Shadow of Okeaous

by W. M. Martin

  Maggie quickly gathered herself and offered as politely as she could, “Sorry, Mr. Akiyama. Please continue, sir.”

  Mr. Akiyama’s eyes, still simmering slightly, began to cool and he said, “Third and finally, Ms. Bennett, we have been made aware of your little jaunt into the artifacts antechamber, by way of my office, a few months ago.”

  At that statement, Maggie lost her breath. She felt like she had been on the receiving end of one of Callum’s electric gut-punches in Mr. Carver’s battle class.

  Mrs. Bonifassi looked sternly at Maggie and said, “We know you were with Ms. Pennington and Ms. Hanson down there, and we know that the three of you went searching for and found the Eye of Kariagi. You witnessed, firsthand, the effects of the Eye yesterday in Plimpkins. Ms. Min is recovering as we speak and hopefully she will be able to shed further light on how she fell under the Eye’s control and what Mr. Evans’ role in its use was.”

  Maggie was starting to sweat. Elliot tried, unsuccessfully, to ease Maggie’s fraying nerves. The instructors began whispering amongst themselves so that Maggie could not make out what they were saying.

  Mr. O’Sullivan blurted out, “Have ye’ all lost ye’re minds? Ye’ can’t believe that any of those girls had anythin’ to do with it being used? That’s a bridge too far, that is! They were all bleedin’ fools they were, but bein’ stupid ain’t the same as bein’ wicked! That’s a fact, it is! Ye’ all know Cornelius had been actin’ odd anyway!”

  Maggie regained her composure and spoke up swiftly, “I swear that we never even touched the Eye!”

  Mr. Carver stated in a deep and unflinching tone, “You will tell us everything about that day in the artifacts antechamber, and if your story lines up with Ms. Pennington and Ms. Hanson’s, then we will go from there.”

  Maggie began her story at the start of the day at the academy’s Field Festival six months ago. She went into vivid detail, her memory aided by Elliot’s power, sparing no aspect of her experience into Mr. Akiyama’s office and eventually down into the artifacts antechamber. Maggie told of how she, Kylie, and Alice had been caught by Nancy and of how the three of them had begged and pleaded with Nancy not to turn them over to Mr. Akiyama, but to punish them herself. Maggie noticed a smirk pop up on Mr. Akiyama’s face when he learned of that particular detail. She finally concluded her recollections to her instructors, all of whom were silently listening as a panel in judgement of her.

  Ms. Holiday, absent her usual sanguine attitude, said, “Thank you, Ms. Bennett. We’re all done here, for now. You can go back to your room.”

  Maggie sat there for a moment and asked, “So, am I in trouble or...”

  She was interrupted mid-sentence by a physically irritated Mr. O’Sullivan who spat in a torrent of rage, “Are ye’ in trouble?! Are ye’ bloody serious, Ms. Bennett?! I don’t believe ye’ used the Eye yesterday ‘cause ye’ve a good heart, but ye’r actions in Mr. Akiyama’s office were foolish at best and dangerous at worst! The level of utter stupidity and lack of respect for ye’ artifacts instructor’s office and the items inside of it blows me mind, it does! Ye’re bloody lucky that ye’r bags haven’t been packed for ye’, and that ye’ aren’t bein’ tossed out on ye’r...”

  This time it was Mr. O’Sullivan who was cut off mid-sentence by Mrs. Bonifassi, who jumped in quickly and said, “Just go to your room now, Ms. Bennett.”

  Maggie quickly got up and made her way to the large, arched door and exited the head instructor’s office without even looking back.

  “Phew! I’ve seen Mr. O’Sullivan get mad before, but never at me!” Maggie told Elliot.

  “Indeed, he appeared calm up until the point in your recollection in which you actually got within reach of the Eye of Kariagi. That appeared to alter his mood greatly,” Elliot responded.

  Maggie replied sarcastically, “Gee, Elliot, do you really think so?”

  Elliot, who still struggled with the subtleties of sarcasm, replied in earnest, “Yes, Mags. I truly believe so.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Maggie returned to her room to find Nancy waiting for her with Siril. Maggie, without waiting to hear why Nancy was there, raised her arms and blurted out, “I can’t believe that you told the other instructors about me going to the artifacts antechamber! I took my detention on the chin for a month. I know Edgar had to have told you about all the stuff he had me doing at the diner after my classes. I cleaned every fry basket, every day, until they were as shiny as new. That’s not easy by the way!”

