School of Deaths (30 page)

They walked down to the library. Her hand hurt and her head spun. It was over, the plan was done.

“Suzie,” shouted Billy, breaking her from her thoughts. She looked up and was glad to find him smiling.

“Your face,” she said.

“Yeah.” He embraced her, kissing her on the mouth. She blushed but kissed him back. As he pulled away, she admired the new face. A small scar lingered under Billy’s eye, and the top of his ear looked red, but otherwise he looked like he’d never been attacked.

“Thanks Frank,” said Billy.

“I got you hurt in the first place,” said Frank.

“You made up for it,” said Billy. “How’d it go?”

“It was a success,” said Kasumir. “The vision was delivered. We have nothing else to do but wait. It’s time we said goodbye.”

“You’re leaving?” asked Suzie.

“Things may improve, but even with Sindril gone it will take a long time before Deaths and ’Mentals truly get along. I only hope the new Headmaster is more understanding. Plamen, let’s go. We have to circle halfway around the campus before we can head home.”

“Mother, I’m staying here.”

“They’re bound to discover that you’re a ’Mental eventually,” said Kasumir.

“Right now only Suzie and Billy know. And if things are going to change, I want to be on the other side of the Ring, making sure things go smoothly.”

Kasumir smiled. “I’m proud of you,” she said.

“As am I,” said Giri.

The three hugged for a time, until the ’Mentals took to the road, heading back to their village. Lucina turned and gave Suzie one last smile.

“I’ll miss them,” said Frank, “but we’ll meet again.”

“Let’s go home,” said Billy. “It’s been a long day.”

* * * *

Sindril resigned as Headmaster the next day. At first, Suzie didn’t believe the rumors, but Lord Coran himself announced the news. While eating dinner in the hall, the Council walked in, minus Sindril. Coran claimed that Sindril had chosen to pass on the responsibility to a new Death, following certain important questions. Then the Council marched out.

“We did it,” said Suzie.

“I can’t believe it,” said Billy.

“The one thing I wanted to do before I went home,” said Suzie. “I don’t even care about what game he was playing, I’m glad he’s gone. After what he did to Athanasius.”

“Do you believe things will change?” asked Jason. “Will the ’Mentals and the Deaths ever get along?”

“Maybe,” said Suzie, “but that’s a good sign.” She pointed to two Deaths who hurried to bring gorgers to the tables. A male Elemental pointed to where they had to go.

“Deaths work fast, don’t they?” said Billy.

“I guess they do,” said Suzie.

The ’Mental noticed them looking and walked to their table. He had bright yellow eyes, a yellow beard, and a long tail.

“Thank you, Susan Sarnio,” said the ’Mental. “For what you’ve done.”

“You’re welcome,” she replied.

“My father,” he continued, “my father was Athanasius.”

“Susan,” interrupted a voice behind her.

She turned to face a Death in a purple robe. It was one of the Councilmen, a Death she didn’t recognize. The yellow-eyed ’Mental bowed and hurried away.

“Susan,” said the councilman. “Lord Coran would like to speak to you.”

“Now?” she asked.

“Yes, he’d like some words alone. I will escort you.”

She nodded and followed the councilman away from the lower hall. He led her outside and across an open space. They entered one of the larger stone mounds and headed up a flight of stairs. He knocked on a large oak door and opened it.

“He’ll see you in here,” said the councilman.

She stepped into a classroom she’d never entered. Numbers and equations covered a blackboard at the front of the room. She’d almost forgotten about math, her least favorite subject.

“Susan Sarnio,” said a voice. Seated behind the teacher’s desk was a man who looked over ninety. The thin wisps of hair around his head were as white as Kasumir’s hair. Lord Coran wore a white robe, and of all the Deaths she’d encountered in this world, he looked the part better than any other did.

“Lord Coran,” she said.

“I don’t know how you did it,” he said, “and frankly, I don’t want to. It was a risk that you took. Some will be unhappy, and you won’t make any friends from this.”

