The Songs Of The Flames (The Curse Of The Thirteenth Series)

Chapter 10

"I thought I'd find you in here." Sinclair pushed aside the willow branches. She stared up her professor from where she sat leaned up against the willow tree. Priscilla needed to be alone after the events of the day. Her body felt numb. Juniper and her had found Professor Grapple once they arrived upstairs. They scrambled to explain to her what was wrong, and it was an emergency. Professor Grapple immediately rushed to Headmaster Valerian to tell her the horrendous news. Professors and medical witches were called upon to rush down to the lower levels. They had met the other girls inside the infirmary. Each girl was quiet and traumatized. No indications came up in a search, and Lewis' body was brought above ground. Priscilla watched the blanketed stretcher parade through the infirmary. She turned her face away, unable to watch the two staff members carry what once was her schoolmate.

It was about dinner time, but she avoided the grand hall. She was not hungry anymore. Her body just felt numb. Priscilla could still smell the coppery smell of blood when she inhaled. The lingering smell made her feel sick to her stomach. Sinclair sat down against the tree trunk beside her. He held two metal cups in his hands. "Would you like one?" He held one cup out for her to take. The cup warmed her chilled fingers. Steam rose from it with smells of apple and cinnamon.

"Thank you." She mumbled after she took a sip of the warm cider. It pooled in her stomach, sending pulses of warmth coursing through her. 

"No problem, I thought you might want something warm. How are you handling?" he asked. She shrugged her shoulders pathetically. She could tell he was concerned for her, but her body just felt so incoherent. She could still see the pool of blood muddled on the ground. When she closed her eyes, she would see his eyes staring sightlessly.

"You and your friends should have not witnessed that." Priscilla heard him gulp. "What were you doing down there?" 

"Is that why you came to talk to me?" She mumbled. Her eyes were still downcasted to the cup of cider in her hands. She refused to meet her professor's eyes. Anger began to spark inside of her.

"What?"

"I asked, is that why you came to talk to me? To figure out what we were doing down there in the first place?" She felt herself becoming angry. She gripped the metal cup a little tighter.

"I came to talk to you because you have been through a traumatic few days, and I am checking up on you." He replied.

"Listen I get it, we weren't supposed to be down there. Now can I be left alone?" She gritted through her teeth. The mug in her hand started becoming warmer. She felt herself losing control, and she closed her eyes. She inhaled deeply, calming her anger. She saw Lewis' bloodied body once more, and her eyes popped back open. She could feel herself slowly losing control. Her hands shook intensely. Tears prickled the back of her eyes.

"You're not in trouble." He said "Did you know Lewis?" He pulled a tin box out of his jacket pocket. Priscilla could feel her throat tightening up. She willed herself not to begin crying. Sinclair pulled out two rolled cigarettes handing her one. Priscilla took it in her shaking hands. She almost dropped the cigarette in the process. She didn't care for smoking, but she needed to ease her tension.

" Can you give me a light?" He held out his cigarette, and smiled sheepishly over at her. Priscilla could not help but smile back, and she felt herself calming down. She summoned her fire to her index finger. A small flame flickered on the tip of the nail like a candle. She leaned forward, inhaling to light the cigarette. Once it was lit, she extended her finger out to Sinclair. She felt his hot breath on her hand as smoke pooled out of his mouth. They smoked in silence. Priscilla finished hers, and threw the butt on the ground, stomping it out with her heel. He head felt stuffy after the cigarette. She was still not really use to smoking.