Piper's eyes fluttered open to find herself in an office; she was sitting in a large red recliner while blue flames flickered in a fireplace. An entire wall section lined with books, the ceiling had stars and crescents hanging above, except there were no strings.
A dark, cloaked figure was standing by the fireplace; it suddenly lifted its head, and Piper could see its glowy blue eyes.
"Aaaah!" Piper squealed, almost falling off the chair; she scrambled to her feet and hid behind it.
The figure quickly lifted back its hood and held up a calming hand.
"Oh, it's alright, lass, 'tis only me." The bright blue-haired woman said with an embarrassing chuckle. She wore a green shirt, a black corset, black pants, and brown boots; there was a gold helmet pin on her cloak too.
"Who the hell are you?!" Piper shouted in outrage. "What the hell are you?!"
The woman smiled wryly. "Such foul language. I'm Aria Tombstone, Sorceress Knight and your Admissions Officer. Pleasure to meet you." She offered a handshake.
Aria Tombstone. Piper shook her hand and stared at the harmless-looking woman in confusion while gazing around.
"T-Tombstone? You sent me—"
"Your invitation, that's correct."
"Where am I?"
"Where you need to be."
Piper lifted a brow. "What?"
Aria sighed. "I suppose the portal's made you slightly confused. This is Argentum Academy."
Piper stood straight as realization hit her. "Argentum? Wait, did that boy kidnap me? Oh my god, I've been kidnapped!"
"Now don't be ridiculous," Aria cautioned.
Piper grabbed the open book on the coffee table in front of her and threw it at Aria, it hit her dead in the forehead.
"Ow!" Aria cried.
Piper grabbed the odd looking seahorse statue on the table and flung it in Aria's direction and tried to run for it, only to slam into a transparent blue wall that appeared out of nowhere.
She tried to push through but it wouldn't give away. She turned to see Aria holding the book.
"I must say, I didn't see that coming." Aria said. "Most students are usually invested."
"What is this?" Piper pointed at the barrier.
"Why, it's magic of course," Aria shrugged. "Have a seat. Femina Levante."
Piper squeaked as she rose two feet in the air and landed on the recliner, Aria slashed her hand and a recliner dragged itself behind her, she sat while a tea set soared through the air and landed on the coffee table.
Piper simply stared in horror.
The teapot filled two cups with hot liquid.
"Merely jasmine tea," Aria said. She made a teaspoon lift a cube of sugar. "Sugar?"
Piper grimaced. "No thank you."
As Aria's cup floated gently to her finger tips, she crossed her legs. "Now, let's discuss the admission."
"Whoa, I didn't accept it." Piper said.
Aria flashed a smile. "You thought about it, and here we are. Your powers are growing, odd maybe."
"Odd?" Piper scoffed. "You literally just defied the laws of physics."
"Magic's just advanced physics, Piper." Aria replied offhandedly. "Here you will learn the arts and way of the Knights, for four years, learn to bond with your brothers and sisters in the arms. For life."
Piper narrowed her eyes as Aria sipped her tea noisily.
"You see when you harmed that human boy, you potentially exposed yourself to the world, therefore you were in danger. If Simon hadn't talked the council into taking precautions," Aria said. "You would be in prison, or worse."
"Hold on a sec, you guys covered that up? " Piper asked. "So that's why the cops didn't show up."
"You're welcome." Aria winked.
Piper leaned back in her seat with a mix of relief and nervousness. Her emotions gradually heightened. "This is insane."
Aria slurped her tea again.
"How do I make this go away? The magic." Piper asked.
"Piper, you cannot simply turn off your magic like this." Aria snapped her fingers, the blue flames blew off, she snapped her fingers again and they came back in a flash, causing Piper to jump.
"Please don't do that again." Piper said meekly.
"It's in you, like a growing flame." Aria explained. "You can learn to control it, here at Argentum."
Piper stared at her fingers, if she could learn to control it, maybe she could do more than just Green World Club. "But then I wouldn't attend high school anymore, what about my Dad?"
