The School for Good and Evil: Return of the School Masters (fanfic)

Chapter 28: Epilogue

Maverick eyed the glittering ballroom just beyond the grand oak door. White curtains and all manner of glitter and fake snow decorated the golden floorboards and white walls. Lights decorated the dark ceiling in a constellation pattern while lighthearted music filled the room. Princes and princesses were already dancing to the soft rhythm.

He pulled away from the doorway, wrinkling his nose and standing pencil straight so as to avoid getting glitter on himself. He glanced at Malcolm, who paced incessantly in a pristine white suit with blue accents. "You sure we should do this?"

He finally stopped moving, anxiety evident. "No, but we can't stop her."

Maverick shrugged, brushing off his black suit and straightening the purple vest. "I have a few ideas that would beg to differ." Malcolm froze, blue eyes widening. "Oh, calm down. I'm talking imprisonment in an attic or something. Just until everyone goes back home or her boyfriend gets expelled. Or dropped down a well."

"Good thing Tedros isn't my boyfriend then." Katrina came down the hall on Tedros II's arm. Wearing her fairytale dress of midnight blue and iridescent white fabric, her gray eyes sparkled in the warm lights. "That is, not yet."

"Whatever you say," he responded. "It's hard to know what will happen tomorrow." He glared at the prince, reaffirming his point.

Tedros didn't flinch. Disappointing. Though his gaze did flicker a little. "I'm sure Malcolm will keep things in order."

Malcolm came beside his brother, eyeing the prince. "I might not be around if you, say, start checking out other girls or lay a harmful hand on her."

Maverick lit up. "Well, if those are possibilities, I have better ideas than a trip down a well. How about-"

"Stop." Katrina grabbed their forearms, halting the discussion of punishment. "Your fancy powers might have been drained from me, but I can handle myself. And Tedros, if he gets out of line. So if you came to scare him, you can leave."

The twins smiled. She'd grown-up quite nicely. Malcolm pet her cheek. "We know. We just wanted to see you off to your first ball."

Maverick scoffed. "Speak for yourself. I came to harass the little-"

"Anyway." Malcolm pulled his brother away. "Enjoy your night, Kat."

She nodded, grabbing Tedros's hand and entering the glittery ballroom. The boisterous applause followed the twins down the hall.

"We didn't tell her."

"I couldn't." Malcolm grew somber. "This is her big night. I don't want her worrying."

Maverick rubbed his eyes, tired of seeing pastel and gold. "There's nothing to worry about."

Machiara materialized in Malcolm's hands. The blade glimmered with magic. Horrid magic that saved them and haunted them. It whispered in the night, a constant temptation. Aurum insisted only they could hear it speak. Best idea was destroying it, but Malcolm feared what magic would be released. What it would do without a host object.

"We should give it to Bartholomew. He destroyed the original."

Maverick groaned, not wanting to go through the same argument again. "He's old, tired. Besides, we need to make a stand here. Show that we put each other first before magic and winning."

Malcolm shook his head. "I just... I can't." He couldn't shake the fear Rhian had left in his soul. A sliver of doubt that the blade exploited the closer they came to destroying it. He couldn't take it anymore.

He pushed the blade toward Maverick. "You do it."

"Malc-"

"You're stronger than me. I have no idea what this thing says to you, but you decided to destroy it. All of this is your plan which means you can beat the magic it holds. I trust you, Maverick. You can do this."

Silence filled the hall. Not even the whispers of doubt and death spoke. The blade stood silent, waiting for their next move.

"I wanted us to take a stand," Maverick said. He took the hilt and gripped his brother's shoulder. "Trust is pretty big. And I appreciate yours."

Malcolm grinned, form relaxed. "You fought harder than I to prevent the past. I have more faith in you than anyone else." They let go, Malcolm ruffling his hair. "I'll see you at the tower. Maybe find something we can do other than spy on our sister." They shared a laugh before he vanished.

Maverick stared at the blade. His brother was correct: he had no idea what Machiara said to him. It  had nothing to do with Malcolm. Only Rafal. Magic wasn't an exact science, and the idea of Rafal coming back and unraveling everything haunted his dreams. He'd been hoping Malcolm would chicken out. Because there was another option he wanted to explore.

***

Garth gazed out his window, distracted from his reading. Scar and the kids had left after the Circus of Talents. He chalked his injury up to an inattentive student for Rachel and Kalek's sake. Explaining all the magic, August's sacrifice, and the now Rafal-free School Masters was too much for their young minds. Especially when he didn't believe it.

The air chilled. Garth tensed, reaching for the knife on his desk. "I knew."

"Not currently, you don't." Maverick stood by his door, hands folded in front of him. He maintained eye contact, expression blank. "But in the future, maybe."

Garth stood, knife in hand. "What's that supposed to mean?"

The School Master stepped into the low light, shadow long and fragmented. "I've read your story. I know Rafal made a mistake that nearly cost your life and love. Meaning you have every reason to hate him and want him dead. I also know that you're probably the smartest teacher at this dreaded school."

"Because I teach princes how to dodge?"

"Because you wanted to kill me." Maverick glanced at the knife. "Even now, you're attentive. And that's what I need."

Garth massaged the hilt, trying to read the cryptic boy. "Need for what?"

Maverick waved his hand in the air. A sword appeared in his hands. The sword. "Malcolm trusts me, but I don't have the same faith in myself. I wake at night thinking Rafal will return this day or the next. And if that day comes, this blade will need to kill me for Malcolm's sake. And there's only one person I trust to go through with it." He extended the blade to Garth, steel shimmering with magic.

The professor eyed the sword. "You expect me to keep this and watch you for the rest of my life?"

Maverick rolled his eyes. "I don't mean a babysitter. Yes, keep the blade. Yes, pay attention. But I need you to do what's necessary to protect my family and yours. Can you do it?"

The moonlight grew ominous, the dark encompassing. Garth took the hilt and held up the blade. "Shouldn't be too hard."