by c a king
She pushed herself up, hoping to catch sight of another lost soul. That was wishful thinking, though. There wasn’t anyone else to be found, or heard. In fact, an eerie silence was the only thing making its presence known. There were no howls, hoots, rustling leaves, or cryptic groans mixed with rattling chains. The place she stood in was completely void of all life—as dead as the bodies buried there.
Makayla shook her head, watching an unusual low-lying fog creeping in. From it a shadow took form—a cloaked figure hovering over a deserted shovel—dissipating into nothing a split second later. A shiver raced down Makayla’s spine.
Walking through a cemetery never bothered her before. The exception being when both the ground and sky weren’t visible. Fog and clouds were pretty much the same, except one loomed overhead, while the other clung close to the earth. One turned day to night, casting darkness over the land. The other hid potential dangers, threatening to trip up any who trod in its path.
Makayla glanced down at the swirling grey smoke inside her pendant. A chill reserved for people four times her age made its way deep into her joints and bones. The chilly dampness surrounding her wreaked havoc on her body, leaving pain as its calling card. A burning sensation shot through her hand.
“Makayla!”
She glanced down at her hand. “Griffin.”
“I told you.” He jogged up to her side. “If I wrote it on your hand, you’d never forget.”
“You might have warned me about the permanent tattoo ahead of time,” Makayla snapped.
“It only lasts a couple of weeks,” Griffin replied. “Sorry.”
“No,” Makayla huffed. “I’m the one who should be sorry. I’m just a little tense. I ended up in the wrong cemetery and it wasn’t a pleasant trip. What are you doing here? All the action is far... far away.”
Griffin’s smile grew into a laugh. “I overheard another academy’s team say something worth extra points was hidden in the old Necromancer Academy. I thought I’d try my luck. Want to join me?”
“Are you sure we’re allowed to be in there?” Makayla questioned. “It’s normally off-limits.”
“They wouldn’t have added it to the map if it weren’t part of the competition,” Griffin replied. “Besides, I’m pretty sure others are already inside.”
“The thing is, I studied that map for eons and I don’t remember seeing that academy on it.” Makayla licked her bottom lip, still swollen from being bit.
Griffin pulled a chain from one pocket. “If you are still not convinced, here.” He snapped a charm off one of the links, a three-dimensional map appearing before them. “See. It’s right there. You probably didn’t notice it because you were focused on the other academies, especially your brothers’.”
“All right.” She inhaled deeply. “Let’s do this.” Makayla grabbed at her side, her unsightly birthmark burning.
“Are you okay?” Griffin asked.
“Yeah.” Makayla said. “It’s nothing.”
This was a clone world—a fake abandoned Necromancy Academy—no one was inside, other than possibly one or two lost Inter-Academy participants. She was completely safe. There was absolutely no reason for goosebumps or shivers. Still they persisted. The pendant on her necklace swung free, lightly banging against her chest. The small orb pendant filled with green smoke. That wasn’t a good sign. In fact, it pretty much confirmed something terrible was about to happen.
“Come on.” Griffin grabbed her arm, tugging her to match his pace. Her arm aching from the pressure.
“Slow down.” Makayla yanked back, fixing her stretched sweater arm once it was free. “Why are you in such a hurry?”
“It is a competition,” Griffin replied. “If we want to win, we need to move fast. I guess I’m worried someone else will get the treasure first.”
“Yeah,” Makayla sighed. “You’re right. I’ll try to keep up. No more pulling, though. Okay?”
“Deal,” Griffin smirked, pointing. “I can see the front doors. I doubt anyone is guarding this place. We should be able to run a straight line to them.”
“That’s easier said than done,” Makayla nodded to the weeds. They were at least knee-high. If there had once been a path it was gone now, lost in the overgrown tangle of despised greenery. Thistles nipped at her calves, despite them being covered by thick clothing. Still, she waded through, keeping her eye on the prize: a set of weathered green double doors. Their original colour was probably similar to the shade swirling in her pendant.
