Emotionless: (Prototype: Zero book 1) Read online

  There was something about him that caused for suspicion; however, I am exhausted from standing in one spot so long and talking to my creatures as well. An amazing experience that only lasted nearly ten minutes, except, I probably won’t do it again. There was no thought or direction with runes. Creating them was fun, but it wasn’t hard to create something that doesn’t necessarily exist. They’re not runes I can create now. Only fragments and figments of imagination that make runes in that arena to seem realistic.

  I would rather find the mage with the boots.

  “I want those boots,” I mumbled as I left the arena exit.

  Chapter 7.

  Eileen – Divide.

  Loop the first one, tuck it into the hole and tug to create an adjustable knot. I stared with full concentration at the mirror, and the tie fell flat around my neck and didn’t look at all like a tie should. Puffing cheeks, I loosened it around the neck and tried from scratch again when a light wrap came from the bedroom door. I didn’t bother to answer. A few moments later the knob twisted, and Hopper came in cautiously.

  I suppose he is cautious because of the day before he knocked and then entered, he assumed that I dressed because the door wasn’t locked. What he got instead was I sitting in the bath towel and was staring at the fading bruise on my leg. I am not particularly sure if he was more mortified in seeing me in a bath towel or enraged that I didn’t tell him about the bruises on my skin. Or either way, I have to remember that this isn’t my home and the doors don’t lock when the door closes. I have to do that myself.

  “My Mistress, school introductions start soon. Are you ready?” he asked.

  “Yes,” I mumbled and tried to knot the tie again.

  “Do you need help?”

  “Ok.”

  He came forth and raised nimble-fingered glove hands. As he fixed my tie, I gazed at Hopper. He has those intense eyes of concentration as he worked. Hopper is very pale. Similar to his fur colour. As white as snow and his skin, as I raised my hand and touched his cheek, it is soft like his fur when he morphs into a rabbit.

  He stiffened with the motion while I blinked slowly.

  “What are you doing, my Mistress?”

  “You’re handsome,” I admitted, and he stepped back, flabbergasted. “Just like Isilies.”

  He lowered shoulders, smoothed his face over, and relaxed.

  “Oh, was this some type of brotherly affection?” he asked, and I nodded, not necessarily knowing what another kind of affection he thought it was. “Don’t ever change, my Mistress.”

  “Ok.”

  “This was at the front door this morning. It has your name on it. A welcoming gift from the Head Mage.” Hopper handed me a small black box with a tag that has my name on it. “Open it, my Mistress.”

  Lifting the box, I noticed a small pendant crystal that swirled with magic. The strange greenish blue gem throbbed with power. When I touched it, my energy seemed lifted? Hopper raised his hand, and I gave it to him and turned around.

  While he clasped the necklace, he said, “It is an unyielding energy healing rune. Head Mage knows you have difficulty because you are weak and overexert yourself quicker than an average mage. He specifically created this for you so you wouldn’t have that problem anymore. I believe you can run without feeling tired. Try not to break it either, or lose it. This pendant has to be on you for the rest of your life. My Mistress can finally feel normal."

  Touching the pendant, I turned around to cast my eyes down to Hoppers shoes. The Head Mage is thoughtful. He thinks of me, more than Mum and Dad. He created something only a master mage can set up and bestowed it upon me. After all the times Hopper and Isilies asked for something similar to help me out, Mum and Dad brushed it under the rug and rendered me ok.

  “Thank you, Hopper.”

  “Why are you thanking me, my Mistress?” he asked, baffled.

  Because you were the one who would have asked Head Mage for something like this, I inwardly thought as I shrugged and started towards the door.

  Hopper is caring. He has been more of a parent than my actual parents, but I don’t blame them for being so distant and never around.

  Touching the pendant at my neck, I went into the entrance area, slipped on my boots, tapped them twice on the ground and waited for my brothers. Donte came out before Nixon. His eyes looked around suspiciously. Nixon came out a moment later, and the male school green vest that goes over his buttoned-up top looked bulky. It was confirmed when Hopper picked up Nixon by the scruff of his shirt and shook him lightly that he was hiding something. Small bottles of potions came out of his vest, and he and Donte sighed outwardly. Isilies, who came beside me already, had his fingers pressed to his temple. He wasn’t ready for a day of magic with my brothers.

