Chapter 7: Cassandra
1089 Words
"The hell you will." I raised my hands to cast a spell.
"Cassandra." Aurelius grabbed my shoulder. "Control your emotions, or lose control of your magic."
"Wait," Oliver finally said. "This is on me." He moved around us and faced Ashlyn. "We belong here. Both of us. She's not going with you or anyone else." He looked at me. "And as far as they are concerned, you raise a hand toward them, and you'll find I'm not the passive pushover you think I am. You fooled me once. There won't be a second time."
"Who is she talking about, Oliver?" I asked the question we were all thinking. Then things started to fall into place in my mind. "It's Ruby." His voice went full on British. I glanced at Dash and Kyler, and they both shrugged.
Oliver sighed, anger filling his eyes. He looked at Ashlyn with an intense glare of hatred. But I was more blown away by the fact Ruby and Oliver knew each other before attending the academy, not to mention the change in his voice. Had the computer nerd persona just been a façade?
"Did you bring those things here?" Kyler asked. "Cause you didn't do a very good job."
Ashlyn looked toward the hole in the roof. "Of course not," she lied.
I noticed Kyler moving behind Ashlyn. Dash working around to her side. I felt their energy grow. They were rightfully suspicious of Ashlyn.
"I'm not giving her up," Oliver said. "And I think it's time for you to leave.
"What's going on?" Nicolette stepped onto the stage and addressed Ashlyn. "Who're you, really?"
"None of your business, witch."
A smile crossed Nicolette's face. She loved a good fight. "I've been called worse. One of Edius' morons?" Nicolette moved closer to Ashlyn. "You." She looked back at Oliver who nodded.
"Wait," Aurelius said. "I know you." The world shrunk again. "You were a mentor under Edius."
"Our mentor," Oliver said, looking at Nicolette. They'd also known each other before joining the Enchanted Academy.
"You were only a student at the guild." I looked at Braeden for agreement.
Ashlyn laughed. "I have been many things to many different people." She glared at me. "Just as you have."
I raised my fiery hands, ready to end the conversation. "I've heard enough."
Ashlyn scowled and suddenly thrust her hands out away from her sides, disappearing.
We all looked at each other and then at the empty spot where Ashlyn had been standing.
"Someone want to tell me what the hell just happened?" Dash shrugged and raised his eyebrows at Oliver. "Brainiac, what the hell have you done?"
"I need you all to have a seat," Aurelius requested. "This other mess can wait." He stood on the floor in front of the stage, and we took a seat on the edge of the stage.
"This doesn't sound good," Kyler said and took a seat next to me.
"You woke up this morning. Be thankful." Aurelius paced back and forth.
Oliver sat by Nicolette as far away from me as he could. I leaned forward and nodded at him, trying to let him know that whatever was going on would be okay. He frowned and looked away. I needed to speak with Ruby. Nicolette winked at me, and I had a sinking feeling she was going to turn our worlds upside down.
"You've probably talked amongst yourselves already about this, but the headmaster will not be returning."
"That's not a disappointment," Dash said.
"I'm not sure of his status or where he is; I just know he won't be returning." Aurelius paced a little faster. He stepped around a dead praying mantis a couple of times before casting an obliteration spell at the creature. In the blink of an eye it disintegrated as if it never existed. "We'll have a lot to work through this year. I expect the best from each of you. Show your leadership skills to the other students."
"Who's his replacement?" Nicolette knew the answer already but wanted to be the first to ask anyway. There was no way I would ever trust her again. She always seemed to be hiding something and really enjoyed letting us know it. Friends didn't act the way she did.
Aurelius took a deep breath and exhaled loudly. "I will be the next headmaster." He let the information hang in the air for a minute, studying each of our faces. He no doubt believed we would be upset. "At this time, I've no idea how long the council plans to have me in the position." He held up his hands when we all started to talk at the same time. "Not yet. Go back to your rooms and think about it. I need to figure out what happened here." He glanced at Oliver, and Oliver looked away.
Everyone but me stood and left the auditorium. Aurelius waited for them to leave and then picked up a fallen chair and had a seat.
"You know I have to question whoever's decision this is." I couldn't hold back my displeasure. We needed him to be with us, not sitting behind a desk getting fat. "Everything we have done. All of our successes are because of you. I couldn't imagine where I'd be without all your help."
"Yet if I decline, the council will remove me from the academy." Aurelius clasped his hands together and sighed. He looked at the hole in the roof. "It's what I have to do." He looked up at me, his eyes full of concern. "You can't let this set you guys back. You have to stay strong and keep the group together. Whatever's going on with Oliver, you have to let play out. It won't be the last time you have to deal with personal issues with them."
"Sometimes it seems like that's all I'm doing, trying to hold the group together. It would be nice to wake up in the morning and not wonder what kind of disaster is going to enter my life that day." I jumped down from the stage and put my hand on his shoulder. "We love you, Aurelius, and know the past few years have been as hard on you as it has been on us."
"Thank you." He nodded toward the doors. "You should probably check on Oliver."
"Who's going to deal with Ashlyn? She's not going to just walk away from what she wants."
Aurelius stood. "I know people in low places. I'll take care of Ashlyn."
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