Equinox Academy: Dark Prophecy

Chapter 8

"Who in the silver fox is this?"

    Both Sophie and Ky chuckle as a hush settles over the crowd and apparently I'm not the only red blooded female that notices the gorgeous man standing in front of us. Holy shit.. My daddy issues are clearly showing. He reminds me of Brad Pitt and he has the killer body to match. Don't get me wrong he is fully clothed but the tailormade suit leaves little to the imagination and flexes around his muscles as he walks. He has a soft expression on his face that is warm and welcoming and his royal blue eyes twinkle with wisdom and a hint of mischief.

"Hello ladies and gentlemen. My name is Nico Bishop. I am the headmaster of Equinox Academy. You may call me Headmaster Bishop or Headmaster B."

    The crowd chuckles and I can't help the smirk that forms on my lips. The headmaster seems easy going but I won't let that knowledge delude me into thinking he's easy. He became headmaster for a reason so my only hope is that he is fair and won't hate me simply because I don't come with a rich pedigree. He proceeds to explain the background of the academy and how much of an honor it is to be invited here. I zone out and glance around to find everyone hanging off his every word. Even Sophie and Ky seem enraptured by him. 

I wonder if its part of his powers...

"Alright with that out the way let's talk about your first test."

    The tension is palpable in the pit of dread and you can hear the heart beats of all the individuals in the first two rows.  

"In alphabetical order we will call our potential students to the stage. Each one will touch the Minerva Owl."

    As he says this a screech blast through the amphitheater. Sophie jumps about two inches out of her seat and Ky flinches. My magic flares insides me but I will it to calm down as a giant bird swoops and lands on a perch that rose from the middle of the floor. This is no average bird. It looks to be a snowy owl but its about three times the average size. It's white feathers have a iridescent shine to them like a pearl and the black accent feathers sparkle like diamonds. Its large eyes are a bright yellow but instead of the normal black pupils its pupils are an eerie white. As the owl settles its eyes scan the first two rows. Its head swivels slowly and stops unnervingly on me. My magic flares slightly and just as it pushes against my bracers the owls gaze moves and I feel my magic retreat. I notice that the owl is wearing a strange pendant round its neck. It's made of solid gold and in the shape of a circle. There are five stones that make a cross pattern, four on the outside and one in the center. Each stone looks like an opaque diamond. 

  "When you touch Glaukopis he will read your magical signature."

    The headmaster reaches his hand out and the owl bows his head forward. As his hand makes contact with its head the gems on the necklace spark and the top stone shines bright yellow. Everyone in the first two rows gasps and Glaukopis lets out another loud screech and ruffles its feathers causing a gust of wind which flutters against my face. 

  "Each stone represents an element. The one you just saw was the air element. The one on the bottom is the earth element, fire is on the left, and water is on the right. If you do not have an elemental power none of the stones will light up. Unfortunately that means you have little to no elemental magic and you do not qualify for entry to this school. If you are found to not possess an element you will be escorted off the premises." 

Shit...

I guess I need one of those stones to light up or I'm screwed...

"Since we have 30 applicants we will go ahead and get started."

    The headmaster calls the first name and a young man strolls up the steps with a confident swagger that I find obnoxious. I roll my eyes as he approaches the beautiful bird who seems just as annoyed with the young guy. He reaches the bird and touches its head slightly rougher than the headmaster had. The pendant sparks and begins to glow a soft blue from the right stone and the guy visibly relaxes as the crowd erupts into applause. He exits the stage and the headmaster call up a girl next. She tentatively touches the owl's head and the pendant glows a soft yellow. She smiles and ducks off the stage as well. Next up is another male and he seems almost smug in his walk to the stage. You can tell he is from a prominent family. He touches the owl's head and we wait. After about thirty seconds nothing happens and his face scrunches up in fury. The headmaster walks over to remove him but the owl beats him to it. Just as the boy goes to make a comment Glaukopis spreads his wings wide and sends a strong gust of wind that knocks the boy clear across the stage and over the edge. Two cloaked figures grab him under his arms and drag him towards another exit. 

Ha...

Guess money doesn't buy everything...

    Kyler's name comes out next and strangely him and Alyssa have the same last name. 

