The House of Grey- Volume 5 (7 page)

“Especially when many of the legends had been cast aside or just completely ignored for years,” added Marie.

Grayson cleared his throat. “What are you getting at here, Grey?”

“I’m not really sure. But the timing and outcomes don’t seem right. Think about it. With all these discoveries, a bunch of resources had to be dedicated—manpower, time, expertise.  There was no way that someone found all this stuff by chance. Here at Coren, for example, Milary lived more than one hundred years ago but her journal was found just two years ago. Doesn’t that seem coincidental to anyone else? It’s like…it’s like…someone is looking for something specific.”

Banging at the door derailed Monson’s thought. Casey came crashing in, small leather book in hand.

He tossed it to Kylie, who caught it with relish. The sublime air of anticipation prickled them all as she opened the first page.

Kylie’s eyes widened instantly.

She flipped the page, then another, and another, and another and another. She dropped the book to the floor, obviously upset.

A tangible feeling had settled upon the onlookers while Kylie ripped from page to page. Monson picked up the discarded journal. He opened it slowly. Nothing was in it.

Casey’s voice was quiet. “I tried to tell you.”

He put out his hand. “This is the only thing that I found in the book.”

He flipped through the book to the very last page and started to read:

“To M.P. and G.D.P., if you’re reading this that means I’m gone. I don’t know if I’m dead or otherwise, but seeing as I’m not the one reading this I’m not going to dwell on it. I’m also not going to bore you with any long and lengthy declarations of the heart. I have no regrets, save one: that I never told him I loved him and it caused a rift with the one I cherish. That doesn’t make much sense, does it? Well, I’m not writing this part for you so it doesn’t matter anyway. This next part is for you, however, so pay attention.

Secrets. There are so many secrets. Secrets that should have remained buried away. I found what I should not have. Listen carefully: I have often said that history is just as much a weapon as any missile or gun. The strength, however, of any weapon is in the brilliance of its deployment and use. This is the very reason I’m writing this. I must warn you of the price of that which comes next—be careful what you give credence to, as what you believe will directly reflect what you are. Believe only that which is true as truth is pure. If you cannot believe the truth, then turn your belief into truth, as belief is power. No sentence ever had more meaning.

Remember—the shallow payment of discovery is much greater than the future price of ignorance.

The valley is the center of it all. The darkness runs unnaturally deep and only Gaji has a mind to heed, as he alone was created as such under the Shining Princess of the Great Betrayer. He and others like him give no allegiance to that princess or even the Betrayer, but instead to the queen of the Arch Angels who have forever forsaken this high place. She alone may command. Let that which was once high, and the stories of those who lived in the sky, remain untouched and unburdened. The Castle in the Sky!

The Shining Princess—avoid the inheritance of the Shining Princess; only then can you elude the wrath of the Great Betrayer.”

Casey finished his recitation only to have the book quickly snatched from him. Kylie read over the text,
then
spoke a postscript aloud.

“P.S. To understand,
find that which
is most important to me.”

Chapter
49 –
Instinct

“Monson, what’s wrong?” asked Dawn in a voice far quieter than normal. His voice was coming in more disjointed than it had in the past. Monson thought about saying something, but decided that unless Dawn mentioned it he would worry about it when he had time.

Monson closed his eyes, mentally responding to Dawn’s question. “I guess I just can’t believe that this stupid dance is already here. I don’t feel like I have accomplished anything in the last couple of weeks.”

An overwhelming understatement, but to Monson’s credit he had tried everything in his power to make headway in his various endeavors. He had redoubled his efforts with the Magi Blade, tried several different avenues to regain his memory, attempted to learn about his investment portfolio, and actually booked a helicopter for a trip back to his home on the Columbia River. He had even taken to trying to find, albeit covertly, Sage’s hideout.

Despite his renewed vigor, Monson’s efforts had resulted in abysmal failure. It seemed that his luck was taking a bad turn. He hoped it was not an omen, but it was true. He was no closer to understanding the Magi Blade or regaining his memories, reading his investment portfolio was like studying another language, and when Molly found out about the helicopter, she forbade him from going back to his home before the semester was over. Being a minor sure was annoying at times.

The Kylie-Casey-Sage drama was on a completely different level.
One that
was forbidden as a topic of discussion.
Casey had clearly communicated that by actually disappearing on Monson and Artorius for a couple of days after Kylie’s revelations. Casey did not want to talk about what had happened, and without knowing more about the saga, there was very little that Monson and Artorius could do. It seemed that ever since Kylie had confided her plan to the group, Casey had been in a sort of funk. He still seemed like Casey, but a far more quiet and reflective one. Monson had held his tongue over the last little while, as he knew Casey would talk when he was ready. No point in pushing the guy.

At the top of his wins column, his relationship with Taris was going well. Taris seemed more determined to make their relationship work these days. He did not know the reason for the change, but it was better than before so he was not going to
complain.Despite
all of it, the reason he was currently awake in his bedroom so early in the morning was completely unrelated. It was finally the morning of the Spring Solstice and he was “freaking out.”

