Sophie Learns An Unsettling Truth

It was late by the time Sophie got out of class. They'd been discussing at great lengths, the classics, including the Simona Lisima, the best creation of Leonardo da Simci. She was still thinking of it as they all milled out into the courtyard. The sun had already gone down and apart from the lights from the classrooms and the ones outside, it was virtually pitch dark. But she could still see well enough to witness one student collapsing on the floor.

"Omg, is he okay?" she asked, reaching forward, "is there anything I can do?"

A hand pulled her back. Judging by the glint of the glasses and the thick beard, she recognised Professor Wade Anthony. He shook his head solemnly.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly, "there's nothing you can do."
"How do you know?"
"It's that college plague, it's taken hold all around campus. People are dropping everywhere."
"But why?"
"Those that are affected, go into a kind of delirium where they think they can survive on air alone and skip meals. It's a horrible death - starvation. There's only one thing to do."

"What's that?"
"Wait for the Grim Reaper to claim his - and all the others - souls."
"I can't let that happen. I've got to do something."
"Sorry, once his soul is claimed, there's nothing you can do."
"And what if there is?"
"How do you mean?"
"I've heard about people bargaining for their loved ones souls, bringing them back to life etc."
"Those are just fairy tales Sophie. There's no truth in them."
"And I am a fairy. So there must be SOME truth in this matter anyways. If there wasn't, I wouldn't be here. But I am and so that's that!"

She put her hands on her hips and jutted her chin out defiantly. It was the only time, since transitioning into a Young Adult, that she ever dared to defy a person of authority. Wade sighed and shook his head.

"The only time we ever manage to be together, and it just happens to be at the most inappropriate moment."

Sophie glared at him.

"What do you want of me?"
"Huh?"
"It's plainly obvious that you've got an invested interest in me, otherwise you wouldn't text me to meet up .. every.single. day. So what do you want?"

Just then, the chilly night air got even chillier as the Grim Reaper made his entrance. Sweeping silently past the milling crowds, he raised his scythe and muttered a few words, before the corpse began to glow.

From it rose a spectral form. Sophie and the rest of the group were entranced at the simple, yet gruesome ceremony before them. Taking the spirit to one side, Grimmy waited with inexhaustible patience as the ghost pleaded to be saved.

"That's it," Sophie suddenly announced, "I'm going to save him."

Wade grabbed her arm once more and she shook it off, stepping forward.

"Grim Reaper!" she said forcefully, "how can I save his life?"

A thought wave rippled into her head and she half smiled.

"A chess match. Hmm, as simple as that." she lifted her head and nodded in the direction of the chess table in the garden, "okay, you are on!"

Wade hissed at her.

"Are you stupid? Do you even have ANY logic skills at all?"
"Not that I know of, but it's worth a chance."
"You have no idea what you are doing young lady. I insist that you stop right now before you get yourself entangled in even more trouble."
"No. I made this bargain, I'm going to uphold it."

Wade threw his hands up in the air in defeat.

"You're just like your headstrong ancestor, the brother to the king of the Fae."

Sophie stopped dead and turned.

"What. Did. You. Say?"
"I've said too much as it is," Wade replied frowning deeply, "go ahead. You made a pact with the devil himself. You deal with it. I'm heading off home."

Sophie paused uncertain, debating what to do. But then decided that she'd made a promise and she'd uphold it, no matter what.

The chess match lasted well into the early hours of the morning. But she was no further forward. She was cold, hungry, tired, needed to pee and desperately wanted a shower.

In the end, she gave up. She felt the cold mocking of Grimmy as he spirited away that poor student's soul. And she felt terrible that she'd been helpless to save him. She also thought back to what Wade had blurted out to her. But she was too exhausted by then to think straight.

The minute she got through the dining room door, she collapsed from sheer exhaustion.

Saving souls was an exhausting and extremely draining process.

Professors, Parties And The Powers Girls

Backtracking a little here, (I saved before they left the Meet and Greet). Just after Nessa managed to grab herself a freebie from the vending machine, she had the distinct feeling that she was being watched. And rightly so. By none other than Professor Anthony himself. Just the intensity of his stare was enough for her to feel just a little uncomfortable. So she approached him.

 "Did I do something wrong?" she asked innocently.

He smiled, a little. Only a little mind you. Then shook his head.

"If you're talking about stealing from the vending machine ..."

