3
Roommates:
"Rise and shine students, wake up," Iris said. She walked through the huddles and shook a few students to get them up.
"I feel numb," Adhara said hoarsely to her friends. They pulled her on her feet.
"If Arrow hadn't slept on you you'd probably be dead," Rose said. "I wonder if I have life insurance?"
"Oh come now, don't talk like that. Everyone will make it to summer vacation in almost a complete piece. In the letter to your parents we informed them that there is a chance some of you will come back having gone through sever injuries," Iris said patting Rose on the shoulder and walking off.
"And they still let us come," Moriko asked astonished. "What were my parents thinking?"
"The journey is to build upon your own strengths and the school year is to build dedication," Artemis said. They stared at her. "I read the letter. Since I'm an Ennerrian witch my parents let me read the letters."
"Well screw that idea. My mom just wanted to get rid of me. She keeps saying I look like my father," Adhara said bitterly. "It's not my fault he left before I was born, she can't blame me."
"My parents don't care. I'm not even their biological child," Rose muttered.
"Start walking students," Iris ordered. The students obeyed and started trudging along the frozen ground.
Hours later, after the sun had already past its high point, the woods started to thin. Two people stood in a small clearing. One was a tall woman with dark hair streaked with fat streaks of gray. She was wearing a long dress with a long thick coat. The other was a man with a dark bushy beard and straggly graying hair. He wore animal skins.
"Students, meet Professor Axel and Professor Berit," Iris announced.
"Thank you Iris, all of the girl students will now follow me," Professor Berit said.
"And all of the boy students will follow me," Professor Axel said deeply. All the boys moved over behind Axel and the girls moved behind Berit.
"We will see you at dinner Iris dear," Berit said. Axel gave her a hug and the professors started walking with the students following.
"Bye Mom, bye Dad," Iris called and disappeared into the woods.
"Iris is their daughter," Moriko said turning to Artemis.
"Yeah, Thorvaldsson is basically run by descendants of Leif Ericson. The two Heads are a married couple, Vor is our Head and Ulf is the boys' Head. And Vor's mother owns and runs Thorvaldsson and her name's Siv. The boys' professors are Axel, Bo, Dag, Erik, Goran, and Henrik. All of them are descendants of family friends or are married to descendants on family friends. The girls' professors are Berit, Ebba, Gala, Gudrun, Jana, and Maja who are married to the boy professors. The ground caretakers are their children. Iris is the daughter of Berit and Axel, Paul is the son of Ebba and Bo, Hanna is the daughter of Gala and Dag, Ebony is the daughter of Gudrun and Erik, Abner is the son of Jana and Goran, and Maja and Henrik have a younger daughter, Elizabeth. She doesn't work the grounds, this other guy does. My brother said he showed up in the middle of the year so they let him be in charge to the six-year grounds and stuff."
"That is a lot of stuff to remember," Adhara said. Rose pointed.
"Look, a house," she said. House was a bit of an understatement. The first two floors were tan stone; the second two were made of a white wood. Black walnut trimmed the sides and windows. Two chimneys made of dark brick could be seen. The mansion had a large round tower on each side and the roofs were shingled with black slabs of rock.
"The boys' houses look the same but in reverse color. We had students walk into the wrong tents the first three years of this schools existence. There are twelve, smaller houses on Thorvaldsson grounds. Six of these are between each of the student houses while the other six surround the school. Iris's house is just over the thin line of trees to your left, she is the closest," Berit explained. "No doubt you have noticed it is not freezing? Thorvaldsson grounds are charmed. This is the average temperature of fall and there is no snow. Frost will appear in the mornings and during the nights. If you wander off the grounds you will know. If you wander off and get lost you will die." Berit paused and looked through the crowd of girls. "Pets are not allowed in the school. In the back of the house we have separate houses for the birds due to gender and species. We also have rooms in the basement for other pets, not to worry they are comfortable." She paused again. "You will have roommates assigned to you, I will do that now."
"What if none of us become roommates," Moriko asked nervously. She glanced over at Alexandria talking snottily to four other snotty looking girls.
"They've got to put us together, they have so far," Rose said.
"Carman Thomson, you get a room to yourself, third floor," Berit said pointing at the shortest of Alexandria's friends. Carman tossed her brown hair and went into the house with a superior smirk on her face. "Shia Brown and Moriko Grenjet, third floor."
