Deceiving the Devil

O N E

We arrived on time, despite the multiple arguments we had before getting in the car, such as "Why can't we shadow travel?" "Why does Amara get to sit in the front?" "Stop sitting on my part of the chair!" "I think I forgot something at home...but I don't want you to mail it!"

We pulled up to the gates, waiting in a queue of a few cars, getting ready to check-in. Eventually, it was our turn, we pulled up in front of the towering, black gates, which pattern changes every few minutes to be another intricate, detailed portrait of a God and its symbols. 

"Names, Year, and Driver please." Crux the Centaur asked, looking bored out of his mind.

"Eliot and Orson Drewitt, 6th year, Amara Drewitt, 4th year, Micheal Drewitt, 3rd year, Aziel Drewitt, Driver." Aziel recited as Crux crossed our names off on his checklist, then motioned for us to go through the gates.

Aziel got his driver's license in his 3rd year, and ever since he has been driving us to and from school, every term. Since Micheal left, and Hades cursed me, our Mother has been distant, insane even. She is never fully conscious, and if she is a bit more aware of her surroundings she will get herself drunk, beyond cooperation. We have been looking after her and each other since Aziel was nine, Marcellus was seven, Eliot and Orson were five, I was three and Micah was one. It was tough, to say the least, but at least we had each other. No matter how much my brothers and I argue, at the end of the day, we still love each other.

We pulled up to the entrance where people were stacking their labeled luggage on racks, letting it be delivered to their rooms. Aziel found a place for us to stop and got out to help us with our luggage. Being able to manipulate shadows, allows me to extend my case, so I can fit everything I need in one bag, however, it is funny to watch people pick up a normal-looking suitcase the begin to question their strength after struggling. I lugged my suitcase to a free rack, my brothers following me, and dumping their bags along with mine. Once our rack was full, it wheeled off by itself, to the office.

I turned to my brother Aziel, who was hugging Eliot, saying his goodbyes to my brothers. I ran forward and embraced him. 

"Promise to stay out of trouble? And make some friends? And stop scaring people?" He questioned.

I rolled my eyes, "I have no idea what you are talking about."

Aziel chuckled and got back into the car, winding down the window, "Bye, love you guys, stay safe alright?" He called while reversing, the four of us standing there, waving until he was out of view. 

We then made our way to the office, before going to separate desks, bidding goodbye, and promising to see each other at the banquet tonight.

I walked over to the forth year desk, anxious. With us now being eighteen, turning nineteen this year, we had changes of rooms. Before it was a gender split, but now, groups of four, of any gender, would be sharing an apartment, with four rooms, four bathrooms, a kitchen, a living room, and a balcony. At the end of last year, you were asked to sign your groups up, but with me being a loner, I didn't bother to go. I suppose I secretly hoped that they would just put me in a small room by myself, but my hopes were dismissed, when the secretary of the school pulled me out of lessons and told me that I would end up being put in a random room if I didn't sign up. 

I walked up to the desk and told the worker my name, and Godly parent.

"It appears you didn't select a room last term, so you were put in the last one available with spare space. You are on the third floor, room number 37, and your bedroom is number four. You are the last one to sign in from that room, so you will be needing to take the spare key and general papers and documents, along with your own, as usual, your luggage will be outside your room. Have a nice day!" The worker explained. 

Great, a small part of me still hoped that there was a chance I had gotten my own room. But now it was confirmed that I definitely had to live with people. I climbed up the stairs and made my way up to the third floor. There was a small window in the corridor, showing a beautiful view, at least not all of the apartments will be bad, if there was a view like this.

The small window, showed a view of the grounds, with rows of flowers, hedges, paths, and arches. It was beautiful. The last cherry blossom petals, ready to fally of the branches. They grey sky, unsure if it wants to rain or not. The bare hedges, looking as dangerous as branches could be.

I continued walking along the hallway, counting the room numbers I passed. 

3.27, 3.29, 3.31, 3.33, 3.35

3.37! Found it.

I took a deep breathe before entering my new home for a year.

The door creaked as it opened. My three new roommates, who were in the middle of laughing, paused.

"You have got to be kidding me!"