Chapter 25

by Amanda Cast

Unfounded Fears

The next three weeks were a blur, a painful blur. It seemed that the more Pandora’s strength returned the more strength she had to be sick. The more she could do meant the more time spent with a bucket in the privy. It was a miserable time, but Serene was always there, cleaning up after her. The dragons helped in every way that they could, but Star and Rubio proved to be the most useful. They helped to break her fever. Emerald and Topaz would hold her down during violent bouts that she couldn’t remember.

She was better now. Still weak, but better.

She laid on the freshly changed sheets of her infirmary bed staring up at the ceiling. Serene had told her that Chloe was practically under arrest. She couldn’t leave her room. Topaz terrorized her when he was not helping wit Pandora’s care. Because of their help and good enough behavior they were given their necklaces back. All of them were much more pleasant for it.

“Hey, Amazon,” Greg said as he entered the room. It was empty but for the two of them. “How are you feeling?”

“Like I could eat real food,” she said with a small smile.

“Well, we’ll see what we can do,” he said and sat on the stool by the bed. “I’m glad to see you make it. I hope you don’t have a relapse, that would suck. On the bright side, I’ve been working on a vaccine with the more open minded people that live here. It’s going all right.”

“Oh? That’s good,” she said.

“I was also told to get you emotionally prepared for a hearing.”

“For what?”

Greg frowned and was quiet for a time before she shrugged. “You see, it’s about Chloe.” He looked over at the door anxiously. “They’re talking about keeping her here despite all of her antics.”

Pandora frowned. “Oh.”

“I think they want you dead. I think they might be pulling her strings.” He was quiet for a little bit, but at the same time it was not the silence that invited input. “I think they might want to kill me too. I might have run out of my usefulness to them.”

He looked desperately at Pandora. “What am I going to do?”

She frowned and shrugged. “I don’t know, Greg. I’m just kid myself.”

“We need to get out of here. All of us do. It isn’t safe.” He rubbed his hands together so hard it seemed as though he would chafe the skin off.

Pandora nodded. “I agree, but the hatchlings can’t survive such a journey. There is no way we could be clever enough to smuggle them out of the Empire. They’re dragons, after all.”

“What if—“

“We’re not leaving them,” she said tartly. “Don’t even consider it.”

He sighed. “I’m just worried,” he said softly. “I know I can tell you this, because well, we have the same enemy. I couldn’t tell Mack. He’d think I’m crazy.”

“I don’t know about that,” Pandora said. “He might believe you.”

“Oola might, but then she believes everything.” He turned on the stool so that he wasn’t facing Pandora. “I just think we should all make a break for it. I don’t know if you can last a year at this rate. I mean, look at you.”

She shrugged. “What am I supposed to do? All I can do is bide my time and hope.”

“That shouldn’t be all!” Greg said in a sudden explosion of frustration and anger. “You should be able to leave if you need to.”

“There is nowhere for me to go, Greg. There is nowhere for you to go either. We’re trapped and all we can hope is that our captor isn’t cruel.”

“They’ve been trying to kill you and Serene if you haven’t noticed,” he said bitingly.

Pandora rolled her eyes, an uncommon gesture born from frustration. “They might be trying to kill me. They won’t succeed.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I have plenty of people watching my back,” she said. “You will to if you stop being so paranoid. You have not out lived your use. I’m am obstacle. I can’t figure out why they haven’t killed me yet.”

Greg frowned. “I wonder why they haven’t been up front about it too,” he said quietly. “Why would they want you dead, but not just kill you? It can’t be because of the hatchlings. They give them freedoms because of you and Serene, bet you anything.”

“Could you pour me some water? I can’t quite maneuver the pitcher yet.”

“Yeah,” he said and reached over distractedly. “I guess I could ask Oola. She might know.”

Pandora nodded.

“Hey, Amazon,” he said tentatively, “Do you think they’ll ever let me leave here?”

“It’s not a matter of if they let you or not.” She paused and stared at him with a pensive expression. “It’s a matter of when you’ll escape.”

“So you think I’m not entirely paranoid?”

“Oh, you’re paranoid. I didn’t say you were wrong in your paranoia. Just, not everyone is out to get you.”

Greg nodded. “Yeah, yeah, you’re probably right. You gave me a lot to think about.” He gave her a covert look. “You’re very good at that. Making people think.”

She gave him a tiny smile. “I guess I can be.”

“Oh, you are,” he said. “Look, we’ve got to get out. Just please think of a way that might be possible. Please, Amazon.”

“I’ll try, but I don’t see how it will be possible.”

~*~

“Chloe simply needs some treatment and she’ll be fine to continue her schooling,” one of the master mages said to the Arch Mage.

“That is absurd,” another said. “She tried to kill two of the students even after one of them nearly died to save her life.”

“We’ve no evidence that she almost died.”

Serene sat beside Pandora completely furious and fidgeting in her seat. Several things could be making Serene incredibly angry. One could be that the Arch Mage looked bored. He had already made his decision. This was just happening to say that it happened.

“Students died from the illness that she purposefully brought Pandora into contact with. She had to be physically pried away from her. Pandora was weak from what she had done to save Chloe’s life and then she purposefully inoculated her with that infection.”

“She survived. That matter is really moot.”

“Attempted murder is still attempted murder. We are simply lucky she did not succeed. She does not belong with our students. She is mentally deranged and should go elsewhere for psychiatric treatment. She does not belong in the Academy.”

Chloe glared at him with more intensity than she had ever glared at Serene. Her eyes and hair were their appropriate color, but she still had that same strange look to her. She looked as deranged as ever, only now Pandora could feel power seeping from her. It was just that though, seeping away.

The Arch Mage stood up suddenly and his robes flared out and settled around him. “Attempted murder is attempted murder. For months she has maligned the good names of mild mannered students who did nothing to defend themselves against her. Now she has attempted to murder two students that she hardly knew at all out of jealousy. One such as she does not belong in our school. She could succeed, if not against Pandora and Serene, then against another student who is less resilient.” He gave her a stern look that she shrunk under. “You will be sent home today. You have an hour to pack and then you are gone.”

“No!” Chloe cried out in anguish. “This place is everything to me!”

“You should have thought about that before you acted,” he said and waved his hand. “This matter is over. Pandora, Serene, you will come with me. There are matters we must discuss.”

Pandora frowned and sighed. Sitting and listening on the uncomfortable benches tired her out more than she realized. The prospect of dealing with the Arch Mage under such circumstances was what made her realize how bone weary she really was.

Greg and Serene helped her up, but they left Greg standing in an isle watching after them forlornly. Pandora afforded him a smile over her shoulder. As her muscles loosened from the time on the bench she began to walk with more grace, but she was still fatigued.

The Arch Mage waited for them and when they were a comfortable distance away he turned and stepped through a mirror behind the podium. They stepped in after him into a room of decadence and magical objects. Some of them had the feel of permanent enchantments and some had the feel of temporary. They floated and moved over tables or were locked away behind panes of enchanted glass.

He motioned for them to continue following. They went into a smaller, darker room that was decorated with one mirror. It was a magic mirror that made the traveling mirrors of the Academy look like apprentice work. Pandora had no real understanding of the enchantments, but she could tell it was overly complicated.

“This is very important,” he said. “I heard from Greg what the healers did—or rather, didn’t do.”

