The Eulogimenoi Series : YA Fantasy Paranormal Novels by Maria Vermisoglou ➱ Series Tour with Giveaway
Chapter 1: La Rouge
Soon, the sun would set, and that
made me feel sad.
School had started, and things
had pretty much returned to normal, but no one remembered. Except me, I used to
believe that only humans inhabited our world. I was wrong.
“Violet?”
I quickly shifted my gaze toward
the sound of my name. My best friend smirked. Kristy’s poppy colored hair
rippled in the slight breeze. “Where are you running off to?”
“Nowhere.”
I watched as the wind played with the leaves. The smell from a cherry pie
reached my nose while a chestnut fell from the tree above me, cracking open its
shell.
Kristy rolled her violet eyes and
flapped her fairy wings. Until last year, I wouldn’t ever believe that seeing a
fairy flutter her wings in amusement was something that would become a part of
my day-to-day life.
“You
just want to avoid talking about Halloween.” Kristy’s eyes twinkled at the
revelation.
My face clouded at the mention of
the worst celebration that existed in my opinion. Even if I knew the creatures
were real, my feelings for the debauchery had not changed. “I don’t understand
why you want to throw a Halloween party in the Blessed Realm. You creatures
don’t believe in this nonsense of a celebration, nor do I.” I stomped my foot
shaking the bench we were sitting on.
Halloween should be named the
most ridiculous celebration ever existed. Coming from a town that celebrated it
like there was no tomorrow, I had had more than enough of this. Fake costumes
and food in shapes that terrified you? No, thanks. Of course, if they knew all
the supernatural creatures and monsters were real, it wouldn’t be so funny.
Would it?
The leaves in the forest had
already started taking on an orange hue seducing the people inside but no one
knew it better than me—dangers lurked in that forest. The last rays of sun
painted the academy’s facade orange. All was calm now, but I still had
nightmares about the night I faced our Headmaster, who turned out to be evil—
“If you
want further incentive, Jacques will be there.”
I glared at her but I couldn’t
stay mad at the mention of him. At the thought of Jacques, the whole world
turned enchanted that no magic could compete. Jacques was a rabbit shifter. He
was also my boyfriend. We’ve had our ups and downs but I haven’t seen him since
our trip that summer and I longed to see him.
“And if
you don’t come, he might show up here.”
I huffed the breath I was holding
and rubbed my temple to relieve the tension that had gathered since the past
months. I shot Kristy a withered look.
“Don’t
look at me, you’re the one who made him stay behind. How did you manage that? I
haven’t seen him back down from anything before.” Kristy shot me a look, and I
raised my eyebrows.
“Isn’t
that the reason you’re here? To keep an eye on me?” Heat rose in my cheeks, my
inner turmoil threatening to swallow me whole.
“You
know that’s not true. I love hanging out with you. Our shopping trips in the
city are spectacular even though going to the library is not exactly my idea of
having fun!” Kristy waved her hand, wrinkling her nose.
I tried to fight it but no one
could resist a fairy’s joy and a smile bloomed on my lips. My gaze wandered to
the dark forest and my grin disappeared faster than the vapors from a cauldron.
Ever since the events of the
academy during the summer and Jacques’ resurrection, the fear of losing him
didn’t leave my mind. The only reason I came to the academy was because it was
far away from home. Only to discover it was the shifters’ hangout—the crazy
kind—and there was a massive plot to take over the world with the humans as
victims. Jacques was attacked and died. Everyone believes I am the stronger
supernatural, yet I could not save him. He came back, but I still remembered
the pain I felt when he left the world. “He’s safe there,” I mumbled, my eyes
fixated on the colorful rug of leaves spread on my feet. The radiant
kaleidoscope of the park faded and dark heavy clouds soared as my mind flew
back to that horrid day.
Kristy folded her hand in mine
and I felt the soft glow radiating from her body, filling my heart with a warm
feeling. The flowers showed their petals, and the trees brought the fruits to
the light. “He misses you. Come and we’ll have fun.”
I miss him too but I would never put him in danger
even if that meant I could only see him a couple of times during the year.
“By the
way, are you going to tell me how your holiday was?”
I let out an exasperated breath.
