SWNOVELS Chapter CHAPTER ELEVEN
TRUTHS AND DECEPTIONS
Fina bit on her bottom lip as she wondered how they were going to save Xavier.
He was completely limp on the bed.
“We don’t have much time” Shelly said “How good are you?”
“Well, I did learn martial arts and ballet when I was little so my balance is okay.”
Shelly looked at Zo.
“I am nowhere near balance but I’m good with protection spells” Zo said
“That will do” Shelly said
Shelly and Fina lifted Xavier and made him lean on them.
Zo took his ring from him and opened the door.
“Tyrell won’t be long with Kit” Fina said “So, we have just three minutes to get out of Aries.”
They hid when they saw students moving to and fro in the hall.
Fina brought out her wand.
“What are you doing?” Shelly asked In a whisper.
“Invisibility spell on us all” Fina replied.
“Oh” Zo said
When they made sure they were completely covered, they stepped out of hiding.
They made it ten steps before they saw Jessica and Tyrell coming out from the lift.
Didn’t Xavier asked for Kit?
Fina and Shelly dragged Xavier back into hiding before they could see them.
“What is Jessica doing here?” Zo whispered
“ Isn’t Jessica is in Capricorn?” Shelly asked.
Zo nodded furiously.
“Why are we hiding when we are protected from their sight?” Zo asked
“They can see us. You don’t know how good they are” Shelly said
“Xavier can’t see us” Fina said “I have a feeling they can though”
Xavier groaned in pain and Fina was quick to cover his mouth but they heard it anyway.
Jessica and Tyrell stopped.
They began to walk towards them.
Fina wrapped her hands tighter on her wand as they came closer.
Zo kept casting protection spells but protection spells don’t work when you are scared and Zo was beyond scared.
“SESAMISABILICUSDISIM” Fina said with a twist of her wand.
The spell had came easily to her as if she had done it before.
A white light appeared on the tip of her wand and they disappeared into the wall.
Shelly and Zo was extremely befuddled.
“What just happened? Fina. How? I… What was that?” Shelly stuttered
Fina shrugged.
“I don’t know. It just came to me” She replied
“Where are we?” Zo asked as she observed her surroundings.
The place was dark and was constructed with red old bricks.
“Elfina? I had say we are underground” Fina said, taking a look around her.
“Underground? Like the lowest part?” Zo asked shakily
“Yes” Fina replied, still staring at the red bricks as if they represented something.
Red brick walls.
Just brick walls. Nothing else. The ground was rough. Stones littered everywhere.
Old stones.
Fina picked one up and inspected it.
It was smooth at a side and rough at the other.
She looked at the red brick wall again. Then, she noticed a hole, her eyes settling on it.
“Check the bricks. How many holes can you see?” Fina asked
She made Xavier leaned on her while Shelly went to observe.
“There are seven holes altogether.” Shelly said as she studied the bricks.
“Look for half rough, half smooth stones.” Fina said
Shelly and Zo moved to and fro searching for the rocks.
Fina turned when she heard a sound.
“Hurry” She said “Put the stones in the holes. Make each side opposite one another” Fina said
The sound of something crumbling made her glanced back.
Shelly and Zo arranged the stones in a hurry.
Nothing happened.
“Come on. Come on” Fina whispered repeatedly.
Something clicked inside the walls and it separated.
Shelly helped Fina in balancing Xavier and they hurried into the open wall.
Her eyes glanced at a small figure approaching before the walls shut together.
Steps.
There were lots of it. Spiraled moving staircase. A hundreds of them.
Fina glanced through them all.
Each one represented something.
Good or bad. Lucky or unlucky. Safe or unsafe.
Shelly glanced at her.
“One of them will lead us to Mr Walker’s” Fina said
“Which one?” Zo asked
“I don’t know” Fina said, confused.
The walls behind them clicked.
Fina released Xavier to Shelly and turned to the wall.
With determination, she wrapped her hands tighter on her wand and raised it to the wall.
“ELIPSISELIPSISKEMATOSELIPSIS!”
The red bricks turned into hard glass.
“I don’t know” Fina said when she turned back.
“I…..didn’t say anything” Shelly said, confused as ever.
“Now, how do we solve these mystery?” She asked
They looked at the spiraled staircase again.
The staircase floated in the air, merging into one another.
