by K L Rymer
I just hope no one else saw the floating shoes though. We’ve all had a lot to drink anyway. I’m sure they will all forget about it come tomorrow.
The heels zigzag up the stairs to avoid a kissing couple, and I use my Gandalf stick to guide me up. As I reach the next floor, a bathroom door starts to close, and I rush forward and wedge my stick inside.
I barge inside to find Felicity collapsed on the floor in her natural form again, and I quickly lock the door.
“Felicity! What are you doing?! Your camouflage!”
“I... I don’t care!” she cries, stamping a tiny fist against the stained linoleum. “I just want to go home!”
“We’ll go back to the academy later, and put you straight in bed.”
Her face shoots up and her eyes leave me speechless. The blue overflows like an ocean current, and a lump lodges in my throat.
Screw that Damien... I’m going to kick his ass later.
“No. I want to go home home... Back to the forest and be with my mother again. I hate the academy...”
Felicity breaks down on the dirty bathmat and curls up into a ball. “Everyone’s so mean. They pick on me and call me names. I’m... a freak. No one else at the school is as small as me. No one else is pixie or even half-pixie. I’m... the only one. But... but then Damien... he was the first who saw right through me and told me to stop acting like a baby, a victim and stick up for myself. I thought he was different... but turns out he’s just like the rest!”
She hiccoughs and coils up even tighter now, and I sit down on the floor beside her. I keep my back to a towel rack and lay my staff down beside me as I try to channel my inner Merlin. This little pixie needs his words of wisdom tonight.
“Felicity... you are not a freak.”
She shakes her head. “You’re... you’re just saying that...”
“I’m not. You’re unique. I mean there are plenty of humans in the world. I don’t have a chance at ever standing out. So you guess I could say that I’m jealous. You get to be one of a kind. Me, on the other hand, I’m as bland as tomato soup.”
She sits up, wiping her tear-stained cheeks, and giggles. “You, Bryn Bryn, are jealous of me? Nonsense.”
“No, really, I am. Who else can say that they’re the lovechild of a pixie and a human? A strange pairing indeed that I still can’t wrap my head around, but who cares. You’re wonderful, Felicity.”
Felicity smiles and crosses her legs, and she regards me thoughtfully now. “Thank you, Bryn. You’re sweet, and... I’m sorry. I should have listened to you and put down that sixth shot.”
I hoot. “To be honest you’re handling yourself much better than I would have imagined. I thought you came up here to throw up.”
Her face pales suddenly, and then her stomach gurgles and I crawl away. “Felicity... to the toilet—”
She throws up all over my Merlin costume and I grimace. Also, I see that she had carrots lately too as they stick to the seams of my cloak.
Just flipping fantastic.
The pixie has the audacity to titter as she covers her mouth. “Oops. Sorry. I had a bad tummy.”
“No kidding,” I grumble as I use my staff to guide me back to my feet. “Come on. Put your camouflage back on and forget about that gloomy asshole. You’re far too good for him.”
A wave of determination flows through her big, ocean eyes next, and now she stands and reaches my shoulder.
Surprisingly, the Tinkerbell costume still fits and she couldn’t look any more like the cartoon fairy. Her bodily proportions are the exact same and I just want to pick her up and carry her around like a baby doll.
Too cute.
“You’re right, Bryn.” She clicks her fingers and stands tall before me once again, and now I pale in comparison with my vomit-covered cloak.
Felicity smiles and takes my hand as we rush downstairs. “Let’s go!”
Chapter 14.
It was at that point I knew we had to call it a night. Well, at Bangor.
Felicity put on a real show. The moment we left the bathroom she marched right up to Damien, slapped him across the cheek and shouted, “Screw you, Damien. I don’t need you. I have Bryn now!”
The demon was as pokerfaced as usual as a red mark burned his cheek. Then it formed into the shape of Felicity’s dainty hand, and all he could do was stand there and blink.
I gathered my party in the end and left, and now we all walk down the street to head back to the academy.
