by Jodie Pierce
“Oh, that will be no problem for us. We can just whip up a few spells and change the floor to match the one below it, if that’s all right with you?” she asked.
“That would be fabulous! I never even thought of that. Great job! Now, the cafeteria is on the first floor, and I would like all students to use the same one, for integration purposes,” the Queen said, waiting for some resistance.
“I completely agree,” Dayana said.
“Great. Well, I’m sure you will be able to find it when your students are hungry. I will come up to your floor tomorrow evening at dusk to check on your progress and officially welcome you with our Honor Committee. Please let one of my students know if you need me sooner, and they can come find me. It’s a big school, but I’m sure you will learn our ways rather quickly,” the Queen encouraged her.
“Thank you. I’m sure we will, too. Have a good day, and we’ll see you tomorrow. I’ll work on getting everyone’s sleeping schedule turned around, tonight. Thank you, again,” Dayana said.
“You are welcome, and welcome to The Magikal Kingdom.”
* * * *
Dayana
As the group of new witches and warlocks plunked themselves down onto the conference room floor, Dayana addressed them.
“I know you have traveled far and long; however, we have some work to do before we sleep to arrange some nice suites like the ones below us. Please do not be extravagant when you are creating your suites. Work in teams of four and remember that four of you will be sharing a bathroom.” There were groans from the female crowd members.
“We have been accepted inside their walls, so we need to play this low key for a while. Please do not cause an unpleasant situation, as you will not only be punished by the school, but by me as well. You will always be loyal to me, but show the Queen the respect she deserves as well. Remember to stay true to yourself without disrespecting others, and don’t start fights with anyone. Got it?”
“Yes!” the crowd said unanimously. The people started separating themselves into groups of four and went off to find their section of the floor where they would concentrate on making their own suites. The work went really quickly, and it wasn’t long before the entire group descended upon the cafeteria.
The cafeteria workers were swamped and couldn’t get the food out quickly enough. They weren’t used to so many students actually eating there, as vampires usually only picked at food, not eating a full meal. These students appeared to be endless pits, eating everything in sight. The staff agreed to be better prepared for the next day, but tonight, they would have to make due without upsetting the students—an order from the Queen.
As the student’s ate, they noticed some stares from the current students. They were wrapped up in conversation for the first part of dinner but once things slowed down, they were able to take a look around their surroundings and found all eyes on them, which made them all uncomfortable. Dayana was not with them to direct them, so they were not sure what to do. Thais, second–in-command, passed the word down the table to be quiet and try to ignore the stares. The witches and warlocks were doing a good job until Amayia, the President of the Honor Committee, came bouncing up to the table.
“Welcome all,” she said with a smile and a cheery tone in her voice.
The group mumbled their greeting but each one looked down at their empty plates.
“I’m Amayia, the President of the Honor Committee, and I welcome all new students. I have maps printed up for each of you to help you navigate your way around our school, including the contact information for the professors’ offices.” she said, never losing her smile as she passed out the maps. “Anyways, my cell number is on the back of the map, so feel free to call me any time you need assistance.” With that, she bounced away.
“Well, that was pleasant,” Thais said sarcastically to the group, full of laughter.
“Do you have a problem?” Drachen said, standing up to face the witches and warlocks.
“No. What’s yours, Bloodsucker?” Teutorix retorted.
Both groups of students stood up and moved around their friend.
“You don’t belong here, freak!” Drachen shouted.
“I’m not the freak. I don’t kill people for blood. Yuck!” Teutorix said.
Both groups slowly started merging toward each other. Just as the two boys were nose to nose, Professor Evania came in and stepped between the glaring boys. She motioned for each of the groups to move back.
“What’s going on here?” she asked.
“Bloodsucker there was staring at me,” Teutorix said.
“Last time I checked, it was a free country,” Drachen retorted, moving closer, again.
“Children!” came the voice from the doorway. “I address you as such, since you are acting as such. I know there is going to be some admonishment between each of your groups, but it is my job to make sure you get along and learn the things you need to learn here in my school!” the Queen addressed them. Each group relaxed and spread out back to their tables.
“I will not have you fighting each other under my roof. Got it?” she asked.
“Yes, my Queen,” both groups echoed reluctantly. The Queen glided from the room and silence fell. Finally, the vampires got up to put their trays away and headed off to class. The witches and warlocks had not been set up with schedules yet, so some stayed in the cafeteria, which also had an activity and entertainment room, while others ventured through the school corridors.
* * * *
The Queen
“Pleasant group of kids,” came the male voice from the balcony. The Queen ran to the window and flung herself in Tuwa’s arms, where they kissed passionately.
“I’ve so missed you, today. Things have been crazy here,” the Queen confessed, as she fell back on the peace he always created for her.
“I’m sorry, my Queen, for your present situation. Do you remember how we used to get through anything together?” he asked.
“Of course, my love” she said, softening. She seductively walked to her bed and patted the space next to her for him to join her. He eagerly went by her side. As the two of them were kissing, there was a knock on the door.