Pandora and Serene frowned and shifted uncomfortably.

“Can Pandora have a chair? She is still weak from the illness,” Serene said, changing the subject. It was a touchy and uncomfortable matter filled with suspicion and anger.

“Certainly,” he said and motioned to a chair. It slid across the floor to Pandora. She situated it and sat down. “Needless to say,” he said. “The Emperor has asked me to arrange a meeting between you two and him. He has questions and a request to make of you.”

<First><Chapter 24><Chapter 26><Latest>

Chapter 24

by Amanda Cast

Madness

Pandora ended up alone the next day. The food and rest gave her back some strength, but she hardly felt normal. Her movements still felt clumsy and weak. Her legs were too shaky for her to do more than take a few steps before she had to lay down again. At lunch she could feed herself, but it was slow and tired her out. Only Serene and the hatchlings were permitted to visit her now that she was awake. They were afraid that others might tire her out too much.

Pandora was glad that she did not easily get bored.

No one talked to her. No one asked her questions, and for a while it encouraged her to stay silent and enjoy the peace. Her mind had not let her be when she was sleeping. Now her mind was quiet, almost as though it was at peace. She couldn’t bring herself to think about the things it said. The debate on whether or not to tell Serene lasted only a short time in her head before tiring of the subject.

Mostly, Pandora ate, slept, and took a few steps for exercising when she felt strong enough to do it.

Her peace was short lived the next day. She woke to the sound of her door opening and closing. She expected to see Serene, but it was Chloe who was standing there. She was dressed in the robes of the infirmed and in the dim morning light that came from the window she looked haggard and worn. She was sick.

She giggled insanely and then coughed. She coughed so hard that she fell to her knees. It sobered her up a little, but she still had a crazy look in her eyes. “I never felt better after they let me loose,” she told Pandora in a hushed, strained voice. “I felt like I had power. My enchantments lasted twice as long, but I still got sick. Humans still get sick.”

Pandora stared at her, waiting.

“I bet you’re thinking I should thank you,” she said with a twisted grin. “You think I should tell you how grateful I am that you saved me. How much I’ve changed.” She edged closer, but Pandora called out, knowing what was to come and that she had on strength to fight her off.

Chloe flew at her, reaching for her face with her hands. Most specifically she was going for Pandora’s nose. Pandora batted her hands away feebly. Chloe felt strong, much stronger than Serene had. Chloe got passed her defenses through sheer power. Pandora knew all the moves, but not the physical ability to make them work. Everything was sluggish. Before Pandora knew it Chloe’s fingers were hooked up her nose and then torn away.

“You’re a damn crazy bitch!” a familiar, masculine voice said and then there was the sound of a fist contacting of flesh. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

Chloe screamed out angrily and Pandora slowly rolled over to see what was happening. Greg was straddling Chloe and trying to keep her hands locked. It was reassuring to know that Chloe did not have Pandora’s strength and cunning.

Others came and restrained Chloe with spells. “What are you doing?” one of the healers asked. “You should be in bed.”

“Nothing!” Chloe said. “I just came here to thank Pandora for saving my life and then he attacked me. I didn’t do anything.”

“That’s a lie!” Greg shouted angrily. “She was infecting Pandora. Pandora is too weak to handle the illness. She could die.”

None of the healers looked particularly stricken by this knowledge. One of them frowned at Chloe and then gripped her and pulled her out of the room.

“Well, if she is a lost cause then we might as well let her die in peace,” he said and reached for Greg’s arm.

Greg pulled away and took a step back. “What the fuck is wrong with you people? She’s a little girl, for Christ’s sake. You’re just going to let her fucking die? What the hell? She doesn’t deserve that. If she dies I’ll make sure every last one of you mother fuckers dies too.”

“That is not a nice thing to say,” one of the healers said reproachfully.

“I don’t give a flying fuck if it’s not nice,” he said and picked up a decorative vase and threw it at him. “That crazy fucking bitch is trying to kill her and her cousin and all you can fucking say is she’s a lost cause and can die in peace? The hell? You assholes are freaks, fucking heartless freaks.”

“There is no need to use that language in front of a child,” the healer said tersely.

“The fuck I care,” he said. “Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck,” he shouted. “You can go fuck yourselves. I’m not fucking listening to this bullshit. I’m going to take care of her myself. The others who don’t catch the flu know what to do. I don’t have time anymore if I’m going to make sure she survives.”

The healers frowned and glared at him. “Fine, if that is your wish.” The healers turned and walked out.

Greg turned and looked at Pandora apologetically. “I’m sorry I didn’t get here sooner. What is wrong with these people?”

Pandora gave a weak shrug. Her mouth was heavy and incapable of movement. She couldn’t talk. She didn’t have the strength.

“I’m going to see if I can get a hold of Serene. You’re going to have a constant guard here if it’s the last thing I do. No one is going to in here and harm you.” He walked over and reached out as if to touch her. He thought better of it and pulled his hand back. He turned and started to leave. “Hey, Pandora,” he said softly, “Could I call you Amazon?”

Pandora stared at him for a moment as her mind worked out why he would want to call her that. When it struck her that it was part of their ill fated dinner conversation she gave a weak, short laugh and then nodded.

“Thanks,” he said and left her, closing the door behind him.

~*~

“Hell,” Greg said as he touched her forehead. “It’s already pretty hot. I don’t have a thermometer. I’ve no idea how bad it really is.” He frowned. “I’m too young to have to worry about this. People have to go to school for this.”

“Didn’t you go to school?” Serene asked, worried.

“Of course I did, you twit,” he said fercely.

“Don’t call Momma a twit,” Rubio said warningly. Heat radiated off of his body.

“Whatever,” he mumbled. “Hey, can any of you conjure up some water?” he asked and looked at the tub he had managed to talk someone into bringing up. Well, threaten was more the word.

Serene frowned. “Calling elements was never quite my strong suit.”

He frowned. “Well, I can’t do it. What about you three?”

The hatchlings shook their heads.

“You do ice, right, Star?” Greg asked.

Star nodded. “I do.”

“Well, ice is just frozen water. You think you could freeze the water in the air over the tub? Then Rubio here could eat it back up to proper temp?”

“Well, I don’t know how much they can control their powers, Greg. It’s a good idea…”

Greg frowned at her and then closed his eyes, trying to compose himself. “Look, your cousin’s life is on the line here. Could you just ask them already?”

“Fine,” Serene said. “They can try it, but if it fails this is on you. Not them. They’re only a week old, after all.”

“I have faith in them,” Greg said.

Pandora smiled weakly. She was feeling tired and nauseous. Every few moments she would sip some broth. It made her stomach roil and knot up, but so far she had managed to keep it all down. Slow and easy does it.

Star preened. “Well, if you think I can do it, Greg,” she crooned, “I’ll try.”

“Good,” he said with a grin and stood back. Rubio concentrated and the air around Pandora became warmer than it had been.

Star nodded to Rubio with approval and then stared hard at the area right above the tub. Slowly, but surely, ice crystals began to form and fall. It seemed to take forever, but eventually the tub was over flowing and the air felt unbearably dry.

<First><Chapter 23><Chapter 25><Latest>

Chapter 21

by Amanda Cast

Mental Instabilities

The sun was warm and pleasant on Pandora’s skin. She was laying in the grass with Topaz curled up against her side. He was wearing his gold chain around his neck and she was toying with it idly. He was humming a song, soft and sweet. It sounded like Oola’s song. She could hear Oola’s voice.

