House of Korba: The Ghost Bird Series: #7 (The Academy)

by C. L. Stone

  “It’s the same as last week,” he said, which made me wonder what happened last week that he’d needed measurements taken. “But okay.” He stepped away from me and headed toward the door that lead to change rooms.

  The moment he was gone, Mr. Blackbourne turned on me and motioned to the front of the store. “Come on.”

  I was surprised but followed him outside the shop, where he turned and we stood like we were looking in at the displays.

  He pulled out his cell phone, and then mine, which he passed to me. “You should keep this.”

  I nodded, and then awkwardly placed my phone into my bra, because there were no pockets in the shorts I was wearing.

  He watched as I put it away and then refocused on his own phone. He poked at the screen and then showed it to me. “Do you know this place?” he asked.

  I checked his screen, and it was a picture of a building. At first, I didn’t recognize what it was, and then he changed the picture to another one and it was the same building, different angle. It was a church, and it looked old. The wood was white and there was a tiny cemetery in the back. “I don’t think so,” I said.

  “It’s not far from Silas’s apartment. You might have passed it.”

  “Maybe?” I couldn’t really recall, but there were a lot of buildings near Silas’s apartment complex. “Should I know it?”

  “It’s not there now. It burned down last night.”

  My eyes widened. “Oh?”

  “Last night, at Silas’s house, did you meet Theo?”

  “He was there,” I said, getting a strange feeling, a heaviness hovering over me.

  “Do you remember what time?” he asked. “Can you tell me when saw Theo?”

  I looked at the display, mostly trying to recall the details. This felt like Academy work, and I was changing gears. “I first saw him after dinner, around eight or so, I think. And then this morning. I also saw him in the middle of the night.”

  He turned to stand closer beside me. He spoke quieter. “What time? The one in the middle of the night?”

  “I’m not sure,” I said softly. “Maybe around two?”

  “What happened?”

  I relayed to him how I’d gotten up, and then saw Theo getting a cigarette lit from his father and then retreating back to his room. “I didn’t understand why he needed his cigarette lit. Charlie chewed on a cigar but he didn’t seem to light them. Why not just pass over the lighter?”

  Mr. Blackbourne sighed and then put his phone into his pocket. “I trust Silas,” he said. “But Theo’s been deteriorating within the last year. He has an addiction.”

  “Oh,” I said. Was it drugs?

  “With Silas more involved at this school, he hasn’t been home like he used to. However, he shouldn’t have to babysit his own family. You should keep your distance from Theo. He’s not physically dangerous. He’s going through a very hard time, though, and that can make a person unpredictable.”

  “What does this have to do with the church fire?”

  “Addiction takes shape in many forms,” he said quietly. “It isn’t always a substance.”

  Did he mean fire could be an addiction? “Do you think he set the fire?”

  “Actually, if he was home at two, it couldn’t have been him.”

  I recalled the news report about the other burned church. “What about the other one? The one North was worried about? Is that why everyone was worried?”

  “We checked with Charlie,” Mr. Blackbourne said. “Theo was home at the time the fire started. He’d woken him up about one in the morning, about when the fire started. That building was further away. There was no way he could have set it. Our concern is that it might trigger a reaction from him if he’s seeing this on the news.”

  “What kind of reaction?” I asked. “Why? I don’t understand.”

  He looked up, into the shop as if checking to see if the others were coming and then turned down the hallway, looking for other people. “I’d prefer if Silas were here to talk about it. I don’t mind you knowing anything, Miss Sorenson, but certain things require the proper person to tell it. Third person stories aren’t the best way to hear about what happened. Just know that when I got to Silas years ago, when I found him in Greece, his life and his family was torn almost beyond repair. It took several months to get his family to move to the states, with a lot of favors called in from the Academy. Part of the agreement was that we’d keep Theo under control. We’ve been okay so far, but this year, Theo has refused to continue his therapy. If he doesn’t go soon and start to change, Theo could be deported back to Greece, and Silas is at risk. If Theo does something wrong, Silas could be sent back, too.”

