Lethal Lineage: New Lines

Chapter 15

"This walk is bullshit." Lorna groans, leaning her head of curls on Percival's shoulder. She was dragging the bag she brought from the mall.

I continued to lead the way, eyes scanning for any sign of a cabin. All Elide had said was that it was at the end of the trail. I rub my thumb over the cabin key, just making sure I didn't drop it. We'd been walking for about an hour and what was left of the sun was blocked out by all the trees.

"What was that?" Meira whispers dramatically, clutching Amedeo's arm with wide eyes. Her boyfriend arrogantly pats her back.

"Ah!" Amedeo screams as an owlet flies between two trees.

Snickering, I face forward again to see the trail curve into darkness. "We should be close. The trail ends at the base of the mountain, right?" I ask.

"As far I know, yeah." Meira nervously glances around in the dark. "Right by the basilisk cave."

"You're not going to, uh, bring that thing out again, are you?" Amedeo wonders.

"No, I have more control over that than I did last year." I self-consciously scratch at my neck. Thanks to Elide's lessons, keeping control was now a subconscious habit.

The trail becomes less of a path as plants take over. We had to be close. I stop walking, squinting around.

"Hey, I think I see it!" Amedeo hops over some bushes and into the dark. "Wow, this is...romantic."

We carefully follow, stopping to stare at the dark, overgrown cabin. Plants have pushed through the broken porch boards, tangled themselves around anything and everything. Dirt coated the small front windows. The roof sagged heavily over the front door.

Okay, so it wasn't exactly what I had imagined.

"I hope the appliances work." Meira grimaces.

I pull the key out of my pocket and have to wiggle it around in the rusted door knob before pushing it open. We all cough on the musty air.

"Wow." Amedeo snickers.

"I'll turn the power on." Percival wanders off.

This was going to take a while.

*

Larken

Finally, the last string of lights to be draped across the courtyard, creating a magical net of twinkling bulbs that would hang over the heads of the Sorian Academy staff and guests. Larken secures the end to the bricks before stepping down to take in the changed courtyard.

Whatever Elide and Nat came up with for Lineage Day, it already looked brilliantly better than ever before. The large fountain in the center had been scrubbed clean, practically brand new. Banners with symbols of each supernatural group   waved lazily. A circle of elements for fairies, a sword in stone for gargoyles, a dripping dagger for vampires, etc. All species in the academy represented.

Larken's eyes trailed to each one, his brow lowering when he realized Nathara wasn't represented.

"Do what you think looks best," Elide's voice interrupts his thought spiral.  "Larken." He approaches from the left.

Larken turns to face is uncle, expression neutral. "Elide," he nods. "This is some interesting Lineage Day decor."

A half proud smirk graces Elide's creased lips as he looks around them. "Yes, it was time for some change."

He took a moment to debate his next choice of words. "I think you're missing a banner somewhere." Larken's hinting tone drew Elide's attention back to him.