Here’s another Tuesday Teaser!

(In case you missed it, here’s last week’s.)

This is another story I am currently writing. You can access the story on my Ream through early access (as I write), or I hope to release it this summer. This is a YA fantasy, inspired by Hogwarts and Camp HalfBlood.

Demigods and Misfits

Chapter 1

The choppy ocean sprayed wildly, salt crusting Arrie’s tear-streaked cheeks as her aunt, Nerine, pulled her through the water. The strong grip on her wrist was the only thing holding her to reality, but even that was beginning to feel surreal, as if it might dissolve into foam with one wave push.

“Where are we going?” Arrie asked, her voice barely a whisper, trembling under the weight of the unknown and nearly lost in the wind.

“We’re going somewhere safe. Somewhere hidden,” Nerine replied, eyes sharp, searching the endless darkness beneath them. Her voice carried an edge Arrie had never heard before.

Safe. A strange word for her to use. Arrie had known “safe” as her family reef, where laughter echoed through coral halls, where she’d spent her days learning which currents to swim and which to avoid. Now, that was gone—a mere memory swept away by the same currents she used to trust.

They descended deeper, gliding between ancient stones that jutted from the seabed, hidden by a forest of kelp that shivered at their approach. Arrie’s mind swirled with questions, but she swallowed them, her throat thick with grief and saltwater.

Finally, they reached an underwater cavern, its opening nearly swallowed by an enormous purple anemone. Nerine reached out, brushing her fingers against the tentacles, and the creature relaxed, revealing a hidden passage beyond. The temperature in the water changed as they swam inside; the eerie warmth was almost comforting, like a hand resting on Arrie’s shoulder.

Arrie glanced back at Nerine, catching a glimmer of worry in her aunt’s deep blue eyes. “Why here?”

“It’s the only place where you’ll be protected, Arrie,” Nerine said softly, a veil of sadness over her voice. “The Stonecrest Academy—our secret boarding school for demigods and paranorms.”

Arrie felt something stir in her chest, a strange mix of wonder and fear. She tightened her grip on Nerine’s hand, drawing courage from the connection. Whatever waited in the depths of this place, she was no longer alone.

“There will be a ferryman here any moment to take you the rest of the way. The location is a secret and carefully guarded.”

“But wait, you’re coming with me, right?”

“No sweets, you will travel on your own. We must keep you safe.”

“But, but-” Arrie started to hyperventilate.

“Hush, my sweets. What happened to your parents was terrible and we can’t risk it happening to you. You’ll go to Stonecrest because you’ll be safe there.  And don’t worry, we’ll be able to visit you, I’ll come soon. Once I know that the others here are safe.”

That stopped Arrie’s complaints. So much had happened and she was still in shock. But it hadn’t occurred to her that  others might not be safe either. She couldn’t not let her aunt help the others. But, she was terrified. “I’m afraid,” she whispered.

“Me too.” Nerine admitted with a hurried smile. “But we’re strong and brave children of the sea. We’ll find our current and rise with the tides.”

Arrie gave a small smile back, emulating her aunt. A mask of bravery might turn into real courage. She would try. She would make her parents and her brother proud.

A sound came from further down the passage, deeper in the shadows. Arrie bit her lip, determined to act brave even if she was scared to death. Ok not to death, but scared out of her scales.

A figure all in black hurried out of the shadows. She was tall and slender with a scarf wrapped around her head. She smiled warmly at Nerine and Arrie. “Good afternoon, Ladies. I’m Lilith.” She hurried closer and held out her hand for a quick handshake to each of them. Arrie appreciated that this woman was treating her like an equal.

“We need to hurry, let me have your bags, and say your goodbyes.” She spoke briskly but not unkindly. She grabbed the shoulder bag from Nerine and stepped back a moment to give them space.

“You’ll do fine, Sweets,” said Nerine using her thumb to wipe a tear from Arrie’s cheek. “It’s a fantastic school where you will learn so much and make so many amazing friends.”

“My friends!” Arrie hadn’t even thought of being away from her friends yet.

Nerine caught Lilith’s eye as she said, “I think you’ll be able to exchange letters with your friends.” Lilith gave a quick nod. “Maybe not at first, we need to keep you safe, but soon.”

“Can they visit me?”

“Hmm, that I’m not sure about.” Lilith shook her head, and Nerine said, “We’ll see what happens. You need to go now. We hurried here to keep you safe, we can’t waste that now.”

As if responding to her words, a thunderous boom rumbled through the floor.

“Come,” said Lilith, stepping forward and guiding Arrie away from her aunt. “We need to go now so your aunt can get to safety, too.”

One more quick hug and Arrie was hurrying beside Nerine down the shadowy tunnel. As they walked, there was always enough light just beside them, but never enough ahead or behind. They were like a bubble of light in the dark. The tunnel curved up and down and around and about. Soon, they came to a dark door blocking the tunnel.

Lilith stopped and said, “We’re almost there. Do you want a moment to rest, to wipe your face, brush your hair, whatever you need to feel on top of your game and ready to meet others?”

“I don’t even know,” answered Arrie truthfully as she smoothed back her hair with her fingers.

