by April White
I rolled my eyes and Olivia laughed.
“Yeah, I wouldn’t have been here before Miss Simpson came.”
“Would Raven?”
Olivia shrugs again. “She’s part of this whole exclusive Family thing here that no one talks about. Her crowd has stupid names for each other, private study groups and one-on-one apprenticeships with teachers. But those are the kids that are getting pulled, so the rest of us usually just ignore them.”
Olivia checked her watch. “Come on. We have assembly in the solarium.” She popped the last of her sausage in her mouth and started for a door I hadn’t been through. I quickly cleared my plate and followed her out.
The solarium was a stunning room. I was shocked I hadn’t seen it from the outside during my adventures last night because it was unmistakable. The whole room was floor-to-ceiling glass and looked out onto a big rolling lawn. I couldn’t take my eyes from the view and didn’t even notice that the room was filled with benches until Olivia pushed me down on one.
We sat in the back and I guessed the room contained about fifty kids. That hardly seemed enough to fill more than three classes, so I couldn’t imagine how St. Brigid’s could be a proper school.
Miss Simpson stood at the front of the solarium with four other adults. Teachers or staff I supposed. An ancient, half-asleep looking woman sat directly to Miss Simpson’s right. Next to her was a youngish, pretty woman who was trying to look confident but I guessed this was probably her first teaching job. Seated on the other side of Miss Simpson was a perfectly-dressed, immaculately groomed woman about my mother’s age with an imperious expression on her face. About two weeks ago I would have done everything possible to stay out of her way. Now, after dealing with Millicent for a couple of days, the woman’s attitude just made me tired.
And at the end of the group, seated just enough away from the others to really set him apart, sat a man who looked exactly like Millicent’s portrait of Goran, the Immortal mountain man.
It was so jolting to see him lounging insolently in the seat that I almost got up and backed out of the room. I had the very distinct impression that this was not a man one turned their back on. Ever. I was dimly aware that Miss Simpson was greeting the students and wishing them a good morning. My eyes were locked on Goran’s twin and I only realized I was staring when his gaze wandered over the assembled group and found mine. I had to keep myself from physically ducking behind the person in front of me. I tried to look casual so he didn’t notice my stare.
Unfortunately, the place my casual look landed was on Floyd, smirking at me from the next row. I rolled my eyes at him and gave Miss Simpson my attention just so I could ignore him.
“Last night our groundskeepers spotted a… predator in the woods outside the school.” Miss Simpson had my undivided attention now. “And a window on the third floor of the south wing was found open.” She looked around the room meaningfully and I’m pretty sure her eyes found mine in the crowd.
“I don’t know if someone tried to leave the building, or let someone in, or even if they felt the need for fresh air. The point is, with a predator in the vicinity, we can have no breaches of security in this school. All windows and doors will be locked at sundown, and for additional safety, the staff will take shifts to patrol the halls of the dormitory wings. I’m sorry to say that until our woods are clear again St. Brigid’s will be in lock-down.”
A quiet, collective gasp went up around the room but nobody spoke up. Apparently the idea of lockdown wasn’t as appalling to these guys as it was to me.
“All right, you’re dismissed to your classes.” Miss Simpson turned away from the students to speak with the old lady on her right. The students were all up and moving toward the exits.
I overheard students around me talking about the possible break-in. “I heard the groundskeepers actually came inside the school and they almost caught someone on the second floor of the west wing but one of them tripped down a dark staircase.”
“Those staircases are always lit.”
“The sconces were burned out and the stairs were dark. That’s what I heard.”
The group moved away and I turned to look for Floyd. Could he have been the one they chased through the hallways? Was that why he unscrewed the light bulbs on that staircase? In that instant, Floyd appeared in front of me. The lazy grin on his face was arrogant and it pissed me off. “Hey, Clocker. Let’s get you to class.”
“Sure, Floyd. Lead the way.” I managed to unsettle him just a little bit. A very small victory, but the way I was feeling at that moment, a meaningful one.
