SWNOVELS Chapter CHAPTER FIVE
HOUSE OF SNAKES
It was the same room, the same color of blood…Fina thought as she moved closer to the fountain blood.
July 12th July.
“Whatever happened here was recent except for the cobwebs” Zo said
“Or maybe the cobwebs have already been here in the first place” Shelly said as she stared at the painting. “I have never seen something so old and yet so new before.”
“Then that means someone knows about the book. Someone who would kill to have it” Fina said
She looked away from the fountain blood when she saw a light appeared at the fireplace. The ghost was stroking the fire with her back turned to them.
“I think…Oh bad crazy Talon!” Shelly said, frightened.
She had turned mid sentence to see the ghost stroking the fire.
“What? What is it?” Zo asked
“You mean you don’t see the ghost stroking the fire?” Shelly asked, still frightened.
“That’s ridiculous. There is no ghost. Fina, tell Shelly that she is just seeing things”
Fina didn’t answer, she was busy studying the ghost. Her white hair cascaded down her back and her clothing was pure white stained with blood dripping from its hem. Still dripping.
She didn’t turn. She didn’t look at them. She just continued to stroke the fire gently. Then she disappeared again and Fina saw her swiftly when she entered the fountain of blood and sank deep within it like she was drowning.
“There is really a ghost?” Zo asked
Before she could say another word, Fina dived into the fountain blood. She heard Zora screamed and another splash. It was like an ocean as she went deeper into the blood like an abyss.
She finally felt the ground beneath her and swayed a little as she tried to maintain her balance.
She was in another room and this time she wasn’t having the feeling that the ghost was killed. It was obvious as she studied the room she was in, all covered in blood and writings of I will kill you! Die! You won’t change! I won’t allow you to change! I won’t let you give it to them! I will find it and take it back! But not until I kill you all!
There were torn clothes on the floor and shattered glasses on the floor.
“Mr Sanders would definitely be pleased about this fight. I swear that man’s favorite drink is blood and food is flesh. Who takes enjoyment in watching students beat the crap out of each other? Not that I mind, of course, as long as I’m the one doing the beating” Shelly said as she studied the room.
“Am I the only one having strange…..stra…vi…bes about this room?” Zora asked shakily.
Although, they all entered the fountain blood, they do not have a single stain on their uniform.
Blood dripped from the chandelier and dripped on Fina’s uniform. Fina froze and looked up sharply.
It dripped on her face and she moved away.
“Fin. Wait” Shelly said “There is something on the edge”
Fina looked more closely and saw a ring hanging loosely at the edge.
Shelly was the one who jumped to snatch it but not until the whole chandelier fell.
As the glass shattered on the floor, Fina saw the ghost clearly in front of her.
She had frozen gray eyes.
The ghost gave a slight smile and disappeared.
“I think she is a student of Elfina.” Shelly said as she studied the bloody ring “And I definitely has a clue that she is also from the Aries house.”
*******
Fina woke up at six and struggled to get out of bed when she felt Zora stirring beside her.
“Tell me we haven’t missed breakfast yet” Zora said suddenly.
“Well, Good morning to you too” Fina said
Zora sat up and yawned.
“Wait. How did we get here? Last night. The blood…”
“I have no idea” Fina said
“God, don’t let it be Mr Walker that carried us” Zora whined
“Don’t worry. I’m certain he has a lot of things to do rather than save us from a pit” Fina said
“You are definitely right” Zo said “Hey, it’s non uniform day”
They took a bath and hurried to get dressed.
Fina settled in with white loose shorts and a Chanel lemon long sleeved shirt with white sneakers. After putting her hair in a loose ponytail, she moved to the make up table to apply a little gloss on her lips.
Zora had on a short pink gown {which Fina forced her into} with pink sneakers. Her blond hair in a messy bun.
Fina covered her birth mark completely, adjusting her shirt and off they went.
*******
“I had to make sure it’s not a dream” Shelly whispered as she took a bite of her chocolate chip banana muffin.
“You still have the ring?” Fina asked
“Yes” She replied
“I was wondering if we could sneak into Aries territory tonight” Fina whispered.