“That’s fair.” Lilith smiled again and chuckled. “We’re safe for the moment so let me give you just a little background. I know you just suffered a huge trauma and I am always willing to listen when you want to talk. This will be a different life for you, but not terrible, just different.” She began unwinding her scarf then around her head and Arrie stepped back as Lilith’s head full of little green vipers was uncovered.

“None of us may be quite what you’re used to. I’m a gorgon. I was sent to Stonecrest Academy when I was unable to use any of my powers. I should be able to turn living beings to stone, you see. I can’t. But it was a safe place for me to grow up and learn. Now I choose to teach there.”

Arrie nodded, still skittish of the little snakes, but realizing that they seemed curious, not scary.

“The other students at the school come from a variety of backgrounds. Some have families at home, some don’t.” Lilith held Arrie’s eyes until she nodded. “Some are demigods and some are paranormal. Do you know what that means?”

“No, not really.”

“Ok. I’m a paranorm as in paranormal as in not human. We’re shifters, gorgons, sprites, fae, mer, vampires, etc.”

Arrie nodded understanding that.

“Ok, the demigods have a god or goddess for one of their parents. So they are demi-or half-god.”

“What about the other half?”

Lilith laughed. “That really is the question sometimes. Sometimes you can tell easily and sometimes you can’t. Butu it’s impolite to ask unless that student brings it up. Also, it’s not very polite to ask which god or goddess is their parent.” Lilith sobered her tone. “Like you, some students are here because they need a safe place to grow up. Some are here because they don’t fit in anywhere else, and some are here because their parents want them to go to a good, expensive school. It’s not polite to ask a lot of questions about backgrounds because sometimes the students can’t tell you. Sometimes they can’t in order to be safe, like you, and sometimes they can’t because they don’t know.”

Arrie nodded that she understood, but she had a different question. “You said it was expensive.”

“Uhhuh,” said Lilith, waiting for the question.

“But, but my family doesn’t have a lot of money.”

Lilith chewed her lip deciding how much to tell Arrie. “You’re here on something like a scholarship. Your family won’t receive a bill.”

“So I’m a charity case?”

“No, that’s not it either. These ‘scholarships’ are created by each society, in your case, mer. But they are also reserved for students who are likely to have a strong future role in their society. Not just anyone would have been whisked away into the secret tunnels and then brought through magic passages to arrive at this school.”

“Magic passages?”

“Yes, mdear. There was magic that carried us for thousands of miles while we walked only a mile.”

“Oh.”

“Oh, indeed.” Lilith smiled again. “I’ll be your advisor here, but I’m going to have a couple of the students show you around campus, you’ll see more than if a teacher is touring you around.  Just be yourself and you’ll make friends quickly. And,” she paused for a moment, “it’s ok to be sad or mad, or confused about being here. Most of them have felt all of that, too, whether they admit it or not.”

“Ok,” Arrie’s voice was small, even to her ears.

“Right. Let’s go. We meet the headmistress first, then I’ll show you my office and then your room. Your roommate should be there then to meet you.”

“Roomate?”

“Ah, yes, I forgot you’re used to your own room. Yes, now you’ll have a roommate.

Lilith brought them through the ornate door in the tunnel to a dark hallway. There was one flickering light so they could see a little, but not clearly. “We always keep a light on here for travelers, but we don’t draw attention to this hallway with a bright light.”

Lilith led them through several hallways and to a corner room. She knocked on the door and quietly stepped in, beckoning for Arrie to follow her.

Two adults were standing in front of the window in an animated discussion that they immediately ceased as Arrie and Lilith stepped in. Lilith closed the door behind them and gently smoothed back her vipers in a gentle caress.

“Ahhh, our new student,” said the taller gentleman as they stepped in. “Thank you, Lilith. Welcome Arrie.” The man looked stern and overbearing with his mustache and beard hiding most of his face. But then he gave a warm smile, and his green eyes sparkled.  He was only a few inches taller than the other man, but the second man held a stooped posture and seemed very tired. He turned around with a welcoming smile, too.

Both men were dressed in jeans, a dark blue dress shirt and a sports coat. Neither wore a tie, nor any visible jewelry.

“Please come sit,” said the taller man indicating a sitting area in front of a cozy fireplace. “Are you hungry? I can have some food brought up.”

“No, no thank you,” Arrie replied. Truthfully she hadn’t eaten since yesterday, but a meal seemed like a terrible idea.

“Very well, I happen to like candy though, so perhaps you’ll indulge me and have a piece too.” It seemed a kind offer, but he could see how pale Arrie’s cheeks were and thought a little sugar in her system would be a good idea. Lilith caught his eye and nodded, Arrie hadn’t complained but her pace had slowed as they traveled and her breathing had gotten louder.

“That would be lovely, Headmaster,” said Lilith as she moved to the dark green sofa. “Let me introduce you to Arrie, our newest student. And Arrie, this is Headmaster Davis and Professor Thornwell.”

Each of the men gave a little bow acknowledging Arrie while respecting her space. Headmaster Davis made a point of searching through the wrapped candies before selecting the perfect one and then he passed the basket over to Lilith. She chose a chocolate covered cherry and passed it to Arrie. Arrie didn’t recognise any of the wrappers and looked up confused.