“You’ve been asking me this question for so long now, and I have told you. What
more do you want to know?”
Kristy widened her eyes. “What
more? Everything! You only said Italy was magnificent, and that you had a
wonderful time. You went there with your boyfriend for the first time without
problems.” She banged her fist on her lap like an angry child. “Supernatural or
otherwise. You need to tell me everything! It’s your duty as my best friend!”
A ringing bounced in the academy
announcing the bad news. Kristy shook her head, pressing her fingers in her
ears. “I know schools have bells, but this is worse than a Banshee’s cry!”
“It’s
our curfew,” I said, relieved I was saved by the bell.
Kristy, like all the fairies, was
a social character that wanted to know everything and sometimes, her mouth ran
faster than her brain. However, my reluctance on telling her about my holiday
with Jacques lay in the fact that my fairy friend might let it slip to someone
and since I have lived in a small town, news spread faster than a flood. I
didn’t want my holiday adventure to reach everyone’s ears in the Blessed Realm.
My mind traveled to the golden beaches and the crystal waters under the
brilliant summer sun. I wish I could have more of that precious time…
I turned away before Kristy
noticed the change in my demeanor. “Ever since the previous Headmaster…left,
the school administration has taken some strict measures.” My mouth tasted
sour as I breathed the words. I rose and Kristy followed me, hovering above the
ground.
“Why? He
abandoned his post. That certainly is not a cause for alarm.”
“Abandoned?”
Passing my fingers on my messy bun, I glared at her. I could not fathom how
lightly she took the fact the Headmaster was dead. Gone. Killed by my own
magic. Fair punishment, if you ask me, after he poisoned Jacques. He used shady
means to achieve world domination, putting both worlds in danger. That could
just not do. I still had nightmares that sometimes joined the living world and
she spoke about it so nonchalantly about it, like it was a hair accessory!
Kristy shrugged unbothered.
I didn’t regret killing him, but
I wouldn’t put it so lightly. “And actually, they found his body. I don’t know
how because I saw him disintegrate, but his body turned up at the park and now,
they think there’s a murderer on campus.”
I paused, a few feet from the
gate where students entered in a sluggish way. A chilly breeze blew, mocking
the sun’s effort to shine, reminding us fall was on its way.
“Oh, no.
How did that happen?”
The bell sounded again, and I
realized I was the only one left. “You tell me? So, they don’t let us stay out
past dusk.” The Headmaster was evil when in life but even after his death, he
still continued to cause problems. I released my breath slowly, dragging myself
into a lighter direction. “I have to go.”
“Are you
sure you don’t want me to come with?” Kristy asked the same question every
time, but I declined.
“I’ll be
fine. See you tomorrow.” Kristy nodded and hugged me, leaving fairy dust on my
face. I went through the gate and took the stairs up to the apartment. I jumped
back when I crossed paths with Raid, the prefect everyone did their best to
avoid. However, I had more reasons to hate him. I couldn’t wait until he
graduated at the end of the school year to get him off my back. Swiftly, I
turned the key and shut the door, leaving him seething. I secured the door and
sighed, placing my forehead on the warm wood. My heart was still humming when I
heard footsteps from the kitchen.
“Hi,
Violet!” Lena, my roommate chirped, and I put on a smile before turning.
I wiped my brow and I hoped she
didn’t notice my cheeks had caught fire. “Hey. How are you?”
“How was
your day?” Without waiting for my answer, she started chattering away about her
day and also repeated things from her holidays again. I smiled as I endured her
lengthy speech until I found an opening to escape.
“That
sounds very exciting,” I said when she took a moment to breathe. “Tomorrow is a
packed day, so it’s best not to be up too late though. Right?”
“Oh,
right.” Lena faltered as she realized the reality of my words. The incoming
phone call interrupted whatever she wanted to say, giving me the break I
needed.
I took my cue to escape in the
sanctuary of my bedroom, thinking she was lucky to be alive. If not for me, she
would be still a casualty of the shifters.
Approaching my window, I grinned
as I noticed Kristy glowing like a pink star in the park. I waved and switched
into nightclothes before securing the door and windows. If it wasn’t humans, it
would be creatures who caused havoc.