Moriko looked at Shia who was a beautiful African American witch. She was clearly an Ennerrian and she clearly wasn't pleased in rooming with Moriko.
"I don't want to share a room with her Professor Berit, she's not an Ennerrian," Shia said to Berit.
"I don't really care if she was a rattle snake, you're sharing a room with Miss Grenjet," Berit said. Shia glared at Moriko and stomped into the house. Moriko gave a sad look at her friends and followed. "Rose Parson and Lisa Thomson, third floor."
"You couldn't even put me with my sister? You gave her a room to herself and I'm stuck with this," Lisa shrieked. She was identical to Carman but taller.
"Excuse me," Rose shot coldly. Lisa glared at her and ran into the house with Rose following her.
"Goodness, same thing every year, always turns out," Berit said. "Let's see, Artemis Basila Argos and Nicole Cambridge, third floor."
"Basila, I guess we will be roommates after all," Nicole said gleefully. Her hazel eyes flashed dangerously. "After all, Basila, the Ennerrians should stick together and let the Alum witches alone." She looked at Adhara.
"Let's go Cambridge," Artemis said coldly. She went into the house with Nicole following.
"Well, you two are my last ones. Alexandria Rockwell and Adhara Blackwell, fourth floor. You two get a whole floor to yourselves," Berit said cheerfully.
Alexandria tossed her long blond hair and glared at Adhara with her blue eyes. Adhara's holly green ones glared right back.
"Berit, dear, you will have to take one more student," Axel said walking up next to her.
Alexandria became interested with the boy he had with him instead. Adhara recognized him as the boy who wore the motorcycle leathers. He didn't have his sunglasses on. Adhara noticed that he had bright blue green eyes and what looked like the beginning of a long scar across the base of his neck.
"I guess I can put him on the fourth floor and put up some new barriers. What is your name son," Berit asked kindly.
"Asher," he said. Berit turned to Alexandria and Adhara.
"Go to your room girls," she said. Arrow led the way into the mansion.
"Oh, did you see the way he looked at me? He so wanted me that second," Alexandria said breathlessly to herself as they climbed the stairs. Adhara snorted. "What, he wasn't staring at you obviously."
"He was talking to Berit and stop talking down to me. I have as much right to be here as you do," Adhara snapped.
"I am an Ennerrian witch. I have more right then you," Alexandria said throwing her nose in the air.
Adhara let out a growl and grabbed a handful of her long blond hair. Alexandria shrieked as Adhara gave it a sharp yank.
"Don't assume anything about me you nasty bitch! It might be the last damn thing you do," Adhara snarled and let go of her hair. Alexandria gave her a dirty look and rubbed her head. "Come on, your majesty, this is our room."
"How can you be so sure Blackwell, are you a physic now," Alexandria snapped.
"Our names are on the sign," Adhara said pointing to a small square plaque on the door.
"Well, open the door for me," she said staring at Adhara.
"No," Adhara said simply. Adhara opened the door, went in, and slammed it in Alexandria's face.
"I don't care what you do. I hate you and want nothing to do with you," Lisa shot at Rose once they got into their room. "This bed looks bigger so this is mine." She sat on the identical bed near the door. "That cat thing isn't aloud in this room."
"Izzy, Sine, you have to go outside," Rose said. "Izzy's not a 'cat thing' Izzy's a caracal."
The falcon landed on the caracal's back and they left the room.
"I don't care what it is, if you're rooming with my then both of those things stay with the other things," Lisa said snobbishly.
"Why do you hate me? You don't even know me," Rose said.
"I hate you because you are not an Ennerrian witch. My family have been in touch with Ennerria since the sixteenth century," Lisa said. "The name Parson name is not an Ennerrian name."
"Not that it matters but Parson isn't my real name. I was adopted when I was two," Rose said harshly.
"So Basila, how long have you been going by your first name? You always wanted everyone to call you Basila," Nicole said.
"I only had you and the others call me Basila. My friends and family are allowed to call me Artemis," Artemis replied keeping her voice neutral.
"We are your friends Basila; I, Carman, Lisa, Shia, and Alexandria. Alexandria and you were closer then you and Diantha. We knew you before those Alum witches did. They wouldn't even guess you to come from good lines," Nicole said.
"Shut up Coley, shut up. The only reasons the five of you tried to be so chummy with me was because of my bloodline. I like that they never held their tongues in my presents. Our blood is no different then theirs either! The Procyon line was a long line of Ennerrians and all of them are dead," Artemis shot angrily.
