Chapter 31
By the time they reached the Serpentine Common Room Maeve’s body was no longer on fire. A dull pain lingered at her temples, but she was otherwise fine. She and Mal had not been the only ones to experience the unexplained pain.
Abraxas and Maeve embraced firmly.
“You’re alright, Brax?” Maeve asked.
He nodded. “You?”
“I’m fine now. What the hell was that?”
“That was the worst pain I’ve ever felt,” said Roswyn. “And I’ve been in some nasty fights. “
Maeve sat on the arm of one of the black leather couches and heaved a sigh. The emerald green common room was lit only by the moonlight pouring past the water of the lake against the vaulted windows that surrounded the circular room. In the dim green darkness, Maeve looked to Mal.
Roswyn and Abraxas continued talking. He watched them silently.
Her arms felt heavy.
Other Serpentine students gathered there as well, most of them asking Mal what was happening.
Headmaster Elgin’s voice rang out over the common room, and presumably the entire castle.
“All students must report to the Great Hall at once.”
Hummingdoor waltzed through the doors of the common room a moment later.
“Mal, my boy good,” he said hurriedly. “I’ll need your assistance ensuring all students are accounted for. Miss Sinclair,” he looked to Maeve. “Larliesl will need yours. To the Grand Hall, dear.”
She had never seen Hummingdoor without his bubbly smile and bright eyes.
Maeve looked to Mal, not wanting to leave him. Mal gave her a nod of assurance. Maeve pushed off the arm of the chair and made her way up the stairs to the first floor. Her lux charm flittered light before her, but it was dull.
“Maeve,” called Larliesl.
The Professor appeared in front of her from a dark side corridor.
“What’s happening, sir?”
Larliesl shook his head and looked behind her. “Where’s Mal?”
“He’s with Hummingdoor,” she said.
He sighed. “You shouldn’t be separated,” he muttered gravely.
“Sir?” Maeve asked.
Larliesl wouldn’t look at her.
“Sir,” said Maeve sharply, her voice breaking.
Larliesl’s eyes snapped to her, and then softened slightly. “Apologies, Maeve,” he said. “I know you’re scared.”
She clenched her jaw.
Larliesl took her arm in his and led her towards the Grand Hall, a waft of fire he created guiding them.
The Grand Hall was filled with huddled students.
The castle’s lights were completely depleted it seemed.
The only light was what they created themselves, and the moonlight that shot through the stained glass windows.
Some students carried a lit taper candle, others had a continuous flame bouncing off their hands.
The younger students held their lux charms, the tips emitting a soft white glow.
Headmasters Elgin and Rowan stood at the far end of the hall, under the Vaukore crest.
Maeve spotted Mal and Roswyn. Abraxas was holding Julius, his silver cat. Spinel was at his feet. He trotted over to Maeve. She bent over and scooped him up, and held him close. He brushed his face against hers with a soft purr. She rubbed the back of his head in appreciation.
Larliesl nodded towards Mal. “Stay together,” he told her, and disappeared into the swarm of figures.
Maeve watched him go. He hadn’t asked for her assistance at all. He had only been concerned that she wasn’t with Mal.
Maeve pressed towards them and arrived at their side.
“Did Larliel say anything?” Asked Mal.
Maeve shook her head.
“Nor did Hummingdoor.”
Frightened whispers filled the hall until Elgin’s voice rang out.
“Our Magic here on Earth has been damaged,” she said in that calm and comforting voice.
“Rest assured the Orator’s Office is working diligently to correct the issue.
Remain calm, and know we are here to ensure your safety.
I am personally here for each one of you.
” She hesitated a moment. “The Portals to Earth have collapsed. We cannot allow you to travel home at this time. Nor can anyone travel through the Portal here.”
“That’s ridiculous,” said Roswyn under his breath.
That buzz of fear through the crowd grew in volume. They were stuck here.
Rowan stood silently next to Elgin. He was truly void of any expression or emotion next to Elgin’s concerned face.
Elgin continued. “The Healing Wing is filled with students, some of them completely unconscious. If you have taken at least two Healing Classes please join Madam Kensington in the Healing Wing,” said Elgin. “For now that is all.”
“That’s all?” Repeated Abraxas incredulously. “Is no one going to tell us what’s happening?”
Students around them were expressing the same concern.
“Did Kietel do this?” Screamed out a voice from the shadowed crowd.
Headmaster Elgin cupped her hands together. “Please understand, we do not know what has caused this. I know you are scared. But Vaukore is the safest place for you right now.”
