by J. R. King
“Hi,” Autumn said. “And no, I don’t feel obligated.”
She led them through the ambling crowd, back through the glass doors and past the courtyard. Concrete tables and benches sat sparsely beside the brick. From the outside, the building itself looked magical. Vines covered most of the stone, tangled and reaching towards the sun.
The Performing Arts building wasn’t nearly as massive as the main structure. In fact, it seemed as though it was the smallest of the three. They traipsed through the sparkling hall, students surrounding them on all sides. Quiet conversation preceded them as they migrated into the auditorium. Rome managed to make it through the doors first, his eyes scanning the rows of seats as he went. They stretched down towards a wide stage where a velvet curtain hung, swaying gently behind the podium. The three of them managed to find a quiet spot near the back, leaving the rest of the crowd to sweep down the stairs, strategically picking out seats.
Rome slouched back against the cushion. His gaze kept gravitating towards the aisle, skimming as many passing faces as he could. He hadn’t realized he’d been looking for her (not until he happened to catch a glimpse). Ariahna moved through the throng of people, taking a seat at the room’s center. There was just something about her; something that always forced him to take notice.
“I see you’re a bit preoccupied,” Autumn said.
Rome’s eyes dropped to his shoes.
“I think it’s cute. And it’s got to be some kind of luck,” she said. “Who knew that your mystery girl went here?”
Danny leaned against an armrest, scanning the crowd. He vaguely recognized the girl Autumn was pointing to. “Oh, I know her. She’s not very fiery, for a redhead. Still, I’m surprised she’s so timid. Her family’s known for being pretty ambitious.”
Rome sunk down in his seat. He didn’t know what to make of the statement. “Could we maybe talk about something else?”
Their conversation drifted to more menial topics, and after a time, Rome found his gaze wandering again. He could feel the frown deepening around his eyes. Christian had slipped into the seat next to hers, an arm quickly falling across Ariahna’s shoulders. Rome found himself fixating on them, honing in on their conversation.
“…I don’t think I’m your usual crowd,” Ariahna said.
Christian grinned. “That’s why diversity is so important. Besides, I thought I should try and make it up to you, seeing as I wasn’t even smart enough to remember your name.”
“Funny, how we keep running into each other like this. It’s almost as if you were going out of your way to make an impression.”
“And here I thought that meeting me was enough.”
A scoff reached his ears, and Rome’s gaze hardened at the girl who had begun speaking from the row in front of theirs. Straight black hair and ruby red lips shone back at them. Now her, Rome had already had the misfortune of meeting. She had brought a totaled car into the garage once, and stubbornly fought him on every dollar she’d had to fork out to get it fixed. Scarlet Bellaway was a real piece of work.
“Sweetie,” Scarlet said, “meeting you is enough to get any girl running in the opposite direction. And my girl is smarter than that.”
Ariahna let out a startled laugh. “I had no idea you were so protective. Who knew you already cared so much?”
“Someone has to steer you in the right direction, and away from each and every mistake you encounter.” This she said while offering Christian a look filled mainly with malice. “Meet your first avoidable mistake – the boy sitting beside you.”
“Good to see you’re still playing hard to get…” Christian smoothed his thumb over his nails, not even phased by the implication. “I have to say, jealousy really doesn’t befit you.”
“Hon, I don’t get jealous,” Scarlet said. “And if I did, it certainly wouldn’t be over someone like you.”
Rome felt Danny nudge him with his elbow, forcing him to break his concentration. He grumbled. “What?”
“You’re going to burn a hole through their faces, that’s what.” Danny leaned back, following Rome’s line of sight. “Tough luck, though.” He nodded at Christian. “That guy’s ridiculous.”
“You’re telling me,” Autumn said. “Can you believe he once hit on me while he was already on a date? It was so distasteful.”
“You never told me that,” Rome said.
Autumn shrugged. “It wasn’t a big deal.”
“If it wasn’t a big deal it wouldn’t still make you uncomfortable.”