She heard knocking and went to open the door. It was Oola, but she was still knocking on the door. Pandora frowned and told her to stop, but the knocking got louder and more obnoxious. Finally she woke up.

“Who is that the door?” Serene groaned and rolled over.

Pandora slid out of the bed and the cold floor was a shock after the dream of sunshine and warmth. The knocking was still happening. Before bed Serene finally pointed out the time piece on the wall. She looked at it now. It was half passed three in the morning.

Pandora opened the door and saw Chloe standing there. She rubbed some of the sleep out of her eyes and frowned. “What do you want Chloe?”

“I had to tell you something,” she said in an almost maniacal voice.

“What can’t wait until breakfast?” Pandora asked.

Chloe’s eyes were freshly enchanted. Pandora could tell because they shined with extra magic. It reached out at Pandora with sticky fingers. She wanted to brush it away but had no idea how to. Her hair was green this morning.

“I had to tell you. I had to tell you!” she said and laughed loudly.

Pandora sighed. If Chloe decided to go crazy and attack her it was better done without the hatchlings getting involved. She stepped outside and shut the door behind her. “Don’t wake the hatchlings.”

“Like I care about your stupid little hatchling shits,” she jeered and then laughed more. She almost collapsed. Pandora reached to steady her instinctively but Chloe stumbled back and swatted her hands away. “I don’t need you.”

“Is that all you wanted to say?” Pandora asked.

“No!” Chloe said and licked her lips. They were pale, almost white. Skin was flaking off of them.

“Then hurry up and say it,” Pandora ordered.

“Fuck you,” she said and reached up and tangled her fingers into her hair. “Fuck you, fuck you.”

“You shouldn’t be saying that,” Pandora said crossly. “It’s rude. It’s rude to do this anyway. Say what you want to say or go back to bed.”

“You’re not better than me, Pandora. I just want you to know that. You’ll never be better than me.” She cackled and tugged at her hair.

“Why are you acting like this? Stop it.”

“I’m going to kill her. I’m going to kill her! I’m going to kill that filthy half-breed cousin of yours.”

“Stop talking crazy,” Pandora ordered. The magic was making her uncomfortable. It was reaching and pulling and pushing. It made her whole insides feel gross. It was as if something was crawling inside of her flesh.

“I’ve never been more sane,” she said. “Never, never.”

Pandora contemplated slapping the insane girl. “Look, I don’t care about your mental instabilities, Chloe. If you attack Serene or try and harm her in anyway—I’ll harm you. Count on that.” Pandora rotated her body so that she could wave her hand in front of the door, but so that her back wouldn’t be to Chloe. “Go back to bed.”

“I never went to bed,” she said. “I never went.”

“Whatever,” Pandora said and stepped back into her room and closed the door. She wanted to slam it, but knew that it would disturb the hatchlings and Serene. They did not need to know what she had just witnessed. It would just rile everyone up and make them act crazy.

She whispered to the door that they did not want to be disturbed just in case Chloe decided to abuse the door some more and then went back to bed. She could not fall back asleep though. There was no escape back into the world of sunshine, green grass, and behaving hatchlings with gold collars.

It felt like an eternity that Pandora lay there thinking about what could be and what might happen. She did not like the thought that Chloe would try and kill her cousin. She imagined the many ways she could hurt Chloe and the many ways she could neutralize her without bringing much harm to her.

The feeling of magic still stuck to her. Her uncle’s magic never felt like this.

“So what was that all about?” Serene asked when they were waiting for the hatchlings to finish with the privy.

Pandora shrugged. “It was just Chloe being crazy. I don’t think it’s anything to worry about.”

“You don’t?” Serene asked skeptically.

“I’m going to go talk to one of the healers about her. I think something is wrong with her.” Pandora became very interested in the dirt under her nails. “Other than that it’s nothing to worry about.” I hope.

“Well, if you say so,” Serene said as though she had heard Pandora’s thoughts. “What are your plans for the day?”

“I have a lot of classes today. I have to go to alchemy. That should be fun.” Pandora finished with her nails.

“Oh, I have alchemy too. What time is your class?”

Pandora bit her lip and tried to remember. “One.”

Serene’s face drooped. “Oh.”

“What time is yours?” Pandora asked because it seemed appropriate.

“I’m at noon. Terabeth has that class though, I think. You two might be able to get to know each other better,” she said, hopeful once more.

Pandora shifted uncomfortably. “I don’t know. Anyway, I think the hatchlings are ready. We’d better go before they start tearing more stuff up.”

“They are quiet this morning aren’t they?”

“That crazy lady disturbed us,” Rubio said grumpily.

“Yes! How rude!” Star said with a delicate sniff. Pandora had no idea where she learned about sniffing like that, but it was starting to become less amusing.

Emerald tentatively rubbed her cheek against Pandora’s calf. Pandora kneeled down and stroked along her neck before rubbing her eyes and then the group filed out of the room and into the hallway.

“What was that?” Serene asked and started rubbing down her arms and trying to get something imaginary off of her hands.

“I don’t know… what does it feel like?”

“It feels icky and sticky. It’s almost like spider’s webs but they’re trying to get inside me.” She made a face and started scratching at her neck.

“I know that feeling,” Pandora said. “I get that feeling when mages are probing me.”

“You too? It’s vile, isn’t it? That never happened with Daddy.”

“Maybe it’s because they’re so intrusive and unfeeling,” Pandora offered. “What your father did was out of love and there was never much to worry about. The only time I felt that way was with the barriers.”

“I’ve never tried walking through one.”

“You?” Pandora asked. “That’s strange.”

Serene grinned at her cousin and they stepped through the mirrors.

“I almost got tired of waiting,” a voice said ominously. Pandora couldn’t recognize it. She turned her head and saw Chloe standing there with her arms and lips moving. A sphere of black and red flew out of her hands and struck Serene in the chest. Pandora turned to her cousin in an attempt to protect her from another sphere. She was clutching at her chest and looked stricken.

Topaz barreled passed Pandora straight for Chloe with a roar that shook the mirrors.

“Stop him,” Serene pleaded. “I’m fine.”

Pandora turned and saw that Topaz was suspended over Chloe, but he was clawing and biting at the shield she created in front of her herself. Before Pandora could tell him to back down he made contact. Her soft human skin was no match for his ripping claws. Her arms were torn and shredded from trying to protect her neck from his searching mouth.

“Stop it, Topaz,” she ordered, but he ignored her. She ran toward him as fast as she could. Hoping that she would have the momentum to make him move she tackled him off of Chloe. They flew through the air for a distance and slid even longer along the cobblestone style floor.

Topaz struggled to get back to the bleeding heap that was Chloe, but Pandora gripped him around the middle as tightly as she could and threw him farther away. She heard something crack and Topaz cry out in pain. The other dragons were making a protective circle around Serene. She had firm control over their actions, but her efforts couldn’t be diverted.

Pandora ran over and threw herself down to Chloe’s side. “Chloe,” she said firmly, “Look at me Chloe.” The enchantments on her eyes were fading back into her body. She looked frightened. “Look at me,” she said again and took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

I don’t know what I’m doing, she thought and then focused all of her energy into Chloe. She imagined muscle and flesh rejoining. Heal, she pleaded. Heal. She felt her strength leaving out of her finger tips. She opened her eyes and started to push the tattered skin and muscle back together. Her fingers were slick and wet with blood.

