“You don’t look surprised. I’m not sure if I should be happy or wary about that. But you most certainly have Laura’s cool temperance.”
A slight pause.
“My daughter was around at the ball scheduled for the celebration of the union between the community and the wolf packs. She mentioned that you had challenged the temperance of the king…whatever that means. I hadn’t been available-hadn’t seen the need for it.”
Ohoo! Another person that didn’t like the pack.
I still maintained the cool demeanor though. It was the common denominator in Laura, Peter and Diana’s advice-don’t be easily triggered.
And then I relaxed further into the chair, holding back the smile that threatened to break on my lips when the principal piqued an eyebrow.
He was a middle aged man, the same age as Peter, I believed. Blonde hair, stylishly kept as if he was still looking for a bride; and his scent was like the whistle pine. Not bad.
“Did my indifference to the packs create some sort of camaraderie between us, Ms. Akwoods?”
It sounded like a rebuke, but I saw the tugs at the edges of his mouth. He found me likable already. Good.
I shrugged my shoulders. “I don’t know Mr. Principal. You tell me.”
A short brisk silence where the principal’s mouth fell open, probably at the confirmation of his daughter’s words, right before he broke into a laugh.
“Oh, you are really fire. I’m sure the school would have use for your presence, for your fire.” He was still chuckling when he stamped on a couple of papers.
It was then that I realized that it was my file that had been in his hands all this while.
I didn’t know how Peter was able to compile that, or even when, but I wondered what was in it. What was my age? Did I have any illnesses? The condition that the principal had talked about; was it listed there?
“Here, Ms. Akwoods. Your timetable is right there, and other requirements you need. There’s also your locker key. Don’t worry, it’s not magical like the others.”
He gave me a key as he spoke. An old key.
“It’s not every day we see someone with no hint of their powers in our community. Not everyday do we have a magic-less visitor from the outside world.”
He must have seen the bleary look on my face as I turned the key over in my hand.
“Alright then, we are done here. Ms. Akwoods, you should….”
“No, not yet. I don’t know your name, or your daughter’s. You don’t think I should know the name of my first fan?” I cocked my head as I spoke, holding back a smile again when the principal chuckled.
Okay, he laughed a lot. A way better improvement than the principal at the pack. But I knew he could be strict, if he wanted to. I knew it.
“Just call me Mr. Lethon. My daughter’s name is Levina. You will know her when you see her.”
Levina. Not bad. She might be my new friend, even though she reported me for trouble.
I stood up from the chair, gave a bow, which caused a snort to erupt from his mouth, and turned away. The conversation was over.
I was about to open the door and walk away when Mr Lethon called me back.
“Be nice.”
I piqued my eyebrows at him.
“Be nice to my Levina.”
“I will try, if she is nice and likes my kind of trouble.”
When Mr Lethon waved me off, with a laugh, I knew that I had found another friend in school. Maybe, school here wouldn’t be bad. I wouldn’t even let it.
Yet I could settle for something interesting. I thought with a smirk, as I walked into the hallway, and saw one of the girls that had followed Rachel around like a puppy at the party two days ago. One of her minions.
My theory was confirmed when she balked at my sight, then turned around, and dashed down the hallway.
Probably to find Rachel and make a report.
Oh yes, I can definitely settle for something interesting. I mused as I tapped my mask.
“Dora Akwoods?”
Who knew me? I swiveled, jaw almost slacking but for schooled control, when I beheld a fine specimen of a dude standing right behind me.
Who was he? How did he know my name? And how hadn’t I seen him coming?
“Are you the one?” The strange guy asked. The first person not to stare unblinkingly at my mask. I can dare to say that he wasn’t impressed.
“Who wants to know?” I drawled, sinking my hand into the front pocket of my denim jeans.
“I am Sinclair, head prefect of the school. I was tasked to show you around the school premises during break time. I just guessed that you would be at the principal’s office at this time collecting your documents, and so I came to make the acquaintance. You know the way to your class right?”
I shook my head. There was no way I was passing up the opportunity to know more about the head prefect and the students. Head prefect? Never thought that was still a thing in this dispensation.
“So, head prefect huh. I would think that the Queen’s children would be occupying that position.”
Sinclair just spared me a side glance. We were already heading past a bend in the hallway, en route to my first class. Mathematics. Thank the goddess, I was good at that at least.
“Well, the Queen is an advocate for skills and fair competition. She doesn’t favor her children because they are what they are. At this place, they earn their status, whatever it is they want, including their grades.”
I see. Not bad. At least, there would be a fair judgment if I should fall into a mishap with any of them, or if any of the students should be in my previous position before my almost death.
I didn’t think I would be able to take it though, if I saw any form of bullying here, either on me, or any others.
“So, Dora Akwoods…”
“Just call me Dora. I don’t want your mouth getting cranky.”
He tried not to smile, but I saw the tug right there at the edges of the lips.
Another cool cucumber? Well, welcome to the party.
“Alright then, Dora. Are you really sister to Diana?”