by Amy Sumida
Now, like so many times before, I found myself standing in the darkened hall of another Illustratio Conservatory, this time in Marysville. I listen, popping bubbles and rolling my eyes, as they give me the same stupid, boring speech given to me every single year, from every single Scholae, of every single Conservatory. The low buzz of the fluorescent light overhead filled the nearly silent hall and offered a blessed distraction to the dull drone of Scholae Jones’ voice going over rules I memorized long ago.
“Curfew is eight o’clock sharp. No leaving the dorms after and lights out at eleven. We aren’t stupid enough to believe you kids listen, which means we conduct a bed check at one and again at three. The consequence of missing a bed check and subsequent discipline lists are posted in all common rooms. Since you are only seventeen you’ll be attending the last year secondary courses with other incomplete Genus and individuals.”
Whoa, wait a minute.
“Say what?” I interrupted. “Other incomplete Genus’?” At fourteen, an Elementum graduated from the Primary courses to the Secondary courses. The Secondary courses helped prepare you for Iunctura, the bond between a Genus, teaching you everything you needed to know. Since an Iunctura couldn’t occur until eighteen, the older kids usually took separate classes from the rest of the students. I turned eighteen in less than a month. I should be in the last year classes with others on the verge of possible Iunctura, but my previous conservatory refused to advance me due to disciplinary issues. I made their life hell and enjoyed every minute.
“Yes. It’s standard practice for all incomplete Genus groupings to take most of their courses with others who’ve not experienced Iunctura. It’s the best way to ensure a complete Genus forms.”
“Fucking wonderful,” I muttered. I hoped the unbonded last years would be separated from the Genus groupings, complete or not. Fortunately, dull-as-dishwater Jones didn’t catch my grumble and continued his monotonous drone. I let my eyes, and mind, wander.
As high school hallways went, I stood in a pretty standard version of one. Crappy, ugly linoleum on the floors, walls with white on top and a pukey yellow color, someone must mistakenly believe appeared golden, on the bottom. No lockers lined the halls to hide the bad paint job, since we didn’t need them. All the classrooms held copies of the textbooks, and every student got assigned an e-reader with the textbooks downloaded. Some owned their own tablets of course, like me. I wouldn’t own one, except May surprised me with it last Christmas.
A variety of posters lined the wall screaming about everything from club meetings to the next school dance. Kelly green doors lined the hall at regular intervals, and under our feet, a hideous yellow circle containing an equally ugly green man on horseback proudly advertised our school mascot, the crusader. I never possessed less school spirit than I did while that ugly thing stared up at me.
“Alright, then.” Since Jones sounded like he might finally be winding down, I forced myself to tune back in. “I think that’s everything. Follow me, and we’ll get you settled in the Ignis dorm.” Jones turned more gracefully than I believed a man of his size would be capable of. It made me wonder if he might be an Aqua, a water Elementum. It made a certain amount of sense. He did kind of remind me of a walrus, overly rotund in the middle, waddling walk, bald, and gross, brown mustache hanging limply under his nose. I snickered at the mental image, smiling innocently when Jones shot me a questioning glance over his shoulder. I followed him out the glass double doors at the other end of the hall. They led to the courtyard areas and the dorms.
The moment we stepped out into the chilling air of January in Washington, gratefulness for the cropped, black leather jacket I wore swept through me. One of my few indulgences, I wrapped it around me, tucking my hands into the pockets while wishing for the beanie packed away in my luggage. I didn’t bother checking out my surroundings or saying anything as I followed Jones.
I didn’t want to be here. I wanted to be anywhere but here but my little vacation from school couldn’t be extended anymore. Maybelle managed to get me a reprieve during the Christmas break, but break ended tomorrow. I didn’t normally change schools in the middle of the year. Unfortunately for me, the last one didn’t appreciate my efforts to liven things up, and I was told not to return after the holiday. I think the hog run through the hallways pushed things a bit too far. Really, though, I needed some entertainment. There was not a lot to do in the middle of butt-fuck nowhere Nebraska.