“Ah yes, you wouldn’t recognize these. They’re made by a local shop. They are my favorites, so I’m sure you’ll have ample opportunity to try them all.” He winked at her, then added, “blue is white chocolate, brown is solid chocolate, and all the others are some sort of fruit flavor.”

Arrie picked through and picked a light pink. After passing the basket on, she nibbled the chocolate and was happy to find a light berry flavor.

Headmaster Davis took another piece from te basket and set it on a coffee table in front of them. “So Arrie, welcome to our school. I am sorry you are not here under happier circumstances, but I assure you that we shall do everything we possibly can to keep you safe, to educate you, and to help you make friendships to cherish for the rest of your life.”

Truthfully Arrie was tired of people telling her they were all about helping her stay safe. Her family wasn’t safe. They had been brutally murdered. So how could anyone promise to keep her safe?

“You can think of this however you like, a vacation, an adventure, or just the next stage of your life. Likewise, you can tell the other students as much or as little as you like. They will just be told that you are a new student here. Some of them are here because of tragedies like you, some are here because they and their families chose our school for the experience. This is your chance,” he looked over spectacles that had appeared on his face, “this is your chance to reinvent yourself if you like. No one here knows you. You can be adventurous, outgoing, or however you please.”

Arrie nodded. This was the first that it was pointed out that she could introduce herself as anyone she pleased. She wasn’t stuck as the daughter of the upper class family. She wasn’t the brother of the elite diver. She could be just Arrie.

“Now your academics,” said professor Thornwell, “these are pretty strong.”

“You already have my school records?” Arrie was shocked at that.

Professor Thornwell took a deep breath as if to say one thing, but then just let out the whoosh of air and said, “Yes.” He cocked his head to the side as if measuring her and then said, “Your reading and writing are above average. Your mathematics are on level. Your science is very strong in some areas and alright in others. But your history is deplorable.” He held up a hand as if to hold off interruption. “Don’t be upset about that, it is not your fault. The mer have a long history of not teaching history. I never have understood why. So it’s not your fault. But you may need some remedial coursework to catch up to your peers.”

“I would suggest,” said Lilith softly, “that once she settles we find a student to tutor Arrie in history and she can tutor another in one of her stronger fields of science. Her peers will see her as their equal instead of uninformed then.”

“Hmm-mmm. We can do that.” Headmaster nodded his head. “Yes, that’s smart. We’ll have you do some testing to see what exactly you are lacking and then match you up. Your roommate is actually quite strong at history so whether she is your tutor or another, she will be able to help you some.”

Lilith nodded in agreement.

Headmaster Davis went on, “You, like every other student here will also have some chores in the upkeep of our school. You will of course keep your room and your person neat. You’re responsible for doing your own laundry, as well. The first few weeks we’ll have you do general chores in different areas of our school, just like all new students do, so you become acquainted with the school and our staff. We’ll meet again in a few weeks to see where you would like to be assigned long term.”

“We’re deluging you with a lot of information. I’m sorry,” said Professor Thornwell softly. “Do you have questions for us?”

“Just, I , I wonder,” Arrie stammered. She wanted to ask when her family could visit, but no one could grant her that. “I wonder if my best friend might visit sometime soon?”

“Hmm,” the headmaster rumbled as he nodded his head. “This is an unusual request, but understandable. I’ll look into it for you. You must understand safety, yours and our other students, must be our primary concern, but I also want you to be as happy as you can be.” He chewed the inside of his lip.

“May I suggest that we can certainly accommodate sharing letters within a week or so,” interrupted Professor Thornwell.

“Hmm, yes, letters for sure as soon as we arrange a safe transport. An actual visit will take me longer, but I’ll work on it.”

Arrie sagged a little at the answer having raised her own hopes and then had them immediately muted.

“Right, let’s show you to your room. There will be a map there and we’ll get you settled. Then you and Kaela can choose how to tour the building. It’s late though, so a tour of the grounds will wait until tomorrow.”

“Ok,” Arrie looked down at her hands, struggling to hold the tears in.

Lilith stepped forward as they both stood and held Arrie in a great big hug until Arrie got her breath back. “Ready?” Lilith whispered.

Arrie nodded and gave her a little smile.

“Good. It’s ok to have all these feels. You have been through a lot and now your whole world is upside down as you find a new role. You can always come talk to me.

Arrie gave a small nod, and slung her bag back onto her shoulder.

“Here, take a couple more pieces of chocolate. Whatever colors you want and a couple of the red ones for Kaela.” Headmaster Davis held out the basket of chocolate and Arrie dutifully picked out four pieces of chocolate. Then she followed Lilith out the door and into the school’s wide hallway.

As they walked to her room, Arrie couldn’t help but stare. The school was like a giant mansion with gorgeous woodwork, and plenty of art scattered around. There were also a number of weapons hung on the wall or hanging down from the ceiling. A few of the pieces looked like items or paintings that she had seen at home, but much of it was strange and different. She paused by a huge stained glass window in a large common room. It was an image of under the sea with a rainbow of fish, flowing seaweed, and gorgeous coral. It wasn’t like a photograph but it was an image reminiscent of home.

