by Rue Volley
A plethora of encyclopedias filled a built-in bookshelf that matched the light gray walls. The color of the walls was the only thing that looked remotely modern about this room.
I ran my hand across the soft goose down comforter in white. An overstuffed pillow rested against the headboard behind me. It reminded me of my bed at home, offering a little bit of comfort.
My curiosity piqued. “Did you grow up here?”
Nadia paused while pulling her black and white striped t-shirt down over her head. She turned to face me while tucking it into her black skinny jeans that ended at her ankles. Her eyes wandered around the room. “Yep, why?”
I shrugged my shoulder while pushing myself back against the pillow. The bed creaked as I moved. “You just seem to be really at home here.”
“I guess I have to be. I don’t remember anything else.”
I picked at my cuticle. “And your Mom, does she live here, too?”
Nadia sat down on the window bench. Bitter moved out of her way. She meowed in protest so Nadia pet her into submission. Bitter Bat purred. I swung my legs over the edge of the bed so I could face her.
“No, my Mom is in Verbena.”
“One of the Seven Kingdoms?” I asked.
Her eyes sparkled. “Yes, she’s the right hand of the Queen. A powerful Necromancer.”
Sadness threatened to grip her. But Nadia shook it off. “I can only hope to be that important someday. We’re proud of her.”
“Don’t you miss her?”
Her eyes darkened. “Well, yeah, but what she’s doing is more important than how I feel. I mean, that’s why we’re here, Rook, to become protectors and legends, not stay with our families. That’s just not in the cards for us.”
I looked down at my feet. “Yeah—you’re right.” I hated to admit it, but everything she said was true. I could make all the friends I wanted to while I was here at Hemlock Academy, but eventually none of that would matter. I hoped I’d be lucky enough to be placed in one of the Seven Kingdoms of Myth and Magic—and even luckier if I was the hand of the Queen. Only a few got that honor while the rest worked within the kingdoms in various houses of royalty.
My dead cat climbed onto her lap. “Ah, she’ll probably leave chunks of fur behind.” I warned.
Nadia stroked Bitter’s large head. “I don’t care, I have a lint brush right over there.”
My cat purred loudly. It was unbelievable how she had taken to Nadia.
She was like the demon-whisperer.
I fingered at the faded star tattoo on my wrist.
“You know, you could get a real one.” Nadia stated.
I laughed then covered it up with my hand. I was somewhat embarrassed about all I had done to try to fit in. “I was just messing around.” I reached up and messed with a piece of hair, “Same with this. I sort of had a panic attack about coming here and made some really stupid choices.”
She drew her leg up and Bitter moved over to the side and stared at me. I tried not to notice. I hate it when she does that.
“And your Dad, I mean the Headmaster, didn’t care about yours?”
She flexed her thumb. “Oh, this? He hated it. HATED, but how else do we know if we like something or not, right? You have to try things. Besides I’m young—I plan on making as many mistakes as I can before I’m placed.” She added a playful wink while fidgeting with the tips of her hair.
I crossed my feet and watched them swing. I guess she was right.
“Yeah, but I—listen, Nadia. I’m a book nerd. I love to read, and sit in my room. I love school and learning.”
“Ew, stop! You’re making me dislike you, and I don’t want to do that.”
We both laughed.
“And my hair? Well, it’s never looked like this—ever. It’s chocolate brown and you already know about the tattoo. And while I’m coming clean, I also had this.” I walked over to my white jeans, that now lay on the chair by the door, and shoved my hand in the pocket. I pulled it out and produced the piece de resistance.
I stepped up to her and half-laughed. “What is that?” she asked.
“This is my fake nose ring.”
She covered her mouth and began to laugh with the shake of her head. “Oh, no.”
I nodded. “Oh, yes—but that’s it, I swear. I have nothing else to hide.”
She tilted her head and reached in, grabbing my hand.
Nadia pulled me down next to her on the bench and she bumped against my shoulder.
“I get it, I do.” She spoke softly. “You just wanted to fit in and I bet this place was like weird after being homeschooled.”
I swallowed hard, not wanting to look at her, but she was right. “I never thought it would be so—I don’t know. Big and scary.”
She giggled. “This place? Nah. I’ll tell you what’s scary—” Nadia froze.
“What?” I whispered while my eyes darted around the room.
She grabbed me, and I yelped when she yelled out his name. “Chester!”
I pulled my hair up and wrapped it in a black scrunchy. “So, I guess that was just made up, right?”
“Was it?” she asked, while wiggling her fingers close to my face.
“Stop.”
Chapter Seven
I had to move out of the way as two girls flew past me and down the path that was surrounded by thick vegetation, and trees covered in layers upon layers of moss. The earthy scent filled the air. I almost fell down, but Nadia grabbed my hand and kept me on the path that was barely wide enough for three people. It cut through the trees like a winding river as far as I could see, which wasn’t much. A fog had begun to roll in, too, creating a creepy vibe which anchored my attention until Nadia yelled.
“Seriously!?”
The girls kept going without paying any attention to us. One had fire engine red hair and the other was a butterscotch blonde. They were holding hands. I didn’t see their faces, but it didn’t matter.
