Adelaide

Chapter I

Emerald Byron

She's the first person I notice when I glance up from my work. I hope she hasn't been standing alone in the doorway for too long, scanning the room expectantly. Her pleated skirt and black turtleneck match the academic attire of the other girls, yet the way she clutches some worn novel against her chest makes her look so much more naïve.

"You're new here."

The comment sounds inane the second it leaves my tongue and spans across the room, but she interprets it as the sincere extension of geniality I intended it to be. Her polished shoes make no sound against the smooth stone when she steps closer but doesn't speak, waiting for me to continue.

"I only know because I was, too, not long ago. Welcome to Soventi."

Up close, the elegance of her features becomes evident. Dark coffee-brown hair frames her face, and rosy pink tinges her high cheekbones. Her variegated gray eyes, though wide and doe-like, suggest an intense awareness beneath the apparent innocence of her countenance. She glances between the four of us as if memorizing our faces. For just a second, a suppressed smile dawns across her countenance in response to my own.

"My name is Ral, and this is my friend Topaz."

I gesture vaguely across the table towards the blonde seated directly in front of me, who nods to the girl in courteous greeting but otherwise can't be bothered to acquaint himself. Biting back my disapproval of his impassivity, I turn towards Sapphire beside him. Like a true diplomat, she cuts me off before I can introduce her.

"I am called Saph — pleasure to meet you — and you are?"

Everyone listens when Sapphire speaks, her voice mellifluous and her gaze pooling like a winter stream. She's our gentlest soul, our compassion. After speaking, she leans back against Topaz's shoulder, borderline defensive in the presence of someone new, though never unkind.

"It's lovely to meet all of you. I'm Adelaide."

"So, what landed you in a place like this?"

Ruby's smooth voice glides over each syllable like honey as she finally leans forward and inserts herself into the conversation. I nudge her in the side with my elbow, but she just shrugs and sits back once again. Even Sapphire glowers at her in criticism of the insensitive question.

"What, you all wanted to ask, anyway."

"Though the school hardly calls itself a psychiatric house anymore, many families latch on to that idea. Ours all did to an extent, at least," Sapphire explains empathetically from aside.

"Oh. I don't mind the question. This was just one of the options my family gave me after a misunderstanding with a friend of ours."

Adelaide's answer surprises me, but I hadn't overlooked the way her gray eyes sharpened slightly in response to Ruby — not defensively, but rather with something more like fascination. She is vague, but not exasperatingly so. I find truthfulness in her words, despite the shadow that passes briefly over her face like an indelible memory.

"Either way, most of the rumors about this place are just shallow gossip," I find myself interjecting.

The warning edge in my voice causes the conversation to dwindle. Between Ruby's cunning satisfaction and Adelaide's intense curiosity, I needed to change the topic. However, the silence shatters again when Topaz straightens, accidentally shoving into Sapphire's spine at the same time. I meet his cinnamon eyes in understanding — he heard prefects passing by, and we can't be caught in the girls' dormitory. In farewell, I toss an affectionate grin towards the two girls still seated around the table.

"We'll find you later tonight. Adelaide, it's been a pleasure."