"You used my old nickname Basila. We don't know for certain that the whole Procyon line have met an end," Nicole said, her hazel eyes flashing.
"What have you heard Coley," Artemis said her eyes snapping onto Nicole's. "Tell me what you've heard."
"It's odd that the twins were never found," Nicole said.
"They were only very small children when it happened, I doubt dire wolves would leave their remains," Artemis said reasonably.
"Yes, true but the last of the Corvus line vanished the same night," Nicole said excitedly.
"Are you trying to tell me that Kai Corvus got the twins out of the house, out of the town, before the dire wolves attacked," Artemis said with a frown. "Why would they hide?"
"I don't know but it is exciting to think about a true boy Ennerrian with such an impressive linage still living. Of course my eldest sister shamed our line last year when she married that Alum so I would have no chance with a boy like that," Nicole said bitterly.
"I would slap you but I wouldn't want to waste my energy on filth like you Cambridge," Artemis shot angrily.
"So, um, Shia." Moriko said meekly making an attempt at conversation.
"You cannot call me by my first name. And if you do make yourself important enough to refer to me by my first name then it is Miss Shia to you," Shia snapped. "What do you want Alum witch?"
"Why do you hate me? I never did anything to you," Moriko asked.
"You are not like me. I am an Ennerrian witch. My linage goes back to the fourteenth century in Africa," Shia said.
"But that's no reason to hate anyone. Artemis doesn't hate Alum witches and she's an Ennerrian," Moriko said.
"Basila is going soft. Anyway her mother told my mother that her father wanted her to live in Lumlooda. She's probably trying to get used to that idea," Shia said.
"Why do you call her by her middle name," Moriko asked praying to keep the conversation friendly.
"She told me to call her that when I met her in Athens five years ago. Her family was holding a party there; my family and my friends' families were sent invitations. Ennerrians like the Argos have great wealth and pride," Shia said with a nasty smirk.
"I would have never guessed Artemis to be wealthy. Most wealthy people you know they're wealthy," Moriko said.
"Well Basila wasn't one to flaunt it all. Diantha loves being a wealthy Ennerrian, you can tell," Shia said. "The five of us looked up to Diantha, Basila only looked up to her before we knew her."
"I have a little sister. Her name's Asuna, she's six," Moriko said thinking they finally made it to safe ground.
"Yes, a little Alum. Alum's are such barbarians. I wonder if she's going to turn out like you," Shia said.
"Blackwell, I'm going to visit my friends," Alexandria said opening the tower room door a crack.
"What do I care if you do? Go on, go visit your lousy friends," Adhara said turning over on her bed to look out the window.
"You have to come with me, it's a rule," Alexandria said.
"I don't give a damn if it's a rule. I am getting enough shit from one of you, I don't need one of your clones bugging me too," Adhara said walking over to the door and opening it wide.
"Well I'm not going to get in trouble. I'll hex you. Since I'm an Ennerrian I know a few. My older brother taught them to me and he's in his fourth advanced year," Alexandria bragged.
"Did he teach you or use them on you? I don't need magic to fight, I thought you understood that," Adhara said.
Alexandria blushed deeply. Her blush got even deeper and she turned and looked down the hall.
"Hi, I'm Alexandria Rockwell," Alexandria said to someone down the hall.
Adhara stepped out of the room and stared down the hall at the boy. He was at the top of the staircase.
"Hi," he said looking slightly confused. "I guess I'll see you around Rockwell."
Alexandria giggled madly as he went down the opposite side of the hall to the other tower room.
"Oh did you hear how he said my name? He's such a romancer! And when he said 'hi' it was heavenly," Alexandria sighed.
"I'm guessing he's an Ennerrian warlock," Adhara mumbled.
"If he's that gorgeous then he must be. The best looking boys are usually Ennerrians," Alexandria simpered. "That means your husband will be ugly because only an Alum would want you. I doubt that even an Alum warlock would go near you."
"I'm only thirteen, I'm not even going to think of marriage for another ten years," Adhara said as they descended the staircase to the third floor.
"Really, that long, pathetic. Oh good there's Lisa. Lisa, hey LISA," Alexandria shouted.
Lisa was halfway out of her room with her back to Alexandria. She turned around and waved gleefully.
"Come on you twit, your pitiful friend is here," Lisa said.