  I doubt he would be too pleased if he knew Donte was the one hiding the valuable potions and the reason they walked out like that and Nixon looked bulky is to pay more attention to Nixon than what Donte was hiding in his vest and up his sleeves.

  It is all about tactics.

  “It seems I am not welcome to come with you to your classes,” Hopper grimaced sadly.

  “Thank God,” the twins muttered under their breaths.

  “But I was granted to escort you towards your classes and wait outside if you need me,” he smiled cheerfully.

  “Hopper, we’re not children anymore,” Donte complained, and Nixon agreed. “We don’t need to be babysat. Just chill, relax. Slide down a rabbit hole or something.”

  Eyeing Donte, I am not particularly sure if he was saying that because he doesn’t want mages laughing at him because a Shapeshifter would follow him. Or because if Hopper were watching over them, he would realise Donte was the one hiding the potions. Either way, I too don’t seem overly fond of Hopper following. I understand he must be worried leaving us with so many mages who already appear to despise us, but we need to fend for ourselves.

  “But, Hopper . . .” I trailed off and looked at him. “Can you stay here until school finishes? Thank you.”

  “Of course, my Mistress.” He bowed deeply and stepped aside to let us out of the room.

  “Alright.” Isilies heaved a deep breath out as we walked down the stairs. “That would be the only time I can agree with your manipulation thing you can do.”

  “Nice work.” Donte and Nixon pat me on the shoulder as they walked past and ran down the steeply sloped stairs.

  “Wait! We’re supposed to go together to meet the Head Mage at the entrance with other newcomers who started later at Mage Academy.”

  “We’re sussing it out,” they called, and I always wondered if their thoughts were connected. “Eileen is too slow.”

  Puffing cheeks, I kept walking at my pace. Isilies gave me an apologetic look. Donte and Nixon were always fast paced. I remember when we were younger. I could never keep up. I got tired quickly and had to make Isilies put me on his shoulders and run after them when we played games. I don’t remember if I thought that those games were fun. I can’t even remember if I smiled when I was a child. It was a blur. All I mainly remember is of grandfather’s disappearance and how I couldn’t cry, even knowing I wanted to. The pains were still there and were wracking my body and made me feel like I wanted to convulse but I couldn’t. The only thing I could do was stand there and stare at the emptiness of being alone.

  Nonetheless, that was six years ago. I was ten when the search was called off, and they placed deceased rather than disappeared. Grandfather was old. Mum and Dad thought that he wanted to explore and then die quietly without the commotion for the fact that he was one of the Highborn who survived the betrayal

  I recall that it was raining on the day of my Grandfather’s funeral. As the water stuck to hair and ran down face, it made it look as if I was crying silently beside my family. Staring at the empty casket that slowly hovered down into the ground, I breathed out and exhaled slowly. Chest pains were as if a blunt butter knife was wiggling painfully at my heart. Not enough to burst but hurt enough that it
was hard to breathe.

  Down the stairs, I followed Isilies down the familiar halls that lead towards the entrance. When we got there, there were eight other mages in the high school uniform. The males wore blue or green vests over the top of their long-sleeved button up top, but since it is colder, the five boys wore green or blue sweaters with the Mage Academy symbol on the left-hand breast of it and straight cut black pants instead.

  Even knowing it is cold, the three girls who stood amongst each other had short skirts. They looked uncomfortable and freezing. It was apparent that appearances matter to them most while I wore comfortable pants, short-sleeved top with the school sweater over the top and a tie that flapped down.

  Donte and Nixon stood furthest away. They weren’t oblivious to the leering stares, but they didn’t seem to care.

  Isilies placed a hand on my shoulder reassuringly, and we stood near the girls who eyed Isilies up and down. Their cheeks brightened pink until they looked at me. The one that I am assuming is their ringleader, a tall, elegant teenager who looked a year older than I did, curled her full pink lips into a sneer.

