Nina XVIII
Note: Trigger Warning: There is slight torture in this chapter so if you want to skip that do not read the section when Senkhara is in Nina's room.
Nina's frustration with the group's cursed status was rapidly rising. Walking with Amber to their music lesson, Nina took the time to recap their progress, or lack of progress. "We have three hooks, and one spider shaped hole thingy… And no idea on where to find any of the items".
"I had hoped this task would be about mermaids or baking" joked Amber as she bumped her hip against Nina's.
Entering the main stretch of the school hallway the pair encountered Jerome's little sister. "Hey Poppy!" called Amber giving the younger girl a wide grin and wave.
"Hey Ambs, Nina!" greeted Poppy.
"WHOA! Stop right there! What's that?" interrogated Amber. Nina was confused as to what Amber had noticed but quickly spotted a familiar necklace laying around the girl's throat.
"Oh! Uh, it's nothing" Poppy stammered. Growing suddenly defensive the girl tucked it into her shirt, "It's mine ok. My… brother gave it to me" with that she turned and booked it down the hallway and out of sight.
"Jerome!" Nina growled "That lying, scheming, twisted…"
"Whoa Neens! Maybe Poppy was mistaken!"
"Mistaken my a-"
"Nina Martin! Give the boy the benefit of the doubt! He is a Sibuna for crying out loud. He wouldn't risk Alfie and Lili just to screw us over. Let's at least go speak to him before you plot his murder".
"Fine" Nina relented. Stupid Amber and her faith in humanity. The girl always looked for the best in people, well at least until they burned her then they were screwed. Checking the clock Nina reasoned that they wouldn't be able to hunt down Jerome now so it would have to wait till after classes. But when the final bell rang Jerome Clarke had best watch out because there is nothing that would stand in the way of Nina saving her friends.
*Tears of Gold – Tears of Gold – Tears of Gold*
Nina was the first out of the history classroom as soon as the bell rang. Flying down the hallways Nina booked it to Jerome and Alfie's lockers as fast as her feet could carry her. Snagging the tall boy Nina dragged him over to the filling station.
"Whoa!" he exclaimed. "Have you two started a strange girls acting strangely club?" Jerome questioned looking between her and Amber, "because right now it is going very well".
"Poppy is wearing a necklace around her neck" exclaimed Amber as Nina stared him down.
"Seems logical Amber" he returned, "That is where you wear them. Continue…"
"It's ours" snapped Nina. "She said that you gave it to her"
"Yes I did" he admitted. "What of it?". Oh Nina knew it! That backstabbing son of a b-.
Amber cut in trying to deescalate the situation, "Well it's ours. We lost it and we would like it back".
"Well Amber," he began. "I'm afraid the operative word you used was 'lost'. In my book that makes Poppy the finder keeper and you two a pair of looser weepers. Please think and formulate your accusations and cases against me better next time. Have a nice day". With that he stormed off down the hall taking their best chance of getting the missing amulet back with him.
"He's acting too weird. You did fill them in on the missing amulet and latest Sibuna nonsense this morning. Right?" Amber prodded.
Nina shrugged guiltily studying the floor. "I actually didn't get a chance to"
"Oh that is straight bull Nina Martin. Even after our whole talk you are still looking for a way to kick them out. You have never trusted him and are making it blatantly clear that you never will. Should Alfie be worried about you kicking him out of Sibuna next? He is loyal to Jerome and you've always hated that. What about Patricia? Those three used to be great friends before you arrived. And what about me huh? I'm with Alfie so does that put me on the chopping block too your highness? The only way this works is if we all work together. If you keep going like this Neens you just might find yourself short a team. I'm going on my coffee date with Alfie and I hope that you have done the right thing when I return" shouted Amber as she turned on her heel and stormed away as well.
*Tears of Gold – Tears of Gold – Tears of Gold*
Sitting in her room Nina tried to weigh the pros and cons of the next action she had to take. Looking over at her best friend's bed Nina had to admit that the blonde hadn't been wrong. Nina wasn't exactly thrilled to be working with Jerome again. The cocky boy grated on her nerves and his mysterious air set Nina on edge. He had also betrayed Sibuna last year by selling their information to Rufus Zeno. True, he had redeemed himself, but the boy wasn't really a team player.
