SWNOVELS Chapter 9: The Bickering Duo Argue Over Tombstones
Chapter ~ 9
~ Chapter 9: The Bickering Duo Argue Over Tombstones ~
The V2 picks Filly and I up at 8:30 for breakfast. We’re both unquestionably morning people compared to all the other Acolytes on the train as they lean against the windows or each other to get an extra few minutes of sleep. The V2 is only one car smaller than its namesake and the second car is packed. Elves, Dwarves, Vampires, Werewolves, humans, Shifters, Witches, Wizards, Sages, Shades, Warlocks, Fae, and even some Venti Fairies are all sitting two-by-two in the seats of the last two cars. The door leading to the first car has a sign over the tinted window; Teachers Only. Thankfully two seats have been left open beside each other, because after the look we shared, I don’t think Filly and I would have enjoyed being separated.
A Fae and – I think – a Witch (maybe a Sage) sit in front of us. Some people used to think that Fae and Elves were the same, and maybe some still do, but there are noticeable differences. For one, Fae features are sharp and cold, while Elves appear homey and happy, there is nothing inviting about Fae. Their long pointed ears that sometimes almost touch behind their heads, look as if they’ve been torn into by some angry animal. They have dagger like teeth and longer canines that sometimes sneak over their lips. They’re the evil counterpart of Elves and they make me shiver and Filly uncomfortable as her body tightens up into a rigid posture.
“When’s your birthday?” Filly asks, obviously trying to ignore the Fae.
“August 26th.” She blinks and actually focuses on me. I nearly smile to hide how uncomfortable I am under her wide gaze. “What?”
“Mine is the 24th.”
Now I do smile. “Really?”
“Yeah.” She almost smiles back. I’m getting there. Soon she’ll be grinning all the time.
“Guess we both got the Dragonmage bomb dropped on us, huh?”
Filly shrugs. “Apparently. Although, unlike obviously you, I’ve been looking forward to this for years. I couldn’t stand being seen as a mia fenghi anymore.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Why?”
“Let’s just say, when you’re someone like me, you don’t exactly get a lot of respect and are always left wishing you’d never been born. The only good thing about me is that I’m an Elf – a mongrel maybe – but an Elf, and I can go to whatever school I want to within Fantasy’s boarders. Dragonmage offered the out I wanted.”
Both eyebrows have shot into my hairline, but I try to hide my surprise. She definitely doesn’t want my questions. I hadn’t really taken notice – or thought about – the difference between her and other Elves I’ve seen. She’s short, even if she hasn’t hit her growth spurt it doesn’t seem like she’ll get much taller. Her ears are slightly rounded, but only slightly, and her complexion is lighter – more human – than the darkness of Forest Elves, which I know she is. She’s stuck with her green clothing and a small headband of leaves twists through her hair. It’s plain to see she’s a mongrel.
It’s amazing what you take notice of when you know there’s something different about them. Makes me feel disgusted with myself. So I turn to her fully.
“Ask me something else, because I can’t think right now.” I also don’t want anything insulting to come out of my mouth if I ask something too personal. I can think better when someone else is asking.
“Okay.” There’s that almost smile again. “What color dragon are you hoping for?”
Ugh… that’s an awful question. Why am I not asking again?
I shrug to hide my agitation. “Don’t know.” Thankfully my two weeks falls under the ‘one month until you get your dragon’ guideline. “I haven’t really thought about it. I suppose if I get one I’ll have to deal with whatever color it is. I don’t think you get to choose.”
Filly shakes her head. “No. You don’t. But wishing is more fun than biting nails.”
“What happens when you wish so much that you reject the color that it’ll be when it’s not your favorite?” I’m pretty sure those words came out in a different order than I’d meant.
She shrugs. “I’ll be happy with whatever. But I still want a blue one. They’re so pretty.”
I smile. “Well, then I wish for a blue one too, so maybe you’ll get it.”
I blink when Filly sticks her tongue out at me. It’s the first childish act I’ve seen her do and I can’t wait to see more. I’ll get the crazy girl – I know is in there – out if it’s the only thing I do for two weeks.