Despite keeping my gaze fixed firmly ahead, I knew at least a dozen pairs of eyes turned my direction as we walked into the Ignis dorm. I took a quick glance around as we moved through the common room. It appeared the same as all the others I stayed in. Wood floors, beige walls, decent sized tv, a couple different game systems, older couches, but clean and in good repair, stacks of little side tables, a couple small, round dining tables and chairs, bar counter with stools to one side, and a bunch of little kids staring at me. No doubt wondering at the teenager in their midst.
Most kids at Illustratio lived nearby, which meant the school bused them in daily or their parents dropped them off. Some lived a bit too far to be bused in, and they stayed in the dorms during the week. More commonly, the elementary kids used the dorms when their parents went out of town. Illustratio Marysville made my thirteenth school, and I had yet to meet another permanent resident, one more thing to make me stick out among my peers.
I ignored the frantic whispering, which started the second we went down the hall. Jones flung open the first dark wood door he came to and gestured for me to walk in.
“We set this room up for your stay. One of the girls’ monitors will be with you shortly. Your schedule and a school map should be on the desk.” Jones didn’t bother to enter the room behind me as he spoke in a monotone. He speared me with a stern glare, or at least I hoped he aimed for stern and not constipated, before continuing, “How about we try to make the next few months a bit quieter than your last school, Miss Embers?” I restrained myself from sticking my tongue out until after the walrus turned and left.
I swung the door shut, letting it close with a satisfyingly loud thud as I rolled my eyes. I stripped off my leather jacket and took in my new digs. The wall opposite the door held a window topped by mini blinds with a simple desk beneath and a tall bookshelf. To the right of the entry, a dresser squatted between two more doors holding a tv. A twin bed with a disgustingly cute flower and rainbow comforter, which would be replaced as soon as I unpacked, sat opposite the dresser, a plain white nightstand and alarm clock beside it. To my surprise, an overstuffed, red armchair sat in the corner closest to the door. Next to it sat a small, round side table and a tall, black iron lamp. Overall, it created a nice place to read. I found my bags in the middle of the room and skirted around them to check out where the other doors led. They turned out to be the closet and, glory of glories, my own bathroom. Small, yes, but it held all the necessary requirements: toilet, sink, and shower.
I went back to the closet and hung up my jacket as the door swung open again. The woman who lumbered in barely made it without hitting her head on the top of the doorjamb. At least six feet tall, she towered over me. Her arms crossed over a massive bosom, cold, brown eyes glaring at me. With her severe, steel-gray attire and stern, glaring countenance she reminded of a prison warden.
“I am Matron Aquirre, and I’ve been well versed on you, Miss Embers.” Her voice was as tight as the steel-gray bun in her hair. “Do not think for one instant you will get away with anything here.” Her unveiled animosity toward me gave me a sense of foreboding. “The kitchen is next to the common room, through the door behind the study counter. You will not be permitted to use anything without a monitor present. The kitchen closes at lights out, period. Meal times can be found posted on the bulletin board in the common room as well as the daily chore schedule and the rules and consequences lists. I suggest you memorize both, and remember, in your case, I will skip the first two levels of consequences.”
“Wait, wait,” I interrupte
d her little speech, “What do you mean I’m not allowed to cook? The other schools let me cook for the whole dorm.” No! Fucking hell! I liked to cook, and I am damn good at it.
“Miss Embers”—the warden’s voice seemed to get tighter along with her face—“I do not care what the other schools permitted you to do. Obviously, they were far too generous. I intend to keep you under control here. When you aren’t attending classes, you will be here, and I don’t mean in this dorm. I mean in this room. Effective immediately, you are on lockdown at the school or here in this room, period. Should you find yourself in need of something you will ask me, and if appropriate, I will send someone to pick it up.”
I stared at the warden, horrified. No school placed me on lockdown before. They usually tried to make me welcome and comfortable, since I lived there for the entire school year. “What about weekends? I’m allowed into town on weekends. I have a bus pass.” May ensured I got one in order to get around easier.
