The Familiar (9 page)

13

I’m only half conscious when I hear knocking on the door and catch a faint aroma of minestrone soup and warm bread. I open my eyes just as a woman in uniform carries a tray into my room.

“Well, hello there! I’m Nurse Rowena, glad you finally woke up so I can get some food into you,” she says, her eyes lighting up as she smiles. She puts the tray in front of me and places another pillow behind my back.

Nurse Rowena manages to look matronly and youthful at the same time. The nurses’ uniform she’s wearing resembles a modernized version of an old school nurse’s outfit; a long, sleek white dress and apron fall past her knees, and her white lace-less sneakers are spotless. Her hair is a warm chestnut brown, pulled back into a delicate French twist. When she places the tray on my lap, I can feel the concern in her warm, vibrant eyes.

The delicious soup aroma makes my stomach grumble. “Thanks, I guess I could really use this.”

Nurse Rowena chuckles. “That’s to be expected! Just try to eat slowly or you may end up throwing it all up. I’ll be back in thirty minutes to collect your tray.”

I take a spoonful of the warm, remedying soup, and a bite of bread. Even though it tastes like the best thing I’ve ever had, I eat slowly as directed. The door opens and I look up. Louise puts her finger to her lips and tiptoes into the room, closing the door quietly behind her. She sits next to my bed watching me eat with fascination. “So, I guess you’re feeling okay?”

I swallow the soup in my mouth and nibble on my bread. “I’m fine… Well, actually, I don’t really know. I guess I’m kind of overwhelmed…”

Louise leans in as if she’s got some juicy gossip. “Well, it seems like the entire school, including the staff is kind of overwhelmed, too. You’re pretty much the only thing people have been talking about all afternoon.”

I put down the bread, suddenly losing my appetite. “I was afraid you were going to say that – as if I needed any more drama in my life right now.”

Louise clucks reassuringly. “C’mon, its not that bad. I mean, at least you got everyone’s attention, and it’s definitely the right kind.”

“People will take you seriously, and sure you’ll be viewed as competition, but I think you can handle it,” she says consolingly.

I ponder what she says. “Maybe you’re right. I mean, I have been feeling more confident since arriving at the camp, and I guess, I haven’t been doing half bad...”

Louise throws herself on me, doing her best to avoid the tray while giving me a bear hug. “That’s the spirit!”

I giggle at her silliness. “Thanks for cheering me up. I do feel a bit better now.”

“Well, you better rest up, otherwise you might miss class tomorrow,” she advises.

“Yeah, another excitement-filled day I’m sure.”

“Okay, I think I should skedaddle. The nurse will probably be back to check on you any minute,” she says, eyeing the door. She grins mischievously and tiptoes out of the room, waving before she disappears. A few minutes pass, and Nurse Rowena sticks her head through the door. When she sees that I finished all the food, she walks in looking satisfied.

“Glad to see you ate all your dinner. You’ll be okay for discharge tomorrow morning.” She puts the tray aside, straightens my pillows, and pulls up the blanket.

“Thanks, the soup really hit the spot,” I reply gratefully

“Well, get some rest then, you’ll need your energy for tomorrow,” she says, winking before walking out of the room. I decide to take her advice and close my eyes, trying not to think about the day ahead.

As I drift off to sleep, there’s only darkness as I lay quietly with my eyes shut. But suddenly I hear a soft buzz in my ear and the image of Mom materializes in my mind. She’s inside what looks like a large conference room. Several other people congregate around an enormous circular table. They are dressed in modern stark white clothing, making them almost glow in the well-lit room, yet their faces are somber and composed. The focus is on the center of the table where a golden metal ring is hovering mid-air. It begins to spin and a hum, echoing through the room as a 3D holographic image of an older man in a glimmering white tunic appears, floating regally over the center of the table. His hair and beard are silvery white, and his eyes are gray with lids sagging from old age. Despite his advanced years, his body seems upright and strong, with the gait of a much younger man. On his arm sits a large white peacock, its tail feathers draping gracefully down to the floor. The room is silent, as they wait for the man to speak.

“Thank you for coming together on such short notice,” he says in a melodic voice. “What we will discuss today is of great importance, and I must insist, that everything we talk about stay within these walls. Only your familiars should be privy to this information.”

All eyes in the room widen, gazing nervously at one another. The man continues, “As you are all aware, we have been monitoring the activities of Rufus White for many years now… And though he’s managed to remain below the radar, we have reason to believe that he’s planning something that may cause irreparable damage.” He pauses and stares at every person in the room.

Mom stares back at him intensely, and then clears her throat. “Lionel. Are we to assume that the rumors of Rufus being killed in the Urals a few months ago are false?”

Lionel’s brow creases. “Yes, we believe that it was just a ruse to throw us off. I do not think Rufus would perish without destroying everything in his path.”

