Original Souls (A World Apart #1) (47 page)

Señor -Huntzme
n’
s wife was believed to be a gold-digger. Though the mere fact that she was better educated than her husband, and now worked at the same establishment, put a damper on that argument. Most simply couldn't believe that a woman of her youth and beauty would be interested in a doofus like him. He was charming, but a bit of a fuddy-duddy. Señora Mira had every man watching her every move. She knew that very well. She tried not to take advantage of it. Unless, of course, she was in a hurry. Which she was, so...

"Please, don't be upset." She moved in close and gently placed her hand on his stiff shoulder. "We thought this room would be best because of its size and proximity to the main gate," every word she spoke was laced with a sweet harmony that made it sound as though she were singing. "After all, the children's convenience and enjoyment are us ministrants top priority, no?" She paused to allow him the chance to absorb this final moment he'd ever share with her. Corinth and Emmy looked on impatiently. Emmy even scowled at the thought of a teacher using her appeal to settle a dispute. The mad-scientist had
n’
t yet responded. He could
n’
t respond. "I think it is," was all she need say to sum up the debate. He was putty in her hands. In full compliance with anything she desired.

Never having answered, he drifted away with trembling lips. Sena. Mira knew how to work a crowd, and an individual.

"That was quite the display of lady like behavior," Emmy said as she moseyed over to her elder, whom she held no respect for. "You're a shining example to all the girls here at Aurora Boreal, you know that?" She folded her arms like some big shot. She had a knack for challenging authority figures. Just like her twin. But she usually had a more pious angle. Where Emma was more coming from the low-life thief kind of angle.

Sena. Mira looked down to the pretty twelve-year-old, from just outside the dark brown double doors of the new Deaves Chamber. She chuckled at the sight of them both looking at her like she had ruined the planet with her appealing diplomacy. She noticed something peeking out of Corinth's pocket that piqued her interest. "I see you've got some Deaves in your pocket, little guy." She bypassed Emmy, walked over to Corinth and knelt before him. Her high heels were unforgiving, but she always liked to make a good first impression. "Here's a little tip for when we're inside playing this marvelous and very fun game." She motioned to the doors with her dark hair-covered head. She held both his shoulders while she knelt down in front him, looking him in the eyes with kindness. "Remember that it's just a game, sweetie."

Emmy scoffed. "That's not very useful advice, you know? He'll probably lose with that strategy in mind," she laughed alone, because they both ignored her. This agitated her even more.

Corinth was transfixed by the bewitching beauty of Helena Mira-Huntzmen. Her fluttery white dress and the black leather jacket she wore over it, made her look like an angel v. daredevil enigma. Her black hair and grey eyes sent out very studios vibes. But the beauty aspect to her features couldn't be denied. She was so soft spoken and smooth looking. Yet the edges of her personality seemed rough and virtually untapped. She didn't just simply receive all the attention she got. She commanded it. With her dark, alluring skin, she reminded him of a younger and more likable version of Sena. Hendrix.

Speaking of the true incarnation of the devil, at least in the eyes of the students at Aurora Boreal, someone sashayed over with a deceivingly nonchalant attitude. It could
n’
t be. Not from this witch. "Nice to see you, darling." Sena. Hendrix walked up from behind Corinth. The sound of her voice nearly made him jump out of his skin. She kissed Sena. Mira on the cheek, and Mira kissed her back on the opposite cheek. With them standing in front of each other, Corinth was certain he was right about their resemblance.

"Well, it is certainly a pleasure to know that you'll be watching the matches. I'm still elated that you chose me to preside over the tournament in the first place, Silvia. I do appreciate this." Hendrix smiled, seeming so at ease as Mira spoke kindly toward her.

Corinth and Emmy were surprised to see it. They were so accustom to seeing the Grand Ministrant in a tense and foreboding state. Now she just talked with an assumed friend. Ignoring them both in the process. Mira winked at Corinth as Hendrix looped their arms, walking into the chamber.

"Okay, that was weird," Emmy's head tilted to the side as she spoke. Watching them in absolute awe, as she and Corinth too entered the large room with black rectangular tables setup from wall to wall.

They noticed that each table had a lifeless black board-game placed at the center of them. The board dipped down in the center and rose on the sides. They looked like serving trays. And also resembled arenas. Little arenas. They weren't cylinder-shaped like the Pavilion, but they sort of looked like it. The top center of the rectangular edges had a little silver plaque on them. It read;
Aurriculium
. In the deep center of the board, it said;
Adlucinatio.

"That is where the character on your Deaves card manifests itself," informed a scratchy voice at their necks. They turned suddenly to the mysterious figure speaking out to them, and saw a short, but lanky brown-eyed boy. He had long, very curly, black hair, draped over brown skin. His clothes, much less than stylish. He wore a loose knitted grandma-sweater, a tatty black shirt and creased black pants. With all the dark, but conscientiously tailored clothing, he looked like a gothic-geek. In addition to it all, he wore silver wire rim glasses that appeared to be on his face more for affect than actually need. "Hi, I'm Lindle and I'll need both of your names," he said in the same scratchy tone.

They exchanged awkward looks. "I'm Emmy, and this is Corinth." She motioned over to the slightly smaller boy beside her.

