Page 92 of Broken Omega

Christy is even quieter than Ember, and I barely get a, “Hey,” out before the ballroom doors start opening beside us. Everyone shifts their attention to Edith as her guards lock the doors into their open positions.

“I’m so pleased all of you are here,” she tells us, her gaze moving over us quickly. She’s already starting her appraisal. I see her expression fluctuating mildly as her gaze passes over all her charges. “Before we get settled inside, and await our guests, I need to do a quick appraisal of each of you, to ensure academy standards are being met.”

I don’t need to look to know everyone’s listening in surprise.

None of them expected this. They weren’t supposed to.

She wanted to find out what she was working with, and she can see quite clearly where the weak points are. Some of these girls have never even looked at the academy rule book.

I don’t agree with the rules here, but I know what happens when they’re not followed.

“Will Brooke Corvina please step forward?” Edith asks, her gaze moving to me.

Fixing a smile on my face, I move toward our head of administration.

She takes in my face, my hair, and my clothing. She sees that my posture is perfect, and I tick all those little boxes that make up the rules for presentation and appearance.

I stop walking when Edith tells me to, and I hand over my purse when she asks for it.

She opens the small clutch on a silver chain handle, takes a cursory glimpse inside and passes it back to me. I close it as she stares back at me. My expression doesn’t change one little bit.

“Okay, you’re cleared for entry,” she tells me. “Next, Teresa Rayne.”

I nod and move past Edith into the ballroom.

Cringing, I don’t look back. I hear her question Terri on the dress. Her icy tone goes straight over the girl’s head. It’s impossible not to listen as Edith bitches her out for the trespass.

I keep moving, heading to the table that’s set out for our small group and the Alphas who’ve been invited to show up once we’re all approved by our new headmistress.

I take a random seat, sitting down carefully, side-on to wait and watch for Ember to be let into the room. Ember seems kind of on edge as she stands in front of Edith. She’s let through quickly, and I smile at her as she steps into the ballroom.

She’s actually never been in here before. She’s never been to any of the socials.

Well, until tonight, if this could even be considered a social gathering.

“You made it!”

“I did,” she says, as she sinks into the seat next to mine. “I’m supposed to ask for your lipstick.”

I roll my eyes. “Edith clearly knows nothing about makeup, but sure. Give me a second. I have a spare applicator.”

I take out my lip pallet and find a spare individually packed applicator. Every skin tone has a perfect shade of red, and this one is mine. It’s not going to look as good on my friend. She can get away it, don’t get me wrong. I just wish it was the color that was made for her.

“Okay, it’s not bad. I could find your perfect shade if I’d brought my kit, but this is nice enough for tonight.” I smile at her. “We’re looking good. Maybe one of us will get lucky tonight.”

She raises her eyebrows as I finish up her lips. I let out a laugh.

I see Cora approach and I look over.

“How many did Edith send back to their rooms?”

The red head shrugs at me. “Another two before she sent me in. Something about bad shoes and unwashed hair.”

Not surprising, I guess.

Cora goes to the opposite end of the table and sits down, taking out her phone.

I open the pack of paper tissues that I always have on hand, and I pass Ember one.

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