The Silver Knife

Chapter 16

The much awaited day of the Ball arrived at last. The Academy seemed to have changed its colours, it had been decked up over the past two weeks for the upcoming event. The Ball would start at five in the evening, sharp and end at midnight. Lilith was sitting in the common room, reading a book she had borrowed from the library a few days ago.

Laurina had been getting closer to Blaze and that made Lilith slightly uncomfortable. She couldn't explain the reason for such a feeling to anyone, but she just felt that something was not right. She had tried keeping Laurina locked up in her dorm but she just couldn't get herself to keep her all bound and imprisoned when all the other familiars had the freedom to meet anyone they wished to. 

Eden and Aiden had gone to see Professor Treble one last time before the night's performance. Lilith was also nervous to say the least, but she tried to suppress her shaking and sweating cold hands during practice last day. It hadn't really helped, but she at least wasn't getting a shaky bow. She gave a soft sigh and buried her nose back into her book.

Soon she got tired of sitting and went out of the common room for a walk. Laurina had been away meeting Blaze, so she didn't have anyone to talk to. She walked down the hallway and spotted a familiar figure leaning onto the railing in the floor directly below the dorm towers. She walked up to the figure and tapped their shoulder making them jump in surprise.

"Oh Goodness Nieve you scared me...." Nivia laughed. Her phoenix gave a swish of its long tail. The phoenix was looking old and withered, and a feather fell off its tail as they watched. Soon a large burst of flame enveloped the bird and it got reduced to ashes. A small movement was observed under the mound of ash and a tiny head peeked out of it and gave a sharp cry.

"Oh well.... but anyway.... don't worry about Illume....her cycle was close anyway." Nivia said quickly, scooping up the tiny phoenix and slipping her into the long pocket of the cloak she was wearing over her dress. "How have you been?" She asked as she brushed off some ash from her cloak.

"Been fine.... just nervous." Lilith sighed. "How about you?"

"Bored. Just bored. I have nothing to do....although that gives me the chance to keep an eye on my sister and her two rowdy spies." Nivia said. "I hope they don't bother you much...."

"Well Melody doesn't....but Riamon pisses me off all the time." Lilith said Just then she felt a figure move at the corner of her eye and she abruptly turned around. The end of a black cloak fluttered behind a wall.

"Who's that?" Nivia asked.

"Stay here....I'll see." Lilith said and walked briskly in the direction of the cloak. She walked into the passageway but didn't see anyone. She turned around to walk back but smacked right into a figure which caused her to tumble over.

Nivia ran up the passage to Lilith only to see Lilith fallen over as her father, the Steward was helping her mother up. She covered her mouth with her hands because she knew Lilith had smacked into them. Lilith stood up and straightened her robes and mumbled an apology. She started to walk away when an arm grabbed her rashly making her halt.

On the other end of the hallway, Aiden and Eden were walking back from the Music section after a roundabout trip from Professor Hearts' office after they had an errand to run for Professor Treble. They saw what had happened and had skidded to a halt.

Lilith blinked and pulled her arm out of the grasp of the Steward. 

"Apologise to my wife!" He barked at her.

"I just did." Lilith said defiantly looking back at him. Steward or not, she didn't like mumbling a whole string of apologies to someone whom she hadn't intentionally hurt in any way, plus she had already mumbled her apology earlier.