Inhibition

Chapter 21

It took a while for things to quiet down after the tornado. Only the very oblivious didn’t believe that something was going on. The students weren’t going to take a bogus story about “bad luck” anymore. Cat was just waiting to see how they explained this one.

The Headmaster came out to survey the damage, his face the picture of a man crestfallen for the destruction to his school. It was a bit too perfect of an image for Cat. After looking at rubble and dirt for five minutes, he yelled that it was all clear. Which was obvious. Back when Cat stated it. Not that Cat expected people to believe her anymore.

The students started coming out of the building, walking out in small groups and coalescing into even bigger groups when out in the open. They stayed huddled like that for a while, some were checking the sky apprehensively, others staring blankly at the damage and wreckage on the ground.

They weren’t a very . . . cheerful group. And they got even less cheerful when Cat approached. Looking at a group of girls, all Cat’s seniors by three years at least, bawling into each other’s shoulders, Cat wondered if it was possible to get less cheerful than that.

Soon all the students were gathered around the Headmaster, excluding those pulled off to the side for medical attention. Cat knew she should be helping; Mrs. Ackley couldn’t take care of everyone. Somehow though, Cat seriously doubted that any of the injured would allow her to treat them.

Everyone was too suspicious right now. Unlike Cat, these people grew up with magic in everything. They knew what magic felt like, and they’d felt it in that tornado. Cat was the new person, the odd one out. She was the easy choice for an enemy. Cat almost didn’t blame them. Almost.

When he deemed that everyone had arrived, the Headmaster started his speech.

“A lot of damage has occurred today, but we can get through this. Between you, the students, and me, your Headmaster, we can clean up the evidence of this incident and move on, as if it never happened.”

Silence. No one was buying it. Cat raised an eyebrow.

“Now, we won’t forget that these incidents have occurred, and I won’t deny that the circumstances are . . . unusual.” That was better.

“With certain suspicions arising, my fellow professors and I have decided to hold a class to learn more advanced magic. Defensive magic. Together, with your teachers, we can learn to defend ourselves. We can learn how to protect ourselves and our loved ones. We can learn how to end the fear you might have experienced today.” Cat saw that struck a chord. The Headmaster continued.

“We can learn how to arm ourselves against any enemy that dares to take us on.” Cat noticed his emphasis, and didn’t like what it implied. He wasn’t just talking about these natural disasters; he was talking about training them for battle. For war.

“Together, we can triumph.”

Cat couldn’t help but feel like she’d just been drafted.