  Maggie continued complaining until she had gotten the feeling of betrayal out of her system. Nancy never stopped her or tried to interrupt; she simply sat there with Siril, who was perched on her shoulder and allowed Maggie’s tirade to run out of steam. Once Maggie was finished rebuking her friend and instructor, she sat down on the edge of her bed and felt a little bit better.

  Nancy took a deep breath and sighed an explanation, “I had no choice, Maggie. After finding Lucy under the sway of the Eye of Kariagi, we needed to rule every other student at the academy out. Ms. Pennington, Ms. Hanson, and yourself are the only students to have even seen it without being in the presence of Mr. Akiyama. That looks awfully suspicious, Maggie. Also, the friction between you and Lucy is evident to everyone here and a few instructors and even more Praetorians believe that you may have cursed her to teach her some sort of lesson. I, of course, told them that you were tough, to be sure, but that you were not a cruel or vindictive girl. You have my full support, Maggie. You truly do. All I know is that the Eye being used yesterday and the Fallen showing up in Plimpkins can’t just be some random coincidence. The two events are connected. They have to be. At any rate, Maggie, I told everyone with any authority that you were not only powerful, but that you are more worthy of that power than any Kindred that I’ve ever known.”

  Maggie blushed and replied, “Thanks, Nancy. I’m sorry that I blew up at you. I’m just worried that I’m going to be blamed for the Eye being used.”

  Nancy stood up to leave the dorm room, and she placed her hand on Maggie’s cheek. Siril, being uncharacteristically quiet, flew from Nancy’s shoulder to Maggie’s dresser, and stared straight at Elliot.

  “You aren’t guilty of anything, Maggie. The truth will come out and the Praetorians will have their answers,” said Nancy before walking out of Maggie’s room with no effort to hide her exhaustion.

  Siril, still watching Elliot from Maggie’s dresser, chirped before exiting with Nancy, “All will be well, Elliot. You are a young totem, and your Kindred was merely curious. Ease your mind and allay Maggie’s fears.”

  Elliot puffed out his feathered chest and replied, “Yes, Siril. I will do as you have instructed. You have my gratitude.”

  Maggie, now alone in her room, was still sitting on the edge of her bed. She reached up to touch her medallion which had begun to vibrate with a steady hum. When her finger grazed the surface of her medallion, the mystical pendant pulsed once with a faint blue light and the voice of Mrs. Bonifassi came softly from the glow.

  “All classes have been canceled for the day. We shall resume our studies first thing in the morning. Thank you,” said Mrs. Bonifassi through Maggie’s illuminated medallion.

  Maggie stood up from her bed and walked over to the large window in her room. As she looked out through the pristine glass, Maggie’s eyes scoured the grounds far below the Avior tower and as always, her gaze ended up surveying the billowing white clouds which stood sentry over the Kindred Academy. She began to wonder about the location and well-being of her missing friends. Maggie had not really forgotten about them, of course, but with her interrogation earlier at the hands of her instructors, she found it imperative to focus in regards to providing accurate testimony of her own innocence as it was being weighed against an outwardly perceived guilt.

  Maggie was startled back to reality when she felt Elliot pulse protectively. When she turned around, Maggie’s gaze was met by Lucy’s. Maggie quickly prepared herself for the spiked attitude and
coarse language which were sure to precede any formal niceties coming from her less-than bubbly roommate. Maggie’s trepidation in regards to Lucy was well-warranted, but unnecessary in that moment.

  Maggie could tell, even without Elliot sharpening her senses, that Lucy had been broken. Lucy’s almond-brown eyes had lost the fire that had only a day ago raged with a raw intensity that intimidated most of the students at the academy. Maggie could not resist the urge to be amiable to her traumatized clanmate, even though she knew that if the roles had been reversed, Lucy would not have shown her the same kindness. That alone shored up Maggie’s resolve to care for Lucy in her time of need.

  “Hey, Lucy. I’m glad you’re alright. You are alright aren’t you?” asked Maggie softly.