“Floyd?” His eyebrow arched up.
“Clocker?” I tried for the same tone.
“We don’t get many Elians here anymore. It was worth a shot. Why ‘Floyd?”
“Your T-shirt last night. Thanks again, by the way. Was that you the groundskeeper chased through the school?” Floyd looked around quickly to make sure no one was in earshot, and then he grinned. “The guy made a total racket when he fell down the stairs.”
“Impressive use of a T-shirt.”
“You figured that out?”
“I didn’t think you were stripping for my benefit.”
He laughed. “How little you know me.” Floyd’s eyes narrowed and he suddenly got serious. “Did you leave the window open?” I nodded and Floyd’s eyes narrowed. “To meet a Sucker in the woods?”
I scowled at him. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“The ‘Predator’ Simpson’s talking about. It’s gotta be a blood-sucker, otherwise why start patrolling at sundown and worry about a third floor window?” I stared at him with compete bafflement on my face. “Did they lock you away in a cellar all your life? There was a Vampire out last night.” He rolled his eyes as mine practically left my head. The casual way he talked about ‘Vampire’ was deeply disturbing to my fragile sense of reality.
We were heading out of the solarium and down an unfamiliar hall. I decided I needed to just accept that everything I thought I knew about the world was probably wrong, and to start paying attention if I wanted to keep my head on from exploding.
I took a deep breath and changed the subject. “Where are we going?”
“To class. You’re probably with us in Rogers’ study. She’s pretty cool when she’s conscious. At least she knows a lot about the Families.”
I stared at Floyd. “The Families?”
He stopped suddenly in the hall, forcing some girls to go around us. “You are a Clocker, aren’t you?”
I folded my arms across my chest, forcing myself to keep breathing. “Maybe.”
Just then the Goran look-a-like stepped out of a room along the hall. “Adam Arman, you’re late for class. Not the best first impression for Miss Elian to be making. Move it!” He had a deep, bear-like voice and sounded like someone I didn’t want to mess with. Apparently, neither did Floyd. Wait, Adam?
“You’re Ava’s twin? You guys are Seers?”
Adam rolled his eyes and looked around quickly. “Took you long enough. C’mon. There’s ungees around and Mr. Shaw’s still watching us.” I looked back to spot the huge man standing in his doorway watching us through narrowed eyes.
“What the hell are ungees?” I whispered as we walked.
“Our grandparents called them ‘ungifteds. Adam grinned as he entered a classroom at the end of the hall. “Which makes us gifted.”
Mrs. Rogers was already there, seated in a big wing chair by a fireplace. “Thank you for escorting our new student to class, Adam.” Mrs. Rogers’ voice was surprisingly strong for someone who looked like she’d blow over in a stiff wind.
I stopped inside the door and took in the room. Instead of a proper classroom like I expected, it was set up more like a study. Comfortable-looking chairs were grouped around the fireplace facing Mrs. Rogers, enough for four students. Raven was there with the freckled Ginger, and Ava, Adam’s twin was seated off to one side.
“Saira Elian, welcome to the sixth form at S
t. Brigid’s.”
That sounded so important and substantial. As far as I was concerned, this little stopover was for just a couple of days until my mom got back. And I had to keep telling myself that or I’d go totally nuts.
“Thanks.” I nodded to Mrs. Rogers and vaguely included the rest of the class in a smile.
“Adam, please pull a chair over for Saira so we can begin.”
Adam made a gallant show of offering me a chair. I wouldn’t have taken it except I saw Raven scowl at Adam’s gesture and I knew it would bug her. So I sat down next to Ava while he pulled another big chair over and plunked down next to us.
Ava leaned in. “Hi Saira. I’m glad you’re finally here.”
I thought I could like Ava, but the things she said were a tad unsettling.
The class seemed to be in the middle of a discussion about the American and French revolutions, but from the British perspective, so I sort of tuned out until Mrs. Rogers addressed her question directly to me.
