I closed my bedroom door and locked it before going to the mirror and asking it to show me Snow. Thankfully, my best friend was still awake and alone in her study. I shared with her my thoughts and theories and told her I was going to Polonias and not to worry if she didn't see me in the morning since I didn't know how long I would be gone. Guilt pierced my heart momentarily after saying goodbye and changing from the dress I wore for school into a pair of jeans, boots, and an oversized indigo sweater with a V neck. Why hadn't I asked Gabe to go with me? He could have come and seen the place of my birth. My bloodline had kept the land of Polonias alive. Aside from that, the land was in my heart and I wanted Gabe to know that part of myself. Confused and irritated with myself, I took hold of the diamond star attached to the black choker around my neck. If my theories were correct, then Sera was in Polonias. I didn't know how it was possible since travelling to my land wasn't as
In the cafeteria the next morning, there was a happy buzz in the air. The dance was that night. Curfew was being extended to midnight and the students were excited. I got myself some scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, and salsa, and coffee to drink as well as some water. I searched for Gabe and spotted him over by Professor Pops. The two of them were having a serious conversation and I didn't want to interrupt. "Miss Croswell," Heather called, waving. I went over and sat across from her. She was by herself, which would give me the chance I needed to tell her what I found out. "Hello, Heather," I said, sipping my coffee. Mixing the eggs, cottage cheese, and salsa together, I took a bite. Then noticed Heather watching me. "What? It's good. You should try it sometime. High in protein and delicious." The girl made a face before dabbing some peanut butter on her banana and taking another bite.Gabe and Pops were done talking and he waved me over. I held up a finger. "So, Heather,
My plan wasn't elaborate. Find Sera. Talk to her. Make her see what a foolish idea it was to bring someone back from the dead. According to Gabe that wasn't a plan at all. Stuffing back several very rude comments revolving around him being the leader of an army of angels, I asked him what he would do. Turned out his plan was basically the same as mine, just more elegant. I thought it over as I put on my Sarah Sanderson costume. Since I was blond, she seemed the easiest Sanderson sister for me to imitate, though she was a bit too bubbly for me. Still, she was twisted enough and dressing as her would be fun. I found the costume online and had my mom purchase it for me in the human realm then I brought it back to Sharra for tonight's party. The bodice was lavender and laced up the back, so it fit tight against my body. The skirt came to mid-calf. At the hips, the material was dark purple and the panel in the center was fuchsia. I wore black lace-up ankle boots with black tig
"Can't you do a locator spell?" Gabe asked. "I can try." Locator spells could sometimes get wonky in Sharra because of all the enchantments surrounding the land and especially the academy. Gabe continued to scan our surroundings. "At this point it's better than nothing." "True. Let's get to the basement." I needed an item from there. Passing more groups of kids in costumes, none of whom were Heather or Sera, we exited the hall and hurried down several flights of stairs and hallways until we reached my classroom. There, I went to a shelf, searching for a map of Sharra. When I pulled it from its spot, I knocked another paper onto the floor. Frustrated, I picked it up and was about to put it back, but there was a word scrawled along one corner in old-timey writing. I knew the word because I'd seen it before in The Eye of Abernathy. The word was resuante and it meant resurrection. "Do we have time for this?" Gabe asked when I handed him the map. "I think we should make time. I'm
I peeked around the hedge and saw a plain room. Several students were off to one side, behind bars. Most of them were crying, though a few seemed more interested than afraid. Maybe they thought this was all part of the fun. Standing over a body in the center of an enormous seven-pointed star, Sera was chanting words I mostly didn't understand. Large black candles burned a peculiar blue light at each of the tips. On the ground nearby, wrapped up in make-shift cocoon, lay Heather. Her eyes were shut, and there was a large splotch of red on her chest. I covered my mouth to keep from screaming, praying she wasn't dead. Gabe noticed her too. He looked ready to attack. But where was Mizrabel? I didn't want him to rush in there until we knew what we were up against. Thankfully, he was still letting me take the lead. Sera held a wooden bowl in one hand and knelt down, placing the bowl on the ground beside Heather though she was clearly talking to someone else. "Your life ended a
By the time I arrived in the ballroom, all the students had been sent to bed. Snow sat at the head of a long table where the teachers were discussing the situation. "Is she locked up?" Snow asked me, her face concerned. "She is," I said, falling into an empty chair. For the next two hours we discussed what transpired and what needed to happen next. I explained what I knew, which wasn't a lot. I didn't know what happened to Gabe and Mizrabel, but I would find out. Professor Pops agreed to help. Coco would call a special gathering in the ballroom the following morning and have the therapist on hand for those who needed to talk. For many of the students, the academy was all they had and if they couldn't feel safe here, then where could they go? Classes would resume like normal on Monday and Tori agreed to teach my charms and spells classes until I returned. We were short staffed already, but I was of no use to anyone until I knew what happened to Gabe.The meeting over, I agree
My mouth fell open in shock. "Are you serious?" "I'm dead serious." His smile vanished and he glared. Somehow, I found that less intimidating. "You've already befouled our realm with your presence. I will not allow you to corrupt the greatest chayot we've seen in centuries." Jesse uncrossed his legs and leaned forward. "And if I don't agree?" I asked, unfazed. I didn't care what he said, I wasn't leaving here without Gabe. "You don't want me to cross that proverbial bridge, princess." Malice glinted in his eyes.His threats were only making me angry. "I want to see Gabe," I said. "Right now.""Sure." He waved his hand and an image of Gabe and a beautiful angel with downy brown wings appeared. They were in a kitchen. She was baking and Gabe was seated at an island watching her, a soft smile on his lips. "You see?" Jesse asked. "He belongs with his own kind. He's happy. Content."I knew at once that this had to be Delphina. She wasn't old and wrinkly like I imagined, but beauti
I tossed and turned and struggled to fight free of the haze. In my dream there had been an archangel and he and Gabe battled. I sat up, looking around the room frantically. It hadn't been a dream, but real. Jesse had beaten Gabe to shreds, but the Unknowns appeared before Jesse could kill him, and they'd put me to sleep and - My room in Sharra was just as I left it. My costume still hung over my closet door, but my spelled calendar revealed it was Tuesday. I'd been asleep nearly three days! I went to my bedroom door, desperate to find Gabe, and noticed I was in pajamas. "How the hell?" I ripped them off and threw on jeans and the first shirt I found before pulling on boots and rushing to the door. Before I could open it, someone pounded from the outside. "Cindy! Open up, it's me." I yanked the door open and threw myself into his arms. "Gabe," I said, burying my face in his neck. He growled, wrapping his arms around me as I clung to his hips with my legs. "How are you here?