~Chapter 59~

Chapter Fifty-nine— In the Dark of the Night

          There was something rather eerie in the air while walking home. It was too dark, too quiet, and too empty. It was only eight fifteen at night- where would people be?

          I walked my usual route, and I figured my sisters wouldn’t be too far ahead. I wondered how Ronan and Fiona were doing, and if Sierra and Alia were still alright back in Mooshu.

          It’s like those times when it’s dark and then your brain is like, ‘Hey, you know what we haven't thought of in a while?  Good ol’ monsters that want to chew your face off.’ At every turn and every step, I half expected something dark and gruesome to happen. Even though these were probably just my nerves, I seriously felt as if I was being watched. I found myself looking over my shoulder more than once.

          It was when I was walking down a corridor, halfway to Ellie’s house, where I saw a shadow. It was seven feet tall, and black as ebony. Not a normal one. I still felt a little nautious, and I suddenly felt paranoid, which didn’t really help at all. I could just imagine Malistaire jumping out from a corner, his hands outstretched to choke me-

          I shuddered. Push away the creepy thoughts, I told myself, just push them away.

          In order to make myself stop thinking about the creepiness of the night, I thought of the professor. Had he really flirted with me? I recall feeling fireworks, yes, I admit. However, all he was doing was showing me how to kill people... With swords and such. And people thought that was sexy? Killing people?

          I was on the edge again, and I wish I could let it go. I wondered how exactly the professor knew my name, and I found it uncomfortable that I still didn’t know his. Then I felt stupid, because I asked useless questions when I should have asked him his name. Perhaps I had just panicked.

          Plus, it was weird to like a professor. Sure, he was around my age, but it’s still weird. You’re not supposed to like teachers.

          I stopped, and frowned to myself. To like? Oh no, my sisters are probably getting to me. I ran my hands through my hair stressfully, but jumped when I heard a loud, gurgling growl as I walked into a little clearing.

           I froze up inside, and slowly turned on my heels to face an entrance of a tunnel. I couldn’t see the end of the tunnel, for it was just pitch black. I heard a slight hissing coming from the darkness, and I took a step back, staring into the black hole of an entrance. I heard it coming closer, hissing, with the faint sound of footsteps becoming louder. The torches on the wall that held a dim fire suddenly became lively, causing shadows to dance along the walls of the entrance, making me realize that this was not just some student playing a trick. I felt evil here, and its presence didn’t like me. The only way to go was forward, into the tunnel, or to walk back to the classroom. I didn’t know any other routes home.

          My hand raised to my amulet, wondering if I should bring out my deadly sword. Was it worth it? What if this strange occurence is just my imagination? Cyrus Drake did say that the Academy was protected...

          But when the footsteps got closer, I squeezed my amulet and it quickly turned into the sword. When I pointed the sword at the tunnel, the growl seemed to vibrate all around me. I then forgot about what Cyrus had said before- something was here, and it was powerful enough to get through any bounderies the Academy had put up.

          Suddenly, I felt something jump on my back, bringing me to the floor, my sword sliding across the stone. I cursed and jerked my arm back, managing to hit whatever attacked me with my elbow. I turned myself over to face the attacker, and I felt my jaw hang low in shock from what I saw.

          There, standing over me, was one of the Demons. The Falsarium-Noctis.  I could tell, because his soulless eyes held no whites within them; it was pure black, like looking into a black hole of destruction and sorrow. He was olive-skinned, with dark stringy hair and a broad shouldered form. In his hand, he held a axe that gleamed in the firelight dangerously.

          I was sword-less. The demon brought the axe down on me faster than any other person, as if it was as light and easy as fighting with a knife. I managed to dodge his axe and make it closer to my sword, but then the blunt back of the axe, fortunately not the sharp part, smashed into the back of my head. I fell to the ground, feeling as if my skull had been cracked in half. I wasn’t used to fighting somebody immortal and just as strong as me, with such advantages of evil on his side.

          I shot a burst of light at the demon, and he shrunk back, hissing. I smelled burning flesh, and I stretched out my arm and managed to grab the cold hilt of my sword, which glowed at my touch. My head was throbbing and I felt a little dizzy, but I stood up at the exact moment the demon brought his axe on me, which I blocked with my sword.

          Golden red sparks flew, lighting up the air and scattering the floor. The sword was making a squealing sound against the axe, which groaned and the demon took another swing, and I blocked that one as well, making my sword vibrate. For the first time in my life, a sharp jolt of fear passed through me as I wondered if my sword would actually break.

          The demon whispered something, and I saw a blast of blackness shoot out from his axe, right into my chest. It seemed to rebound off of me, however, hitting a stone wall, causing it to tumble down, shattering in a heap of stone and brick and glass.

