Secrets

Chapter Two

Jackie was brooding. The Council had sent her out and so here she was, in the corridor of the Dungeons.

Why does something manage to go wrong every time? What have I done to deserve that?

Well, the worst they could was to suspend her. There was no way they could expel her, it went against The Rule Book.

For once she was thankful that The Rule Book existed. Until then she had cursed it's very existence and threatened to castrate the person or persons who had written it. It had dictated her whole life, and cause her untold misery.

Maybe now it was helping her. Perhaps it had realised the suffering it had caused her and was genuinely making an effort to help her.

She was going mad.

Talking about how a book could think and realise feeling and emotions. What was happening to her?

It's made me mad. Jackie thought stubbornly. It's all the stupid Book's fault!

Kyle entered the corridor from the right sighing. "Jax?"

"Yeah." Jackie made a clumsy and futile attempt at smiling. Jax was Kyle's nickname for her. It had been that way ever since they had bonded.

"I don't like this."

"Neither do I Kyle, trust me."

"No, look at me. I'm serious. There is something weird about this whole situation. The Council usually never takes so long to make its decision."

"I know. And that's what's troubling me too. I've been trying to comfort myself by the fact that they cannot expel me."

"Finally thanking The Rule Book are you?" Kyle grinned. Jacqueline nodded smiling. "It's actually pretty weird doing that."

"Don't worry. You'll get used to it. We all do."

"Everyone hates that bloody Rule Book! Why do we actually try to abide by it?"

"Because Jax, it has power over us. We were taught since our first moments that The Rule Book controlled our lives. Our apparent destiny is written in it pages!"

"But Kyle—!"

"Jacqueline Azzará?" Jeffrey Austin asked.

"Yes."

"The Council will see you now."

"Am I allowed to be with her?" Kyle asked.

Traditionally a victim of the Council's verdicts was allowed to be accompanied by one external member for comfort. Usually the Mentor. Family members were also common.

His eyes narrowed. "Very well. But try not to disturb the Council Men."

"Of course."

The Mentor and Student entered the low doorway, following Jeffrey Austin. Jackie managed to bang her head against the low ceiling and stumble into the wall on the extreme right hand side. Jeff cast an irritated sigh in her direction.

"You alright there Jax? At least try not to be such a clumsy fool all the time." Kyle admonished, his hand having a firm grip on her upper arm.

Jacqueline shot a glare in his direction.

"Would you two take your budding love for each other somewhere else, and move it!" Austin barked.

Rolling their eyes, both complied.

XXXXXXX

"Miss Jacqueline Azzará and her Mentor Kyle Lancaster to be presented before the honourable and sacrosanct Council and it's Members." The trumpeter announced.

The Council Men nodded their heads as one.

"Welcome, Miss Jacqueline and Mentor Lancaster." The oldest council member Alexander Hemingway said, his voice authoritative.

"We have come to a conclusion about your punishment and this decision is a hard one. But with your case, we have decided that this is the only way." Councilman Daniel Stone said his voice grating.

Jackie gulped. Next to her Kyle stood motionless as a statue, his slight intake of breath the only pointer to his being alive. He had his hands clapped behind his back while Jackie's own were wrung together out of stress.

"Since The Rule Book prevents us from expelling you for the Academy, we have decided on the next best thing."

Jackie's heart thumped wildly in her chest. Shit. What the bloody hell have I got myself into? All I did was punch a deserving idiot in the face. Why are they looking like I committed a great crime?

"We have decided that you—"

Oh my gods! The are going to execute me! What else can it be? They cannot expel me...

"—will go on a Quest."

There was silence.

XXXXXXX

A Quest? They cannot send Jax on a Quest! She is too young!

Kyle's protests fell on deaf ears and they were herded out of the room with the words, "more information will be sent to you."

Jackie turned to Kyle, a defeated look on her face. No female had ever survived a Quest. No wonder they chose this as her punishment.

They could be rid of her forever.

"Goodbye Kyle." Jackie said sadly.

Wait, what?

Jackie moved away slowly after hugging Kyle. He was shell shocked.

"Hey!" He yelled, jogging up to her. "I'm going with you!"

She gave him a strange look. "No your not."

"Yes I am. You will not be rid of me so easily!"

"Seriously? You'll come with me?" Jackie said, a hopeful look on her face.

"Of course I will." Kyle said, messing with his hair.

"The rest if my life doesn't seem so bad now..."

"Stop being cheesy Jax. We both know we don't like each other that way." Kyle rolled is eyes.

"Well duh."

"Come on. We need to go pack.."

XXXXXXX

So, did you like it? Sorry it's so short. But it's difficult for me to write an original story. I mostly write fanfiction. This is a huge leap. 

Tell me what you think! 

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—Manny