Cardinal Bran. What did Master Haziel say?”
“He said we can go,” Bran said as he entered the room. He had changed into jeans and a black T-shirt. “But first, he wants to see Lil.”
Mrs. D opened her mouth as though to speak, then humphed.
I waited until Mrs. D left, then grabbed Bran and Remy’s arms. “Come with me.”
“What’s going on?” Bran asked at the same time as Remy said, “Where are we going?”
“I need a favor. I have a giant hole in the middle of my bedroom that I accidently created,” I explained as I led them out of the office and down the hallway toward the tunnels then stopped. “Do you think you can fix it for me, Remy?”
Remy eyed me with his brow furrowed. “You don’t have accidents, Lil.”
“Okay, my powers are messed up and I had a little mishap. Ask Bran. He saw the damage.”
“Little? Half the floor is gone. You could watch TV from the basement,” Bran said and grinned.
I elbowed him. “Very funny, but the hole is not why I brought you guys out here.” I glanced toward the office and did a quick scan. No one was eavesdropping on us. “I didn’t want the Civilians to hear us. They are in on something.”
“In on what?” Bran asked, eyes narrowing.
“Mrs. D and the Civilians know the identity of the demon that attacked me,” I whispered. “She referred to them as the Tribe.”
“You eavesdropped on her thoughts?” Remy asked reproachfully.
“Not intentionally,” I said, shooting him an annoyed look. “My powers are off, so I hear and feel everyone’s emotions even when I don’t want to, even with my shield or theirs up. I faked knowing the Summoners and the Tribe after I heard Mrs. D and the Civilians’ thoughts.” I quickly explained everything I had heard while inside the office. “The words sounded familiar, so I asked her but she denied knowing them. Have you guys heard of the Tribe and Summoners before?”
They shook their heads.
“Then we should ask Mrs. D about them and force her to tell us the truth.”
“No,” Remy and Bran said at the same time, horror on their faces.
“Why not?”
“We are going after the demons, and she
I frowned. “She doesn’t agree with Master Haziel’s decision and is trying to find Grampa and the senior Cardinals to stop us from leaving the valley. I heard her thoughts before she left.”
Bran and Remy exchanged a glance.
“No one is stopping us from leaving, but having a name will make it much easier to locate them,” Bran said. “Lil, go and see what Master Haziel wants while I get the crystals.” He glanced at Remy.
“I’ll fix the hole in Lil’s bedroom and get the others,” Remy said. “Let’s meet at my place ASAP.”
- 5 -
THE POWER WITHIN
According to my scan, Master Haziel was at the library, as were Izzy, Kim, and Sykes. The hallways usually buzzed with students, but now they were eerily silent. It felt weird. Like a tomb.
I hurried toward the entrance, the massive doors gleaming under the lights on the walls. For some reason, the scenes of ancient battles between Guardians and demons etched on the wooden panels and frames seemed so real.
I waved a hand and the massive doors flew back and creaked on their hinges. I cringed. Having too much power had its drawbacks. Lucky for me, the door was sturdy.
Like the hallways, the Academy’s rotunda, with its soaring columns, torch-like glowing crystals on the wall, and leather benches along the walls, was empty too.
I paused in the middle of the foyer and glanced up at the painting of Goddess Xenia on the dome-shaped ceiling. In a white, flowing robe, her huge white wings raised, glorious red-hair tumbling down her back and the Kris Dagger in her hand, she looked infallible. I was the failure who had let the demons break the bond between me and the dagger.
“I promise, I’ll bond with it again,” I vowed.
“Talking to yourself, Lil?” Ms. Laylah’s cheerful voice called out.
She stood in the doorway of the library, the only room with blazing lights, her graying hair braided and wrapped around her head like a crown.
I pointed at the ceiling. “I’m talking to her.”
She glanced up at the ceiling and chuckled. “She can hear, you know.”
Then hopefully, she would know the dagger problem wasn’t my fault.
“If you’re looking for your friends, they are downstairs in the archives,” Ms. Laylah said.
“No, I’m here to see Master Haziel.”
“He’s in there somewhere.” She stepped back and beckoned me forward. “Not having the children around is turning this place into a mausoleum, but he enjoys the quiet.”
He would. He was so eccentric. I went through the main room, checking niches where student often hid while making out. He wasn’t in the main room. I entered the quiet, reading area in the back and saw him at the end booth, his nose buried in a book, white hair peeking above the top. The brown, leather cover had the same picture of Goddess Xenia as the painting in the foyer. He lowered the book, revealing his bearded, ancient face. As usual, he wore an off-white linen tunic shirt.
“I expected you to bring the dagger to me as soon as you arrived in the valley,” he scolded.
Yeah, well, we don’t always get what we want, do we? I wanted to retort, but I couldn’t bring myself to be rude to him. He was the wisest Guardian and best trainer I’d ever had. And he took such pride in my accomplishments.
“Sorry.” I removed the sheath holding the Kris Dagger from my waist and placed it before him. “What’s wrong with it?”
“Sit down, Lil.” He placed the book he’d been reading face down, then pulled the dagger from its sheath and studied it, his lips puckering in thought. “Interesting.”
I frowned. “What?”
“Things that were meant to happen have come to pass,” he murmured.
I hated it when he went all cryptic and mysterious. “What things?”
“Prophesies fulfilled, some too soon and others too slow. Do you notice anything different about the blade?” he asked, extending the dagger toward me.
I was still trying to read the meaning behind his words and scowled. The blade was clear, the etched ancient scribbles gone. No wonder it couldn’t bond with me. The demons had destroyed the means through which I linked with the dagger.
“The writings are gone.”
“Yes.” Then he looked up and studied me. “Remove your coat.”
“Uh, excuse me?”
He gestured impatiently. “Coat. Off.”
Sighing, I stood and shrugged off the trench coat.
He took my hands and held them in pace, his gaze running up to where my T-shirt hugged my upper arms. He lifted my arms to check the underside. “Hmm. Turn around and lift up your T-shirt.”
“Master Haziel,” I protested.
