A Study On Destiny

38: Going Back To School Soon

The week and a half back home was full of being royal again. It was meant to be a nice few days and it ended up being a constant headache. The peasants to the kingdom asking millions of questions about Gregor's death and who did it. Ana had her suspicions but had been told not to handle any press for this holiday. The king deemed her too immoral to speak, whatever that means. Ana knew he didn't want her to speak because of her current school status. He only viewed her as an evil monster. Her mother, bless her, made her feel at home again. She tried to over look Ana being in the Evil school. Cinderella kept telling her daughter of the amazing things she will do one day, evil or good, she would be proud of her story.

It was now a few days from going back and Ana was thinking about her holiday. Getting almost nothing for Christmas as the King didn't want to waste his money on a villain. Her mom sneaking a present into her room that night. It was only small and Cindy had made it from scratch. She thought Ana wouldn't appreciate the worth of it. Yet Ana loved it. A journal. It was rustic and Ana could tell she tried to find something that she could take to school and remember her by. It had a leather cover and the bow on the front, was made from little bits of the leather, and it was untied to reveal blank pages. Cinderella expressed how it could be Ana's spell book. She could record spells and her experience with them.

Ana looked over at the side of the bath to see the journal. She had already written a few spells in it and was using it constantly. She was very happy with it yet she couldn't shake Gregor's death from her mind.

A troll? Not a chance. It had to be one of those boys going too far. Now the school is trying to make it look like a troll. Ana thought more and more. She picked up the bubbles in her hand and studied them closely and then blew them off. She slumped down so her chin was just above the water. Her thoughts continued to spiral Tedros is to blame. He has to be. Why else would they try to make up lies to protect the school? Tedros is to blame. She began to repeat that in her mind not noticing the rage building inside of her. She didn't notice her hands getting warmer yet when she did it was because of the sudden rise in temperature in the bath water and so she took her arms out. She started to calm down as she examined her hands. The wrinkles and moles were still there from her nemesis dream. They weren't going away and she had finally accepted it.

"Ana are you about ready to get out?" Lyra said entering in room.

"Not yet," Ana said bluntly shoving her hands back into the water.

"I know it must be hard, Ana," Lyra spoke "but he is in a better place, Ana,"

"It is M'lady to you," Ana told Lyra again bluntly. "Besides he wasn't going to make it very far. Probably have to redo the year again," Ana laughed

"That is no way to talk about your brother. He tried very hard to-"

"He did not try hard," there was silence before Ana spoke again "He gave up. He couldn't do it so he gave up,"

"Ana-"

"M'lady,"

"M'lady," Lyra took a breath choosing her next words carefully "I know his death must have cause much pain but he did try. He just realised her couldn't do it and couldn't find a way to get it to work,"

"So he gave up," Ana finished her sentence and clicked her fingers and pointed to her towel. Lyra looked at her dumbfounded. No way she just did that. "Towel now," Lyra walked over to the towel and picked it up. She walked back over and opened it so Ana could get out. "See that wasn't too hard was it,"

Ana wrapped herself in the towel and lifted her legs up to get out of the bath. Once she did she walked up to the mirror examining her skin. Another spot had produced itself on her forehead and her chin. Those that are painful and not ready to pop.

"What has that school done to you?" Lyra asked as she examined the girl. "You've changed,"

"OF COURSE I HAVE CHANGED!" Ana burst out. "DO YOU THINK THIS IS HOW I WANT TO BE?"

"Don't take that tone with me young lady," Lyra said in a firm tone

"I can take whatever tone I want with you," Ana said coldly

"No you can't. I raised you," Lyra spoke still in the firm tone

"You are not my mother," Ana said as she moved closer to Lyra.

"They are turning you into a monster," Lyra spoke but she barely got to finish the last word because she was suddenly struck across the face. The slap hit her so hard and fast she could barely move. She was so shocked it happened that she just looked up slowly at Ana.

Ana's face said it all as she now had a face full of guilt. She didn't mean to do that. It just took over her. The rage. Utter rage. She can't control it, can she? She approached Lyra but Lyra stepped back quickly holding her face.

"Please may I be excused, m'lady?" Lyra asked no longer holding eye contact with Ana.

"Lyra I'm so sorry I just-," Ana started but she was cut off boldly by Lyra

"May I be excused?" She repeated. Ana simply nodded. Lyra scurried past Ana and out of Ana's room. Ana was left in her towel cursing her anger. It's this magic. That's the problem. Just then her vision faded.

She panicked but her vision showed a room. It looked like the school for good. She couldn't tell as everything was blurry. She was on the floor holding her arm. The sound was muffled too and couldn't make out what was being said yet she made out someone. A male figure. The short hair, goods uniform. It was.. It. Was. Tedros. There was a sound of laughing and then all went black again.

She was now suddenly back in her bathroom, in her towel. Confused as to what just happened. It was a vision. Of the night Gregor must have been murdered. That's why it was Tedros. He killed Gregor.

I KNEW IT! Ana thought I will kill him. If it's the last thing I do. Tedros will not get away with this, not this time.