Rose pushed her aside and exited the room. She walked over to Adhara and Alexandria with Lisa following.
"Oh my god, Lisa, you will not believe what is staying on the same floor as me," Alexandria said after the two gave a quick hug.
"Tell me, come on Dria," Lisa said excitedly.
"A boy! He's so cute and he defiantly likes me. Blackwell is so jealous," Alexandria smirked.
"Of course she is! I mean who wouldn't be," Lisa said.
"I'm WHAT? And when the hell did this happen? That boy took one look at your red face and hightailed it to his room," Adhara said angrily while Rose started giggling.
"Dria, Li, what's going on," Carman asked running over.
"We have a boy staying in this house! He's on the fourth floor with Alexandria and Blackwell," Lisa said excitedly.
"Oh, is he and Ennerrian? Is he absolutely lushes," Carman said just as excitedly.
"He's so hot that he could be nothing but an Ennerrian warlock," Alexandria said. "Oh it's almost dinner time. If we hurry we can save him and the other's seats."
The three snotty Ennerrians went back to the staircase followed by the two irritated Alum witches. They went into a grand dinning room with on long black stone table and black ash chairs, crystal chandlers with real diamonds hung from the ceiling.
"Shia, Nicole, Basila, over here. We have seats over here. Hurry I want to tell you something marvelous," Alexandria called.
Shia, Nicole, and Artemis walked over with Moriko following. Artemis looked irritated and Moriko was rubbing a large bruise on her arm.
Shia, Carman, Lisa, Nicole, and Alexandria sat on one side of the table and Adhara, Moriko, Rose, and Artemis sat on the other.
"I met the cutest Ennerrian warlock and he's staying on the fourth floor," Alexandria bragged. "Can't you three sit somewhere else? I'm about to eat."
"That is quite enough Miss Rockwell. Miss Blackwell, kindly take this food to the young man upstairs," Iris said.
She placed a tray of food in Adhara's hands and placed her hand on Adhara's head. Her hand grew warm from a few seconds and then chilling before she took it off.
"You can pass through the barrier for only half an hour, make hast," Iris said. "Some dinner will be saved for you."
Adhara stood up and carried the tray back to the staircase. She carried the food up the three flights of stairs. As she neared the right tower room she felt her flesh starting to grow cool. She supposed this was the barrier and that under normal conditions she would be burning up in unbearable heat. She faced the door and gave it two kicks.
"Yes, oh it's you," he said opening the door. "Come in. I was worried that blond girl was going to bring dinner to me."
"That bitch? Nah, she wants to though," Adhara said stepping in and handing him the tray. "She's running around all over the house saying you like her though."
"Yeah right, she pretty but I look for more then looks when I want a girlfriend. I'm Asher," Asher said.
"I'm Adhara. So Asher, why are you in our house," Adhara asked sitting on one of the large beds.
"The houses only have twenty rooms in them and boys don't share rooms. They never had over twenty warlocks in the same year so when they had twenty one I was sent here," Asher explained.
Adhara watched him eat for a little while. She was very hungry; she hadn't eaten for nearly two days.
"What type of warlock are you," Adhara asked once he finished.
"I don't like the whole type thing but both of my parents were Ennerrian," Asher said with a hint of sadness. "Putting a type to go with what you are is wrong. I am a warlock and you are a witch, what the rest of our family was doesn't matter."
"Asher, are your parents.dead," Adhara asked.
"Yeah, they died years ago. I've been living with my godfather for as long as I can remember," Asher said quietly.
"I never knew my father if it helps. He left my mother after she was pregnant with me," Adhara said.
"Are your parents Ennerrians," Asher asked.
"No, my mother is an Alum. She's fascinated with magic and astronomy, she's an astronomer," Adhara said.
"Oh, judging by your name I thought you were an Ennerrian," Asher said.
"My half and hour is almost up. I'll see you around Asher," Adhara said picking up the empty tray and leaving the room.
Once the door closed she bolted to the staircase and down the three flights of stairs and back into the dinning room. Most of the students had left. The only ones that were there were Alexandria, Artemis, Rose, Lisa, Shia, Carman, Moriko, and Nicole.
"You're trying to steal my man from me now Blackwell," Alexandria snapped.
"You have no right you know. You're just an Alum witch," Carman said snottily.
"He doesn't like you. He also said that adding a type to what you are is stupid. It doesn't matter what your family was," Adhara said sitting down and grabbing the food nearest to her and eating.
