “Yes, it’s clear now,” she said. “You’ve helped us a great deal, Plamen.”

  “Frank. I go by Frank now.”

  “I named you Plamen, and I will call you Plamen. Suzie, you have the ring with you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then let us go inside. Giri and the others are waiting in the library. It is a clever space. Built by Elementals, of course, and rediscovered by you, Susan. Fitting, don’t you think?” Kasumir smiled.

  Suzie followed them inside, glancing at the side room. Frank patted her on the shoulder.

  “You were right about Sindril,” he said.

  “And wrong about you.”

  “Come on, they’re waiting.” He led her past the bookcase and down the stairway. The library was crowded, even with many ’Mentals waiting outside. As she entered, the room quieted and everyone turned to watch her.

  “Hello,” she said meekly.

  “Susan Sarnio is a hero,” said Kasumir. “She braved Sindril’s lair to retrieve the proof we need.” The ’Mentals cheered.

  “I found this in a desk drawer,” she said, pulling out the ring. She’d opened a drawer and stolen a ring. Did that make her a hero? She doubted it, but also doubted they’d listen.

  Kasumir took the ring from Suzie.

  “Suzie, this ring alone will not suffice. However, you beheld a Dragon, in the crystal. You learned the way he communicates.”

  “Yes, the ring made a cloud appear in the crystal.”

  “I observed it in Frank’s mind,” said the seer. Her dark eye sockets stared at Suzie like two empty holes. “He was watching you, Suzie. This is the proof we needed, and is what I’ll show the Deaths.”

  “How can you show them something from my mind?”

  “You’ve had visions all year,” replied Kasumir. “One of the Elemental abilities is to influence the mind. If Plamen, Giri, and the others with a similar ability join with me, we can broadcast a brief vision to the entire College. We will show them what you witnessed.”

  “But he’ll know I was in his desk. He’ll realize I stole his ring.” Even as she said the words, she realized how foolish they sounded.

  “Suzie, he’ll find out soon,” said Billy. “Once he realizes the ring is gone—”

  “But what if no one believes it?” asked Suzie. “You’re talking about visions, like what I had? I didn’t believe my visions for a long time.”

  “A strong, concentrated vision will be enough to raise doubts,” said Giri. “Sindril isn’t in charge. He’s only one of the Council. If the other eleven find out, he’s likely to be sacked. And if we broadcast our vision twice, he’ll have everyone doubting him. Dealing with Dragons is the worst possible thing a Death can do, Suzie. The Council always feared they’d return and start a second war.”

  “Sindril hated us,” said Kasumir. “His anti-Elemental policies are worse than any before him. Many on the Council feel sympathetic to us. Sindril never has. If we can remove him from power, we would shake the very foundations of the College. Deaths would have no choice but to listen to us.”

  “He killed my friend,” said Suzie. “I want him to suffer. What do I do?”

  “I must enter your mind, however, I need your permission,” said Kasumir. Frank turned away.

  “I’ll do it,” said Suzie. “Let’s do it now.”

  “We will,” said Giri, “but not here. We need a way to amplify our own powers so we reach the entire campus.”

  “The towers?” asked Billy. “They’re massive. What if you signal from them?”

  “I doubt we’ll be able to get back on campus,” said Kasumir. “The guard is up, and the College is on alert. One attack is all we’ll get, though it was a huge success. We rescued twenty prisoners, and only lost two.”

  “We should take a moment for the two who died today, and the many who died on Styxia,” said Frank.

  Suzie lowered her head. Who had died? Was it Anil and Ilma, who’d helped her sneak back and appear invisible? Maybe Lucina, the strange bush woman who she’d met in the village, had died. Was it the albino? Perhaps two total strangers lay dead. Had they died for her, or had they given their lives for some ideal of equal rights? What could she do to make it up to them?

  “The Ring,” said Suzie, raising her head. “The Ring of Scythes. It surrounds the entire campus, and you said scythe blades have special powers.”

