Blue Skies Academy

Chapter 8

I'm standing in front of a large pair of gilded doors. I've already been here on the first day at Blue Skies to speak with De LaRoche about my file. I'm playing with the elastic at my wrist. I hear a faint ticking of seconds, and I don't know if that's coming from the big pendulum clock standing in the lounge next door or my anxiety is playing tricks on me. I inspect my surroundings. Clarissa, the assistant De LaRoche entrusted with the knowledge of the true motives of my enrollment, is patiently standing on my right. I look over to my left where I spot the pendulum clock. The rays of the sun are cascading in the room through one of the windows. I watch specks of dust fly around in the air, each in their own rhythm, their own dance, their own world. Before my examinations can evolve further, the doors open. Snapped out of my daze, and with Clarissa's nod, I entered the room before me, letting my arms fall to my sides.

The place isn't any different from how it was when I first came in. Mr. De LaRoche and Mr. Barren are in their same places, like refined carved statues in a museum. This time around, however, De LaRoche's eyebrows are slightly more furrowed, his forehead housing one more wrinkle under the rest of the bunch.

"Ms. Davis." He greets me, his tone stern. I nod in his direction. "I've heard about the attack. Superficially. Dominic came back to his room with a bruise." His eyes narrow. "I thought I paid you to keep these things from happening, not sit by idly and watch the show."

I look down. "I understand why you might not exactly be pleased right now. But I assure you that if I could've stopped that from happening, I would've. Having to keep my intentions hidden from your son is not making things easier..."

"Are you questioning my judgment?" His eyes harden. "In what position do you think you are?"

"I'm not questioning anything; I'm just saying that maybe it would help if-"

"Dominic can't know."

"But-"

"No, girl." He says with a snarl. "I know my son. If he finds out that I'm keeping watch on him, he'll make things worse for everyone, your, mine, and his sake." He sighs, resting his forehead against his clasped hands. "I need you to tell me what happened, and as much information as you can about the person that assaulted him."

I omit from my story the fact that I was sneaking around, and just tell him that I heard voices in the garden as I was making my way to grab a glass from the dining hall. "You have to know that this person... is incredibly strong. And very skilled. It's not your average thug. It's someone that knows what they're doing."

"Are you saying that you're not capable of fighting them off?"

Can this guy stop putting words in my mouth? He's as full of himself as his son. "No, I'm not saying that." I bite back the irritation in my voice. "It just took me off guard. And I just thought that you should know about it." I hear him take a long breath. "It would help if I were granted the access of wandering around the ground freely-"

He laughs. A single, sarcastic, "Ha!" echoes in the room. "I cannot have you meander around; I have enough things to worry about as it is. You should only worry about my boy's safety and not draw attention to yourself. Know your place. You're lucky Mr. Barren assures me that I should give you another chance. If it wasn't for him, you would've had your bags packed already."

I look over to the other man who's standing at his employer's left, forever faithful. It seems that he's the only one that De LaRoche really listens to, or at least who's propositions are considered. He hasn't said a single thing throughout the whole exchange. All he did was give me a curt nod as a greeting, one that he'll repeat as I'll exit what I now know as this grumpy man's personal office. Mr. De LaRoche dismisses me with a movement of his hand, the emerald on his ring sparkling as the light kisses its delicate cuts. Huh. This one seems bigger than the sapphire he was wearing a few weeks ago.