Chloe had no strength to cry out in pain with. She just winced weakly and her head rolled as if she were about to pass out. Pandora used some of her energy to keep her away. She was afraid that if Chloe slept she would not wake up.

“Heal,” she said out loud and forced out the energy with a mental push. She watched as the muscle and tendons started to meld back together. She hoped that the organs resituated themselves correctly.

Her strength was slipping and she could no longer focus any of her energy on keeping Chloe awake. She slapped Chloe across the face with decent enough strength, but it felt weak and unfelt. “Stay awake,” she ordered.

She heard something beating around her. She looked up and saw Topaz clawing at something invisible around her with yellow eyes and bare, bloody teeth. His right wing was hanging limply. Pandora frowned and collapsed in Chloe’s blood. “Don’t die,” she ordered before her eyes closed.

<First><Chapter 20><Chapter 22><Latest>

Chapter 18

by Amanda Cast

Chloe and Oola

Pandora took a shower after oiling the hatchlings. She felt much better. Her lung still had the burning sensation of being healthily worked and her skin was clean. Her muscles were loose and ready for anything. She gave each hatchling a kiss on the head before she left the room to go to lunch. She didn’t have much time left.

“Pandora.”

Pandora turned to the sound of the voice and saw Chloe. “Hello, Chloe,” she said mildly.

Chloe stared at Pandora for a long moment and jerked her leg uncertainly. “How are you related to that half elf?”

“Our mothers were sisters,” she said, purposefully ignoring the pointed comment about her cousin.

“I see she’s abandoning you for those bitches.”

“I wouldn’t call them that. Retarji seems nice enough. Maybe not brilliant, but she seems nice enough. Look, I need to go down and eat.” Pandora turned away from Chloe, but she wasn’t done yet.

“What are you going to do if she likes them more than she likes you?” she asked.

Pandora turned and stared at her. “You’re a very sad girl, Chloe. I feel sorry for you.” She stepped through the mirror.

Chloe followed after her. “I was Terabeth’s roommate once, you know. She abandoned me for them.”

“Who is the ‘them’?” Pandora asked. “They’re a group of friends. That’s that.”

“It’s more than that,” Chloe insisted. “They’re the prettiest girls in the class. They’re the smartest or at least get the most help. They rule everything. They’re all little pretty rich girls.”

“Then it might be good for Serene. She’s pretty, smart, and rich,” Pandora said without ire. “Those are things in common that I cannot give her.”

“How can you be so calm?” Chloe screeched. “She’s going to abandon you!”

“No, she won’t. She can’t. We’re bound together by destiny. She might be friends with them and do things without me, but that’s just fine. I’ll do things without her too. She loves magic and I love fighting with fists, wood and steel. We’re incredibly different, she and I.” Pandora sighed. “She’s my cousin and my only friend. I’ve gone most of my life without a friend and if she doesn’t want to spend time with me, that’s fine too.”

Chloe looked near to tears. Her enchanted black eyes were watery. Pandora gave a heavy sigh. “Tell me about it while I eat. I’m ravenous.”

“All right,” she agreed.

When they were seated in a secluded area of the dining hall and Pandora’s plate was sufficiently full Chloe was given a silent go ahead.

The girl took a deep breath. “Terabeth and I were friends since we were five. We both wanted to go to the Academy. We both knew that we had the power. I was a plain little girl and she was so pretty. I adored her and she loved me for it, I think. Anyway, she was the only real friend I had.” She gave a longing sigh. “Now she won’t talk to me anymore. She met… she met Britlyn and Jankyla and forgot about me. They didn’t want me around because I was plain.”

“Were you doing that thing with your eyes and hair?” Pandora asked.

“Well, after a while. I thought it looked neat and it was good practice for illusions. That’s what I’m going to be mastering in.”

“Well, it looks weird. It might have creeped them out,” Pandora supplied.

Chloe’s expression was one of shocked hurt, but Pandora was not apologetic. “They didn’t want me around before that. You know they don’t want you around either.”

“Serene does not love me because I love her Chloe. We’re family and friends, but mostly family first. Please, don’t worry so much. It isn’t all bad. I promise. So Terabeth decided that she didn’t need you. One day she’ll probably realize what kind of people she’s with now and want you back. Now, you have to decide if you’ll take her back. Stop worrying about things you can’t control. If you’re going to be bitter about it you’re never going to make friends.”

Chloe frowned. “I have friends.”

“Then why are you so hung up on Terabeth?” Pandora was irritated because she had to do a lot more talking than she liked.

“Because she hurt me!”

“Forgive and forget, Chloe. It isn’t for her. It’s for your sanity and piece of mind. You can’t go along hating someone just because they grew up and changed too much for you. You’ve probably changed a lot as well—or were you always this bitter and hostile to innocent people. Serene has done nothing but been accepted for what she is. Do you know how hard that is for a half breed? My mother called her filth and wouldn’t let her in her home. Her own niece, Chloe. I’m a bit of a freak myself, but at least I’m completely human.”

Pandora set down her fork and folded her hands in front of her and leaned in closer to Chloe. “You go out of your way to look different and be different. Serene and I are different. We’re set apart. I’m unnatural in my strength, speed, and agility. Serene is a half breed who, I am certain, will prove to be a more powerful mage than many of our teachers. We take care of four dragon hatchlings. We speak Draconic in a way that no humanoid mouth should be able to speak it. We are not accepted often. You have not accepted us. You were cold and rude when you could have been kind and generous.” Pandora leaned back.

Chloe had the good grace to look abashed.

“You want me to listen to your warnings? I listened. I feel for your loss in the best way that I can, but you have friends. Enjoy them and cherish them. Do not let your jealousy destroy you.”

“This isn’t how this conversation was supposed to happen,” Chloe told her. “I had it all planned out.”

“I’m not a normal human girl Chloe.”

“I can see that,” she snapped and then looked away. Her enchantments were starting to fade. Her eyes were the same boring brown as Pandora’s and her hair the same boring brown as well. Pandora could almost see why she wanted to stand out so much. It wouldn’t be boring if so many people didn’t have the coloring.

“If you don’t want me to reach out to you and be your friend than I’ll just leave,” she said and stood up so fast the bench rocked backwards. “You can eat alone and be alone all your life.”

“Oh, I’ll never be alone ever again,” Pandora said. “I am a mother of children whose childhood will outlast my life.”

Chloe looked as though she was about to explode and then she stormed out of the dining hall. Many of the students stared hard at Pandora’s back. She simply picked her fork back up and started eating leisurely.

When the meal was over Pandora decided to explore the campus. She entered a random mirror and heard music. It was a chaotic jumble of notes and clashing rhythms. It was almost enough to make Pandora go back into the mirror, but then she heard a voice that rose above the rest of the noise.

It was clear and solid, but it could be off pitch and Pandora would never know. She had no ear for music or at least making it. She edged down the hall, peering into the clear squares that revealed the contents of each room. Only a few of them were empty. Most of them were filled with blue robed students playing stringed instruments. Some of them looked as though they were singing.

She focused on the one voice and attempted to block out the other noise. She found it in the third door from the end. The wide room contained a girl with shortly cropped brown hair that was streaked with blond. She had a dull tan that was lined with thin white scars. Her eyes were shut, but her mouth was open wide. Pandora had never seen such a large mouth on a human before.

