Queen of Scars

Chapter Three

"You shouldn't be here, Isolde." Marcus Sterling's voice was frigid, crackling with the kind of authority that ran a chill down my spine. At the entrance to the basement hall, I felt like I was still in the Other World as the dimly lit space sang to me in the timeless echo of heartbeats and breaths, the hum of old energy, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. It was a smell; burning wax, aged parchment; very different from the fresh air of the courtyard above. Candles at every desk flickered, casting tall, asymmetrical shadows upon the cold stone walls, their movements weaving a blend of light and dark that had its secrets on Crestwood Academy.

"I have every right to be here, Marcus. I have to know what happened to my parents.' I spoke evenly while my heart raced in a frenzy of fear and resolve. The scars on my arms illuminated as I felt the surge of newfound power flows through me. It was a strange feeling, a low hum of magic that permeated the floor I stood on, vibrating underfoot.

Marcus moved closer, an imposing but graceful figure. "This is not a place for personal vindictiveness, Isolde. We're here to keep the balance, not romanticize the past." His eyes, piercing and unrelenting, locked on mine for a hint of weakness. The society sat in the dark, clad in sombre robes as hoods concealed their faces. They formed a ring around the centre altar, embellished with ornate symbols and archaic relics.

As I stepped forward to fill the circle that was forming around me, memories from my tormented time at Crestwood rushed back to me, vivid recollections of bullying, whispers and rumours, and the night I disappeared. My disappearance had been shrouded in secrecy that had caused deep scars on my body and soul, and now I was standing here, yes, in the heart of the secret society, but finding those scars open again.

"Your parents played a central role in the efforts to protect the ancient prophecies," Marcus said, his voice echoing faintly throughout the chamber. "Their absence left a gap that has made us vulnerable." We think you can help us get back what was lost."

A murmur fluttered through the masked faces of the gathered society members; no one gave away a single ounce of emotion. Evander Sterling, Marcus's younger brother and one of society's most powerful players, emerged from the shadows. He was alluring; his gaze intensely captured mine as if to say, "I have secrets; I have history."

"Isolde," Evander said, the usual snap in his tone tempered by surprise. "You've become different since your departure. Your strength is undeniable."

His words were a maelstrom of feelings in me; of anger, sure, at the ones who tortured me, but also a dawning interest in the truths hidden in my past. "Why are you showing me this? What do you want from me?"

Evander settled across the table from me, leaning his torso a few degrees forward. The crooning light framed the gentle lines of his face, coaxing out a flash of tenderness from behind his granite demeanour. "We need somebody who's got your unique gifts. Someone who gets the legacy your parents left, what they did." His eyes softened, and I could feel an unspoken offer of help in his formal words.

I looked around the room, watching the elaborate rituals in the centre. The members were chanting in a language I did not recognize, their hands flowing through patterns that seemed to extend beyond us and manipulate the air around us. The floor symbols glimmered more.

"Your powers are not mere parlour tricks," Evander added, his voice solid and soothing. "Those scars; your powers; are part of a wider legacy. A legacy that your parents fought to protect and that we need your help to preserve."

I shivered as I sensed the gravity of what they were asking. The ancient prophecies, the secret society, and my parents' mysterious disappearance were all interconnected threads in a fabric I was just beginning to perceive. "What do these symbols mean?" I asked, gesturing at a particularly complex design that seemed to thrum with its own internal life force.

Evander looked them over thoughtfully. "These are signs of the old guard, signifiers of safety and power. They are linked to the prophecies your parents were protecting. They are not your enemies; you must understand them to fulfil your destiny."

While he spoke, the room felt like it was slowly losing its heat, and candles flickered wildly as if to an invisible wind awoken by the confrontation. The air was heavy with my choice, thick with suspense.

"Why should I trust you?" I asked, my tone getting just a bit sharper. "After all that, you're just like the rest."

Evander's face hardened, but his eyes held no malice. "Things are different now, Isolde. I've observed how things have been addressed and want to make things right. I believe in your mission and want to help you find the answers.

He sounded sincere, and I couldn't deny his genuine concern. "If you're going to help, I need to know everything. There are no more secrets."

Marcus cleared his throat, indicating that the meeting was nearing its end. "We are grateful, Isolde, for your cooperation. But watch out for the forces at work. Digging up the past can stir up things best left buried."

