Chapter One
* * *
Charle Avenue is bustling, bright, and warm. Magicaes stroll down the cobblestone street, laughter following them. Sunlight coats the buildings in a golden glow. The scent of flowers and pastries fill my nose.
This is a whole new place compared to last year. It’s alive. Shops are overflowing with customers. Smiles bounce from one expression to the next.
I keep an extra close eye on the back of Fallenorb’s head as we weave through the constantly shifting crowd. It’s a bit intimidating, but I have to get used to it, since this is about to be the new normal at school.
Fallenorb told me on our drive here the academy’s attendance has doubled. They’re back to full capacity, which is exciting, but also terrifying. According to her, classrooms and hallways will be packed, the beach practically overflowing with kids, and meals, hectic.
“Ooh!” My attention shifts abruptly. I dash over to a clothing store display window and show Fallenorb the mannequin inside. “Isn’t it pretty?”
The mannequin is wearing a loose blue floral dress with a white leather belt.
“Yes,” Fallenorb says, then continues walking.
I frown. Doesn’t she appreciate the beauty in clothes? I do, now that I’m a designer myself. I capture a picture of the dress in my mind and plan on ways to sew it back home. I have similar blue fabric, but the belt might be hard to find.
“Cassandrea!” I realize Fallenorb is far ahead, waving for me to join her through the thicket of magicaes.
I hurry over, and Fallenorb pulls us off the road so she can check my back-to-school shopping list. “Alright,” she sighs. “I’m going to grab you a new schoolbag. Why don’t you wait for me at the ice cream parlor?”
A grin breaks across my face. She must’ve noticed my longing gaze toward the parlor when we arrived. A wooden menu on the sidewalk, listing a multitude of flavors, caused my stomach to growl. It’s been years since I’ve had ice cream. I can’t even recall what the icy milk tastes like on my frozen tongue.
“Okay!” I say and we part ways. I being weaving through the horde of magicaes. I get pushed around numerous times and decide taking another route will guarantee I don’t drop anything.
I abandon the busy street and find a back alley that goes in the general direction of the parlor.
This new path may not be as crammed, but it smells.
The walls are black. Puddles dot the bumpy pavement. A few old blankets are scattered around. Blankets on stone… I flash back to the cavern buried under a mountain on Vandercoff Island.
When I released a blast that rattled Yiung, the blankets hit the walls and…
I trip, snapping out of the memory. My sudden jerk back to the present wobbles my things in my arms. My powers come to life, hastening to secure all my shopping boxes before they fly into a muddy puddle.
“I’m sorry!” a tiny voice cries.
I look up.
A young boy blocks my path. He clutches a black glass jar to his chest and stares at me with fright in his light blue eyes.
“It’s okay,” I assure him. I probably ran into him. My head often distracts me. I can’t go a day without memories of last year capturing me, if only for a moment.
The boy brushes blonde curls off his forehead, the fear fading from his eyes. He tilts his head, then asks, “Are you a student at Vandercoff?”
“Yes.” I smile. “Are you?”
He nods. “It’ll be my first year.”
Hopefully, his is a lot less crazy than mine.
I look the boy over, noting his youthful features and a stature which hasn’t hit a significant growth spurt yet. “Seventh grade?”
“Yeah… I’m really nervous.” He bites his lower lip.
“No need to be nervous,” I insist. “Vandercoff is amazing.” Especially now that there isn’t a Bloodren in charge. “What’s your name?”
“Covyn,” the boy replies quietly. The manner in which he ducks his head causes me to swallow. The action reminds me of my brother. When we were young and Mace answered to our father, he’d lower his head to avoid looking at the terrible man.
I hope Covyn isn’t intimidated by me. I think I look genuine enough in my green blouse—that I made—and slightly stained jeans.
“I’m Cassie,” I tell Covyn. Maybe knowing my name will help him feel more comfortable.
Sure enough, his head lifts.
