“Now what do we do?” the green-haired, reptilian witch screamed. “We’re all going to die!”
“Shut the fuck up,” Crimson snapped.
As the undead women edged closer, I knew we had to do something, and now.
As I gazed upon the atrocious looking women with their pale, ghoulish skin and red-rimmed yellow eyes, I knew I would have to be the one to take control of the situation before they decided to devour us, or worse. The undead army was stumbling closer toward us, and deep resonating growls echoed in their chests. Their putrid smell wafted through the air, and the closer they approached, the more time we were losing.
I had to act now.
So, I took a tentative step forward and then raised my wand in their direction.
“Cole!” Crimson called out. “Just what the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“What needs to be done,” I whispered to myself.
“Master, no, please don’t!” I heard my coven shout, and when I could hear them running toward me, I sharply turned around and faced them.
“It’s alright!” I shouted. “Stay back and help protect the others… I’ve got this, just watch my back and stay where you are. I need you to be my extra pair of eyes.”
Their pale faces and troubled eyes were fixated on me, and if it weren’t for the blood pact, I knew they would run to my side regardless. However, they must have sensed the determination and confidence in my voice because their eyes softened with understanding before they nodded and then raised their wands in defense. Each of my loyal witches, as well as Nyx, Beatrix, and the twins, all stood by Professor’s Crimson’s side and protected the hundreds of witches behind them.
The sky continued to rain fire, and I knew I could use it to my advantage. The hideous, walking corpses were emerging from the ground and closing in on me, but I stood my ground. I could smell their raw, putrid skin, and the army of the risen dead grew nearer. Then I looked up at the blazing sky, and with all my willpower, I summoned the inferno to do my dark bidding. I pictured the flames building up on the ground, to create a flaming barrier between myself and the ravenous, risen women, and I closed my eyes and embraced the evil that surrounded us entirely.
“Cole!” Processor Crimson screamed again. “We need to leave!”
“No,” I shouted back without looking at her. “Don’t you dare shadow port us out of here, I have a plan.”
Now that the holy air had vanished, all I could feel was pure darkness, evil, and vengeance, but these feelings were misplaced by the undead witches. I could sense their energy and their desire to seek revenge against the elders who placed them beneath holy soil, and at this moment, all they wanted to do was kill for the sake of it.
I needed to change that. I had to remind them the revenge they sought was against the elder gods who put them here, and not us. Once I reminded them of their true enemy, I knew they would be on our side.
So, I closed my eyes, and once again, I envisioned a scorching barrier to separate these women and my people. I willed the elements to do my bidding, and as soon as I felt I had total control, I did what I needed to do.
Motus.
Suddenly, the flames from the sky descended from above and then cast a blazing wall between them and us. The undead women stopped in their tracks, and then they began to screech in pain and anguish as they stared at the element that took their lives so very long ago.
I could feel their despair, grief, and will to destroy those who wronged them so very long ago. I could sense it as if it were my own burden to bear.
“Listen to me!” I cried out. “I can sense your pain, your agony, and your desire for vengeance. Believe me, I feel the same, which is why we have released you from a fate worse than death itself. We have broken the elder curse, which was placed on you for centuries. Now… we need you to aid us. We need your help to defeat the elders once and for all. War is on the horizon, and we desperately need your aid. Will you fight alongside us and ensure elder blood stains the earth? Will you see them suffer, just as you have suffered?”
The half charred and decomposed women ceased their shrieking, and suddenly, the air grew quiet. The only sound that filled the air was the crackling of the flames and my own heavy breathing, but their bloodshot eyes peered deeply into mine, and I knew I had their undivided attention.
“Will you help us?” I repeated. “By my unholy word, you will taste elder blood and take their souls. I promise it… but first, you must join us. You must serve me and become our obedient allies. Do you accept the terms?”
As I stared into the hundreds of eyes focused solely on me, I could feel a sudden shift in the air. The sky’s anger slowly ceased, and the fire that fell from the sky turned to rain. As the water poured down on the resurrected women and the barrier I created, the flames slowly died down, but something incredible also happened.
The undead and unrecognizable women slowly began to change, and I watched with fascination as their blackened and burned skin began to return to beautiful shades of cream, lavender, rose, and sage green. Their decomposed flesh vanished, and long, flowing hair began to grow from their scabbed, bare scalps, as life slowly returned to their eyes. Their naked bodies molded back into their youthful forms, and each one began to slowly turn to look at the others as if they couldn’t believe what was happening. They awed and marveled at their bewitching forms, and their eyes were filled with a flicker of hope and possibility.