“Excuse me, my Queen?” came the small cry from outside the door.
“What is it?” she snapped.
“The students are fighting in their History of Elves, Witches, and Warlock class. Vampires versus Warlocks,” Amayia, the Honor Committee President whispered. The Queen slammed her hand down on the bed.
“Can you not excuse me?” the Queen demanded, and the girl slipped out the door. “I’m so sorry, my love” she said, turning her attention to Tuwa and looking into his eyes for forgiveness.
“Do not worry, my love. Now that we have found each other, we have centuries to be together. Go, take care of your school. Obviously it is important to you, and you need to be the Queen for those students,” he said, kissing her hand and walking toward the balcony.
“I hate to see you go” she said, tugging on his hand. He stopped, pulled her into a passionate embrace, and flew off from the balcony.
“This better be good,” the Queen muttered aloud.
Caleesy hid behind the balcony’s curtains, smiling at how her plan was unfolding.
* * * *
“What is going on here?” the Queen demanded immediately when she entered the classroom.
“There is some sort of disagreement between the witches, warlocks, and the vampires about who was created first,” Evania informed her.
“I had a feeling this would be a problem. Dayana? You assured me there would be no problems,” the Queen said, looking around the room for the Witch Queen.
“I have calmed the situation, my Queen. I’m so sorry you were bothered,” Dayana said as she curtseyed.
“So, I was disturbed for nothing?” the Queen demanded. “Amayia!”
“Yes, my Queen,” the young girl said, quietly stepping out of the crowd.
“You have unnecessarily bothered me while
in my chamber. You will be sentenced to the Devil’s Lambaste Chair for ten lashings, and maybe you will think twice before bothering me, again!” Frustration colored her voice. The girl fell to her knees, sobbing hysterically.
“I’m so sorry, my Queen. Please, don’t lash me!” the girl begged. The Queen continued out of the room and down to her office, slamming the door behind her.
* * * *
Caleesy
Caleesy lay in bed with the sleeping Queen beside her. It was her night to spend with the Queen, but she was rather distracted. Caleesy knew she was thinking about Tuwa, which was the plan, but still it made Caleesy sad. As she was laying there thinking, there was a knock on the balcony window.
“Hello?” came the familiar voice.
“Tuwa? What are you doing here?” Caleesy said part selfishly, part feigning innocence.
“Oh, I’m sorry to just show up here,” he said, turning to go.
“No! Don’t go,” the Queen said, sitting up in the bed. “You both are here?” she said, dazed.
“Yes, my Queen. We are,” said Caleesy.
“Yes, my love,” said Tuwa at the same time. The Queen shook her head, unbelieving she had them both in her bed chamber.
“My Queen? Tonight is my one time a month I have with you as your Paramour.” Caleesy sounded as if she were begging.
Tuwa looked sad and rose to go.
“Don’t leave, my love. Caleesy was just leaving,” the Queen said, stepping into her purple satin robe and moving toward him. “Weren’t you, dear?”
“Actually, I was hoping to have more time with you,” Caleesy said. The Queen just stared at her with a hateful look.
“I’m sorry. Your time is up,” the Queen spat at her.
Caleesy, embarrassed, collected her stuff slowly and attempted to kiss the Queen’s hand. The Queen pulled her hand away and turned. Caleesy flew into the night in a rage. Even though she’d planned the night, she was astonished at the coldness the Queen showed her. Tomorrow, she would put her full plan into motion…and fast.
* * * *
As she looked into the shadows at the end of the campus, Caleesy found Dayana sitting under the largest honeysuckle tree, looking up at the sky.
“So!” said Caleesy as she walked up on Dayana, startling her to her feet.
“You scared me!” Dayana accused.
“I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean to scare you, sweetie,” Caleesy apologized.
Dayana softened and looked at Caleesy with reverence.
“I have been serving you well, my Empress. I have hate planted firmly in Teutorix’s mind, and he’s sure to cause torment and destruction with it. I am also working on the Honor Committee President, Amayia, as she’s been severely mistreated by the Queen recently.”
“Amayia?” Caleesy asked.
“Yes. She is a true empath, psychic, and a believer. She had a vision that we would come to save her and the rest of the school. She has no ambition to rule and is a loyal follower,” Dayana informed.
“Good. Good. Now, we need to work on the rest of the groups and unite them both in the end to fight as one,” Caleesy instructed. “I will work on Tuwa on this side, so you don’t have to worry about that.”
“Shall I keep doing what I’m doing, or do you have new instructions for me?” Dayana asked.
“No. The goal is the same. Just keep turning as many people away from her as possible,” Caleesy instructed.
The younger girl nodded as she looked around her cautiously and took off toward the school. Caleesy went home to formulate her plan further. She called in sick to work in order for Tuwa to miss her or have concern for her after the way the Queen treated her. Any decent person would feel bad for her and want to console her. She just hoped Tuwa was a decent person.