Filly and I swap questions back and forth while the V2 makes a few more stops and then heads toward Stormchaser. We’re let off at the Depot and follow the crowd through the town – making it even more crowded – onto Dragonmage grounds. Everyone seems to wake up as soon as we enter the Break Hall and make for the breakfast bar.
Mandy slides up beside us as soon as we grab our plates – much to the annoyance of those behind. “How are two of my four favorite people doing?”
Does she realize that’s not very impressive and is kind of sad?
“Hungry.” Filly says piling her plate.
Mandy chuckles. “Obviously.” She backs up as if to leave. “Come join Eaton and I over there when you’ve got all you think you can eat.” She points at the table near the center of the room where Eaton’s silver and black hair stands out among all the lighter colors in the room.
I nod. “See you over there.”
Mandy smiles and leaves.
“Isn’t Eaton the guy that brought you over?” I turn back to Filly and nod. “And you actually enjoyed his company?” She sounds incredulous. As if being friends with a boy is impossible.
“Yes.” I reply cautiously. “Is something wrong?”
Filly shakes her head. “No. It’s just…” She shakes her head again and red locks slap her cheeks. “Nothing. You just gain friends really quickly.”
Before I can answer the guy behind us groans. “Move along, girls.”
I shoot a glare over Filly’s shoulder at him, but oblige anyway. We are damming up the line.
With our plates loaded, Filly and I maneuver our way through the Break Hall, around tables and chairs and legs, and toward the center of the room where two large oak trees have been planted and create an archway in the middle of the room. Eaton and Mandy are at the table closest to the trees, green moss piling onto the floor and under the legs.
I’ve barely sat down before Eaton is sitting up and starting the conversation. “How did you two enjoy the tour yesterday, Mandy says you’re a boring bunch.”
Mandy’s mouth drops and Eaton smirks. “I… I did not say that, E, and you know it.”
He laughs when she chucks an orange slice at him. He catches it easily. “Okay, food-abuser, maybe you didn’t say it like that… exactly. Anyways,” He pops the slice into his mouth. “Did you two enjoy it?”
Filly and I share a glance. “Er…” I start.
“It was…” Filly tries to continue.
“I don’t know.” I finish. “We’re not… shoppers.”
Eaton’s laughter becomes a little more pronounced. He wipes at invisible tears. “You two are cute. Look at them, Man, all sweet and trying not to insult you.”
Oh, I could have insulted her. I’m just not in the mood to do so, and I don’t really feel like making enemies.
Mandy huffs, but she’s fighting a smile. She tosses another orange sliver his way, which again he catches and eats. She glares for a long moment while Eaton smiles around his chewing. “When is Astrid coming? I’ve been missing her.”
“I’ll be picking her up after our trip to the nursery, so like… a month. She’s missed you too, although I’m not sure why. You’re a pain.”
“You’ll get over it.”
“I doubt it.”
“You will. I’ll get Meg to predict it and then it’ll happen.”
This time Eaton’s the one throwing food, only Mandy doesn’t catch it. “Idiot. Meg can only predict what’s going to happen, not what you want to happen.”
Mandy sighs. “E, I could, and can, predict your future, that’s how easy it is.”
Eaton glares. Mandy grins. Filly clears her throat. Everyone looks at her.
“Who’s Astrid and Meg?” She asks.
“Look what you did, Man.” Eaton says. “You left them behind. Now they’re all confused and want to kill you too.”
“Uh…” Eaton gives me a dry look to ‘shut-up.’
“Well, sorry.” Mandy draws out. “I’ll remember my manners next time.”
Eaton huffs. “Yeah, right, whatever.” He turns to us. “Meg is a Foreseer that works here in Legend. Astrid is my fiancé.”
“Is she a Rider too?” Filly asks.
“Astrid? Yeah, well… sort of.”
“Sort of?” I didn’t know there could be a ‘sort of’ Rider.
“Well, her story is a bit weird and long.”
“It’s not Astrid Mink, is it?” Filly suddenly sounds interested.
