I watched the life go from his eyes and I placed him down on the ground gently, kneeling before him starting chest compressions, looking around wildly at everyone’s shocked expressions, hoping someone was going to help. I tilted his head back, opening his mouth as I placed my lips to his bloody face, breathing into his mouth. Nothing happened. I could hear his heart beating slower and slower then it stopped. My hands were covered in blood, I didn’t stop, fear flooding through my veins.
Strong hands grabbed hold of me, pulling me. “You need to stop,” Sterling said gently in my ear, his voice was soft. “He’s gone.”
I pulled away from him, shaking my head. “No, I can’t stop,” I replied quickly, kneeling back down to the ground, restarting chest compressions, pressing down harder, hearing the sound of ribs cracking, but I kept going. “Come on!” I yelled. I couldn’t believe what I’d just witnessed. More ribs cracked from the pressure.
“Please,” Anna’s small voice came from beside me, her hand on my bloody hand. I looked up at her and she swallowed thickly, flinching at the sound of another rib breaking, discomfort all over her face. “You need to stop.” She looked as though she was going to burst into tears or throw up.
I looked down at the boy, his eyes wide and lifeless, I reached down, placing my fingers over his eyes, pushing his eyelids shut, guilt wracked through my body. I had no idea what happened, or why, but it made me incredibly sad.
The sound of sobbing filled my ears and I turned to see a young girl, looking down at the boy crying, it was the first time I’d witnessed death and it was something I knew I never wanted to see again. The witches in the class sobbed, the feeling of death washing over them as they felt his spirit leave his body and fall away from the earth.
Anna pulled me into her arms, and we stood like that for a moment, hugging, our hearts breaking for the young man lying at our feet. “Class is dismissed!” Sterling called, looking over at the shocked class, then at Anna and I holding each other. Nobody moved. “Go!” he shouted, and the class started walking away, their footsteps soft as they moved across the grass.
Soft footsteps walked up to where I stood with Anna. “Are you okay?” Sophia asked, I looked up to her, seeing tears silently streaking down her face, I pulled back slightly and beckoned her forwards, she stepped towards us, hesitating slightly, but I reached over, pulling her into our hug.
I pulled back when I heard footsteps walking over to us, Sterling bent down before us, picking the dead student up into his arms. “Where are you taking him?” I demanded.
Sterling’s face pressed into a hard line and I jogged to keep up with his fast pace. “To the Health and Wellness Centre.”.
My eyebrows raised. “We have a Health and Wellness Centre?” I asked shocked, looking back at Sophia and Anna, who looked just as shocked as I did.
He rolled his eyes. “Yes.”
“Where the fuck is it?” I demanded, of all the runs I had done on campus I hadn’t come across other buildings, and it wasn’t on my school map either.
Sterling gave me a harsh look. “Language Miss Marshall,” was all he said.
I rolled my eyes. “You didn’t answer my question.”
“Follow me and you’ll find out.”
I turned to Sophia and Anna, shrugging my shoulders and followed him, and they followed along. He led us down to The Hub, walking along the clearing into the woods, taking a path that led to Silverwood Academy, the lights twinkled along the path, lighting the way.
We entered a small clearing, a large brick building sat in the middle and Sterling strode straight toward it, we followed up to a door that had a sign hanging over door, Health and Wellness Centre written across it. I never came this way, no wonder I didn’t know it was here, but it wasn’t even on my map.
Hurrying forward, I opened the door for Sterling so he could carry the redhead boy inside, I followed closely behind him. The lights were dim and soft soothing music played over some speakers, the walls and floor tiles were white. An aura of calm and peacefulness washed over me. A lady sat behind a tall white desk, perching on a stool, a computer on the desk, a small vase of flowers, papers and pens all laid out in an orderly fashion. She looked up at Sterling with a smile, then frowned at the boy in his arms. “First one?” she asked, raising her eyebrows, her name tag on her shirt said Eliza.
Couches sat on the right side of the room, against two walls, a small round table in the corner between the two grey couches, an incense burner sat on the small round table.
The incense burner sparkled with gems around the base of it and a crescent golden moon, curved upwards from the top of it that doubled as handle for the lid, smoke coiling out of stars carved into it, it was beautiful. I could sense the energy swirling in the air, the feel of magic making my hairs raised and it occurred to me that this woman with long brown hair and beautiful brown eyes was a witch.
“Yes,” Sterling answered.
The door opened and Headmistress Claudia Nightwing entered, her orange hair cascading down her shoulders, she frowned at us. “What are you three doing here?” she asked. Turning to Sterling with her eyebrows raised.
Sterling shrugged awkwardly. “They wanted to see where the boy was going.”
“How come this place isn’t on the map?” I demanded.
The Headmistress rolled her eyes. “There’s plenty of buildings around the school that aren’t on the map,” she replied. “The map only shows what is currently in your curriculum.”
I looked to Anna who looked as shocked as I felt. The lady behind the desk, hopped down off her stool, walking around the desk. “Follow me. Bring him this way.” She turned around, opening a door on the far side of the wall.
Sterling walked through, followed by Headmistress Nightwing, and we ducked in behind, into a long corridor that was just as white and calming as the other room, soothing music playing.
