Chapter Sixteen #4
“The knights have landed on enemy territory!” The announcer shouted.
I watched my school pass by to get through the iron gates.
It didn’t look like anything I’ve ever attended.
Drew Collins was always about unison and exclusivity, regardless of what you are or practice.
The moment you’re in Drew Collins, that becomes your identity.
This was nothing like that. Not anymore.
“Society Hill University! SHOW! US! WHAT! YOU! GAAAAAAAAAAT!”
The change in the drumlines became apparent when the trumpets began to blare out.
The gold and green uniforms flashed, and a sea of decorated students charged towards us in the lineup.
“Let’s gooooo HILLMENNNNN!” Someone shouted from behind.
The athletes were decorated with arms and confetti around them as the four men clapped and cheered for themselves and those around them.
“Society Hill ain’t got nothing on D.C.U!
This ain’t New Orleans baby! This is the Underground right under the city of AYEE TEEE ELLLLLE!
” The announcer shouted as everyone began cheering.
You could see the Society Hill cheerleaders flipping in the air as they skipped along the way.
The students with the colorful masks over their eyes, mimicking the New Orleans style culture during Mardi Gras.
There were others with large, decorated wings filled with colorful feathers and massive headdresses to match.
The band began to play an up tempo beat as everyone started dancing and shuffling with their feet from side to side.
It was reminiscent of a second line in New Orleans.
“Let’s go baby!!” One of the Hill men shouted as people began clapping on beat. You could still hear Drew Collins band in the front but as Society Hill University passed us by, the difference was obvious.
“WHAT UP COLLY!?” One of the men shouted with multiple tongue piercings.
He flexed his muscles, showing off his biceps before running up to do a back flip.
One man who was shirtless with a bedazzled mask over his eyes came over towards me as he began to dance in his denim jeans and sneakers.
Sweat beads dripped down the center of his chest when he leaned in close and blew out colorful green and gold confetti that shifted into the shape of fairies flying away.
Faes were notorious for going to Society Hill as it was the easiest school to attend in the Underground and unofficially known as the school for the less than average.
Yet somehow, this was Drew Collins biggest rival culturally.
“Society Hill setting it off with the first shots towards Drew Collins!” The announcer shouted as more of the students came walking down with a giant float of a vampire with white hair and white teeth.
The angry red eyes and claws for hands chopped away in the air as the students dressed in Drew Collins colors, danced around it pretending to scream and fear for their lives.
“Tell em, we don’t know nothing about that First Family mess!
This is yo time to shine and you made it about us!
Society Hill can’t help but to make it about us when it comes to them! ”
I felt my chest tighten when I saw Society Hill students attack the float while others marched with students in chains.
They had noticeable white hair and pretended to be a Drew Collins student.
They were mocking Maggie Grey, pretending to have her in chains as she held her head down in shame.
Her grandfather, our founder and president, sulked behind her.
The student pretended to be an old man with white eyes trudging along with shackles at his feet and a torn suit covered in blood splatter.
“Death to the First! Death to the First!” They began chanting, attempting to get the crowd going.
Some were with it; others simply couldn’t bring themselves to say it out loud.
I hadn’t noticed Quan staring so intensely at the float until I looked up, seeing his jawline twitch with irritation.
He looked like he wanted to say something, maybe even react but when I grabbed his arm again, he visibly calmed himself down as his shoulders dropped.
“We don’t have to stay long,” I said, barely above the shouting and screams.
“The innovators! The brains! The creatives!
The one and only! Mr. and Mrs. Underground!
MONNNNNNTCLAIR AND MONROEEEEE University!
How y'all looking?! Slowly becoming the fastest growing private institution in the Underground, Montclair and Monroe are known for the builders, the brains, and the best of the best!”
The marching band decorated in blue and grey came walking down as their students stepped with prestige and grace.
The women wore pleated skirts that flowed below their knees, and the men wore suits.
They escorted their athletes who waved when we suddenly heard a warrior’s scream in the distance.