 Dust clouded over us, screwing with my vision and making me cough. However, I took advantage of the demon’s momentary surprise, and stabbed him in the stomach with my sword, digging in deeply. Through the dust, I cried out the reason of his surprise. “I’m immune to violent magic, you idiot.”

 He did not react, however. Instead, he looked down at the sword peirced in his stomach, and back at me, into my eyes. Then, as if nothing happened, he disappeared.

          The sword was covered in his black blood, but I was confused. Did he die? Where did he go? It was as if he evaporated into thin air. I lowered my sword from where it used to be in his stomach slowly, and I found myself spinning in a circle, expecting him to be there, somewhere. However, the clearing was empty. I took a breath of relief, as the torches of the fire stopped dancing, and the air stilled. It was silent.

          Suddenly, however, I felt a hand over my mouth, and I dropped my sword in terror as an arm fixed itself around my throat, making it so I couldn’t breathe. I tried biting his hand, but that only made him squeeze tighter. I could feel my head pulsing, my heart pounding, as I tried to kick and hit and wiggle my out of being suffocated. I wasn’t going to die. I couldn’t. I would pee on him, if I had to. I wasn’t going to let myself die; not this time, for there was nobody left to sacrifice themselves, even though that’s the last thing I’d want from somebody.

          Black spots were clouding my vision, growing larger until my whole vision blacked out. My head hurt, my lungs were burning, and I could feel myself go limp for a split second. My last clutch of reality was leaving me, as I clawed at the imaginary ropes to bring me back to life.

          But I’m not dead yet.

          I couldn’t see anything, and everything was becoming more quiet. However, I somehow heard a wolf’s howl, as if I was in a forest. I heard growls and hissing, with a roar and skin against skin. I felt my body fall to the ground, hitting the stone painfully, my blood suddenly rushing through my body frantically.

          Then it was gone. Silence. The only sound I heard was the faint sound of footsteps, near me, and my heart beating in my head, pushing against my chest. A pair of fingers gently stroked my face, as if to see if I was alright. I groaned, and the burning in my head and lungs slowly faded away, as I took deep breaths. My vision was slowly returning to me, blurry and disfigured. There was a face looming over me, with bright blue eyes, with hints of fair gold, reminding me of a sun shining over a field with a lovely baby blue sky.

          “Don’t move.” He whispered, close to my face. I recognized his voice, sending exhileration throughout my body, making my heart pound even harder. I sat up, but then cried out when the back of my head seared in sharp pain.

          “Aw, damn it.” I murmured, feeling blind again. “It hurts.”

          “I told you not to move.” The Defense teacher sighed, pushing me back down. “He was strong enough to decapitate you with his arms. Let me heal you.”

          “Why is it that I always almost die, and somebody saves me during fights like these?” I groaned, feeling a tingling sensation in my head.

          “Because you haven’t been trained to expect the unexpected, obviously.” He muttered with irritation.

          I blinked, making my vision less dizzy and more clear. I saw his silhouetted figure, darkened, in front of me- with his beautiful eyes that I so recognized. “Who the hell are you..?”

          “Quiet.” He replied sharply, touching the back of my head. I felt a warm tingle where it hurt, and the pain quickly faded away, no longer throbbing. “Angel or not, you shouldn’t run into so much danger all the time.”

          I widened my eyes, and slapped his hand away from me. “No, seriously, who are you? How do you even know my name?”

          “Mary-“

          “And how did you make that demon go away? Is that even possible-“

          “Mary, damn it, just listen-“

          “Take off your mask. Take it off right now.” I demanded, standing up while I glared at him. I felt my eyes tearing up, wondering if it was truly possible.

          He took a step away from me, and I finally got a close up look of him. It was his body, his hair, his skin. Every characteristic of him proved that he was who I thought he was, but I needed to see his face.

          Or I had to be dreaming.

          He didn’t move. He didn’t take off his mask. “Who do you think I am?”

          I swallowed, but couldn’t seem to find the ability to say the name. “You’re dead. He’s dead.”

          The professor lifted up his chin, eying me. “I think I remember who you are talking about.”

          I stared at him, in shock. “What? Who, then?” I hadn’t even said his name. How could he know who I was talking about, and even then, to remember? Unless he was the person I think he was...

          “He spoke of a woman of beauty and… A fire in her heart.” He began to walk around me, as if studying me. “I presume he only spoke of you, as I can see.”

          I felt my hands shaking, and grief began to creep up on me again. My mind told me to back away, to run, and to find somewhere where I couldn’t get hurt- but I stood frozen in my place. “You’re making no sense to me.”

          “He said that he was to find the lady of golden hair and rosy-lipped. He was forever condemned to you, and I fixed him.”