“The middle one” Shelly said suddenly.
Fina glanced at her and she shrugged.
“Worth a try” Shelly said
Zo hopped on the stairs while they pulled Xavier on it.
The stair moved up and in the wink of an eye, they were somewhere else.
“Don’t ask” Fina said to Zo.
They were in darkness. Total darkness.
“Meow”
“That’s not a cat, is it? Cat doesn’t meow. They yawn” Shelly said
“That’s a cat. And we are in Zedler’s territory” Fina said, horrified.
Zo swayed.
“We just have to avoid the cat” Fina said
“Meow” The cat meowed in a hoarse voice as if transforming.
They might be shrouded in darkness but they could still see figures.
The cat screamed and grew bigger and bigger.
The girls stepped back in fear.
The cat shadow grew to the top of the ceiling and the girls eyes widened in horror.
It shouted at them and they wavered to one side.
Something flew past their head. Thrice. As Fina tried to lower Xavier to the ground, something sharp grazed her on the cheek.
“How about we send Zedler’s cat to the monster’s world?” Shelly asked sharply.
“You wouldn’t” Fina warned “She mustn’t even know we are here”
“Just saying” Shelly said
Everything became silent at once.
Fina held her breath, multiplying figures on her head.
She turned her head to look at what was going on.
Fina gurgled a scream down her throat as she met Zedler’s monstrous cat’s eye.
She shifted backward and the cat moved forward.
It sharpened it’s long sharp claws at her and with a swipe of its hand, attacked them.
Fina’s wand met with its claws and broke in two.
The cat screamed as if been bitten. Then, with a scream of frustration, lunged at them.
Fina opened her eyes when nothing happened for five seconds.
Her eyes met with the disapproving ones of Walker’s.
“You girls have a lot of explanation to do” Walker said with cold eyes.
The cat meowed at Walker’s feet and hissed at them, glared at Walker then began to lap at its hand.
******
“He told us to take him to you.” Shelly said
Walker leaned on a desk, his hands crossed as he observed them all with cold eyes.
Xavier was lying on a bed close behind him.
Fina, Zora and Shelly stood at a distance in front of him.
“He said not to tell anyone” Shelly said again.
Mr Walker cold gaze landed on Fina’s.
“Clark” He said
Fina couldn’t look at him.
“He wanted you to take care of him. He said he felt death worse. And not to tell anyone” Fina said
Mr Walker shut his eyes and opened them in frustration.
“How old are you?” Walker asked
Fina glanced at him.
“Seventeen” She replied
“Start from the beginning” Walker said
“I saved you from Zedler’s cat so you better start talking”
“We… we were having suspicions that Tyrell Swift was behind Xavier Starr sickness” Fina said
“Is that all?”
Fina looked at him.
“You do not looked surprised” She asked
“Why would I believe something I don’t believe?” Walker asked “Xavier has been friends with Tyrell for a long time. Do you think I’m actually going to fall for that?” Mr Walker asked
“Xavier told us. He told us about his suspicions. Just because Tyrell is one of your best students doesn’t mean he can’t act bad or worse” Fina said in anger.
“You don’t doubt him either but you wanted to blame this on anyone. You are angry because you care for him. You trusted him” Walker said coldly.
Fina’s mouth opened and closed.
“We brought Xavier to you as requested so we’ll leave. His safety is in your hands now” Shelly said “Let’s go”
“Why did he want me to hide him?” Mr Walker asked
Shelly shrugged.
“You should ask him when he wakes up. Perhaps you might believe him” Fina said
******
“I’m certain most of you are surprised but this have been Elfina’s custom for a long time. The Queen has requested that we begin the tradition again. It’s time” Mrs Knight said “Here with me is Valérie. She’s a Guardian. Show her great respect”
The whole students rose and bowed.
The dining hall was extremely big with huge chandeliers and bright colors. Each house sat at their table while the teachers were to dine together at the high table.
“I hope you are all doing well?” Valérie asked
Valérie have short brown hair and dark blue eyes. She have the aura of someone extremely important. The aura of a Guardian.
She was dressed in a white shirt tucked in a black suit pant with pink trench coat and white killer heels.
“Yes” The students echoed through the hall and took their seat.
“I want to thank the Queen for her gifts” Mrs Knight said
Valérie smiled.
“It’s nothing” She said “Shall we?”