“You know we will be in trouble if we get caught” Zo said
“So, we won’t get caught, Einstein” Shelly said
Zo glared at her.
“Humph”
“Stomp your foot. Come on, like those grannies” Shelly said
Zo glared hard at her.
“Helloooo, ladies” Talon said, drawing their attention.
He was dressed in designers completely. From the top of his head to the tip of his toes.
“Serene, this is my buddies. Guys, Serene” Talon said
“That is the worst introduction that have ever taken place in history” Shelly said
“Well, humor me” Talon said
A girl with golden hair and golden eyes stood beside Talon.
“Hi, I’m Serene Berry”
“Fina, Shelly and Zora” Shelly introduced.
The girl looked at Fina and smiled.
“You are very pretty” She said
“Thanks?” Fina said
And like the way she always did with strangers, looked into Serene eyes and saw jealousy and anger in there.
“She is my girlfriend” Talon announced.
“Riiighttt” They all drawled.
“Well, see you munchkins later” He said and walked away, hand in hand with his girlfriend.
“Am I the only one feeling weird about this?” Shelly asked
“I don’t like her” Fina said
Shelly and Zo looked at her in surprise.
“I was definitely not going that far but why?” Shelly asked
“I saw jealousy in her eyes” Fina said
Shelly and Zora rolled their eyes.
“So, you are now an emotion reader, huh?” Shelly asked
“When I meet new people, It’s like I can see through them. Most, but certainly not all. I had the same feeling with Jessica Young” Fina said
“Oh, thank goodness! I wasn’t the only one who thought she might murder me in my dream one day.” Shelly said
“Serene looked jealous and angry” Fina said “And her word is definitely not a compliment”
“You know, Fina. I respect you a God damn hundred percent.”
A writing appeared on the glass wall beside them.
“No cursing in Elfina”
Shelly rolled her eyes.
“Puhleease. Were you sleeping before?” She asked
Fina asked.
“I like you, Shelly.” Fina said with a smile.
Zo glared at her.
“And you too, Zo.” Fina said
“Don’t be jealous, Einstein, you will get your turn. Right, Fina?”
“Argggh” Zora said in frustration.
Shelly Jefferson just laughed at her and took another bite of her chocolate chip banana muffin.
“Stomp your foot, Alvarez. It helps a lot”
Fina facepalmed herself.
“Getting into Aries territory isn’t going to be easy. What if we get caught?” Zo asked
“Then we won’t. Get caught, I meant.” Shelly said
“We will formulate a special plan.” Fina said “We meet at the foyer by nine”
Shelly winked at her while Zo just looked uncertain.
“Come on, Alvarez. Live a little. Have fun. Get caught and have fun again. That’s life” Shelly said
Zora gave her a very hard glare.
They all got up when they finished their breakfast and looked up to see Nancy Miller and her gang walking to them.
Shelly Jefferson rolled her eyes while Zo hid behind Fina. Fina could see the black eye she gave Nancy and almost smiled except for the cold hard glare Nancy was bestowing on her.
Nancy folded her hands amd cleared her throat.
“Just because you gave me a black eye doesn’t mean you won. I got my eyes on you, Fina Clark. This is war.” Nancy said
Everyone was now staring at them, wondering what was going on as Nancy and her gang continued to glare at Fina, Zora and Shelly.
Nancy Miller turned her attention to Zo and raised her hand to hit Zo but Fina and Shelly grabbed her hand suddenly before she could do so even she was surprised.
She tried to remove her hand but couldn’t because of the tight grips on it.
“Nancy Miller. Just letting you know… I don’t take shit” Shelly said
The glass wall turned purple with the word “No curses allowed in Elfina” but Shelly Jefferson just rolled her eyes.
“Ah. Ah. So funny. Acting so tough and mighty.” Nancy said “When there’s a weakling amongst you who will bring you down”
“Zora is smarter than the three of you put together.” Fina said sternly.
Fina let go of her hand but Shelly Jefferson just smirked at Nancy.
