Havenfall Harbor: Book One

by Albany Walker

  Griffin lets out a heavy exhale but nods once. “Make sure you lock your door this time,” he orders, as he moves around me preparing to leave.

  I give the counter a few sprays to dilute the mess left behind and narrow my eyes on Griffin’s back. “I’m pretty sure I did lock the door, but thanks for the advice.” A beat of silence passes before I rush to add, “Uh…do you mind just keeping this between us?” I lick my lips. “I don’t want to start any unnecessary drama. It was just a prank, kids, right?” I feel an awkward smile curling my lips.

  Griffin pauses again. I watch as his back expands as if he’s taking another deep breath. “Lock the door,” he mutters, and walks out without giving me an answer.

  “Lock the door,” I mock with a slight snarl after the door snaps closed. Clean-up is quick, I’m only down half a roll of paper towels and about five minutes for the trouble.

  After washing my hands, I head to the bedroom to grab my toiletries. I need a shower and a bed, in that order. I’ll worry about my schedule and my badge tomorrow.

  Chapter 4

  Quinn

  My alarm wakes me. I blink, surprised how deeply I slept. I figured being in a new place, combined with the pig incident, would keep me awake, but I slept like a log. I tap the snooze button on my phone even though I don’t have any intention of going back to sleep, and let my head fall against the pillow, blinking until my eyes no longer feel blurry.

  I snag my phone again and hit the icon for my emails. Checking for emails pops up on the bottom of the screen, but no updates come. Resigned, I toss the phone onto the mattress.

  After a few more minutes of waking up, I pick up a chunk of light hair from my shoulder and stare down at it. The frizz doesn’t appear too bad, but I went to bed with damp hair, so I have no idea what to actually expect, or how long it’s going to take to tame.

  With a low groan, I throw my legs over the side of the bed and sit up with a stretch. The wood floor is cool as I head to the bathroom, first to handle my business and then to check out the damage on my head. A quick glance in the mirror has me wincing. “Messy bun or braid?” I tilt my head from side to side, considering.

  After a quick brush through, I put my hair in a loose braid that falls over one shoulder. I spend a few minutes moisturizing—a habit I learned to love after my mother constantly told me how important it is—and applying a bit of makeup. I already picked out what I would wear my first day, so I make quick work of pulling my suit pants and lavender shirt from my suitcase. The pants are good, but the shirt could use a steam. I find the small travel steamer my mother gifted me with when I went to college and set it up in my bedroom.

  I make quick work of getting myself ready, and I end up sitting on the couch, back ridged and leg bouncing, with time to spare. I’ve glanced at my watch more times than I can count. I tried checking my email again, but the cellular service out here is nonexistent. At eight o’clock exactly, I jump up, straightening my shirt and smoothing my pants while heading to the door. My first stop is the front desk. Hopefully Wes will be there. If not him, then maybe someone who doesn’t take offense at my mere presence.

  When I step out into the hall and close my door behind me, I check the knob to ensure it’s locked then head in the direction of the elevator. The halls are quiet and empty, and the tread of my flats are soft, so not even my footsteps make much sound.

  As I round the alcove, I see a familiar back. Griffin is facing the elevator, his head tilted down. I step up beside him. “Morning.” I smile his way.

  He continues to stare down at his phone as the elevator doors open, then gives me a slight chin jerk.

  I widen my eyes and frown. He’s either not a morning person or he’s super absorbed in whatever he’s looking at on his phone. I try to take a peek out of the corner of my eye as we get on the elevator, but he has one of those privacy screens, so I can’t see anything but cloudy darkness.

  I avoid looking at myself in the shiny surfaces of the interior and check my watch again, waiting for Griffin to follow me in before hitting the button for the first floor.

  I bite my lip as soon as we start to move. The worry I was lacking last evening about not having my schedule is now eating at me. I should have insisted on speaking to Wes last night. For all I know I could be missing a meeting or something. My only saving grace is classes don’t start at Havenfall until ten— a perk of being at a school that caters to supernaturals.

