Page 63 of Rebirth Of Order
From meeting Angie and borrowing her books while discussing what I should expect from today–to spending time grazing over a few tomes and refreshing my knowledge–to getting a light workout in because I refuse to being called a pudgy mortal amongstfit fay–to getting my ass lost for thirty minutes on the way here, I’m fucking exhausted.
Not to mention, this Academy has some weird and freaky shit going on outside. Groans, moans, whispers, and other noises had me turning in circles, trying to get here. I thought the walk wasn’t far, but every shadowy area makes me turn around. Hence me getting lost.
“Don’t linger, either enter or leave,” a disgruntled tone calls from inside the room. It is more feminine than disgruntled, but I’m perceiving it as such.Introductory to Magic, my starting class. Angie isn’t accompanying me, which I’m sad about, but I’m not surprised, seeing she is beyond learning anything from this course.
Heads snap towards me, and whispers break amongst the masses. “That’s the mortal fay. I heard she did sexual favors to attend,” one fiendish and asinine student gossips. Huffing in response, my fingers curl around the straps of my book bag. Anything to steady my hands.
I find a vacant desk near the back, behind a taller student who appears more indulged in what is on his phone rather than what is surrounding him. I sit under a portraited bust of a handsome God.
This room is huge, square shaped, surrounded by three beautiful, white marble walls, reflecting the outside light. Across the class, adjacent to the door, is a wall completely made of glass, overlooking a flat field, leading into an unnerving forest that stretches for miles, it seems.
“Everyone, obtain your books and place them on your desk,” the professor demands from up front without turning away from the blackboard. It’s amazing how perceptive she is. Knowing what happens behind her as though she has eyes…No way. Does she have eyes in the back of her head?I want to see.I find myself too intrigued by my own intrusive thoughts.
Students fidget in their bags, and I mirror everyone else, thankful I’m in possession of whatever the hell this book is called. Quickly, we do as she commands, and like a domino effect, a slamming cadenceechoes around. “You should have read this book front to back by now, if you haven’t, you will fail.”
“Excuse me, what?” Promptly I raise a hand, unable to catch myself before blurting out. But little would that have done as each book bursts into flames without warning, mine included, causing those attending to cheer in relief. Shrinking back and inhaling a lung full of smoke, I stare in shock. My blood boils from watching the book Angie lent me be reduced to nothing more than ash.
Last night I re-downloaded my bank apps, knowing I’ll eventually need money for purchasing things, and thank God I did. Even more surprising, it works here. Opening it, I immediately scowl at what is on the screen.How the fuck is my account negative?Panic rushes through my veins, prompting a migraine to throb along my temples.
That money was being saved for a house once all this was over, and just like that, it’s gone. Five years, two jobs, and over five-hundred thousand flushed down the damn drain. Fuck that. Swiping between my savings and checking, I see a note attached. “Your account has been frozen due to an ongoing investigation.”What the fuck.
My attention returns once the book I can no longer afford extinguishes. Fighting tooth and nail against the pressure building, I attempt to listen. “Starting today, we’ll focus on enhancing your primary magic. Take what you’ve learned from the book and apply it. Any questions?” she asks, continuing her disengagement from the class. Her disgruntled tone turns to the sound of nails scraping along the very chalkboard she faces.
“What the hell, I wasn’t able to review it, and that book wasn’t mine.” Curious gleams shift my direction, passing between us, spawning more erupting rumors, only fueling my inferno desperate for release.
Vibrations tickle atop my thigh as my phone goes off. Muting my surroundings, I force a deep exhale, trying to focus. I’m agitated, blemishing cheeks, prickles trailing my neck, and a jittering leg.
After another exhale, I gaze at the phone. Angie sends me positive affirmations with wishes for a good day. “A little too late, but thanks,” I murmur. On cue, another message appears.
ANGIE
Oh, and don’t stroke the bear. No fighting. And no upsetting anyone, especially your professor. Advice from another friend.
It’s ‘poke’ the bear, Angie. My God.Pocketing my phone, I realize how eerily quiet the room has become. I look up and…Shit.
The professor turns unhurried, and my brows raise from taking her in, drop dead gorgeous with an equally sullen expression that emphasizes her piercing, orange leer.
Piss off the professor on my first day…check.
Manicured hands unbuckle her full-length coat, revealing more flesh than what is allowed teaching at any Academy. Tattoos trail every curve around her breast, waist, and thighs like a river of black and orange inked flames. Dangerous…Alarming…Menacing…Nefarious. Every male seated can’t remove their gaze, and neither can I.
Draping the jacket over her chair, she strolls towards me in a seductive yet menacing way. “If you didn’t read the book…” She pauses, inches shy, and the surrounding lust-filled eyes follow her with temptation. “Then. You. Will. Fail.” Her Hispanic accent is thick as she leans over my desk. Gravity damn-near exposes her breasts. My mouth slowly gapes, searching for something other than the pair of her inflated self-worth to focus on.
“What are you doing?” a threatening tone asks from the door. Snapping my head at the source, I see a male, appearing more like a professor than she does. Also, where have I seen him before?
He stands rigidly with folded arms, leaning against the door’s frame. Eyes of a phantom blue hue squint behind loose strands,uncoiled from his cinnamon brown, messy bun, and a force sweeps across my shoulders like a thick blanket of oil.
“N-nothing, Marcel.” The professor deflates.I wish her tits would deflate out of my face.“We’re initiating a battle because she set our books on fire.” The duplicitous professor announces, straightening her poster while fumbling her thumbs.
“That’s a lie. I didn’t set shit on fire.” I stand in haste as warmth rubs gently over my arms, keeping me from doing the exact opposite of what Angie asked.
“You can ask everyone, Marcel. We all saw it,” she continues insisting.
“Bullshit. You stood upfront, making everyone take out their books, then set them all on fire.” I’m normally not the tattling type, but if this bitch thinks I’m getting in trouble for her, she is delusional.
He enters the room silently, yet his presence screams louder than any fabrication she can muster. Students began snickering, pulling out their phones to record, and my stomach twists into knots at their implication.
“She’s lying…Tell him you’re lying.” Her voice is more panicky as she slams her hands over my desk.
