Prologue

  The forest was shrouded with endless darkness, stretching out in to the night like the devil’s talons.

  Like any other woods on the north west of the land, the forest was thickly grown with gloomy pines and cedars wavering ghostly in the wind, most of them towering toward the sky, blocking most of the moonlight, and only allowed a few strands of them glimmering spookily through the leaves.

  A shadowy figure emerged amid the hollowness, swiftly moving in an unbelievable rapid speed, as if stepping on a hurricane, agilely passing through the briars and brambles. Not a wisp of breeze dared to breathe, everyblade of grass was afraid to whisper. The blurred figure seemed to whisk like mist, with his black cape billowing as if caught in a storm.

  He stopped at the glade. The hood fell off, not even being touched. A mess of handsome ebony hair wisped around, the hollow black eyes under them were sunken, and ayoung man gazed expressionlessly at a piled slope.

  And a gleaming luxurious-covered book as thick as a fragment of brick was clutched tight in his bony fingers.

  A smile lit up his pale sullen face. Fools, the nowadays people are, he thought, tapping his fingers. Yet the grave was there, burying the skeletons of the most dangerous prodigy there ever lived, and no one even seemed to bother to wreck out the body.

  The man breathed hard and knelt to the grave in a respectful way. There was only stillness in the woods, but he could hear much more, far more than the slyly gallops and whisks of the rodent underground, far more than the murmurs and breathes of the leaves a few miles away.

  He’d been taughtby the Magistic who lied just below his feet. Now it was his time to pay back for his pedagogue… and of course, his own brother.

  The man took one step back, raising one of his pale colorless fingers which looked more like marble stones rather than flesh of human beings. The tomb stone cracked open with a thunder crashing sound that echoed for a long minute, exposing its interiors. A foul smell of corrupted dead body rose up.

  He wrinkled his nose but forced himself to lean forward against the dead body. The framework had fallen apart; the limbs were separated, ripped in to several pieces, the skeletons gleaming in a chilling frigid light. The skeleton opened its mouth frantically in an eerie way, exposing emptiness. The man grinned, relieved that the skeleton was still complete. He pursed his lips in to a broad smile.

  “You will raiseagain, more powerful than ever, dear brother,” He suddenly stretched out his arms, the book he held early shifted and flipped a few pages like a glorious bat, and the skeleton rose up in to the night. The man twitched his face in a hard effort, but the dull thing didn’t shift or morph, instead, it slammed back in to the coffin with a gigantic thump.

  A shrilling cruel scream seemed to come straight from the skeleton’s hollow mouth, erupted like a volcano through the night, ripping over all the solid silence, pierced through the man’s ears like daggers, paining him to the ground to struggle breathlessly.

  Chapter One

  A Visitor in the Dark Hours

  I was standing there in my warm lit room. My hair was totally in a mess, exactly like my mind.As always. I glanced around, searching my feelings. The lamp was glowing in a mild light like fireworks. The night was still and tranquil as if the wind had stopped breathing. It was a normal peaceful night, well, as for what I can tell.

  So, what was I worrying about? Confused, I muddled my hair in complete frustration. “The third time in a whole week, I hadn’t been able to sleep.”Igrumbled, staring blankly at the ceiling, listening to anything I could hear.

  The corridors were dimly lit. My mom and our house maid (Well, maybe) Meghan were probably in the study, as they always did. Mom and Meghan, they were always whispering in the night, as though, talking to something they don’t want me to know. Another frustrating fact. Yeah, thanks a lot for reminding me. That really cured me sleeplessness.

  I’d caught a few words of their conversation, sometimes maybe, when I’m borrowing a few snacks from the kitchen. Okay, when every night I steal a lot of snacks from the whole house.They were talking about aschool, and of course, mostly about the Books. They commented over the word “Books” a thousand times, as though it was important, sacred somehow. But after all, booksare books, what difference can they make?

  A sound made me swung my head around.

  There was a ringing of door bells, in this middle of night. I gripped on my bed thoughtfully and frowned. Who was that strange visitor? Probably some lunatics from around the corner, I decided. I swung my bed side windows open, which could directly see the porch on the front door. I poked my head out carefully to see the source of the doorbell.

  The light on the porch was glowing ghostly light.A woman with slender and graceful figure, dressed all in black, stood gracefully by the front porch.Her figure seemed blurry in the dim light.

  I gasped, bit my lips and clutchedmy fists tightly. This figure made my instincts scream like an alarm. Guess that’s not a good sign.

  I squinted curiosity, leaning against the window sill to have a closer look. As though knowing, the woman in black turned her swan like neck upward, so suddenly, that Iwinced and drewmy head back in panic. How did she know? Did she saw me? What was she doing in-front of our house in this late of the night? I swallowed. I counted my fingers breathlessly, that’s at least the third bad thing that had happened to me tonight. Great, just great. I cursed under my breath.

  A voice echoed through the hall way. I flinched again at the sound of it and cursed under my breath as someone strode inside my room.

  It was Meghan, the girl who’d been talking to my mother.

  “Oh, it’s you.” I dropped my baseball bat that I prepared earlier for self-defense, looking incredibly stupid and embarrassed of myself.

  “Tom, you’re awake?” Meghan slid in to the room, dressed in a plain blouse and a navy pleated skirt, her flaxen blond hair cascaded to her shoulders neatly, not a strand out of place. Meghan smiled at me warmly,which made me relax in ease for a minute.

  Meghan was a weird appearance at our house, I guessed she was a house maid or something, because she helped with the chores and made marvelous hot chocolate. But she was so young, maybe about twelve, only two years older than me, how could my mom hire such a girl?I never asked her, because every single time I mentioned it, Meghan would always give me an I-dare-you-to-ask look that made medrop the conversation.

  “Drew the curtains, and off with the lights, please, go back to sleep.” Meghan said wistfully, there was a bit of worry in her tone.

  I blinked. It made second for me to think through. “What?”I replied, “But there’s a visitor outside the porch…a woman, dressed all in black, we can’t just leave her there.”

  “YOU SAW HER?” Meghan gasped in disbelieve, her blue eyes gaping wide than usual, a ghost of worry and terror crossed her eyes.

  There was another rapid ringing of door bells. Meghan looked nervous. Biting her lips hard, she grasped ME across the bed, yanked ME down to the floor that I yelled in pain and agony.

  “What was that for?”I asked offensively, struggling to escape from her hard grip. I was real surprised to find out, the delicate limplyMeghanI was used to, was stronger than i thought she would be.

  “Shush up!” Meghan snapped hoarsely, her eyes were shaded with shadows of worried sickness. “Did she saw you? Tom, did she? Answer me, now!” Her voice seemed weak and pathetic, full of desperateness.

  “I… I’m not sure…”Iwhispered.

  “Answer the question!”

  I nodded slowly. Meghan gasped with exhaustion and shuddered a bit. Her face was pale white with sickness. “Oh, curse it!” She muttered, “We’ll move along to plan G, the only and the worst plan of all.”

  “What plan? What happened? Who’s that visitor? Where’s mom?”I gripped Meghan’s arms tightly, desperate for an answer. I could hear blood thumping and thudding in my eardrums. That was a trace of danger, yeah, as if I like it.

  “Okay, Tom.” Meghan took a deep breath, “The visitor, she’s our enemy, Grace Sacredawn. We must escape, but not now, we’ll stay in the room. Your mom willgreet her in the living room down stairs. All these years, they’re hunting for…”

  She paused and looked at me seriously.

  “What?” I asked, anxious for an answer.

  “You,” She breathed again, her voice now trembling, merely a whisper, “They’re hunting for you. And I was commanded to protect you.”

