Westminster Academy (Part One)

forty-six

"My father wants to see you. He told me to get you as fast as possible."

My heartbeat accelerated. "D-do you think he knows something?"

Henry seemed as clueless as me. "I don't know. But he said it's about your future and you need to come immediately."

Why can I never relax into being happy?

I gulped, my throat was tight with anxiety. I tried to remind myself that I was already accepted into Elvington College, the soft paper between my fingertips proved it. Headmaster Craven couldn't take that away from me, could he? And even if he had the power, he wouldn't do it, right?

Right?

The fact that Henry didn't even try to make me feel like everything was okay made it all worse.

"Will you come with me?" I asked shakily. 

Henry nodded. "I don't know if I'll be allowed to, but I'll try."

I took a breath. "Okay."

Henry took my hand and gave me a smile that seemed a bit forced. "Maybe he just wants to congratulate you."

Yeah, maybe.

When we arrived at the Headmaster's office, Miss Weaver, my best friend, immediately sent us to Headmaster Craven. The usual procedure was letting students wait in his anteroom for at least five minutes. I had figured out a while ago that this routine didn't exist because the Headmaster was still busy, but because it represented a certain act of respect to wait until being called in by him instead of rushing into his office immediately. That Miss Weaver sent Henry and I right through to him was not a good sign. 

This is all very odd.

I held Henry's hand tightly, determined not to let go of him until I knew what the hell was going on here. Henry gave me a look that was supposed to calm me down, but only reflected his own concern about me. Then he knocked at Headmaster Craven's door.

"Ah, Miss Evans. There you are." He looked as familiar as always, sitting majestically behind his desk, his tie neatly tugged into his waistcoat. But something about his face was differerent. It was missing the familiar calmness.

"Please, come in and take a seat."

"Can I come too, father?" Henry asked. 

"If your submissive wants that?" Headmaster Craven replied and looked at me questioningly. 

I nodded. Henry took his seat right next to me.

"Well" Headmaster Craven began, folding his hands and giving me a lukewarm smile. "This might be the last time I see you in my office." 

His words stung, and the curve of his eyebrows gave away that he, too, felt sad. 

"I've asked you to come here so that we can talk about your future, Miss Evans" Headmaster Craven went on. I gulped. 

Does he know...?

If Elvington College had informed Headmaster Craven of my acceptance, was he going to praise me? Or lecture me? Or discipline me?

"Do you know anything about your plans for next Friday, when the graduation ceremony is over?" He asked. 

Get a different train than the one I'd have to take to go home.

"I thought all the submissives are sent back to their families after graduation, sir?" I asked, trying to sound like I indeed expected to go back to my family next week. 

"Yes, that's how things usually work" Headmaster Craven agreed. "However, I'm afraid you won't be spending much time with your family."

I was confused. He didn't think I would be going home? Where did he think I would be going?