“Let’s dine” Mr Wright said in a bored tone.
Since all Capricorns were sitting together with their seniors, it’s hard not to be noticed.
And Fina was sitting close to them. Almost face to face.
Valérie attention was directed to their table.
“What happened to your cheek?”
Nancy Miller.
Fina reached for the raw shrimp in front of her with a chopstick and took a very small bite.
“For someone smart, you sure knows how to get in trouble” Nancy said
Fina looked up and her gaze shifted to Walker.
Valérie glanced at Walker watching Fina. She never missed anything.
She had put a nude plaster on the wound. No need showing the whole world she got scratched by Zedler’s horrible cat.
“I’m certain, Miller, when my mother had me, she didn’t told me I’d a twin which I’d to explain the details of my life to everyday. And there’s what we call manners when eating. Learn it” Fina said and went back to her food.
“Where’s Xavier? I can’t see him” Bridget asked Bryce Parker in a whisper.
Zo choked on her water.
“It went down the wrong pipe” She excused.
Nancy glared at Fina.
“You’re sure you didn’t get hurt while doing something dishonorable?” Nancy asked
“Like?” Fina asked with a questioning brow.
Nancy smirked.
“Like finding people’s secret. Isn’t that what you do best?”
Fina touched her forehead and looked at Walker again, as if he was the root of her torture.
She turned to Nancy Miller.
“I get it. You love me. You can’t live or imagine life without me. Can we eat now, honey?” Fina said sweetly.
Kit choked on his noodles.
Nancy Miller opened and closed her mouth like a fish.
Fina winked at her.
“You’re welcome” She said
Fina couldn’t wait to be told twice when Mrs Knight dismissed them all after dinner.
She made her way to the hospital at once.
“Wait”
She halted and turned to see Valérie behind her.
Fina bowed deeply, looking confused as Valérie moved closer to her.
“You are Fina Clark, right?”
Fina nodded.
“I’m right.” Valérie said, examining her.
She brought something out of her pink coat and held it to her.
“I was told to give you this” Valérie said
Fina eyes fell on the small leather book Valérie was holding.
She reached carefully for it and looked up at Valérie who was watching her with an unreadable expression.
“The Queen” Valérie said as if that explained everything.
Valérie eyes moved past her and Fina turned to see what caught her attention.
Bryce Parker was standing behind them at a distance.
“How lovely. Two Capricorn students. I do love Capricorns. They are very special” Valérie said “Keep it safe”
She said and walked away without even a backward glance. Her pink trench coat swaying as she walked, her white pumps clacking on the floor.
Fina turned to see Bryce still staring at where Valérie just exited until his gaze slowly met hers.
She always had to remind herself to keep cool whenever she was near him.
Bryce Parker have a way of making you feel goody whenever he’s near.
“Are you heading back to your room?” He asked
Fina nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
She needed to go to her room to digest everything she learned.
To dissolve her feelings for Tyrell.
To think more about Jessica’s bracelet.
To know the spider that taunts her.
“It’s not really good to go to bed soon after dinner. Walk with me?” Bryce asked
“Walk with us” Tyrell said “You’ve been avoiding me for a while.”
Bryce turned to see Tyrell behind him.
“Have you seen him?” He asked
Tyrell glanced at Fina before looking back at Bryce concerned face.
“Not yet. He’ll come back. Won’t he, Clark?” Tyrell asked
They both turned to her.
“I….. don’t have a clue what you are talking about” Fina said, pretending to be confused.
“Xavier. He’s missing” Tyrell said
Bryce glanced at the two as if trying to decipher the meaning behind their words.
“Oh. Then, you can alert the teachers about it” Fina said, faking concern.
“You know what? I think you are right. We should definitely alert the teachers. We might need a lot of help from them” Tyrell said
“Xavier will come back when he’s ready. No need to make anyone uneasy” Bryce said
Tyrell gaze landed on the book Fina was holding.
“New book?” He asked
“Yes. I… wanted to relearn more about chemistry. It’s been a while.”
Bryce gave Fina a questioning look but didn’t call her out.
“I can teach you” Tyrell said
“Thanks” Fina said “Don’t worry. I’ll just go to bed. Zo must be getting worried. Night”
“Wait” Bryce said
He walked closer to her and without looking away from her face, brought out a green potion from his pocket.
