Quest for Trust

by Jacey Ward

  “Do be careful, Hunter,” Kadence parted with one final warning, “Trolls, elves and the lot, are also a force to be reckoned with – and not nearly as forgiving as your mother, when crossed.”

  Fuck! How does she do that? Hunter thought to himself – only to be bombarded by laughter.

  It’s a gift!

  Go away, sorceress – I’ve got enough to handle with my mother and these faeries.

  Again, laughter filtered through his mind.

  Do sleep well, Hunter! Don’t let their presence ‘arouse’ you from your slumber too often.

  Her giggles penetrated his thoughts, finally fading off into distant cackles.

  Chapter 6

  Hunter made his way to the seventh floor of the Human Resources building where his mother had worked for as long as he could remember.

  “Enter!” He heard his mother call out, before he had even raised his hand to knock. Just what he needed right now, another perceptively strong female in his life — this one a very gifted witch with an uncanny, at times even ‘creepy’, otherworldly connection. Many times she had caught him off guard with a message from his grandfather or a friend who had passed.

  "I need your help, son," Abigail started as she looked up at her son, knowing full well that what she was about to demand of her son was sure to try the relationship she had with him, depending on how he took the news.

  "What is it, Mother?" Hunter eyed his small statured mother with some trepidation. How she had gotten saddled with two tall, strapping boys like he and Gabe were, was beyond him. It had to be their father's genes contributing to their size. His golden mane of thick hair and unusual amber eyes, were all her doing, however. Her beauty had struck many men to the core, both student and Academy faculty members alike.

  "First and foremost, Hunter, kindly see to it that you stop threatening our new students. I will not have every one of them live in fear of being ‘reported and unwelcomed’, every time they use their powers. Every student on this campus has the right to use the powers. They have to use discretion —"

  "Oh, come on, Mother,” Hunter interjected heatedly, “Those rights should be earned and they should certainly not be condoned when those powers are specifically used to cause embarrassment or even harm to other students,” Hunter argued, completely exasperated.

  While he wasn't all that surprised the green-eyed faery had complained to HR, he also wasn't impressed to be reprimanded by his mother. Typical pranksters, they can dole out their stupid tricks, but can’t handle it when they're called out on it.

  "Are you quite finished?” Abigail’s tone was quiet, yet stern. Hunter was well aware that her use of that tone was rarely a good thing.

  “Do not interrupt me again. You were raised to respect your parents and those who are also in a position of authority over you!" his mother reprimanded, calling him to task still using that firm, 'no-nonsense allowed' voice he had always cringed at — and to make matters worse, with every word she spoke, she seemed to grow in stature, to the point where he felt as small as he had when he was a toddler being scolded for breathing fire in the house and ruining their furniture.

  "These students are new to this academy...They are new to its procedures, rules and expectations. As every other student in this institution has had, they should be allowed a grace period, in which to learn the boundaries put on them here ... “ Hunter thought better of scoffing at his mother, when he caught the evil eye she sent his way.

  “Wise boy,” Abigail interjected, knowing full well he wanted to bellow at her over that statement. “I wouldn’t want to have to clip your wings for your insolence.” She commented with a slight grin turning her mouth up. “Your father would never forgive me.” It was a threat she’d always used on he and Gabe when they were young.

  "Mother,” Hunter grumbled, when he was sure she’d finished speaking. “How did this happen? These creatures are tricksters at best and liars, thieves and manipulators at worst. They cannot possibly do anything but besmirch the reputation of our school!

  “These Faery Realm abominations are responsible for inflicting a curse which effectively debilitates almost a quarter of the student body population attending this academy, including some of the faculty, at the start of every year.

  “Now we are expected to accept that they come and go as they please AND use their trickery to wreak havoc on the remainder of the students, until such time that they ‘learn’ this is not acceptable behaviour?" Hunter watched as his mother closed her eyes and systematically took in a slow and very methodical breath, before responding.

  “First of all, from my understanding, any students being targeted by these individuals are somewhat deserving of whatever prank is being pulled on them. And several of them are also a part of a self-proclaimed ‘upper echolon’ group of students, somehow thinking themselves to be of a higher status than other students attending this school. The same group, I believe, in which you are also a self-proclaimed member?”

  Hunter had the grace to look down at that revelation. He didn’t really think himself of a ‘higher status’, not exactly.

  “Give me a break, Hunter, you’re as arrogant as your father ever was at your age. Perhaps our faeries feel a strong need to teach this particular self-serving ‘class’ of students a lesson of their own. Hunter, your little group of friends are no better than any other student attending classes on this campus. With the exception that you are nearing the end of your program, as are several of your group, none of you have earned any special treatment. You will be congratulated upon graduation, and expected to go and earn your keep in the human world, as would any other student completing a post-secondary program in this academy.”

  Hunter paced her office a few times, before settling heavily on the couch positioned near the wall, not appreciating how his mother felt the need to bring him and his friends down a few notches.

