A Werewolf's Promise (Scarwood Chronicles #1)

Chapter 15: The Past Comes Knocking

Despite the anger still obviously bubbling under the surface, Headmistress Nighblood managed to deal with the rest of the conversation in her usual measured manner.

Sugar had to commend her. If he was the principal of a magical academy such as Scarwood, and someone had the nerve to suggest that there was a werewolf as a student, he would have a lot more colourful words for them.

Also, how the hell did that woman even get into the school? Sure, from the way she held herself, she probably got an associate of hers, either someone in the teaching staff or the Peace Sorcerer to let her in, but how did news about the disappearance even leak that fast? He was sure that even some people in the school had only heard about it for sure that morning.

Finally, Solaria seemed to realise that trying anything else would be like talking to a brick wall.

"No matter. You can fight this however you like," Solaria said, sounding awfully like a young child pouting, "But you won't be able to hide from the truth. I will be talking to the school board about this."

She scowled one final time at the headmistress, before stalking out, slamming her door behind her.

Headmistress Nightblood did not react to her exit, but looked relieved, as if a mild inconvenience had disappeared. Instead, she turned her attention to the twins, who looked like they really wished for the ground to swallow them up right there and now.

"I am very sorry you had to witness that," she said, as if as an apology for the argument they had to witness, "if you wish, I can let you two off for the rest of the period."

"Y—"

"It's fine." Asteria cut her sister off, throwing Salem a sharp glare in order to shut her up, "we can continue with the lesson."

Nightblood looked confused for about half a second, but shrugged it off (probably too tired to care much more), instead turning back to the blackboard.

"So, where were we?"

As Nightblood continued to explain the fall of the four domains, and how it lead to the prevalent animosity between magic-gifted humans (who later became witches) and magical creatures, Sugar spied Asteria pass a small note on a black piece of paper to her sister, who looked at it confusedly for a few moments, as if struggling to read it, before passing it backwards to Charlie.

Either Asteria was letting them copy some of her notes, or they were secretly discussing the topic of the werewolf. Both were equally likely.

A werewolf? Surely not... but even so, Sugar had the sinking feeling that the flamboyant Mrs Bones might not be far off the truth.

"Do you think there's actually a werewolf at the school?" he whispered, turning to Rosa.

"What makes you think I would know? Well, for the record, I don't think it would be true. It would be way too risky of a move for Miss Nightblood to make. It just sounds like that woman was making up things to get a reaction. Miss Nightblood does have an infamous temper, from what my siblings tell me..."

"An infamous temper?" Sugar said, eyebrow raised. Sure, the rage that he had seen on the headmistress' face seconds earlier was certainly genuine and intense, but it looked like she was able to control her anger really well.

"Yeah, you wouldn't guess it from how done she looks all the time, but if you rile her up enough, you'll be able to unlock her vicious side... though it doesn't happen much anymore, since she's more experienced as a teacher now. But my eldest brother witnessed her wrath once!"

"Really? What happened?"

"Eh, it was mainly stupid kids being stupid kids. I think it ended up being something about a few of the troublemakers in class making an edgy joke about the Bombing of the Council during the Mythica War. She gave them such a lecture that all of them cried."