Aria leaned forward. "High school? This is better than that. You and I both know 'ol Daddy wouldn't give two gold dubloons if you disappeared or not."
Aria waved her hand again and a scroll appeared in her hand in a flash of light. She held it up for Piper to see. Clearly written was Dad's name and signature at the end of the agreement.
"He thinks you're attending a regular Massachusetts boarding school, for free of course." Aria replied.
Piper gripped her fists tightly, to imagine he didn't even say a word about it. She felt a rush of anger and disappointment.
"Nice." Piper muttered with sarcasm.
Aria handed another scroll to Piper. "This contains your class schedules along with morning drills. Vordak, one of our more experienced staff members, will be happy to give you a tour."
Piper craned her head to see a short looking green creature with a gruff expression staring at her as Piper screamed in horror.
* * * * * * * *
Piper didn't know what was more terrifying: walking around with a troll guide or the structures of Argentum. It was practically a castle fortress, training halls, and equipped-looking classrooms. The kids wore uniforms of sleek bodysuits with armor plating on their elbows, knees, and boots. A small knight helmet logo adorned the right chest. All in four different colors.
"First years wear red uniforms," Vordak casually explained.
Piper took in the futuristic attire. "These uniforms look like they're straight out of a sci-fi movie."
"What's a movie?" Vordak asked her.
"Uh, never mind." She shook her head and noticed some students had green skin, pointy ears, and even colored their hair.
Vordak led her across a courtyard; she gasped at the sight of flying pegasi soaring above. "Incredible!" She gleefully exclaimed.
"This is the female dormitory; it's called Lumina," Vordak explained as they walked into the building. "You must never forget it."
"Why would I?" Piper asked.
"Because I said so." Vordak hissed.
Okay? Piper thought.
"Each dorm is assigned a troll; the password to Lumina is 'Light the way.'" Vordak continued.
"Wow, that sounds really cheesy." Piper murmured.
"Your Terran vocabulary is very peculiar." Vordak replied and knocked on door number eight. "Forget the password, and you'll be sleeping in the dungeon."
"You guys have a dungeon?" She asked curiously.
Vordak grinned with mischief in his eyes.
Someone unlocked the door, and a girl with bright indigo hair stood on the other side in a second-year uniform.
"Hi," Piper managed.
She brightened up. "Well hello, you must be my new roommate. I'm HollyAnn Thistlewick."
"Uh, Piper Black." Piper replied.
It was kind of bigger than her room at home, two single beds with closets, clothes sprawled everywhere, vials, hair brushes, books, it looked like the place had been swept up by a tornado.
HollyAnn quickly drew Piper into the room. "I've been expecting you for weeks, oh, terribly sorry about the..."
"This place is filthy." Vordak commented behind HollyAnn.
HollyAnn shut her eyes.
"Disgusting." Vordak continued. "A disgrace. I'll send a report to the council."
HollyAnn turned to Vordak. "Don't you have someplace to be Vordak?"
Vordak stretched his clawed hand to Piper's direction.
"Hmm?" Piper said.
"He wants a fee." HollyAnn translated.
"For the tour?" Piper scoffed. "Seriously?"
"Well, he's a Troll what do you expect?" HollyAnn asked.
"Does he take dollars?" Piper asked as she reached for her wallet.
HollyAnn reached into her pocket and pulled out a gold coin.
The Troll took it and vanished into thin air.
"You'll get used to it." HollyAnn assured her.
Piper would never get used to that.
A tower bell rung in the distance.
"You can pay me by cleaning up." HollyAnn said, as she quickly grabbed a cloak and some books. "I've got Fairy Biology, and the cleaning tools over there."
She pointed at a pile of cleaning tools in the corner. Then Piper watched HollyAnn unlock the window.
"What are you doing?" Piper asked wearily and flinched as HollyAnn sprouted transparent silver wings and flew off in a trail of sparkles.
Even as Piper sat down on a bed in shock, she couldn't see her luggage neatly stacked at the side of it.