The School for Good and Evil

Chapter 6: Both

Halia was allowed to leave the welcoming ceremony early to get the books and supplies she would need for school.  Rhian said that her finger glow would be unlocked early since she was his apprentice and, in four years, the second school master.  Halia hated this Idea.  Being school master meant no end to this insufferable life she was living.  Being schoolmaster meant she would never see her mother or twelve siblings who were all dead, killed by her father.  She would live forever.  She would outlive everyone she cared about.

"Halia?"

"Huh?- oh."

Halia lifted her unwilling finger up to the Storian; the magical being who had started her life.  Rhian dug the golden pen into her finger and Halia gave a surprised yelp.  It hurt more then it should have.  She was born of magic, so why did it hurt?  She was magic.  As Halia thought of this, she wondered if Rhian actually wanted her as an apprentice or just to gain more power.  Rhian gave her a surprised glance as she voiced her thoughts.

"Of course I want you as my apprentice.  Do you know how long I waited for you?" He sat down on the chair next to her.  "The truth is, I missed you a lot.  I missed your laugh, and how it lights up the room.  I missed your dark humor.  I missed you."  

He said this so sincerely that Halia wanted to believe him, but there was still that twinge of doubt.  

"Why did you leave me with them?" she asked.

"With who?"

"With John and Gloria."

"Because they were a nice, happy family."

"NICE?  HAPPY?" Halia screamed.  "JOHN KILLED GLORIA AND THEIR TWELVE CHILDREN!  YOU CALL ThAT A NICE, HAPPY FAMILY?  EVERYONE THAT I CARED ABOUT IN THAT HOUSE ARE DEAD BECAUSE OF THE HUSBAND IN THAT NICE, HAPPY FAMILY!"

"I didn't know-"

"YES YOU DID!"

"There was nothing-"

"YOU COULD DO ABOUT IT?  DON'T LIE TO ME!"

"I'm sorry,"

"NO YOU'RE NOT!  YOUR EVIL, AND EVIL CAN'T BE SORRY!"

Rhian embraced her in a tight, loving, hug.  Against her will she surrendered to the embrace and cried her heart out.