by A. P. Jensen
Chapter Twenty Five
Thousands of excited teens leaned over to whisper to their neighbors. Those ice circles Jordan hated zoomed down to the front rows of the amphitheater and came up with three students who looked like they were going to be sick. The first circle moved to the stage and a very ordinary looking boy in a coat stepped off. The boy had blue eyes and brown hair. Eliten and Undala?
“Zachary Aaba,” Bertrand bellowed over the silent crowd.
There was a popping sound and from his coat Bertrand withdrew a round, black object the size of a bowling ball. It floated in midair and there was a hushed silence as everyone watched. With bated breath, they all strained forward as Zachary extended a hand and touched the Gem. Zachary let out a grunt. His eyes flew open as wide as they could go. The Gem began to sparkle with an explosion of colors. For five minutes, nothing happened. Zachary Aaba’s hand seemed glued to the Gem, which swirled with neon and then pastel colors. Bertrand reached out a hand and placed his hand on the Gem, on the opposite side from the boy’s.
“Winby’s Art Academy,” Bertrand said, voice magnified to reach every person present.
Cherry stood and cheered with the rest of the students. Zachary Aaba looked relieved, but shaken as he walked off the stage. Next went Mary Abe, a girl with flowing blonde hair and green eyes. Her time with the Gem was a lot shorter than Zachary’s. Bertrand announced that she would attend Pampy’s Plant Academy.
Jordan watched the teens on stage as they grimaced, jumped or gasped when their hand made contact with the Gem. Was it pain? Shock? When the teen’s school was announced some looked ecstatic, others dumbfounded and then there were those who looked devastated. Very few maintained a stoic demeanor.
Jordan listened closely to the names of the schools. Each one started with what must be the founder, the specialty of the school and then the word Academy. Some of the Academies were specific such as, Percival’s Healing Academy, but then there was Drake’s Fire Academy. Jordan frowned in confusion when a loud murmur of admiration went up for Patty Bar when she was accepted into Brandy’s Binding Academy. Binding? Everyone expected Jordan to get into The Academy. Were they missing a word? How could they be so sure where she would go when a Darsana boy was put into Landon’s Baking Academy? There were so many Academies that before long Jordan lost track. Some of the teens were on stage for fifteen minutes or more. People from the main stands came and went, getting drinks and popcorn as if they were watching a movie.
In one of the groups waiting to be Declared, Jordan noticed the boy that came in late. Bertrand announced that his name was Arthur Cole and then looked him up and down disapprovingly. Were those paint stains on his pants?
Cherry leaned forward to catch Jordan’s attention. “He’s cute. He looks like an artist. I hope he gets into Winby’s Art Academy with me.”
Arthur Cole’s face was unreadable as he looked at Bertrand and then the Gem. When he didn’t reach out to make contact, whispers broke out and several guys catcalled. A look from Bertrand silenced them instantly.
“Don’t hold your breath. He lives with an aunt in Autumis who owns a junk shop,” Giles said loudly.
Arthur didn’t seem to care that everyone shifted restlessly, wanting him to get on with his fate, to be Declared already. Bertrand leaned over the Gem and said something that made Arthur snap out of his reverie. Arthur placed his hand on the Gem and jerked his hand away, scowling and shaking his hand as if it had been zapped. Bertrand gestured to the Gem, clearly telling Arthur to put his hand back on it. Arthur crossed his arms and shook his head and pointed accusingly at the Gem. Bertrand placed his hand on the Gem.
“The Academy!” Bertrand said.
Arthur’s face went ghost white. ‘Are you sure?’ Arthur mouthed and Bertrand nodded. There was a stunned silence from the crowd and then Arthur received the biggest applause yet. Cherry burst from her seat, screaming his name. On stage, Arthur shook his head at Bertrand who shrugged and pushed him towards the circle that would take him back to his seat. Guy Cornell shot Arthur an envious look before he was Declared into Yuk’s Herbal Academy.
“You’re Jordan Parker,” Gima said.
Jordan flinched and pulled back one side of her hood to look at her neighbor.
“Everyone’s talking about you,” Gima continued blithely.
“What’s new?” Jordan snapped and looked forward again.
“I’m glad I’m not famous. It must be the pits.”