Megan and Sophie call after us. “Wait! We’re coming too!”
My heart leaps to my throat. Shit, I need to find a way out of this.
I told them we were going back to our drama club, but it seems the girls want to join us. To make matters worse, I spot Jonathan behind them and release a frustrated growl.
Great. The last thing I need.
“Room for one more?” he croons.
I palm my face. “Sure. Why not? And why don’t we all just go for a naked swim in the sea too while we’re at it?!”
Felicity gasps, “You can do that?! Your school is so cool, Bryn!”
I roll my eyes and whirl back toward the hill, wondering if Megan, Sophie, and Jonathan are drunk enough. Jonathan sways and Sophie spins in a circle. Megan stumbles.
Yep. We’re good.
I suppose they can crash the party with us. Hopefully, we can get them out of the academy before any of the professors realize there are three unsolicited humans at the school. Not that I was welcome in the first place...
I’m so going to get into trouble.
...
The three humans link arms on our way up the hill, and I just hope they don’t die tonight.
Some of my classmates at the academy are vampires after all like Angelina. She won’t try anything. The supernatural council has rules and regulations about how much vampires can feed. Well... I think they do.
I’m too drunk so common sense eludes me.
I will just have to regret my choices tomorrow morning when I’m throwing up into my shiny, porcelain toilet bowl.
God. That’s one nice toilet though...
We make it to the top of the hill and I cry ominously to my pin. “Take us to Merlin’s Supernatural Academy!”
The pull returns and soon we’re flying through the universe. Unless someone slipped some LSD into our shots tonight, then really we’re all just lying in the dirt.
Nope. No LSD trip. We really are traveling the span of the universe.
I land before the gates of the academy, and my ears buzz as if someone stuffed my head with bees. The others seem to come from far away now and I rub my face.
I give a headcount then. All ten of us made it.
The Dancing Dragons on the gate seem to mock me now. There goes the Red Dragon swirling around with the White, and soon they turn into me and Matthew. We duel one another, throwing flames and whatnot, and I smile smugly. I’m so going to beat his ass; I don’t care what it takes. He will not ride the White Dragon.
Zahara exhales and hauls me in through the gate. Shit. How long was I glaring at the dragons?
“Come on. Before anyone notices us!” she hisses.
The rest follow and I turn back. Jonathan, Sophie, and Megan are singing along with Nora and Thomas, and all five of them link arms like old friends. Damien and Felicity ignore each other, and Jack plods along at the back silent.
I close my eyes. “Ugh. What was I thinking? We shouldn’t have brought them back here!”
Zahara clicks her tongue. “Well, it’s done now. Besides, that Jonathan’s kinda cute. I’m going to love sinking my claws into him later...”
“Please... don’t...” I cry.
The Unseelie leads us around the back of the academy. There’s another door but it’s used far less frequently.
The professors have given us a little more leeway tonight. They wholeheartedly encourage Halloween. In fact, it’s like Christmas in this world, and plus they respect the fact that we are nineteen and adults now, so let us stay
out all night.
So long as we don’t make too much noise. Some professors live on-site after all.
We enter the backdoor and stumble down a shadowy hallway, and Megan yelps. I don’t blame her. It looks like Dracula’s castle with the flames flickering in the sconces, but I wish she would just shut her mouth. She’s going to get us caught.
I know exactly where to go—the Eastern tower or Ingenious quarters. That’s where the Halloween party is after all.
We tread several more windy corridors and thank god for Zahara and Damien. They seem to know where they are going. They often go out at night to smoke on the grounds, so they’re probably familiar with this shady route.
Soon we are at the foot of the Eastern tower, and butterflies flap in my stomach.
Let the party-crashing begin.
We stumble up the spiral staircase. Megan trips several more times, but Jack holds her up and I hear her telling him she loves him.
Before long we’re standing outside a wooden door and a dull beat drones inside. Jonathan and Sophie dance along and I smirk at Zahara. “Ready?”
