Phrontistery Of Monster Kind - Six Feet Deep

Chapter 36

Ten came around far too slowly. I spent my time pacing around my quarters doing busy work until the artificial sun flooded my room. My metal pets slithered about finding places to rest under the heat emitted from the framed 'window'.

I chose not to wear my sling today. If I could shimmy through a turtleneck for the past few weeks, it wasn't bad enough to wear the fabric.

At ten sharp, I arrived at his door dressed and ready. I knocked on his back door, connected in the same hallway as my own. My hands were full of the oleander I had to return to the faerie. Promptness must be in the air today because the man answered the door a moment later. He was dressed in his usual attire, with the inclusion of his winter coat.

He held another in his hand. It was an emerald winter coat, simple and sleek enough to go with my outfit. It was more saturated green than I would normally go for, but it would take my outfit from funeral attire to the interior decorations for the Royal Palace of Oz.

"Scarrow is cold," he informed me, holding out for me to slip into. He allowed me to settle the plant down on his kitchen counter before I do, turning around and sliding my arms one by one into the sleeves, starting with my uninjured arm.

"We will be in a car-"

"The school is encompassed by the forest, a fact you ought to be aware of." I was. Forest surrounded three of its sides, water's edge to its back. An odd place to build a children's school. That was if they haven't changed it since I'd been years ago. "Are you not wearing your sling?"

"It will get in the way."

"Esmay-"

"It's almost healed and doesn't hurt and I'll only use it to hold pencils."

"Very well," he bounced the van keys in his hands. "I shall hold you accountable to your words."

"Didn't realise you cared so much, Mr Mors," I teased. He didn't care in the same way I do, but I could learn to see his way.

He swiped up the flowers for me and gestured with his skull to leave to exit into the hallway. Despite it being quicker to go through his quarters, we took the long way to our ride. Our conversation was nonsensical and if anyone had the displeasure of being up at this time on a weekend, they would question our sanity.

"Whatever you say, Ms Adalbert."

"I cannot convey enough how much I hate that name. And his parents, they were the worst."

"Isn't it customary for humans to despise their in-laws?"

I chuckled, "Not a customary, but it's common. Have you ever met Deborah's?"

"They weren't in the picture."

"Dead?"

"Never checked. Creatures' parental figures often slip my mind."

Right because he didn't. "Don't let Mayor hear you say that. She'll be livid." Mors remained silent, which I took as confusion on his part. "You're practically her son, Clay. She talks about you more than any other teacher- minus Harro, but he doesn't count."

He didn't respond for a bit. We had reached the drawbridge and neared the van we would be taking when he muttered, "I suppose you are right."

"I'm always right." I beamed at him.

***

As the van entered the forest it was as though the sun was engulfed and darkness reigned the sky. The only source of light came from the high beams that were driving through the narrow road. The trees were tall and thick, and the road was bumpy and uneven, making the drive even more difficult.