Chapter 40
Forty
I am reminded, once again, why I hated this place so much. And it is not because of Ms. Prectoylousi and her droning classes about metaphysics and different definitions depending on which universe and reality you’re in.
I’ve been sitting in this exact seat – the same one I had been in exactly one month ago – watching the same group of ten sitting in the same table pouring over the same notes they have for the last three hours.
I swear, I didn’t even study this much when I was in attendance. It’s ridiculous. They still have tomorrow, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday before their first exams. No way do they need to be doing this much for only five classes.
I shift my position in the chair as the distant sound of the bell rings twenty-four times.
Unholy gods, it’s midnight and none of them look like they’re even thinking about getting up to leave.
And the amount of books they have stacked up – no.
Scratch that. The amount of books little miss “or I’ll kill every single person before me” has stacked up.
She had been in and out of the labyrinth of books for a straight two hours, only popping back to throw books down. I tried listening when one of the other students asked what she was researching for, since their presentation was finished, but she didn’t answer.
Now, with her pouring over a very old tome, I’m more than half tempted to go over and ask myself.
None of the books she brought back looked familiar, though I’m sure most of them are not in English. They’re too old, and I can feel magic imbued through many of them.
Finally, Callahan – who has been silent sitting beside her – looks at her and asks what she’s looking for. She’s flipped through every single book with lowered brows and a concentrated expression.
“I need to find the Queen of Ashes and Shadows,” she says, half distractedly as she continues flipping through pages.
Every head that had been buried in a book looks up and stare at her.
“Who’s that?” the high fae asks her.
“She’s a queen on another world in a far universe who decimated an entire mountain range when she was a child.”
I’m not joking this time. . . who the fuck is this girl?
The lightning mage glares at her. “And do you care to elaborate? First off by why you’re looking for information on her and how do you know about her?”
Mavyn sighs and shuts her eyes for a moment before sitting back in her chair and gesturing towards the books.
“There is a world called Pontorum that was created many, many years before this one. I believe it was the third or fourth world ever created after a war between a god and a devil. Currently, in that universe, there are no gods. They were forgotten when this girl was able to turn an entire mountain range into ash. At the center of that mountain range, the highest peak, there was this oasis where the gods would come down to rest, but within the rest of the rock monsters reigned.”
I sit up in my chair and rest my elbows on my knees to listen. I had always been partial to fairytales and whispered stories growing up. They were my escape from the torment of my father and his rage and punishments.
Mavyn rubs her eyes and slightly shakes her head.
“I don’t know all the specifics, just that she had seen what was within the mountain and decided to take it out on the gods who let monstrous things happen.
She destroyed their oasis and after that the gods disappeared from that universe.
She became known as a monster, a Queen of Ashes and Shadows for what her magic could do.
Even though her kingdom has been a true peace for all and everyone is welcome. ”
Mavyn looks down at the books and frowns.
“They say she’s a storyteller. A keeper of things forgotten.”
Jullia subtly perks up as she watches Mavyn. Cautiously, she asks, “You think she can help?”
Mavyn, still frowning, nods once. “If I can figure out how to get to her world so I can ask.”
“Ask about what?”
I don’t know when I stood or when I started walking over, but the lightning mage who asked her question flicks her gaze up to me with raised eyebrows.
Turning to her classmates, I growl, “Get out.”
None of them have to be told twice and they all quickly get their things and leave. Only Mavyn, who’s glaring at me, Callahan, Jullia, and her stupid boyfriend stay seated.
It takes them all less than a minute to be up and out of their chairs, but I still wait for them to get on the elevator and actually exit the library before rounding the table and facing the pink-eyed girl.
“How do you know about this queen who can make the forgotten remembered?”
Mavyn’s glaring eyes don’t let up as she sits back and crosses her arms. “Why does Alexandros think breaking the veil will help in finding his name?”