Lilith waited patiently while she examined it. Speaking softly, Lilith said, “Often this common room is filled with students hanging out before or after meals. Sometimes students work together on homework or projects here, although the library is also used for that. Last winter, “Erilynne taught knitting classes down here.”

“Erilynne?”

“Yes Erilyne. She’s a sweet centaur.”

“Centaur?”

“Uhhuh, we have a variety of mythological creatures and half breeds. We do not tolerate bullying of any kind in regards to this. And generally it’s not polite to ask about a student’s heritage, but she’ll be readily apparent to you.”

They kept walking, passing halls with brass name plates like, “Norse Hall” and “Greek Hall” and “Egyptian Hall”.

They climbed the stairs, grand sweeping stairs, to the third floor. About half way down the dark green carpeted hall they stopped by room 333.

“It will be easy for you to remember,” said Lilith with a smile. She knocked softly and then swung the door in. “Welcome to your suite.”

The room was beautiful! Arrie stepped in, her eyes wide with curiosity. Sitting at a table by the window was a beautiful dark haired girl with pale skin. Arrie blinked as she realized the girl’s dark hair hung down in ringlets to rest on her horse-like back.

“Arrie,” said Lilith, “let me introduce you to your roommate and mentor, Erilynne. Erilynne, this is Arrie, our new student and your new roommate. I hope you will become fast friends, but I certainly believe you will get along well. You’re both sweet, funny, and brave.”

“Come in, Arrie, I’m glad to have a roommate again, I don’t like being alone.” She came over and gave Arrie a hug and then tugged Arrie’s bag off her shoulders and carried it over to the table by the second bed. “Just stand in the middle here and look around. I love this room!”

The suite was a blend of old-world charm and modern comforts, tucked away in a high room where students could glimpse the sprawling grounds below. The room had a large, arched window framed by thick, velvet curtains in deep forest green, casting a rich hue when sunlight filtered through. A sturdy oak bed with a high headboard and soft, layered blankets sat against the stone wall, draped in warm hues of burgundy and gold, while a carved wooden chest rested at its foot, perfect for hiding away books or secret notes.

Beside the bed, a nightstand held a brass lamp that glowed with a gentle warmth. A small fireplace was nestled into the opposite wall, its hearth decorated with enchanted stones that flickered with orange and yellow hues now and blue and silver light when night fell, creating a cozy, intimate glow. Two writing desks by the window were strewn with parchment, quills, and an assortment of potions—some half-used, others brewing faintly in glass vials. The air was filled with a faint scent of cedar, peppermint, and old parchment, mingling with a hint of lavender from the herb sachet tucked beneath the pillows, meant to ward off nightmares.

Above the bed, tapestries woven with ancient symbols and star charts stretched up toward the ceiling, lending a sense of mystery to the room, as if it held secrets that only the truly curious could unlock.

Arrie stood just in the middle of the room, like Erilynne suggested and slowly turned in a circle taking it all in. The dark green of the curtains made her think of being underwater like home, but the burgundy and gold were completely different. She had never slept under the stars so teh star maps would probably be really helpful for her studies.

“We’ll need to clean off your table. Some of that is mine and some left from Helena.”

“Who was Helena?” asked Arrie hesitantly.

“She was my roommate until a few weeks ago, but she had to return home suddenly when her mom got sick.”

“Oh,” said Arrie softly. “I’m sorry.”

“She’ll always be my friend and now you’re going to be my roommate, too.” Errilynne smiled sadly. “I miss her, but that’s ok. You’ll find that students are always coming and going.”

“Oh.”

“Alright, ladies,” said Lillith, “I’m going to leave you two alone. Take the afternoon to get to know each other and explore the building. Tomorrow, you can show Arrie around the grounds and barns. Today, take her to help you with your chores, we’ll find out her assignment soon.”

Lilith slipped out the door while Arie was still looking out the window.

“What’s that?” asked Arrie, looking out at a building almost out of sight.

“Well,” said Erilynne, “we actually have a really nice campus. It will be dark soon though, that’s why I can’t show you around outside until tomorrow. But you can see some from here. Right below us is just a grassy area where we sometimes take our classes outside and study if you have a nice teacher. Or we just hang out and play games like soccer. Over there,” she pointed over to the right and Arrie leaned forward to see further, “over there is the garden shed. Beyond the shed is a whole variety of gardens. We grow our own food, but also a bunch of herbs for medicines. We have fields past those gardens with some of our foods plus the grains for the horses. Over on the other side of this building, there are trails through the airy woods that lead to the orchards.”

“The airy woods?” Arrie asked with raised eyebrows.

Erilynne bit her bottom lip. “Yeah, we call them the airy woods because they are lighter and brighter. The other forest is…dark, and honestly kinda scary.”

“Oh.”

“I guess the other woods aren’t terrible, but when you see them you’ll understand. The airy woods are nice.”

“Ok. I mean back home, there were sandy areas that were really nice and other areas that were rocky and not pleasant to hang out on.”