"Oh, no, it was just a little loose, I ... I shook it a little ...."

"There's no need to apologise. Not a day goes by when a student goes on a head to head battle with a vending machine."

"Ah ... erm ... good."

He studied her closely, frowning slightly.

"You look familiar, but I ... can't seem to place you."

"I'm Vanessa, Nessa to my friends. I'm with Sophie."

"Sophie ... Sophie.... OH! You mean Miss Powers?"

"Yep, that's my sister!"

"How is she?"

"She's good. She's come back to finish her degree."

"I am glad, she has potential. A lot of potential."

There was an awkward silence after that, as both parties tried to think of something, anything to say to one another. The small talk was getting them nowhere fast, and it was beginning to bore Nessa rigid. Besides, Professor Anthony looked as though he was trying to say something, but couldn't quite articulate. He stared at her.

"What?"

"I'm sorry, it's just that ... you look so familiar to me. Are you Fae?"

"Huh?"

Just then, Sophie arrived and interrupted them.

"Professor, hi. Nice to meet you. How are you?"

"Sophie! Glad to see you again. I hear you are continuing your Fine Arts degree."

"That I am."

At that moment, Nessa's phone beeped as a message came through. It was a kegger party invite from frat boy Miles Forthright. Nessa almost squealed with delight.

"A party? AWESOME! You betcha I'll be there!"

Sophie smiled at her sister's excited reaction, then turned back to the professor.

"Before you ask, no I didn't ask my mom, such a lot has been going on lately at home that I didn't get the chance."

"That's a pity."

"Why?"

"Well, it would have been so much better if it had come from your mother."

"Professor, you're not making much sense."

He glanced at his watch, scribbled on a slip of paper and handed it to her, then bowed ever so slightly.

"I've got to go, sorry. It's getting late and I've got to teach class in the morning, prepare a presentation etc. But if you do have the time, check this out in the library. You'll find it enlightening indeed. And it'll answer many of your questions."

"I'd better go too. Keep an eye on my sister for a while."

**********

During the study group, Sophie began to yawn. It had been a long day - travelling, settling in, keeping an eye on Nessa. Besides, her class was an early one at the arts academy.

"I'm turning in Ness, you'll be okay?"

"Yeah, of course. Besides, I've been invited to a kegger party."

"So you've been hinting at all evening. Just take care okay, and make sure you get back home in time for class."

"Pfft, it's not until noon. I'll be back by then."

"Okay, night then."

"Soph?"

"Yeah?"

"Never mind."

"Go on."

"I was just going to ask if I could borrow your kenspa."

"Not if you're going to be drunk. Besides, there are plenty of bikes on campus. Borrow one of those."

"Ah, okay. See you soon."

After a shower and a bite to eat, Sophie headed off to bed. The minute her head hit the pillow, she was out cold, snoring slightly. Nessa in the meantime, grabbed one of the bikes outside the dorm and pedalled to the frat house to join the party.

What she hadn't anticipated, was the fact that it was swimwear, and she was the only girl invited. For once, she felt a little self conscious and lurked outside whilst the party raved on indoors. 

She was joined by another student.

"Hey, can I help you?"

"Hey. No, I'm good, thanks. I got an invite to this kegger, by a Miles Forthright."

"That's erm ... me."

"Oh, then what are you doing out here?"

"I ... uh... was checking the kegs, see if they're full."

Nessa smirked. By the looks of things, this student had been put up with a dare to throw a party, expecting nobody to turn up. And now he was hiding outside because he couldn't handle the crowds indoors.

"You got any food? I'm starving."

"No, sorry, just drinks."

"Ah, crap. I'm starving."

"Sorry."

"Oh well, better join the throng then. See you around."

"Yeah, okay."

The party raved until the early hours, when Nessa checked the clock in the house and blanched.

"Ah crap. I've got to get back. My class is in four hours!"

In a desperate bid to get home, exhausted, smelly, bursting for the loo and hungry, she wobbled along the road on her bike, the chilly air whipping around her semi naked body. (yep, she was still in her swimwear, cycling home in the early hours of the morning)

She bolted up the stairs and headed for the bathroom. Time was ticking onwards and her hunger still gnawed at her. Whipping out the can of soda, she drank the whole lot down, hoping that the sugar rush would sustain her for a couple more hours.

It didn't.

It hit her bladder full force, and she peed herself!

Oh Nessa. You really need to balance partying with studying a little more.