"It's called The Apolloian... " The following week Charles and Magali made the effort to meet up in the library. They found some spare time in between lessons. It wasn't the most traditional relationship, however, it could be the start of one. Charles was most definitely willing to try it out. "...It's about the female to the Greek god Apollo. How she lived for him and only him. How each woman belongs exclusively to one man. If not, it would mean..."

"Breaking the rules..." Magali nodded.

She had finally witnessed some of the barbaric sermons that his brotherhood cherished.

"I don't understand." She said, "How could Timo even allow them to do that to his girlfriend?"

"When it comes to the traditions of the brotherhood I'm afraid he doesn't have much say in it, neither of us do."

Magali had a peculiar expression on her face. Charles bet that the leash party kept replaying in her head and only the bad parts of it.

"What about Malena? Aren't the crimson cadets afraid that she will tell on all of you?"

"Everyone who is allowed into the clubhouse is made aware of the rules. And with Malena, let's just she's been around before."

"You mean she's been punished before?"

"Once or twice, yes." Charles said, remembering how another cadet, now graduated from SDC, snuck in during her junior year. The two of them had been caught on top of each other in the common room.

"I think I'm going to be sick." Magali rose to her feet and started pacing back and forth, a hand to her stomach. They had been seated on the floor in one of the aisles, with their backs against the high bookshelves. Charles watched her carefully. At least she hadn't run away from him, he thought.

"How can the school allow such a club, cult, whatever you call it, to exist on its grounds? I mean shouldn't we report what happened to someone?"

Charles reached out his hand. "Sit."

Magali paused in front of him, flashing her smooth legs at him as her skirt didn't hide much from him. She grabbed his hand and let him rail her in to sit in his lap, resting her head against his torso. He enjoyed the sweet smell of her, how she allowed him to hold her and caress her.

"There are other ways to do it." He said.

"Do what?" Her voice vibrated against his chest.

"Take them down."

"The council?"

"Yes, I have a plan. I told you that." He hadn't told her much. The lesser she knew the better. She was going to have to trust him, trust that the throne would fall for itself with the help of a push, his push.

"Charles?"

"Yes?"

Magali sat up to meet his eyes. Her stare was intense. "I don't like sneaking around like this, I'm not anyone's secret."

"Fair enough." He nodded. He was aware of the position he was putting her in, considering his artificial engagement to Rebecca. Nevertheless Charles couldn't help but to feel consumed by the thought that if he didn't claim Magali as his own, someone else would, someone like Anthoine.

"What are you thinking about?" She whispered, her lips soft against the crook of his neck, where her head had gone to rest her head.

"Just that..." He sighed. "...I've always thought about leaving the club, leaving the school entirely. However I've never felt brave enough to go through with it, not until I met..."

Magali raised her head to look at him again. She wore that peculiar expression on her face, almost like a frown but softer somehow.

Charles felt too embarrassed to finish the sentence. He could feel blood rush to his face and rather than ruining the moment, he'd rather escape. However, with Magali in his lap he was unmoveable. His thumb went to stroke her cheek, soon getting tangled up in one of her curls. Charles' heart was beating fast, he was afraid that she could hear it. But then there was silence as the warmth of her lips took over and the taste of her consumed him. He kissed her open mouthed as she sat in his lap, tilting her head up to meet him.

******

"Would you rather spend the night with a goat or marry a pig?" Luca asked, setting down his tray to join Charles and Milo for breakfast. It was a slow morning. SDC was hosting the regional swim meet that weekend. The winning school would qualify for the national event. Per usually Luca kept his cool, no sense of the nerves before a competition harassing him. But Charles knew his friend better than himself and he always got a bit more talkative during comp weeks.

"What kind of question is that?" Milo frowned.

"It's a simple one. Would you rather spend the night with a goat or marry a pig?"

Milo turned his head in refusal to answer such a question.

"No? How about you Leclerc?"

"Merry a pig, most definitely the pig."

"But why?" Milo asked, with a hand over his mouth as not to hurl his oatmeal porridge.

