A. Poison in the Blood

A.6. Breaking Out

Professor Compasspoint, Trixie's Manaology teacher, called her after class. "Is everything okay? You seemed distracted during the lesson."

"I'm fine, just tired. I'm just not used to waking up so early."

"That's good. I know the first week is usually hard but it gets better once you make some friends. Just come talk to me if there is trouble."

"Okay, I will professor."

Professor Compasspoint tried to re-enter his classroom, but found it locked.

"Oh no, did you lock yourself out?" Trixie noted that the professor's aura was calm.

"No, it's fine." His hand glew jade green and the door swung open.

"I didn't know you can do that." Trixie said, "Can you teach me that spell?"

He hesitated. "I'm sorry but its very enhanced magic. You won't be able to learn it."

Trixie sighed. "Aww..." She straightened. "Professor? What is the policy on students leaving campus?"

"You're not allowed to without permission." He shrugged. "It's for safety reasons. Why do you ask?"

"Um, I just wanted to go to the mall, that's all," she lied. "It's a silly question."

.....

Trixie looked around from her balcony. A lot of students were chatting in the couryard despite the late hour. There goes Trixie's plan to escape from the balcony.

She grabbed a purse and peeked out of her dorm room. The halls were empty but not quiet as faint echoes of converstion and late-night lectures travel through.

Trixie sneaked down the corridors, ducking into a janitors' closet when a teacher came near. She focused her powers to make them less alert when they passed.

She reached the main entrance but hid behind a corner when she saw three girls standing by the door. She leaned in to listen.

"Look, I told you someone left it open," said a girl. Trixie recalled her from runes class, Lucinda Sight.

"We can use this opportunity to sneak out," said the pixie, Aingeal Nobleheart. "There's a new club in the Blackmoon district."

"What if someone locks it while we're out?" asked Utara Spellman.

"Don't be such a scaredy bakeneko. Aingeal can just shrink down, fly in through a window and let us in," Lucinda said.

"But what if..."

Trixie started to walk back, accidently kicking a soda can someone was too lazy to throw away.

"What was that?" The girls moved to investigate.

Trixie looked around, heart beating fast. If they found her they'd report her to the headmaster (probably, even though they were also sneaking around). The bad girl rumours were bad enough, but if anyone finds out she's been sneaking around her dad would have her head.

Something creaked behind her and the wall moved away. Something yanked her into the darkness. The wall closed again.