          My breath halted, knowing the answer when I asked the question. “What did you do to him?”

          “Like you thought. He’s dead.”

          I froze up inside, feeling as though I wanted to die inside. “You’re lying. You’ve been here for a year, and Caspian wasn’t dead that long.”

          “How did you feel?” He asked cruelly. “When you figured out he was dead? Did you love him?” I swallowed dryly at this question, and I didn’t want to answer. “You should be grateful that I had murdered him, for it would have saved him from realizing who you really are.”

          I glared at him, fists clenched. “You are on dangerous grounds. I was nothing but a person to look at to him, and if thats not the truth, then what am I?”

          “Your trust, Mary, is what caught his attention. Your never-ending trust that never existed. Now, tell me truly, when you found out that he was dead, did you brush it off as if it was just another little bump in the road, or did you take a second of silence for the slimmest sign of respect for the dead?”

          “Stop acting like I didn’t care.” I cried out, stepping closer to him, having a strong urge to hurt him. To blast him across the room, if maybe. It was difficult to keep my voice from breaking in the pain I was feeling when I spoke. “I died that day.”

          I walked away from him, leaving the area. I stopped, however, when he said the despicable words I wanted to hear the least. “You lie.”

          I turned to him, pushing back the tears clouding my vision. I walked over to him, grabbed his face, and tore off his mask harshly. I stepped back, staring at him, feeling a trickle of a tear rolling down my face. “How dare you? To make me believe you were dead.”

          Caspian looked at me truly for the first time in so long, almost sympathetic. “I never told you I was dead in the first place. That was all you, and I played along. I don’t even know why you believed I was dead, or how you didn’t even recognize who I was as a professor, even with a damn mask on.”

          “I died, Caspian.” My voice shook. “A man named Juan tricked me into thinking I could get rid of these demons who are after us, who are connected to my father, so if he dies, they all die. I have his blood in my veins, and he told me that if I died, my sisters would be saved from those demons.” I took a step closer to him, wanting him to feel my pain. “I fought him when I realized his trickery and he stabbed me with some demonic knife that could kill me. A young girl sacrificed her life so I could live, but when I was dead, I saw you. I saw you when I was dead.”

          Caspian blinked, momentarily surprised. “You died? And yet, after you saw me when you were… Dead, you didn’t talk to anybody to see if I was really gone.” Caspian stood there stiffly, as if he didn’t believe me. “Instead, you probably told everybody I was dead, caused my little sister heartbreak, and screwed up your ownself because of your stupidity-“

          “Well maybe its because I’ve experienced so many deaths that I’m used to the shock of each death, then rejecting the possibility that they’re dead, and then having to face the hard truth that they actually are dead.” I put my arms around myself, and another tear rolled down my face. I wished I could stop crying, but there was so much emotion built up inside of me. “I thought you were dead, Caspian. I never want to go through that again.”

          Something in Caspian softened, and he put his arms around me and cradled me in his arms, as I buried my face in his chest. He smelled like nature, or how it smells after it rains or the faint scent of flowers and grass in the wind on a sunny day. He was warm and comforting, and so very real. Solid. Not dead.

          “You’re like a baby, you know.” He whispered in my ear. “You’re needy, like a child.”

          I hesitated, and then moved away from his embrace. “Why are you so irritated with me? You were so mean.”

          “You have a strong heart, with fears and desires and loves, just like everybody else. But you’re ignorant and stupid. You cannot save everyone, Mary, and not everyone wants to be saved.”

          I crossed my arms. “I don’t care if you hate me, because I probably deserve it after what I did to you back in Marleybone. All I want right now is for you to come home with me, so the others can know you’re alive. Especially Abigail.”

          “Yes, I remember that night in Marleybone. The last time we saw each other. What was that curse again- oh yes, your little ‘love’ problem. Not so dangerous after all in the end, eh?”

          “I came back to life becoming immune to any magical boundaries or curses. I am not in danger anymore.” I answered back strictly. “We’ve been watching ourselves.”

          “Right.”

          “We have.” I wondered if it was the truth- we were at the age of wanting love, after all. What about Nikki and her doctor? What then, if it is real?

          “Well, I suppose it’s all peachy now, since you can fall in love with anybody you want.” Caspian spoke through gritted teeth. “It just won’t be me.”

          I was rather shocked, and almost speechless, but I managed to speak through my surprise. “I know I said that I didn’t care if you hated me, but it would be nice to know why.”

          He gave me a strange look. “Old friend.” He says the words slowly, tasting it. “Target. Angel. Warrior.  Ally, yet an enemy.  I'll add it to the list of words I use to try to figure out who you really are, and how to act around you. The problem is that I can't tell what's real anymore, and what's made up. Tell me, have you ever been hurt so many times that you believe that you deserve paradise, and yet, that beautiful paradise you see in your sight rejects you, and forever condemns you to what you are in present day?”

