“Secare,” I whispered.
The spell hit my open palm, and my skin slowly started to split open. Then blood trickled down my wrist as I raised my wand and aimed it at the flames. I focused on the black blaze and narrowed my eyes at the wooden stakes, and I did my best to ignore Penelope’s intense stare and the nearby screams from the tower. I could also feel Theodora’s eyes on me as I continued to gaze at the fire, but I disregarded that, too.
Finally, when my mind was free from all doubt and other distractions, I raised my wand even higher and took a deep breath.
“Imperium meum,” I muttered.
No one else had recited the incantation, and I could feel all their eyes on me as my body and soul became one with the flames. Hot blood coursed through my body like a scorching river, and my heart began to violently hammer against my chest. Each heartbeat echoed through my head, and images of thick, crimson blood seeping into the soil replayed in my mind. I felt the presence of cold, dead fingers wrapping tightly around my throat, and its nails dug into my flesh.
Can you hear us? echoed a chorus of women. Can you feel what they did to us?
That’s when I could see witches burning in my mind, and each image burst into my head like a flash of lightning. The taste of metallic blood lingered on my tongue, and it felt like a dagger was piercing my heart. I could barely breathe as I fought against the violent pictures and terrified screams, and blood began to trickle down my nose and ears as my hands violently shook. I was playing a game of death, and I could still feel icy fingers pressing against my neck.
I felt like I was dying.
“Cole!” I heard Penelope scream.
The other witches cried out my name, but I paid them no attention. All I could do was fight back against the brutal images which refused to go away. Sweat dripped from my brow, and when I licked my lips, I could taste salt and blood.
They murdered us! Kill them all! Make them burn!
I growled as the black flames from each stake swiftly flew toward the prisoner tower, and then the fire began to devour the stone walls. Loud, blood-curdling screams filled the air as men began to burn and die an agonizing death, and black smoke billowed toward the crimson sky.
“Excellent!” Vanessa cried out. “Do not falter, Cole! Burn them all! Give in to your feral desires!”
The professor then turned to the rest of the group, and a malicious grin broke across her beautiful and bloodthirsty face.
“Now, everyone, aim your wands at the tower!” she exclaimed. “Forget about destroying the flames! Burn the prisoners instead! Make them fucking suffer!”
As I stood there and violently trembled, the rest of the witches stepped up by my side and pointed their wands at the burning tower.
“Imperium meum!” everyone shouted.
The black flames quickly towered up over the stone prison, and the manic screams from inside grew louder and more satisfying. In my mind, I could see the flesh melting off men’s bones as they desperately tried to escape the deadly inferno, and a dark satisfaction flooded my veins.
The witches all screamed out in pain and fury as the tower began to crumble down into the red earth, and massive stones fell from the sky like rainfall and crashed into the soil. Gigantic clouds of bloody dirt exploded into the air, and soon, the entire column came crashing down.
In the next moment, the prisoners’ screams all died at once, so we slowly lowered our wands and then turned to look at each other. Penelope’s chocolate brown eyes had turned blacker than Akira’s, and the whites of her eyes were completely bloodshot. Blood was dripping down her nose and ears, and her breathing was labored.
“It’s over,” I panted. “You’re safe.”
The orange-haired witch shook her head and then stared deeply into my eyes. She looked as if she were on the verge of tears, and her entire body was trembling.
“I-I saw them burning,” she croaked. “It was… worse than I could have ever imagined.”
“I know,” I whispered.
When I looked toward the others, each witch had angry tears in their eyes and was struggling to breathe. Before I could utter a word of comfort to any of them, though, a loud, long, drawn-out screech made each of us cover our ears and stumble forward. I’d never heard such a sound before, and I felt as if the screams were like small knives stabbing at my eardrums until I turned deaf.
“It’s the Sanctus Militum!” Morgana cried out with her hands pressed tightly against her ears. “Only a holy army could make such a piercing, deathly sound!”
