Page 9 of The Blackened Blade

“Fix your posture and stand properly.”

Did he think I would listen and apologise, complying quietly like the girl of yesterday?

Well unfortunately for him, she's no longer here, and he's stuck with me.They all are.

“You told me to stand, and last time I checked…” I glance toward the ground and back to his slightly widened eyes, “I'm standing.”

Pin-drop silence fills the classroom as the rest of the students watch on, their gazes filled with either shock or agitation at my quick retort. Some mouths part or eyes widen, while others openly mock or glare at me. A student even kicks over the chair of the seat I had been heading to, a sneer stretching the boy's lips as he and those around him chuckle and ignore my gaze.

Mr. Finch clears his throat, pulling my attention back to him as he schools his surprised expression and replaces it with one of anger toward my defiance.

“You will get yourself into a lot of trouble Ms. Bane.”

“For what?” I slightly tilt my head, a mocking smile lacing my lips.

His nostrils flare, his eyes narrowing toward me, “For being disruptive-”

“Disruptive? In what way?” I ask.

“In the way you’re behaving right now and interrupting the lesson.”

“I’ve done as you’ve asked. You're the one preventing the class from continuing.”

His glare darkens, his lips pinching together as he squares his stance.

How did I ever find such a weak man intimidating?

I match his stare, adding a little of the glare I’d give the guards from the Facility on testing days.

He flinches, his face falling slightly at whatever he sees in my expression.

Just as he opens his mouth, the classroom door flings open, and in walks a very tall boy. His uniform is messy and loose, with a large leather jacket instead of the academy blazer. He wears multiple piercings in his ears and an expression that screams ‘Don’t fuck with me’.

It seems that everyone got the message, because they scattered from the seats at the back of the room, with the rest of the class not even daring to look his way.

Who was this boy, and why did I never notice him before?

The boy makes his way toward the back of the class, a large yawn stretching his lips as he passes me.

I look back toward Mr. Finch, his eyes slightly trembling as he watches the boy’s back from the front of the class.

A small smile stretches my lips as I call, “Aren’t you going to ask him to stand too, Mr. Finch?”

The boy turns back before taking his seat, his eyes narrowing toward Mr. Finch.

“Don't you have a policy to uphold?” I ask mockingly.

The boy's gaze flickers from me to Mr. Finch as the teacher begins to visibly sweat.

“N–no. No need. I’ve made my point, you can take your seat Ms. Bane.”

The boy takes his seat, resting his head on the desk, no longer interested.

“What was the point again?” I question, pulling myself up straighter.

Did he think we were finished here? That he could try to humiliate me and drop it when and as he pleases?Fuck that.

“Ms. Bane-”

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