          I cocked my head. “I don’t understand.”

          “Of course you don’t, because you don’t know your part in this.” He replied sharply. “And you never will, for I don’t need that paradise anymore, because it was an illusion.”

          I laughed, even though nothing was funny. “You’re ridiculous. We’re going home now, and you’re going to stop your riddles.”

          Caspian glared at me, wiping the tiniest smile off of my face. “I won’t fall this easily this time. Not for you, not ever.”

          I crossed my arms, feeling awkward and as if I had just been harshly lectured, causing my mental self to feel raw and opened reluctantly. “We’re done with this conversation. I am already pissed that a demon, especially the Falsarium-Noctis, had gotten inside the Academy and through the boundaries. We are in serious danger.”

          “So what now?”

          I sighed, confused on where to go. “I suppose we can go to the Headmaster, but I feel as though he’s already doing his best. Unless, of course, he’s a traitor, which I doubt.”

          “Why do you doubt it?” Caspian asked, walking through the darkened tunnel with me, his boots soundless against the stone. “He’s powerful, and I haven’t seen him do anything except ‘protecting’ us, and there is little proof that he is actually doing it unless you look closely.”

          “Ambrose fought Malistaire for me.” I explained warily. “He helped me along with my quest of the Seraphina-Alleyen. He is on our side, I know it.”

          “Just think,” Caspian made a little twisted smile. “What a turn of events it would be if Merle Ambrose was against us.”

          “Really, Caspian.” I groaned. “Not in the mood for more stress.”

          “I’m just saying…”

          We stopped and stared at each other for a few moments, and he raised his eyebrow. “Well?”

          “What?”

          “What do you think? I don’t know where you live.”

          “Oh!” I jumped, realizing how late I actually was. I wondered if the others were worried. I bet Bell was making perverted jokes at the moment, for she had left me alone with the Defense teacher- well, Caspian. “Sorry. Follow me.”

          I led him through the tunnel that the demon had came through, as he followed silently behind. “So, where have you been since Marleybone? You’re still wanted there for execution.”

          “I’m wanted everywhere for execution.” I replied quietly, turning right. I could see the house in the distance. “I traveled to Mooshu and met a Peacemaker, who is currently with our ship’s captain right now. We saved the Emperor of Mooshu from dying and got through the Fairytale curse, killed a huge demonic elephant… Oh, and escaped from Malistaire and some of his army when he attacked Mooshu, which is when we found Elizabeth, the Angel of Love and Beauty, and Danielle, the Angel of Nature. We left to Dragonspyre to meet a friend of Elizabeth’s, because he could help us on our quest. His name is Wolf Deathbringer; you may know him, since he’s a fellow teacher.”

          “Oh. Him.” Caspian spoke with no emotion. He walked with his hands in his pockets, and a lock of his hair fell into his eyes as a cool breeze blew past us. I turned my head forward, trying not to think of how I feel with him being here. “Yes, I know him. The Umbrata Venustus teacher. We’ve barely spoken.”

          I coughed, and turned left, wondering how exactly to ask the question I wanted to. “How did you make the Falsarium-Noctis go away?”

          Caspian frowned. “Personally, I didn’t even think it was a demon. He looked human. I followed you, and don’t ask me why, because I felt as though I was being driven for no meaning.” Caspian spoke with a slight hint of awkwardness. “I saw you fight him, and how he choked you…”

          “But what did you do?” I asked curiously. “He is an extremely powerful and violently dangerous demon that can be harmful and perhaps deadly to even somebody like me, an Angel. He is as strong as us, maybe even more powerful. My father sacrificed a boy’s life to the Death Titan for five demons, so they can kill us. Abby was not included, however, because she is only half Seraphina-Alleyen. What I don’t understand is how you managed to chase him off- I mean, I heard all these wolf-like howls and roars and fighting. What had you done to him to make him sound like that?”

          Caspian swallowed, looking slightly uncomfortable. “I’m a Defense professor. I defended you. I shot him with a spell and he let you go. Then he disappeared.”

          I felt as though he was lying, but we walked on. “Alright. Tell me what you’ve done while we were away from each other.”

          Caspian did a low whistle, and stared off into the distance. “Looking for you.”

          I glanced at him, and I felt a slight urge to smile. I pushed it off, though, not wanting him to see how happy that made me. “But then you became a professor?”

          He shrugged. “Wizard City and Krokotopia are in danger. Marleybone has been taken over by Malistaire, therefore all the dangerous devices that are made there is now his. Mooshu is on the verge of being taken over, because it’s a world that can easily connect with the spirit world, therefore whatever demons or negative spirits Malistaire wants to summon will easily come forth in the world of Mooshu.”