When the fire finally died, I took several steps toward the beautiful army of witches and then extended my hand. One of the women, with long, golden-blonde hair and piercing silver eyes, came closer to me, and her blood-red lips were trembling.
“Who… who are you?” she asked when she took my hand. “Please, tell us your name.”
“I’m Cole, and I’m the one who is willing to give you another chance at life,” I answered as I stared into her glittering eyes. “Do you see the women behind me? We all came here together to bring you back to life. You’re finally free and reborn.”
The mysterious woman seemed to be at a loss for words, but then she gently pulled her hand away and turned to look at the women behind her. Their eyes were no longer filled with a lost sense of purpose, and when she turned back to look at me, her mouth curled up into a vibrant smile.
“We’ll follow you to the ends of the earth,” she said. “Not only have you summoned us back into our unholy vessels, but we long for the vengeance you speak of. We have spent years in pure darkness, in a world worse than death, and now we will do whatever you ask of us. We are forever in your debt.”
“Excellent,” I responded as my entire body flooded with relief. “Then come along. You should meet the rest of your new sisters. They also spilled their blood to ensure your full resurrection.”
The beautiful blonde witch nodded deeply and then gestured for her resurrected sisters to follow her, and when I led the risen women back to the students and Professor Crimson, excitement rose through the air. Students began to feverishly whisper amongst themselves, and it seemed like no one could hide their smiles. After several minutes of mixing the resurrected women together with the witches of Scholomance, Professor Crimson took a step in front of the massive crowd and then raised her hands up into the air.
“Praise Satan!” she cried out. “We have grown our army… let us return to Scholomance to celebrate this victory and provide clothing and food for our new sisters. However, there is something I must take care of first …”
The professor’s scarlet eyes turned an even darker shade of red as she glared at the short-haired, green witch who’d started this whole mess. The student knew she’d fucked up, and she raised her hands in defense as Professor Crimson marched over to her.
“No, professor, please!” the student wailed with wide eyes. “I’m sorry--”
“Excorio fructus eius tamquam aperto!” Crimson screamed in a terrifying voice as she pointed her wand at the quivering witch.
The air instantly grew icy cold, and in the next moment, the green-haired student’s eyes went glassy and vacant, and her emerald lips parted open in pain and shock. Perhaps she was trying to scream out in agony, but no sound left her mouth. Instead, her hair began to fall from her scalp in clumps, and her skin began to unfold inside out. Her bones and muscles were exposed and then quickly melted into a puddle of gore and blood.
For a long moment, no one said a word, or even dared to breathe as we stared at the dead, liquified witch.
“If any student ever disobeys one of my orders again,” Crimson finally growled, “this will be your fate. You all are lucky Cole risked his neck to save us, since none of you besides his coven would have done the same. Now, as I was saying… let us return home with our new army! Huzzah!”
Then the ruby-haired professor snapped her fingers, and we were sent flying back to the academy. Within minutes, we landed in the banquet hall, and when we arrived, the room was completely empty. The new women marveled and gasped as they stared around the expansive room, and elevated chatter filled the air as the Scholomance students did their best to make them feel welcomed.
Professor Crimson immediately approached me and then placed a gentle hand on my shoulder before she looked deep into my eyes and slowly smiled.
“Well done, Cole,” she whispered. “I’m going to find Headmistress Theodora and summon the other professors to provide clothing and food. You’re in charge until I return.”
“Of course, Professor,” I replied with a deep nod.
She flashed me another mesmerizing smile before she spun her red skirts and then floated out of the banquet hall.
I took in a deep breath and looked around in relief and satisfaction.
We’d really fucking done it.
“Cole, that was so freaking cool!” Nyx gasped as she jumped in front of me. “I thought I was tripping back there, but Satan, you really took control of the situation like a total badass. I’m impressed, and I can’t believe I ever doubted your kickass skills.”
My coven, Nyx, Beatrix, and the twins huddled around me, and each woman gazed at me as if I were their dark lord and savior.
Which, I guess I was.
“Well, I never doubted him for a moment,” Akira scoffed..
“Neither did I,” Faye remarked with a twinkle of pride in her golden-green eyes.
