by Rue Volley
Gage had his hand around my waist and was pulling me back before I had time to think. He held me there, close to his chest, with a look of terror in his eyes. I don’t know how he saved me, but he had. Everything happened so fast—like a blur.
“I don’t like anything about you at all.”
“I think that’s fair.” He agreed.
“I could’ve saved myself.”
“I believe that.”
“I hate you so much, Gage.”
“Will you go to the dance with me?”
“Yes.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
I slid the white dress over my head, letting the soft fabric caress my skin. It covered my back, and my sides, then brushed against my thighs. It was a simple design that hugged my shoulders, and chest, flowing over my hips, and ending just above my knees.
I blinked when Nadia yelled a hearty “Ta-Da!”
She had popped out from behind me like a jack-in-the-box. Her dress matched mine.
For Mabon we all dressed the same. Each girl in a white dress, and each boy would be wearing a white shirt and white pants.
We wouldn’t be wearing any shoes, but the girls would have anklets woven out of tiny white flowers called bouvardia, fresh from the Academy’s atrium. They’re small star-like flowers that encourage enthusiasm and enlightenment. They’re heartier than other flowers, so they should hold up better as we dance and celebrate the changing of the seasons.
These dresses are provided by the Academy for this particular festival, and it’s said that there woven from the veil of Isis. It’s supposed to allow us to see through the veil that separates this world from the next, unlocking natures secrets and heightening our spiritual awareness.
I ran my hand across the fabric, it waved like water, rolling with pastel color.
“Oh, you look so pretty!” she exclaimed while taking my hands and spinning us in a circle. Finally, she let me go, and did a few twirls on her own. The dress captured the dull light of the room and I watched it race through every crease, rolling in waves of iridescent colors, in pastel shades of red, pink, purple, blue, yellow, and green.
She paused, side stepping with giddy excitement. I reached out and she steadied herself on my arm. “I don’t think anything could be more perfect, do you?! I mean—I’ll be with Cole, and you’ll be with Gage—it’s so dreamy, right?”
I swallowed hard. The thought of dancing with Gage was wearing on me. I’d never danced with a boy before, just like I’d never been kissed by one, but I was pretty sure that both would be happening tonight. I pressed my hand against my stomach and she leaned in with concern.
“Oh, no—are you going to throw up again?”
I shook my head with a timid grin. “No—no. I just. I’ve never.”
Her eyes widened. “Just what are you planning on doing tonight?”
My face reddened. “Nadia! Dance! I’ve never danced with a boy.”
She bit her lip, and then snapped her fingers. “Hold on a sec. I’ll be right back.” She ran backward, toward the door. “Don’t leave, okay?”
I raised my hands. “Where exactly would I go?”
She tilted her head. I laughed. “Okay fine. I’ll be right here—promise.”
She rushed out the door and I turned back to face the window. The sun was setting and the last bits of light streaked the sky in dark shades of hot pink and blue. My eyes ran the length of it. I often sat in my room at home, staring out across the lake—taking in the sights of what was and will always be the most beautiful sunset in the world.
Or at least I believe it was. Or is—it’s not like home is gone.
I paused. Or was it?
Had Hemlock swallowed up that part of my life, stealing it away from me? Soon one month would turn into a year, then years—then decades.
All the while I’d grow, but so slowly. Hardly changing.
Eventually this world would be completely different, but I’d remain.
Partially immortal as all Necromancers are.
The only real immortal was the vampire. I closed my eyes and wondered what life would’ve been like if Emma and Athan had been allowed to be together.
Could they’ve changed the world, or would their union have destroyed it all?
We would never know.
I looked down at my hands, Nadia came running back into the room, dragging Cole along with her.
“Oh—you look awesome.” I said while giving him a once-over.
He was wearing white pants, and the shirt, but he wasn’t done. Nadia had interrupted him.
“Thanks—now what did you need, Nadia?”
She led him over to me. “Dance.” She said while stepping back with an enthusiastic clap.
I blinked and Cole’s eyebrows shot up.
“Just—here.”
She rushed in and placed his hand on my waist, then adjusted it higher—then she decided to place it on my shoulder. She did the same with his other hand.
“Now, put your hand up here.” She grabbed my hand and flopped it on his shoulder, then rushed around the other side and slapped my other hand on top of his other shoulder.
She backed away and stared at us. “Just step.” She crooked her arms and stomped in place, awkwardly swaying back and forth until we mimicked her, looking more like Frankenstein and his bride.
I tried to hide my laughter, but Cole let out a hearty Shaun of the Dead groan, followed up with a, “Braiiiiinnnssss.”
I burst into laughter as we parted.
Nadia tapped her bare foot on the wood and crossed her arms over her chest.
I turned with a relaxed expression. “Nadia—it’s fine, really. I’ll just figure it out.”
She let out a long sigh, and pushed her way in, jamming her arm against Cole, and forcing him to stumble back a step or two.