Roommates:
"Rise and shine students, wake up," Iris said. She walked through the huddles and shook a few students to get them up.
"I feel numb," Adhara said hoarsely to her friends. They pulled her on her feet.
"If Arrow hadn't slept on you you'd probably be dead," Rose said. "I wonder if I have life insurance?"
"Oh come now, don't talk like that. Everyone will make it to summer vacation in almost a complete piece. In the letter to your parents we informed them that there is a chance some of you will come back having gone through sever injuries," Iris said patting Rose on the shoulder and walking off.
"And they still let us come," Moriko asked astonished. "What were my parents thinking?"
"The journey is to build upon your own strengths and the school year is to build dedication," Artemis said. They stared at her. "I read the letter. Since I'm an Ennerrian witch my parents let me read the letters."
"Well screw that idea. My mom just wanted to get rid of me. She keeps saying I look like my father," Adhara said bitterly. "It's not my fault he left before I was born, she can't blame me."
"My parents don't care. I'm not even their biological child," Rose muttered.
"Start walking students," Iris ordered. The students obeyed and started trudging along the frozen ground.
Hours later, after the sun had already past its high point, the woods started to thin. Two people stood in a small clearing. One was a tall woman with dark hair streaked with fat streaks of gray. She was wearing a long dress with a long thick coat. The other was a man with a dark bushy beard and straggly graying hair. He wore animal skins.
"Students, meet Professor Axel and Professor Berit," Iris announced.
"Thank you Iris, all of the girl students will now follow me," Professor Berit said.
"And all of the boy students will follow me," Professor Axel said deeply. All the boys moved over behind Axel and the girls moved behind Berit.
"We will see you at dinner Iris dear," Berit said. Axel gave her a hug and the professors started walking with the students following.
"Bye Mom, bye Dad," Iris called and disappeared into the woods.
"Iris is their daughter," Moriko said turning to Artemis.
"Yeah, Thorvaldsson is basically run by descendants of Leif Ericson. The two Heads are a married couple, Vor is our Head and Ulf is the boys' Head. And Vor's mother owns and runs Thorvaldsson and her name's Siv. The boys' professors are Axel, Bo, Dag, Erik, Goran, and Henrik. All of them are descendants of family friends or are married to descendants on family friends. The girls' professors are Berit, Ebba, Gala, Gudrun, Jana, and Maja who are married to the boy professors. The ground caretakers are their children. Iris is the daughter of Berit and Axel, Paul is the son of Ebba and Bo, Hanna is the daughter of Gala and Dag, Ebony is the daughter of Gudrun and Erik, Abner is the son of Jana and Goran, and Maja and Henrik have a younger daughter, Elizabeth. She doesn't work the grounds, this other guy does. My brother said he showed up in the middle of the year so they let him be in charge to the six-year grounds and stuff."
"That is a lot of stuff to remember," Adhara said. Rose pointed.
"Look, a house," she said. House was a bit of an understatement. The first two floors were tan stone; the second two were made of a white wood. Black walnut trimmed the sides and windows. Two chimneys made of dark brick could be seen. The mansion had a large round tower on each side and the roofs were shingled with black slabs of rock.
"The boys' houses look the same but in reverse color. We had students walk into the wrong tents the first three years of this schools existence. There are twelve, smaller houses on Thorvaldsson grounds. Six of these are between each of the student houses while the other six surround the school. Iris's house is just over the thin line of trees to your left, she is the closest," Berit explained. "No doubt you have noticed it is not freezing? Thorvaldsson grounds are charmed. This is the average temperature of fall and there is no snow. Frost will appear in the mornings and during the nights. If you wander off the grounds you will know. If you wander off and get lost you will die." Berit paused and looked through the crowd of girls. "Pets are not allowed in the school. In the back of the house we have separate houses for the birds due to gender and species. We also have rooms in the basement for other pets, not to worry they are comfortable." She paused again. "You will have roommates assigned to you, I will do that now."
"What if none of us become roommates," Moriko asked nervously. She glanced over at Alexandria talking snottily to four other snotty looking girls.
"They've got to put us together, they have so far," Rose said.
"Carman Thomson, you get a room to yourself, third floor," Berit said pointing at the shortest of Alexandria's friends. Carman tossed her brown hair and went into the house with a superior smirk on her face. "Shia Brown and Moriko Grenjet, third floor."
