Scholomance 3: The Devil's Academy Read online

  “What about the warlocks?” Vesta asked. “Don’t you want to beat them, too?”

  “That’s who I meant,” Akira clarified as she furrowed her brows in confusion.

  “Oh,” Morgana laughed.

  “So… are we going to try out then, too?” I asked.

  Vesta nearly spat her wine out, and Morgana looked as if she were about to fall out of her chair. Akira grinned, though, and Faye looked paler than usual.

  “What?” I asked.

  “Are you insane?” Morgana hissed. “We can’t do that.”

  “Well, why not?” I demanded. “You just said they were looking for the most capable witches? Doesn’t that also include us?”

  “Okay, first of all, we do not possess the proper skills to even try out for the games,” Morgana scoffed, “and two, those games are designed to kill… don’t you think we’ve already put our lives at risk enough?”

  “Yeah,” Faye agreed, and her pink lips turned down into a frown. “Our time so far at Scholomance has been… unconventional, to say the least.”

  “Oh, fuck you guys,” Akira laughed. “I’m with Cole, I think we should do it.”

  “Akira, you’re insane,” Morgan huffed before she crossed her arms over her chest. “Of course, you would want to submit yourself."

  “Come on, nerd, you’re just being a dreary Debbie Downer,” the black-haired witch responded. “Why don’t you live a little for once in your life?”

  “I do plenty of living,” Morgana grumbled in defense.

  “Yeah, inside your books,” Akira muttered.

  “Look, it was just a question,” I said with my hands raised. “Let’s drop it for now.”

  The coven went quiet, and again, I focused my attention on the other two schools. It was difficult not to stare at the new witches in particular. They were so alike, yet so different from the Scholomance students, and I couldn’t figure out why. I regarded them as discreetly as possible, and I caught another witch with plum colored hair and salamander pink skin staring right at our table. She had a pair of small, deep red horns that protruded from her forehead and cynical crimson eyes.

  When I met her ruby-red eyes, the corners of her bright red lips curled up into a smirk, and she slowly raised her glass to take a greedy sip of black wine. Her gaze was penetrating and alluring, but there was also something else, something deep within her eyes I couldn’t quite put my finger on. It took me a good, long moment until I realized what it was. I sensed her determination, her bloodlust, and her desire for power from here. I knew just by looking at her that she was definitely going to try out for the games. There wasn’t a single doubt in my mind about it.

  “Cole, who are you looking at so intently?” Faye asked as she tried to follow my gaze.

  “Someone fun,” I said after I broke eye contact with the red-eyed witch. “Anyway, what do you know about the opposing academies, Morgana? Tell us everything you know.”

  “Oh, well… let’s see.” The brunette smiled and straightened in her seat, since she never passed up an opportunity to show off her book smarts. “The Vipera Conservatoire is an ancient school, dating back to the early ages, but for the past century, they have been known to worship Asbeel… which, according to Scholomance law, is technically considered blasphemy… and it’s just plain idiotic if you ask me.”

  “Wait, they worship who?” I asked.

  “Asbeel… the deserter of God?” the curly-haired brunette replied as if it were obvious. “It’s all explained in Fictional Devils and How to Avoid Them… you know, volume nine?"

  When no one said a word or even hinted they knew what she was talking about, she rolled her pale blue eyes.

  “Seriously?” Morgana sighed. “It’s in chapter forty-eight--”

  “Not everyone memorizes chapters and volumes, Morgana,” Akira sighed impatiently. “What’s your fucking point?”

  “The point is they believe he is one of the five ‘Satans,’” Morgana said with finger quotations. “And to them, Asbeel is the most powerful Satan of all.”

  “What a total group of primitive idiots,” Akira scoffed. “How can they believe in something so foolish? There is only one Satan. Ugh it just makes me hate them even more… I can’t wait to see them all die terrible, bloody, gruesome deaths during the games.”

  “Unholy fuck, Akira,” Morgana chuckled. “Why don’t you tell us how you really feel?”