  “Nervous?” I look up when Griffin speaks, a little surprised that he’s now engaging me in conversation.

  “That obvious?” I shake out my shoulders then glance over at Griffin. His eyes are narrowed slightly as he assesses me. It makes me want to smooth my shirt, but I suppress the urge.

  Griffin gives another slight head nod as an answer. Maybe he’s just not a big talker, needs a cup of coffee before he’s more…approachable. I flick my tongue at the back of my teeth but keep a smooth expression on my face. I don’t need to be thinking about this man being more approachable.

  “I don’t have my schedule or badge yet. I should have gotten it yesterday, but I arrived a little later than I expected. I just hope I’m not missing a meeting or something. This position is important to me.” The last part comes out softly, I hadn’t even intended to say it out loud. Seems my nerves might be getting the better of me.

  “Why?” Griffin asks as the elevator comes to a halt.

  “Why is it important to me?” I question, a little dumbfounded.

  Another chin jerk from Griffin. I decide he must be a man of few words. “Hey, Quinn.” I hear Wes’s happy voice float into the small space. Distracted, I turn to the open doors. “I was just coming to bring you these.” Wes lifts his hand, and he’s clutching several sheets of paper with a black lanyard hanging off the edge.

  “You’re a life saver.” I step forward.

  Wes’s eyes go round, and he rushes to take a few more steps back like he thinks I might tackle him. I stop and I feel a large, warm palm on the small of my back guiding me forward again. “Ooh,” I blurt, forgetting I was blocking Griffin’s path.

  Wes’s eyes are way above my head, so I don’t think it’s me he was retreating from. He averts his gaze almost immediately. “Thank you, Wes,” I say, as Griffin makes his way around us. His wide back is all I see as he strolls down the hall with a purpose.

  Wes lifts his hand again, holding the papers out to me. Finally, he lifts his gaze to meet mine. He has a nervous smile plastered on his face and gives a slight shake of his head. “I was bringing these up. I have John watching the desk, but I need to get back.”

  “Honestly, I can’t thank you enough. Would you like to grab lunch sometime?” I offer.

  Wes’s face softens as a genuine smile curls his lips. “Don’t you have someplace to be?” I look up at the barked question.

  The man from the security room last night is looming a few steps down the hall. Wes’s back goes rigid and his eyes narrow, it changes the entire appearance of his face. “I printed out your schedule and your badge is already set up.” I take the papers and the small, white keycard attached to the lanyard from Wes.

  “Thanks,” I respond loudly enough for the man to hear. “Sorry to cause trouble,” I mouth so only Wes will see.

  His face smooths again. “I’m happy to help anytime,” he replies, before turning around. He ignores the man watching us, walking right past him and heading back to the front desk.

  I glance down at the paper and note the first line says I have a meeting with G. Stone at ten. Without looking back at the grumpy man, I head in the opposite direction Wes did and set my sights on the cafeteria. I have a few hours to burn, I might as well get some breakfast while I go over these papers.

  As I push into the large eatery, I note the emptiness. It must still be too early for most of the staff members. There are a few people dotted around the room, but everyone is pretty subdued compared to last night at dinner.

  Not bothering with a tray, I grab a small plate wit
h an everything bagel and a chilled, single serving of cream cheese. I’m not sure how much I’ll even eat, but a few bites might do me some good. I’m not big on coffee, so I snag a bottle of apple juice from the end of the counter and find a table that isn’t occupied so I can go over my papers.

  The first page looks like an itinerary for today. I note the meeting time and locations, hoping I won’t have a hard time finding them. The second page is a map of the staff wing, and the third is a map of the school wing. I look around, wishing I had a pencil or highlighter, but come up empty. I left my purse in my room, not really thinking I would need it.

  The final page is filled with information like the Wi-Fi password and phone numbers I might need, including one for Director G. Stone.

  I pull my phone from my pocket and get the Wi-Fi set up before adding in the numbers to the main desk and security room. The latter I enter reluctantly. From my experience so far, I don’t think I have any fans there, well, maybe Evan, he was nice enough. And easy on the eyes too.

