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4
“But I thought there was only one high school here in Frostproof,” I protested, as we drove past the building in question. It was a dull, dusty brown structure squatting a little way back from the main road with a few dirty, beaten-down pick-ups parked out front. The Florida state flag drooped listlessly from the flagpole and the few students I could see going into its flat brick front looked sullen and resentful that they had to be there.
I couldn’t exactly say I would rather be going to Frostproof High—in fact, I had been dreading it. But at least it hadn’t suddenly popped into existence in the last fifteen minutes, complete with a fancy letter, an elaborate crest, and a weird Latin motto about Night conquering all.
“That’s what most people think,” Aunt Delliee said comfortably. She had taken a moment to dress up, exchanging her regular brightly flowered cat-lady clothes for a dark blue business jacket and matching skirt. The outfit was only a little marred by the long white hairs of her two pampered Persian cats, Mork and Mindy, who had apparently been laying on it before she put it on.
I had asked if I should change my clothes too, but my aunt had waved away that idea.
“Of course not, Meggie. The admission letter said everything is gratis—that means free.”
“I know what gratis means,” I pointed out. “But I’m wearing jeans and a Henley and you’re in your best interview suit.” At least, that was what I assumed she wore it for.
“Don’t worry—you’ll be fitted for a uniform once you get there.”
She seemed so certain that I had allowed myself to be bundled into her old car and now we were on our way to the mysterious Nocturne Academy, which I had never heard of until less than an hour ago.
I thought about asking if it was prestigious—if it would look good on my college applications. But really, what could be less prestigious than Frostproof High? Nocturne must be a step up from that. In fact, just having the word “Academy” in the name of my new high school was bound to get some colleges interested right away.
I looked down at my faded jeans and long-sleeved t-shirt again. At least I wouldn’t have to worry about showing my scars. Probably anyplace swanky enough to make the students wear uniforms would have a blazer I could put on to cover them. So that was good.
There was one part of my wardrobe I wouldn’t be changing when we got to the mysterious Academy, though. The black key necklace with its dark red Bloodstones was still firmly around my neck, the key hanging like a lump of ice between my breasts. It seemed to feel extra heavy this morning. I thought. Extra solid. Almost as though it was anticipating my new destination.
I thought again of Frodo taking the ring to Mount Doom and shivered.
Trying to take my mind off my sense of foreboding, I opened the acceptance letter and looked at it again.
“I still don’t understand,” I said to Aunt Dellie. “What does it mean, ‘your Null status’?”
She frowned as she turned the car down a long dusty road with rows and rows of bright green orange trees on either side.
“Oh, that’s nonsense, Meggie. Don’t you pay it any attention. It isn’t your fault you haven’t manifested yet. I’m sure you will soon.”
“Manifested? What are you talking about?” I demanded. “Manifested what?”
“Oh—here we are!” Aunt Dellie exclaimed, as she took a final hairpin turn in the dusty road and came to a small parking area. And there, in the distance, I caught my first glimpse of Nocturne Academy.
It was in the middle of a lake that shouldn’t have been there.
I knew this because of my time spent on Google Earth and Wikipedia before moving to Frostproof in the first place. There were only supposed to be two major bodies of water in the area—Lake Clinch and Reedy Lake. But what I was seeing wasn’t listed or shown in anything I had looked at beforehand.
The lake situated in the middle of the orange grove was huge—as in, it had to take up most of the orchard it was occupying. Its waters were flat, opaque black—as black as the key around my neck—and it somehow managed not to reflect any sunlight back at all, though a bright Florida sun shone overhead.
But it wasn’t so much the lake which caught my eye. Nocturne Academy, sitting in the middle of it, looked just like the wax seal stamped on my envelope.
“It’s a castle,” I gasped, staring at its high battlements and stone turrets. It was made of immaculate, velvety gray stone with four tall towers, one on each corner of the square structure and looked like something straight out of a Medieval fantasy. “A freaking castle!”
“Yes indeed, imported stone by stone from Wales and set up here in central Florida at great expense,” Aunt Dellie said with satisfaction. “Of course, that was the Nocturnes’ idea. They’re never ones to pinch pennies and since they were footing most of the bill for the construction, the rest of the Others had no objection. The Sisters would never have done such a thing—we’re much too frugal. And though the Drakes are almost as rich as the Nocturnes, they don’t have quite the same flair for style. The Faes on the other hand—well they wouldn’t even be seen someplace third rate when they’re visiting from the Realm so in the end, the Nocturnes had to make everything nice—not just their own little corner. And that’s why they brought the entire castle,” she finished in a rush.
