Page 1 of Blood Oath
1
MAVEN
Lepidoptery is a beautifully morbid hobby.
I come to this conclusion after several minutes of staring at the extensive collection of gossamer butterfly wings pinned to the wall behind the faculty member’s desk. He’s been making one-sided small talk the entire time, unaware of my growing appreciation for impaling insect corpses up in such a macabre display.
He laughs at one of his own jokes and raises his bushy eyebrows at me expectantly. When I offer no change in expression, he clears his throat, tapping one finger against a file resting on the mahogany desk in front of him.
“Well, now that introductions are out of the way, I suppose we should get down to business. Welcome to Everbound University, Miss Oakley. I’ve read all your student records, and it seems you are what we would call an atypical caster—the magic in your blood manifested of its own accord despite your completely human pedigree. There aren’t many atypical casters, so I’m sure this world is probably all a bit overwhelming for you,” he smiles apologetically.
You have absolutely no fucking idea.
He goes on, opening my file. “It says here that after you manifested your magic a week ago, you immediately turned yourself in to the proper authorities. As required by law, they, in turn, registered you to attend this semester, although we only have a month left. Turning yourself in must have been difficult, but you should be proud. I’m sure that if you work hard and watch your back, you will thrive here at Everbound University.”
His smile is sickeningly optimistic.
My attention drifts back to the dead bugs on the wall. “The headmaster. Where is he?”
That catches him by surprise. “Professor Hearst? I’m not sure how much you know about the world of legacies, Miss Oakley, but I’m sure even the humans teach about the Immortal Quintet in their schools. They’re an integral part of history between humans and legacies, and they put the Divide in place to protect the mortal world. Professor Hearst is a member of that vital quintet and, as such, had some important business to attend to that required him to leave Everbound. Until further notice, I am the interim headmaster—Mr. Gibbons, at your service.”
Damn it.
As usual, I refuse to let emotion of any kind show on my face as I look out the window of the ornate office. He’s right about one thing: this atmosphere is entirely foreign to me. Two stories below us, stone courtyards illuminated in bright winter morning light give way to the expansive training fields on this side of Everbound Castle.
Because of course legacies are mandated to study in a godsdamned castle.
It’s fitting—a bunch of descendants of monsters housed in a gothic behemoth surrounded by thick forest, miles away from the nearest human civilization. Every inch of this place radiates prestige with an undertone of danger, like a rose perched at the tip of a bloodied knife.
On second thought, maybe I will enjoy this place after all.
Mr. Gibbons clears his throat. “You’ve undoubtedly heard the rumors about how dangerous Everbound University is. I’m afraid those rumors are true. We are preparing legacies to become weapons to protect the mortal world, and while we try to enforce a no-killing rule for unmatched legacies, sometimes they do get carried away, and…” He shrugs uncomfortably. “At any rate, we send out emergency notifications in the event of a student’s severe injury or untimely death. Who should I list as your emergency contact?”
“Leave it blank.”
“Are you certain?”
I meet his gaze. “Depends. Are you a necromancer?”
He rears back, almost choking. “Of course not!”
“Then I’m certain.”
“Good gods,” he huffs. “Why would you even ask such a thing?”
It’s amusing how scandalized he is that I even dared bring up necromancy. He rearranges the two papers in my file several times before rising from his chair with a haughty sniff.
“Miss Oakley, the Nether and all things pertaining to it are not to be spoken of lightly. It is a parasitic hellhole full of the worst horrors imaginable, and the only things keeping it from gaining a foothold in this world are the Divide and the blood, sweat, and sacrifice of us legacies. Only mere weeks ago, a surge of shadow fiends escaped and slaughtered hundreds of innocent humans in a small town in Maine. Just think of that before talking about the creatures there with such levity again.”
Touchy subject.
I study the office around me once again, memorizing the setup. The other faculty offices likely have a similar layout, so it’s valuable information.
“Is that the reason Headmaster Hearst left?”
Mr. Gibbons shakes his head as he puts my file away, withdrawing an envelope that appears to be overfilled with my student ID, introductory papers, and a key.
“That’s not our business, but I’m sure he’ll be back by the end of the semester for First Placement in about a month.”