Eaton stiffens a bit, just the slight twist to his shoulders to show he’s protective. “Know her?”
“Everyone knows Astrid Mink.”
“Uh…” I raise my hand. “I don’t.”
“Oh, good,” Mandy chimes in. “I’m the one completely lost and wanting to kill someone.”
Eaton winces and completely ignores Mandy and I. “Not everything everyone thinks they know about her is true.”
Filly suddenly looks uncomfortable and scoots back in her chair. “Sorry. But is she really… you know…?”
“Deaf?”
Filly nods half-a-second later.
Eaton seems to consider saying something, and I can half guess what it might be as he looks pointedly at her mongrel ears. “Yes.”
Filly almost smiles again. “Do you know like…?” she waves her hands around. She really needs to learn to finish her sentences.
“Sign language?” She nods, her eyes excited. “Yes.”
“Cool.”
We all seem to stare at Filly a little more. She nearly opened up completely with that one word. Her secluded features lightening. Her hands begin flying like some elaborate dance and Eaton chuckles a moment later before his hands respond, swatting at the air and hitting his face and arms.
Mandy and I share a glance, hers annoyed; mine confused.
“Okay,” Mandy smacks the table, winces and cradles her hand. “Ow… that hurt!”
Eaton laughs. “You should try a more gentle approach to being impatient.”
Mandy sticks her tongue out.
Eaton rolls his eyes. “Child.”
“Dog.” Mandy spits, although it’s laced with humor.
“That’s not as insulting as you continue to think it is.”
“Fine, jerk.”
Eaton shakes his head, rolling his eyes again. “I’ve never really been seen as nice.”
A toll bell dongs, interrupting their banter, and everyone accustom to how the day should go stands immediately, the Acolytes following a moment slower.
“Quick,” Mandy hooks our elbows, grinning from ear to ear. “We have to escape the mutt.” She leads us away from Eaton and toward the exit, laughing lightly under her breath. “What’s your first classes? I’ll lead the way.”
Mine and Filly’s first classes are actually the same, so we made it easy on Mandy who complained about having to walk to her class by herself. Filly has become her little, shut-in self again, not in the mood for humor and I’m barely listening.
I bump her shoulder. “Cheer up, Fil.”
Filly tries to smile, like actually smile. She again falls short of a happy grin, but we’re getting closer – and it’s only been a day. “There’s not much to cheer up about.”
I roll my eyes as the teacher slams the door closed and strides into the room looking like a grumpy drill sergeant.
Filly leans closer. “Fil? Really?”
I shrug and suppress a wince. “Sorry. Nicknames are kind of a thing in my family.”
“Apparently among your friends too.”
She’s right. Eaton called Mandy – which is already a nickname – ‘Man’ and Mandy called him ‘E.’ And now I’m calling Filly; Fil, as if we’ve known each other a lot longer than a day.
“Sorry,” I whisper again.
Filly shrugs. “I don’t mind. I–” Whatever she’s about to say next is drowned out by the shrill voice of the teacher.
“My name is Paula Smit,” she says, high-pitched and very much proclaimed, “but you will address me as Keeper Smit. Welcome Acolytes to your first day of Demonology and Other Dark Creatures.”
Keeper Smit’s appearance has me cocking my head. There aren’t many times you actually get to see a Shifter in half form; they tend to either be human or in their animal skin, but Keeper Smit stands before us with fluffy, pointed orange and yellow cat-ears and her matching tail curls around her left leg. Her eyes are a glowing orange and right now they’re staring back at me.
I swallow and look away pretending to be interested in the book on my desk; ’The Study Guide to Demons and Darkness by…’ some guy’s name that I can’t pronounce: the first or last name of; it might even be a girl’s name for all I know. Thankfully not knowing the author’s name means I haven’t read the book and I’m in need of new one to captivate me.
