Ashes of night, p.10
Ashes of Night, page 10
part #5 of Haunted High Series Series
“Finn, I hate to say you’re right, but you’re right,” Vicken said over the phone.
I couldn’t hide the surprise that filled me. “Did you just agree with me?” I asked him.
“Don’t get used to it,” Vicken replied.
Headmistress Wrengold laced her fingers in front of her. “I suppose you have a plan?”
“Yes,” I replied. “And I’m sure Vicken will like it.”
The snort of derision that came from the phone said otherwise.
I gestured to the three boxes Mercer had placed on the table. They looked innocent enough. The ironwood of which they were made kept the power of Chutka’s heart from affecting those at the table. I didn’t want to think about how strong they would be if allowed to join back together.
“We’re going to use Chutka’s heart pieces to bring him here, and then give him his heart back,” I said.
Vicken sputtered.
“You just spit your blood everywhere,” Kiyah said with a note of disgust. “Stop drinking while Finn is telling you his horrible idea!”
“At least wait until I’m finished,” I said. I looked at Dara. “Do you have the moonstone Madam Opal gave us?”
She nodded. “It’s locked in Professor Brigg’s room.”
“Good,” I replied. “We’re going to bind the pieces of Chutka’s heart with the moonstone before we give it back to him. My hope is that after it’s in his chest, if we expose him to moonlight, the stone will overpower him and destroy him the way it destroyed the Darkest Warlock.”
Mercer set his scarred hand on the table. “Let me get this straight,” he said, his gravelly voice grating against my ears. “We bind the heart to the moonstone, summon Chutka here, give him his heart back, and hope that after he returns to full power the moonstone will destroy him? It sounds a little weak.”
“It is,” I admitted. “That’s why we need the whole school.”
Mercer’s eyebrows actually rose. I had never seen that before.
“Hear me out,” I said before anyone could argue. “We know Chutka’s not coming alone. You should see the number of demons we trapped in Lark’s home in the city.”
“What?” Professor Briggs interrupted. “You trapped demons in the city?”
I cringed inwardly. “I think we forgot to mention that.”
Vicken gave a wry chuckle over the phone.
“It’s alright,” Lark said. “They’re comfortable. There’s plenty of boxes.”
Dara nodded. “They’re good boxes, so don’t worry.”
Lark shot her a beaming smile.
“Why are we talking about boxes?” the Headmistress asked.
I lifted a hand. “Don’t worry about the boxes. What’s important is that the demons are trapped there and can’t get out. The barrier Brack and Lyris created will hopefully last until we defeat Chutka.”
“In which case, what happens to the demons?” Jean asked.
I met the blue-haired vampire’s gaze. “I’m not sure. I’ve never defeated a demon prince before. But I’m hoping they’ll vanish or something.”
“Poof,” Lark said with a giggle.
Brack grinned at her. “Poof,” he agreed in his deep voice.
Professor Briggs shook his head. “There are too many unknowns here. It’s too dangerous to involve the students. We need to send them home.”
“No!”
Everyone stared at the phone.
Vicken spoke again, his voice fueled by anger. “No, Professor. Now is the time to end this. We’ve spent far too much time and energy trying to stop Chutka’s followers. If we have a chance to cut off the head of the snake, we have to take it.” He paused for a moment and I could hear his heavy breathing.
“Easy,” Kiyah whispered. “Just take it easy.”
When Vicken spoke again, his voice was quieter and his words weak as though his outburst had taken a lot out of him. “If we don’t succeed, we risk endangering the school, but if we don’t try, the entire world is already doomed.”
Chapter Nine
I sat down without speaking. The silence that filled the room this time was charged. Inwardly, I was grateful that Vicken was fighting the battle at my side. I held my breath, hoping the others would agree. I felt my tension ease and glanced at Dara. She gave me a small smile. I pushed gratitude toward her and her smile widened.
“We need to give the students the option,” the Headmistress said. “They need to know the danger they will be facing, and be able to leave if they feel it is too much for them.”
“That sounds fair,” Professor Briggs replied. “But if they choose to go home, they shouldn’t be allowed to return.”
I stared at the professor and saw everyone else do the same.
“Why?” the Headmistress asked in a level voice.
Professor Briggs met my gaze. “If Finn has taught us one thing at this Academy, it’s that a pack doesn’t have to be made up of only werewolves or only vampires, or witches, or Grims, or whatever. Monsters need each other.” His sat up in his chair and winced slightly at some unseen pain. “When this team freed monsters from the Mythic Labs, it started a ripple.” He gave me a slight smile that pulled on the thick scar that marked his cheek. “You didn’t know that, did you, Finn?”
I shook my head.
The professor nodded. “Well, it did. Monsters are banning together to protect their families. There is strength in numbers and safety in combining forces with those whose skills are different than our own.” He waved a hand to indicate the world outside the Academy. “There are networks forming, meetings taking place, and tough conversations like this one occurring in which the attendees realize they can’t survive on their own. Monsters are outnumbered and being different will always be a reason to be feared.”