Pandora stood there, staring rudely into the window. She focused entirely on the sound of the girl’s voice. It captivated her and when the song ended she was rooted in place. She simply stared until the girl’s eyes opened. It felt as though something hit in between the eyes. She blinked and took a step back. The girl looked shocked to have a listener.

Pandora turned on the ball of her foot and started to hurry away. The door flew open. ‘No, don’t go!” the girl said in a desperate voice.

Pandora stopped and turned to look at her. She was terribly embarrassed. It was not a common thing for Pandora to be embarrassed. “I’m sorry I was spying on you.”

“It’s all right. Come inside, please,” she said holding the door open.

“I don’t know,” Pandora said as she twitched between obeying and fleeing. She obeyed. She walked into the room and noticed a stool by the door just out of the window’s sight. She claimed it and sat down.

“Um… wow… this is much more awkward than I thought it might be,” the singer said with a laugh. She had perfectly white and straight teeth.

“I guess,” Pandora said. “I liked your singing, but I couldn’t understand the words.”

“Oh!” she exclaimed and blushed. “It’s an ancient song from before the Empire.”

“Oh,” Pandora sounded. “I’m Pandora.”

The girl let out a loud, nervous laugh. “I’m Oola,” she said.

“That is an interesting name.”

“How familiar are you with the outside world?” she asked.

Pandora frowned. “Not much, really. I know a little about the elves and considerably more about dragons, but I don’t know much about other human cultures.”

Oola clapped her hands together. “So you’re not biased against us. That is wonderful!” Her expression went from radiant to wary faster than a blink of an eye. “You’re not biased right?”

“I don’t know. I guess not.”

“I mean, you think of dragons as people right?”

Pandora nodded. “Very interesting people, but people.”

Oola laughed. “I know a dragon! He sings beautifully. When I was a girl he taught me how to gather power through singing. I can cast spells with my singing too. That’s why I take music classes.”

Pandora shifted uneasily. “Is that what you were doing? Casting a spell?”

Oola nodded. “I was. Well, it was more like gathering power or energy to cast spells. It is something that I have to do after all of my subtle casting classes. When I don’t cast a spell with my singing I have a lot of difficulty.”

“Oh.”

“Well, anyway, usually people don’t notice it all that much. I mean, I was singing loudly, but I’ve never seen anyone respond like you did.” Oola gave her an eager smile. “Do you think I really sing that well?”

Pandora nodded.

“Thank you.” Oola gave her a bright smile. “Have you ever heard a foreign language before?” she asked.

“You were singing one.”

“I mean, other than that.”

Pandora thought of this for a moment. “Well, not as such, no,” she said honestly. “I am bilingual though.”

“Really? I can speak my native tongue of Joolinian, Imperial, and some Draconic,” she said proudly.

“I can only speak draconic and Imperial,” Pandora admitted.

Oola said something in draconic that Pandora could not quite understand. Pandora shook her head and said in Draconic, “I do not speak as mages speak. I speak as a dragon.”

“Oh,” she said with an appreciative nod. “You speak in music.”

“I… don’t understand.”

“That’s what we said about the Speakers. They speak Draconic even more beautifully than dragons do. That’s what Kilooli always said. I never thought I would get to hear it. You sound more beautiful than any song.” Ooli smiled brightly at her. “I miss Kilooli. He was so wise, but he will be there when I go back home. He will always be there.”

“Why does Kilooli live with your people?”

“He likes it with us,” Oola said wistful smile. “He does not like living with the dragons. They are always fighting with one another. They fight more with each other than they ever did with mankind. It is sad, really.”

“I can imagine.”

Oola gave a somber nod.

“I tend to four dragons,” she told Oola. “Perhaps you would like to meet them sometime. They are very small right now and cannot yet take their secondary form.”

“Oh, I would love that. What are their names?”

Pandora was not certain if she wanted to say, but after some thought she said, “Emerald, Topaz, Star, and Rubio.”

Oola seemed disappointed. “How did they get their names?”

“By the color of their shells,” Pandora admitted. “They look just like them.”

“You had their eggs?” Oola asked, utterly amazed.

Pandora nodded.

“That is amazing. Hey, Pandora, what year are you?”

“Oh, this is technically my first year, but I’m living with the third years since that’s my age group.”

“Oh, nice,” she said approvingly. “I’m year four, but hey, you can always come eat meals with me if you see me, all right?”

“All right.”

She pulled back her blue robe and looked at a time piece on her arm. “Well, I have got to be going.”

“What time is it?”

“It is about two.”

Pandora felt a sudden wave of dread. “I have to go.” She threw the door open and fled down the hallway, straight for her room.

<First><Chapter 17><Chapter 19><Latest>

Chapter 15

by Amanda Cast

Power and Looks

The morning left a bitter taste in Pandora’s mouth. She woke up to Topaz butting her in the side with his head and begging to be taken down to breakfast. The other three waited sheepishly behind them.

Pandora rolled out of bed and pulled on whatever she pulled out first. She and Serene had not bothered to unpack the night before. They did no have time to unpack now either. Perhaps on the weekend when classes were out for rest and catch up they could catch up on their housekeeping.

“Serene, get up,” Pandora said and nudged her. “It’s time to feed the hatchlings.

Serene blinked at her cousin slowly when she managed to pull her mind from its slumber. Not a moment later she sprung straight up looking around in a panic. “Oh shells and scales,” she cried. “I forgot where we were.”

“You’ll get used to it.”

“I’d rather go home,” she said stubbornly, but got dressed anyway. Her face was drawn tightly. “What time is it?”

“Probably five,” Pandora said after a quick glance out of the window.

“That’s early.”

“Well, they weren’t fed enough yesterday. They probably want to get a head start today.”

Serene sighed and pulled on her shoes.

“Momma, aren’t you hungry?”

“Well, I guess I am a little, but I have to eat breakfast with everyone else.”

“Why can’t we eat breakfast with everyone else?”

“Well, you demand a different diet,” Serene said and patted Topaz on the head. “When you get your humanoid form I guess you can join us, but until then you worry people a bit too much.”

“Why?” Emerald asked quietly.

“Well, people don’t really know much about dragons,” Serene explained. “Anyway, look at you. You all must have grown three feet last night.” She sighed. “Well, lets get you fed and oiled. Then Pandora and I have to take showers, go to breakfast, and see our councilors.” She rolled her eyes.

Pandora shrugged. “Then we have to feed and oil you again.”

“I wonder if we can work our schedules around your needs,” Serene mused idly as they left the room.

“I need to use the privy,” Star said.

“Me too,” Emerald agreed.

“And so do I,” Pandora said thoughtfully. “All right, everyone back in.”

They all took turns using the privy and then were outside again.

Down in the kitchen it was much the same story as the day before. Pandora entered first, leading the dragons in tow. They still had plenty of room between them and the door, but they were too large for Pandora and Serene to carry two at a time. Everyone had to walk now. It made Pandora a little sad. She had enjoyed holding them. The time was too short.

“Hello, Pandora,” a boy said at her elbow. He was four years younger than Serene and Pandora and a half-breed. He was half elf, but he was an Underdark elf. Pandora was not entirely certain of his parental history, but she knew that he had bad light sight and tended to stay in the darker lit places in the kitchen.