Moriko looked at Shia who was a beautiful African American witch. She was clearly an Ennerrian and she clearly wasn't pleased in rooming with Moriko.
"I don't want to share a room with her Professor Berit, she's not an Ennerrian," Shia said to Berit.
"I don't really care if she was a rattle snake, you're sharing a room with Miss Grenjet," Berit said. Shia glared at Moriko and stomped into the house. Moriko gave a sad look at her friends and followed. "Rose Parson and Lisa Thomson, third floor."
"You couldn't even put me with my sister? You gave her a room to herself and I'm stuck with this," Lisa shrieked. She was identical to Carman but taller.
"Excuse me," Rose shot coldly. Lisa glared at her and ran into the house with Rose following her.
"Goodness, same thing every year, always turns out," Berit said. "Let's see, Artemis Basila Argos and Nicole Cambridge, third floor."
"Basila, I guess we will be roommates after all," Nicole said gleefully. Her hazel eyes flashed dangerously. "After all, Basila, the Ennerrians should stick together and let the Alum witches alone." She looked at Adhara.
"Let's go Cambridge," Artemis said coldly. She went into the house with Nicole following.
"Well, you two are my last ones. Alexandria Rockwell and Adhara Blackwell, fourth floor. You two get a whole floor to yourselves," Berit said cheerfully.
Alexandria tossed her long blond hair and glared at Adhara with her blue eyes. Adhara's holly green ones glared right back.
"Berit, dear, you will have to take one more student," Axel said walking up next to her.
Alexandria became interested with the boy he had with him instead. Adhara recognized him as the boy who wore the motorcycle leathers. He didn't have his sunglasses on. Adhara noticed that he had bright blue green eyes and what looked like the beginning of a long scar across the base of his neck.
"I guess I can put him on the fourth floor and put up some new barriers. What is your name son," Berit asked kindly.
"Asher," he said. Berit turned to Alexandria and Adhara.
"Go to your room girls," she said. Arrow led the way into the mansion.
"Oh, did you see the way he looked at me? He so wanted me that second," Alexandria said breathlessly to herself as they climbed the stairs. Adhara snorted. "What, he wasn't staring at you obviously."
"He was talking to Berit and stop talking down to me. I have as much right to be here as you do," Adhara snapped.
"I am an Ennerrian witch. I have more right then you," Alexandria said throwing her nose in the air.
Adhara let out a growl and grabbed a handful of her long blond hair. Alexandria shrieked as Adhara gave it a sharp yank.
"Don't assume anything about me you nasty bitch! It might be the last damn thing you do," Adhara snarled and let go of her hair. Alexandria gave her a dirty look and rubbed her head. "Come on, your majesty, this is our room."
"How can you be so sure Blackwell, are you a physic now," Alexandria snapped.
"Our names are on the sign," Adhara said pointing to a small square plaque on the door.
"Well, open the door for me," she said staring at Adhara.
"No," Adhara said simply. Adhara opened the door, went in, and slammed it in Alexandria's face.
"I don't care what you do. I hate you and want nothing to do with you," Lisa shot at Rose once they got into their room. "This bed looks bigger so this is mine." She sat on the identical bed near the door. "That cat thing isn't aloud in this room."
"Izzy, Sine, you have to go outside," Rose said. "Izzy's not a 'cat thing' Izzy's a caracal."
The falcon landed on the caracal's back and they left the room.
"I don't care what it is, if you're rooming with my then both of those things stay with the other things," Lisa said snobbishly.
"Why do you hate me? You don't even know me," Rose said.
"I hate you because you are not an Ennerrian witch. My family have been in touch with Ennerria since the sixteenth century," Lisa said. "The name Parson name is not an Ennerrian name."
"Not that it matters but Parson isn't my real name. I was adopted when I was two," Rose said harshly.
"So Basila, how long have you been going by your first name? You always wanted everyone to call you Basila," Nicole said.
"I only had you and the others call me Basila. My friends and family are allowed to call me Artemis," Artemis replied keeping her voice neutral.
"We are your friends Basila; I, Carman, Lisa, Shia, and Alexandria. Alexandria and you were closer then you and Diantha. We knew you before those Alum witches did. They wouldn't even guess you to come from good lines," Nicole said.
"Shut up Coley, shut up. The only reasons the five of you tried to be so chummy with me was because of my bloodline. I like that they never held their tongues in my presents. Our blood is no different then theirs either! The Procyon line was a long line of Ennerrians and all of them are dead," Artemis shot angrily.