Wanting to initiate further conversation, I nod to the jar he’s holding. “What’s in there?”
Covyn’s eyes widen again. He shields the jar with his sweater. “Nothing.”
Alright, his business is his business.
“Where are your parents?” I glance around. I haven’t seen an adult in a while.
“I don’t know.” Covyn bites his lip. “I think I lost them.”
“Oh, well, where did you last see them?” I’m aware of how easy it is to get separated from someone in Charle Avenue. Today alone, I’ve lost Fallenorb a dozen times. Each instance, I was able to locate her by craning my neck, but Covyn’s case seems more complicated than that.
“We were…” Covyn glances both ways down the alley, “we were at a clothing shop.”
“Hazel’s?” That’s the only one I know.
“Yes!” he cries. “My mom told me to look at the shoes outside, but then I saw this guy and he…” Covyn bows his head sheepishly. “I get distracted a lot.”
I laugh. “Me too. Come on, I know where Hazel’s is.”
Covyn smiles an infectious smile and follows me back onto the street. We walk side by side, braving the mob to Hazel’s.
We arrive at the tiny boutique, filled with a fair share of customers. I push the door open and a welcome bell chimes.
Almost instantly, Covyn exclaims, “Mom!”
A tall, slender woman turns from where she’s speaking to a clerk. When she sees Covyn, she gasps and meets him halfway. She hugs him, her light brown hair falling over his head, shielding him in her embrace.
I tread a few paces back, confident Covyn is where he needs to be.
“Covyn!” A man runs into the store, practically shoving me into a display case in his haste. Judging from his blonde hair and blue eyes, I assume he’s Covyn’s father. He’s flanked by two security guards.
Covyn steps away from his mom and stares up at the man.
“You scared us,” the man says, bending down to look Covyn in the eye. His expression is stern. “You can’t run off and go exploring here. This isn’t home.” He places a hand on Covyn’s shoulder.
“Okay, Dad.” Covyn hangs his head.
His dad pats his shoulder, then releases his grip.
Covyn raises his gaze after a moment and fixates on me. “Thanks for helping me.”
I open my mouth to insist I hadn’t done anything, but Covyn’s dad interrupts. “Yes, thank you.”
His mom eyes her son. “Covie here likes wandering off.”
“There’s just so much to see!” Covyn blurts out. A grin crosses his expression. “While I was walking, I saw this really cool store with maps in it. Can we go see it?”
I move away from the little family. I engross myself with examining a red dress, all the while, watching the three leave the boutique in my peripheral.
I allow myself to doddle a moment more and admire some of Hazel’s goods. I can’t stay long though. Fallenorb is probably on her way to the ice cream parlor, and I’d hate for her to be in the same predicament Covyn’s parents just were.
The second I step toward the door; I hear someone call my name.
“Cassandrea!”
I whirl around.
Hazel rushes up to me, beaming.
“How good to see you,” she gushes. She looks me over. “It’s been a while. So much has changed, hasn’t it? I mean look at you.” It’s true, I’ve grown a lot since the last time we saw each other. Not just in height, but I gained substantial weight and muscle last school year.
Hazel tilts her head at my shirt. “Is this one of your pieces? Okella mentioned you’d been making your own clothing.”
“Yes,” I squeak, overjoyed she noticed my original design. “I made this last week, that’s why it’s still clean.” I laugh. Everything I make somehow manages to get the tiniest bit dirty. Nothing horrible, but it proves nothing is safe at my house.
“Excuse me?”
Hazel and I turn our heads to a lady staring intently at me.
“You said, Cassandrea?” The lady glances at Hazel, then back to me. “As in Cassandrea Gennady?”
My smile vanishes. I swallow. “Um…” I start, “yes.” How does she know my name?
“Wow,” the lady gasps. “Sorry for bothering you, but I find what you did last year so heroic. Standing up against Bloodrens and winning is no easy feat.” The lady grabs hold of my hand and shakes it vigorously.