“I can believe it,” Danny said. A smile played at the corners of his eyes. “He only goes after the prettiest ones.”
The lights dimmed gently in the auditorium, and the chorus of chatter died to a mere hum. The dean was making his way across the stage when Rome’s ears caught on something else Scarlet was saying.
“…And while we’re on the topic of trouble and boys who are bad news, I heard you were flirting with that new guy.”
Ariahna chuckled, protesting softly. “I don’t know where you got that idea from, but I wasn’t doing anything remotely close to that. I ran into him on the stairs. We spoke for maybe ten minutes.”
Scarlet folded her arms over the back of the seat, offering her a sultry smile. “Oh,” she said. “Well, if that’s all that happened, I guess you wouldn’t care to know that he’s staring at you right now.” She watched Ariahna twist in her seat, gazing back as Rome strategically looked away. “I’d be careful with that one. They say some pretty nasty things about him.”
“Like what?” Aria said.
“Like, that he’s got a record.”
“Are you sure?” Christian asked.
Scarlet smirked. “I’m sure.” She surveyed Rome, nestled in a dark corner of the auditorium. “It’s such a shame, don’t you think? That he’s all that remains of the Navarro family. They used to be so rich…”
“I suppose that’s a good thing,” Aria said. “At least I won’t have to worry about you leaving to cozy up to someone else.” She watched the surprise bloom on Scarlet’s face, matching it with a smile. “Don’t worry, I’ve known your intentions since you introduced yourself.”
Scarlet fumbled for a second before recovering. “I actually like you,” she said. “Don’t push it.”
Rome rose from his seat then, moving towards the exit as the dean’s speech filtered through the speakers. Minus the part about magic, it was all fairly reminiscent of the discussion that had taken place in his office. He had the feeling it was going to drag on like that for a while, and in a particularly dry manner, so he opted to leave.
“Hey,” Danny said. “Where are you going?”
Rome glanced back but didn’t reply. He needed a reprieve; somewhere he could separate himself from his thoughts. The hallway wasn’t quite what he’d been looking for. Venturing farther in, he traipsed past empty classrooms and the occasional study hall. He liked being alone like this, left to wander on his own terms. A trail of water glistened against the polished tile, and Rome frowned up at the ceiling. He watched as a drop fell from a sodden blemish. That’s when something odd reached his ears – the delicate sound of a piano. He followed the soft music to a set of stairs. And as he gazed up the spiral, visually chasing the notes to the top, movement caught his eye.
A hand touched his shoulder and Rome jumped.
“Sorry,” the man said. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“You didn’t. I was just… looking for the bathroom.”
“It’s okay. The dean’s a little long-winded, even for me. Still, we can’t have you wandering about, can we?”
Rome gave the man a concerned smile. “Am I in trouble?”
“Not if you follow me.”
Rome glanced back up the steps, frowning at the sudden silence. “What’s on the top floor?” he asked.
The teacher slipped a hand into his pocket. “A few classrooms, some storage,” he said. “Not much else though. Why?”
“No reason,” Rome said. “It’s
nothing.” He followed him back towards the auditorium, exchanging names with the man as they turned a corner. He was about to ask him another question when he realized something strange.
“Is something wrong?” Mr. Jones asked.
Rome had paused, glancing up at the pristine white plaster on the ceiling. “No,” he said. “There was some water here before, but… somebody must have cleaned it up.”
“The building has a way of alerting us to maintenance problems,” the man said. “I know, it can take some getting used to. The dean mentioned that you might be having some issues adjusting?”
“I know how to adapt,” Rome said.
“That’s good. That’s a great skill to have.”
Rome paused again, indicating he was going to use the restroom. It wasn’t until he stepped back into the hall that he realized why the man’s name sounded so familiar. He definitely hadn’t imagined him like this when reading the contents of that letter. Mr. Jones looked like your everyday, run-of-the-mill teacher. His clothes were practical and plain. Other than his genuine demeanor, nothing in particular stood out about him. Most of the other staff members seemed to have an edge that thankfully this man was lacking.
