“I think it is fair we prepare you for your new classes, which will begin on Monday, I should add. You will have the weekend to figure out how to get around the campus. Your schedule will consist mostly of the same classes you had in your old school. A few others will detail more information on being a different creature. I would not expect classes to educate you in magic use as of right now. You will have a mentor who has similar abilities to yours to help you through the transition so you do not do anything harmful to yourself. If you were expecting something like Harry Potter, I think you will find yourself greatly disappointed.”
The idea had come to Cheyenne’s mind of a school that focused only on learning spells and the other inner workings of magic. She was relieved to hear her imagination was running away from her. Math class never sounded more appealing to her. Mr. Thantos could sense this, she was certain, because he watched her with great and intense interest through the rearview mirror.
“We do not want to separate you from the rest of the world,” he explained. “We want to show you how you can live in it despite your differences, and yet still not be a part of it. However, do not assume the world is a safe place for you to be in. If this were the case, we would not have taken you away from your guardianship. Though what you should fear are not the average humans anyway, despite their sometimes idiotic behaviors. I personally would be more worried about the others who are like you.
“You see, to answer another of your questions, your parents placed you in outside care due to politics. Your mother is a goddess, your father, one of her subjects. All you must know of the situation as of now is that there are some who are displeased with what she and her fellow…” He swallowed hard, as though the next word was something vile and filthy. “…deities, if you can call them that, have been doing with their power. Politics, which you should understand by this age, are complicated.
“I am sure you also understand by now the concept of the enemy using their target’s loved-ones as suitable bait for their grand schemes. Your parents love you enough to try to shield you from this danger, but there is only so much one can do, and thus why you were taken away, in hopes that you'll be under a much more observant eye.” He gave her one last glance by way of the rearview mirror before returning his attention to driving. “For now, I think this is enough.”
Cheyenne wasn’t satisfied with the depth of the answers she received, but she was slowly learning when to pick her battles with the strange man. He had a way of leaving hints that implied when it was appropriate to inquire further, and a way of making it clear when she should give up. He scared her enough to make her not want to press him on the matter. The information he did provide was enough to make her start watching her back wherever she went next.
“The less you know, the less stressed out you’ll be,” Mrs. Orinda said gently. “Your parents want to talk to you about a few things in person. They felt like it was more their place to tell you, and I’m inclined to agree.”
“When will I get to meet them?” The idea of meeting her birth parents made Cheyenne’s stomach churn itself into tight and nauseating knots.
She was dying of curiosity, but terrified of actually meeting them. She couldn't help but wonder if they would like what she had become. Of course, she wasn't sure what they already knew about her. How informed had her foster mother kept them? If Mrs. Orinda and Mr. Thantos were any indication, then she could only assume her parents would know more about her than she did about herself.
“We’re not sure,” Mrs. Orinda said. “We’ll see how things go these first few weeks. You know, see how you adapt at the school. As Mr. Thantos said, small steps are going to be best now. Our main concern is getting you settled and adjusted. The last thing we want is for you to have a mental breakdown.”
The car once more returned to silence, no one seeming to have anything more to say as they drove through the rural Midwest of the United States. Cheyenne bit her lip, trying hard not to ask the ever-annoying Are we there yet? They were miles outside the metropolitan area, and the landscape had consisted of farmland and concrete for hours.
By nature, she was a city girl, and the idea of living on a farm was far from appealing. Mr. Thantos must have been reading her mind then, because he smirked at her through the rearview mirror. They exited the highway and went down a small road. This road was just as desolate as the highway, until she noticed the gas stations, fast-food chains, and mom-and-pop shops were becoming more and more frequent. She never thought she’d be more grateful to see a Walmart in her life, or a strip mall. There were historic houses lining the background, and off in the distance, she could see what looked like a high school.
So similar to home, but on a much smaller scale and not as close to civilization. They turned east onto a side street, passing more houses, and soon they were on a winding road leading slightly north.