I fume as I pointedly look at the vampyr with his arm wrapped around Jullia and then narrow my eyes at Mavyn.
“Asher knows,” is all she says, and Jullia rolls her eyes at me as if I’m being ridiculous.
“And are you planning on outing everything to everyone?” I grit. There’s a reason no one knows who the true leader of the rebellion is.
Now Mavyn rolls her eyes, but Callahan speaks before she can. Although he’s more solemn than angry as I would like for him to be.
“He has a point, Mavyn. These are dangerous – “
“Secrets,” she cuts off, though more mildly, “that I wouldn’t speak unless I knew those I was speaking to couldn’t keep them. Asher made a blood oath, and we’re locked blood bonded.”
A growl rips through Callahan’s chest as he faces her with a hurt and angry expression. “You bonded with him.”
The vampyr’s face pales as she shrinks in his chair and pulls Jullia closer to him. Mavyn simply down casts her eyes with resignation and guilt before gritting her teeth.
“Locked blood bonded,” she snaps. “When I first made the blood oath to him about never harming Jullia we had to. . . exchange blood.” I know she was about to say share but changed the wording last minute.
I know because saying she had to share blood would imply something completely different than just exchanging it for an oath.
“That in a sense bonded us and that was how I was able to give him my aura to create the runic shield over the school during the battle.”
Ahh. So that’s how none of our mages and witches were able to penetrate. A runic shield on its own would be powerful, no doubt, but one imbued with her aura would be impenetrable.
Gritting her teeth, she continues, “When he made a blood oath to me, I asked if he wanted to create an actual blood bond. Only ours is a locked blood bond, which means he can only use the basics of my magic and can heighten his own with my aura. He can create fire, but not blue flame. His blood is protected and his body cannot be influenced by other’s blood art. ”
“And what gain do you have?” Callahan sneers. “You could have blood bonded with anyone else. You could have done so with one of us. Why him?”
Mavyn does not look at him and everything about her becomes nearly nonexistent. “I need his runic magic.”
“You can learn runic magic!”
She shakes her head. “I don’t have time.”
Callahan’s hands slam onto the table and he stands before stalking off.
His frustration and something else overcoming his senses.
It makes me glare at her. I may not be close to the devil as my brother and the rest of them are, but Varian has told me stories.
The kid is good. Of all of them he’s better natured.
“Why are you such a bitch to him?” Her pink eyes snap up to mine and they’re a blank mask.
I see nothing in them. “Even I can tell he’d do anything for you, and not just because he’s your fated.
But you ignore him, and brush him off, and block him out.
You’re torturing him. Of all the things you’ve done, all the death.
. .” I scoff and shake my head. “He doesn’t deserve you. ”
Lavender colored eyes burn holes through my head, but I don’t look at her. I keep my focus on the bloodsucker. Her coldhearted, soulless eyes.
“He’ll get over it.”
Scratch everything I’ve ever said.
I hate her.
“Now why does Alexandros think breaking the veil will help?”
I grind my teeth together and clench and unclench my fists. Part of me doesn’t even want to answer her because of how much of a selfish bitch she is.
“You can ask him that yourself. I’m not obligated to tell you.”
Her eyes slit before she slouches in her chair and rolls her eyes. “Do you even know how the Willow of Lore was created?”
I blink at her because that was sort of a random question after what I just said. Instead of strictly answering, I shake my head.
Of course I don’t. Not the truth or the full truth of it. Just like no one else does who’s able to freely speak. Either everyone is dead or they’ve all made blood oaths and this school has done nothing but hide facts and history and truths.
She gestures towards the books still splayed out on the table.
“They say one being from each race and subrace came together after the last battle of the War of Gods and united to create this symbol of home and love and peace after tragedy.” She looks around at the library. “But that’s not how it went.”
I raise my brows at her to continue. Getting irritated at her half-truths and trying to twist words and not just saying it point blank. It’s not that hard to simply state something.