by Kirah Nyx
Again, the strange pitter-patter drummed against the wooden floorboards of the manor. It sounded like someone approaching, or something. The sound came from the doors.
She clutched onto the bannister and dug her sharpened nails into the wood. The thuds neared her, intruding on the hushed silence of the foyer.
Ivy gazed at the open doors.
The noise had come from the corridor moments ago, but now—
A horde of students burst through the doors. Twenty of them, at least, babbled merrily, caked in dirt. Ivy blinked before she released a breath caught in her throat.
Penny and Addie were among the crowd. They spotted her at the base of the staircase and waved.
“Ivy!” shouted Penny.
Ivy simply stared at her, in a state of mild shock. She remained rooted to the bottom of the staircase.
Blinking stupidly, she watched as several Vampires poured into the main building from the school grounds.
Ivy dragged her gaze to Penny’s hand as they approached her. It was entwined with Penny’s.
“Are you ok?” asked Addie as she waved her hand in front of Ivy’s wide eyes. “You look like you’ve seen a Dybbuk.”
“I’m fine,” she breathed, albeit, a little shakily. “I thought … I thought I heard something.”
Addie’s fingers untangled from Penny’s. “What did you hear?”
Ivy shook her head. “Nothing. It was nothing. I’m just hungry and tired, that’s all. Imagining things.”
“Well, ok, then,” Penny beamed, and clapped her hands together. “Off we go!”
The newbie shooed Ivy and Addie up the steps. Ivy realised that their new friend was a little on the bossy side. But she could be, too, at times, so it wasn’t a problem.
“Where were you?” Ivy asked as she hiked up the steps. Penny trudged beside her and Addie led the way.
“Art class,” said Addie.
“At three in the morning?”
“It started at ten o’clock and went for ages. We were sketching the night sky and the lake,” said Penny. She wiggled her charcoal-stained fingers to emphasise her point. “The Fae kept interrupting us, though.”
“How?”
“Manipulating the weeds to wrap around our legs when we were distracted,” Addie drawled. “Whenever we stood up, we fell. Instructor Bumblesworth tumbled into the lake, poor thing. He already has enough trouble controlling the class. That won’t help.”
Penny added, “A few of the Fae summoned swamp-toads onto the shore. They jumped all over us. I have toad slime all over my art book, thanks to that lot.”
Ivy scrunched up her face in disgust, and eloquently said, “Ick.”
“How was your day?” Penny asked excitedly. “I haven’t seen you around. You weren’t at lunch, either. Do you normally skip lunch? I missed dinner, though. Were you there? I got lost. And then my Combat class ran a little late. I won three out of twelve fights. Not too shabby.”
“I slept most of the day,” she replied bitterly.
It was due to Penny’s night whispers that Ivy had to waste her days sleeping.
“And the blood ban makes it a little difficult to be at dinner, around all that blood.”
Addie glanced over her shoulder and offered her a pitying smile.
Ivy sighed and trudged across the landing when she abruptly perked up.
“I almost forgot!” she said. “Guess who I met today!”
Both girls gasped in perfect unison, their excitement and intrigue piqued. “Who?”
“A Videer,” she smiled slyly.
“A Videer? Really?” asked Addie. Her brows arched, but her lips pursed into a crinkled line of disapproval.
“I met him in the library,” she said as they reached the top of the staircase.
They made their way across the foyer toward the thick, metal door to the den.
“Well, we’ve met a couple of times, but today we talked. He’s funny… for a Videer, at least. A bit rude, but … in a fun way.”
“I’d rather lick toad slime than talk to a Videer,” said Addie.
Rolling her eyes, Ivy stopped at the door, right beside the bloody fountain and goblet.
She bit into her wrist, and tasted the bland flavour of her bitter blood.
Holding out her hand, she let droplets of blood trickle into the overflowing goblet.
The moment the beads of blood landed in the goblet, the door clinked and clanged and swung open to reveal a relatively quiet, warm and cosy den.
Ivy mentally prepared herself for a night of enduring Penny’s sleepy ramblings.