  I have a feeling that making friends is going to be harder than expected. I seem hated already, and I have done nothing, I don’t think.

  “She was on Rune Wars,” whispered one of the girls to the ringleader.

  “Highborn thinks she is great. Rubbing it in all of our faces on how great they’re at magic compared to us,” sneered the ringleader with curly blond locks.

  They nodded in agreement.

  Avoiding eye contact, I stared down at my boots and tapped them lightly together.

  In the end, my curiosity and enjoyment of something I love doing ended up being the downfall. While I didn’t think of the consequences, everyone else would have thought I was shoving how great I am in their faces. I didn’t even believe that that level of rune work was great in the first place. It wasn’t complicated at all. A simpleton or even an o-d-h could easily do what I had done. It wasn’t about the runes; it was about the tactics to win instead. That is what Fiona didn’t get.

  I want to correct them, but I doubt that what I say would plead my case. Lowborn already have it glued into their thoughts that I was intentionally cruel to them.

  “Frost family, right?” A voice said from behind me in the darkened corner.

  If I could jump or yelp with fright, I would have. The chill ran up my spine yet I didn’t shudder nor did I freak out. I turned to see a girl was hiding in the shadows and was leaning against the brick interior of Mage Academy.

  “You were on the Rune Wars the other day, right?” I nodded slowly and took a step back away from the stranger. “OH, DUDE SORRY.” she raised her hand and expected me to shake it.

  Isilies nudged my shoulder, and it made me mechanically move my arm forward in a firm handshake. This mage is a Lowborn, that is for certain. She doesn’t have the vibe I would expect from a Highborn. I have already rendered her mixed blood, but I won’t say that to her face. Distinguishing Highborn to Lowborn is easy. They look more human, while our features are much more godlike in appearance. That, and I bet when her veins heightened, they wouldn’t glow as bright as ours unless she underwent intense training.

  Her black hair was tied in a high ponytail; her fringe parted to the side while mine was a frontal edge. Her eyes are a wild dark brown. Darkened and filled with mischief. Her tie was crooked, one of her sleeves from her sweater was rolled up, and she wore odd socks with o-d-h sneakers. I understand boots are standard, thick slab and can hold many runes or magic. Sneaker leather shoes do look weird and fascinating. I can tell already that she seems like an oddball.

  “Aww, Charlie feels sorry for the Highborn,” blonde girl with the curls chuckled coldly.

  “Fuck up mage shit.” The one now called Charlie flipped her the middle finger while she said that in an amused voice. “Just because your Aunty Fiona got destroyed doesn’t mean you can act like a complete loser yourself.”

  “You’re a moronic bitch,” blonde girl hissed.

  “I don’t know. I think what I said was pretty smart.” Charlie nudged my shoulder lightly, and I stepped away and silently begged for Hopper to intervene. To take me away and hide me in a room away from these strange, violent images. But Hopper wasn’t here because I told him to stay behind and wait. “You also shouldn’t discriminate anyone in Mage Academy.”

  “And why is that?”

  “Because, at my school, there is no such thing as Highborn and Lowborn,” called a voice not that far off from where the argument was taking place.

  I hadn’t realised that the others were watching the scuffle between Charlie and Blondie. Isilies, who was beside me, was now near my brothers, and the look on their faces resonated with disgust and hate towards the Lowborn that hovered near Blondie while Charlie seemed ok beside me.

  Focusing away from them, I looked towards the woman that looked like she was wearing a pilot outfit and a child.

  I know who he is. He was the boy in the beanie that leant against the tunnel wall of the rune wars. He had his arms folded across his chest and arched his neck upwards. Narrowing menacing firm hard eyes of a predator on top of his food chain. The aura he resonated is graspable magic. It swirled around him like a ferocious current that could drown me. Just by looking at the child, I knew he was the Head Mage and that he wasn’t a child at all. It also seems Charlie knew as well. The other Lowborn didn’t have a clue that the child they were belittling and laughing at was a diabolical monster in disguise.