I really hope Mr Sanders will set us up. Then I’ll show you tough and mighty. Ah… that is… if you live to tell the tale” Shelly said and jerked Nancy hand down she winced in pain.
Fina grabbed Zo’s hand and they walked out of the Cafeteria.
“I really really hate her. She gives me the creeps” Zo said shakily.
They met Xavier, Tyrell, Bryce, Ozias and kit on the way to the forest of fog.
Tyrell beamed at them but they just gave him a somber look. His smile dropped at once.
“Everything alright?” Tyrell asked.
Shelly and Ozias avoided each others gaze, not even a spare glance.
“Yeah. Everything issss peeerrfect” Shelly drawled, her word dripping with sarcasm even Fina winced.
That got Xavier to put aside his book and look at them, his eyes filled with concern. Bryce Parker and Kit Martinez looked like they should be doing something else other than talk to a bunch of juniors with troubles.
“I sooo wants to kill someone right now. That’s how perfect everything is” Shelly said.
“Shel” Fina warned.
Shelly whirled at her but Fina didn’t as much flinch.
Fina gave her a cold calculating look and she softened, turned to Tyrell and gave him a very fake smile.
“Everything’s perfect” She said with the fake smile and walked away.
“Psychology says, the more you care, the more you have to lose.” Zo said out of the blue.
“Then dont.” Fina said in frustration and dragged her away.
She felt like hitting something. What’s with Shelly Jefferson anyway?
They ran to elemental class amd got there two minutes earlier. The elemental class was entirely different. It felt like they were in another world totally. The room was extremely wide and the floor to ceiling length was impressive.
The room was divided into five parts. Water, Air, Fire, Earth and Ice. The icy part was extremely cool and had a temp of minus zero degrees. The fire part was warm. The earth part was filled with flowers and the Air part was breezy. In the midst of it lays an extremely big glowing white rose.
Fina and Zo found Shelly perched on the edge of a small desk at a corner.
“You okay?” Fina asked.
Shelly looked at her and gave a tiny smile.
“As okay as I could ever be” She replied.
“Which means you are not okay at all” Zo translated.
“Thanks, Einstein” Shelly said mockingly.
A teacher appeared suddenly im front of the class. He had bluish-green hair with sky blue eyes. His mouth curved up in a teasing smile as he clapped his hands.
“Josh Winter here” He introduced.
Josh Winter was tall and very fit his shirt filled every part of him. He was wearing a white shirt, black jeans with white sneakers.
Mr Winter, was infact the tallest of them all in the room.
“You can call me Josh. Now, shall we?” He asked “I deal with elements. It’s simple if you put your mind to it. Not hard at all. We have four elements”
Jackson raised his hand.
“First question - Are we going to sit? Second- I’m definitely seeing five elements here except my eyes isn’t that good anymore”
“Answer to first question. You won’t be sitting. AT ALL” Josh said, stresssing the last word. “Answer to second question- I didn’t count the element of Ice because it’s extremely rare for anyone to have it. In fact, i have never taught a student with Ice in my life”
Lulu Atom raised her hand.
“Can we pick elements ourselves?”
“No” Josh replied “Your elements picks you.”
He snapped his fingers and his book wand appeared. Josh waved the wand with a spell they didn’t hear and five big white roses appeared floating in the air. A rose has fire burning it but not actually burning. Another has water dripping from its flowery parts. One has a breeze moving round it. The fourth had thorns circling it and the last was frozen completely.
“These are the five elements in Amenix but research by the Amenix investigation agency says that there might be more but it hasn’t been proven yet.” Josh Winter said “You move in front of the roses and the one that chooses you is your natural element. Those who are ready should step forward”
A student from Aries, Leo, Capricorn, Virgo and Gemini stepped forth and stood in front of the white roses floating in the air.
They began to move from roses to roses until it glitters. A small disk appeared in front of them and they took it. They all got their respective elements but none got the Ice rose.
“Next” Josh said
Nancy, Shelly and Talon moved forward with Jackson and Lulu Atom with her twin. Both Gemini twins must definitely move forward together.
Nancy Miller glared at Shelly Jefferson.
