Oh look I got to use my lame joke anyway. Grey for Greylock. Haha...ha. Sorry it took so long. School is a pain. Cedric is thirteen, Roland fifteen, and Charlette sixteen. Enjoy!
Another year has come and gone and again the famed day has arrived – Hexley Hall prank day! Cedric rushes to school with a bounce in his step. He very nearly leaves Charlette in the dust he is so excited to get to school. Wormwood hates it when he goes so fast and chooses to fly at his master's side instead of being bounced along on his shoulder.
"Hey!" Charlette yells after him. "Slow down you little punk!" She has started to call him such derogatory names over the past year or so. She couldn't say why exactly, but if she had to guess it stemmed from her affections toward Roland. Ever since the day he saw them together she can't help but feel threatened by the little brat. Because really he holds her fate in his hands. All he has to do is open his big fat mouth and rat them out and it will all be over – everything. Her happiness, her place next to Roland, and most importantly her future. The sorceress can never feel such things for her king. It is absurd.
Cedric ignores her. To pay her mind who only validate her name calling. If he has learned anything through this life it is that the more attention you pay to a person the more they will keep on at you. So for this occasion he will try to pay as little attention to her name calling as possible. It is what he should have done with Greylock and didn't. And look how that ended.
When he does stop it is only because he reaches the entrance to the school. He stares up at its height, but it is nothing like the castle. And this place, it holds all kinds of terrible memories. He shudders. At least prank day is not one of those. He gives a firm nod and shoots forward, throwing the doors open and charging into the halls. Once he reaches the classroom he does not lose his momentum, he grabs onto the frame of the door and spins himself into the room. He is barely able to slow down before he reaches the window at the opposite side of the room, only managing it as he grabs onto the windowsill.
The group of children mischievous enough to cut class are all waiting for him. It is a scant number, but they are all familiar faces. That isn't to say he knows any of them though, nothing personal at least. They are simply his army of sorcerers and sorceresses, intent on pranking those stuck up brats at Royal Prep. They all turn to face him as he clumsily enters. No one mocks him though, they don't even mention it. Because for this one day they adhere to him. "Ready?" Dirk says with a smirk.
Cedric rights himself and clears his throat. He stands tall and Wormwood finally takes his place on Cedric's shoulder once more. "Yeah," He grins as he draws out his wand. "Time to show those Royal Prep brats what Hexley Hall is made of."
"Yeah!" Marie throws a hand in the air.
Cedric chuckles. He turns away from them and heads for the door. "Then let's go." He takes a few steps and then stops dead in his tracks. He goes stiff, every hair on his body standing on end. In front of him stands Greylock.
Wormwood narrows his eyes and bristles. He caws in warning at the most unwanted presence. He doesn't know their past together – he didn't even exist for that part of Cedric's life – but he doesn't need to. All he need to know is this person has Cedric on edge now and that is enough for Wormwood to want nothing to do with the person.
The small group of fellow pranksters rush forward. They position themselves between Cedric and Greylock, each one pointing their wands at the unwanted nuisance. They glare mercilessly. "Don't take another step." They say in unison, as if they had recited it time after time.
Cedric blinks and breaks his daze. He shakes his head and takes in each member of his prank squad. He is touched, but he knows this sort of affection is contained to this holiday. Come tomorrow none of them would look twice at Greylock or lift a single finger in Cedric's aid. In fact, they might just side with Greylock. Then again…no one sides with Greylock much these days, not even Greylock himself. Much like Cedric changed, so did he. Only he never got better. "Wait," Cedric reaches forward and places a hand on a couple of their wants.
They all look at him. Their brows furrow and deep frowns curl their lips.
"Don't." Cedric gently pushes them to the side. "I can fight my own battles now." He steps past them and comes face to face with Greylock. He swallows hard and looks Greylock dead in the eye. "What are you doing here?" Since they were ten – since he nearly drowned – Greylock has not participated in the annual prank day.
Greylock's shoulders are slumped forward. He keeps his gaze to the ground. "I…want to be able to go."
Cedric raises a brow. "Go?"
Greylock sighs. He looks meekly up at Cedric. "To prank day."
Cedric looks hard at Greylock.
"Don't do it." Dirk chimes in.
"Yeah!" Marie glares at Greylock. "He'll just ruin it all."
Greylock shoots a fiery gaze at her. He has no history with her and absolutely no qualms with being rotten right back. "I won't." He grinds out. "I just…want to prank people."
Olivia snorts. "Then go prank yourself, ya jerk." She shakes her wand at him.
Cedric frowns. He looks from one fellow prankster to another. Then his gaze rests on Greylock, so crestfallen. It has been years. He can't say he has no reason to hate Greylock's guts, but he can recognize and appreciate the fact the Greylock has changed. "Fine."
"What!?" All the other children burst out simultaneously. "Have you lost your mind?" They look at him incredulously.
