The Monster of Hexley Hall
Summary: *Based loosely on The Hunchback of Notre Dame.* Cedric is a reclusive sorcerer who was taken in by Grimtrix the Good many years ago, now living within the confines of Hexley Hall and never daring to venture beyond the school grounds. When a newly recruited student named Sofia begins attending the school, Cedric is immediately drawn to her for some reason. In addition, there is a dark secret lurking below the surface of the pristine magical school's exterior: students are getting severely injured, and some have even perished. When Sofia appears to become a target, Cedric will do anything he can to protect her while also trying to solve the mystery of what is happening to the other students. (An AquaMan Production. Read Me a Story format. Takes place 5 years after my "Season 5" stories.)
Disclaimer: I own neither Sofia the First nor The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Tanya and Nana belong to MarionetteJ2X. Serena and Charlie belong to me, and so do a few OCs mentioned in this story.
Chapter 4: Tribuisti de Magia
Greylock the Grand was a favorite student of many professors when he attended the school several years ago. Like Cedric, he was currently in his early thirties. He wasn't much in the way of settling down and starting a family like many of his classmates had opted to do. Instead, he continued his education and was well versed in many facets of magic, earning him a distinction among the other sorcerers in the realm. For a brief stint of time, he'd even been a professor at Hexley Hall himself, but he could tell that a certain someone was trying to sabotage him and his efforts, so he left to work elsewhere. However, that didn't stop him from continuing his affiliation with his alma mater...
Greylock was also the organizer of Tribuisti de Magia, or the Festival of Magic. He'd started this tradition quite a while ago, much to Grimtrix's chagrin. While the other professors had enjoyed the whimsical former student and at one point fellow colleague, the headmaster had considered him problematic and a little too 'free spirited' for his liking. Even still, there wasn't much he could do about Greylock's link to the school. Remember the 'money talks' scenario with Master Hexley's family? Greylock's family had put in a considerable donation toward the school, garnering him a favorable connection against the headmaster's wishes.
Grimtrix, despite his loathing of Greylock, was actually quite interested in his festival. In fact, he had wanted to take over it himself, so that he could control what happened with it. 'Control freak' hardly began to describe the man, after all, but it was more than that to him. The festival would promote the school, the courses, and the professors, but it also gave him ample opportunity to seek out some promising pupils: those who stood out in the crowd and had far more potent powers than their peers, or those whom he could use for different circumstances. It was all about playing his cards right, and using Greylock's own event against him and for the headmaster's advantage would serve his purpose well. If things worked out in his favor, he would be one step closer to his ultimate goal… But more on that later.
"You could always pass this dreadful responsibility off to me, Greylock," Grimtrix suggested yet again (as he did each year), missing the annoyed look thrown his way by his former pupil. "I mean, surely, as a distinguished scholar and sorcerer, you have better things to do than to sully yourself with the daunting duty of managing these inept Hexley Hall students."
"Spoken like a true leader, Grimtrix," the younger man remarked sardonically, narrowing his eyes at the headmaster. "Unlike you, I don't consider this event a chore or a burden. I actually like talking to the outgoing and incoming students. It's always interesting to see what sort of personalities and abilities they have."
"Mm, yes…" A knowing smirk appeared on the older man's face as he leaned toward Greylock, whispering, "Abilities beyond compare… Powerful energy that will serve me well."
Greylock ripped away from him, folding his arms. "You know I won't stoop to the same level you have, old man."
"Don't pretend you're just some innocent bystander, Greylock. You've played a role in this, whether you want to admit it or not."
While the two sorcerers continued to bicker back and forth, Cedric had successfully managed to sneak out of the school and into the festival, his Hexley Hall cloak and hood covering most of his body, and most specifically and importantly, his dark marks. It was his first time outside in twenty years, and he intended to make the most of it.
Before he knew it, an hour had passed, and Cedric was having the time of his life. He watched magical displays, visited booths with students promoting their clubs, and just enjoyed feeling the sunlight through the robes, warming his thin frame. He was so pale from lack of sunlight, and any bit that he could soak up felt like a little slice of paradise.