“I pray you pick the weakest element” Nancy Miller said
“I didn’t take you as a believer, Miller. Do you even know the meaning of the word prayer?” Shelly asked
Talon choked on his gum and chuckled.
“Shut up” Nancy said
They stepped from roses to roses. Nancy avoiding Shelly and Talon like the plague. The Water element chose Talon, the Fire element chose Nancy Miller and she smirked. The Air element chose the Gemini twins, the Earth element chose Jackson.
When Shelly moved from roses to roses and nothing happened, Miller chuckled.
“Sooo toough and mighty” She mocked.
Then two elements began to glitter suddenly and both released a small disk. The disk joined together and stood in the air.
Nancy Millers mouth froze wide open. Shelly just took the disk which has both fire and earth symbols on it and smiled.
“Yep. Definitely tough and mighty.” She said
Mr Josh shook his head.
“Well, that’s surprising but it has a fifty percent likelihood of appearing. It’s not completely odd” He said
Another set moved forth including Zo.
Zo walked shakily to the rose, her palms slicked with sweat.
Carrie, Nancy friend, got Fire and took her symbol disk proudly while Zo just stood there waiting for one of the elements to choose her. Nothing happened for a minute and she began to worry. She looked behind her at Fina but Fina only gave her a small smile.
Two elements suddenly began to glitter and two symbol disks appeared.
Air and water.
Zo took the disk and hurried back to her spot not noticing Josh who had started to frown.
Three other sets followed before Fina finally moved forth. She stood in front of the roses but nothing happened.
Fina recited the alphabetical order in her mind from beginning to end. Thrice. Nothing happened.
“Joy” Nancy said mockingly behind her.
When nothing happened for five minutes, Mr Josh stepped forward but stopped when the roses began to shake.
Four roses began to shake and each formed a disk, joining together as one.
As Fina raised her hand to take th disk, the Ice rose began to glitter, summoning many gasps from behind her. Even she was surprised.
The Ice rose disk joined with the already bonded disks and it became one.
Fina took the disk which consists of the five symbols and walked back to her spot.
Mr Josh Winters stood paralyzed on the same spot, wondering about what just happened.
He cleared his throat.
“Well, um… that’s grea.. t. It happe… ns. I… guess? We will meet in the… next classs….. For trainings. Dismissed”
Fina could hear whispers all around her and some students even dared to point fingers at her. Everyone of them stole glances at her here and there and she suddenly felt weird with all the attention.
It certainly wasn’t her fault the roses had chosen her.
Serene Berry and Talon joined them on their walk outside the class.
The Earth element had chosen Berry.
“You are sooo luckkky. All roses chose you. It’s just luck, you know that, right? It’s not anything special cause it happens.” Berry said.
They all looked at her, even Talon gave her an odd look but Serene just laughed it off like it’s nothing.
“It happened once when I was in school” She said
If they had been given her an odd look before, they are giving her more than an odd look now.
Serene suddenly paled and cleared her throat.
“Not Elfina. A school I went to when I was a kid. The kid was really special. He had all elements too. Even an odd element called lava, it was exciting. The school collapsed not long ago”
“What’s the kid name?” Fina asked
“Lucius. He’s dead now.” Serene said, looking sad suddenly. “He died when I left the school. So sad” She said with a very sad smile.
Her eyes welled with tears suddenly and she wiped at it.
Talon put his hand on her shoulders and embraced her.
Shelly made a gagging gesture which the couple both missed.
Fina just stared at them weirdly, Serenes words ringing in her head. But Serene looked so sad - Fina thought as she stared at the couple.
Students were still giving her strange looks when she looked around. She was quite sure everyone must have heard about the girl with the Ice element.
Fina, Shelly and Zora all walked outside the class to the sun still beaming high in the sky.
“Oh God!” Shelly said suddenly.
“What?” Fina and Zo asked
“We have Mr Walker’s class. I hate that man” Shelly said
“Such an imp” Zo said
“Shut up, Einstein” Shelly said
After a minute of prolonged silence, Zo raised her hand.