“I expect your pass in my hands before lights out. You won’t be leaving the premises, Miss Embers. You will be dealing with me and me alone.”
No. No way this bitch could keep me locked up here. I may be a fucking orphan, but I will not be a damn prisoner! My eyes burned, threatening tears. I blinked them back. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of witnessing me cry. She turned and started out the door. Her hand landed on the doorknob, and she glanced back, a nasty smirk on her face. “You can try to earn some privileges, Miss Embers, but I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you. Welcome home.” She left, swinging the door closed behind her.
The tears finally got the better of me, and I collapsed to the floor in a heap. Rage settled in my belly as my tears dissipated a few moments later. My stay here would suck, but I refused to allow the bitch to treat me like this. Holding the quiet flame of my rage inside, I pulled out my phone and made a call.
Chapter Two
Morning came far too quickly in my opinion. I unpacked the night before and laid out some clothes. Since I hated living out of suitcases, I always unpacked right away. A sharp knock on my door came as I tied a blue bandana around my short, dyed bright red hair. When it swung open without my permission and short, clipped steps echoed through my room, I knew, it was the warden.
Not bothering with such a thing as privacy, the warden flung open the bathroom door. I didn’t bother glancing at her as I applied some burgundy lipstick. She stormed into the tiny bathroom, grabbed my shoulders and spun me to face her. Her body took up a good portion of the narrow space.
“I don’t know who you called or what you did, you little troublemaker.” She spat the words in my face, spittle flying out of her mouth. “But you’re going to regret it. You might have gotten your lockdown lifted and your kitchen privileges back, but your ass is still mine.” The crack of her hand across my cheek echoed in the bathroom. I stumbled backward from the force of the blow, fear rising from the pit of my stomach. When I lifted my eyes to Aguirre, I found her frozen, staring at me, eyes wide. I trembled, unsure what would come next. Her eyes moved from me to her hand. She flexed it, staring hard in an unnerving way. I scrambled backward until I hit the shower.
“You will learn your place,” she hissed as her gaze found me again. “I will be your shadow, your nightmare.” Her voice sounded different from before. It screeched and squeaked, frightening me more than her physical presence. She lifted her hand to strike me again. I breathed deep, gathering my energy and my courage, then tried to dash around her massive frame. Catching her by surprise, I managed to make the door when a hand grabbed the back of my neck in a punishing grip.
I jerked to a halt as she spoke. “When all is said and done, you will regret trying to go around me. My word is law here. In the end, do you know where you’ll be?” I fought back a whimper at her grip. I could breath, but I suspected she would leave bruises. She pulled my body closer, twisting it to face hers. My muscles strained, pulled to their limit. “Squashed under my boot, like the little pest you are.”
A manic gleam lit her eyes as she laughed. It bounced off the walls as she spun and released me. With very little distance to the edge of the shower, I stumbled, unbalanced, and toppled over the side. My head slammed into the back wall of the shower. With one hand reaching out to steady myself, I clawed at tile, still wet and slick from my shower. Pain bloomed through my head as I fell to the ground.
“You’re going to regret the day you crossed me. A little advice— stay down.” She stormed back out, leaving me to wonder how far she might go because of my challenge to her authority.
Glaring out the bathroom door, I pulled myself to my feet and stumbled out of the shower. Leaning heavily on my hands against the sink, I took in the damage. A ragged streak of burgundy skewed its way across my right cheek, streaks of black ran down my cheeks like tears, and purpling finger bruises lined my neck. An angry burn flared in my belly. The warden might call me as a pest, something to be squashed under her boot, but she would learn not to fuck with me.