  My heart felt like it had fallen down into my stomach, and my shoulders slumped with the weight of this new knowledge. “Silas would be forced back?”

  “And he’s on assignment a lot right now,” he said. “Kota and Nathan might have to stake out his apartment tonight just to keep an eye on things.”

  “Isn’t there something we should do?”

  “We can’t force Theo to go to therapy and do what he’s supposed to,” he said. “But we need to monitor him.” He brushed his palm across the back of his neck. “We’re wearing ourselves thin.”

  I’d never seen him so nervous. He worked hard to keep the family together, and this was a major concern, on top of what we had to deal with from school. My hand fluttered up, and I forced myself to put it on his arm. I wanted to show I was supportive. It was just the tips of my fingers touching him through the sleeve of the suit coat he wore.

  His arm instantly stopped moving and he focused on me. There was a long, shared look. The silver in his eyes was stronger now. I think it was the first time I really saw him as not an authority figure, but something much more personal. Mr. Blackbourne’s authoritative nature was powerful, but behind it all, he was passionately driven to protect and to keep those he cared about together.

  “Family first, right?” I asked. It was something that I struggled with myself. Maybe the boy on the steps of the shopping area we’d just seen shook my reality a bit. The boys had to say no to some things to focus on what really mattered. I realized now a little of why they did so. Maybe that boy on the steps was stealing, but he wasn’t in immediate danger, so he could wait. Silas was at risk, and once the family was safe, we move on to other issues. We couldn’t do it if we were split up. It was hard to be motivated to focus on anything else when someone you cared about could be hurt or disappear. “We should concentrate on Theo. We can’t let Silas get taken away.”

  “I don’t want to spook Theo,” he said. “If we confront him, he could resist and fight back and retreat further into himself, causing more harm than good. He may not be doing anything right now, and our confrontation could trigger him to do something. Being blamed for something you haven’t done could cause a negative reaction. Our positive efforts haven’t been working, though.”

  “Is there something I can do?” I asked.

  “Keep your eyes open,” he said. “Notify me any time you run into Theo. I want to know his mood. Don’t be alone with him, though. Stay with Silas when you can.”

  “You mean at his house?”

  “I should have someone with him at all times right now.” He pursed his lips, his expression darkening. “I don’t usually say this, but if something happens, we may need to let Theo go.”

  “Back to Greece?” I asked. “Alone?”

  “We’ll always look out for him. The Academy will always monitor and do our best to keep people safe. Mr. Griffin was an example of someone we needed to send away for his own good. Theo Korba might be next. For Silas’s sake. If Theo takes a dangerous path, we don’t want Silas taken down with him.”

  I wasn’t so sure what was the right path. When I had met Theo, I saw someone who seemed alone. Silas brushed him off, and Charlie was abrupt with him. Maybe if Silas and Charlie tried to get along with him, things would turn out better. Did they keep their distance because they fe
lt he was dangerous?

  “There you are, Owen,” said a voice down the hall. We turned at once to see Dr. Green coming down the hallway.

  I focused on his face, almost not recognizing him because he was wearing dark blue jeans that had been fashioned to appear worn and with a couple of thin spots. His shirt was black, with long sleeves and his dirty blond hair had been trimmed since I last saw him, and was brushed back away from his face. His cheeks were flushed, and he had that full energetic look like he’d been in a hurry.

  Dr. Green winked at Mr. Blackbourne as he approached, hooked an arm around my neck and planted a kiss on my forehead. “Hey there, pretty girl. Have they played dress up with you yet? Did I miss it?”

  My breath stuck in my throat and I was wide-eyed, blushing and looking right at Mr. Blackbourne. I was waiting of him to say something about the kiss, the touch, the public show of affection.

  “You’re late,” was all Mr. Blackbourne said.

  “Blame the hospital,” Dr. Green said. He kept his arm around my neck, hanging onto me and keeping me close. “They let injured people just waltz in any damn time they want. No consideration at all.”