Sitting up as high as they were, most of the students were talking since it could be an hour or more before they reached the N’s, O’s and up. Jordan glanced up at four huge blocks of ice that faced each stand. It was obviously a huge TV because they were too high up to make out anything, but blobs of color.
“Your dad’s infamous,” Gima informed her, despite Jordan’s lack of encouragement. “People say he killed two sorcerers before he even finished school.”
Jordan whipped her head around as Cherry slapped Gima on the arm.
“It’s a rumor,” Cherry said.
Gima glared at her. “I watched the documentary about it. Their blood was all over him.”
Several teens in the row before them glanced back at Jordan and whispered to each other.
“They say he hated his stepfather and that’s why he murdered him,” Gima continued. “Donovan and his mom have a strained relationship.”
“Roberta is one of the most beautiful women in the world,” Cherry said dreamily. “Everyone asks what cream she uses on her face but she won’t answer. I think it’s-”
“Is Kelly your mom?” a girl asked, turning around to face Jordan.
“No,” Jordan said, feeling naked and borderline claustrophobic.
“Then where is she? Is that who you’ve been living with all this time?”
Jordan leaned back in her seat and stared straight ahead at Mr. Parker. He was watching her, almost as if he knew they were talking about him. Did he murder two men? Sorcerers? One of them was his stepdad?
“Oh my gosh, he’s looking over here,” Cherry exclaimed, fluffing her hair and popping out her chest.
Gima looked down and hissed, “He could be trying to figure out which one of us to kill.”
Cherry beamed at Mr. Parker. “Take me, take me!”
“The Academy,” Bertrand announced, drawing Jordan’s attention back to the ceremony.
A girl with curly blonde hair and blue eyes beamed at Yale who stood and clapped jovially.
“Figures,” Cherry said sourly. “Yale King’s niece.”
Gima shrugged. “I wouldn’t want to go to The Academy anyway. It’s so small and everyone expects you to do something with your life. What if you don’t want to?”
“Want to what?” Cherry asked blankly.
“What if you don’t want to be in the public eye? What if you want to be in the background and make floral arrangements?”
“Going to The Academy means you’re going to be somebody,” Cherry explained to Gima as if she was stupid. “That means money, fame and social immortality.”
“It also means responsibility, no privacy and pressure,” Gima tossed back.
“I don’t know what to do about you,” Cherry said, shaking her head. “You’re a lost cause. Who wouldn’t want those things?”
Missy Krauss was accepted into Mimi’s Marine Academy and on it went. Some of the Academies sounded like college courses and others like Bridget’s Weather Academy, Thornbird’s Business Academy and Frank’s Freezing Academy totally threw her off. Surely, with so many different schools, she would be accepted to one, right? Even if it was Fonda’s Fishing Academy, which Barbara Lam would start on August first.
The Asian girl that bumped into Levi stood serene and ramrod straight on one of the discs, hands clasped in front of her as she waited for those ahead of her to be Declared.
“Ivy Mo!” Bertrand said and stepped on stage.
“She’s pretty,” Giles said, leaning over Cherry to get a better look.
Glancing down at the TV in front of her, Jordan saw a close up of Ivy. Her black eyes were focused on the Gem like a soccer ball she was gearing herself up to kick. She took a deep breath and slapped her hand down on the Gem. Her eyes flared wide with shock and her hair streamed behind her as the wind kicked up. Ivy closed her eyes and hunched over the Gem before she staggered back. Her serene face replaced her stunned expression once more, but Jordan saw her hands shake. Bertrand raised his brows and brushed his hand over the Gem’s surface.
“The Academy.”
“What?” Cherry bounced to her feet, face set in a snarl.
Gima rolled her eyes and bounced to a tune in her head. As Bertrand went through N and then O way too quickly, Jordan began to panic. She kept watching the disc zoom closer and closer. At one point, she half rose from her seat but happened to look at the stage and froze. Mr. Parker scooted to the front of his seat, ready to haul her back if need be.
She mouthed, I can’t.
Mr. Parker shook his head and mouthed back, too late.
Beside her, Gima and Cherry continued to bicker while Jordan wanted to run and hide. Running away from cops for the rest of her life wasn’t too bad, was it? She was so scared, her chest hurt. She leaned forward to catch her breath. Those that had been chatting and lounging around her slowly quieted while those already Declared talked and occasionally looked at their screens for an acquaintance or cheer for someone going to their Academy.
