Mirenne expression was perfectly arranged and executed. She looked worried and happy with the new safety measures. Most of the students didn’t know that unicorns showed no true emotions. Everything about her was staged.
Selene rose before her mother left the platform. It made Mirenne pause. By now, the demi-unicorn hadn’t surprised me anymore. She liked to make unexpected moves.
“I’d like to make an announcement.”
Mirenne turned.
“This is the last week, I, Selene de Filanderi, remain as the Head of Unicorn House. The board decided—” her voice suddenly lost strength and her mother once more was in the center of attention. A powerful glamor slammed against the students. Lotian grunted and even I felt how it rattled my bones. Gods but that shit was strong. She just washed the bad taste out of students’ heads, left by her daughter.
“Selene had step down as the Head of Unicorn House due to her personal obligations. She is getting married to the demi-dragon Dramer. The replacement will be announced the next week. Thank you.”
Selene remained standing, but completely silent. The supernaturals’ Head was the first to leave the platform, Watermane wearing her stupid outfit was the second. Ignelion descended its steps third. Saaron stood up, matching the height of Mirenne. His eyes ventured all over the place. He was searching for me.
Finally, he must have been mentally reprimanded as he hastily left the platform.
One minute. This was the entire defiance Selene mustered against her mother. One minute after Saaron had disappeared in the dragon’s section, she stood staring at her mother.
At first, Mirenne’s words resembled a distant thunder in my head. Something a neighbor county had to worry about, then as sudden as lightning it hit home. She is going to marry Dramer.
What the fuck?!
I jumped to my feet. My body trembled. I feared that the floor was about to turn into quicksand and suck me in. Was it the reason why Dramer hasn’t wanted to bond me, because he knew? This must be a mistake.
It must be.
Chapter 11
We returned to our room straight from the common room. I haven’t exchanged a word with Simona or anyone else since the announcement.
As Lotian put me down, I shoved the table upside down. Rebecca fled the living room.
“Did you hear what she said? Dramer and fucking Selene are getting married!”
“Chill, Flare, Mirenne’s full of shit.”
A finger on the rage’s trigger just has been pushed and I exploded, “you’re happy about it, aren’t you? You’d rather have Dramer out of the picture!”
Without thinking I passed him and went outside. The cold breath of the corridor did very little to stem the anger boiling inside me.
“Where are you going, Flare?”
I was too blinded by the rage to answer him. He and Dramer were flexing muscles when I stayed at Lotian’s house. Their rivalry was stupid and unhealthy.
Ten steps into the belly of the Academy and I was lost. Where now? Rebecca! I need you immediately. Surprisingly, the harpy-like personal assistant zapped through the air and stopped above my head.
“Where are you going, Flare?”
“To Selene!”
“You have to be kidding me,” Lotian said from behind. I ignored him. There was still the matter of his relationship with Oceania. Unexpected issues just slammed me from too many sides at once and I lost my cool.
Rebecca didn’t object though she didn’t like the idea. I cared nothing for her opinions. What could she know? She was only a fairy-made creature designed for one purpose. Spying on the students.
She was efficient though. Five corners later, we approached the stairs to floor four. The Dragon Soldiers wanted to know all kinds of shit. I was too close to punch them in their stupid helms that only a sliver of rationality kept me on the right side of common sense.
“I have a fucking right to go to the fifth floor to talk to the fucking Heads!”
“I don’t like that behavior,” one of them said.
“Yeah,” the other one agreed.
“Report this to the captain…”
Lotian’s hand stayed the Dragon Soldier. The demi-dragon was a head taller than the man and so he had to look up. Luckily, we were alone in the corridor as it surely would end up ugly.
“Do you know who am I, soldier?” Lotian could be spellbound, but his raw strength was beyond these two. Ah, shit! I should be angry with him not cheering him up.
“Demi-dragon Lotian,” answered the soldier.
“Yes. Now, let us proceed down to the fifth floor as we have important business to conclude there. That’s all I’m asking for.”
The soldiers looked at each other as if their faceless helms could reveal anything. Finally, they relented and stepped aside. I shot forth not waiting for Lotian. I was grateful to him for this but I didn’t want to look at him lest my gratefulness betrayed me. I feared that one glance and my pants would melt and my crusade to the Unicorn House would end. We passed another two soldiers by the entrance to the fourth floor, they ignored us.
The entrance to the fifth floor was guarded by four soldiers, one of them with a different insignia.
“That’s a corporal rank,” Lotian said from behind.
As we arrived at the bottom of the stairs, a Dragon Soldier gestured us to stop. Two of them kept their hands on their rune-enhanced batons.
“Purpose of the visit,” the corporal demanded.
“Personal,” I said before Lotian could open his mouth.
“Permission or summon.”
“What?”
The rune-enhance batons slid an inch out of the sheathes.
“The fifth floor is off the limits unless you have permission to be here or have been summoned. Otherwise, get lost.” He waved at as if we were flies.
I planted my feet in the ground, “I might not take you out by myself.”
“What did you say?” Four batons came out of the sheathes.