          “So you came here.”

          Caspian nodded. “So I came here. I needed a place here, so I became a teacher. I have a large area of which I’m living in, because I’m the son of a very wealthy family, along with being a professor which gives us advantages. I let in homeless people a lot, as well, but they tend to be messy and take up space. It’s sad to see them outside, though.”

          I stopped, and so did he. We were standing on the lawn of Ellie’s house, and I saw that the kitchen lights were on. I saw Ronan and Fiona at the kitchen table, having a rather quiet conversation with many others, who I couldn’t particularly see. I looked at Caspian and grimaced, wondering how people were going to react. “Ready?”

          “Yeah, maybe they will recognize me better than you did.” I was surprised when he glared at me, as he walked in front of me and up to the door.

          He knocked.

          I walked up beside him, and whispered. “You really hate me, do you?”       

          He didn’t answer.

          I sighed, and opened up the door for him. Inside was warm, but there was nobody in the entrance room. Everybody was in the kitchen, laughing and talking. I put my stuff on a chair, and gestured to Caspian to follow. I walked slowly to the entrance of the kitchen, where I told Caspian to stop quietly.

          I stood at the entrance of the kitchen as Ronan and Fiona stood near the window with Ellie’s parents, and the others sat down at the table. My sisters and Lyra were there, but what really caught my attention was the Headmaster, who looked rather guilty and much too worried.

          “Mary...”

          “Can somebody tell me why the hell I was attacked by a demon?” I demanded, glaring at Ambrose. I didn’t say the demon’s actual name for the sake of Ellie’s parents, and a few others that didn’t know the truth about the S.A. “I was told directly and clearly that the boundaries of the Academy were extremely protected, am I right?”

          Ambrose turned to the adults and Lyra. “Please, if you don’t mind, I’d like a moment with the girls. It will be quick.”

          “Are you sure?” Lina sounded worried, almost shaken. “This is a big deal-“

          “It’s alright.” Ambrose waved at them to exit the room, and they did reluctantly. I was grateful they left the room to the living room, and not the entrance room, where Caspian stood hidden in the shadows of the doorway of the kitchen, listening silently.

          “Are you alright, Mary?” Ellie asked hurriedly. “Did you get hurt?”

          “Oh no, I’m fine, except the part where I almost died. No worries, though.” I replied sarcastically.

          “What about the professor-“

          “What did the demon look like-?”

          “What happened when you were attacked-?”

          “Stop.” I ran my hands through my hair in frustration. I turned my head slightly to the entrance, where I heard a sound coming out from the shadows.

They suddenly fell silent, and there was something in the air that told me that everything just changed. I saw Abby pale, and I thought she was going to pass out.

“He happened.” I whispered, swallowing dryly. Abby stood up slowly, and stared behind me as if Caspian was only a mere illusion of her imagination.

          I walked to the sink and leaned against the counter as Caspian stood in the doorway, like an apparition. Abby’s hands began to shake, and she grabbed on to a chair to steady herself. “Caspian..?”

          “Hey sis, good to see you again.”

          “Y-you’re not dead?” She whispered.

          Caspian did a little smile. “No. It was a misunderstood situation. I never died.”

          Abby smiled suddenly, and ran into his arms. He hugged her tightly, as she sobbed into his chest. “You’re alive. My brother is alive!”

          She pulled away from him, tears glistening upon her cheeks. She had a brilliant smile upon her face, one that I hadn’t seen in a long time. Caspian noticed this, and shouted out. “My little sister smiles- alert the media!”

          Abby shook her head and laughed, and gave her brother another hug. “What happened?”

          “Who knows? Apparently, Mary saw me when she was dead-ified. If I had died, it would have probably been when I was sleeping, although I’m still walking and breathing, so I don’t know what the hell she was spending her time doing.”

          “Well, maybe there was some connection between you guys. I mean, Mary did die.” Ellie’s breath halted suddenly and she exchanged glances with us with a rather surprised look on her face. I then felt my heart drop. “This, unfortunately, reminds me of something… Dreadful. There may be more death to come.”

          Caspian’s face turned dead serious. “Why is that?”

          Everybody exchanged glances awkwardly, and I sat in a kitchen chair. Bell spoke up sorrowfully. “Nobody told you, did they?”

 “Told me what?”

          “Mary, Nikki, and I went to the Oracle on the second day of training.” Bell explained quietly. She looked at Nikki. “Mind repeating the prophecy she gave us?”

Nikki coughed, looking back into her memories. “The bleeding night shall unfold, and through the eyes of a betrayer you will gain regretful peace, and a lover will withhold the yearning of the crescent moon behind the forest’s blackened trees.”