  “It’s true,” said Hinara. “The scythes are powerful. Combining Elemental power with scythes could be risky.”

  “The Scythe Ring is programmed by Elementals,” said Kasumir. “That’s how both ’Mentals and Deaths pass through. Besides, combining our powers is what Lovethar would have done.” She smiled. “In all my years, I’ve never encountered a Death like you Suzie. The plan is settled. We head for the Ring of Scythes.”

  The crowd shifted. Suzie walked behind Frank. He hadn’t changed. He was the same, only more complicated now.

  “Mother,” said Frank as they left the house.

  “Yes?”

  “Before we do this, I’d like to help Billy. Can someone here help his face? It was my fault.”

  “No, it wasn’t,” said Billy.

  “Say no more,” said Kasumir. “Dwyna. Melpoma.”

  Two young girls with glowing blue eyes and blue hair stepped up. They curtsied to Suzie.

  “Can you heal his face?” asked Kasumir, pointing to Billy.

  “It will take time,” said one of the girls.

  “The three of you stay here,” said Kasumir. “The rest of the ’Mentals as well. Only those able to broadcast thoughts need come with us. And perhaps Anil and Ilma, to help mask our presence at the Ring.”

  Anil and Ilma were alive. She surveyed the massive group of Elementals. She smiled when she spotted a green-skinned nude woman walking from the side of the building. Lucina smiled back at her.

  “You ready?” asked Frank.

  “Do I go with you guys or stay here?” asked Jason.

  “It’d be best if you and Frank headed to the Ring before the rest of us,” said Kasumir. “If all is clear, we won’t be far behind.”

  “Stay safe,” said Jason.

  Frank gave her a look. She smiled at him and he nodded.

  Frank and Jason walked away as a group of ’Mentals crowded around Kasumir. Giri stepped up to Suzie.

  “You’re a strong person, Suzie. You're the only female Death, and now you’re taking on the headmaster himself. Plamen told me that you have a test to determine if you return to the Living World.”

  “Our Final Test,” said Suzie. “It’s in two weeks.”

  “Well, if you don’t pass, by any chance, come to us at any time. The Elementals will always be your friends.”

  “I’ll pass the test,” she said. “I will go home.”

  “Of course.” Giri nodded.

  After a few minutes, they started down the road. Suzie didn’t speak. The ’Mentals seemed to respect and admire her, but the only ’Mental she knew well was Frank, and before yesterday she’d never dreamed he was anything other than a Death.

  If you don’t pass the test. What would she do if she failed? She’d been away for a year; surely her parents thought she was dead. What about her brother Joe? Did he miss her, or was he relieved to have her out of the house? No, he’d miss having someone to pick on.

  It seemed far away, like a distant world. It felt…off for some reason. A nurse who smelled like straw
berries, or was it gingerbread? And her friend with the funny voice. Crystal. Like the ball Sindril looked through to speak to Dragons.

  As she reminisced, she remembered Billy telling her about his dog, Comet. Her dog had been Bumper. She remembered how strange it had been to meet him in the In-Between. Cronk had shown him to her to prove that she was a Death. And here she was, the first female Death in a million years. Now she was going to attack Sindril. She wondered if history would remember her as betraying the Deaths, as Lovethar had a million years ago. No wonder Deaths hated women.

  “Stop here,” said Kasumir, raising a hand. The ’Mentals stepped to the side of the road, waiting beneath some trees. Suzie counted nine ’Mentals total. She was the tenth of the group, and, as always, alone.

  But she wasn’t alone. She had many friends. An entire group of ’Mentals were risking their lives for her. Even Frenchie had apologized when Luc bullied her during the Reaping.

  She paused. She had a life here. As much as she denied it, she was happy. What did she have in the Living World? Who did she honestly have? Crystal was a friend, and of course, Joe and her parents. So many other faces. A doctor, her teachers. What would they say if she suddenly turned up after being missing for an entire year? What would Mom say? Mom. What would Mom say if she told her grandpa didn’t come from Italy, he came from the World of the Dead? Would Mom believe she’d held their dead dog? She’d probably send Suzie to a lot more doctors.

