Millennium Academy - The Fractured Shadow - Novel I

Chapter 9 - Emila Serpens

"Tell us what's going on." Emila demanded of Vera in the hospital wing. "If you don't let us know, you're going to be put in danger again. And I- I don't want that."

Vera lay there, mute. She was dressed up in hospital clothes, and her hair, undone from its braid from her encounter with Nimueh, was splayed out in unruly waves on the pillow.

"Fine." Emila said after a moment. "I'll be here if - when - you want to tell me. Bye."

She walked out of the infirmary, heart beating in her throat, hoping Vera would trust her, tl her. But silence followed her painstaking exit.

"How was it?" asked Razz expectantly as Emila shut the door behind her. Emila shook her head.

"Not good. She still won't say anything."

Razz swore under her breath.

"Yeah."

They fl into step along the hallway. Razz winced as several people glared her way.

"Are people still bitter about Veran?"

Emila nodded, soberly. "You really started a riot, Razz. Veran has tons of friends and fangirls and boys and since you put him on the spot that day in the cafeteria , practically everyone is out to get you."

Razz groaned and put her face in her hands. "Why is it such a big deal? What makes Veran stand out from the crowd? He's just a regular student here at the academy."

"Vampire mojo." Emila explained, and that was enough for Razz to hear.

"You know Charlene's friends aren't happy about her going missing either. They were talking behind our back yesterday; I should know, I heard them. They think I'm the reason everyone is disappearing. I was Charlene's roommate and no one se was there. Who se could have done it? And she was the first." Emila looked down at her shoes. "Even Ms Hephaestus does trust me. She asked why the window was open in the first place."

"Yeesh."

"I didn't tell the headmaster about the tentacle, though."

"Why?"

"Obvious reasons. a), I didn't trust him, b), I didn't trust him, and c), oh, yeah, I didn't trust him." she said this so forcefully that Razz backed off.

"Okay. But I still think that you should tl him. He might be able to investiga-"

"NO."

"Okay, okay. But what about Vera? Are you sure... you're practically her girlfriend."

"Practically." Emila muttered.

"Alright." Razz conceded. "Let's just get to class."

Emila had Stonemasons' Workshop today, so she made her way down to the basement, where the abandoned mines were located. Professor Shé taught this class, as well as being her combat mentor.

"Alright, my students! Calm down please, calm it down," Ms Shé looked round at her students. They didn't seem to be making any effort to quiet down. "QUIET!" She roared, the cobras lazily resting on her shoulders hissing angrily in agreement, having been just woken up.

The students, including Emila, shut their yaps and silently, turned to face the board.

Ms Shé sighed deeply, her temple throbbing. She was a strict woman, and had no patience for slackers.

She smacked her bamboo staff against the stone wall, the rough slap reverberating through the chambers.

"You are all Stonemasons! I shouldn't have to ask you to quiet down or behave. Or you can perish in the mines. Act like your age or else go to the headmaster. He's not as forgiving as me. NOW." She stared at Emila intensely as she said this. "Some of you are gorgons, some of which have the power to manipulate stone. Ms. Serpens, your sister Medusa was quite skilled at this."