“Hello,” I say sweetly. “Mr. Vandozer told me I’d get my class schedule here today.”
“Yes, of course,” the woman says without looking me in the eye. Her bottom lip is trembling. She pulls out a folder. “Candice Montgomery, correct?”
I nod.
“You’ll—You’ll find everything.” She pauses, staring down at the folder in her hands. “Everything you need in here, dear. Including a map of the school and your dorm number.” She swallows.
It’s an odd feeling for a stranger to fear me, particularly when I know I hold no power over them in the slightest. For them to fear me when I still fear others.
Is it because of the nature of my admittance?
The headmaster himself signed the paperwork after I persuaded him that it was in his best interest to accept me last minute. Blackmail is such an ugly word, but it’s quite beautiful in practice.
So, yeah, I threatened the headmaster to get into the school, but that was with information abouteventsthat have taken place here. Mysterious deaths aren’t overly uncommon at places like this, and I know of at least two that were swept under the rug to protect Elite students. Students that would rip me to shreds without a second thought if they knew I was threatening to expose them.
I’m not stupid enough to release the information, but Mr. Vandozer doesn’t know that.
“Thanks,” I say one more time, stomach squirming. I don’t even have the heart to ask her for help to my first class with the way her fingers tremble.
Her lips part, like she wants to say more, but I flee from the room, too confused and overwhelmed to bother with anything more.
As more students stroll by, chatting idly, their eyes practically glowing with ungodly power, I have a new thought. The secretaries were horrified, scared out of their wits. And I can’t imagine they’re like that all the time. They know the manner of monsters that roam these halls.
They couldn’t possibly fear me.
But they could fearforme.
* * *
I standin the hallway alone. Several students pass by like bees buzzing in a hive. After a few deep breaths, I force my body to calm enough for me to examine the paperwork the nervous secretary gave me.
On the front of the red folder is an elaborate coat of arms, with a crown on top and a serpent in the middle.
“Human,” someone mutters in my direction.
My eyes flare. I don’t even know which of the beings passing said it but it sure gets my butt moving a little farther down the hall.
I find a quiet corner to collect myself.
Only once my fingers have stopped trembling do I allow myself to flip through the papers.
Right up front is a map—which I’ve already memorized from the website— and my schedule. On the other side is a brochure showcasing smiling kids with shining white teeth. One of them has suspiciously long canines.
Where worlds collide, power is at your fingertips.
Even after studying the map, I find I’m still lost. There’s supposed to be a stairwell near here, but where? I spin around.
There was an open house last weekend, and many students moved into their dorms a few days early. But if I’m honest, I was too cowardly to show up before I absolutely had to, which means now I have to wing it quickly.
“Need help?”
I spin to find a short girl with skin a few shades darker than mine, large brown eyes, and long black hair pulled into a sleek ponytail. She smiles kindly.
“Uh, yeah. I guess so.” I hand her my schedule.
“You’re new right?”
I nod, trying not to be too obvious in my examination of the kind girl. She’s not a demon—I don’t think. Maybe a fairy? A witch?