“Turn to page nineteen,” Keeper Smit continues, “in The Study Guide to Demons and Darkness by Aoife Aisling and get out your own study book and a writing utensil.” Keeper Smit’s stripped tail flicks behind her as she walks up and down the aisles; her yellow and orange ears twitching at every noise. She pronounced the name – which I’m guessing to be feminine – Ee-fa Ash-ling but I’m not completely sure where the name originates from. It’s most likely Elven, their names always throw me for a loop (like Filly’s) and Elves are the keepers of all knowledge on Demons and Darkness, so it’d make sense.
I glance around as I dig in my bag for a pen and the study book I was given with my school supplies. The class room is set up like a theatre; the seats rise in tiered semicircles around the small raised stage where the teacher’s desk stands tall and daunting and a huge blackboard is mounted on the wall with the words in big, bold letters; Keeper Paula Smit.
There are only about thirty of us, but the classroom/theatre can sit up to a hundred fifty-eight [a plaque outside the door had said so;
Room 5
Keeper Paula Smit
Demonology and Other Dark Creatures
(seats 158)].
The wooden walls climb up in a spiral and when they reach the ceiling it becomes glass; allowing natural sunlight in – well if it wasn’t raining and dark outside it would be doing its job correctly. Instead, it’s making a loud noise of rain beating on glass; which has the equivalence of someone chucking pebbles at a thin sheet of metal over and over again. It started raining as soon as Filly and I entered the classroom. What a wonderful way to start the first day of school high up in Legend. Instead of sunlight we have to deal with the stifling smell of burning sulfur and lime from the torches inside the scones all around the room. You’d think with all our modern technology that the school would have electricity, but apparently some traditions are still kept.
Keeper Smit begins drawing on the blackboard. Slowly the figure of a large disfigured bat takes shape and I finally actually read the first five words at the top of page nineteen: Vespertilio, Large Bat or Demon?
I sigh and stare blankly at the book. I already know a lot about Vespertilio; they came into existence when Grimm was first built and began its experimentations. Venti Fairy and Vampire Bat were combined to create something a little more than ugly. The mixture was called a Vespertilio – which very clichély means; Bat Demon. They have the invisible wings of the Venti Fairies and the harsh look of a Bat. They’re typically kept as a guard dogs, but are strong, disposable warriors too. Of course like most everything, they have their weakness. Their heart is where our brains are. An arrow through the eye and they’re dead.
I’m pretty sure I could teach this class.
Next class is without Filly but with Mrs. April Light, and let me say: she does her name justice. She has a huge smile on her face as I enter the room and take one of the empty seats in the back of her classroom. It is once again set up like a theatre, only there’s a brighter aura to this room than there was in Keeper Smit’s class, even with the rain continuing its onslaught on the roof.
“Welcome to your first day Acolytes.” Keeper Light begins as everyone takes their seats. “I’m your Mythology teacher. My name is Keeper April Light and I’ll start by saying that I live by one rule: Respect. So, please respect your classmates, your teacher, and your studies and this year with me will go by without a hitch.” Clasping her hands behind her back a great pile of books from her desk begin to float around the room and place themselves on our little desks. There’s an easy way to know what she is; long blood-red hair and flaring green eyes, both trademarks of a Witch.
Once again I am given a book I’ve read. Fantasy’s Myths by Oswald Simson. Other than the very uncreative title, it was interesting, so I don’t really mind reading it again, I just hope that one of these classes has a book that I haven’t read, or don’t already know most everything to know about that subject.
Keeper Light laughs, the sound musical, at something an Acolyte said. “It’ll be good for you to read it again. Simson gives some very valid points on our history and the differences between what we know and what the humans of Earth believe.”
Hmm… I might actually enjoy this class.
“Better read up good,” she continues, “because there’s a paper due next week.”
The entire class groans and I regret my earlier thought.
The bell for lunch rings and I close my notebooks. After Mythology I had study hall and I got some of my homework done for Demonology but because study hall is in the library I inevitably got distracted with a book I haven’t read.
“Smoke,” my name being called out has me freezing in the process of trying to shove all my books into my bag, I need to find my locker soon or my bag will explode. I turn as a shadow falls over me, but it’s just Mandy. She smiles brightly. “Come on, Eaton is going to eat lunch with us.”