“Saira, I believe your mother traveled back to the time of the French Revolution when she was young. What did she tell you of her experiences in Paris?” My jaw, seriously, hit the floor. I thought I might actually have a bruise from the impact. Someone sniggered. I’ve always hated that sound. It’s the sound of arrogance and attitude and it never fails to make me mad.
Mrs. Rogers seemed to understand her mistake, maybe from the look on my face, and to her credit, she tried to backpedal. “I’m sorry; I might have her confused with her sister, Emily. My grandmother taught them both, you see.”
“I wouldn’t know. You should ask Millicent.”
Mrs. Rogers looked at me a little sadly. I must have sounded bitter, and she nodded. “Yes, I think I will.”
I pretty much tuned out the rest of the history lesson as my brain spun on the idea that my mom could have time-traveled to the 1780s. I wasn’t even aware of the passage of time until chairs were suddenly scraping back and people were standing to leave. Adam leaned over and my eyes suddenly focused again.
“We’re going to the library to study. You want to come?”
Ava waited behind him and I stood up quickly. “I’ll meet you there. Thanks.”
Adam looked at me oddly for a moment, and then quickly repositioned my chair behind me. My knees suddenly buckled and I went down – fortunately right into the chair. If he hadn’t moved it I would have hit the floor. My vision doubled for a moment, then righted itself and I struggled to my feet again. Maybe the knocks I’d taken to the head had actually done some damage, or maybe my capacity for overwhelm had just hit its limit?
“Are you okay?” Ava hovered nervously.
“Yeah, fine.” I clutched the back of the chair for support, and then looked at Adam. “Thanks. Again.”
I caught a glimpse of a concerned look, but his expression shifted almost immediately to the familiar smirk. “I have that effect on girls.”
“Oh, you mean the nausea? Yeah, I can understand.”
Ava laughed and pulled her brother out of the room. “See you later, Saira.”
I waited until the room was empty except for Mrs. Rogers, shuffling through papers on her desk in the corner. “Mrs. Rogers? Do you have a minute?”
I still felt a little shaky and my voice must have echoed it because Mrs. Rogers looked concerned. “Yes, Saira. Of course.”
“I’m sorry about earlier. The fact is I didn’t even know the people in my family were time travelers until this week, and as for my mom, I can’t ask her about the French Revolution because she’s not here. And the last place anyone saw her was in Whitechapel, in 1888.” I paused to breathe and watch her reaction.
Mrs. Rogers sank into her seat, but her expression didn’t change and she regarded me thoughtfully. “By whom?”
“Excuse me?”
“Who saw your mother in 1888?”
“By me.”
“I see.” Mrs. Rogers shuffled some more papers. “I’d like to do private lessons with you in the afternoons to bring your education current with your abilities. I believe I can arrange things with Miss Simpson to clear your schedule if you agree.”
I let out the breath I’d been holding. “I’d appreciate that.”
“Good. Now I’d advise that you stick with Adam and Ava Arman as much as possible. They’ll be able to keep you out of trouble as you learn your way around this school.”
“I’m not a troublemaker, Mrs. Rogers.”
Mrs. Rogers looked at me sharply. “No, but others are. I’ll see you back here at three.”
I found the Seer twins in the library at the front of the school. The same students from Mrs. Rogers’ class were also spread around the room, reading and talking in quiet voices to each other. Raven and Ginger were in a corner giggling over something on Raven’s cell phone. My own cell phone didn’t work in the U.K. and I didn’t miss it. But then again, besides my mom, I didn’t really have anyone to text or talk to anyway.
I dropped into a seat beside Ava. She gave me a bright smile. “The Crow’s nosing around your stuff again. You need a better hiding spot for the box.”
“Do you guys do that often?”
“What? See things? Yeah, but we don’t usually say anything. Mostly because it freaks people out.” Ava gestured around the library. “But as you can see, no ungees in sight.”