“But he can,” I pointed at Lotian, mouthing a silent apology. These soldiers were dumb as fuck. They attacked Lotian though he hadn’t done anything. I hoped the circumstances would suffice to defend him before some stupid commission.
Meanwhile, I rolled to the side, putting as much space between myself and the fight. Before the corporal realized what I’d done, I was running across the Chamber of the Houses, toward Selene’s office.
Past the statue of the Primes and farther ahead, I heard heavy boots behind me already. Dragon Soldiers started to file out the chamber from the other four exits. Rune-enhanced batons ready to strike me … spells flashed missing my head by inches. I stopped, took a deep breath, then reconsidered my chances. They were slim. At least two dozen soldiers stood between me and Selene’s office.
“Stay down!” Came muffled shouts from the group. They waved angrily at me.
I willed my fire to appear but the spell that bound my magical power kept it out of my reach. I thought about this and the prophecy. How was I supposed to fulfill it if mere dragon grunts could beat me? One fucking Titan was more than four demi-dragons could take and Titans had been defeated by angels. The same race I meant to dethrone. How? It was pathetic. No. I was pathetic. I should be stronger. Instead, I wasted time.
“Come at me fuckers!” It was irrational, but I needed to prove myself that there was more to me than I’ve believed my entire life. It was weird to acknowledge it, but I’ve liked to think about myself as the savior. I could be a heroine, because why not? Yes. I didn’t ask for this but then who actually had control over its fate? People refused to accept their futures. I decided to embrace mine.
The batons came down with startling quickness. It was easy to forget how strong these guys were. I ducked once, twice, thrice and realized the futility. There were too many of them. Their thick armors were
impenetrable without my magic. I am fucked.
Okay, Lotian. I need you. But my boyfriend, if he was in the chamber, had his own problems to solve. And, obviously, couldn’t hear me.
Stop.
This didn’t come from Lotian.
I whirled instinctively evading more falling rods, which didn’t fall. Dragon Soldiers froze. A chilling breeze swept the floor.
What the hell?
You’re talented at making a ruckus. This time, I can save you from beating but not the consequences. The director is already informed of this. I’m sorry, Flare, Selene said.
Usually, I would tell her to get the fuck out of my head. Not this time.
I need to talk to you in private.
A pause.
It’s a bad time for a conversation, but fine. I can do one last thing for you.
Her words made me feel bad about what I was going to say. But I couldn’t leave it. This confrontation has been coming since the day we met. I slipped between the huge statues of men and trotted toward the silver door.
*
I had no idea what to expect after deceit in Saaron’s office. The reception looked cold and sterile with an excess of silver, porcelain and white. Not a single picture on the patterned walls. A unicorn woman behind the long white desk didn’t acknowledge my presence, most likely had been warned by Selene. The door to the office was opened. It was thin but very high. Beyond them, I noticed a completely different palette of colors. And different scents and more.
The reception smelled of nothing. With each step I made toward the door, I sensed that relaxing note, which I’d experienced in the gym and the Botanics of Nark. As I entered inside everything crashed in place. The room could be massive, but fuck me, it was a jungle. In every direction except the front was a thick bush. A heavy sound of a waterfall lured me ahead. The air was indeed moist but pleasant with notes of exotic flowers. Was it really her office or something in my head has stopped working?
I reached the pond with colorful fish and lilies. A waterfall tore the fragile surface of the water at the edge. The stream came out of a rabble of rocks, melted with one another as if by meteor impacts.
The pond had two seats, made of neat rows of green bamboo sticks. One seat was occupied by Selene. She meditated in the lotus pose.
I looked around, there was nowhere else to go. This was crazy.
“What brings you here?” she asked, not opening her eyes.
“You know!” I snapped.
“Yes,” she agreed. “I know.”
“Then why do you ask?”
Another pause. Though the falling water soothed my rage, my nerves were frayed.
“Because it is important that you say it. It matters.”
“I want you to leave Dramer alone…” I wanted to say more, but my voice strangely faltered as if the arguments I had coming here, suddenly lost their weight. She’s messing with my head. It must be…
“You’re very young, Flare. Inexperienced. Easy to provoke. My mother knows about you and Dramer. She used it to push you toward this.”
“She said you’re going to marry him!”
“I’m pregnant, Flare.”
It was like a slap to my face. Shock, then burning itch, then slowly descending into the understanding that hurt more than a bite of an Alaskan spider, I dropped on the seat next to Selene. Defeated.
“Pregnant? With Dramer?”
A chuckle turned my blood to ice. I’ve never heard or seen a demi-unicorn to show such emotions.
“You must be aware that dragons and unicorns cannot have children with each other. Unless we have less than five percent of our blood, but then we aren’t classified as one of the Prime Powers anymore.”
“So, not Dramer?”
“No. I have my own man I love. My mother cares nothing for that.” A word love in her mouth sounded strange. Out of place. To me, unicorns were cold-blooded, emotionless creatures.
“Then what about your marriage?” I asked unsure if I wanted to hear her answer.
“It’s scheduled and that’s all, will it happen though? It may, but without me and Dramer as I can’t imagine him to agree to this. So, I wouldn’t worry about that.”
