Getting a zombie maid

"This is D.A, The Devil's Academy," the woman said as if it were obvious. "I am Headmistress Merlin, and I run the school."

"Okay … " I said. "So, just to be clear here … what you're telling me is, the devil has summoned me to be here? At this school? Why?"

"Yes." Merlin nodded. "You were beckoned because our enemies grow stronger with each blood-moon. The chosen one must attend the academy in order to learn how to defeat the most powerful and unholy of the elder gods. It has been that way since the dawn of time."

"Enemies?" I repeated. "Elder gods?"

What the fuck was this woman going on about?

"Yes," she responded with a grave frown, "and as I'm sure you've noticed, the other witches aren't exactly pleased you've been chosen … but we do not question the devil's intentions. You are here, and that is final."

"But--" I started to say, but she raised her hand to cut me off, just as she had done with Yennefer.

"I know you have many questions, and they will make sense soon enough … perhaps a soothing tea or glass of blood-wine would help to calm you down?" the headmistress suggested.

There was no way in hell I was going to drink something called blood wine, so I just shook my head as reverently as possible.

"No, I'm fine, thank you," I replied.

"I insist," she said before she walked over to one of her bookcases and pulled out a silver jar.

I watched as she lifted the lid and pulled out a handful of something that looked like herbs or spices. Then she headed back to her desk and grabbed a goblet I thought was just an ornament. She slowly dropped the herbs into the goblet and gently blew over the surface. At first, I was confused because there was no water, but then I watched with fascination as a bubbling sound followed, and steam began to emit from the goblet.

Merlin smiled before she came toward me, with the goblet in her small hands.

"Here," she said as she extended her hand. "Drink this … it will make you feel better."

I stared at the goblet with hesitation. She seemed to be the only one who could tolerate me at this point, but that didn't mean I trusted her.

"No, thanks," I said. "How do I know you're not trying to kill me?"

"It's not poison." She smiled. "Go on, drink it."

Clearly, I had no other option here, so I took the goblet and drank the mysterious brew. It burned my throat, and my eyes watered as the beverage seeped down my throat. I had never tasted anything so foul before.

"Shit," I coughed. "What is this?"

"Just your common sleeping aid," the headmistress explained. "Root of willow, passionflower, wormwood, and a tinge of honey for flavor … drink it all. It will help, trust me."

"At least I recognize one of those ingredients," I mumbled before taking another sip.

"Drink it all," Merlin said with a small nod. "It won't take full effect otherwise."

I sighed and did as she asked, and as soon as I drained the glass, she smiled at me and then headed toward the door.

"Let me give you a quick tour before you're shown to your quarters," the headmistress offered. "It won't take long, come along now."

I shrugged and followed her into the black ballroom. She locked her office and then raised her hand to open another door at the end of the ballroom.

At this point, I was getting used to watching doors open up on their own.

"This place will seem a bit like a maze for a mortal," she said as we walked through the doorway. "Don't be overwhelmed by it."

Overwhelmed was the understatement of the decade. I was feeling every emotion possible.

We moved down a corridor, and as I looked around, I noticed more paintings lined against the wall. Their eyes continued to follow us as Merlin guided me down the hallway and toward a row of doors.

"These are where the classrooms are," she said. "You'll have five classes this semester as a preschooler … bone, shadow, blood, premonition, and curses … not necessarily in that order."

"Wait, what, a preschooler?" I repeated with a frown. "I'm not a child.

Why would I be placed in a preschool?"

"You are a child in this world, do not take it as an offense, it simply means you do not have the advanced skills that higher tier students possess," Merlin replied, but not in a patronizing way. "Now, Yennefer will explain this all to you tomorrow in more detail. I want to get through this tour as quickly as possible before the brew begins to take its toll on you."

I quickly poked my head into the dark classrooms, and I noticed each room was colder than the last. We passed by the open doors, and then Merlin took a sharp turn and led me down another corridor.