  “They’re ready,” said Kasumir. “Frank sent the signal.”

  Had he? Suzie wondered if he sent flames and talking green eyes to his mother.

  They walked the rest of the way to the Ring of Scythes. Anil and Ilma moved their hands in circular motions, shaping the air around them.

  “Suzie,” said Kasumir, “I need to enter your mind now. I need to witness what you observed in Sindril’s office.”

  Suzie nodded and closed her eyes. She remembered Sindril’s ornate desk, and the drawer filled with trinkets. She pictured the smoke swirling in the crystal and the terrible voice.

  “That’s perfect,” said Kasumir.

  Kasumir, Giri, Frank, and Hinara joined hands with three other ’Mentals. They stood in a semi-circle around Suzie. Jason watched from the other side of the Ring.

  The handles of enormous oversized scythes formed a tiny ridge in the ground, as the mammoth-sized scythe blades pointed upward, joining to form an arch. Thousands of the arches made up the Ring of Scythes. She’d been through this arch, the exit toward the library, more than any other. “Concentrate,” said Kasumir. The ’Mentals closed their eyes but nothing happened.

  “Will we see it too?” asked Jason.

  “I’m trying to reach the Ring, but the scythes are too strong.” Kasumir grimaced.

  “Suzie,” said Frank. “Help us.”

  “How? What do I do?”

  “Bridge the gap,” said Frank. For a moment, she thought he was referring to lofty ideals again, but then she realized what he meant.

  She stepped onto the ridge and reached out a hand, touching Frank, at the edge of the semi-circle. Reaching with her other hand, she grasped one of the blades.

  “Suzie,” said Jason. “What are you—”

  She never heard his last words.

  She touched the mortamant, the strange metal of the scythe. A shot of pure electricity jolted through her body like lightning. Every part of her body throbbed with sudden pain. In her mind, she pictured Sindril’s desk, the dragon ring, and the clouds in the crystal. At the same time, she saw thousands of Deaths. The entire campus opened in front of her. She looked at each of them, and she knew they could see her. They could see through her to the vision pouring out of the ’Mentals, the vision of her in Sindril’s office.

  One by one, Deaths flashed in front of her face. Jason had the vision, and now Hann. It passed to Luc and Frenchie, to Cronk, even to Lord Coran and the Council. She saw them all; she could feel them all. The towers of the College, and the canyon-like stone mounds beneath it. The thousands of men taken from the Living World, taken to be Deaths.

  Then she saw Sindril. The pain left her and the vision started to fade. Yet his face remained.

  “Susan,” he said. Then he was gone. She released the blade and a stream of blood ran down her palm.

  “It’s done,” said Kasumir. “You did it. The vision will replay itself two more times to every Death before it fades.”

  “It’s over,” said Suzie. “Did it work?”

  “Did the Deaths witness it?” said Kasumir. “If that’s your question, the answer is yes. You made sure that they did. Grabbing the scythe like that was brilliant.”

  “I bridged the gap,” she said.

  “I knew you would,” said Frank.

  They walked down to the library. Her hand hurt and her head spun. It was over, the plan was done.

  “Suzie,” shouted Billy, breaking her from her thoughts. She looked up and was glad to find him smiling.

  “Your face,” she said.

  “Yeah.” He embraced her, kissing her on the mouth. She blushed but kissed him back. As he pulled away, she admired the new face. A small scar lingered under Billy’s eye, and the top of his ear looked red, but otherwise he looked like he’d never been attacked.

  “Thanks Frank,” said Billy.

  “I got you hurt in the first place,” said Frank.

  “You made up for it,” said Billy. “How’d it go?”

  “It was a success,” said Kasumir. “The vision was delivered. We have nothing else to do but wait. It’s time we said goodbye.”

  “You’re leaving?” asked Suzie.