“It makes wounds heal more faster. You should use it. For your face”
“Oh. Thanks.” Fina said and walked away.
She made it halfway to the hospital when someone grabbed her on the arm.
Fina spinned, trying to hit the person but he perfectly dodged her blow.
“Stop”
The choking smell hit her nose suddenly.
“Ozias Black?”
“Yes. It’s me. Black.”
“Hi.”
The glass walls have dimmed so she couldn’t really see his face.
“What are you doing here?” Fina asked
Ozias adjusted his red scarf and Fina’s nose twitched.
“I.. Just want to tell you that Tyrell means well. He’s been trying to protect you since you set foot in Elfina. Truth is, he likes you. And the Tyrell I know is extremely protective. He’s been taking care of Xavier all this time. He’s always there for us anytime we needed him”
“Why are you telling me this?” Fina asked slowly.
Ozias looked her straight in the eye.
“You’ve been avoiding him and it’s hurting him”
“I heard he has a reputation with his girlfriends”
“Yes. He did dated Xiana Kang. But that was before they came to Elfina”
Fina’s head snapped up at once.
“You remember Xiana?”
Ozias nodded.
“I never forgot her. Xiana had issues. She’s been working with evil people and dragged Tyrell into it. Tyrell left her because of it. She’s been fighting to get out but never escaped.”
“That’s not all” Fina said
“Yes. He did dated Mélanie Crest too.”
“What happened between them?” Fina asked
Ozias looked torn for awhile.
“Xiana dragged Mélanie into her games. It’s complicated. Bryce, Kit. They all know about it. Xiana’s not who you think she is.”
“Then, who is she?” Fina asked
“She’s a cast away demon.”
Fina’s eyes widened.
“And, his last girlfriend?” She asked
“He never dated her. It was all a game. Jess had to pretend with Tyrell to make a senior jealous. I understood. I wasn’t against it. His last supposed girlfriend was Camilla” Ozias said “Camilla’s mother was strict. She doesn’t want her daughter with anyone except a future unit”
They both stared at each other in complete silence.
“Fina”
Fina turned to see Anne walking out of a room.
“Ozias” Anne said when she saw Ozias Black.
“Anne. It’s the truth, okay?” Ozias said and walked away.
Anne made a gesture with her head for Fina to follow.
“He’s okay now. I’ve taken the poison from his body” Anne said
Fina touched Talon’s forehead.
“Do you work alone?” She asked
“No. I dont. I’m just the head. This unit is just mine to attend. It’s private. I don’t know how to make you understand but you’ll soon” Anne said
Talon reached carefully for Fina’s hand and held it with his weak ones.
“Clark?” He whispered
“I’ll give you two time to talk” Anne said and excused herself.
Fina sat on the bed beside Talon.
“How are you feeling?” She asked
Talon opened his tired eyes.
“Like I’ve just made a brief visit through hades and back again” He said, still holding Fina’s hand.
“I don’t have to thank Jefferson for bringing me here, right? I don’t want to”
“You don’t have to. I wonder when you’ll both grow up”
Talon rolled his eyes.
“I saw some strange people treating me. I thought I was dreaming. They were many and never mind. Do you know who poisoned me?”
Fina looked at their hands.
“There have been a lot of things going on that I can’t really explain but I want you to stay safe. There are some people searching for a book. They are killing students because of it. Anyone can be their victim”
“I wasn’t expecting to hear that but thanks for the warning”
Anne walked back in.
“Night, Tay” Fina said and kissed him on on cheek.
“Night, Fin” Talon said drowsily.
“How close are you to the Aces?” Anne asked randomly, her face half old, half young.
Fina ignored her face.
“You mean the best of the best?”
“I call them the Aces. How close are you with them?”
“Not that much” She replied “The girls are scary and weird”
Anne nodded in understanding.
“Don’t get too attached with them. They’ve been keeping close for some reason or the other.”
Fina straightened up.
“What do you mean?”
“Figure it out. You are smart. Keep that book safe, Clark. Few eyes can see what is written in it” Anne said
******
“You’re back” Zo said
She was pacing the bedroom, extremely worried.
“Bad dream?” Fina asked
“Yes. About you.”
Fina sat on the edge of the bed.
“I died again, right?” Fina asked
Zo wrung her hands together, her lips trembling.
