AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“We should be back within the hour,” Masie’s father told the pilot. Maybe I could think of him as Robert now that I knew his name.
A black town car waited for us at a break in the trees. The three of them headed toward it, and I followed, swiveling my gaze around the surrounding forest. Were there any shifters here now? Were we being watched? Masie and her parents seemed unconcerned, so I pushed the thoughts away and hurried to load my bags in the trunk.
No one spoke on the short drive. I still had questions, but I took a cue from Masie and stared out the window. I could call her later and ask her everything I didn’t get a chance to, without the prying ears and judgment of her parents.
All the sorrow and confusion over missing out on knowing them my whole life vanished. They weren’t people I wanted to know. I was perfectly fine with this being our one and only meeting. If they still wouldn’t claim me and I wasn’t allowed to tell anyone my relation to them, then I saw no point in ever seeing them again.
“Here we are. Drexel Academy,” the driver announced.
I leaned forward. A tall stone wall and wrought iron gates slowly opened. Trees lined both sides of the road all the way to the first building, an enormous stone structure like a carbon copy of a castle, complete with turrets, narrow slits for windows, and a freaking parapet. I watched, waiting to see if armed guards appeared to patrol the area.
This was insane.
“Come on.” Masie nudged me, and I opened the door and stepped out with her close behind me.
“Mr. and Mrs. Stone, it is such a pleasure to see you again.” A polished man in a brown tweed jacket and tan slacks shook their hands. He was bald and, paired with his wide shoulders and bulking form barely concealed beneath his suit, intimidating.
“Headmaster Goldstein, it’s been too long.” Robert shook the man’s hand, then turned toward me. “This is the student I was telling you about. Saige Williams is sure to make an excellent addition to the academy.”
The headmaster gave me an appraising once over before tilting his head up. “I’m sure she will live up to the standard you’ve set.”
His challenging glare wasn’t very effective since I wasn’t sure what the standard was, and no one had explained much of anything about what I should expect or what was expected of me.
“We trust you’ll take good care of her,” Susan said with a charming smile, and the headmaster gave her one of his own.
“Of course, we will make sure she gets the best education.” It was then that he seemed to notice Masie standing behind me. “And Ms. Stone, how nice to see you again. I wasn’t aware you assisted your parents with the scholarship students.”
I cringed at that phrase. Was that really what I was? Were they paying for me to be here? Was there a tuition cost? Were there other academies I could attend to learn about my powers? One not connected to my grand––Robert and Susan?
“She’s a special case,” Masie answered simply.
“Very well. Thank you all for taking the time to bring Miss Williams, but you can rest assured she is in good hands now.”
Susan seemed satisfied and returned to the car without a backward glance. Robert shook the headmaster’s hand and said bye before following his wife. He glanced at me as he passed and nodded once before opening the door.
Masie pushed my second suitcase next to me and shot a look at the headmaster before facing me. “Call me if you need anything.”
“I will.” I squeezed my phone in my pocket—the only connection I had left to my old life.
“Bye.” I could tell she wanted to say more, probably even hug me, but we were being watched, and it would have been strange for her to hug a random scholarship winner.
I took the handle of my other bag and moved toward the headmaster. “I’ll show you to the administration building. My office as well as the guidance, maintenance, and security offices are located there.”
His long strides forced me to jog to keep up with him. He led me up to the castle building. A symbol over the massive doors caught my eye. A five-pointed star inside a circle. Was that a devil sign? It creeped me out, but I didn’t have a chance to study it since he had already pushed the large doors open and stepped to the side to let me through. The swing shut behind us with a quick whoosh, delivering us into an open area also made of stone. The entryway felt cold and oppressive except for the plush red and gold rug and pictures hanging along the hall.
“This way.” He led me toward the back where another hall branched off to the right. “This is the guidance office. Your counselor will meet with you to go over your schedule, room assignment, and school rules. If you have any questions, please address them now so there is no confusion when classes begin tomorrow.”
Without another word, he turned and disappeared around the corner. I let out a breath, grateful for even a second to be alone. I rolled my shoulders and rocked my head from side to side, loosening my tense neck muscles before opening the door to the office and pulling my bags in behind me.
“Can I help you?” The woman sitting at the first desk asked without looking up from her computer.
“I’m a new student. Headmaster Goldstein brought me here and told me I needed to meet with my counselor.” He could have come in and made the introduction himself, but he seemed to have far more important things to do.
She stopped typing and looked me over. “Right, the Stone Student.”
“I’m Saige Williams.”
She ignored me, lifting a phone to her ear and pressing a few buttons. “Dallon, your new student is here.”
