I held on to the woman’s arm before finding our hands locking together as I followed close behind her. That’s when I heard the name…an unsure whisper but it was the name that was on the paper.
“Dan... Danielle?”
My eyes widened before looking back, catching the gaze of a handsome, a fairly pale complexion. Lighter than most men I have ever seen with dark curly hair and full rose-pink lips. His dark brows came together, confused at the sight of me before I quickly turned my head.
“Good evening first years!” A voice called out. “Can everybody hear me?!”
I looked back before coming up to an opening where we stood at the top of the crowd. There, a woman stood with small curls of unusual white hair falling against her shoulders. She held her hand out for silence before clearing her throat.
“You got this Mag!” Someone shouted.
“You can do it!”
The woman awkwardly smiled with a nod before puffing her chest out to take a deep breath. I placed my hand on my own chest, as if feeling the exhale of air being released.
“My name is Maggie…”
Her eyes found their way to the woman beside me before locking eyes with me and she froze. Her hand was still in the air when she slowly lowered it as we continued to look at each other. Even the woman beside me noticed the shift in energy as she stared from me to the woman simply known as Maggie…
“I…” She started, confused. Maggie shook her head with a startled expression like she wanted to say something but cleared her throat again. “My name is Maggie Grey and…”
Her eyes fell back on me as the curls in her hair suddenly fell limp, becoming bone straight against her back side. I could hear the whispers and gasps of awe when the wind suddenly picked up around us and her hair began to gently move around her.
“Most of you may know me as the granddaughter of Dr. Holmes, the founder of this school and one of the pioneers behind the Underground. Fortunately,” tilting forward on her heels, “that is not what defies me. I was born and raised in Atlanta. Graduating top of my class. I love learning so much that I decided to bring myself through another few years of gruesomepapers and research just because I don’t feel like I’ve even begun to scratch the surface of all there is to know about life. Then…I was thrown into this world here…The Underground,” she said as her eyes anxiously glanced back at me. The woman holding my hand suddenly leaned in with an almost sensual whisper that made my skin crawl.
“Do you know my Maggie?”
I turned to her, feeling the dark energy ooze out of her like poison from the pores, and shook my head. A witch that claimed a soul for their own is one not to be tampered with. My mother has taught me everything I know.
“With the four schools that you are carefully selected for, I too, hope you find your place. Don’t let what your family has told you…Whatever path they’ve predetermined for you to walk on…shape who you are.”
I felt another set of chills go down my spine as I looked at the faint hairs on my arms rise to the familiar words.
“You are to become whatever you want to be, go wherever you want to go, reach heights and push the boundaries of your destiny, and make this life you’re in…the here and now,” she pointed to the ground. “Designated for you, by you, and live it to the absolute fullest. So again,” stepping forward as the iron gates began to rattle. “Allow me to introduce myself not as a daughter of the First Family. Not as the one with the white hair…Not as the one who shall not be named or woman of the moon… My name is Maggie Grey, Vice President of Beta Nu Pi–––”
The tribal screams and whistles caused me to duck, expecting something to fly across our heads as the iron gates beganrattling again and the trees that lined the pathway shook with anticipation. There was so much open magic here, I could feel it.
“Secretary of Student Affairs. Honor student with an anticipated spot at the top 2% of my class, Legacy babe, and absolutely the coolest woman you’ll ever have the pleasure of knowing here at the…”
The ground began rumbling as I looked around, grabbing the woman while Maggie raised her hand to the night sky.
“DREW!” She shouted. “COLLINS! UNIVERSITY! Home of the Ancestral Mythical and Magical! Welcome first years, find your place, and create your path!”
Everyone cheered as the crowd began to move. The woman grabbed my arm just as Maggie quickly walked up to us while everyone pushed past to get through the gates.
“Danielle?!” Maggie shrieked in awe. “I can’t believe you made it! You’re actually here!”
My mouth fell open. Feeling the cold aura surrounding her until another woman came to her side with a twisted agitated face while another with wide marble black eyes and pointed ears hung over her other shoulder.
“I…am…” I started to say, wondering if I could mask my accent.
“You remember me? I came to your house that day. God, look at your hair…the beads…How in the hell did you do this and where are your clothes? We have to get you in uniform,” Maggie said. “Y'all this is the girl who I said I had to pick her up. Danielle Jackson, right?”
“This isn’t her, Maggie,” the witch in the black dress said with a sly smile at me. “Right? You are not her.”
“Okay so who the fuck is she?” The agitated one barked.
“Yes, it is. I met with her. Same face…pretty skin…” Maggie let out before shaking her head. “You’re probably exhausted; this can be a lot on the first night. Trust me.”