"Easy!" Luca exclaimed. "You marry the pig, stock her up with some piglets and boom, free bacon for life."

Charles raised his hand to give his friend a reluctant high five. But only to encourage his good spirit. This was the week that Luca would be giving up his consecutive winning streak to Timo, who really needed to win the hundred meter butterfly in order to get the eyes of ivy league universities on him.

"Don't be afraid to think ahead young Milo, don't be afraid to think ahead."

Luca was in good spirits indeed. Charles had his worries that his situation with Anthoine would affect him, however Luca must have been too high in spirit to have noticed anything unusual in either Charles and Antoine's chilly behavior towards one another. They had been avoiding each other completely since the party.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the clubhouse whisperer." Luca called out to Alessandro who bore his breakfast tray over to their table. Judging by the furrowed look on his face he also came bearing news.

"Oh no, say it isn't so?" Luca gasped dramatically.

"What now Giotto?" He sighed.

"You're here to tell us about the unfortunate passing of our fellow cadet Enzo Ciccone. How will I cope." He turned to Charles and Milo who had difficulty containing their own laughter. The words about the fight had gotten around amongst the students at school despite the clubhouse exclusive rules. Charles didn't mind being known for sending Enzo to the medical center. Apparently he was left with a fracture to his nose, whilst Charles was only left with a few bruises to his face and a sore rib cage.

"Don't worry Sandro." Luca chuckled. "I'll send Lorenzo my condolences."

"Ha ha, very funny Giotto. But I'm here to tell Leclerc that the council meeting is off today."

This would be the second week in a row. There hadn't been a council gathering since the week of the leash party.

"What's up Lorenzo's butt?" Luca said. " Can't he can't go through with it without his personal assistant?" However it was a question worth asking. Charles needed Lorenzo to proceed with the meeting otherwise his plans would be in vain. And it was a perfect opportunity to strike now that there was slight tension in the clubhouse. Timo hadn't been seen amongst the brothers since the apollonian hanging of his girlfriend. Perhaps her profound exposure to all of them had gotten to him as well.

"Don't ask me why, I'm just the messenger." Alessandro said, taking a bite of his breakfast sandwich. "But yes, I suspect it has to do something with Leclerc putting Enzo in the hospital. It shows insubordination amongst the cadets which is not a good look to the school board or the club." He turned to Charles. " I'm sure you'll hear from them soon."

"Can't wait." He said, showing off a brimming smile.

"I'm serious, Leclerc. You might face reprimands for the fight and if Enzo and Lorenzo are feeling spiteful they might get other members of the club involved, higher members." He leaned in and whispered the last part.

Charles snorted. "I'm sure Enzo and Lorenzo wouldn't want our higher peers to know that they can't handle tasks of leading a silly little club like ours, do they?" However Charles spoke too soon, because the next morning there was a loud knock at his door, banging earlier than the sounds of the morning bell.

"I don't know how Milo managed to get in here, but if that's him tell him to fuck off!" Charles was hit by Lucas' pillow as he swung it across the room for Charles to get the door. He did so with his duvet warped around his waist and his hands rubbing his tired eyes.

"Yes?" He yawned and whoever stood before him only resembled a shape through his foggy vision. However as he kept rubbing his eyes, the shape of a man appeared at the foot of the door.

"I apologize for the early disturbance sir, but I'm afraid we have a bit of a journey ahead of us."

"James?"

*******

With all that has happened during Magali's first year at SDC, tennis was finally something that she enjoyed for real, something of her own. What she would come to enjoy the most was beating a very competitive Milo Basil.

"Ha! I win again." She cheered in victory.

"Come on. You saw me run like ten laps before this game. I want a rematch."

The game had come undone with Milo wiping down the sweat running down his forehead.

"No can do.'' Magali gladly tossed her tennis bag over her shoulder. With this session she was done for the day. "I thought you said that you and Charles were in the cross country team together, how come I've never seen him run laps in the school gym?"

Magali and Milo walked side by side across campus. After successfully getting her to attend the cadet leash party Milo and Magali had grown acquainted as their schedules in the school gym sometimes collided. The sun was shining post lunch and the only lesson Magali had left was history with Mr Meragio, but that was later in the afternoon.

