School of Deaths (17 page)

“He’s gone,” whispered Frank. “But let’s wait a bit.” Suzie ran her sweaty palms over her pants. Her heart thundered in her chest.

Billy nodded first, and Frank pushed the book. The bookcase swung open, and they walked into the house.

“Who was it?” asked Suzie. “Was it Sindril?”

“Couldn’t tell,” said Billy. “They had their back to us the whole time. The robe was black.”

“Sindril was in a black robe when I saw him,” she said.

“I never fully believed the story until now,” said Billy.

“I believed you,” said Frank, “but this was still big. We caught him, Suzie. He’s planning something.”

“We saw someone,” said Billy. “They could’ve been doing anything.”

“But now we have proof something is going on,” said Jason. “Maybe we should stop looking for this Dragon Key stuff and start focusing on whoever was here. We shouldn’t come back. We don’t want to be caught.”

“I want to learn what they’re planning,” said Suzie. “I showed you the other room, but can’t figure out who else was in the house.” She walked to the small side room again. It was empty except for the dusty table. A fresh smudge about the size of her fist sat in the dust on the center of the table.

“Maybe he’s using some device,” said Jason. “Maybe he puts something on the table and talks through it like a phone.”

“Do you have phones in this world?” asked Suzie.

“No,” said Billy. “They don’t use electricity the way we do in the Living World.”

“It could be something we don’t understand,” said Frank. “The Council has items and powers they hide from everyone else.”

“That’s a rumor,” said Billy.

“You see that smudge,” said Frank. “Open your eyes. Sindril was here, and he was talking to someone by putting something on the table. He’s trying to keep it secret. That’s why he does it here, and in disguise.”

“I gotta admit, it’s sounding possible,” said Jason. “He’s up to something.”

“Even if he is,” said Billy. “What are we supposed to do? You want to risk him finding us here?”

She paused. It was risky, but she had to find the truth.

“We do nothing for now,” said Suzie.

“Suzie,” said Frank. “You’re the one who—”

“I want to learn what’s going on as much as you guys, but we need proof. We need to figure out what’s happening and why.”

“Why did you say we do nothing?”

“We’ve been looking through these books for weeks and have nothing. We find Sindril, or someone, at the house, okay. Who cares? I saw Sindril here and it didn’t change anything. We need a new game plan, a new strategy, and you guys are right, for now we need to wait until things quiet down. Let’s wait until after the holiday.”

“Then what?” asked Jason. “How is waiting going to make a difference?”

“It might not,” admitted Suzie. “But you guys were ready to give up a few minutes ago. This doesn’t change things for me. Billy’s comment bothered me the most.”

“What did I say?”

“You said you never believed my story until now. If you didn’t believe something was going on, why’d you keep coming here? Why’d any of you come here for that matter?”

“Suzie,” said Frank. “Calm down, we’re here to help you. We’re your friends.”

“Friends believe each other.”

“Suzie, I’m sorry,” said Billy. “I didn’t mean—”

“We need a break,” she said. “We need a break as a group. After Styxia, we’ll reorganize and come up with a new plan. For now, let’s remember what happened, and remember that sometimes even
girls
know what they’re talking about.”

“Hey,” said Billy. “You’re being completely unfair.”

“Let’s calm down,” said Frank. “Suzie, I’m surprised at you. This was what we’ve been waiting for, and you flip out and get mad?”

Suzie walked out of the house and the others followed her.

“I’m not mad,” she said. “I’m tired. Tired of coming up with nothing. I'm tired of being the only damned girl in this whole world. I'm tired of being alone.” Tears were forming around her eyes, and she walked faster hoping they wouldn’t notice. She didn’t care what they thought now. They’d never believed her; they’d needed to see Sindril himself. Even now, Billy doubted it had been him. These were her friends? No. Who was she kidding? She didn’t have any friends here.

As she hurried away, the ground gave way beneath her. The sky turned orange, and around her flames sprang to life. Her body burned as a pair of green eyes opened and stared at her.

“Go away,” said Suzie. “Leave me alone.”

“Suzie, you will never be alone,” said the voice.

The flames grew stronger, and her skin started to melt away. Her flesh dissolved into a heap of steaming blood, and her bones collapsed into ash. Her soul stood alone. Stripped of her flesh, she was completely exposed: more naked than she’d ever dreamt possible. The green eyes looked at her. This must have been what Julia had felt like before her eyes. Yet she remained calm.