My heart flared with happiness only to sunk down a second later. Almost everyone in this forsaken place lied. I couldn’t trust my friends anymore. Why would I believe Selene? My memory reached the day I came here and my first encounter with Selene. Her attitudes from then and now didn’t match each other. One of these Selenes pretended. The question was, which one.
As much as I desired to push the topic, I feared there was nothing else I could get out of her… or was there?
“Why do you really leave?”
“Disagreement with the board and my pregnancy, of course.”
I nodded taking her words at the face value. Stupid as I was, I wanted to believe her. There were hundreds of questions I needed to ask, I picked one I knew would haunt me.
“Is it possible to imprison a Titan?”
Selene twitched then she quickly stilled. I watched her beautiful face, straight silver hair that reached her modest cleavage. Her skin had the color of porcelain. Her chest slowed down making the barest motions.
“It’s a strange question for the first-year student.”
“I suspect that Saaron has a prisoner in his fireplace,” I vomited words before my rational mind snatched them back.
I didn’t notice how tautened Selene’s body was until she relaxed. Her eyes snapped open and she regarded me with an unreadable look. Then she gathered her hair light as gossamer and stood up. The fish sensed the motion and gathered near the surface, awaiting something.
Selene’s thin blue lips moved soundlessly and a pack of fish food appeared in her hand. She pinched the fine powder and threw it into the pond, watching the fish snapping at the thin membrane of water.
“You should leave Saaron alone, Flare.” She added after a moment. “For various reasons.” It resembled the advice from Bastiel.
“You are not surprised… what do you know?” I asked not expecting the answer as my demanding tone went overboard.
“Rumors.” She sent away the packet with a spell. The fish rioted for a few more seconds then deflected toward the sandy bottom of the pond. I meant to ask her about her office but her next words cut off any thoughts about fish, pond or her officer. “Flare, Saaron is a shady figure with a string of worrisome connections. Keep clear of him and maybe he will forget you. But if you keep provoking him. This might not end well for you.”
“But the prophecy!”
“Forget the prophecy!” she snapped and as argumentative as it sounded I lost a will to continue the conversation. Selene clicked her fingers and a straight path appeared amongst the bush that led directly to the door, I had entered through earlier. “Farewell, Flare.”
*
I walked out of the unicorn’s office numb. Forget the prophecy. It was easy for her to say that when the prophecy didn’t affect her. I was stupid and while a part of me held a grain of hatred toward the demi-unicorn, I’ve begun to like her. She’s saved my ass several times. And now she had to leave…
I didn’t see the hit or even feel it.
When I dived out darkness, I lay on a low hard bed, a dim yellow light sapped out of the corner of a low ceiling. Three bare stone walls and a shimmering veil made up a room not larger than my bathroom.
Blurred by the shimmering veil, stood Issa Verax with a roll of paper under her arm.
“Finally,” she admitted with an icy tone.
“Where the fuck am I?” I switched to a sitting position, which wasn’t that easy. “My head.”
“You were apprehended by the Dragon Soldiers upon breaking the rules,” Verax announced.
“Fuck you and your rules,” I snapped at her. “I was attacked not apprehended.”
/> “That’s not the best way to speak to someone who came to help you.”
I rose with a slight help of the wall. The thin layer of magic between us flickered on the edge of visibility but something was telling me it would withstand a solid blow.
“These rules are absurd! Attacking students on their way to the Heads, what is it?”
The dragoness bitch straightened, her small tits puffed. “You supposed to send a formal request via your personal assistant. In a half an hour you would receive permission to see a Head.”
Ignoring the wisdom of her words, I asked, “where is Lotian?”
Verax put a hand on the strange magical field, it flared to life under her touch, and fell, allowing cold air into the small cell.
“He’s with Saaron. While you broke some rules, he broke bones. There may be criminal charges—”
“He defended himself!” I cut in.
“Follow me.”
Chapter 12
Selene
Dragon Soldiers requested Flare’s permission to be on this floor, I denied it. A mosaic of runes around my forearm flickered as I issued mental commands. The girl pushed her luck to the absolute limits. Her little dragon’s rage would spell a disaster. What Flare didn’t know, was that the prophecy of Trinity could have three different outcomes. That was why she shouldn’t ever rely on the prophecy. Flare would survive in every outcome, though two of them would see this planet burned to ashes with everyone residing on the surface. I couldn’t fathom the means required to cause such a cataclysm.
With a wave of a hand I made passage between the bushes of avencium. Beyond it lay a huge flat rock I used as a desk. I had no use of sitting with all the spells flying around. A unicorn’s mind could hold photographic memories in the amount that would put the pre-war computers to shame.
In a week this office will be in hands of Esiane. I underestimated our mother. I thought my sister unable to let go of power in her hands. As a member of the Academy’s board, she had way more power than the Head of Unicorn House. It didn’t add up. Atrax now sat at the table and further diluted my mother’s power, which in fact she should not have. Historically speaking, the dean and the director should be two separate persons.
The Flesh of Titans Page 9