“Gunny seems to think you have potential.” The word stuck in her throat. As if the concept of potential and me were unfathomable. “I however understand if you're reluctant. Many have died foolishly trying to keep the Daimonas at bay.”
Did she just slam me? Foolish . . .? Was Leech some sort of Daimonas supporter? Figured!
“I won’t pretend it’s going to be easy for you,” she blabbed on. “You are the only girl after all.”
Did everyone have to keep saying that? I slumped further into my chair. “And why is that?” I asked.
“I never thought I’d live to see the day,” she continued ignoring my question. “A female Slayer . . . well, not yet anyway.” A look of . . . was that . . . relief . . . crossed her face.
“I realize you’re very young, but with training and perseverance, I have no doubt you’ll soar to great heights. Or perhaps depths, is the proper phrase.”
What the heck was this, an after school special? Wasn’t it only yesterday she was insulting and threatening me not to put a toe out of line? Now she was insulting me, and masking it with false words of encouragement.
“As I said before, discipline is what’s needed with you, Miss Hollyander. I have no doubt you’ll get a full dose of it in Gunny’s class.”
So that’s why the old hag’s on board with this. She wants Gunny to ride me and break me like a horse.
“Well, I won’t keep you any longer. You must be very tired after your first day. I only wanted to put your mind at ease, and assure you that I hold you in no way responsible for the . . . let’s just call it a malfunction, shall we?”
She stood up and extended her hand. I stared at it for a moment before my brain registered what to do. I shook it lightly, trying not to cringe at its leathery texture.
“Good luck, Miss Hollyander and remember, we're all very eager to watch your success.” The words were as menacing as her tone, making me shiver.
I walked back to my dorm in a daze. “Let’s just call it a malfunction?” She knew? She knew and she wasn’t going to punish me?
She’d been less than enthused about me becoming a Slayer. I could see that Ms. Leech viewed it as a total waste of time. She’d covered her butt with small words of encouragement—if you could call them that. But overlooking what she knew was a blatant display of magic used against another student? True, no one deserved a good comeuppance like Stacy did. Anyone unfortunate enough to know her would agree on that. But still, I’d definitely broken the rules.
After promising that I’d fill them in first thing in the morning, the girls left me alone. They’d been anxious to hear about my meeting with Ms. Leech. I went to bed that night, swimming in a sea of questions, with no life preserver to bail me out.
Chapter 6
“And she didn’t punish you?” Iris was awestruck.
The four of us sat huddled around the table eating breakfast, talking in hushed tones.
“The day before, she wanted to rip my head off, and last night . . . I don’t know. There was something weird about the whole thing. It was like she was trying to subtly say that being a Slayer was . . . futile. She actually said it was foolish. Are you sure she’s on our side?” I looked to Iris. “I mean she’s not a Daimonas supporter, is she?”
“Of course she’s on our side!” Iris looked aghast that I’d even utter such a thought.
“The important thing is you didn’t get into trouble.” Aubree pointed out the obvious.
True. “But why not? The old bitty hates me.” Okay, slight exaggeration, but only slight.
“In times like these, it’s better not to question, but to be thankful.” Iris patted my hand gently. I was stunned: “Times like these”? Where the hell did she come up with this stuff?
“Well, Ms. Leech was right about one thing.” Aubree had our full attention. “If you make it as a Slayer, you’ll be the first. You’ll open up a whole new world of possibilities for women!”
“She's right,” Iris stated. “Women will finally be allowed to fight alongside men; if they wish to that is.”
Great, no pressure there! Apparently Mageians hadn’t heard of “equal opportunity!”
“How awesome would that be?” Aubree had a far-off look about her. No doubt envisioning herself as some sort of celebrity doted on by countless males.
“Look. I never said I was going to be a Slayer. My experience consists of being face planted onto the floor, having my ass handed to me in front of a whole class of boys, who by the way all hate me being there, and leaving my left lung somewhere on the track field. I'm not even sure why I'm in the class in the first place.”
