Chapter Sixteen #5
“Yes,” he replied. “Surely a dean of the largest school in the Underground isn’t bullying her students into talking to the police when I specifically read it was against the rules to speak out. Are you making an exception for Ms. Lafayette for personal reasons?”
Dr. Joy Vaughn smiled. With a sudden bow, she walked off in the opposite direction without another word. She didn’t like Harvey, that much was obvious but furthermore, she didn’t like being called out on her shit.
“I could have handled myself, Harvey,” I said softly.
“I know you can, baby. Come on.”
Most buildings were closed or shut down for today’s festivities but as we made our way into the study hall, I couldn’t help but wonder what this was all about.
What information did he discover this time?
Harvey pushed open the double wooden doors as we stepped into the building that was filled with arched ceilings, stained glass, and shelves that broke up the study tables and layout.
Harvey pulled back a chair that sat with a long wooden table and stretched and sat at least 10 seats on one side.
Looking around, he sat down in front of me, pulled his chair close and reached inside his shirt.
“Don’t ask me how I got this…just ask me how I like my feet to be kissed,” he teased with a cocky tone. Harvey put a piece of folded up parchment paper on the table that looked more like a dirty napkin from 40 years ago. Slyly looking at him, I let my finger slowly drag it towards me.
“It’s an old family tree.”
I began to unfold the paper, feeling the soft buzz of energy and magic flowing through it before looking down at the names.
It was the same oak tree that was planted right there on the Grounds but this time, there were names floating around different branches.
It was the First Family… I could see Maggie’s name underneath her mother who was underneath Marvin.
“How did you get this?” I asked in awe. “Look at everyone…”
“Most of them are dead but look…”
He pointed to Maggie’s name which kept fading and coming back.
Marvin T. Holmes was fading in and out like the red ink would seep into the paper before pooling at the surface once more.
Draco Holmes did the same, but Wilhelmina Holmes did not.
Her name remained faded from her branch with no living children of her own to claim.
“Himora Holmes…” I read out loud, reading her name next to Adrias Holmes with a single daughter underneath named Dawn. There was another branch forming that stretched out from Draco Holmes with a tiny leaf appearing before fading only to reappear again. “This is…”
“That’s not all.” Proudly, Harvey took the paper to turn over on the blank side. He took my hand to press down on it, said a single line from a spell before an old layout of Drew Collins appeared. Although it barely looked like the school, more like an estate of homes and buildings.
“This is where they all lived,” I said in awe.
“Mmm hmm…There is a door somewhere here that probably used to take them home on the Grounds. “Now look at this…Wait for it…”
We stared at the map where you could see a faint trace of how the school would look from the iron gates leading up to the main academic building with the famous statue.
“I’m not sure how old this is or how up to date it is, but it can’t be too far behind,” Harvey said, staring intensely at the map. “Just wait for it.”
“What am I….” My words fell silent as I saw the small print of footsteps walking scattered along the pathways of the map.
The name Collin Holmes was floating above the feet while Maggie Grey suddenly appeared over where Legacy Row used to be.
Professor Akeem, otherwise known as Carmichael Holmes, had his footprint walking and pacing in another building.
Marvin was in his building. Wilhelmina walked the Grounds.
Draco appeared around the outside. This must be an old map of last year seeing as Wilhemina on the tree was no longer living.
It was all becoming overwhelming until they all disappeared once more except for Collin… Holmes.
I simply pointed to the scattered footsteps moving in different directions when Harvey suddenly got up and walked off. He disappeared behind one of the shelves before coming back with a worn and torn book. It was barely held together by the spine when he sat back down.
“Collin Holmes,” he read out loud. Pushing his glasses up with a scrunch of his nose, he began flipping through the pages until landing on an old…
very old black and white portrait of a young black man wearing a stuffy suit with a high collar.
His hair was snow white, just like Maggie but slicked back in deep waves hitting the kitchen of his neck.
“Collin Holmes, the twin brother to Andrew Holmes, Dr. Marvin T. Holmes dedicated this university and education institute to his two brothers. These are the true founders of Drew Collins University…blah blah blaaah,” Harvey skimmed.
