Chapter 19

CHAPTER NINETEEN

The first thing they had to do was close the portal Jaylyn had gone through. Only a tiny sliver of it had remained open, which we’d just so happened to fall into, but no one had known to look for that kind of magic because portal jumpers are so rare.

Mr. Vanderflit worked with Jaylyn to show her how to close it, and the other students cheered when it was done. It seemed that the whole school was relieved that we didn’t have another dangerous person among us.

When it was done, Mr. Vanderflit looked around the courtyard. "One thing doesn't make sense. "

"What?" I asked.

"The statues. They're broken, everywhere. Why?"

Jaylyn ducked her head. "Yeah, that was me, too. When the portal opened, it sliced through one of them." She pointed to a statue of a griffin. "See how clean that cut is? The top of it fell over, and it caused a domino effect."

"Ahh, I see, I see." Mr. Vanderflit peered through his glasses and began muttering to himself, his nose nearly on top of the griffin statue.

"I’m glad everyone is happy," Jessie said to the three of us. "But I’m starving. Care to sneak away?"

"That sounds amazing," Jaylyn said.

My stomach grumbled as I followed Jessie's lead away from the others. All the students remained in the courtyard, talking excitedly. I even saw a few of them acting out our big battle.

"Hold on!" Mr. Vanderflit called, hurrying up to us as he glanced between the other students and us. "I don’t want to pry, but the four of you are swimming in power. Is there anything you want to tell me? "

It was Robbie who answered. "We found a room full of powerful objects in the Lizard Wizard’s lair."

Mr. Vanderflit nodded. "Things I suspect were stolen, given the fact that I can sense some are from our world."

"Really?" I asked, shocked.

"Yes." Mr. Vanderflit hesitated. "I won’t take them from you, but I do suggest you put them in my office, so we can figure out which ones are safe and which ones are dangerous. And because, well, we wouldn’t want any of the objects to fall in the wrong hands."

We readily agreed and went to his office to unload all our stolen goods. Which each item we placed on his desk and tables, his eyes widened. It wasn’t until I put the key on the table that he picked it up eagerly.

"Do you recognize that key?" I asked.

"It’s from our academy," he said in a hushed voice.

We waited for him to say more, but he didn’t. After exchanging another glance, we left him, eager to eat and rest after our long journey.

In the halls, Jessie leaned in, a strange look on her face. "I need to talk to you tonight, after we've eaten and showered, it's very important. Meet me back in the courtyard," Jessie said, her gaze locking onto each of ours.

There was a serious tone in her voice that made my skin prickle with anticipation.

"Sure, Jessie. What's up?" I asked, trying to keep my voice casual despite the hunger gnawing at me and the curiosity that buzzed like a persistent fly.

She shook her head, her curly brown hair bouncing around her face. "Not now. Later. It's... delicate."

"Okay," Robbie said with a nod, his blue eyes searching Jessie’s for clues.

Jaylyn said nothing, just nodded, her long black hair shielding her expression.

I couldn't help but wonder what was so urgent, but the thought of food was too tempting to ignore any longer. We all needed that meal. And that shower. So, we went to eat.

I slid into the chair at the cafeteria, the plush cushion a comfort to my tired body. The scents of sizzling woks and spices filled the air. " Orange chicken, fried rice, and wontons, please," I said to the staff when it was my turn to order.

Robbie, Jaylyn, and I ate mostly in silence. Our cutlery clinked against the plates, the only sound breaking our quietude. By the time my plate was clean, a warm fullness settled in my belly, and my eyelids felt heavy. But Jessie's words echoed in my head, keeping me awake.

"Shower then courtyard," I reminded myself, pushing away from the table.

The hot water was a relief, steam curling around me as I let the day wash off. But I hurried, Jessie's urgency a nagging pulse in my mind. Wrapped in a towel, with my hair dripping, I dressed quickly and made my way back to the courtyard.

Jessie was there, alone under the moonlight. "What's going on?" I asked, fidgeting with the hem of my shirt.

"I will explain when everyone is here," she said, eyes fixed on the sky before glancing at her watch. "It's got to be timed just right."

"Timed for what?" I wanted to ask more but bit my tongue .

Soon, footsteps heralded the arrival of Robbie and Jaylyn. They both looked refreshed, curious.

Jessie exhaled deeply and reached into her bag, drawing out a ruby red robe that seemed to drink in the moonlight. She draped it over her shoulders. "We can begin," she announced, her voice steady.

The cloak added an air of gravity to her presence. I exchanged a glance with Robbie, his raised eyebrows mirroring my own curiosity. Something significant was unfolding, and I was right in the middle of it.

Jessie motioned us into a circle around the sooty markings on the cobblestone. "Stand there, please," she pointed to specific spots. I took my place opposite Robbie and next to Jaylyn, who glanced at the names between us with furrowed brows.

"Isn't that...?" Robbie started, but his voice trailed off as our eyes met. It was the same eerie handwriting from the day Jaylyn vanished.

"Exactly," Jessie stepped into the center of our makeshift ring. She looked each of us in the eye. "Welcome to your induction ceremony."

"Induction to what?" I asked, a mix of nerves and excitement bubbling up inside me .