“I’ll be gone in less than two weeks,” she said. Besides, he was wrong. It
had
made her more friends than she’d ever had before.

“Sindril hasn’t resigned,” said Coran. “The truth is the Council confronted him about the visions. He admitted to contacting Dragons. It is a grievous offense, as I’m sure you are aware.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Please relax, Susan. I’m not angry with you. In fact, I want to thank you.”

“Sir?”

“I’ve been wary of Sindril for some time, but never dreamed he’d be involved in something like this. We’ve started investigating others to discover if he had friends here at the College. You helped to avert a war.”

She nodded.

“At any rate, what’s done is done. However, I will tell you something else.”

“Sir?”

“Sindril is missing. He’s fled the College and might be dangerous. I don’t want anyone else to know at this point, but be careful Susan. He might come to you.”

“To take revenge?”

“He was headmaster for twelve years. You took that away from him in a day. Wherever he is, be careful.”

“Thank you, sir. I will.”

“You may go, Susan. And one more thing. Good luck on your Final Test. After everything you’ve done here, it might be better if you did return to the Living World.”

She nodded and left the room. The councilman was gone, and she walked alone to the courtyard. She glanced at an hourglass then decided to go to Eagle Two. She paused outside, looking at the drawing of an eagle clutching scythes. It felt like home.

With the others gone, she grabbed an apple and headed outside again. Where was everyone? She spent fifteen minutes walking the College, but didn’t see Billy, Frank, or Jason. Maybe they were at the library. She walked away from the campus, through the Ring of Scythes, and entered the small house. The dusty room was comforting.

She walked toward the bookcase when a hand grabbed her shoulder and spun her around. Someone shoved her backward, slamming her back into the books. They clamped a hand over her mouth as she tried to scream.

“Hello Susan,” said Sindril.

Pure panic coursed through her. He wouldn’t kill her, would he? She was a Death, even if only a student. If she died now she’d cease to exist. Her parents, Billy, Frank…no one would remember that she’d ever been born. Tears started to fall from her face.

“I’m not going to hurt you, if you keep quiet,” he said.

She tried to nod against his hand, and he relaxed his grip, letting her breathe. He stepped away and picked up a scythe. Why hadn’t she seen him? Had he been waiting for her?

“You’ve watched me kill,” he said. “I’d do it again, but I’m not allowed. They told me to bring you alive. Give me the ring. The one you stole.”

She fumbled in her pocket and handed it to him. He laughed as he looked at it. Her eyes darted around the room. Sindril closed the front door and glared at her. No way out. He stepped forward, still holding his scythe.

“You probably believe I stole this,” he said, waving the ring. “I didn’t. It was a gift from the previous headmaster, who received it from the headmaster before him.” He smiled. “The Headmaster’s Secret, they called it. A Dragoncall. Leftover from when the College was first built. Used by souls to talk to Dragons, in the days when Dragons brought souls from the College to the Hereafter. The Dark Days, as some call them.” He looked at the ring again. “I wonder how many other headmasters used it,” he said. “Perhaps none, or maybe all of them.”

He put the ring in his pocket and stepped even closer. For a moment the scythe wavered, but he put both hands on the handle and lifted. The blade hung right above her head. She felt the power dripping from its blade, the
hunger
of the metal, ready to devour her soul. Sindril’s eyes narrowed in anger.

“Twelve years,” he said. “Twelve years gone. Did it ever occur to you, Suzie, that I’m not your enemy? That you and I want the same thing?”

“And what is that?” she said.

“To go home,” he said. “To return to the Living World.” He changed his grip on the scythe, still held above her. “They took me when I was eighteen.
Eighteen
. A fluke, they told me later. Like you, I was one of a kind, and I didn’t belong. Too old to be a first year; they decided to forgo my Final Test. I was never even given a chance. I’m afraid I don’t even remember the headmaster who was responsible for that.” He laughed. “No one remembers him. He’s been
erased
.” Sindril’s lips spread into a wide grin. Suzie’s heat raced even faster with his threat. The scythe pulsed with anger and excitement.

