Page 79 of Possession

Aris’ words ring through my head: Emotion slows you.

He’s right. In a way, he’s always been right.

I’m out the door a few seconds later, standing in the hallway of a school for wizards. Like last night, no one is in the halls, but there are dozens of inscribed plaques. Clearly, people live here.

But where are they? And, most importantly, are they friendly?

I could explore on my own, but, without a magical string to help me navigate, I doubt I’d make it back. I’ll have to ask for help. It’s an obvious realization, but it takes a few minutes to actually act on it. I approach the door across the hall and knock. There isn’t an immediate response, so I move and start to pace.

Ten seconds pass, then thirty, and I debate between knocking again and leaving to try somewhere else. Suddenly, the door pops open to reveal a boy about my age, maybe a little younger, and sort of scrawny looking. He doesn’t look familiar, which is comforting. That means that he never stood guard over me.

Any hope of anonymity disappears the moment he gasps and cries, “Hey, you’re that girl!”

I immediately look around, nervous to see if anyone else heard him, but it seems that we’re still alone. “Yeah,” I say, turning back awkwardly. There isn’t much use denying it.

“Mary,” he says and stares at me for a few seconds too long, like he’s meeting a famous person, which I suppose I am.

Aris would say something about plucking the eyes from this man’s head. My mouth starts to twitch at the thought, and then I remember that it’s just me making myself smile.

“Uh, well, what can I do for you?” he exclaims in a posh, British accent. He shoots me a grin, recovering from his surprise.

I hesitate and wonder if I should walk away. It’s hard knowing that he knows me. “I’m hungry, and I’m not sure where to go,” I finally say.

He smiles and steps out of his room, shutting the door behind. “Well, allow me to lead the way.”

Just like that? It takes a second to recover before I’m hurrying to follow after him. I’ve no idea where we’re going. Hopefully, to get something to eat.

“Are you living here now?” he asks while we walk. Around us are awards, plaques, faculty photos, and paintings of proud, robed men, presumably alumni, with symbols carved into the frames.

“Uh, yes,” I say, trying to focus on the conversation. There’s just so much to look at!

“In the dorms, I’m guessing? You’ll be pretty popular.”

I shoot him a wary look.

“Oh, not because of that. Well, also because of that, but you’re also the only girl. I’m sure you’ve noticed, it’s a men’s only school. Well, men’s only society really. I know, outdated. It’s not that the Grand Mage thinks women can’t do magic. It’s just… you know, tradition.”

“Uh-huh.” I’m not sure if I should comment on any of that. “What’s your name?”

“Oh, I’m Simon. I’m a first year.”

That’s why I haven’t seen him before.

He might not know much, but I’m itching to ask details about this place and its members—how it works, what the mages even want. When I was trapped here, I had so many questions. Now, I finally have the chance to get some answers.

As I’m thinking of things to ask, we round a corridor and pass several students. None are wearing the robes that I’m used to and are in something like a boarding school uniform with stiff ties and well-ironed shirts. Most notably, all of them are staring at me.

Under scrutiny, it’s hard to put one foot in front of the other. I hate being the center of attention, and my escort seems to take note of that; we keep a quick pace and they’re soon behind us.

“So everyone knows who I am?” I ask nervously.

Simon nods. “Pretty much.”

“And they know that Aris isn’t in me?”

“Oh, yes, it’s been made clear—we had an assembly and everything. Pretty informational, actually.”

I want to ask just how informational—does he know where Aris is? But I bite my tongue, unsure whether I can trust him or not.

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