“First days are always hard, Evie, it’ll get better,” Iris promised. “As for the reason you were chosen . . . isn't it obvious? You're George Hollyander's daughter. If you can't survive . . . none of us girls could!”
Yet another reason to thank my dad for sending me here. I knew Iris meant them as words of encouragement but honestly, if she’d gone through the humiliation I had, being thrown to the floor, and later having circles ran around her, she might not feel so cheery about sticking in there.
“Yeah, first days are great. I wonder if day two has another shiner in store for me?” I touched my cheek gently, wincing a little. I’d tried with considerable effort this morning to cover up the “welcome” I’d received yesterday in P.E. Tried being the operative word.
“Roland Vandenberg is watching you.” Gillian muttered excitedly.
I shrugged.
“Are you crazy? He’s a—”
“I know. A ten on the hot-o-meter,” I grumbled, pulling myself up from the table. “I’ll see you guys later okay?” I left the table leaving the girls no doubt thinking there was something seriously wrong with me. I mean, any one of them would go berserk with as much as a backward glance from the blonde babe-magnet. But I had a lot on my mind. I hadn’t slept all that much last night. Ms. Leech’s sudden change of heart and Gunny’s insinuation that my dad had been hiding me for years left little room in my brain for small talk or backward glances from the illustrious Roland Vandenberg.
Why is it, that whenever you don’t want to be bothered, people flock to you?
“Hollyander!”
I didn’t even stop walking. A group of no less than six guys from P.E. swarmed around me.
“Let me help you with that.” Victor, a taller boy, with sandy blonde hair removed my book bag from my shoulder, and swung it over his.
“Thanks, I think?” I viewed him with skepticism. There didn’t seem to be an ulterior motive behind the gesture . . . he smiled and walked close beside me.
“So Hollyander, you coming to class today?” Chad flanked my other side, attempting to put his arm around me. I shrugged away, causing some snickers from the others. He shot them a stern look.
“I’ll be there.” I quickened my pace. This was one octopus that could keep his tentacles to himself!
“Good, we wouldn’t want you to give up after only one day.” I could hear the false concern in his voice. I rolled my eyes. “But if you did, we’d understand.” He baited the hook. “I mean, I’d hate sparring with a bunch of men if I were you. You might get hurt.”
I held back a laugh. “I don’t think that will be a concern.”
“Oh man, Chad, I think you just got slammed.” Victor was a little quicker than the rest. He nudged my elbow and winked.
I couldn’t help but grin back. Victor was easy on the eyes and he seemed nice too. He and Iris would make a good match. Too bad he hung out with Chad’s jerk squad.
“You’re not one of the guys,” Chad barked in my ear.
“Clearly, although, with the amount of steroids you’re pumping in, I don’t consider myself the only girl on the team.” I eyed his bigger than my B cup chest.
Chad stepped in front of me, stopping me short. He didn’t look so friendly anymore.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I snapped. I could see the uneasy expressions of the others in my peripheral.
“Do you think you’re going to fit in, Little Girl?”
“Little girl?” I folded my arms, asserting myself in front of him. I was not backing down from this jerk. No way!
“Do you really think I care what you think?” My tone was every bit as surly as his.
Chad moved closer, his massive body pressing slightly up against mine. His eyes narrowed.
I smirked. “Shall I kick you in the nuts now, or later?” True I was half his size but I was fairly certain it would take little effort on my part to hit my mark.
“Chad, come on man, back off.” A boy, I think they called him Wyatt, had his hand on Chad’s arm, attempting to move him away.
Chad shrugged away from him, his eyes still fixed on mine.
“Chad, this isn’t cool,” Victor spoke up. All signs of humor were gone. “Leave her alone, man.” He stood shoulder to shoulder with me. What the hell were these guys hanging out with this Neanderthal for? Did they really want to be lumped in the same class as him?
“You will never be a Slayer,” Chad spat. “You don’t have what it takes.”
“Gunny seems to think I do.” I didn’t know where that came from. I’d just been telling the girls that I didn’t want to be a Slayer. That it was too hard. Now I was defending the very idea that I could be, just to prove a point to this over-sized ape?