He opened his scarred hand. “But not here.” His words were strong and filled with warmth. “At Haunted High, we are learning to trust each other. We are finding the value of friendship with those who are different. When I was a student here—” He paused and met Conrad’s gaze. “When we were students here, nobody strayed outside of their own groups. Witches didn’t converse with vampires. Warlocks stayed away from empaths, and everyone avoided the scary, unpredictable, instinct-driven werewolves.” He winked at me. “But thanks to Finn, we’re learning to be less afraid and more open to these differences. The students are growing in ways we struggled with. They’re strong, and they’re better able to deal with something like Chutka the Shambler. Thanks to Finn, I think we can handle it.”
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat.
“That’s giving Finn a bit too much credit,” Vicken said with a grunt.
The professor turned his attention to the phone. “This coming from his best friend who happens to be a vampire. Tell me, Vicken, how many friends did you have before Finn arrived who weren’t vampires?”
The silence that followed made the professor smile in triumph.
“Alright, your point is made,” the Headmistress said. “But I don’t agree with telling the students who leave that they can’t return. The Remus Academy for Integral Education was created by my husband as a place of refuge for all students. They deserve to feel protected here. If they choose to go home until it’s safe to return, we can’t blame them. They are children, after all.”
“Something we tend to forget,” Mercer said gruffly.
Professor Briggs was silent for a moment with his eyes on the table. It was easy to see that it wasn’t the table top but memories he watched with his distant gaze. When he spoke again, his voice was quiet. “Students deserve to feel safe. That’s why we chose to become professors.” He looked at the Headmistress. “You’re right, Fanny. They should have a choice. And I won’t stand in the way of their return. I’ll encourage the other professors to do the same.”
“Thank you,” she replied.
“Then it’s settled?” Vicken asked from the phone.
The Headmistress gave a nod that was filled with the weight of all she had just learned. “It’s settled. We will assemble the students so that I can address their concerns. In the meantime, Professor Briggs, Mercer, and I will begin research into how to bind the heart to the moonstone. We’ll teach the spell to the other professors.” She looked at the students in turn. “Lyris, Brack, you will train the witch and warlock students on the shielding chants. Conrad, you need to brush up on those spells you used to unlock the gate in the first place.” Conrad nodded wordlessly. “The rest of you will begin demon combat training under Finn. Please notify Mercer if you need the imitation flame for practice.”
The thought of touching demon fire again, even the imitation flame Mercer kept in the box in the corner, made my hand throb. Though the skin had finally healed, I wasn’t eager to expose myself to it again.
“What can I do?” Vicken asked.
The vampire’s voice sounded small and frustrated coming from the phone.
A true smile touched the Headmistress’ lips. “Vicken, you get back here as soon as you are healthy. We miss your charming personality.”
Laughter followed the Headmistress’ words.
“You should,” Vicken replied with a huff. “I know you miss me.”
I picked up the phone.
“We do,” I told him honestly. “I can’t imagine facing Chutka without you. Get better and get back here. There’s a war coming.”
“I’ll be there,” Vicken promised.
I hung up the phone.
“Well,” I said. “Time to see what kind of warriors werewolves make.”
“Don’t you know?” Lark asked.
I shook my head. “I have no idea. I’ve personally just been pretending to be a werewolf up to this point. You should see these guys. They’re the real deal.”
“Pretending,” Brack said. He grinned and repeated it. “Pretending to be a werewolf.” He started to laugh his deep, rolling, echoing belly laugh. It was so contagious everyone in the basement caught on. Dara leaned her head on my shoulder as she laughed and even Mercer gave a grunt that could have passed for laughter from the sweep.
When Brack finally stopped, he patted me on the shoulder with a beefy hand. “You’re funny for a werewolf, Finn.”
I grinned up at him. “Thanks, Brack. You’re funny for a warlock.”
That set both him and Lark off again. It was cute to see the witch and warlock hold each other as they laughed. I was so glad Lark had somebody. She had survived so much. The fact that she was no longer alone made everything we had gone through at the Mythic labs worth it. If we could end Chutka once and for all, perhaps I would be able to keep my promise of her safety.
“Come on,” Dara told me. “We have combat training to begin.”
As we climbed up the stairs from the basement, her finger slid across the name written on my wrist. A pang of sadness filled me. I hadn’t forgotten Sparrow. In fact, the little dragon was never far from my mind. I caught myself searching everywhere I walked in the Academy. I had spent nearly an hour before dinner checking through each plant in Professor Seedly’s classroom for any sign of the little dragon even though the professor had told me he hadn’t seen her.
“She’ll come back when she’s ready,” the tall, thin professor had reassured me. He ran a hand through his crazy white hair, upsetting the birds in the nest on top. “She’s just spreading her wings both figuratively and literally.”
“But what if she’s in trouble?” I had argued. “How am I supposed to save her if I don’t know where she is?”
The professor didn’t appear at all concerned by my tone of frustration. Instead, he had replied, “Mr. Briscoe, did you ever consider the fact that perhaps she decided it was time to be on her own? Sylph dragons mature very quickly. Maybe she’s ready to find her own kind.”