“A traitor is in our midst.” Ambrose interrupted, listening carefully to the prophecy. He seemed to shift uncomfortably in his chair

“Evil will be awakened in the midst of opposite powers,” Nikki continued, “And the loss of a scarlet rose with the eyes of the moon will grip the son of a man who forgets his name.The life of a father shall live once more, while his daughter deceased in the abyss of flame and scarlet blood. The father of darkness shall never leave the mind of thee.”

          Caspian sat into a kitchen chair with a look of disbelief. “The life of a father shall live once more, while his daughter deceased in the abyss of flame and scarlet blood. The father of darkness shall never leave the mind of thee.” He spoke as if he was tasting the words on his lips. “Mary’s not going to die.”

          I looked at him. “How do you know?”

“The Oracle gives us prophecies with the past, present, and future within them. Somewhere in this prophecy, there is the past, the present, and the future.” Ambrose explained before Caspian could speak. “We’ve been betrayed before, but just in case this traitor is in the future, we must be careful to whom we speak to and what we talk about. That strictly means the information that there may be a traitor must never leave this room.”

“It won’t.” Sophia assured him. However, I was already thinking about the deathly part of the prophecy once again.

“The life of a father shall live once more...” I spoke, tasting it in my mouth. “While his daughter deceased in the abyss of flame and scarlet blood... By the Fates.” I whispered. “You’re right. It’s not me. I have golden blood.”

          “We know.”

          “The Oracle stated in her prophecy that a daughter will die in flame and scarlet blood, therefore she would probably be burned alive, but she is a person with scarlet blood- not golden, like mine.” My eyes widened. “Its the past.”

          “The past? Are you sure?”

          “I’m sure.” I sighed, staring out the window. Ronan got up to get another cup of tea for Fiona, as they watched. “I’m pretty sure its talking about Sabrina, my biological sister.”

          “And so that means...”

          “My stepfather is still alive, as well.”

          “Wow.” Bell commented in surprise. “I bet nobody expected that.”

          “Well, its an easy guess, really.” I replied. “I had not really thought about it as much, which is probably why I didnt see it the first time.”

          “We are off topic.” Ambrose suddenly declared, rather loudly. “I am here because Mary Ravengem was attacked by one of the Falsarium-Noctis. They are immensely powerful, even more than I thought. If the demons can get in, so can Malistaire, which puts us in terrible danger every second. Unforunately, the boundary is already as powerful as we can get it...”

I stared at him. “Why hasn’t he attacked us with his army, yet?”

Because,” Ambrose explained. “Even with an army of the undead on his side, he is not ready. There is always a chance that he may lose, and he can’t take that chance.  He’s been gathering powerful wizards and beings, and the ones who refused had been murdered.” Ambrose put some newspaper clippings on the table, showing them to us. “There has been at least sixty-five killings of powerful wizards and nearly impossible to kill creatures in the last three weeks. That has never happened once in history. The fact that Malistaire has taken over Marleybone and Krokotopia and is soon to take over Mooshu is a very bad sign.”

“Wait, the Krokonomicon is in Marleybone-“

“Malistaire has the Krokonomicon. He was one step ahead of you when you traveled to Marleybone, Mary. He had Queen Cecelia right in the palm of his hand, and she gave him the Krokonomicon. That is the only way he was able to get passed the boundaries, which are now useless.”

“Well, what are you saying? There’s no hope?”

Ambrose exchanged glances with us seriously. “We have hope, but you must remember that we are also losing, and the battle hasn’t even begun. The most important worlds of the Spiral are in serious anarchy because the High Council hasn’t done anything about Malistaire, and people are starting to become rebellious, which is causing more destruction.”

I glanced at Caspian. “Isn’t the High Council secret?”

Caspian folded his arms and sat into a chair, leaning back. “Only the people who are in the High Council are secret, but the Council itself is not secret. It isn’t talked about much, so it may come off as secret, but it’s in history books and all that. The Council itself is so old that many people have forgotten about it, though.”

“What do you mean the High Council isn’t doing anything about it?” Nikki asked, ignoring Caspian, looking at the Headmaster rather alarmed. “It’s their responsibility.”

“Why do you think this chaos has lasted so long?” Ambrose asked, looking withered and tired. “I am beginning to question my roles in the High Council myself.”

“Well, I can fix that, can’t I?” Nikki asked worriedly. “I’m the High Priestess. I control them.”

“Of course, but you dont know the Council’s customs. You have the noble blood within you, which indeed helps, but it is stated in the laws of the Council that they can vote you off of being a hier-even if you have the proper bloodline to the throne- if you do not have the correct intelligence to rule over the highest Council that ever existed, and one of the oldest. It is also a huge difficulty for you to get to the Council itself, considering that it is in a very far away world, and it would take months to travel. We need you here more than they need you there.” Ambrose explained clearly, his glass eye shining in the lamplight eerily.  