She hooks an arm through my elbow and drags me along, my bag thumping against my hip uncomfortably with each step.
“I need to stop at my locker first, Mandy.” I say, trying to tug her to a normal walk. She seems to be really enjoying my company, which is strange, I never leave this big of a good impression on someone after just two days. Then again all my friends back home happen to be my sister. Wow, that sounds really, really sad.
“Fine. We’ll make it quick and then go get lunch.” She slows down but doesn’t release her hold. Which I guess I can’t say I don’t mind, other than the fact that I don’t know where the lockers are, I do kind of like having her around.
“Alright, lead the way, because I still haven’t figured this place out.” She smiles grandly, and begins steering me around the crowded atrium then down another hallway. Trees are planted throughout the long corridor and their branches snake through the room and up into the high ceiling. She comes to a grinding halt in front of a hall with lockers lining the walls. Thankfully, there are only a few people lingering around. The lockers closest to the entrance are all different colors, but the further down you go they slowly all become a dull grey, and there is no sense to the name order; they must be against the alphabet here.
“What’s with the colors?” I ask, while looking for my name. It might not be crowded in here, but trying to find your name is like looking for a needle in a haystack.
“Once you get a dragon your locker is painted their color and moved to be with the rest of them. They’re in order of strongest dragon. And since everyone has a certain color it’s easier to find your locker. So, you’ll only have this ‘find your locker’ problem for about a month.”
That’s good to know, considering I’ll only be here two weeks.
Because there is no alphabet order, my locker happens to be right next to a little red head’s and she just happens to be Filly Ashmere.
“I wonder if they set up the lockers by roommates.” I say, smiling at the Elf. Filly jumps slightly but her green eyes brighten and there’s a small smile that tries to come out but sadly fails.
She shrugs. “Maybe.”
“Hi, Filly,” Mandy says, waving. “Now, hurry up, both of you. I’m hungry.”
I chuckle at her impatient behavior and open my locker, putting everything away with Mandy saying every few seconds; “Are you done? How about now? Now?”
When I finally shut the locker, Filly is already done and Mandy grabs our elbows – something she really likes doing – and leads us away.
“You are incredibly impatient.” I say, trying to keep up with her long strides. And I thought I walked fast.
She makes a buzzer sound. “Wrong. I’m patiently impatient.”
I shake my head, fighting a laugh. “Whatever you say, La’manda.”
“Eww… gross. Do not call me that. It’s all proper and… just eww. I’m not some queen. Mandy. I’m Mandy.”
“Nice to meet you Mandy, I’m Smoke and that’s Filly.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
“I’m not sure I’m the only one.”
“You’re both ridiculous.” Filly concludes. She doesn’t seem to be listening though.
Mandy turns to her. “You’re ridiculous.”
“You’re all ridiculously annoying.” Eaton says, straightening from where he was leaning against the wall near the Break Hall. “I just met two of you and I’ve concluded I’ll be put in an early grave.”
“Aww…” Mandy pouts. “What should we write on your tombstone?”
“Ridiculously killed by girls.” I offer, shrugging.
“Ooh… What about? Death by–”
Eaton makes a noise and waves a hand to interrupt her. “Let’s not finish that. You and your mouth run around like overexcited puppies.”
“I want a puppy!” Mandy says, almost shrieking. “Eaton, get me a puppy! Preferably a cute one.”
Doesn’t everyone want a puppy because they’re cute?
Eaton blinks. “That’s a horrible idea.”
“Humph…” Mandy crosses her arms. “Fine. I’ll ask Astrid.”
Eaton shakes his head, sighing. “One day there’s going to be a mass-burial and all the tombstones are going to say in big bold letter right above the dates of birth and death; ‘Killed by La’manda Rhodes, May They all Rest in Peace’.”
Mandy huffs. “No. It’d say, Killed by Mandy Rhodes, May They all Miss Her.”
“I will not miss you.”