“Are we going to talk about it? The fact that we had two elements instead of one and Fina got five!” Zo said
“I don’t know. There must be something behind it. Like Serene said, it happened before” Fina said
“One, we don’t trust Serene. Two, we will never trust Serene and three Serene might be lying. I don’t know. She seems so sad” Zo said, confused.
Shelly Jefferson rolled her eyes.
“Settle for one, Einstein. Not many of us has a confused-clear brain”
“I think it’s odd that I got five elements but maybe there might be something about it in the library?” Fina asked
“Maybe you should ask Tyrell about it. He seems to know a lot about this sort of things” Zo said
Shelly gave her a questioning look.
“Why not Xavier Starr, Einstein?”
Fina shook her head in frustration.
“Oh, I forgot. We should just ask Ozias Black instead. Ex boyfriend, huh?” Zo snapped.
Shelly turned white and instead of responding, flipped her red hair and walked away.
Fina and Zo shared a look.
“I’ll ask Tyrell but right now, we need to get to Mr Walker’s class before he gives us another frightening lecture.” Fina said
Zo shivered.
They got to Walker’s class few minutes earlier but Walker was already in class.
His eyes traced them as they walked to their seat but didn’t say a word.
“So, we meet again” He said
He was perched on the edge of a desk with his back to the board. If Mr Walker had been handsome in the last class, he was beyond handsome now. Girls blushed anytime he turned to them. Fina definitely knew he noticed but he didn’t say anything to them.
“I assumed you’ve learnt the thirty spells. Show me”
All jaws dropped.
They all thought he was kidding with the assignment about coming to demonstrate one by one. They all demonstrated in front of him. Seventy percent failed.
Mr Walker didn’t even hesitate when he took away their points.
“Guess, no food for sometime.” No one said anything and he smirked.
“If you are too lazy to learn easy spells, how will you definitely cope with strong spells? I’m extremely disappointed but it’s to be expected.” David said “I heard from Winter that you’ve been giving the symbol disk. Don’t let it get to your head. Not even a tiny bit”
Fina could swore his gaze landed on her briefly when he said the last part. It was not too easy to miss.
“I’ve seen a lot of people who get controlled by powers. It certainly never ends well. Being powerful comes with a lot of consequences. You lose your rational way of thinking. Again, don’t let it get to you”
Fina looked down at her fingers.
It was clear that warning was for her and she couldn’t handle the smirk of those who have been jealous of her since Mr Winter’s class.
“What happens when you get all elements?”
Fina didn’t bother to look at the speaker. It was definitely Nancy Miller.
Mr Walker didn’t as much glance at Nancy.
“You become powerful” He said
Nancy nodded.
“So… Fina becomes powerful and she gets controlled by her powers and then it destroys her?” Nancy asked
The whole class was still as they couldn’t believe that Nancy could ask such a bold question from Mr Walker just like that. The same Mr Walker whom they needed permission before speaking in his class. She just kept breaking more rules.
“Yes. Just like that” Mr Walker replied.
The whole class was extremely surprised Mr Walker answered but Nancy just smirked and flipped her hair like she has won a chess game with the Guardian Queen.
Fina looked at Mr Walker to find him already staring at her.
His cold gaze was extremely frightening but she didn’t look away.
She finally broke the staring competition when Zo touched her hand, wrapping it in hers.
She looked at Zora and smiled even if what she was feeling inside was threatening to escape.
Nancy Miller had just sum up her life. Just like that. And Mr Walker had agreed to it.
“Well, I highly doubt that will happen. Highy. One certain hundred percent” Talon said
“Of course it will. Are you calling Mr Walker a liar?” Nancy asked
“Not to be rude but I think we are definitely in spell class not history class. And… Mr David Walker, aren’t you missing something?” Shelly asked “Only the weak gets controlled but the strong ones resists. A strong person will never bow to weakness. They hate weakness”
Nancy glared at Shelly while Mr Walker still had his frozen expression on.
“And I don’t think you should worry about Fina. It’s nice of you though and Nancy… but we will take care of Fina Clark. Thanks. I really do want to learn some spells now. Thank you very much”
Talon winked at Shelly Jefferson and she made a gagging gesture.