6
Routine at the Academy had killed the magical atmosphere in a matter of weeks. Joyous students had dejected, teachers had begun handing out detention slips like sweets, and even the Fae had settled into day-to-day monotony. Ivy wasn’t ashamed to admit that she was struggling.
Every Sunday morning, she had to meet with her mentor. Aldon would check her eyes for signs of hunger and reiterate the same old spiel of concentration. Then, she had her Spirit Magic lesson with Addie and Penny, where she had fallen into a pattern of either flooding the classroom or setting it alight.
Either way, her teacher issued her detention slips. One more, and she would be forced to scrub the pebbles on the shore of the lake clean of toad slime.
Five times a week, she went to her Familiars class without her familiar. The teacher substituted Foxy with a rat, but the results were the same—it just wouldn’t respond to her. Geography, Ivy found to be easy, but she had an advantage with her annual vacations around The cloaked world.
And, as Ivy was fluent in Latin, that class, too, was an easy pass. But then came the dreadfully dull Arcane History every Friday and Saturday morning; a class shared by all Vampires and Fae, from eighth years to tenth years.
That particular Friday morning, Houseparent Rowena surprised them with a pop quiz.
Ivy’s petite frame was barely visible behind the barricade of books and tomes that were propped up around her. She only had a small space at the table in the classroom to place her glittery purple notepad on and a couple of purple-ink fountain pens. Her brow furrowed and unfurrowed constantly as she attempted to understand the complexity of her teacher’s scribblings on the chalkboard.
The Arcane History lesson dragged by in a display of torture. The oppressor moonlighting as a teacher, Houseparent Rowena, was a stern and strict woman, whose severe and beady eyes raked over the quiet students observantly. No doubt she was checking for any signs of a student cheating on their surprise test.
Ivy cheated. Frequently, she stretched out her tired arms above her head, leaned back in her chair, and used the angle to peer around the propped-up books. The student seated to her right was the intelligent Samael Valac. Whilst she disliked him, Ivy saw the silver lining, and didn’t hesitate to sneak a peek at his answers. Several peeks, actually.
Ivy didn’t always cheat on her tests or assignments, but the lack of blood she had drank over the past few weeks had certainly taken its toll on her; emotionally, physically and mentally. She found that she now struggled with the simplest of classes, including the notoriously easy Health Class.
Chewing on the end of her fountain pen, Ivy glanced up at the old grandfather clock beside the chalkboard. Her eyebrows shot up her forehead at what she saw; 10.08am. She was only two hours into the lesson, but it felt like she had been there for the whole day.
“Pens down in sixty seconds,” Houseparent Rowena announced from the front of the classroom; her voice was almost as uninviting as her white, stern eyes.
A ripple of panic struck through the classroom, but Ivy wasn’t worried. She only had one more question to answer; ‘Describe the problematic purpose of Changelings.’
With another crane of the neck and stretch of the limbs, she looked over the barricade of tomes on her desk and squinted her eyes at Samael’s test paper. He tossed his pen down on his table once he had finished the test, and reclined in his chair. Slowly, his head turned to
the side, and his cold eyes locked onto Ivy instantly.
Busted.
Blinking at him innocently, Ivy awaited the inevitable declaration to the teacher that she was cheating. She waited for his hand to raise, and his aristocratic voice to inform Houseparent Rowena that Ivy was copying his answers. But no such thing happened. He merely stared at her.
Testing the waters, she chanced another glance at the test in front of him. She spotted the answer and scribbled it down onto her own test.
‘Changelings are Fae children used to replace human children in the Foundling world. They are dangerous, as Foundlings aren’t equipped to manage the bursts of magic or trickery that a Fae child would emit. Additionally, the use of Changelings means that a Foundling child has been taken by the Fae. Sometimes, these children are raised as Fae, but only they know why. Mostly, however, the children are used as sacrifices to the Fae Goddess for tribute. Changelings will return home when they reach 12 years old. Their urge to hibernate will draw them to their own kind. They never leave their species again.’
