LUSTING FIRES

001

[ magic is f*****g weird ]

CAROLINE WAYFIELD

Sweet seventeen. Now that I'm old enough, I can finally deal with the family secrets. One of them is my Father. I now get the joy of trying to figure out who hated him badly enough to drive him to suicide.

I suppose that's why I'm meeting with Romeo Rourke. I've spent a lot of time observing, listening, watching. I know who's worth spending time with and who isn't. Unfortunately, Rourke seems to be one of them.

So here I was, in the middle of butt f**k nowhere. Surrounded by nothing but fields and trees. This would be one hell of a way to die. I inhaled sharply and kept my head low, body leaning against a lamp post as I wait for the vehicle to pull up.

All Rourke said was to meet here, gave me some coordinates and told me to wait for the black car. How the f**k am I meant to know what black car I'm waiting for? Does he know how many black cars are in England??

I mentally curse to myself as I kept waiting. The sky was darkening by the minute and it was starting to look more and more like a horror film the longer I stayed here.

Finally, the sound of a car was approaching. Headlights dimmed, barely bright enough for the driver to see the road. That's when I noticed the plate.

ROURKE1

Guess he wasn't kidding about me knowing what black car it was.

I stayed against the post until the car pulled up to a stop beside me. A Rolls Royce. Every window was tinted, I couldn't see in. Yet they could see out.

Shivers coursed through my body slightly at that thought. The door slid open, and inside sat a young looking man. Dyed red hair wearing a black suit.

"Are you going to get in?" He spoke, voice laced with irritation.

I let myself take one last look around before getting in. I really should've had another stranger danger talk before doing this.

The door shut behind me and the car lurched forward once again. The interior was.. actually nice. Cream leather seats, a mini fridge with alcohol. Snacks tucked away in a basket.

"Tell me, Wayfield. What is it that you need my assistance for?" Rourke spoke up from opposite me.

He was sat straight, slightly manspreading with a bottle of Jack Daniels in the cup holder next to him. I blinked for a few moments, racking up the nerve to speak.

"I need information, anything you can pull up on Richard Wayfield." I answered, feigning confidence as my insides trembled slightly.

The roads outside were dark, I could barely make out the fields that we passed. My eyes caught back onto Rourke, who was studying me intently.

"I see. Your father, yes? Shame he passed." He said and took a swig of the alcohol, adams apple bobbing.

I tense at the words. I never liked talking about my Father. Not since his passing.

"Suicide. Well, supposed suicide. I think someone killed him, I just don't know who." I mutter.

Shuffling slightly in my seat, glancing out the window and avoiding eye contact. I can see him through the corner of my eye, watching me. Analysing my every move. The intense gaze makes me shiver slightly, although I hide it as best as I could.

"I can figure it out. I can find out who he was associated with." He pauses and takes a sip of his drink. Letting the silence settle for a moment.

"But I'll need payment." He states.

That catches my attention. I knew he'd need payment of some sort, I just didn't know how much. I turn to face him, giving him my full attention now.

His face glows slightly from the lights, a golden ray cast along his face. His jaw set in a sharp line as he narrows his silver eyes at me. His dark cherry red hair falling over his eyes slightly.

"How much?" I whispered.

He stares at me, swirling the brown liquid around in his cup.

"How much do you have?"

Fuck. I don't have much, I'm barely scraping by as it is.

"I have a grand saved up." I mumbled.

He nods and takes another big gulp of his drink. He squints slightly as if thinking.

"You work for me, I'll work with you." He shrugs, spreading his legs further apart slightly.

"Deal." I say with no hesitation.

I need to find out who wanted my Father dead. If I can do that without spending a single pound, then I'd do anything in a heartbeat.

"I'm signing you up for private schooling. College. I need you to keep an eye on everything that goes down there." He explains. Eyes twinkling with something I can't yet recognise.

"Okay..." I say.

"And my brother. William Rourke. I need you to keep a special eye on him." He finishes and places his drink down. Glancing up at me through hooded eyes.

"Do we have a deal?" He asks, lip curling up into a smirk.

"Yes."

-----

When he said college, I didn't think he meant this. Dorms, home for holidays, here every single day. f*****g hell, there's towers. This place is built more like a castle than a school.