Clutching my necklace, I observed
it before it’s glowing light lulled me to sleep.
***
Lena and I were late in the
morning as she had trouble getting ready and as a result, we were racing
against the clock. By some miracle, the door was still open, and we dropped
inside exhausted.
“You
made it.” I looked up to a red-haired woman I didn’t recognize. “I’m
Headmistress La Rouge. Be seated.”
We walked to our seats as
questions warred in my mind. Why did the new headmistress decide to show up
only now, since the classes had already started? It had been a month now. Surely,
she couldn’t be so busy as to not properly introduce herself.
Her red heels cracked on the
marble floors while her voice dropped like a grenade.
“I’m
Headmistress La Rouge. I shall be teaching you this lesson and before we dive
into the deep stuff, I will let you know of my rules.”
She
paced as she prepared her lecture, and I dared to steal a peek. Fiery hair
tumbled over her shoulders as she walked. When she turned, I witnessed her dark
complexion with the grey eyes. She seemed like a middle-aged woman, but I got
the sense she was much older. With my powers fully awakened, I could read
people and something was off about her.
“You
need to be always on time or you’ll be marked absent.” The headmistress looked
at me and Lena pointedly, but we remained silent. “You will attend every day or
you’ll be marked absent and I will deduct points from your grade.” As her
footfalls fell on the suffering marble floor, her stern voice announced more.
“You will not leave the grounds during school hours or after. Not even for
important matters. Your place is here.”
“What if
we’re sick?” a girl dared to speak up, and the Headmistress glared at her,
making her squirm.
“You
shall not speak without raising your hand and you will not be sick.” The
Headmistress stared at us with her round eyes, and I refrained from yelling.
Are we allowed to be human? I studied her and used my powers for spotting supernatural
occurrences, and that’s when I noticed the strange thing that had been
happening. Her aura exists, but at the same time, it does not. Like a candle,
her red aura flared out to rise up behind her again. I had seen lots of things
concerning auras and my heart told me this oddity was not natural. Even for the
supernatural world.
“Without
losing any more time, we’ll enter the field of Criminological Theory. For
our first lesson, we will study the genders and how prone they are to criminal
behavior.” Headmistress La Rouge tapped her long red nails on the board, and
the torture started.
When the lesson ended, we hurried
to Social Research Methods and Techniques taught by Mr. Arsenio, a man in a wheelchair. He couldn’t
be more than thirty but besides his condition, he made the lesson entertaining.
His thick Italian accent reminded me of Jacques who stumbled over words from
time to time. Navigating his wheelchair between the desks, he asked questions
abruptly to the students on the opposite side of the room, taking us off guard.
Professor Alisha taught Social
Politics dragging her voice over words, repeating the facts over and over again.
A living torture. I sighed and turned my gaze to the paper ball some students
were playing with during class. Any distraction was most welcome to keep me
awake. Names, places, histories, and dates and my notebook was half filled by
the end of the day.
The last bell rang, announcing
our partial freedom.
***
“So, why
couldn’t you come?” Kristy said when she entered my room and after I had
secured all exits. When in the human world, Kristy put a glamour to mask the
silver tattoos on her arms marking her as a fairy, pointy ears and wings. All
the people saw was a girl with a pink dress and white black striped socks. The
only thing my fairy friend didn’t change was her purple eyes but hey, teenagers
dressed in a more funky way, anyway!
In light of the recent rules, the
school had taken security measures, but they couldn’t stop the supernaturals.
It only took a visit to the garden and a glow fairy as my messenger. They were
so tiny no one could take them into account, much less realize they were not
actual fireflies.
“Our new
Headmistress is quite a piece of work and with an interesting aura.” That got
Kristy’s attention, she had stayed silent during my explanation. My stomach
gurgled since I had skipped dinner, but I ignored it. “She has an aura that
blinks,” I continued as I went on with the rest of the story, trying not to
think about the lasagna that smelled like heaven when I passed from the Dining
Hall.
“A
blinking aura, huh?” Kristy hovered cross-legged across the room and I was glad
we were on a top floor so no one could witness my new acquired chandelier.
“I’ve no idea what that could be.” Perplexed, she flapped her wings and lowered
to the ground. “I’ll ask the witch tonight and tell you. Will you be all
right?”