  There was an awful silence. Though some complicated feelings and ideas rumbled in my head, I held my tongue back and couldn’t speak.

  Just when the front door swung wide open with a loud volcano like explosion, a gust of bellowing night windblew in.

  “Duck, now!” Meghan hissed, as she pushed me inside the shadows, away from the light. Meghan breathed hard and caught her breath. I squinted warily to see what would happen to my mom.We hid in the darkening shadows of the bedroom, as the unwelcomed visitor stepped in to the living room.

  “Well, let’s bless your mom.” Meghan muttered.“And hope she survives.”

  Chapter Two

  Pain Piercing in Heart

  I peeked through the door frames of my room and watched what would happen in the living room.

  The woman in black I saw earlier by the porch smiled coldly in confident around the room, graceful as an arrogant swan.

  The setting and displays in the room seemed to out of place with her around. She was tall and willowy, witha tiny delicate laced hat nestled on her wavy ebony hair. She was dressed appropriately in an elegant black gown with filigree lacework and stood gracefully by the front door.

  A pair of black gloves were pulled to her elbows, gripped in those delicate fingers, was a black leather book with fancy cover, dotted with silvery jewelry. My heart clicked, the book, my breath thinned. Was that what my mom and Meghan were talking about?

  “Grace Sacredawn,”My mom breathed, her eyes staring in to the woman’s cold black-gray eyes that looked like a frigid blizzard. It took seconds for me to realize that my mom had known Grace. But… that wasn’t right, was it?

  “JosephineJules, how nice to see you again,” Grace Sacredawnpurred, “I’m under my brothers’ commands to visit you.” Her teeth shone brightly in the light.

  “What are you coming for? What are you after? I have nothing you want, you’ve took everything, every single drop of power from my book.” Mom’s throat twitched, she glared at the woman with fury.

  Again, the word book, I bit my lips.

  “Everything, is it? You still have your son, don’t you? With the divorced husband you regret so much.” Grace laughed, icily, “Now, your son is who I want to meet.”

  My spine tingled, my head spun.Why?I was just a boy who doesn’t know anything. Why would they want me?

  “I don’t have a son.” Mom lied, her anger seething as she clutched her fists tightly.

  My heart was thudding frantically, my breaths fastened.My mother was trying to protect me, it was obvious.

  Grace sneered, pursing her lips back to bare her teeth, her cold eyes focusing on my mother. The book in her palms flipped again, this time faster, like a black butterfly stretching its wings.

  And then, a high pitching scream went piercing through the cold odd silence. Mom was struggling wildly, clutching her chest, yanking the floors to stop the pain, breathing hard. But it burned through her brain like fire, I could tell when she clutched her head in a painful way. Every single part of the brain seemed to explode, roaring like tides of water.

  Grace was biting her lips hard, trying to cause more agony, but the pale lipsstretched in to a sly smile as she watched my mother struggled in pain.

  “No, no, stop it!” A voice screamed in my ears. Though I didn’t know how Grace did it, but I had to stop it, now!It had to be me. I tried to stride down stairs to protect my mother.But to my surprise, Meghan clutched my hand hard.

  “Let… me… go…”Isquealed, struggling to break through Meghan’s tight grip. To my surprise, Meghan’s fragile fingers seemed to be much stronger than I thought it would be.

  “Tom… no…it’ll be worse, if Grace knows you’re alive, she’ll kill your mom…” Meghan pleaded. Tears were streaming down her eyes, though she blinked in frustration to stop the irritating tears. She covered her face with her fingers to stop watching the horrible scene.

  The scream stopped, mom collapsed on the floor.My heart eased and released a tiny bit. Meghan’s whole face was ghostly white from fright.

  “How did she do that? And how dare she just walk in to our house without permission and hurt my mom…”I was furious, grinding my teeth in the last few words. I was at the end of my temper, but I was also racing through my mind to get everything clear. I knew Meghan was right, getting down stairs would probably make it worse, even get my mom killed. But my mother had been screaming. I could almost feel her pain penetrating through my whole body like it had been stabbed by a thousand times. How could I ever bear this?

  Down stairs, the woman in black was still edging closer toward mother like a shadow, “Now, I see… your son’s up stairs… It’s clear in your mind… I read it through my book.”

  The last words hung in the air as though time had stopped. My heart stopped, my blood went cold and dead.

  Chapter Three

  A Horror-Struck Night

  “We’re doomed… we’re doomed… we’re totally doomed…” Meghan muttered. She slapped her hands toward her face, “How could I’ve been so stupid! She read minds, how could I have forgot!” She pinched herself in remorse.

  But I wasn’t listening. My eyes were focusing toward the two women down stairs. One terribly horrified; one completely pleased with herself.

  “But… how could you…”Momstuttered with her breaths weak as shattered glass.

  “I suppose without connection with your society, you couldn’t even keep up with the information.” Grace sneered with a cold laugh, “Magistics learn with their Soul Books, don’t they? Unfortunately, this new techniquerequires pain on the head. I’d be glad if you suffer it one more time as the punishment for lying…”

  “No, no!” It finallybroke out of mythroat and thrust out more piercingly than I expected. I stood up and stepped in to the light, to view myself in the light of the living room.

  I could see, in the dim light, Grace sneered in sardonic and pleasure, while mom’s eyes were frightened.

  “Tom, no, stop it! That’s my mission, to save you, and brought you safely to…” Meghan’s voice drained away, as she noticed Grace had seen me.

  “Well, well, Josephine. Your son indeed is brighter than you are, just like his father.” Grace’s expression relaxed, and her eyes grew hungrier as she examined me like an antique.

  “Stop, don’t harm my mom.I’m the one you want.”I said, trying to sound heroic, though my voice was trembling hard. I didn’t know if I did the right thing or not, but I wasn’t going to see MY mom suffer pain again. I bit my lips hard as Istaggered along toward Grace’s open arms and crafty expression.

  Something unbelievable happened in a second. First, Grace was wearing a confident smile on her face, but then, her expression hardened, as she clutched her feet, and fell to her knees.

  Mom, all tired and exhausted with the pain, was grasping a kitchen knife in her hands, slicing it right through Grace’s ankle.

  “Mom…” I was astonished, whilemy heart did a little beat.

  “No one… is going to hurt my son!” She gritted her teeth angrily and yielding her knife to get another strike, “Go, Tom, now!” Mom’s shrieks were cracked.

  There hadn’t been moments for me to react properly. Grace staggered to prop herself up, blood still gushing out from one of her high-heeled leather boots. Both of her eyes burning red with rage, as if they could spit fire three feet away. She swept her glossy hair around and seized my mother from the neck with her white-knuckled fingers.

  “You fool… you don’t know what you deserve…” Grace’s eyes glowered at her in fury, her voice hissing and rising like thunder storms, ripping sounds built up in her throat, her whole face twitched like wax. “It’s time for you to pay…”

  She drew the knife from mother’s exhausted fingers and ripped it through her throat. Blood flooded everywhere.

  “Go…”mom gasped, using her last strength of air to warn me. Then she slid down to the floor, her breaths stopped and her apron was soaked with scarlet blood.

  I stood there numbly.My body was shaking violently like a lightning had struck me. I didn’t believe what had just happened, i couldn’t believe it. Mom had sacrificed her life to let me run. Blood flooded to my ear drums.

  The whole world went blank. I could see images flashing, darting all the way down toward me in my head. Mom baking chocolate chip cookies especially for me, always remember to make it extra burnt on the edges. Mom telling old knock-knock jokes, cracking me in to fake laughter. Mom whispering to me, reminding endlessly to me to be good at school, and I had even thought that she was a bit of annoying… Mom, mom, mom… the words repeated itself in my head like a whirl wind, the images fading and reforming like liquid. I closed my eyes tightly. I couldn’t bear it any longer.

