Legacy 205: Mystery at Magic School
Part 4
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Everyone in Magic School gathered in the grand hall for the announcement. Payton was standing in the back of the hall next to Lexie. The other students in her class were in close proximity so she could keep an eye on them. She needed to observe any suspicious reactions or odd behavior once they were informed of the murder of Miss Donovan. Payton almost felt like a real detective, looking for clues, but this wasn't playing pretend. Someone had been murdered and she needed to find the one responsible.
"He looks serious, what do you think this is about?" Lexie whispered.
"I don't know." Payton replied softly. "Is this something uncommon around here?"
"I've never see the whole school called together like this." Lexie said.
Payton looked at her and she seemed mostly curious. If she was the killer, she would probably already be nervous. When Leo raised his hand, all students, professors and other staff fell silent.
"Thank you all for coming." Leo said, his voice magically enhanced by a microphone. "I'm afraid that I have called you here for some terrible news. I regret to inform you that one of our professors, Miss Donovan, has been found dead in her chambers last night. We have reason to suspect that she was murdered."
A wave of shock and emotion went through the grand hall. Various students and professors started crying or expressing their disbelief that someone had been killed on school grounds. Payton remained silent as she turned to her fellow classmates. Lexie and Harry seemed perplexed by the news, while Kinsley was weeping uncontrollably. Maddison was also crying and buried her head in Zev's chest, who seemed to barely react to the news. That was a little suspicious. Payton scanned the hall for Liam and saw him standing against the wall with concerned look in his eyes. When he noticed her looking at him, he quickly turned away. Was he concerned about the death of Miss Donovan or nervous about getting caught?
"I can image this is quite a shock." Leo said to the crowd.
"How is this possible?" Dawn asked. "I thought nobody could be killed in Magic School?"
"Was she killed outside of the school?" A male professor with a British accent asked.
"No, she was killed in her chambers." Leo said. "I'm still investigating how the magical protections could have been breached."
"Are there any suspects?" Another professor asked.
"Due the ongoing investigation, that is all I can say at the moment." Leo replied. "However, I would like to ensure you that we are doing everything we can to protect everyone in the school."
"Should we send the students home?" The British professor asked.
"I don't think we can." Dawn noted. "If Miss Donovan was killed last night, the killer is likely still among us, as nobody left the school."
"Exactly." Leo said. "At this moment, I cannot allow anyone to leave. I would like to ask all of you to take the rest of the day to process what happened and to mourn this terrible loss. There will be a gathering for the staff in the professor's longue, while the students will retreat to their common rooms."
The sounds of shock and sadness continued to spread across the hall as students began retreating to their rooms. Lexie took Payton by the arm and guided her through the school to their own common room, which was a large round space designed as a large living room. Lexie explained that the common rooms were assigned based on age rather than class and were co-ed, so there were a few students there that Payton had not seen yet. On each side of the room was a separate hallway leading to the bedrooms and bathrooms of the girls and the boys. Payton followed Lexie down the girls' hallway and to their dorm room. She found two bags of clothes standing on her bed, probably brought there by Leo or Noah to keep her cover.
"I can't believe that someone has actually been killed in school grounds." Lexie said as she sat down on her bed.
"I thought that was impossible." Payton replied.
"Apparently not." Lexie noted. "Must have taken some very powerful magic though."
"How do you know?" Payton asked.
"Magic School has various protective charms around it, breaking them is very difficult." Lexie replied. "I found that out the hard way the first time I tried to sneak out the common room at night."
"What happened?" Payton asked. "And where were you trying to go?"
"The kitchens." Lexie replied. "I heard rumors about a professor hiding alcohol there and I was in the mood for a party. The moment I stepped out, an alarm was triggered and I was transported straight to the detention hall."
"So sneaking out of there is impossible?" Payton asked.
"No, not really." Lexie replied with a smile as she reached under her bed and revealed a bottle of alcohol. "I only got caught the first time."
"So anyone can sneak out of here if they want to." Payton noted.
"Why are you so curious?" Lexie asked with a suspicious frown. "You've been asking a lot of questions."