Mr. Parker’s gaze willed her to control herself. Jordan gripped the circle pendant like a lifeline as her power responded to her panic by bubbling to the surface, clawing to get free. Jordan’s mind sunk into a stupor of nightmares, uncertainty and panic. What if the Gem didn’t react to her at all? What if it killed her?
A disc zoomed right for her and she ducked. Beside her, Gima and Cherry clambered over her to get on their circles. When Jordan sat rigid in her chair, both girls climbed down and shoved her onto her Transporter. Jordan held out her arms as the circles zoomed towards the stage and center of attention.
“Jordan Parker,” Bertrand said.
It sounded as if everyone’s necks cracked as they all turned their heads to look at the stage or the screen in front of them. She didn’t move off her circle. Whispers filled the air like angry bees and she saw Mr. Parker half rise from his throne, eyes flashing angrily, but Seth Tolly stopped him.
Just do it, Jordan, Levi snapped.
Numbly, she stepped off the ice circle. All she could hear was her heartbeat as she walked across the stage to William’s brother. Mr. Parker’s eyes followed her every move as if she was going to take off running. Jordan clutched the pendant in her jacket and felt strangely disconnected from her body as she faced Bertrand. For a moment, they stared at each other before Jordan extended a trembling hand over the Gem.
Just put your hand on it and it’ll all be over, Levi said.
She closed her eyes and put her hand on the Gem. Her mind emptied and everything faded into a soothing shade of blue. She felt as if she were on a beach with warm air blowing her hair back. Comforting, soothing. The frantic beat of her heart slowed and she took a deep breath as warmth seeped through her taut, cold body. Emotions cascaded through her: fear, anxiety, dread, hope, happiness and then peace. Her heart felt full, as if it was close to bursting, but she didn’t care.
Jordan’s power connected with the Gem and meshed. Jordan let out a slow exhale of breath and put her complete trust in something she didn’t understand. Power wafted through her, unthreatening and almost maternal. Images rushed through her mind. Her mother Star, the Master of Haven, William Stan, Levi, Knight, Mr. Parker, Heath, Cibrian…
Bright light filtered through her closed eyelids. For the first time in her life, she felt loved and completely safe. Jordan was dimly aware that Bertrand set his hand against the sphere and Jordan’s eyes flew open when her connection to the Gem was abruptly cut off. She stared into Bertrand’s disapproving violet eyes.
A muscle jumped in his jaw. “The Academy.”
Sound returned in a rush and Jordan winced as her ears were assaulted with noise. Jordan swayed on her feet for a second before she stiffened quaking legs. She looked at the Gem, which still swirled with glittery light. Her heart wrenched. She wanted to reach out and place her hand on its cool surface once more, but she didn’t dare. Jordan turned and walked towards Cherry who had her arms crossed and Gima who looked sympathetic.
How was it? Levi asked.
In a daze, Jordan walked onto her circle and let it take her back to her seat. The circle moved onto the next person in her row and Jordan melted into her seat. Wonderful.
Wonderful? He sounded skeptical.
Gima went into Regina’s Whistling Academy and passed a horrified Cherry who composed herself and winked at Bertrand before placing her hands on the Gem.
“Greg’s History Academy.”
Cherry stared openmouthed at Bertrand. For the last time, her gum fell out of her mouth. She shook her head and Jordan saw her say, “Winby’s Art Academy” and “dancing star.” Cherry’s face was red with anger when Bertrand shrugged and called the next person on stage. When Cherry returned to her seat, Jordan didn’t feel so cold anymore. The heat coming off of Cherry was scorching.
Jordan stared straight ahead with glazed eyes. She’d been picked to go to The Academy… The Gem thought she had a great destiny. That meant she belonged here, right? Jordan watched several teenagers touch the Gem, at the fear apparent on their face. What did she looked like when she touched the Gem? She closed her eyes and tried to recapture how it felt touching something so wise and powerful.
“Levi Sawyer,” Bertrand called.
Jordan’s eyes popped open as Levi and Bertrand looked at each other for a long moment. Without looking away, Levi reached out and placed his hand on the Gem. Levi didn’t flinch, jerk or make a face. Jordan bit her lip and tasted blood. A surprised look passed over Bertrand’s face. As if he had some internal alarm, barely thirty seconds after Levi touched the Gem, Bertrand reached out. His eyes narrowed on Levi who let his hand drop.