"Well, Leclerc isn't trying to break any cross country records, is he?" Milo said.

"Fair enough. God knows I don't blame him. Long distance running might be the worst thing I know."

"It's only tough if you don't train."

"I suppose. I still don't think I'd enjoy it."

"No one enjoys running Magali." Milo snorted.

"No?"

"It's the feeling right after a run that we chase. It's that runner's high."

"I see, so you're a junkie then?"

"Of sorts, yes." He said, having stopped to ponder the question. They walked in silence after that. With the sun in the sky Magali longed for something other than winter. Preferably spring since summer's got too hot.

"I know something bad happened at the party." Milo said, his eyes on the stone pathway ahead of him. "Charles won't tell me what, because he thinks I'm too young to know."

"He is right."

Magali had trouble suppressing the events of that night herself and Charles' explanation for the hanging of Malena had not eased her concerns. If it were an option this would be a subject that she wanted to discuss with Mia. Magali was still not sure if Mia had left just before or after the hanging of Malena. It must have been the latter since she was certain that her friend would have reported the events to the school boards by now, without any fear of breaking any silly clubhouse rules.

"I still wish he would tell me." Milo muttered.

"Hey." Magali made them come to a stop, putting a hand to Milo's shoulder. Although eleven years old, he was tall enough for his head to grasp her chin. "Charles seems to really care about you Milo. If he means to protect you from certain things I say don't fight him on that."

He nodded his head although he kept his gaze on the ground. They two of them separated once Magali's dormitory was in sight. She rushed up to her room to get the necessities for her shower.

"Hey." She spoke timidly, greeting Rebecca that was packing a suitcase that was set on top of her bed.

"Are you headed somewhere?" Magali stepped over the doorframe and made her way over to her bed. Although she had warmed up to the thought of having Rebecca as a friend, that was probably not the best idea anymore. Not now when she and Charles were desperately trying to avoid raising any eyebrows that would alert Rebecca's older brothers Enzo and Lorenzo.

Rebecca was very immersed in the packing of her things, giving Magali the cold shoulder by not replying to her attempt at small talk.

"Okay." Magali muttered to herself. She withdrew to her own corner and gathered all the necessities she needed for what was going to be a long shower. Long meaning she was about to wash her hair, which was its own task at hand. Magali's head snapped back though, at the loud sound that followed the shutting of Rebecca's suitcase. She stood with her back to her bed, the suitcase ready in her hand and her eyes darting at Magali.

"I'm going away." She said, caring herself quite stiffly.

Magali looked to her side as if there would be another person standing there. She was uncertain why Rebecca felt the need to share her voyage plans with her.

"Oh, where to?" Magali asked, as polite as she could. Her father had taught her about the importance of appearing to find interest in other people's business even though she wasn't.

"My father has called upon me and my brother to come home. All of us and..." Her mouth was left ajar, leaving Magali to raise her brow in the awkward wait for Rebecca to finish her sentence. She didn't, instead Rebecca lowered her gaze and turned to the door and walked out.

"Right." Magali sighed as she was left with no clarity to what had just happened. Either way she didn't think much of it as she stood in her stench. The stench coming from her sweat infested clothes and oily hair. It was time for a shower.

*****

Having only one class remaining in the afternoon weighed heavily. Especially now that Magali enjoyed less of her history lessons with Mr Meragio. She had enjoyed the option of leaning over in order to ask Mia for help on the day's assignments, but now that the two were no longer friends she was left clueless like in her other classes.

"Can someone tell me what year cleopatra died as the mightiest goddess of the desert?"

At one point during the lesson Magali felt anxious to raise her hand and get one answer to Mr Meragio's questions right. However Mia sat hogging a book that wasn't her usual notebook that carried all of the notes from the day's lesson.

"As the queen of Egypt Cleopatra was a fierce ruler, the most beautiful tyrant as some would refer to her as..."