“What’s going on here?” An unfamiliar voice spoke from behind the crowd. It was deep and rich with an accent I’d never heard before.
“Antonio.” Chad looked away from me for a moment, his expression becoming uneasy.
My eyes followed. A tall boy with dark hair and eyes approached. He looked a few years older than I was. His body was more defined than my classmates here, with the exception of Chad. Although this boy, Antonio, looked to be more physically fit. There was something about the way he carried himself. The others gave him a wide berth as he weaved in between them. I looked closer . . . it was the boy from the dining hall—the one who’d been watching me from behind his book. I’d know those eyes anywhere. They were dreamy . . . dreamy? That so did not sound like me.
Antonio took a look at the close proximity of Chad to me. “You’re not planning on hitting a girl are you?” There was an edge to his voice.
Hell yeah! Chad grinned. She needs an ass kicking!
I looked at him incredulously as if he’d shouted that from the rooftops. Yet . . . his lips hadn’t moved? I studied his face. Was I going crazy? That was exactly what he’d been planning to do. I was certain of it. I could hear him screaming the words from within. I could see it in his eyes. The little wheels in his brain turned quickly in his head, forming a lie.
“Of course not,” Chad scoffed. “I’m just trying to explain to Red here that Slaying is no place for little girls.”
“Red!” He did not just call me Red? “I am not a little girl!” My hands were fisted at my sides. It was all I could do to not stomp up and down and scream at him.
Chad scanned the length of me, taking in my powder blue sundress with little red roses on it.
I glared back at him, daring him to call me a little girl once more.
“On second thought, maybe you should come to class. It might be fun rolling around on the mat with you.” He winked.
“Enough!” Antonio snapped. His expression was hard. “Leave her alone.”
Chad leaned in closer; his warm breath blowing across my ear. “Nice legs!”
Oh . . . that was it. Without warning I put my hands on his shoulders and drew my knee up hard between his legs.
“Oumph.” Chad doubled over, his hands gripping onto what I’m sure was most dear to him.
There was an echoed “ohhh” from the crowd. I glimpsed each of them, wincing at the assumed pain.
“Don’t ever threaten me again!” I held my hand out to Victor. My book bag was returned promptly. He took a few steps back.
“See you in class. Jerk!” I stormed off, late for math—again!
Mr. Reynolds excused my tardiness. It being only my second day, he was willing to overlook it. Thank God for small favors.
“They’ll let anyone in here.”
I cringed. No, no, no! Not Stacy. Please not Stacy. I looked up from my notebook and smiled. Stacy had taken the desk beside me. Lovely!
“I heard you’re in sixth period P.E.” She looked like a cat that’d just cornered a bird. Smug.
I didn’t answer. I glanced at the front of the room. Mr. Reynolds was watching us. I resumed my work, praying I wouldn’t get detention my first week of school.
Stacy leaned in closer. “You’re not one of those . . . tomboys, are you?” She grimaced. “Although, that would be better than if you were one of those girls who just likes playing with all the boys. You know the type, the ones that try to steal everyone’s boyfriend.”
Yes, I knew the type. That’s exactly the kind of girl she thought I was. Witch! I was so not one of those girls. Stacy would be shocked to know that I hadn’t even kissed a boy.
“Not that I blame you,” she continued. “I mean, rolling around the mat with all those guys.” She fanned herself with her notebook, the very thought flushing her. And in that instant, I knew. She was one of those girls!
“I’ve started a betting pool that—”
“Ahahh!” Stacy shrieked as her desk collapsed to the floor, taking her down with it.
Everyone jumped up to see the commotion, everyone, but me.
“You Witch!”
“Miss Wilcox! You will not use such vulgarity in my classroom!” Mr. Reynolds stood over Stacy, assessing the situation. “What happened here?”
“She broke my desk!”
“Your desk, too?” My tone was condescending. “Yesterday it was the sprinklers.”
Soft laughter broke out amongst the class.
“Really, Miss Wilcox. I hardly think it’s fair to blame Miss Hollyander for this unfortunate mishap. The screws must have come loose.”