Rotting wood for steps threw her off balance. “Ah!” She tumbled backward, her clumsiness returning at the most inopportune time. Red trickled from her bottom lip from a fresh bite mark.
“I got you,” Griffin said, catching her under both arms. “This place has seen better days. You need to be careful where you step.” He propped her back up on the porch. “The interior should be better, save for a bit of floorboard moaning.” He nodded at the door.
“Thanks.” Makayla twisted the handle. One minute she was outside, the next in, all without ever taking a step. The door slammed, dust flying in her eyes, blinding her. The more she rubbed the worse her vision blurred. “Griffin?” There was no answer. She wiped excess tears, straining to make sense of her surroundings.
“Hello.” She spun around to the direction the voice came from, still unable to see anything other than a silhouette coming closer.
“Griffin?” Makayla called out one more time. “Is that you?”
“I’m afraid not dear,” the voice said.
“I know you,” Makayla said, voice trembling. “Professor Woolly, right? How did you manage to enter these games? I thought only participants could.”
“Indeed,” Woolly chuckled. “We necromancers took offence at not being included in this little competition. We thought we’d join in. Of course, the treasure we seek isn’t one provided by the Crones.”
“Another one of Aegis’ stones?” Makayla questioned, her sight slowly coming back. “Why don’t you just take it and go?”
“Oh, if it was so easy,” Woolly moaned. “Alas, I have been searching for quite sometime. I know it’s somewhere on this campus.”
“What did you do with Griffin?” Makayla blurted out. “Where is he?”
“Griffin,” Woolly scoffed. “You mean the young lad who delivered you to me?” He cackled wildly. “His reward is waiting for him.” Woolly’s voice rose a few octaves. “He should be on his way to pick it up.”
“What do you need me for?” Makayla asked.
“Well, not for a picnic, that’s for damn sure,” Woolly huffed, flailing his arms about. “To find the bloody stone, of course. Now, start looking.”
*****
Griffin’s back pressed against the door. He slid to the ground, eavesdropping on the conversation on the opposite side. He swallowed back the lump in his throat. Admitting to making a mistake might have been the first step, but from where he sat, there was no ground to continue on after that. He was not match for a necromancer’s magic. For better or worse, he needed to head back and alert the others.
.
Chapter Twenty-Three
“Hold it right there,” Tye ordered. “We have a few questions for you.” He grabbed Thomas by the collar. “Where are the treasures?”
“I don’t know,” Thomas answered. “Wait. You said treasures... as in more than one. What’s that about?”
“You’re not the sharpest crayon in the box,” Leo chuckled. “Any stolen treasure has to be returned to the thief's home academy. It was in the rules you were supposed to memorize.”
“Right,” Thomas chuckled. “I didn’t know we had any of those. Can you let me down now?”
“Not yet,” Tye answered, tightening his grip. “Where’s my sister?”
“Makayla?” Cali came out from behind a plant. “She left for Marsh early this morning. We haven’t heard from her.”
“She never made it there?” Frankie asked, grabbing Tye’s hand. He let go of the shirt. “She should have
been there right after me.”
“She never showed,” Caz sighed. “It’s not like her. I’m a bit worried something happened.”
“Pffft,” Frankie chuckled. “That girl has three bad-ass helpers. I’m sure she’s all right. If anything, I feel sorry for the morons who go up against her.”
“Ha-ha.” Nami leapt in from a window. “I knew I’d find you here, Tye. It’s a waste of time though. A squirrel has this treasure.”
Tye shook his head in disbelief. “A squirrel? What are you blabbering about? At least keep up with the conversation of you are going to show up.”
“It’s true,” Lila agreed. “A squirrel is running about this castle with the treasure and not one of these dorks know where.”
“That’s priceless,” Leo chuckled. He cleared his throat, seeing glares being shot in his direction. “That’s not the issue at hand, though. Finding Makayla is our number one priority.”