When I looked toward the dark horizon, I saw a group of golden horses with massive, white wings flying right toward us. Broad-shouldered men with ivory robes were riding the horses, and they had bows and arrows aimed in our direction. They were a fair distance away from us, but I could still see their leader.
He was a dark-haired soldier, and he was the first one to notch one of his arrows at us. He took aim and fired, and the arrow flew toward us at the speed of lightning. It was coming right at Theodora, and without hesitation, I pushed her out of the way. We fell to the ground, and thankfully, the arrow missed us both by an inch. When I turned around to see where the arrow had landed, I spotted it right behind us. It had pierced the red dirt, and the arrowhead was wedged deep into the soil and had turned the ground around it black. The blight was quickly spreading like a poison through the earth, and I immediately knew that if one of these arrows hit us, even by just a nick or a graze, we’d undoubtedly be poisoned.
I could protect my coven, but what about Vanessa, Theodora, and the other witches?
They’d be dead in a matter of seconds.
When I turned to face the deadly army, the lead soldier was already preparing to notch another arrow, and so were the rest of his men. Soon, we would be the target of a rain of lethal arrows.
“Quick!” Theodora bellowed as she got up to her feet. “Everyone gather into a group!”
I jumped to my feet and then turned to look at the pile of rubble we had created. My eyes quickly scanned the debris, and I spotted a single black flame, still burning in the stones.
Then an idea sprang to my mind, so I focused on the smoke and aimed my wand right at it.
This better fucking work.
“Cole, what the hell do you think you’re doing?” Vanessa cried out.
I ignored her and the others as I stared at the flame. The flying soldiers were coming closer, and I knew what I had to do. So, with my bloody fingers wrapped tightly around my wand, I took a deep breath and concentrated on the fire.
“Imperium meum!” I shouted.
The flames quickly grew, towered over the pile of stones, and then began to morph into a black fireball. I envisioned the blaze flying toward the incoming soldiers and burning them in the sky, and a dark bloodlust rushed through my veins.
The witches stopped calling out my name as the flames sped through the air and set the row of flying horses and soldiers on fire. Their screams echoed across the field, and then they began to fall from the clouds and down into the red dirt. Even from afar, I could smell the burning corpses and scorched horses, and as they continued to plummet from the sky, I quickly turned to the others.
“Let’s go,” I ordered. “Now.”
Theodora nodded, and then we huddled together in a circle. She swirled her wand, and purple smoke began to engulf us. We spun through the air, and my stomach flipped as we were tossed and turned through realms.
When we finally landed back in the classroom, every single witch turned to look at me with wide eyes and parted lips. Even Theodora, who had probably seen crazier things in her lifetime, looked partially shocked.
“Well.” Vanessa cleared her throat. “That was somewhat unexpected.”
“What the hell was that?” I asked with a raised eyebrow. “I thought the holy men were gone from that realm.”
“They were,” Vanessa snapped. “I thought perhaps we’d be faced with shadow demons, but never in my wildest dreams did I think we’d see those basta
rds of the Sanctus Militum.”
“Well, what the hell is the Sanctus Militum?” I questioned.
“The Sanctus Militum,” Morgana repeated, “is a holy army that guards sacred lands. They work for the Elder Gods, and they rarely come out of hiding.”
“It still makes no sense,” Vanessa breathed as her dark eyebrows pinched together. “They abandoned the realm ages ago… Why in hellfire would they come back after all this time? How did they even know we were there? I just can’t wrap my head around it.”
I nodded my head and looked at each witch. They were still staring at me with large eyes and trembling lips.
“Cole,” Theodora finally said, “what you did back there probably saved our lives. We could have shadow ported out of there, but they could have traced us back to the academy through elder magic. Well done.”
“Thank you, Headmistress,” I replied. “I… I don’t know what came over me.”
“Who cares?” Akira snorted. “It worked… but Cole, how did you manage to expand the flames when we were supposed to extinguish them?”
“I-I don’t know,” I responded. “My mind just took over, and I had a sudden urge to burn everything to the ground.”