I wonder if they are related...

    He approaches the stage cautiously and Sophie and I wave him forward. When he reaches the owl he is visibly shaking. His hand trembles when he reaches out and gently touches the owls head. Immediately a soft red glow shines from the pendant. Ky's smile lights up the stage and both Sophie and I clap hard while swooning at those dimples. Four more people follow after Kyler, two earth element, one air, and another water. 

    Sophie is called next and some people audibly gasp at her last name. I chuckle at Sophie as I watch her skip, I s**t you not skip, up to the stage. 

She's so damn cute... 

It's official if I pass this test I'm keeping her...

    She makes her way to the owl with zero hesitation and places her hand gently on its head. The owl seems to love her because he nuzzles her hand as the pendant glows a soft forest green. She giggles and pets the owl gently before turning to me. She smiles brightly, blows me a kiss, winks, and sashays her quirky ass off the damn stage. 

Yep I'm keeping her...

Another twenty minutes goes by with more names and the seats in the first two rows starts to empty. It's then I realize that I am likely going to be last. 

Just my damn luck...

After another ten minutes and the only other person before me gets called and I feel like a ball of nerves. My magic is getting antsy and I feel it creeping out of its reservoir trying to soothe me. Five other people aside from the first asshole failed to show signs of having an element and the tension in my body increases into a tighter knot. 

What if I don't have powers???

That's not true I can feel my power but is it elemental???

What if the stones don't light up???

I don't want to lose what power I do have...

"Kassandra Phoenix."

    My mind snaps back to what's going on. I exhale the breath I seemed to be holding and look up at the headmaster. He nods towards me and his blue eyes are soft and his smile is so warm. I find myself wanting to return it despite not knowing him very well. I slowly rise to my feet and I hear the crowd murmur behind me. I ignore the ugly words I hear about not belonging and being trash as I make my way towards the stage. As I draw closer I feel a probing magic tickle down my spine. I look up in the direction of the balcony but can't pinpoint where or whom it's coming from. Another lick of power touches my shoulder and a third caresses my thighs. I bite back a moan but my body gives an involuntary shudder. I'm frozen for a moment. My mind knows I need to move but I can't seem to find the will to break the connection. Each signature is uniquely different but each feels profoundly familiar. I glance at the balcony again trying to discern who is doing this to me but again I can only make out silhouettes. 

"Good luck Beautiful..."

That voice... 

    My eyes scan the crowd looking for those familiar peridot eyes but I can't find them. I'd remember that voice anywhere but the powers touching my body are just as distracting. After a full minute the power signatures release me with a gentle nudge forward. Strangely the powers don't feel aggressive they feel safe, encouraging, and weirdly familiar. My own power seems to reach out towards each signature and wants to caress them back. 

    A throat clears and I snap my attention back towards the owl and the headmaster. I cringe inwardly at the fact that I am extremely turned on and I have clearly been standing here quite a while enjoying a mystical feel up. However, the Head master doesn't seemed irritated but rather highly amused. 

    I begin my walk across the stage and the lingering magic fades as another pulsing magic takes its place. I halt for a moment as the heat of the magic settles over my skin and my magic seems to rush forward almost as if its eager to tangle with this new power. It doesn't make me feel scared or defensive but instead I can feel pulses of excitement and what feels like adrenaline pulsing through my veins. Where ever this owl comes from it makes my magic excited to come in contact with it. I pass the headmaster who takes a few steps back and Glaukopis locks eyes with me as I approached. The vibrations of my magic dances under my skin and I can't help the tingles that spread all over my body. Goosebumps rise on my flesh as I reach out a hand to the beautiful owl.

Moment of truth...

    My fingers make contact with silky feathers and the bird screeches so loud my ears threaten to burst. I go to retract me hand thinking I hurt it but its head leans further in. More feathers tickle my fingers as I close my eyes and will my heart which is galloping at an inhumanly high rate to slow. My pulse thrums loudly in my ear and the tingle in my limbs amplify. Suddenly my magic courses down my arm trickling past the bracers. I feel an old magic latch on and pull it slowly towards the owl who seems to fidget under my touch. All around me I hear a collective intake of breath. The scar above my left breast begins to burn and I instinctively open my eyes only to have the room tilt in a bout of vertigo. 

