Page 18 of Spelling Disaster

Even exiled, there are expectations.

Right then, I let myself have a moment to grieve for everything I’ve lost along with my terror of the unknown, especially when I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to get it back again.

ChapterSix

Istand outside the gates for a long moment, holding my breath.

It’s only the beating of my heart and the wind tickling the soft hairs around my face. No shadows and no fog. There’s no ticking heartbeat counting down to an explosion.

The heartbeat that ruined my life.

When nothing happens, I turn to face the open gates waiting for me to step onto academy grounds, and I run face first into a wall of muscle.

I freeze, hand automatically lifting to shield myself from the wrath of the Horned God. He’s found me. Even here, so far away from my hometown, he’s found me.

I open my mouth to shout when a male voice cuts through my fear.

“Miss Yasmine Williams?” The security guard wears black and gold with a cap set at an angle on top of his head. “We’ve been expecting you. Welcome to Andora Academy. The headmaster sent me to escort you onto campus.”

He’s not tall enough to be the Horned God, yet I wince. Flinch. Even knowing logically I’m staring at a flesh-and-blood man and not a phantom, I react.

“Oh, hi. Thank you. Nice to meet you, Officer…” I trail off and search the front of his shirt for something with his name on it. “Anthony.”

He’s one of the few mortals I’ve ever met besides Remi’s friends and her boyfriend.

“You’re on time, which is always appreciated. I’m sure you’re anxious to get started as well. You’ve missed quite a bit of the semester, but I know I speak for everyone when I say we’re always happy to have new students,” Officer Anthony says.

If he notices my freeze reaction, he doesn’t mention it.

He flashes me the ghost of a smile and gestures with his nose toward his hand, his fingers already clenched around my suitcase.

I don’t remember seeing Mom drop it off.

Everything I have, in one piece of luggage. Funny thing is that I’m not even upset about it. The relief at knowing Remi is fine, the fear of what’s waiting for me on the other side of the iron fence…those are much more pressing issues.

Officer Anthony clears his throat and jerks his head to the still open gate. “Let’s go,” he urges. “It’s time to get you registered. The sooner you’re settled, the sooner you can start making friends.”

He leads the way, not minding how I dawdle, gawking at the fence. It’s higher than I originally thought, the peaks at the top of the ornate design spearing into the sky.

This place is strange. Do they need such a heavy-duty fence to keep their students inside? Or to keep the outside world at bay?

Once we’re through, the gates clang closed on their own with a finality I feel inside of me. Well, I’m here. The world hasn’t crashed and there are no more magical oddities happening. If anything, the campus is a little slice of heaven, the rest of the world fading away as it spreads out in front of me. Several tall, Gothic structures take up space intermittently on the lawn.

“Andora is one of the most respected magical academies,” Officer Anthony is saying. “I’m mortal but my family has strong ties to the founding members who started this school, and I’ve been lucky enough to find employment here.”

“You like it?” I ask.

“Great place to work,” he agrees without hesitation. “Rarely have I heard anyone complain about the school, either. I’m sure you’re going to like it here.”

He doesn’t know my circumstances. He’s making bold claims for a mortal. Since I want him to be right, desperately, I nod and do my best to listen to him as he talks me through our walk.

The building closest to me has dual towers of black brick with darker shingles. It’s heavy, oppressive, something like the huntsman’s cottage in a twisted fairy tale.

The officer’s strides are much longer than my own short legs and with my gawking, I struggle to keep up with him.

Ancient trees decorate the space between buildings, and the foliage casts shadows on the ground that seem to move on their own. Through it all are cobblestone paths and students hustling from building to building.

Classes must have just let out.

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