“Cole’s power is unexplainable at times, and thank Satan for that,” Theodora said before she tossed back her dark curls. “If you hadn’t managed to do what you did, we’d all be dead, and no matter what the intention of the exercise was, you all did an excellent job back there. Now, go and get yourselves cleaned up. We have an exceptional dinner to attend tonight.”
“Sorry, Headmistress?” Vesta raised her hand timidly. “Did you say a special dinner?”
Theodora looked at each of us and then broke into a cheeky smile.
“Did I not mention the other schools would be joining us for dinner tonight?” she chuckled. “How forgetful of me.”
We all exchanged brief, exhausted looks with one another. We were covered in blood and had nearly been attacked by a group of elder soldiers, but Theodora still wanted us to attend a dinner.
“You heard the Headmistress,” Vanessa snapped. “Go and get ready, for hell’s sake!”
We took our leave, but before I parted ways with the other group, Penelope snatched my arm and looked deeply into my eyes.
“Cole… thank you,” she said, and I was surprised by the sincerity in her voice. “You saved all our asses, and I’ll never forget what you did.”
“You’re welcome,” I answered.
She nodded and then separated from the coven, and the rest of her group remained silent as they followed her down the halls.
“Well, that was fucking intense,” Akira said while we watched them leave.
“No shit,” I sighed. “Come on, let’s go get ready for this dinner. Judging by the look on Theodora’s face, I have a feeling we’ll be the talk of the evening.”
As we headed down the halls and back toward our common room, I couldn’t help but think back to the red field and the witches who’d been burned to death, tied to those stakes. I knew their faces would never leave my mind, and as I walked slowly past the moving portraits, I vowed to do whatever I could to protect my coven and the entire school.
And the first step toward achieving that was by finding out if there truly was a traitor in our midst.
Chapter 3
Once I was alone in my room, the first thing I did was strip off my soil-soaked clothes and toss them on the floor, but as I stood there naked and stared at the bloody pile, all I wanted to do was burn the fabric and never see or wear them again.
“Is everything alright, sir?” Cordelia’s shrill voice rang through the air.
I should have known the obedient ghost-maid would be lurking around here somewhere, and despite how exhausted I was, I couldn’t help but chuckle under my breath.
“It will be,” I replied. “Cordelia, I need to ask you for a small favor. Would you burn these clothes for me? I never want to wear them again.”
“Of course, sir,” she said. “Your bath is already prepared. When you’re finished, I’ll have a fresh set of clothing ready for you.”
“I’m not sure if you’re aware of this,” I started, “but I’m supposed to attend a dinner tonight--”
“Yes, I’m very aware, sir,” Cordelia responded. “In fact, Theodora informed me that it will be a masquerade banquet.”
“Is that so?” I asked as I made my way to the bathroom.
When I stepped inside, the tub was already filled to the brim with hot, sapphire blue water. The bath smelled like a blend between spiced perfume and ripe lemons, and as soon as I stepped into the water, all my muscles loosened up. The red soil slowly dissolved off my skin, and then I scrubbed myself with a sea sponge until I was pink and raw.
“Yes, indeed, sir,” the maid finally answered once I was submerged and comfortable in the water. “I’d be most excited if I were you… I remember when I had my first Ludi Mortiferum masquerade--”
“Is it some kind of tradition?” I asked as I continued to rub at my skin.
“It is,” the invisible maid replied, “and it’s always held before the final game.”
“Well, Theodora never mentioned that,” I answered.
“I’m sure she has a lot on her mind,” Cordelia remarked. “I’m no headmistress, I’m simply a maid, but I can only imagine the number of responsibilities she has on her plate.”
I nodded, and when I finished cleaning myself up, I stepped out of the tub and wrapped a thick warm towel around my waist. Then I headed into the bedroom, and as Cordelia promised, there was a set of clothing folded neatly in the blue velvet chair by the stained-glass window.
