Chapter Nine
Souxie Lafayette
“Spirits!” Professor Langley said as he wrote on the chalkboard. I glanced at the empty seat beside me wondering where Ayira could be. “Are the children of elements and magic! They are the reincarnations of elements and magic! Earth’s natural wonders! The universe’s natural wonders!”
I looked down at my tote bag when my phone lit up and saw bits of Quan’s black hair scattered everywhere.
No one has heard from Maggie or Ayira this morning.
Even after sending a good morning text and scheduling a day to research spells, there was nothing.
I knew Maggie would be mad because it seems like no one is on her side when in reality, everything that is happening is because of her and for her.
“Spirits are rare but not as rare as one may think!” The professor said as he walked over to his desk to flip through the pages of the textbook.
“Gaia, the moon Goddess is said to be one of the most famous deities in the Underground next to Sol, Terra, and Kai…these are your famous moon, sun, earth and water names when they bind their spirit to attach to a soul and take the form of humans to create magic, yes?”
I began writing notes before glancing at the door just as it opened. A teacher gave us a short wave of her hand before quickly rushing to whisper something in the professor’s ear. When his eyes widened, he looked back down at her.
“That happened this morning?” He whispered. She nodded. “Well is he alright?”
“Check your phone,” she motioned before hurrying back out.
“Professor, it says here Gaia in Greek mythologies was originally named the Earth Goddess or personification of Earth.”
“Are we not older than their civilization?” He asked as he pushed his glasses up before turning to write on the board.
“When they mark history as fact and true, that does not mean it is the start of ours. Gaia is not her original name, no… Somewhere along the lines during colonization and twisted history, things became erased and recreated through storytelling so yes, Gaia means earth but in other cultures, it can mean something else. She goes by many names…Mawu, Iah, Gieti, Kalunga…there are several names she goes by. The earth hosts the elements and magic, but the moon can control it just like the sun…Just like Sol, the big sister…The original elements that were here without human interference or magical references.”
I watched him write down the elements on the board as I listened carefully.
“Water is the oldest of the cosmic family. You have the sun…the spark…the life force and awakening. The sun warmed the waters and created Earth, the foundation and host to all of us, and then there is the moon…an emotional and unstable force to be reckoned with was created when it collided with earth. The moon is the only one to take the form of a human vessel as we know it. The sun opted for which mythical being instead? What is the sun’s first spiritual bind that was introduced to the universe? Can anyone guess?”
A few raised their hands as he pointed.
“Dragons.”
“Exactly…Dragons…. If you look at African traditional beliefs, dragons are loosely associated with serpents. There are some that are associated with water and fertility and being responsible for creating oceans and seas which brings me back to the relationship of Sun and Water being the oldest in the family.”
I glanced down at my phone again seeing Namir text me asking if I’ve spoken to Maggie. So I quietly texted back while listening to the professor.
“If Ms. Danielle was here in class, I would use her as an example but the Kingdom, here in the Underground, is one of if not the oldest black native civilization on earth and they are called the Solhari. The keyword being Sol…people of the sun…The land of the Undying Sol.”
I glanced at the empty desk again, feeling a little off about her absence.
“Now, earth decided humans, and mammals would be its vessel that eventually became known to be destructive, and violent towards one another. It’s the biggest flaw in the cosmetic family where humans evolved into beings that partake in racism, slavery, war, famine, greed…
Earth decided it needed deities in order to control the chaos he gave birth to; thus religion, Gods, angels, sins, and sacrifice were born.
Water being the oldest, and wisest took no vessel…
If Kai wanted to, Kai could get rid of all of this in one swoop,” he said with a wave of his hand as he laughed.
“Kai and Sol being the two oldest, water and sun…although complete opposites, they always seem to work well together. The same for Terra and Luna or Gaia and Moon…They go hand in hand.”
Professor Langley began writing on the board before walking over to his desk to skim through the textbook.
He started to say something, but my eye caught a flicker of chalk dust falling from the corner of the board.
I started to take notes again, circling each element’s name and their purpose before writing Ayira under sun and Maggie under moon.
“You have the rare chance that these cosmetic elements, the original elements, decide to spiritually combine with a mythic or magic to create a rare being…”
The whispering and chatting behind me started to grow as my face pinched with irritation.
I specifically took this class to learn exactly what Maggie is so I could better understand and help her, but the constant chatter and noise was going to be a problem.
I started to look up with a raised hand before freezing.
I watched the white chalk draw itself on the board as if someone stood behind the professor to write.
Langley was still flipping through his book and talking but something was behind him taking over the board.
A student has been attacked on the Grounds
They want me to stay silent.
Their fear of the First Family comes before the safety of the Underground.
No more…
My mouth dropped as the words continued to carve into the board, repeating line for line.
My heart felt like it was stuck in my throat when the words suddenly puffed up into a cloud of white smoke, disappearing as soon as the professor turned around.
No one said a word. I could hear some students whisper they didn't see anything or didn't, which meant only a few were able to see it. Was it only witches?
Where the hell was Maggie and Ayira?
