Chapter nine

“I don’t know.” Talia replied. “Why do you ask?”

The vampire fitted her hands into her jean pocket. “Your energy was off the charts. Similar to a major god.”

An energy feeding vampire. This explained why she was allowed in the academy. She wasn’t a threat. Talia did wonder why the vampire felt that way. If she was a spawn of a major god, She would be a very big deal. It could be the fact that she never really allowed that side of her get release. Talia brushed off the thought as the tour continued. They walked through narrow hallways and stopped right at an open doorway.

“This will be your room.” The vampire waved her hand. The girls inside obviously heard because they abandoned whatever they were talking about and turned in the direction of the voice. Talia peeped in, her foresight immediately kicking in. Three of the girls were faerie; one with acid green hair and the other two with similar purple hair. Talia watched the fourth one drop the bomb.

“By Hecate, She is a demigod!”

The Fae trio seemed to pick up a bit later but from their murmurings, Talia could clearly tell they were not pleased.

“That’s no way to welcome your new roommate,” The vampire porter came to the rescue. She took Talia’s hands and they both stepped inside. “This is Talia Trueborn and she will be staying with you guys for a couple of days. Do be nice and help her in whatever way you can.”

The porter then turned to Talia and said, “I have to go now. Your new roommates will help you if you have any trouble settling in.”

Talia nodded in silence. The Vampire took her response In good faith and stepped out but not before whispering, “No breaking the rules.”

Talia glanced towards the dirty blonde witch who so happened to be the only one with an empty bunk. Her stomach twisted as the girl’s irises bore through her like a rot spell. In awkward silence, Talia retrieved a small trunk which she had managed to shrink before running all the way from home to the academy. She said the magic words and the trunk swiftly metamorphosed in size and she began settling in.

“How was your day?” Her bunk mate; the witch inquired, flashing a not very friendly looking smile.

“Not bad.” Talia lamely replied. It was way better to leave the gruesome details out.

“Well, Do be careful around school grounds, Some people don’t fancy the stories your eyes tell them.”

The advice made the girl flinch. Sybil. Why did everyone sympathize with her so much. Left to her, it felt like they were trying to hard to pardon the wrong she committed. Most people had troubled pasts and it did not make them border line sociopaths.

Talia’s eyes went back to the witch. “Thank you.”

It wasn’t sincere. It was just the right thing to do. Talia turned her attention to the Faes who were doing a good job ignoring her existence. It felt scary knowing the kind of people she grew up with were giving her the cold shoulder. She briefly considered striking a conversation with them but at that moment, Her phone rang. Her eyes went to the device and she noted who the caller was. Her mother.

Why was she calling? Had she found a potent locator spell and was just reaching to connect with her and pinpoint her location? Or to find out how her day went. The questions burned in her head. She reluctantly swooped in and picked the incoming call.

“Hello mom.”

“Talia, How are you doing?” She could hear the note of concern in her voice. It was almost like a plea and it hurt Talia to do this.

“I am great mother. I even made a new friend today.”

She heard her mother snort, “Really? Who?”

“A shifter. I have told you before Mom, I will be okay.” That was Talia. She was great at pretending everything was alright. Talia wiped a fleeing tear as she proceeded to ease her mother’s fears. “In five days, I will be back to the greenlands with my license. I promise you.”

There was a moment of beautiful silence just before Talia ended the call. She heaved heavily and prayed she could keep her promise.

***
THE GREENLANDS, FIRST REALM

Her aching legs launched faster. For Maveth Trueborn, Time counted. Her heart felt heavy in alarm and cold sweat slid down her determined face. As she crossed the rickety old bridge that separated the Fae village from the thick forest, she wondered if she was ready to hear the treacherous words fate might bring to her aching ears. She did not relent. Not even when the nightmares of Zeus held her back. The cold wind blew at a threatening intensity as she trotted down a cooked path that led to the huts of the forest witch which was isolated from the village. It had been a long time since she visited. The crooked path stopped at an old mud hut which was green with moss and appeared desolate just like the witch wanted it to be. Maveth’s eyes caught the sight of the witch’s familiar who swooped down at her to observe the visitor. It cawed and flew into one of the open windows so dark and grim that Maveth wasn’t sure if anyone was in. The witch residing in the hut was not cruel. Yet, Maveth managed to get the jitters whenever she visited and visiting was something that happened once a blue moon. She stopped at the door and dared to knock. Eerie silence followed but Maveth was no fool. The witch was very much within.

“I will not be going. Not until you give what I want.” Maveth sent, holding her breath.

The winds moaned loudly in the direction of the door and it creaked open, inviting the faerie to treasures within. Despite her heart being in her throat, Maveth dared to walk in. The house had no source of light and the thickness of the foliage of the forest made it almost impossible for the healing light of the gods to penetrate the witch’s environs. Maveth took it in good faith and kept on walking where the cold winds hands led her on. Then the touch vanished.

“It is wiser to be ignorant sometimes Maveth.” A chilling voice whispered. It was the forest witch.

She let out a muffled gasp and turned in the direction of the voice. She heard a sharp cackle and the room was cast in a glow of warm orange light. Bright enough for to make out features of the witch. Her skin was gnarled like a tree bark, her eyes narrowed to a quint that one could barely tell if she was awake or asleep.

“I want to look into the future, again.” Maveth informed, closing in on the haggard figure.

“I know. The mothers of mothers can sense your fears.” The witch muttered.

“Do you see a vision?”

“Hecate is telling me something.” The witch began,scratching on her leathery nose. “She tells me your family will burn to the ground because of the blood running through your daughter’s veins. She tells me the girl will be the harbinger of your death and her ruin.”

The witch let out a reign of cruel laughter after. Maveth’s mouth went dry and thick with bile. This wasn’t what the witch saw last time. She promised them a good long and happy life then. Maveth was aware of how the future was bound to change but this was a drastic change. She knew it had to be Talia’s rash decision.

“However,” The witch chipped in, regaining the attention of the faerie. “The future is still uncertain. Perhaps a drastic change can force the hands of time in your favor.”

“Like what?” Maveth demanded with her eyebrows arched up.

“Tell the girl who she is. Who her father is. It might be enough.”

No! She would pay a heavy price if Talia knew and the discovery could ruin them both.