The houses became less frequent and a thick forest became more prevalent, as well as glimpses of a lake. After ten or so more minutes, she saw the magnificent mansion Mrs. Orinda had said the school was founded around. Cheyenne knew little about architecture, so she was unable to date the building to a specific era, but she knew for certain it was old. The closer they got, the more she could see which parts of the building were original and which wings were added on, as it transformed into a school. Off in the distance a few more buildings with similar style, but smaller in size, began to appear, their view only slightly blocked by trees and shadows and hills. They passed through the large, elaborate, iron gate guarding the school.
Her voice caught in her throat. She’d never seen something so elegant so closely. Her eyes went up and down the dark stone walls and the large glass panes making up the main entrance hall. Mr. Thantos parked the car directly in front the mansion. Then, with a brick, he propped open one of the large, heavy doors. He returned to the car and opened Cheyenne’s door for her.
“We will walk through Lord Reyld’s Manor, as it is the quickest way to the dormitories, as well as the warmest. Then, Mrs. Orinda will discuss your options for the evening with you,” he explained, as he popped open the trunk and pulled out all of the things Cheyenne had managed to pack.
There wasn’t much—a suitcase with as many clothes as she could fit, and another bag filled with personal mementos like pictures, favorite books, and stuffed animals. She also had the pillow from her bed and the bag she where she’d kept all of her entertainment for the car-ride. He carried it all inside without help. For a small man, he was incredibly strong. He seemed to lift all of her things as though they weighed nothing.
Mrs. Orinda motioned for Cheyenne to follow him inside. “You’ll be rooming with another girl from your grade. I know back home you were placed as a junior in your high school, but we’re going to put you a year back since our curriculum is a little more advanced. Some of our high school courses could be considered college level. She’s also a transfer student, so you can learn the ropes together. Now, this is Lord Reyld's Manor, which is what we call the original building the school was founded around.”
The walls were tan stone, lined with white wood along the doors and windows. The floor was a beautiful, black marble. There were dark wooden benches and tables placed sporadically throughout the halls and in the study lounges they passed through. The architecture between the manor and what Mr. Thantos referred to as the Sun Hall was such a smooth transition Cheyenne wouldn’t have noticed the difference between the two if he hadn’t pointed it out.
“I know it is quite impressive,” Mr. Thantos grumbled sourly. “But I would much appreciate it if you would walk a bit faster. I do have lessons to plan and students to counsel, as well as study sessions to lead for an exam. My students would not appreciate it if I were late and they lost some of their question-and-answer time.” He looked back at the two with a glare to emphasize the point. “Miss Loveless, you have all evening and all weekend to gawk at everything.”
“You gave your students a test?” Mrs. Orinda said with a shake of her head
and a smile. “You are horrible.”
“Yes, my students have a test when they return on Monday.” Mr. Thantos rolled his eyes at her and then carefully kicked open a door that led back outside and into a courtyard. The two followed him, and again the elegant sights overwhelmed Cheyenne.
For the beginning of fall, there were still quite a bit of flowers and trees in full bloom, which was odd for the Midwest. It was too cold outside. It couldn't have been natural. There were white marble benches, and in the center of the courtyard was a fountain with an elaborate and detailed stone carving of an angel as the centerpiece.
A few students sat at the benches with books and food, talking and watching Cheyenne with great curiosity. They did this subtly, however, immediately averting their eyes the second Mr. Thantos caught them staring.
“I can’t believe you’d give your students a test,” Mrs. Orinda continued. She shivered slightly and gestured for Cheyenne to walk faster so they could get back inside.