  A trickling line of icy water blurred my sight. I could still see Grace’s smile spread across her face as she staggered along with a bleeding leg toward me, “Come… boy…” She muttered. Her bearing teeth were so sharp and clean that it reflected images, so terrifying. The black leathered book on the ground was still flipping. But I didn’t care. Myfingertips trembling.

  “No…”I managed to say, my voice shattering, all the hatred and misery was burning inside me, building up in my throat to a scream, “No, never!”

  Chapter Four

  All Fell Down

  My vision blurred. I felt the whole house shattering, shaking as though on a riot. My head felt dizzy. I must’ve been imagining things.

  My rage was still boiling in me. Grace had killed my mother…I gritted my teeth with a clench, un able to control my feelings. Grace was glaring at me, her eyes filling with hot red flames, her clear sharp voice broke the silence, “You unworthy…”

  But her curse was cut by a violent shatter. This time it was none mistaken, the house, from top to bottom, was rocking as though caught in an earth quake. The ceiling cracked with a dozen lightning bolt like crevices, the calcimine powder that used to paint the walls fell like snow. What was happening? Was this Grace’s doing?

  But she was equally shocked, her eyes darted dangerously, “What in the name of Sacredawn…”

  I gasped with surprise when something fell, and I caught it midair with both arms wrapping around it. It was heavy and hard as a brick, but much more glamorous. A book, with sparkling golden bind and pale aurum cover dotted with resplendent and mysterious runes. My mouth dropped open with a gag. A book, just like the one Grace held.

  “Well then, the Book… Hand it over, let me examine it, now!” Grace hissed, her dark eyes gleaming with hungry sparks, as she reached forward.

  “No,”I breathed deeply. Why the book would appear was a blur to me, but if Grace wanted it, I would get to my wits end to keep it, though I didn’t know how I’d keep a thing so heavy without my hands trembling, “I won’t, not after what you did to my mom…”My lips felt dry, “You heard me. I said I won’t!”

  I swung myself backwards, clutching the book. But the book flipped in my arms, magically by itself. The ceiling cracked again. The floor trembled. The walls shook like thunder. A scrap of brick fell from the ceiling. I ducked to avoid it.

  The book, the shatter…They somehow related.My mouth was gaped open.I was too shocked to move at all. Scraps, chunks, lumps, all fell like crazy madness. I looked around with nervousness. Grace was nowhere to be seen in the mess of shambles, nor was mother’s body. They were blocked by a wall of hard bricks. I could still hear Grace’s wild shrieks.

  A hand grabbedme behind the back.

  “Get off me!”I spun around, exasperated. It was Meghan, probably had gotten off the stairs while the whole house was shattering.I gasped in relief, “Oh, it’s you…”

  “Don’t just stand there, the house is falling down!” Meghan hissed. She gripped me by the arms and half dragged me across the ashes. The house corrupted with a roar. The book in my arms ruffled and turned its pages. A thunder struck like explode filled the house.

  We threw ourselves through the gaps around the corners, which seemed like the remains of the original living room. The moment we got out, the house shook to ruins.

  “Tom, c’mon, let’s get out of here to a safe spot. She might come after us again…” Meghan drew a deep breath. The chilly night wind was almost suffocating. But I didn’t respond. “Tom? You okay?” She asked with a soft whispering voice.

  “My mom… my mom’s still in there.”I said breathlessly, the run had mademe exhausted, my whole heart was pounding.

  Meghan’s breath stopped, her nose started to feel acid, her eyes still red from the tears she had cried. She bit her lips, hard.“Tom, your mom’s… gone. I’m so sorry, it’s my fault… it’s all my fault.” Her voice cracked. She tried to blink her tears back, but it was useless.

  “Meghan, what do you mean it’s your fault?”I asked wistfully, “You didn’t kill…”I stopped abjectly, avoiding the sensitive conversation.

  “I’ve told you, I was supposed to bring you to safety and protect you.”Meghan wiped her eyes. “Look, let’s go now, they really might come back.”

  “Right, fine.”I muttered. “Seriously, where are we supposed to go, Meghan?”

  “I’ll explain later, C’mon.Get on that car over there, yeah, the silver one.” Meghan pointed at a small vehicle parked by the sidewalk, “Let’s get on to that car, and we’ll leave.”She grabbed me by the arms.

  “Uh, stop… stop gripping me like that!”I protested. I check my arm, it was scraped by some sort of brick in the accident.

  “Sorry…” Meghan said with a slight miserable grin, “You’ve wound your arm?”

  “Yeah, in the accident… You promise to explain everything, right?”I asked as he climbed on the silver vehicle.

  “Sure, I’ll explain. Be careful with your arm.” She stepped on to the driver’s seat.

  “Wait, who… who’s the driver?”I asked, as Iuncofortabaly eyed Meghan pulling on the seatbelt. “You’re not… You’re barely thirteen.” I almost laughed aloud at the idea if Meghan didn’t just save my life back at the house.

  “Yeah, that’s right. But I’ve got a special permission slip and a temporarylicense.” Meghan said coolly, as she yanked on the gear, “buckle on your seatbelt.”

  “Where are we going?”I asked, a bit suspicious, things went on a little bit unexpected for me, which made me a bit nervous.

  “We’re going to Sacredawn School, my school.” Meghan answered. She turned the steeling wheel with an Sin the middle. “It’s a great place, for a school, I mean.”

  “Meghan, you promised to answer questions. What’s so special about the book? Why did the house corrupt? Why can that woman read minds? Is that something to do with the Book? Why is she after…?”I babbled.

  The car bumped on the sidewalk with athump. “Sorry.” Meghan whispered with a tiny voice.

  “You do know how to drive a car, do you?” I glared at her with sarcasm, “I don’t want to die yet.”

  “Yes, I can.” Meghan said scornfully, “Stop asking questions, okay?” She hissed, and then her voice softened. “Get some sleep; it’ll be a long way.”

  “I dare say I can.”I muttered. Ignoring Meghan’s hisses, I cuddled myself on the seat. That’s when Irealized that the Book was still in my arms.

  The thing that had caused the building to corrupt, is it safe? I wondered as Iopened it very carefully. There, on the ruffled first page, were golden tipped flourish scribbles of words:

  March 20th, called the first book, caused the house to corrupt.

  User: Thomas Sacredawn

  I blinked with surprise. My last name was not Sacredawn, why did it come out like that? And what did it mean? I wrapped the golden covered book in my arms and stared at the window. Sacredawn… that name strike me as familiar.

  The night was still dark and dreamy, like nothing had ever happened. The dimly tiny stars twinkled, their holy eyes winked with a joyous giggle, like a few swirls of fireflies lighting up the down-fell night sky.

  I fell asleep with the book in my arms…

  Chapter Five

  An Attractive Headmistress

  The images came again, much more cheerful than before. I was with my mother, talking, laughing and cheering each other up, on their favorite picnic spot. There was another person, ebony haired, jet-black eyed, with a handsome and carefree smile, just like me, but a lot taller and older. It was mylong-lost dad, in my imagination.

  A sweet and warm sensation flowed in to my brain like a stream, filling me with happiness and blesses. I smiled. Nothing had happened. Everything was normal.

  “Tom, do you feel alright?” A voice broke through my thoughts.

  I bolted upwards, propping myself up with pillows. My arm still hurt a bit, but it was better than before. I was lying in a cozy bed in a spacious wide room painted in a bright white color, streaks of pale golden sunlight were beaming through the giant French widows.

