The Songs Of The Flames (The Curse Of The Thirteenth Series)

Chapter 5

Priscilla felt a different sort of buzz emanating from the students at breakfast. They were at their usual table in the grand hall for breakfast. She noticed a few professors flitted around which seemed unusual. Had she noticed the professor in the grand hall the previous times they ate?
They acted uncanny, whispering to each other in small groups, and skimming the crowd of students. A sort of tension emanated from them. Priscilla leaned closer to the other girls almost spilling her coffee. "Anyone notice the professor acting strange?" She asked. 

Juniper was the first to answer, "they're all anxious about something. I can feel their unease." Juniper buttered a piece of cornbread over her plate. She preferred a cup of Earl Grey tea over coffee in the mornings, which sat on the table to the right of her plate. 

The room quieted to a whisper as Headmaster Valerian entered through the giant doors. Her face was grim as she strode between the tables of gawking students. Professors, one by one, followed her to a platform at the front of the room. Headmaster Valerian positioned herself behind a black granite podium. 

"I didn't know we were having an assembly today." Trisha leaned into the group of girls to whisper. Plates of breakfast and drinks were forgotten as all eyes turned to the headmaster.

"I have some tragic news to announce this morning, students. " She stopped to swallow. A low whispered spread like smoke through the crowd. "Please, settle down. I request silence for this announcement." She waited until the noise died down to speak once more. Students sat at the edge of their seats, tension growing in the giant room. "Early this morning, a student was found dead inside the premises of the school. She was killed last night. We do not know yet how she died, but it seems she was attacked. Until we get to the bottom of this mystery, I have decided that curfew will be changed to after dinner. Students are required to be in their dorms by seven starting tonight. Any-" The whispers become a protest. "Any students," her loud prominent voice became even louder, "outside of their dorms after seven will be reprimanded." She stepped down from the podium to allow Professor Lansky step up. 

His face was ashen. He spoke a little choked as he began. "Ada Aspens' parents will be at the school tonight to collect their deceased daughter. We will have a moment of silence for her during dinner tonight. Please, anyone if you have noticed anything odd, let a professor know." He stepped back. The professors huddled around Headmaster Valerian. She was a good foot above all the others, and she craned her neck down to look at them as they spoke. 

"Ada, she was a grade above us. I saw her yesterday at lunch." Alyse said. Priscilla was not sure if she should mention the shadow last night. She couldn't get a good glimpse at what was following her. If she was being followed. Maybe it was all her imagination.

When it was time for classes, she said goodbye to her friends. Her first class, Anatomy of Magical Creatures was buzzing with students gossiping about the news of Ada Aspens. Priscilla noticed Benson in the same seat they sat at yesterday. They locked eyes, and she smiled. Her cheeks flushed, and she glanced at her shoes embarrassed. He wanted to sit next to her again.

She noticed white flats before she collided with a body. She fell backwards instantly on her butt. Priscilla stared up to see Camellia Lynch glaring down at her. "Watch where you're going!" She shrieked at Priscilla. Priscilla sat on her butt dumbfounded. Her tailbone ached from the impact. "You know brother, father said this school was much more superior before they allowed halflings to join." She turned to her brother Cosmos as she spoke. Her upper lip curled up in a sneer. Priscilla stood back on her feet, and brushed the dirt off her aching butt. How did she know Priscilla was a Halfling? Priscilla still stood dumbfounded in front of Camellia. Camellia scoffed, and strode up nose to nose to Priscilla. Priscilla noticed she was careful not to touch her. "Word of the wise," she whispered, "you should be careful who you bug. You might end up like poor Ada." she flicked her straight hair over her shoulder and sat beside her brother. Priscilla did not have time to filter what Camellia said before Professor Grapple entered the room.