"The Godmother Secret Society," she said with a sense of reverence. "I'm the last member here at Rune Academy." She reached into her robe pocket and pulled out three amulets, each one unique and gleaming in the moonlight.

"Take these," Jessie said, offering one to each of us. The small charm she handed me felt cool and heavy in my palm. I flipped it over, admiring the intricate design and wondering about its origins.

"Thanks," I managed, while Robbie and Jaylyn echoed their gratitude, our collective surprise written across our faces.

"Ready for the oath?" Jessie asked, her tone shifting to one of solemnity.

We nodded, still processing the gravity of what was happening.

"Repeat after me," Jessie said. "I will always protect the secret of the Grandmother Secret Society, never telling anyone outside of our society about its existence."

"I will always protect the secret of the Grandmother Secret Society, never telling anyone outside of our society about its existence," we chanted in unison, our voices echoing off the stone walls.

"And as a member, I will always look out for the other members, and uphold the friendships made through our society."

"And as a member, I will always look out for the other members, and uphold the friendships made through our society," we said, the words binding us together in a promise that felt both ancient and new.

"Congratulations," Jessie smiled warmly. "You're now part of something bigger than yourselves."

A sense of camaraderie washed over me as I looped the amulet around my neck, feeling its weight as a reminder of this strange, new chapter we were stepping into together.

My pulse raced with excitement as the last word of the oath left my lips, determination and passion threading through each syllable. Jessie stepped forward, her brown eyes gleaming in the moonlight that spilled into the courtyard.

"Tonight marks the beginning of a journey for all of you," Jessie said, her voice filled with an earnest warmth that wrapped around us like a comforting shawl. "The path of a fairy godmother or sugar daddy is not an easy one. It's filled with challenges and mysteries, but also with the profound joy of making a difference."

She paused, looking at each of us in turn. "I've been where you are now. The sole member of this society within these academy walls. It's been lonely, but it's taught me so much about the magic we wield and the responsibilities we carry."

"Take pride in your roles," she said. "Embrace the quirks and the quiet moments, the victories and the lessons learned. There's much to be done, and now, with fresh eyes and hearts, you'll help weave the future of our magical realm."

We stood there, soaked in silence, letting her words sink deep. Then Jessie cleared her throat and looked at me, her expression turning serious.

"There's something I need to explain," she said, fidgeting with the hem of her ruby red robe. "Your names, written in soot on the ground here... it was me who wrote it. "

Robbie and I exchanged glances, the weight of her confession settling between us.

"I was setting up this very courtyard for your induction when Jaylyn stumbled upon me. I had to hide quickly, so I ran and ducked behind the statues." Jessie's cheeks flushed with a hint of embarrassment. "And then the portal activated unexpectedly, but I didn’t know it. All the statues falling sounded like an explosion to me. I didn't know what to think. I just knew that you disappeared." She looked like she was about to cry. "I really thought you were dead."

"Oh, no. I bet you've been torn up inside, carrying this secret," Jaylyn said, her big brown eyes wide with shock.

Jessie nodded solemnly. "So, Cendi, the reason your name was on the ground first... it's because you were always meant to be a part of this. But me being near the portal when it opened, that was just coincidence."

She bit her lip, looking at each of us apologetically. "I'm so sorry for all the confusion and worry it caused. "

"It's alright, Jessie," I felt a strange sense of relief. "What matters is we're all here now."

"Exactly," Robbie said, his blue eyes reflecting sincerity. "We're in this together."

Jaylyn simply nodded, her presence always more subdued than words could convey.

"Thank you," Jessie sighed, visibly relieved by our responses. "Now let's look forward. We have a lot to do, and I'm glad I won't be doing it alone anymore."

We smiled, the bond of the Grandmother Secret Society now firmly tethered among us.

Laughter was still bubbling from our lips when a bright blue glow caught my eye. It came from Mr. Vanderflit's office. "Look," I pointed, and we all turned to see the strange light shining beneath the door.

"Let's check it out," Robbie led the way as we hurried over.

I pushed the door open, and there it was, a ghost. But not just any ghost; this one looked exactly like me. It reached for a key on Mr. Vanderflit's desk. Suddenly, the room trembled, walls shuddering as if the castle itself was scared. Picture frames clattered to the ground, books tumbled off shelves, and I felt an icy chill pass through me.

"Hey," Mr. Vanderflit burst into the room, red-faced and panting. "Don't touch that,"

But before he could reach it, the ghost vanished, and darkness swallowed the room whole.

"What was that?" Jaylyn gasped, clutching her robe tight around her.

"Disaster," Mr. Vanderflit groaned, running his fingers through his fiery hair. "We need that key back."

"Why is it so important?" Robbie asked, picking up a fallen book and setting it back on the shelf.

Mr. Vanderflit frowned deeply. "It's the only thing that can open a secret room beneath the castle. A door enchanted so no other key can turn its lock."

"Why do you need to get into the room?"

He looked sad. "My friend, Freddie Gerrick, disappeared behind that door a long time ago. We thought that key..." His voice trailed off, filled with regret.

"Can we get it back?" I offered, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on my shoulders.

"Only you can," Mr. Vanderflit said, locking eyes with me. "The ghost took your shape. You're connected now."

Connected? What the heck did that mean?