It wasn’t until two days later, The Headmaster felt confident enough to assemble us all. The assembly was short and filled with warning. She and the rest of the school felt confident about the extra boarders they placed around the school. However, several parents did not. More than half the parents wanted to pull their kids out of the school. The only thing that stopped them was that sending their kids to another school was not an option. There were only three schools designed for us. Out of those three schools, only Academy West specialized in early ascensions.

Elloren skipped the assembly along with Clarissa. They wanted to dig around while the student body and staff were all in one place. Glancing around, I never realized just how many students went here. Never realized just how unremarkable they are. Powerful sure, at least some of them. But unremarkable still.

Sighing, I thought about the next three years. They would pass in the blink of an eye to us. And then what? We fight? We fight The Holy Trinities? Not even my father was as old as them. He was birthed from their ending. Could he kill the very powers that created him?

Sitting up, I felt something oddly familiar. Glancing at the grand golden stage, there he was. Silk pajamas. Only this time he wasn’t in silk pajamas. He wore a school uniform. “On a positive note, we would like to welcome our newest student Godric Victorian.” The name echoed off the lisps of everyone including myself for a solid two minutes after he was introduced. Watching him move to the podium, was the most graceful things I have seen all week. Even my mother would applaud his sureness, his carefulness. Pulling the mic up to where it stood, his long braid flipped over his shoulders. “His hair is longer than mines.” I heard someone from the middle section say. “Salutations to you all. My name is Godric Victorian. While I may not know any of you personally, I am pleased to see you are alive and well. I will be attending this academy until my graduation. I do hope to know many of you before then.” With that he stepped off the stage. This was the one time I wished I would have sat in the front row.

After Godric’s introduction, we were all dismissed. Since I sat in the back, I was the first to exit. It was a nice day out. Bright fresh snow covered the grounds. Classes would not resume until next week. However, The Headmaster wanted every student to remain on campus. Passing by the cafeteria, I saw Clarissa and Elloren. Before I could move to go to them, someone grabbed my arm. Pulling back a little harder than I needed to, that someone became clear. Godric Victorian. “You would be pleased to see that since I anticipated interaction, I chose not to wear silk pajamas. “Yeah, but now it’s much worst. You are in a uniform.”

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

Laughing, he adjusted his backpack. A backpack? Him in a backpack? “I never thought of you as a backpack guy.”

“What did you think of me as?”

“A briefcase maybe?”

“That stuffy?”

“Not stuffy, ummm more like serious.”

“A briefcase makes someone serious St. Vincent?”

“In your case yes.” His eyes moved from one of my eyes to the other in a game of ping pong. Is this what it means to look into someone’s eyes. I found myself following his eyes as he followed mines.

“Where are you headed?” Breaking the rhythm, I blinked. Turing to face the cafeteria I found two other sets of eyes on me, well not just me. US. “My friend is in there.”

“The one from the invisible building?”

“Yes.” Godric, did not bother to look at the people in the cafeteria. I could feel his eyes studying me. Facing back at him, he was a little closer than I thought, or maybe he moved. Either way I could smell the scent of the sun on him. Much different than the night we met. “I am going to go now, okay?” I don’t know why the statement came out as a question, but it did.

“Go, I will find you later.” And with that the scent of the sun faded and all that was left was the heat. I watched him make his way across the courtyard, by ways of pavement. It was nice to see that while his clothes changed the bow that held his braid together did not. “Well, a bow what a nice feminine touch.” Elloren stated, from behind me. Internalizing my “Yeah”. I turned to look at my friend. She needed sleep and lots of it. Her green eyes appeared sunken and restless. “How do you know him?”

“I don’t know him. But we have met before.” Intertwining her arm with mines, she pulled us forward to the cafeteria. On our way I replayed the night I met Godric. “I would expect nothing less from a Victorian.” Elloren said as she folded her legs Indian style in her chair.

“Where did Clarissa go?”

“Who knows, who cares. She is useless.”

“I mean we are looking for ways to kill her parents.” Elloren rolled her eyes, titling her head back. “The Headmaster told me that she thinks The Holy Trinities are bluffing. She said that two spells are required to bring them back permanently. She also said I can only perform one. If that.”

“What are these spells?”

“She couldn’t tell me. She said the spell would come to me.”

“Or she doesn’t want you looking for the spell.” I replied without taking my eyes off Elloren.

“Precisely, but why wouldn’t she want me looking for the spell Alucard? It’s not like The Holy Trinities are going to suddenly say fuck it. I am a Blackgate.” Elloren green eyes met mines, and I saw more than sleep depravity, I saw fear. Taking a deep breath, I did the only thing I could do at a time like this. I ordered her a burger and fries.

If the Headmaster did not want Elloren looking for the spell, that meant either what she said was truth, the spell had to come to her. Or the most likely scenario, Elloren had to find it. And we knew where it would be. Her parents. The only place that will ever exist I would not allow her to go to. If they thought for a second, they could have Elloren back she would be bound, drained, starved, and trafficked until she died. No fucking way. I would go. Afterall I am the princess of hell.