Chapter 14: Lisa

The stone walls give the feeling of being challengeable, I look up at the sky ... They seem infinite.

With a snort full of exhaustion and delay, I walk to the hidden doors of Dionisio. I remove plants, both climbing plants and flowers, with a single thought. I discover a seal engraved in stone, in the center it has an inlaid stone, I have never bothered to find out what it is.

They have surely been blessed by the Gods. Eleven gates were hidden within the fearsome walls of the School, all with a strange stone blessed by a God.

When you graduate and you are sent on your first mission, you are told the location of the door that corresponds to your God. Why not tell the newbies? Easy, no one controls the doors, the stones read your aura, if you are a descendant of the God or Goddess who has blessed it, then you are welcome. If not ... Pray everything you know.

Without that control, the location of the doors is secret, if someone goes off their tongue, they cut it off. Without doubting, without hesitation. Suddenly, from one day to the next, you can only dream of vocalizing a word again. If they are benevolent.

The door opens in a strange creak, I go through the walls, again. I breathe in the uncontaminated air, brimming with power, magic and white energy.

I'm home.

I see Céline sitting on a tree trunk, both of them take refuge in a suspicious silence. Who is the other girl? A rookie?

I try to make an image of her face, but they're too far. I bend down to see her better, from the other side of the grove. Her eyes are even lighter than mine, clearer than Daniel's. I have never seen someone with eyes that highlight her offspring so much, only those that hide great power show great distinction.

A tingle runs through my veins. I can't help but feel envy, I am relieved to think that, maybe, if she doesn't pass the test of the first year, she will die facing her familiar.

Her mane seems to be made from the same fire, it's rebellious, it would contrast perfectly with my straight dark hair. I can barely pick it up in a braid, it's too thin, so in a somewhat obfuscated instant, I cut it below my ears in an uneven line. My feathered earrings stood out more than ever.

We meet in a fleeting glance, at the moment I hide behind the bark of the tree. She already knows I'm here. Why doesn't she come? Why doesn't she alert Céline?

I take another quick look, this time my hands are sweaty. Never. In none of my missions have I been discovered, I am the best at what I do, nobody surpasses me.

But she has seen me.

Insistently, I look for her eyes again, she continues in her line. Then I understand. She is not paying attention to me, she believes that it is not worth it, that I am not more important than the silent conversation with my former teacher. With my classmate.

I clench my fingers until my nails dig into the palms. I still don't know her name, her story, but I hate her. There's something about her that I don't like.

With an annoying, fast and noisy pace, I reach the doors of the Director's office. She greets me, I pass her the report.

- So you haven't got the information. - I nod, annoyed, I don't know why, but something tells me that my mission has too much to do with the redhead.

-Eleanor, -After years in charge of her, the trust between us was almost an unbreakable bond. - They have taken a vow of silence, the only thing I have been able to find out is that one of them died.

-I know, ours do not remember anything of what happened, it is as if they had erased his presence in the fight ...

-Do you know who it was? - Her grimace tells me that she does not doubt it, but she also shows clear anger.

- That damned girl... - I find her silver eyes, more beautiful than the silver pendant that adorned my chest. A graduation gift. - I'm starting to imagine who she is. - Her eyebrows go up in a surprised expression. - Redhead? Daughter of Dionysus? She uses the Vendôme?

-Her name's Ailey, she came in just a month ago… -She runs her hands repeatedly through her hair, her eyes are full of fatigue. - She only goes to John's classes, and on top of that she sneaks into Céline's at all hours ... I don't know what to do with her.

- Do you have any proof that it was her? - She shakes her head slowly, she's more than frustrated.

-We only know that she can use the Vendôme, and she is stronger than she wants us to believe… -Her eyes have an innate seriousness, a storm is coming. - Much stronger than me.

This time the surprise assails me.

- That's…

- She Has received the Kiss of Dionysus. - Her cutting words nail me to the ground that has decided to disappear under my feet. Staggering, I sit in one of the couches as I cling to whatever it is.