“Can I ask you a question?” Rome said.
“Of course,” Mr. Jones replied.
“Do I really want to be here?”
The man smiled again, lines creasing out from the corners of his eyes. “I don’t think that’s a question for me,” he said, “but rather an internal debate. And one that I’m afraid I can’t resolve for you.”
Rome sighed. That wasn’t quite what he’d meant. “I’m just not sure this school really has room for someone like me.”
“The world’s a big place,” Mr. Jones said. “You can claim whatever piece of it you’re willing to fight for.”
By the time they got back, the auditorium was nearly emptied of students. They lingered in the halls, near the exits and around the building. Rome came to lean against the wall as people shuffled past. The schedule he’d been handed crinkled in his pocket, and he decided it was time he took a closer look at it. The only class he even recognized was History, yet somehow he knew they weren’t going to be discussing the Civil War.
Shawn stepped out of the auditorium then, walking alongside Ariahna. “I’m told we need a few more chaperones for the field trip. Mr. Caldwell recommended you when I was inquiring about TA’s.”
Ariahna clutched a book to her chest, listening to him speak while staring past him at Rome. “Sure,” she said. “You know I never mind helping out.”
“Great. Now I just have to tell him that he has to go on a field trip with a bunch of freshmen.” Shawn looked back at Rome who was already giving him an unpleasant expression. “Any suggestions?”
“I’ve got one,” Rome called. “I’m not going.”
Shawn sighed. “I hate to break it to you, but you’re going to be in freshmen classes anyway. You might as well get used to the idea.”
Aria gave Rome a sympathetic expression as he approached. “Don’t be discouraged. You can always get help to accelerate your progress. I’m sure if you do well enough, the dean wouldn’t prevent you from advancing early.”
“Maybe…”
“Actually, that’s not a bad idea,” Shawn said. “Tutor certainly wouldn’t look bad on your transcripts.” He turned to smile at her and stopped when he noticed her frown. “If you want to, that is.”
“I don’t know,” she said. “This year’s looking… hectic.”
Rome licked his lips, shifting his eyes to the floor. “It’s okay. Really,” he said. “I couldn’t ask you to do something like that.”
Ariahna lingered behind as Rome began to ask where he might find his first period class. Shawn was about to break into a long explanation when she decided to save them both the trouble. “I can take him,” she said. “I’m heading that way.”
Chapter Four
What Was There All Along
There hadn’t been a cloud in the sky while he’d been driving to Vardel. Through the foggy windows now, he could see a collection of gray, wispy clouds gathering over the trees. Rome stared past the glass, waiting as Ariahna stopped at her locker. He’d been blindsided today; plucked from one reality and deposited into another. There were all the signs of normalcy, but despite that, the world was altered. He caught sight of Ariahna’s eyes in the light, the beautiful flecks of green and gold drawing him further into thought. “How long have you known about what you are?” Rome asked. “Or have you always known?”
Her locker closed quietly and Ariahna turned to face him. “I haven’t always known, though it can feel that way sometimes. I found out when I was little. It was an accident, actually.”
Rome let her lead him through the corridor. “Do you happen to have any advice for me?”
“Just don’t force it. Everything happens in its own time.”
Rome slipped his hands into his pockets. “That’s the thing,” he said. “I’m not sure there’s anything to force.”
She gazed at him curiously. “What do you mean?”
“I’ve never just made something happen. I don’t know, maybe it skipped a generation,” he said. “That sort of thing is possible, right?”
“Not really. You might have done something before without realizing it. That’s pretty common. Anyways, you’re here now and that’s what the program is for, to help you develop your talents.
“All of your classes are going to be up here,” she said. “Standard students have their classrooms on the ground floor. Usually, they won’t even wander up here, so we’re allowed to practice freely in the open study halls. Just try to shy away from anything hazardous, unless you have explicit approval.”
“Hazardous?” Rome said. “Like what?”