  He didn’t seem happy either.

  I felt the pulse of magic. Just a twitch of it. My veins throbbed and lighten with the threat of the Head Mage.

  “Defence rune level two, activate,” I mumbled.

  “Can I be in that bubble?” Charlie asked quickly, and I nodded mechanically.

  She stepped in; the cylinder shield let her in after I rendered her not a threat. It was a second reaction. My brothers slipped a drink in their mouths and Isilies crushed a white crystal between his fingers. An oval shield popped up. We were all prepared for the wrath of chilled billowing wind that rushed towards us.

  The defence is dominant. It protected me, and I guess my new friend, Charlie, perfectly. My brothers pinned themselves against the roof near the gargoyles that hid in the slab of darkness behind them. Isilies stood nonchalantly and looked down at his phone while the others blew back and slammed against the doors that suddenly turned to rubber. They bounced off and onto the ground that seemed to turn and cushion their fall.

  No harm was done.

  “Now, the mages who didn’t think I was a threat. Mages who merely didn’t think and defend themselves, look at the ones standing!” he demanded with a tilt of his head. The Lowborn threw daggers at us, and I tried my best to look away and pretend I was part of the wall. It makes me sick being stared at when I know that all pairs of eyes are livid. “They are smarter, better and three of the four students are Highborn. I guarantee that by the end of this year, you all will be equals with magic wise. Get that through your head, because if you start thinking weak thoughts or blaming Highborn mages for your incompetence, you will not get very far in my Academy.” He stepped forward, and his eyes glowered. “I may look small, but I cast a very long and ancient shadow.” He tapped his forehead and explained, “Cursed at the age of eleven at this school and by someone incredibly stronger than me. I came with my family. It was supposed to be parent-teacher night as well as a mage meeting. What a coincidence that on the same night happened to be the betrayal.”

  “What? You survived the betrayal?” one of the students asked.

  “I was cursed, and the curse branded on me is worse than death. To walk around this earth and watch my brethren and my family die. Now I vowed that I would not see the betrayal enactment again. I will not make my students feel weaker than each other. You have to remember that some will excel in crystal work, potions, runes and so much more. However, it doesn’t mean you’re weak. It only means that genre of magic i
sn’t for you and you move on. Simple.

  “Now that we have that out of the way, I would like us to advance. I need to see what level you’re all at to improve in that category. The first is always the most difficult so don’t be frightened. I want to see where you’re at with your body, your veins and runes on them.”

  “But I don’t have any tattoo runes,” the male with curly black hair said, and a few Lowborn agreed. “How are we supposed to be evaluated?”

  “Have you ever seen o-d-h wash-off tattoos?” head mage said with a smirk as he turned on his heel and walked back down the hallway.

  “Thanks.” Charlie went in step beside me. “What’s o-d-h?” she asked me.

  “Ordinary Human,” Donte and Nixon answered as they walked.

  I walked furthest away from the other mages. The tension evident that they doubt Head Mage still and are fuming that my family acknowledged a threat and acted fast. It wasn’t because we’re Highborn. Charlie knew the risk. The look on her face confirmed that she knew how high up the Head Mage is. We were quick on our feet because having a Mum and Dad at the Organisation made us think fast.

  “Head Mage is awesome!” Charlie was trying her best to communicate with me. She seems like the type to initiate and not care if the other mage is listening or not. “A curse like that makes him immortal! I bet it was a strike five policy. That mage would have been in trouble from the Organisation.”

  “Strike five?”

  “Oh yeah. You lived with ordinary humans. In our world, hex’s, potions and curses accumulate a strike five policy. The worse it is, the more strikes you get. Once you get five, the Organisation will be after you and will hunt you down. Curses are the worst. Any curse can be around three to five strikes. Hex’s, eh and potions, eh. Counter potions can easily remove them or kill the mage that has hexed you or destroy the item used. Curses don’t have that. A curse is for life, and that’s why we aren’t taught them anymore. I mean, we are taught on how bad they’re as well as illegal mage magic but not taught it. Get it?”