4They followed the route Haven had designed earlier that year. Since they'd become friends on their first day at Gillmore Prep School, they had been sneaking out of their dorms once a week for various rendevouz of Haven's choosing.
Tonight, she was dragging him along to look at the Cameleono plant. It was a very rare magical plant which could change the colors of its leaves instantly and chose a new permanent pattern to last through the whole year every new year's eve at exactly midnight. Gillmore Prep School owned one of only twelve Cameleano plants in the entire world, and it just so happened to be located in the teacher's lounge.
"When you get there," Haven directed Brendyn as they walked. "Try to be calm and move really slowly. If you scare the Cameleano plant, it'll camoflague with the walls and we won't get to see it's new true form."
"Right," Brendyn agreed sarcastically. "I'll try not to scare the plant."
They reached the emergency exit door in the middle of the dormitory's hallway on the bottom floor. No teachers bothered to watch this door because opening it triggered an alarm that could be heard from a mile away. Apparently, though, this didn't concern Haven.
She produced a wand from her pocket, whispered something, then tapped it against the door.
"What's the spell?" Brendyn demanded.
"Open Seseme." Haven responded sarcastically. "Fine, I'll tell you later."
Brendyn narrowed his eyes at her, then shrugged. Haven pushed the door open without a sound and the two of them stepped out into the moonlight. They inhaled the refreshing air with smiles.
"So, you do know that we're not supposed to take wands out of the classroom?" Brendyn asked, somewhat nervously, "Right?"
Haven grinned mischeviously. "I won't tell anyone if you don't."
"What would you have to tell on me for? You're the one who-"
She held up a hand to silence him and produced a second wand from her other pocket and handed it to him.
"Two?" He stammered in disbelief. "Professor Warhope is going to kill you!"
"Us," Haven corrected. "He's going to kill us."
"What?" Brendyn gasped, suddenly remembering the wand in his hand. "Oh! You're evil, do you know that?"
"I know." She attempted a villanous cackle which only caused both of them to burst out laughing. "But we are in this together, right?"
"Yeah."
"Pinkie promise?" She pleaded childishly.
Brendyn rolled his eyes. "Fine." They both licked their little fingers and twisted them together. "Happy?"
Haven nodded. "Mmmm Hmmm."
"Good. The spit's a lot less painful than when you wanted us to become blood buddies." For example, he displayed the scar from that incident. "Imagine if we had to do that every time you wanted me to sneak out with you and barely avoid getting expelled."
"Well, who'd you sneak out with last year, you know, before I was here?" Haven pressed.
"No one."
"You snuck out alone?"
"Sneaked out," Brendyn corrected. "And, no, I didn't sneak out at all. You're the one who corrupted me."
"And I couldn't be prouder," Haven beemed evily.
They reached the main school building a minute later and Haven unlocked the front door. She made sure she whispered the incantation so Brendyn couldn't hear it and she could continue using it as leverage.
The teacher's lounge was easy enough to locate. It was on the second floor and its door was framed by an elaborate neon boarder which constantly flashed the message "No Students Allowed."
Haven grinned evily at the warning. She waved her wand in front of it several times and whispered every spell she knew that could unlock or disable other charms. "That should do it." She pushed the door open and tried unsuccessfully to not laugh at Brendyn's bewildered expression.
"How did you...?" He stuttered.
"I know people." Haven half-answered.
"People, like who?" Brendyn pressed.
"Like May Livingstone."
Brendyn was impressed. Everyone at Gillmore Prep knew that the Livingstone children were nothing but trouble. Still, it was no secret that May was one of the most powerful students the school had ever accepted. It was even rumored that she knew more about magic than some of the teachers did. Haven could learn a lot from her, and maybe, she'd be willing to share with him. At any rate, that did explain where Haven's increasing magical knowledge was coming from.
Brendyn followed her inside warily but there were no alarms or anything else to inform teachers of their intrusion, so, apparently, Haven's disarming spells had been successful. He let himself relax then, as much as an air element was capable of relaxing anyway.
People associated with this element were more trusting but less focused than others. And while earth elements like Haven were very in tune with their surroundings, air elements noticed things on a more spiritual level. The two of them viewed the Cameleano plant with their normal senses first and then with their different elemental perspectives.
They both noticed instantly that the plant appeared to be a cross between a rose bush and a pointsetta. There were long, multi-colored and silky leaves and several large pink flower buds.
"Wow," Brendyn commented and Haven nodded in speachless agreement.
Next, Haven recognized that the large flower pot that the Cameleano plant occupied was made of a carefully crafted blue glass and that the table it sat atop was a fine cedar wood. And Brendyn observed how small a space it had to grow in. Unlike Haven who was always tuned into nature, he had never thought of plants having feelings, but at that moment, he began to sympathize with the plant's claustrophobia.
"Bren," Haven whispered urgently a second later. "Someone's coming."
"Yeah," Brendyn said, guessing at the intruder's identity. "I think it's Professor Warhope. Let's hide."
They ducked under the table, hoping its table cloth would provide enough coverage.
"I can't believe you got us into this," Brendyn hissed resentfully at Haven, crouching close to her.