The First Day of School
The upside of ingesting the blood of a powerful pyrio is that your wounds heal a little bit faster. The lump on my head was gone by the morning of the first classes of LDMU. I still had a scratch on my cheek, but it wasn’t really noticeable. I was told by Dana that The Chalshin had showed up to take up residence in Blackwood shortly after I laid down to rest for the night. It was earlier than I normally would since I was a night owl and I had thought that since I had to get up early that the extra rest would make me less grumpy. It didn’t, it still took Dana and another maid to roll me out of bed. I was sitting at my vanity doing my makeup when Dana came in with my pressed outfit. I looked at her through the mirror, “Did Vanessa ever show up yesterday?” Dana shook her head, “No Your Grace but she did send word that she would see you later on today. She said she had a first day of school gift for you.” I nodded because I had known that I would see her today. I had a class with her today right after I met with the Headmaster. I just remembered that I would need to talk to him about the witch that Aphrodite told me to seek out through him. What was her name? I sat there thinking about it as I had put on a light pink shade of lip gloss. I wanted to be minimalist with my makeup today, so I was trying to make it look natural.
I widened my eyes, “Zebinezer!” Dana ran into the room, “Your Grace, are you alright? I heard you shouting!” I chuckled, “Sorry Dana, I just remembered a name that someone mentioned to me that I was trying to remember.” She let out a puff of air, “Your Grace, you scared me to death.” I apologized before I wrote the name into my notebook so I wouldn’t have to remember later when I spoke to the Headmaster. I walked over to the bed where my outfit was laying. While LDMU didn’t have uniforms, some of us were expected to wear business casual. The only students that wore something different were citadel students. They had to wear athletic clothing so they can remain agile and ready to move. I had selected a light pink and black pinstripe pantsuit and a white lacey camisole for underneath so I could match my makeup look. I took a pair of pink flats out of my closet so I wouldn’t have to wear the unholiest of shoes. I wanted to be comfortable the first day especially since I still had a small headache from the fall. I grabbed my large pink bag and shoved my notebooks and books into the bag along with several pencils and pens. I was going in prepared if it killed me. I checked myself in the full-length mirror hanging off the closet door, “Okay, I look decent. Time for breakfast.”
I strode into dining room having left my bag in the foyer on a chair by the door. Jess and Derek were already there discussing something that had made Jess laugh. Derek noticed that I had come in and rose from his seat, “Good morning, Alexandra, I hope you are feeling better.” He was so massive that the white t-shirt he was wearing looked like it was part of his skin and hanging on for dear life. I pecs were well defined, and he was wearing a pair of black jogger shorts and black sneakers. He towered over me, and I was fairly tall myself. It was no wonder he was the strongest in the citadel. He held his hand out to me and I placed my hand in his, he pulled it up to kiss it. I smiled at him, “I am well Derek. I trust you found your room to your liking. I made sure that Dana made it feel like home for you as much as possible.” He smiled back and quirked an eyebrow, “My room is quite nice. If you want, I can show you later.” He looked straight into my eyes with a fire burning behind them. Jess cleared her throat, “Xan, Derek is still feeling the full moon. I think it is best to maintain a small distance.” He looked at Jess in a look that could only be described as a non-verbal calling her a buzzkill. I laughed, “Is that so Derek? Do I need to guard my maiden purity around you?” He pulled out my chair for and whispered in my ear, “Only if you want to.” He then winked at me as he was returning to his seat. He’s going to be trouble and I hadn’t realized it from our first meeting. Perhaps Jess was right though, and he was in a lycan equivalent of heat.
We finished breakfast when Dana came in, “Your Grace, your mother ordered that we take you by carriage on your first day. You can choose to go on foot after today.” I nodded since I was perfectly fine with not walking, my head hurt a bit still. I didn’t think physical activity would make it any better. As we left the house, we found the carriage already waiting for us. Derek pulled his arm around my shoulders, “Lex, you’re going to have to sit between Jess and I in the carriage. It’s for your safety and protocol usually would mean you would go last in your own carriage. Since I am guarding you, I must insist that Jess go first then you and then me. Is that okay?” He called me Lex, but I guess I didn’t mind it. Everyone else called me Xan and that’s always how it had been. I guess Derek could have a nickname for me as long as he didn’t call me Alex or Lexa. The kids in Terre insisted on calling me those and I hated them. He must have seen the look on my face because he leaned in, “Is it okay if I call you that?” I nodded, “I was just remembering what the human children used to call me. As long as you don’t call me Alex or Lexa that’s fine.” He smiled and nodded, “Okay Jess, let’s get our lady to her first class.”