“Can you believe how beautiful those women are?” Vesta purred as she glanced around the room. “I mean… considering how disgusting they were when they first emerged from the soil.”
“They were dead for centuries, Vesta,” Penelope chuckled. “Even you wouldn’t be looking your finest.”
“Oh, I doubt that,” the elvish witch giggled as she tossed back her long, flowing green hair. “I’m always going to be the picture of perfection.”
We all laughed as we glanced around the crowded room, and right then, I thought things were finally falling into place.
“Now that we’ve grown an army, and learned the most important blood and premonition spells… do you think we’re ready to take on whatever is coming our way?” Morgana asked with a small frown.
“Don’t forget about the dragons,” Faye added.
“Still,” the bookish brunette said as she chewed on her lower lip. “Do you believe we’re prepared, master?”
“We still have Shadow with Professor Luna,” I reminded her, “and we need to spend every waking moment practicing. I don’t believe we’re in the clear yet, but still, we’ve made impressive progress.”
“And it’s all thanks to you, Cole.” Beatrix grinned.
“Yeah,” the twins remarked simultaneously.
“Thanks, everyone,” I replied as I rubbed the back of my neck, “but like I said, we’re not out of the woods just yet.”
“Oh, Cole,” Morgana whispered as she tugged on my sleeve, “look, the headmistress is staring right at us. I think she wants to speak with you.”
I craned my neck and spotted the headmistress looking right at me as the other professors came in with piles of robes folded neatly in their hands. The color had returned to Theodora’s beautiful face, and her bruises and cuts were gone. She appeared to be back to her usual self, and she was dressed in an elaborate black and gold lace gown with wide skirts and a tight, purple corset. Her dark hair was pinned up into an intricate bun and held together with a raven-bone pin. She gestured for me to come over to her, and without hesitation, I rushed over to meet her.
“Headmistress,” I said with a small bow, “I see you’re doing well.”
“I am much better, thank you,” she replied, “and I could say the same about you… you managed to bring back an entire army of witches for us, even after what happened during your training with Vanessa. What exactly happened, then?”
“I had a vision,” I responded. “It was the woman from the painting… she showed me what would happen to Scholomance if we fail. It was not an image I would ever want to see again in my lifetime, Headmistress.”
Theodora nodded deeply before she glanced around the bustling room and then back to me.
“Come along,” she said in a faint voice. “I want to show you something.”
I followed Theodora out the door, and we swept through the corridors and down to the castle doors. When we marched past the gates and down to the grounds, I welcomed the crisp, cool air and pale sunlight shining down on us.
I trailed after the headmistress and wondered what the hell she had in store for me. We didn’t head into the black wood, but instead, we wandered near the labyrinth and then downhill, toward an expansive green-gray field. I’d seen this area from different windows from within the castle, but we’d never had a class out here before.
When Theodora came to an abrupt stop, I glanced at her, and she seemed to be completely lost in thought as she stared out at the open field and didn’t say a word.
“Headmistress?” I said after a long moment. “With all due respect, what are we doing out here?”
“Professor Evanora mentioned you wanted to bring the dragons to our grounds,” she said without looking at me. “I think it’s an excellent idea, and this is the perfect spot. Not only will the students be able to practice riding the beasts whenever they have a spare moment, but they will provide excellent security as well.”
“I agree,” I said as I nodded eagerly. “So, what are we waiting for?”
She chuckled under her breath before she faced me and smiled.
“We need to expand it, don’t you agree?” she asked with her head tilted to the side.
“Yes,” I replied, “but isn’t that a simple endeavor for you, Headmistress?”
“It is.” She nodded. “It is as artless as pouring myself a glass of wine… but that’s not the point.”
It took me a moment to realize what she was trying to get at, and when it hit me, my face broke into a hopeful grin.
“You’re going to show me how to expand the field?” I did my best not to sound too eager or presumptuous.
“I am,” she replied with a small laugh, but then her face grew solemn once more. “However, this is not a spell I share with most students. It can easily be abused or misused, so it is not something we normally teach in the classroom. Could you imagine all the bedrooms and bathrooms the girls would enlarge? It would be chaos, especially if they did it incorrectly and ended up shrinking the entire castle.”
“I see,” I responded. “Well, I’m honored that you would be willing to share it with me.”