Her red lips curl with a sneer. “You bet your arse, human.”
I suck in a deep breath and curl my hand around the handle, and the door finally opens.
What the fuck... This is a party?
Students hover around bored out of their minds. It looks as if half the guests have already gone. To my surprise, some students look pleased to see us. They probably haven’t recognized us yet without our black blazers, but anything to get this party started.
I don’t see Angelina or Matthew yet as I step into the room, heading straight for the drinks table.
The Ingenious quarters are much more lavish than ours. They have fancy oil paintings, a glistening chandelier, and way nicer chairs. Megan tips her head back in awe, but then she trips and Jack catches her in his arm again.
Everyone scatters and I leave them at it. Now I pour myself another rum and coke, keeping an eye out for my archnemesis.
Where are you, Matthew Humphrey?
I hear a crash and spin around. Sophie has just knocked the brass bust of our beloved headmaster off a pedestal, and I die a little inside. So embarrassing.
Luckily, a handsome warlock comes to her aid and catches it for her. I bet he just thinks she’s another pretty witch in her stupid bubble-gum pink hat and corset. That’s going to be a kiss he regrets tomorrow, but screw him. He was one of the assholes who threw mushy peas at me a few weeks ago.
Besides he’s lucky to get a girl like Sophie. She’s a gorgeous brunette, and that cockney accent is cute as hell.
I turn to my right and gasp. Megan and Jack are making out and lord that redhead can suck face. I don’t blame her. Jack has the body of a god or a titan more specifically.
Nora and Thomas dance in the middle of the room like idiots. It’s obvious to see they don’t get out much. That is not how you win friends at a party. A few of the students stare in disgust and move away.
Zahara and Damien clutch drinks by my side. They look miserable. To be fair, they always do, but right now they’re gloomier than normal.
I sip my drink. “What’s with your faces?”
Zahara shoots me a glare and inclines her head toward the dancefloor. I follow her gaze and draw a breath.
Felicity and Jonathan have their tongues down each other’s throats, and my blood simmers when he runs his hands down her green Tinkerbell dress.
I catch movement in my peripheral vision. Damien’s eyes burn crimson as his horns breach his skull, but before I can stop him a powerful force sends me flying across the room, and I hit the wall.
The impact knocks the breath from my lungs, and I collapse to the floor. Matthew hovers above me and his eyes are white hot with magic. Angelina stands beside him, her irises electric blue.
I shuffle away. Shit. They look like they want to murder me.
Matthew is dressed as a shining knight in plated armor and chainmail, while Angelina wears a tight corset with a glimmering gold crown.
I scoff. Well, if it isn’t Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere.
The mage bares his teeth. “It’s one thing for you to turn up with your troop of Mendacious scum, but to bring other humans into our midst? You wait until the headmaster hears about this...”
“Why wait?” Angelina purrs, flashing her blue eyes. “We could teach her a lesson right here.”
Matthew stretches his full lips, keeping his blazing white eyes on me. “Sure... why not...”
He throws his hand up, and before he can shoot that stream of white energy, I raise my own palm and a powerful jet of red bursts forth.
It clashes with his magic. Now we are at a stalemate.
Chapter 15.
Pandemonium breaks loose. One moment everyone is having fun, drinking, dancing, kissing, and the next they’re screaming for their lives.
Yet I keep my hand outstretched, blocking Matthew’s attack. I knew he was a powerful mage, but wow... I feel the heat radiating off his magical stream, searing my skin and making me sweat.
I can’t see what’s happening around me—Matthew’s blast is too bright—but in the corner of my eye, I spot the large form of Jack protecting Megan, and the warlock shields Sophie with his arms.
The tall window shatters next, sending shards of glass everywhere, and in a flash Damien throws himself on top of Felicity.
A kerfuffle breaks out and there’s my Unseelie friend pinning Angelina’s hands behind her back, and now Matthew has lost his backup.
