Scholomance 3: The Devil's Academy

by Logan Jacobs

  “Neither are we,” Bram snarled.

  “So, let’s fucking go,” I countered.

  “Cole!” Morgana gasped as she pulled me by my arm. “You don’t have to do this… you don’t have to prove anything.”

  “It’s not about proving anything,” I said, “I just want to kill them, and the best way to do it is in front of our school so that everyone knows I don’t have a problem murdering those who cross us.”

  Morgana bit her lip, but she nodded slowly and let me go. The intelligent brunette knew me well enough by now that when my mind was made up, there was no turning back.

  “Just be careful,” she whispered before she stepped on her toes and planted a light kiss on my cheek.

  “I will.” I winked.

  Then I turned to face Theodora, and her face was set in a disapproving frown.

  “You know she’s right,” the headmistress said, “you do not have to do this. You didn’t break any rules by saving Akira.”

  “I still want to kill them.” I nodded firmly.

  “Yes, but the question is, can you do it?” she whispered. “I can tell you now, they will enter your mind. It’s two against one… and you’ve been weakened by using the death curse.”

  “And I can still fight them inside my mind.” I grinned. “Don’t worry, Headmistress, I’ll be back before you know it.”

  Theodora sighed but nodded in agreement.

  “Go,” she said, and then she leaned in closer, as if we were sharing an intimate secret. “And be sure to kick their asses.”

  I stifled a laugh before I turned to face the Mors Headmaster.

  “All right, you weak bitches,” I said, “let’s do this, shall we?”

  “Let’s.” Bram grinned.

  Even after me beating him bloody and him losing a fucking arm and every single game so far, he was still convinced he could beat me. It was almost amusing, but I had to focus. I didn’t want to enter this feeling too cocksure about myself. Bram and Malcolm had that mentality throughout the games, and what good did it do for them?

  “Take your places,” Theodora instructed.

  I nodded and stood at least six feet away from the warlock pair. They curled their mouths into ugly grins, but I remained stony faced as I glared at them.

  “On your mark, get set--” Theodora started, but then the warlocks raised their wands and aimed it at me.

  “Mentis imperium!” they shouted.

  I raised my wand and uttered the same spell right before it blasted me square in the face. Our spells met, but it was two against one. Their combined force was powerful, and it felt like my skull was about to be split in two. I gritted my teeth as I pushed against them, and it was like I was fighting a losing battle. My body was weak, and I was sure I was seconds away from passing the fuck out.

  But I wasn’t about to give up. Instead, I thought of an alternative plan.

  It was fucking crazy, but it just might work.

  And if it did work, it would show everyone just how powerful I really was.

  So, I lowered my wand and let their spell hit me, and the last thing I heard before everything went black was my coven screaming my name.

  Chapter 20

  When I opened my eyes, I was face to face with Malcolm and Bram. They were smirking at me, and I knew there was only one thing on their minds.

  A cold, brutal murder.

  If they were going to murder me, though, I was sure they would want to torture the hell out of me first. The warlocks weren’t the type to just kill without toying with their prey. They were like a pair of greedy wolves. They wanted their fill and fun, too.

  But I wanted to do the same thing to them.

  I was outnumbered and in a vulnerable position, but despite this, the air felt unusually warm and inviting. I quickly scanned my surroundings and tried to think of a plan or some form of defense. Perhaps there was something in here that would help me escape, both sane and alive.

  As I darted my eyes around the room, I noticed this place was both lavish and noble. The walls were made from ebony stone, and massive oil paintings with intricate gold frames hung all around us. To my right, there was also a long spiral wooden staircase with a thick crimson carpet that cascaded down every step, and above us hung a massive gothic chandelier with hundreds of candles that cast a warm glow. The ceiling itself was an enormous mural, with inky clouds and demonic cherub babies that floated in the air with bat wings and fangs for teeth. Behind the two warlocks stood a row of gold, armored knights with long lances extended forward, and I thought this place looked as if it belonged to a dark royal family.