  “Things may improve, but even with Sindril gone it will take a long time before Deaths and ’Mentals truly get along. I only hope the new Headmaster is more understanding. Plamen, let’s go. We have to circle halfway around the campus before we can head home.”

  “Mother, I’m staying here.”

  “They’re bound to discover that you’re a ’Mental eventually,” said Kasumir.

  “Right now only Suzie and Billy know. And if things are going to change, I want to be on the other side of the Ring, making sure things go smoothly.”

  Kasumir smiled. “I’m proud of you,” she said.

  “As am I,” said Giri.

  The three hugged for a time, until the ’Mentals took to the road, heading back to their village. Lucina turned and gave Suzie one last smile.

  “I’ll miss them,” said Frank, “but we’ll meet again.”

  “Let’s go home,” said Billy. “It’s been a long day.”

  * * * *

  Sindril resigned as Headmaster the next day. At first, Suzie didn’t believe the rumors, but Lord Coran himself announced the news. While eating dinner in the hall, the Council walked in, minus Sindril. Coran claimed that Sindril had chosen to pass on the responsibility to a new Death, following certain important questions. Then the Council marched out.

  “We did it,” said Suzie.

  “I can’t believe it,” said Billy.

  “The one thing I wanted to do before I went home,” said Suzie. “I don’t even care about what game he was playing, I’m glad he’s gone. After what he did to Athanasius.”

  “Do you believe things will change?” asked Jason. “Will the ’Mentals and the Deaths ever get along?”

  “Maybe,” said Suzie, “but that’s a good sign.” She pointed to two Deaths who hurried to bring gorgers to the tables. A male Elemental pointed to where they had to go.

  “Deaths work fast, don’t they?” said Billy.

  “I guess they do,” said Suzie.

  The ’Mental noticed them looking and walked to their table. He had bright yellow eyes, a yellow beard, and a long tail.

  “Thank you, Susan Sarnio,” said the ’Mental. “For what you’ve done.”

  “You’re welcome,” she replied.

  “My father,” he continued, “my father was Athanasius.”

  “Susan,” interrupted a voice behind her.

>   She turned to face a Death in a purple robe. It was one of the Councilmen, a Death she didn’t recognize. The yellow-eyed ’Mental bowed and hurried away.

  “Susan,” said the councilman. “Lord Coran would like to speak to you.”

  “Now?” she asked.

  “Yes, he’d like some words alone. I will escort you.”

  She nodded and followed the councilman away from the lower hall. He led her outside and across an open space. They entered one of the larger stone mounds and headed up a flight of stairs. He knocked on a large oak door and opened it.

  “He’ll see you in here,” said the councilman.

  She stepped into a classroom she’d never entered. Numbers and equations covered a blackboard at the front of the room. She’d almost forgotten about math, her least favorite subject.

  “Susan Sarnio,” said a voice. Seated behind the teacher’s desk was a man who looked over ninety. The thin wisps of hair around his head were as white as Kasumir’s hair. Lord Coran wore a white robe, and of all the Deaths she’d encountered in this world, he looked the part better than any other did.

  “Lord Coran,” she said.

  “I don’t know how you did it,” he said, “and frankly, I don’t want to. It was a risk that you took. Some will be unhappy, and you won’t make any friends from this.”

  “I’ll be gone in less than two weeks,” she said. Besides, he was wrong. It had made her more friends than she’d ever had before.

  “Sindril hasn’t resigned,” said Coran. “The truth is the Council confronted him about the visions. He admitted to contacting Dragons. It is a grievous offense, as I’m sure you are aware.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Please relax, Susan. I’m not angry with you. In fact, I want to thank you.”

  “Sir?”

  “I’ve been wary of Sindril for some time, but never dreamed he’d be involved in something like this. We’ve started investigating others to discover if he had friends here at the College. You helped to avert a war.”

  She nodded.

  “At any rate, what’s done is done. However, I will tell you something else.”

  “Sir?”