Page 20

Souxie Lafayette

“Let’s goooo! Last train of the day going directly to Crystal City!”

The train shot out a squeal of steam on the tracks as we quickly made our way into a train car. Maggie pointed to the seats at the very end as we passed up each row of Drew Collins students.

“ Please remember you are representing our prestigious university in the other cities and districts! Always be respectful and mindful of your image when in uniform !”

All of the men were dressed in black suits with maroon ties and long coats. Most of the female students wore our black winter dresses with our school crests representing the school we were placed in and our matching maroon coats. The gloves, the berets, and boots… We were the epitome of black excellence and highest degree of magic. Not a single hair was out of place, we walked down the aisle hearing a few girls look starry eyed at Maggie behind me, and congratulating her on crossing Beta Nu.

“ Last train of the day heading straight for Crystal City! Everyone please be back in time! They do NOT allow visitors or guests to stay without prior permission !”

You could feel the train start to move. We took our seats on the last back row in our identical coats and black insulated tights.

“This better be worth it, Isis,” Maggie said as she struggled to take her gloves off. “To stand out in the cold waiting for a parade.”

“It’s like the way you all celebrate Santa Claus…We celebrate the Saint and the Queen…”

“Is Namir here?” I asked. Maggie dramatically blew hot air into her hands to keep warm.

“Yeah he’s somewhere on here with his students. I may ride back with him so we can get ready to go to the funeral service tomorrow.”

“I still can’t believe they didn’t invite him,” Asha retorted. “To find out about that during a school assembly is fucked up.”

“For real,” Isis added. “That family would have to kiss my ass.”

“Hmmmph,” Maggie huffed. “The blackest part of my ass too.”

“Alright so what’s the plan for next year ladies? We solved the mystery of the missing girls…We uncovered the truth of what was happening…Celeste is alive and…I guess, well. What’s next?” I asked, leaning forward to look at everyone. Maggie wasn’t going to say it but I knew that was the furthest thing she wanted to discuss, especi ally on a train in front of everyone. “Are we still staying in the Wisteria House?”

“We haven’t even thrown a party in it yet,” Isis complained. “I keep getting asked, when are we throwing a kickback? I guess when it gets warmer.”

“Where are y'all staying for the winter break?” I asked.

“Well as my newly adopted sister.” Asha said as she picked at her nails before slyly smiling at me. “I may visit my family in South Carolina…After that, I’m coming back down to stay with Isis and her family in the Wetlands to kind of get a sense of my past. There’s apparently a museum there with an exhibit about my tribe..”

“What about Irvin?” Maggie questioned. Asha shrugged while Isis smiled.

“He misses her too…I told my brother he messed up because Asha is not the type to go back. Once she’s done, she’s done. It’s one of my favorite things about her.”

“Mannnnn, I’m not even thinking about a damn relationship right now.”

Isis sighed in a longing tone. “I kinda miss having a whole boyfriend thing now. I have a few options but I want something new. Something different.”

“So no Quan?” I asked. She shook her head.

“That ship has sailed. He’s too much like my brothers. It’s so hard dating your own kind when you grew up in the same household as them. You view men so differently when it's seven of them hounding you from the moment you’re born just simply because you’re the only girl. I’ve noticed that I go so far left with my choices in men but I think ultimately, I would settle down with my own so I can have children like me. If I didn’t want a family, I would have found a siren and settled outside of the city. Somewhere away from the drama.”

The girls began talking about relationships as I looked out the window, watching the stations pass us up one after the other. Such talks didn’t interest me. If I wanted to be in a relationship, I would have been in one yesterday. Men were never a hard thing to come by and if I wanted them to act right for me, they would. That was never an issue. Except for one of course. After the winter break, new students, new situations were going to come into play and test our circle once more. I just wanted to see where everyone was at mentally. So far…all they seemed to resort back to are relationships and men. Same shit. Same…boring shit.

“Look!” Isis shouted as she walked over to my side to point out the window. “This is where you’ll be staying with me, Asha.”

We all leaned out the window to see water stretch across the land like an ocean. Tiny ripples constantly forming from the vibrating tracks of the train, we passed up the slab of concrete that made up the train station of the Wetlands.

“Where is it?” Asha asked. “I don’t see anything. ”

“It’s beneath the surface,” I said. “The water is sorta like their sky.”

“Mmm hmm,” Isis agreed. “It’s so beautiful. We have forests and trees, lakes and rivers just like everyone else…it’s just beneath the water. When it rains out here, the water will come down like rain in our city. It’s literally powered by water in every sense of the word.”

