Phrontistery Of Monster Kind - Six Feet Deep

Chapter 21

A lot can be revealed in the way people write. I am not talking about the way they format their paragraphs or their choice of words, which also tell a story, but what they choose to talk about with their given words. When you know no one is reading, you can be as personal as you like. There is no need for metaphors or analogies because you're the only one who is ever going to see it.

You never know what you're going to find when you browse over the notes scattered in your classroom by the end of the day. I certainly didn't expect the answer to my weeks-long task in a draft homework task.

I was cleaning up during my impromptu night class, and most of the students were mucking around other than the few who requested the night. It had been half a week since my birthday, and a night since I dozed off in the hawthorn tree. I spent all this class spaced out, thinking about the last week.

I hadn't spoken to Ophis, but her group stopped slipping poisonous flowers into my classroom which I took as a win. Couldn't let a student accidently get their hands on it. I had noticed an increase in the Ridaes attending tonight, most being too young to know their frozen relative. A part of me gathered their attendance was caused by Ophis, but she didn't seem the type to get her younger siblings to do her dirty work- she'd save that for her friends.

Mors' brother visited him again. I wished to speak to Mors about the Homeroom lesson we planned for the week when I caught him in his meeting. I was five seconds from opening the door, only catching the English teacher speaking at the last second. He wasn't the type of man who talked to himself. Everything that could be left unsaid, was.

"Still nothing?" Mors asked, speaking to his brother.

"I don't know what you are looking for." His brother's voice was snappier than last time. They had been at this for a while.

"Anything I can use. She has successfully resolved the case of the missing school captain within the weeks her presence has been here."

"Maybe you should have checked out the chapel."

"You are very well aware that I would never do that intentionally."

"I know demons who have more guts than you."

"Would you remind me of the outcome of that?" Mors jabbed. There was a hiss. He'd hit a rough spot.

"We got that in common." What do they have in common? "I suggest not bringing it up again if you want aid in the future."

"I apologise. I lost my head and I want the help. I- I just need confirmation that she's mortal."

"There's only one type of human, Clay. Humans can't be a threat to you unless you allow them to be. That goes for the others."

"Is that what you believe I'm doing?"

"All I am suggesting is that you be careful with the family you built here. It doesn't work out for us."

"I am not going back."

"Then don't. However, all of this has an expiry date."

Though the words weren't meant for me, they latched themselves to my mind and resurfaced as I was cleaning my classroom. He was right, all of this does. How many times had I been through this? It had to be the third time. The question was, how many more could I suffer through?

I handed out the hall passes as everyone started to pack up, clinging to the last few moments of freedom before they'd have to head back to their dorms.

My timer went off signifying the end of the class and the students rushed to get out before they'd had to face the wrath for Mors on night duty.

"Tiffany, you forgot you're-" my eyes run down to the paper. "English homework?"