Greylock's face lights up. "Really?" He holds his breath.
Cedric sighs. "Yeah, sure whatever." Cedric narrows his eyes. "But that doesn't make us friends."
Greylock scoffs. "I'm not asking to be your friend." He crosses his arms over his chest. "I'm just asking to go to Royal Prep." To be within a few feet of you. He hasn't been this close since that day he chose to save Cedric's life.
Cedric grimaces as he hears the words underneath. "Then let's go." He looks around at everyone. "We'll stick those royal brats to the walls." A devious grin curls his lips.
Everyone frowns as they zone in on Greylock. Even if Cedric is not their friend, he is their leader. And they know the history. They aren't sure they like his verdict. But he made his bed, so he gets to lay in it too now. So they return his smirk and nod.
The group marches out of the room and the school, Greylock trailing but never far from them. They make their way to Royal Prep and stop just outside the doors. Cedric turns on his heel to face his army. "Ok, you," He points to a handful of them. "Go through the back door. You," He points to another group. "Go through the side. And we, we'll take the front."
They nod. "Right!" They scatter, hurrying to their positions.
It leaves Cedric, Marie, Dirk, and of course Greylock. He wanted nothing more than to shove him off onto another group, but he also knew that would be asking for trouble. Who knows what those kids might do. And if there is one thing Cedric knows it is how it feels to be bullied. And it is horrible. "In we go." Cedric lifts his hand to his shoulder to allow Wormy to jump on.
Wormwood does as commanded, cocking his head toward his master.
"Wormy, go find Roland." He shoves his hand in the air. "And find me when you do!"
Wormwood launches off of Cedric's hand and soars. He flies through a window and sets to searching for the spoiled brat graciously known as The King of Idiots.
Cedric then leads the way into the school. They rush in and take the first classroom within their sights. "Surprise!" Marie shoots goo from the tip of her wand and blasts the teacher against the wall, pinning them there. She bursts out laughing. "Got ya!"
The children scream. They spring from their chairs and rocket forward, tripping over chairs and desks and even each other as they scramble for the exit.
The sorcerers cackles at the sight of the frenzy. They shoot blast after blast, gluing the children to the walls and even the ceilings.
Only a scant few of the Royal Prep students stand tall against the invaders. They draw their wands and reach back into their minds for some sort of spell to combat them.
"Flante!" Cedric yells and knocks the wand from each child's hand.
Dirk floats them up and sticks them to the ceiling. He grins from ear to ear. "Don't worry. I'm sure someone will come and get you down. You just gotta hang tight." He cracks himself up. He continues to laugh even as he runs from the room in search of more prey.
Cedric twirls his wand in his fingers as he surveys his handy work. And there is so much more to be done. One person in particular. He turns to go and jumps as a purple blast is fired at him. He jerks his wand up to deflect it, but doesn't get the words out. But there is no impact. Cedric blinks at the blast as it lingers inches from his face. Looking up and past the attack he sees a royal prep student frozen and by him Greylock.
Greylock offers a weak smile. "He almost got ya." He chuckles.
Cedric manages a small smile in return. "Um, thanks." He waves his wand and makes the purple blast disappear. He walks toward Greylock, each step more tentative than he means it to be. "Want to, um, go find some more kids…together?" The screams echo in the background, mixing with the maniacal laughter of his classmates.
Greylock starts. "Oh, uh, yeah." He shrugs. "Sure."
Cedric twists his fingers. He bows his head and only peeks up at Greylock. "I know you're the one who saved me. Back then. Even though…" He lets the truth of Greylock's terrible deed hang in the air. If not for him in the first place Cedric would not have needed to be saved. "I'm…glad you didn't let me drown."
Greylock averts his eyes. "I didn't know you couldn't swim."
Cedric nods. "I know."
There is a long space of silence. All they can do is stare at one another. Then a high pitch cry breaks the trance. Wormwood sweeps in and lands on Cedric's shoulder. He nudges the side of his master's face, cawing softly.
Cedric jumps slightly. He looks around and smiles at the sight of his friend. "So, Wormy, didja find that spoiled prince?" He quivers in excitement. He can only hope the other children have not gotten to him already.
Wormy nods. He takes flight, circling around Cedric as he waits to make sure he is following.
"Great!" Cedric claps his hands together. "Lead the way!"
Wormwood soars through the door and takes a sharp turn.
Cedric races after his feathered friend. "Come on," He yells over his shoulder. "We're gonna snag ourselves the king of idiots."
Greylock blinks after them. Cedric's willingness to let him tag along bewilders him. But he doesn't lose the chance. He hurries after Cedric.
Cedric sees Roland before Wormwood reaches the boy. He gasps as he sees the punk has Dirk pinned to the ground and his wand wrenched from his hand.