She looked at me and then tilted my head, adding a quick bite to her lip.
“Okay.”
She reached in and placed a gentle hand on my waist, then drew me close to her until our mouths hovered only an inch apart.
“Oh.”
We both looked over at Cole who was staring at us with a mischievous grin.
“Knock it off,” She snapped her fingers. He blinked.
She turned her gaze back on me. “So, just put your hands around my neck.”
I followed her instructions, “And move in, like close—closer.”
I placed my head on her shoulder. She wrapped her arms around my back and we swayed on our feet. It was sweet—everything I hoped it would be with Gage.
“Kiss,” We both looked over at Cole. “What? There’s always a kiss,” He added.
My nose wrinkled. “Cole!” Nadia ran after him and they disappeared out the door and into the hallway. Laughter echoed from outside my room.
I turned back to stare at the forest. The sun had fully set, taking with it all the beautiful colors in the sky.
I felt a tiny wave of energy deep down inside.
But it was nothing. I’d be fine.
“Okay, Rook. Let’s do this.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
I stood in a straight line with what seemed like a hundred other girls. The Professors had paraded us into the Atrium, which had a dirt floor. It felt cool and dry beneath my feet. My eyes lowered and I stared at my toes. Wiggling them against the dirt. I was so glad that Nadia had painted them pastel pink to match my hair.
Especially now that I had a date for Mabon.
The glass doors swung wide open, as the boys walked into the room. I felt Nadia place her hand in mine. Finally, the line stopped, and I lifted my chin, seeing Gage standing right across from me with a ring of bouvardia flowers in his hand.
His white shirt and pants matched Cole’s to a tee, but he had on a set of white suspenders. He had rolled up his
sleeves. Exposing his forearms. I touched the side of my neck, feeling my heart beat just below the surface of my fingertips.
He was more beautiful than I had ever seen him before. It took my breath away.
Headmaster Mason strolled into the room wearing a white suit and tie.
He was also shoeless, just like the boys.
“Let us welcome Mabon!” he declared with a clap of his hand.
He closed his eyes, spread his feet apart, and turned them palm side up. Small flower petals began to rise in the room, filling it with what looked like delicate snowflakes.
They twisted and turned, gleefully swirling above us.
The sweet scent surrounded me. I giggled when a petal floated in front of my face. I reached up, but it flited away, like a tiny moth, flapping its flowery wings.
Zander Mason’s eyes snapped open, swirling in all the colors of the rainbow.
He spoke with true conviction—his voice rolling out like a wave of invisible energy, pushing air, and a few fluttering flower moths away.
It cleared a space above him.
“Embrace this time the change of light,
With shorter days and longer nights,
The wheel has turned, the time will change,
The darker side of the Earth remains,
There’s magic in the LUNAR light,”
I peered through the glass roof high overhead. The Full Moon filled the space with her beautiful light, and the flower petal moths sparkled like a million stars in the night sky. Bringing the universe into full view. I felt a tremor in my hands, as that old feeling began to rise inside of me. My jaw clenched and my fingers flexed. I fought it back the best that I could. Fearful that my power would reveal itself in this place, potentially wiping out everyone and everything in its wake.
“No—no, no.” I chanted to myself. I pushed my hand against my stomach.
Nadia leaned into my side. “You’re not going to puke, are you?”
I shook my head then faked a smile.
I’d give almost anything for that to happen, and not what I knew was fighting its way through my blood. I shoved my hands behind my back when the traces of light rushed to my fingertips. I pursed my lips and closed my hand, cupping it with the other one.
Headmaster Mason continued the blessing.
“With intuition at its height,
The alchemy of Mother Earth,
From birth to death will come rebirth,
Rejoicing in this season, may it fill you with peace,”
My vision blurred and the scene changed before me. Instead of Gage, I could see another boy, one I had come to know as Athan. The same boy from my dream.
He stood there in white, holding the flower band, staring at me so lovingly.
I could hear my breath, my heart beat, my soul.
I looked upward and took in the lunar light, but I felt like I was in another place—another time—in someone else’s skin.
I blinked and the scene returned to normal as Headmaster Mason completed the blessing while staring right at me.
“And may the blessings of nature, for you, never cease!”
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself, as the boys approached us in a solid line. What had started out as something wonderful was turning into a nightmare, but no one else could see the visions, but me.
Students glitched in and out, from who they were to complete strangers. Like this ceremony had taken place in this very spot long ago.
A ceremony that included Athan, and Emma Green, along with other kids their age.
Kids the same age as me. The same age as Nadia, Cole, and Gage.
I could hear whispers to my right and left. My eyes shifted as beaded sweat collected on my brow.
Was I crazy? Had I completely lost it? Or was this a truth that was revealing itself to me?
A truth that had never been told before.
A truth that I had been tasked to unearth.