“Yeah, just like that.” Erilynne smiled, seemingly happy again. “Ok, look. I need to finish, like one more paragraph for this stupid essay. You wanna unpack a little and set up your side and then I’ll show you around?”

“Sure, I can do that.”

Arrie moved back to her bags on her bed. She pulled out her clothes and hung them in the little closet, and placed some in the drawers under the bed. She placed a photograph of her family and another photo of herself and best friends, Merwin and Alicia, on the shelf by her bed. She put a little bottle of sand, from her home, up there as well. No mer should ever leave the sea without some of their sand.”

Arrie was ready to sit on her bed and wait, when Erilynne hopped up and exclaimed, “Thank you soooo much. I’ve had such trouble with this essay and I just wanted to get it done. I can go back and edit it anytime, but writing it has been terrible!”

“No problem. It’s not like I’m in a rush to be anywhere,” said Arrie.

“No, I suppose that’s true. We all have an entire school year or more,” agreed Erilynne.

“Or more?”

“Yeah, some kids stay here all year, just going home for quick visits. Some I think,” Erilynne hesitated, biting her lip again, “some I think, don’t go home at all.”

“Oh! That’s terrible.”

“Sometimes they’re here because home isn’t safe for them. Some are here because their parents don’t want them. It’s important to remember that, I think. But it doesn’t really change the people. We’re all here learning and working regardless of whether we have a scholarship or our rich families pay.”

“Yeah, I guess.” Arrie thought about asking which Erilynne was, but it seemed rude. Besides, being roommates they probably wouldn’t have too many secrets.

“So,” said Erilynne leading them down the hall, the opposite way that Arrie had come from before. “I’m guessing you’ve been to the headmaster’s office and then walked straight to our room, right?”

“I think so.”

“Yeah, that would make sense. So this whole wing is the dormitory. We have the top floor, except for these towers on the end. A couple adults live in towers through the building. We have Lady Mead in our tower. She’s kind of like a house mother. If you’re ever like sick at night, or you need something unusual, one of us would go ask her for help. She’s a little nosy,” Erilynne giggled, “but she is really nice.”

“Umm, ok.”

“We’ll see if she’s in so I can introduce you.”

“Sure,” said Arrie as she tried to glue the name to her memory. Lady Mead, Lady Mead, Lady Mead.

“Don’t worry,” added Erilynne, seeming to read her mind. “You’re going to meet a ton of people and you’re going to forget and mix up names. We all did. I’ll try to help you learn them though. Right now you need to know me-”

“Erilynne, I know that!” laughed Arrie.

“Right!” Erilynne made a goofy face and bowed. “And then there’s Headmaster Davis, Professor Lilith, and now Lady Mead. But they are all awesome about knowing how overwhelming this is, so they won’t be mad if you forget. Just be polite.”

“Uhhuh.”

While they were talking, Erilynne had knocked on the door to the stairs leading up the tower, but Lady Mead hadn’t answered. “I guess she’s not here, so we’ll go down. A lot of the time you’ll use these stairs to go in and out to get to our room the fastest. I’ll show you, but we won’t do more than step outside right now.”

“People keep saying not now, and it’ll be dark soon. Why can’t we be outside in the dark?”

“It’s just…safer not to. Too many unknowns.” Erilynne gave an uncomfortable laugh. “But it’s still light enough that we can step out and I’ll show you how to recognize our door. At first they all kinda look the same.” She said the last part in a loud mock whisper. “This building is gorgeous, but it’s really confusing.”

Once outside, Erilynne showed Arrie the carving in the door designed to look like tall cliffs by water, with the moon overhead. Every exterior door has a different carving. We’ll make you a list or note them on your map  when we get back inside.”

“Map? I have a map?”

“Oh drats, I forgot to give you that.” Erilynne shook her head and made a face. “It’s sitting on my bed so I wouldn’t forget to give it to you. Guess that didn’t work.”

“That’s ok.”

“It will be a lifeline for you for a few days, or a few weeks for some people. Don’t be afraid to use it. Here, we’ll step around the corner so I can show you which window is ours. Oh look, you can see our curtains, and I left the lamp on, on my side.” Erilynne pointed up and Arrie quickly located their window. It actually did help to see where in the building she would be located, it was still completely overwhelming, but just a smidge better.

“It helps doesn’t it? Seeing where you are in all the chaos?”

“Yeah, a little,” Arrie admitted.

“I thought so too, when I first moved in. But let’s get back inside before someone sees us. I’m sure Headmaster Davis knows, the gargoyles keep an eye on us, but if we’re just quick, and it was obvious what we were doing, I don’t think we’ll be in trouble.”

Arrie had stopped short, making Erilynne look back questioningly. “Umm,” she asked, “The gargoyles watch us? Like cameras or something?”

“Uhh, yeah. Kinda.”

Hurrying back inside, Arrie didn’t see the gargoyle phoenix’s head follow their path. Once they were back inside, he fluffed his heavy feathers and went back to scanning the grounds.

“This is where the mystery is, you’ll hear about it soon enough.”

“Mystery?”

Yeah, there’s a prophecy about a student here at the school. This is where the clue is, come read this tapestry. Maybe you can solve it, lots of us are trying!”  Erilynne’s grin enticed Arrie over to see.