Two days later, Caleesy showed up to work late, sniffling with red eyes. She dragged her feet somberly into the back inventory room where Tuwa stopped to look at the mess she was.
“I’m so sorry, Caleesy,” Tuwa moved toward her. She jumped as if scared of him.
“It’s okay. She’s made her choice. All my time with her didn’t matter the moment I introduced her to you. I never thought she could betray me this way for another. It was my fault I had such trust in her that she wouldn’t run off with the first person who came along. I was just another pawn in her game of chess, and she just won the game,” Caleesy sobbed. Tuwa moved toward her to comfort her. She pushed away from him.
“I’m so sorry. You have to understand that we’ve been lovers for many, many centuries. Our love was never broken or lost, only put on hold for a while,” he tried to reassure her.
“It’s fine,” she said resolutely. “I just hope you aren’t a pawn in her new game of chess. You are too nice to see hurt. History or not, she is a woman of opportunity. Surely you’ve seen that in her over the years?” Caleesy looked to him for support.
“Well, to be completely honest, I have, but she would never do that to me,” he said.
“How are you so sure? I thought the same thing,” Caleesy stuck the proverbial knife in and turned it.
“I’m…I’m…I’m sure,” he stammered, clearly thinking it over and over in his head.
“Guess I just have to find a way to move on with my life. The one I had given to her is now over.” She turned red in the cheeks.
“Again, I’m sorry,” he said and walked away.
Caleesy could tell he was running things through his mind and thinking hard. Hopefully, she had planted the seed of doubt. All she could do now was hope. Oh, and cast a hope spell for which she left work early to go home to do. She’d have to hurry before the witching hour at 3:00 a.m.
* * * *
It was almost 2:00 a.m. and Caleesy had all the items she needed to cast her hope spell. She sat on the wooden floor, in the middle of a pentagram carved into the wood underneath the carpet. She sat and lined up each ingredient carefully in the order that she would need them. The clock struck two. She raised her hands up into the air and began the chant.
“Oh Mother of our Earth
Queen of the Goddesses
Come to me in my time of need
Wrong those who have wronged me
Allow me to have my heart’s desire
Or may she fall from her throne.”
She sprinkled each ingredient into a jar in the middle, the one closest to her Indian-style crossed legs. The jar filled up quickly, and Caleesy shook it like a milkshake. She stood in the middle of the pentagram and held the jar up to the ceiling.
“Hear my words, Mother Earth
And thy will be done
From my powers
Of good and evil.”
Caleesy dropped to the floor, drained, with the jar tightly in her grasp. She curled into a fetal position and slept until the sun had almost set. Remembering her spell, she got ready for work to see what Tuwa had to say, today. Again, she rubbed her eyes to make them red and swollen, and she was more pale than usual, since she did not feed last night.
“You look awful, Caleesy” Tuwa said to her with a frown.
“Thanks,” she said curtly.
“No, no. I didn’t mean it like that,” he said to her glaring stare. “I meant you look like you’ve been up all night crying.”
“I’m not going to lie. I have been. I just can’t imagine my life without her,” she said sadly.
“I’m sorry all this happened. I hate that this has hurt you so much. You seem like a really nice girl, but the Queen can use her followers in the wrong way some times.”
“So I see.”
“Please, do not hate me. I know you are going to move on and find someone new.”
“Thank you, Tuwa. You have been so kind,” she said slyly. “How is the Queen, today?”
“Well, she’s taken ill today, but I’m sure she’ll be just fine once she’s fed.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that. Even with all that’s happened, I would hate the fact that she’s ill.”
“Thank
you,” he said.
Caleesy walked away from him to do her work, but she was smiling, even celebrating, on the inside. Her spell had started to work, and it was only a matter of time before the Queen’s followers found someone else to revere. Her students were working on that front. She communicated with other followers all over the world on a secure internet signal, so she couldn’t be traced. They all agreed that the Queen became too big for her britches. Even Venice started questioning her.
After finishing her work, she slowly made her way home, thinking about all that was about to befall the Queen. She was startled by the dark mound sitting on her doorsteps. When it looked up, Caleesy recognized her immediately.
“Kendra?”
* * * *
Kendra
“Yes. I am Kendra. I’ve heard a lot about you,” she said, looking Caleesy up and down.
“I’ve heard of you, too. The Queen still speaks highly of you,” Caleesy replied coyly.
“So, it looks like we have a common interest,” Kendra said seriously.
“Yes, we do.”
“Well, do you want to do something about it or just lay down as she walks across your coffin?” Kendra asked with a smile.
“I most definitely want to do something. Do you have a plan?”
“Of course I do,” she said with a bigger smile.
The women locked arms as they disappeared into Caleesy’s apartment.
“So, what would you have us do?” Caleesy asked Kendra.
“Well, we share a common bond with the Queen,” Kendra stated more than questioned.
“Of course we do,” Caleesy exclaimed, not recognizing what Kendra was referring to. “We both share her blood.”