Chapter 24
Twenty-Four
I expected more from the notorious library of Syngenia.”
Jullia scoffs at me as the halfway metal box they refuse to call an elevator finishes descending. We are now beneath the main building of Syngenia in a room with only one entrance and exit. Though, I am using the term room in the loosest of definitions.
The room is about as large as the Infinity Castle from Jullia’s show. She’s gotten me into watching a couple episodes.
“I know you are only saying that as a type of rage bait,” she huffs, “but people might think you’re serious, Mavyn.”
I roll my eyes but someone behind us says, “She’s got a point. Especially the generationals.”
I turn back to the tiger shifter who had asked me why the spirits of the willow changed their aura color while I sang. “That’s not a word, Rothwhile.”
His cheeks pink and he hunches his shoulders as he pushes his glasses up. “Well, uh. . .”
He clears his throat and gestures towards the other people in our little group.
Hanna and Asher because they had nothing better to do, Ricka and the creepy shifter because they’re meddlesome, Callahan, the demon who had been scared of me at Darian’s house, and a few other people in Varian’s Magic History class.
The shifter clears his throat again. I should probably ask for his first name. “It’s a word here. Generationals are kids with a lineage graduating from Syngenia. They. . .” He shrugs to our group again. “At least some of them get defensive.”
I shrug my shoulders. “Considering this school was built on lies I don’t think they should be all that proud about attending.”
Hanna tisks. “You can’t blame them for not knowing the truth.”
“True. It’s the Mage Board’s fault for purposefully keeping history hidden and lying to everyone about the War of Gods and what happened after it.”
The not-elevator hits the ground floor of this room that exists between spaces. It’s directly beneath the main building, but none of those hidden doors or tunnels lead or hit the walls of this area.
“And what exactly – “ His voice makes us all jump as we spin around to find Varian and Castiel behind the elevator. Their eyes stare right at me and his burn with a force that I should heed. “ – happened during and after the War of Gods?”
Questions I’m sure everyone can see swirl through their minds that show through their eyes.
Everyone else glances at me before their eyes hit the floor and they exit the elevator.
The rest of the first years in Varian’s Magic History classes are behind him and they look like they’re enjoying their favorite show.
I shrug a shoulder and turn my head up to look at the bookshelves that fill this place up. Down here they look like they extend up at least ten stories. The shelves throughout the room creating a maze I’m sure many have gotten lost in. Especially because I can’t see the opposite end.
How many books in here hold actual truth?
“I’d also like to know.”
I whip my head towards the voice of my nightmares but I don’t brace this time.
“Mr. Kyros,” I greet, a smile spreading across my face as I approach him. “What are you doing here?”
He grins so openly as he opens his arms. Without hesitation I hug him. Warmth envelopes. The kind you get when your parents wrap you up with their arms and hold you safe and sound after a nightmare.
His hands go to my arms and he pulls back. “I’ve heard through the grapevine I have daughter fated-in-law.” He quirks a brow and gives me a stern look mockingly. “What happened to the young woman who called my son a winged bitch?”
I bow my head and wince as my face flames. Especially as I say, “Will it make you feel better if I said he was my winged bitch now?”
The devil who is the face of my nightmares and body of who can still touch and torture me throws his head back and laughs.
He pulls me into another hug and pats my back. “And here I was worried five would be too overwhelming for you.” A throat clears and Mr. Kyros nods to three of the five. “Ah, Varian, good to see you again. You as well, Castiel and Callahan. I thank you for allowing me entrance to the library.”
Yes, the other reason they both are here. We’re learning about the library in Magic History so it’s only right we can study it ourselves, but no one is allowed entry unless granted by select professors of the school.
Varian stares darkly at me. “You have yet to answer us.”
I roll my eyes.
“Do you even know what started the War of Gods?”
A muscle in his temple twitches. I think part of me likes getting on his nerves.
I’ve been ignoring him for the past two weeks.
Him and Castiel since they still have not spoken to me about their connection to the rebels.
The fact that Varian has a twin who is nicknamed the Kolasi and symbolized as the Death Devil.
