Read Online School of Deaths by Christopher Mannino - Free Book Online Page B

though her dress was completely covered. The sleeves were far too large, hanging down in great flaps. The yellow skull patch glared at her.
    “The skull means you aren’t certified,” said Billy, pulling on his own robe, which also had a yellow skull. “Every kid at school has one. Other than your hair and face, you look like a Death.”
    “Thanks. I think.”
    They met Jason, who also wore his robe. “C’mon,” said Billy. “We don’t want to be late.”
    They hurried across the campus, passing through mazes of stone. A few other Deaths walked in the same direction.
    “Where is everyone?” murmured Billy. “We’re not late.”
    They walked past East Tower and climbed a long flight of stairs. Then they stopped.
    Standing in front of the Hall was a mob of at least a hundred Deaths. They shouted and some held signs. One sign read “ No Girls ,” another “ The Bitch Is A Witch ” and another said “ Burn Her .” Suzie shuddered, and Billy put a hand on her shoulders.
    “What’s going on?” he shouted.
    “We don’t want girls here.”
    “Send her away. She’s not wanted.”
    The crowd shouted taunts and jeers, one after the other. One Death threw something over their heads and the crowd cheered. Another threw a stone, striking Suzie in the face. She staggered back, her cheek stinging.
    “Let us through,” said Billy. “She’s a student here too.”
    Jason stood near them but didn’t speak; he looked ready to run away.
    “Why are you helping her, Billy?” shouted one Death. “You got a girlfriend now?”
    The crowd laughed. Several older boys surged forward and tried to grab them. One knocked Jason’s books to the ground. He went to pick them up, and Suzie knelt to help him. The crowd surged, pulling Billy away from her. One boy pulled up the bottom of her robe.
    “She’s got a dress on,” the Death laughed. “Girly wants to be pretty.”
    “Leave them alone,” shouted a voice. The Deaths backed off, and Suzie spun around. Billy broke free and returned to her side. Frank and three other older boys stood behind her. Frank turned to the crowd again.
    “Leave her alone, I said. You should be ashamed of yourselves.” Frank’s eyes flashed with anger.
    Another stone flew out of the crowd, soaring above his head. He clenched his fist and closed his eyes. The crowd yelled and taunted again. One Death smiled at Suzie then opened his mouth and spat at her.
    “Enough,” boomed a loud voice. The Deaths fell silent. A dozen men in bright purple robes climbed the stairs behind them. An older man in a white robe followed. The Deaths parted, making a path.
    “Get into the Hall,” said one of the men. The Deaths started leaving.
    “It’s the Council of Twelve,” whispered Billy as they followed the others into the Hall. “The one in white is Lord Coran. They’re in charge of the World. I’ve never seen all thirteen at once.”
    Suzie was relieved to find a group of Deaths already in the Hall. Not everyone had protested her entry. Some of the ones from the crowd glared, but others avoided looking at her.
    The Hall was long and narrow. Portraits of Deaths in purple robes, each holding a scythe, lined the walls. The walls themselves were earthen, like the walls of a cavern, similar to the mounds they passed when walking through the College. At the far end of the cave-like Hall, two massive scythes hung on the wall, with a painted skull between them. A large hourglass protruded from the rocky wall beneath the scythes. A series of arches and columns supported the ceiling, which held massive bowls filled with the strange, glowing flowers. Several skylights let in shafts of early sunlight, which shone into the Hall at angles. Three enormous tables with benches on either side stretched the length of the hall. A fourth table was raised and perpendicular to the others, beneath the skull and scythes at the end of the Hall. The Council of Twelve and Lord Coran sat at the far table. Billy led Suzie to the