A middle-aged woman with platinum blonde hair and almost albino-like features speaks next. “Do you have any idea what Rufus is planning? Or is this just another wild goose chase? It’s imperative that we be more prepared next time. We can’t continue sending people on false missions.”

Lionel glares at her. “Philippa, I understand your frustration, but at this point, we cannot rule anything out. Some missions may not have gotten us any closer to apprehending Rufus, but each attempt is critical. Do not forget that. Rufus is unpredictable and all I can do is relay what is given to me by our informants.”

Mom speaks calmly. “Let’s hear what Lionel has to say before allowing our tempers to get the best of us.” Philippa folds her pale hands in front of her and glares at her, lips tightly pressed together with distaste.

Lionel’s brow relaxes. “Our informants in the Dark Council have been able to intercept a few messages between high ranking members. Though they have been admittedly cryptic, we gather that they have enlisted Rufus to implant some sort of viral spell that will spread like wildfire among us, disabling our powers one by one.”

The room suddenly buzzes with chatter. The tension in the air almost feels electric. Lionel clears his throat loudly, the peacock on his arm flapping its wings nervously. “Please everyone, let’s remain calm. We must not let this news fluster us. It’s important we unite and stay focused so that we will be prepared in the eventuality that his plan comes into fruition.”

The room is suddenly quiet. The majority of eyes are averted in an effort to avoid Lionel’s scrutiny. Mom glowers at the others and stands up looking determined. “Lionel, I would like to volunteer as lead investigator in this matter… I
will
find out what Rufus is up to before anything catastrophic happens.”

Lionel remains pensively silent, but his eyes are focused on her. The anxiety in the room is palpable while they await his response. Suddenly, the peacock jumps off Lionel’s arm and transforms mid-air into a pale, lithe woman with long blonde, almost white hair cascading down her naked back. Her piercing, almond shaped eyes twinkle as she leans over to whisper in Lionel’s ear. He listens to her intently and nods.

“Tabitha has advised me to give you carte blanche in this matter. I will send out a memo to the rest of the Council informing them of my decision. You will have all the resources available to assist you in this mission.”

Mom remains standing – strong and proud, the tenacity on her face is familiar, almost as if I’m staring at my own reflection.

14

I wake early, feeling revived. I’m inspired by the vision from last night, and it gives me a sense that anything is possible. Whatever obstacles I’ll face at camp seem like nothing compared to the challenges Mom’s dealt with in the past.

I take a quick shower, brush my tangled hair and get dressed in a clean uniform. I stop by Henry’s room, glancing through the glass square on the door. He’s already awake reading a book, so I knock lightly on the door and pop my head in.

He smiles when he sees me. “Hazel, I was hoping you’d visit.”

Henry looks fatigued, like he hasn’t slept much, but he seems relaxed nonetheless.

He puts his book on the bedside table as I take a seat.

“I just wanted to drop by to see how you were doing.”

He seems a bit embarrassed and avoids my gaze. “I’m okay, thanks to you… I know I should have spoken up, since I’m not much of a swimmer. But I didn’t want everyone to think I was a weakling. I figured if I swam at a slow even pace I might make it, but I guess I was wrong.”

I look at his pitiful face and suddenly he seems much younger.

“You know, Henry, you have nothing to be ashamed of. We all have weaknesses and I bet you’ll find something here at camp that you’ll be good at.”

He averts his gaze, so that he’s looking somewhere in between his lap and my face, shifting up once in a while with a sheepish glance. “I know. It’s just hard these first few days I guess. Everyone has something to prove.”

I feel like giving him a hug, but I don’t, knowing that it’ll probably just embarrass him. “Will I see you in class later?”

“I’m not sure. Doc Alice wants to keep me here till this afternoon. She needs to make sure I’ve got my strength back.”

“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea. I’ll fill you in, if you miss anything important,” I say, as I get ready to leave.

“Thanks Hazel… Kick some butt in class today, okay?” I chuckle, and give him a friendly wave before walking out of the room. Hoping the dining hall is already open, I head down the long hallway and pause, suddenly remembering the portrait of the old witch I had seen the day before. I stride past several paintings and stop when I see the one of the silver haired witch. I read the small golden plaque under it.

“In Memory of Celestina Rey, Supreme High Witch of the Light.”

I study the lifelike portrait and wonder what she was like. As I examine the slant of her eyes, and the small bump on the bridge of her aquiline nose I realize that something about her face seems familiar to me. She must have been older when this portrait was painted, because her hair is completely silver, a stark contrast to her luminous blue eyes. She exudes regality though her robes are simple and understated. A white cat is curled up in her arms, but I almost hadn’t noticed because it blends in almost perfectly with her garments. Its green eyes jump out, almost as if they were emerald jewels encrusted on her robes. She’s holding the cat like a treasured belonging, close to her heart, with much affection. As my eyes linger over her, I realize there is something kind and gentle about her, yet at the same time intimidating and powerful. I can see why she was the Supreme High Witch.

