by G. Bailey
“Oh my sweet Madi. We live in a world of pure magic, and death is not always final. Remember that, and go now. We are going into hiding while the tales fight the war, like many families are. The dark tales won’t hurt you young ones, and that means they will not see you coming to beat them. They want to groom you to be on their side. Be careful what you believe, and be careful of your heart. Dark tales don’t fall in love, and if they do, it’s all or nothing.” The call ends after her ominous words, and I hand it to Tavvy, who I can see is worried about me. There is no place for love when you can only think of death.
And the dead don’t come back.
Chapter 2
“One step at a time, Madi,” Tavvy keeps telling me that after she stated we needed to get out of the ruined dresses and into new clothes. She said that we needed to wipe the blood off my hands and try to at least do the normal things, even when there is nothing normal about this situation. I can’t think of anything but Sin...and making a plan to kill the man who took his life. I can’t do much but spend every second trying not to break down, to fall into a pit of tears and never stop crying. That’s what I want to do, but I try to keep my head up and focus on finding out who killed Sin, so I can tell his brothers a name. Quin knows who it was, and I’m not going to rest until he tells me the name.
My other thoughts stray to the Tale brothers and how they are coping with everything...or if they know at all. I hug my legs closer to my chest as I sit on the floor, with Tavvy sat behind me as she gently French plaits my hair for me, careful to avoid the lump and cut on my head. I don’t feel the pain though; it’s nothing compared to how I feel inside.
“I need to get out of this room,” I tell her, because being trapped in here all day has just made things a million times worse.
“I feel that on so many levels. I don’t like that we have no clue what is going on,” she replies as I feel her finishing the plait off and tying it.
“How is your head feeling?” I ask her, turning my head back to see her bandage has a little blood showing but, considering we didn’t have much to work with, it will do.
“Sore, but I’m good,” she replies as I stand up. I smooth down my oversized grey top that is tucked into my sweatpants. I’m not dressing up for these monsters. Tavvy quickly comes to my side as we hear the door being unlocked, and seconds later, it is pushed open. The man standing in the doorway is a dark tale. He is hidden under a cloak with a long black hood, so I can’t see much else about him other than he is taller than me. I can sense a dislike for him, but I don’t have that urge to attack him like I can see Tavvy wants to from the way her pupils are wide and alert, and her body is tense. I grab her arm to stop her walking forward, especially considering the man has a long spear in his hand, and the tip of the spear is glowing with grey energy that almost looks like smoke.
“Out. Now,” he commands in a deep voice that makes me shiver.
“Where are we meant to go?” I ask him, though I can’t see his face under the long hood. I’m sure it’s purposely done to make him seem more frightening.
“The dining hall for your first academy assembly,” he informs me. “Now move before I am forced to make you.” I focus on the fact he claims he would be forced and not that he wants to cause us pain.
“Fine,” I reply, grabbing Tavvy’s arm tighter to force her to walk out of the room with me. She does, though I can feel that she really doesn’t want to do anything but kill that dude. I don’t exactly blame her disliking all the dark tales that have taken over the academy, but he hasn’t done anything to us.
“Just chill. It’s not worth dying over right at this moment,” I whisper to her, and she looks at me and takes a deep breath as she briefly closes her eyes before we carry on walking. We stop when we see another hooded man standing outside Ella’s room, and Ella walks out, pausing when she notices me. Ella’s red hair is a mess, and her face is red and blotchy from crying. Instead of revealing clothing, Ella has a black top and black leggings on. Overall, I just about recognise her, and I instantly want to comfort her, even though we aren’t exactly friends.
Without another word, she turns and walks with her hooded man following right behind her. I glance at Tavvy, and we both don’t need to say we are concerned for Ella. I mean, we aren’t what I’d even consider friends, but I guess some part of me does like her. You know, when she isn’t after my guys. Even then, everything has become so much more than arguing over guys and things like that. Now we are concerned for our lives, and that makes me want to keep Ella alive to fight on my side at least, even if we don’t like each other.
