Chatoyant College Book 8: From the Earth

Chapter 27: Different

Corrie slumped back in her chair, staring at her half-eaten slices of pizza. She'd lost her appetite. "So what you're saying is that not only do you not have an answer for me, I have even more questions now."

"I'm sorry, Corrie. I wish I could help you, I truly do. Have you asked your professor about this? Or your mother?"

"My professor didn't say if there could be a reason I have more magic... I guess I should ask. Mom was pleased and proud of me having so much magic, even though I keep screwing up, but I haven't told her about the trance thing yet—that's what we do trying to connect to the earth." She looked up at his face, embarrassed. "It's a lot like something she taught me when I was younger. I thought I was doing it right then. I guess I didn't want to admit that I wasn't."

"I think you know that you should talk to her," her father said gently.

"Yeah, I do. I might try my professor first, though. She doesn't always give answers, but it can't hurt to ask."

"Just don't put it off too long."

"I won't." She smiled. "I talk to Mom every day, did you know that?"

"No, I didn't. That's wonderful. Tell her I say hello the next time you talk to her."

"Er, okay."

He gestured at her pizza, even as he picked up another slice of his own. "Go on, eat. I can't send you back to your school on an empty stomach."

She nodded, picked up a slice, and ate slowly. With the speed of a hungry wolf, he was done long before she was.

After he dropped her back off at the school, she felt reluctant to return to the dorm, or even to look for the Rainbow Alliance meeting, if it was time for that yet. The moon, though less than full, was high overhead, looking cold and lonely, silvering the campus, which at this moment was empty of anyone walking out-of-doors. It made her want to avoid human companionship.

Well, there were people she wanted to talk to who weren't human, anyway. She walked slowly toward the magic building, once stopping to pick a four-leaf clover. She didn't have much hope that Professor Lal would be in, but at least she could say she hadn't procrastinated.

To her surprise, when she knocked on the professor's door, it was opened a moment later. "Corrie," said Professor Lal, not sounding at all surprised. "Why don't you come in?"

Corrie nodded and entered, then stood awkwardly by the door. The room was dimly lit, with only one small lamp on the desk, though it was also taking in moonlight from the window. Professor Lal sat down in her desk chair and crossed her legs, facing Corrie. The light fell across her face, creating deep shadows. "Did you have questions for me? I will be frank with you that I do not intend to take time to practice with you; you are already beyond the level of most students in the introductory class."

"Yeah, I do have questions." Corrie took a deep breath. "Um, first of all, do you know about werewolves?"

"Yes, though I am not personally acquainted with any at the moment. I am surprised that you do, but I suppose I should not be, considering that you and your friends managed to discover the truth about faeries quite on your own."

Corrie couldn't help smiling a little. "Well, this wasn't entirely on my own. It turns out that my father is a werewolf."

Professor Lal raised her eyebrows, though Corrie couldn't tell whether her expression had changed otherwise. "Really?"

"Yeah, I didn't believe it at first, but my mom confirmed it. So I was wondering whether you thought my magic had anything to do with that. I know it's unusual for me to have so much."

The professor shook her head slowly. "I was under the impression that werewolves had no inherent magic—that is, they have some sort of inherent magic that allows them to shift, but nothing beyond that, not even what most humans have."

Corrie sighed. "That's... well, not quite what my dad said, but he didn't think I could have gotten the magic from him, either." She wondered whether she should tell Professor Lal about the book and the other magic she'd tried. No, she decided after a moment, watching the enigmatic face. She was using the book because she didn't trust the professor, and who knew what she would say if she knew Corrie and Dawn were experimenting outside of class? "So do you have any ideas why I might have all this magic?"

"I'm afraid I don't. But there may not be a reason for it. I believe that magic is distributed mostly randomly, or there may have been some circumstance of your birth or conception, beyond genetics, that account for it. You do not wish to reverse it, do you?"

"No." Corrie shook her head quickly. "I guess I just want to find out why I'm different."

"We are all different from one another, Corrie. The best thing you can do is embrace it."