  "Son!” Abigail proclaimed, frustration at the entire situation darkening her tone. “The deed is done! Regardless of what any investigation should discover as to why this decision was made, these students are as key in our paranormal world as any of us are. In this hostile and non-tolerant world, we are a minority. Those of us with unique gifts have to stick together! To support one another as much as possible – not be so discriminatory. That makes us no better than our human counterparts. These select ten from the Faery Realm have been accepted and will be treated as you yourself expect to be treated - with respect. Is that clear?"

  "This is not acceptable, Mother!" Hunter exclaimed vociferously, frustration clear in his tone.

  "Hunter Landon Kamberlin, you will stop acting like a stubborn child! If you plan to graduate with the honours you've acquired these past years, you will accept this! What’s more, there is a much more important reason I’ve asked you to meet with me today, besides trying to make you see some reason. The heads of the departments and founders of this academy realize this situation can escalate very quickly, and they wish to avoid that. In order to foster some semblance of cooperation, a pilot project has been developed. Its primary goal is to help ease our newcomers into our establishment a bit more quickly, while working towards a common objective.”

  When his mother paused, Hunter sat still as a stone, his muscles tensing with foreboding. He had a sick premonition of his own that he was not going to like this pilot project at all.

  “The project calls for ten volunteers to work closely with our ten newcomers. A mock study has been developed for each of the ten partners, closely related to both of their fields of study. The secondary goal, but one that is equally as critical to this project, is to have those final year students show the newcomers ‘the ropes’ of our academy. What is in line with the spirit of our establishment, so to speak.”

  “What, exactly, does any of this so-called project have to do with me, Mother?” Hunter inquired, the iron in his voice apparent to any but his obstinate mother.

  “As one of our upcoming graduates this year — one of our ‘great and powerful
’ higher status students — and as a show of good faith from the founders of this academy, you have been volunteered to complete this project with one of our new students.”

  She continued, completely ignoring the fire erupting in his gaze and merely waving away the billow of smoke exhaling from his nostrils.

  “It would seem that you and the faery named Zahreena Daely's career of choice intersect quite nicely for this mock study – investigator and would be lawyer. It shouldn't be too difficult — Unless, of course, you choose to make it so for yourself.

  “You will investigate the mock case, providing the evidence for her to litigate a verdict of guilty or innocent in a mock trial." His mother stood her ground against her strong-willed son. She knew full well he was going to make this project very difficult on himself and likely on his partner — the poor girl.

  She knew his heart well, as any devoted mother would. He would eventually see reason. She only hoped it wouldn’t be too late. As shocked as she had initially been to have these students join the Veritas Academy, she couldn’t help but sense they were not all as bad as her son and several of his friends had made them out to be. Some valuable lessons would be learned this academic year. She feared her son would end up learning some of them the hard way.

  At that moment, there was a light knock on his mother's office door. Hunter watched as his mother crossed the room to open it. He stood up when he saw a stunning set of luminescent green eyes and a head full of cascading ginger curls as the woman was let in.

  "Hunter, I'd like to introduce Zah - "

  "You!" he spat out, interrupting his mother.

  "She’s manipulated you, Mother. Coming to you with her stories of being threatened by me. She deserves whatever she gets, after using my own mother against me. I will not work with her!" he vowed ominously.

  Chapter 7

  Zahreena couldn't believe the nerve and venom Hunter Kamberlin had directed at her during the remainder of the meeting in Professor Kamberlin's office that afternoon. At one point she would have sworn she had even seen smoke billow from his nostrils. She really had to learn to curb this imagination of hers. Maybe she could have a different partner if she changed her chosen field of study to creative writing.

  Why, oh why, had she been put with this one?? She was sure his brother would have been ten times more personable than this jerk. No less rude than he was the day before when his brother had tripped, he quickly accused her of causing his brother to lose his footing.

  "You know the issues Gabe's been having because of them, and she dared to aggravate it further by causing him to fall yesterday."

  Zahreena had immediately started to deny it, but then stopped herself abruptly, knowing he wouldn't believe her. Surprisingly, she did not get the same sense from the professor, his own mother, for heaven's sake!

  The professor handled her son's outburst succinctly, with a single warning frown, clearly having had to deal with his temper before. She gracefully moved on to the reason why Zahreena had been summoned to her office.

  "Miss Daely, as you are well aware, accepting students from the Faery Realm is new to the Veritas Academy."

  At that point, Zahreena remembered the words her Aunt Lilithe had used 'some would say long overdue'. She had been shocked when the professor effectively read her mind.

  "Indeed ... perhaps long overdue,"

  She had responded, with a twinkle in her amber eyes, as Hunter all but snorted fire.

  "Let me start by saying that we certainly can’t expect any of you to excel at your programs if you feel threatened by anyone who attends this academy. I understand from one of your friends at the Campus Cafe, yesterday, that a veiled threat was made singling you out ... I do apologize for that – it will not happen again.

  Everyone at this academy wishes to have your attendance be a huge success for all parties concerned. As a result, a pilot project has been proposed to have the ten of you work closely with ten of our strongest and most successful graduating students,” she paused slightly here, measuring reaction to her next revelation. “Each partnership was chosen according to the studies that the respective students are enrolled in."