The academy is silent, bar the footsteps of the students being led to the dining hall. I glance around, but I don’t see the Tale brothers at all in the mix of students. We head down the stairs, where five hooded dark tales are standing at the sides. I make a mental note that none of the dark tales have weapons like the one walking behind us. Also, I notice the clip in the middle of their cloaks is a wolf sitting on an eye in a circle, the very opposite of the mark on my wrist with the cat on the moon. I hate cats and their love of attacking me, but I’m thinking I should be more scared of the wolf at the moment. Shame, because I like the wolves in the stories.
We follow the crowd into the dining room, where everyone is sitting down on the black chairs that are in rows on either side of a path through the middle. Big black curtains are pulled across the front of the room, so we can’t see what they want to show us. The room is eerily quiet, even with this many people in it, and there is just a certain feel of tension that I can’t explain. Snow lightly falls from the ceiling, though there are no clouds, and I’m certain that Quin is causing the snow. I’m not sure if I even want to see him, because I’m scared of what I’m going to do.
He let Sin die.
I slide into the seat next to Ella, who doesn’t look my way as she harshly wipes tears away from her eyes, looking so angry as she does. Like her tears are an insult to her. I’m sure it’s the death of her friend that is upsetting her, and well, everything that is going on. Before I’ve really thought about it, I place my hand on hers and squeeze it gently. She sharply looks to me as I take my hand away, and she nods once.
“They killed my parents. My aunt is locked up and will be killed soon, I bet. Then they killed my friend because she wouldn’t do what they asked. What is left to hope for?” she whispers, though I feel like her words get the attention of everyone around us because they look our way ever so slightly.
“Us. We will avenge those who are gone when they least expect it. They will pay for this,” I whisper back, and she stares at me intently. I could say I’m so sorry, but those words mean nothing in the grand scheme of things. Sorry won’t bring them back or make her feel better. Quin said he was sorry to me as I stared at Sin’s dead body on the cold ground, and I know it means nothing. Ella smirks at me before lifting her head high and looking much more like the badass bitch I know and sometimes dislike.
“That we will. I’m on your side, Madi,” she says, using my name for once. It’s almost strange not to hear her call me new girl. I look to Tavvy, who is staring at the stage like everyone else is as the last of the students come into the room.
“Have you seen the Tale brothers?” I whisper to Tavvy, and she shakes her head, looking as concerned as I am. They already killed one of them like they were nothing, and I know they wouldn’t think twice before doing that again. I can’t lose any of them, not like Sin. My heart is crushed as it is.
The doors to the dining room slam shut behind the last person to come into the room, and the black hooded guys stand in a line in front of the door and down the walls. The one with the spear stands right in the middle of them. I was right, he is important, so why is he watching us and not someone more dangerous like the Tale brothers? The curtains move ever so slightly before a man steps out, clapping his hands together once with a large smile on his face as I rest back in my chair.
“Welcome, Lost Time Academy students,” he says, lowering
his hands and holding them behind his back as he stops. I recognise his voice though. He was the one that killed Sin, I know it. His hair is white, pure white, and it almost reflects against his bright blue eyes. His suit is black, and parts of it are covered in frost like he doesn’t have control over his powers. They are like Quin’s, I’m coming to realise. Ice and snow. Cold and deadly, just like their actions. “My name is Rueben Frostan, the current king of the dark tales and your new king. I know you are not used to these terms, but be assured we will help you accommodate to the new rules we are setting.”
“By murdering those who disagree, he means,” Ella mutters under her breath.
“Now, there will be big changes to Lost Time Academy. For one, you have new teachers and new classes. As you leave, you are expected to accept your new schedule and cloak. The cloaks must be worn at all times, and there is high penalty for skipping classes,” he states, and I would almost want to laugh if I weren’t sure he was deadly serious.
“What penalty? You’ve already taken over. Why not kill us?” a guy I don’t know well asks, standing up. Rueben narrows his eyes on the guy, who holds his head high and doesn’t back down. Roger sits at his side, and he tries to make his friend sit down by grabbing his jacket and tugging.