  Is this really what my mind looked like? I was both amazed and confused.

  “Of course, this would be what your fucking mind looks like,” Bram growled as if he could read my thoughts.

  His thick venomous voice broke me out from my small trance, and I turned to see him throw his one remaining arm up into the air and gestured around.

  “What?” he snarled. “You think you’re hot shit? Do you seriously consider yourself fucking royalty?”

  Although every inch of my body was screaming with pain, I couldn’t help but laugh. My lungs burned as I continued to laugh in their stupid faces, so I hunched over and tried to contain myself, but the furious and dumbfounded looks on their faces were just too damn good.

  “What the hell is so funny?” Malcolm demanded, and his gray eyes flashed with fury. “You’re going to die here! Why the hell are you laughing?”

  “Because I’ve beaten you at everything so far, and you already think you’ve won,” I chuckled before I pulled out my wand and raised it at them.

  “It’s two against one--” Bram started, but again, I laughed in his arrogant, contemptuous face.

  The fucker actually thought he had the upper hand.

  “You fucking idiots.” I grinned. “I wanted you both to be here. Everyone thinks you need to go into someone else’s mind to win, but I own this place. Observe.”

  The warlocks glanced around the magnificent and elegant room, and with all my willpower, I urged our surroundings to shake. Everything trembled, and my grin grew wider as their smug faces fell. Then giant chunks of stone began to fall down from the ceiling, and the warlocks cried out in alarm as they tried to dodge the debris. The stones smashed into the marble floor, and smoke billowed up into the air. The warlocks’ faces were pale and their eyes were wide open, so I knew they were finally beginning to see reason, but instead of admitting defeat, Bram just shot me a cold glare.

  “You think we’re afraid of you?” he growled. “Like I said, you’re going to die in here, and you’ll no longer be able to protect those bitches of yours --”

  “I don’t fucking think so,” I said as the room stopped shaking, and I glowered at the both of them. “Now, why don’t we just skip the two of you blowing each other and get this fucking over with?”

  Malcolm and Bram scowled, but before they could respond, I attacked.

  “Colingo!” I shouted.

  The two warlocks ducked under my hex, and I took cover behind a red velvet sofa directly at my back before they could retaliate. A moment later, I heard them snarl out their own spells, and bolts of energy slammed into the cushions of the couch. I hunkered down as close to the floor as I could get, and various colors of lights shot above me as the warlocks yelled spell after spell. An explosion blasted over my head, and I knew I had to do something else to distract them.

  This was my fucking mind, after all.

  So, I closed my eyes and focused on the room. I knew the darker it was, the more difficult it would be for them to see me. Even with all the chaos surrounding me, I managed to pivot all my energy into creating another diversion, and my heart beat pounded in my ears like a wardrum. A moment later, I could feel a shift in the air, and when I opened my eyes, the room was engulfed in a dark crimson haze. Then I gasped as I suddenly felt sapped of my strength, and I realized changing my mindscape took a lot out of me.

  My plan had worked
, though. The room was murky and filled with scarlet smoke, and the warlocks coughed as their spells became less frequent.

  “What the hell is going on?” Bram shouted.

  “Don’t pay any attention to it,” Malcolm sneered. “He’s just trying to freak us out! Keep going!”

  “But I can barely see--” Bram started, but Malcolm wasn’t having it.

  “Just shut the fuck up and aim!” he growled.

  At this point, I knew they were just waiting for a clear sighting of my face, so I had to be quick and precise if I cast a spell on either of them. I couldn’t afford to miss, because if I did, they would hit me, and it would be game over.

  But what spell to use? I knew I couldn’t use the killing curse for the third time. It would drain too much energy from me. I also knew that as long as I had cover and distance from them, they wouldn’t dare use the same curse since they’d already used it themselves in the last round. They were stupid but not idiotic enough to risk missing me and wasting their valuable energy and souls.

  So, I’d have to think of another way to beat these assholes, once and for all. And I had to do it quickly. The longer we spent in here, the more likely it was that some shit could happen, and I’d be fucked. Creating distractions was draining my energy, and it was two-against-one.