  “It was just a comment.” Akira rolled her black eyes. “Don’t pretend like you weren’t thinking the same exact thing.”

  “Whatever,” Morgana scoffed. “Anyway, Cole, why are you asking me about the other schools? Do you think something’s up?”

  “He’s only thinking about entering the competition.” Akira smirked. “Aren’t you, Cole? You want to try and get the dirt on the opposing sides… I admire that.”

  “No, Akira, that’s not what I was thinking,” I sighed. “Look, I really don’t know how to explain it, but there’s something off about them, and I can’t quite figure out what that is yet. Haven’t you felt like something is seriously wrong? It can’t just be me… ”

  “Hmm, well, maybe it’s because warlocks are absolutely vile creatures,” Faye commented as she tossed back her red hair. “I personally would like as little to do with those disgusting creatures as possible, thank you very much.”

  “You and all of Scholomance,” Akira agreed.

  “Well, what about the Mors Academy?” I asked. “How many warlock schools are there in the Wicca world?”

  “Too many, if you ask me,” Morgana hissed. “No one knows for certain, because some schools practice in secret, but it is estimated there are at least ten known warlock schools out there.”

  “They should all be blown to bits,” Akira remarked. “If I could, I would go and light up a torch and set each and every one of them on fire.”

  “Damn, why do you hate them so much?” I asked. “Besides, for the obvious reason they’re men and some of them are idiots.”

  “Because, Cole,” Akira growled. “They think they are better than witches. Can you believe that troll-shit?”

  “They also believe there are seven devils in hell,” Morgana scoffed. “Now, that’s some utter nonsense.”

  “So, you hate them because they refuse to acknowledge that Satan is the one true master?” I questioned.

  “Precisely.” Morgana nodded. “Anyone with common sense would loathe their sacrilegious guts. We are the only true school with the true faith in Satan. The others defy our dark lord.”

  As the coven continued with their meals, I looked toward the table where the Mors Academy continued to whisper amongst themselves. I studied them from my seat and regarded them as nothing but a potential threat. I didn’t care what the hell they believed in. All I cared about was discovering if they had some secret agenda. As I observed them more closely, it didn’t shock me to see some of the warlocks were more beast-like than others. I’d noticed it earlier, but now, I was trying to decide who would be taking part in the games and fighting against Scholomance and the other academy.

  As I scanned the table of men, my eyes landed on Malcolm and Bram. The idiotic duo had cleaned the blood off their faces and were seated side by side as they whispered to each other. Bram said something to Malcolm, which made him laugh so hard, wine practically shot out from his nostrils. I hated seeing them so cozy and comfortable at our table and in our school, but a slow smile broke across my face as I pictured fighting against them in the games and beating them both into bloody pulps. The more I thought about it, the more driven I became to enter the games, but I knew it wasn’t possible. Not after what Morgana just said about the games being designed explicitly for higher-level students.

  But still, something inside me continued to push and prod at me, as if there was a small voice telling me to try out anyway. The voice only grew louder when I tried to push it away, and, at that moment, I felt morally compelled to be a part of the tournament, even if I had no sensible explanation as to
why.

  The feeling was so overwhelming, and when I looked at the hundreds of tables and listened to the incoherent chitter-chatter, I decided I needed to be somewhere else. I needed to get away from the boisterous sea of people. No matter how large Theodora could adjust this room, it didn’t matter, since I felt a strange sense of claustrophobia that made my head spin and my chest feel heavy. Crowds had never irked me before, but right now, I was dying for a moment alone.

  “I need some air,” I said before I abruptly stood up.

  “But you’re going to miss the second round of desserts,” Faye protested.

  Golden bowls of a strange-looking pudding appeared on the tables as she spoke, and the coven’s eyes grew wide before they started to dig into the brown, goopy dessert. I looked at it more closely, and my stomach turned at the way it was bubbling in the bowl. It also smelled strange, like wet bark mixed with berries.