  The sunlight made me a bit queasy, and my head still ached a bit from the long sleep. I rubbed my eyes with the good arm. An unfamiliar young woman was leaning against the bedpost, beaming at me mildly.

  She was around her thirties, imposing and gentle.Wearing a simple white satin longuettedress, she looked like an elegant ancient Greek goddess. She had warm black eyes like creamy chocolate and a smile that could melt one’s heart. Her hair was braided in a formal up-style, glossy black and smooth as silk. Her expressionwasbland but modest, giving one an unforgettable impression.

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  “Who… who are you? What is this place? Where’s Meghan?”I stared at the woman blankly, ruffling my hair with frustration to remember anything. It was no use. My head ached so painfully that I couldn’t even think properly.

  “This is the school’s infirmary. I believe Miss Meghan’s told you about it.”Her voice was smooth and gentle, barely a whisper, it made me feel delighted just hearing it. She gazed at me and examined closely with her stunning eyes. I met them and instantly felt something familiar about those eyes, but I couldn’t tell clearly.

  “It’s Meghan’s school, right? Uh…she said I am safe to be here.”I looked around, trying to cling on something to say. Staying in a room with an absolute beautiful woman certainly didn’t help get my memories clearer.

  The woman smiled, “Meghan’s right, you know, Tom. Welcome to Sacredawn School for Talented Youths…”

  There was a gust of hazy wind that broke her voice. The door of the infirmary slid open. Meghan squeezed herself in with a tired look subsiding in her eyes, “Oh, Tom, thank god you’re awake. There is so much I need to…” Her voice drained away like sand in an hourglass as she noticed there’s a third person in the room. Her face grew slightly pink of embarrassment. She blinked in surprise as she finally found her breath somewhere, “Oh, Headmistress,MadamSennett… I…um… gotta go, sorry for interrupting…”

  “You’re fine with us, Meghan. Do make yourself comfortable.”MadamSennett beamed at her warmly. The atmosphere was suddenly filled with relief. Meghan’s heat beat softened with ease as she sat down by my bedpost.

  I stared at the woman, “You’re the headmistress?” He felt half bewildered, half astonished.

  “I don’t look like one, do I, Tom?”MadamSennett raised an eye-brow.

  “Uh, I…”I went puzzled. The hazy atmosphere seemed to be stuffing me with a tired sleepy trance.

  MadamSennett broke my thought with a laugh, which jingled in the whole room like bells. “But, yes, we’re not here to talk about me. It’s you we’re focusing on today.”

  “Me? But… what’s so special about me? I’m just a little boy who…”I stopped and swallowed hard. It came back completely; the words were hard on my tongue. I couldn’t believe I had forgotten it all like a breeze had swept my memories, “Mom, mom’s gone.”My throat tingled tightly. My nose started to get sulky.

  “Tom, I’m sorry, really,” Meghan sniffled, giving me a gentle hug, her smooth blonde hair stroking me slightly, “It’s my entire fault. Besides, I don’t have parents either.”

  “How did they…?”I asked, slightly choking. Meghan had stayed at my house like about two years, but I never asked about her family until now, that sent me with a little bit of shame.

  “They’re lost in battle, trying to protect me.” Meghan breathed hard.

  “Wait, what?”I couldn’t stop getting more confused. I hadn’t heard any wars, battles or rebellions lately.

  MadamSennett tapped her fingers on the table and pursed her lips tightly. “Well, let’s say we should start from the beginning, shall we?” She glanced at the both of them, “Tom, you’re a Magistic.”

  Catching my bewildered expression, Meghan quickly added, “It means you have super natural powers, Tom.”

  My heart soared fast. My head span in a whirl wind. I could see images, of the corrupting building, of the gorgeous woman in black…

  Chapter Six

  The Sacredawn Family

  “You mean I was actually supposed to believe in mind readings and causing physical pains by stares?”I asked. My heart was doing somersaults by adjusting what I had heard.

  “Exactly, that’s what you saw, easy enough to understand?”MadamSennett took out something and pushed it towards me. The book, the one I had been carrying on the ride, was still shimmering gorgeously in the afternoon light.

  “Hey that’s…”I gasped in surprise.

  “The Soul Book is a record and a magical tool for a Magistic. It’s created once a Magistic discovers his or her talent, bound to the soul. Just like every soul is unique, any Soul Book is different from the others, every talent is unique. Once you got hold and controlled your Book, you learn your powers in the correct way.”MadamSennettcommentated patiently, “For example…”

  She placed her slim long fingers across her temple. A thick book glistened and appeared on the table, flipping like an angel’s wing. She smiled at me.

  A sensation of brilliance dissolved in my mind. The joyous images flashed through my mind like cards. I could hear a serenade twirling along my eardrums. The flavor of marshmallows spread across my tongue. I grinned. It felt so nice, so carefree. I could be enjoying it forever.

  Then it cut off, like someone plucking the plug of a light bulb. A cold shiver went up my spine as I realized something. “It… it was you. Wasn’t it, headmistress? The feeling you’ve sent me while I was still asleep. That was…indescribable.”

  I thought about how my head had gone confused and sleepy, was that MadamSennett’s masterpiece?

  MadamSennett nodded sadly, “Yes, I can control your mood and feelings. Magistic Magic can be powerful. But, unfortunately, every chess game has a white side… and a dark one.

  “Years ago, just the time around when you were born, I suppose. A Magistic family of se… uh, six sought more power and strength to take over the Magistic’s government. They tried to raise a war against us. They almost succeeded, but…”

  “But there’re only six of them! How many other Magistics are there? It’s like hundreds against six! How could they…”I yelped.

  “Thousands against six, okay?” Meghan muttered.

  MadamSennett sighed. “You’ve met one of them. Grace Sacredawn, she’s one of the fiercest. She can cause brain damages. But there’s worse, even darker…” She looked away and leaned by the window.

  I swallowed. The air stopped breathing. The whole room sank in a deep silence. Only the wistful screams of the leaves outside can be heard.

  “Azrael…” Meghan whispered. She was biting her lips hard not to scream. Her eyes mounted with pure terror like a ghost had just haunted her.

  “The eldest of the Sacredawn family, he can suck any other Magistic’s power out and damage the Soul Book like a ragged doll. He calls himself the Lord of souls, death and flesh. He’s the central of the family, without him, the others would fail.”MadamSennett didn’t meetour eyes. Her voice was slightly trembled, like the sound of scattered glasses.

  “And how did they fail? You said they almost succeeded.”I asked in a wary voice. My brain was skipping eagerly to gather more information.

  “Those were dark days, through the wars. Of course, you won’t remember, you were just born. Real dark days… In the last battle, Azrael was killed.”MadamSennett’s voice broke down to a stop.

  “By whom?”I asked, hanging for the answer.

  “Whom do you think?”MadamSennett turned to face them, smiling gently with sulkiness. Her expression was pained. Those dark eyes lost its usual luster.

  She rolled up her long white sleeve that draped down like wings. Her left arm was a horrible sight: a long thin amaranth colored scar ran down all the way to herwrist, like a lightning scratching her delicate skin.

  I stared and sank deep in to the bed. Meghan gasped and hid her eyes with her palms, not even peeking.

  “I never meant to do it, it just thrust out.I killed Azrael” She smiled wistfully. The satin sleeve fell and covered the scar perfectly.

  “When the battle ended, the rest of them hid through the backgrounds, melted away. They’re not giving up. They’re getting to their wits end to rise again, to save their brother.”MadamSennett continued.

  “That’s impossible.”I said, “You can’t bring dead people alive.”I pointed out.