“I prefer tests on Monday or Wednesday. Everyone hates Monday. I would much rather ruin a day everyone already hates than ruin one everyone loves, like say, a Friday,” he explained. “You see, I am considerate of my students’ needs. They can then stay out late Friday and Saturday and study on Sunday. Unless, of course, they are overachievers, but I design my courses so that as long as you do your work accordingly and pay attention, it would be unnecessary for a student to study night and day nonstop.” They arrived at a dorm entitled Athena Hall, and Mrs. Orinda unlocked the door, letting them all inside. “I do hope your room is on the first floor,” Mr. Thantos said.
“Don’t be such a baby,” Mrs. Orinda teased as she took her turn to lead. “Those bags aren’t heavy for you. For the record, it's not so much you gave them the test on a Monday but the fact we're only two weeks into the new semester. What could you possibly have to test them on?”
“That does not make me want to carry them any less,” he grumbled under his breath and then added more loudly, “There is a method and a reason behind the way I do things. Do not bother to try and persuade me otherwise.”
“Baby,” she teased again, and finally brought them to Cheyenne’s room. The dorm building was like a more elegant version of the college housing she had seen on her campus visits to the state university. The lobby was simple. There was a room for the resident assistant on duty where all visitors checked in, and two couches placed around a coffee table. A few pictures of the school hung on the walls, as well as pictures of past residents dating back so far that some of them were paintings instead of photographs.
Cheyenne’s room was on the first floor—room number 112, the last even-numbered room on the end. The hall itself reminded her of a hotel she had stayed in a long time ago. The walls were lined with a fancy wood, and the beautiful, antique lights were shaped like flower-blossoms. The inside of the room was equally impressive and laid out like a two-bedroom apartment.
The first room they entered was the living room, where Mr. Thantos proceeded to drop her bags to the floor. The room was furnished with a television, couch, and a coffee table. There were also large wooden bookshelves near the TV. A few boxes were strewn across the floor, and DVDs were piled up on the table as well as the shelves. It appeared her roommate had already begun getting herself situated. Judging by her roommate’s taste in movies alone, a variety of comedy and romance titles, Cheyenne could tell they had a few things in common.
“Do you need me?” Mr. Thantos interrupted the silence. “If not, I would like to take my leave. I have a lot of things to do.”
Mrs. Orinda nodded. “So you’ve stated many times. Thanks for your help.”
He bowed to her and exited the room. Cheyenne leaned her head out the door to watch him go before returning her attention to Mrs. Orinda and her new home.
“This is nice,” Cheyenne said. She stared at all of the things her roommate had brought. “I feel like I packed too light.”
“We can take you out shopping or send for more of your stuff later,” Mrs. Orinda said. “Are you hungry at all? I can take you to the cafeteria for something to eat, or would you rather stay in for right now? Your roommate should be back soon. Last I heard, she was seeing her family off before they head home to the Philippines.”
“She's from the Philippines?” Cheyenne had never met anyone from there before, and she began to worry if they would get along.
Most of the foreign exchange students she had met were from Europe or Latin America, places she was familiar with and where the culture wasn’t drastically different. She hadn’t heard enough about the Philippines to know what to expect. Things can't be too different if she has DVDs, right? Her chest tightened and the room suddenly became unbearably hot and difficult to breathe in. She adjusted the collar of her sky blue turtleneck a little and moved to sit down on the couch.
Mrs. Orinda nodded, not noticing Cheyenne’s nervousness. “They’re witch doctors. I can’t wait to hear more about it from her.”
“W-witch doctors?” Cheyenne instantly had images of small huts and shrunken heads fill her mind. She supposed as long as her roommate didn’t keep those kinds of things where Cheyenne would stumble across them, they'd be fine. She definitely wouldn’t be able to stand the sight of any dead animals. It would take her a long time to get used to how freely everyone at the school talked about the supernatural world.
“Yes.” Mrs. Orinda gave her a smile. “They’re amazing people, from what little I’ve interacted with them. I’m hoping to learn a few things, actually. You see, I’m also a witch, though I guess you could say I’m more of a well-rounded, nonspecialty type. Essentially, I do a little bit of everything. It makes my abilities not as strong as those who have a specific type of magic, though. I lack the skills to complete some of those kinds of spells, but it would be nice to do more for people. Even if it's something small.” She bit her lip without expanding, but Cheyenne could understand the gist of what she was trying to say.