Nadia reached over and drew me into her side.
“Rude.” She hissed, “I swear, these kids are ridiculous.”
She craned her neck and called out a head of us.
“A pack of wolves.” She groaned.
I cracked a grin. Nadia was the same age as me, but seemed to be completely over it. I guess I would be, too, if I had grown up in the Academy.
“Wolves aren’t so bad, I mean, come on, Jacob Black.”
“Girl,” She brought us to a dead stop. “The lips, and eyes—but tell me. How the heck did they always end up with that extra pair of pants?”
I felt the heat spread across my face and neck. I was glad that the sun was setting and the forest was casting shadows. I don’t know much about romance except for what I’ve read in books or seen in movies.
“I asked the same question.” Admitting that it had crossed my mind didn’t help with the embarrassment.
We walked arm and arm. I hoped she didn’t feel like she had to protect me just because her Dad placed her with me. I don’t want to be an assignment. I really like her. More than I expected to.
“Hey, listen. I want to say thank you.”
“For what?” she asked.
I shrugged my shoulder. “For being nice.”
“Hating is so much harder, right?”
I agreed with a tiny nod, as we continued to walk the path. It made me wonder if maybe being the headmaster’s daughter wasn’t as cool as I thought it might be for her. Maybe Nadia was lonely. I couldn’t tell. She must miss her Mom. I can’t imagine being without mine, but I didn’t want to ask because it could insult her and that was the last thing I wanted to do. I know we’d only been together for one day, but sometimes you just know when things fit.
Nadia was that for me. A good fit. A good friend who would only get better.
I hope.
We co
ntinued along the path without talking. My moon eyes inspected the forest bed. This place is beautiful, mysterious. It could easily seduce anyone who wandered through. “Is the story of the girl and her forbidden love true?” I asked.
Nadia’s eyes narrowed as her breath came out in short white bursts.
“Well, this is the Forest of Emma Green, I read about it in a book and it’s just as beauti—”
Nadia stopped and turned to face me. “Rook—we never say that name here—ever.”
I felt a chill run through me. “I’m sorry.”
Nadia looked around the forest and her silver eyes landed back on me. She spoke and it was barely audible. “Just don’t do it again, okay? Saying that name in here could wake her up and that’s the last thing we want.”
All I could do was nod and she leaned in. “Seriously, don’t ever say her name in here again, it could be really dangerous.”
I swallowed my nerves. “I promise.”
“Okay, man! I’m so glad you got me as your ment. What would you do without me?”
I had to agree with her. Anyone else would’ve probably let me do every stupid thing imaginable, but I truly felt like Nadia was watching out for me. She wound her arm back in mine and held on a little tighter as we picked up the pace.
Soon I could hear more voices and see the orange glow of a fire. The smell of burning wood followed. It reminded me of home. During the Spring, Summer, and Fall my Mom would use our fire pit. It was a large circle of stones, four layers high, that she built for us. I can’t count how many marshmallows we toasted over those flames. My stomach flipped again. That popcorn wasn’t helping the slow churn that had been building all day long. My hunger had now turned sour.
The path spilled out into a clearing, surrounded by logs that leveled off flat to serve as benches. A huge bonfire roared at the center of it all with enough chunks of wood piled on it to last through the night. There were small groups of kids collected here and there. They had cups in their hands with steam rising from each one. Nadia smiled when another boy, with short blonde hair, approached us. Her eyes lit up. I could tell that she liked him. I don’t blame her. He was cute too, with full lips, and high cheekbones. His nose was arrow-straight, and he had on thick, black-rimmed glasses, which made him look smart. I felt a little better knowing that someone else wore glasses at the Academy.
He lifted two cups, and I smelled the chocolate. Offering one to her, then giving up what I assumed was his, to me.
“Hi, Rook.” He said as I took the cup with a tight lip.
“How—” I began to ask while drawing the cup in closer. The heat felt good against my hands.
He chimed in. “News travels fast around here,” The light from the fire bounced off his glasses, hiding his eyes. Then he shifted his feet, and I could see that his eyes were round in shape and possibly brown or black. Without sunlight it was hard to tell.
Nadia nudged me from the side as she took a drink from her hot chocolate then spoke through a grin. “This is Cole Parker, Rook.”
He was at least a foot and a half taller than both of us. It seemed like all the boys here at Hemlock Academy were giants.
I took a sip then reached out to shake his hand. He tilted his head. “Hi, Cole. Thanks for the hot chocolate.” I retracted it then rubbed my palm on the front of my jeans, playing it off like it never happened.
“What hot chocolate?” he asked.
Worry set in. “What’s in this cup?!”
He began to laugh and so did Nadia. “I’m just kidding.” He added. “But, we do have some Irish Cream somewhere if you’d like to spike it with something for beginners.”
“No—no thank you.” I shook my head.
The hot chocolate coated my stomach and helped with the ache. I know part of it was my nerves and the rest was hunger. I’d have to insist that the fasting end as soon as we got back to the Academy. Nadia may not eat a lot, but I do, and if I go too long without it, very bad things can happen.