Except, it suddenly seemed like he was? This past month Nina had watched as new sides had risen to the surface amongst her housemates with the arrival of Liliana. All of a sudden Jerome was a family man with responsibilities that he actually took seriously. He was super protective of Poppy, Lili and Alfie.
Glaring at the phone in her hands Nina knew what she had to do. Opening her text messages Nina added Liliana and Jerome into the official Sibuna group chat. Adding them made it real, they were in the group and there was no going back.
A sudden knock on the door drew her attention. "It's open" she called.
Fabian peeked his head in and Nina swore that her heart skipped a beat. The last couple days all that had been running through her head were his words during their stake out. How he had confessed that he wanted to give the whole 'Fabina' thing another shot. Nina had frozen upon hearing those words. Fabian was the one who had broken up with her and now he was saying he wanted them to get back together. She had selfishly pretended to be asleep since she had no clue as what to say to him. Later when he had pressed the subject, she had decided to play dumb and see if he had really meant what he had said. His backpedaling on the issue though was a pretty clear signal that he didn't really mean it. Nina wasn't willing to jump back into a situation where she could be hurt for more maybes from an insecure boy who couldn't make up his mind, even if he was her first and best British friend.
"Hi Nina. I just got done speaking to Alfie. I think I have the perfect piece of leverage to use against Jerome".
"What is it?" even if she was going to try and be a team player, it never hurt to store up some blackmail, reflected Nina.
"Apparently Jerome has been searching for this gem that Mara washed down the drain and Vera stole. So…"
"SO if we get the gem, we can make a deal with Jerome!"
"Exactly, at that point he will have to get the amulet back from Poppy!"
"That's perfect Fabian!"
"So we'll stake out Vera's room during lunch tomorrow when she goes to get the shopping" the dark-haired boy revealed.
"Sounds like a plan!" It was only at that moment that Nina realized how close the pair had gotten. She had risen from her bed when he had entered, and they had gravitated toward each other like always. Taking a big step back Nina ushered him out of the room under the illusion of homework. Closing the door behind her ex-boyfriend Nina shot off a text telling the other Sibunas that there would be no practice that night and turned her attention toward her schoolwork.
*Tears of Gold – Tears of Gold – Tears of Gold*
Grabbing Fabian as the lunch bell rang Nina ran back to Anubis house. They snuck upstairs while Vera was in the laundry. Breaking out her hair pin Nina got to work, the click of the lock signaled that they would be able to enter Vera's room now.
"Awesome work Nina!" cheered Fabian.
"Thanks. Let's get to work finding that gem" Nina directed heading up the stairs. Splitting up the pair set about looking for the missing gem and their blackmail. Nina took Vera's vanity while Fabian tackled the woman's wardrobe. Opening the house mother's jewelry chest, she found the purple gem Alfie had described sitting innocently on the cushion. Grabbing it Nina hid with Fabian in the wardrobe while they waited for Jerome to arrive.
Luckily, they didn't have to wait long, just under five minutes later the door to the room creaked open revealing Jerome. When his back was turned away from them and he was distracted searching for the gem in the vanity Nina and Fabian slipped out of their hiding spot and began their prepared speech.
"Thought you would be quicker off the mark Jerome" Fabian snarked. "Vera has been gone for ages".
"But you were right" Nina mockingly comforted, "That's where it was hidden".
"Where what was hidden?" questioned the startled boy.
"Don't play dumb. We know that you are looking for the gem" reprimanded the threatening looking boy beside her.
Taking this as her cue Nina lifted up the coveted treasure, "All coming back to you now is it?" she questioned.
Jerome quickly made his way across the room to the pair ready to snatch the gem away from her. As soon as he was in reach, Nina curled her hand back around it hiding it from sight. "Not so fast".