“I’m very glad you asked, my new friend,” Rueben remarks, sounding very friendly, but I don’t believe it. He claps his hands once as he steps to the side. The curtains slowly fall back, revealing a large cage made from ice spikes. Cries and gasps fill my ears when I see Miss Noa in the cage, with dozens of spikes of ice pressing her to the back of the cage ice wall. Blood had poured onto the floor, freezing before it could go anywhere. She isn’t breathing, by the looks of her, and I’m speechless to say anything. I’m sorry we couldn’t save her. I look to the left, where Quinton is standing, his arms crossed with a neutral expression as students gasp and cry. He isn’t wearing one of those cloaks, so he is important somehow to Rueben. They also share the same ice power, so they must be related somehow, that is the only thing that makes sense.
Quinton’s eyes move to me, and he holds my gaze as I glare at him before looking back at Rueben as he starts talking once the cries die down. “Every week, I will be placing a new teacher in here until they all die. When I run out of teachers for my cage, I will be needing new replacements. The replacements will be found with the students that break the rules, so I suggest you all learn to behave in the new world you have found yourself in.” No one says a word, because what can you really say to that utter madness that he just said? He looks as crazy as he clearly is.
“One more thing before you are all dismissed. The Tale brothers are missing. Anyone that has information on them, come to me. There will be a big reward and a very happy future for the person that brings the brothers to me.” Rueben looks at me the entire time he speaks and relief fills my chest. They escaped somehow. I know they wouldn’t come for me straight away, not until I’m alone and it is safe. It’s not been safe yet.
And instead of giving him what he wants, I smile as I stand up straight. They don’t have the Tale brothers, and I have nothing to lose. If they wanted me dead, I would be already, and I can’t just sit here silently. This is madness, utter madness.
“Yes...well, I am not sure of your name?” Rueben states.
“It’s Madilynn Dormiens. You said we were dismissed, right?” I ask. “I’d like to leave. It’s a bit chilly in here for my liking.”
“Everyone can leave except for you, Miss Madilynn Dormiens. We need to have a little chat,” he says, and everyone gets up after he claps his hands.
“I can stay,” Tavvy says, looking nervously at me, and Ella stays still as students push past us to escape the hall.
“No, I can handle this. Go with Ella, I’ll catch up. He already killed Sin; he can’t scare me anymore,” I tell her, and I look at Ella, asking her to make Tavvy leave with only a look. Ella’s breath hitches because she must not have known about Sin. She wipes a tear away and places her hand on my arm for a second, squeezing tightly before letting go. I have to swallow down the emotion that burns in my throat. I can’t cry now. I can’t show Rueben any weakness. Ella hooks her arm in Tavvy’s and makes her walk out of the room, which I’m thankful for. I wait until the room is empty except for Rueben, Quin and the man with a spear, who closes the doors before I look back at Rueben who is patiently waiting.
“It would be a pleasure to have a little chat. You can start by telling me why the fuck you killed Oisin Tale, and then I can tell you how I’m going to kill you for touching him at all,” I growl, curling my hands into fists and feeling my power bubbling up without me calling for it.
“I like you,” he chuckles before rubbing his chin and looking to Quinton as he comes to his side. The look Quin gives me suggests I should have kept my mouth shut. I don’t regret saying it though. “I can see why you love this one.”
“He doesn’t love me,” I snap, looking back as the man with the spear steps closer. “Love isn’t that fucked up.”
“Dear Miss Madilynn Dormiens, you will not hurt me,” he tells the man before placing those creepy blue eyes on me. “We are going to be friends, you and I.”
“Unless you think friends are people that want to kill each other, no we are not,” I sarcastically respond, crossing my arms. Has this man being drinking the Kool Aid or something?