“Well, I don’t have to point out how many times you’ve proved yourself over and over again,” Theodora purred. “Now, watch me very closely, I know you can pick up on spells rather quickly and efficiently, but this can be quite tricky. Even I had trouble the first few times.”
“Alright,” I answered before I rolled up my sleeves and then pulled out my wand. “Let’s do it.”
She chuckled softly under her breath as she retrieved her own wand from her sleeve, and her sharp blue eyes narrowed as she stared at the field in front of her. Then, without looking at me, she shifted her body until her warm body was pressed against my shoulder.
“Focus on the green earth and the vast steel gray sky above us,” she instructed. “Take in the land which Satan has bestowed upon us and relish in its unholy glory.”
I nodded and clenched my jaw as I gazed upon the natural, ominous beauty before us, and as I breathed in the cool air, I welcomed the darkness into my heart and opened my mind up to the countless possibilities.
“Imagine what you see before you, but twice as grand,” she continued. “Then, utter the words, ‘crescere per voluntatem meam.’”
“Got it.” I nodded.
“We’ll do it together,” she said as she raised her chin up into the air. “One… two… three.”
“Crescere per voluntatem meam!” we shouted in unison.
Then the sky rumbled, and the ground beneath us began to slightly tremble. I could feel the world shifting as I kept my wand aimed in front of me, and the fields started to expand and turn into acres of land as far as the eye could see. I was in complete awe as the world stopped growing, and at that moment, I felt like Satan, with all the power to command even the earth.
“Shit,” I breathed once the spell took full effect.
“Amazing, isn’t it?” Theodora mused aloud.
“Beyond amazing,” I agreed.
“But that’s not all,” Theodora added in a mysterious tone. “I have one more thing to show you.”
“What?” I asked, and I was ready to learn everything she had to share with me.
“I will show you how to transport beings by your will,” she responded. “It is another form of shadow porting, but far more advanced than your current level. Are you ready?”
“Always,” I responded with a firm nod.
Again, she raised her wand higher into the air and then closed her eyes.
“Hos parere imperio,” she muttered.
Suddenly, a massive cloud of purple smoke drifted across the fields, and a chorus of roars filled the air, and when the mist cleared, my mouth hung open in awe and excitement.
There, flying and grazing before me, were the emerald green dragons we had ridden during Professor Evanora’s class, and they seemed to be perfectly content in their new surroundings as they flew in majestic circles high above us and glided through misty silver clouds and over the spacious fields.
“Fucking brilliant,” I breathed.
“All you have to do is picture what is bound to you and summon it to your will,” Theodora explained as her eyes scanned across the dragon infested fields. “It will come in handy during times of battle. Especially when you must summon your coven or any beast to your will.”
“And how long do we have until we’re attacked again?” I asked in a faint voice. “It’s inevitable, Headmistress… we both know blood is on the horizon.”
“I cannot say for certain, Cole,” she replied after a moment, “all we can do is prepare and wait.”
“They will regret it,” I growled. “We will kill any fucker who dares attempt to destroy us.”
“I admire your vigor, Cole,” Theodora laughed. “Never let that flame within your heart die. It’s the reason so many of our witches are still alive today.”
“I promise you, Headmistress,” I said as I turned to look at her. “I vow to keep Scholomance from burning to the ground.”
“You and I both,” she answered before she turned to look at me. She cupped the side of my face and looked deeply into my eyes as if she were searching for something. Then she smiled and gently pulled away. “Let us go eat… you deserve it after what you did for us. Tomorrow is another day, and we still have more to learn before we can safely say we’re fully prepared.”
I nodded in agreement and followed Theodora back to the castle, and a thousand different thoughts coursed through my mind as I walked through the corridors of my home. When I first arrived, Scholomance had been a terrifying and unusual place for me, and it felt like years ago when I first arrived on the grounds covered in blood and surrounded by cloaked women with flames in their hands.
But now, this was my fucking home, and no one would take that away from me.
As I walked with the Headmistress, lost deep in thought, she suddenly stopped dead in her tracks, and her body began to violently tremble. Her eyes went white, and all the color drained from her face. She became as pale and sallow as a ghost, and before I realized what was happening, she fell backward, and I rushed to catch her before she could crack her head open on the marble floor.
“Headmistress!” I shouted as I held onto her and looked into her face.
“I see them,” she said in a voice that did not belong to her. It was deeper, more fearful, and it echoed through the corridors and bounced off the walls. “The elders… they’re on their way.”