Page 10 of Monster's Delight

“While you’re proving that, maybe check your ego too,” I said. “I really do have to go. See you in class, I suppose.”

“You wish I wasn’t in your class so you would have a clear shot at that top spot,” Chuck said playfully.

“Competing against you is so boring, I barely have to try,” I retorted, although that was a lie. Unfortunately, he was actually quite an accomplished witch, and a formidable opponent.

He saw right through me and smirked. “You keep believing that and I’ll score top marks for sure.”

“Better check your mail. Mathemagic has been canceled.” I didn’t know why I’d warned him. Perhaps out of some sort of misguided professional courtesy.

His jaw dropped. “No!”

“Yes. I’m heading to see my academic advisor to pick a replacement after I grab lunch.” Again, I had no idea why I was telling him that. I checked around me, squinting to see any magic in use.

There!

I traced the pinch of pinkish magic on me back to him. “A truth spell? Really?”

“You lied to me. I can’t stand it when you lie to me, chickadee.” He pouted.

I snarled and snapped his spell with a well-crafted one of my own. “You haven’t changed a bit,Chuck!” I said his name like a curse. “If anything, you’ve gotten worse, casting a spell on someone without their consent. Good day.” I whirled around and sped down the stairs, eager to put as much distance between us as possible.

And get closer to my lunch.

I banished all thoughts of Chuck from my mind while I ate my way through the slice of quiche the school chefs had prepared for lunch.

Afterward, I made my way across the main foyer to the offices and found the one for my academic advisor, Ms. Carlisle. She looked younger than I had expected. There was no line, and she was sitting behind her desk, tapping away at her computer. I knocked on the doorframe and she glanced up at me over her glasses.

“You must be Siobhan Doyle. You’ve got your grandfather’s nose and eyes.” She gestured to the chair across from her desk with long fingers tipped with blood-red nails.

“I assure you, Grandfather is still in possession of both his nose and eyes,” I said, taking the seat. “Or at least, he was this morning when I left him.”

Ms. Carlisle blinked at me a couple times before she smiled, her sharp canines coming into view. “Clever. So was Declan. How is he? As handsome as ever?”

I squirmed in the chair. “He’s aged gracefully. Did you go to school with Grandfather, Ms. Carlisle?”

“I did. He was such a gentleman. All the girls were wild over him.” She smiled tightly. “Now, let’s take a look at your schedule, shall we? What are your interests?”

I left her office with six classes in my schedule once again. I could hardly wait to get started tomorrow.

CHAPTER4

I wokeup with the sun on the first day of classes. With the way the building was oriented, like a pentacle, the sun rose in the east, in between the two girls’ wings. It would set in the west, in between the two boys’ wings. This was one of the reasons why Hazel and I had agreed to bring blackout curtains for our window.

But today was the first day, and I wasn’t tired yet. I climbed nimbly from my bed and finger-swiped the curtains to the side, letting the bright sunshine into our room.

While Hazel groaned from her bed, rolling over and covering her head with her blankets, I leaned over the desk, pressing my face as close to the window as I could so that I could see something other than the wing beside us. Other than the sky above, I could make out the edge of the forest between Blackthorn Academy and Wellspring.

Disappointed, I stroked one of the aloe leaves and turned to my wardrobe at the foot of my bed. I had placed it on a shelf at eye level to make it easier to go through my things. I rifled through my options. It was warm today, so I chose a baby blue skirt and white blouse. For my feet, I pulled out a pair of heeled Mary Janes, and white thigh-high stockings that would only show the lacy edging below the hem of my skirt when I sat. Once more I felt grateful Blackthorn Academy only insisted we wear our uniforms for special occasions and not every day. While I could appreciate the flattering cut and style, despite my curves, and the trendy burgundy and black colors with the school’s emblem sewn over the pocket of the jacket, sometimes the formal dress was simply too much.

I brushed my teeth quickly before dressing, collecting everything I would need for the day, and then I gave Hazel’s blankets a poke as I glanced over at the mysteriously still empty beds on the other side of the room, one of which sported a familiar-looking trunk near the footboard that brought a smile to my lips.Lilia.

“Too early. Half an hour,” she mumbled.

“I’m too excited to sleep. I’m heading to the mess hall. Don’t be late,” I cautioned.

A sleepy mumble followed me out, and I closed the door behind me.

The halls were a stark contrast to the noise of the day before. The sunlight streamed in through the window at the end, making me squint until I turned my back on it. My shadow stretched ahead of me as I half-skipped my way to my breakfast.

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