He had been alarmed when he learned what going to a dance entailed. Unbeknownst to Monson before he asked Taris to the Spring Solstice, he was not merely required to attend the dance with her—oh no. It was much more complicated than that. The dance was actually an all-day affair. By decree of the female students, couples were supposed to go out in the morning and participate in various activities and then the girls and guys would separate to “get ready,” before meeting up again before dinner. Which was where it became very elaborate. Many of the more ostentatious students at the school were actually flying towards Olympia, Washington’s capital, for dinner, and then returning to campus for the opening ceremonies. Unbelievable. As a royalty candidate, Monson did not have to worry about all that because he and his party would attend the Dinner of Elegance in the Senators Room, a very fancy building on the eastern part of campus built precisely for that purpose. Tales were told of the room; its decor and finery were said to be beyond anything anyone could imagine—which was saying something considering the reality of most of the privileged student body.

Monson voiced his pitiful concerns. “I haven’t been to a dance before. I guess I really don’t know what to expect. I also have this uneasy feeling of foreboding, like something bad is going to happen.”

“Ahh, the pains of youth,” said Dawn, sounding very amused. “I have never been a fifteen-year-old boy, but at this point I do not know where all this concern is coming from.”

“But—”

“But nothing. You know, I really am surprised. Why are you so nervous?”

“I don’t know. I just feel uneasy for some reason.”

“I see.”

“Dawn?”

“Yes?”

“Can I ask you a serious question?”

“Of course.”

“Is all this really real?”

A terribly worded question he knew, but Dawn seemed to understand. Dawn paused for a moment.

“If I said it was not, would you believe me?”

It was Monson’s turn to pause.

“Probably not.”

“Then why ask?”

“I was just….”

“You were just looking for answers, right?”

“Something
like
that. I just can’t help but feel—”

“Uneasy? Yeah, you said that.”

Monson harrumphed. 

“You have good instincts, Monson. It would not be a bad idea to depend on them more.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” 

But Dawn did not respond. Monson could feel his presence steadily retreating from his mind, and knew that the conversation was over. Monson took a deep breath and opened his eyes.

Good instincts, huh?
he
thought. I wonder why he said that. Monson climbed out of bed and went about getting ready for the day.

He showered and dressed in warm clothes (it was cooler than it had been recently), taking some time to pull back his now-wild hair in a ponytail. He paused at the bathroom mirror and reluctantly looked. He saw his own face looking back at him. He reached up and lightly touched his own cheek, feeling his scars as he ran his fingertips over the rough skin. He glanced down at his unscarred hand,
then
promptly refocused on his face. He took his hair out of his ponytail.

Monson met Casey, Indigo, Christy and Artorius in The Barracks’ common area where they were all talking quietly. Monson had invited Grayson, but he said that he and Marie had some things to do that day. He added that he was not exactly equipped to go adventuring in the forest, the activity the group had planned for that morning. Their last trip during Monson’s “training” was enough to tell him that. The forest wasn’t exactly conducive to a wheelchair.

Upon his arrival, Casey greeted Monson with flustered enthusiasm as he disentangled himself from Christy who was on with her usual attempts of P.D.A.

“Grey, what took you so long?” he demanded as he left Christy pouting on a wide leather love seat. “We’ve been waiting—”

“I’m like ten minutes late, back off,” answered Monson indignantly. He communicated the rest of his unspoken thought as he glared at Casey.

Dude,
don’t take it out on me! It’s not my fault your date is crazy.

Casey caught Monson’s hint or at least he appeared to, because his face contorted nastily.

“Still no sign of Taris?” Monson surveyed the area, tossing up his hand in greeting to Artorius and Indigo who had been watching the exchange with amusement.

“Not yet,” Artorius answered distractedly as he returned to watching Casey’s attempts to fend off Christy.

Monson started to grumble to himself. He hated waiting, especially since it had been Taris’ idea to meet so early in the morning.

“Oh, everyone’s here, how lovely!”

Taris walked through the open door and of course, was acting as if she had been the one waiting for them instead of the other way around. The fact that she looked amazing kind of made up for it. Just kind of.

“You’re late.” Monson scowled, though he gave her a small smile. He was not really mad. It was just that his general sense of uneasiness, not to mention his nerves about the whole dance ordeal, had put him in a bad mood.

“Don’t be nasty,” she said, chiding him gently. “It takes a lot for a lady to get ready in the morning.”

“We’re both here,” spat Indigo.

“Well then, what does that imply?”

“Why you little—”

“Should we get going?” interrupted Christy. Catching on to Christy’s intentions, Monson, Artorius and Casey steered the three girls out of the common room, making sure that Taris and Indigo were not next to each other. Monson sighed. This was going to be a long day.

Upon exiting the dormitories, their group encountered several other groups of students mulling around the grounds, presumably waiting for stragglers. Damion Peterson was among them. He stood slightly apart from his entourage and fidgeted nervously as he shot restless glances over his shoulder. On the other side of him sat a calm Cyann Harrison, who was reading and sipping from a bottle of water. She paid no attention to her date or his friends, despite many a girl hovering around trying to engage her.

The older students all ignored Monson and his friends as they passed by, Indigo in the lead. All except Damion, who turned, flipping a half-nod at
Monson.
Monson smiled weakly in return. Cyann also looked up from her book just as Monson’s gaze was about to pass over her. Expressionless eyes briefly followed him but did not linger. Then she and Indigo locked eyes and Indigo shot her a wicked smile. Cyann nodded her acknowledgment, but did not return the smile. She never did.

“I don’t understand what Damion sees in that girl,” said Taris as their group walked past, out of earshot. “She’s so gloomy.” 

“You’d better not let Indigo hear you,” said Monson. “They are sisters, after all.”

“Oh sure—take her side.”

“What?”

“Hurry up, you two,” yelled Casey from a distance. “We’ll leave you guys behind otherwise.”