I couldn’t help the pathetically lost tone to my voice when I replied, “But I thought you said there weren’t any more sylph dragons in the world.”
He clucked his tongue and replied. “I didn’t say there weren’t any more, I said there were very few.” He had winked then and gestured to the plant I had accidentally helped to name. “Take it from Gerald. She’s safe somewhere in this crazy world, and she’ll return if she wants to.”
The thought of her not returning made tears burn in my eyes as I followed Dara up the stairs. Maybe the dragon wasn’t a baby anymore, but she was tiny and the world outside of the Academy was huge. It may have been safer out there given the fact that we were going to try to summon Chutka the Shambler, but I still hated the thought of Sparrow alone in the world. Maybe she didn’t need me, but a big part of me needed to protect her. She was a part of my pack, and I would do everything I could to keep her safe. But she had to be here for me to ensure her safety.
When we reached the main floor and slipped from behind the unicorn painting, the sound of commotion from the cafeteria sent me running.
“What’s going on?” Dara asked.
We both stopped in the cafeteria doorway and stared in shock at the scene.
Werewolves, vampires, warlocks, witches, students with orange scales, cat eyes, feathers, or tentacles stood on tables and crouched under them as food flew through the air. Laughter, yelling, and jeering filled the room. A glance at the door to the kitchen showed Mr. Handsworth standing with all four of his hand-tipped tentacles on his hips as he glared at the scene. Spaghetti rested on his bald head and a spattering of broccoli cheese soup colored his white apron. A chuckle nearly escaped me before his eyes locked on mine. The anger in his gaze smothered my mirth completely.
I saw something fly at me from the corner of my eye. I caught a chicken leg before it smacked into my face. The laughter faded as everyone looked at us. Something in my expression must have told them I was serious, because students began to climb down from the tables and out from underneath them.
“What happened here, Rhett?” I demanded when I spotted the werewolves around the tables in the corner.
The werewolf lowered his gaze. “We, uh, thought it would be fun to have a food fight seeing as how we’ve never had one before.”
As much as I couldn’t argue with that, my want to laugh or join in was kept in check by Mr. Handsworth’s continued glower. Dara didn’t appear to care because she laughed anyway.
“Have you gotten it out of your system?” I asked the werewolf.
Rhett glanced around at the other werewolves. They nodded quickly.
“We have,” Rhett replied.
I swept my gaze over the rest of the cafeteria and lifted my voice. “Have the rest of you gotten it out of your system?”
I don’t know what had turned my position at the Academy from a lone werewolf sitting with an ostracized Grim at a table against the wall to a leader the students apparently respected. I had a sneaking suspicion Alden had been telling stories of our escapades again, because a hint of fear showed in the faces of the students who looked to me as if the food littering their clothes, heads, and, in some cases, multiple faces, was forgotten. Every student nodded.
“Good,” I said. “Now, Mr. Handsworth and his staff were kind enough to provide this food for your little battle. Please show your appreciation to him by cleaning the cafeteria and the kitchen from top to bottom.”
“Yes, sir,” Rhett said.
A series of similar statements followed from the other students.
I didn’t like the title, but that moment wasn’t the one in which to correct him. The Headmistress would soon be addressing the students about their expected roll in what was to come. I was anxious to get started with my part of it, so I took the initiative.
“Everyone here is in danger.” Dara gave me a surprised look, but I crossed my arms in front of my chest and continued with, “You have no doubt heard of some of our battles against demons.” I glanced behind me and saw that my team had come to see what all the commotion was about. Alden’s cheeks turned red at my searching look, answering my unspoken question. I looked back at the students. “Our biggest battle is soon to begin, and you will all be involved if you so choose.”
“I’ll fight beside you,” Rhett said without hesitation.
“Me, too,” another werewolf yelled.
“And me,” a vampire joined in.
I lifted a hand before anyone else could get caught up in the enthusiasm. “I appreciate it.” I looked back at my team. “We all do. We can use all the help we can get, but it will still be dangerous. My team and I have fought hard to ensure that Haunted High is a safe place for each of you to learn; now we’re asking that you join with us in doing the same.”
Worry showed in several faces. I looked from one student to the next. “But we won’t be throwing you into the fight unprepared. For the next several days, your studies will be taken over by training of a different kind. Those of you with magic affinities will be tutored by Lyris Welkin and Brack Smalls. The rest of you will join us for demon combat training.” I smiled at one of the smallest werewolves who had come with me from the Den. “But don’t worry. You won’t be asked to act beyond your abilities. We have a place for each of you and will strive our best to ensure that you are safe and feel as prepared as we can help you to be.” The little werewolf nodded.
I gestured to the students behind me, making plans as I spoke. I hoped I wasn’t going beyond the Headmistress’ allowance, but since the scope of an assistant professor hadn’t been exactly outlined, I took liberties where I wished and chose to suffer the consequences later.
“We’ll divide you up by your heritage so that you can be trained by those who know your strengths as well as your weaknesses. Trust your leaders, but don’t be afraid to ask questions. And if you feel lost, come find me. We’ll make sure you have a place where you fit in.”