“Hello, Raoul,” Pandora said kindly and patted his silvery white hair.

“I’ve been put in charge of making sure the dragons have enough food,” he said brightly. For such a dark creature he sounded strangely of sunshine and fresh air.

“So is it ready?” Rubio asked and rubbed against the boy’s leg like a cat.

“Oh, yes,” he said and rubbed along Rubio’s long, slender neck.

“Delightful!” Star said and leapt forward.

Rubio, not to be outdone, ran after her. Topaz stayed back and close to Serene who was getting uncertain looks from the cooks. His milky green eyes swirled and changed into brown.

Emerald nudged Raoul’s hand. “Why does one like you work in the kitchens?” she asked.

“What do you mean?” Raoul asked with a wide, kind smile.

“I feel… something deep inside of you…it is hidden, but it is power.” Her sides swelled as she breathed his scent in deeply. “You belong in class. Not in kitchens.”

“Do you think so?” he asked.

She nodded her head much as Pandora and Serene would. “Momma can help you learn some magic so that you can be noticed. You do not belong in kitchens.”

“My mother says that my father’s people are warriors, and she’s no mage.”

“Even those of the UD use magic,” Serene said, “And if Emerald thinks you have what it takes, I’ll help you learn some in exchange for your help. The others look terrified of them.”

“Oh, I don’t know. I guess I can see why. Dragons are so powerful and…and…just…wow. I mean… Dragons are awesome. It’s too much for some people.” He grinned at them. His teeth were bleached white behind his charcoal gray lips.

Emerald preened. “Well, that is true. We are powerful and they should fear us and our Mother and Momma. They’re powerful too. I can feel it all the time. I can feel them.”

“Really?” Serene asked, shocked.

“I could feel you from the moment I existed. It bound us together and we could feel your feelings and understand your words. We’ve always been aware of you.”

“It is true,” Topaz agreed.

“EEEEEE Someone control these beasts.”

Pandora broke from the other four to go see what Star and Rubio were up to. When she saw them they had knocked over many bowls and were cowering as one of the cooks struck at them with a broom handle. “That’s enough,” Pandora said and walked over to the cook. She deftly grabbed hold of the broom and wrenched it out of the woman’s hands and whapped her against the head. “You will not strike them again. Next time they may attack you.”

The two hatchlings crawled on their bellies behind Pandora. The cook’s mouth was gaped open as she stared at the twelve year old girl brandishing her broom like a weapon. The woman worked her mouth silently and then shrieked, “Get them out of my kitchen!”

Pandora frowned. “You had better be glad I am a temperate creature, Madam, or I would have hit you again. They are welcomed here by your masters. You will be gracious to them and to us.”

The woman sputtered. “This is inexcusable!”

“But it will be excused.”

“Well, be quick about feeding them. There will be different arrangements from now on. Mark my words.”

“Certainly, Madam,” Pandora said without her usual mildness.

The cook turned on her heal and stalked off. “You’ll be cleaning this up, Raoul.”

“You just have to ruin everything,” Emerald told Star and Rubio bitingly. “Now the poor boy has to clean up after you. You should be ashamed.”

Both of them had the good grace to look abashed. They shuffled from side to side with their bellies dragging the ground and their necks snaking over it in submission. “We didn’t mean to, honest.”

“I’m very ashamed of the two of you. You might look like a beast, but you’re not. Just because you don’t look like any of us means you get to act like a puppies.”

“We’re only three days old,” Rubio pointed out quietly.

“I don’t care. Toddlers act like fools because they don’t know any better or their parents let them get away with it. We will not let you get away with it, “Serene told him. “Now, the two of you will behave or else. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Momma.”

“Good,” she said. “Raoul, would you be so kind as to get their food? Pandora and I will start cleaning up the dishes.”

Raoul nodded and hurried to do as he was bid.

Topaz and Emerald gave Rubio and Star the cold shoulder while they ate. Rubio and Star could hardly eat they were so upset about how everyone responded to their antics. They glanced at Pandora frequently to see if their protector would give them any comfort, but she was just as annoyed with them as Serene was.

When they were finished with their meals everyone was told to be polite and thank Raoul for his kindness and Star and Rubio apologized rather grudgingly to the cook for their actions and the cook, after a stern eye and a meaningful sway of a broom apologized to them for over reacting.

With everything finished the girls led the hatchlings back to the rooms and oiled them thoroughly. They then took turns showering and putting the hatchlings back to bed. With a promise that they would be back as soon as they could they left the room. Others were leaving their rooms as well. Chloe was among them and gave Serene an ugly look before vanishing into the mirror.

“Hi,” one of the girls said with a shy smile. She was tiny and lithe; much like Serene, but her hair was a burnished brown. She had golden eyes and her skin was covered in freckles. “I’m Terabeth,” she said. “I live across the hall from you.”

“I’m Serene,” Serene said warmly, thankful for the positive attention. “This is my cousin Pandora.”

“You’re the Speakers,” she said, nodding.

“Yes, we are,” Pandora said because she felt she should say something.

‘That is so amazing. I wish I could talk to dragons,” she said.

“Oh, anyone can talk to dragons,” Serene said. “And dragons can talk to any body. They normally just don’t waste their time on people that don’t speak their language.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, they can be a bit elitist,” Serene explained, “But they can be fun too.”

“And childish,” Pandora added. “They send children to pass along insults.”

“Well, that too,” Serene said with a blush.

Terabeth giggled. “Would you two like to eat breakfast with us today? I saw you eating alone last night, and I would hate for you to think that we girls are inhospitable.”

“Oh, well, that would be nice,” Serene said. “Pandora isn’t much of a talker. She prefers to listen more than anything else.”

“Oh?” Terabeth said, glancing at Pandora. She gave her an awkward smile before turning back to Serene. “Why is that?”

“I don’t know. You’d have to ask her, but she can be damn… I mean… she can be quite scary when she needs to be, and I don’t even think she’s trying.” Serene said it with a hint of pride, but Terabeth seemed a bit unnerved.

“So what are a couple of Speakers like you doing in a place like this?” she asked.

Serene and Pandora shrunk, or at least it felt like that to Pandora. The cousins glanced at each other and then looked away from Terabeth. “We, um…”

“It was highly advised,” Pandora said simply.

“Yes, highly,” Serene agreed, unable to keep the bitterness out of her voice.

“Oh,” Terabeth said, ducking her head in embarrassment. Her teasing question had made the girls entirely too uncomfortable. “I didn’t mean…”

“No,” Serene said cutting her off. “It’s all right. It’s bound to be a question everyone is going to ask in the middle of a semester. What are two untrained girls doing here? Especially one with no apparent magical ability what so ever,” she said with an anxious glance to her cousin.

“You mean… she can’t… cast magic?”

“Um…she’s never tried. She’s unusually strong though… especially for a girl our age.”

“Oh wow,” Terabeth said with forced amazement.

Pandora was sorely tempted to just go and see if she could eat with Raoul. He was more appreciative of her company that Terabeth obviously was, and Pandora didn’t want Serene to go without new friends. Pandora knew that she was not the most entertaining of dinner companions.

“So, what kind of classes are you going to be taking?” Terabeth asked Serene when they approached the mirror.