Nice choice of words. “See, Stacy? It’s just good old-fashioned bad luck.” I gave her a sympathetic smile.
Stacy got up from the floor and dusted herself off. She leaned over my desk, her eyes tight with fury. “I don’t know how you're doing it, but I will find out. You. Don’t. Fool. Me!” she growled the words through clenched teeth.
“That will be quite enough Miss Wilcox. You may take the seat by the window.” Mr. Reynolds pointed sharply to the desk in the corner.
“But–”
“Now, Miss Wilcox,” Mr. Reynolds ordered, cutting off Stacy's protests. He stooped to pick up the pieces of her desk.
“Humph!” Stacy spun around dramatically and actually stomped off.
I smiled to myself, savoring the sweet taste of victory . . .
Mr. Reynolds called the class back to order and we spent the remainder working in silence.
I was quick to dash out when the bell rang. I didn’t need another confrontation with Stacy. The temptation to mess with her was too great. But funnier than that, was her desperate attempt to prove that I’d screwed with her. The whole class had looked at her as if she’d flipped her lid.
I rushed across campus to my next class, Fundamentals in magic. Why the heck did all my classes have to be so flippin’ far apart? I was totally out of breath by the time I reached the door—very unattractive.
I slunk into class just as the bell rang, and took the chair beside Iris. Luckily, Ms. Powell was nowhere to be seen.
Iris groaned as she read the overview on the board for today’s lesson. “I really stink at fire charms. Why must we keep reviewing them?”
“Hello . . . because you stink at them,” I pointed out the obvious.
She gave me a sideways glance. “Why do you look so keyed up?”
“I’m not keyed up,” I said defensively. I fidgeted in my chair. I was totally keyed up.
Iris frowned but let it go.
“Mr. Brown, you should not be milling around the room, please take your seat.” Ms. Powell had returned with her not
ebook and a large box.
“Now class, I have a special treat for you.” Ms. Powell had an annoying habit of talking to us like we were kindergartners. It was only day two of being subjected to her more than cheery disposition, but already my stomach churned. By the look on the faces around me, I wasn’t the only one feeling sick.
Chocolate cupcakes? I thought.
“Chocolate cupcakes!” She pulled one out of the box. “With sprinkles!” The faces around me perked up.
I stared at her momentarily stunned. How did I know she had chocolate cupcakes in that box?
“Today, as I’m sure none of you know—”
“Is your birthday?” I murmured. I looked up from the drawing I’d been doodling. The whole class was staring at me. If I could have stepped out of my body, I’d have stared too. How in the world did I know that? She hadn’t said yes, but I’d bet the dress I wore that it was her birthday. I smiled flatly.
“Y . . . yes Miss Hollyander. It is my birthday. How ever did you know?”
“Lucky guess,” I offered. “I figured cupcakes and birthdays went hand and hand.” Feeling the awkward stares still on me, I added, “that and the birthday card on your desk.” Birthday card? How did I know there was a birthday card on her desk? I hadn’t even looked at her desk.
Ms. Powell looked over at her desk and giggled. “Oh yes, that probably did give me away.” She looked embarrassed. And with that, I was forgotten. She proceeded to explain today’s lesson: Lighting a candle.
I sunk back into my chair and watched the rest of the students try to light their candles. What was going on with me?
“I hate this!” Iris snapped. It was the first time I’d actually heard her sound angry. “What’s the matter with you? You're not even trying? I thought you said you could do this stuff?”
“What? Oh.” I’d been so pre-occupied with how I’d known about Ms. Powell’s birthday that I forgot about our assignment. “I waved my hand over the candle and murmured “Floga” under my breath. The candle lit up.
Iris stared in disbelief, her eyes wide with shock.
“Sorry.” I shrugged, offering her a small smile. It was the truth. A Floga charm was one of the easiest spells I knew. I’d taken it for granted that everyone could do it. I hated it that Iris had such a hard time of it.
Pinehurst: A Magical Olympian Adventure-Young Adult Romantic Adventure/Fantasy Novel Page 5