The tapestry hung high on the stone wall of the Hall of Ancestors, a masterpiece of woven magic that had captivated generations. Its colors had faded with time, but the shimmering threads of gold and silver still glowed faintly, casting a ghostly light across the room. Arrie, Lira, and Erilynne stood before it, their eyes tracing each ancient symbol, each hidden figure. They had heard the tales of the prophecy before, whispered by cousins and friends back home, but never like this, standing so close to the truth woven before them.

The tapestry depicted a great tree with twisted, gnarled roots sinking deep into the earth, while its branches stretched wide, forming pathways and connections. At its base, shadowed figures—a werewolf, a vampire, a mer, and a witch—stood in a circle, facing outward like sentries. Higher up, faint threads formed cryptic runes, spiraling around a figure cloaked in golden light, their face obscured, yet surrounded by symbols of many species. The prophecy was stitched beneath in flowing script:

When the blood of four converges,

Bound by trust and ancient song,

One child of each to seek the path,

To right the realm of ancient wrong.

Arrie’s fingers hovered over the words, as though she could feel the power of the past seeping through the threads. She glanced at Lira, her mind racing. “So, it’s saying…we’re supposed to find something? A path?”

“But what path?” Lira asked, her violet eyes flashing. “It talks about our blood, our lineage. Maybe there’s a way to trace it back to… I don’t know, the original clans? The ones from before the wars.”

Erilynne leaned in, squinting at the cloaked figure. “Look. The symbols around this person… they’re all mixed—vampire, fae, werewolf, witch. But each one glows a different color. Almost like…a map? I never noticed that before.”

Arrie’s heart quickened. “Or a riddle,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “Maybe it’s not just about us working together. It’s about finding our true heritage, proving we’re… connected somehow. And then…” Her voice trailed off as she looked back up at the golden figure.

“Then one of us unites them all,” Kai finished, his voice tinged with awe and a touch of fear. No one had heard him step into the hall, too.

“But how?” Lira asked, casting a glance over her shoulder, making sure no one else had followed. “How do we prove ourselves when the whole world is ready to tear itself apart again?”

Arrie smiled faintly, her gaze fixed on the tapestry. “Maybe we have to solve this first. Find each symbol, each clue. Prove we can trust each other, even if no one else does.”

They exchanged a long, silent look, the weight of the prophecy settling over them like a shroud. The Hall of Ancestors had seen countless visitors over the centuries, yet as the four of them stood before the tapestry, they felt as though the woven figure watched them with intent, a silent challenge hanging in the air.

Together, they would seek the truth, piece by piece, bound by a legacy written in magic, mystery, and ancient blood.

Erilynne stepped back, “Kai, I want you to meet our newest student and my roommate, Arrie.”

“Yeah, I heard,” he grinned. “There aren’t many secrets here.”

“No that’s true,” agreed Lira. “That’s why I came looking for them, too.

Arrie gave a hesitant smile, overwhelmed already with meeting new people and her mind whirling with this prophecy.

Lira and Kai were about as opposite as they could be. Lira was pale and Kai was tanned. He was tall and muscular, and she was petite.

Lira was delicate, with an ethereal beauty that often made her seem like she’d just drifted out of a dream. She was pale, her skin so fair it almost seemed translucent, with faint blue veins just visible beneath her wrists and neck. Her silvery-blonde hair cascaded around her face in soft waves, her blue eyes gleamed with an unnatural sharpness, a piercing clarity that seemed to catch every detail, every subtle change. Her intelligence almost dripped out of those eyes.

Despite her size, there was something about Lira that made people hesitate, an aura that lingered around her like a shadow. Her movements were light and graceful, almost too quick at times, as though she floated more than walked. She rarely joined in loud conversations or crowded gatherings, preferring the quiet edges of the room or the dim corners of the library. She had a soft voice but a piercing gaze that could silence even the most boisterous chatter. She had used it a few times, when some of the students got too rowdy teasing another. Those loud students always stepped back before they even registered who spoke.

Only a few close friends knew the truth—knew that Lira’s heritage was more complex, and darker, than she let on. Half vampire and half god, she carried the hidden traits of her father’s lineage: her senses were finely tuned, allowing her to hear whispers across a crowded room and see in perfect clarity even in near darkness. Her appetite, carefully concealed, leaned toward the cravings her mother warned her to keep hidden, lest others notice the flicker of hunger in her gaze.

So she masked her instincts, controlled her urges, and played the role of the quiet, unassuming girl at the academy. But in her heart, Lira knew that one day, she would have to embrace the darkness in her blood—her strength, her speed, her instincts. And when that day came, she wouldn’t hide anymore.

Her opposite in so many ways, Kia preferred to be the center of attention. Kai was the spark in every room he entered, a burst of restless energy wrapped in a wide grin and an infectious laugh. He had a natural confidence, the kind that made people feel at ease. With a mess of dark, unruly hair and a gleam of mischief in his deep brown eyes, Kai seemed to bounce rather than walk, never able to keep still for long. He was constantly in trouble for his jokes and pranks, but his charm usually saved him from the worst punishments. Headmaster Davis had joked that Kia should have a desk moved into his study, he served detention so often.