The voice of Mr Meragi was completely tuned out by Magali as she focused diligently at what had got Mia so out of tune with the day's lesson. Was it one of her encyclopedias about desert lizards? If that was the case, perhaps Magali could raise her hand and make Mr Meragio aware that one of his students wasn't paying attention to his lesson. It would be petty, she thought, but so was Mia for withholding answers from her notebook.

"Miss Etienne?"

Magali sat rocking in her chair when the voice of Mr Meragio sprung somewhere behind her.

"Is there a reason as to why you are breathing down Miss Casillas neck?"

"Um...no." Magali was quick to rock her chair back in position behind her desk, however not before she had managed to catch a glimpse of the contents of Mia's book. It was the size of a journal, perhaps the reason Mia had been able to shield the view from it beneath her cradled arm. Its pages were yellow though, like in one of the old books in the restricted section of the school library. The books from the restricted section weren't allowed to be read outside of their belonging aisle. Magali wondered what had gotten into Mia for her to go above such school policies. Perhaps it was another book about desert lizards?

Magali had gotten out of her history lesson with a warning from Mr Meragion and a fairly patronizing gaze from Mia as if she wished to share something on her mind. Nevertheless Magali wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of asking if something was wrong. She made her way to the school library where she was planning on spending the rest of the night. She might even have to skip dinner since she had a sense that she was going to fall behind on the subject of ancient egypt, now that Mia has decided to withhold important information.

She found it hard to concentrate during the first half of her study session. Magali seemed to always find a reason to pause her reading and peer over her shoulder to see if that special someone was coming down the aisle. That special someone being Charles since she had plot herself down in the book aisle that had become their spot of daily rendezvous. In fact, a part of Magali fretted the fact that she couldn't so much as clear her mind enough to concentrate on the book she was reading as the thought of Charles kept reappearing in her mind.

"Where is he?" She found herself muttering at that point of the evening. She hadn't so much as read a page of her book and her stomach was growling to the point of hurting. It only came natural to her to leave the library in frustration with herself and Charles for that matter. A glimpse of light struck her as she sighted one of his closer associates, as Charles had come to describe his closest peers. Perhaps they were the only people he really trusted at this school since Magali had come to know Charles' reserved behavior when it came to inviting new people into his life.

"Have you seen Charles, do you know where he is?"

Franco was perhaps not Charles' closest associate but he had made it clear to Magali that they had made a pact somehow. However Magali couldn't help but to feel a bit threatened as Franco pulled her aside after she had ambushed him on his way down the hallway.

"It's not smart of you to shout his name the way you did, People could have heard you." He hissed.

"What people?" Magali frowned as she yanked her arm out of his grip. Of course she knew that he had meant Enzo and Lorenzo or whomever they had set out to spy for them, however she was still frustrated from having longed for him all day, not a fault of her own, she would like to punctuate.

Franco shook his head at her words, perhaps finding Mgali a bit naive at that moment and she would admit that she was if it wasn't for his way of challenging her intelligence in that moment.

"You won't find him on campus." He said. "He left campus with his grandfather's butler. I suspect he left for the same reasons the Ciconne's did."

"You mean Rebecca?" Magali's mind immediately traveled back to earlier that day. remembering her strange encounter with Rebecca who had indeed been packing her bag to travel somewhere.

"And Enzo and Lorenzo." Franco said, failing to sound less remorseless at the sight of Magali's uncertain expression.

"Do you know when they'll be back?"

"How could I?" He shrugged. "If it's a meeting with the highest order I'm sure only time will tell."

"A meeting of the order? Why would Charles have to meet with the highest order?"

Franco seemed to show a string of remorse for Magali as his stern expression finally seemed to soften. "I know that you and Charles care for one another and I've sworn to try my best to keep your relationship a secret, but you must know that there are still duties Leclerc is prepared to fulfill as a legacy of his community."

"You mean merry Rebecca?" Magali didn't have to look at Franco to see him nod his head. It was inevitable, she thought. Perhaps the only way to truly be with Charles was with his legacy haunting after him.

"I'm sorry." Franco said, bowing his head. He left Magali alone with her thoughts, her many many thoughts.