"Good, good. Both names here I see." He leaned in closer, half-covering his mouth for less people to hear his words. "Ya know, some people really think they can get in here without their names being on this here list." He laughed and pulled back. "I just tell them that there's only enough sitting room for expected guests. And more importantly, that the scheduled matches are for those who signed up for the club, buddy. Better luck next week," he giggled with every wor
d—
then drastically stopped laughing. He stood there for a long awkward moment with a stone cold, tight-faced stare."So ... I'm glad you guys aren't a couple of scammers then." With that finely pronounced, he began walking away. The two of them were relieved, but then he suddenly turned around on his heels, facing back to them again in an instant. "And by the way
!
” he conjured up quickly
,“
your match up table is to your left." His crooked smile was gracious and honest. "Good luck to you both."

They waited for him to get out of the vicinity. "Is he a student or a teacher?" Cory said while turning to Emmy with a frown.

"I don't know, and don't want to find out," was all she said. They walked over to the table and quickly noticed what they hoped was a mistake.

"Ah, come on!" Corinth shrugged, and then threw his arms up, like it was the end of the world. "Do we really have to play each other first?"

"Well, we do if we don't act quickly." He was bewildered by her words, so he just watched as she moved her name-tag over to the table beside theirs. She replaced her tag with the one she just made the switch for. "Now we don't have to play each other first. If even at all tonight."

"But what if these guys are really hard opponents. Then we're screwe
d
… or we might get caught?" Corinth said.

"Oh, don't be such a stooge. Lighten up a little. At least one of us can go on without having to take the other out in the first round."

"This from the one who just scolded that poor lady at the door for being ... well," he had no idea how to finish the sentence.

"That's different, Corinth. I know her!"

"You do?" he asked inquisitively.

"Yeah, sort of. She taught at my old school. But she was Anvard's grade level, not mine and Emma's. We saw her a lot because she tried to help Andy when he was put on academic probation."

"What's that?" he asked while pulling out the silver metal chair tucked underneath the black table.

"It was the schoo
l’
s excuse for kicking him out. He had A's and B's all that year. It was just a lot of hoopla over him liking another boy," she said while shrugging off the information. It was like she didn't want the thoughts coming too close to her brain.

"Oh, yeah," Corinth didn't know what else to say. He was actually upset to hear that Anvard had liked someone else before. Then he thought a little more about what she said, and came up with another question. "If she tried to help him, then why are you so pissed at her?"

"Because!" she shouted abruptly. "She was the one who reported him in the first place! Then decided she had some kind of change of heart, or something dumb like that. But only after she saw how she ruined Andy's life." Emmy was in the mess of it now. She was getting worked up all over again. Just thinking about it made her livid. When it actually went down, she was the one that truly should've been expelled. Her revenge on those Levantarse boys was quite malicious, to say the least. "I don't want to talk about this anymore!" She threw a hand up to show that she was ending the conversation. She took her seat at the table beside his and didn't say another word.

Corinth stared at her from the adjacent table. His feet just barely touched the ground while seated. As usual, he figured he'd let the breeze carry away the tension. He really didn't understand girls at all.

Bang!
She slammed her fist down on the black metal table. "Well, aren't you going to say something!" she shouted at him. Drawing some attention from the other students now taking their seats. Everyone had stopped mingling with one another in the large room. Her opponent saw tears in her eyes as he sat down opposite her.

"You know, just cu
z
’ yo
u’
re a girl, and you're obviously about to cry, doesn't mean I'll go easy on you." The blond-haired boy with green eyes looked tough, but not tougher than Emmy.

Bang!
She pounded her fist down again. Most everyone heard the loud clank. "I've got a pocket full of monster cards that say yo
u’
re going down in flames. But let's let the Aurriculium board decide your fate. Chump!" she threw in the last word for affect, and affect it did. The La Envidian boy's top lip quivered, as Emmy folded her arms, back in control of her emotions.

Corinth dodged a bullet that the green-eyed boy took instead. She looked over to him and smiled as much as she could. She knew he was just as sensitive as she was, if not more. She didn't want him to think she'd be mad at him for not knowing what to say or when to say it.

"Wel
l—
" the mic gave a massive wave of static interference...

Everyone covered their ears in horror. Sena. Mira tapped the mic with her hand and things straightened out a bit. She was about to introduce the games from atop a makeshift stage. She sat behind a long desk that housed many other ministrants, including top dog, Sena. Hendrix.

She cleared her throat. "Well, we can see clearly by that display," she gestured toward Emmy's table with her delicate hand, "that the competition is strong tonight. Again, we apologize to you students for having to push back the tournament. I'll have you know it wasn't easy throwing this together last minute like this." She paused, allowing that information to settle. "Now, many of you don't know me, because I am new in Hyperborean. As you may have noticed, for those of -you who took a good look at me, I'm from Imperativo. My name is S
eñ
ora Helena Mira-Huntzmen. And Yes, the same Huntzmen as your Watchers ministrant. Though I love my home World, I want you to know that there is no place I'd rather be than right here, right now with you guys and girls. I hope we all have a good time, and remember that games are supposed to be fun. So have a lot of it! And don't stress too much if you don't make it past your current opponent. There is always next week. And you can hone your skills during all your free time to guarantee that you're able to compete with higher ranked players," she took a deep breath after all that. She finished up with a cheerful, "let the games begin!"

Corinth didn't exactly know how they were going to go about this, but he quickly caught on. The students walking around holding electronic tablets, like Lindle, where going to be judging the matches.