  What happened next would remain as one of the top-five most surprising and slightly unnerving things that Maggie would ever experience in her lifetime. Lucy shed a single tear and walked quietly to the window and reached out for Maggie to give her a hug. Maggie blinked twice, trying to ascertain whether she was still lost in her thoughts above the clouds or if this was actually happening. Maggie slowly and cautiously raised and spread her arms to accept the offer to comfort her fellow Avior.

  The speed at which Lucy wrapped her arms around the subject of her very real ire, ever since the Appointment of Clans a year ago, was startling. Lucy buried her face in Maggie’s sable cloak and wept.

  “Hey, it’s okay. You’re okay, Lucy. We’re safe here,” Maggie said, trying her level best to reassure and comfort her yearlong nemesis.

  Lucy said through her sobs, “No we aren’t, Bennett! The Eye was used on me, and I was here when it took control! It was horrible. I could hear everything that was coming out of my mouth, but it wasn’t me who was speaking. Not really anyways. I mean, I felt compelled to threaten Sara in Plimpkins, and I was forced by unseen hands to attack her. Maggie, I was screaming inside of my mind, trying to reach Maverick to help me stop, but he was being controlled too. He was actually further gone than I was, and it was almost like we were feeding off of each other’s hate and anger. Maverick and I were held hostage by whoever was controlling the Eye, and I was completely helpless to stop it.”

  Maggie gently pushed Lucy away just enough so as to look her in the face and gauge for herself if she truly believed what Lucy was saying. Lucy stared through beautifully almond-shaped eyes which were red from crying and which were slightly hidden behind her jet-black hair and Maggie, with the aid of Elliot’s power, knew that what Lucy had just told her was indeed the truth.

  “Why did Mr. Evans do it, Lucy?” asked Maggie.

  Lucy shook her head slightly and seemed to look past herself and answered, “I have no idea. I don’t remember him doing or saying anything odd or out of place prior to my contacting him in Plimpkins. I told you, Bennett, I wasn’t in control. I don’t have a clue how I knew when to contact Mr. Evans or even that it was him that I was meant to contact. It all just happened and my body was the mobile prison to my mind. I remember that my head was aching from the force of my muted screams. It was awful.”

  Maggie continued pressing, “So, what about Kylie? Did she contact you? Sara told me that Kylie is being blamed for Mr. Evans’ death, but she was in Plimpkins with us.”

  Lucy wiped her wet and tear-stained cheeks and sniffled slightly while trying to regain her composure. It was an exercise in futility because she was so very shaken.

  Lucy summoned Maverick to rest at her side before intoning, “I don’t know anything about whether Kylie used the Eye on me or if she killed Mr. Evans, but you can be sure I’ll devote every free second of my time to find out.”

  Maggie could sense that Lucy’s resolve was growing, if only slightly. Maverick was pecking his Kindred’s lap gently, and his power was steadily working to bring healing to Lucy’s bruised mind.

  “If there’s anything that I can do to help, just let me know. We share a room and some classes after all, so I’m easy to find,” Maggie offered.

  Lucy took a good and honest look at Maggie, possibly for the first time ever and saw in the sky-blue eyes of the young Avior, a truly caring Kindred and a power which was undeniable yet not brash nor boastful. Lucy felt a twinge of guilt at how she had treated Maggie and sought to try and make amends. She knew that it would be a slow and hard-earned achievement, but she would strive to be as kind as she could stomach to be and gain Maggie’s friendship. It was the first friendship in which Lucy truly felt that it was worth her while to pursue.

  “Thank you, Bennett,” was all that Lucy said before releasing Maggie from her weak and shaken embrace.

  Lucy looked out of the window which Maggie was still standing in front of and placed her hands on the glass. Maggie joined her at the window and stared out at the sky.

  “Come on. I know just what you need,” Maggie said.

  Lucy did not question Maggie or even protest in the slightest. She simply turned, quietly and followed Maggie out of their room. The two Aviors made their way down to the common area and exited the two giant sapphire doors. The pair then continued to stroll with purpose down the Avior Hall to the exit on the ground far beneath the large window of their room. Once the girls had reached the Courtyard of Clovers, Maggie turned to face Lucy with a sly grin.

  “Why are we out here, Bennett?” Lucy asked with a slight amount of snark, sounding more like her old self.