“Every
floor is guarded as well as the gate. No one gets in.” I knew a lot of things
could get in and out without notice, but I chose not to bring that up.
Kristy stood in front of the
window and then turned. “So, that means no Halloween. Maybe I should do
something.”
“As much
as I would like to avoid that ridiculous celebration that for some reason you
find fascinating, this school house arrest is even more annoying. Some students
live in the city, so there might be hope yet. It wouldn’t be wise to meddle
with human affairs.”
Kristy shot me a look but said
nothing and flew out of the window. I watched her pink aura disappear in the
horizon and I wished I had wings to fly away from unpleasant things. My stomach
gurgled again, and I grabbed some cereal bars from my drawer and dug in
hungrily. Laying on my bed, I stared at the shadows the moon created, peeking
through the curtains.
The next morning, Lena and I were
on time only because I had set my alarm way too early. I groaned internally,
but I certainly didn’t want any trouble with that vixen. Especially if it
turned out to be a supernatural in a bad mood and an axe or an evil mistress
who woke up one day and wanted to take over the world. At this point, I’d
expect anything.
“Fortunately,
we’re not late.”
I shot Lena an irritated look,
and she blushed. “Thank you.” She advanced with a hopping stride and I gritted
my teeth. If she knew what I had saved her from, she would make it easier for
me. Possibly.
Getting to my seat, I pulled my
books and sensing the boiling atmosphere, I looked up. Glaring, the students
shared stories about having been forbidden to leave the grounds and I listened.
This was beyond normal and my hands sweated at the thought that trouble was
brewing. Again. In this school. Maybe the school is
haunted after all.
The door opened only to reveal
Ade, the History professor, and everyone relaxed. I had been so tense about the
matter that I had completely forgotten that first period was Historians and History.
“Good
morning, everyone.” Professor Ade wore her usual colorful dress, a stark
contrast to her espresso skin. Braided space buns of cherry hair intertwined
with blue highlights crowned her head, accompanied by a pair of smart eyes. “I
hope you slept well because we’ll be making a long trip in time.” The heavy
atmosphere dissipated as laughter bounced on the walls.
After the classes, I skipped
dinner, as I always seemed to do lately. I didn’t want another problem on my
hands that had to do with the supernatural world. I ran up the stairs and found
Kristy waiting for me.
“Nothing?”
My face clouded at her somber expression.
“No.
Nobody knows anything, but Jacques will look into it.” I looked at her, and she
flapped her wings. “Don’t give me that look, he is always there when I get
back. Honestly, I think he’s your best chance and if she’s a shapeshifter even
more so.”
“But her
aura is visible.” Shapeshifters usually had invisible auras until the moment
they chose to be with someone. “I didn’t see her today but students are very
upset so there’s hope that something will be done.”
“It could
be the fact she has chosen a mate but shapeshifter auras don’t blink.” Kristy
tapped her perfectly manicured hands on her chin. Pink fairydust rose from her
fingers before a pot popped around her arms.
I watched as Kristy made the
seeds grow and recognized it as a sign of her frustration. “You don’t use your
powers much, do you?”
I blinked and looked down on the
faint purple glow of my hands. “Not really. I can hardly do magic when people
are afraid of it. I’ll get locked up in the loony bin, or worse.”
Kristy narrowed her eyes and
shook her finger. “It’s not only that. It’s the summer’s events, isn’t it?”
“That
and the dreams that make my necklace to go crazy. It glows at odd times. I have
to say it’s broken or put a shading spell.” I pulled my hair from its knot and
gazed at the window. Silence. After classes, the students usually relaxed
outside on outdoor excursions near the school, but now, only the birds chirped.
Even the corridors were silent. Everyone chose the gloomy atmosphere of their
rooms over dealing with La Rouge’s wrath questioning their whereabouts.
“What
dreams?” Kristy spread her pink light of her aura, and I envied her joy.
“I don’t
know. They are too jumbled to make sense.”
I bit my lip, wishing the feeling
to go away. It gnawed inside me, not leaving me in peace.
“Violet?”
Something is coming, and it’s not
good.”
Thank you!
ReplyDelete