  “What is that?” I asked with my nose wrinkled in disgust.

  “It’s called graveyard pudding,” Morgana replied after swallowing a mouthful. “No one really knows what is in it, but it’s my absolute favorite.”

  “Mine, too,” Vesta said.

  “Mine, three,” Akira groaned in pleasure.

  “Okay, well,” I said as I took one last look at the odd dish, “I think I’ll pass. I’ll see you all later. You four enjoy yourselves.”

  They bid me their muffled goodbyes as I headed past the crowded tables and through the banquet hall doors, and I was about to turn a corner until a flash of cerulean blue stopped me dead in my tracks.

  “Fuck!” I cried out in surprise.

  I was staring at a tall witch with ocean-sapphire blue skin and small horns protruding from her forehead. Her hair was the same shade of blue as her skin, and it was wrapped into a braided bun. She was dressed in a white button-down collared shirt and a deep green plaid mini skirt with knee-high socks and black high heeled boots. She was also smoking a small, brown pipe, and her sapphire blue lips parted open in surprise when she saw me.

  “Satan, I didn’t mean to scare the shit out of you,” she breathed in a sultry voice. “You look as if one of these paintings just popped out from the frame.”

  “It’s actually happened before,” I chuckled. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude… my name is Cole.”

  “Yes, I’ve heard of you, of course.” She grinned mischievously. “A fucking man who just inserted himself into an all Wicca school… everyone has heard of you.”

  She had a perfect set of ivory white teeth, and her eyes were the deepest color of purple I’d ever seen in my life. Then she took a long puff out of her pipe and blew perfect circles of purple smoke out from her full lips.

  “Ah, well, good to know,” I mumbled.

  “They also said you were a hideous looking brute of a man.” She smirked. “Seems they were lying about that.”

  “Oh?” I asked with a cocked eyebrow.

  “Perhaps I’m glad you happened to show up.” She ran her eyes down my chest for an instant and then looked back at my face.

  “Why aren’t you with the rest of your group?” I questioned before I shoved my hands into my pockets.

  “Oh, they are overly dramatic about this entire scenario,” she sighed. “All they can do is go on and on about the tournament.”

  “What do you mean by overly dramatic?” I frowned. “I thought they’d be excited.”

  “Didn’t you notice?” she replied before she exhaled another puff of purple smoke. “No one from my school is even enjoying themselves. It’s supposed to be a celebration, for fuck’s sake… you know, before the tryouts begin? But they are acting as if it’s the end of the fucking world. Everyone wants to be in the games, but only eight will be selected in total. So, long story short, everyone is worried they won’t be selected.”

  “Right… ” I replied slowly.

  “Do you want a hit?” she asked with a raised blue eyebrow, and she extended her arm to me. “You’ll enjoy it. I promise.”

  I studied the small pipe and shook my head.

  “No, thanks.” I smiled. “So, are you going to try out?”

  “Yes.” She rolled her eyes. “Every member in my family has participated, so it’s expected of me.”

  “You don’t really sound too thrilled about the idea,” I remarked.

  “Whatever.” She shrugged. “We’ll see how this all plays out.”

  A noise, like the banquet doors slamming shut, echoed through the hallway, and she quickly tucked the pipe into her robes.

  “Well, I’d better be off before someone comes looking for me,” she sighed and rolled her eyes again. “I’m Nyx, by the way.”

  “I’ll remember that.” I grinned.

  “Oh, and do me a favor,” she called out over her shoulder when she was halfway down the hall. “Don’t tell anyone I was decent toward you, I have a reputation to uphold, you know.”

  I shrugged in response, and she twirled around and bounced on her heels toward the banquet hall. I smiled and shook my head to myself as I turned around and prepared to make my way back to my room, but before I could take another step, a familiar voice stopped me cold.

  “Couldn't take any more of the festivities, I gather?” Theodora asked.

  “I just needed some air,” I replied with my back still turned.