    I grit my teeth against the wave of dizziness and lock eyes with the headmaster. Or at least I try to but his focus is pinned on the pendant on the owl's chest. My eyes flick towards the crowd which also seems to be wearing a similar expressions of astonishment. My back suddenly feels warm with the presences of the magical signatures that I endured before touching the owl. It licks over my skin repeatedly but I can't tell if they are trying to probe or if they are trying to comfort me. It feels a little like both. I finally glance at the pendant and am greeted with a peculiar sight. All five stones are lit brightly. So bright I almost need to shield my eyes. Except something is different with the colors. In the place of the yellow stone the color shines sky blue, where the red stone was it shines a peridot green, where the forest green stone shone it now shines an emerald green, and where the royal blue stone was a frosty teal color now shines. Even more weird the stone in the center shines a bright glittery mix of gold and silver. 

I recognize those colors...

Their the same as the ones that were in my head...

Weird...

WTF is going on...

    I slowly remove my hand from the owl and the amphitheater is so quiet you can hear a pin drop. The colors on the pendant begins to fade but Glaukopis eyes never leave my face. After a minute of a stare off the owl blinks, bows low to me, and spreads its wings out. His first flap sends gust straight towards the crowd and he launches into the air with a final screech.  

Wait...

Did I pass... 

Wasn't it suppose to be only one stone???

I turn to look at the headmaster who still seems to be shock. I'm a little stunned myself.

Five stones... 

All five stones lit up...

WTF does that mean... 

Something's wrong...

    Just as I'm about to speak chaos erupts in the pit of dread. I clap my hands over my ears as shouts spout from everywhere and I hear everyone speaking at once.

"Cheater."

"Impossible."

"Fraud."

     More accusations are hurled my way and I inwardly shrink but outwardly I stand frozen with my hand shielding my ears from the mounting screams of outrage. As my magic begins to surge through me warm hands grasp my arms causing me to flinch. A large body shields me from the crowd and before I can react further I am pulled in the direction of a door. Once through the door, I step away to find the headmaster staring me in the eyes. His expression is serious but no less warm. 

"Mrs. Phoenix come with me."

"Yes sir."

    Questions bounce around in my head but I decide to remain silent as we walk down several corridors until we reach a set of large wooden doors. Over the doors is a shiny plaque that says "HEADMASTER."

He unlocks the door with the wave of his hand and gestures to one of the chairs in front of his desk. He slowly walks to his chair and gracefully lowers himself behind the desk. When he finally looks up his expression has gone void and shakes my stoicism. 

"Well Mrs. Phoenix we have a bit of a problem."

    His voice is calm but something seems off and it's making me nervous. Gone is the charismatic Headmaster B and before me sits the almost cold Headmaster Bishop. I see now why he gives you two option because the guy on stage not even thirty minutes ago could definitely be defined as Headmaster B. However, the emotionless man sitting in front of me is definitely Headmaster Bishop. The guy before I could see myself sharing a beer with but this guy makes me wants the earth to swallow me whole. Hopefully my original assessment rings true and he's fair despite the fact that my daddy can't donate to the school.  

I school my features before I ask "Problem? I don't understand."

"Well, no one has ever made all the stones light up. Ever."

"I still don't understand. Is that bad?"

He scrubs a hand through his hair.

"No and yes."

"Can you explain please?"

"Mrs. Phoenix, no one in the history of this school has ever lit all five stones. Hell I wasn't aware the fifth stone lit up. I know of the supposed fifth element but there has never been a student who possesses an affinity to it let alone to four others. Not to mention the stones lit in colors not common to what is regularly presented." 

Well shit...

He must begin to see panic on my face but forges forward. 

"So you see now. There are only two option as to what just happened. Either you Mrs. Phoenix are the first student in history to possess not one but five elements or you've done something to alter the results."

    Dread trickles down my spine and a protest latches to my lips as soon as he finishes. However before I can speak tiny shards of ice sting my skin. My magic flares in my defense as my spines stiffen. My breath gets caught in my throat as power pushes over my back and I see the headmaster's eye flash behind me and... soften. 

What the actual fuck...

"I'll be the judge of that."