He hadn't been paying attention to what he was doing or where he was going, and he soon felt himself accidentally bump into someone (a girl who appeared to be about sixteen years old), and he winced as she fell backwards onto the ground, a small startled sound escaping her lips. Instantly, he knelt next to her, his gloved hands seeking hers. "I am so sorry," he apologized softly, the sound of his own voice bothering him by how unused it sounded. He spoke only to Grimtrix and to the gargoyles, so he didn't exactly know how to talk to people outside of his very small circle. He hoped he didn't sound too awkward.
"It's all right," the girl responded, laughing as he pulled her to her feet, both of them standing next to each other, their hands still entwined. "I should have been paying attention to where I was going. I'm Sofia."
"Sofia," he repeated; the sound of her name was like a symphony in his ears. It was such a majestic, honorable, yet sweet and sincere name to him. It was lovely. "What a pretty nomenclature." ...Tell him he hadn't said that out loud… Nomenclature? Who in Merlin's name said nomenclature? He was so weird, so stupid, so-
The sound of Sofia's giggle was like bells to the sorcerer. It was beautiful. She was beautiful, with her playful blue eyes and her long auburn hair tied in a thick wavy ponytail, which tumbled to just below her hips. Like other students, she had donned her new Hexley Hall robes (she was probably a transfer student, considering most other students usually began when they were younger), and she seemed eager to learn. He only hoped that Grimtrix wouldn't break her spirit like he'd seen the man do to other students… He'd protect this girl, if nothing else.
"I like that," Sofia told him softly, grinning up at him. "And what's your 'nomenclature?'"
"Oh, um…" He realized they were still holding hands, and he gently released hers so he could recollect himself. As he did, he noticed that his long sleeves were slipping, revealing several of his dark marks. He panicked, trying to cover them, but it was too late. Considering the astonished expression on the student's face, she'd already seen them. "P-Perhaps… Um… I-I'm sorry. I should…"
"No, wait." She reached out, taking his arm, her fingers gently tracing some of the marks. She heard him shudder lightly, especially when she trailed the pads of her fingers over his wrist, a sensitive area. She gazed up at him, able to see through the thick hood and into his warm brown eyes. It was obvious that he was heavily marked, probably all over his body, but that just intrigued her more. "What's your name?" she asked again, a little more gently as she squeezed his hand in comfort.
"I'm… I'm Cedric." He'd never told his name to anyone else. Everyone either already knew his name (the cult and Grimtrix), or they'd overheard it (the gargoyles). In fact… Had he ever actually said his own name out loud? And then a thought struck him. This girl was a stranger to him. What if she was just as wicked as the cult members? Or as manipulative as Grimtrix? But seeing that calm, innocent smile aimed his way, he immediately changed his mind. She was different, and for the first time today, he mentally cheered himself on for daring to step outside.
"Cedric," she murmured, the smile on her face growing ever so slightly. "It's really nice to meet you, Cedric." She gasped when she felt something touch her shoulder, causing her to release Cedric's hand, and she turned and sighed in relief to see a raven there. "Wormwood, I was wondering where you'd gone."
The raven sized up the man in front of them, his green eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "I was observing," he grunted, but he didn't say anything else. It wasn't unusual for animals to speak in this realm, so Cedric didn't really respond to the raven's brief comment. "Who's this?"
"This is Cedric," she said simply, smiling first at her familiar then at her new acquaintance. "Do you go here?"
"Oh, n-no, no… I um… I live here though, with…" He wasn't sure if he should continue, but she seemed so interested in what he had to say. "With...my master."
"Aren't you a little old to have a master?" Wormwood winced as Sofia flicked him on his beak, and he deadpanned at her. "What? We may not be able to see his face very well, but it's not that hard to tell that he's not a teenager, Sofia."
"Who cares? It doesn't matter." She then frowned as she turned her attention back to Cedric. "But a master… What's that all about?"
