The Diaries Of Liz Davids: Secrets Uncovered (Book One : Complete)

Chapter 13

January 6, 2011

Dear Diary.

I barely slept last night. I found out last night that, as Felore heir, my fire was cursed. And Charini knew that. I don't want to do it all over again ?I don't want to be the reject, the point for everyone's gossip. It was just like that after Mum and Dad died. I don't want it again.

   Every time I look at Dad's ring, I feel worse. It's like a reminder these days, somehow. But I'm keeping it on. I'lll never take it off - it would be like fully accepting he's never coming back.

   Nicholas is sympathetic, but I don't know if Johnny and Mekisha will be. I've trusted them this far, but can I trust them with accepting that I'm not really a bad person, and that my cursed fire is out of my hands?

   I hope so.

  Until then, I'll just (try to) focus on my school work. I'll study hard and focus on trying to figure out where Felore's first clue might be. I hope that if I ignore the remarks that are going to be made of me, they'll stop.

   I sighed. I only just remembered that Charini had vowed she would get me back that day she was burned. I sighed again, got up and went to the Main Hall for breakfast. On my way, I wondered if Charini had spread the rumour yet.

   I took a deep breath and focused on the constant sound of the rain pattering against the school windows. I wanted to go home. My real home, where my mother and father would be waiting for me with a large meal and a day filled with fun. Where they would help me with my normal, non-magic homework and give advice when I needed it, pity me when I needed it and cheered me when I was feeling like this. Like I did not belong. Like I was just an outcast, that people were only friendly to me because that was the headmaster's order.

   I realized with shock that I was being used. Was it really like that? Did everyone really pretend to be nice, give me gifts and smile at me because of the blood that ran through my veins?

   When I entered the hall, no one stared at me, or pointed at me, whispering. So Charini, luckily had not spread the rumour yet. Come to think of it, I did not see her anywhere.

   Maybe her head got so bad she had to stay at the hospital. I thought this with some hope. It might really happen.

   I took some cereal and ate it slowly, depressed. I just kept staring at the table, not wanting to look at anyone's accusing face, or Nicholas's worried one, or anything else, for that matter. I tried shutting out the talk and laughter of the students around me and tried focusing on the sound of the rain, eating one Cheerio at a time.

   When I had no more time to waste, I took out my timetable. Great, start the day with the worst possible subjects: Divination, Astronomy (we were only going to work on the theory and do the practical work in the exams, as Nicholas had told me) and History. I vowed, as a task or project or priority, even, that I would make notes for History, and then nearly laughed at myself, but instead I just went back to staring at the table.

   "Everyone, could all eyes be on me for a moment?" The familiarity of that voice sent chills down my spine.

   Oh no, I thought, she's going to spill the beans in front of the entire Hall.

   Grabbing my bag, I tried dashing out of the room as fast as I could, but a bunch of boys was blocking my way.

   "I recently made a discovery that I thought you all ought to know," Charini continued, "Something that would put everyone in danger if you didn't know."

   While Charini had been talking, I had been trying my best to shove the knot of people out of my way. I started losing my temper, and being rude, but I had to escape immediately. But they refused to budge. I was stuck.