  I pick at my bagel as the room slowly starts to fill with lumbering teachers and staff members. The volume in the room rises as the tables fill.

  I’m walking out as Rob, one of the men I met last night, enters. “Hey, good first night?” he asks while slowing his steps.

  “Yes, surprisingly, I slept like a rock.” I step out of the way so a few others can make their way past us.

  “Good.” Rob nods his head. “Already eat?”

  “I did. I’m off to find my office and get ready for my first meeting.” My phone rings before I can say more. When I drag it out, I notice the number is coming from Havenfall’s area code. “I’m sorry, I need to take this.”

  “Catch you later.” He waves, already walking toward the buffet line.

  I head out of the dining hall so I can hear the call better.

  “Hello,” I answer.

  “Ms. Shaw?” a light, feminine voice asks.

  “Yes, this is she.”

  “I’m calling to inform you that your ten o’clock meeting with Headmaster Stone has been canceled.”

  I move farther down the hall, away from the noise. “Oh, is it to be rescheduled?” I inquire, taken a little off guard.

  “Not at this time. Headmaster Stone is a very busy man.” There’s something about the way the woman says ‘headmaster’ that triggers a memory, the voice sounds familiar.

  “That’s unfortunate, I was looking forward to meeting him,” I tell her honestly.

  “I’m sure you were.” There’s a harder edge to the voice now. “As I said. Headmaster Stone is very busy. If he feels the need to meet with you, I’m sure he’ll make arrangements. Goodbye.” The line goes dead, leaving me gaping at the phone.

  “Okay.” I shake off the strangeness from the conversation and flip to the third page of the map so I can refresh my memory of where my new office is.

  Map still in hand, I make my way to the main floor entrance to the school wing. Not wanting to get Wes into any more trouble, I just give him a wave when I pass him at the front desk. He has the phone cradled on his shoulder while his hands fly over the unseen keyboard. He still stops what he’s doing and waves back, giving me an encouraging smile.

  I place my keycard on the small, black panel next to the door and hear the click of the lock disengaging. Quickly, I turn the knob and push through the heavy door. The halls look much the same as the staff wing, with lots of wood and polished surfaces, although maybe a little more worn, but still up to my mother’s standard of clean.

  I find myself standing near the base of a wide set of stairs. There’s an elevator near the bottom, but I ignore that and look up. I can see all the way to the third floor. The baluster and newel posts are ornate. It’s hard to imagine this place as anything other than what it is now.

  I wasn’t able to find much history on Havenfall in my research, but it’s rumored that it’s been in the Stone family for generations. That was before everyone accepted that supernaturals lived far longer lifespans than a human. For all I know, the generations of Stones in residence could be the same original Stones. I wonder if it was built for the sole purpose of what it’s being used for. Why is it so grand?

  The halls are still quiet as I slowly make my way up to the third floor where my office is situated. A few doors are open as I pass, but most are closed. From the map layout, it looks like there are only offices up here, since all the classrooms are on the first two floors. I pass all the numbered brass plates until I’m almost at the end of the hall. The door is just barely ajar, and it gives me a leery feeling as I push it open.

  From the corridor, I can see a large, wooden desk stationed in the center of the room, just like the other open offices I noticed as I walked by. There’s a wall of bookshelves built in on the left side of the room, and a large window behind the desk. No longer worried I might find a dead animal, I step into the room and a giddy excitement fills my stomach. For months—years, if I’m being honest—I’ve been worried that everything I was doing would be for nothing, but here I am. Standing in my own office at Havenfall Harbor, a place where I can actually do some good.

  Walking over to the brown leather chair, I run my hand over the back and feel the supple material under my palm. I pull the seat back a little and it glides out silently on smooth wheels, rolling over the heavy ornate rug beneath it.

  I lower myself into the seat and do a happy shimmy while running my fingertips over the glass-like top of the desk.

  “Settling in?” a deep voice asks from the open door.