“Little hottie sis is missing?” Nami’s brow arched.
“Do you want me to hit you again?” Caz questioned. “’Cause I will.”
Nami held up his hands, palms first. “Truce. If Makayla is actually missing, we should all look for her.”
“I know where she is,” Griffin said, gasping for breath. “She’s at the old Necromancer Academy and she needs help.”
“How do you know that?” Leo asked. “She’d have no reason to go there. It’s not included in the games. It’s not even on the map.”
“Oh, it exists,” Griffin said, nodding his head. “I know because I was just there. I think someone messed with the soil on the grave digger plots. They probably all lead to the same place, regardless of where you concentrate on going.”
“The far end of the cemetery,” Frankie mumbled. “Am I right?” She waited for a nod. “That’s the same as last year. If this is all true, there’s another problem. Grave Diggers and Necromancers are sworn enemies. Just as we have wards for the dead. They have similar protection against helpers. The majority can’t step foot inside that academy, especially gargoyles and dragons.” She glanced directly into Griffin’s eyes. “Why didn’t you help her since you were there?”
Griffin averted his eyes to the ground. “I’m no match for Woolly,” he explained. “I’d probably be dead, if I tried taking him on alone.”
“Woolly?!” Caz exclaimed. “The psycho teacher who went off the deep end last year and attacked Makayla?”
“That’s the one,” Thomas sighed.
“We have to do something.” Tye moved beside his brother. “There is another full day left before we can get help from the Crones.”
“What can we do?” Griffin asked. “We can’t stand up to a necromancer as powerful as he is.”
“If we team up, we’ll at least have a chance,” Frankie said, blowing a bubble right after. “I can hold my own. Admit it, we aren’t completely useless.”
“Speak for yourself,” Thomas blurted out. “All I have is a squirrel and she’s already tied up with a mission.”
“I’m in,” Nami announced. “I’ll save Makayla myself.”
Lila rubbed her forehead. “I guess I have no choice but to go. I was instructed to follow this guy around to learn the ropes.”
Caz draped his arm around his brother’s shoulders. “That makes five... not a bad sized rescue party. Anyone else want in?”
Leo bit his bottom lip, raising one arm. “She’s a classmate. I can’t desert her in her time of need... school spirit and all.”
“Thomas, Cali, and Griffin can stay here,” Frankie said. “In case, she comes back. They can also direct others to help us.” She turned to Cali. “If there is any contact from the outside world, let them know the situation.”
“Aye-aye.” Cali saluted, heels clicking together. “I won’t let you down.”
“What about me?” Thomas pointed at himself. “What can I do? Is there an assignment only I can handle?”
“Keep your squirrel alive until the very end,” Leo answered. He glanced over at Griffin sitting on the ground, knees in the air. “Yo. I don’t remember your name, but back these guys up if there is any trouble. I’m sure you can handle that.”
“I’m not a coward,” Griffin mumbled.
“I never said you were.” Leo patted his shoulder, squatting beside him. “I’m sure you have your reasons.”
“Operation Save Makayla is underway,” Nami announced, rolling up his sweater sleeves. He pulled them back down immediately after, feeling a chill in the night air. “Let’s go.”
“Great,” Tye grumbled. “He’s going to pretend he’s in charge now.”
Caz slapped his brother’s back. “Don’t sweat the details. You two can have it out after Makayla is safe. Until then it doesn’t matter who leads.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
The window broke open, wind howling inside. A single kiss on the head and Boris took flight in the dark sky.
“Sending out a bat signal?” Tallen chuckled. “Something must be amiss. I’m not sure what with the second-year troublemakers all busy with the competition.”
“The map changed,” the headmistress replied.
“What?! That’s not possible.”
“Look for yourself.” Mary Meet moved to the three-dimensional model in the middle of the office floor. “Do you see it?”