Serene took the step through the mirror to think about this. “Well, I was thinking about taking… um… maybe some subtle casting classes, basic shields and barriers. That short of thing. What type of classes are you taking?”

“Oh, I’m taking enchanting. It is so fascinating, but no one can figure out how to make permanent enchantments that don’t need to be recharged all the time anymore. Isn’t it sad? I hope one day to crack that mystery.”

“That’s quite ambitious,” Serene said approvingly.

“Don’t you think so?” she said, her face flushed with the excitement. “I’m also taking Magic in History, Meditation, Basic Flames, and Spell Formulas.”

“What do you think you’ll take, Pandora?” she asked politely.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Pandora said. “I haven’t had much time to think about it.”

“I think you should take meditation. You seem like it would be an easy enough beginning for you, since you don’t have much experience and it isn’t hard to catch up in. Are you more of a fighting sort?”

“Yes.”

“There are fighting classes as well. They’re supposed to help build focus and to save your butt when your magic cannot help you. Don’t see the point really.”

“I’m sure there is more to it than that. Have you taken any of those classes?”

“Well, not yet, but we’re all required to take at least one before we can become journeymen.”

Pandora nodded. “I will take those as well.”

“I think you’ll do well,” Terabeth said and then returned her attention to Serene. “So you want to do shielding?”

“Well, it’s not something I’ve really tried, but my father does this really neat trick with a barrier. It is really amazing.”

“What does it do?”

“Well, when you hit it hard…” they stepped through the dining hall mirror, “It could possibly break your bones, but if you just casually saunter through it...well, you get the point.”

“That sounds complicated. I don’t know if many of our master mages can do that.”

“Well, he’s an elf and has lived a long time.”

“Really? Elves are so beautiful,” Terabeth said. “And so are you.”

Serene blushed. “Thank you,” she said. “You’re lovely yourself.”

Pandora rolled her eyes and sighed.

“Something wrong, Pandora?” Terabeth asked.

“No, nothing at all. I’m just hungry. I didn’t eat much last night.”

“Oh,” she said with a quiet giggle. “We sit over there,” she said pointing to a long table lined with benches. Before they sat down Terabeth introduced them. “Everybody, this is Serene and Pandora. Serene, Pandora, this is Jankyla, Retarji, and Britlyn,” she said.

Pandora noticed that all the girls were pretty, and all of them had different coloring. Where Terabeth had brown hair that looked as though the sun had highlighted it with red Jankyla had coppery red hair that was worn in loose, perfect curls. Pandora knew that she used magic to do her hair in the morning. Her rich brown eyes raked across Pandora in an almost insulted fashion and her lips twitched into a sneer that just couldn’t be repressed.

Retarji was the warmer of the three already seated. She gave Serene and Pandora both a warm greeting. She was more stately than the other girls. Her limbs were long and lanky, just waiting to be elegant and her face had the look of innocence itself. She kept her black hair pulled back in a high ponytail and her hazel eyes twinkled.

Britlyn looked tired and disinterred in her friends and breakfast, but she was still pretty with her green eyes and white blond hair. She struck Pandora as only part human.

“Were you up too late last night studying, Brit?” Terabeth asked reprovingly.

Brit, as she had been called, shrugged half heartedly. “I just didn’t sleep well. I kept tossing and turning. The mattress must be too lumpy or something.”

“Well, you sleep fine on it most nights,” Jankyla said as the new arrivals sat down. “It can’t be that bad.”

Brit shrugged again and yawned. “I just couldn’t sleep.”

Pandora decided that she would eat as quickly as possible or at least get away from the table as quickly as possible. She stopped listening to the girls and then girls did not pay any attention to her. Serene seemed to be having a good time and was the center of attention the entire time. Her name was mentioned once or twice, but it became clear to Pandora if no one else that she was not that important.

When she was finished she excused herself and left the table. She saw Chloe, glaring at her cousin when she left.

Pandora saw a journeyman and stopped him. “Excuse me. Could you tell me where the councilor is?”

“Oh, yes,” he said with a warm smile. “I could take you if you like.”

“That would be preferable,” Pandora said and the journeyman led her through a series of mirrors. “A person could get lost here.”

“That is true,” he agreed, “But the Academy was haphazardly built at best.”

“Oh,” Pandora sounded.

“So, you’re one of the Speakers, yes?”

“I suppose so.”

The journeyman chuckled. “Well, I never though I’d meet one. Anyway, I think that Master Gerald should be able to take care of you. Good day.”

Pandora waved him goodbye.

<First><Chapter 14><Chapter 16><Latest>

Chapter 14

by Amanda Cast


Between it all

The hatchlings were fed and oiled. Pandora had to tend to them all by herself. Before she left she had set up Serene by the window. It was a small arch window with a flat ceil. It would be hell to find curtains for. The stool that Serene was sitting on was pine—a cheep and light wood. It was stained a darker color than pine was ever supposed to be, but the weight and texture never lied. It was pine.

Serene was still sitting there. Her eyes gazing distantly into the sky. Pandora sighed and changed into clothes that were more adequate for being in a place like the Academy. Once she was in a green tunic and black trousers she felt much more comfortable. Serene had corrupted her after all.

“Serene?” she said quietly.

Serene continued to stare out. Her lips were dry and chapped.

“Serene,” she said more loudly.

Emerald opened her eyes in a cute, dazed sort of way. When she registered what was going on she laid her head back down onto the pillow and fell back to sleep.

“Get up,” she ordered firmly. “You need to eat. If you don’t eat you’ll die. Do you know what that means? You’ll never see Uncle Lindal ever again. You’ll never see your father ever again.”

Serene blinked and looked over at her cousin. The first tear since the first thirty minutes of their long, drawn out coach ride welled up in her eyes and then slid down her pale, blotchy cheek. “I miss him!”

“I know you do, Serene, but we have things we have to do—such as eat. Change into something you’ll feel more comfortable in and we can go.”

Serene nodded and got to her feet shakily. She swayed and caught herself on the window sill. “I feel weak.”

“That’s because you haven’t eaten all day. Please, be my cheerful and witty cousin again, Serene. I don’t like seeing you like this.”

Serene sniffed. “I don’t like being like this. I’ve never been away from Daddy for so long. I mean, yeah, this long, but not… not this long. Not as long as they’re threatening.”

“I know,” Pandora lied. “But you’ll be fine. I promise. Please, just try and be cheerful for the Hatchlings. You’re a natural and happy emotion. They’ll miss their Mama if you miss Uncle Lindal too much.”

“Do you think they’ll let me write Daddy?”

“Well, perhaps, but I would watch what you write. They’ll probably read them before they let them out.”

“Do you think so?” she asked.

Pandora nodded. “I don’t think they trust us anymore than we trust them.” Since Serene did not look too interested in looking for something other than her brown rat outfit Pandora took the liberty of going through her dresses. She found a pretty blue one and held it out to Serene. “Here put this on. I’ll find you some stockings and slippers.”

“Thank you,” Serene said. “Maybe some earrings?”

“Oh, um…where did you put those again?” Pandora asked.

“They’re in the medium compartment in the large trunk.”

Pandora riffled through it and found the box. It was magically enchanted to hold more than it looked. Pandora knew from experience that she had to put it on the ground before she opened it, because when she did layer after layer of jewelry came out. Since Pandora was rather limited on her color coordination she picked a jewelry set that was silver and set in pale blue stones to match the dress. She helped Serene with the necklace, but Serene was on her own with the earrings.

