Page 24 of SIN Bone Deep

I had seen paintings of Bishop Hargreaves before, both replicas of originals, one of which we were probably looking at, or pictures of them on the internet. He had always struck me as a rather boring-looking man, old, and dressed horrendously. “A case of what was on the inside being reflected outside,” I told him.

“Very true,” he chuckled. “I’m Mal,” he said as he turned towards me.

“Nyx,” I replied.

“Look at us, matching already with our three-letter names,” his grin was crooked and heart-stopping.

“It’s Elenyx, really,” I corrected. “Elenyx Vossen,” I added reluctantly, but if he knew the Vossen name, he didn’t give any indication of it.

“Malachar Veridian,” he put his hand to his heart and performed a little bow.

“Malachar Veridian,” I repeated.

“Nyx!” Aunt Callista called back to me.

“You’d better run along. They’re waiting for you,” Mal told me. “We’ll see each other again, Elenyx.”

I turned and hurried down the hall to catch up. “Sorry.”

“I understand that there is a lot to see,” Dean Ashbourne’s smile was warm. “And, yes, the artwork on the walls is original.”

“Oh,” I blushed. “I did think that. I’ve seen replicas of that painting, at school and online. It just… caught me for a moment seeing the original.”

“An appreciation of art is to be encouraged,” he opened the door. “Perhaps another interest to incorporate in your studies? We have some excellent art facilities. It is a smaller department than many in the Academy, but very well done.”

“Like everything the academy does, it seems,” Aunt Callista’s reply was caustic but hidden behind a sweet smile.

“Just so,” Dean Ashbourne accepted the words on surface value. “This way.”

He led us out of the main building and down an arbored path. “In this direction, we have both the sports and recreational facilities…”

“You missed much of the main house,” Aunt Callista commented mildly. “Like the ballroom and the church.” We exchanged a look. The church came up often in the Grimoires, and usually not in a flattering light. I could understand why Callista would be intrigued to see it.

“I did indeed,” he smiled. “It is a big campus and would take many hours to tour minutely. The uniform shop, however, is only open for three more hours today, and you will want to be measured today, Elenyx, to receive it by the start of term.”

We dutifully followed him to look at the recreational center, gym and pool, movie room, and social room. The pool was central, with the other rooms ringing it on three sides. Although the buildings were new, like the extensions to the main house, they had been designed to look as if they had been there from the original construction. The glass that encased the pool was a many-paned and white-framed structure designed to look like a conservatory, and the buildings were all built of local stone.

The recreational center offered a kitchen and bar, along with a range of antique-style tables and upholstered dining chairs, and little clusters of Chesterfield couches and chairs that offered students the opportunity to sit together and talk. The social room offered pool tables, darts, and arcade-style computer games.

“Although you are not a boarder at the school, Elenyx, you are very welcome to use these facilities at any time, day or night,” Dean Ashbourne told me as we watched a swimmer do laps of the pool. “As Xander is doing. Alexander,” he called out as the swimmer left the water, revealing a leanly muscled body broad of shoulder and clad only in a pair of blue swim briefs.

Callista tilted her sunglasses down her nose as the young man grabbed a towel and strolled over to us with a wide smile. “Well, well, Nyx,” she slid me a look. “The view in the pool room is quite interesting.”

“Shh,” I hissed at her, flicking an embarrassed look toward Dean Ashbourne and the young man, but neither had heard.

“Elenyx, this is Alexander St Astor the third,” Dean Ashbourne guided the young man back towards us. “Xander, this is Elenyx, our scholarship entry for this year.”

“Welcome Elenyx,” Xander was a glowing example of all the benefits of wealth with his golden good looks and confidence. “It’s quite an achievement.”

“Xander is in his second year with us,” the Dean continued. “And is one of our most promising students.”

“St Astor,” Aunt Callista scanned Alexander’s face. “I think I know of your father. Isn’t he a lawyer?”

“Family law,” Alexander’s smile was that of someone well used to his family being known. “Divorce lawyer to the stars.”

“Ah yes,” Callista nodded wisely. “That would be it. Will you be following in your father’s footsteps, Alexander, and pursuing family law?”

“Not family law,” Alexander told her. “I intend to pursue human rights, before possibly moving into a political career.” He smiled down at me. “What will you be studying here, Elenyx?”

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