I shuddered. “I think I hate that word.”
Miss Simpson entered the library and came straight over to our table. “Miss Elian, may I speak with you?”
I looked at Ava and Adam in surprise, and then nodded. “Sure.”
“Privately, please.” She smiled at Ava and Adam and I got up to follow her.
Miss Simpson led the way to a small room just off the library. It was also full of books, but they looked older and way more interesting than anything in the other room. She closed the door behind me. “Mrs. Rogers just asked me for permission to give you private tutoring.” I nodded mutely. “Unfortunately, as valuable as I believe that would be, I can’t allow it.”
I stared at her. “Why not?”
“Your… guardian gave specific instructions about your education.”
I scoffed. “Theoretical, not practical.”
Miss Simpson nodded. “Indeed.”
“Technically, I’m her great-aunt. That should give me some rights, shouldn’t it?”
Miss Simpson smiled wryly. “Unfortunately, you are underage and she is the ‘technical’ head of the Elian House.”
“Cool. So I’m at a school where I can’t learn anything.”
“I will try to make as much information available to you as I can without disobeying your guardian’s wishes.”
I looked Miss Simpson in the eye. “I’m willing to learn anything you’re willing to teach me.”
“I wish I had more students like you, Saira.” She opened the door and ushered me out of the anteroom. Adam and Ava were still waiting for me at the table.
“I need air. Anyone want to come for a walk with me?”
Ava looked at Adam. “Told you they cancelled her tutoring.”
I rolled my eyes. “Okay, seriously? Knock it off.”
Ava asked Adam, “Will they let us out since it’s daytime?”
“We’re not prisoners; they’re just worried about a Sucker on the loose.”
I hated that name even more than ‘Ungee.’ And the totally casual way it rolled off Adam’s tongue was the proof he wasn’t just making it up to see my reaction. He was talking about something real – something I needed way more information about. And information seemed to be the thing most lacking at this school.
I headed for the door and the twins got up to follow me. Raven called out from her corner, “Where do you think you guys are going?”
Ava shot back, “To look through your stuff. Why should you have all the fun?”
Raven’s eyes narrowed. “Freaks.”
“So much for my grace period.” I turned to Adam. “And you were right about getting something on her. She has
been going through my stuff.”
Ava snorted. “Don’t let her get to you. Mongers have always been bullies.”
“Mongers?”
“Wow, you seriously don’t know anything.”
“You’re right. I don’t. So educate me.” My tone of voice didn’t even faze Ava. She was just as cheerful and oblivious as always. It was hard to be annoyed with her. “Well, Mongers are, you know, like war-mongers.”
It clicked. “The Descendants of War.” I stopped in my tracks, just outside the front door. It was so strange to put reality together with the stories I’d been hearing about Immortals for the past two days. It made the lines I’d drawn around my life for seventeen years seem imaginary. I jumped down several steps at a time and headed for the woods.
“I don’t think we should go into the forest.” Ava sounded concerned.
I shrugged, not looking back. “Stay here if you want.” I took off running. Adam jumped down and came after me so I decided to pay him back for being such an arrogant pain in my butt.
.
The Prophecy
Free running in the woods was a little more challenging than in the city, only because there were more potential obstacles on the ground with every step. I picked up speed, scaling boulders and leaping felled trees at a full run.
Adam was clearly out of his league, and after a few minutes I took pity on the guy and stopped at a fallen log to wait. So, this place was a special school for the kids of the Immortal’s families. And regular kids too, but they didn’t seem to count. Obviously there was a lot for me to learn here, including all the stuff about my mom she never told me. I was trying really hard to stay loyal to her in my head, but the realization that she had kept so many secrets was eating away at me.
And Vampires existed? How was that even relevant information?
Adam finally showed up, sucking air like a guy who just scaled Everest. How come Archer could keep up with me and a super-athlete like Adam was out of his league?