The Kiss of Dionysus, for years no one received the blessing of a God... Except for one Son of Dionysus, we are known to be the descendants "without blessing."

Damn, I myself had exploited each and every one of my opportunities to receive the blessing of my God, few bothered to know what it meant the privilege of receiving such a gift. The kiss of magical creatures.

Yes, we had familiars, I myself had received a Dagenda Lady on the last day of my first year. The first of the second year. Cursed bird spirits the color of that girl's hair, souls that tortured, that manipulated. Souls that gave perfect powers to hide, to create pain from afar, to torture without the victim knowing. In a war we are useless, but as spies we are invincible.

I have worked very hard to achieve it. It is unfair. It is totally degrading. Why does she? Why not me?

What do the Gods see in her?

With a new glow, I get up from the seat, this is already personal.

- Lisa...- Her voice catches me in a soft singing.

- I'm going to find out. - My gaze makes the imposing Director go back. - Everything.

I'm pissed off.

That little girl is not worthy of the Blessing of a God, less of mine. I suspect her, I just need an opportunity, an accusation. To be able to see her eyes empty and crystal of hers.

Dead.

- Daniel! - I call out to the boy with eyes similar to mine, his long brown hair tousles when our gazes meet.

<< Lisa? >>

Somewhat violent, I catch him by the forearm and drag him to the grove, Céline and that girl are gone.

<< What's wrong? >> He asks worried, despite being a second year, he can already use that ability. Something that continues to bother me, I have graduated and I am not able to use it. I am useless.

No Blessing, with a cursed soul whose only weakness is language.

- Who is the new one? - He looks at me in surprise as a hand rests on my shoulder. I turn excited, I have not felt it. Every time I feel more anger, every second I hate her more.

<< My name is Ailey. >> Her voice whispers between my thoughts. I shake my head, I try to throw it away. But I can't.

I watch as they have a silent conversation.

- It is rude to use it with someone else in front. - They both turn, Dani has a smile ... I am surprised, he smiles a few times. The other girl leaves, without saying anything ... More and more ... she grows inside me. - Well?

Dani shrugs.

<< She is the new girl. >>

- Is that all you know? - He looks at me with a bowed head and a clear question. - Tell me.

I order with boiling blood, at this point, I am surprised to be able to maintain control over my spirit.

<< You should talk to Céline. >>

With that, he turns and goes back to the building, through a window, I see him sitting at a desk in the second-year classrooms.

- Damned dog ... - I mumble, relaxing my hands, at this rate I'll get blood. This is not the time to hurt myself, least of all my main work tool.

I walk to the training ground, I find Céline yelling, pissed off, at some Sons of Zeus. They have probably made inappropriate comments again, I still remember the last time someone did that in their class, from my generation. We had soreness for over a week.

I get their attention while she orders them to warm up.

- Lisa! - She welcomes me in a python hug. - How have you been?

I look at her with a sincere smile, despite the anger that I carry over her, I discover that, next to her, it is impossible to feel that way.

- Well, missions are a real pain in the ass. - She lets out a laugh that distracts the students.

- Keep running! - Her bad drool is legendary throughout the school. - Well, what brings you here?

- The dog told me that the new breed and you are friends. - Her gaze changes to a more serious one. She pushes me away when she sees bums in the group, she yells out a couple of exercises and comes back to me.

- We are not exactly friends, but ...

- But? - Asked before her silence. She doesn't seem determined to continue, however I need to know. - What Céline?

She sighs, keeps her attention on the running students.

- I'm sorry,- She says after a moment's hesitation. - I can't tell you.

Then, like a fearsome lightning bolt, anger strikes my body again.

- What the hell !? - I sit on the floor, with my elbows on my knees. - We have known each other for years, you have known her for days ...

- She saved my life. - Her solemnity makes my heart pound. I widen my eyes. - I own her.

- She has saved your life…- Her assent leaves me speechless.

Determined, I get up and run back to the Director's Office. I have a terrible suspicion. It can not be true.