Page 24 of Defined and Defiled
“Aw, Shirely, that’s disappointing to hear.”
Zachary Bailey, my boss, and apparent warlock of evil is behind me.
So much for not letting evil be at my back.
“Principal Bailey.” There are men flanking both my sides, and very much not in a fun way. “What are you doing here?”
“I got an interesting text from my friend here. I had to see what was going on.” Bailey shakes his head at me before looking up at Mike, “What happened with Matthew and our friends was unfortunate. It's laughable, really to think about now. We were sure that magic would solve all of our problems. All of this,” He waves his hands around to encompass the room. “and for what? A job to be waiting for me when I finish school? Well, jokes on me, I'm right back where I started.”
“What happened to the other teachers?” I ask again.
Now is the time when the bad guys are supposed to start monologing and I reveal that I've been livestreaming this whole time, but thewifi in here is abysmal and the villains are not cooperating at all.
Mike looks between me and Bailey, “I'd actually like to know that too. I didn't realize it wasn't just Diction.”
Bailey sighs as if this conversation exhausts him and turns to me.
“It might be easier to show you Shirely, I know you're more of a tactile learner.”
I try to take a step back but there is nowhere left to go.
“What do you mean?”
“I have always stood by the fact that if you fail once, you should try again, like you with your proposals. They always get denied but that hasn't stopped you yet. It's been the same for me, and I know that I've almost got it this time.”
Bailey reaches for me and I jump back. I knew my fears of teacher hell were justified.
“Zachary! Stop.”
I was hoping for some divine intervention and it appears I’m getting defined intervention instead.
“Camille?” Bailey straightens and attempts to pat his nonexistent hair down, but it's Richard I can't look away from as he floats in front of Cami.
Cami's attention to detail is evident as arms and legs spring out of Richard. His new limbs are all corded muscle and dark pen lines.
“Talk to the hand, asshole.”
I get the pleasure of seeing Bailey's head whip back as Richard's newly inked hand slaps his face. Cami leans over to me.
“Talk to the hand?” She whispers. I nod.
“Let him have this.” I can’t get enough of this newest edition of Richard. He stands in front of Bailey with his hands balled into fist, his pages shiver with anger.
“Mr. Diction?” Mike’s eyes go wide.
“Come on, ol’ Richy Rich, it doesn’t have to be like that.” Bailey wipes his cheek over what will most certainly be a bruise in the morning.
“Did you hurt her?” Richard points at me. Mike glances between the two of us, his eyes wide. He shakes his head hurriedly.
“I would never hurt Shirley. Promise.”
“And you, Zachary?” Cami crosses her arms over her chest and levels our boss with a glare.
Bailey rolls his eyes, and Richard reaches out to grasp his collar.
“Well?” He demands.
Bailey lifts his hands to push Richard away.