Underneath his lighthearted antics, though, lay a strength he kept carefully hidden. He’d inherited more than his father’s confidence. Kai had strength like steel under that easy going demeanor. He could throw open doors others struggled to budge, lift heavy baskets or chests with ease, and run for miles without breaking a sweat. He’d often catch himself holding back in PE class or stifling his instinct to react at full force, worried someone might notice just how different he was. Or that he might hurt someone by mistake – that was his biggest fear.

Few people knew that his boundless energy and strength were inherited from his father, the legendary Hercules. Kai carried his father’s gifts like a secret badge, not always easy to conceal, but they fueled his constant urge to push boundaries, to test limits, and to laugh in the face of danger. It was his own little way of honoring his heritage, though most of his friends just saw him as the funny guy, the one they could count on for a laugh or a clever escape plan.

But every once in a while, usually when a friend was in trouble, that mask would slip. In those rare flashes, he’d let his strength show, a hint of his true nature – a young demigod with the power of a legend, biding his time until he could show the world just what he was capable of.

“C’mon, let’s get to the kitchen before Mistress Lara is angry with us!” admonished Lira.

“Oh drats, we’re late!” chimed in Erilynne.

“Relax, we’ll just tell her how we were showing Arrie around.”

“”That’ll never be good enough-”

“Let me do the talking,” reassured Kai. He wasn’t worried at all, and Lira and Erilynne did have to admit he might be able to charm them out of trouble.

“Ok, but we have to hurry. Arrie, we’ll show you more later. But we have to do kitchen chores right now.”

Lira hurried right over to the sink and began doing dishes, the suds seeming to fly through her arms and a relative wall of bubbles seemed to appear as the pile of dishes quickly shrunk.

Kia hurried over to Mistress Lara to smooth her disgruntled feathers, while Erilynne tugged Arrie over to find her an apron. Soon they were on opposite sides of a huge table with three others peeling and chopping vegetables. “Some of this is for dinner tonight and some for tomorrow’s soup.”

“Hi, I’m Molly,” said a tall girl with her hair pulled back in a loose bun. Here, you can slice these peppers with me, it’s more fun than peeling potatoes and carrots.

“Thanks, I’m Arrie.”

“Yeah, I know,”

“Right,” Arrie gave a crooked smile as she picked up a yellow pepper. This would be good. She loved to cook, and it could be almost meditative.

“Yeah, news of your arrival spread like a wildfire,” said a short blond haired boy. “We were all excited to meet you, there aren’t that many new kids each year. By the way, I’m Tim.”

“Hi, Tim.” Arrie flashed him a smile as she shook the little white seeds out of her pepper.

A red-haired girl had red eyes and kept rubbing her arm across her face. “I don’t suppose you enjoy chopping onions?” she asked hopefully.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” laughed Erilynne. “Luna, no one likes to chop onions.”

Luna sniffed but didn’t say anything else.

“Luna!” Mistress Lara called out, “take a break from the onion and stir tonight’s soup!”

“Thank the goddess!” whispered Luna and she hurried over to the stove.

“Is there soup every day?” asked Arrie.

“Pretty much,” agreed Tim. “We usually have soup for lunch, but once in a while she makes it extra creamy and we have it for dinner instead. But bread and soup with something else every lunch.”

“Yeah, and some sort of roast meat, veggies, and something sweet at night.”

“And breakfast?”

“Usually we have some sort of warm cereal, fruit, cheese, and roast fish.”

“So we eat well?”

“Oh yeah, we do.” Tim grinned in appreciation.

“And,” added Erilynne, “we can bring snacks back to our rooms if we do some extra tasks in teh kitchen. So I often come down and do some extra sweeping or scrubbing between classes and then she lets me bring some bread, fruit, and cheese to my room. Our room.”

“If you end up on kitchen duty,” added Molly, “get lunch or dinner. Youhave to be up before dawn if you are on breakfast duty.”

“Got it,” said Arrie, but she didn’t actually think it would be that bad. She was used to being up really early taking care of chores at home, and then helping her cousins dress before school. She liked the calm before everyone else was up.

“Yeah, but there are perks,” said Tim.

“Like what?” asked Molly incredulously.

“Morning shift gets coffee and eggs.”

“Hmm, true,” agreed Molly. “Still not worth it.”

“I do like coffee. What else is there to drink?”

“Usually tea and water.”

“That’s it?”

“For most of us. A couple students have special medicine in their drinks, but I think it’s still water just herbs added.”

“Yeah, usually,” agreed Luna suddenly. Molly jumped not hearing Luna come up behind her.

“Stop doing that,” she giggled.

“Overall, Mistress Lara is a little cranky, but she’s fair and she is an amazing cook. It seems like we have the same ingredients every day but she makes so many things out of them. Other than breakfast we never duplicate meals in a week and there are a lot of us.”

“How many kids are here?” asked Arrie, suddenly realizing she had no idea.

“I don’t know,” Erilynne looked at the others. “Maybe a hundred?”

“Really?”

“Yeah, maybe. I know it’s small-”

“No, that’s huge!” interrupted Arrie.

