Apprentices: Full Moon

Hidden Treasure Or Trash?

“Miss Pierce?” he speaks up, clearly surprised to see my face appear in front of the entrance to the Headquarters. Suddenly, the surprise on his face transforms into a deep frown. “You’re supposed to be enjoying a party right now,” he remarks, making it clear that this is not a question.

But I need to get in there. I need to check the jail cells, another clue could be hiding there. I have to come up with a good excuse. “I … I realized I lost a bracelet that time when … You know … When my mother was brought here, and I came here as soon as my mentor and I realized she escaped … I’ve been looking all over for it, and I remember that I haven’t seen it since that day,” I explain, furrowing my eyebrows in frustration.

“And this is my problem, because?” he wonders, raising his eyebrows at me. Damn, dude, don’t be difficult and just let me in! My head’s at stake here! But I don’t burst out at him. Instead, I sigh, shaking my head in defeat and averting my gaze into the ground.

“I’m sorry, I won’t bother you anymore. I just … It’s very important to me … It was a gift from my aunt, and I was missing her, so I wanted to have that bracelet with me, because she couldn’t be … Never mind, I’ll just come during the day, I’m sorry to bother you, sir,” I tell him, already turning on my heel to leave.

I take a few steps with my head still hung low, hoping that I hit the right notes. Judging by the look he gave my aunt when they met those few weeks ago … Things are far from over for him. And I’m a hundred percent sure he’s looking for a way to make it up to her. Good luck with that, Hugh. Good luck.

“Wait!” he calls out hesitantly, probably not even sure why he’s giving in to me. I stop, then slowly turn around with a look of despair on my face.

“Is there something I can do for you?” I ask, trying my best to sound like I’m trying to be polite, but miserably failing, because I don’t have my auntie’s gift with me. He stares at me for a few moments, looking around the hallway like someone’s going to jump out and lecture him. Then, he looks at me again, this time with more determination on his face.

“I’m alone. No one’s going to know that I let you look for your bracelet tonight, are they?” he wonders, making my face light up like my cat’s when I say ‘kitty biscuits’. My aunt would be so proud of me right now.

“Do you really mean that?” I ask, trying to make this seem like I really appreciate it, while I’m horrified at how fast the time is running. Just let me in and let me find the next clue that my mom left around.

He nods, even offering me a small smile. A rare sight for Hugh, judging by what my aunt told me about him. I grin at him, rushing to the door happily.

“Thank you so much, you have no idea how meaningful that bracelet is to me!” I tell him, still smiling. He lets me in, and I try not to go directly to the jail cells. I stop in the middle of the space, looking around like I’m trying to think of the exact point, where I could lose it.

“Do you need any help?” he asks, and I frown, shaking my head. Then, I realize I need to distract him somehow, and start nodding.

“Actually, yes. Do you happen to have some lost and found box around here? Maybe someone already found it and didn’t know who it belonged to?” I suggest, making him nod.

“Of course, no problem. You can retrace all the places where you could lose it in the meantime,” he suggests, making me smile happily.

“Thanks. I’ll do that. Is there anyone in the cells? I don’t want to meet a criminal while looking for my bracelet, because I was there too. I was thinking maybe I lost it there,” I explain quickly, realizing how nervous I sound. But thankfully, he understands it as fear of criminals. At least that’s what I can tell, judging by his amused smirk.

“Don’t worry, they’re empty. I hope we’ll find it with joined forces,” he announces, winking at me. I quickly turn around, after flashing him a smile, then head to the jail cells as fast as my feet can carry me. I already thought he’d be breathing down my neck the entire time.

The moment I get down the stairs I feel the temperature rapidly falling. It’s cold down here. I wouldn’t like to be locked up in here right now. I rub my arms, remembering that I was just outside, where it was damn freezing. And I survived.

Following my hunch, I head straight to the jail cell, where I remember my mother stayed. I still remember it vividly, like it was only yesterday when I discovered it empty and made my mentor so furious, that he could probably destroy the Headquarters with a flick of his little finger.

I get closer to the cell, realizing that it’s locked. Damn. What if I have to touch the wall or something, like I had to do with the stone? I grab the bars in despair, silently fighting them in a futile attempt to make them budge. Without any success, of course.

Suddenly, they glow up, making me release them and take a few steps backwards. What the hell? I stare at them in surprise, feeling a mixture of fear and relief that I managed to discover another place. I just hope the next clue isn’t too difficult to understand … That is, if I’m going to see it anytime soon.

I lean my head forward in confusion, trying to see if something appeared on the wall, but nothing. I reach towards the bars again, this time only touching them with the tip of my finger. But it’s enough to make a spark fly out of them, making me flinch in surprise.

The moment I take a look at where the spark has gone, I notice words being written out on the floor inside the cell. I knew something like this would happen. I check the clue out, carefully repeating it a few times to memorize the words. No one gets in, no one gets out. Not under their watch.

Okay, that’s an easy one. She must be talking about the entrance. What’s the time? I check my phone, realizing I only have twenty minutes left. s**t, I need to get moving. But what do I tell Hugh up there? He’s going to find it suspicious, if I get up there without a damn bracelet!

I quickly open my purse, just in case there’s some old, forgotten jewelry hiding in there. With my luck, I find a little nicer band and a small pendant that I have no idea I even owned. I quickly put those together somehow and tie it around my wrist.

As I get back up, I almost bump into the warrior. “Oops, sorry!” I tell him, then quickly shift his attention. “Look, I found it!” I reveal, practically shoving the so-called bracelet into his face. As long as he has no idea that it’s tied together behind my wrist, he’s going to think it’s legit.

