Aymee Parker B2 - The Cursed Mark

Chapter 5 : Magic trick

Aymee spent the next month as on a cloud, not caring about anything nor really paying attention to what was going on around her. The conversation she had had with the new Defense Against the Dark Arts' teacher was all she had in mind. Even the rare times Kosta called her, she spent her time raving about having an adult experienced demigod as a teacher.

"An adult!" she exclaimed. "Can you believe it!? It's the first time I've met such an old half-blood! He's THE best teacher you could have!"

Kosta frowned, uncomfortable.

"Is it really that good? I mean, ok, it's cool, but there are other mortal sports teachers who also do a great job."

"It's bec— Argh!" exclaimed Aymee with frustration.

She dropped against the tiles on the roof of the Ravenclaw tower. Aymee had finally discovered this place as an ideal secret hiding place for Iris Mail by taking a look out the window. Thanks to the ramblers of the windows, the cracked bricks, her many hours of practice on the climbing wall of the colony and —if necessary— her levitation, Aymee only had to climb to the top of the tower and there, nobody came to disturb her, except for a few pigeons. The wind blew gently, which made Aymee's fringe dance before her eyes.

Again, frustration and sadness fought in Aymee's heart. Kosta said they could leave the subject in the box, but how do you do it when it came to be the very topic of conversation? Aymee could not explain to him the magic dimension, the practical aspect of the experience of fighting against the two types of monsters while keeping both worlds secrets from each others. That Professor McMahon was like her.

Kosta had kept his gaze fixed on her, with a half-worried half-intrigued pout. Aymee knew that face. It was the one he had when he was not sure he could intervene, or if he feared to tackle a sensitive subject. She straightened up to find herself seated comfortably.

"Go ahead," she ordered. "What are you worried about?"

Kosta's gaze slipped to the side and he played with his fingers. Aymee gave him an insistent look and he eventually cracked.

"You... Are you sure it's just for that?" he asked, squinting as if he feared saying too much.

"What are you talking about?"

Kosta had the jerky and impulsive gestures of someone embarrassed who searches for his words.

"Aren't you projecting Andrea on him?" he finally dropped his bomb with a worried grimace.

Aymee's heart clamped at the mention of Andrea. She felt something close in her. Kosta must have felt it too, because he had the face of someone who knew he had blundered.

"It has nothing to do with her," Aymee mumbled dryly.

Kosta opened his mouth as if to contradict her before shaking his head.

"You're right. Sorry. So what makes you admire your teacher? His career?"

The change of subject was rather awkward and they both knew it, but Aymee appreciated the effort. She sighed and relaxed a bit.

"It's not just that... Thing is... It's the first time I meet an adult, you know? He can teach me."

Kosta nodded. He did not seem surprised, but rather dark. He was probably thinking about the same thing as her: the short life expectancy of the demigods. It was rather known: few reached adulthood and even less the children of powerful gods. Generally, those who escaped were the children of Demeter, Aphrodite or other 'minor' gods. The more you radiated divine energy, the more monsters would come at you. After the children of the Big Three like Percy Jackson, it was generally the children of the gods of war or of gods with great powers who were targeted by monsters. As for Nemesis, she may have been considered a 'minor goddess', but her children were far from being skill-less and were sometimes provocative or even cantankerous. It was almost a miracle Professor McMahon had passed his mid-thirties, even more with his profession. He must have fought hundreds of monsters. His knowledge and experience were particularly valuable. Aymee couldn't afford to lose that chance.