Fina almost smiled at Shelly Jefferson’s speech. If she had like Jefferson before, she loves Jefferson now. She wanted to give her a hug but Shelly seat is in the Aries side not Capricorns.
“I think you’ve all said enough. Now, shall we?” Mr Walker asked.
The whole class brought out their writing items.
“Durus. These are called protection spells. They are extremely important. There are potions spells too but this is better if you do not have any potions on you and it’s extremely effective. Durus has been used for generations. It’s been passed down for ages. Every one has different ways of using it. Different methods.”
Zora itched to ask questions but was extremely scared of Mr Walker.
“Questions?” Walker asked, looking directly at Zo.
Fina wondered how he always knew when they needed something. The man was strange in so many ways.
“One, You said different methods. How possibly could it have different methods when it’s just a word? Two, can protection spells also be tainted?”
“Yes, it can. Everything is not beyond getting tainted, we repulse it. And this has been a spell that have been used for ages. It will definitely have dirt on it” Mr Walker said, expressionless.
Fina could sense Mr Walker wasn’t saying everything. The rest of his word hung in the room.
“Could there be dark magic?” Fina asked
It was definitely too late before she realized she has said it out and now the whole class was giving her a surprised look.
Mr Walker ignored her.
“Elfina teaches good spells. We are not evil. Not at all. And there is no evil here”
Fina could sense another unfinished sentence again. It’s like something was whispering in her ear, telling her what Mr Walker wasn’t saying completely.
Yes, there is. Light cannot exist without darkness. Darkness brought out light. Evil exists behind good. Both are like the halves of one another. There is evil everywhere. There is evil everywhere.
“Durus.” Mr Walker said and shook his head. “Class dismissed.
Everyone looked at each other in surprise. But none could question Mr Walker. Whatever reasons he had for ending the class like that, only he knew.
Fina looked up to see him staring at her and she quickly averted her gaze. Shelly rushed to their side and winked at Talon who was helping Serene Berry up her seat like she couldn’t stand herself.
They all walked out of the class together to different corridors, halting when they saw the intermediate coming out of their class. The surprise on their faces when they saw them was great. Like they have never clashed with the juniors in the hallway ever.
“Is class over? Don’t you have Mr Walker’s class? Mr Walker never plays with his class.” An intermediate student with green hair asked with wide eyes.
“Clark, I think Mr Walker is pregnant” His friend said
The top students came out with a sudden halt.
Tyrell eyes were wide like saucers and Bryce Parker looked amused. Ozias and Kit raised a questioning eyebrow. Xavier looked up from his book when Ozias nudged him on the shoulder.
The girls smile dropped when they saw the juniors.
“What happened?” Bridget asked.
Nancy Miller tossed her red hair to the side and glared at Fina.
Shelly made a puking sound and gave Nancy Miller a very perfect stink eye. Fina narrowed her eyes at Nancy and her crew.
Nancy chuckled and turned to face Bridget Faye.
“Ask Fina Clark. Apparently none of us are so lucky to have - Ah!
Nancy screamed.
They all froze until they could finally see that Zora had pulled on Nancy Miller’s red hair hard, and pulled more harder, then hissed and walked away with a
“Bitch” word pulling out of her mouth.
“Oh my God, she ripped my hair!” Nancy screamed.
Shelly Jefferson danced away pulling Fina with her.
Apparently, the whole intermediate class now knows that she have crazy friends.
“Mr Walker seems weird today” Fina said when they were alone.
Shelly gave her a funny look.
“He’s always weird. But… today… I think it’s just today. Today is weird” Shelly said
“You are weird” Zo said
Shelly Jefferson gave Zo a perfect smile.
“You, my frenemy, is tough” She said
Zo rolled her eyes.
“Teleportation class” Fina said
“Yep. Who knows what weirdo will take us the subject?” Shelly said.
They got to Teleportation class two minutes earlier.
It was unlike anything Fina has ever saw. The room looked like it had been carved from ancient times. Everything about it seems old.