The large afros from an army of students dressed in colorful kimonos were shuffling in the traditional block like sandals before pausing as they pulled out a sword.
“Alright now! The University to beat that has everyone talking! This will be the first time this school competes in the Underground, and they are coming after Drew Collins' title! YASUUUUKAAAAAY, what’s up! All the way from Japan! The first and only school for African ancestry that studies the art of the sword and Japanese culture!”
There was no music except for the men that came behind them in a row with drums and bands tied around their heads.
The women with their massive afros were perfectly rounded and picked when they shuffled again.
Bowing their heads before stopping, they drew their swords with a few silent slashes in the air, and deadly stares at the crowds.
“WELCOME YASUKE TO DREW COLLINS GROUNDS! Y'all better learn some Japanese and welcome our guests! THIS! IS! THE! TEAM! TO! BEAT!”
I felt my phone vibrate as I looked down at the screen, seeing Cedric texting me from across the way.
Looking up, I could see Harvey was leaning into the ear of the man beside him, talking low enough for him to hear.
Yet, his twin brother who somewhat blended in was behind the two, was the one buried in his phone texting me.
“Meet H. in the study hall. Don’t bring the cat with you.”
Confused, I looked up at Quan who was distracted by the beautiful women in the kimonos walking by. School after school from Sycamore and Belmont began their march, showing off their chosen athletes before the rest of the parade was just mythics against mythics. Which meant, the sirens would appear.
“We wanna welcome all participating schools to Drew Collins University! This summer’s trials and games are brought to you by the Southern Five Council!
Your most prominent witch families in the Southern region of the country since the beginning of time!
Mystic Medicare, providing healthcare to our elders and beyond, and United Mythic Bank, taking care of financial aid and providing resources for our students of the Underground! ”
I managed to slip away, catching a glimpse of Asha walking down with her sirens all dressed scantily with long colorful locs, bright makeup, and colorful scales decorated on their skin.
I grabbed a quick picture before heading back onto the Grounds, and out of the way of the incoming students.
I told Quan to meet me back in my room later tonight and as I made my way to study hall, I heard someone call my name.
“Ms. Lafayette, a moment if you will…”
I stopped, hearing the tone before turning around to see our dean, Dr. Joy Vaughn walking up in her skirt and pumps.
A short pixie cut freshly curled, makeup bright and eyes sharp as the feline she is, she gently swayed her hips from side to side as she walked up to me with her council backing her from behind.
“How are you, Ms. Lafayette?” She asked with a bright smile.
“I’m fine.” I said, tone soft and southern belle with an extra layer of honey to it. “Yourself?”
“So precious,” she grinned. “I could be doing better, I’m afraid. So it’s been brought to my attention that last year, you had a run in with a professor who is currently being held for possibly being First Family. Were you aware of this?”
My face showed little to no expression when I shook my head. So they finally caught Professor Akeem…after years of hiding his true identity.
“I’m afraid not.”
“Really…” She let out. Her eyes began to look me over with a twitch of her nose.
“I’m familiar with your family…Your father and his sisters…
ran out of Louisiana and Mississippi to freeload in South Carolina…
It’s amazing you were able to afford this school.
I know how many times you applied and the amount of times you were rejected. ”
“Rejected?” I asked, pretending to be shocked as my brows shot up. With my hand on my chest, I shook my head. “My daddy always told me; the school wasn’t ready for me. Never the other way around. I don’t see it as a rejection. I came when you were prepared for me.”
“Hmmm,” she sneered with a smirk. “Police will be talking with you soon–––”
“About what?”
The deep voice came from behind her. Smiling, I turned my attention towards Harvey when he walked up in his slacks, and white button down that hung hang loose from the waist. He looked up from his phone, pushed his glasses up his nose with a scrunch of his nostrils and stared down at Dr. Joy Vaughn who backed up.
“Excuse me?” She let out.
“What are the police questioning her for? Is she being detained? Is there a warrant or are you making baseless threats to scare your student into giving you petty information?”
“My my… You always seem to be around at the right moment and time,” she sang softly. “How are you Mister… Miller, is it?”