I see the crease forming between Matthew’s brows and smirk. I bet he didn’t expect me to have a counterattack.
I knew it. I’m no simple human after all. Why else would I be studying at this supernatural academy?
Matthew grinds his teeth and roars, putting more juice into his blast, and I can’t hold it back any longer. In the end, he has had years more practice. My magic was merely just a fluke.
I’m going to lose.
Matthew grins like the Devil, and I know I’m done for. “Goodbye, human trash.”
He closes his eyes and channels all of his energy into his final wave. But before he has a chance to kill me, his magic goes out, and then he looks around bewildered.
My magic has stopped too.
Silence has fallen over the room, and everyone releases a collective breath, but I can’t take my eyes off our headmaster.
Myrddin Emrys.
His eyes glow ominously, and if I had thought Matthew was the most terrifying thing that I had ever seen... well, I would be sorely mistaken. Now here is a truly powerful force of nature.
“This party is over,” Myrddin speaks through his teeth and I shiver. He’s pissed. “All students return to your dorms.”
All at once, students scramble to their feet. I see my fellow Mendacious clambering away as fast as they can. Zahara lets go of Angelina, yanks Jonathan up to his feet, then scats. Nora and Thomas stumble out after them and Jack leads Megan away. To my relief, Megan grabs Sophie, and both girls stare at me perplexed.
Shit. How am I going to explain this?
Damien tugs Felicity away, and the little pixie regards me with tears in her big, ocean-blue eyes.
Now all that’s left is me, Matthew, and Angelina. Good. The latter doesn’t deserve to get away scot-free.
“You three. My office. This instant. And by foot...”
“B-but... what about our magic?” Matthew blurts, clearly horrified. He’s obviously disconcerted by the fact that he’s utterly powerless like a human now.
Myrddin holds up a vial, and I see that white, glowing liquid inside. Well, at least I think it is a liquid. It could be a gas for all I know—liquid gas.
“You will get it back soon, but for now it's best that your magic stays with me, Mr Humphrey.”
Matthew bows his head. “Yes, sir...”
The headmaster holds another vial next to the white one, and it’s full of a red, gaseous liquid.
My eyes protrude. That
’s my magic... I didn’t even know I had magic two hours ago. Unlike Matthew, I’m not as disturbed. He looks as if Myrddin took his very soul.
“Well, chop, chop.”
Alarmed, the three of us scuffle out of the room and rush down the stairs two at a time. When a powerful wizard tells you to do something, you do it. Besides, he can totally take the magic of any being that he pleases. Not a force to be reckoned with.
None of us speak. We just keep our thoughts to ourselves, worrying about our own fates.
It’s not fucking fair. I only used my magic in self-defense. Mathew tried to kill me, the psychopath.
Soon we reach the headmaster’s office and push our way inside. And there is Myrddin already, waiting at his desk.
So he gets to teleport and we don’t.
“Sit,” he orders, his voice emotionless.
All at once our butts fall into a chair, and now we look at everything but each other. I think this is the first time in my life that I have been called to the principal’s office. Even in my younger years, I had never caused trouble. As I said, I was the most boring teenager.
The pendulum of the grandfather clock swings back and forth as the headmaster watches us silently, deliberating what to do with us.
Lord, he is intimidating when he’s angry, and quite the opposite of his typical, sunny self. That’s how you know you’re really in deep shit. When nice people turn... watch out.
“Do the three of you know the penalty of using destructive magic in this school without permission?”
I wonder if the headmaster knows about the time Matthew stopped me throwing coke at him. He used his magic to bend me against his will like some creepy puppet master. The twisted freak.
I imagine it happens a lot at this school, nothing but friendly banter at most, but Matthew and I had been in it for the kill just a moment ago. I would have gladly blasted him into oblivion, and I’m sure the feeling is mutual.
I just don’t see the point in this scolding. If I can’t duel the boy that I am destined to fight now at school, then how am I supposed to duel him in the future when we are out on the battlefield? It makes no sense.