“Suzie, these are your friends,” said the voice.

“Are they?”

“You are strong,” said the voice. The flames turned from orange to blue. “But you cannot win this fight on your own. This is a battle far bigger than you realize.”

The naked purity of Suzie’s soul stood amid the blue flames, surrounded by doubt, but also by warmth.

“Who are you?” she asked.

“I am a friend as well,” he said.

Blue flames swam upward, shooting toward the sky. They leaped higher and higher off the ground, running together. Behind her, the earth folded skyward into a cliff. The flames parted in a sliver of light, at the base of the waterfall.

She opened her eyes.

“Suzie?” Frank leaned over her, his face full of concern. “Are you all right?”

“Frank?”

“You were annoyed at Billy and stormed off, but collapsed right outside the house.”

“How long was I out?”

“Only a minute,” said Billy. “I’m sorry again.”

“Me too,” she said. “Sometimes I forget.”

“Forget what?” asked Frank.

“That I’m not alone in this world.”

* * * *

They hadn’t spoken about Sindril. Frank and Billy were too busy with boskery, and Jason seemed to have other things on his mind. She’d bring it up after the holidays. Suzie didn’t tell the others about her visions, but they seemed to be growing more frequent. Flames and green eyes haunted her sleep, though she no longer feared them while awake. In a way, the strange images comforted her. She glanced at the calendar on the kitchen wall. Friday, December 17th: the big day had arrived.

Red and white streamers now covered the rocky College walls. Teachers and students wore red ribbons on their robes, commemorating the blood shed in the Great War. Even the scythes in the Ring glimmered with blood-red light. A large mural, painted by Cronk’s art classes, hung across the back of the Lower Hall. Suzie had painted Lovethar, while other Deaths had painted Deaths and Dragons around her. In Lovethar’s hand, Suzie had painted a smudge. It represented the Dragon Key, though she’d told Cronk the smudge was a mistake.

“You ready?” asked Jason, straightening a red ribbon on the front of his robe. Suzie wore a similar ribbon and a second bright ribbon in her hair.

“I am,” she said. A constant noise streamed in through the windows, as Deaths headed toward the Ring for the Styxia parade, marking the beginning of the three day holiday. The boskery match would be tomorrow, and the festivities would end at the feast on Sunday. School was suspended for the entire week, and that suited her fine. Forays into the Living World had also stopped, but Hann had announced a second trip immediately following the holidays. Combined with the stress of dealing with Luc and her teachers, as well as an upcoming report due in Theory, she was glad for this vacation.

She straightened her robe and glanced in the mirror. A Death looked back. A pretty Death with dark, curly hair, a red ribbon, freckles, and lipstick gazed at her from the mirror. She’d decided to look feminine. They had to wear their robes, but commemorating a day associated with the negative aspects of Lovethar had given her the idea to accent her femininity. It was a bold move, one Frank encouraged, though Billy disagreed.

“Let’s go,” she said. She walked out of Eagle Two, followed by Jason. Billy and Frank would meet them later, they were in the parade. They joined a crowd of Deaths young and old, wearing robes and red ribbons. Her thoughts turned to Billy and Frank.

Billy was the first friendly boy she’d met here. He was fun to live with, but lately she’d started to have mixed feelings. At the start of the year, he’d excited her. Maybe, she blushed to think, maybe she’d even had a slight crush. But then she’d seen Sindril the first time. He’d been the most hesitant to believe her. Every time she brought up the conspiracy, Frank had been supportive, while Billy had doubted. Frank, the boy who’d sought her out on his own to introduce himself. She liked Frank a lot. When they played boskery, would she be cheering Billy or Frank?

“This is insane,” muttered Jason. The throng grew around them.

“I’ve never seen this many Deaths,” she said.

“It’s not only the College,” he replied. “The nearby towns have emptied out. All of the Deaths are here for Styxia.”

A loud horn blared through the strawberry-scented air. The sun shone high above them, casting light onto the crowd of black robes. A cool breeze blew overhead, but the air was warm from the assembled bodies. Strange how even Deaths are warm. As they came to the Ring of Scythes, Deaths leaned out of windows waving down. Someone threw a bucket of confetti, showering the crowd with scraps of red. Suzie wiped confetti from her shoulders.

A tall, portly Death shoved his way past Suzie and Jason, wiping sweat off his brow.

