by J.J. Bonds
**********
I’m sitting in Sociology feeling better than I’ve felt in months. Despite the disturbing conversation with Anya last night, I slept like a baby. No nightmares, no tossing, no turning. I actually feel refreshed. Spring is in the air, and I welcome the changing of the season. The sun is shining, and the grounds are coming to life outside. Soon the flowers will push up through the ground, and the forest will be filled with the sounds of wildlife.
Professor Lynch’s lecture on coven mentality is interrupted by the message alert on his computer. “Hold that thought,” he instructs the class.
The room erupts in chatter, most of the students thankful for a quick break while Lynch reads his messages. I sneak a quick peek in Nik’s direction and catch him staring at me. We’ve barely spoken since the night in the training center when he kissed me. My heart rate speeds up just thinking about it. He looks good. He’s grown his hair a little longer, and he’s wearing a fitted shirt that shows off his muscular torso. I study the lean muscles of his back and wonder if things will ever go back to normal. I’d like to resume training, but I’m not sure what to say. I’ve rebuked all of his attempts to apologize.
“All right class. Listen up!” Lynch claps his hands together and calls us back to attention abruptly. I tear my eyes away from Nik. I’m the first to look away, and as Lynch speaks I can still feel Nik’s eyes on me. I try to pretend I’m focused solely on the professor. “Headmaster Pratt has called a mandatory assembly in the dining hall. Attendance is required for all students, faculty, and staff. The assembly starts in ten minutes. We’ll break for today but don’t forget about tonight’s assignment. I expect those papers on my desk first thing in the morning. Dismissed!”
We funnel out of the classroom and collectively head for the dining hall. Nik falls in step next to me, Blaine at his side. “This is highly unusual,” he comments to no one in particular. Blaine and I both stare straight ahead, neither of us sure who he’s talking to, neither of us willing to be sucked into a conversation together. “In all the years I’ve been here, Pratt’s never done anything like this. Cancelling class for an assembly? It must be something big.” He’s excited. A lot of the students are. The halls around us are filled with speculation. These are the people who know only good, I think. The ones like me, the ones who’ve known pain, know enough to be worried about such an unusual event.
“It won’t be good,” I murmur, remembering Anya’s phone call from the night before. They both turn to stare at me with questioning expressions. I can’t tell if they’re surprised that I responded or if it’s my foreboding warning that warrants the disbelieving looks.
We part ways at the entrance to the dining hall. Nik and Blaine join Jade and Lexie at a table in the back. Apparently the girls have been saving them seats. I sit alone two tables over. Eventually Shaye and some others join me. Everyone’s curious about the sudden assembly. No one knows what to make of it. From what I hear, no one can recall anything like this happening in the past at Crossroads.
“This isn’t going to be good,” Shaye whispers to me, echoing my words from just moments ago. I nod in agreement. At least things between Shaye and me seem to be okay, despite the distance I’ve been putting between us.
Headmaster Pratt and the other members of faculty file in and line up at the front of the hall presenting a united front. This definitely can’t be good. As the remainder of the staff joins us, filling in empty seats and taking up posts on the perimeter of the room, Pratt calls for silence. Conversation quickly dies, and he’s got our undivided attention. Pratt looks delighted to have an audience that is practically salivating with anticipation. I’m pretty sure it’s a first for him.
“Good morning.” He pauses, waiting for his audience to return the greeting. We give him the mandatory reply that is nothing short of pathetic, and he continues. “I apologize for interrupting your classes today, but we’ve had some disturbing news that I believe needs to be shared immediately.” He gets straight to the heart of the matter.
“A child has gone missing in Rutland. The boy never returned home from school yesterday, and the authorities spent all night combing the city looking for him and knocking on doors. As of today, there is no sign of the child.”
This is terrible news. My heart goes out to the family. I can’t imagine what they must be going through. Pratt delivers the news as though he’s discussing the weather, his voice monotone and businesslike. It’s painfully obvious that the missing boy is of little concern to him. He’s only worried about the impact it might have on the school. I remind myself that the school, and the safety of the students’ in it, has to be his first priority, but I’m still disgusted by him. He should show some compassion.
“There were no witnesses, but foul play is suspected. Volunteers will be searching the forests closer to town today. Their resources will be limited, so it’s unlikely they will come out as far as the school without reason, but it’s best for us to be prepared just in case.”
A quiet murmur spreads through the room. People wonder what Pratt means by foul play. Is he suggesting that one of us might have done this? Speculation runs rampant as to what could have happened to the child. Kids go missing every day all over the world. There is no shortage of disturbing possibilities.
“We have no reason to think anyone here has broken the rules,” Pratt continues, raising his voice to be heard over the din of the room. “But, it’s important that we act with precaution. Only those conducting official school business will be permitted off campus until this matter is resolved. Those leaving the campus should take special care to make sure the foamea is sated and should limit off-campus activities to the absolutely necessary.”