The tracks splashed against the water, kicking up the rolling waves on the side of the wheels as we continued to push forward. The sun was beginning to set over the water, reflecting over the ripples like an orange light. The water was dark and the station for the most part was empty except for the few light posts flickering on to signal evening’s arrival.

“What does your house look like, Isis?” Maggie asked. “Or what do the houses look like down there? I just imagine a bunch of beaver dams for some reason.”

“Maggie,” Asha cracked in laughter. “Beaver dams though?!”

“I can show you actually.” Isis pulled out her phone and shuffled through a few pictures before stopping at one in particular. “This is a family photo we took in front of the house just before I left for Drew Collins. We were celebrating my acceptance into the school.”

“No fucking way, you really live there?” Maggie asked in awe. I leaned forward to see the family all dressed up with the men on one side and the women on the other. Just behind them was a huge house with a wrap-around driveway. She had double doors for an entrance, a balcony directly multiple windows and floors. She lived in an estate but it made sense. Never once heard Isis complain about money nor was it an issue getting into Drew Collins for her. Asha almost broke her neck to look at Isis like she was seeing her for the first time.

“I’m not rich nor do we come from a rich family or upbringing,” she cut in. “Before y'all start to question everything. I lived a normal life–––”

“Naaaaah.” Asha laughed. “You come from money. No wonder you can’t fight. You could probably pay people to do it for you!”

Isis rolled her eyes as she snatched the phone back.

“Okay, give me my dang phone. It’s not like that. I told y'all, we are the only nymphs with the ability to move water and self heal… Sometimes that comes with some financial perks…We’re not rich. We’re comfortable…”

Asha and Maggie looked at one another before laughing.

“Naaah, I’m definitely posting up at your crib now. Fuck that,” Asha laughed while Maggie nodded.

“Shoot, I might stay too. Can we all stay for the winter break? ”

“If you want,” Isis shrugged, trying not to smile. “I don’t care either way.”

I began to tune them out as I watched the row of trees of the thick forest brush past us. Branches scratched up against the windows of the train, crackling of sticks and twigs snapping and falling below showed just how high up we were. The Woodlands station was just beneath the tracks as we drew closer to the mountains. We passed up the Kingdom station where you could see the large pyramids and palaces. The rolling dunes of sand and palm trees clump together as one of the few sources of greenery there. The station was closed, gated with guards standing on either side armed and ready to attack should anybody decide to get out. Yet the train kept moving, passing them by.

“ The next station is Crystal City…This is the final destination ….”

Everyone began to gather their things to stand up as the train appeared from the side of the mountains. The thick snow blanketed most of the sharp rocks and cliffs as the temperature dropped almost instantly.

“Oh wow,” Maggie let out in amazement, peeking through the window between two seats.

The train came to a slow stop at the station where you could see the primary school students lined up, stuffed in their coats and holding hands with teachers hovering around them like protective hens. As soon as we stepped off, the typical buzz of the train noises didn’t compare to the noisy children and people shouting out orders.

“Drew Collins students! Line up this way! If you already have a yearly pass, please use the gated entrance!” Someone shouted. “Everyone else, please come this way!”

“This is the City of Christmas.” A teacher said to her students. “You see the Queen of Holiday cheer and festivities? We’re going to see the Queen…They’re responsible for all of the holiday magic you see above and below…”

We began walking, getting in line behind the rest as the entire train had to squeeze in the small entrance that led into a building. Once inside, we were greeted with students from all of the major mythical and magic black colleges and universities.

“Who are they in the green?” Asha asked. A group of tall and very handsome black men were walking in their forest green coats and black dress pants.

“Hillmen.” I said with a smirk. “Those who got to Society Hill.” Despite being our rival, it was the best pairing possible. A Collins girl with a Hillman and a Collins man with a Society girl. One of the more popular marriages to attend was a union between these two colleges .

“Please stand in line for your passes!” Someone shouted. “This will go a lot easier if everyone just lines up instead of being all over the place!”

Some of the men were dapping one another up while the girls in their black coats and green scarves stared us down, sizing up the competition.

“Some of these broads are looking at me like they want problems,” Asha threatened.

“Nooo. It’s nothing like that,” I assured her. “It’s because of who and what we represent. We go to Drew Collins and they don’t.”