  But that didn’t mean I couldn’t kick their fucking asses.

  A few beats later, the barrage of spells petered out, and then I remembered the golden knights situated behind the warlocks. With all my willpower, I urged them to step forward, and my temples throbbed with a sharp pain as I focused all my energy on the soldiers. I could hear their metal joints creaking as they took heavy steps toward Bram and Malcolm, and a strained grin spread across my face.

  “Fuck!” Bram shouted. “The soldiers! They’re coming right at us!”

  “Don’t be a motherfucking pussy,” Malcolm yelled back. “Hey, Cole, why don’t you just show yourself instead of messing around? It’s now or never!”

  He was right. This needed to end.

  But I couldn’t just jump up without a plan. Somehow, I had to find a way to disarm Bram and distract Malcolm at the same time.

  That’s when it hit me. I’d literally disarm Bram.

  Before either of them could utter another spell, I shot to my feet and pointed my wand at Bram and his only remaining arm.

  “Secare!” I shouted.

  A bright light hit Bram’s upper arm and shoulder, and the spell sliced clean through his skin. Blood arced into the air, and my magic had been so powerful that the warlock’s only good arm now dangled by its shredded tendons and muscles. Bram howled with pain and doubled over, and his wand clattered to the floor as he collapsed down to his knees.

  His screams were like music to my fucking ears, but it still wasn’t enough. They needed to suffer even more. I’d make sure they’d both crumble to the floor and scream for mercy.

  In that moment, all my fury, bloodlust, and determination to see these two assholes in unbearable pain bubbled to the surface like a brewing cauldron. I could feel my body growing hotter by the second, and soon, thick, sticky red droplets of blood began to pour down from the ceiling like rainfall.

  “Bram!” Malcolm’s pale lips were parted in shock and disgust as blood continued to pool around Bram’s prone body and fall from above, and then he hissed as crimson droplets cascaded down his face. “Fuck! That burns!”

  I frowned in confusion for a moment, but when Malcom started to try and shield himself from the raining blood, and the stench of burning flesh wafted over to me, I realized the scarlet rain was scalding his skin, even though it didn’t affect me in any way. The warlock cursed and tried to find cover, but there was nothing for him in my mindscape, and his pale skin started to blister in pink and red splotches.

  That’s when I saw my chance.

  I grinned as I took my aim, and Malcolm’s stormy gray eyes darted up and caught mine just as I opened my mouth

  “Insanire!” I yelled.

  A bright yellow blast hit the warlock in the face, and he fell back with a hard thud. His wand flew out from his hand, and the piece of wood skittered across the bloody marbled floor. After a moment, Malcolm dragged himself upright and looked at me with blood in his eyes. He was gasping at first, but then his eyes widened, and he smiled, even though his face was now covered in blisters.

  “Ha!” he cackled like a wild dog. “You failed! I’m still--”

  He never finished his last sentence because in the next moment, his eyes rolled back into his head, and his pale body convulsed violently. Then he started rolling on the floor, and he gasped for breath as his own blood ran down his nose, eyes, and ears.

  I turned my attention away from Malcolm and back to the other motherfucker. Bram was bleeding heavily, and his skin was drenched and scalded from the burning blood fall. He was desperately trying to reach for his wand with his fucked up arm, but the appendage was practically useless, so his blistered fingers just twitched in the pool of blood he sat in. Then the warlock’s face paled in panic when he saw me approaching him, and I grinned before I reached down, picked up his wand, and snapped it in half.

  “You may be inside my mind,” I whispered, “but I’m still the one in fucking control.”

  Bram raised his hand in an attempt to beg for mercy, but I fired my last shot.

  “Volant!” I snarled as I pointed my wand right at his face.

  The spell sent Bram flying back into the air, and he crashed right into the sharpened, golden lances the armored knights were holding half a dozen yards away. The blades pierced right through the warlock’s chest, and blood spurted out from his lips before he looked at me one last time.