Ivy threw down her pen just in time. The teacher snapped her fingers and declared the end of the test.
They all handed in their test papers at the front of the classroom and then returned to their assigned seats. Addie and Penny sat at the table in front of Ivy, and she noticed that they stealthily held hands under the table. Ivy puckered her lips in annoyance.
Rowena’s stern gaze swept over the tired students before she lounged against the edge of the desk. “Now,” she began, and clasped her hands together. “We will be focusing on the Shifter Revolt for the next few weeks.”
The younger students perked up at the news; they were clearly eager to learn what they could about those who orchestrated the Revolt—the Shifters.
Houseparent Rowena studied the students. “Who can tell me when the Shifters were first banished?” Addie’s hand shot up like lightning. “Miss Adberry,” the teacher allowed just as a Bodach floated through the classroom.
The ghostly spirit drifted through the front row of students. They sneezed repeatedly until it disappeared through the other wall.
Addie watched the Bodach melt into the red-painted wall before she answered, “Shifters, or cursed Videer, were banished over a century ago. The one hundred and fortieth anniversary of their exile is on the twenty-second of December this year.”
“Very good,” the teacher said. Addie beamed proudly at the rare praise from their Houseparent. “And the reason for their banishment?”
Again, Addie’s hand stretched out. But, Houseparent Rowena ignored the outstretched arm and looked around at the other students. No one else volunteered.
“Miss Skylar,” the teacher addressed; her eyes narrowed as Ivy tried to hide behind her books. “Answer the question.”
Huffing in annoyance, Ivy sat up straight and ignored the eyes of all other students on her. “They were banished because they tried to kill the Fae and Vampire monarchs.”
“Sufficient,” the teacher said sternly. “But lacking. Prince Samael, do you care to elaborate on Miss Skylar’s mediocre response?”
“If I must,” he drawled coolly. “A band of rogue Videer formed a revolt in secret. They attempted to recruit other Videer, but their brethren rejected the alliance and the revolt. The revolt attacked a Committee Summit, and were defeated. The surviving rebels were cursed by the Fae and banished.”
Rowena nodded approvingly. “Who can tell me why they attacked and formed a rebellion?”
Penny answered, “One of their Seers foretold a prophecy. According to the prophecy, a prince of our world would wage war on the Foundlings and the other species in our world. No other Videer Seer could predict this future, so not all Videer Knights believed in starting a revolt to stop something that they didn’t think would happen.”
Rowena continued to fire question after question at random students, and Ivy began to zone out. It was increasingly difficult to pay attention when all she could think about was big fat jugs of blood.
Addie twisted in her seat and gripped the edge of Ivy’s desk. “The Fae are having a party by the grottos on Saturday,” she whispered. “Do you want to go?”
Ivy shot her a bemused look. “Is that a serious question? Obviously, I want to go.”
“Great,” beamed Addie. “You, me and Penny it is.”
Ivy’s face hardened. She nodded stiffly before Addie turned back around in her chair.
Samael tilted toward her and whispered, “Not a supporter of the new girl, I see.”
Ivy snubbed him and pretended to listen to the teacher.
It wasn’t that she disliked Penny. In fact, she quite liked her. But with the blossoming romance between Addie and Penny, Ivy felt … left behind. It had always been Addie and Ivy. Always. And now, Ivy had to share. It wasn’t something she was used to.
Rowena’s rambles cut into her thoughts. “They are skilled in Videer combat, and the curse allows them to transform into any beast they have encountered in their lives. Miss Skylar, how does one protect themselves from a Shifter attack?”
Ivy sighed and fiddled with the corner of her notebook. “Run away,” she said. She shrunk in her seat as her brother shot an amused look. Felix wouldn’t run. He wouldn’t run from anything, not even a Shifter. But she would.
“Correct, Miss Skylar,” Rowena nodded. “Fleeing an attack from a Shifter is the only sure way to protect oneself. Particularly those of you who aren’t proficient in battle.”
The teacher glanced at the clock on the wall before addressing the class. “That is all for today. No homework. Class dismissed.”
