Page 34 of Faerie Marked

At nine on the dot, the headmaster, a man I recognized from his picture on the website, strode across the stage and took his place behind a podium. Lean and fair, he possessed classic Fae features including pointed ears breaking through his hair. His eyes were like two lumps of burning coal.

“Welcome, new students,” he began, his voice magically amplified to reach every seat in the auditorium. “Welcome to the Fae Academy for Halflings. Congratulations on making it through the application process. On behalf of the staff, I want to say we are very proud of you all and happy to have you here with us. As I’m sure you’re aware, I’m Headmaster Leaves.”

The assembly responded with perfunctory applause. I leaned forward, needing to catch every word. Exhaustion rode hard on me but I had a feeling this was important.

Headmaster Leaves continued. “No, the Academy does offer scholarships to all our new students, to allow you an environment to compete at the highest level. If you make it through to graduation, you will be expected to participate in a work study, your duties providing for others the way we have provided for you, serving in whatever capacity the Elder Council feels you are able. If you fail out, then you simply leave. End of story.”

Wow, that was a great opportunity, to be honest. No other college would offer the same scholarships to regular kids.

“As you all should know, your first year here at the academy is probationary based on your performance. You will be scrutinized on your participation in class as well as your interactions with your classmates and professors. Your every move will be noted and recorded by staff and compiled as part of your overall scores. Every student who comes through our doors begins with one thousand points. Teachers and staff can subtract points for any infraction, large or small. Written grades and test grades add points to this number. Any student who dips below five hundred is automatically expelled.”

Expelled.

The word echoed in my head.

I swallowed over the lump suddenly growing in my throat. One thousand points might seem like a lot, but if we had to watch our steps here,literally, then the number could drop easily. Did they have a written manifesto on etiquette and expectations? Something I should memorize? I’d have to find out.

“This is a cutthroat system for a reason,” Headmaster Leaves continued to explain, and the smile on his face was anything but reassuring, “and that is because only the best of the best are accepted into Faerie. We want to make sure you show your best. Nothing less will be tolerated.”

I’m a fraud.

I was starting out on this path hiding my true nature. I was already doomed to fail.

I’m a liar.

But I was already as good as dead to everyone back home. They would have discovered my absence by now. I had nothing to return to if I couldn’t hack it here.

Headmaster Leaves went on with the welcome information, going over class structure and what would be expected from us during our time at the school. My mind went blank listening to the rest of the assembly.

Afterward, everyone was shuffled out of the auditorium and back toward the hall I’d only glimpsed the night before. The tables from our earlier check-in had been reassembled and piled high with syllabi and other supplies for classes. This in addition to the literature I’d already received.

Guess my blood test did the trick and ensured my place. For the present, at least. No one had spoken about payment, which led me to wonder if we’d be expected to work to stay or what. Hopefully this wasn’t another “payment at the end for an unspecified price” type of deal.

By the time I walked out of the hall, I had a second folder full of paperwork handed out to me by teachers and a massive headache brewing behind my eyes. I tried to ask about breakfast to see if I’d missed it, received no answer, and continued down the hallway pushed along by the crowd, without an exit in sight.

I’d been assigned an upperclassman mentor meant to help me acclimate and would be meeting her shortly. Great. Another pair of eyes ready to examine me, someone else to find me wanting. Acid reflux threatened to eat away at me and if I didn’t get something to eat soon, I was going to faint.

“Can someone tell me where to find the cafeteria?” I called out.

No answer.

If I hadn’t taken the potion then my nose would have led me there easily. As it was, my senses were dulled and I wasn’t sure how to react. I had left my map in the room.

“The cafeteria is on the floor below us. Pretty easy to find. My map must be working because here you are again,” a voice said from behind me.

Mike popped from out of nowhere with an identical folder in his arms and an easy grin at the sight of me. It was an effort to keep the surprise from showing on my face. Or to keep my fingers from my hair when I wanted to fidget. Ugh, I looked utterly gross next to him.

How did he manage to look so dang handsome after only a few hours of sleep? No one could say the same about me. I’d caught my reflection in a window, eyes tired and puffy and skin slack and dull from stress. The few wisps of dark auburn hair escaping my braid were lackluster but at least they weren’t greasy.

And yeah, no makeup.

The shadow inside of me hadn’t lightened with a few hours of sleep. If anything, it had grown. I couldn’t let Mike see it.

“You’re going to spoil me if you keep showing up when I need help,” I told him, smiling, digging my nails into my palms as he stopped at my side.Get it together, Tavi.

“How did you sleep?” he asked, stepping closer to avoid the rest of the crowd knocking against him. “I got a few decent hours in myself. One thing I can say about the school, the mattresses are top-notch.”

I stared at the ground without really seeing. “I didn’t sleep well. It seems I’m having some major delays acclimating.”

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