A boy in the hall cursed, slamming a hand against his locker. He grabbed the lock as ice bloomed from his fingertips, and it shattered in his fist, crumbling to the floor as they passed.
“Like that,” Aria said. “Elemental magic should not be performed outside of class.” She looked at Rome, who was still staring back down the hallway. “We had a fire one year. They’re pretty strict about it now.”
They stopped outside of his classroom, and Ariahna paused to examine his appearance. “You have Mrs. Brill first. You might want to tuck your shirt in before going into her class.”
Rome peeked into the room at the old woman. “Good call,” he said. He tucked in his shirt, fidgeting slightly with the material. “I don’t know… what do you think?”
“You look good.”
They stood awkwardly in the hall for a moment, uncertain on how to proceed. “You know,” Rome said, “we could always skip that field trip and hang out together?”
Ariahna gave him a sideways smile, taking a step in the opposite direction. “Sorry, but I’m not going to help you play hooky. Besides, the field trip’s not until tomorrow. You’ll have plenty of time to change your mind about it before then. It’s actually pretty fun, though. You’ll like it I think, if you’ve never been to the museum.”
He smiled. “You know I haven’t.”
Rome pressed a hand to the doorframe, slipping into the classroom and finding a chair. The rest of the students whispered as Mrs. Brill arranged several stacks of textbooks on her desk. Dean Oakland stepped through the door a moment later, escorting Kaleb to his seat (the one apparently located right beside Rome). The dean strode to the front of the classroom then, stopping to speak in hushed tones with their instructor. Whatever Oakland had said left her looking like she’d been sucking on lemons.
Rome glanced at Kaleb, noticing his dark t-shirt and skintight jeans. The leather jacket draped over his torso somehow made him look even more annoyingly arrogant. Still, it was better than the weird attire he’d been wearing this morning. The dean patted Kaleb on the shoulder as he left, missing the pointed glare he’d shot at his back. Rome waited until he was out of earshot before deciding to speak. “How come you don’t have to wear this getup
?” he said.
Kaleb grinned. “Religious reasons.”
Mrs. Brill cleared her throat then, silencing the group with the sound. “Welcome to History class,” she said, snapping her fingers crisply. The books that had been stacked on her desk rematerialized on the tables, startling several students. “In front of each of you is your History text. I expect you to have it each time you enter this room. Is that clear?” They murmured their understanding, awaiting further instruction. “Now, open your books to chapter one. Today we’ll be discussing the War of Creation. Before we begin, can anyone tell me who started this notorious war, and when?”
“Emily Boyle,” a boy said. “I think it was the 17th century.”
“Wrong,” Kaleb breathed, staring at his fingernails.
“Incorrect,” the teacher said. “It was the 16th century. The year, to be exact, was 1551, and Ms. Boyle was on the verge of a terrible discovery. Does anyone know how she made that discovery?”
Rome dropped his eyes as the woman fixated on him. “Don’t look at me,” he said. “You’re the teacher.”
“Look it up. We’ll wait.” She observed his flustered expression. “It’s right there on the page,” she said. “Surely, you can find it.”
He fiddled with the glossy corner of his text, eyes tripping over the words in front of him. Her persistent stare wasn’t helping any. Rome let go of the book, holding his palms in the air. “…Magic?”
The teacher pursed her lips, turning to the rest of the class.
“Necromancy,” Kaleb said. His eyes slipped over Rome, smiling when her words mirrored his own.
“Necromancy,” Mrs. Brill announced. “Emily Boyle was fiddling with some very dangerous magics in hopes of reviving her lost lover from the dead. But unlike the walking shells these practices had brought us before, this misguided girl succeeded in creating something far more treacherous and consuming: vampires.”
Rome risked a glance at his company. Kaleb was still.
Mrs. Brill circled the class. “Using ancient blood magics, Emily Boyle attempted to master death, and failed. She was unable to restore the life of her love, as she had hoped, and instead birthed a monster so foul and ruthless that it nearly saw us all destroyed.”