"Oh, Master Grimtrix, the headmaster. He's...my guardian, I suppose you could say…" Seeing that both of them appeared to be even more confused, he backpedaled immediately. "N-Never mind. It's a long story…"
Sofia tucked some loose tendrils of hair behind her ear and told him quietly, "I wouldn't mind hearing it…"
Wormwood observed the teenager before rolling his eyes. He should have known this time would come. He'd dreaded the day that she would show interest in someone, and now for it to be for some guy in a heavy school bathrobe with obscured features? Oh, yes, her father would love that…
Cedric smiled, sighing in resignation. "Very well…"
While they talked, Greylock spotted Cedric, whom he recognized as Grimtrix's charge. They'd never met, but he'd been around long enough and was observant enough to know the link between them. When Grimtrix thought no one was watching when they were younger, Greylock had seen the headmaster with him: the Shadow Student. Oh, what was his name again? He'd heard it a few times in the past, but that had been so long ago, and he hadn't seen the Shadow Student in a while now… Everyone else was convinced he was an anomaly or some wandering spirit about the school halls, but Greylock was a man of science and magic and knew better-Cedric! Right, right, he'd heard that name before…
Gathering his nerve, Greylock marched over to the trio and beamed excitedly at them. "Hello there, friends! My name is Greylock the Grand, and I'm quite curious if either of you would be interested in doing a little magic presentation with me." He immediately glanced toward Cedric, who cautiously lifted his hand to make sure that his hood was still in place. "What about you, then? You seem like a man of mystery and magic."
"I'm not interested," Cedric immediately returned, trying to back as gracefully away from the other magic wielder as he could, but he could see how persistent Greylock was as he stepped closer to him.
"Oh, come now. It's only for a moment. I promise I'll bring you right back." He could see the brief bit of hesitancy and took advantage of that, grabbing Cedric's arm and dragging him toward a stage in the middle of the festival.
"N-No, really, you don't understand! I-"
"Relax, Cedric," Greylock insisted, smiling calmly at the surprised look on the other man's face. "It's only a quick demonstration. I promise."
He sighed, nodding. "Very well."
Meanwhile, Grimtrix turned from talking to a colleague, his eyes narrowing when he noticed Greylock taking center stage with some hooded figure next to him. He scowled, recognizing that small frame, the uncertain stature, the faded Hexley Hall robes from years gone by… "He dares defy me," he muttered under his breath, stepping away from the other Hexley Hall worker. "It will be the last time he does…"
"Ladies and gentlemen!" Greylock called, gathering the attention of everyone surrounding him. "I'd like to demonstrate one of the many features you'll learn-or quite possibly have already learned-here at Hexley Hall! I have a very willing volunteer here…"
Sofia and Wormwood were settled among the crowd, both of them exchanging glances upon hearing the very untrue statement from the former student.
Cedric just sighed, trying to hide even more in his robe.
"And together, we'll show you the wonders of magic!"
"You most certainly will not," Grimtrix warned, moving close to the platform. "Greylock, I forbid this, especially with him." He marched onto the stage, stopping before Cedric only briefly to glare at him, seeing the startled expression on his charge's face. He then reached out and forced his hood behind him, revealing his face to everyone for the first time. He heard the gasps and outbursts upon seeing his tainted, dark-marked face, and a mixed feeling of annoyance and satisfaction flooded him when he realized how scared and embarrassed Cedric seemed to be. "This is what happens when you fall under the wrong influence, ladies and gentlemen," he announced, ripping the robe off Cedric's body, his arms, neck, and part of his clavicle now exposed, the dark marks even more prominent.
Sofia gasped, her eyes roving over the sorcerer's visible skin, her mouth slightly agape. She wasn't overly familiar with the specifics of dark magic, but she recognized it for what it was. She'd seen a few earlier and had wondered if he'd just had a little bit of a troubled past, but this… Was this why he was afraid to tell her his story? What even was his story?
"Remove your tunic, Cedric," Grimtrix ordered, loud enough for others to hear and low enough for his charge to hear how deadly serious he was. "Now."
"W-What?" Cedric's normally pale features were flushing scarlet, especially at the very notion of revealing more of himself to the world. Removing the hood and cloak had been one thing, but to be told to do something to expose even more of himself to complete strangers-
"Now!"
With shaking hands, Cedric unbuttoned his tunic, which Grimtrix immediately grabbed and thrust off the stage. He felt heated glares aimed his way, the judgment from the crowd piercing him like needles or daggers.