  “Y-You bastard,” he gurgled, right before the last trace of life left his green eyes. Then his body went limp as his head dropped, and he just hung there, impaled on the line of lances.

  I smirked and looked down at Malcolm. His eyes were devoid of any emotion, and he was staring blindly up at the ceiling. The blank expression on his pale face told me he was no longer the impulsive, stubborn, weak warlock he once was, and I knew it was over.

  Malcolm was nothing, and he now suffered a fate worse than death.

  “Good fucking riddance,” I chuckled as I kicked Malcolm in the ribs, and he didn’t even flinch.

  As I stared at the bloody scene before me, I could feel the palace slowly fading away, and I knew I was returning to the academy. I closed my eyes, and the next thing I heard was deafening applause followed by wild cheering.

  I blinked my eyes open, and the banquet hall swam unsteadily before me. Now that I’d used the death curse twice, as well as the insanity spell, I could barely even see my coven running toward me. My muscles were as heavy as lead, and my breathing became shallow. Then my vision doubled, my head spun, and the last thing I remembered seeing before everything faded to black was the fierce eyes of the Mors headmaster.

  It felt as if I’d been beaten with a sack of rocks by the time I opened my eyes, and in my groggy and confused state, it took me a moment to realize I was in the infirmary. Once my vision cleared, I saw my coven was seated all around my bed, and Theodora stood at the foot, dressed in a long, black gown. I gazed back at my coven, and each witch looked positively radiant. Even Akira was back to her usual self, with rosy cheeks and a smile on her beautiful face, and she squeezed my hand as she pushed back her black hair.

  “You’re finally awake!” she gasped. “About fucking time.”

  “Akira,” I mumbled. “You’re okay.”

  “Of course, I’m okay, I’m a fucking badass.” The black-eyed witch smirked, but then her expression softened a little. “Thank you for saving me, though. That animo was a real bitch.”

  “Happy to help,” I chuckled, but then I winced as pain shot through my muscles.

  “We were a little worried there.” Faye grinned from beside her. “But we knew you’d pull through like you always do.”

  “Thanks,” I chuckled, although I was still feeling
sore. My throat was dry, and when I spoke, my voice was hoarse. “What happened? Did we officially win?”

  “You officially won that round.” Theodora nodded. “But I wouldn’t get too cocksure over it, there will still be one final game to complete before you can call yourselves the ultimate victors. Not to mention all the intensive courses you’ll have before that.”

  “Who even cares?” Akira laughed. “You killed that one-armed asshole and turned Malcolm completely bonkers. You should have seen their headmaster’s face. It looked like someone took a shit in his cauldron.”

  “Yeah,” Vesta drawled, and she pushed her green hair out of her eyes and stared down at me with a confused frown. “Out of curiosity, why didn’t you just kill them both? Why only kill Bram?”

  “Because.” I lightly shrugged. “Bram may have been an asshole, but Malcolm was the first one to attack you out of nowhere. Death was a mercy compared to the madness I put Malcolm through, and I wanted him to suffer for what he did. No one touches my women without my permission.”

  Vesta blushed a deep purple, and the other witches giggled under their breaths.

  “Be that as it may,” Theodora replied with a slight smile, “there will be more trials, so I suggest you get some rest. You’ll be returning to a normal class schedule first thing in the morning. Now, ladies, let’s leave Cole to recover, shall we?”

  “We’ll be back to check in on you later.” Morgana smiled. “The headmistress is right, you need to get some rest.”

  “What are you going to do now?” I asked.

  “There is another damn dinner,” Akira muttered under her breath.

  “Which is mandatory, even though you always seem to disappear or miss them altogether,” Theodora tutted. “Now, I hate to repeat myself, but you should all leave.”

  The coven blushed from her reprimand, and I couldn’t help but smile.

  “I’ll see you all later,” I whispered. “Don’t worry about me.”

  The women bade me another goodbye and left the infirmary, but Theodora stayed behind and looked down at me with a small smile.