  Mr. Blackbourne sighed and then gestured toward the hallway. “We were just about to look for something a little more casual for her, but you should probably get fitted.”

  “I haven’t seen her in a while. Let’s go play a bit and I’ll come back to get poked and prodded later.” He turned me toward the hallway and started walking. I had to move quickly to keep up. “There’s that one downstairs that’s still open, isn’t it? The one with all the dresses? I just passed it but I forget the name.”

  I tried to look back at Mr. Blackbourne, but I couldn’t see over Dr. Green’s arm around my neck.

  Dr. Green pulled me in closer, and I had to keep an arm around his waist to keep from falling into him.

  Dr. Green smiled. “Hi, Pookie,” he said.

  I started to giggle. “Hi,” I said.

  “The next time I’ve got time off, I want our own date. You good with that?”

  I sucked in a quick breath. Was I? “Sure,” I said. This was a date with all of them?

  “We’ve got work to do,” Mr. Blackbourne said, his voice coming from my left and behind me. I heard his footsteps. A moment later, he was walking on my other side. “We should do this now before stores close.”

  Dr. Green laughed. “We could skip a day of school and go...”

  “Not possible,” Mr. Blackbourne said, cutting him off. “Not right now.”

  We got back to the steps, and Dr. Green let me go, choosing instead to hold my hand as we descended. It was strange to feel him nearby so close, especially in front of Mr. Blackbourne, when even the others seemed to keep a small distance around him.

  Dr. Green’s hand held tight though, keeping me close as we continued down the hall, the opposite way we’d come in. I hadn’t realized how far this shopping area extended.

  We approached a shop that showcased men’s and women’s fashions in the front displays. It was more like a regular shop, with racks of clothing and changing rooms and mannequins that were dressed more casually than at Tissu Deux. Once we were inside, I was able to check out the tags, and despite being a more casual store, they were even more expensive than the mall.

  “I don’t really need more clothes,” I said, feeling strange to be buying more when who knew how much the dress they’d just ordered would cost.

  “Summer has ended,” Mr. Blackbourne said. He was scanning the mannequins, studying. He moved to one of the racks, checked the sizes, and pulled out a halter dress with a short skirt. He held it out. “It might not get as cold as what you’re used to, but winter does settle here. You’ll need warmer clothes. We should also prepare your closet with more fitting attire for all occasions, rather than just school and casual.”

  Dr. Green pointed to the dress. “She can’t wear that to school.”

  Mr. Blackbourne held the dress up a little higher. “I didn’t suggest this was for school,” he said.

  “You do realize that is a date dress, right?” Dr. Green asked, a smile forming. “Your first pick is a date outfit?”

  My lips popped open and I inhaled, staring, waiting, afraid to move. Dr. Green was calling out Mr. Blackbourne and I was waiting for one of their fights. I felt it coming.

  “Is that a problem?” Mr. Blackbourne asked, his face unreadable, but tension behind his tone. It was a challenge.

  This seemed to catch Dr. Green off guard. He choked on a short laugh. “By all means,” he said. “Let’s start with date clothes.”

  Mr. Blackbourne turned to me. “Is there something you see that you’d like to wear?”

  I was shaking my head and shrugging at the same time. We’d just stepped into the store. I couldn’t think of anything I needed, much less wanted. I turned to look around and try to create a bit of distance to get my heart to stop fluttering so much.

  Dr. Green didn’t leave my side. He stepped beside me, and his palm warmed the small of my back. He pointed to a row of displayed outfits. “Here,” he said. “This might be easier. Point to one you like.”

  It was difficult to focus with his hand on my back, because I kept wanting to look at him. Since we’d shared a kiss, I hadn’t seen him outside of school.

  Every once in a while, I caught his eye during class, and we’d share a long look. I’d blush and look away, trying to not make it obvious in school that I knew him more than I should, since he was pretending to be my teacher. The accumulation of those looks settled on me now.