“Oh, okay! That’s great news. I came to help you, because I couldn’t find anything in the lost and found box, but never mind. I’m glad you have it back,” he assures me, suddenly being all friendly. I smile up at him.

“Thank you, you’re really nice. I won’t forget that you helped me,” I then say, slowly heading towards the door. He seem confused about me leaving, so I explain myself. “I’m sorry that I can’t keep you company any longer, my friends have already been calling me, so I really have to get back. I don’t want them to worry.”

He seems a little disappointed, but hides it with a firm nod. “Of course. Have fun,” he wishes me, but it doesn’t sound quite as sincere. Poor lad. I almost feel sorry for him. The whole Seminary is in that hall, celebrating, and he’s stuck in here. I was the only company that he had. I send him a sad smile, knowing that I can’t afford to lose much more time. But he just has to say something else. “Oh, and Miss Pierce? Say hi to your aunt for me, will you?”

I turn back around for a moment, nodding in reassurance. “I will. Happy New Year,” I tell him before finally disappearing through the door. The moment I close it, I run to the first exit that comes to my mind, heading straight to the entrance to the Seminary.

The cold air is cutting through my nose, making my eyes water, but I can’t afford to stop now. I have to get to the next clue as soon as possible, or else I’m doomed.

I stumble over a rock, hitting my toes in a very uncomfortable way. I hope I didn’t make them bleed. It sure feels this way, but I won’t know until I take my heels off and there’s no way I can do that now.

You know what? Supernaturals all fawn over strong men like alphas and warrior wizards and even tall and strong vampires, but does anyone ever praise a woman? No! Well, look at me suckers, have you ever seen a man run around in a minidress and high heels, while it’s freezing outside? Not happening, right? I thought so. Men are so overrated. No offense, they’re capable in their own way. But they aren’t half the warriors that women are.

My inner monologue quickly comes to a stop, as I get to the unguarded entrance. Okay … If this isn’t suspicious, I don’t know what is. Shouldn’t someone be here? I mean, if poor old Hugh is protecting the Headquarters, there should be someone protecting the whole Seminary, right?

“Hey, you! What are you doing outside?” I suddenly hear someone yell at me. Finally. I truly thought our little safe bubble was left unprotected.

I turn around, smiling at the woman, who’s coming to me with a stern expression on my face. “Just getting some air. Or is that illegal now?” I remark, her face remaining the same. Ugh, fine. “Okay, I’m here for a clue. We’re playing scavenger’s hunt and it led me here. Now, there should be another clue hidden here and I want to find it before I freeze to death,” I tell the half-truth, making the woman shake her head at me.

“You kids these days are unbelievable. You could at least dress up, if you’re playing games,” she remarks, then gestures to the entrance. “Well, look for your clue then. I’ll be here, keeping a close eye on you,” she lets me know. I grin at her, but I know this went better than it could. I can’t believe she bought it.

I carefully examine everything, trying not to touch the bars or anything else too soon. But then, suddenly, something catches my attention. It looks like a number, scratched into the stone wall, that serves as a visual barrier of the Seminary. Huh. What am I supposed to do with a number?

I look further, but nothing. Everything stops with that number. It says five hundred seventy-six. I already let out a sigh, scratching the back of my neck, when something else catches my attention. Is this …?

I squat, examining the small sign, seeming to be cut into the ground with a sharp object. An arrow. Pointing to the left. A number and a direction. Could this mean that I have to count my steps? Quickly straightening up, I decide that must be it. Nothing else makes sense and it’s not like I have time to come up with something else.

“Thanks, I got it! Happy New Year!” I tell the warrior witch, before quickly starting to count my steps away from the clue. I know it would be quicker if I ran, but then my steps would be longer, and I could miss the spot that I’m looking for. I just hope she didn’t mark a point of the wall, where the wards can be breached. Because there’s no way in hell, I’m letting her in.

Somewhere around three hundred, I check the time, realizing that I only have five minutes left. s**t. I do need to pick up my pace. I start walking even faster, my legs and stomach starting to burn from the weird moment, but it saves me time. And that’s the only thing that matters.

Just as I’m doing the last fifty steps, my phone dings. I check it, seeing a message from my mother. Tick tack, only sixty seconds left, she lets me know. s**t!

I practically sprint, being careful that I don’t make too long steps. As I stop, I’m standing beside the wall, with nothing around but some bush growing over it. What the hell, how am I supposed to find anything? Thirty seconds, another message comes, making me dig my hands into the bushes.

Unexpectedly, I feel a hole in the wall, then a piece of paper. I quickly pull it out and open it with shaking hands, then take a picture and send it to her. This better be it, or else I’m toast. The burned kind of toast that you can’t save even by rubbing it against another burned toast.

The moment the message is delivered, the clock runs out. Not even five seconds later, my mom replies. Congratulations, sweetie. You made mommy proud. Now read the letter through carefully, I’ll be in touch soon. Kisses.

I try not to barf at her message, then press the paper against my chest as I realize I made it. Barely. But I did. If I only stayed a little longer at the Headquarters … Or didn’t realize that the first clue didn’t lead to the kitchen. Ah. I can finally breathe now.

However, as I finally take a look at the said paper, I realize this is not even a proper letter. It’s more of a list. With many familiar names written on it. As I glance up to read the headline, my hands start trembling and I drop to my knees in horror. Oh hell. This is her hit list.