Phrontistery Of Monster Kind - Six Feet Deep

Chapter 1

Some places you never forget. No matter how many years passed, or layers of paint one slathered on a wall, the spot will remain in your memory. That's what Royse Ridge was for me. Time fought to take this place from us, humans too, but like many magical aspects of this nook, it remained year after year.

I didn't frequent these parts nowadays, for I feared my memories would ravage my body like the plague had on this island centuries prior. One must try to move on from the past, however difficult, which made my job career more ironic. I, when people hired me, was a history teacher. I often found myself in a less-than-ideal predicament when job searching. My field of interest was too obscure for the places I taught and was often left on the outside of an inside joke. That was partially why I was back in my old home of Royse Ridge; they made it clear that I wasn't welcome back at Greenfield Primary.

The meadow was nice this time of April. Flowers blossomed earlier in the month, omitting their deathly sweet aroma. Pastel colours scattered across the plain, their petals dancing in the light breeze that welcomed me home. Long ago, my father told me these flowers were native to these parts, a gift from God himself. I never believed him, but my sister did.

I sat by the lake, and if I bothered to spin around, I would see the old castle above in the distance. To make it on time, I would have had to start my ascent ten minutes ago.

Like many interviews, there was no point. This would end with the promise of getting into contact, only to be left wondering. Though I once called this area home, deep down, this wasn't the place for me. My gut was stuffed to the brim, though I hadn't eaten since my flight over. I doubted I'd be able to walk through the wildflowers, my choice of stilettos helping at this conclusion. The metal snake spiralling down it might add weight, but no extra surface for my heel.

The meadow could use aerating, anyway.

I hadn't factored going down to the lake, nor the long journey up to the castle, but nothing was planned nowadays. I tore myself away from the water and noted of the emptiness of the land as I moved closer to my destination. Students were gone for the Easter holidays, but they'd be back in a week for trimester three. With that, it would bring the death of the flowers. Children picked and trampled plants, teens were no better. I only hoped they treated the ones in the greenhouses better.

I couldn't recall the rest of the journey. One moment I was outside, the next I stood stationary in the deputy's office metres away, peering down at her as she read my résumé. There was no need for me to hand deliver it or to be here when she rejected me. I didn't belong here, and we both knew it. But Harro Pneuma, an old acquaintance of mine that now runs the school, informed me that the deputy was too old for modern technology. Harro was one to talk, it's his 150th birthday this year. The deputy could not be much older (if comparing species).

The elderly zoomorphic dragon made no attempt to tell me to sit down. I gathered it was a test itself to see how I acted. She mumbled to herself about the headmaster, who recommended the job initially. There are no words muttered about my tardiness, as though her boss warned her about it. Perhaps he knew. I wouldn't put it past that poltergeist. The woman's red dragon eyes flickered up from my CV to me.

She drew a breath, a smokiness lingered in the air as she spoke, "Your credentials are extensive and the amount you have said to achieve is inconceivable."

The deputy dragged her talons across the paper as she adjusted it in her hands. The woman was holding it upright, allowing the dim light of the desk candle to shine through it as if it would reveal all the paper's secrets.

"Well, I do pride myself on my work, Ms Mayor," I said, nodding my head to the side softly. My hand fidgeted around the ring on my right hand. It licked me, but I didn't dare check.

"I understand why the headmaster recommended you, and he said you were a former student-"

"Royse Ridge, born and raised." I accidentally cut the woman off with a small cheer. I winced when I realised what I had done. The dragon moved on and all I could do was hope the deputy thought it was endearing.

The scales on her face shifted when she asked, "I don't recall seeing you before now... How old did you say you were?"

"I never said," I answered. My stomach grew heavy. "Twenty-five."

"Years?" Ms Mayor asked for clarification. I nodded once. The woman removed her cat eyeglasses, fetching a microfibre cloth from her draw before cleaning the lenses. Not once did her eyes leave me. I wondered how many times she had done this while scolding students. "Miss Ambrose, I've been teaching here for forty years and have not once forgotten a face." I gulped. "I've seen ex-students on holidays, been to their weddings, reunions... their funerals. Not once have I met anyone like you."

"Thank you?" I answered.

"That was not a compliment, Miss Ambrose." My face flattened as she talked, "We rarely take your kind, and certainly not while I have been here." She settled her glasses back on. The gold frames glistened against her green scales. "So, I don't know what you and the headmaster are on about."

"I'm sorry for-"

She held up her taloned hand, "I will decide when to dismiss you, Miss Ambrose." I gulped once more. Gods, I'm getting treated as a student here. Was she going to give me detention next? "You teach history? Just Monster History? Are you sure you don't want Human Studies?"

"I mean, I'll take both if you're offering," I chuckled awkwardly. "But no, alas, that is my speciality."

"-And you aren't the daughter of a mad scientist-" I shook my head. She had cut her sentence off with a sigh, smoke seeping out of her snout. Ms. Mayor had settled down my résumé. For a moment, her scales shifted to a sicker, duller green. But I imagined it was my eyes playing tricks on me when the one candle lighting the room flickered. Did I really wander into the dragons den for a chance at an underpaying job? She continued, "The students aren't going to like you here. They can be biased."

"-And for a good reason. But I am not like most, Ms Mayor." Ms Mayor's slitted eyes inspected me as though the words from my résumé were tattooed into my skin. They weren't woven into the fabric of my turtleneck and maxi skirt, nor were they on my face when I applied my foundation that morning. Her hawklike gaze didn't deter me. "Now I went here when I was a little girl, though I know that might be hard to believe, but my heart lies at this school. Regardless of if I am right or it was a twenty-year fever dream, I know I belong at Royse Ridge. Though I may be human, those students have the right to know that not all humans are bad."

Ms Mayor hummed, "I admire your enthusiasm. Our school would always use more of it, but are you certain you want to work at here, Miss Ambrose?"

I was not. With a million excuses as to why I should hop on the next flight off the island, there was no hiding that from myself. The problem was that if I did that, I would leave Royse Ridge and my family for another time. It was only so long before I lost them entirely. There must be a reason I stayed away, however, for the life of me, I couldn't recall. Then there was Harro. What will I do when he asks how I lost the job? I couldn't explain to him why I threw it all away, so I lied. "I've never been so sure in my entire life."

Ms Mayor sighed. "Then I will make it my duty to ensure that you have a lustrous career with us."

"Wait, did I get it?"

"Yes, you did, Miss Ambrose."

"Please, it's Esmay."

"Then, Esmay, I must warn you, our staff are an interesting bunch." She rose from her desk. The light whooshing as she swept her way over to me, extending her hand, and with the utmost confidence said, "But I have the feeling you will fit in nicely."