Page 30 of Lucent Academy 2: Trinity Awakens
The band consisted of a lute player, three fiddlers, a violinist, and two singers. They were a good mix of men and women, of different ages. I thought they were fantastic and wondered where the Academy had found such skillful musicians, if they had gone to school here as well.
Vivian Salvina, whose parents owned the local tavern in her hometown, actually knew the steps of the dance, and she obliged us by giving a demonstration. We joined in, and soon we were making up steps of our own. It resulted in so much laughter and back-and-forth banter that other men and women joined us until we were all taking turns dancing with each other. I didn't know the names of even half the people, as they were in different classes, some of them second or third years too, but none of us minded. It was joyful. I couldn't remember the last time I'd had so much carefree, unburdened fun. The hours slipped by, and by the time the fifth or sixth song rolled around, I excused myself to get another drink.
I opted for a simple sparkling water to quench my thirst. Standing against the wall and watching the others still twirling around and around, I finished my drink quickly so I could rejoin the fun.
After a few more songs, the music finally faded, and the leader of the band called for our attention. "Ladies and gentlemen, there will be a short intermission of about half an hour, as someof you need to catch your breath before the commencement of this final part of the evening." Good-natured laughter followed this because we knew what was coming. "Then you will have the opportunity to summon your mates, to have the last few dances with them."
Amber and Vivian turned to me. "Want to come with us to refresh our makeup?"
I shook my head. I needed a few moments to myself. I made my excuses to Amber and the rest of them as they left for the dormitory. Here and there, other students were already performing their summonings, and mates from the Pacted Realms were popping into existence all around us. It was getting noisy and chaotic on the dancefloor.
I headed for the double doors that would lead to the gardens. Others were headed outside as well, and I hoped to slip unnoticed into my favorite spot, the one under the elm tree where I had spent so many evenings alone with my mates.
I was in luck. My section of the garden, that special spot, looked deserted. I sat down for a few moments on the empty bench.
I closed my eyes and gathered my will. I hoped my message would reach all three of them. "If you'd like, there's a ball tonight. At the Academy. I really want all three of you to dance with me. But I can only take one of you back for the official dance..."
The rest of my plea died on my lips as a bright light shone on the back of my eyelids. I opened my eyes and saw a cold orb of white light hovering above the ground. "What in the world?" This was different. None of my mates had appeared in that form before. Had I even finished the summoning?
As I watched, the orb pulsed and seemed to sway slowly from side to side. It seemed aware of me. Aware and playful. I felt a moment of unease. There were creatures in the Pacted Realms that could be dangerous for mortals. Things that sometimes found their way into our world and would lead travelers astray for their own amusement. The Fae Realm often had creatures like that, but how would one have ended up here, at the exact moment I was trying to summon my mates?
As I stared at the orb, into that cold, pulsing light, I felt some of my uncertainty melt away. Caelan was from Verenestra, the Realm of the Goddess Elinle. My Fae Prince. He always seemed so reserved and aristocratic, but he had a playful side to him as well. He wasn't opposed to gently teasing me from time to time or to being sweet and caring, either. Perhaps this was his idea of being romantic, of asking me to choose only him as my companion for tonight. I had a feeling all three of my mates could be devious when they needed to be. I wouldn't put it past any of them to do something like this to move me to favor them above the other two.
As I watched, the orb started floating away.
"Wait, I don't know what you want from me."
The orb moved closer again and then zipped away in the same direction as before. Was it just my imagination, or did it want me to follow?
My feet started moving then, and I was following the orb through the gardens. It felt like I was tethered to it by some kind of invisible string, like it was leading me along, like I had no choice but to follow.
I followed it through a rose garden with a small cobbled path, past fountains and statues, past balconies that looked outover the mountains. We met no other students on our way, and I should have stopped to wonder why. How this strange messenger from my Fae Prince knew the path it wanted to lead me down so well, if it was indeed from Caelan.
Down a few steps in the darkness, with only the cold, white light from the orb to illuminate my way, and we were standing in front of a large hedge wall. The orb suddenly disappeared. Worried that I had lost it, I ran forward and saw there was an entrance through an archway, a door through the hedge. The walls were so dense and overgrown that I had to turn a corner before I saw the light from the orb again. It turned right suddenly, and I followed, twisting and turning left and right. It zipped down different pathways, and I didn't even realize I was walking into a maze, down deserted pathways in a part of the castle grounds that were surely off-limits.
It was only when I ran out of breath and had to stop because of a stitch in my side that I lost the orb again and was shaken from the daze I'd been in. I thought whatever the strange orb of light was leading me to, it couldn't be that far ahead. Was it around the next corner, lying in wait?
I heard something moving stealthily in the darkness, and a lance of ice-cold fear pierced through my brain, making me hold my breath.
Had I really been following a strange object through a section in the castle I didn't know? What was I thinking?
That's just it,I told myself.You weren't thinking.Had that weird orb been hypnotizing me?
I suddenly felt like crying. I tried to remember the way we'd come. How many lefts had I taken? How many rights? If I justwent back, would whatever waited for me in the darkness just leave me alone? Or would it chase after me?
"Miss! Hey... Miss Wood!" I started out of my thoughts when I heard a squeaky voice calling my name.
I looked around, but didn't see anyone.
"Down here! Come, you must follow me if you want to get out of here!"
I peered at the hedge and noticed a sharp little face with large eyes staring out at me.
"What... Who are you?"
He looked alarmed as he put one crooked, long-nailed finger in front of his lips. "Not so loud! Someone's trying to play a nasty trick on you, Miss. Come on, I'll lead you back to the dance where you'll be safe."
I walked up to the hedge, and saw the Imp—for that was what this strange little guy was—pull the hedge back like a curtain. I shook my head at this creature's strange brand of magic that he seemed able to perform so effortlessly. I knew who he was and who he was associated with. Only one person I knew had an Imp dressed in a butler's uniform for a mate. Seraphina Ashworth. But why would Seraphina send her mate to help me, even if it was true, and someone was trying to play a prank on me?
