Whitethorn Academy

Chapter Twenty-Four

Inara's office was messier than usual. Papers littered her desk and her decanter was nearly empty. The headmistress leaned back in her chair, her eyes closed, and a glass of whiskey in her hand.

I sat in my normal chair, arms crossed over my chest, feeling ill at ease. There was also an anger, settled just beneath my skin.

Dark circles stood out under Inara's eyes and I briefly wondered when the last time she'd slept properly was.

"Natalie is not coming," Inara finally said, after draining the glass in her hand.

My skin prickled and the anger under my skin rose at the mention of Natalie. As much as I knew Inara needed her for her plans, I was glad she was no longer coming. Even her name left a bitter taste in my mouth.

"I'm at a loss for what to do now. Natalie was imperative to our plans. Without her, everything falls apart."

"I think we'll be just fine without her." I supplied, the anger lacing my voice noticeably.

Inara raised an eyebrow. "I understand your anger with her, but these are difficult times. I will do whatever is necessary to keep my students safe here."

"Even if that means making a deal with the devil?" I asked.

Inara closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. "I will, if that's what it takes. I've inherited the sins of my father, and I will do whatever it takes to seek absolution."

"Either way," I countered, "we can no longer count on Natalie or any of her information. If she ever had any to offer."

"Yes, it appears that way." Inara poured herself another glass of whiskey and took a deep drink. "But we will persevere. You should get some sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day."

"I suppose it will be," I replied, before standing. I left Inara at her desk, staring into her empty glass.

The dream faded to black, leaving me in emptiness.

When I woke up that next morning, the conversation from my dream still clung to me. Not for the first time, I wondered why I was having these strange dreams. Was it just a result of the stress of a new environment?

But if that were true, why hadn't they stopped or at least slowed in the weeks I'd been here? And why did they feel so real?

My mother had been mentioned. If these dreams were true, then Inara needed my mother, for whatever reason. None of it made any sense.

And they left me more than tired.

Every part of me felt exhausted, like whatever sleep I had gotten was not restful. Whatever the reason, these strange dreams were really having an adverse effect on my health.

In the bathroom, I stared at the dark circles under my eyes. Maybe today would finally be the day I searched through my boxes from home to find my makeup.

Because today was Parent's Day. The parents of my peers would surround me, and I didn't want to spend the day looking like I hadn't had a restful night's sleep since I'd gotten here.

Part of me wondered if I should even go. Naomi told me her mother wouldn't mind if I tagged along, but part of me wished I hadn't promised Naomi I would.

I would not only feel like I was intruding on their day, but I would also spend most of the day feeling like a charity case. Part of me just wanted to tell Naomi I wasn't feeling well and curl back under the blankets to hide all day.