  I clear my throat and still, wondering how much of my little dance Griffin saw. “Yes, just getting acquainted.”

  Griffin smooths his hand over his lips, but I notice a slight softening around his eyes. “Looks like it,” he deadpans, but for some reason I feel like he’s teasing me.

  I narrow my eyes. A door shuts down the hall, and when I look back to where Griffin was standing, he’s gone. I shake my head, he didn’t even say goodbye.

  I leave the door open while I turn on the desktop computer. The last page has all my login information and passwords to access all the school databases. I don’t bother signing into my personal email from the computer, knowing that on a system like this all the searches and everything that’s accessed through this portal will be monitored. I’m not worried about anything of mine really, but I have no clue what kind of stuff my mother might send me or say in an email. It wouldn’t be the first time she sent me an anti-supernatural message. She even tried to get me to attend a fundraising event that was funded by the Human Eternal Rights Organization. HERO is exactly the kind of group I’ll be working against.

  I spend most of the morning getting acquainted with the school’s software and my computer system. The phone on my desk rings, and I completely blank on how I should answer. It rings a second time and I pick it up quickly.

  “This is Quinn Shaw.” I wince as the words come out. I should have just said hello.

  “It’s Ally, you coming down for lunch?” She doesn’t react to the way I answered the phone.

  I look down at my watch, it’s a few minutes after noon. “Sure, what time will you be there?”

  “I’m on my way now. I thought I’d see how your first day is going.”

  I put my computer to sleep. “I’ll be right down—wait, do you eat on the staff side or—”

  Alice answers before I can finish. “Staff, if not you’ll be sitting with the kids, they don’t have a separate cafeteria.”

  “Okay, I’ll be right over. Thanks for thinking of me, Ally.” I hang up, realizing I used her nickname, the same one I heard her friends use last night. It brings a smile to my face.

  After pushing in my chair, I look around quickly, making sure I have everything I need. It’s strange not to have my purse. I pat my pockets to ensure I have my keycard, phone, and keys, making a mental note to give Ally my cell phone number.

  I pull the door closed until it snaps and turn the handle to make sure it’s lo
cked. It’s not like I have anything in there to worry about, but I also don’t want to return to any surprises either.

  My shoulder bumps into someone, and I’m apologizing before I even turn around. “Excuse me, I’m so sor…” My words die off when I see Griffin. The loose pants and linen shirt he was wearing this morning have been replaced by a well-fitted suit. My mouth goes a little dry. A man in a suit has never really been my thing, but that was before I saw Griffin in one. I run my hand over my side and down my pant leg, feeling way underdressed. His shoulders are wide, filling out the jacket that was obviously tailored to fit him. My eyes go to his hands, he’s still wearing the heavy, silver metal rings on his fingers, and it’s such dichotomy with the suit look, but there’s something about it that just looks so damn perfect at the same time.

  “We seem to keep bumping into each other,” Griffin comments when I don’t finish my apology.

  “I was just thinking the same thing. Sorry about that,” I murmur, and lift my hand, letting him know he can walk without the danger of me slamming into him.

  “Everything going okay?” Griffin questions, as he steps down the wide hall. I take it as an invitation to walk with him.

  “Wonderfully actually. Alice just invited me to lunch.” I tuck a stray piece of hair behind my ear. I feel like I need to do something with my hands. Why is he making me so nervous? I wasn’t this nervous alone with him in my room last night. It must be the suit.

  “Alice Miller?” Griffin tilts his head and peers down at me.

  “Yes, she showed me around a little last night, and invited me to join her and some friends for dinner.”

  We reach the entrance of the stairs and I grab the newel post. “Are you going to lunch? You’re welcome to join us.”

  Griffin looks down the stairs where a few people are milling about. “You’re inviting me to lunch?” he asks, a little incredulous, and a small grin appears on his lips before it’s wiped away like it was never there. “Another time,” he tells me before I can form a response. Griffin tips his chin down slightly and turns back the way we came. I assume he forgot something in his office. I make note of the fact that his office must be in the corner just next to mine.