"That's the library," she said as she pointed to a massive, wooden door that was bolted with a golden chain. "Our most sacred section."

"Why is it locked?" I asked numbly.

Whatever she had given me was taking its effect on me. I was dazed, and my bones felt like jelly.

"We never allow preschoolers to enter," she explained. "You must be in a higher tier to gain access."

That didn't make much sense to me, nor did it seem fair, but I was in such a stupor I just shrugged it off.

Merlin studied my face and then smiled.

"You are growing weary," she said.

"I feel like I'm drunk," I slurred with a lazy grin. "Might as well have given me the wine."

The headmistress chuckled and then placed a hand on my shoulder.

"I'll show you the banquet hall where you will take all your meals, and then you may clean yourself up and get some rest," she replied. "Come along."

I nodded clumsily before I followed her into a massive room filled with wooden tables that had an elaborate plate setting at every seat. It looked like something out of a palace, where kings would host a marvelous feast for a neighboring kingdom, but the only difference was this room was also painted black, and the chairs were crimson red. There were massive stained-glass windows, too, and I could hear the bloody rain splattering against them.

Just like the rest of the castle, this room had an ominous presence to it. When thunder struck, my legs nearly gave out underneath me, and I struggled to stand upright.

I was about to pass out.

"That's enough for now," Merlin said as she looked at me.

I thought we were going to turn back around, but she wasn't moving. Instead, she glanced down at a tear in my shirt on my right arm. I followed her gaze and stared at the dragon tattoo that was exposed.

"Ah, you're a fan of body markings, I see," she said with a small smile.

"You mean tattoos?" I mumbled. Everything was becoming a blur.

"Yeah … I suppose I am, but I don't remember getting this."

I looked down at my body and suddenly remembered I had an entire collection of tattoos. I had eight in total, but I couldn't remember why or when I got them.

"Do you have any other markings?" she asked with her head tilted to the side. "Ones that you were born with?"

"Ugh … " I tried to think. Then I glanced down at my wrist, where there was a small x-shaped scar in the middle of it. I traced the mark with my fingers and desperately tried to recall if I was born with it or not. "Maybe, this one?"

I showed her my wrist, and then she smiled. It was the kind of smile that radiated satisfaction.

"I thought as much," she said. "Now, let's get you to bed. You have a long first day tomorrow morning."

"But … how did you know about my scar?" I murmured and swayed on my feet.

"Tsk, tsk," she clucked. "No more questions for tonight. You need to rest, and you need to wash up as well."

I repressed a defeated sigh as she led me out of the banquet hall and back into the corridor. The doors closed on their own, and when we found ourselves in the middle of another hallway, Merlin snapped her fingers out of nowhere.

"Cordelia!" she called out. "Please show Neon to his room."

I glanced wildly around and tried to spot whoever she was talking to. There was no one in here but us, until I noticed one of the paintings started to move.

At first, I wondered if it was the tea causing hallucinations, but then I remembered where I was.

I was in a place where it seemed as if anything was possible.

"Cordelia, now please," Merlin commanded louder. "We haven't

got all night."

I watched a portrait of a ghastly looking woman. She had snow-white hair that was pinned back tightly, pale skin, and coal black eyes. She wore a black and white maid's uniform, and the painting began to shake violently against the wall.

I gasped as a hand shot out from the portrait and then a leg, until the woman in the picture was no longer in the frame but standing before me.

"Cordelia," Merlin huffed, "thank you for finally joining us. Would you please show Neon to his room?"

"Yes, ma'am," the maid replied in a thick accent I couldn't place.

"Please follow me, Master Neon."

"Have a good night's rest, Neon," Merlin said before she whipped her skirts around and left me with this ghoulish looking maid.

"You, too … " I muttered in a haze of confusion and fascination.

"Please, sir," Cordelia said with a bow, "follow me."

I sighed and followed the small ghost maid into another hallway and up a flight of stairs. The black iron staircase curled upwards in a spiral, and it felt like we walked up a flight of at least fifty stairs before we reached a small, plain wooden door.