“They’ve moved the location,” he muttered. “We have to hurry. Damn ’Mentals.” He hurried away from them.

“Everyone’s in such a rush,” said Jason.

“That’s odd,” said Suzie. “He mentioned ’Mentals.”

“And?”

“In this huge crowd I haven’t spotted a single ’Mental.”

“Suzie, listen to me. You over-think
everything
. I’m sure the ’Mentals are keeping out of the way of the crowds.”

They came to a stop about three yards outside of the Ring of Scythes. The throng stopped, and a smaller crowd of Deaths stood a few yards farther away, with a path for the parade between them. The path surrounded the entire campus of the College, circling the Ring. The air sizzled with excitement. Behind them, the mountain of West Tower shot into the sky, draped in blood-red banners. The stone didn’t appear festive, it looked frightening. The sun slipped behind a cloud. The horn blasted again and the noise grew to a roar.

“The parade’s starting,” said Jason. “Look.” He pointed. A procession of Deaths marched around the crowd to their left, circling the Ring of Scythes. The parade would make a single large lap, starting and ending near West Tower, and she wouldn’t be able to leave until the parade was over. This wasn’t simple entertainment, but an obligation; a responsibility for every Death in the entire world. Suzie sighed.

The teachers marched first. Hann stood at the head of the line, followed by a group of Deaths Suzie didn’t recognize. Dr. James smiled as he marched, arrogant like always. Professor Stevens struggled at the end of the group, leaning on Cronk as he walked. Cronk looked nervously at the crowd.

The four boskery teams marched next. The Dragon Seekers walked first. As they passed, Frenchie turned and spat at her.

“Hey,” yelled Suzie.

Frenchie turned, but didn’t stop marching.

“You’re a jerk,” she said. “And you’re going to lose the match.”

Jason put a hand on her arm.

Frenchie muttered something and continued to walk. A few of the other Dragon Seekers shot dirty looks her way, but the parade was moving. The Giant Tamers and Widow Makers followed. Suzie recognized some of the faces.

She cheered as the Gray Knights came into sight. Billy and Frank waved.

“Don’t skip the game tomorrow,” said Jason.

“I won’t.” She meant it.

After the boskery teams, two horse-driven carts rolled past. Green shapes sat on the carts, covered by red cloths.

“To symbolize the dead Dragons,” said Jason, “killed in the War.”

Behind the carts, a Death marched. His hood was down. He wore a blonde wig and bright red lipstick. At first, Suzie wanted to laugh, until she realized whom he represented. The Death pretending to be Lovethar turned to the crowd and screamed. Then he fell and burst into flames.

Suzie screamed, and even Jason looked shocked. The flames vanished and the Death stood up. A man wearing blue pants and no shirt extended his arm toward the fake Lovethar.

“It’s a ’Mental,” said Jason. “They used a theatrical effect to show the punishment of Lovethar.”

The fake Lovethar stood, adjusted his wig, and waved to the crowd. The Deaths around him applauded, but Suzie only stared. He moved on, followed by the ’Mental. Two Deaths stood on either side of the ’Mental.

“He’s chained,” she whispered. “Jason, look at the ’Mental.” The Deaths pulled on the chains as he walked past them.

“He made a Death catch fire. It’s probably to keep him under control.”

The fake Lovethar screamed again, replicating his act for the next part of the crowd. The ’Mental raised his hand. He paused right in front of Suzie, and a tear fell from his eye. The Deaths tugged on his chains. He continued to walk past them.

The next group was the most shocking.

A dozen ’Mentals marched next, each wearing blue plants and no shirt. They stared at the ground as they walked. Collars of iron chained their necks together. Black-robed Deaths held each chain.

“What the—” started Suzie.

“It’s symbolic, like everything in the Parade,” said Jason.

“Symbolic of
what
? The ’Mentals aren’t slaves. They’re servants.”

“True,” said Jason, shrugging, “maybe it has to do with the Great War.”

The ’Mentals marched by. She recognized them; each had served her at least once in the hall.

“This is wrong,” she said. What could she do? She started forward and raised her hand.

“Out of the way,” shouted a voice. She jumped back into the crowd as a team of horses pulled the final cart in front of her. The Council of Twelve, each in their purple robes, waved to the crowd. Sindril glanced down at her as the cart passed by. He smiled, but his eyes glittered with menace. A thirteenth chair on the cart, taller than the others, was empty.