Chairs scraped across the wooden floors as the students gathered their belongings. Ivy glanced up as Addie helped her gather the books that wouldn’t fit in her bag.
“That was an interesting lesson,” said Addie as Penny joined them. “We rarely get the opportunity to learn about Shifters. It’s fascinating.”
“It was different,” Ivy agreed. “But I think I’ll have nightmares for a week.”
Addie laughed as she handed her the rest of her books, and they quickly followed the line of students of out of the classroom. The hallways and staircases were quiet. Only the occasional Badoch was heard groaning from empty classrooms, trapped between the living world and the afterlife. When the group of Vampires reached the atrium, three Imps were sweeping the floor with wicker brooms six times their size.
They hovered in the air, and their fluttering skeletal wings held them up as they performed their mundane duties. The students paid them no attention, and only ducked underneath them to reach the Assembly Hall.
One particularly grumpy Imp tried to swat Ivy and Addie with the broom as they passed.
They were rude little creatures.
Inside the Assembly Hall, it was empty, save for a dozen students. The candlelight flickered against the walls and lit the room; the tables held a variety of fresh fruits, breads, bloods, and beverages. As class schedules ran through the nights and days, there had to be a constant replenished supply of nourishment in the Assembly Hall at all hours. Penny led them to a table where River Ridge sat alone. Ivy shot River a questioning look, to which he only smirked.
“Hey,” greeted Penny happily. “Girls, this is Ri—”
“River Ridge,” interrupted Ivy. “Do you two know each other?”
Ivy only knew the Fae from her visits to the marketplace in Verato City, and from around school, but she knew enough to be suspicious of him—Fae were never up to any good.
They were like the Vampires in that respect, but far sneakier and charming. They even had seductive powers, able to manipulate people into doing their biddings without remembering when the glamour wore off. That only applied to Foundlings, of course, but it was dark sign of their true nature.
“I got lost in the woods last week,” said Penny as she eyed Ivy curiously. “He helped me find my way back.”
River lifted his rose-pink hand, which clutched a green apple loosely, and he took a big, crunch
y bite of it. As he chewed the fruit, he grinned and said, “There’s a Fae party down at the lake tomorrow. Are you coming?”
He looked between Addie and Ivy expectantly. Ivy nodded as Addie helped herself to a mug of blood.
“Why were you in the Blood Forest alone?” asked Addie as she poured sugar into her mug.
“I went after Geography,” she said. “I just wanted to have a look around and hunt. The woods at Ichor aren’t as fruitful as the ones here.”
River tossed the apple core onto the table. “I told her. New students need to be careful in those woods. All sorts of mean creatures out there are just waiting for someone who doesn’t know the landscape to wander on in.”
“He’s right,” agreed Ivy. “It’s not safe out there.”
Penny scoffed. “It’s not like anything can kill me.”
“True,” smirked Addie deviously. “But that shouldn’t suggest that they can’t have fun with you.”
“What does that mean?”
River chuckled and leaned back in his chair. “Let’s just say you’re lucky that I came across you before any other Fae—They mightn’t have been as gracious as I was, and the woods here aren’t as tame as those at Ichor.”
Penny went to respond. But, before she could, a terrifying, shrill shriek ripped through the Assembly Hall. Penny paled instantly and stiffened in her chair as horror morphed her features. It carried in from the grounds outside. But nobody in the Assembly Hall even flinched, other than Penny. They continued to eat, chat and drink. Eventually the agonised shrieks stopped.
“What the hell was that?” asked Penny erratically. She was bewildered to see the few students in the Hall continue to sip from their copper mugs and help themselves to snacks as if nothing had even happened.
“That’s exactly why you shouldn’t go into the Blood Forest alone,” said River. He dabbed a napkin at his lips lazily before he stifled a yawn.
The look of alarm on Penny’s stark white face was rather amusing. Ivy couldn’t help but giggle at her expense. “It’s only a Banshee—don’t lose your fangs over it.”
“Sounds like some Vampires got their hands on one,” leered River. “Out to steal our magic as always.”
