Unmasked | Book 1 in "Dark Descendants" (Editing)

Chapter 37

~Rose

"This is your school?"

"Yup." I started towards the entrance, passing through several familiar faces, picking my way through the crowd. Abby followed close behind, unwilling to lose her guide in the unfamiliar place. "And what do you know. It's almost eight."

We finally reached the hall, where I turned and leaned against a few abandoned lockers and spared her a glance. She raised her brow. "Now what?"

"Now we wait."

Silence passed between us; me looking all calm and relaxed and her looking like she was about to bolt for it if we even heard a different voice.

"By the way," I started, making her jump. She sighed at the false alarm and raised a hand to her eyes as I casually continued, "you seem damn powerful these days. And you told us you weren't  the strongest there is."

She frowned, staring at the floor. "You're right," she said after a moment. "Maybe because a witch's powers can be recharged by powerful objects."

"Like nature?"

"And other strong supernaturals. Works better with nature."

I hummed. "Good to know."

To pass the time, I started whistling a happy tune that definitely did not match the situation at all. Not soon enough, the school bell rung, earning groans from among the crowd and the voices rose before being buried in the corresponding classrooms.

I kicked off the locker and turned around to walk down the aisle. Abby followed me. "So," she started. "Where exactly are we going to look?"

"You'll probably think I'm crazy, but my guess is somewhere in principal's office."

She deadpanned before shaking her head at me, turning away. "You're right, you are the definition of insane."

"The best people are, love," I did an exceptional imitation of a British accent. She erupted into soft, sustained giggles from beside me. "Now all we have to do is—"

"Rosemary Parker!" I started and glanced ahead. At the end of the hall, I spotted Mr Norman, my Chemistry and English teacher, quickly advancing on me. "What are you doing outside the classroom? Isn't it my class now?"

"Uh..." I looked at Abby pleadingly. It only turned Mr. Norman's attention to her too. He frowned down at her.

"Are you a new student?" he asked.

She was quick to shake her head. "No no, not all. In fact..." Her eyes lit up as a idea struck her. I sank to the deepest pits of despair as I spotted the glint in them, knowing it wasn't good. "Rose brought me here as an intern for the new receptionist. She knew the current one has been going on and on about how she hated the fact that she had to work even in sickness."

I gave her a disbelieving how could you do this to me?! look before promptly passing the teacher my best, innocent smile. His eyes flicked between us before landing on Abby. "A little young, don't you think?"

"Not at all, sir." The dimples seemed to permanently line her cheeks. "I just have a childish face, as Rose here had pointed out to me."

He sighed. "Very well. I will take you to the front office and ask the 'current receptionist' about her thoughts of taking a small break. But I'll need to see papers, Missy. And you," he turned to me. My smile slackened at his expression. "You will not be missing anymore classes. Go to your classroom and stay there until I arrive. Dominic," he called suddenly. I flinched at the name, not even having to turn around to spot a familiar freckled, wiry boy who was always late for class. "Please see to it that Rose gets to class."