Thorne said it’s not his place to say anything and that it would be best to wait until we can all be together to discuss it. In a – childish – fit I’ve decided I won’t be having sex with Thorne then. At least not until I know some answers. He’s only rolled his eyes at me.
I’ve also been banned from the fight club so Darian has enlisted the creepy shifter to spar with me instead. He’s blood bound to Darian and has sworn to me that he won’t tell anyone.
This last week has been equal parts torture and relief.
The shifter is strong and I’m able to fight him with the same physical prowess I did Varian’s twin.
Not as powerful since that momentary glitch of letting my soul breathe from where it’s contained won’t be happening again, but without my magic it’s a fair enough fight.
I’ve also learned just because we are fated and they’ve touched me before doesn’t mean it still won’t burn.
When Darian does it without any pleasure associated – it’s agony.
It also happened the other day when me and Jullia were walking back to our dorm and Thorne popped out of nowhere to finish the walk with us.
He had kissed the side of my head like he’s done a few times already now and the flash of pain was brief but powerful.
As I’ve said I’ve been ignoring Varian and Castiel, but Callahan has also not touched me. We’ve barely spoken since I told him Darian is also connected to me, though this time it’s mutual.
I don’t want to hurt him, but I also don’t know how to comfort him while keeping my own boundaries.
Not that they matter all that much considering Darian has eaten me out too many times to count and I’m no longer a virgin because of Thorne.
Well. . . technically, by definition I was not a virgin thanks to that fucking sun devil, but I digress.
I do not particularly care to go into that sort of trauma right now anyway. Or anytime in the future. Ever.
I finally cluck my tongue to break the silence. “I thought not.”
Dismissing the devil, I walk past him back to Jullia and our little group. We have an essay to write about the inner workings of the magic associated with the library to make it seem infinite while still being in a finite space.
Then, as a group, we must select a topic from history and create a presentation on it, as well as dig up information that has not yet been discovered.
Which is another reason we’re in the library. Research.
I begin leading and make my way through the bookshelves to where I had seen the common area while on the way down here. There’s a huge fireplace with smoke signaling where to go if anyone wonders too far into the shelves, and tables, couches, and other areas for students to sit and read or do work.
Behind me I hear Mr. Kyros mutter not so quietly, “Whatever happened, just know it is your fault and your woman is always right.”
Someone scoffs but I smile. Jullia skips up to me with her own sly grin. “I’m going to quote that to Asher whenever he wants to be a know it all and start a fight.”
We giggle to each other and I can feel the glares pointed at our backs but we continue on. Our group crowding around a free table with everyone else spreading out in their groups. There are other people here too. Students with different threads through their blazers and different symbols stitched.
One of them, with black stitching and silver feathered wings on their blazer, has actual white wings cinched in tight behind them. White, feathered wings that slightly glow.
He’s bent over a textbook with other books and papers taking up the entire table as he reads with a concentrated expression. One of his feathers twitches as he takes a pen and begins writing.
“I’d ask if you’ve ever seen an angel before,” Hanna says rather loudly, which makes me jump and the angel turn his head towards us, “but I know you have, so why does it look like you’ve never seen an angel before?”
I turn my back to the male and lightly glare at my best friends sister. Quietly, I mutter, “I’ve never seen his wings before.”
She tilts her head to look past me and calls, “Hey, Fethermen!” I don’t think I’ve ever been this mortified before.
“What do you want Waterstone?” He sounds exasperated and that just makes me feel worse.
“Come here for a sec.”
I can hear him sigh, but he doesn’t protest and my right eye twitches as I scowl at Hanna.
The angel rounds my side and goes to stand adjacent to me and Hanna in front of the table. “You called, mage?”
She snaps her finger at him. “Scorn, this is Mavyn. Mavyn, this is Scorn Fethermen. His father is the angel councilmen on the Mage Board and he is what you would call the black sheep of their family. Scorn, this is Mavyn. The Death Devourer who saved all of our lives when you were too busy with your books down here to notice a war going on.”
I don’t know when my jaw dropped, but a finger pushes it back up and I whisper a thanks to Callahan.
The angel looks over to me with orange-y pink eyes that have dark circles under them. He stares directly at me and for a moment the room turns with a frozen chill.
His eyes slit and several feathers now ruffle.