Archon(20)

“Oh no. Not here. Unless there is a special feast day to celebrate, this building isn’t used as an actual church anymore. It’s more like an auditorium or gathering hall. When it isn’t a holiday, daily Mass takes place in one of the chapels spread across the campus. There are about twenty of them. Those nearest to the Bell Tower are the most popular.”

“You’re talking about normal Masses, right?”

Sophia stared straight ahead as she spoke, her hands clasped delicately on her lap. “What would give you an impression otherwise?”

“The rumors I’ve heard. The newspaper articles. The Bell Tower is in the Eastern District of the Academy, isn’t it? Where they’re finding the dead bodies? All this craziness about monsters, killers, and occult conspiracies—it really gives more weight to what people on the Continent say about this place. That it’s cursed. That all this ‘holier than thou’ stuff is an act.” Angela nodded at the altar, at the novices lined two by two in their orderly rows, like clones covered head to toe in black. At least Kim’s chunk of crimson hair added some color. “What are they saying right now, anyway?”

“It’s a prayer meant to call down the blessing of God on the new students. And also, a petition for protection from the Ruin. Some believe, though, that their prayers are only making everything worse.” Sophia’s whisper was barely audible. “. . . they’re asking that the Ruin perish in the eternal flames reserved for the wicked in Hell . . .”

“I always found it funny that they assume Hell is on fire.”

“Only parts,” Sophia said, even less audibly.

Then she remained silent for the duration of the ceremony, barely moving until the novices chanted in unison, giving the final blessing for everyone to leave. After the students stood, stretching and chatting, the novices filed away off the altar, entering a side room to the right, Kim lingering behind to glance back first at a window and then at Angela before following them into the shadows. Angela would either have to wait to speak with him, hoping that he might approach her in front of too many curious students, or she would have to confront him one-on-one in some dark little corner before he left the church. Neither option was ideal. But if she wanted to find Brendan—or pry into Stephanie’s secrets—she didn’t have much of a choice. The opportunity was slipping away fast.

“Angela,” Sophia said, tapping her on the shoulder, “I’m going to go back to the dormitory.”

“You don’t have any classes today?”

“I never have any classes.”

Angela stared back at her. “What—”

“The punishment,” Sophia said, as if that could explain everything. She glared at someone standing behind Angela, a little to her left.

Kim stepped out into the open, his hair streaked through with more color in the warm light of the window. His voice was smooth, the essence of a gentleman. “Have we met?” he was saying to Sophia. “I don’t remember saying anything to deserve that kind of look.”

Sophia glared at him a second longer. “Good day to you,” she said, bowing slightly.

The glance she shared with Angela was brief, almost admonishing, before she joined a mass of students leaving the church down the middle of the aisle.

“Have you met?” Angela took another seat, this time beneath a carving that depicted a sea serpent with thousands of scales, its massive coils wrapped around an island with trees and waterfalls. The church echoed away into a strange silence, punctured here and there by the rumbles of thunder slowly bearing down on the city. The sunlight was already fading. “Or do you just have a bad reputation?”

“You’re rather straightforward,” Kim said, sitting across from her.

He’s not stupid enough to sit right next to me. But he’s interested enough to talk.

“More like cautious. I’ve been told not to speak with you. You’re Stephanie Walsh’s property after all.”

“Only when I feel like it,” Kim said, running a hand through his bangs. His other hand rested on the back of the pew, tapping the wood. “I was surprised to see you here, especially if you don’t want me to take any notice of you. Are you trying to make Stephanie mad?”

“Are you?”

“I simply do what I like. At the time, I liked your paintings. If that’s made life any more difficult for you, I’m sorry.”

“Your love triangle is making life difficult for me. As I’m sure you know, Brendan Mathers is my brother. Apparently, he’s also Stephanie’s official boyfriend, vow of celibacy or not.” She paused, relishing the cool breeze floating through the open doors. The blush on her cheeks could have been from embarrassment or the mere idea that they were alone. But either way, it made her warm. She clicked the heels of her boots together, choosing to stare at them, at their ragged laces. Anywhere but at Kim. He was gazing back at her intently, as if he knew exactly what information she wanted out of him and why. “By association, I’m already involved, so if you wouldn’t mind, try to keep your eyes from wandering too much. Especially in my direction. I’m sure you can imagine what it would be like for me—caught between the two of them or needing to explain myself to the priests. I’m attracting enough attention already.”