I mentioned it briefly to my Mother, the only response I had from her was a grunt. My brother knows. He's told me to keep in touch as much as I can. I told him to keep Mother as sane as he could.

I felt bad, having to leave Sticky alone to deal with the trenches. Someone's got to hold up the house, if it's not me it has to be him.

My black boots click against the polished wood floors, the setting sun peeking through the arched windows of the insanely long corridors. I was following behind one of the headmasters. She explained go me how this school had four groups, Earth, Fire, Water and Air.

Each group had their own coloured uniform. My current attire consisted of plain black trousers, no tie, a white button up. I would receive a coloured belt, tie and jumper whatever group I'm in.

This school is oddly, mystical. There's courtyards filled with willow trees, cherry trees are supposed to bloom within spring. Towers that reach way up into the sky. Some s**t out of a book.

The headmaster paused in front of two double doors. She turned to look at me, her pale face glaring down at me.

"You'll be sent in the hall in just a moment, there you must wait in the nature circle. It will decide your element." She states, her voice surprisingly croaky despite her smooth looking skin.

"The nature circle..?" I ask, confusion filling my head.

This fuckass school, what did I get myself into?

"It'll all make sense once we begin."

As if the school heard her, the doors swung open. The room in front of me was.. massive. Four extremely long tables wrap from one end of the room to the other. Each table decorated with their own colour. Green, Red, Blue and Gold.

Hundreds, maybe even a thousand other students sat in each chair. Ranging from what appears to be early teen years to young adults.

The headmaster walks ahead, her heels clicking against the wooden floors. I follow behind slowly, letting my eyes observe everything. Beams stretched across the ceiling. Stained glass windows, floor to ceiling.

People stared as I passed, different stares from everybody. Hatred, curiosity, disgust. I suppose people aren't used to seeing anybody older joining halfway through the academic year.

The headmaster stopped at the front of the room. Her body turned towards the room, I took my place next to her. Adjusting my posture, straightening myself. I mustn't show weakness of any form. The room was silent, it was as if everybody had stopped breathing.

"I'd like to give a warm welcome to out newest fifth year. Caroline Wayfield." The headmaster swept an arm around in front of me. As if she was showing me off.

"I know it's unusual for students to join midway through the year. Alas, we must all tread kindly towards Ms Wayfield." She speaks, voice echoing throughout the room.

The room erupted with a chorus of claps. Steady thumps of palms colliding. The headmaster turned around, now facing the dozens of teachers. In one swift movement, each teacher rose from their seats. Stepping forward. Surrounding me in a big circle.

My heart thumped slightly, nerves starting to pile up. Rourke has lost his mind sending me here. Or maybe I've lost my mind agreeing to come here. All together, every teacher held hands.

Their eyes closed one by one. I spun around slowly, looking at each and every one of them. I can feel my chest start to tighten with rays of anxiety. I gulp down the little air that I can squeeze through my lungs and hold my head high.

Never show fear.

The formed circle that everyone has made started glowing. Silver rays of light appear on the floor. Transforming into a small logo just under my feet. Four symbols, Fire, Water, Tree and Wind. The four elements of nature.

I feel the ground rumble beneath me, my feet wobbling. I struggle to keep my balance. My eyes begin to burn from the sudden exposure of light. The rays shining brighter with every passing second.

A voice booms out from somewhere outside the circle.

"Wayfield. What a surprise." It seemed to whispered, but also shout at the same time.

My ears rang at the suddenness of it. Instinctively cupping my ears and squeezing my eyes closed.

"Ah, not a big fan of noise are we?" It cooed, a hint of humour laced within it's voice.

"Your name carries a legacy, Wayfield. With a legacy like yours must come great responsibility." It bellowed out before screeching out an element.

"AIR."

All at once, everything went quiet. There was no more voice, no more feeling like my ears were being ripped out from the inside. No more light shining through my closed lids.

I peeked my eyes open slowly, blinking rapidly before opening them fully. The teachers were all sat, as if nothing just happened.

It was as if no weird bullshit had just gone down. Everyone was staring. I rubbed at my temple, gulping down breaths of air as I spin around to face the headmaster.

"What, the f**k was that?" I wheeze out. My own voice sounding further away.

The headmaster glanced me up and down.