Jess nodded and then climbed into the carriage and took the seat the furthest away. Derek pulled his arm from my shoulders, “Okay Lex, your turn and I will follow after.” I stepped up to the carriage and Derek helped me up. I sat right next to Jess with my leg touching hers and she turned and smiled at me, “We’re going to be sardines in here.” I giggled, “I was just thinking that.” Derek pulled himself into the carriage and stretched his massive arm out behind me, “Showtime kids.” The carriage pulled forward and we were on our way. Derek looked at me, “So, what are you going for anyhow?” I ducked my head down and uttered, “Scribe.” He tapped my shoulder gently, “So I’m guessing you didn’t hear about it until later on why that path is so popular.” I sighed and nodded, “Don’t get me wrong His Majesty is such a good person but I have no desire to use a serious career to get close to him. I think it is the worst.” He nodded, “I always thought it was a bit desperate to been seen by the King and thinking that just because you are in his presence that he’s going to fall in love with you. It takes more than that for a man to notice a woman.” He then patted my head and winked at me, “Not that you have any problems getting a man’s attention.” I smiled and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, “Thanks.”
Finally, we pulled up outside the LDMU gates. Derek hopped out and scanned the area, “Looks like the coast is clear in both danger and people. I don’t know why your mother insisted on a carriage when we have a perfectly good and secure underground path.” I shrugged, “I think she forgot.” He put his hand out to help me down. I immediately made my way to the Headmaster’s tower and Josiah was waiting outside. He nodded once at me, “Your Grace, I was expecting you at the tunnel, but I was told your mother made you take a carriage. Please make sure you use the tunnel in the future.” I nodded, “Sir, I will be sure to keep with the plan.” He pulled open the door and gestured for me to enter first. We climbed the stairs and entered the waiting room. He turned to Jess and Derek, “You two will need to wait out her for Her Grace.” They both nodded and took seats in the room with Jess pulling out a book that she had borrowed from my library. Josiah went to his desk and sat down, “He will see you alone today.” He said it with some attitude and gestured to the door. I knocked and waited for the Headmaster to summon me. A few seconds later, I heard, “Please enter.”
I pulled open the door and the familiar leather and sandalwood scent hit my nose. I saw the familiar sight of the screen that divided the student from the Headmaster to protect his identity. I closed the door behind me and walked over to the chair and stood there. He said behind the screen, “Please be seated Your Grace.” I sat down and pulled out a notebook and pen. He cleared his throat, “Now I understand that you have a request for me before we begin. Is that right?” I pulled in a breath, “Well sir, it isn’t so much a request, but I wonder if you might help me with locating someone.” He leaned forward, “And who is it that I am meant to help you find?” I looked down at the name scrawled on the page in front of me, “Well sir, it is a witch that can help me control my ability. You see, my magical tool is suppressing my ability so much that the Goddess Aphrodite cannot talk to me. She has requested that I find Zebinezer.” He rose from his seat and paced in front of his desk, “How is it she can talk to you if your magical tool suppresses your communication with her?” I nodded knowing his confusion, “Well sir, she can communicate with me when I pass through the portal. I believe she can help protect me. I am willing to bet that you have heard about the attempt on my life.” He nodded, “We were all concerned for you Your Grace. I can contact Zebinezer for you but just know that her services will not come free. She will ask you for a price that isn’t always monetary.” I thought about it but whatever cost I was willing to pay for the safety of those around me, “I understand but I still feel like this is the best course of action. Aphrodite herself recommended her to me and I don’t believe she would steer me wrong.” He then walked to the chair side of his desk and wrote something down and then sat, “Well then, let us begin.”
