Reawaken

QUEEN

A/N: Hey, sorry if the story feels really abrupt. My writing tends to draaaaaag,and I'm trying to get away from being boring! Let me know if the abruptness and the writing style is too jarring, and I'll slow it down a little.

We arrive in Caribou. Evangeline tells me it's considered the largest city in Aroostook County, Maine. As far as I can see there's nothing large about it. In fact it only seems to amount to a small garden of cultivated pavement. Civilization in the middle of a world of wilderness. We drive along side fields too wide to see across, and dilapidated sheds and farms that look to have been abandoned for twenty years or more.

"I know it doesn't look like much." tries Evangeline.

I think it looks wonderful, immersing my eyes in the unending forest. I could live here forever.

"But once we get to the academy you'll see how we survive up here." She turns to smile at me, and I attempt a smile back. "We are almost there."

Artemis parks the car on a small gravel area bordering the woods. The two exit the vehicle and I follow.

"The academy is in the woods?" I ask.

The two exchange a glance.

"Sort of." says Evangeline, "It's easier to show you." She glances down at my flip flops. "Don't worry, we won't have to go far."

I follow them into the woods. There is a faint path they are following, but it doesn't keep the ground free of gnarls, and I fight not to trip.

They stop at a giant oak tree, standing in the middle of the path.

I stop next to them, gazing up the massive tree. "I don't understand."

Artemis sweeps his arms around, and gestures wildly at the tree, rolling his eyes. "This, my dear, is the Academy! If you couldn't tell."

Evangeline sighs, and shakes her head at him. "Just take our hands, you'll see."

Artemis smirks back at the blonde, as he straights up.

I take both their hands. Both Evangeline and Artemis place another hand on the tree. They close their eyes and bow their heads, and I quickly do the same.

There's a shock to my body, like being dropped or waking up from a dream where you're falling. I open my eyes and find us in the entryway of a large building with light cream walls, and hardwood floors.

"The academy... is inside a tree?" I try, my mind scrambling to process this.

Artemis chuckles, Evangeline turns to glare at him.

"The academy is tied to the tree." She turns back to me. "The academy exists in a small alternate plane of existence created by one of our former Queens. It is tied to the magick of the tree, so these woods are the only way to access it. But it isn't technically inside the tree."

My head is floating as I listen to her. An alternate plane of existence? I am about to follow up with more questions when Evangeline takes my hand.

"Before you get settled in, you need to meet our Queen."

"You have a Queen?"

"We do." say Evangeline, her voice more controlled, "The reigning Witch Queen Christina Borealis, she's also our Headmistress. She makes a point to personally oversee each witches education... Well, as much as she can. The rest goes to us Court Priestesses' and Priests'."

"A court priestess?"

Evangeline sighs. "Everything will start to make more sense soon, I promise."