Phrontistery Of Monster Kind - Six Feet Deep

Chapter 3

Morning came far too soon as light invaded my room and spread its curse of heat. Out of all things to forget, it had to be that my room faces the morning sun. I knew there was a reason I closed my curtains before I left for my trip abroad.

Cold metal brushed up against my body. I groaned and tugged my blanket over me as I flipped onto my side. A tongue flicked at my neck and nestled into the platinum of my hair, making itself a nest.

My bed was right in the sunspot, and my hair was softer than the silk comforter I laid nude beneath.

"Find another spot, Noodle," I groaned. "Sam, you cannot lay on me." A larger snake hissed and head-butted my thigh. "That will not allow you to sleep on me. You're too heavy." Noodle, the one in my hair, snickered. Sam lunged at Noodle, which was comparable to a snake trying to attack a worm. I jolted up, tugging my long hair from under Noodle and causing the boy to slide away from Sam. "No attacking him. You know the rules, Sam."

Sam hissed out an apology as I slinked away from the duo. I paused when I caught the audience watching us. A den of snakes scattered all around the room, watching us perform for them. There was a small lounge of lizards disinterested in the whole situation except a chameleon that clung to the testers for dear life.

I might have had a problem.

"Don't you all have something better to do?" I stated as I headed to the ensuite. "No one better be in there when I get in the shower." I passed the 'mother' snake. "Don't you dare follow me. I can look after myself." If snakes could roll their eyes, she would have. "Scold the others, not me."

The bathroom was the only place I could get peace from these enchanted creatures. My room was a snake pit, and I was a snake charmer. We had a pact; they could stay with me as long as they behaved. They were my children; I was not suitable to look after human children, so magical snakes turned into metal that you couldn't kill were the safest bet. I even managed to kill my pet rock when I was a child. Okay, it was more abandoned, but only because I wasn't allowed to jump in after it when my sister tried to skip it across the lake. Or did I do it? One day I would go down there and find it. Maybe this year was the year.

But with the snakes, came a thousand eyes to judge my every move. At least half of them liked to comment on my body, forgetting I'm not a snake myself. Wondered if they would judge the gorgon or Ms Mayor.

The bath was scolding, I didn't plan to leave it until I was cooked inside. Which took about the time for my fresh coat of nail polish to dry. Forest green to match the tulle skirt with flowers embroidered on it I planned to wear.

When I had the time, I liked to match parts of outfits together. It was easier when I only wore three colours: green, black and silver. The jewellery made up most of the silver. Two in my ears as gauges, the others as belts, scarfs, hair ties and so on.

And no, it's not animal cruelty, one they're not alive, just sentient, and two, they could be frozen at any moment with a simple charm anyone can do. It's sort of like if your pillow became sentient overnight, were you going to feel bad that you slept on it? Yes, but you're going to be confused about how it's alive first.

I slid Noodle into one of my lobes and plucked a chameleon that was trying to stash away my smartwatch. I allowed it to dangle its tail around my ear as I investigated my watch for damage. Another snake hissed at me for choosing the lizard over it. "I can't wear all of you. You will get your turn soon."

***

After oiling the door from last night, I made my way over to Mr Mors' classroom, taking the shortcut that popped me out near the English classrooms. It was a luck of the draw where everyone's offices were located. Some were connected to their classrooms, others their chambers. Some had both and it depended on if they needed someone near the students' dorms that year. The administration staff have their own floor where all their stuff is, including their rooms if they aren't locals themselves. Hopefully, I won't have to deal with them until I have to hand in the marks for the trimester.