Gage knelt down before me, and took my foot, resting it on his knee. He lifted the band of delicate flowers and tied them around my ankle. His touch lingered. Gently caressing my skin. My muscles tightened, and my fingers flexed at my side.
Then it happened again, without control. His face changed back and forth, from himself to Athan, over and over again, while they simultaneously rose up before me.
I was breathing hard, with glossy eyes, and dry throat.
I stepped back when Gage tried to touch my face.
“No—don’t.” I whispered.
I knew this feeling. It was old and troubling. The light had returned and with it my inability to control my emotions. I shook my head, thinking about the bird, and the blackened circle beneath my feet.
I opened my palm and watched as light snaked its way under my skin. It was building—searching for a place to escape me once again.
It filled me with dread, so I looked up, with tear filled eyes and said the one thing I never wanted to say to him. “I don’t want you.”
I turned and ran in slow motion, pushing through apparitions of kids long past, and fellow classmates who were gawking at me with confused looks on their faces.
I blinked away the vision, feeling my heart shatter into a million pieces—but it wasn’t just my heart, it was also the heart of Emma Green, as she ran away from her love—her soul mate.
Her reason for living.
I broke through the crowd of students, out into the soft grass and clutched at the bottom of my dress racing toward the dark forest that called out to me. It tugged at my spirit, beckoning me—begging me—calling me home.
I stepped into the Forest of Emma Green to no sound.
Not a chirp, bellow, or call. Just deafening silence.
But I wasn’t alone—I could feel it in my bones.
I had been here before—dreamed this. Seen it.
I lifted my hand and turned it over to see light racing just beneath the surface. I moved it back and forth leaving a strand of light behind. I snapped my fingers and it sparked like a burning ember.
Eyes were upon me, studying me—judging me. Making me feel uncomfortable in my skin.
I peered upward and I could see small breaks in the trees, allowing slivers of light to penetrate the forest, landing in various sections and creating a pathway for me to follow.
Whispers rose on the wind—carrying my name.
“?ereht s’ohW” I asked, ‘who’s there?’ but my voice echoed into the void, playing backward and slow—like a vinyl record in reverse. “olleH” I added to no avail.
But there was no answer.
I began to move, placing my bare feet on soft moss, and twisted root. Pushing forward, following the light—the path that had been laid out before me. I paused when I spotted something out of the corner of my eye. But when I turned my head, nothing was there. Still, eyes bore into me, making this place darker and more precarious with each step that I took.
I couldn’t stop now. I couldn’t. I felt an obligation to see what or who was calling out to me.
So, I hurried my pace, as the anxiety spilled out, leaving blackened footprints in my wake. I looked down at the dress I was wearing. It was brilliant white, making me stand out in this dark place. I started to run—when panic gripped me. The whispering was now so close to each ear that it forced my head to spin and my heart to pound in my chest.
Then I broke into a clearing. It was a perfect circle filled with hemlock. One lone tree sat in the center of it all and against the base I spotted two people—a beautiful girl with light red hair, adorned with a brushed gold crown filled with jewels of many colors. I now understood the game at the party. It was based on her.
She had pale skin, and lips to match. She was cupping the hands of a boy with black hair. She pulled their hands to her cheek and closed her eyes. He plucked some hemlock
and placed it to her lips, as she did the same for him. Tears rolled down her cheeks and he wiped them away with one gentle swipe of his thumb.
“My father will come and find us.” She spoke softly to Athan, with eyes burning with belief. “And he’ll resurrect us—because he won’t let me die. And then we’ll be together, forever, you’ll see.”
Her words broke through me, piercing my heart. She was pleading with him to die with her, not because she wanted to leave this world, but because she believed that her father would find them and bring them back with the understanding of how much she loved Athan. She believed that her father wouldn’t abandon her, but I knew better. I knew the awful truth, just like I knew that my Dad had done the same to me and my Mom.
“Wait.” I spoke through the silence, but they ignored me. She began to recite the poem to him, and when she was done, he placed the hemlock to her lips and she did the same for him.
They fed the poisonous flower petals to each other, then laid down together at the base of the tree that was full of life. It bore apples and green leaves aplenty.
So different than it had been in my dream when the tree was a hollowed-out shell of what it had once been.
Day turned to night, and then day again. The sky spun from blue to raven black, holding clouds one minute, to a thousand sparks of light, the next.
I spun in place, swinging my hair out to my side, when I heard dogs barking off in the distance and the familiar sound of hooves. Then one lone rider stumbled upon the scene. His face was weathered and worn with sadness. Grief had formed lines next to his once-bright eyes, and dug trenches running from each nostril to his proud chin.
He was a King, with a brushed gold crown on top of his head, nestled in light red hair, that had lost its shine. His lips matched Emma Green’s.
It was her father.
His horse shifted in place while he stared upon the body of his daughter, and the boy who held her in his arms. I stepped forward, ready to beg him to jump down from his saddle, laden with gold and blue embroidery that matched the piece running the length of the stallion’s head.
