Page 22 of Shadow Running
Penn, on the other hand, had attended the Academy when she was young.Her mother had enrolled her when she was six, and she studied there until she was eighteen, back in 1976.The past few months she had been going to night classes, taking business courses so she could better run her online shop.
By the time we arrived at eight-thirty, the campus was in full motion.Students of all ages headed toward their classes, crossing the square.A massive clocktower watched over the campus, striking chimes every hour.
The Academy offered classes for students from kindergarten all the way up to 12th grade, preparing them for leading a magical life in a society that tended to fear magic.With two dorms, two giant classroom buildings, a recreation hall, and the main administrative-community building, Wind Chime Magical Academy was compact and complete within itself.
We parked in a visitor parking slot, and took a winding sidewalk up to McCarver Hall.It was beautiful, I thought.Whoever the architect had been, he had managed to fit function and form together and the clock tower overseeing the campus was the cherry on top.
Several students were sitting on the steps leading up to McCarver Hall, studying or talking.Still others were hurrying across the square toward one of the classroom buildings.There was a buzz in the air, a feeling of activity and excitement.A part of me envied the students here, because I had moved around so much with my mother that I’d probably attended almost every elementary and middle school when I was young.It wasn’t until Dante got me into high school that I was able to complete more than one grade in the same place.But I’d never felt part of the school community.Watching the students in their uniforms, talking and chatting as they went about their morning, made me nostalgic for a past I had never had.
“Can you feel it?”Penn asked.“When you put so many witches in one area, regardless of their ages, the magic pops and crackles.”
“I thought that was just the curiosity and intellect,” I said.
“Oh, that’s part of it.But underlying everything, these students are all magical, and that energy permeates the very campus.I remember when I came here the first day.My mother had managed to raise enough money to enroll me in school, and while some of the kids made fun of me because I was part Fae, mostly they accepted me because I was one of their own — a witch like them.I felt safe here,” she said, her hand on the railing that separated two wide staircases leading up to the third floor.The administrative section occupied the top two floors, while a bookstore and cafeteria and a gift shop were among the other amenities on the bottom levels.
“I do envy you that,” I said.I don’t know if I’ve ever felt safe in my entire life.Oh, it’s better, now that I’m an adult, but as a child, I constantly felt on edge.Most of the students shied away from me, because they knew I was part demon, and their parents didn’t want me influencing their kids.I had a few friends.My mother and I moved around enough that I couldn’t ever gain any sense of continuity.”
As we pushed through the double glass doors, entering an equally busy hallway, the smell of ink and paper and coffee filled the air.We headed directly for the principal’s office.As we entered the waiting room, his secretary looked up and gave me a nod.Her name tag read Ms.Falcon, and she had waited on me before.
“Ms.Sarasan, hello again.”She turned to Penn and gave her a nod.“I’m Ms.Falcon.I’m Principal Groveletter’s receptionist.”
“How do you do,” Penn said, returning the nod.I had noticed that among witches, handshakes weren’t as common as among other folk.
“Please, both of you take a seat in the waiting area.I’ll come get you when principal Groveletter is ready.”Ms.Falcon returned to her desk, sliding neatly into her seat.She picked up the receiver and pressed a button, saying something softly into what I assumed was an intercom.
Penn and I took a seat over in the reception area, watching as several of the other administrative personnel busied themselves behind the counter.I wondered what they did — this wasn’t the admissions area, so they had to work for Groveletter personally.
Less than five minutes later, the receptionist let us over to a door toward the back, opening it and announcing us before motioning us to enter.She closed it behind us.
Philip Groveletter was about 5’10”, with short brown hair cut in a neat, wavy style.Last time I’d met him he’d been wearing a generic grey suit, but now he was decked out in a tailored navy suit, with a white shirt and a gold and red striped tie.He looked like a principal now, rather than an assistant.
“Kyann, it’s good to see you again.”He stepped around his desk, his hand outstretched.
I shook his hand, smiling.“And you too,” I said.“This is my friend, Penelope Fircrest.She was a student here some years back.”
Penn smiled.“It’s good to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you,” he said.“So, you’re an alumna?”
“Yes, and now I’m a student again.I’ve been taking business classes here.But yes, I spent 18 years in the Academy, a long time ago.”
“Please, take a seat.My receptionist said you wanted some information on a student who used to go here?”
I sighed.“We’re investigating a haunted house, and the student in question was murdered in that house.Do you by any chance remember the Christopher Longworld case?”
Philip frowned, leaning back in his chair and scratching his beard, which was new.“I don’t think I recall the name.”
I consulted my notes.“Longworld was a serial killer.His thirteenth victim was a young girl who went here — she was 12 years old.Her name was Riana Marie Wildheart.From what I gather, he kidnapped her while she was on a field trip.Apparently, she had a lot of magical talent and she cursed him right before he killed her.We’re trying to find out what kind of curse she might have placed on him.It could make a difference in our investigation.”
A horrified look crossed Philip’s face.He leaned forward, propping his elbows on his desk.“I’ll check whether we have any records from that time.I think we do.They’re probably computerized by now.Hold on a moment.”He turned to his computer, and begin typing away.
As we waited, the soft sound of the air conditioning filled the air.While he was researching, I pulled out my phone to check my messages.Penn sat quietly, staring out the window.
After about 10 minutes, Philip looked up and muttered, “Yes!”
“Did you find anything?”I said.
“I did.For such a young age, Riana’s file was extensive.Let me see what I can tell you without breaking confidentiality.”He dove back into his research.