She led us down the hall to a door on the left, walking inside, four small hospital beds sat in each corner of the room, and Sterling laid the boy down in the closest one, the sheets stained red from the blood coating the boy’s body. “We will start the preparations,” Eliza said. She looked down at the poor boy, pain crossing her features.
“Thank you,” Headmistress Nightwing said, with a small smile.
A moment later, the school's coven of witches walked into the room, wearing white robes, walking in a line, a mixture of sad expressions, they grabbed some rags and filled a white ceramic bowl with water, walking over to the boy like they had done this a thousand. Five girls stepped forward towards the orange haired boy, tears in their eyes, looking to the ceiling and whispering: “May the stars guide you to your peace.”
Goosebumps rose across my flesh and I was captivated by them. One by one the five girls placed a kiss on his forehead.
The coven was small, witches weren’t as common as they used to be, so only about thirty girls stood in the room, and twelve guys. From the numbers stitched into their shirts beneath their robes they were from the third and fourth years.
A girl stepped forward from third year, her hair fell in blonde waves, holding the white ceramic bowl filled with water. A girl turned towards her, she was a fourth year witch with brown eyes full of sorrow, her dark hair fell straight, a flower crown of roses sat on her head, she took a white rag and dipped it into the water, wringing it out, dipping it back in two more times, wringing it out each time, she turned back to the boy, wiping at the blood that ran from his eyes delicately.
“May we cleanse your soul with the water” the girl spoke, her voice soft and commanding. The other four girls stood beside her wearing flower crowns made from white roses and daisies, turned around, grabbing white cloths, they all wiped away the blood.
A shiver ran up the back of my spine, the ceremony making tears prick at my eyes, the way they were so gentle, wiping away his blood, working together as they stripped him, it wasn’t sexual, but ritualistic. I had no idea what they were doing but it pulled on my heart, making my stomach t
wist, the smell of magic coated the air as they wrung their cloths into the ceramic bowl, blood swirled in with the water, turning it a light pinkish-red.
A hand touched my arm, “You have to go now,” Eliza said, her voice soft. “They need to do the ritual in private.”
Hands pushed me to the exit, and I couldn’t tear my eyes away as they gently washed his body, turning to look at the ceiling, the one wearing the rose crown leading the ceremony. “May the water wash away your pain.” The others in the room echoed her words back, even the ones that weren’t participating.
The door shut, pulling me back to reality. “What was that?” I asked through the lump in my throat.
Anna sighed deeply. “It was so beautiful,” she whispered.
Eliza smiled at us. “It’s our death ritual,” she said. “We prepare the body to be released back to the earth.” She turned. “I have to go join them now.” She opened the door only wide enough for her to slip through and shut it quickly.
We walked down the hall and back out the door, following silently behind Sterling and the Headmistress, tuning out as we walked back up the path to the dormitories, I felt as though I was in a daze, trying to process everything that happened. The campus was quiet for once.
When we got back to the dorms, I opened the door, walking through, the common room was alive with chatter. We headed upstairs to my room in silence, notifications pinged in sync from our notebooks in our bags, I pulled mine out of my bag, perching on my bed, still aware I had blood on me from trying to resuscitate that poor boy.
Classes have been cancelled for the week while we mourn the loss of Ayden Churchill, the boy who died in first year Physical Exercise this afternoon.
There will be an assembly in the auditorium in an hour, please dress appropriately. A ceremony will be held later this week after the witches have finished their rituals.
Professor Nightwing.
I read the email twice. Wow.
Anna and Sophia headed back to their rooms to get ready, I walked through my closet into the bathroom, turning the shower on as I got out of my bloodstained and dirty clothes, stepping under the hot water as the blood and dirt washed away from my body in a rusty colour, mixing together as they went down the drain, I scrubbed until I felt clean and every last smear of blood was gone.
I dressed in a clean uniform and made my way to the assembly in the auditorium. I sat next to Sophia and Anna, who looked at me with a small smile. Only the first-year vampires were required to attend. Around twenty of us were scattered around the auditorium.
Professor Nightwing stood at the podium in the middle of the platform, looking sombre as she looked around at us. “When you first came here, we told you that you were vampires, we led you to believe that this was final.” She took a deep steadying breath. “The truth is, not all of you sitting here today will make it through your first year.” A collective gasp sounded around the room, my eyes darted to Sterling’s, he looked at me guilty.
He should be fucking guilty! I couldn’t believe he had never told me this! Sure, we didn’t really talk all that much lately, but I thought we were closer, and he’d tell me important things like this. Especially something as important as this.
“Sometimes a body rejects the change, the blood turns to acid within, you start to get sick, then you die.”
The students in the auditorium gasped and chatter broke out instantaneously. “What the fuck?” I said to Anna and Sophia. “I can’t believe this.”
“I know!” Anna cried. Sophia bit her lip nervously, looking between the two of us. I didn’t know what I’d do if I lost either of them, although I was closer with Anna, I still really liked Sophia, she had become a constant in my life. They both had. I’d never had that before.