"You used my old nickname Basila. We don't know for certain that the whole Procyon line have met an end," Nicole said, her hazel eyes flashing.
"What have you heard Coley," Artemis said her eyes snapping onto Nicole's. "Tell me what you've heard."
"It's odd that the twins were never found," Nicole said.
"They were only very small children when it happened, I doubt dire wolves would leave their remains," Artemis said reasonably.
"Yes, true but the last of the Corvus line vanished the same night," Nicole said excitedly.
"Are you trying to tell me that Kai Corvus got the twins out of the house, out of the town, before the dire wolves attacked," Artemis said with a frown. "Why would they hide?"
"I don't know but it is exciting to think about a true boy Ennerrian with such an impressive linage still living. Of course my eldest sister shamed our line last year when she married that Alum so I would have no chance with a boy like that," Nicole said bitterly.
"I would slap you but I wouldn't want to waste my energy on filth like you Cambridge," Artemis shot angrily.
"So, um, Shia." Moriko said meekly making an attempt at conversation.
"You cannot call me by my first name. And if you do make yourself important enough to refer to me by my first name then it is Miss Shia to you," Shia snapped. "What do you want Alum witch?"
"Why do you hate me? I never did anything to you," Moriko asked.
"You are not like me. I am an Ennerrian witch. My linage goes back to the fourteenth century in Africa," Shia said.
"But that's no reason to hate anyone. Artemis doesn't hate Alum witches and she's an Ennerrian," Moriko said.
"Basila is going soft. Anyway her mother told my mother that her father wanted her to live in Lumlooda. She's probably trying to get used to that idea," Shia said.
"Why do you call her by her middle name," Moriko asked praying to keep the conversation friendly.
"She told me to call her that when I met her in Athens five years ago. Her family was holding a party there; my family and my friends' families were sent invitations. Ennerrians like the Argos have great wealth and pride," Shia said with a nasty smirk.
"I would have never guessed Artemis to be wealthy. Most wealthy people you know they're wealthy," Moriko said.
"Well Basila wasn't one to flaunt it all. Diantha loves being a wealthy Ennerrian, you can tell," Shia said. "The five of us looked up to Diantha, Basila only looked up to her before we knew her."
"I have a little sister. Her name's Asuna, she's six," Moriko said thinking they finally made it to safe ground.
"Yes, a little Alum. Alum's are such barbarians. I wonder if she's going to turn out like you," Shia said.
"Blackwell, I'm going to visit my friends," Alexandria said opening the tower room door a crack.
"What do I care if you do? Go on, go visit your lousy friends," Adhara said turning over on her bed to look out the window.
"You have to come with me, it's a rule," Alexandria said.
"I don't give a damn if it's a rule. I am getting enough shit from one of you, I don't need one of your clones bugging me too," Adhara said walking over to the door and opening it wide.
"Well I'm not going to get in trouble. I'll hex you. Since I'm an Ennerrian I know a few. My older brother taught them to me and he's in his fourth advanced year," Alexandria bragged.
"Did he teach you or use them on you? I don't need magic to fight, I thought you understood that," Adhara said.
Alexandria blushed deeply. Her blush got even deeper and she turned and looked down the hall.
"Hi, I'm Alexandria Rockwell," Alexandria said to someone down the hall.
Adhara stepped out of the room and stared down the hall at the boy. He was at the top of the staircase.
"Hi," he said looking slightly confused. "I guess I'll see you around Rockwell."
Alexandria giggled madly as he went down the opposite side of the hall to the other tower room.
"Oh did you hear how he said my name? He's such a romancer! And when he said 'hi' it was heavenly," Alexandria sighed.
"I'm guessing he's an Ennerrian warlock," Adhara mumbled.
"If he's that gorgeous then he must be. The best looking boys are usually Ennerrians," Alexandria simpered. "That means your husband will be ugly because only an Alum would want you. I doubt that even an Alum warlock would go near you."
"I'm only thirteen, I'm not even going to think of marriage for another ten years," Adhara said as they descended the staircase to the third floor.
"Really, that long, pathetic. Oh good there's Lisa. Lisa, hey LISA," Alexandria shouted.
Lisa was halfway out of her room with her back to Alexandria. She turned around and waved gleefully.
"Come on you twit, your pitiful friend is here," Lisa said.
