Children of the Stars

Chapter Four

 After our delicious meal of homemade burgers and fries, the lights were dimmed and a large mirror was unveiled on the platform where we had stood. Excitement glimmered in the older students' eyes and the conversations died away.

"What is this?" Riley whispered, looking confused.

"The most unique thing you will ever experience," a girl who introduced herself as Thalia Blackwood of Capricorn House replied.

We fell quiet as the headmaster took centre stage once again.

"My children," he said. "The time has come for you to discover which of the twelve houses here at HUNT you will call your own for the duration of your time here. Once found, your houses cannot and will not be changed; you are of that house until your time here with us is over. Are you ready?"

We all cheered as a response and a devious smile lit up Mr. Rivas' face. "Then let's begin! When I call your name, you will each come here and look in the mirror. While it may seem, admittedly, a bit strange, this mirror is a looking glass into the deepest part of yourself and you mustn't shy away.

"So! With that said," he grabbed a clipboard with a stack of paper on it and flipped to the very back. "We are going to start at the end of the alphabet and work our way forward, to switch things up. Would Nathaniel Ziech please step forward."

Everyone clapped as a golden haired boy stood up quickly and marched his way over to the platform. A lot of the new people chuckled as he stood there, awkwardly staring at himself in the mirror. I leaned forward on my elbows expectantly. Suddenly, he let out a gasp, and the frown he had been sporting disappeared as his face went slack. His eyes flickered back and forth as though he was seeing things other than just himself in the mirror. His back straightened and all of a sudden, a white goat appeared beside him in the mirror. Instead of hindlegs, the goat had a sparkling green fish tail.

Someone screamed and all the older students clapped. Mr. Rivas led the now dazed Nathaniel to one side of the platform, where a teacher stood with pendants on waxed cords on her arm. Mr. Rivas was handed one and he held it out for the crowd.

"Capricorn of Earth!" He announced, slipping the cord over Nathaniel's head while the green table went wild. "House of the Goat. Capricorn was the benevolent guardian of time on Earth. May you use his skills to perform to your utmost best."

Nathaniel nodded and took a few shaky steps off the stage. Immediately, Thalia and another boy sitting beside her got up to help him to the green table.

"Nacht Wolfsbane!"

I looked up as the dark haired girl who lectured Maria at the airport stood up from her spot at the darker blue table and walked with confidence up to the platform. She stood in front of the mirror and slowly her confidence drained away to an empty expression similar to Nathaniel's. Her time in front of the mirror was shorter. As we all watched intently, the glass shimmered and two giant silver fish appeared in the reflection, swimming in a circle around her waist. She threw up her arms in surprise, but the fish image didn't vanish.

"Pisces of Water!" The darker blue table let out a huge roar of approval as she was led away from the mirror and the fish illusion disappeared. Mr. Rivas smiled as he held out her pendant. "House of the Fish! Pisces was the god of dreams and used his powers to bless the mortals of Earth with the pleasantness of a happy dream. I hope that you discover and use Pisces' blessing wisely."

Nacht bowed her head and then returned to her spot at her table without assistance.

Twenty more people stood up and were housed and I began to relax in my seat, listening to the results. Then the name "Molli Strathcona" was called and Jasmine hit my arm.