Not Gremlin level, but close to it.
Nadia unwound her arm from mine. “Well, I’d like to know where it is.”
I took another sip when she turned to me. “Are you sure you don’t want to spice it up just a tiny bit?” She pinched her fingers together.
The line between my brows deepened. “No—I’m good. Go.”
She walked away with Cole. I spotted a quiet place off to the side and made my way over, hoping to enjoy the fire, and the cup of hot chocolate in peace.
But that was short lived when the same two girls, who almost ran us down on the pathway, blocked the light of the fire. They immediately took an empty space to each side of me, turning us into an uncomfortable sandwich.
“Rook, right?” The redhead asked. I lowered my cup. She was way too close for comfort. The other girl chimed in before I had a chance to answer. “Rook’s a cool name.”
“I didn’t pick it out.” My awkward response made me uncomfortable. Nadia was easy to talk to. These girls were not. Something about them made me nervous.
They laughed and forced me to sway back and forth with them. “Oh, my Goddess, you are so funny.” The redhead leaned forward and stared at the other girl. “Isn’t she funny?”
“So funny.” The butterscotch blonde replied.
The redhaired girl pointed at herself. “I’m London, that’s Paris.”
Then they spoke as one. “We’re twins.”
I looked at each one. “I wouldn’t have known.”
London laughed. It sounded fake. “We dye our hair.” Again, they spoke in unison. It was unsettling.
“Oh, there you are!” A hand reached in and pulled me out from between the two of them. I was so happy to see Nadia had returned. “Thank you for taking care of my girl.”
“Your girl?” The twin’s spoke as one, again. I guess I’d get used to it, but it did send a shiver down my spine. I hate to say it, but twin’s kind of creep me out. Maybe I’d seen one too many horror movies, I don’t know.
“Yes, I’m Rook’s ment.”
“Oh.” London sounded disappointed, like she’d lost a meal. “Well,” she rose up, a couple inches taller than Nadia. Paris joined her. “I guess being the Headmaster’s daughter does have its perks.”
“Some, but not as much as the pet.”
London scowled, but Paris reached down and took her hand and pulled her away with her.
“Don’t.” she muttered.
I took a sip of the hot chocolate, glad that she’d returned so quickly.
Nadia sighed with the roll of her eyes and turned to face me. “I leave you alone for two seconds and the wolves descend from all sides.”
“Wolves.” I spoke over the top of my cup as I eyed London and Paris making their rounds to different groups of kids who continued to collect at the party.
“Yes, those two are wolves in sheep’s clothing—literally.”
My eyes widened. Cole explained further. “She means that London and Paris are Lycans.”
I gasped. “And Necromancers?”
He grinned while adjusting his glasses. “Yes, we have Lycans, Fae, Witches, and Warlocks.”
“All going here? All students?”
He nodded while raising his cup as he pointed at each kid who passed us by.
“Any vampires?” I asked. While surveying the group.
“Vampires and Necromancers don’t mix.”
I was confused. “What do you mean, don’t mix?”
He shrugged his shoulder. “It’s an old issue, but now they have a Kingdom, so maybe it’ll change someday.”
Suddenly someone rushed by us, carrying a wooden box etched in gold. Nadia’s eyes lit up and so did Cole’s. “Make way for the crown!” They called out to everyone within earshot.
“Oh—it’s time!” she chugged the rest of her drink and tossed it into the f
lames. It sparked for only a couple of seconds then disintegrated into thin air.
I did the same with mine and Cole followed.
“Time for what?” I asked.
She grabbed my hand and raised her eyebrows. “You’ll see!”
Chapter Eight
We approached a circle of stones in multiple colors of pink, blue, yellow, green, and red, laid out in a ring. The girl with the wooden box was standing at the center of the ring and had placed the box, along with the mysterious contents, on a stone altar that sat chest high.
I leaned in closer to Nadia’s ear. “Why do vampires not come to the Academy if they have a Kingdom?”
She cocked her head. “You’re standing outside a ring of stones, with some mysterious box in the center, and that’s what you’re thinking about?”
I bit my lip. “I just—never mind.”
She shook her head. “Are you a vampire fangirl?”
I rolled my eyes. “Okay, what is this?”
She laughed and glanced over at Cole then back to me. “Have you ever played spin the bottle?”
I reached up and rubbed the side of my neck. “No.”
“But you do know what it is?” she added.
“Well, yeah, sort of, but I just—well, never played it.”
“This is Spin the Crown and it’s because of you know who—the girl you mentioned on the way here, she wore a crown like this one.”
The girl in the center clapped her hands once and then opened the box. She reached in and I felt my nerves jump. She lifted her hands up in front of her and in it sat a beautiful brushed gold crown with eight high peaks and eight short ones. She turned it and walked the circle so everyone could see it. The murmurs rose. Each high peak held one large jewel, each jewel alternating back and forth from pale pink to pastel blue. Every square inch of the crown was covered in smaller jewels in a kaleidoscope of colors ranging from yellow, orange, blue, purple, and green.
I was transfixed.
The girl with the crown stepped behind the altar and held it up while staring at the sky.