I clumsily let her, nodding along. Inside though, I have no idea what to do. How does she know all that? I’ve never seen her before. Not as a teacher at Vandercoff or one of the monorail workers who took the Golden Wings girls away.
The lady lets go of me and hurries away. Hazel watches her go, then says, “You’ve become quite a figure around these parts. I’ve heard your name bouncing off these walls all day.”
All day. How is that possible? How do all these magicaes know who I am? A year ago, I was a nobody.
Hazel must notice my eyes flicking across every customer’s face. She pulls me closer to the counter where not as many magicaes are shopping. “You didn’t know, did you? That the news released a story.”
I stare at her. “A story about what?”
“About what happened in June.” Hazel lowers her voice. “How you and some of your friends took down Yiung.”
I shake my head. “I didn’t take down anyone. He got away.”
“But you still saved the school. It’s no longer under the control of a Bloodren. Magicaes are astounded. They’re amazed a student did something so brilliant.”
Sweat pools on my temples. “What does the story say about me?” I’m fine with the news about Yiung being shared, but my information is personal, and I don’t want anyone digging too deeply.
“Oh, not much. There’s a copy of it outside. Let me show you.” Hazel escorts me outside onto the noisy street. She points to a newspaper article hanging on a bulletin board.
The article’s headline reads; Vandercoff Academy is Free, Due to the Heroic Acts of Its Students.
My name is listed below. Along with Adriel Casimir and Damien Blackwell.
Oh no… I hope Damien isn’t facing any trouble in Ceirin for his assistance. He wasn’t even supposed to be there.
Hazel skims a finger over the paper, pointing out brief moments when my name is mentioned: once, when clarifying who was present, then I’m stated a couple times in a recap of Yiung and I’s fight, and as perhaps being the last magicae to ever see him alive.
“Where’d they get this information?” As far as I remember, there were no reporters on the island. We kept the matter quiet. At least, I thought so.
My eyes flick over the article in its whole and a few lines catch my attention.
The trees curled in tightly like a warm embrace, only to have their hearts shattered by a ray of brilliant scarlet light. The air that fateful evening was so pure, it tasted like sugar, but the fight within was as bitter as coal.
That writing sounds awfully familiar. Far too poetic for a regular reporter.
Hazel points to a small section at the bottom of the page labeled sources. Before even looking, I know what name I’m about to read; Romere Hardom.
Of course.
Hardom was definitely there. And he asked my friends and I many questions after we returned. I didn’t answer any, but Leanne did. She spoke at length about my confrontation with Yiung, including details I’d given her in secret. I don’t blame her for sharing what she had; I’m sure she never meant for her retellings to be used like this.
I continue staring at the article and the picture accompanying it. Thankfully, it’s just an image of the school. No one’s faces are present for magicaes to connect names to.
Except, that doesn’t matter in the case of someone who knows me… my father. What if he’s seen this? He’s bound to have, if it’s as famous as Hazel mentioned.
This morning, before I left the house, Mama went into a fit over my returning to Vandercoff. I stormed out the front door to her shouts of how I’ll never be safe from my father. Going to school, she said, only puts me in more danger.
I’d brushed her off, desperate to get back to my friends, but… maybe she’d been right. My father found me at Vandercoff last year. I nearly died. I’m the reason his informant is gone. He hates me with passion. What might he do next?
My heart starts to race. The boxes in my arms feel full of bricks.
“Don’t worry,” Hazel says and my head snaps toward her. She points to the article. “This is the only story on Charle Avenue. After it was published, the company got in trouble for not receiving consent from the minors specified. Hardom faced a fine as well. Most reports were taken down, but this one has been here since July. I can remove it now, if you’d like.”
I nod. I’d really appreciate not having my name be what magicaes see right before entering Hazel’s shop.
Hazel untacks the article and folds it up. She hands it to me, and I stuff it into my back pocket.