Roswyn and Abraxas began speaking up as well. Maeve didn’t say a word to any of them as she turned away, their bickering fading into the background. A cool, slender hand wrapped around her own, drawing her attention over her shoulder.
“I’m sure he’s fine,” said Mal calmly. “But let me know when he replies.”
Maeve nodded, and he let go, turning back towards the rest as Maeve practically ran to The Wings. She wasn’t the first one to run to the Wings. She shoved past a younger student who was already there.
“It’s not-” the student protested.
“Shut up.”
She grabbed one of the complimentary pieces of paper and quill and hastily wrote her father.
Are you alright? What is happening?
She sealed the envelope with the provided wax, not bothering to take the time to use her own family crest wax seal.
She pushed off the desk and headed for the enchanted desk at the head of the room.
She placed her letter, addressed to the desk of Ambrose Sinclair, on the desk and sighed.
Nothing happened. She grabbed the letter hastily and put it back down.
It still remained. She raised it and slammed it down with a slap once more. The letter remained.
“The portals are damaged,” said a voice from behind her.
She turned, and Headmaster Rowan stood in maroon, and gold velvet embroidered robes. He clasped his fingers tightly together, his face taunt as he spoke to Maeve.
“Which means the magic that desk uses is too.”
“Then I’ll use a raven,” she said sternly.
“There is no need. Your Father managed to get you a letter through my own personal portal.”
“What?” She snapped.
A smiled almost pulled at his lips. “Come, Miss Sinclair.”
“I don’t trust you,” she said.
“A wise choice,” said Rowan. “Given that I’ve betrayed you before. But I have never betrayed your father. And I don’t intent to start now.”
He was still a spy for her father after all.
“You’re still his spy?”
“Always was.”
Maeve scowled at the deception. She picked her letter up off the desk and followed Rowan silently down the stairs of The Wings. They didn’t walk towards the Headmasters Quarters.
Rowan slipped down a back corridor and opened the door to an old and unused classroom. She followed him inside, against her better judgment, and on her father’s. Her lux charm barely lit the room. It was covered in cobwebs and dusk and filled with old versions of textbooks.
The door snapped shut and Rowan cast a silencing charm around them, ensuring their discussion was private. He pulled a small letter from his pocket and handed it to her.
“When did he send this?” Asked Maeve, clutching the brief letter from her father.
“Before everything went to shit,” replied Rowan.
Maeve looked down at the quickly scribbled words from her father. It read:
Something of otherworldly proportions is going to happen at any second. Hang tight. Stick to Malachite. I’ll be fine. You’ll be fine.
Maeve felt like his last sentence had more been written to reassure himself than anything else.
“What is going on?” Asked Maeve.
“I don’t think I’m at liberty to say,” said Rowan.
“That’s ridiculous and you know it,” retorted Maeve.
Rowan gave her a reproachful look. “The Orator-”
“Fuck the Double O,” said Maeve, a quiver in her voice. “And fuck whatever organization has surely double crossed us at this point.”
Rowan’s eyes darted around the room nervously. “Be careful.”
“And fuck you too if you’re on their side,” she seethed.
Rowan almost looked pleased at her tenacity. “Do you trust your father, Maeve?”
“More than anyone,” she said.
“Then trust me. As he does.”
Maeve shook her head. “This isn’t fair.”
“The Orator will be here within the hour to speak-”
“So he can come and go, but we are stuck here?”
“The Orator has special and authorized means of travel to and from this realm. We cannot simply move hundreds of you-
“Why can’t you just-”
“You ask too much at times,” snapped Rowan. “You are too bold.”
Maeve ran her hands across her face and looked back down at his letter. He hadn’t even bothered to sign it. Not as the Premier, not as her father. Like there wasn’t time.
“Where are the Magical Militia?” She asked quietly.
“They are securing the grounds,” he answered. “You should go find your boyfriend and do your duty as Head Girl.”
Maeve glared. “He’s not my-”
Rowan yanked the door open and disappeared into the darkness without another word.
Maeve walked silently back to the Great Hall, relying on other’s lights to guide her way.
The hall was now filled with long benches, and a small stage was positioned at the head of the room. She stopped in the entryway the moment she laid eyes on Orator Moon. Her eyes darted around him for her father, but he was not there. The Orator had come alone.
“Are you alright?” Mal asked.
His steady and even voice was a greatly welcome and soothing sound. Maeve turned and faced Mal. They stood barely more than a breath away from one another, hands rigid at their sides. Firelight flickered off his face as students passed.
Maeve nodded.
His eyes scanned her face and the way his eyes narrowed told Maeve he wasn’t buying it.