When I unfolded the garments, I noticed a black button-down shirt with a matching ebony tie and dark slacks. There was also a black velvet cloak with a crimson silk insert, and the Scholomance crest was sewn into the breast pocket. I slid into the luxurious outfit and slipped on my leather boots, which had been shined and cleaned to perfection. Then I tossed the cloak over my shoulders and sighed as the velvety fabric brushed against my neck.
Once I was fully dressed, I headed over to the sea glass mirror by the bathroom and stared back at my reflection. The color had returned to my cheeks and lips, and I no longer looked like a walking ghost. My jet-black hair was plastered over my forehead, and as I swept it out of my eyes and stared at my reflection, I couldn’t help but think about the woman in the painting. The woman who was hidden down in the secret cellar in the study hall. The same woman who always seemed to come and go as she pleased. Her eyes were the same shade of blue as mine, and the similarities between the rest of our features were just too uncanny.
I had to find out more about her, but first, I needed to attend this banquet. Perhaps I could find out more about the other schools and somehow narrow down who was still loyal to Theodora.
I began to rush toward the door, but Cordelia’s voice stopped me short.
“Sir, I believe you’re forgetting something.”
“What?” I asked, but then I spotted something on my bedside table, and when I got closer, I realized it was a mask. It was made out of black satin and just large enough to cover my eyes and nose, and I quickly pulled it on. “Shit, I nearly forgot… thank you, Cordelia.”
“You look very handsome indeed,” Cordelia giggled.
“Thanks,” I responded. “Well, I’d better get going… wish me luck.”
“You won’t be needing it, sir,” she answered. “I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful time.”
I nodded and left my bedroom, and when I slipped down the stairs and into the common room, it was completely empty. Even my coven’s familiars weren’t cuddled up in their usual love pile. The only animal in the room was Alexander, and as soon as he saw me, he flashed me a toothy rabbit grin.
Looking good, Cole, he said. The ladies are going to drop their panties and demand your cock once they see you.
“Is sex the only thing you think about?” I asked. “Not that I’m judging, I’m just curious
.”
Yeah, he answered. I mean, what did you expect? I’m a rabbit, for fuck’s sake. Ever heard of the expression, fucking like rabbits?
“Point taken,” I chuckled.
Before Alexander could say another word, his red eyes widened as he gazed behind me, and when I turned around, my coven was quietly walking down the stairs, all dressed in various colored gowns with matching masks. As they stepped down to meet me, I took a long moment to appreciate each witch.
Morgana was dressed in a long, deep sea-blue gown with sheer sleeves and a plunging neckline. Her dark hair was loose, and it tumbled over her creamy white shoulders in long sleek curls. Her lips and cheeks were painted with rouge, and her eyelashes were even longer and darker than usual. She reminded me of a porcelain doll with her flawless ivory skin and radiant complexion. She was taller as well, and when I looked down at her feet, I noticed she was wearing dark blue heels with white, shimmering stones embedded on the fronts. There was also a slit along the left side of her dress which exposed her long, lean leg, and all I wanted to do was trace a finger along her milky skin.
Akira was dressed in a short, skin-tight black dress that showcased her lithe and toned body, and I could see the outline of her ab muscles against the pull of the fabric. She also wore a pair of glittering white gloves that reached her elbows, her short hair was down, and she’d painted her lips an even deeper shade of purple. She was also wearing a pair of knee-high black leather boots, and her eyes were lined with coal black liner. Her ears were pierced and adorned with all kinds of jewels and dangling bones. She smiled coyly at me, and her white teeth contrasted sharply with her dark lips.
Faye decided to dress in a red gown the exact same shade as her hair. It showed off her hourglass figure, and she’d opted to wear her hair up in a loose wavy updo that reminded me of a roaring campfire. Her lips were also painted a deep, blood red, and her cheeks were flushed a pale pink. Her ruby red shoes gave her a little extra height, and she stood tall and proud among the rest of her coven. She wore a thick, velvet black collar around her long neck and the image of fucking her with nothing on but her collar popped into my head.
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