“Thank you,” I say.
Hazel smiles. “You’re welcome. Now, you should go find Fallenorb. You’ve been here quite some time.”
She’s right. If Fallenorb isn’t already at the ice cream parlor, she’s bound to be soon.
I shrug my shoulders, hoping the action will clear my head. It doesn’t. Half-heartedly, I wave to Hazel, saying, “Bye.”
She lifts a hand in farewell.
I turn on my heel and hurry in the direction of a big plastic ice cream cone.
As soon as I reach the ice cream parlor’s outdoor seating area, I spot Fallenorb walking briskly toward me.
“Cassandrea, there you are! I’ve been here for five minutes.” Her gaze softens at how anxious mine must be. “What’s wrong?”
I reach into my pocket and show her the article.
The second Fallenorb sees it, she sighs. “I’m sorry. I should have warned you.” She shakes her head. “I didn’t think it would be a problem since I heard all the articles had been taken down weeks ago.”
“Most of them,” I mutter, folding the paper back up and stuffing it away.
Fallenorb frowns. “It was disgusting what Romere did. He faced harsh criticism from the school board, but he’ll be at Vandercoff again this year.”
Seriously? I don’t know if I can stand him anymore.
Fallenorb breaks my bitterness by holding out a new cloth school bag. I take it, admiring the silver buckles and sturdy shoulder-strap. I like it. More so than I liked my leather bag.
“Would you like to get some ice cream now?”
I nod.
Fallenorb leads the way through a pastel pink door into the shop. The moment I step inside the air-conditioned building, my eyes widen, and my mouth waters.
Behind a glass case are dozens of ice cream flavors in giant bowls. Each one is a glossy shade of some natural color. Some have bits of other ingredients in them. I’m overwhelmed by my choices. I have no idea what to get!
“Hello!” a girl behind the counter greets cheerfully. “What can I get for you?”
I press my face against the glass, trying to decide what on earth is best.
“I’ll have a small regular cone of chocolate, please,” Fallenorb says tightly.
“You got it!” The girl grabs two metal spoons and scrapes some dark brown ice cream into a perfect ball.
I watch in awe as she drops the sphere on a waffle cone and hands it to Fallenorb.
“And for you miss?”
I flick my eyes between two choices. Finally, I ask, “Can I have one scoop of chocolate and one scoop of strawberry in a chocolate cone?”
“Of course!”
As the girl gets my ice cream, Fallenorb pays another girl at the cash register. I receive my cone, and we take a seat at a tiny yellow table near the door.
Outside, the crowd is beginning to thin. It’s almost three in the afternoon. After this, I’ll be headed home too.
My gaze shifts to the cone in my hand. I stick out my tongue and take a long lick of both flavors. It takes a second for the sweetness to soak into my tongue, but when it does, I grin and take a bite.
Ah! I swallow fast and run my tongue over my aching teeth.
I take careful licks from then on and savor the combination of rich chocolate and natural strawberry.
“So,” Fallenorb tilts her head at me, “are you excited to return to school?”
“Yes!” I exclaim between licks. I’m ecstatic to see my friends and learn even more about my powers. But… a question that’s been nagging at me all summer wants to explode from my lips. It’s the one thing I worry might deter my excitement about Vandercoff. I lower my ice cream and ask, “Have they… has Yiung been found?”
Fallenorb freezes, her chocolate cone suspended midway to her mouth. She swallows her last bite then says, “No. The school sent out dozens more search teams, but none were successful. That doesn’t mean his body isn’t somewhere, it’s just hard to search every inch of Vandercoff with its center being so…” she watches me closely, “deadly.”
I swallow, remembering my experience fighting the forest. I have no idea how I survived. Even before Eos rescued me, I shouldn’t have been able to uphold my shield. The weight of the trees and rocks was unbearable.
Fallenorb checks her watch. “I should get you home.”
I nod. Mama will worry if we’re late. And when she worries, she loses it.