  “Indeed, yes,” She answered, “But not Azrael’s. He’s the master of death, he has his ways. So, his siblings assumed his soul must’ve been hiding to, striking for the time to show up in a new body.”MadamSennett muttered.

  “But why are they after me? Grace even killed my mom, trying to get me.”My voice lowered as I finished my sentence.

  “They thought you’re the key to their brother’s rise. You’re unique, Tom, you must know that. Your first move was, well, a bit late, but incredible. Not every Cadet Magistic’s able to corrupt a whole building.” She smiled, “Miss Meghan here’s one of our finest students, and even she used five years to learn to use one of her powers.”

  My heart sank. I was special? A lot of words described me suitably, like unruly and stupid, but never special. I never gave that a second thought.

  “Yeah, ever since your mom refused to send you here, I volunteered to your house to protect you. She wanted you to be with her as long as possible, which is the most technical way to get killed.”Meghan smiled dryly. She glanced at me and sighed.

  “Tom, I want you to consider, whether you’ll stay in our school or not.”MadamSennett asked gently, leaning forward at me. I could smell the aroma of rose in her glossy hair. “This is the school your mother had studied when she was young, when she was still a Magistic, before her powers were taken. She’s an outstanding student, and so will you. We’ll teach you to learn your powers and fulfill your education. Would you accept my offer?” She asked.

  I considered about it. It didn’t even seem like much of a choice I have. What else can I do? I’m an orphan now.

  “Deal. Uh, I mean, yes, MadamSennett.”Ianswered. The idea of being in an entirely new school filled with wonders also seemed to make me filled with excitement, just for a moment, though.

  MadamSennett nodded. “I was expecting so. Miss Meghan?”

  “Yes, ma’am?” Meghan answered briskly.

  “Show Tom around the school, will you? The feast will be prepared for him to join us at six. Have a nice tour.” She beamed at them.“And, take the Book, Tom, you’ll use it quite a lot.”

  I carefully placed the book between my arms, feeling its weight in my arms.I looked back as Meghan guided me toward the door and met the headmistress’ eyes. “Yes?” She asked smoothly.

  “MadamSennett, do you know my dad?”I asked. I felt my heart racing fast, pressing for the answer.

  She hesitated. “No, I’m sorry, Tom. I don’t.” She looked away, trying to hide from my eyes. “I don’t know him.”

  I frowned and was pretty unconvinced. Through her gorgeous eyes that had a shade of guilt in them, and her worried tone, I knew she was hiding something. Something she didn’t want to tell, something somehow connected with the dreadful past…

  Chapter Seven

  Dormitories in the Woods

  When a tide of sunset flickered on the horizon, twilight shimmered dimly on the southern sky, flaming like streams of weak golden fire. The glorious of the afternoon dissolved in to the luster of dusk.

  A shower of sunbeam glimmered on the high sky-scraped spire of Sacredawn School, an extremely ancient castle of the sixteen-hundreds. With its high towering spires and old-aged stone walls, the school castle looked mysterious and somehow, dangerous with secrets you never knew.

  “So, why is it called Sacredawn School?Like it’s after the family who caused so much dismay?”I asked, as Meghan and I crossed the corridors under the shade of dusk. The name always bothered me. Sacredawn School, our enemy the Sacredawn family, and of course, the mysterious writing on my Book of Thomas Sacredawn…

  “No, it’s named after Thomas Sacredawn.” Meghan answered, leading me through classrooms.My mind clicked as if a puzzle had formed on a missing place in my mind, “Funny you had his name, Tom.Thomas Sacredawn, he’s the one who first found this land for Magistics in the sixteen hundred. This place is hidden in the great woods somewhere. Sacredawn is the greatest Magistic of his time. So, this school is named after him to honor his great deeds, also…” She pulled me to the side of a window. There, I could see verdant mountains, thick woods, surrounding a gigantic city which shone in the twilight. Sky-scrapers that seemed like lofty cliffs pierced toward the sky, seeming to touch the heavens. The lights, the neon signs were blazing like stars. The traffic roared in the distance. I was transfixed by the sight of the landscape.

  “Wow,” I breathed

  “There, the Sacredawn City. It’s marvelous, isn’t it? The only town which is safe for us to live, to be a Magistic…” She grinned broadly, as though she was dreaming.

  “Meghan… Hey, Meghan! Stop daydreaming.”I nudged her by her elbow.

  “Oh, sorry, I… sort of forgot. Uh… okay, so the Sacredawn family we’re facing, they must’ve been the heir of Thomas Sacredawn or something. It’s really terrible that people related to a great person didn’t turn out so well.” She muttered wistfully.

  I stared in astonishment, not sure what to say. My enemies were related to the greatest hero of Magistic history, it was unbelievable.I bit my lip. I still remembered the lines on my golden book, Thomas Sacredawn… Was that the hero’s name? Or was it my own name? I half hoped it was the first idea. But then again, why would it appear to be the hero’s name? He died about hundreds of years ago. It didn’t make sense.

  I wanted to tell Meghan about this, but I couldn’t say it out loud. I didn’t dare to. I clutched the book in my arm tightly. How could I be such a coward?

  “Uh, Tom, I think it’s time we meet your classmates.” Meghan cut out thoughtfully, “Every body’s totally nice. So… you don’t have to worry.” She noted the word with a weird tone. She was now trudging her feet back and forth on the marble school grounds, as though she was convincing herself rather than comfortingme.

  We traipsedacross the school castle and entered a valley below the steep cliff. Thickly grown trees nuzzled each other, blocking the sky like green giants. Twilight peeked through the canopies, creating a warm cozy scene. The woods were as ancient as the passing times, as quiet as a sweet dream. Through the gaps between each tree and bramble bush, I could spot half a dozen cabins or huts nestled deeply inside them.

  “Wow, no way…”I peered at them, focusing hard, “You’ve got dormitories in the woods.”

  “Uh-huh.” Meghan nodded, obviously trying to play her cool. “Each dorm had its own design and spirit. Students were divided in to different groups to join them.”

  “It’s like you’ve got to pick the place you’re staying?”

  “Not quite. The head counselor has to select you, to see if you’re fit or not.” Meghan pushed me forward by the shoulders, “C’mon, get a closer look.”

  The cabins were scattered along like stars in the sky, each looked totally different from the others. Most were crowded with screaming or giggling kids.

  The one on the far right was painted (more like being splashed) bright red, orange and something like yellowish brown. The roof had been hammered half a billion times. A head of a fiery fierce dragon was hanging above the front door. Inside, there was a burning hearth breathing warm cozy flames. Most students were laughing, joking and yelling their heads off, some were roasting barbecues by the hearth in the middle. A crooked sign was pinned on the side, written in scribbles of golden paint: Dragon Dormitory.There were some smaller words written beneath the sign by others, like “The place where you have fun, yeah!!!!!!”, or “Dude, you’ll love it, we bet it! (smiley face)”.

  “This is my dorm.” Meghan said with a grin.

  “Seriously?”I asked suspiciously. Meghan was a goody-two-shoes sort of girl, why would she be hanging out in there? It was more like mykindof place.

  “Long story,” She looked away, hiding a mysterious smile. Then her expression went attitude like, “We shall get on, shall we?”

  They roamed across the main path, while other cabins appeared in sight.

  The “Bookworm Branch” looked just like the right place for know-it-all slash nerds. The tree house perched high up on a rustling branch, and inside the hollow tree trunk were zillion piles of books, each one brick sized and flipped on the edges as though every single one had been read over a thousand times.

