My eyes became hazy with the view of the city constantly folding into itself like a kaleidoscope. One side turned into the other, creating another pattern that only folded into another. I felt sick, and dizzy as I managed to keep my focus on Minka with tears slowly coming down my cheeks.
“What has my mother done?” I asked out loud as the sound of music became deafening. The desert was celebrating the arrival of someone or something. Everyone stood outside of the palace while we stumbled back in, barely making it back to my side of the chambers before I collapsed onto my bed. I turned over on my back, feeling my body grow stiff as my lids felt the weight of my world crashing down.
“I have a sister outside of this place,” I whispered with my tearful eyes staring at the ceiling.
“Wake up…”
The deep voice from the woman in the alley echoed in my head as I fought back with a shake of my head.
“That woman put something on you! I told you we should have just left!” Minka yelled. “Princess?! Princess! Wake up! WAKE UP!”
Everything suddenly warped into blackness as 3 loud horns broke the silence.
Dear Ms. Grey,
You have been selected to serve as the student guide for First Year students Cohort C. Please ensure the following,
All students deposit their belongings in the designated areas before boarding.
They are to remain on the platform until you are given the signal by the Underground attendant.
Please maintain order at all times and welcome the newest class to The Drew Collins University.
Chapter Five
Maggie Grey
Ashby Station was the perfect cover for a black magical university since above ground, it was surrounded by the top HBCUs in Atlanta. Evening was setting in with the usuals lingering around the station. The colorful mural of people jumping in the sky remained still except for a moment where the clouds began to drift. I smiled.
Magic was active and there was indeed one last train heading this way to take us beneath the world.
“Maggie?! Maggie!?”
I gasped before rushing down the steps into the bright platform of the train where I could already see luggage being stacked by students in piles. Isis with her wide saucers for eyes and tiny fangs that hung over her lower lip waved with the excitement. We haven’t seen one another since last winter. If you didn’t believe magic was real, seeing a nymph like her with the ability to manipulate water was enough to turn you into a believer. She wore a gray blazer with a white shirt and matching gray pleated skirt. The usual high white socks and white sneakers. She was the example of an elemental student at Drew Collins. Her short curly hair always looked wet with product when she immediately rushed to meet me halfway.
“What are you doing here?!” I shrieked as we collapsed into one another for a hug. I smiled when I saw my girl Asha Avery turn around with the phone in her hand, looking every bit of a grown woman now. The locs had gotten longer, her headwrap, colorful and the khaki shorts that came to her knees with the maroon polo shirt tucked in. She had a tote bag against her shoulder when she tilted her head to the side with a crooked smile.
“What is Isis doing here in public like this?!”
“I told her ass not to do it, but she wanted to come help you,” Asha said as she reached out to add to the hug. Had this been last year, Asha with the scars going across her cheek, the aggressive demeanor that screamed New York and the attitude that could scare anybody would easily turn most off but today? My girl calmed down. Her scars were no longer there, and she looked like a true siren, unknowingly drawing attention to her.
“I’ve been keeping my head down and my ears covered,” she said before exposing her pointy ears underneath her curls. I laughed but I could tell Asha was still taking me in, so I put my hands on my hips with a playful attitude.
“And what?! Say it! I look like somebody’s school teacher?!” I let out.
“No!” Asha laughed. “You just look…grown up.”
“She looks like she’s finally stepping into her own”
The southern dainty voice made me turn around as I watched Souxie Lafayette, the southern belle witch, walk with her rolling suitcase as the men at the station watched. She looked like a black barbie with the black dress, white collar around the neck and the matching white cuffs on the sleeves. Her hair was straightened back with a headband and curled up with a bounce against her shoulders. Souxie might just be the prettiest woman I’ve ever seen, and it wasn’t because of her light eyes and doll-like features. She really carried herself like there was no other woman that could compare.
“We’ve been waiting for you,” she said as we quickly hugged.
“All we’re missing is Quan,” I said as Asha turned her body to the side, showing the black furry body curled up inside. When Quan poked his head out with his cat ears twitching, he hissed.
“All I know is, you better not shift in this mothafucking bag,” Asha threatened. “I know that much.”
“And if I did? You’ll still carry me,” Quan tossed back before screaming when Asha faked like she was about to drop the bag.