My stomach growls, so I continue down the hallway towards the dining hall, the image of Celestina nagging the back of my mind. When I get to the double doors, they’re still closed, but I can already smell food being prepared on the other side. I push them open, and inside, the staff is already hard at work: cooking, preparing the buffet, and cleaning the tables and floors. There doesn’t seem to be anyone eating yet, so I’m surprised when someone calls my name from the far corner of the room.

“Hazel, come join me,” says a female voice. I turn and see Maya by herself, at a table by the window. She has a plate of fresh fruit, an omelet, whole-wheat toast, and a cup of tea.

I approach her politely. “Good morning, Maya.”

As I sit stiffly, nervous of Maya’s languishing gaze, a male server approaches us attentively. Maya addresses him without hesitation. “I believe that Hazel would like some waffles with butter and syrup, vegetarian sausages, and fresh orange juice… Am I right?”

I’m surprised, and wonder if she’s a mind reader, or if her files on us are detailed enough to include our dietary preferences. The server nods and walks off. Maya pierces a strawberry with her fork and pops it into her mouth.

“So, you had quite the eventful first day… I knew you’d be special, but even then, you’ve managed to exceed my expectations.”

I don’t really know how to respond, wondering what she wants me to say. “Um… Well, I didn’t really know what to expect of myself either.”

Maya takes a sip of her tea and raises an eyebrow.

“There are no limits here at camp, you know Hazel. We encourage our students not to hold back. It’s important for you to show your full potential, so that we can teach you how to manipulate and control your powers to the fullest.”

The server returns with a tray and places my food in front of me. I eat half a sausage and take a large gulp of orange juice. “I realize that now… This is all just really overwhelming for me I suppose. I haven’t known about any of this for too long, and I’m just trying to find my way, I guess.”

Maya places her hand on mine reassuringly.

“I know this is a difficult time for you. But under the circumstances, you are handling everything with as much grace and composure as someone beyond your years. You should be proud.”

I feel relieved hearing her encouraging words. “Thanks, Maya.”

As I continue picking at my breakfast, excited for the challenges that today will bring, students and staff members start to trickle into the dining hall. Maya finishes her meal, and excuses herself politely, “I’ll see you later, Hazel. Good luck today.”

When I’m done I decide to go for a stroll since I still see no sign of my friends. I head over to the forest, looking forward to some quiet time before the chaos of the day begins.

The forest is unusually quiet, even the chirping birds seem to have slept in. I walk down the path, wishing I had my sketchbook so I could sit on a rock and draw for a while. As I wander, I have a strange sensation that someone is watching me, but see nobody around. I reach a clearing that overlooks the lake and the surrounding mountains, and take a moment to appreciate the breathtaking scenery. The lake is glistening, but with the subtle brilliance of the morning sunlight, and the sky is an unusual shade of blue, a vibrant periwinkle, with streaky wispy clouds zigzagging across the horizon. I get the feeling again, and quickly turn, looking to see if anyone is out there; but still, I see nobody.

“Hello? Anybody there?” I say into the darkness, wondering if I’m just being paranoid. Maybe it’s just Jared trying to spook me again, but when I scan the forest, I see nothing, so I head back since class should be starting soon. As I stroll back, the feeling just won’t go away and I know in the pit of my stomach that someone is watching me from the shadows. On a hunch, I pretend to trip on a tree root and fall to the ground, crying out in pain with all the acting skills I can muster. I close my eyes, continuing the charade for a few more seconds, before suddenly jumping to my feet, darting my head from side to side in an effort to entrap the peeping tom. At the corner of my eye, a blur of yellow, I catch sight of a pair of bright amber eyes staring at me from above. I run towards them, jumping up onto a tree branch to get a better look. But by the time I’m able to situate myself, the only thing I can see is a large owl flying away above the treetops. It glides effortlessly, until it disappears, as it ducks behind one of the small mountains behind the forest. I climb down and shake the dust off from my uniform. I can’t help but wonder if I should feel scared or relieved that someone has taken so much interest in me. I leave the forest and make my way back to the dining hall to see if I can find my friends. I spot Louise and Akiko clearing their trays, and quickly join them. At the sight of me, their faces light up and Louise blurts out affectionately, “You’re back! Class wouldn’t have been the same without you!”

I take a deep breath, still a bit shaken up from the mysterious stalker, but don’t want to alarm my friends. “I’m glad to be back. Hopefully today will be more uneventful, though with flying and imaginary creatures involved, the odds are against us.”

“Let’s just hope that none of us end up at the infirmary today,” Akiko says with a wink.

I look over their shoulders suddenly realizing Samir isn’t with them. “Hey, where’s Samir? Don’t tell me he’s already slacking,” I say jokingly.