And their banter continues through the food line, to the table, all during lunch, and even the bell doesn’t stop it. Eventually, Filly and I just leave, although I don’t think either of us know where we’re going. Mandy catches up pretty quickly and we both follow her to Room 9, for Dragon Script with Roger Flinch, whom we both quickly realize is our least favorite teacher.
Filly leans over and stops me from falling asleep as Keeper Roger – my first Dragon Rider teacher – continues to drone on and on about how to do the dragon snarl meaning; stay away. He’s failing. I’m more likely to stab myself than figure out how to snarl at a dragon – ten times my size – to stay away.
“I’m glad I met you.” She says. The almost-smile smile twitches at her lips.
I actually smile, even though that stupid, annoying voice in the back of my head is reminding me about how in two weeks I’ll be gone. “I’m glad I met you too.”
She tries to smile again and I find myself widening my own, trying to encourage her, but fail once again. I’ll get there, just not right now.
My class after Dragon Script was cancelled due to the teacher being sick and no one being able to substitute, so I was once again stuck in the library for an hour; only this time I got more homework done than reading, although not as much as I would have liked as I kept thinking about Filly. I can already tell she’s enjoying my company – even before her confession of gratitude to meeting me. Now I’m worried of what she’ll think, of what she’ll do, when I leave. She might be a reason to stay, but there are a million others to make me leave.
Ding-ding-ding-ding-ding…
I shut out the bell as I gather my stuff. My next class is Pure One: Magical Studies, and only Pure Ones have to take the course. Apparently – but not surprisingly – I’m the only student. When you give students the option to not take a class, they tend to jump up and leave very quickly.
So, here I am; sitting in Room 2 and waiting for the teacher to make an appearance. Checking my watch shows it is three thirty, which means I’ve been wasting half an hour doing absolutely nothing. Sighing, I stand up and walk around the room. All of the classroom settings have had the same theatre sittings and raised stages, and there’s nothing different about this one – except that it’s empty of anyone but me; and that’s very boring.
Just as I decide to leave the room at three forty, the door opens and in walks Head-Keeper Alex Oxford.
He smiles; embarrassed, his grey eyes sparkling. “Sorry about that Smoke, we’re not used to having this class. So for the next twenty minutes you’ll be with me.” He moves and takes a seat beside my bag on the second row. I meet him there and sit.
“How’s your day been?” He asks.
“Not as bad as I thought it would be.”
He touches his chest in mock offense. “And you thought it would be boring?”
“Very,” I answer neutrally.
He chuckles. “Yes, I can’t blame you, but today has been a very interesting day. We’ve got three teachers sick and one happens to be the substitute for both of those classes. And then it’s been raining all day so all of the outside dragon training had to be cancelled due to hazard issues. These are my least favorite kind of days to be in charge. Everyone is yelling at me from everywhere. But, I guess I should be used to it by now, I mean I’ve had the job since I was twenty.”
“I’d say that’s a long time, but I don’t know how old you are.”
He makes a sound between a chuckle and a snort. “Yes, I guess that’s true. I’m at the beautiful, ripe age of forty-six.”
“Oh, that old? Now I understand why you’re having such a hard time today, you’re going cripple. Soon you’ll be complaining about the good days.”
“Ha…” He fakes a few laughs. “Well, you know how to brighten up a gloomy day.”
“Yeah, well, I’ve had practice. Being the youngest of seven means you have to keep everyone on their toes, but I gave that job to Ryler and decided to keep everyone happy.”
He gives me a considering look and for a moment it’s quiet as I think about my life before turning sixteen and suddenly I’m feeling a little homesick. Homesick for Mom and Kate’s cooking, Ryler’s jabs, Carma’s good-morning smile, and Tempest’s encouraging eyes – I’ll have to respond to her letter tonight.
“So, who’s my teacher for this class?” I ask, trying to keep myself from disappearing into my mind.
“I am. Well, me and a friend that’ll be doing the teaching I can’t. But I wasn’t at all prepared, so maybe next week we’ll actually have a class.”
I smile, but I’m still on the edge of my mind, and soon I know I’m going to fall in and be lost in thoughts and memories too deep to be pulled out of.