“That law wasn’t there when my father was controlling it...” Nikki frowned, suddenly looking angry.

Ambrose shook is head. “The Council has changed, Melissa.” Nikki looked uncomfortable being called her maiden name, and she slumped in her seat, disappointed in what her father’s Council is like in present day. “However, there is something you could do.”

Nikki’s eyes lit up. “Truly?”

Ambrose nodded. “The Dragonspyre Academy librarian knew your father. I believe he has a few journals of him in his office, some of which you might want to see. There could be important information that your father never told you.”

“Really?”

“Yes. However, I will not allow you to visit the Library during training hours, but you may have weekends to yourself.”

“Well, this is all fine-and-dandy and all, and I’m not trying to ruin any happy moments here, but we have a problem, guys- and when I say problem, I mean global crisis here.” Bell announced ruggedly. “Our protective boundary screwed us all and we have tiny ants for warriors. No offense, but we need more bad-ass soldiers, and we don’t have any. How the hell are we going to fix these problems when we’re chatting about the anarchy of the Spiral and cheerful reunions from the past?”

“Easy,” Caspian answered simply. “We scatter.”

“Scatter?”

“We aren’t going to find more people here.” Caspian explained, leaning forward with a sudden spark of interest. “Everybody else outside of the Academy has either joined Malistaire, or is dead, which isn’t much help, unless we end up summoning the dead, which is both disturbing and gross.” Bell sniggered at that, but shut up at his serious look. “What we need is people from Wizard City, Mooshu, and Krokotopia and Marleybone if possible-“

“I will send word of help to a few worlds of my own, such as Celestia, Zafaria, and Avalon. However, the pirates of Monquista and Valencia won’t be much help, even though they’ve been increasing in large amounts; I’ve had too many horrid experiences with them. They are too far off into the Spiral to contact, anyhow…”  Ambrose added, as we looked at each other with confused faces.

“Where are the places he is talking about?” I asked Nikki, whispering. “I’ve never heard of those worlds before.”

“There are a lot of worlds in the Spiral, Mary.” Nikki whispered back. “Even I haven’t studied them.”

“So, if we split up…” I began, wondering if splitting up was truly the right thing to do. “What happens to Dragonspyre Academy?”

“We’ll have to talk to Wolf about this.” Ellie decided, crossing her arms. “He will know something, and maybe we can help, with our Angelic powers. The more Umbrata Venustus, the better, as well.”

“Yes, it’d be nice if Mr. Deathbringer was here…” Ambrose’s voice trailed off softly. “However, it’s late at night and this happened rather unexpectedly. We will have professors patrolling the borders of the Academy until tomorrow, where we will discuss the problems of the boundaries. Mr. Deathbringer will also assist you in the matters of ‘seperating’, if that is truly your idea.”

“Wait-“Caspian looked rather irritated and quite surprised. “Wolf knows about the Seraphina-Alleyen? When did you tell him?”

“He… Kind of figured it out for himself.” Ellie replied, laughing slightly, even though nothing was funny. “He’s smart that way.”

“What about Natalia’s funeral, and my family?” I asked suddenly, remembering my plans for Saturday morning.

“I am sorry, Mary, but these are tough times. If you could wait three years for your family, and a few months for Natalia, you can go next weekend.” Ambrose replied sharply. “Christmas is in three weeks, perhaps you can do it then.”

“Caspian?” Abby called out her brother’s name to ease the tension in the air between Ambrose and I, and I slumped into my chair, feeling rather exhausted and grumpy.

          “Yeah?”

          “Where have you been all this time? How did Mary even find you?”

          Caspian chuckled. “I’m the Defense teacher.”

          That almost knocked Bell off her seat, causing her platinum blonde hair to fall all over her face as we jumped in our seats, startled at the sudden loud noise of the clumsiness of Bell. “What the hell!”

          “I knew it!” Ellie cried out, clapping with joy. “I knew something was going on!”

          I shook my head sharply to Ellie when Caspian gave her a weird look. Ellie’s mouth did an ‘o’ shape, when she realized that Caspian didn’t know my feelings.

          “But thats not how we found each other... I’m the one that actually saved her.” Caspian smirked, looking rather superior. I scowled at him and rolled my eyes.

           “Well, we figured that.” Sophia responded simply. “But what in the worlds did you do to fight off something like that?”

          Lyra suddenly poked her head into the kitchen, cutting off Caspian’s reply. She looked quite pale, almost sickly, really. I hadn’t noticed that before. “It’s been a long time. Can we come back in, now?”