Akiko shrugs. “Not sure. I knocked on his door, but nobody answered. Maybe he was still in the shower or something.”

As if he’s prompted, Samir makes a hasty entrance, his hair still damp. “Crap. I must have totally slept through my alarm… I barely had any time to shower and change,” he says looking frazzled.

Akiko takes a quick glance at the wall clock. “You have five minutes for breakfast. You better hurry,” she warns him.

“You guys go ahead, I’ll catch up,” he says before heading towards the pastry station in a tizzy.

Louise snickers, as she watches him almost trip on his feet. “Try not to choke on your donut!” she shouts after him.

He turns his head and makes a face at Louise, as Akiko shakes her head in a disapproving sisterly way.

Outside, we catch site of our classmates and follow them uphill, towards the small mountain closest to the lake. There is a dusty dirt pathway spiraling up, and as we climb higher I peer down the side, noticing a small verdantly lush valley in between the grounds of the camp and the mountain. Later, as we near the top, I make out a broad, sleek cabin flanked by trees, and an impressive balcony-like structure perched precariously on the side facing the cliff. Akiko catches my eye as I inspect the balcony. “Looks daunting, doesn’t it?” she whispers in my ear.

“No kidding,” I reply, trying not to panic.

When we reach the cabin, we catch our breaths, as Alicia greets us exuberantly.

“Good morning, and welcome to flight school!” Alicia’s golden gaze and ebony hued skin are radiant under the sunlight.

Out of the corner of my eye, I detect Samir skulking in the back, trying to hide the pastry in his hand as he blends in with the other students. He manages to join us without anyone noticing.

Alicia ushers us to the balcony. “This is what we fondly refer to as ‘The Nest’,” she says, gesturing at the cabin and surrounding areas.

“Inside we have flight simulators, a classroom, and a rest area. Here on the ledge is where you will learn how to fly.”

She looks at us and laughs. “By the petrified looks on your faces, I gather that you’re all terrified by the idea of flying off this cliff… But rest assured that we have all the safety precautions put into place, and you have nothing to fear.”

She brings us into the cabin interior, which looks shiny and modern despite the cabin-like façade. We walk through a large metal door and inside is a cavernous room filled with machines, which I assume are the flight simulators. There are at least thirty of them, more than enough for all of us.

Alicia pats one of the simulators fondly. “These babies will be your new best friends for the next week or so. You’ll have to clock in a minimum of ten hours, for some of you maybe even more.” A skinny, freckly-faced girl with wispy blonde hair in the back of the group raises her hand. “Yes, Emilie?”

“Are there ever any cases where a trainee needs less than the required ten hours?” she asks confidently.

Alicia raises an eyebrow, looking amused. “Well, surely that’s possible. But for safety’s sake, we believe completing the ten hours is best. Even if some of you naturally excel in flight, there is a lot to be gained by getting additional simulator practice.”

Emilie seems slightly disappointed, but accepts Alicia’s logic nonetheless.

“Any more questions before we continue?” The room remains silent, as Alicia expertly climbs onto a machine. “Although this may look kind of awkward, this position is actually closest to the posture of a bird in flight. When you learn to transform into birds, this will feel more natural. The simulator is designed to give you the sensation of near weightlessness. It will also teach you how to deal with changes in weather and any other obstacles you may encounter in the sky.”

Alicia jumps off and scans the room.

“Now, I want each of you to pick a machine and do your best to position yourself in it. I’ll come around and make sure you’re strapped in, so you can begin the first phase.”

Louise and I pick the two simulators closest to the door. I manage to climb on and maneuver my body so I’m situated comfortably even though it doesn’t seem like this machine was built for someone with a frame as petite as mine. I figure out how to adjust the arm and leg sections, so that they can accommodate my shorter limbs.

Alicia approaches my simulator, eyeing my posture with her penetrating gaze. “Good form, Hazel. I’m glad you were able to find all the necessary adjustments… Let me just fix some of the tension issues, then you can get started.”

She pulls some levers and presses a few buttons, and when she’s done I feel lighter and my muscles can relax a bit without causing me to fall off the contraption.

“Okay, now that you’re comfortable, I’ll explain how the simulation works. The majority of the functions are voice activated. So, when you are ready to start, you just have to say
Simulation on
. If you need to stop it, just say
Simulation off.
When the exercise begins, your machine will be surrounded by a virtual cloak, which will keep your session isolated. Nobody can see or hear what you’re doing and vice versa, except for me, of course. The first session will last two hours and will entail the basics. After you’re done, you’ll have to rest for an hour in a relaxation chamber. This will prevent your muscles from aching too much the following day. Any questions?”

I shake my head, eager to get started. “Okay, you may begin then,” she says before walking off to the next student.

I speak to the simulator, “Simulation on!”