“Exactly,” Isis said with her chin raised. Always finding protected confidence within our circle. “Universities here are like currency…social currency. It will follow you everywhere you go. It’s how you’re viewed. How you’re judged. Going to Drew Collins is the top of the top. Even with everything that happened, it is still the school to beat. The very first school founded by the First Family who created the entire Underground? Of course you’ll want to go here.”

As soon as she said it, three women walked by with their nose twisted as they looked us up and down before laughing. The navy blue gave it away that they were Monroe students. The identical braids, the tights and the rich perfume scent that lingered, they were for sure attending the all girls private institution .

“Aye, y'all got y'all passes yet?”

The deep voice came from behind as we turned to see Namir holding up a couple of festive tickets for us. We spent the next several minutes weaving in and out of lines trying to get to the entrance of the building until we scanned our passes, and stepped out into the winter wonderland that is Crystal City. You could hear the drums and trumpets as the parade had just begun. We were walking through the thick bed of snow. Trying to find the cobblestone path as people began pointing at the top of the hill where decorated trees covered in string lights covered the entire blanket of snow. You could see a house just at the top where the supposed Saint and Queen lived. Just at the beginning of the street, the reindeer were being set up and prepped for their arrival.

The buildings had green and red string lights swinging from roof to roof. The snow covered trees lined the streets and people dressed in green and red uniforms quickly worked the rows, shoveling and salting down a path while one gave out orders. Posters of the Saint and the Queen were plastered everywhere with little kids holding up black barbies with red hair and a crown. Everything about this place almost seemed too perfect.

“This way you guys!” Maggie hollered over her shoulder. People from all over were gathered around as we followed Namir, letting him lead us to find a good spot in the heart of the town. He pulled Maggie up close to stand in front of him as she immediately reached out for me to stand beside her. Deciding to let Asha and Isis stand in my place instead, I took to the end and bundled up my coat with a smile.

“Excuse me.”

The deep voice caught me off guard as I looked up, watching this tall light skinned man with dark brows and even darker eyes step forward in his plain brown coat. His pink lips, plump and wet despite the crisp cold air, and his dark lashes curled back into his lid as he looked down at me with a smile. Two other guys came to his side but none caught my eye the way he did. He was older but not by much. So I kindly stepped to the side, letting him take up a little more space as we faced the salted road..

“You go to Drew Collins?”

I looked up at the man, eyes piercing into his before nodding.

“And you?”

“I got accepted but never went.” He said with a nod, eyes searching his surroundings.

“Shame…” I frowned. “I’m sure you would have done well… ”

He slicked his tongue across his lower lip, trying not to laugh and instead replaced it with a grin.

“Oh!” Isis shouted with a point. “It’s starting!”

The band began to sound off with the trumpets blaring, signaling the arrival of the winter court. Drums began to beat and the ground shook beneath us at the feel of the reindeer kicking and pulling at the ground with their hooves. It became so loud, I could barely hear Isis screaming next to me as she jumped up and down like a child at the candy store. The majorettes with their sparkly winter jumpsuits began dancing behind the drum major as they parade began to move. I could feel the man beside me staring at me with a smirk before his hand came to the mid part of my back, respectfully, and leaned in close for my ear.

“My name is Cedric!” He pulled back before leaning in with a lick of his lips. “I’ll be attending Francis Holmes next year so I hope to see you around the yard someday…”

“That was bold of you,” I said. Cedric laughed with another swipe of his lips with his tongue. “How do you know I don’t have a man?”

I wasn’t going to raise my voice over the loud crowd and band, but he seemed to hear me just fine when he leaned back in again .

“Because someone as beautiful as you tends to get bored easily.”

Cedric pulled back just a bit with our eyes meeting. His dark brown eyes suddenly blacked out completely, like a pool of black matter, staring into me before blinking back to dark brown. I smiled. He’s an incubus…and a cocky one at that.

“My bad for being late, man! Can you believe the damn traffic at the station?! It’s so many people trying to get in here!”

The loud voice came from behind as I caught the identical face. His complexion was a tad bit darker but the thick dark brows, the curly lashes and full soft pink lips were just as wet. He wore a denim jacket lined with wool, glasses and a fade for a haircut as he passed out some snacks and treats. He was just as tall as Cedric but didn’t seem as…cocky or in your face with it, but I saw his eyes…They blacked out like a true demon when he watched someone walk by, almost brushing past him in a hurry to find a spot. Only to blink back to an innocent dark brown. He scrunched his nose up, and pushed the gold frames of his glasses up against his face.