  So that was it, in a matter of moments, Zahreena learned her fate and that of her friends. They were to be stuck working with students who hated them and had made it known they didn't want them here. The so-called academy 'upper-echelons'. ‘Know-it-all-jerks’ was more like it. Students who would no doubt all go out of their way to have them fail – or worse, get expelled.

  Zahreena headed home from that meeting, not entirely sure how this project could possibly help the situation, but she also knew she had little choice in the matter.

  If the heads of the faculties believed it was the only way to make peace between the old and the new — and Hunter Kamberlin couldn’t even sway his mother to stop this — she certainly wasn’t going to have any influence on the decision.

  Being both one of the newcomers AND one of the dreaded Faeries certainly ensured she had no say in changing things.

  She could only hope she would maintain her normally positive attitude around him and that he could at least tolerate the time he had to spend with her. After all, if he didn’t do his part of the project successfully, his academic standing should technically be affected negatively, as well, shouldn’t it?

  Zahreena was fairly sure that was the last thing he would want, especially since he was so close to finishing his program. As much as she might want that to be true, Hunter Kamberlin was among those who could basically do whatever he wanted to and not suffer a bit for it. She couldn’t realistically count on him cooperating with her because he felt threatened.

  After saving the report she’d been working on and logging out of her computer, she slipped off her robe and climbed into bed. She was very tired and when she realized she had left her favourite quilt on her desk chair, she chose to forget about it rather than get up and grab it. She needed to get her rest if she had any hope of finding enough patience to meet Hunter Kamberlin tomorrow to learn of their assignment.

  Zahreena closed her eyes and tried to free her mind from the thoughts chasing around her head. And she needed to pry the memory of those amber eyes glaring at her that afternoon. Those eyes were ones she could fall into, but not when they were basically burning into her, before he stormed out of his mother’s office.

  She had nearly dropped off to sleep, when she felt a sudden weight fall over her. Her eyes snapped wide open, somewhat disoriented. The quilt she had left on her chair was being gently tucked in around her. She could see no one in the room, but she somehow knew it was her aunt.

  “Aunt Lilithe! You scared me ... What are you doing here?“ she cried out.

  Upon seeing her niece had awakened, Lilithe materialized before her. Long silver hair gleamed in the soft light of the room. Her aunt’s silver eyes seemed to glow brightly before her. Her hand just flittered, as though waving Zahreena’s question away.

  “Ree! Sweet girl ... I’m sure I warned you, you must always have the garments I gave you close at hand. They can’t protect you properly if you don’t use them.”

  “Aunt Lilithe ... I didn’t understand then and I certainly don’t now – why do you think I need this much protection? This is a reputable institution, if I was in some danger, why would you want me to be here, in the first place? What could possibly be that threatening?” Zahreena sat up, her quilt practically glittering on her bed. The protective spells woven with magical threads on many of her belongings typically only danced when she was especially anxious or excited and she was quite certain they would also sparkle and glitter if she were in any real danger.

  “Oh I don’t know ... perhaps the partner you’re to be forced to endure over these coming months. He can’t be trusted, Zahreena!” Her aunt warned her menacingly, sitting on the edge of her bed and tucking the beautiful quilt around her again. “He doesn’t want you here and if he actually works with you, you can be certain he is sure to have his own hidden agenda during th
is ridiculous project. This was never a part of the plan.” She muttered more to herself than to Zahreena.

  “What plan, aunty? The only ‘plan’ I’m aware of is for us to attend our classes and work towards our careers.” Zahreena stated, knowing full well her aunt and other elders from the realm had been working on a hidden agenda of their own.

  “Oh Zahreena, I know you are not that naive! Just please promise me that you will be very careful – we had hoped those imbecile elves would hold off before pulling their stupid stunts. All of this mess might have been partly avoided, had they just kept their impish noses out of trouble. Faeries working alongside of these beasts – this cannot go well!”

  “Beasts? Aunt Lilithe, what is it you’re not telling me? I’ve seen no beasts, with the exception of perhaps the actual demons in our student body. Atlynth & Cyrcole managed to make them pretty angry, but they are the closest thing to a beast that I’ve seen here.”

  Zahreena caught her aunt’s hand and looked her right in the eye.

  “Aw, my little Ree – I’ve tried to do the right thing for you, since we lost your momma. I fear all I’ve really done is shelter you too much from the real world, the one where what you see is not at all what really is. Where monsters masquerade as kind and caring, but all the while they plan to destroy you.”

  Lilithe closed her eyes and Zahreena was dismayed to see a single tear fall on her cheek.

  “Aunt Lilithe,” she wrapped her arms around her aunt’s small frame and whispered, “If I did not have you there watching over me, who would I have? No one, that’s who. You were right, I’m not that naive. I know bad things can happen to good people, I know there are those in this world who will do anything they can to deceive, but I have to believe that what you and the elders fought so hard to accomplish in getting us here will be one of the best things that will happen to us.”