Breathing deeply, Jerome adopted a crazed look in his eyes, "What is going on you guys?"
"We want to trade you, the gem for the amulet".
"When will you trust me?" the taller boy asked.
"Why do you want the gem?" Nina fired back. Trust was a two-way street after all.
His smirk faded and a shadow of sorrow crossed his face but was gone before Nina could really analyze it. "Touché. I was going to give it back to you anyway, since we are all on the same team here"
"Yeah" Fabian scoffed, "of course you were".
"See you around" Jerome scoffed and quickly exited the room.
The second the door closed behind the taller boy the pair let out huge sighs of relief. "We should get back to school before lunch is over" chuckled Fabian holding the door open for Nina.
"Yeah, of course. I just need put this back in the doll house for safe keeping. You go on ahead, I'll meet you in class" Nina agreed. Things were finally looking up for the Sibuna club.
*Tears of Gold – Tears of Gold – Tears of Gold*
Her room was empty since Amber was still at school, so Nina wasted no time in placing the amulet back in it's hiding spot. As she closed the drawer the dollhouse windows lit up signaling a new clue from Sarah's spirit.
"Thank you Sarah" Nina whispered as she opened the doors. There was a tiny light glowing in the living room replica. Pulling at the loose wallpaper she felt it give and slide into her hands. Turning the colored sheet of paper over Nina found Sarah's handwriting.
"Upon the foundation on which this house rests lies the solution to the spider web test. To find the armorer and scholars hollow, the silver thread of fate you must follow". 'What did it mean? Why couldn't the clues ever be obvious' Nina lamented.
A familiar blast of cold air had the hair on Nina's arm stand up on end. Turning Nina found herself face to face with the spirit who haunts her nightmares, Senkhara.
"This ruler may be forgotten, but she will not be ignored" threatened the spirit. "Or you will pay the gravest price of all. The raven is poised to swoop on the mask. So do not forget, you belong to me now chosen one. And I will not tolerate any more of your failures." Holding out her hands Senkhara activated the brand on Nina's arm. It felt as if thousands of volts of electricity were coursing through her. Nina fell to the floor with tears in her eyes as she tried to breathe through her pain. The pain became too much and she began to black out with Senkhara's gleeful face being the last thing she saw as darkness consumed her.
*Tears of Gold – Tears of Gold – Tears of Gold*
So she obviously didn't make it to her next class. Between the impromptu torture session with her dead captor and the ensuing freak out Nina wasn't in the mood to go to Biology. Pulling herself together though she headed off to school for at least one class and to catch her friends up on the latest clue. The last class on Tuesdays for Nina was French with the other Anubis residents. Previously Mrs. Andrews had mentioned that she would have a special announcement today. Walking in Nina saw that Liliana was bouncing in her seat clearly excited for whatever this piece of news was. Nina settled into her own seat next to Fabian stiffly since she was still sore from the shocks given by Senkhara.
Standing up from her desk Mrs. Andrews called the class to order. "Good afternoon class"
"Good afternoon" they answered back.
"Before we begin, I have the announcement that I promised you all yesterday" a stream of whispers started at her words.
Rapping her knuckles on her desk Mrs. Andrews reclaimed the distracted class's attention. "I would like to announce the date of this year's Student Representative election. As you know Mara was elected last year and has been acting in this position. Any candidates will have the week to campaign and elections will be held next Friday. Are there any nominees to run against Mara for the position?".
Liliana's hand shot in the air so fast Nina was afraid she would fall out of her seat. "Miss Wells who would you like to nominate?" asked the teacher.
"I nominate Amber Millington" responded the girl excitedly shooting her fellow blonde a huge smile.
"Well Amber, do you accept the nomination" asked the doubtful professor.
"Yes, I accept" grinned the resident fashionista.
"Alright any other nominations?"
"Yeah I got one" spoke up one of the Osiris house residents, Hadrian Black. "I nominate Miss Tess". The murderous look that Tessa Jones shot him showed that she was definitely not on board with this plan.
