CHAPTER 4 #3
I’d already been humiliated several times today, but this? This was by far the worst. An unwelcome outcast at the very bottom of the school’s pecking order. Couldn’t get any worse than that.
Oh, but it could.
“For earning the last place position,” Professor Holt went on, “Miss Mayweather will receive the least appealing living quarters available—the Jade Wing Tower.”
At that, soft gasps and whispers rippled over the student body. When I caught the words “suicide”, “cursed”, and “haunted,” my blood ran cold.
“She will not be allowed roommates,” Professor Holt continued, raising her voice a notch above the hushed chatter, “and the only way she can improve her accommodations is by doing better in future trials. The same goes for the rest of you. Do well and earn favors. Do poorly and reap the consequences. Audentia et Fortitudo—Courage and Strength is Heartstone’s motto.
You’ll need both to succeed here. That’s all I have for you this evening, but as a reminder to our new students, wandering the halls past midnight is strictly forbidden and so is contacting the outside world.
For your protection, there are wards in place that prohibit portaling inside the campus walls.
Morning assembly in the great hall starts promptly at seven, so I suggest you retire early and get a good night’s sleep. You’re going to need it.”
As suddenly as she arrived, she departed, but not before giving me one final look. It wasn’t filled with warmth this time but was quietly apologetic. I managed a small smile for her, knowing it wasn’t her fault I’d come in last place.
The moment she left the dining hall, the students resumed their eating and conversation.
Right away, several first years tried to get Alma’s attention, clearly hoping she’d choose them to be her new roommates.
No one approached me, of course. I was the lowest of the low, more of an outcast now than when I’d arrived.
And whatever was in Jade Wing Tower had them spooked.
I couldn’t expect visitors any time soon, that was for sure.
With no one to talk to, I dug into my baked potato.
I wasn’t even halfway finished when I caught Thorne rising to his feet.
Riku and Oz also stood, both shorter than him but not by much.
All three warlocks were an intimidating size on their own, but together, they were formidable.
It was a wonder I’d been able to function earlier while surrounded by them.
I wasn’t even half their weight, and the top of my head barely reached their chests.
The room noticeably quieted as the trio left, all eyes following their departure. When Thorne vanished from view, something in my chest loosened, and I breathed a little easier.
As the chatter resumed, I heard a first year witch a few spots down wistfully sigh, “They’re so delicious. What I wouldn’t give to be sandwiched between those three.”
I nearly choked on the bite of potato in my mouth.
“Riku is my favorite,” the girl across from her remarked. “He’s funny, charming, and I hear he’ll sleep with pretty much anyone, including first years. No strings attached.”
I cleared my throat rather loudly, but they continued their conversation as if I wasn’t there.
“I like ‘em ruthless and emotionally unavailable like Thorne. The more red flags, the sexier,” the first girl said. “Plus, he’s arguably the most powerful magic-wielder on this campus, maybe in the world. I’m not surprised he was named Head Prefect this year.
What with his family having founded this school, he’s basically Heartstone Academy’s prince.
We can’t forget Oz, though. He might be quiet, but he has that sexy nerd vibe going for him.
He’s also wicked smart, can astral project, and his family is disgustingly rich. ”
“They’re all rich, Nadine. Now that Thorne, Riku, and Oz have the best chance of earning spots on the Conclave, everyone wants to back their families.
They’ve been dubbed the Arcane Three for a reason.
Very few can wield magic like they can. They’re royalty at this point, and everyone wants to get into bed with them. ”
“Literally.”
“You can say that again. Do you think there’s a chance they'll ever let us join their group?”
“No way. Those three have been thick as thieves even before being admitted to Heartstone, and they haven’t allowed anyone else in their inner circle since coming here. There’s a chance they’ll sleep with us, though.”
“Good enough for me.”
The witches snickered, and despite how hungry I was, their conversation killed my appetite. Still, I forced myself to finish the potato, including the skin. Who knew when I’d be able to eat next. After the day I’d just had, I wouldn’t take anything for granted here.