“Oh. ok.”

Arrie’s little village had only had a couple hundred people living there total and the school hadn’t had more than twenty students. She felt a little overwhelmed again.

“Don’t worry,” said Molly, “you’ll get to know everyone soon enough.”

“That’s true,” agreed Kia. C’mon, let me introduce you to our Mistress of the Kitchen. She’s in a good mood now. Luna got all the dishes done in record speed, tonight’s soup meets Mistress Lara’s expectations, and you guys have just about all the vegetables ready. I’m about to roast the strips of meat and the guy over there,” he nodded over to the huge ovens, “he makes amazing bread and right now he’s making tortillas which she loves but hates to make herself.”

“Oh,” Arrie blinked fast as she tried to absorb all the information he just gave her.

“Sorry yeah, sometimes I’m an info dump. Just tell me to slow down next time.”

If she thought preparing dinner was overwhelming, Arrie was not prepared for all the students and many adults in the Great Hall to eat the meal.

Arrie sat with her new friends from the kitchen in the Great Hall. It was loud and quickly it warmed up to almost stifling. It was overwhelming really with all the smells of the meal and the close bodies. Most of the students looked normal to Arrie but there were some exceptions, too. The same with the adults, most looked human but some were obviously gorgons like Lilith or centaurs, or one might have been been a vampire. A voice suddenly at her shoulder made Arrie jump, almost spilling her drink.

“Oh deary me, I didn’t mean to startle you. Although I do that quite often, I’m afraid. I tend to come quite close before speaking because I’m so small you see.”

Arrie pushed her chair back a little, dabbing at the few drops of her water that she had spilled. “No, no that’s fine I-” She stopped short seeing the little flying sprite.

“Ah yes, my voice doesn’t match my size, does it?” chirped the sprite with a laugh.

“No, I, I…”

“It’s alright child. My kind do not typically live under the water, it’s too dangerous for us, especially my family. It’s even more dangerous for fire sprites.”

“Oh,” understanding washed over Arrie. She still felt like her world had been tilted and dumped about but this fit with the mythology lessons that she had learned in school.”

“Yes, fire sprites tend to avoid submerging in water. Sprites and small beings tend to avoid large bodies of water in which we can be swept away by tides and currents. But on the flip side, you might not do so well in the fiery bowels of Hell and I go there for vacations.” She talked really fast, but seemed really nice.

“Umm, ok, yeah that makes sense.”

“So now you’re wondering why this little fire sprite even came over to you in the first place, right?” Arrie hesitantly nodded, and the little figure kept talking, “I’m one of your professors. I came over to welcome you to our school, Arrie. I’m Professor Embershadow. I’ll be teaching you to read the weather. And I wonder if you might help me learn more about reading the water.”

“Reading the water?” Erilynne leaned over to ask, having been clearly eavesdropping.

“Yes dear, reading water currents is similar to reading wind currents, but I haven’t had much practice.”

“Oh, ummm, I can try,” agreed Arrie hesitantly.

“Perfect! I look forward to seeing you in class soon.” Professor Embershadow gave her a quick pat on the shoulder with her tiny hand and zipped off to speak with another student.

“Are there any other mer students here?” asked Arrie quietly.

“I’m not sure,” answered Erilynne quietly. “Not that anyone talks about, but we don’t always know our lineage. Or our parents.”

The meal itself was almost overwhelming, mixed with many people coming over to meet Arrie.Her favorite was the freshly baked bread—crusty on the outside, yet impossibly soft within. It sat in wide baskets lined with soft cloths. Each loaf had been shaped to resemble mythical creatures. As butter was spread onto the slices of bread, the scents of lavender and sage were elevated. Some people dipped their bread into the soup. The soup itself was almost a stew with big chunks of vegetables, and some sort of meat that was exceptionally soft and flavorful. Herbs floated through the broth and every spoonful seemed to fill the mouth with different bursts of flavor.

For dessert, miniature pies filled with sugared forest berries and a touch of frost mint waited, topped with whipped cream that sparkled as though kissed by moonlight. Leaving the dining hall, Arrie thought she might need new clothes if every meal was like this.

If Arrie thought dinner was overwhelming she was not ready for the mass of students that surrounded her. There were so many faces and voices, there was no way that Arrie could remember everyone who was introducing themselves to her. Most of them were really nice, but there was one trio that was not so welcoming.

“What kind of pond scum are you?” asked the tall girl.

“Yeah, you must be some poor orphan here on a mercy scholarship, since you’re starting midyear,” laughed the blond haired boy.

“Yeah, probably not even smart enough to be here, or you would have already been a student,” sneered the first girl.

“Cmon,” said Tim, taking Arrie by the arm.

“Don’t even respond,” whispered Molly.

“Leave her be,” said Erilynne to the rude kids. “As I recall, you came in the middle of the year, too, Brooklin.”

“So?!”

“So, leave her alone. She’s my friend and doesn’t need you being a jerk.”

Arrie didn’t hear the rest of what was said because Tim had led her out of the room. But she glowed a little at Erilynne’s words.

Continue reading on Ream, or drop me a comment that you want to preorder – I’ll get you the link.