A cruel smile spreads over Pratt’s face as his audience groans. He’s enjoying the idea of holding us hostage on campus, even though he has just said there’s no evidence to suggest that the missing boy is linked to anyone at Crossroads. I don’t think it’s our safety he’s worried about right now. He’s just enjoying the power trip.
Pratt dismisses us. Shaye and I follow the flood of students into the main hall. The gossip is more animated than usual, and everyone’s got a theory about what’s happening in Rutland. I ignore most of the discussion until I hear my own name.
“Come on, if anyone’s likely to stray, it would totally be Katia!” Jade insists loudly. She wants to be overheard. By me and everyone else in the hall. She’s making no attempt to be discreet. In fact, she’s waving her hands emphatically, drawing even more attention to herself.
“I know, right?” Lexie agrees. “She’s so weird. Especially for a descendent of an Elder. What a disgrace!” she whispers. At least Lexie has the sense to keep her voice down. She probably remembers the smack down I laid on Jade at Halloween and doesn’t want to be the recipient of an encore performance.
“With that temper? Who knows what she’s capable of?” Jade muses, smoothing her skirt. As usual they’re both dressed to the nines. It would be a shame to ruin such expensive clothes. Shaye looks at me questioningly. She, too, is wondering if I’m going to react to their taunting. I bite my lip and ignore them. I can’t afford to get into any more trouble right now.
“Shut up, Jade.” It’s Nik. Once again, he’s come to my defense. I’m secretly pleased, but I wish he’d stay out of it. His interference just makes things worse in the end. Jade and the others will see it as another betrayal of their friendship.
“Why do you always defend her?” Jade asks angrily, stopping suddenly which creates a traffic jam in the busy hallway.
“Both of you relax,” Blaine cuts in, shifting his bag from one shoulder to the other. “I don’t know what everyone’s getting so worked up about anyway. It’s not the end of the world. It’s just one human.”
“Just? One? Human? We’re talking about a child!” Shaye screams as she advances on Blaine. She shoves him in the chest catching us all off guard. I’ve never seen Shaye react like this to anything. She’s usually so reserved and isn’t exa
ctly prone to violent outbursts. Besides, it’s probably not the smartest move since Blaine wouldn’t be above hitting a girl in anger. One look at her face though and I doubt she’s thinking rationally. I step in front of Shaye, prepared to protect her if Blaine makes the mistake of striking back.
Anger flares in Blaine’s eyes, and he flashes his teeth at Shaye. Tension emanates from his body infecting the entire population of the crowded hall. “Easy,” I tell him in the most soothing voice I can manage. I hold my hands up in a peaceful gesture, knowing it’s unlikely that he’ll walk away. I feel like I’ve been warped into in an alternate universe. In what world am I the levelheaded voice of reason? I’m very aware of all the eyes watching us. No one passes by. They wouldn’t even if they could. Who’d want to miss this?
Blaine hisses in reply. Shaye glares at him but remains quiet. “Come on. Let’s go.” Nik grabs Blaine’s arm in an attempt to lead him away. It almost works.
“Yeah, Blaine. Easy or Katia will drain you next! The boy was probably just a snack.”
This last quip is my breaking point. Unable to tame the anger roiling in my chest, I viciously grab Jade by the arm and jerk her close so that we stand nose to nose. “If it’s blood I want, I’ll have it from you Jade.” Her face goes slack conveying a mixture of shock and fear. Apparently the situation’s not so funny anymore.
“What the hell is going on here?”
At the sound of Anya’s voice, I release Jade’s arm.
“All of you back to class!” Anya orders. She turns to glare at the students who’ve gathered to watch. “All of you,” she repeats ominously, placing her hand on my shoulder to indicate that I’ll be the exception. This day just keeps getting better. The others scatter, and I’m left alone to face Anya.
“My office. Now.”
I follow her back to the office. It’s one of the longest walks of my life. She’s radiating anger, and I’m not sure what to expect when we get there.
“What were you thinking?” she explodes once the door is shut, giving the illusion of privacy.
I don’t bother to tell her I was defending Shaye. It won’t make a difference. We’re all old enough to know better. Fighting is against the rules. End of story. Besides, there’s nothing I can say that will validate my actions, so I bite back the childish urge to explain and let Anya draw her own conclusions.
“Katia, you know the rules about fighting! Now is not the time to be stirring up trouble.” She throws her arms up in frustration. “You put yourself in danger when you act out like this. You don’t need Pratt’s watchful eye on you now, especially with everything going on in Rutland.” She moves to sit behind the desk. I say nothing and allow her a moment to collect her thoughts. When she speaks again, it becomes apparent her anger is fading. “What started the fight?”
“It’s not important.”
She looks at me sympathetically. Things around here are only going to get harder, and she knows it. Whatever’s going on in Rutland isn’t going to end well.
“Go to your room and stay there,” she orders. “You’re not to leave your dorm for the remainder of the day.”