Rose pushed her aside and exited the room. She walked over to Adhara and Alexandria with Lisa following.
"Oh my god, Lisa, you will not believe what is staying on the same floor as me," Alexandria said after the two gave a quick hug.
"Tell me, come on Dria," Lisa said excitedly.
"A boy! He's so cute and he defiantly likes me. Blackwell is so jealous," Alexandria smirked.
"Of course she is! I mean who wouldn't be," Lisa said.
"I'm WHAT? And when the hell did this happen? That boy took one look at your red face and hightailed it to his room," Adhara said angrily while Rose started giggling.
"Dria, Li, what's going on," Carman asked running over.
"We have a boy staying in this house! He's on the fourth floor with Alexandria and Blackwell," Lisa said excitedly.
"Oh, is he and Ennerrian? Is he absolutely lushes," Carman said just as excitedly.
"He's so hot that he could be nothing but an Ennerrian warlock," Alexandria said. "Oh it's almost dinner time. If we hurry we can save him and the other's seats."
The three snotty Ennerrians went back to the staircase followed by the two irritated Alum witches. They went into a grand dinning room with on long black stone table and black ash chairs, crystal chandlers with real diamonds hung from the ceiling.
"Shia, Nicole, Basila, over here. We have seats over here. Hurry I want to tell you something marvelous," Alexandria called.
Shia, Nicole, and Artemis walked over with Moriko following. Artemis looked irritated and Moriko was rubbing a large bruise on her arm.
Shia, Carman, Lisa, Nicole, and Alexandria sat on one side of the table and Adhara, Moriko, Rose, and Artemis sat on the other.
"I met the cutest Ennerrian warlock and he's staying on the fourth floor," Alexandria bragged. "Can't you three sit somewhere else? I'm about to eat."
"That is quite enough Miss Rockwell. Miss Blackwell, kindly take this food to the young man upstairs," Iris said.
She placed a tray of food in Adhara's hands and placed her hand on Adhara's head. Her hand grew warm from a few seconds and then chilling before she took it off.
"You can pass through the barrier for only half an hour, make hast," Iris said. "Some dinner will be saved for you."
Adhara stood up and carried the tray back to the staircase. She carried the food up the three flights of stairs. As she neared the right tower room she felt her flesh starting to grow cool. She supposed this was the barrier and that under normal conditions she would be burning up in unbearable heat. She faced the door and gave it two kicks.
"Yes, oh it's you," he said opening the door. "Come in. I was worried that blond girl was going to bring dinner to me."
"That bitch? Nah, she wants to though," Adhara said stepping in and handing him the tray. "She's running around all over the house saying you like her though."
"Yeah right, she pretty but I look for more then looks when I want a girlfriend. I'm Asher," Asher said.
"I'm Adhara. So Asher, why are you in our house," Adhara asked sitting on one of the large beds.
"The houses only have twenty rooms in them and boys don't share rooms. They never had over twenty warlocks in the same year so when they had twenty one I was sent here," Asher explained.
Adhara watched him eat for a little while. She was very hungry; she hadn't eaten for nearly two days.
"What type of warlock are you," Adhara asked once he finished.
"I don't like the whole type thing but both of my parents were Ennerrian," Asher said with a hint of sadness. "Putting a type to go with what you are is wrong. I am a warlock and you are a witch, what the rest of our family was doesn't matter."
"Asher, are your parents.dead," Adhara asked.
"Yeah, they died years ago. I've been living with my godfather for as long as I can remember," Asher said quietly.
"I never knew my father if it helps. He left my mother after she was pregnant with me," Adhara said.
"Are your parents Ennerrians," Asher asked.
"No, my mother is an Alum. She's fascinated with magic and astronomy, she's an astronomer," Adhara said.
"Oh, judging by your name I thought you were an Ennerrian," Asher said.
"My half and hour is almost up. I'll see you around Asher," Adhara said picking up the empty tray and leaving the room.
Once the door closed she bolted to the staircase and down the three flights of stairs and back into the dinning room. Most of the students had left. The only ones that were there were Alexandria, Artemis, Rose, Lisa, Shia, Carman, Moriko, and Nicole.
"You're trying to steal my man from me now Blackwell," Alexandria snapped.
"You have no right you know. You're just an Alum witch," Carman said snottily.
"He doesn't like you. He also said that adding a type to what you are is stupid. It doesn't matter what your family was," Adhara said sitting down and grabbing the food nearest to her and eating.