  “Unicorn Unit” was quietly nestled in the bushes, painted snowy white and brilliantly designed to look like a mini-sized fairytale castle. Even the students looked dazzling and good natured. The girls looked na?ve enough to dot their names with tiny pink hearts. Several waved at me with glamorous smiles while dotting glossy lip shinesand admiring their looks in a tiny looking glass.

  But the one hidden down the miner cave was freaking-out spooky. The dorm looked more like a dark basement full of ghosts or a creepy dungeon. Green flamed candles flickered spookily like ghost fire in the dim room. Bronze chains hanging from the cave roofs were jingling in the wind. A bunch of mean looking kids were scattered along the house, climbing up and down the creaky ladders down to their rooms underground. Everyone had an evil smirk on their faces, like they’re trying to figure out how to make a prank on you.

  I gulped. “Uh, that’s a dorm, right? Not a dungeon?”

  “Uh-huh,” Meghan clutched her throat nervously, “Hydra House. Just don’t get too near to them, they’ll freak you out.” She mumbled, looking around intensely. “Uh, Tom? I think we should move…”

  I spun around and flinched. Two kids were already standing behind them, wearing unfriendly smiles. One was a meaty boy that looked like a gorilla, the other was a skinny girl her face pale as ghost. They looked like a strange pair.

  “What’s up, princess?” The scrawny girl smirked, “Getting your newbie boyfriend to school now?” She glanced at me and wrinkled her nose, like she smelled something bad.

  “Stop calling her that!And she’s not my…”I got red in the face. I was ready to punch the girl in the face.

  But Meghan dragged me by the arm, which hurt me, a lot, especially when it was my injured arm. Her eyes were rimed with wetness, like she was about to cry again. She gave me a warning look. “They’re just getting under your skin.” She whispered, half whimpering.

  I bit back my reject and turned away from those kids, with Meghan tumbling behind me. I could make out the gruff sound of the boy, “Believe me, Maddison, they’re going dead.” And there was a cold snicker from the others.

  On their way to another dorm, I still couldn’t get off my anger about the kids, my anger was boiling inside me, “Those no-good kids… Aargh!”I kicked a rock, which in astonishment, corrupted in a second. I felt the book in my arm tremble a little. “They think they’re so great!”I decided to tread on a boulder, while Meghan managed to stopme.

  “They’re always like that, so just don’t let them get under your nerves!” She warned, stilling sniffling.

  The last tide of sun beam flickered way like tongues of fire. Students chatted and squeezed them selves out of their dorms, most of them holding piles of homework assignments and gripping tightly on their Soul Books.

  The dimly tiny stars twinkled, their holy eyes winked with a joyous giggle, like a few swirls of fireflies lighting up the down-fell night sky.

  The dinner feast bell rang in the distant.

  “Well, it’s time you have your first dinner at our school and sort you dormitory out.” Meghan gripped hard on my hand, but quickly dropped it when she realized what she was doing. “Uh, I hope you’ll make Dragon Dormitory.” She blushed.

  Chapter Seven

  The Grand Dinner Feast

  The moment I set my view on the dining hall, I gaped in amazement.

  The dining hall was crowded with students.

  Long and splendid, the hall was lit by flickering candle lights andred-hot burning torches.The twinkling crystal chandeliers hang above several long tables, where the students were scattered around. These tables were laid with white table cloth and glistening cleandinnerware. Every students from the same cabin ate around the same dining table.

  At the end of the hall where all students were facing, was another long table where the teachers and staff members were seated. Standing at the entrance of the hall, I could catch Madam. Sennett’s encouraging smile in the light of the candles.

  Meghan nudged me on the elbow, “Go on, to the front of the hall. I’ll wait you when you’re sorted. Good luck.” She squeezed my hand a little too hard and left to join her Dragon Dormitory mates at the far right of the hall.

  I stood on the path toward the front. I caught the students staring at me, checking me out, which mademy throat tinge a little tightly. I tripped around the corner of the Hydra House table and sent the students over there burst in to snickers. But thank god they said nothing.

  MadamSennett got up of her seat, and everyone in the room went silent. I could tell it the headmistress’ mood effect. She cleared her voice, which is technically not necessary, and said in a mild voice that echoed through the hall way. “Dear students, good evening. I hope you’ll enjoy your dinner. But before today’s feast, I have an announcement to make.” She paused, and smiled, as she stepped down to touch a hand on my shoulders, which instantly sent a warm feeling down my heart.

  “We have ourselves a new friend, Tom S…”Madam. Sennett coughed, and her lips twitched a bit, but she quickly recovered. “Tom will be joining our school from today on. He will, of course, settle down in a dormitory. Which house counselor would like to accept him?” She glanced along the fellow students.

  I breathed hard. My ankle felt a little sour. Most of the students were gazing at their empty plates with a bored expression. The Bookworm Branch students were crazily sketching through their Books. The Unicorn Unit ones were checking themselves in dainty little mirrors. Other dorms were just whispering along.

  I caught Madison, the sulky girl and the other meaty boy wearing a taunting look, over at the Hydra House table. None of the students at that table rose a hand. They’re all snickering smugly at me.

  While I started thinking no one would want to accept me, a clear mischievous voice yelled through the hall, “We’ll do it!”My heart skipped a beat. A boy around fifteen stood up on the table far right, the Dragon Dorm table. He was tall, muscular and good-looking, with sandy blonde hair cropped short. He grinned widely when at me. “I mean, Dragon Dormitory would like to accept Thomas.” He smiled confidently. A relief washed over me, I was glad I was accepted in the dorm I wanted

  MadamSennett nodded in agreement, “Well then, Tom will be a Dragon Dormitory student from now.” She smiled at me, and whispered by my ears, “Go on ahead.”

  There was a burst of applause like thunder booming from the hall as I walked joyously toward the Dragon Dormitory table. There were thrilled whistles from the table.

  Meghan was waving at meenthusiastically like her hand was on fire, “Thank god, you made it!” She cried out loud, rushing toward me to give me a hug but quickly halted.

  The teenage boy who accepted me, apparently the head counselor of Dragon Dorm, grinned at me broadly, and eagerly shook my hand. “Good to see you, Tom. Welcome to Sacredawn School.” He beamed with a friendly smile, “I’m head counselor of Dragon Dorm, Lucas Lannister, here we accept people who love adventures, which technically means having fun. And, of course, rule-breaking.” He added with a playful chuckle, “I mean, c’mon, you can’t have credits and fun at the same time, right?” He smirked good-heartedly.

  “Cool,”I answered. Lucas seemed like aneasy-going guy.

  Madam. Sennett clapped her hands together, and had no problem getting everyone’s attention. “Let the dinner feast begin.” She tapped her fingers on the table. In a second, the door toward the kitchen swung open, and the delicious fragrance of food filled the air. Students cheered and rushed excitedly through the door, bringing along their plates, sending a jingling of sound.

  I followed the other fellow student along Lucas’ lead. The kitchen was filled with the pleasant aroma. Bundles of greasy mutton kebabs and crispy barbecues were plucked in half a dozen buckets. Lamb chops and grilled steaks were still sizzling hot on their plates. Potato mush poured with navy were ladled in small silvery cups. Chocolate puddings were decorated with cream to look like dainty ballerinas.

  Mymouthgapedin in astonishment at the magnificent sight as I took little bit of almost everything and went back to my seat and gobbled.

  “Tom, I’ll show you some of our dorm mates.” Lucas said carefreely as he sat down beside me with a big chunk of plump juicy turkey. He looked around the table, and yelled at the top of his lungs, “Oi! Fire Glare!!!” His loud shouting echoed across the entire hall and got everyone’s eye staring directly at him. But Lucas didn’t seem to care.