  I studied the outfits and pointed to one that looked comfortable, yet still elegant. “Something like that?” The mannequin wore tighter casual cotton pants, almost like yoga pants. On top was a loose-fitting sweater that rested off the shoulder on one side. I think I was choosing an outfit I would rather be in right now rather than the super casual shorts and blouse I was wearing.

  “And you prefer skirts, too?” Dr. Green asked. He moved away from me to look through the sweaters that were near the display. “You could probably get some thicker skirts but keep them the same short length.” He held up his hands and then repositioned them at his own legs, pointing. “Then you add something thick like stockings and boots and then you’re both warm, comfortable, and still very in fashion right now. Do you ever wear longer skirts?”

  I shook my head. Usually I avoided clothes that didn’t allow me to blend in. “Not a lot of girls wear them to–“

  “Mr. Blackbourne!” Kota’s commanding voice ringing through the air caused me to stiffen on the spot. We all turned toward him.

  Kota jogged in, his eyes focused on Mr. Blackbourne. His hands were clenched into fists and the panic on his face had me shaking before he even spoke. “We have to leave. Now.”

  There was a split second where Dr. Green and Mr. Blackbourne exchanged looks. Before I could even register, Dr. Green, still with a casual smile, returned the sweater to the table, put his arm around my shoulders and then headed for the door. “Stick by me, Sang.”

  My heart was racing because while we were moving quickly, they kept cool. I didn’t know what to do but my first instinct was to ask what was wrong. “What—“

  “Shh, Pookie,” Dr. Green said, tightening his arm around me. His eyes were on Mr. Blackbourne again, who had put his selections away and we were all heading out toward the hallway. At the door, Kota made a hand signal, pointing in two different directions. Mr. Blackbourne and Kota turned left down the hallway. As I turned to follow, Dr. Green pulled me in the opposite direction, heading away from the others.

  I kept my lips pressed together, my eyes on everything and everyone around us. Dr. Green whistled a cheerful tune, walking fast and staying focused on a door at the end of the hall. No one seemed to notice us, but I was paranoid about who might be watching, and why we were leaving. They hadn’t asked, just followed Kota’s command.

  I leaned into Dr. Green, and in an effort to move more easily as we walked together, I put an
arm around his waist, holding onto him.

  “That’s right, pumpkin,” he said quietly. As he continued to talk, his tone changed to casual. “You know, I think since the stores are going to close soon, maybe we should go out to dinner. Or pick something up on the way home. Have you eaten today?”

  I wasn’t thinking about food, and I couldn’t remember anything if I had, because I was distracted. “What would you like to pick up?” I asked. I got the feeling he wanted to keep us talking. I wasn’t sure for whose benefit we were doing this, but did my best.

  “Something other than pizza,” he said. He put his free hand on his stomach. “I think I’ve eaten too much of that. They’re just so close to the hospital and they know where my office is now. They slip those coupons under the door.”

  He moved ahead of me as we got to the end of the hallway and the door. He pushed his back to open it, holding the door open for me.

  I walked out and stopped.

  On the steps in front of us was a white mask, a Volto one. It was laying on the ground, like someone had left it on purpose for us to find.

  I stared at it, sensing Dr. Green coming up behind me. I glanced up and down the street, but it didn’t appear like anyone else was around.

  “Is it... him?” I asked softly.

  Dr. Green took my hand and tugged me away from the mask, down the steps and kept us moving along the sidewalk. “I’m not waiting around to find out. It’s Halloween. It could be anything. Let’s not take any chances, though.”

  I breathed in deeply, keeping an eye out.

  When we got to Dr. Green’s car, Luke and Gabriel were already inside, and Luke was at the wheel with the engine running. They must have used their keys.

  Dr. Green opened the back door. “Hop on in.”

  I did, and slid over as Dr. Green got in next to me.

  “Do we need to go?” Dr. Green asked. “Can we talk yet? What’s going on?”

  Luke immediately put the car into reverse to get out of the parking spot and then zoomed down the road. “We were all in the back getting outfitted. Gabriel ran out once he was finished...”