It's the perfect fall day, the leaves turning golden orange and red overhead. We make our way through the cover of brown fallen leaves, tramping deeper and deeper into the forest as the school disappears behind us. It would be beautiful, other than the crushed beer cans and broken bottles littering the sides of the woods. I wrinkle my nose, seeing a half-empty bottle of vodka lying on its side. It looks recent, probably from a few nights ago. Most likely from one of Craig's parties.
"When do people have time to party?" Jack groans. "With all the schoolwork we have?"
"Beats me," Alex says. "Iero assigned another essay. Can you believe it? Third week of school."
"I know right," I say, even though I've been to several of them. Not all, I'm keeping my grades from slipping too much. The venenum is helping, though I've started to cut back on it. Now that there might be a way to get Mike back, the memories aren't as painful.
"You're lucky you have a single," Jack groans. "Alex was snoring last night."
I shrug. "Guess it's just my luck." I can't help but let a tinge of bitterness seep into my voice. I wouldn't really call it luck, the reason I have a single this year. I'm glad for the privacy though. I didn't hate sharing with Alex last year. That's how we became friends.
"Ever since you became obsessed with the necromancy shit," Jack says. "You haven't been the same. Honestly Vic, I really think that you-"
"You said you were going to help me," I interrupt, frustration seeping into my voice. "Are you?"
Jack and Alex exchange a glance but they nod, following me in silence to the ring of stones. We freeze when we get to the clearing.
There's a figure standing in the circle of stones, a hood pulled low over his face. The sight of him surprises the three of us and we stop, unsure of what to do. It's definitely not Mike, that I'm certain of. No, this boy is shorter, only a bit taller than I am. It must be one of the students. If the teachers find out, then we're screwed.
"If it's Craig, I swear," Jack mutters.
The boy hears us, freezing. He turns toward us, his hood falling down so his face is revealed. I can only stare at him shocked, speechless. His eyes widen as he takes us in. There's a moment of silence between the four of us.
He's honestly the most beautiful boy I've ever seen. His raven dark hair frames his flawless pale face, his eyes a strange color, a mix between blue, green, and gray as if they couldn't decide which color to choose.
"Do we know you?" Alex asks, breaking the silence.
The boy's eyes flicker to me and I can feel my heart pounding in my chest. "I don't think so," he says softly. He has a slight accent but I can't quite place it.
"Are you new?" Jack asks.
"New?" The boy echoes.
"To the Academy."
The boy hesitates, then nods slowly, not taking his eyes off of me. Jack and Alex both turn to look at me, Jack smirking and Alex raising his eyebrows.
"Are you not from around here?" I ask, stepping closer. He watches me carefully, cautiously, poised to run at any moment.
"No," he responds. I step closer again, inside of the stone circle even as Alex hisses at me not to.
Now that I get a closer look, I can tell something's off. His skin is too pale, his eyes too bright. I swear I can see his hand turning translucent, seeing the faint forest floor beneath him before he suddenly lunges at me. I stumble backward in shock before the boy winces, holding his neck. Within a heartbeat, he collapses to the ground in front of me.
For a moment, I think he's been shot. But there's no blood. I can only stare in surprise before my instincts kick in. I kneel down next to the boy, turning him on his side. I can see the faint red words fading on his skin. Sonum. Sleep.
"Really?" I snap at Alex.
"What? He was scaring me!" Alex protests. "You saw that too!"
I just roll my eyes. "We can't just leave him here," I point out. "We're gonna get in so much trouble. If he tells them you knocked him out, we're screwed."
"What are we gonna do then?"
"Take him back to the dorm?" I ask.
"Are you insane?"
"Maybe," I mutter. If we hurry, we can get back before anyone notices.
I put my fingers against his neck, feeling for a pulse, but there is none.
"Holy shit," I mutter. I whirl around, glaring at Alex. "Did you kill him?"
"What? That was a sleeping spell!"
"Yeah, well he's not breathing."
"Wait, what?"
"What do we do?"
"Vic!" Alex shouts and I look down to see the boy suddenly stirring beneath me. I move to back away, but his eyes open and he grabs my wrist, stopping me. His hand is cold, chillingly so, sending the sensation of ice flooding through my veins, freezing me. Images flash in my mind, a dark empty world, stalagmites and stalactites rising from the ceiling and floor, covered in ice. His extraordinary colored eyes meet mine, fear and confusion flickering through them.
"What are you?" I manage to stammer out before his eyes roll up again and he collapses again onto the ground.
YOU ARE READING
A Choir Of The Coldest Hearts
FanficAfter dealing with the loss of his brother, Vic is spiraling. He blames himself for his brother's death, and honestly, who wouldn't? But he's a warlock who goes to a sorcery school for teenagers like him. So necromancy seems like the obvious solutio...