There were stained glasses everywhere and the floor looked like it’s aged itself. The room was extremely wide and it meet up to form a big circle above.
“Are you sure this isn’t history class?” Zo whispered.
Someone bumped into Zo and they all turned to see Nancy Miller and her gang walking past them.
Shelly rolled her eyes.
“Is she ever serious?” Zo asked.
“I just wonder how great her fall would be with those heels” Fina said
Shelly Jefferson suddenly smirked and Fina paled.
“Don’t.” Fina said
Shelly shrugged.
“Halas!”
They all turned to see a lady with shoulder length green hair and green eyes walking forward.
She was dressed in a green suit with green pants and green high heeled boots. Her jewelries were green and she had on green elbow length gloves too.
“Olus mis! You certainly don’t know what that means, do you?”
They all shook their head and stared at her like a fascinating gem.
“Halas means- Hello and Olus mis means Oh my! It’s Amenixias tongue. I’m not that fluent in eh… what do you call it? Englisias!”
Silence.
Shocked silence.
“This is my first time hearing that um… Amenixias has a tongue.” Fina whispered
Shelly smiled at her.
“She’s the master of weirdos” She said
You have to bearas with me. I am Mrs Avery Young. A pleasuras to meetus.”
Shelly Jefferson bit her tongue to keep from laughing. Fina kept swallowing and Zo kept pinching her nose. Talon Smith was red with laughter.
Mrs Young moved to the front of the class under the circle and turned to them.
“Teleportation. It’s instantaneous. Moving from one place to another. It’s fun, exciting and wellas, deadlis! A wrongus spell can make you disintegrate. So, don’t make mistakes. The spellis for teleportation is Felistus!”
Mrs Young raised her book wand and cleared her throat.
“You say the name of the place you want to go and it will take you there. POTUSCLASEFELITUS!”
Mrs Young disappeared at once and within a minute, she was back.
“I just went to potion class. Fun, isn’t it? Now, I want you all to choose a place you want to go. Onus, twus, teras!”
All students changed the place they want to go and they all disappeared.
Fina opened her eyes, greeting darkness.
“Fin”
Fina whirled around.
“It’s Shel. This doesn’t look like my house to me. Where exactly are we?”
Someone sobbed behind them.
“Oh, shut up Einstein! You are not the only one in this predicament.” Shelly said
Zo ignored her.
The place was still dark and they all struggled to see.
Fina moved to the wall, searching for anything that might be a switch but came with nothing.
“There’s no switch” She said
“Well, that’s great. We’ll just die here then” Shelly said
Fina stepped on something and jumped.
“What? What is it?” Zo asked shakily.
“It’s nothing. Right, Fina? Tell Einstein it’s nothing” Shelly said.
Zo stepped on the same thing and screamed.
“It’s not nothing. Its … something! And I stepped on it!”
“Shh” Fina whispered
She was leaning stealthily on the wall. She steadily took her wand from the air after summoning it and with a flick of her wrist said “LIGHTUSPOCULUS!”
The room lit up at once.
Fina glanced around and held her breath when she noticed that they were surrounded by snakes. Big, long and wide snakes.
Zo kept practicing her breathing exercises while Shelly looked excited.
The snakes were black with heads bigger than their body. They glided on the floor without being a threat to them. Zo calmed down halfly when she noticed the snakes weren’t attacking them.
The whole room was filled with snakes.
The room was painted dark and they were no windows.
Except… Paintings.
“Where are we?” Zo asked
Fina moved to the paintings, careful not to touch the snakes.
She stood in front of a painting, trying to understand it.
“It’s just like the diary.” She said
The painting has a very large opened red eye and beneath it was~
Thou canst destroy. Thou canst destroy. Thou canst destroy.
“It’s the same eye as the diary. Thou canst destroy. Perhaps, it’s saying the book can’t be destroyed?” Zo asked
“I guess? Then, it means the book is still out there and because it can’t be destroyed, someone is out there to get it.” Fina said, still staring at the painting. The rest of the paintings didn’t connect.
“They won’t stop until they get the book. They will always try. It’s like an endless battle” Fina said
They were too captivated with the painting they didn’t notice the snakes have cleared up.