"Wonderful!" cheered Mrs. Andrews. "It is so great to see our Osiris residents deciding to participate in school events". Abigail Cowen scoffed from her place next to her boyfriend Jason McCreery. "Something to add Miss Cowen?"
"Of course not Mrs. Andrews" saved Jason, "We think that Tessa will make a great choice for candidate".
"Alright then if there are no other candidates we will proceed with class". As Mrs. Andrews began her lesson Nina drifted off thinking about the upcoming election. Obviously, she was going to vote for Amber, the girl was her best friend and Mara hadn't done anything with her position but plan a prom and pad her resume. As for Tessa, well Nina hated to admit it, but she really didn't know anything about the other girl or anyone in Osiris house.
It was an unspoken rule at Frobisher Academy that all students pretty much stuck to their own housemates unless forced to work together on a school project. Nina had been paired with Hadrian last year for a Biology project and they hadn't connected. Nina found him to be cocky and self-obsessed. She did know that he was supposedly dating his housemate Natasha Taylor, but beyond that Nina hadn't really cared to learn more about the house as a whole.
All in all everything seemed to flow better when the houses didn't interact. Hopefully this election would be like the last when Amelia Pinches from Isis house (the only other house with students in their year) basically bowed out and the real fight was between Amber and Mara/Mick.
*Tears of Gold – Tears of Gold – Tears of Gold*
Nina had sent a text in the Sibuna group chat with the new clue and an order for everyone to meet in Sibuna clearing to discuss their latest lead. Unsurprisingly she was the last one there since Mrs. Andrews had held her back after class to discuss her daydreaming. When she arrived Nina found Liliana and Amber plotting their campaign with Jerome while Alfie and Fabian talked about Fabian's little sister Olivia and her upcoming visit to the school. Patricia wasn't there since she was in detention and busy dealing with her temporary blindness. Fabian quickly cut off his conversation though once he saw her approaching.
"Nina! You finally escaped Madam Andrews" he greeted. Placing her bag down Nina dropped onto the log beside him.
"Ugh" she groaned, "I'm fluent in French and just got out of a torture session with my ghostly nemesis of course I'm not going to pay attention in class". Fabian rubbed her back comfortingly.
"Sorry love, did Senkhara reveal anything before she tried to electrocute you?"
"Just her usual 'Do not fail me' jazz. She was really angry and said that 'the raven was poised to swoop' though…"
"Do you think it means Victor?" asked Jerome. "That is what everyone tends to refer to him as".
"Well Victor didn't have the amulet, Poppy did…"
"That's what I don't understand" agreed Nina.
"Well obvi the amulet Poppy had was Patricia's missing one, not the one from the doll house drawer. So Victor must have planted the fake in the drawer a while ago and run off with the real thing" deduced Liliana.
"Did she say anything else?" asked Fabian.
Nina racked her memory for what the ghost had said just before she passed out, "She said 'this ruler may be forgotten, but she will not be ignored'. At least I think that's what she said, then the pain had started so my memory is a little fuzzy".
"Sounds like a spirit with self-esteem issues" quipped Alfie.
"So what's the latest with the new clue Fabian?"
"Well it's pretty obscure" the boy responded. As he reread the message to the group Nina tried to come up with possible locations to search.
"Armorer and scholars hollow… You don't think?" started Jerome looking to Liliana and Alfie.
"It's definitely the library" agreed Alfie.
"How'd you figure that one out?" asked a bewildered Fabian. He was cute when he was confused.
"That's where the suit of armor used to be" explained Liliana.
"Armor, Armorer, right?" added Jerome.
"And isn't scholar like an old-style word for massive nerd?" teased Alfie.
"So I spend a lot of time in the library" replied a red-faced Fabian. "That doesn't mean that I am a massive nerd though, ok?"
"Okay" Nina was a bit surprised at his outburst. "Fabian and I will research online and the four of you can tackle the library". With the plans set the group broke off to complete their separate tasks.
I love hearing from y'all! Let me know what you think of the chapter and the story so far in the comments or my Tumblr House-of-Secrets! Xo Evie