“The Academy,” Bertrand said and there was a shocked silence.
Levi glanced at Mr. Parker who nodded at him. Levi zoomed back to his seat and hopped down in the aisle. His eyes glowed as he squeezed Jordan’s shoulder as he passed.
There’s no going back. We belong here, Levi said.
Jordan could feel the mixed emotions traveling through him, as if he felt what she had when he touched the Gem.
I guess so, Jordan replied and felt her lips curve in a smile. Maybe, just maybe this could work. Maybe The Academy could change her fate. Maybe they could teach her how to be normal, how to manage her power.
“Princess Stan,” Bertrand boomed and a curious silence fell.
Jordan snapped out of her reverie. She half rose from her seat as she focused on the stage. A tall girl with porcelain skin, waist length red hair and her father’s eyes walked up to the Gem. Jordan’s mind was blank with horror. There was a cheer of support from the stands that was quickly taken up by everyone as William Stan’s daughter approached her uncle. Jordan saw Princess’s lip tremble. Tears filled her eyes, but she kept her head held high. Bertrand and Princess looked at one another for a long moment before she put her hands on the Gem.
Jordan’s insides roiled. Why hadn’t anyone mentioned that William had a daughter? Jordan looked beyond Princess and saw Mr. Parker watching her. He’d known and deliberately hadn’t told her. Why? The shock was so great, it brought tears to Jordan’s eyes. William had a daughter.
Nightmares flooded Jordan’s mind. William clutched her face, staring into her eyes with a mixture of misery and determination. “I need to do this for her, for my princess,” “I love her. I’ll do anything for her. She needs me.” Jordan came to hate the “princess” William tortured her for and now to be faced with Princess Stan who was now an orphan because of Jordan, caused a tumult of emotion to crash through her.
Jordan? Levi’s voice was cautious.
Mr. Parker knew and didn’t tell me. Jordan buried her face in her hands as tears spilled down her face. How could he keep this from me? He knew I would have to sit here and watch her be Declared. Does he hate me so much?
Maybe he thought it would be better this way.
Jordan turned and glared at Levi who shrugged apologetically. She faced forward again and examined every inch of Princess’s face. She had the same nose, eyes and mouth as her father. Princess didn’t look evil. She looked like an ordinary girl. Reserved, scared and wanting this to be over. William mentioned his princess, but I didn’t know it was his daughter. Oh my God.
A trickle of sweat dripped from Princess’s temple. The Gem flared with bright and then dark light. A murmur passed through the crowd as they waited for the verdict. Jordan couldn’t take her eyes from Princess. So many questions passed through her mind. Did Princess know William was responsible for her mom’s death? Did she know what William had done to Jordan? Did Princess know about Haven and her father’s loss of control or was she oblivious of everything?
Bertrand finally reached out and cleared his throat. “The Academy.”
The small flare of happiness and hope died within Jordan. She would be going to school with Princess Stan, daughter of a man who stole half of her soul. Jordan sat in a daze of horror. It took half an hour of name’s to pass by before Jordan got a hold of herself. She couldn’t go to The Academy with Princess Stan. She couldn’t.
“Cibrian Tolly,” Bertrand said and there was a whisper of interest through the crowd.
Jordan watched numbly as Cibrian kept his head held high. On stage, Seth Tolly looked totally at ease. He beamed and whispered something to Mr. Parker as Cibrian approached.
Here we go, Levi said.
Cibrian braced himself before placing his hand flat on the Gem. He grit his teeth and closed his eyes. Jordan clenched her hands in her lap and waited. And waited. Ten minutes later, Cibrian, who looked exhausted, limped slightly. Bertrand put a hand to the Gem.
“The Academy,” Bertrand said.
Cibrian stared at Bertrand for several blank seconds and then looked at his dad who had a broad smile on his face. Cibrian pumped his fist into the air and there was a ripple of laughter and clapping as he danced off stage.
Jordan didn’t know how to feel or think. As she watched the stage with glassy eyes, she suddenly felt a pull so strong her thoughts cleared instantly. It was a strange, disorienting feeling of need and desperation. It was a compulsion she’d felt before, with William.
