Merlin's Curse

CHAPTER 26: @WizardSlayer666

"Merlin—are you ok?" Jupiter asks with a slight groan.

I'm lying awkwardly on top of several bodies—I think mostly hers. Our heads are inches apart; green hair partially obstucts my vision of the maskless bone dragon swaying overhead. 

Niko waves.

"Oof...yes, I think so—my butt hurts."

"Yeah, sorry about that," Randall half-grunts. "Pretty sure that's my knee."

Somehwere in the jumble of tangled limbs, Isa is swearing.

"Is everyone ok," Headmaster Hayes asks. He hovers over us, searching for injuries. I'm not sure how he isn't on the floor, tumbled over with everyone else.

"All good here," Zahir says, pulling himself free. "But Freakn' Merlin's beard, your feet are heavy!" he adds with a chuckle.

Everyone laughs.

I cover my face with my hands and groan. "I did say that—out loud, didn't I?"

"Claro—mi cariño," Isa responds with a chuckle and maybe another curse. She sits up next to me and squeezes my hand. "That's why we love you."

Headmaster Hayes gives two thumbs up to the box seats where Edric Landry is sitting. The entire arena breaks into applause. Seconds later, a familiar voice with an unfamiliar look is helping me to my feet.

"Mom," I say.

But I can't get another word in before she engulfs me in her arms amidst stifled sobs.

"I thought I lost you!" She finally says.

"Who me?" I joke. "I'm a nerd—my odds are pretty good."

She chuckles and runs her hand through my black hair, pushing my bangs out of my eyes. "Why didn't you tell me about your show? And what was that sick...prank about your father? Someone told me this isn't the first time."

I look at my feet and hesitate before meeting her eyes again. 

"Sorry...I just, um—know how much you hate this school. And I don't know who...no one knows who @WizardSlayer666 is, but please, Mom, I don't want to leave this—"

"Oh, Merlin...it's ok. You were amazing tonight!" She hugs me again. "Your dancing—I didn't know you dance!" Her hands cup my face as she continues, "If this is where you want to be, that's all that matters—even if I don't like the school or whoever that sick creep is—but um...maybe no more arial stunts?"

I throw my arms around her with an abrupt chuckle, slack jaw.

"Deal," I say. "And Mom?"

"Yes?"

"Your hair is pretty cool."

* * *

After the chaos of the night settles, Contra and DOOM are given time to alter their performances without the use of arial cables and to do another dry run in their squad rooms before returning to the Great Hall.

Some guests sit in the arena snacking on refreshments while others stretch their legs and roam the second floor. A group of patrons are watching the incoming storm fill the horizon from the outdoor terrace—my favorite place to sit.

I'm there now.

Three neural links are firing in my brain: one managing messages on Project Glupyy's group chat, a second monitoring live camera feeds, and a third searching for @WizardSlayer666. The load pushes my limits, but the storm calms my mind—the salty wind, the sound of pattering rain and angry waves, the earthy fresh smell of lightning splitting molecules.