“The most dangerous twins within the family with the ability to shift their skin and mimic voices to seduce their prey, Andrew and Collin Holmes were known for exceptional charm, their sudden violent nature, and a tragic upbringing that only led to their deaths. Although there are rumors that Collin may still be alive, when nymphs and sirens began turning up in the water dead from being attacked and drained, he disappeared shortly after. Never to be heard from again with little to no evidence of him being alive nor dead…” Harvey exclaimed while cutting his eyes at me before tapping the map with his finger.
“He has not made an appearance since 18–––”
“Look,” I pointed, showing Collins moving behind Maggie Grey on the Grounds.
My heart began to tighten as I watched their footsteps move in unison, going to the same place, turning in the same direction before she disappeared, and he moved on.
I looked up at Harvey who stuck his head out, waiting for it to click.
“Are you that oblivious?” He asked with an incredulous tone.
“What are you talking about Harvey? Just say it. Enough with the guessing games. Are you and your brother Andrew and Collin? What? Just say it.” I snapped.
Groaning, he turned the book towards me, showing the blown-up portrait of Collin and his twin brother Andrew in the deep shades of black and grey.
Both had white hair, dark eyes, no smiles, and a sinister aura surrounding them, but they easily could have been some of the most handsome men at that time too.
I looked at Harvey who sucked his teeth before pointing at Collin.
“No wonder you need me in your life…” He sighed with a shake of his head before blurting out, “Collin Holmes is that fucking cat you’re always with.”
…
The room felt cozy and dark when Quan quietly opened the door, dipped his head to lower his height before stretching tall as he closed it behind him with his foot.
He was shirtless this time and almost looked like a black cat in the night with his bright sharp eyes.
With tight wet curls against his head, his dark complexion looked like sculpted black stone from a statue in a museum.
Quan was indeed a piece of art but seeing as his shifty eyes looked around like a cat, I could only grin.
What in the hell type of spell did this scorned woman put on him?
“You’re not going out to party?” He grumbled, dropping down to the floor with his back against the bed. “Not even getting food?”
“Mmmm no… Isis isn’t eating in the dining hall tonight and Harvey has a date.”
Quan rolled his eyes while I smiled at the idea of Harvey breaking a man’s back in our shared bed. I’ll admit I felt a tinge of jealousy until I remembered what I looked like and who I am. If I wanted, I could easily step out but not tonight.
“I think he’s an informant,” Quan declared.
“Harvey? You think so?” I laughed. “I could see it.”
“So what if he’s playing you this entire time and trying to get to Maggie or any of you all? Then what? You slept with the enemy…”
“I told him all of our secrets too,” I whispered with a wink. Quan rolled his eyes while I laughed.
“It doesn’t feel right,” Quan said with a sigh as he brought one knee up to drape his arm over. “All of this shit…everything about Maggie… It doesn’t feel right.”
“You always did love Maggie more than any of us,” I said, deciding to dance around it for a moment.
“No, I just think she carries herself better than the rest of you idiots.”
“Mmmm I think it’s more than that. Do you feel a connection towards her?”
He was quiet as the music and marching bands outside played in the distance. Everyone was on the Grounds tonight celebrating and eating. The night vendors came out, opening up a market full of paper lanterns floating in the air and fresh cooked food.
“What made you come sit with us at the table that day?” I asked. “What made you come and seek us out in particular and then stay?”
Quan’s eyes gave nothing away as he stared straight ahead with his double blinks, seeing a slither of film cross his eyes.
“I saw lonely broads that could have easily been taken advantage of so I thought I would take it upon myself to make sure you all were…straight.”
“Hmmm,” I nodded with a frown. I began to brush my sandy brown hair, having gotten even lighter from being in the sun all day. “So do you pronounce it Collins with an S or simply Collin? I’ve never heard of a black man named Collin…”
Quan slowly turned his head to look at me with wide eyes as I grinned. The loop of emotions that crossed his face went from shock to relief then fear and back again. He didn’t know what to say.
“What do you know?” He questioned, eyes peering at me with suspicion. “Who told you?”
“You did, just now. It was merely an educated guess on my end.”
Quan dropped his head as his chest rose and fell to the point where he looked like he was hyperventilating. His nostrils flared as his hand tightened into a fist before relaxing.