Seeing with the Shadows

Chapter 27

“Being on your best behaviour is very important. I repeat, very important. Is that understood?” Madam Arach scanned the rows of students, “Full Moon students will be coming to Half Moon in a week. That means we have seven days to set up. Five of those days are going to be classes, as usual. Two of the days, Saturday and Sunday, will be used to set up the new rooms and move those who are going to be in an upper room in. On Saturday, your new dorm-mates will move in. If this applies to you, please clean out your bottom room. No one likes a messy room. Teachers will be very busy, so if you interrupt them for anything unnecessary, you will land in a detention. We’re sorry, but this is a very trying time for everyone, and we already have enough to do with you girls! Please be courteous to your new dorm-mates and Full Moon students. Thank you.” Madam Arach walked out of the corridor, ready to give the message to other floors.

“I can’t wait for all the boys to get here!” Quoim squealed, “But I can wait for those bitches to move in. Ugh.” Quoim muttered. Calista just rolled her eyes, as Decia dashed ahead of them... again.

“Come on, let’s catch up to that insane animal before he goes and jumps up on Professor Iri.” Lena said.

 “Then again... that might be amusing.” Calista snickered.

They made their way out to the grounds. Mountains stuck their tops high into the azure blue sky, while the sun shot beams of November warmth down on them all. Red gold leaves crunched underfoot as they walked around, and there was a faint crashing that could be heard of the waterfall cascading off the mountains.

“We’ve got the next two day until the teachers start going crazy... what will we do?” Quoim said gleefully.

“You never know... the possibilities are endless!” Calista gushed, jumping up and spinning in a circle.

“But, guys- really, the possibilities aren’t endless... Put a toe out of line even now... I mean, I was here before when we went to Full Moon, but when we went you could see how stressed everyone was, and even our teachers were really strict and stressed out.”

“Hey guys! This is going be awesome, isn’t it?” Ashley said, practically jumping up and down.

This isn’t the greatest time, Ashley...“Yeah, awesome, Ashley. We’ve got some stuff to do... okay?” Lena said quickly.

“Oh- okay...” Ashley’s face fell, and she walked away slowly, but brightened up when she saw a bunch of her friends running out onto the field, so she followed them.

“So,” Quoim said, giving Talla a sly glance, while Maru chased after Decia. “Met anyone at Full Moon in Year One?”

“Of course not! I was eleven for heavens sake! No one gets a boyfriend at eleven… or even at thirteen!”

“Maybe we’ll be different.” Quoim said stubbornly.

“Whatever.” Talla said, smirking slightly.

“Hey, sis!” said a cheery and slightly mocking voice from behind them.

“What, Nadine?” Quoim spun around and faced her sister with a very annoyed look on her face.

“Is that any way to greet your family member?” Nadine pouted.

“Yes. It. Is.” Quoim said through gritted teeth.  

“And a school Consul?” That did the trick.

“Going to give me detention?” Quoim said in a weak voice, though trying to sound brave.

“I might.”

Quoim paled considerably. “Uhh... is that any way to treat your sister?”

“My sister’s just another little bad Vampire girl running around to me. And someone’s going pay for the dung in the hallway on floor three!”