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

Chapter 18

"I'm going to miss you guys." Trisha said hugging Priscilla. Priscilla's broken bones had been healed for a couple weeks now. She was released from the infirmary once she was healed, and she went back to classes. She wanted to believe things had gone back to normal, and that they were safe now. No more students had turned up dead so far, but she knew it was still out there. The truth was the creature was still out there. Winter vacation had just started with the beginning of the winter solstice. Students who could go home would leave for the week to visit family. Priscilla with no family to go home to would stay at the academy.

"I'm going to miss you too." Priscilla said. She could smell sunflowers in Trisha's soft blond when they hugged. Trisha's belongings were packed away in a purple duffle bag, ready to leave. Her face beamed with excitement. Hazel and Alyse had said their goodbyes the previous day. Juniper had informed Priscilla she would be staying at the academy with her. Priscilla was unsure why Juniper had decided to stay, but she was happy for the company. Trisha released her hold on Priscilla, and went to hug Juniper. Trisha towered over Juniper's small frame.

"What are you going to do during the winter solstice?" Priscilla asked her once they detached. Trisha's eyes were glowing.

"My family has a cabin up in the Lord mountains. We go there every year for the solstice. I've missed them so much, I can't wait." She beamed. Her eyes lit up with the eagerness to see her family. Priscilla felt a pang of jealousy at the thought of family gathering for the holidays. How she longed for that feeling.

Trisha collected her bags, and waved goodbye. A bright smile shined on her face as she closed the door behind her. Priscilla watched from the window as a car pulled up. Multiple cars had come and gone throughout the past few days, collecting students on their way home. The number of students inside the academy had dwindled dramatically the past few days. Priscilla watched the small figure of Trisha climb into the back of the car. A man in all black collected her duffle bag, and tossed it into the trunk. Then the car took off down the road. The car disappeared from sight as it sped up to speeds Priscilla could not imagine. Silence seemed to echo in the school like a hollow shell.

"Would you want to go get breakfast?" Juniper asked quietly from behind her. Her eyes turned from the window to her friend behind her. 

Priscilla turned to her friend. The girl had her hair under a warm red beanie. A gift she had receive via sprite mail a couple days ago. They were all eating their dinner when the package dropped onto the table in front of Juniper. It came in a brown wrapping paper with a letter attached. Juniper beamed with happiness announced the hat was made by her grandmother. Juniper lived with her grandmother since both her parents passed away, but Priscilla did not know how they had died. She did not want to push though. When she wore the hat, short strands of her hair popped out from under the hat in tufts. "Yeah, sure." Priscilla replied.

They made their way downstairs to the grand hall. The room was silent compared to its usual bustle. Six other students sat spread out across the immense tables. Priscilla's footsteps seemed to echo uncomfortably in her ears. At their less than crowded usual table, she ate her eggs and toast quietly with Juniper beside her. They talked infrequently.

Priscilla had plenty of free time without classes going on. After breakfast, she immersed herself in the library, and he studies. She was halfway through a large leather book about wraiths when she spotted Professor Tote. This had been the first time she had seen him since the confusing interaction with Headmaster Valerian. She spotted him across the library searching through the books on a shelf. Priscilla approached him. He had not heard her, he was focused on the books in front of him.

"Professor Tote?" She said dubiously. He jumped up in the air, dropping his armful of books. The books scattered across the worn rug of the library, and Professor Tote let out a squeak before dropping to his knees to collect them.