"You know, Hell being all fire and smoke is a complete misconception." The creature informs me with a glowing smile. "Don't get me wrong. There is a lot of fire there, but some of us fire demons got together about a century ago and decided to spruce it up a bit. We put up a big rainbow in front of the Death Pit and even dazzled up the smoky sky with a bit of pink starlight. It can be really pretty at night. Well, if you can get past the stench of burning flesh." He thrums his finger against his lips. "I haven't figured out a way to cover up that smell yet. One day, though, I'll figure it out." He blinks from his thinking trace and focuses on me. "But anyway, on behalf of Monster Academy for the Magical, I'd like to welcome you to your new home for the next year." He snaps his fingers, and a handheld device appears in his palm. "Let me just look at your file and see which office I need to take you to to check you in." He starts humming a tune under his breath as he reads something on the screen of the device.
Me? I just stand there, completely dumbstruck and fully convinced I’m dead. Or in some sort of trance induced nightmare.
I pinch myself then wince. Shit, that hurt.
"Aw, here it is," the… fire demon—at least that's what he called himself—says. "Mary T. Starford, daughter of Jill and Alford, two of those most powerful witches in all the realms, and who happened to be graduates of Monster Academy for the Magical." He smiles proudly. "Not that we like to take full credit for our pupils' achievements, but we'd like to think the academy played a part in their success."
“I…” Witches? Monster Academy? What the… I struggle to find words so I can tell him I have no damn clue what’s going on, but I can’t get anything coherent to leave my lips.
“What is it, honey?” The fire demon asks with concern. “Are you nervous? If so, maybe I can get my hands on a bit of relaxation potion.”
I shake my head. Just spit it out. “My name’s not Mary T. Starford.”
Okay, that’s a start.
Frowning, he returns his attention to the screen. “Are you sure?” Smoke hisses from his fingers as he scratches his head. “Because I’m not supposed to have another arrival today.”
“Yeah, I’m sure.” This time my voice comes out a bit more even.
"Okay." Confusion cracks in the embers covering his forehead as he looks back at me. "The files must've gotten mixed up. While we have it pretty together around here, mistakes do sometimes happen, thanks to everything running on technology these days."
His words remind me of this cranky man I lived with for a couple of weeks about four years ago. He hated anything that had to do with technology and was always ranting about it. But he wasn’t too bad of a person, and I wouldn’t have minded living with him permanently. Sadly, though, he died of a heart attack not too long after I was placed with him.
But what I find strange that his and the fire demon’s words match up so well. Maybe I’m having a Wizard of Oz moment. Maybe I’m currently lying on the floor of the waiting room at social services, passed out and dreaming.
“What’s your name?” the fire demon asks, drawing me from my thoughts.
I swallow down a shaky breath and will my voice to come out even. “Haven Wyllowravelee.”
His confusion doubles, just like the cracks in his skin. “And what is your power?”
“I…” What? “Um… I don’t have one.” Do I?
I think about what I did to Tim and Mia.
But what sort of power is that?
He gives me a tolerant look. “Nice try. But I’ve heard better excuses to try getting out of going here. I don’t know why you newbies freak out during your arrival here. It’s not that bad. I mean, sure, it does kind of has that whole demon lair vibe going in this area,” he gestures around the room. “But this is just the entryway.”
“I’m not trying to get out of here,” I insist, although that might be a lie—I’m not really sure how I feel at the moment. “I really don’t know what my power is. I don’t even know why I’m here… Or where here is.”
Tension flashes across his face. “What realm did you enter here from?”
"I... um… The human one?" It comes out sounding more like a question.
When his expression dims, I know I've given a wrong answer to his question.
“Oh dear.” The smoke stops funneling from his eyes, leaving me to stare at the gaping holes where his eyeballs should be. “I’ve never had to deal with this kind of situation before,” he mumbles as he glances at the handheld device. He’s quiet for a crackle of a moment, and then smoke slowly starts to pour from his eyes again. “I think I need to take you to the main dungeon.”
My eyes widen as I step back. “Um, no thanks. I think I’ll just go home.”
But what is home, Haven? You don't have one. You're supposed to be in a group home right now. Or, well, that's what Beth said. But Beth turned into a pink-haired woman who shoved me into this vortex so…
He gives me a funny look. “Relax. The main dungeon is where all the new students go to check in. Not that you’re a new student, but the headmistress and headmaster might have a better idea of what to do with you.” He ambles toward a set of tall, blood red doors at the far end of the room. “Come along, honey.” He snaps his fingers at me, signaling for me to follow him.
Seeing no other option, I muster up every ounce of courage I have and follow him toward the door, still not fully convinced this place isn’t Hell.
Haven