As soon as class was over, I gathered my things and walked out with my phone already against my ear to call Namir.
Normally, I would not be pressing this man like this, but this was borderline an emergency.
So when he didn’t answer, I decided to make my way to Legacy Park.
I could see Harmless Harvey standing up against the tree with two other guys wearing maroon quarter zips and khaki pants with ties.
One nodded towards me as Harvey turned around with his eyes blacking out at the sight of my presence.
I knew he would ditch his friends and come following behind me until he grabbed my arm to get me to stop walking.
I almost snapped but instead smiled as I calmed myself down.
There’s no need to let anyone know there is something wrong.
“Did you hear what happened?” He asked as he gently squeezed my elbow.
“What happened?” I asked as I tucked my hair behind my ears. Harvey’s eyes darkened before blacking out together as he licked his lips.
“Someone put out a message to the witches at the school,” he said as my interest immediately piqued. “Someone was attacked earlier this morning by the First Family.”
I felt my heart swell in my throat, but I blinked through the growing anxiety as I sighed.
“And that is what everyone is speaking about?” I asked as I began to walk, letting him stay by my side.
“Surely you’ve seen it,” he said as he pushed his glasses up with a scrunch of his nose. “Some of the teachers are trying to ignore it but it's looking like one big magical hack in the system. Did you not hear about it or see it?”
I shook my head with a frown.
“Afraid not.”
Harvey stared at me as I began texting Namir, too distracted to entertain his nonsense, and yet he insisted on still walking with me.
“Something is up,” he accused. “You’re anxious.”
“I’m fine Harvey…”
We stepped into Legacy Park where your prestigious students were busy milling around with their books and uptight uniforms. Everyone was in and out with a few students hanging on the balcony watching the rest of us walk below.
I walked up to Maggie and Ayira’s door seeing it was cracked open, so I stepped inside and immediately heard a familiar voice.
Harvey and I walked further in when a woman peeked her head around the corner of the living room.
She smiled, wiry grin exposing her teeth as she stepped further out in her dark red pumps and matching skirt set.
There were two officers dressed in uniform as they stood in the living room with grim expressions.
“I was just about to summon you Ms. Lafayette… We are actually looking for Ms. Grey now for a brief questioning,” Dr. Joy said as she linked her hands together with her fingers.
“Beds are empty, no sign of them ever being here this morning…We had an incident with a male student who she is on record of having an issue with. We just want to be sure that Ms. Grey is safe and in the clear.”
For the first time, I felt my words get caught in my throat, unsure of what to say or even think because this wasn’t like Maggie. She wouldn’t just leave. Harvey stepped in front of me, sensing my hesitation and took over the conversation.
“Can I ask what this is pertaining to?” He questioned.
“I’m afraid I can’t be any more specific than that,” she said with a pout of her lip. “Harvey, yes? You and your brother are the boys accepted under Wilhelmina’s reign, yes?”
“Men,” he corrected. “We are well over thirty. My brother and I were accepted to go to Francis Holmes, yes.”
“I see. Interesting you still maintained your acceptance here once that was dissolved. Curious to know how that happened with you two being the only students here under such…circumstances,” she smiled before turning her attention towards me.
Harvey’s personality could be a lot if you didn’t know him but in that moment, I was grateful for the distraction.
What he lacked in basic social skills, he made up for in other ways.
Dr. Joy Vaughn made her way out of the house as she motioned for the rest of us to follow.
“We will check the library one last time,” she muttered to one of the officers before smiling at me.
“Please tell Ms. Grey I’m looking for her…
She is to report to me immediately or else she will be removed.
For her sake, I hope she’s gone into hiding like the rest… whoever may still be alive anyway.”
I waited until she was long gone before rushing back inside with Harvey following close behind.
I went upstairs towards Ayira’s room and noticed her things were left like she was in a hurry.
The sheets were bunched up and her closet door was open.
Maggie’s room was left perfectly neat with her clothes still in the closet and books on the desk like she only planned on being gone for a day or so.
“She’s not here,” Harvey said as he came in behind me.
“Well that’s obvious–––”
“No, I mean she’s not here at all,” he said. “There is no trace of her ever existing.”
I slowly turned to look at him as his eyes darkened to pitch black and covered the room with his lingering gaze.
“I can tell a male has been here. I can smell the pheromones from him, but not her nor any other woman in here besides yours.”
“That’s not possible,” I said.
“It is babe,” he said as he stuck his tongue out like he wanted to get a taste of the air.
“She doesn’t exist…I can’t explain it but there is a faint scent men and women give off.
A chemical that is usually present in the bedroom, in the sheets, even long after they’ve left.
Hers is not here. If she’s the one that attacked the witch–––”
“She would never do that,” I defended. “Maggie isn’t a violent person. She’s not even capable of hurting a fly let alone a person. Regardless of how mean or cruel they are to her.”
“Well then until she reappears again, you’re going to have to fight to prove that because the rumors of her missing will only fuel the suspicion.”
I dug into my bag to grab my phone. It was time to text the girls but as I saw the cat hair gathered along the sides, I paused before asking out loud.
“Where is Quan?”