"Do you see this?" Grimtrix asked the crowd, indicating the heavily-marked skin on his charge's chest, arms, and back. "This is what happens when you tamper with dark magic, everyone. And this-" He pointed out individual scars along his pectoral muscles, abdomen, and the length of his spine. "This is what happens when you disobey the magical law. You'll be severely punished…"
Sofia's hands lifted to her mouth, her eyes wide as she gazed at the shamed man on the stage. She'd only known him a few minutes, but she certainly didn't take him for one who would tamper with dark magic… She looked around as the other students began jeering and taunting Cedric, calling him demonic and evil. When they started casting stones at him though, she grew flustered and angry, disgust filling her as she hurried forward to protect the sorcerer she'd only just met, her own body meeting a few stones as well. Even still, her form was surrounded with a soft white glow, which did not go unnoticed by Grimtrix, Greylock, and Cedric.
"Stop, stop! Don't hurt the girl!"
"Everyone, stop throwing stones!"
"No, keep throwing them," Sofia chided the students, turning her icy glare on the crowd as they paused while she stood before Cedric, her arms extended in a protective stance. "If you're going to throw stones at someone for doing something wrong, you better throw stones at everyone. I'm not perfect; I've done things before that I'm not proud of." The glow soon faded as she didn't sense any particular danger of more stones being thrown.
"But have you dabbled in dark magic?" Grimtrix asked her pointedly, a bit annoyed that she'd stopped the punishment the students had begun that he would now have to finish himself. A light smirk appeared on his lips as she lowered her gaze. "No, of course not… Light Magic Wielders tend to abstain from such...detestable things…" He reached up, brushing one hand over Sofia's cheek, an action from which she quickly recoiled. "Hmm. As a young aspiring sorceress of Light Magic, you have no business mingling with a dark sorcerer like him."
"That's not for you to decide," she countered, her voice even and even threatening, which surprised her a bit. Sofia was never one to argue or challenge anyone, but this… This was different.
"U-Um, ladies and gentlemen, watch this!" Greylock snapped his fingers, and a curtain of colorful magic washed over the crowd, distracting them.
Cedric felt someone grab his arm, and he was pulled away from the spotlight. Sofia… Sofia again…
When they were away from the festival, Sofia calmed her breathing and looked up at the sorcerer, her gaze soft and warm, even after seeing all those horrible dark marks and scars practically etched into his body. Most would have feared him, or feared what he would do. These marks weren't just for show, after all. But she knew about her Light Magic status, and she knew that she could sense something really gentle and good about this guy… What was the saying? Things weren't always what they appeared. "Are you okay?"
He paused for a few moments before shrugging. "I'd be better back in the confines of the school," he told her honestly. "I've been locked away for twenty years, ever since Master Grimtrix rescued me from a cult when I was a child…" He ignored the gasp that fell from the girl before him. "N-Never mind..."
"No, Cedric…" She reached up and gently brushed her fingers over the skin on his chest, curiously tracing some of the marks. A few she recognized, and a few she didn't. They were bad… Really bad… Was he controlled by them? Could he be freed from them? She must have brushed a sensitive spot, because his breath hitched and he seemed to be having a little trouble breathing. She smiled apologetically and reached up, cupping his chin, her thumb just barely brushing his bottom lip, one of the only parts of him that wasn't scarred or marked. "Despite everything, I think you're a good person, Cedric."
Wormwood had remained silent through all of this. What could he say? He had nothing of value to add to this conversation or situation. He found it strange that such a shy person like Cedric would be linked to the dark cult side of things, but nothing really surprised him anymore. Truthfully, he was just ready for Sofia to wrap things up so they could settle in and eat.
"S-Sofia…" Cedric took her hand, gently lowering it as he gave her a wistful smile. "I appreciate it, but… You've only just met me, and you don't know the full story. I'm heavily marked, and I'll never be free from it."
"Cedric-"
"Thank you." He said nothing else before turning and hurrying back to Hexley Hall, out of the sight of the students, Sofia, Greylock, and worst of all, his master, who had watched everything from afar, his anger slowly and quietly building within him.
"Sofia," Wormwood finally said quietly, brushing his wing against her cheek. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah," she returned softly, sighing as she watched the sorcerer rush off, obviously ashamed of his revelation at such an inappropriate time. So much had happened in such a short expanse of time… How could she possibly fathom all of this and still attend a school led by such a terrible man? How did no one else see it? Grimtrix the Good was...anything but…But maybe she should just… "I'm fine, Wormwood…"
To be continued…
Next Chapter: Whipped Into Shape
