~13~

Ivory had been locked in her room all afternoon, Her eyes never leaving the yellow pages of her new book. Three times, Macaria and Melinoe had tried to get her to look up at them long enough to be convinced to join them for dinner, but Ivory was far too invested in the things she was reading at the time.

After the two of them had finally given up, either hours or mere seconds could have past and Ivory would have never known before there was a soft knock on the door.

"Ivy?" Came Charlie's voice through the door. Ivory ignored him.

"Ivy," He called again, "Mr. Anne sent me up to fetch you for dinner. It's against the rules to skip meals you know."

Ivory huffed a long, exasperated sigh as she dog--eared her page and closed the book. When she opened the door, Charlie looked as if he had just come in from being out on the grounds. His long hair was falling in front of his eyes, and his red seamed cloak hung loosely on his shoulders.

"You know, I've never seen you as the rule breaker type." Said Charlie as he hooked his arm through hers as if they were the best of friends.

"I'm not." Said Ivory dreamily.

Charlie seemed to notice, but he didn't press her. Which she was very grateful for.

Now Ivory realized that she had to tell the other about what she saw that night. Though, she wasn't entirely sure how. Would they even believe her?

In the dining hall, Macaria and Melinoe were both chatting with a curly-haired gold eyed girl. Iris was the first to see Ivory and waved her over.

"You've got a cloak!" Iris beamed as Ivory took a seat beside an irritated Rowen. "Gray? What's it mean?"

Macaria gasped, "Gods Ivy, I hadn't even noticed. Congrats!"

"Er, thanks. Listen you guys, I really need to talk to you about something."

Ivory glanced over at Iris, and understanding dawned on her. "Oh, right. I should go--"

"Oh, no Iris, you're fine. I'm sure...right?" Macaria looked to her sister who gave Iris a gentle smile.

"Of course."

"Um, no!" Snapped Rowen.

Ivory sighed, "I agree with Rowen."

Melinoe laughed and made a rolling motion with her hand signaling for Ivory to begin. Ivory felt like she had no choice but to go on. Ivory told them about the dream paralysis she had had the first night she came to Atwood, and what the girl had said. She told them about the book. Melinoe had asked to see the book herself, then she suggested that Ivory show it to Josephine.

After dinner, Charlie and Jax also joined them as the six girls made their way back to their room. Ivory had told them what she had read in the book whilst Melinoe began flipping through the pages. She then flipped it back to the first page, then said, "Ivy, she looks..."Then something else caught her eye. "The tales of the greatest twelve? Who are they?"

"That's just it," said Ivory. "I think they're gods. But...Not your type of gods..."

"What do you mean?"

Ivory pursed her lips. She had been avoiding these kinds of questions ever since she arrived here. But now, in order to make them understand, she needed to tell them.

"The war first began when I was about six years old. The first battle took place somewhere just outside the borders of the silver province..." Ivory was suddenly aware of everyone's eyes on her, and it made her face burn with embracement, but she kept talking.

"My father believed that the kings would head straight for headquarters if they happened to find a way across the border; so he told my mother about the stargate--"

"A stargate?" Iris gasped. "But...I thought those were a myth?"

"For the most part, yes. But there is one that resides in headquarters. And it connects our world with the first world."

Ivory paused and looked up at her friends. No one said a single word or made the slightest movement. Honestly, she wasn't even sure if any were still breathing. But she quickly wrapped up her story.

"Anyway, there are these beings. In the first world, they are known as gods. This book describes them all, but with different gifts and names. Like this one here---That's got to be the greek god Zuse!"

Ivory opened the book and flipped to the first chapter entitled: The legend of patéras.

"Who is Zuse?" Asked Melinoe.

"Zuse is the protector, father, and king of all gods. And that is how this patéras person here is also described."

Melinoe took the book from Ivory and flipped to Ivorys marked page. "Who is this?"

Margret Pansie's name stuck out like a sore thumb.

"That's what I've been trying to figure out." Ivory sighed, "I don't know..."