Pandora was satisfied that she had done a good deed, because Serene looked much better and happier now that she was in proper clothing—as she liked to call it.

Serene checked to make sure all the hatchlings were asleep and then she and Pandora left the room. Pandora stopped to check and make sure that they could enter the room again. When she was satisfied they headed down the now abandoned hallway. Everyone was at dinner.

When they stepped into the entrance hall a girl was waiting by one of the mirrors for them. She had a bizarre hair color that appeared to be something between pink and purple. Even her eyes didn’t seem quite right for her complexion. They were black, much like the Arch Mage’s were, but they lacked the overall sense of power and strength.

“Hi,” she said grumpily and pushed herself off of the stone wall. “I’m Chloe.”

“Hi,” Pandora said with just as much enthusiasm.

“Hi, Chloe,” Serene said with a strained smile. “I’m Serene, and this is my cousin, Pandora.”

“Yeah, I know. Look, I’m supposed to make sure you can find the dining hall all right,” she said. “Took you long enough to get down here.”

“We had things to do,” Serene said a bit more naturally.

Pandora sighed.

“Well, enough chit-chat,” Chloe said and swiveled into a mirror.

Pandora remembered it as the one she went through to get food for the hatchlings but decided it best no to make Chloe think she wasted her time anymore than she already did.

“Here we are,” Chloe said. “You losers find a place to sit. I’m joining my friends.”

“Losers?” Serene said, blinking. “Did she just call me a loser?”

“Let it go,” Pandora said and took hold of her cousin’s arm. “We have to behave remember?” She led Serene over to a table that had a place setting far enough from other people to give them some privacy.

“Well, it’s a nice spread,” Serene said with begrudging approval. There were fresh fruits and vegetables, pot roast, roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, sautéed onions and mushrooms, roasted carrots, and pie. Pandora guessed it was cherry. Desert was not that appetizing to Pandora.

Serene graced her ceramic plate with some roast, potatoes, onions, carrots, and mushrooms. For how much Serene usually managed to pack down it was not a large amount of food, but Pandora thought it was a start. While Pandora carefully peeled meat away from the chicken she watched Serene eat. Some of the usual gusto was there, but most of it seemed to be missing.

Pandora sighed and wondered if she could take care of five children on her own.

Many of the students stared at them. It made Pandora lose some of her appetite. She was not accustomed to being the center of everyone’s attention. She imagined that people were watching Serene more closely since Serene was beautiful and perfect in every way. Pandora could mold into walls for all anyone ever cared before. No one had the guts to join them, but Pandora could hear the whispers if not make them out.

Pandora finished quickly and waited with uncharacteristic impatience for her cousin to finish. Serene had to try a piece of the cherry pie and discovered a pitcher of milk. When she finished Pandora stood and said, “Let’s go back to the room. I hate to leave the hatchlings waiting.”

Serene nodded and stood as well. She looked around and saw three boys staring at her. She gave them a sly smile and a small finger wave.

Pandora frowned. “Come on,” she murmured and the cousins left the dining hall.

“Well, that was a nice meal,” Serene said chipperly.

Pandora gave her cousin a sideways look and merely shook her head. “I’d have rather eaten in the room.” She stepped through the mirror and Serene followed after.

“You did not like the other students.”

“I do not like being stared at and whispered about. There is no telling what kind of rumors are being spread about us already and we’ve only been here for two hours.”

“Oh, well, I imagine we’ll find out,” Serene said and yawned. “I’m tired.”

“Me too,” Pandora said and waved her hand over the door. It clicked and opened and Pandora lumbered inside. Serene paused at the door and looked over her shoulder. “I wonder if the other girls are noisy.”

“I can’t imagine how it would matter. You could sleep through a parade.”

“No I couldn’t,” Serene said and rummaged for a night gown. “I like parades far too much.” She gave Pandora a put on grin and then turned back to her search. “Anyway, I just want to know in the end if they’re friendly.”

“I don’t know. I imagine some of them are and some of them aren’t. You can’t really lump any group into one category.”

“Sure you can,” Serene said and let out a victory cry when she found her night gown. “If the leader is mean to us all of them are going to be mean to us. If they leader likes us they will all be friendly.”

Pandora shrugged. “I’m sure we’re stronger than any leader they have. We’ll probably end up swaying some of them, and I can’t imagine many of them will be dumb enough to be mean to us for long. After all, you and I could probably hurt them seriously on our own… add behind that the dragons.”

“Oh, I don’t want to think about it,” Serene said squeezing her eyes shut tight.

Pandora shrugged again. “I’m not too worried.” She slipped into the privy to change. Serene and Pandora were cousins, but still not close enough to dress and change in front of one another.

“What did you think of Chloe?” Serene asked when Pandora reentered the room. She was already in her night gown.

“I think she has a chip on her shoulder,” Pandora said bluntly. “She’ll try and cause trouble, but I don’t know why.”

“She looks like she’s trying very hard to be different. Shame isn’t it? Maybe she’s so jealous of us because we are naturally different. I’m a half-breed and you’re... well… a freak.”

“Thanks,” Pandora said dryly. “The freak is tired.”

“Oh, I don’t mean it badly,” Serene said and bit her lower lip. “I really don’t. Honest. I just mean… well… you know. You’re so much… stronger than you should be. That’s all I mean.”

Pandora eyed her cousin. “You think I’m boyish. Remember?”

“Well, you are!” Serene said defensively. “I mean, if you don’t like it then don’t be that way. I don’t make you wear boys clothes and go around hitting stuff for fun. That’s what boys do.”

“It’s what warriors do, Serene. That’s what I’ve wanted to be all my life. My mother was a warrior once. She was a religious warrior… but not quite a paladin. She did something else.”

“And why do you want to be like her?” Serene asked, genuinely shocked.

“Because! She’s my mother,” Pandora said. “I love her. I may not like her all that much sometimes. I may not like the things she does, but she was different when I was younger. She wasn’t so mean before.”

“Before me you mean,” Serene said bitterly.

“What are you talking about?”

“Father told me all about it,” Serene said with a sniff. “Don’t pretend that you don’t know.”

Pandora just stared, dumb struck. “What do you mean?”

Serene glared at her cousin long and hard. Then her expression changed to that of surprise. “You mean… you really don’t know?”

Pandora shook her head, though she wasn’t certain what she was shaking her head at.

“Your mother… I mean… my mother… Your mother was fine with my father until well… I mean… she wasn’t… she always hated that Daddy and Momma fell in love… it was worse when she got pregnant…I think.”

“What does this…”

“My mother died when I was three. Your mom blamed my father, not that she ever let us meet anyway. She didn’t want a dirty little…I mean… me around.” Serene’s expression drooped and she turned away and headed for her bed. “When your mother tried to kill Daddy her god cast her out. She lost all of her powers. That’s what Daddy says.”

“So… that’s why?”

Serene nodded. “I’m told that she was already on thin ice for the years she held a grudge against Daddy and Momma…”

Pandora sat down on her bed, absorbing everything and bottled it up inside of her mind where she could look at it later. “We should go to sleep, Serene. We’ll have to wake early to feed the hatchlings. I’d like your help this time.”

“Oh, of course, Pandora,” Serene agreed. “I’m…I’m sorry.”

“Good night, Serene.”

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