“How did you get this?” I asked in awe. “Look at everyone…”
“Most of them are dead but look…”
He pointed to Maggie’s name which kept fading and coming back. Marvin T. Holmes was fading in and out like the red ink would seep into the paper before pooling at the surface once more. Draco Holmes did the same, but Wilhelmina Holmes did not. Her name remained faded from her branch with no living children of her own to claim.
“Himora Holmes…” I read out loud, reading her name next to Adrias Holmes with a single daughter underneath named Dawn. There was another branch forming that stretched out from Draco Holmes with a tiny leaf appearing before fading only to reappear again. “This is…”
“That’s not all.” Proudly, Harvey took the paper to turn over on the blank side. He took my hand to press down on it, said a single line from a spell before an old layout of Drew Collins appeared. Although it barely looked like the school, more like an estate of homes and buildings.
“This is where they all lived,” I said in awe.
“Mmm hmm…There is a door somewhere here that probably used to take them home on the Grounds. “Now look at this…Wait for it…”
We stared at the map where you could see a faint trace of how the school would look from the iron gates leading up to the main academic building with the famous statue.
“I’m not sure how old this is or how up to date it is, but it can’t be too far behind,” Harvey said, staring intensely at the map. “Just wait for it.”
“What am I….” My words fell silent as I saw the small print of footsteps walking scattered along the pathways of the map. The name Collin Holmes was floating above the feet while Maggie Grey suddenly appeared over where Legacy Row used to be. Professor Akeem, otherwise known as Carmichael Holmes, hadhis footprint walking and pacing in another building. Marvin was in his building. Wilhelmina walked the Grounds. Draco appeared around the outside. This must be an old map of last year seeing as Wilhemina on the tree was no longer living. It was all becoming overwhelming until they all disappeared once more except for Collin…Holmes.
I simply pointed to the scattered footsteps moving in different directions when Harvey suddenly got up and walked off. He disappeared behind one of the shelves before coming back with a worn and torn book. It was barely held together by the spine when he sat back down.
“Collin Holmes,” he read out loud. Pushing his glasses up with a scrunch of his nose, he began flipping through the pages until landing on an old…very old black and white portrait of a young black man wearing a stuffy suit with a high collar. His hair was snow white, just like Maggie but slicked back in deep waves hitting the kitchen of his neck. “Collin Holmes, the twin brother to Andrew Holmes, Dr. Marvin T. Holmes dedicated this university and education institute to his two brothers. These are the true founders of Drew Collins University…blah blah blaaah,” Harvey skimmed. “The most dangerous twins within the family with the ability to shift their skin and mimic voices to seduce their prey, Andrew and Collin Holmes were known for exceptional charm, their sudden violent nature, and a tragic upbringing that only led to their deaths. Although there are rumors that Collin may still be alive, when nymphs and sirens began turning up in the water dead from being attacked and drained, he disappeared shortly after. Never to be heard from again with little to no evidence of him being alive nor dead…” Harvey exclaimed while cutting his eyes at me before tapping the map with his finger. “He has not made an appearance since 18–––”
“Look,” I pointed, showing Collins moving behind Maggie Grey on the Grounds. My heart began to tighten as I watched their footsteps move in unison, going to the same place, turning in the same direction before she disappeared, and he moved on. I looked up at Harvey who stuck his head out, waiting for it to click.
“Are you that oblivious?” He asked with an incredulous tone.
“What are you talking about Harvey? Just say it. Enough with the guessing games. Are you and your brother Andrew and Collin? What? Just say it.” I snapped. Groaning, he turned the book towards me, showing the blown-up portrait of Collin and his twin brother Andrew in the deep shades of black and grey. Both had white hair, dark eyes, no smiles, and a sinister aura surrounding them, but they easily could have been some of the most handsome men at that time too. I looked at Harvey who sucked his teeth before pointing at Collin.
“No wonder you need me in your life…” He sighed with a shake of his head before blurting out, “Collin Holmes is that fucking cat you’re always with.”
…
The room felt cozy and dark when Quan quietly opened the door, dipped his head to lower his height before stretching tall as he closed it behind him with his foot. He was shirtless this time and almost looked like a black cat in the night with his bright sharp eyes. With tight wet curls against his head, his dark complexion looked like sculpted black stone from a statue in a museum. Quan was indeed a piece of art but seeing as his shifty eyes looked around like a cat, I could only grin.What in the hell type of spell did this scorned woman put on him?
“You’re not going out to party?” He grumbled, dropping down to the floor with his back against the bed. “Not even getting food?”
“Mmmm no… Isis isn’t eating in the dining hall tonight and Harvey has a date.”
Quan rolled his eyes while I smiled at the idea of Harvey breaking a man’s back in our shared bed. I’ll admit I felt a tinge of jealousy until I remembered what I looked like and who I am. If I wanted, I could easily step out but not tonight.
“I think he’s an informant,” Quan declared.
“Harvey? You think so?” I laughed. “I could see it.”
“So what if he’s playing you this entire time and trying to get to Maggie or any of you all? Then what? You slept with the enemy…”
“I told him all of our secrets too,” I whispered with a wink. Quan rolled his eyes while I laughed.
“It doesn’t feel right,” Quan said with a sigh as he brought one knee up to drape his arm over. “All of this shit…everything about Maggie… It doesn’t feel right.”
“You always did love Maggie more than any of us,” I said, deciding to dance around it for a moment.
“No, I just think she carries herself better than the rest of you idiots.”
“Mmmm I think it’s more than that. Do you feel a connection towards her?”
He was quiet as the music and marching bands outside played in the distance. Everyone was on the Grounds tonight celebrating and eating. The night vendors came out, opening up a market full of paper lanterns floating in the air and fresh cooked food.
