AllFreeNovel
Share Us
A tall, imposing man with a salt-and-pepper beard and cutting green eyes followed behind her. He fell on me and stopped.
“Miss Aella Vanda. We meet again.”
I blinked. “Do I know you?”
His brow furrowed. “Not as well as you should. While I know you far more than I’d like.”
I couldn’t for the life of me puzzle that out.
“Councilman Damien,” Drakos said, rising. “I see word of last night’s events has reached you.”
“Reached me by way of seven dozen frantic messages to the palace, declaring that the wards of Deucalion Academy have fallen and monsters were on the attack. I came immediately, as did half the council, but it seems we were not needed. The battle is over?” he questioned. “So easily? So quickly?”
“It was not quick nor easy,” Drakos corrected, “but it was won efficiently and effectively with no loss of life thanks to our highly trained students and staff.”
Councilman Damien inclined his head. “Quite. All twelve imperial heirs are in attendance at the academy. Victory was assured by their presence alone. Victory led by my son.”
“He is a credit to you, Councilman.”
“That he is, that he is,” the newcomer replied, almost absentmindedly. He walked behind me, making for the window, while I made myself as small as possible.
They seemed to have forgotten I was in the room. That was fine by me.
“Tell me, Drakos, what of these statues?” Damien peered through the curtain. “Are these not the statues that once stood in the now destroyed atrium? Why are they posted around the perimeter? Are the reports that they fought with you in battle truth or fantasy?”
“It is truth.”
Drakos looked to Madame Remis. It was then I noticed she was holding a small, brown sack that she handed over to him.
Remis left as quickly and silently as she came.
“Those statues are a part of an ancient defense system,” Drakos continued. “They defend this area viciously and without mercy against threats. A threat such as the wards falling and monsters attacking. It is why the academy was built around them. Now, they will remain posted around the perimeter until the wards are rebuilt and the school is once again safe.”
Daimen leaned back, frowning. “The academy was built with the knowledge of this defense system? Why am I just now hearing of this? The council was not informed of their ability to fight and kill to protect the school.”
Drakos lifted his chin. “That is because this knowledge has been passed down from headmaster to headmistress, toheadmaster. It was decided by those older and wiser than me the knowledge must remain secret, I did not see fit to go against the grain,” he replied. “As we can see, keeping that secret was wisdom itself. The monsters weren’t expecting the statues, nor we were expecting that they have been waiting and lurking around in such large numbers—anticipating their chance to strike.
“The statues were the only thing they couldn’t account for. They were unable to rally in time, which led to our victory.”
Damien’s frown only deepened the more he spoke. “Unacceptable. There is no possible excuse for keeping secrets from the council, I do not care the reason. Do not get above yourself, Drakos,” he hissed. “Current law may grant you autonomy to run this place as you see fit, but laws change every day.”
It was impossible to make out Drakos’s expression through the shadows. “Of course, Councilman.”
“What other secrets are you going to make me aware of?” Damien asked— No, demanded. “Now.”
“Just one. The reason why those replicas of the gods defend this place so ruthlessly”—he slowly turned toward me—“although, I suspect Miss Vanda may have more to say on that matter than I do.”
My mouth was sandpaper. I tried swallowing and only managed to wheeze out a croak. “No, s-sir. I don’t.”
Drakos tsked. “Now, now. We’re all past that. Over the many years and decades this castle has stood, there have been disappearances. Unfortunately, we have to lay the responsibility for most of them at the feet of demigods, but, then, what about the others?” He snapped his fingers and one of his dead minions took the sack from him. “Two years ago, I stumbled over something very strange.
“A gaping hole in the middle of my atrium.”
Nostrils flaring, my lips pressed tight.Mom.
“It was quite curious,” he continued. “While it answered the question of what those statues were put here to protect, as well as why I could sense the bodies of three of my missing charges, but I could not summon them. It also brought a host of new questions.
“Why was there Lethe water at the bottom? Why had those two students and one staff member gone into that hole only to become trapped forever? Why was it open now?” I tracked his movements around the desk.