  “Ah, well, I don’t blame you,” she sighed. “It’s quite the crowd in there--”

  “Yeah, but why?” I blurted out as I whirled around to face her. “Of all the possible times to hold a grand tournament or whatever, why did you pick right now? Don’t you think we already have enough to worry about?”

  The headmistress sighed and looked at me from head to toe. Then she slowly smiled, and her blue eyes sparkled with mischief.

  “I knew you would come to me with questions,” she said, “in fact, that’s why I followed you out here.”

  “Okay, great,” I responded with a quick shrug. “So, for starters, why are there--”

  “Oh, no, no, no,” she tutted. “Let’s go to my office. This is something that must be discussed in private.”

  I sighed impatiently but followed her down to her office. I noticed as we walked through the corridors that all the eyes of the paintings were following us, and more closely than usual. I supposed the portraits were also on edge. They probably didn’t want to see all these new students wandering through the hallways and staring at them, and I could see their eyes were filled with distrust and irritation.

  As soon as we were in Theodora’s office, she slowly closed the door and headed over to her desk. She quietly pulled out a goblet from one of her drawers, and then she hummed a dark and melancholy tune as she moved to her bookcase. Finally, she pulled out a rather large bottle of wine and popped the cork out before pouring herself a healthy portion.

  “Would you care for a glass?” she asked. “It’s an eighteenth-century Lilsolet Sec.”

  “I don’t even know what that is, Headmistress,” I sighed.

  “So, I guess that means you won’t be having any.” She shrugged. “Oh, well, then, more for me, I suppose.”

  “Headmistress,” I breathed. “With all due respect, could you please tell me what the hell is going on?”

  “Whatever do you mean?” she asked. “I just explained everything in the grand hall.”

  I nearly shook my head in disbelief. She’d just asked me to follow her into her office for a private discussion, and now she was pretending like she had no idea what I was talking about.

  “Look, I know there’s something you’re not saying,” I pushed. “Tell me what you’re hiding… I know you too well by now, so don’t even try to fool me.”

  “I wasn’t going to try and fool you,” she replied with an innocent smile. “Not in the slightest… trust me, I know that nothing gets past you.”

  “Alright, so spill it,” I urged her. “No more games or riddles. Why did you decide to host the tournament now? Don’t you think we have enough to worry about with the E
lder Gods and their rise to power?”

  “That’s precisely why I’m hosting the games,” Theodora said after a long moment. Then she took a deep sip of wine and tilted her head at me. “As everyone knows, the Ludi Mortiferum has been the ultimate way of narrowing down the most valuable and skilled witches of various academies. It’s a great way to connect with other academies… and yes, I know what you’re thinking.”

  “That some schools don’t even have the same belief system we do?” I replied.

  “Yes.” She nodded gravely. “It is a known fact other schools happen to have different faiths, and while that is not the most ideal case in terms of building stronger alliances, it is the harsh reality of our worlds.”

  “Building stronger alliances?” I repeated.

  “Yes, Cole.” She grinned before she took another long, deep sip. “These games are not merely for pure sport, but they are a way to work together against the elder gods. We all share one common enemy, and alliances have been difficult to achieve since academies have only grown more secretive and prideful over the years… but now, this is our chance to change all of that and work collectively to defeat the one true enemy. Not only will we be able to build up our coalitions, but we can determine who the strongest witches are across all academies.”

  “I see,” I said slowly.

  Now, I wished I had accepted that goblet of wine. This was a lot of information to take in all at once.

  “I know it’s sudden,” she said after a moment. “After everything you and your coven went through to ensure we would still be standing… I know it’s a lot to ask for.”

  For a moment, I wasn’t entirely sure what she was talking about, and then it hit me like a spell.

  She wanted my coven and I to join in the games.

  “You want us to try out… I should have known,” I chuckled. “You never cease to amaze me.”

  “I know.” She smiled. “It’s part of my undeniable charm.”

  “So.” I shrugged. “I suppose this means we’re trying out tomorrow?”