“I’m sure we’ll get along fine,” Cheyenne said. She settled into her seat and brought her knees up to her chest. Should she start unpacking? What she wanted to do more than anything was go to her room to be alone and to hide under her bedsheets. She was home now, but she felt like an invader. Neither of the bedrooms had been claimed, and it felt wrong for her to take the liberty to pick one without first discussing it with the girl she would be living with. She didn't know how long she’d be there with this stranger, and she didn't want to start off on a bad foot.
“Are you handling things okay? If there’s anything I can do to make this easier, let me know. I will do what I can,” Mrs. Orinda said, sitting next to her. The woman put a hand on her shoulder, and Cheyenne wanted to believe the best. Generally, she was quick to trust just about anyone, but given her recent track record, she couldn't help but wonder if maybe she should put up more walls.
“I’m okay,” Cheyenne lied. She was pretty sure Mrs. Orinda knew it, too. It would take time for her to adjust. “I’m tired, but you said there’d be time to rest. I just have to get used to the idea that I’m not…” She paused. “That is to say…”
“Normal?” Mrs. Orinda supplied for her. “I’m like you. I didn’t know either. Most of these kids have known their whole lives,” she said with a small smile. “I didn’t learn I was a witch until I was twelve, and once you find something like that out about yourself, then everything gets uprooted and you have to start over again. It’s a good thing.”
Easier said than done. Cheyenne wasn't sure how having her whole life turned around was a good thing, but she smiled at the woman anyway as if she believed her. The two shared an awkward but tender and genuine hug, when Cheyenne’s new roommate walked in.
This girl owned all of the attention in the room as soon as she stepped through the front door. Her presence made the room feel brighter and lighter, and instantly Cheyenne felt her fears begin to fade away.
“Hi! I’m Halyn,” she practically sang. “Halyn Alpay. It’s so nice to meet you!�
�� She waved enthusiastically from the doorway and skipped inside, her black curly hair framing her face as she did so. She was the perfect illustration of cute. She wore an adorable, black, flowing skirt. To go with it, she had on a pink blouse that accented her creamy tan nicely. Her face was round and all smiles. She was absolutely gorgeous and radiated purity and sunshine.
Cheyenne extended her hand to the girl and offered her a tiny smile. Hopefully some of this girl’s enthusiasm would rub off on her as she introduced herself. “Been here long?”
“Only a few hours.” Halyn bounced over to her pile of boxes on the floor and started to organize them so they would be out of the way. She glanced over at Cheyenne’s handful of bags and gave a tiny pout. “Is that it?”
A small blush spread across Cheyenne’s face. “I pack light.” This was the best excuse she could come up with. She didn't feel comfortable telling the girl any more details just yet.
“She has more things from home coming later,” Mrs. Orinda added with a small smile before giving Cheyenne an encouraging nod. “We can fit only so much stuff in our car, after all. I’m going to leave you two girls alone so you can get settled. I’ll be back to show you how to get to the cafeteria for dinner in about twenty minutes or so. If you need anything before then, you can find me in the lobby outside.” She left the room, looking back at Cheyenne with a confident grin on her way out.
Halyn spent the time continuing to organize and clean, while Cheyenne watched her, in complete awe of all her energy. The girl was focused.
“Which bedroom do you want?” Halyn asked finally. She paused in the middle of her bustling about to stare at Cheyenne. “I don’t care, to be honest. My room back home was nowhere near the size of either of these. This is the nicest place I’ve ever been in, outside of this hotel I stayed at once with my parents in New York City. We never stayed in a location long enough to have a place of our own, and my parents preferred to work in the poorer areas. I’m just happy to have electricity.”
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