  “Uh-oh.” Meghan muttered, as she seated herself by my other side. She folded her arms across her lap and raised an eye-brow at Lucas, “You’re in so much trouble.”

  Lucas just laughed in respond.

  A girl came striding by the crowd across from the end of the long table, clenching and gripping hard on something like a red burnt fencing sword. She was imposing and strong, even taller than Lucas. She had blonde ringlets curling down and glistened wildly as if caught in sunbeams.A pair of large dazzling ear-rings almost as bright as her hair were dangling from her ears. Her eyes were aggressive and fierce-looking like a hawks’.

  She stormed toward Lucas, and two objects came collided through the air and pierced right down toward his plate like lightning. Crash!I flinched. The two objects were sharp folding knives that curled on the tip. One knocked my goblet down, and the other sliced right inside Lucas’ turkey’s chest. I gasped speechlessly, “Wow.”

  But Lucas just laughed, “Only hit nine points, you should’ve done better, Glisten. Hat-least-I-dun-half-to-shlice-my-tookey.” He devoured a piece of turkey meat as he said the last sentence.

  But the girl Glisten didn’t budge. She seized the throwing daggers back toward her ears, which I found in astonishment: the blades were part of her gigantic ear-rings. Glisten snarled and shoved her red fencing sword toward Lucas’ plate, and the thing burned like fire. I noticed the Book in Glisten’s arms flipped.

  “Now that’s even better, Fire Glare. Roasted turkey, just like the thanks-giving ones, yeah!” Lucas whistled.

  “DON’T EVER CALL ME FIRE GLARE!” She yelped but took her fencing sword back. The tongue of flames licked away, leaving the turkey no harm.

  “Of course, I’d never call you that name. Why would I do that? Would I, Fire Glare?” Lucas punched Glisten on the back gently.

  “Aargh!” She grumbled but said nothing. That’s when I noticed Meghan was giving her warning looks.

  “See, Tom. Glisten Gallagher here has talents of fire. Don’t worry, the flames weren’t burn, but they’re quite itchy.” Lucas smirked, “Her dad had a company, Gallagher Gadgets, which supplies the coolest weapons and gadgets for the MIA.”

  “MIA?”

  “The Magistic Intelligence Agency, we have cool spies, you know. By the way, Glisten always gets to use the most awesome ones, like the daggers you’ve seen. And she’s also good at swords fighting.” Lucas explained, his eyes glinted with mischief as he said the last words.

  “It’s fencing!” Glisten glowered, though her expression softened a little, just a little, when Lucas boasted about her talents.

  “And arrow shooting.” Lucas said, playing along, wanting to cause Glisten angrier than ever.

  “Archery! Uh, you’re so helpless!!!” Glisten marched away, leaving me open-mouthed.

  “Wow, she’s fierce.”I managed. A question shot through my brain, “Um, Lucas?”

  “Yeah?” Lucas was munching unstoppably with his meal.

  “What’s your talent?”

  A grin spread across his face, “Guess why they call me Lucas Skywalker instead of Lucas Lannister.”

  “You love to collect Star Wars playing cards?”I asked curiously. That was the best guess I could make.

  “Nah. But I play Card Chase. It’s because I can walk in air, or literally walk in to any place. So, it’s really easy to steal hams from the kitchen even before they’re ready.” He stomped his legs under the table. The Books on his lap turned its pages wildly. And instead of knocking on the wood, his whole feet stretched through the table.

  “Wow, that’s cool. I wish I could have your talent.”I muttered.

  “What’s your talent?” Lucas said, as he fetched himself another piece of meat.

  I swallowed, the image of the house falling didn’t really make my mood any better. “I don’t know.”I replied.

  “Yet.” Lucas said, “Don’t worry, you’ll figure out. We always do.”

  I felt warmth stretching across my heart. I was beginning to like Lucas more than ever, “Thanks.”I mumbled.

  “I’m done.” Meghan said suddenly as she scraped the last bit of crumb from her plate and cautiously swallowed her last bite. I

  found her quite quiet after Glisten had come along.

  “Aw, Meghan. Don’t leave, you’ll miss all the fun.” Lucas said in his best fake voice.

  But she tosses her glossy hair around, clutched her bag around her arms and hurried out of the hall.

  I felt bad about ignoring her during the whole conversation, but the feeling quickly sloped off. I met the Trickster twin brothers, Justin and Dustin Trickster.

  “Uh, so… which ones which?”I asked, a bit bewildered. The brothers looked identical, both with round plump chins and short height.

  “I’m Justin.” The one on the left side said.

  “No, you’re all wrong.” The right one corrected, “I’m Justin. You’ve got your turn as Justin yesterday. It’s only fair I have a turn.” He grumbled.

  “No, you idiot. We turn around our identities month around, your head’s too woody to remember all that.” The left one snarled.

  “No, you’re bigger and woodier.” (Seriously, I couldn’t tell which ones bigger, the brothers looked like each other’s clones)

  “No, yours!”

  And the two brothers started fighting. The left one (or is it the right one?) yanked the right one on the chin. The right one (which one’s which?) grabbed his brother’s collar and punched him on the stomach. The left one/right one (Uh, forget it) tangled the other and they all rolled in a mess.

  So, I reluctantly dropped the subject.

  “Don’t worry, they’re just playing around.” Lucas grinned.

  “Do themselves get confused?”I asked.

  Lucas glanced at me with a weird look that said: Are you kidding me? “No, of course not.”I couldn’t get his tone, whether he was joking or being serious. So, I decided to drop it again. This time eternally.

  The next came the Kellemi Sisters (aka. Kill-me Sisters, it’s Lucas’ nickname). They both had caramel skin and beautiful curly brown hair. While the older one, Katelyn Kellemi told a joke and did some ridiculous magic trick that cracked everybody’s chin, her five-year-old little sister, Katie, burst out laughing which spat her gulp of smoothie like a cannon ball, and it spud toward Glisten right in the face. The whole table roared with laughter.

  I laughed along while i toasted Lucas and the others with at least five goblets of Diet Coke and Soda. I felt warm and welcomed, exactly like home.

  Chapter Eight

  A Game of Card Chase

  The moon rose high above the sky. Students darted and squeezed through the doorway and vanished through the woods. The Dragon Dorm mates followed Lucas’ lead and headed toward their dormitory. I treaded on the heels of the line (which was totally a messy group) and sauntered along the winding path amidst the gigantic looming trees.

  The dim woods were suddenly lit up by swirls and swirls of fireflies twinkling on each of the branches, like Christmas lights aflame the usual dark night.

  Until Lucas nudged me and whispered in my ears, did I look up. My mouth widened.

  The Dragon Dormitory looked glamorous in the night times (in spite of the prankful sight I had seen in the day). Colorful illuminations that tangled the entire house hold, shone from top to bottom like flashing rainbows, they made the whole cabin look like a hill of lights. Fireworks were shooting from the chimney, catching everyone’s curious eyes and amazed applause.

  The students scrambled inside the dormitory, chatting and screaming even crazier than before.

  Lucas led me through the bustling crowd as they both stepped inside. Now, less hungry than before, I could get a much clearer view of the interior of Dragon Dormitory. The lobby was large and round, painted flaming red and warm orange. Cozy bean bags and cautions scattered along the floor, where kids were resting and bouncing on it childishly. The hearth in the center was burning even brighter than the day time, morphing different images that wavered in the night breeze that brushed from the windows, spitting sparks of different colors from light golden to scarlet.

  I leaned forward to catch a closer look at the hearth. A spark of flame flew out and shot toward the ceiling. Something was recoiling from the ashes. It had a tiny pair of leathery wings, sharp claws and a long red tail flickering with fire. The thing squawked in a high-pitched growl at me. I breathed in amazement, “A dragon!”Iyelped as the tiny thing wrapped itself around the hearth and blew a puff of smoke in my face.