I washed my face, reapplied my makeup, re-tied my bandana and then strode to the dresser to change my now damp clothes. Grabbing a pair of torn skinny jeans and a black mesh top, I changed quickly. If I didn’t hurry I would be late. Snatching up my leather jacket and backpack, I began to stroll out the door when I came to an abrupt stop. Going out there with bruises on my neck would raise questions I didn't really want to deal with. Not that I cared one whit about the warden getting in trouble, but I didn’t want the other students seeing me as weak. I knew I should report her, but the types of idle rumors and speculation that might create would follow me until they shipped me off to the next school. Maybe farther. Facts. That's what I liked to deal with. Screw rumors
Sighing I turned around and headed over to the dresser where I set my jewelry box. Little more than a large plastic container I bought at a dollar store, it worked for me. I opened it and dug around until my fingers closed over what I sought. The Native American style bone choker would cover nearly all my neck. Time to find out if the rest of this place would turn out to be as fun as the warden.
A letter with my schedule and school map instructed me to meet my first day buddy in the front entrance hall. Another super fun thing about being the new kid in the middle of the year, Yay! I never needed a buddy on the first day of school before. Usually others as lost as me could use teachers and staff lining the halls to help us poor morons. I figured they roped some poor nerdling to show me around. As soon as I hit the front entrance, no better in the day than last night, I scanned the crowd for said nerdling.
Students streamed past me, the array as varied as any human high school, though the variety tended to be quite different. For instance, the girl down the hall with a tiny whirlwind playing across her hand or the guy who lobbed a ball of water at some other guy, or the flame being bounced back and forth on a guy’s hand. While perfectly normal at Illustratio, those things never happened at a human high school. Elementum tended to be more competitive than humans, though.
The usual cliques didn’t exist either. I watched a trio stroll by, nerdling, jock and beauty queen. All three shared a kiss in front of a nearby classroom, another of those things never witnessed at a human school. Here it wasn’t unusual. Neither was the male couple making out against the nearby wall since I walked through the front doors.
After locking lips for a while without air, it didn’t surprise me when one pulled back the tiniest bit. A laugh echoed through the air.
“Brooks.” His tenor voice rang out through the hall. “I need to go.” Brooks stole another kiss, and I couldn’t stop the corner of mouth from twitching upwards. So frickin’ adorable. “I’m supposed to be showing”—kiss—“some new”—kiss—“girl around.” Kiss, kiss. “Brooks!”
Now I knew who my buddy would be. Brooks leaned down and whispered something, then spun the guy around and patted his ass. I finally got a good view of them both. A couple inches taller than his partner, Brooks had curly blond hair, tipped in blue, and a downright
skinny build, indicating a high metabolism.
My buddy glanced around, and I waved.
Asian, with delicate features, rich brown hair, and a compact body, he took my breath away with his beauty. Especially when a grin stole over his delicate face and lit the dark eyes hidden behind a pair of wire frames. He walked with a grace I couldn’t possess if someone bottled it as a drink, his movements fluid and boneless. I wondered how he looked when he danced.
As he prowled toward me, I took in his outfit. He wore black skinny jeans and a pair of boots paired with a cropped, black leather moto style jacket. A white t-shirt tucked into a silver, swirled belt buckle, finished off his outfit.
“Hi!” Exclamation marks practically floated through the air. “You must be Seraphina.”
A slender, but surprisingly well-muscled arm, snaked around my shoulders, pulling me into his chest. I mentally wiped drool from my chin as my hands landed on the hard planes of pecs. I tried to disengage his hold, but I didn’t expect the amount of strength for someone who couldn’t be more than an inch or two taller than me.
“I’m Souta, and I get to be your buddy today!” The enthusiasm couldn’t be real, right? The twinkle in his dark eyes told me yes, it absolutely could be. “And I need to say, you’re one of the hottest things I’ve ever witnessed walk through our doors.”
His eyes roamed over me, and I caught a flash of pink as his tongue darted over his lips.
Wait. What? Now confusion of a different kind took over. He made out, and heavily, with someone in the hall, which meant they were dating, right? Souta’s eyes left me to glance around the hall, and I jumped when he let out a whistle.
“Looking good today, Elise!” he called out.