The people in the society started to filter out, and Evander remained when they had left, his gaze locked on mine. "There's more you need to know, but it's unsafe to talk about here. Join me in the library tomorrow night. We'll go over everything."

I nodded, leaning forward a little as I did so. "I'll be there."

The basements of Crestwood Academy became a distant memory as I headed toward their hallways; the enchanted totems and magical wards changing how we walked them. How did I think bioluminescent flora would be better than a starry night? Guided by intuition, I barely noted where I went; each footfall whispered as I padded through the stone-floored hallways.

The sound of someone exiting pulled my attention into the courtyard, where my eyes landed on Selene Everhart. He was stepping forward more cautiously, and her habitual sneer was gone, replaced by a suspicious cast face as she hovered near the entrance to the old greenhouse, all her movements slow and careful. I felt my heart race as I saw her taking orders from Dr. Vivian Thorne, the principal who had lectured me so sternly before.

I shivered as I watched the exchange. Selene glanced around to ensure no watchful eyes were staring in her direction before nodding to Dr.Thorne, who produced a small, bejewelled device that glowed softly in her palm. "The new member is accepted," Thorne said, her voice low and commanding. Make sure that she doesn't go too deep. "Don't we have enough interruptions?"

Selene nodded, her face unreadable. "Understood. I will monitor her and report anything suspicious."

As the true motives of society's founders became clear, I felt a sense of dread settle over me. They weren't merely safeguarding prophecies, they were controlling and manipulating them for their own ends. My parents' vanishing act had been a piece of something much more sinister, and now I was stuck in their scheme.

I glanced back toward the library, and Evander was making his way toward me, his face a mask of concern mixed with determination as he walked. "Isolde, be careful. There are people in society who will do anything to keep you from finding the truth."

I nodded again, absorbing his warning. "I know. But I can't turn back now. I have to know what we're up against with my parents."

Evander clasped a comforting hand on my shoulder. "You're not alone in this. Leave it to me to help you every step of the way."

It gave me a rush of gratitude and a sense of resolution. Evander's surprise offer of help, coupled with the knowledge of society's true intentions, had given me an invaluable ally in my search for the truth. However, watching Selene take orders from Dr. Thorne was a glaring reminder of the treacherous road ahead.

The courtyard, basking in the milky light of twilight as I gleaned stalks of beans and ivy-leafed to tears, made me feel the world was becoming more familiar as if when I left the greenhouse, my journey was beginning. The noose was tightening around the secrets of Crestwood Academy. And with every single answer I found, I realized I was inching towards a fate beyond my wildest expectations; tied to prophecies lost in time, societies keeping secrets of the world and most importantly, the supernatural forces that now coursed in the school's blood.

It was a night, the air thick with magic, its bioluminescent flowers tossing shadows that whispered secrets yet to be discovered. Just then, as I turned into the corridor, I caught Evander's eye as he stood at the library entrance. Though I couldn't read the expression on his face, I had no trouble interpreting his silent signal of support and alliance.

And just when I thought we had accomplished something and were ready, the earthquake shook the ground. Cracks appeared in the stone walls, and a howling wind blew through the courtyard, knocking me to the ground. The magic totems around the shrine sputtered and sparked, unable to contain the growing power.

Out of the courtyard darkness came a figure, a dark figure with glowing eyes of a menacing light. "You might have come back, Isolde, but you don't have the faintest idea of what you're facing.

The figure lifted a hand, and an echo of dark magic rushed toward me. I reacted instinctively to defend myself. Panic ensued, and students fled, turning the calm courtyard into a scene of chaos. Jasper moved in front, placing himself between the assailant and me, his magic defences flaring up to keep us safe.

At that moment, I knew that the real trial of my powers and the connections I forged had just begun. Crestwood Academy had never witnessed such a ruthless ghost attack, but it marked a new reality; the peaceful existence was over, and danger lurked around every corner, a constant threat hiding in the shadows. It was no longer a question for the legacy of all that had been glorious that needed protecting, nor for the future that needed to be fought for, but rather for our very existence, which was now in question as the shadows that tried to devour us were unrelenting.

Here is the ground floor of what I knew would be my defender, a healer. The light that poured from the enchanted totems momentarily disoriented everyone as I prepared to take on the dark figure. Shaking the ground again, an oppressive air of potent magic hung in the atmosphere as a heightened sense of foreboding descended.