Page 124 of Fractured Fates

“That’s what I heard.”

“It’s a type of ancient magic – it was used a lot in ancient times, but the knowledge died away.”

“Died away?” I think about what Professor Stone told me about the tracking of magical fingerprints. Is this same or something different?

“Yeah, some magicals can still conjure it, but it takes a lot of training and study and it’s pretty dangerous. Its use, a bit like the resurrection of dead people, is highly regulated so most people don’t use it. Although, there are always rumors going around that one or two students are chosen each year to be trained in its use. Personally, I think that’s bullcrap though.” She brings a daisy head to her nose and sniffs. “Why’d you want to know?”

“Oh, I just heard someone talking about it and I didn’t know what it was.”

“You should ask Professor Stone,” Winnie waggles her eyebrows, “and while you’re at it, you could ask him to Founders’ Night.”

“Like that would be allowed.”

“True … I read in the school rules that relations between students and teachers are strictly forbidden.”

“You read all the rules?”

“Yes, didn’t you?”

I shake my head.

Winnie rolls her eyes at me. “So that’s why you keep breaking them all.”

I stick my tongue out at my friend.

“Do you think you’ll volunteer for decorations too?” Winnie asks. “We could help each other out if you do.”

I laugh. “I doubt very much that Tristan and his band of limpets will want me anywhere near their party.”

* * *

The next morningthere’s a note pinned to my door and I learn I’m wrong about that. I’m commanded to attend a planning meeting in the Venus common room and the tone makes it clear attendance is mandatory.

“Remember, if they give you a choice, go for decorations,” Winnie says as we part ways on the path – she heading for Neptune common room and me Venus.

As I enter the gardens, I can hear the murmur of voices, voices that grow louder and louder as I approach the common room. When I reach the door, I can tell it’s heaving. My assumption confirmed when I find every available chair, cushion and piece of floor taken. I squeeze in at the back, closing the door behind me and meeting the eye of Tristan Kennedy, standing on top of an upturned crate, Aysha hovering on one next to him.

“Now, Pig Girl has finally deigned to join us, we can start,” he announces, several heads swiveling around to gape at me. Aysha glares my way, before sweeping the frown off her face and replacing it with an excitable smile, all her pearly white teeth on display.

“Thank you, Tris,” she says, resting her hand on his upper arm. “The organizing committee has been in discussion with our head of house and he has approved our theme for this year’s Founders’ Night.” She looks out at the crowd with excitement. “It’s going to be …” she pauses for effect, drawing in breath, “Angels and Demons!” she squeals, clapping her hands together. Several of the girls around her squeal too and applause ripples through the common room. Several of the people standing with me at the back of the room groan under their breaths.

“We’re going to decorate the common room as Hell with our Head of House as the Devil himself, of course.” Tristan does a little bow, winking at us all and I swear several of the girls seated around his feet swoon. “And we’ve also been given permission to decorate the gardens as our very own slice of Heaven.”

“It’s going to kick ass,” Tristan interrupts. “We’re going to blow the other Houses out of the water and host the best goddamn party in the history of the academy!”

I roll my eyes at the hyperbole but it seems most of the common room love it, even those who were groaning earlier. There’s lots of cheering and fist pumping.

“So it’s all hands on deck,” Aysha continues, “we’re all going to need to work hard if we want to pull this off–”

“And beat those pussies!”

Aysha giggles. “So you’ll find notices pinned up around the common room assigning everyone responsibilities and tasks for the party.”

“We don’t get to choose?” someone asks from the middle of the room.

“No,” Aysha says cheerily, “it’s all been assigned by Tristan and the organizing committee.”

Those around me start groaning again and this time I’m inclined to join in. If Tristan and Aysha have assigned the roles, I’m bound to be head of ‘cleaning toilets’ or ‘garbage disposal’ or something equally glamorous.