Phrontistery Of Monster Kind - Six Feet Deep

Chapter 35

There was a light tapping on the classroom door. I lowered my fork, covering my mouth as I mumbled through my salad, "Come in." Students who had me didn't knock unless the door was closed. I couldn't see whoever was there from my desk.

A head popped through the doorway, scanning around for my presence. The messy bun and paint-covered glasses resting on her head stuck out immediately to me. Starla had no reason to be on my level. She brought all her work to Mors when it came to the year nine's, albeit apprehensively. I wondered if she feared the same creature that haunted her all those nights ago would grow tired of Simon and return to torment her.

"How can I help you, Ms Crowe?"

She stepped inside the room, scoping out the room before doing so. She took in the furniture, the few wall pieces and the cursed portrait. I gave her the time and space she needed. She might not have seen the room since I renovated it, or never. I decided to comment as she looked at the painting. "I'd offer for you to paint over that, but I can't get it off the wall."

"Paint over it? It's well crafted. I haven't seen techniques used in art since- is this yours?"

"Was in the classroom when I found it." She hummed. "Is there anything I can help you with, Starla?"

"Oh, right, yes. I found this when cleaning up the art classroom." She hands over a small card written in felt-tip pen by a child. It read: Eddie, do you remember our room? The 'our room,' was scribbled as though it was an afterthought. "I was going to toss it out, but Chiro told us that the ghost girl thought you were her sister...is the woman in the painting- you look a lot like her."

"Did Chiro tell everyone about Royse?"

"Who's Royse?"

I shook my head. "The ghost girl."

"Oh, that's her name? I honestly thought she didn't have one."

"Who knows, Starla?"

"Some of the staff. Everyone was shocked when they heard you got her to talk." She chuckled to herself, caught in an inside joke only she was in. "Eddie."

I played with the card in my hands. I spun around in my seat, plucking a trinket box from the bookcase. The art teacher was still fixated on the portrait for whatever reason. I unlocked the box and settled the card with the golden hairpin I retreated from the bottom of the lake.

"That's Eddie in the painting. Edith and her Ex Rædwulf."

"Ex? I thought they were happily married. That's what they taught us in history."

"History is biased. Might I suggest checking out the library?"

"You sound like Mors."

My face sank. "Yes... well, he's right."

"I-I didn't mean that as a bad thing- I should go. I delivered the message. I-"

"Thank you, Starla, I appreciate it."

"Yes... you're welcome." She was gone quickly.

Our room was long gone, and Royse would know it. It had to be somewhere else in the castle that was just ours. Nothing has been left untouched except most of the hidden passageways. I ran my hand through my hair, getting snagged by my dragon rings.

"Forgot I moved you to my other hand," I mumbled.

I really should have tied my hair up with a hairpin or... That's it, the hairpin. I knew exactly where to go, and it was about time I went back there, to the Flower room.

I pulled out the hairpin from the trinket box. Spinning my hair into a bun, I stabbed it in there for easy access later.

I hunted down something to give Starla in return for the note, opting for the last of my spare black candles I had in storage, knowing she could use it for spell casting. I passed by her classrooms but found them strangely empty, so I kept the gift with me until I saw her.