Chapter Two : Scholarship
1694 Words
The OutHouse is a small cone like building built metres away from the main house. I knock at the wooden door after a couple of breaths. I am always tensed each time I am about to meet my mom. My skin crawls and my blood pressure shoots up. I do not hate my mom but I think her presence terrifies me. Leticia Carter is Ogef's most famous Light Worker. She's the most sought after Sybil with a striking flair for simplicity and authenticity. Her fame had skyrocketed two years ago when she read Jose Ann's palms and predicted her win in the Mayoral elections. Since then, even politicians from as far as Hebo has graced our doors to have their palms read and their fortunes told. The dazzling, sleek Ford car in the garage was the first of Jose Ann's many gifts to my mom.
"Come in," A voice says from within.
I push the door open and find myself in a cream colored room. There is a small oval table atop which rests several books on white sorcery and Light Working. There is a couch for visitors and on this couch a thin, crisp woman sits. Her face is pretty, painted and on her ears dangle copper dangling earrings. She looks ordinary. Young. She could pass for a teacher or a secretary. Her shirt is pressed and blindingly white. Her skirt is as black as the curtains in my bedroom. But this is not a teacher or secretary.
This is Jose Ann Murray, the first female Mayor in a four hundred year old town.
"The Death Magian?" Her eyes hover suspiciously at me and then she turns to my mother who sits with a quiet disdain in her eyes.
Physically, there is nothing terrifying about Leticia Carter. She is just so flawlessly stunning. Her black hair sits in a neat tight bun on her head and her jewelled fingers are outstretched on the table.
"Yes" She shrugs listlessly while I stand like an exotic bird for the Mayor's perusal. I fumed silently, resenting this unasked for gift that had literally branded me an outcast even amongst my own people.
"Then it's a good thing she got accepted" Jose Ann is still surveying me crisply. I cannot meet her eyes. I stare at the hard floor instead, feeling stark naked even if I am dressed in a big t shirt that almost swallows up my entire frame and a short that shows off my scrawny legs.
"Yes. Good riddance." My mother yawns tiredly "Her premonitions are getting worse and sickening. It's only a matter of time before she gets the Sheriff's attention."
"The White Colony is the best place for her to be." The Mayor says, fishing calmly into her handbag.
"I am not going to the White Colony " I say loud enough to grab their attention, a sickening sense of dread floating over me. Even a toddler in Ogef have heard the rumors of that string of towns where humans and beasts live peacefully (or in the illusion of peace).
By beasts I do not mean lions or tigers or any of the likes. Surely there are worse beasts than those . Have you heard of a werewolf and a bloodhound (I heard this bloodsucking specie prefer the fancy title , Vampyre.)
"But you are , my darling" My mother says with an insincere see_through smile plastered on her face. "The Academy has offered you a scholarship."
"Yes, dear" Jose Ann adds ecstatically "You were one of the four who received this offer. Ogef can now boast of global recognition in the forthcoming years. " She exhaled piously "Ah, for this to happen in the second year of my tenure."
"Your reign is indeed a blessing to the town" My mother passed her a napkin and I watch Jose Ann dabble at the tears in her eyes while my mind process the shock of the announcement.
Okay, so first offs, scholarships are nothing new in Ogef. Even my friend, Barbie Mullen who is an orphan, is a scholarsship student at Greta High. Each year, at least one of the less privileged ones wins an entrance examination for scholarship to high school, courtesy of the town. But a scholarship to The Academy of the White Colony, I think that's a first.
There are four towns that make up our world.
There's Ogef—our own, swollen with festivals, art, and Light Workers who sell joy like cheap wine.
There's Rudwan, feared for housing the Thorn House, the only true school of Magic, where Magians polish their gifts into polished careers.
There's Ajit, home of the Defense Academy, a place for cadets who think swords solve everything.
And then there's Moria—a fishing village crawling with Dark Magians, thieves, and scoundrels. My mother used to hiss that I'd end up there one day.
The Black Colony is human, technically. Some of us are Magians—born with sight, clairvoyance, telepathy, and Mindcraft. Light Workers are the adored kind, healers and prophets of glad tidings. Dark Magians like me predict death and ruin, so everyone pretends we don't exist. And then there are the ones no one talks about: Blood Magians.
. A Magian can further horn their skills at the Thorn House in Rudwan and become a celebrated Lord or Lady, like Lady Nisril , the current Magian To The current Governor of the Black Colony.
"Are you not happy, Night.?" My mother asks, breaking into my thoughts. I feel dread most likely. The White Colony was not a place one is enthusiastic to visit, much less live in.
"This is quite a not ...so pleasant surprise" I mouthed out , directing my gaze to the Mayor " Your idea, probably?"
"But it shouldn't be that much of a surprise " Jose Ann replies narrow eyed "You passed the entrance examination two weeks ago. "
"But no one told us it was an entrance examination into hell" My tone is flatter than the floor but it is nothing compared to the rage in my chest.
Two weeks ago, our principal had conducted an entrance examination for all final year students at Greta High. We had originally thought it was probably for college. So everyone had put in their best. My 284 was just one point higher than Ralph Bobbit's. And Bobbit was the genius of the class. When the scores were read, I had gone home to gloat loudly to myself at having beaten Bobbit. If I had known what the examination was for, I would have wallowed in tears instead.
"My dear Night" My mother says soothingly "The Academy is nothing like hell actually. There are actually humans in the White Colony. "
"Humans who breathe the same air and live in fear of the animals they co exist with?" I stared at my mother coldly "Do you hate me this much to dump me in such an environment?"
Her reply was colder and hit me like an ice berg "I love you too much and I know that the Academy is where you need to be. Ogef is no place for you. And bless the gods that planted this blessed idea in the Governor's mind."
I turned accusing eyes to the Mayor.
"Now, let me explain " She said hurriedly "The Governors of the two Colonies have reached an agreement that the centuries old segregation should come to a halt. We are all humans and ...uhn..." She lingered, mentally searching for a suitable word " not_so humans but it doesn't mean we should all claw at each other's throats like our ancestors did".
"Yes," my mother added in a sing song voice emanating from a throat I wished to strangle "On that basis, Governor Halls thought it wise to send four students from the four towns on a year long scholarship program to The Academy. Darling, think of it as an opportunity to sharpen your skills "
"We have the Thorn House " I snapped at her.
"The Thorn House is nothing compared to The Academy " She hisses with contempt.
I direct my powerless fury to the Mayor "So, I am to be amongst the first set of lab rats in the Governor's ridiculous peace ploy?"
"It is an honor " My mother barks "And there is nothing ridiculous about this blessed idea."
"And if I reject this honorable offer?" I stare coldly at Jose Ann.
She grabs her bag and stands up with impeccable grace. She has an impressive height.
"I'm sure you wouldn't want to go down that lane" She stares back at me "Anyways, your train leaves in two days. My special assistant will come to pick you ."
She hands me something in an envelope. My fingers twitch around it and I know it is a letter. When Jose Ann leaves, the silence in the room is suffocating.
"Well, Night Persephone Carter" I shudder at the tragic ness of my full name. Who on earth names their kid after the Greek underworld goddess and the eerie part of the day . Well, Leticia Carter did. Is it any wonder I turned out to be a Dark Magian after all?.
"Well, mother " I reply impudently.
"Start arranging your things. Two days is just a couple of hours. " I want to wipe that sour smile off her place but instead I smile back but my voice is hard as granite when I reply .
"Two days is more than enough time to die."
When I leave the room as the shock settles on her face, I bang the door. Loudly .
- Writer
