“While you will find few rules here, those rules that remain are taken very seriously. Danger is real, and we respond severely to any misuse of power.
“Remember that tonight we bestow on you all a great privilege and a great burden. Never forget that these new abilities of yours come with the expectation that they will be used to promote good and keep evil at bay.
“Congratulations on your great accomplishments, and I look forward to meeting each and every one of you. Enjoy your evening.”
Applause thundered from the crowd as we stood and clapped. And in that moment, I felt like I might actually be one of them. I might actually fit in.
After the speech, dinner was served. I barely touched my food. No one seemed to know what was going to happen tonight.
By the time our plates were taken away, the sky was a deep blue, and the lamplight illuminated our faces.
Professor Blackmore walked onto the podium, clad in what must be his usual tweed suit and bowtie. “Ladies and gentlemen, the moment has come. Men, please meet your patriarchs at the north end of campus. Women, please meet your matriarchs at the south. Let the Awakening commence.”
A solemn silence descended as the students were beckoned into separate clusters. Leanne and I followed the crowd to the south, where the “matriarchs” of the group then led us by torchlight—yes, torchlight—into the castle.
We passed through several stone halls lined with old tapestries and coats of armor. The path descended downwards, underground, through a twisting maze of chambers. Eventually we were ushered into a room.
It looked like a gentleman’s library. The room was spacious, filled with several couches. Books lined the walls. Low burning oil lamps sat perched on small tables. Here and there were marble busts of the Greek gods, miniature ships in glass bottles, a few globes, and several large Greek vases.
I thought it was pretty trusting of the school to put over a hundred excited women in a room full of breakable objects—but that was just my opinion.
Once we were all in the room, one of the matriarchs who hovered near the door cleared her voice. “Ladies, tonight marks the first night of the rest of your life. The women around you will become some of the most important people in your life. Take this time to get to know one another. As for tonight’s events, each of you will see us in a little while. Until then, good evening.” She inclined her head.
Those matriarchs who’d been standing in the room filed out. Once they’d exited, the woman at the door backed out of the room, closing the door with a firm click.
The sound echoed throughout the room. All was silent for a moment.
And then the moment was broken.
“What is going to happen to us?”
“How long are we going to be here?”
One woman tried the door. “The door’s locked. They locked us in!”
***
We didn’t hear from the matriarchs for an entire hour. When we finally did, a knock on the door interrupted our conversations. The door opened, and a severe-looking woman came in.
“Daisy McFallon!” she called out.
Murmurs blossomed throughout the room.
The girl standing next to me hugged her arms. She looked wide-eyed around at the rest of us. I guess this was Daisy.
“I’m sure everything’s fine,” I reassured her.
She nodded once to herself and took a deep breath. “That’s me,” she said, her voice carrying above the others.
“Please come with me,” the woman said.
The room had fallen silent, the crowd of girls parting like the Red Sea to let Daisy through. No one wanted to associate themself with her in case they’d get called away as well.
Slowly, reluctantly, Daisy walked to the door. The woman whispered something to her, and they both left. Once the door clicked closed again, the room let out a collective breath.
I thought I was right, that everything was fine. But I was wrong. Daisy never came back.
Chapter 6
In fact, the room slowly and innocuously began to thin out. Panic returned as girls were quietly ushered out of the room. Some cried when they heard their names called, frightened of the unknown.
“Leanne Summers!” the woman at the door called.
Leanne gave my hand a squeeze. “I guess I’ll see you on the other side.”
I gave her a tight-lipped smile and watched her leave, wondering if and when I would get called.
I didn’t have to wait long. The next time the woman came back, it was for me.
***
“Gabrielle Fiori!”
I maneuvered my way around the several dozen women who still remained and over to the woman at the door.
She leaned in. “Follow me.”
She grabbed a torch from its post outside the room and led me down the hallway.