Морган Райс - The Obsidians

Christopher’s face was aghast. “But I’ve been training since sunrise. It’s almost midnight. I’m exhausted.”

Mistress Obsidian felt irritation crackle through her. They were always so whiny, these students. She gave them the best education, the darkest powers, every chance to thrive and succeed and take over the universe, and all they ever did was complain.

“I have sat here for three days waiting for this signal,” Mistress Obsidian told him. “When you’ve done the same, then you can talk to me about being tired.”

She paused. On reflection, maybe Christopher had a point. Sending two tired seers on this task was a fool’s errand. They’d need support, at least until they’d rested and rejuvenated their powers.

“You can each take another with you,” she said. “Lookouts who can watch over you when you need to sleep. But you must decide quickly. Who will you take?”

“Natasha Armstrong,” Malcolm said without missing a beat.

“A good choice,” Mistress Obsidian replied. Natasha was one of the students who attended her gifted and talented class. She would make a fine addition to the mission. “Christopher?”

Chris floundered. “I don’t know anyone. I’ve never had a chance to make any friends here.”

“Then take someone you met from your last mission,” Mistress Obsidian told him impatiently, trying to hurry him along. “Whoever you felt helped you the most.”

“Madeleine,” Christopher said, shrugging.

Mistress Obsidian scoffed. “Madeleine? The carrot top whose mouth I zipped shut the other day? Very well. It’s your choice.”

She tapped into her seer powers, searching within herself for the surge of energy she needed to move atoms. She knew every nook and cranny of her precious school, and it was easy for her mind to latch on to the exact locations where Madeleine and Natasha were sleeping. This would be quite a rude awakening for them.

Using all her glorious talent, Mistress Obsidian grabbed hold of their atoms and moved them, tugging them all the way into her office. She rearranged them again, until the two girls materialized in front of her.

They both blinked, looking startled, their cheeks flushing red as they realized they were standing in their nightgowns in the middle of the head teacher’s office.

“Madeleine. Natasha,” Mistress Obsidian announced, “today is your lucky day. Today, you are going on a very important mission, one that will result in the annihilation of Amethyst’s once and for all. Today, you are going to Rome. Today you will kill Oliver Blue.”

Gianni, the Italian seer, led the four friends through the enchanted brick wall. As they emerged through the veil and out the other side, Oliver gasped at the sight that awaited him.

He’d never seen anything quite like it. The Italian version of the School for Seers was the most extravagant-looking place he’d ever seen. Unlike Sister Judith’s school in England, which had had the vibe of a monastery, and his own school in the U.S, which at times felt like a futuristic spaceship, this one had the vibe of a royal palace. He was half expecting to see a king waltz through the huge doors, or a row of bugle players to announce their arrival.

“This way,” David said, relaying back to them what Gianni was saying.

They hurried inside the huge school. Here, the opulence only increased. There were columns of marble and statues all over the place, not to mention an intricately painted domed ceiling. It made Oliver think of all the Renaissance-era artists, like da Vinci and especially Michelangelo, who painted huge murals on the ceilings of religious buildings. He wondered whether a few had visited the school.

As they hurried along the corridors, Oliver felt a strange sense of déjà vu overcome him. He couldn’t understand it, but it felt to him as if he’d been here once before.

“You okay?” Hazel asked.

Oliver nodded. “I just have a weird feeling, that’s all. Like I’ve been here before.”

A frown appeared between Hazel’s eyebrows. “Perhaps you have. Another you, I mean. From a different timeline.”

Oliver pondered her words. It was of course possible that a different version of himself had been to this place before, but that didn’t account for the strange feeling of familiarity Oliver himself was having. Any different Oliver from a different timeline would have different memories. There was no way he’d be able to tap into those.

It was a complete mystery. And yet, with each footstep he took, he felt more and more like he’d walked this exact path before.

Oliver shook the thoughts from his head. It was impossible. He must’ve just been thinking of a history book he’d read, or a documentary he’d watched. Perhaps he was recalling a dream. Either way, he didn’t have time to waste thinking about it. He had to stay focused on Esther, on finding the Elixir to save her life.

Gianni led them up to a large lacquered door and rapped his knuckles against it. He turned his head and said something to David. David relayed the message in English to the others.

“This is the headmistress’s office.”

Oliver gulped. He couldn’t help but feel nervous every time he met another powerful and revered seer. He respected Professor Amethyst more than anyone in the universe and to meet his counterparts through history was always a humbling, nerve-wracking experience.

Gianni opened the door and led them into an office. It was enormous, more like the ballroom of a palace than a head teacher’s office. There were large paintings in gold frames all over the dark green walls, and a huge marble fireplace. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling and the smell of almonds punctuated the air.

As they moved farther inside, Oliver saw a large desk behind which sat an extremely elegant-looking woman. Though she was old, she was extremely glamorous and there was a youthful energy in her bright eyes. She had the same olive-colored skin and dark eyes as Gianni. Luscious shiny black hair hung over one shoulder in waves.

“Oliver Blue?” she asked, her voice soft and lilting, her Italian accent strong.

“Yes,” he stammered, a little overcome by her strong presence.

“Please. Take a seat.” She gestured to a row of chairs and smiled, her teeth white, her smile inviting. “All of you.”

Oliver felt bewildered by everything, but did as he was instructed. His friends sat alongside him in solidarity.

“I’m the headmistress of the Rome Seer School,” the woman announced. “Lucia Moretti. Let me first welcome you.”

“Thank you,” Oliver stammered. He felt a little flustered in the presence of such an elegantly powerful woman.

The headmistress continued. “I understand you were able to activate the ancient portal that was rumored to lead you to the Elixir. I must say I am rather surprised that it led you here.” There was a sparkle of excitement in her eye. “To think, the key to finding the Elixir has been on my doorstep all along.” She smiled at Oliver. “I am not surprised that after all these centuries, it was you of all people who managed to activate the portal, Oliver Blue.”

Oliver frowned, confused. What did that mean?

“I don’t understand,” he said. “What do you mean me ‘of all people’?”

“Why, you’re the son of Margaret Oliver and Theodore Blue!” she exclaimed. “Aren’t you?”

At the sound of his parents’ names, Oliver felt his heart begin to pound. Walter and Hazel visibly jerked in their seats. As two of Oliver’s closest friends, they knew full well how he’d been desperately searching for his parents.

“You know my parents?” Oliver asked, his voice sounding breathless from shock.

“Of course I do,” the headmistress replied. A small frown had appeared between her eyebrows. “They’re rather famous in these parts. But you know all this.”