“Mr. Newman told me all about your powers. See, we grew up together, and he was a good friend. Much like you and Quin are in some respects. Though I did kill him once I found out all the information I wanted. A good tale like him could not be fully trusted,” he explains to me in a matter of fact way. I’m kind of relieved he killed the disturbing Mr. Newman, especially if he told Rueben everything he wanted to know. I’m also realising more and more about how mad Rueben is; he killed his own friend. “I am very interested in pushing your dormant powers further, and every Sunday morning, I want you to come here for a private lesson.”
“I’d rather not,” I’m quick to shut that idea up. I couldn’t imagine anything worse than private lessons with the monster that killed Sin.
“I wasn’t asking, Madilynn. If you do not obey me, it will not just be your boyfriend I will kill. I see you have friends in my grasp, and if they are not motivation enough, I will send a hunt out for your parents,” he says, walking over to me as I try not to shake with anger. “Until Sunday, Madilynn. My personal guard will be keeping a close eye on you for now.” I don’t have to look behind me to know he means the spear dude is my new stalker. I turn my head back and watch as Rueben leaves the room, and the spear dude shuts the door.
“I will watch Madilynn for a bit and return her to her room. Why don’t you get her a cloak and a schedule while we talk?” Quinton tells the man.
“Yes, sir,” the dude dutifully says before leaving the room, and it’s silent as I look back to Quinton.
“Let’s talk outside,” Quinton suggests and walks to the doors outside without waiting for my reply. I follow him out of the building and over to where he stands on the grass courtyard which is empty. If I look over the field, I will be able to see the spot where Sin died.
I walk straight up to Quin, who turns to face me, opening his mouth to talk. I don’t want to hear it.
“I’m so—” That is all he gets to say before I punch him hard in the face.
He deserved it.
Chapter 3
“I guess I deserved that,” he says, rubbing his cheek where it is already swelling. My knuckles feel like they will bruise for that, but I don’t care. He deserved it and so much more, and I like knowing he is hurting. He let Sin die.
I bang my fists against his chest as thick tears stream down my cheeks. Once. Twice. Three times. I lose count of how many times I hit him before I fall to my knees, great sobs leaving my lips.
“You let him die! You just stood there as he was killed!” I scream at Quin. I can’t get rid of the image of Sin on the cold grass, his body cold and empty of his soul. I see Quin knee
l in front of me before he places a freezing cold finger under my chin and lifts my head to meet his blue eyes. There is so much guilt there, but I don’t care. I just can’t.
“It was Sin or you. If I stopped my uncle, you would both be dead. I hate myself more than you ever could for not being able to do anything,” he gently tells me. I stay silent as he gets up and walks to the door. “I’m sorry.” His words aren’t enough, not for this, and they never could be. Sin didn’t deserve to be the victim of that choice. I would have happily died to save him.
“Madi…” I jump, falling to the floor as I hear a familiar voice whisper my name. I sit up, frantically searching for who I think it was. I turn around as a raven flies across the field, swooping low and landing on the ground in front of me. I watch the raven as it steps closer and very quickly pecks my finger. I feel so numb from the shock of hearing that voice that I don’t even cry out from the sudden pain. The raven flies away, and my finger drips blood onto the cold ground, but I feel empty and broken. The ravens are meant to protect me, that’s what my Nan said…so why would it hurt me then?
How can Sin really be gone? That’s the question that haunts me. I can’t believe it, I won’t.
“Sin?” I whisper. That was his voice, I’m sure of it. I’m not going crazy, I know I’m not. After a few seconds of nothing but silence and the chilling wind, I know I must have been wrong. Even that breaks my heart more to realise it. I hold my finger to stop the bleeding as I stand up, and just as I take a step to walk away, I hear it once more. This time, I’m sure it’s him. I’d know Sin’s voice anywhere.
“Madi…”
I spin around, a cry escaping my lips when I see a version of Sin right in front of me, as clear as day. His body is almost see-through, though it still looks like him so much that it hurts. His blonde hair almost looks white like this, and his silver eyes are so bright that it hurts to look at them. I step closer, seeing how the ghost figure of his body is deathly still. It’s just a reminder that he is gone, and I have no clue what this is in front of me.