“How much magic does it take to add an entire campus?” Tallen’s thumbnail clicked between her teeth. She examined the rugged edge, making a plan for the next chomp. Anything was better then thinking of the students trapped with at least one deadly necromancer. “Should I send a message to the Crones?”
“Please do,” the headmistress answered. “Tell them I’ve sent Boris to see if he can find the way the culprit managed to crash the games.”
“Do you think Woolly is behind it?” Tallen questioned.
“I do,” Mary Meet replied, staring off into the distance. “He’s definitely the one pulling the strings.”
“Makayla?”
The headmistress inhaled deeply, rubbing her forehead. “I sent her into the games, believing it to be completely safe. It’s my fault she’s in trouble again.”
“You can’t blame yourself!” Tallen exclaimed. “This shouldn’t have been possible. There are wards and protection spells in place.”
“That’s the problem, isn’t it?” Mary Meet said, falling back into her chair. “It did happen. That means either Woolly is much more powerful than we gave him credit for, or there is another spy among our ranks.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Professor Woolly was a kidnapping entrepreneur. He’d bypassed needing to ask a third party for the ransom, insisting his hostage pay it instead. Unfortunately, the treasure he wanted, she had no access to.
Rope was one of those items she took for granted. In fact, she hardly gave the stuff a second thought before. Now that it was cutting into her wrists and ankles, there was no avoiding giving it the attention it deserved. It was a weapon unlike any other—sharp as any knife, quieter than a gun—a devastating form of torture.
“Enjoy the fire,” Woolly ordered, an evil glare piercing her skin with pins and needles. “We can’t light this place up too much, so we’ll break for the evening. Tomorrow you’ll find me that stone.”
“Or what?” Makayla snapped. “Killing me would ruin your chances of finding it. I don’t think you want to do that.”
Woolly’s laughter cut through the air. “With or without you I’ll find it. It will simply take me a little longer than I wanted.” He crouched down beside her. “So you see, I don’t care if I have to do things the hard way. You, however...” he dangled a knife in front of her nose, “want to keep on living. You’re in no place to negotiate.”
Short breaths were all she could manage. She was in trouble. Even summoning spells were failing. Magic simply wasn’t working for her. She was alone.
“Don’t waste your time being frightened,” Woolly ordered, standing. He headed over to a cup he’d left on the mantle of the firep
lace. “You should be trying to find the stone’s hiding spot while relaxing there.”
“Tee-he-he.”
Ollie!
“What’s this?” Woolly chuckled, his grin growing past crazy to pure evil. “An imp? How rare.” He moved closer. “What can I do for you? Tell me, what is it a creature such as yourself desires?”
Ollie cocked is head, staring straight into the professor’s eyes. “Tee-he.” He glanced back at Makayla.
“She’s mine!” Woolly exclaimed. “You should go now. There’s no deal to be made if she is what you want.”
“You can understand him?” Makayla asked. She hadn’t yet fully mastered communicating with Ollie, so how could he in less than a minute?
“Of course I can,” Woolly chuckled. “Evil loves evil. We understand each other. I can tell exactly what this little brat of a devil is thinking.”
“Your wrong,” Makayla shouted. “He isn’t soulless like you. Believe me, he makes you weak.”
“I am not weak!” Woolly bellowed, kicking Ollie across the room.
“No!” From the moment it happened, images of the assault began replaying in her mind. There wasn’t a thing she could do in any of them but watch. Ollie was her helper, that meant nothing if she was helpless. They were supposed to be partners.
Woolly grabbed a poker from the hearth. The floorboards creaked warnings with every footstep he took. “Are you sad for the little imp?” he teased.
“Stop,” Makayla begged. “He hasn’t done anything wrong. Hit me instead. Wouldn't that make you feel better?”
“Offering yourself, when you are already mine to do with as I please?” Woolly chuckled. “That’s what I’d call a pathetic and useless attempt to save a loathsome creature.”
“Run!” Makayla screamed. “Get out of here.” Tears rushed down her cheeks, the rope burning as she struggled, wiggling for freedom.