“Yes. Someone killed you. Fina, we have to stop”
“Zo. We can’t stop. If we stop now, we are going to be good as dead. I’m just confused about what Black told me and what Anne meant.”
Fina looked at the leather book.
“What is it?” Zo asked
“Valérie gave this to me”
Zo eyes widened in surprise.
The leather cover was plain both in front and the back.
Fina opened the book and words flew out of it in white light and blues.
“Believe in what you see and what you can’t see. Sometimes, what we see can be deceiving. It’s up to us to be wise. And it’s up to us to fail. Be wise, Fina Clark. There’s a line between believing and trusting. I don’t just believe in you three, I trust you three. Choose wisely.”
“Does she knows everything?” Zo asked, taking a seat next to Fina.
“I don’t know. I’m confused. If she knows, why isn’t she helping?”
“The Queen Guardians are busy right now, I’m surprised Valérie even had the chance to come to Elfina”
“I broke my wand when we were at Zedler’s. The Queen gives wands. I can’t tell Mr Walker. I can’t tell anyone. I don’t know Valérie to ask her anything. I can’t tell Bryce Parker either. Too much questions to answer. The only one I can ask for help is Xavier and he’s sick.”
Zo touched her forehead.
“You know I was really scared. He looked so ready to kill us. Why would a person who teaches how to deal with monsters keep a monster with her all the time? How did Walker even find us? Where was Zedler’s?”
Fina shrugged.
“I don’t know how to get to the Queen for a new wand. What do I do?”
Fina brought out her broken wand from the air.
“If we fix it together. Let me try”
Zo tried to fix the wand together using her own wand.
“Perhaps the spells weakened it”
“What sp..? Oh. I have no idea. They just pop into my head. We have no class tomorrow. It’s sunday. A day to search for another”
Fina’s eyes widened suddenly.
“Let’s go to the School Recording Hall.”
“Why?”
“To search for Jessica Young”
Zo shook her head.
“Tomorrow. I want to sleep”
An hour after.
Fina pushed aside the covers and walked out of the room into the elevator.
Her head swarmed with thoughts as the lift shook.
Even when the lift stopped, she didn’t move.
Scary as it may seem, she walked out of the lift.
She wandered through the foyer, not knowing where she was going.
She was out of the castle when she saw a silhouette.
Someone was sitting on a bench staring at the sky.
The night was young and the moon shone brighter in its gloriousness.
“Hi”
Bryce Parker.
Fina’s eyes met his and for a while they stared at each other.
“Can’t sleep?”
“Well… Thoughts”
Bryce tapped the seat next to him.
“You’re welcome” He said
Fina took her time before sitting next to him at a distance.
“Why can’t you sleep? You just came to Elfina.”
Fina glanced at him.
“I know.”
“The first level is always the easiest. Then, you realize that you are in the real world”
“Oh”
Bryce was still staring at the moon.
“You learn fast without being told at all. Magic becomes your life. You become one. You breathe it”
“Tyrell once said something like that too”
Bryce glanced at her, his blue eyes brighter in the moonlight.
“What about you?”
Fina looked at him.
“I don’t feel anything. I feel more disconnected than ever”
Bryce Parker smiled.
“Don’t learn the hard way. That’s more painful”
“What happened in your first level?”
Bryce looked away.
“Strange things.”
“Like?” Fina asked
Bryce Parker sighed.
“It’s nothing. When things are too much to handle, you take the biggest one. It might just be the one causing the others and breaking them into hard fragments”
“How do you get to the Queen?”
Bryce didn’t as much flinch.
“You don’t get to the Queen. The Queen gets to you. Why?”
“I lost something”
Bryce raised a perfect brow.
“Ask Walker. He can help”
“You are not even going to ask?”
“I’m certain it’s your wand” He said confidently.
Fina cleared her throat.
“And you didn’t lose it. You broke it”
Fina stood up suddenly.
“I’m suddenly feeling sleepy. Maybe it’s the moon or air. Goodnight” Fina said
Bryce Parker hid a smile.
“I can’t be the best student if I can’t detect lies” He said
“I’ll know how to keep away from you then, lie detector” Fina mumbled under her breath and walked away, her face red like tomato.
As she entered the lift and it started to close, she saw the figure of a lady in black staring at her at a distance.
Then, she heard it.
Loud and clear.
The scream of a banshee.
Which?
She has no idea.