  “We need to clear our heads, Lucy. This always helps me. We’re going to go fly,” Maggie stated matter-of-factly while wearing an ever-broadening smile.

  “I don’t think that’s going to help,” Lucy quipped in a slightly defeated tone.

  Maggie would hear none of it. She took Lucy by the hand and walked further out into the courtyard. She summoned Elliot and Lucy, in turn, summoned Maverick. The two totems were pulsing with an almost palpable excitement to spread their mystical wings and take to the skies in tandem with their Kindred.

  Maggie said, “Come on, Lucy. Let’s do this. You’re the only other student who can merge with their totem and fly besides myself. We’ve never flown together, and you know you’ll enjoy yourself. Look, even Maverick is pumped and ready to go.”

  Lucy looked down beside herself and saw Maverick who was ready to spread his wings with her. She sighed and spread her arms. Maverick, taking the cue, melted into Lucy and wrapped his shimmering, almost liquid-looking form around her body. A pair of large, black raven’s wings came into form on Lucy’s back, and she gently lifted off of the ground and made her way to the clouds overhead. Maggie quickly joined her in the air. The pair flew high above the academy and paused mid-flight to take in the beauty of the world tucked safely within the confines of the Veil.

  “Nancy and the others will get to the bottom of all of this, Lucy,” said Maggie.

  Lucy replied, “You mean Ms. Decker? I know you and her are pretty close, but she’s not even a true instructor. She’s a diner owner who Mr. Evans asked to be an assistant this year. I’m not sure what good that she could possibly do, especially since her year was officially up yesterday.”

  “Look, I trust Nancy with my life, and if she says that everything will work out, and we’ll find the missing students and learn if Kylie was involved in using the Eye on you, then that’s what’s going to happen. I trust her completely, Lucy. Will you trust me?” asked Maggie.

  Lucy, with her black wings beating strongly at her back, answered with confidence, “You’re actually the only person that I do trust.”

  Maggie found Lucy’s statement strange, especially given the yearlong animosity between them which had been going strong up until the moment that Lucy came through their door less than an hour ago. Lucy could sense that Maggie was struggling to believe her words after having witnessed the power of the Eye of Kariagi.

  “I’m not being controlled, Maggie. I know that I’m not acting like myself, but that’s because the Eye had an unintended side effect on me. When I was trapped inside of myself, I was reliving every hateful action or cruel word that I’d ev
er said, and I swore to the Nexus that if I survived then I would try my hardest to be a better person and that I would start with you. Now that I’m free, I feel like I should honor my vow. Maybe it’s Maverick or maybe it’s really the Nexus feeding my desire to change for the better, but whatever it is, I’m going to try and be a little bit more like you and Sara and everyone else. Even Thomas,” Lucy said with no small amount of chagrin.

  Maggie found Lucy’s constantly overdramatic disdain for Thomas amusing. She could see the worry in Lucy’s eyes when she had mentioned their friends, especially Thomas. Maggie had long suspected that Lucy’s distaste for Thomas was all a show and that she secretly harbored feelings of affection for the young class-clown of Clan Avior.

  “He’s going to be fine, Lucy. The Praetorians will find him, and you’ll see him again,” Maggie said.

  Lucy never even flinched and asked, “It’s that obvious, huh?”

  Maggie smiled and answered, “Yeah, I think everyone knows how you feel about Thomas. Either that or they’re convinced you’re gonna kill him.”

  Lucy did not respond to Maggie’s quip, but flew higher up into the sky. Maggie was about to join Lucy when her medallion started to vibrate, hum, and give off a slight blue glow as it had done earlier. This time it was a message from Ms. Holiday.

  “All Kindred at the academy, Praetorians included, need to get on down to the Macrocosm Chamber. We have been summoned by the Nexus to meet up at the Spire. We were unable to proceed with the Appointment of Clans yesterday due to the incursion with the Fallen in Plimpkins. We will begin the Appointment tonight if it’s the will of the Spire. Y’all need to hurry up now, y’hear?” ordered the soft southern voice of Ms. Holiday.

  Maggie looked up above herself at Lucy and said, “We gotta go, Lucy.”

  Lucy sighed, “I know. I really wanted to stay up here now that we’re out though. Oh well, this really did help. Thanks, Bennett.”