Milthorne Manor [#Wattys2016]

Chapter 3

I glance back at Natalia, eyes wide with fright, and as the words form on my tongue to alert her, I look back at the taxidermy.

They are standing exactly as they had been, watching the door, hackles raised and teeth bared.

I blink, not trusting my eyes. I had been rather startled when I first entered; it was probably my mind playing tricks on me, I reassure myself. After all, it's not like stuffed creatures can move...

"Edith? Are you alright?" Natalia asks me curiously, noticing that she no longer has my attention.

"Oh? Yes, quite. Just... taking it all in."

"Trust me," she sighs, "you'll have plenty of time to acquaint yourself with the Manor. Let's see if we can get this done before luncheon." Natalia shows me in and out of various rooms, including the library, the study hall, the dining room, and a few classrooms before she pauses at a window. It overlooks the forested land behind the main building, which is still draped in heavy rain and now, fog. "Out just beyond those trees lies the garden, the greenhouse, the farm, and the cemetery." I look at her, not hiding my surprise.

"Cemetery?"

She doesn't meet my eyes.

"The family who originally owned the house lived here for over a hundred years. Where else would they bury their dead?" She has a point, and I nod my understanding. "At any rate," she lowers her voice and continues, "it would be in your best interest to avoid wandering near it for the time being." I can't help but raise an eyebrow at that, but before I can ask any questions, she says with a tight-lipped smile, "Your things are probably in our dorm now, and the Headmistress will not tolerate it if you are out of uniform at lunch, so we should go ahead and meander that direction." With a final glance out the window, I follow her.

After over a dozen twists and turns, I know that I am thoroughly lost. I couldn't get back to the front door even if I wanted to. Considering the creepy, dead things I'd have to face again, though, it's not high on my list of priorities.

I consider what I saw, and can't convince myself that I simply imagined it. So how did it happen? Was someone playing a prank? Wh --

"Welcome to Viper Dorm, Edith." I blink, realizing we stand before a dark, wooden door. Grabbing the intricate brass handle, Natalia pushes it open. I find myself in a shadowy place, the only light coming from the window at the end of the elongated room. Two rows of beds line the walls leading to our light source, a single nightstand beside each one.

"Does the school have any electricity?" I ask, curious.

"Not that I've seen," she shrugs.

"No," a new voice drawls sarcastically, "The Headmistress would never allow us to use something that was so 'newfangled' within the hallowed hallways of Milthorne. Or didn't Athena tell you? Milton can't stand anything that isn't old-fashioned. She believes that," A dark-haired girl steps into the light from the window, and strikes a haughty pose before mocking in a whispery voice, "'no girl who hopes to gain a husband of any standing would dream of accustoming herself to something as cheap and bawdy as... electricity.'" She spits the final word out before stepping closer to me and my guide. "Newsflash, you prudish old bat, it's 2016! Get with the program already." With a few choice expletives directed at the mysterious headmistress, she looks me up and down. "You're new. I wonder who you'll turn out to be." I offer my hand, instead of slapping her like I want to.

"I turn out to be Edith Howell, nice to --"

"I didn't mean that, noob. I meant... Athena, she's your charge, haven't you told her yet?"

Not quite sure what to make of her, I turn to Natalia.

"Who is Athena?"

She brushes a few strands of her fiery hair out of her face, and shakes her head, instead responding to the spitfire, "You should change into your uniform before lunch. You know how Headmistress Milton feels about it, Hebe." The raven-haired girl tosses her head before flouncing over to a bed and perching herself.

"High-and-Mighty Headmistress Milton can shove my uniform right up her you-know-what if she cares so much."

"Your foolishness is on your head. I wash my hands of you, Hebe. Just because you were a favorite last semester doesn't mean this will go unpunished," Natalia warned quietly, before walking me down the line of beds. She points to the one just to the right of the window, and says simply, "This is yours."

I can see my luggage sitting beside it, and a neatly folded square of clothing on the foot of my bed. Even though I'm curious to see what the uniform looks like, I'm more curious why our snotty roommate called Natalia by a different name.

"Natalia, why did she call you Athena?" I asked quietly.

"Edith, we are going to be late if you don't get changed right now." My guide is suddenly frosty-toned, her eyes flashing the message 'not now.'

I turn to do what she asked, only to leap back, a scream lodged in my throat.