Inari's Renegade

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

         You don’t have a choice.

  The words remained in my head ever since the fishing trip. I managed to get dad and I home without trouble, conjuring up our boat and erasing dad’s memory about the assault. I could have pretended it was just a regular fishing trip around him, but on the inside I was still bothered.

   I shut the door of my locker and shuddered as it closed. I couldn’t stop the tremors that ran over my body. I hugged myself, trying to force it stop. He knew my real name and he had my orb. Would he try to come after me?

Get a grip!  I chastised. He’s a Nogitsune. What could he do to you? He’s nothing to be feared. He had less power than you and you have the power of wind and fire. Something majority of the fox spirits don’t have. And besides, you have the Celestials on your side, so if he tries to come after you, you can just rally some of them and…

“Ms. Scott?”

I yelped and turned around. ‘”M-Mrs. Graham,” I said, slumping in relief. “You scared the death out of me.”

She gave me a concerned look, her wrinkled brown crinkled even more as it furrowed. “I’m sorry dear, are you okay. You seem a bit edgy.”

“Me?” I squeaked. I gave a nervous laugh. “I’m fine, what’s up?”

“I wanted to introduce you to a new student.” She gestured to the boy at her side and my heart froze. He was lanky and pale with black spiky hair. His eyes were gray and he had a triangular shaped face. He wore trick pants, black and green sneakers and a plain black t-shirt. He looked at me and smirked. I knew that smirk. I staring so intently at him I nearly missed hearing Mrs. Graham say his name. “Penelope, I would like you to meet Kieran Darke. He came here from—“

“Oregon.” He finished up for her. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Penelope.” He leered.

Didn’t Mrs. Graham hear the way he said my name? If so, she didn’t act like she heard it. She continued talking. “Penelope, I was wondering if you could show Kieran around the school and help him find his classes.”

“Doesn’t the Student council usually do things like this?” I blurted. There was no way in hell I was showing him around school.

“Yes,” she said, giving me a tight smile, letting me know that my outburst was unnecessary.  But I’d figured I would ask you. Who knows maybe, you’d find yourself liking to welcome new students.” I wanted to growl at her, but I kept it to myself. That kind of thing wouldn’t go well with faculty, but I put her on my list for revenge.

 “Anyway, I should be getting back to my office. Kieran, I hope you have a good first day dear.” She waved goodbye to us and disappeared into the front office.

“So,” Kieran said, leaning against the wall. “Penelope is it? It sounds too sweet for you.”

“It was a name given to me.” I said, narrowing my eyes at him. “We can’t all be fortunate, to walk among the humans at whim and pick our own pseudonyms. How did you even find me?”

“The glowing ball that knows all of course.”

“I hope you know this place is crawling with Celestials.  Just because I can’t hurt you don’t mean they can’t.”

“You’re right, they could. But you won’t let them because you’re subject to me now.”

I don’t want to hear this! I turned on my heel and stalked away from him. “Hey,” I heard him call. “I thought you were going to show me around. It was an administrator’s delegation remember?”