  Lucas laughed. “The Dragon Dorm doesn’t name itself after nothing. Meet the BBQ dragon, he’s been here for at least four hundred years, helping students roast barbecue. Says he’s the company of Thomas Sacredawn, the school founder. Don’t worry, Tom. He’s absolutely harmless.” He leaned forward to touch the tiny dragon on the back. The thing slithered like a serpent and bit him on the thumb, burning Lucas’ fingers. He laughed and put on a broad smile again, “See? He’s saying hello.”

  “Uh, yeah. Absolutely friendly.”I nodded nervously and backed away from the fire immediately.

  Someone blew a horn upstairs. The sound was loud and cracked, though everyone cheered at the sound of it. The Trickster Brothers did a back flip to celebrate and bumped on to each other, their eyes glinting mischievously.

  Lucas clapped his hands together, and yelled, “C’mon, everyone, up to the boy’s dormitory! We’ve got a big night to celebrate! Woo-hoo!” He cheered.

  “What are we doing?”I asked as everybody else flooded toward upstairs.

  Lucas smiled his crooked smile, “Best part of the night. We’re gonna play Card Chase games. C’mon, can’t be late for that, I’ll explain the rules later.”

  “Are the girls coming? I mean, we’re going to the boy’s room.”I asked, half hoping I’d meet Meghan there. Her attitude didn’t seem to lighten a bit, since she hadn’t talk to me the whole night and didn’t join in any of my conversation.

  Lucas eyed me with a weird expression, as if I’d just asked the dumbest question he’d ever heard of, “Sure, if they want to.” He replied and tilted his head toward Glisten, the fierce girl we met at the dining table, “Glisten… I mean, Fire Glare is always taking part in the games. That’s the name you prefer, isn’t it, Fire Glare?” He punched her on the back gently.

  “Aargh, you’re so annoying!” She cried out and yanked her fencing sword that she seemed to be carrying everywhere and blocked Lucas away. I noticed she had a thick deck of games cards clutched in her arms, must’ve been for the Card Chase game.

  The boy’s room was untidier than the messiest room in the world. Rows of four-poster beds scattered around the circular room, draped with scarlet curtains. Posters of legendary Magistic heroes were pinned on the walls, several was dog-eared and yellowish. Rock music blared from loud speakers and video recorders. Everyone had to scream at every syllable they pronounced. I saw every boy of Dragon Dorm and several girls including Glisten Gallagher and the Kellemi Sisters help to spread a gigantic game map on the floor. It had hundreds of cross roads and twists and turns, like a maze, little flags of blue and red dotted here and there across the map.

  “Therules are a bit complicated,” Lucas explained, “Every player has his or her own deck of cards of real life heroes and champions in the Magistic world. We have this map, see? There are two teams playing, the red and the blue, each little flag has a number on it, that’s your team code. You flip a dice, and the whole team move their flags in different directions, the numbers tell you how many paces you can go. And when both team meets, they have a fight with cards. The cards have different power points and…”

  He flicked a card toward me, on it was the figurine and descriptions of the hero. On the bottom, were three lines which showed Strike Points, Defense Ranks and Healing Grades.

  “Then, you turn a spinner to show which power point you’ll compete with the card. Now that’s tricky, you don’t know which power point you’re competing with, so the best part is to collect the cards with as much points as there is. Look, I’ve already collected hundred of them.” Lucas held out a shoe box and showed me every card he had with a proud grin on his face. “I already collected the second best one, the Grim Lady. Once, I was this close to get this diamond card of Thomas Sacredawn… Well, you get the idea, game cards are really, really hard to collect.”Lucas explained. “Do you have your personal deck of Card Chase game card?” He tilted his head toward me.

  I shrugged, “No, I’m new here.”

  “That’s alright. You canhave my old deck of cards. Right there, under my bed.” Lucas tosses them around and handed it to me, “Not as good as the others, I suppose. But it’ll be better than nothing. You still have a big chance to win. Ah! You can have a Knight of the Night. That’s really rare!” Lucas grinned.

  I counted the cards. There were hundreds of them at least. “Wow, thanks, Lucas,” I gasped in disbelieve, “No one had been so nice to me in my whole life.”

  “Nah. That’s absolute nothing, C’mon, join the game.”Lucas nudged him forward.

  For the rest of the night, we laughed and had a nice time playing Card Chase. I competed with Glisten, Justin, Dustin (seriously, I don’t know how many times I played with each one of them, they got totally confused with their names, but it didn’t bother the game) and a whole bunch of other kids. I losea lot, but I still won several cards, one of them was a diamond card of Glisten Gallagher, which she made a face and glared at me when I got hers. “Darn.” She muttered, and for a split second, I was sure she was going to use her Magistic powers to burn my shirt. But the rest of the game came out pretty fine. I moved my flag across half of the map and made many competitions and adventures with my cards. Pretty cool for a bunch of cards, I guess.

  Even Meghan came along to join us, which I found in surprise. “You play the game?” I raised an eye brow at her while I won a Silver Card from Katelyn Kellemi. Despite the incident that happened at the dining hall, I still considered Meghan was a nice company.

  “No, I don’t see how this game is an entertainment. I only collect the cards to learn from the description of the historical characters and learn more thoroughly in Magistic history and…” She blushed as she caught the scowl on my face but quickly recovered. She pulled me to the corner of the room and whispered, “Listen, about what happened at the dining table, I was behaving kind of like a jerk…” She bit her lip.

  “You were jerk by the dining table.” I laughed, taunting at her. But she didn’t take it as a joke, she tossed her hair and knitted her eye-brows together, which I took in as the answer of “you’re impossible”.

  “Yeah, I guess, I was.” She chewed her lip and twirled a strand of her blond hair between her fingers, “I was a bit bothered about you talking to the others and not minding me like I’m not there. I was afraid that…” She looked kind of embarrassed.

  “Afraid of I’m not friends with you anymore even if you’re a moody nerd?” I laughed, “now it’s the time I tell you you’re impossible.”

  Meghan’s face reddened with shades of pink on her cheeks, “Oh, stop teasing,” She stared thoughtfully at me,and murmured, “Tomorrow’s a big day. You’ll have to catch up with the others quickly, and I think I’ll help you through your studies.” Then she smiled at me, “You look happy today, Tom. Really, I’ve never seen you like that.”

  Time passed rapidly with each round we played. The bed time bell rang in the distant school castle, waves and waves of the magnificent sound gushed like tides through the woods. With a full stomach and eye-lids hung with sleepiness, students rushed back to their beds.

  Lucas led me to a bed beside the grand French window, with scarlet cautions and deep red velvety drapes. I cuddled myself on the bed while the night lamp dimmed in to darkness. I stared blankly in to the ceiling. The journey through the school had all been to strange and unacceptable, and yet he enjoyed it so far. I thought of everything I’ve been through, especially my mother’s death, which I fought the urge not to burst in to tears. Would the Sacredawn family find me and take their revenge? Why was I the key of their family’s rise? Questions bubbled in my head and I couldn’t stop them.

  “Hey Lucas,” I turned my head around to check out my friend on the other side. But he was snoring, already fast asleep with a broad sunshine grin on his face, probably dreaming. I smiled too.

  Meghan’s right, tomorrow’s a big day. I stared at the glistening book that lied quietly on my bed, watching as its golden bind and cover glinting warm light in the shade of moon beam. I finally lay my head down on the pillow and fell in to dream land.

  Chapter Nine