Millennium Academy - The Fractured Shadow - Novel I

Chapter 12 - Emila Serpens

BANG! A chair hit the wall. THUD! A book followed. Emila picked up another item to whip across the room in a fit of rage, but paused when she saw what it was, and calmed down. The Serpentine Lexicon lay crumbling in her hand, the snakeye stone set in the front, winking. It seemed to say, don't throw me, I'm the most reliable thing you have left. She plopped down on her bed dejectedly. It was right. Vera didn't love her anymore, her teachers didn't trust her anymore - and they all had full right.

Taken by curiosity and the promise of shelter, she dove into the yellowed pages of the Serpentine Lexicon.

The Serpentine Lexicon, a primeval introduction to the world of the gorgons. Carry on, reader, and beware.

The gorgons once lived upon Mount Monolith. They were a peaceful species, renowned for their talents in Stonemasonry.

Emila flipped a few more pages, caught up in the history of her people. Were they really all as talented as Medusa? What happened to Mount Monolith?

A few pages stuck out at odd angles from the back, so she shifted them back into the book. They rearranged themselves into the same positions as before. Frowning, Emila flipped to the back. Folded inwards were a bundle of pages, ripped out from the back. Written in a slightly familiar script were words, paragraphs of them.

I'm not capable of conveying this in a proper manner, though proper is not what one could call me. The witch came last night, offering freedom, recognition beyond our stony power. I am afraid the Council has not an open mind for these wonders. All she wants in return is our mountain, our home. I was reluctant, at first, but her prowess as a witch is enticing me more and more.

I need to know what she can do. The council turns a blind eye, but I am sure I could sway them. My influence is not much, but enough to convince whomever will listen. 'An open ear and open eyes are the best tools,' I'm afraid. Never in my life have I wanted anything so much - except for the successful marriage of my daughter, Lesia. But this bargain will solve all of our problems! If we can only be free... The witch has promised a fate without death. A fate without suffering. Who can turn down such an offer? Even the Council will have to agree with me.

Until I succeed,

Drei'an Serpens.

Serpens. Serpens. Serpens. The name echoed in Emila's head. That was her surname. And who was the witch? Jezebel Ruby? She was afraid that she would never know.

She jumped. A jarring ringtone resounded from her cl phone. Emila picked up her vibrating phone. 780 - 666 - 736... strange. She didn't know this number. Should she risk it and pick up or should she just ignore it?

Emila decided to risk it, and picked up. "Hello?"

A male voice responded. "Hi. Is this Emila?"

"Yes... Why? Who is this please?"

"This is Blake. Blake Sloky. From your Herbology class."

Emila's heart leapt. Blake was a cute werewolf in her Herbology class. Why in serpent's sake was he calling her?

"Oh. Hi, Blake. Why are you calling?" she couldn't keep the tremble out of her voice. She'd already broken up with her girlfriend-if it could even be called that. She didn't need any more complications in her life at the moment. What she needed was a distraction. A distraction from the noise, the confusion, and the terrible, terrible foreboding feeling that tingled in her veins.

"Um, nothing. Actually... I... I wanted to know if you'd be my date for the dance. If you aren't already going with someone."

"Ah. Um. So... uh," It was complicated. She knew Blake was nice... but... she loved Vera. If it could be called that. But they had broken up, so there was no use putting off something that might take her mind off of Vera and that debacle.

"I...I, uh, sure! I'll go with you, Blake."

"Thanks! Great! Uh, what time do you want me to come by?" she could practically hear his grin.

"Uh..hmm. Pick me up at 8:00, ok? I'll be ready by then."

"Ok. Seeya tomorrow. Bye."

"Bye." Emila hung up, and went to her closet. Most of the clothes she owned were school uniforms and combat outfits. She couldn't go to the dance in those. Besides, she didn't like Blake ... did she?

"WHY DO I HAVE NO DRESSES?!" Emila shuffled through her closet, and dug to the very back, where her old, tight clothes lay, forgotten. She never really wanted a dress before the dance, but now it dawned on her that she needed one. So she did the impossible. She asked her teacher.

Ms. Shé sat in her chair, hunched over the papers on her desk.

"Let's see. You need a dress for the dance and you are asking me when you know perfectly well that I don't want to and there are other outfits that suffice." she summed up Emila's simple request.

Emila nodded.

"And you expect me to come through because..."

"Because... um..."

Ms. Shé laughed. "I'll help you with the masquerade, but just because you asked. If it was anyone else they'd be out in a shake of a rattlesnake's tail."

"Oh my serpents, thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"You remind me of your mother, Lesia." Ms. Shé remarked. "You both have a tendency to need hp from me when I don't really want to hp you."

Emila flushed red in the face. "Really?"

"HAH! Yes, really. Now, off with you. I need to work on your dress." Ms Shé shooed Emila out the door. "Goodbye, Miss Serpens."

"Goodbye Ms."