Unmarked

Chapter 16

Lavina came down the stairs in her school uniform. She grabbed her sweatshirt and then threw her backpack over her shoulder.

"Wow, Axe Street really changed, huh?"

"Axe? Oh no, I'm going to a Marked preparatory school."

"So you're learning to be a queen?" Amilia said, pushing back her hair.

"Uh, no." Lavina said, shaking her head at her. "It's just a school that teaches Marked teenagers how to control their marks and stuff."

"Oh, that's cool. So how'd you get into this school?"

"Uh, mom..." Lavina said, pointing to the door. "I kinda got to go."

"Oh, yeah, right! Uh, you want breakfast, I made some breakfast for us, you-" Amilia hesitantly laughed.

Lavina laughed back at her. "I suppose I have a few minutes I can spare." Lavina walked into the kitchen and put her backpack down by a chair. She sat down and smiled at her mother.

"Ok, so I don't really know what you like, so- I made you an omelet with grape juice. I hope that's alright." Amilia put a plate in front of Lavina and then sat down herself. Lavina picked up her fork and knife and took a bite.

"It's good." Lavina said, smiling.

"Glad you like it."

"Leo recommended the school to me."

"Woah, Woah, wait. You're going to the esteemed marked academy? That schools the number one prep school in the entire Underground!"

"Yeah."

"You must be really smart to get in there, Lavina! No offense that is."

"Of course not, you don't really know me that well yet. It'll take time for us to get to know each other."

"Oh, and so humble too." They laughed.

"So, I packed you a lunch too. If you want it." Amilia put her dishes in the sink, opened the fridge and set a lunch bag down next to her.

"Oh, thank you."

"Go on, I've kept you long enough. I'll clean up here."

"Ok." Amilia kissed her on the forehead and then Lavina took off to the forest. Lavina watched the clock as she ran through the Market. Lavina sat down in her first class, barely making it on time. She went through the first two periods and got caught by Anghi once again.

"Hey there Lavina!" He said waving to her.

"Hi."

"So, wanna have some fun after school?"

"I'd love to Anghi, but I can't."

"You can't? Did I do something wrong?"

"No, of course not. I'm- I'm spending some time with a relative who is visiting us."

"Oh, your aunt's back?"

"Uh- yeah, yup. And Lena has a whole thing planned."

"Oh, ok. Well, let me know when you're free again."

"Well, I'm free right now." Anghi looked at her and then looked to the lockers and blushed.

"Yeah, now sounds good. What do you want to do?"

"Well, I suppose I'll have to walk you to your next class." Lavina extended her hand to him. He hesitated a bit but then grabbed it. They both turned their heads away from each other and blushed. Then Lavina tugged on his arm. "Come on, don't slow me down now."

"How are your grandparents?" Anghi said out of the blue.

"They're good.l

"That's good." He paused, "Did they mention me?" Lavina stopped.

"Uh-" She started to blush again. "A few times, yeah." She started to walk again.

"Was it good?"

"Yeah. What is this twenty questions?"

"What?"

"Twenty- oh never mind. You wouldn't understand."

"You'll have to teach me later, right? It's a game?"

"It is and I'll have to, yes." Lavina stopped and let go of his hand. "Well, here you are, your next class."

"This was nice." He said rocking back and forth on his heels. "Thank you." He covered his cheeks with his hands and then walked into his class.

"Bye." Lavina said as she waved goodbye to him. The next thing she did was walk over to the palace. She tried to find her grandparents, but couldn't. "Leo, where's my grandparents?"

"Hm? Oh Lavina, hello! They went over to their cabin. Do you know where it is?"

"No, I don't. I didn't even know they had a cabin."

"Real quick Lavina, gold or silver?"

"Uh, wha- the gold."

"Thank you, here follow me." Leo led her out of the palace and down a few different roads. They finally reached an area where there weren't a lot of houses around. He walked up to the cabin and motioned to the door.

"Are you not going to knock?"

He laughed, "You really think they want to see me? They haven't talked to me since the secret got out. They, they moved out of the palace. So I'd plan on coming here if you want to see them."

"Hm, I see." She paused and Leo turned away. "Thank you." Leo walked off and then Lavina knocked on the door. The door opened and Lavina could clearly see it was Cristel. "Hi there grandma."

"Lavina! Oh come in sweetheart." Lavina walked in and looked around.

"You two sure set up fast."

"Oh, we never really took anything down. We lived here for a while with your mother when she was just a teenager. We didn't get the castle and the throne until she was about eighteen and a half."

"Oh that's why." Lavina whispered.

"Why what, dear?"

"Nothing."

"Alright, dear. Yxeyhzfkx Lavina's here!"

"Lavina!" He said, poking his head out behind the wall. "Hello sweetheart."

"Hi, so you two are living here now?"

"Yes."

"Leo isn't tha-"

"Oh it wasn't him, Lavina. We decided that we are retired, and we don't need all the space."

"So we thought of our old cabin, and decided to move back in."

"Oh, ok. Um, could one of you lead me back to the school? I don't know how to get back."

"Of course, Lavina. Let me take you back."