Oracle (Book I)

Blood Magic

The blazing, merrily cackling fire lit on the fields was nowhere near as big as the bonfire from the night of the entrance ceremony. A lot of the students had chosen to catch up in their studies so there weren't as many of them out tonight and it was no where near as lively, as that night. Everyone sat around the fire in little groups, catching up and eating. A few groups for studying were even scattered here and there. The small band played quietly in the background, feeding the relaxed mood. The tent had appeared and no teachers were in sight.

Bossa stood up from her seat and propped a fist on her hip.

"He said what to you!?" she barked.

"It's my own fault," Caprice said rather dismally. She was sitting huddled on top of an empty gold rush crate out of the direct reach of the fire.

Grace Sula, the gold hoops piercing her earlobes shining in the firelight, shook her head.

"Like I said: Disharmony."

"I'mma disharmonize his pasty white face!" said Bossa, eyes flashing.

"I shouldn't have bothered to ask him," Caprice said.

Nezzle had on her glasses and had a book in hand as usual. She said, "Because he's a kin-hating ass just like Nobles and the Whitehares or because what he said was hurtful and humiliating when you meant to befriend him."

Nezzle's words made Caprice look away. She nursed her glass of gold rush and didn't answer. For once, she wished the girl wasn't so keen.

"It's all right. You thought he was a good one and he turned out for the worse. It's not your fault. You tried. A lot of people, unfortunately, are certainly very casual with those vomitous ways of thinking."

Bossa sucked her teeth and took a drink from her bottle. "You didn't need to go out of your way to invite him anyway. He's not welcomed here, far as I'm concerned. Sure you don't want me to knock him around a little?" Putting the bottle down, she pounded her fist into her open hand.

That made Caprice smile a bit. She took a heartened drink from her glass, then wiped her mouth with her sleeve.

"You don't know what he looks like."

Bossa's eyes glowed.

"Doesn't mean I can't find him."

Nearby, small entourages surrounded both Stone and Ripley. A few girls were hanging on Ripley, filling his glass while chatting and vying for his attentions. As soon as she noticed, Nezzle stood, walked over, and silently took up post behind Ripley's right shoulder. She didn't touch him and she didn't say anything yet her presence only went unnoticed for a matter for a few seconds.

Catching sight of her, the girls pawing at Ripley immediately scattered, positively tripping over their own feet as they retreated.

"Gotta go, Rip," said one girl, hurriedly sticking her feet back into her sandals.

"Later, ulf," another girl said as she hastily put his cup down next to his seat.

Grace and Bossa laughed as the girls ran away.

Stone glanced over, lip hitched in amused disgust while the girls around him continued to fawn.

"Still hiding under your woman, I see," he said.

Ripley shrugged. "I'd rather be under her than not have one."

"His woman?" Caprice said, surprised.

"Oh, right, you can't have known: Ripley is Nez's little flame. She's secretly got a penchant for muscley boys," Bossa waggled her eyebrows. "Muscley boys that change their muscles around the full moon."