He pulled up the scythe, took a step back, and placed it against the wall beside her.

“I tried everything, but of course, no one returns.” Suzie thought of the picture with the two teenagers. Had that been Sindril?

“And then I overheard some ’Mentals talking about a Dragon Key,” he continued. “I questioned one, but he hadn’t heard of it. I remembered the Dragoncall, the ring you found. What could I lose? Of course I used it.” For the first time since attacking her, Sindril relaxed. He leaned against the wall and turned away. Suzie glanced at the door, but she’d never make it fast enough.

“It doesn’t exist,” he said. “But the Dragons promised to bring me back to the Living World themselves, if I brought them a living female Death.”

“What do they want with me?”

Sindril laughed. “I didn’t ask, and don’t care. They needed a female Death. I spent years planning to kidnap one, but that idiot Cronk did the job for me. He was half-asleep and wrote your name on his list. All I had to do was approve it, which I did.”

“Cronk?” she asked. “My teacher?”

“It’s because of him that you came here, not me. Although once you arrived, I needed to keep you here. That’s why I wrote your Final Test myself.” He grinned at her again. “You will fail.”

“And if I do?” she said, trying to sound brave. “You’ll bring me to the Dragons?”

“You’ll come yourself,” he said, “and I’ll be waiting. I want to go home, Susan. Surely, you can understand that. If you come to the Dragons, they will help both of us return.”

“I’ll never believe anything you say,” she said. “I’d never help you. You’re a murderer, a liar, and a traitor.”

“You’re a stupid little girl,” he snarled, spinning to face her again. “How long have you been coming here? I closed the Ring hoping no one would follow me. How
did
you find yourself locked outside the Ring that day?” He stepped right up to her. She smelled wine on his breath.

Suzie closed her eyes and called out inside her mind. Would Frank hear her? Was he close enough?

Sindril looked at the scythe. “I won’t kill you,” he said. “They’ll never help me if I do. Nevertheless, I doubt they need
all
of you. I could take a hand, perhaps. As a souvenir.”

Suzie moved against the bookcase. Her hand reached what she hoped was the red book. She pulled and the books shuddered. It was the right one! She leaped forward as the bookcase swung open. The scythe fell to the ground with a loud clang. Sindril stumbled backward with a stunned expression. Suzie ran toward him with her arms outstretched and knocked him to the floor. He grunted as the two hit the floor hard; Sindril slammed his head and his eyes closed. For a moment, Suzie lost her breath. Her head and arms stung but this was her chance. She pulled herself off Sindril and staggered to her feet. His body was slumped against the front door. Could she move him?

Sindril groaned and moved an arm. He must be knocked out. No time to move him. Suzie spun and darted through the open bookcase. She ran down the stairs and into the library.

Sindril groaned in pain behind her; then she heard footsteps on the stairs.

“Help is coming,” said a voice in her head. She glimpsed Frank’s green eyes as she ran into the library. Hundreds of bookcases filled with books, tablets, and clutter surrounded her. At least she could hide.

She ducked behind a bookcase and edged away from the stairs, desperate to stay silent. Sindril yelled. She could hide here for a few minutes, but not forever.

“Come out, little girl,” he said. He grunted and she heard sliding wood.
Crash
. A bookcase fell. He must have pushed it over.
Crash.
A second bookcase slammed to the floor sending a massive cloud of dust into the air. It was hard to breathe, but she had to stay quiet. Sindril tossed books around, and a third bookcase fell with a crash. This time, Suzie couldn’t control herself. A tiny cough escaped her mouth. It seemed to echo, like footsteps.

“Gotcha now,” said Sindril. “I just want a hand, or maybe a finger. A little souvenir to take to the Dragons. Come on, Susan.” The bookcase behind her rocked as he rounded it, and she ran to the side of the room. There were no more bookcases, just piles of stone slabs. She jumped onto one of the slabs, backing into the wall. Sindril emerged, covered in sweat. The scythe in his hands glowed with a fierce light.