“I think the right question we should be asking is where are we?” Fina asked.
“You are in the House of Snakes.”
They all turned to see a very, very, very, huge red snake behind them.
Shelly and Fina moved in front of Zo at once, protecting her as they raised their wands, prepared to fight.
The snake eyes were total red and its fang was long and dark blue. Its length filled the whole room and they all knew they were no match against it.
“I’m not dangerous” It said
“It speaks.” Shelly said.
“Animals speaks in Amenix. You are in the House of Snakes. I will say I’m quite surprised. It’s being long since I’ve gotten visitors. Not that long if you ask. I got visitors three months ago”
The girls stilled.
“Three months ago” Fina repeated.
“Yesssss” The snake said, drawing out the ‘sssss’ “Nice visitors. I also got one years ago. Centuries? And those who have visited me have always ended up dead except one although I’m not dangerous.”
Fina and Shelly glanced at each other.
“Did Carly Brooklyn come here?”
The snake rolled it eyes and hissed so loud Zo whimpered.
“The bloody bitch. That voracious monster!”
“What about the other one?” Fina asked.
“You mean the ghost wandering around in Elfina? She came here too. Looked haunted. Distraught. I almost pitied her but can you pity the devil himself? You can’t get out after playing with the devil. You go to hell with him. You belong together.”
“What do you mean?” Fina asked
The snake began to twist its head like in a dance.
“Can you hear it?” It asked
Fina glanced at Shel.
“Hear what?” She asked
“The sound of destruction” It replied “Can you feel it?”
The snake began to twist its whole body.
“Feel what?” Shelly asked
“The touch of doom” It replied, its whole eyes closed now. “Can you taste it?”
“Taste what?” Fina asked.
“The taste of blood”
It opened its red eyes slowly and fixed it on Fina.
“You. Are. Death. You. Are. Destruction. You. Are. The. Key.”
“CMANTUS-’ Shelly said
“You. Are. The. Eye. Of. Everything. And The Slave Of Fear.” The Snake said to Zora. “You. Are. Free.” It says to Shelly.
“Do you want to know the truth? It’s not a thing that can be told. It’s a thing that should be seen.”
“Tell us about the book” Fina said
The snake turned it’s red eyes on her.
“Your enthusiasm will always push you to the dark. Stop learning. Don’t look. Don’t ask. Don’t open a hundred years worth of secrets”
“Tell me, who are they?” Shelly asked.
The snake began to dance again and then, it opened its red eyes.
“We are they!” It said “And we shall stop you!”
The snake attacked them all with its tail and they all fell to the ground, their wands scattered.
It grabbed Shelly with its tail and tightened it’s grip.
Shelly made a choking sound.
Flinging Shelly to the wall, it lunged at Zo but Fina pushed Zo away and got hit instead.
The snake, with its mixture of male and female voice laughed at them.
It picked them all up and tightened its body on them.
Zo gasped for breath and Shelly Jefferson kept hitting the snake. It didn’t as much bulge.
It tightened its grip more on Fina and she struggled for breath. Fina could feel a rib cracked and then another.
Shelly kept hitting its body until it turned its attention on her and tightened its grip more on her. Fina, with all her strength summoned her wand but couldn’t grab it.
Summoning as much concentration she needed, she said in her mind…
“CMANTUSREDUSEYUSSNAKUSDUVIUS”
The snake screamed so loud the walls rumbled.
A portal opened and began to drag the snake.
“Ye shall not succeed. Ye shall all die! Ye shall not succeed. Ye shall all die!”
It got dragged completely and the portal closed.
“Seems like Ruxia finally met her match”
They all turned to see a nun garbed in complete black. The nun smiled at them.
“You are not a woman” Fina said
His lips was painted in blood red and his face was dusted with white powder. Black rimmed his eyelids making his dark eyes more scary and prominent.
“Yes. I certainly am aware of that.”
“You are not going to kill us, are you?” Fina asked cautiously
The nun painted mouth tilted upward in a small smile.
“I don’t know. Am I?” He asked “Guess we are about to find out”