Chapter 8: Alice, the Immortals, and the Monster
THE night we pledged to fight alongside Robins, we changed into our uniforms and slept in the castle infirmary instead of our dorm rooms. It was risky to stay in one place now that we knew the headmaster was out for our lives.
Robins stayed in the form of Gryphon just to be safe. He curled his body up as if he was cradling us against him. His wings were smoother than they looked and so warm when wrapped around us like a blanket.
I leaned my body into his soft feathers and instantly felt ready to fall asleep.
I wonder if Dark’s mother wouldn’t have gone through so much despair if she knew there were kind demons like Robins in the world…
It was a difficult question.
Dark’s mother wanted a child with the husband she loved, but the being in her stomach turned out to be a demon with no blood relation to either of them. Giving birth to Dark only solidified her status as a new mother.
Those feelings of love must have tortured her when she had no outlet for them. She wanted to love him, but she couldn’t.
“God, how do I send that boy…send Dark…”
“How do I send him back to Hell?”
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🎃 🎃 🎃
WHEN I opened my eyes, Leeds and Dark were by the window. Robins’ fur was standing on end. Dum, Dee, and Jack rubbed their eyes—they’d just woken up too.
“Is something wrong?” I asked.
Dark turned back toward me with a grim expression. “Headmaster Caterpillar and the teachers are out on the plaza. They’re making everyone gather around the Lion Dorm prefect.”
I went over to the window, looked down, and saw Charles tied up in the plaza center. Students surrounded him.
The headmaster ordered everyone to pick up rocks. “This prefect abuses his position to seem more powerful,” he said. “You aren’t happy about that, are you? Today, let’s chastise him by throwing stones instead of using my whip!”
“How did this happen…?” I asked.
Charles never abused his power or acted cocky just because he was a prefect. He was a kind-hearted person willing to take corporal punishment if it meant protecting the other boys at school.
The students were conflicted, as they felt like they owed Charles for everything he’d done for them. None of them picked up rocks—some of the braver boys even tried to convince the headmaster that this must be a mistake.
But the old man had words for the student body.
“If you don’t throw your stones, I’ll strike you with my whip.”
That finally got their expressions to change. Some started to pick up stones, not wanting to be hurt over this.
Leeds looked at the headmaster in total shock at the man’s true character. “Only an adult who’s rotten to the core would think to make children dirty their hands to avoid punishment. Although, it’s a great method to instigate the boys, who haven’t fully developed their morals yet.”
“This is no time to sit around and chat. We have to go save Charles!” I shouted.
“Wait.” Robins spread his wings and stopped me from heading toward the staircase. “I’ll take you. Get on my back.”
“But the others will see you like this.”
“That’s all right. It’ll be a whole lot worse if I can’t save my friend.”
Robins was prepared for such an outcome, so there was nothing else to be said. I accepted his offer and hopped onto his back.
“Let’s go!”
Robins kicked off the ground with his lion’s feet. He rammed his body against the wall near the window and broke through it instantly.
Clinging to his feathers, I felt my stomach rise into my chest. But the fall never came. Robins spread his wings and caught the fierce sea breeze.
I sat up and stared at the distant sun and the glittering surface of the ocean.
I’m flying!