The Triskelion Chronicles 1: Devils and Darkness

Chapter Four: The grand glamorous gala

Julie had not slept that night, and, as the two boys had so kindly pointed out, it had showed quite obviously. She had bags under her eyes, twice as big as the one on her back. After the night that she had, it was doubtless that anyone would sleep after such an experience. The image of the Tantibus was burned into her mind. Its pitch-black features, it's piercing eyes, and of course, it's freezing grip on her heart. Despite her fatigue, Julie was determined to get through the day.

Throughout the entire morning, Jack and Chris were inseparable. Their outward affection had garnered a lot of attention from students and teachers alike. Julie had hoped to get her brother and childhood companion together; however, she had not anticipated that it would have been so easy.

Once the three amigos entered the history classroom, they had found it was completely empty, and Mr. Solomon was nowhere to be seen. "Anyone know where he is?" Jack asked Chris.

"No idea." He said, gazing into his eyes. Once, Julie would have been over the moon with joy to see her brother so happy. Now, perhaps because of her tiredness, she thought quite differently.

"Okay guys," she said "I'll check the library, and you two can check the broom closet." She said with a tinge of anger. Jack and Chris both looked at her in shock.

"What's gotten into you?" said Jack.

Julie sighed in exhaustion. "Sorry guys, I really didn't get much sleep last night." she said.

"Yeah," said Jack "it shows."

Chris stared at his sister, concerned for her. "Why didn't you sleep, what kept you up?"

Julie opened her mouth, but before she could speak, the school bell sounded. BBBBBBBBRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGG. "I'll tell you later." she said.

The room quickly flooded with students, and Mr. Solomon was still absent. Julie, Jack, and Chris all took their seats as Owen, looking towards Julie, sat down next to her. "Hey Julie!" he said.

"Hey Owen." she groaned, less out of annoyance and more out of sleep deprivation.

"The hell kept you up all night?" he asked.

"Is it that obvious?" she said. She had always admired Owen for his honesty. Perhaps it was the way he said things, or perhaps it was his voice, his blue eyes, and his perfect smile. Either way, every girl was lucky to be told bad news from Owen Ashwood. But then again, that was just Julie's opinion.

Chris had been looking over at his sister with suspicious eyes. "It's disgusting." he thought to himself. "Where does a guy like him get off on trying to flirt with Julie? A guy like that probably wants only one thing."

"And what's that?" asked Jack.

Chris was so caught up in his own mind that he had not realised, he was thinking out loud, again. "Um..." Chris began to stutter. "Hey, I think Mr. Solomon is coming!" he exclaimed, relived from dodging an explanation. But it was not Mr. Solomon who came through the door, but instead, Miss Fey the art teacher, who incidentally, was also a history teacher.

"Hey guys!" said the young, impish woman. "Mr. Solomon had to call in sick today, so I'm going to be teaching." Chris, Jack, and Julie all looked toward each other with one question on their minds, "Where is Mr. Solomon?"

After school, the three met up near the library, to possibly find some evidence of where Mr. Solomon was. He was a member of a secret organisation of monster hunters, the chances of him just being out sick, were slim to say the least. "Well, he's got to be in here." said Julie.