"Of course, I'm new." Payton quickly said. "I'm just trying to get to know the place."
"Right, that makes sense." Lexie replied, though she still sounded unconvinced. "So tell me more about you. What's your family like?"
"I'm the youngest, so they think I'm just this good little girl all the times." Payton said. "Being here alone feels like a chance to prove myself. Does that sound strange?"
"No, it doesn't." Lexie replied. "I mean, you do have the typical girl-next-door vibes going on, but I get the sense that there is something more to you. I think you can be badass if you want."
"You really think so?" Payton asked with a smile.
"Well, we're locked in here for the time being." Lexie said as she held out the bottle of alcohol. "Might as well have fun, right?"
Payton hesitated as she looked at the bottle. Aside from the fact that she was underage and didn't like to drink, she was worried that it would lead her to do something stupid that would blow her cover. Lexie noticed her hesitation and put down the bottle. Payton worried that she would get suspicious again, but instead she simply smiled.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to push." Lexie said. "I only took the bottle for the thrill of it. Drinking isn't that cool anyway."
"Right?" Payton noted. "I don't get the appeal at all."
"Me neither." Lexie said. "I could go for some food though. I'm sure the kitchen has send something to the common room by now."
"I'm starving." Payton replied with a smile.
Payton followed Lexie to the common room and they found several boxes of pizza that had been delivered. They took a box and sat down on a couch in front of the fireplace, which allowed Payton to observe the rest of the room. Several groups of students had formed to eat and talk about the events of the day. Maddison was in a corner with Zev and a few others. She was still crying, though Payton quickly got the sense that she was just doing it for attention, as if she was the victim in all of this. Harry was sitting at one of the tables on the other side of the room, sharing a pizza with Liam. They were quietly discussing something that seemed pretty serious, which was actually the first time she had seen Liam interact with anyone. The only one who was missing from the class was Kinsley.
"Where is Kinsley?" Payton asked.
"Probably in her room like always." Lexie replied. "People tend to think she's annoying, so she doesn't have any friends."
"That's so sad." Payton said.
"Yeah, but then again, she is quite annoying." Lexie remarked. "Besides, she has at least one friend, because I heard her talking to someone in her room the other night."
"Maybe it was her roommate." Payton suggested.
"No, because I saw her roommate in the bathroom a moment later." Lexie said.
"Weird." Payton replied. "So everyone has a roommate, right? Who is with who?"
"Harry and Liam share a room." Lexie said. "Zev is with one of the other meatheads, I think he's part Ogre. Maddison demanded a room of her own and got it."
"How did she manage that?" Payton asked.
"She comes from a prestigious family." Lexie noted. "She's a Montana, so her parents probably paid for it."
"Is anyone else in the class from an important family?" Payton asked.
"That depends on your idea of important." Lexie replied as she rolled her eyes. "Maddison is the only one of the great magical families, but Liam is from Atlantis and my mom is a pretty powerful witch as well. She used to be friends with the Charmed Ones and was a member of the Chosen. So was Liam's mom."
"Wait a minute." Payton said surprised as she looked at Lexie. "Your mom… your mom is Billie Jenkins?"
"Do you know her?" Lexie asked.
"Only by name." Payton quickly said and quickly sought a way to change the subject. "Did you say Liam is from Atlantis?"
"Yeah, he is." Lexie replied. "The first wizard-witch ever. He has crazy powerful magic."
"I had no idea." Payton said as she looked at him. "Maybe that's why he is so quiet, maybe he feels different from everyone else."
"Or maybe you just want to think he's all quiet and troubled because you have a crush on him." Lexie remarked.
Payton rolled her eyes and grabbed a slice of pizza. She wasn't going to start that discussion again. She had learned a lot and needed to think. Lexie had told her that everyone could sneak out of the common room if they wanted to. She wasn't high on the list of suspects, but Payton couldn't rule her new friend out entirely yet. Zev had barely reacted to the news of the murder, while Maddison had reacted a little too dramatic. She also had a private room, which meant she could easily sneak out. Kinsley was very upset about the murder and was heard talking to a mysterious person in her room. Harry and Liam were also discussing something secretive, and Payton still couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Liam than met the eye. It was time to use her invisibility and do some snooping around tonight.
