Legends of Mirandis Academy

Chapter 28: Arachnophobia

Kelam's heart was pounding. He had been close—so close! The exhilaration of moving to the music, the way his heart soared with the melody. Every aspect of Iridia: her pale hair gleaming in the low light; her eyes, lowered modestly, almost shy; her lips, which had been slightly parted, soft and delicate as a red flower. A rush of emotion flooded through Kelam, and he gasped for breath—he could have kissed her right then, and he almost did without even meaning to; how wonderful that would have been, how sensational on so many levels! His lips on hers, holding tight, merging and never letting go... He made his way from the dance floor, not even daring to look at Iridia and Duran—surely he'd get another dance, have her in his arms later in the night. He was intoxicated all over again, but this time, it was so overwhelmingly real.

As he went to sit down, he noticed Calian standing at the edge of the room. The boy stood in his usual alert fashion, feet spread apart and fists clenched. He wore a mask of plain gray which covered his nose and eyes. His mouth remained exposed, locked tight into a frown. A few people brushed past him, chattering, and they gave him barely a glance. Kelam supposed that Calian didn't look like much. In the eyes of the well-to-do and the high school socialites, Calian was just another freshman, trying to fit into an oversized suit.

Kelam caught the boy's eye and gave him a nod. He expected Calian to return to watching the party, but instead Calian beckoned him over. "I need help," he signed.

Kelam hurried over to him, grateful for his own skill with sign language; a spoken conversation would have been impossible. Nearby, a speaker rattled against the floor, booming out bass notes. Kelam could feel the vibration in the soles of his shoes. "Calian," he signed, as he reached the boy. "What's the matter?"

Calian's eyes flashed behind his mask. "Come with me."

He led Kelam through room after room, each filled with its own microcosm of the party. Some of the wrestlers and the football team had gotten together for a game of beer pong in the kitchen, aided (and sometimes hindered) by some of the girl's soccer team. Kelam noted the absence of the Clef brothers, as well as Shreeavara. The next room contained some people Kelam recognized from his painting club. They were slow-dancing in a dimly lit lounge, and turned resentful eyes on Kelam for the disruption. Kelam mumbled his excuses and kept his head down as he passed through.

The third room was a spacious dining room, occupied by a group of people having a rather intense political argument. As Calian opened the door to the fourth room, a boy and a girl sprang apart, the girl crossing her arms in front of her chest. Kelam saw that her dress straps had been undone and were hanging around her waist.

"Perverts!" she shouted at both of them, but Calian didn't pause. He just opened a back door and led Kelam into yet another hallway.

"I say, Calian, we seem to be retreating from the party." Kelam inspected a nearby bookcase, curious in spite of himself. "Where are we going?"

"I have to show you something." Calian inclined his head towards a staircase. Then, he paused. "I'm sorry. I know you want to trust Luna."

Kelam's brow furrowed. "I'd certainly like to, yes. But... where are you going with this?"

Calian bit his lip. "You need to see. She acts nice. But she keeps secrets, too."

Kelam gave a small laugh. "I mean, I was already aware of that." He pulled himself away from a weapons plaque hanging on the wall, complete with an ornate sword. "In speaking of secrets... by rights, we shouldn't be here. I shouldn't be in this place at all."

"I don't know if we can trust her," said Calian solemnly. "So we're going to find out."

"Calian," said Kelam nervously, as they crept up the staircase. "It's going to be quite awkward if we're discovered in this part of the house." From a distance, he could still hear the thumping music, but the space around them was eerily quiet. A chandelier illuminated the staircase, its golden limbs reflecting and warping Kelam's face. It moved, ever so slightly, from side to side. Kelam wondered what had set it swinging.