When some of the other students started to leave, I decided to get up as well.
No sense sticking around to socialize when it was obvious no one wanted anything to do with me.
Leaving my tray where it was, I stood, already knowing how to find Jade Wing after the extensive tour Professor Birch had given us.
She hadn’t taken us up into the tower, but there was no missing it.
I only made it a few feet before someone else stood from the table.
Seeing the long golden brown braid down her back, my first instinct was to skirt around the Water Elemental without comment.
But Professor Holt’s words came to mind, and I begrudgingly slowed to murmur a quick, “Congratulations on your win.”
Alma turned to me, her sepia brown eyes flickering in surprise. The look was quickly replaced by a jaunt lip curl as she replied, “Thanks, sombra. Too bad you received last place. Not that I would have considered you for a roommate before, but I definitely won’t now.”
Several of the students nearby chuckled, including the hulking blond guy who’d elbowed my shoulder earlier.
The urge to defend myself pressed at my windpipe, but what could I say? The next time you try to drown me, I’ll fight back? I should have fought back the first time. Knowing that anything I said would only ostracize me further, I kept my mouth firmly shut and started to leave.
As I passed by her, Alma called after me in her lilting-accented voice, “Sleep well, sombra. I heard the last first year who lived in Jade Wing Tower jumped out the window to his death. That, or he was pushed. Either way, I’m sure his disgraced spirit will keep you company. Rather fitting, if you ask me.”
Her audience laughed even more, and it took all of my willpower not to sprint from the dining hall in abject humiliation.
When I was finally alone in the halls, the relief I was hoping to feel didn’t come.
I remained tense, dreading what awaited me in the tower.
I could practically feel death breathing down my neck, his cold presence making all the hair on my body stand on end.
Each step I took toward my destination grew heavier, the weight almost more than I could bear. This way, my intuition beckoned me down the shadowy halls, morbidly drawn to what awaited us despite my trepidation.
Every time I passed by fellow students, they were in pairs or groups.
No one walked alone but me, and I’d never been more aware of how vulnerable that made me until now.
Still, I could barely focus on them, my senses sharply in tune with death’s presence.
I could feel, taste, and smell it, a sure sign that he’d claimed victims here before—or was planning to in the near future.
He kept me company all the way to Jade Wing, a constant foreboding shadow dogging my every step. When I found the narrow winding staircase leading up to the tower, fear gripped me so hard that I almost couldn’t do it. Almost convinced myself that death was awaiting me at the top of those stairs.
Maybe that would be better. Then this torment could finally come to an end. All I had to do was jump, and this nightmare would be over.
The second I had the thought, I shoved it aside. I might be at my lowest, but I wasn’t ready to give up just yet. I had fight left in me. I knew I did. So I pushed past my fear and stepped onto the first stair, then the next and the next, encouraging myself to take one more step. Just one more.
Five stories later, I was at the top, the lighting so weak that I could hardly make out the lone wooden door a few feet away. Darkness closed in around me, threatening to steal my sanity and consume me whole. Unable to stand it any longer, I raised my hand and willed a magical orb into existence.
Glowing strands of deep violet hovered just above my palm, allowing me to see the door better.
I stared at the black handle for a few minutes, working up the nerve to touch it.
Finally, I reached out with trembling fingers and grasped the metal.
It was ice cold, as if no one had touched it in ages.
That, or the tower really was cursed by the spirit of the boy who’d taken his life.
Not that I believed in such things, but I was completely freaked out anyway, certain a ghostly apparition awaited me on the other side—one with a broken neck and limbs.
I gripped the door handle for dear life, trembling so hard that I thought I would faint. How ironic would it be if I passed out, fell down the stairs, and broke my neck?
Stop it! I scolded myself, frustrated with my morbid imagination.
Shaking the image from my mind, I braced for whatever awaited me on the other side and pushed open the door.