Xxx
As Selene completed her spell, the skies had completely darkened, casting an enteral night upon the Heavens. As long as her spell was active, nobody could leave or enter. Being back here filled with her mind with memories that she would rather forget. She had endured a lot for the supposed greater good and it was cost her everything. When she tried to take it back, she had been imprisoned and left to rot for all eternity by those she had considered her friends. It was time for revenge. The Heavens would fall and the Trinity would be reunited. Once they had regained their full might, she could go after the thing she truly desired.
"Nice work on the spell." Amun said.
"I've had time to practice." Selene replied. "Did you locate Baldr yet?"
"There is only one place he can be." Amun noted. "The only place to contain him and hide his presence."
"The Heavenly Vault." Selene concluded. "A fitting place, considering he is a living weapon."
The two Dark Elders started walking toward the vault as their Darklighters continued their assault around them. Selene looked a young Whitelighter at her feet and was troubled that she felt no remorse for him. She could not allow herself to get weak and take pity on her enemies. They soon reached the vault and found it was being protected by the Elders themselves. They had cast a protective force field around it, through which their Darklighters could not reach them.
"My lady." Wolfram said as he kneeled before her. "We cannot enter the vault. The force field is too strong. I have failed you."
"You have not failed me, my child." Selene replied. "We knew the Elders would defend themselves. You have brought us here, which is enough."
"Thank you, my lady." Wolfram said.
"Go find any remaining Elders or Whitelighters and bring them here." Amun ordered. "We shall deal with the force field."
Wolfram nodded and took a few of his men to scout the rest of the Heavens, while others remained behind as a guard unit. Selene looked through the force field and saw a few familiar faces. However, she did not see the person she had resented most for all these centuries. The one that had truly betrayed her. She turned to Amun and saw the conflict on his face as he did see the person he was closest with through the force field.
"We knew this was coming." Selene reminded him.
"I know, I'm ready." Amun said.
The two Dark Elders walked to the edge of the force field and ordered their men to stop the attack. Three of the Elders stepped forward until they were face to face. The first was Odin, the second a young-looking boy that Selene did not recognize, while the third was Qetesh.
"Hello sister." Amun said as he looked her in the eyes.
"My brother." Qetesh replied. "I wish I could say it was good to see you, but you have brought death and destruction to our home."
"You knew this day would come." Amun countered. "We have only come to return that which you inflicted upon us."
"Still you refuse to see the error of your ways." Odin said harshly. "You were not victims back then and you are still not. You chose to give into darkness and nearly ruined us all."
"We simply followed our hearts, Odin." Selene replied. "You might have understood that if you had a heart."
"It was not your heart that lured you to the side of evil, Selene." Odin replied. "It was lust of the flesh, a hunger for knowledge, and a desire for violence."
"You are quick to analyze and judge our actions, Odin." Amun said. "For the simple mind, those reasons might seem to apply to each of us, but the truth is more complicated."
"I don't know what happened in the past, but it is not too late to stop this violence now." The young Elder said. "Whatever your grievance is with the council, please spare the innocent Whitelighters that are dying as we speak."
"What is your name?" Amun asked.
"My name is Kevin." The young one replied. "Let us resolve this peacefully."
"You are a child, you have no idea of our grievances." Selene noted. "Taking these lives gives us no pleasure, but we shall continue to do so until we are given what we want."
"We will never release him." Odin said determined.
"Then we will have to tear your vault down brick by brick." Selene replied.
Selene nodded at Amun and they took a step back as the Elders retreated to strengthen their force field. Selene raised her hands and called forth enormous tentacles of shadow that began to violently strike at the force field. Suddenly a bolt of lightning struck her in the chest and she was thrown back, causing her shadows to dissipate. Selene looked up and saw the face that she had resented for centuries standing in front of her, Sandra.
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