“This is my twin brother Harvey,” Cedric said with a clap of his shoulder. “This lovely young woman goes to Drew Collins… ”

Harvey looked my way with a small nod but seemed more interested in the festivities of the parade and town. With a few seconds to spare, he turned his attention to his brother Cedric.

“You didn’t bother to get her name yet?!” He yelled over the noise before looking at me. “What’s your name?!”

“Souxie,” I said, stepping towards him with my hand out. “Souxie Lafayette…”

He tucked his snack underneath his arm, wiped his hand down and quickly shook my hand.

“Harvey! You’re absolutely gorgeous!” He nodded with an approving frown.

“We’re twins!” Cedric yelled out, trying to get my attention but my eyes hadn’t left Harvey despite him focusing back on the parade. The sexual demonic energy coming from Cedric was thick in the air between us, like a heavy cologne that numb your nostrils and dulled your senses. It was too much too soon for me. Yet his twin brother didn’t have an ounce of it, despite being the exact same thing.

“Are you going to Francis Holmes too?” I asked. Harvey turned his attention back to me before leaning in close.

“Yeah but I really wanted to get into Drew Collins. I’d been applying for years and they kept labeling me a disruptive danger to the school. Which is bullshit. I just needed some credits to finish out my science degree. What type of witch are you? Clairvoyant, I bet…”

I smiled as he nodded, eyes watching everyone around him. The whites of his eyes would suddenly blink pitch black for a few seconds, before coming back to his human form as he glanced at me again, like I was a mere afterthought. Interesting…Not quite the professor but just as curious. Hmmm…

“You keep looking at me!” Harvey suddenly shouted, interrupting my toxic thoughts about what I’d do to him. He turned his attention towards me. “Why?”

He scrunched his nose up like he wanted to scratch an itch from inside. He was almost too easy to mess with. Too sweet and unsuspecting. At least the professor was able to hide his weakness. This man didn’t even bother to put up a defense. He’s intriguing but too easy. Harmless Harvey would have to stay where he’s at. No sense in tampering with his innocence and wasting my time.

“No particular reason!” I said. Tucking my hair behind my ears, I focused back on the parade coming down as the sleigh made its way. The courtsmen dressed in green and red walked ahead of the sleigh, loaded with protective gear, ready for any attempt at someone trying something stupid. She was probably one of the most protected black women in the world. She had beautiful skin made of pure chocolate and hair the color of rust waving with one hand in the air. The Queen held her baby in the other, wrapped in a green blanket, the tiny mitten stuck out while the Saint wore a red winter coat with the hood. A red skull cap and red dress pants with the shoes to match. The row of people on each side of the street began to lower their heads in respect with some bending all the way to the ground.

I wondered if she remembered we were the ones to break into her house via the closet door? Didn’t matter. All of us lowered our heads, careful not to show our faces until the sleigh passed by with their court trailing behind them.

“Aye!” Harvey shouted. “That’s definitely not the real baby in there! They would be a fool to bring a baby out here with all of these people!”

“That’s what I said!” Someone else laughed. “It’s probably a prop or a doll! Too many crazy people to be that exposed!”

“Nah but you saw her people were armed and ready to go!” Namir added with a laugh. “I didn’t miss that at all.”

“We’re going to grab something to eat at,” Isis said with a wave of her phone in her hand. “A few guys from Society Hill are gonna link up with us at a cafe.”

Asha cut me a dry look .

“Don’t ask her how she knows them. This girl knows everybody.”

“I like to keep my options open. Maggie and Namir are heading back to the school.

I turned back to look at Harvey and his brother who started talking with their group of friends they came with. All older men with the demeanor of guys conversing at the barbershop or basketball court. Early to mid 30s, talking sports and wives but I watched Harvey who easily stood out, take his glasses off to clean on his shirt. Harmless Harvey is definitely going to have to stay exactly where he’s at. The nerdy act was cute but too simple for me. I was just about to tell him goodbye when he asked,

“Have you eaten yet?” Adjusting his frames on his face, he shoved his hands into his denim jacket, and he looked around. “I’m not a fan of most of the food here but there’s a sports bar they just opened up further into the city.”

“Um…” thinking out loud as I looked him over. He was my type, physically. Mature, tall, put together…and smelled good. I couldn’t sense any dark undertones or anything dealing with his true nature so he was good at concealing the incubus within him. The demon only appeared in doses and blinks the way mine came out in pleasure and pain. Sighing, I caved simply out of boredom.

Harmless Harvey will have to do for now until something better comes along.