The maid reached out her bony hand and raised her palm, and I heard the door unlock before it swung open on its own. Then she gestured for me to enter first.

When I walked in, I was stunned to see a magnificently decorated bedroom before me. There was a king-sized bed situated in the middle of the room, with red sheer canopy curtains draped over it. The quilt was also a crimson, satiny red and had gold embroidery all over the seams, and there was a white bear rug splayed out on the floor. This bear was the same kind that I'd killed out in the woods, and I stared at it with revulsion as I recalled how close I came to death.

"Do you not approve of the décor?" the maid asked in her shrill voice.

"No, it's fine." I shook my head, and the room swayed around me.

"Thank you."

"Your bath is filled, and your uniform is folded on the chair by the window," Cordelia said as she pointed to a royal blue velvet chair by an oval, stained glass window. "Please, just call out for me if you need anything

… I'm always around."

"Err, thanks," I said as I rubbed the back of my neck.

"With pleasure, Master," she replied with a bow.

Instead of walking out the door, Cordelia simply evaporated into thin air, and the door closed on its own. Despite the uncanny circumstances, I was deeply relieved when I found myself alone in the room. I was sticky with blood and covered in dirt, and all I wanted to do was clean myself off and fall into a coma.

There was another door inside the room, which I could only imagine was where the bathroom was. So, I headed toward it and half expected it to open up on its own. When nothing happened, I laughed to myself and opened it the traditional way. I found myself inside a red marble bathroom, with a large black tub in the middle of the room, filled to the top with sky blue water. Then I quickly stripped off my torn white shirt, my jeans, and my boots before I slipped into the tub.

The sensation of the hot, lavender-scented water was so pleasant and welcoming I knew if I stayed in the tub for too long, I would probably drift off to sleep and drown. So, I eventually forced myself to get out of the water and dry off with one of the white towels that was set aside for me.

When I returned to the bedroom, I didn't bother to look for pajamas or anything else to wear to bed. I simply slipped into the soft comforter, naked, and as soon as my head hit the pillow, I drifted off to sleep.

But my sleep was not a peaceful one.

As soon as I was unconscious, I started to see visions of the black woods. Just like earlier, I was running, panting, and bleeding through the forest. I frantically searched all around me, desperately trying to find a light or some way out, but I could barely see where the hell I was going.

In my dream, I came to a sudden stop, and as I strained to listen, I heard growling, cackling, and sharp voices all around me. They were whispering in a language I couldn't understand.

I tried to wake myself up, but my eyes refused to flicker open. My body grew ice-cold, and there was no way to move.

"Hello?" I heard myself call out. "Who's there?"

Deep, menacing laughter followed, and then there were flashes of faces. They weren't ordinary faces, either. These creatures were ghastly, hideous, and terrifying, and they had eyes as black as night and lips as red as blood.

"Speak," I demanded.

"Neon," they whispered in unison.

"Who are you?" I asked. "What the fuck do you want from me?"

"You'll see," they cackled.

I tried to reach out to grab at them, but their faces vanished. Then they turned into wisps of smoke and left me standing in the woods, cold and alone.

"Neon!" shouted a familiar voice.

My eyes opened, and I shot up from the bed. I was drenched in sweat, and when I glanced down at my palms, they were bleeding. I must have dug my fingernails into my skin in my sleep.

"Oh, good," said the same voice. "You're up."

I looked up and saw Yennefer standing over my bed. Today, she was not wearing a cloak, and instead she wore a black lace dress and matching lace gloves. Her long, ebony hair fell into perfect curls all the way down past her slim waist, and she looked even more beautiful in the daylight. Her piercing blue eyes were glaring down at me, but then her gaze slowly trailed down to my naked chest, and she flinched as if something had stung her.

"You sleep in the nude?" she hissed. "Have you no decency?"

Says the girl who comes in without knocking.