“When something like this happens it’s quite sobering, we like to take the time mourn those who die and don’t make it,” she continued, speaking over the chatter. “Assembly over.” She swept out through the door, it closed shut behind her.
I turned to Sterling, he was waiting behind as the rest of the faculty walked out the door, followed by students, Anna and Sophia walked towards the door, I held back. “You go ahead, I’ll find you later,” I told them. They both nodded.
When the auditorium was empty, I stood with my arms crossed over my chest, glaring, as Sterling walked towards me. I waited until I couldn’t hear anymore footsteps around the door, and their heartbeats were far enough away before I spoke. “Why didn’t you tell me?” I demanded.
He looked down at me. “That won’t happen to you.”
I lifted my brows. “How do you know?”
“You’re stronger than that.”
“But what if I’m not?” I demanded, anger bubbling in my chest.
“You are,” he insisted, his face told me he believed it. “I’ve seen it. You don’t back down. You meet every challenge face first.”
I raised an eyebrow in question. “You still should have told me.”
“I know,” he took my hand. “I just didn’t know how, and I wasn’t supposed to.”
“That didn’t stop you from kissing me,” I whispered, my eyes narrowing slightly as I looked up at him.
He groaned, letting my hand go. “I’ve got to go.” He stepped back.
“Why?” I asked, annoyed at the sudden change in attitude.
He shook his head, walking away, the door slamming shut behind him. I stood there a second longer then stormed off.
Chapter 8:
Later that night I was walking across campus, past the gym, dormitories, and witches’ garden. A group of witches stood in front of a tall white three-tiered water fountain, a girl wearing a flower crown of white roses led the ceremony, they all wore bright white robes that had a silver glow in the moonlight. The girl held a goblet below the fountain, water spilling into it, she held it up to the sky, tipping her head back. “To the stars, the earth and the elements surrounding us,” she said, her voice carried through the clearing. She took a sip from the goblet, passed it to the girl on her right who took a sip, passing it to the girl on her right.
I hurried past, giving them their privacy, heading to my room and getting ready for bed.
Friday morning passed slowly, witches stood in their garden collecting herbs and placing them in baskets. Near the gym was another lot of witches burning sage as they chanted “we bless this ground” over and over. The ground where the boy died had flowers lying atop each other, candles burned with a never-ending glow, the whole academy had pictures of Ayden smiling and the words “may you rest in the stars” written beneath.
I wasn’t quite sure who had set this all up, nor when they did, it all sort of just appeared. My emotions were caught between being surprised and disbelief over it all.
Apparently displays like this were common when someone died here, we put on a huge display and the witches performed ceremonies over a week, helping the spirit of the dead cross over peacefully, cleansing the grounds of evil and death so it didn’t kill their garden and burn the grass, they would cry and scream in the meadows at midnight, dancing beneath the stars. They believed that if they didn’t mourn the spirit right it would come back angry and vengeful.
Saturday night a party was held to honour the dead on the third floor of The Hub, everyone lifted their drinks toward the ceiling and stars then drank their drinks. Even the teachers and Headmistress joined in, we all got drunk and had a good time.
On Sunday, the witches laid the body of Ayden in the grounds outside, his body laid on a bed of red roses, his eyes shut. He had been concealed in a spell to stop decomposition, he laid in the open field of their garden for two nights, apparently the sun and moon needed to shine on him for two full nights and two full days, by Tuesday morning he was moved to the auditorium for the funeral and ceremony on Wednesday.
It was custom to wear white until the day of the funeral, I wore white shirts and shorts and even borrowed a dress from Anna, it hung loose on her but clung to my curves like a second skin.
Ayden was lying on the bed of red roses on a table in the middle of the room, his skin was still so pale as it contrasted against his orange hair, his eyes closed as he lay there perfectly still. The Professors were sitting in the first row, taking up most of the seating.
I sat beside Anna, Isaac sat beside her, then Sophia and Nic. Somehow Sterling was sitting to my left, another Professor I didn’t recognise sat beside him, Headmistress Nightwing sat amongst the crowd, looking up at the podium.
The girl who had run the ceremony in the Health and Wellness stood, with crown that had tiny black and red roses weaved into it sitting upon her head, black robes and her eyes shone bright as she looked over the crowd, along with nervousness, her brown hair hung down her shoulders. Around her stood more witches wearing black robes, tiny braided black vines sat on their heads. They stood behind the girl with the crown.
“We are gathered here today to honour Ayden Churchill and say goodbye,” she spoke clearly as her eyes swept across the room. “If you wish to join us here in this ceremony as we say farewell to our fallen soldier.” She bowed her head, turning on her heel, music played over speakers. There were no lyrics, but the instruments played a sad tune.
The girl walked up to where Ayden’s body lay, dancing around it slowly, her arms above her head as she twirled in a hypnotic dance, the other witches stood around her hands linked, but I could still see everything over their heads. Magic poured from their hands, casting a golden glow in a circle around them, magic poured from the fingertips of the girl who was dancing. I couldn’t take my eyes away, it made no sense, but it did at the same time. Energy filled the room as the magic grew, shining brightly on the stage.
Silverwood Academy Book 1 Page 12
