"Achilles?" Achilles straightened himself, looking over at his ghostly companion Pinual. "Is this…it?"
"What do you mean?"
"Is this the extent of the plans?" Pinual motioned to the campus, children huddled in groups as they scurried across the lawns.
"Of course not. We just need to wait a little while. Let them trust us again. Actually, I've been thinking about something to fill the void we created in the festival. Pinual, be so kind and get the prefects together." Pinual nodded and grinned as he scampered off through the bunks. A festival would be perfect.
Peter gazed around the grand foyer of Phoenix marveling at the mere size of it. He had been inside the bunkhouse before, but this area had locked off for Phoenix bunkies only, since along the walls were doors to their housing. The walls had no ladders or steps, only scratchy rock and ropes. Perfect for birds and elementals, who tend to have better grip strength, but not so good for Peter as he attempted shimmy his way up the wall to the balcony where he was to sit for whatever insane thing Achilles had come up with now. He turned towards the flying balcony at the room's head, but it was empty except for Pinual, who appeared to be sleeping. Peter had learned quickly though that Pinual was fond of tricks. He watched the other prefects for a moment, noting Shen was attending in Grossman's absence. He motioned to Pol Slattery, who nodded and levitated Shen and Shen's pillow over next to him. "Hello."
"Hi?" Shen said shakily, getting his bearings after having his gravity ripped from him.
"I'd rather you not sit alone. And I have things we need to talk about." Peter said flatly, eyes burrowing into Shen. He shrunk back, and Peter immediately tried to correct himself, smiling creepily in an attempt to ease him. Shen just scooted his pillow away.
"So um, when does Achilles get her-AH!" William Bee shrieked as Achilles appeared on the balcony in a burst of flame. Pinual did nothing more than stretch and adjust himself so he was facing the Dutch boy.
"Thank you all for coming! I know these meetings can be a pain, with repairs and whatnot, but I swear this one is will be worth your time." Achilles kicked a poster holder next to him and a banner for "The Celestial Festival" fell down. "A festival celebrating the celestial bodies!"
"Is this all the celestial bodies, or just the sun?" Peter groaned. "Not to insult you or anything, but it's a bit disengous to call it a celestial festival if it's only for the sun."
"No, Peter, this really is for all the bodies. Even your precious moon!" Peter flushed. "C'mon Peter. You're a fish. Admit it or not, you like the moon." Peter's face twisted into a scowl, Achilles just smirking. If he had known it was this easy to get a rise out the shark, he'd of done it more often.
"And the stars?" Asked Talo Momoe, Tiger Bunkhouse prefect. Tiger was the other witchery bunk.
"What are Stars but tiny suns? Of course, the stars are included." Talo lit up, and began scribbling things down on his arm with a pen. "I assume Tiger will can do a star reading booth?"
"Totally!"
"Great! I expect the rest of you to have booth ideas discussed and decided on by the end of the week. It's okay if your powers aren't directly related, as long as the idea stays on theme, like moon cakes. Please someone make moon cakes?" The other prefects laughed uneasily, collecting their things and heading out of Phoenix. Peter made his way down, Shen following behind him.
"Meet me back at Salamander. Bring Ender with you, and have him bring anything he can carry. I do not want him staying in Phoenix. I'll deal with Achilles later." Shen nodded and jogged away. Peter broke into a light sprint, catching up with Talo right outside Tiger. "What was that?"
"What was what?" Talo said, eyes narrowed.
"The whole star reading bit! He is not our friend!"
"Look…Peter, right?" Peter nodded, but anger bubbled underneath. "Our teacher is gone. The observatory is locked. We've haven't done anything new with magic or stars in weeks. The kids are going to be ecstatic when they hear about the booth!"
"But what are the ramifications of going along with him? This could be another trick to increase his power for all we know."
"I don't know man. Achilles hasn't lashed out since that night. If he's really putting together a whole festival just to burn it to the ground, he's dumber than I thought. Now," Talo opened the door and began frantically writing on his arm again, flashing one last glare at Peter. "I have to tell the bunk the good news." Peter just scrunched up his nose and stalked off. He didn't care about how long Talo had gone without magic. Achilles didn't do anything without an underlying power grab. Peter walked into Salamander and collapsed on the couch.
"Hey." Blu asked from above him. "What did Flandres want?"
"He's having a festival. We have to do something for the moon."
"Cool. I'll do that." Blu grabbed a piece of paper and started scribbling down ideas. "I said- "
"I know. Thank you." Blu frowned, nervously shifting. He reached over and awkwardly patted Peter's forehead. Peter pulled his hand down and kept it there.
"Festival time, time for festivals festival time-"Achilles shushed Pinual. He'd forgotten how much Pinual used to talk about the festivals, and part of him was beginning to regret setting one up. "Are we going to do something special since Phoenix is the host?"
"Yes. We're going to squash a rebellion."
"W-what?"
"They're plotting something. Peter took Ender out of the bunkhouse, and then tried to justify it by saying some bull about family bunking. He doesn't trust me. Not like the others." Achilles ran his fingers across the scratched wood of his old desk. He didn't particularly hate Arkianian in most aspects, but his rage flared when he saw the work her talons had done on his furniture. "I can't have a dissenter."
"Do you think they'll try to attack the festival?"
"Not by choice. And I can't keep the others in the under realm forever. Don't worry. The prefects are getting more desperate by the minute, and I have big plans for Phoenix's contribution. Something that'll secure my rule over this school, and beyond."
"Peter?" Ender whispered, sitting in Bean's room. "Is Val coming back?"
"Yes." Peter said firmly. He didn't entirely believe it, but Ender needed to. Deep in the pit of stomach he knew escaping the spirit world would be a trial in of itself, and that Val was years behind the other witches. The thought made him nauseous, and he leaned out of the room. "She'll be-urp-fine."
"What we you talking about, in the meeting?" Shen asked, shoving his knees into his chest.
"We're rising up."
"How?"
"Well," Peter kicked the floor of Salamander, letting a hollow echo ring through the building. "I've found some things during repairs."