          The Headmaster checked the time. “Yes, indeed, it’s been a while. I suppose I have to go, for the faculty must now of this urgent boundary issue...”

          “Ronan and Fiona already left, by the way.” Lyra added while stifling a yawn. “And my parents went to bed.”

          “Aww,” I complained quietly. “I was hoping to talk to Ronan and Fiona for a little bit. I haven’t spoken to them in a long time.”

          Lyra shrugged. “They said they might come back tomorrow, it’s just been stressful for them.”

          “All that work just to share the same room...” Bell uttered, rolling her eyes. “Sheesh.”

          “They should have become a professors.” Caspian laughed, heading towards the living room. “We live in mansions. I did have some roommates once, but they moved out into places with more friends and family.”

          “You’re lucky.” Nikki crossed her arms stubbornly. “We have barely any room. Mary and I have been sleeping in an attic, and there are a whole bunch of homeless people who would be begging for the loveliness of living in a mansion.”

          “Well, most of those people are homeless for a reason, if you didnt know.” Caspian told us near the door, staring at the crackling fire in the fireplace. “They never tried.”

          “Whatever, rich boy.” Abby grinned and circled Caspian like he was her prey. “Just leave us here all alone, sleeping in attics with blood stains on the floor like creepy murderers...”

          Caspian’s eyes seemed to light up mischeviously, and he shook his head, laughing. “Are you asking me if you could all live at my estate?”

          “What?” I raised my eyebrow. “No. Definitely not.”

          “Oh, yes!” Bell clapped happily. “I wouldn’t mind living in a mansion.”

          “I love home, but it’d be nice to get out for a while.” Ellie smiled cheerfully. “We can move in- I don’t care.”

          “Come on, guys.” I groaned. “Dont do this.”

          “Mary...” Abby groaned, putting her hands on my shoulders. “Please? You owe me for making me believe my brother was dead. Plus, do you want to sleep in the attic with the blood stains of Ellie’s kills?”

          “Hey!”

          “Ugh.” I looked back at the staircase. “What will your parents think, Ellie?”

          Ellie shrugged. “They wont mind. I’m old enough, and they probably want me to live in my own place, anyhow-”

          “Ah, touchy subject. It’s my estate, not yours.” Caspian interrupted, but the others ignored him.  

          “What if it’s awkward-?”

          “Oh please, babe, you want to live with this.” Caspian pointed to himself and I smacked him in the stomach. “Ow.”

          “Fine. You can live all alone in Ellie’s house and be a weirdo.” Sophia grinned and punched my softly in the shoulder. “Or you could join us and be even weirder.”

          “You know what- fine. I agree.” I spoke reluctantly through gritted teeth. “But if we get raped by Caspian’s guy friends, don’t come complaining to me.”

          “Well, I am off.” Ambrose pushed passed us, and I felt my face turn red. I wondered if he heard what I had just said, for it would have been quite innappropriate in front of a Headmaster. He didn’t seem interested, however, and walked out into the front steps of the house. He nodded his final goodbye with a small smile, and disappeared in the flash of a port.

          “So, since its Saturday tomorrow, perhaps we can move in then?” Abby asked hopefully, still looking at the place from where Ambrose had just stood.

          “Wait a second.” I put my hands on my hips, frustrated. “How will we have time to move households when we don’t have time to go to the Necropolis?”

          “You do realize that the Necropolis is about ten miles away, right? That means about two hours on foot.” Caspian asked, and I felt my face burn. “ If on horseback, an hour."

          “Plus, we don’t have much stuff, anyways. It will take an hour.” Nikki smiled at me, almost encouragingly.

          I sighed and walked passed them, towards the staircase. “Then tomorrow will be busy. I am tired and I am going to sleep. Goodbye all.”

          “Night, darling!” Caspian called out to me, as I scowled at him and did the finger at him.

          “We love you too!” Bell responded to the middle finger, as I stifled a smile.

          I left them as they stood at the doorway, whispering and giggling, into the attic of Ellie’s kills and hidden histories to go to sleep for the very last time in Ellie’s home.

          Tomorrow, I thought, will be the beginning of great awkwardness and wonderful business.

And that is the end of chapter 59! I was going to put more into it, but I couldn't fit it in, for it would have been too long. (like, 30-40 pages.) So.... It wasn't as epic as I expected, haha- but that doesn't mean nothing happened! Yup yup. Anyhoo... This wasn't one of my best chapters, but there are some pretty epic stuff coming up later as we get closer to the final part of my story, which unfortunately, isn't that far away. Yes, so surprising! The last chapter is going to be like AHHHH.
But no worries. I'll be making a sequel, because my friends had begged me for one. *wink* Chapter 60 will be up in the next week or so, considering that I've been pretty busy and stuff.
'Till next time~
-Bloody Mary <3