"The nature circle has spoken, Wayfield." She speaks, pride lingering in her voice.

I'm really debating on walking out right now, I would if there wasn't a thousand pairs of eyes on me right now.

"Take your seat." The headmaster points to the Air table.

I look over to where she pointed. Gold decorations lingered on each section of the table. I sighed and cursed internally and made my way over to the table. I slid down next to someone who looks my age.

She merely stared at me then grunted before shuffling further away.

"Cunt." I whispered loud enough for her to hear.

That's when I notice my uniform had changed. I now had a silky golden tie, a black jumper etched with golden seams. The back pockets of my trousers now had a wind symbol embroidered in golden fabric.

Well, that's another thing to add to my never ending list. Find out what the f**k is up with this school. First this freak nature circle, a voice that seems to appear from the heavens and now my clothes are changing. I need time to research this place. And to find William Rourke.

I let the headmasters voice drone into the back of my mind as my eyes roam the room, trying to find someone that resembles the description Rourke gave me. Brown curly hair, silver eyes that may be blue at times. Sharp bone features and a stare that could kill.

Unfortunately, it seems like everybody here could kill with their stares. My mind begins to drift off to my Father. The way his body dangled in the air. That image will be scorched in my mind for the rest of my living years.

I nearly jump out of my seat when piles of food appear on the table. I clutch my chest, eyes widening as I state at the vast variety of food that appeared out of f*****g nowhere.

Either I'm high as f**k, or magic is real. I'm starting to lean towards the magic being real.

"New to the area huh?" A masculine voice opposite me speaks up.

I glance up and made eye contact with hazel coloured eyes. Not silver, not William.

"Is it that obvious?" I ask, looking at him properly.

Black buzzed hair, a few bits of stubble appearing on his cheeks. Shaved face with a larger nose than most. Thinner lips too.

He chuckled slightly, piling his plate with chocolate covered waffles. A yogurt and small bowl of fruits.

"Nobody from around here gets scared by magic. Not anymore anyways." He shrugged, taking an awfully large bite of food.

My stomach growled slightly so I grabbed a shiny red apple. I bit into it and the crunch of went through my ears. I haven't had an apple this crunchy in so long, and the taste of it.

My god, are these apples magic too?

"So," I mumble "magics real?" I ask through another bite.

He raises an eyebrow at me. "Did the nature circle and appearing food not convince you yet?" He tilts his head.

"I thought I was high as fuck." I admit, letting a smile creep onto my face slightly.

It'd be nice to have an acquaintance in this place. Somebody to fill me in when my research doesn't work.

"Ah." He hummed. "I'll show you the ropes. Tell you who to avoid, that kind of thing." He suggested.

I feel something bubbling within me. Joy perhaps? I need someone's help. I won't be able to do it alone. He doesn't look like the brightest tool in the shed but he'll do. For now.

"That'd be great." I say with somewhat genuine enthusiasm.

He smiles at me and I find myself smiling back.

----

Night time rolled around and this school looks even more unreal. Now that I now there's magic that flows in the land, this whole deal with Rourke seems to be a lot more dangerous than I thought.

I had spent the rest of the day with Max Whitewell. The boy from dinner. He's actually not so bad. He's been awfully helpful regarding everything that's happening.

"Oh, be careful of William." He says.

That gained my interest. I stop in my tracks, we were in one of the many fields that surrounded this school. I face him, the moonlight shining onto his face.

"Who's William?" I ask, trying not to sound too excited.

I'm really hoping he says Rourke. If not my interest is out the window.

He sighs. "William Rourke. He's a d**k. Rude as fuck." He grumbles.

William Rourke, perfect.

"Oh. So, uh. What nature element is he?" I ask. Max looks at me funny.

"So I know, to avoid him. You know?"

"Right. Uh, Fire. Watch out for a broody, tall fireball. Quite literally. He seems to run off of anger and fumes half the time." Max huffs out a laugh.

"I'll keep that in mind." I note.

Perfect. Now I now what element to look for, it shouldn't be too hard finding him. The only issue is somehow getting close enough with him to gain trust, friendship.

Rourke told me the first step, and that was to introduce myself. Once that's been done. I must contact Rourke immediately to find out the next step of our deal.

This whole s**t better be worth it.