Roland grins cruelly down at the kid. "Not so tough now, huh? Without your stupid magic." Roland rears his fist back to hit Dirk.
Cedric's lips curl in a snarl. He jerks his hand forward. "Levo!" He snaps his wrist upward.
Roland yelps as he is lifted off the boy and up into the air. "H-Hey!" He looks wildly about him for the cause. He narrows his eyes at Cedric. "You little brat! Put me down!" He flails his arms.
Cedric glares daggers at him. "You wish you stuck up monster. Trying to punch a kid so much smaller than you."
"You're the ones using your magic on us like some tools. Hypocrite!"
But it's ok when Charlette does it to you, right?" Cedric smirks.
Roland's face burns bright red. "Shut up!"
Cedric scoffs. "You're only getting what you deserve." He looks over his shoulder. "Greylock!"
Greylock shoots a blast of goo at Roland. It splays out over his back.
Cedric flicks his wrist and floats Roland to the ceiling, causing him to stick fast. "There." He wipes his hands together. "Have fun." He waves at Roland before bending over and helping Dirk to his feet. "You ok?"
Dirk nods. He dusts himself off. "Yeah, thanks." He rubs at his cheek. Roland hit him when he knocked him down. No doubt it will bruise something fierce.
"Let's get out of here." Cedric nods in the direction of the exit. He holds his arm up and lets Wormy land there.
Wormwood stops before landing. He makes sure to go to where Roland hangs, inches from the boy's face. He stares long and hard with his beady black eyes. Then he clips Roland's nose with his beak.
Roland screams.
Wormwood guffaws. He dives down to land on Cedric's outstretched hand.
Cedric brings his hand close to his face. He nuzzles Wormwood. "Good job Wormy." He giggles. "Show that idiot whose boss." He sets Wormwood on his shoulder. "The sorcerers!" He throws an arm in the air and then marches toward the exit.
The school is left in ruins, with children and teachers plastered to the walls. They are all forced to just wait there and hope one of the fairies was able to avoid being pranked or that the royal sorcerer will come down from the castle to help them.
Roland kicks and flails his arms, but they don't budge even a centimeter. He growls deep in his throat and then erupts into a scream. Once he can't hold it anymore he sighs and resigns himself to being stuck for at least an hour if not the whole day.
Only five minutes later the side door swings open. Someone creeps in and down the hall toward him.
Roland peers up and a smile breaks out over his face. "Charlie."
Charlette smirks. "Having fun?" She quirks a brow. "You must really love being upside down to glue yourself like that."
"Haha." Roland deadpans. "You're hilarious. Now get me down!"
Charlette frowns. "Hm," She crosses her arms and stares upward as if in deep thought. "I don't know. It's kinda funny – you hanging up there like that."
Roland grinds his teeth and clenches his fists. "Charlette."
Charlette grins from ear to ear. "Yes, Rollie." She flicks her wand and in the blink of an eye the goo holding him to the ceiling is gone. He plummets and with another swish of her wand she catches him mid-fall and setting him right on his feet before her.
Roland stares for a long moment, then he leans forward and kisses her lightly on the lips.
Charlette leaps forward and slings her arms around his neck. She pulls him back and kisses him deeply. It slipped her mind when she decided to kiss him, but she is so very thankful they are in a deserted hallway. God forbid one of his school mates see them.
Roland is taken aback, but quickly falls into it. He wraps his arms around her tiny waist and brings her close.
Charlette breaks the kiss, her breathing slightly heavier. "We should go." Her voice is but a breath. She slips and arm from his neck and brings it to his hand. She curls her fingers around his.
Roland nods. "Yeah." He takes his hands from her waist. "Classes are cancelled anyway. After that display." He glares to the side, as if Cedric is standing right there.
"Yeah, sorry about that." She leads him along toward the door. "But you know," She smirks, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "I used to be one of them. And I loved to pick on you."
Roland snorts and rolls his eyes. "You still do."
Charlette grins. "Indeed I do." She bounces her head back and forth in self-satisfaction.
As they walk through the doors and away from the school Cedric peeks out from around the corner of the building. He watches them through narrowed eyes. He doesn't know what went on in there, but he knows she snuck in to save only him. And now they are leaving together, hand in hand.
Wormwood shakes his head. Stupid girl. Who could love or even like such a troll. He is almost a hundred percent sure there is something wrong with her head. It makes him wonder if he will eventually suffer the same fate. He was born of her magic after all. He shudders at the thought. Never.
Cedric's face falls. As irritated as he is at her for siding with the royal brat in a matter of school versus school, that's not the real issue. His heart quivers at the ever growing probability of them being found out. And they will be found out. It's only a matter of time now. This thing they have, it's no trifle emotion. Tilly was oh so wrong. This is serious. Very serious indeed.
Dun dun dun. What did you think? Next chapter is going to be great. I'm super excited for it. I hope you are too. Please review!